先知国_纪伯伦_-第5章

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〃and　even　as　you　wait　for　peace　until　the　formless　within　you　takes　form；　so　shall　the　cloud　gather　and　drift　until　the　blessed　fingers　shape　its　grey　desire　to　little　crystal　suns　and　moons　and　stars。〃

then　sarkis；　he　who　was　the　half…doubter；　spoke　and　said：　〃but　spring　shall　e；　and　all　the　snows　of　our　dreams　and　our　thoughts　shall　melt　and　be　no　more。〃

and　he　answered　saying：　〃when　spring　es　to　seek　his　beloved　amongst　the　slumbering　groves　and　vineyards；　the　snows　shall　indeed　melt　and　shall　run　in　streams　to　seek　the　river　in　the　valley；　to　be　the　cup…bearer　to　the　myrtle…trees　and　laurel。

〃so　shall　the　snow　of　your　heart　melt　when　your　spring　is　e；　and　thus　shall　your　secret　run　in　streams　to　seek　the　river　of　life　in　the　valley。　and　the　river　shall　enfold　your　secret　and　carry　it　to　the　great　sea。

〃all　things　shall　melt　and　turn　into　songs　when　spring　es。　even　the　stars；　the　vast　snow…flakes　that　fall　slowly　upon　the　larger　fields；　shall　melt　into　singing　streams。　when　the　sun　of　his　face　shall　rise　above　the　wider　horizon；　then　what　frozen　symmetry　would　not　turn　into　liquid　melody？　and　who　among　you　would　not　be　the　cup…bearer　to　the　myrtle　and　the　laurel？

〃it　was　but　yesterday　that　you　were　moving　with　the　moving　sea；　and　you　were　shoreless　and　without　a　self。　then　the　wind；　the　breath　of　life；　wove　you；　a　veil　of　light　on　her　face；　then　her　hand　gathered　you　and　gave　you　form；　and　with　a　head　held　high　you　sought　the　heights。　but　the　sea　followed　after　you；　and　her　song　is　still　with　you。　and　though　you　have　forgotten　your　parentage；　she　will　for　ever　assert　her　motherhood；　and　for　ever　will　she　call　you　unto　her。

〃in　your　wanderings　among　the　mountains　and　the　desert　you　will　always　remember　the　depth　of　her　cool　heart。　and　though　oftentimes　you　will　not　know　for　what　you　long；　it　is　indeed　for　her　vast　and　rhythmic　peace。

〃and　how　else　can　it　be？　in　grove　and　in　bower　when　the　rain　dances　in　leaves　upon　the　hill；　when　snow　falls；　a　blessing　and　a　covenant；　in　the　valley　when　you　lead　your　flocks　to　the　river；　in　your　fields　where　brooks；　like　silver　streams。　join　together　the　green　garment；　in　your　gardens　when　the　early　dews　mirror　the　heavens；　in　your　meadows　when　the　mist　of　evening　half　veils　your　way；　in　all　these　the　sea　is　with　you；　a　witness　to　your　heritage；　and　a　claim　upon　your　love。

〃it　is　the　snow…flake　in　you　running　down　to　the　sea。〃

and　on　a　morning　as　they　walked　in　the　garden；　there　appeared　before　the　gate　a　woman；　and　it　was　karima；　she　whom　almustafa　had　loved　even　as　a　sister　in　his　boyhood。　and　she　stood　without；　asking　nothing；　nor　knocking　with　her　hand　upon　the　gate；　but　only　gazing　with　longing　and　sadness　into　the　garden。

and　almustafa　saw　the　desire　upon　her　eyelids；　and　with　swift　steps　he　came　to　the　wall　and　the　gate　and　opened　unto　her；　and　she　came　in　and　was　made　wele。

and　she　spoke　and　said：　〃wherefore　have　you　withdrawn　yourself　from　us　altogether；　that　we　may　not　live　in　the　light　of　your　countenance？　for　behold；　these　many　years　have　we　loved　you　and　waited　with　longing　for　your　safe　return。　and　now　the　people　cry　for　you　and　would　have　speech　with　you；　and　i　am　their　messenger　e　to　beseech　you　that　you　will　show　yourself　to　the　people；　and　speak　to　them　out　of　your　wisdom；　and　fort　the　broken　of　heart　and　instruct　our　foolishness。〃

and　looking　upon　her；　he　said：　〃call　me　not　wise　unless　you　call　all　men　wise。　a　young　fruit　am　i；　still　clinging　to　the　branch；　and　it　was　only　yesterday　that　i　was　but　a　blossom。

〃and　call　none　among　you　foolish；　for　in　truth　we　are　neither　wise　nor　foolish。　we　are　green　leaves　upon　the　tree　of　life；　and　life　itself　is　beyond　wisdom；　and　surely　beyond　foolishness。

