从你自己的身体出发

You start with your own body

然后往外，但不要走得太远。

then move outward, but not too far.

比如说，绝不要想着去取悦一座城市。

Never try to please a city, for example.

小城镇里轻易就能获得的亲密

Nor will the easy intimacy

也绝不会满足你只是在暗夜中

in small towns ever satisfy that need

才悄悄说出的那个需求。

you have only whispered in the dark.

女人是一种开始。

A woman is a beginning.

她不需要很漂亮，但必须知道

She need not be pretty, but must know

怎样以她自身的美

how to make her own ceilings

去设定自己的抱负。

out of all that's beautiful in her.

在一起时你们必须都喜欢在夜里交换

Together you must love to exchange

礼物，一致同意

gifts in the night, and agree

丝带是多余的，

on the superfluity of ribbons,

也接受突破自我时必然会有的

the fine violence of breaking out

精致暴力。不管怎样，

of yourselves. No matter,

她不太可能处处让你觉得满足，

it’s doubtful she will be enough for you,

你也不可能处处满足她。你们必须有

or you for her. You must have friends

不同性别的朋友。聚会时

of both sexes. When you get together

你必须觉得每个人

you must feel everyone has brought

都带来了自己的极度隐私

his fierce privacy with him

而且愿意分享。但你得准备好

and is ready to share it. Prepare

要有所保留；

yourself though to keep something back;

你有一个内核

there’s a center in you

一旦失去

you are simply a comedian

就只是个滑稽演员。除此之外，最好

without. Beyond this, it’s advisable

有一技之长。学会怎样做一些东西：

to have a skill. Learn how to make something:

食物，鞋盒子，愉快地度过一天。

food, a shoe box, a good day.

最后，记住很少有什么快感

Remember, finally, there are few pleasures

不是落实在你的手指尖上。

that aren’t as local as your fingertips.

千万不要为了某个大教堂而去欧洲。

Never go to Europe for a cathedral.

人群众多时，在房间的中央

In large groups, create a corner

建立起一个角落。

in the middle of a room.