作者：泰戈尔
译者：水石山房主人（仗剑书生）
31
译文：
“囚徒，告诉我，是谁将你捆绑？”
“是我的主人，”囚徒说，“我以为我的财富和权力胜过世上任何人，我将国王的钱财聚敛在我自己的宝库。睡意袭来，我在主人床上睡去，醒来便发现我在自己的宝库里成了囚徒。”
“囚徒，告诉我，是谁锻造了这坚不可摧的锁链？”
“是我，”囚徒说，“是我精心锻造的。我以为我不可战胜的权力能掌控世界，拥有不受侵犯的自由。我日夜不停，以烈火和酷击锻造锁链。工作完成时，这锁链浑然一体坚不可摧，我发现它已将我牢牢锁住。”
原文：
`Prisoner, tell me, who was it that bound you?'
`It was my master,' said the prisoner. `I thought I could outdo everybody in the world in wealth and power, and I amassed in my own treasure-house the money due to my king. When sleep overcame me I lay upon the bed that was for my lord, and on waking up I found I was a prisoner in my own treasure-house.'
`Prisoner, tell me, who was it that wrought this unbreakable chain?'
`It was I,' said the prisoner, `who forged this chain very carefully. I thought my invincible power would hold the world captive leavingme in a freedom undisturbed. Thus night and day I worked at the chain with huge fires and cruel hard strokes. When at last the work was done and the links were complete and unbreakable, I found that it held me in its grip.'