〃and　have　i　indeed　withdrawn　myself　from　you？　know　you　not　that　there　is　no　distance　save　that　which　the　soul　does　not　span　in　fancy？　and　when　the　soul　shall　span　that　distance；　it　bees　a　rhythm　in　the　soul。

〃the　space　that　lies　between　you　and　your　near　neighbour　unbefriended　is　indeed　greater　than　that　which　lies　between　you　and　your　beloved　who　dwells　beyond　seven　lands　and　seven　seas。

〃for　in　remembrance　there　are　no　distances；　and　only　in　oblivion　is　there　a　gulf　that　neither　your　voice　nor　your　eye　can　abridge。

〃between　the　shores　of　the　oceans　and　the　summit　of　the　highest　mountain　there　is　a　secret　road　which　you　must　needs　travel　ere　you　bee　one　with　the　sons　of　earth。

〃and　between　your　knowledge　and　your　understanding　there　is　a　secret　path　which　you　must　needs　discover　ere　you　bee　one　with　man；　and　therefore　one　with　yourself。

〃between　your　right　hand　that　gives　and　your　left　hand　that　receives　there　is　a　great　space。　only　by　deeming　them　both　giving　and　receiving　can　you　bring　them　into　spacelessness；　for　it　is　only　in　knowing　that　you　have　naught　to　give　and　naught　to　receive　that　you　can　overe　space。

〃verily　the　vastest　distance　is　that　which　lies　between　your　sleep…vision　and　your　wakefulness；　and　between　that　which　is　but　a　deed　and　that　which　is　a　desire。

〃and　there　is　still　another　road　which　you　must　needs　travel　ere　you　bee　one　with　life。　but　of　that　road　i　shall　not　speak　now；　seeing　that　you　are　weary　already　of　travelling。〃

then　he　went　forth　with　the　woman；　he　and　the　nine；　even　unto　the　market…place；　and　he　spoke　to　the　people；　his　friends　and　his　neighbours；　and　there　was　joy　in　their　hearts　and　upon　their　eyelids。

and　he　said：　〃you　grow　in　sleep；　and　live　your　fuller　life　in　you　dreaming。　for　all　your　days　are　spent　in　thanksgiving　for　that　which　you　have　received　in　the　stillness　of　the　night。

〃oftentimes　you　think　and　speak　of　night　as　the　season　of　rest；　yet　in　truth　night　is　the　season　of　seeking　and　finding。

〃the　day　gives　unto　you　the　power　of　knowledge　and　teaches　your　fingers　to　bee　versed　in　the　art　of　receiving；　but　it　is　night　that　leads　you　to　the　treasure…house　of　life。

〃the　sun　teaches　to　all　things　that　grow　their　longing　for　the　light。　but　it　is　night　that　raises　them　to　the　stars。

〃it　is　indeed　the　stillness　of　the　night　that　weaves　a　wedding…veil　over　the　trees　in　the　forest；　and　the　flowers　in　the　garden；　and　then　spreads　the　lavish　feast　and　makes　ready　the　nuptial　chamber；　and　in　that　holy　silence　tomorrow　is　conceived　in　the　womb　of　time。

thus　it　is　with　you；　and　thus；　in　seeking；　you　find　meat　and　fulfilment。　and　though　at　dawn　your　awakening　erases　the　memory；　the　board　of　dreams　is　for　ever　spread；　and　the　nuptial　chamber　waiting。〃

and　he　was　silent　for　a　space；　and　they　also；　awaiting　his　word。　then　he　spoke　again；　saying：　〃you　are　spirits　though　you　move　in　bodies；　and　like　oil　that　burns　in　the　dark；　you　are　flames　though　held　in　lamps。

〃if　you　were　naught　save　bodies；　then　my　standing　before　you　and　speaking　unto　you　would　be　but　emptiness；　even　as　the　dead　calling　unto　the　dead。　but　this　is　not　so。　all　that　is　deathless　in　you　is　free　unto　the　day　and　the　night　and　cannot　be　housed　nor　fettered；　for　this　is　the　will　of　the　most　high。　you　are　his　breath　even　as　the　wind　that　shall　be　neither　caught　nor　caged。　and　i　also　am　the　breath　of　his　breath。〃

and　he　went　from　their　midst　walking　swiftly　and　entered　again　into　the　garden。

and　sarkis；　he　who　was　the　half…doubter；　spoke　and　said：　〃and　what　of　ugliness；　master？　you　speak　never　of　ugliness。〃

and　almustafa　answered　him；　and　there　was　a　whip　in　his　words；　and　he　said：　〃my　friend；　what　man　shall　call　you　inhospitable　if　he　shall　pass　by　your　house；　yet　would　not　knock　at　your　door？

