《文赋》是晋代陆机的文艺理论作品。该赋序言说明创作缘由和意图,指出“意不称物,文不逮意”的困惑,认为对写作的认识,虽然可以借览前人的经验,但主要靠个人在实践中摸索。
陆机·《文赋·文风》
若夫丰约之裁,俯仰之形。因宜适变,曲有微情。或言拙而喻巧,或理朴而辞轻。或袭故而弥新,或沿浊而更清。或览之而必察,或研之而后精。譬犹舞者赴节以投袂,歌者应弦而遣声。是盖轮扁所不得言,故亦非华说之所能精。
Finding Form
Lu Chi
Know when the work should be full,
and when it should be compacted.
Know when to life your eyes
and when to scrutinize.
Adapt to occasions as they arise;
permit emotions to be subtle.
When the language is common,
the image must be telling.
When the thinking is clumsy,
the language must move smoothly.
Old clothes can be refurbished;
the stream we muddy
soon runs itself clean again.
Only after looking and listening
closely can one make
these variations subtleties
work their magic.
The sleeves of the dancers
move with the melodies;
the singers’ voices rise
and fall with the music.
P’ien the Wheelwright
tried to explain it,
but he couldn’t.
Nor can the artificial flowers of the critics
explain it.
(Sam Hamill 译)