寒山·《默默永无言》英译

默默永无言，后生何所述。

隐居在林薮，智日何由出。

枯槁非坚卫，风霜成夭疾。

土牛耕石田，未有得稻日。

Consequences

Pretending to be mute, committing no brush to ink

Will give posterity little to weigh.

Your seclusion, your humble withdrawal to the bog

Will give your wisdom a sodden taste.

No one nods approvingly at your wrinkles

Or thinks you’ve weathered winters well.

It is the harvest men revere,

Not the clay oxen in a stony field.