第46章 和平感染

一枝開花的樹枝同它鄰近的丫枝說："這是沉悶而空虛的一天。"那鄰近的丫枝答道："這日子確實是空虛而又沉悶。" 此刻有一隻麻雀躲到一枝丫枝上來了，接著又有一隻躲到鄰近的一枝上。 有一隻麻雀嘰嘰喳喳地說："我的伴侶離開我了。" 另一隻麻雀大聲叫道："我的伴侶也走了，她不會回來了。我才不在乎哩！"這兩隻麻雀開始啁啾對話和互相對罵，不久它們就打起架來，在空中發出刺耳的聲音。 突然，又有兩隻麻雀從天空中滑翔而下，它們悄悄地坐在這兩隻不安分的麻雀身旁。於是就有了安寧，有了和平。 這四隻麻雀成雙捉對地一起飛走了。

於是開花樹枝對它鄰近丫枝說："那是聲音的一番大轉折。"鄰近的丫技答道："你願意管它叫什麼就叫它什麼吧，如今倒是和平而又寬敞了。在我看來，如果在上空的和平相處，那末，住在下界的就也會和平相處了。你可願意在風中搖曳得稍稍靠攏我一點兒嗎？"開花的樹枝說："啊，為了和平的緣故，在春天逝去之前，也許可能的吧。" 於是它乘著強勁的春風正搖曳它自身，便擁抱那鄰近的丫技。 Peace Contagious One branch in bloom said to his neighbouring branch, "This is a dull and empty day." And the other branch answered, "It is indeed empty and dull."

At that moment a sparrow alighted on one of the branches, and the another sparrow, nearby. And one of the sparrows chirped and said, "My mate has left me." And the other sparrow cried, "My mate has also gone, and she will not return. And what care I?" Then the two birds began to twitter and scold, and soon they were fighting and making harsh noise upon the air.

All of a sudden two other sparrows came sailing from the sky, and they sat quietly beside the restless two. And there was calm, and there was peace. Then the four flew away together in pairs. And the first branch said to his neighbouring branch, "That was a mighty zig-zag of sound."

And the other branch answered, "Call it what you will, it is now both peaceful and spacious. And if the upper air makes peace it seems to me that those who dwell in the lower might make peace also. Will you not wave in the wind a little nearer to me?" And the first branch said, "Oh, perchance, for peace sake, ere the Spring is over."

And then he waved himself with the strong wind to embrace her.