Chapter 28

1. Who knows his manhood's strength,
Yet still his female feebleness maintains;
As to one channel flow the many drains,
All come to him, yea, all beneath the sky.
Thus he the constant excellence¹ retains;
The simple child again, free from all stains.

Who knows how white attracts,
Yet always keeps himself within black's shade,
The pattern of humility² displayed,
Displayed in view of all beneath the sky;
He in the unchanging excellence arrayed,
Endless return to man's first state has made.

Who knows how glory shines,
Yet loves disgrace, nor e'er for it is pale;
Behold³ his presence in a spacious⁴ vale,
To which men come from all beneath the sky.
The unchanging excellence completes its tale;
The simple infant man in him we hail.

2. The unwrought material, when divided and distributed, forms vessels⁵. The sage⁶, when employed, becomes the Head of all the Officers (of government); and in his greatest regulations he employs no violent measures.

　　 知其雄，守其雌，为天下谿。
　　 为天下谿，常德不离，复归于婴儿。
　　 知其白，守其黑，为天下式。
　　为天下式，常德不忒，复归于无极。
　　 知其荣，守其辱，为天下谷。
　　 为天下谷，常德乃足，复归于朴。
　　 朴散则为器，圣人用之则为官长。
　　 故大制不割。

【译文】
　　 虽深知什么是雄强，却安守于雌柔取态而处事，甘作天下的沟谿。甘作天下的沟谿，永恒的德性就不会离失，复归于婴儿般的随和态。虽深知什么是清白豁亮，却安守于摸黑行进的取态，甘作天下的试探者。甘作天下的试探者，永恒的德行就不会有偏差，复归于无所突出无所特恃的未分化态。虽深知什么是荣华显耀，却安守于平常的谦卑取态，甘作天下的虚无者。甘作天下的虚无者，永恒的德行才趋于的圆满，复归于混沌无名的朴初态。混沌无名的朴演化展开就成为各种功能性的器具，圣人发挥他那无不为的潜能就成了官长。所以，大道的体制浑然而不断裂。

1 excellence   

n.优秀，杰出，(pl.)优点，美德

参考例句：

• His art has reached a high degree of excellence.他的艺术已达到炉火纯青的地步。
• My performance is far below excellence.我的表演离优秀还差得远呢。

2 humility   

n.谦逊，谦恭

参考例句：

• Humility often gains more than pride.谦逊往往比骄傲收益更多。
• His voice was still soft and filled with specious humility.他的声音还是那么温和，甚至有点谦卑。

3 behold   

v.看，注视，看到

参考例句：

• The industry of these little ants is wonderful to behold.这些小蚂蚁辛勤劳动的样子看上去真令人惊叹。
• The sunrise at the seaside was quite a sight to behold.海滨日出真是个奇景。

4 spacious   

adj.广阔的，宽敞的

参考例句：

• Our yard is spacious enough for a swimming pool.我们的院子很宽敞，足够建一座游泳池。
• The room is bright and spacious.这房间很豁亮。

5 vessels   

n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人

参考例句：

• The river is navigable by vessels of up to 90 tons. 90 吨以下的船只可以从这条河通过。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• All modern vessels of any size are fitted with radar installations. 所有现代化船只都有雷达装置。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

6 sage   

n.圣人，哲人；adj.贤明的，明智的

参考例句：

• I was grateful for the old man's sage advice.我很感激那位老人贤明的忠告。
• The sage is the instructor of a hundred ages.这位哲人是百代之师。