《先知》选摘（4）Andotherscamealsoentreatedhim.Butheansweredthemnot,Heonlybenthishead;andthosewhostoodnearsawhistearsfallinguponhisbreast.Andheandthepeopleproceededtowardsthegreatsquarebeforethetemple.AndtherecameoutofthesanctuaryawomanwhosenamewasAlmitra.Andshewasaseeress.Andhelookeduponherwithexceedingtenderness,foritwasshewhohadfirstsoughtandbelievedinhimwhenhehadbeenbutadayintheircity.Andshehailedhim,saying:ProphetofGod,inquestoftheuttermost,longhaveyousearchedthedistancesforyourship.Andnowyourshiphascome,andyoumustneedsgo.Deepisyourlongingforthelandofyourmemoriesandthedwellingplaceofyourgreaterdesires;andourlovewouldnotbindyounorourneedsholdyou.Yetthisweaskereyouleaveus,thatyouspeaktousandgiveusofyourtruth.Andwewillgiveituntoourchildren,andtheyuntotheirchildren,anditshallnotperish.Inyouralonenessyouhavewatchedwithourdays,andinyourwakefulnessyouhavelistenedtotheweepingandthelaughterofoursleep.Nowthereforediscloseustoourselves,andtellusallthathasbeenshownyouofthatwhichisbetweenbirthanddeath.Andheanswered,PeopleofOrphalesa?ofwhatcanIspeaksaveofthatwhichisevennowmovingwithinyoursouls?OnLoveThensaidAlmitra?SpeaktousofLove.Andheraisedhisheadandlookeduponthepeople?andtherefellastillnessuponthem.Andwithagreatvoicehesaid:Whenlovebeckonstoyou?followhim?Thoughhiswaysarehardandsteep.Andwhenhiswingsenfoldyouyieldtohim?Thoughtheswordhiddenamonghispinionsmaywoundyou.Andwhenhespeakstoyoubelieveinhim?Thoughhisvoicemayshatteryourdreamsasthenorthwindlayswastethegarden.Forevenaslovecrownsyousoshallhecrucifyyou.Evenasheisforyourgrowthsoisheforyourpruning.Evenasheascendstoyourheightandcaressesyourtenderestbranchesthatquiverinthesun?Soshallhedescendtoyourrootsandshakethemintheirclingingtotheearth.Linkesheavesofcornhegathersyouuntohimself.Hethreshesyoutomakeyounaked.Hesiftsyoutofreeyoufromyourhusks.Hegrindsyoutowhiteness.Hekneadsyouuntilyouarepliant;Andthenheassignsyoutohissacredfire?thatyoumaybecomesacredbreadforGod'ssacredfeast.Allthesethingsshalllovedountoyouthatyoumayknowthesecretsofyourheart?andinthatknowledgebecomeafragmentofLife'sheart.Butifinyourfearyouwouldseekonlylove'speaceandlove'spleasure?Thenitisbetterforyouthatyoucoveryournakednessandpassoutoflove'sthreshing?floor?Intotheseasonlessworldwhereyoushalllaugh?butnotallofyourlaughter?andweep?butnotallofyourtears.Lovegivesnaughtbutitselfandtakesnaughtbutfromitself.Lovepossessesnotnorwoulditbepossessed?Forloveissufficientuntolove.Whenyouloveyoushouldnotsay?“Godisinmyheart?”butrather?“IamintheHeartofGod.”Andthinknotyoucandirectthecourseoflove?forlove?ifitfindsyouworthy?directsyourcourse.Lovehasnootherdesirebuttofulfillitself.Butifyouloveandmustneedshavedesires?letthesebeyourdesires:Tomeltandbelikearunningbrookthatsingsitsmelodytothenight.Toknowthepainoftoomuchtenderness.Tobewoundedbyyourownunderstandingoflove;Andtobleedwillinglyandjoyfully.Towakeatdawnwithawingedheartandgivethanksforanotherdayofloving;Torestatthenoonhourandmeditatelove'secstasy;Toreturnhomeateventidewithgratitude;Andthentosleepwithaprayerforthebelovedinyourheartandasongofpraiseuponyourlips.OnMarriageThenAlmitraspokeagainandsaid?AndwhatofMarriage?master?Andheansweredsaying:Youwereborntogether?andtogetheryoushallbeforevermore.Youshallbetogetherwhenthewhitewingsofdeathscatteryourdays.Ay?youshallbetogethereveninthesilentmemoryofGod.Butlettherebespacesinyourtogetherness?Andletthewindsoftheheavensdancebetweenyou?Loveoneanother?butmakenotabondoflove:Letitratherbeamovingseabetweentheshoresofyoursouls.Filleachother'scupbutdrinknotfromonecup.