55.
玄
符
The mysterious charm
Kẻ nào đức dày, giống như con mới sinh.
He who has in himself abundantly the attributes (of the Dao) is like an infant.
Độc trùng không cắn, thú dữ không ăn, chim ưng chẳng bắt.
Poisonous insects will not sting him; fierce beasts will not seize him; birds of prey will not strike him.
Xương yếu gân mềm mà tay nắm chặt.
(The infant’s) bones are weak and its sinews soft, but yet its grasp is firm.
Chưa biết giao hoan, tinh khí vẹn tuyền.
It knows not yet the union of male and female, and yet its virile member may be excited; - showing the perfection of its physical essence.
Suốt ngày la khóc, mà chẳng khản tiếng. Hòa hợp hoàn toàn.
All day long it will cry without its throat becoming hoarse; - showing the harmony (in its constitution).
Biết hòa hợp mới trường cửu, biết trường cửu mới sáng suốt. Quá ham sống thì hại, tâm sai khiến khí, thì mạnh.
To him by whom this harmony is known, (The secret of) the unchanging (Dao) is shown, And in the knowledge wisdom finds its throne. All life-increasing arts to evil turn; Where the mind makes the vital breath to burn, (False) is the strength, (and o’er it we should mourn.)
Vật lớn thời già, thế là trái Đạo, trái Đạo chết sống.
When things have become strong, they (then) become old, which may be said to be contrary to the Dao. Whatever is contrary to the Dao soon ends.