於是一個律師說，但是，我們的法律怎麼樣呢，夫子？
他回答說：你們喜歡立法，
卻也更喜歡犯法。
如同那在海濱遊戲的孩子，勤懇地建造了沙塔，然後又嬉笑地將它毀壞。
但是當你們建造沙塔的時候，海洋又送許多的沙土上來，
到你們毀壞那沙塔的時候，海洋又與你們一同哄笑。
真的，海洋常和天真的人一同哄笑。
可是對於那班不以生命為海洋，不以人造的法律為沙塔的人又當如何？
對於那以生命為岩石，以法律為可以隨意刻雕的鑿子的人，又當如何？
對於那憎惡跳舞者的跛人又當如何？
對於那喜愛羈軛，卻以小牛和林中的麋鹿為流離顛沛的人，又當如何？
對於自己不能蛻脫，卻把一切蛇豸稱為赤裸無恥的老蛇的人，又當如何？
對於那早赴婚筵，飽倦歸來，卻說「一切筵席都是違法，那些設筵的人都是犯法者」的人又當如何？
對於這些人，除了說他們是站在日中以背向陽之外，我能說什麼呢？
他們只看見自己的影子。他們的影子，就是他們的法律。
太陽對於他們，不只是一個射影者麼？
承認法律，不就是佝僂著在地上尋跡陰影麼？
你們只向著陽光行走的人，地上哪種的映影能捉住你們呢？
你們這乘風遨遊的人，哪種的風信旗能指示你們的路程呢？
如果你們不在任何人的囚室門前敲碎你們的鐐銬，那種人造的法律能束縛你們麼？
如果你們跳舞，卻不撞擊任何人的鐵鏈，你們還怕什麼法律呢？
如果你們撕脫你們的衣囊，卻不丟棄在任何人的道上，有誰能把你帶去受審呢？
阿法利斯的民眾呵，你們縱能悶住鼓音，鬆了琴弦，但有誰能禁止雲雀不高唱？
13
On Laws
Then a lawyer said, "But what of our Laws, master?"
And he answered:
You delight in laying down laws,
Yet you delight more in breaking them.
Like children playing by the ocean who build sand-towers with constancy and then destroy them with laughter.
But while you build your sand-towers the ocean brings more sand to the shore,
And when you destroy them, the ocean laughs with you.
Verily the ocean laughs always with the innocent.
But what of those to whom life is not an ocean, and man-made laws are not sand-towers,
But to whom life is a rock, and the law a chisel with which they would carve it in their own likeness?
What of the cripple who hates dancers?
What of the ox who loves his yoke and deems the elk and deer of the forest stray and vagrant things?
What of the old serpent who cannot shed his skin, and calls all others naked and shameless?
And of him who comes early to the wedding-feast, and when over-fed and tired goes his way saying that all feasts are violation and all feasters law-breakers?
What shall I say of these save that they too stand in the sunlight, but with their backs to the sun?
They see only their shadows, and their shadows are their laws.
And what is the sun to them but a caster of shadows?
And what is it to acknowledge the laws but to stoop down and trace their shadows upon the earth?
But you who walk facing the sun, what images drawn on the earth can hold you?
You who travel with the wind, what weathervane shall direct your course?
What man's law shall bind you if you break your yoke but upon no man's prison door?
What laws shall you fear if you dance but stumble against no man's iron chains?
And who is he that shall bring you to judgment if you tear off your garment yet leave it in no man's path?
People of Orphalese, you can muffle the drum, and you can loosen the strings of the lyre, but who shall command the skylark not to sing?