司空图的《二十四诗品》作为中国古代文论史上的一部经典之作,采用四言诗的形式写成,言简义丰。《自然》篇在《二十四诗品》中居于第十篇,它所展示出的"自然"境界,是中国古代文人创作所追求的最高境界,它以老庄哲学为基础,倡导道法自然,反对人工的雕琢和刻意的营造。
司空图·《二十四诗品·自然》
俯拾即是，不取诸邻。
俱道适往，着手成春。
如逢花开，如瞻岁新。
真与不夺，强得易贫。
幽人空山，过雨采苹。
薄言情悟，悠悠天韵。
The Natural
Stoop, and there it is:
Seek it not right and left.
All roads lead thither,--
One touch and you have spring!（1）
As though coming upon opening flowers,
As though gazing upon the new year,
Verily I will not snatch it,
Forced, it will dwindle away.
I will be like the hermit on the hill,
Like duckweed gathered on the stream,（2）
And when emotions crowd upon me,
I will leave them to the harmonies of heaven.
（1）. Alluding to the art of the painter.
（2）. A creature of chance, following the doctrine of Inaction.
（Herbert A. Giles 译）
