序言
Prologue
本书首先列出所有待阐释的诗节；随后，每节诗分别阐释，阐释前先列出该节诗；接着，每行诗依次单独阐释，阐释前亦先列出该行诗。前两节诗阐释了两种灵性净化的效果：人的感官部分与灵性部分的净化。其余六节则阐释了灵性光照以及与神在爱中结合的种种奇妙效果。
In this book are first set down all the stanzas which are to be expounded; afterwards, each of the stanzas is expounded separately, being set down before its exposition; and then each line is expounded separately and in turn, the line itself also being set down before the exposition. In the first two stanzas are expounded the effects of the two spiritual purgations: of the sensual part of man and of the spiritual part. In the other six are expounded various and wondrous effects of the spiritual illumination and union of love with God.
灵魂的诗节
Stanzas of the Soul
1: 在一个漆黑的夜晚，被爱的渴望点燃——哦，幸福的机缘！——我悄然外出，我的家此刻已安然歇息。
1: On a dark night, Kindled in love with yearnings—oh, happy chance!— I went forth without being observed, My house being now at rest.
2: 在黑暗与安稳中，借着隐秘的梯子，乔装——哦，幸运的机缘！——在黑暗与隐藏里，我的家宅此刻已得安息。
2: In darkness and secure, By the secret ladder, disguised—oh, happy chance!— In darkness and in concealment, My house being now at rest.
3: 在幸福的夜晚，
在隐秘中，无人看见我，
我也看不见任何事物，
没有光，没有向导，
除了那在我心中燃烧的。
3: In the happy night, In secret, when none saw me, Nor I beheld aught, Without light or guide, save that which burned in my heart.
4: 这光比正午的阳光更可靠地引导我，
去到那地方——他（我深知是谁！）正在那里等候我——
一个杳无人迹的地方。
4: This light guided me More surely than the light of noonday To the place where he (well I knew who!) was awaiting me—A place where none appeared.
5: 哦，引导我的黑夜，哦，比黎明更可爱的黑夜，哦，使爱人与被爱者结合的黑夜，爱人在被爱者中转化！
5: Oh, night that guided me, Oh, night more lovely than the dawn, Oh, night that joined Beloved with lover, Lover transformed in the Beloved!
6: 在我繁花盛开的胸膛上，
那全然为他保留的地方，
他安然沉睡，我将他爱抚，
香柏树的摇曳送来微风。
6: Upon my flowery breast, Kept wholly for himself alone, There he stayed sleeping, and I caressed him, And the fanning of the cedars made a breeze.
7: 微风从塔楼吹来，
当我分开他的发绺；
他用温柔的手伤了我的颈项，
使我所有的感官都悬止了。
7: The breeze blew from the turret As I parted his locks; With his gentle hand he wounded my neck And caused all my senses to be suspended.
8: 我沉入遗忘，迷失其中；
我的脸依偎在至爱怀中。
万籁俱寂，我全然交托，
将忧虑抛却，遗忘在百合丛中。
8: I remained, lost in oblivion; My face I reclined on the Beloved. All ceased and I abandoned myself, Leaving my cares forgotten among the lilies.
开始阐述那些论及灵魂在通往与神爱之合一道路上所循方式与途径的诗节。
Begins the exposition of the stanzas which treat of the way and manner which the soul follows upon the road of the union of love with God.
在开始阐释这些诗节之前，我们应当先明白：此刻吟咏这些诗句的灵魂，已臻于完美之境——即与神在爱中联合的状态。这灵魂已经历了严峻的试炼与困厄，藉着在永生窄路上的灵修操练——正如救主在福音中所言——而得以穿越；灵魂通常正是经由这条道路，才能抵达与神这般崇高而蒙福的联合。既然这条路（如同主自己同样说道）如此狭窄，且进入的人如此稀少太 7:14。，灵魂便视自己能行过此路、达至前述爱的完美境界，为莫大的幸福与良机；它在这第一节诗中如此咏唱，并极其恰当地称这条窄路为「黑夜」，下文将在该诗节的行句中加以阐明。于是，灵魂因已行过这条窄路——并由此领受了如此众多的祝福——而欢欣，以如下方式言说。
Before we enter upon the exposition of these stanzas, it is well to understand here that the soul that utters them is now in the state of perfection, which is the union of love with God, having already passed through severe trials and straits, by means of spiritual exercise in the narrow way of eternal life whereof Our Saviour speaks in the Gospel, along which way the soul ordinarily passes in order to reach this high and happy union with God. Since this road (as the Lord Himself says likewise) is so strait, and since there are so few that enter by it,St. Matthew vii, 14. the soul considers it a great happiness and good chance to have passed along it to the said perfection of love, as it sings in this first stanza, calling this strait road with full propriety “dark night,” as will be explained hereafter in the lines of the said stanza. The soul, then, rejoicing at having passed along this narrow road whence so many blessings have come to it, speaks after this manner.