《The Two Roads》两条道路

亦书

The Two Roads

It was New Year's night. An aged man was standing at a window. He raised his mournful eyes towards the deep blue sky, where the stars were floating like white lilies on the surface of a clear calm lake. When he cast them on the earth, where few more hopeless people than himself now moved towards their certain goal - the tomb. He had already passed sixty of the age leading to it, and he had brought from his journey nothing but errors and remorse. Now his health was poor, his mind vacant, his heart sorrowful, and his old age short of comforts.

The days of his youth appeared like dream before him, and he recalled the serious moment when his father placed him at the entrances of the two roads. One leading to a peaceful, sunny place covered with flowers, fruits and resounding with soft, sweet songs; the other leading to a deep dark cave which was endless, where poison flowed instead of water and where devils and poison snakes hissed and crawled.

Oh, my father, place me once more at the entrance to life and I'll chose the better way! He saw the lights flowing away in the darkness, and these were the days of his wasted life; he saw a star fall from the sky and disappeared, and this was the symbol of himself. His remorse, which was like a sharp arrow, struck deeply into his heart. Then he remembered his friends in his childhood, which entered life together with him. But they had made their way to success and were now honored and happy on this New Year's night.

The clock in the high church tower struck and the sound made him remember his parents' early love for him. They had taught him and prayed to God for his good. But he chose the wrong way. With shame and grief he dared no longer to look towards the heaven where his father lived. His darkened eyes were full of tears, and with a despairing effort, he burst out a cry: "Come back, my early days! "

两条道路

除夕之夜，一位老人伫立窗前。他满眼哀伤，仰望着深蓝色的天空，那儿，星星如清澈平静的湖面上的朵朵白莲在漂移着。后来，他将目光投向地面，几个比他更加绝望的人正在走向人生的终点——坟墓。他已度过了通往那终点的六十个年头，而他从这漫长的旅途中带向坟墓的，除了过失和悔恨，别无他物。他的健康欠佳，精神空虚，心灵痛苦，晚年也没有什么慰藉。

青春的岁月如梦幻般浮现在他眼前，他回想起父亲将他放在人生岔路口上的关键时刻。当时，他面前有两条路：一条通向和平宁静、阳光灿烂的地方，那里到处是花果，到处回荡着柔和甜美的歌声；另一条则通向黑暗无底的深渊，那里流淌着毒液而不是清水，恶魔肆虐，毒蛇嘶嘶爬动。

哦，我的父亲，再一次把我放在人生的路口吧，我会选择那条更好的道路！他看见灯消逝在黑暗中，那便是他虚度的时光；他看见一颗星星从空中陨落、消失，那是他自身的象征。他的悔恨，像一支利箭，深深地刺进他的心脏。接着，他想起童年时代的朋友，他们曾与他一同踏上人生的旅程，现已获得成功，受到人们的尊敬，此刻正在幸福中欢度除夕。

教堂高塔上的钟声敲响了，这声音使他想起了父母早年对他的爱。他们曾教导他，曾为他祈祷。可他却选择了错误的道路。他满怀羞愧和悲伤，不敢再仰望父亲所在的天堂。他黯淡的双眼噙满了泪水，带着绝望，他大声呼喊：“回来吧，我的青春！”