於是一個婦人說，請給我們講歡樂與悲哀。
他回答說：
你的歡樂，就是你去了面具的悲哀。
連你那湧溢歡樂的井泉，也常是充滿了你的眼淚。
不然又怎樣呢？
悲哀的創痕在你身上刻得越深，你越能容受更多的歡樂。
你的盛酒的杯，不就是那曾在陶工的窯中燃燒的坯子麼？
那感悅你的心神的笛子，不就是曾受尖刀挖刻的木管麼？
當你歡樂的時候，深深地內顧你的心中，你就知道只不過是曾使你悲哀的，又在使你歡樂。
當你悲哀的時候，再內顧你的心中，你就看出實在是那曾使你喜悅的，又在使你哭泣。
你們有些人說：「歡樂大於悲哀。」也有人說：「不，悲哀是更大的。」我卻要對你們說，它們是不能分開的。
它們一同來到，當這一個和你同席的時候，要記得那一個正在你床上酣眠。真的，你是天平般懸在悲哀與歡樂之間。
只有在盤空的時候，你才能靜止，持平。
當守庫者把你提起來稱他的金銀的時候，你的哀樂就必需升降了。
08
On Joy & Sorrow
Then a woman said, "Speak to us of Joy and Sorrow."
And he answered:
Your joy is your sorrow unmasked.
And the selfsame well from which your laughter rises was oftentimes filled with your tears.
And how else can it be?
The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain.
Is not the cup that hold your wine the very cup that was burned in the potter's oven?
And is not the lute that soothes your spirit, the very wood that was hollowed with knives?
When you are joyous, look deep into your heart and you shall find it is only that which has given you sorrow that is giving you joy.
When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight.
Some of you say, "Joy is greater than sorrow," and others say, "Nay, sorrow is the greater."
But I say unto you, they are inseparable.
Together they come, and when one sits alone with you at your board, remember that the other is asleep upon your bed.
Verily you are suspended like scales between your sorrow and your joy.
Only when you are empty are you at standstill and balanced.
When the treasure-keeper lifts you to weigh his gold and his silver, needs must your joy or your sorrow rise or fall.