《中庸》英译（十二）

君子之道，费而隐。夫妇之愚，可以与知焉；及其至也，虽圣人亦有所不知焉。夫妇之不肖，可以能行焉；及其至也，虽圣人亦有所不能焉。天地之大也，人犹有所憾。故君子语大，天下莫能载焉；语小，天下莫能破焉。诗云：“鸢飞戾天，鱼跃于渊。”言其上下察也。君子之道，造端乎夫妇，及其至也，察乎天地。

XII.

<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /> 

The moral law is to be found everywhere and yet it is a secret.

The simple intelligence of ordinary men and women of the people may understand something of the moral law; but in its utmost reaches there is something which even the wisest and holiest of men cannot understand. The ignoble natures of ordinary men and women of the people may be able to carry out the moral law; but in its utmost reaches even the wisest and holiest of men cannot live up to it.

Great as the Universe is, man with the infinite moral nature in him is never satisfied. For there is nothing so great but the mind of the moral man can conceive of something still greater which nothing in the world can hold. There is nothing so small but the mind of moral man can conceive of something still smaller which nothing in the world can split.

The Book of Songs says: “The hawk soars to the heavens above and fishes dive to the depths below.” That is to say, there is no place in the highest heavens above nor in the deepest waters below where the moral law does not reign.

The moral law takes its rise in the relation between man and woman; but in its utmost reaches it reigns supreme over heaven and earth.