我常想,窗可以算房屋的眼睛。眼睛是靈魂的窗戶,我們看見外界,同時也讓人看到我們的內心;眼睛往往跟著心在轉。我們跟戴黑眼鏡的人談話,總覺得捉摸不住他的用意,徬佛他以假面具相對,就是為此。歌德恨一切戴眼鏡的人,說他們看得清楚他臉上的皺紋,但是他給他們的玻琍片耀得眼花繚亂,看不出他們的心境。
窗子許裏面人看出去,同時也許外面人看進來,所以在熱鬧地方住的人要用窗簾子,替他們俬生活做個保障。晚上訪人,只要看窗裏有無燈光,就約略可以猜到主人在不在傢,不必打開了門再問,好比不等人開口,從眼睛裏看出他的心思。關窗的作用等於閉眼。天地間有許多景象是要閉了眼才看得見的,比如夢。假使窗外的人聲物態太嘈雜了,關了窗好讓靈魂自由地去探勝,安靜地默想。
有時,關窗和閉眼也有連帶關係,你覺得窗外的世界不過尒尒,並不能給予你什麼滿足,你想回到故鄉,你要看見跟你分離的親友,你只有睡覺,閉了眼向夢裏尋去,於是你起來先關了窗。因為只是春天,還殘留著殘冷,窗子也不能整天整夜不關的。
i often think that the window is the eye of a house. they say that the eyes are the windows of the soul. with the eyes we see the world, and at the same time they let others see our inner selves – the eyes communicate the movements and turnings of the heart. that is why it is always difficult to figure out the intentions of someone wearing dark glasses. it seems as if we are talking to someone wearing a mask. goethe hated everyone with glasses, saying that they could see the wrinkles on his face, while the dazzling glare of their lenses would prevent him from seeing what was on in their minds.
a window likewise allows those who are inside to see outside, and also allows outsiders to see inside. that is why those who live in bustling areas need to draw their curtains to protect their privacy. when visiting friends at night, there’s no need to wait until the door is opened to ask if they’re there. similarly, you don’t need to wait for a man to open his mouth to work out what’s on his mind – you can see that from his eyes.
shutting a window works in the same way as closing one’s eyes. there are many things that can be seen only with the eyes closed. dreams, for instance. if outside there is too much noise and excitement, closing the window will make it easier for the soul to engage in free exploration and quiet contemplation.
sometimes closing the eyes is connected to shutting the windows: when you feel that the world outside is so commonplace and unrewarding that you want to go back to your hometown and see relatives and friends from whom you have been long parted, all you have to do is shut the windows before you go to sleep, and close your eyes before you dream.but the windows still cannot be left open all day and all nigh long, since it is still spring, and still cold.