文／楊絳（1911~）

英美人把社會比作蛇阱（snakepit）。阱裡壓壓擠擠的蛇，一條條都拚命鑽出腦袋，探出身子，把別的蛇排擠開，你上我下，你死我活，不斷地掙扎鬥爭。鑽出頭，就好比大海裡坐在浪尖兒上的跳珠飛沫，迎日月之光而生輝，可說是大丈夫得志了。人生短促，浪尖兒上的一剎那，也可作一生成就的標誌，足以自豪。然而，有人企求飛上高枝，有人寧願「曳尾塗中」。人各有志，不能相強。

我愛讀東坡「萬人如海一身藏」之句，也企慕莊子所謂「陸沉」。社會可以比作「蛇阱」，但「蛇阱」之上，天空還有飛鳥；「蛇阱」之旁，池沼裡也有游魚。古往今來，自有人避開「蛇阱」而「藏身」或「陸沉」，消失於眾人之中，如水珠包孕於海水之內，如細小的野花隱藏在草叢裡，安閒舒適，得其所哉。一個人不想攀高就不怕下跌，也不用傾軋排擠，可以保其天真，成其自然，潛心一志完成自己能做的事。

世態人情，比明月清風更饒有滋味，可作書讀，可當戲看。唯有身處卑微的人，最有機緣看到世態人情的真相，而不是面對觀眾的藝術表演。

─選自《遇見散文二十世紀名家經典100》

The Cloak of Invisibility (Excerpt)

Yang Jiang (1911 - )

English translation: Miao Guang

Britons and Americans use the metaphor of a snake pit to describe society. In this pit, there are snakes fighting to stick their heads out, pushing each other away to make themselves seen and to emerge on top of each other. They fight to stay alive, constantly struggling and competing. Sticking out one’s head is like being one of the bubbles sitting atop of the ocean waves, coming face to face with the glorious sun and moonlight. Life is short; that very instant on the top of the wave could become an emblem of a lifetime’s achievement to be proud of. Nevertheless, while there are those who aim for the top, there are also others who choose to lay low in the mud and go quietly about life. People have different goals, and nothing undesired should be forced on anyone.

I love Su Dongpo’s “a single man hidden in the ocean of people,” and also find Zhuangzi’s “drowning on dry land” admirable. While society can be compared to a snake pit, there still exists flying birds above, and a pond of swimming fish beside it. From the past to the present, there have always been people who avoid the snake pit by going into hiding or “drowning on dry land.”

To disappear in the crowd like beads of water hidden inside the ocean, or small flowers hidden inside the bush, all safe and sound, peaceful and carefree. One who does not aim high will not have to worry about falling, nor does he need to fight for power or eliminate others. Instead, he can stay genuine and natural, and focus solely on what he wants to do.

The happenings of this world are much more interesting than the bright moon and cool breeze; you can either read it a book, or watch it like a show. Those in the most humble and lowest positions would have the best view of this world in its truest form instead of a rehearsed performance prepared for an audience.

── from Yujian Sanwen Ershi Shiji Mingjia Jingdian

(Selection of 100 Classic Prose from the 21st Century)