〃and　who　shall　deem　you　deaf　and　unmindful　if　he　shall　speak　to　you　in　a　strange　tongue　of　which　you　understand　nothing？

〃is　it　not　that　which　you　have　never　striven　to　reach；　into　whose　heart　you　have　never　desired　to　enter；　that　you　deem　ugliness？

〃if　ugliness　is　aught；　indeed；　it　is　but　the　scales　upon　our　eyes；　and　the　wax　filling　our　ears。

〃call　nothing　ugly；　my　friend；　save　the　fear　of　a　soul　in　the　presence　of　its　own　memories。〃

and　upon　a　day　as　they　sat　in　the　long　shadows　of　the　white　poplars；　one　spoke　saying：　〃master；　i　am　afraid　of　time。　it　passes　over　us　and　robs　us　of　our　youth；　and　what　does　it　give　in　return？〃

and　he　answered　and　said：　〃take　up　now　a　handful　of　good　earth。　do　you　find　in　it　a　seed；　and　perhaps　a　worm？　if　your　hand　were　spacious　and　enduring　enough；　the　seed　might　bee　a　forest；　and　the　worm　a　flock　of　angels。　and　forget　not　that　the　years　which　turn　seeds　to　forests；　and　worms　to　angels；　belong　to　this　now；　all　of　the　years；　this　very　now。

〃and　what　are　the　seasons　of　the　years　save　your　own　thoughts　changing？　spring　is　an　awakening　in　your　breast；　and　summer　but　a　recognition　of　your　own　fruitfulness。　is　not　autumn　the　ancient　in　you　singing　a　lullaby　to　that　which　is　still　a　child　in　your　being？　and　what；　i　ask　you；　is　winter　save　sleep　big　with　the　dreams　of　all　the　other　seasons。〃

and　the　mannus；　the　inquisitive　disciple；　looked　about　him　and　he　saw　plants　in　flower　cleaving　unto　the　sycamore…tree。　and　he　said：　〃behold　the　parasites；　master。　what　say　you　of　them？　they　are　thieves　with　weary　eyelids　who　steal　the　light　from　the　steadfast　children　of　the　sun；　and　make　fair　of　the　sap　that　runneth　into　their　branches　and　their　leaves。〃

and　he　answered　him　saying：　〃my　friend；　we　are　all　parasites。　we　who　labour　to　turn　the　sod　into　pulsing　life　are　not　above　those　who　receive　life　directly　from　the　sod　without　knowing　the　sod。

〃shall　a　mother　say　to　her　child：　i　give　you　back　to　the　forest；　which　is　your　greater　mother；　for　you　weary　me；　heart　and　hand？

〃or　shall　the　singer　rebuke　his　own　song；　saying：　return　now　to　the　cave　of　echoes　from　whence　you　came；　for　your　voice　consumes　my　breath？

〃and　shall　the　shepherd　say　to　his　yearling：　i　have　no　pasture　whereunto　i　may　lead　you；　therefore　be　cut　off　and　bee　a　sacrifice　for　this　cause？

〃nay；　my　friend；　all　these　things　are　answered　even　before　they　are　asked；　and；　like　your　dreams；　are　fulfilled　ere　you　sleep。

〃we　live　upon　one　another　according　to　the　law；　ancient　and　timeless。　let　us　live　thus　in　loving…kindness。　we　seek　one　another　in　our　aloneness；　and　we　walk　the　road　when　we　have　no　hearth　to　sit　beside。

〃my　friends　and　my　brothers；　the　wider　road　is　your　fellow…man。

〃these　plants　that　live　upon　the　tree　draw　milk　of　the　earth　in　the　sweet　stillness　of　night；　and　the　earth　in　her　tranquil　dreaming　sucks　at　the　breast　of　the　sun。

〃and　the　sun；　even　as　you　and　i　and　all　there　is；　sits　in　equal　honour　at　the　banquet　of　the　prince　whose　door　is　always　open　and　whose　board　is　always　spread。

〃mannus；　my　friend；　all　there　is　lives　always　upon　all　there　is；　and　all　there　is　lives　in　the　faith；　shoreless；　upon　the　bounty　of　the　most　high。〃

and　on　a　morning　when　the　sky　was　yet　pale　with　dawn；　they　walked　all　together　in　the　garden　and　looked　unto　the　east　and　were　silent　in　the　presence　of　the　rising　sun。

and　after　a　while　almustafa　pointed　with　his　hand；　and　said：　〃the　image　of　the　morning　sun　in　a　dewdrop　is　not　less　than　the　sun。　the　reflection　of　life　in　your　soul　is　not　less　than　life。

〃the　dewdrop　mirrors　the　light　because　it　is　one　with　light；　and　you　reflect　life　because　you　and　life　are　one。

〃when　darkness　is　upon　you；　say：　this　darkness　is　dawn　not　yet　born；　and　though　ni