Re: CHAT: Tao Te Ching translations (long-ish ;)

In a message dated 06/19/2002 02.22.40 PM, Sifu John Cowan
<jcowan@...> writes:

>Andy Canivet scripsit:
>
>> Of course, I think my favorite is #65...
>
>I won't do a whole number on this one, but just the Le Guin <SNiP of
extensive quoting>

    - Jonathan Star's verbatim translation of Verse 65 (which I think is the
clearest translation I have ever seen... yet):

    The ancient ones were simple-hearted
        and blended with the common people
    They did not shine forth
    They did not rule with cleverness
        So the nation was blessed

    Now the rulers are filled with clever ideas
        and the lives of people are filled with hardship
        So the nation is cursed

    He who knows the play of Tao and Te
        knows the nature of the universe
    Tao brings forth Te from its own being
    Te expands in all directions
        filling every corner of the world
        becoming the splendor of all creation
    Yet at every moment Te seeks Tao
    This is the movement that guides the universe
    This is the impulse
        that leads all things back home

>For the record, my favorite chapter is 20.
    Niceness, one of the most poetic verses (always reminds me of
O'Shaughnessy (sp?) "Ode: [We are] the Music Makers"... I am not sure of the
title, but those of you who might, please do chime in).

    3-Toed Sloth Style Typist here will post Star's verbatim translation if
requested - either to the list (if 3 or more of you peeps say so) or in
private off-list replies in a couple days (if me blinkin' Higher Primate
Brainies will remember to do this... ;)

Hanuman Zhang
---------------------  - - - - - - - - - -

"There is no total revolution,
there is only _perpetual_ Revolution,
real life, like love,
dazzling at every moment." ~ Paul Eluard

"Profound but contradictory ideas may exist side by side...
Each tells us something important about where we stand in the universe."
- Neil Postman