先知国_纪伯伦- 第7部分

〃too　often　do　you　sing　god；　the　infinite；　and　yet　in　truth　you　hear　not　the　song。　would　that　you　might　listen　to　the　song…birds；　and　to　the　leaves　that　forsake　the　branch　when　the　wind　passes　by；　and　forget　not；　my　friends；　that　these　sing　only　when　they　are　separated　from　the　branch！

〃again　i　bid　you　to　speak　not　so　freely　of　god；　who　is　your　all；　but　speak　rather　and　understand　one　another；　neighbour　unto　neighbour；　a　god　unto　a　god。

〃for　what　shall　feed　the　fledgling　in　the　nest　if　the　mother　bird　flies　skyward？　and　what　anemone　in　the　fields　shall　be　fulfilled　unless　it　be　husbanded　by　a　bee　from　another　anemone？

〃it　is　only　when　you　are　lost　in　your　smaller　selves　that　you　seek　the　sky　which　you　call　god。　would　that　you　might　find　paths　into　your　vast　selves；　would　that　you　might　be　less　idle　and　pave　the　roads！

〃my　mariners　and　my　friends；　it　were　wiser　to　speak　less　of　god；　whom　we　cannot　understand；　and　more　of　each　other；　whom　we　may　understand。　yet　i　would　have　you　know　that　we　are　the　breath　and　the　fragrance　of　god。　we　are　god；　in　leaf；　in　flower；　and　oftentimes　in　fruit。〃

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The　Garden　Of　The　Prophet　（3）

小；说，t，xt，天'堂
the　garden　of　the　prophet　（3）

and　on　a　morning　when　the　sun　was　high；　one　of　the　disciples；　one　of　those　three　who　had　played　with　him　in　childhood；　approached　him　saying：　〃master；　my　garment　is　worn；　and　i　have　no　other。　give　me　leave　to　go　unto　the　market…place　and　bargain　that　perchance　i　may　procure　me　new　raiment。〃

and　almustafa　looked　upon　the　young　man；　and　he　said：　〃give　me　your　garment。〃　and　he　did　so　and　stood　naked　in　the　noonday。

and　almustafa　said　in　a　voice　that　was　like　a　young　steed　running　upon　a　road：　〃only　the　naked　live　in　the　sun。　only　the　artless　ride　the　wind。　and　he　alone　who　loses　his　way　a　thousand　times　shall　have　a　home…ing。

〃the　angels　are　tired　of　the　clever。　and　it　was　but　yesterday　that　an　angel　said　to　me：　we　created　hell　for　those　who　glitter。　what　else　but　fire　can　erase　a　shining　surface　and　melt　a　thing　to　its　core？

〃and　i　said：　but　in　creating　hell　you　created　devils　to　govern　hell。　but　the　angel　answered：　nay；　hell　is　governed　by　those　who　do　not　yield　to　fire。

〃wise　angel！　he　knows　the　ways　of　men　and　the　ways　of　half…men。　he　is　one　of　the　seraphim　who　e　to　minister　unto　the　prophets　when　they　are　tempted　by　the　clever。　and　no　doubt　he　smiled　when　the　prophets　smile；　and　weeps　also　when　they　weep。

〃my　friends　and　my　mariners；　only　the　naked　live　in　the　sun。　only　the　rudderless　can　sail　the　greater　sea。　only　he　who　is　dark　with　the　night　shall　wake　with　the　dawn；　and　only　he　who　sleeps　with　the　roots　under　the　snow　shall　reach　the　spring。

〃for　you　are　even　like　roots；　and　like　roots　are　you　simple；　yet　you　have　wisdom　from　the　earth。　and　you　are　silent；　yet　you　have　within　your　unborn　branches　the　choir　of　the　four　winds。

〃you　are　frail　and　you　are　formless；　yet　you　are　the　beginning　of　giant　oaks；　and　of　the　half…pencilled　patterned　of　the　willows　against　the　sky。

〃once　more　i　say；　you　are　but　roots　betwixt　the　dark　sod　and　the　moving　heavens。　and　oftentimes　have　i　seen　you　rising　to　dance　with　the　light；　but　i　have　also　seen　you　shy。　all　roots　are　shy。　they　have　hidden　their　hearts　so　long　that　they　know　not　what　to　do　with　their　hearts。

