布莱克: 一沙见世界 Blake : To see a World in a Grain of Sand

‘天真的预言’是英国诗人、画家、制版者布莱克(1757 – 1827)的一首诗。据说写于1803年，可是直到1863年才发表。这首出自英国诗人之手的诗很不寻常，因为它与佛教思想颇多暗合之处，所有有人怀疑布莱克看到过或研读过译为英文的佛教经典。
这首诗有132行，充满了谬论，把纯真和邪恶、腐败相提并论。可是它的首四句却相当叙事和‘有趣’。事实上，可以说布莱克只选了这四句不含谬论和矛盾。
华人对这四句很入迷，所以有不少翻译，这里选了佚名和宗白华的翻译。
一沙见世界，一花窥天堂。

手心握无限，须臾纳永恒。
——译者不详
一沙一世界，一花一天国，

君掌盛无边，刹那含永劫。
——宗白华.
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The poem ‘Auguries of Innocence’ was written by William Blake (1757 – 1827), an English poet, painter, and printmaker. It is assumed to have been written in 1803, but was not published until 1863. This poem is unusual to be written by an English poet as it seems to resonate with Buddhist thought and world views. It is therefore suspected that Blake might have studied Buddhist scripts and was influenced by Buddhist philosophy.
The poem is 132 lines which contain a series of paradoxes which speak of innocence juxtaposed with evil and corruption. However, the first stanza of four lines is very descriptive and "pretty". In fact, one could say that they are the only lines that Blake chose to leave free of paradox and conflict.
The four lines were translated beautifully into Chinese style poem and the lines are well liked by the Chinese. Here are the first four lines of the poem:
To see a World in a Grain of Sand

And a Heaven in a Wild Flower,

Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand

And Eternity in an hour.