〃but　may　shall　e；　and　may　is　a　restless　virgin；　and　she　shall　mother　the　hills　and　plains。〃

and　one　who　had　served　in　the　temple　besought　him　saying：　〃teach　us；　master；　that　our　words　may　be　even　as　your　words；　a　chant　and　an　incense　unto　the　people。〃

and　almustafa　answered　and　said：　〃you　shall　rise　beyond　your　words；　but　your　path　shall　remain；　a　rhythm　and　a　fragrance；　a　rhythm　for　lovers　and　for　all　who　are　beloved；　and　a　fragrance　for　those　who　would　live　life　in　a　garden。

〃but　you　shall　rise　beyond　your　words　to　a　summit　whereon　the　star…dust　falls；　and　you　shall　open　your　hands　until　they　are　filled；　then　you　shall　lie　down　and　sleep　like　a　white　fledgling　in　a　white　nest；　and　you　shall　dream　of　your　tomorrow　as　white　violets　dream　of　spring。

〃ay；　and　you　shall　go　down　deeper　than　your　words。　you　shall　seek　the　lost　fountain…heads　of　the　streams；　and　you　shall　be　a　hidden　cave　echoing　the　faint　voices　of　the　depths　which　now　you　do　not　even　hear。

〃you　shall　go　down　deeper　than　your　words；　ay；　deeper　than　all　sounds；　to　the　very　heart　of　the　earth；　and　there　you　shall　be　alone　with　him　who　walks　also　upon　the　milky　way。〃

and　after　a　space　one　of　the　disciples　asked　him　saying：　〃master；　speak　to　us　of　being。　what　is　it　to　be？〃

and　almustafa　looked　long　upon　him　and　loved　him。　and　he　stood　up　and　walked　a　distance　away　from　them；　then　returning；　he　said：　〃in　this　garden　my　father　and　my　mother　lie；　buried　by　the　hands　of　the　living；　and　in　this　garden　lie　buried　the　seeds　of　yesteryear；　bought　hither　upon　the　wings　of　the　wind。　a　thousand　times　shall　my　mother　and　my　father　be　buried　here；　and　a　thousand　times　shall　the　wind　bury　the　seed；　and　a　thousand　years　hence　shall　you　and　i　and　these　flowers　e　together　in　this　garden　even　as　now；　and　we　shall　be；　loving　life；　and　we　shall　be；　dreaming　of　space；　and　we　shall　be；　rising　towards　the　sun。

〃but　now　today　to　be　is　to　be　wise；　though　not　a　stranger　to　the　foolish；　it　is　to　be　strong；　but　not　to　the　undoing　of　the　weak；　to　play　with　young　children；　not　as　fathers；　but　rather　as　playmates　who　would　learn　their　games；

〃to　be　simple　and　guileless　with　old　men　and　women；　and　to　sit　with　them　in　the　shade　of　the　ancient　oak…trees；　though　you　are　still　walking　with　spring；

〃to　seek　a　poet　though　he　may　live　beyond　the　seven　rivers；　and　to　be　at　peace　in　his　presence；　nothing　wanting；　nothing　doubting；　and　with　no　question　upon　your　lips；

〃to　know　that　the　saint　and　the　sinner　are　twin　brothers；　whose　father　is　our　gracious　king；　and　that　one　was　born　but　the　moment　before　the　other；　wherefore　we　regard　his　as　the　crowned　prince；

〃to　follow　beauty　even　when　she　shall　lead　you　to　the　verge　of　the　precipice；　and　though　she　is　winged　and　you　are　wingless；　and　though　she　shall　pass　beyond　the　verge；　follow　her；　for　where　beauty　is　not；　there　is　nothing；

〃to　be　a　garden　without　walls；　a　vineyard　without　a　guardian；　a　treasure…house　for　ever　open　to　passers…by；

〃to　be　robbed；　cheated；　deceived；　ay；　misled　and　trapped　and　then　mocked；　yet　with　it　all　to　look　down　from　the　height　of　your　larger　self　and　smile；　knowing　that　there　is　spring　that　will　e　to　your　garden　to　dance　in　your　leaves；　and　an　autumn　to　ripen　your　grapes；　knowing　that　if　but　one　of　your　windows　is　open　to　the　east；　you　shall　never　be　empty；　knowing　that　all　those　deemed　wrongdoers　and　robbers；　cheaters　and　deceivers　are　your　brothers　in　need；　and　that　you　are　perchance　all　of　these　in　the　eyes　of　the　blessed　inhabitants　of　that　city　invisible；　above　this　city。

〃and　now；　to　you　also　whose　hands　fashion　and　find　all　things　that　are　needful　for　the　fort　of　our　days　and　our　nights—

〃to　be　is　to　be　a　weaver　with　seeing　fingers；　a　builder　mindful　of　light　and　space；　to　be　a　ploughman　and　feel　that　you　are　hiding　a　treasure　with　every　seed　you　sow；　to　be　a　fisherman　and　a　hunter　with　a　pity　for　the　fish　and　for　the　beast；　yet　a　still　greater　pity　for　the　hunger　and　need　of　man。

〃and；　above　all；　i　say　this：　i　would　have　you　each　and　every　one　partners　to　the　purpose　of　every　man；　for　only　so　shall　you　hope　to　obtain　your　own　good　purpose。

〃my　rades　and　my　beloved；　be　bold　and　not　meek；　be　spacious　and　not　confined；　and　until　my　final　hour　and　yours　be　indeed　your　greater　self。〃

and　he　ceased　speaking　and　there　fell　a　deep　gloom　upon　the　nine；　and　their　heart　was　turned　away　from　him；　for　they　understood　not　his　words。

and　behold；　the　three　men　who　were　mariners　longed　for　the　sea；　and　they　who　had　served　in　the　temple　yearned　for　the　consolation　of　her　sanctuary；　and　they　who　had　been　his　playfellows　desired　the　market…place。　they　all　were　deaf　to　his　words；　so　that　the　sound　of　them　returned　unto　him　like　weary　and　homeless　birds　seeking　refuge。

and　almustafa　walked　a　distance　from　them　in　the　garden；　saying　nothing；　nor　looking　upon　them。

and　they　began　to　reason　among　themselves　and　to　seek　excuse　for　their　longing　to　be　gone。

and　behold；　they　turned　and　went　every　man　to　his　own　place；　so　that　almustafa；　the　chosen　and　the　beloved；　was　left　alone。

and　when　the　night　was　fully　e；　he　took　his　steps　to　the　grave…side　of　his　mother　and　sat　beneath　the　cedar…tree　which　grew　above　the　place。　and　there　came　the　shadow　of　a　great　light　upon　the　sky；　and　the　garden　shone　like　a　fair　jewel　upon　the　breast　of　earth。

and　almustafa　cried　out　in　the　aloneness　of　his　spirit；　and　he　said：

〃heavy…laden　is　my　soul　with　her　own　ripe　fruit。　who　is　there　would　e　and　take　and　be　satisfied？　is　there　not　one　who　has　fasted　and　who　is　kindly　and　generous　in　heart；　to　e　and　break　his　fast　upon　my　first　yieldings　to　the　sun　and　thus　ease　me　of　the　weight　of　mine　own　abundance？

〃my　soul　is　running　over　with　the　wine　of　the　ages。　is　there　no　thirsty　one　to　e　and　drink？

〃behold；　there　was　a　man　standing　at　the　cross…roads　with　hands　stretched　forth　unto　the　passers…by；　and　his　hands　were　filled　with　jewels。　and　he　called　upon　the　passers…by；　saying：　pity　me；　and　take　from　me。　in　gods　name；　take　out　of　my　hands　and　console　me。

〃but　the　passers…by　only　looked　upon　him；　and　none　took　out　of　his　hand。

〃would　rather　that　he　were　a　beggar　stretching　forth　his　hand　to　receive—ay；　a　shivering　hand；　and　brought　back　empty　to　his　bosom—than　to　stretch　it　forth　full　of　rich　gifts　and　find　none　to　receive。

〃and　behold；　there　was　also　the　gracious　prince　who　raised　up　his　silken　tents　between　the　mountain　and　the　desert　and　bade　his　servants　to　burn　fire；　a　sign　to　the　stranger　and　the　wanderer；　and　who　sent　forth　his　slaves　to　watch　the　road　that　they　might　fetch　a　guest。　but　the　roads　and　the　paths　of　the　desert　were　unyielding；　and　they　found　no　one。

〃would　rather　that　prince　were　a　man　of　nowhere　and　nowhen；　seeking　food　and　shelter。　would　that　he　were　the　wanderer　with　naught　but　his　staff　and　an　earthen　vessel。　for　then　at　nightfall　would　he　meet　with　his　kind；　and　with　the　poets　of　nowhere　and　nowhen；　and　share