先知国_纪伯伦_-第6章

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〃when　darkness　is　upon　you；　say：　this　darkness　is　dawn　not　yet　born；　and　though　nights　travail　be　full　upon　me；　yet　shall　dawn　be　born　unto　me　even　as　unto　the　hills。

〃the　dewdrop　rounding　its　sphere　in　the　dusk　of　the　lily　is　not　unlike　yourself　gathering　your　soul　in　the　heart　of　god。

〃shall　a　dewdrop　say：　but　once　in　a　thousand　years　i　am　a　dewdrop；　speak　you　and　answer　it　saying：　know　you　not　that　the　light　of　all　the　years　is　shining　in　your　circle？　〃

and　on　an　evening　a　great　storm　visited　the　place；　and　almustafa　and　his　disciples；　the　nine；　went　within　and　sat　about　the　fire　and　were　silent。

then　one　of　the　disciples　said：　〃i　am　alone；　master；　and　the　hoofs　of　the　hours　beat　heavily　upon　my　breast。〃

and　almustafa　rose　up　and　stood　in　their　midst；　and　he　said　in　a　voice　like　unto　the　sound　of　a　great　wind：　〃alone！　and　what　of　it？　you　came　alone；　and　alone　shall　you　pass　into　the　mist。

〃therefore　drink　your　cup　alone　and　in　silence。　the　autumn　days　have　given　other　lips　other　cups　and　filled　them　with　wine　bitter　and　sweet；　even　as　they　have　filled　your　cup。

〃drink　your　cup　alone　though　it　taste　of　your　own　blood　and　tears；　and　praise　life　for　the　gift　of　thirst。　for　without　thirst　your　heart　is　but　the　shore　of　a　barren　sea；　songless　and　without　a　tide。

〃drink　your　cup　alone；　and　drink　it　with　cheers。

〃raise　it　high　above　your　head　and　drink　deep　to　those　who　drink　alone。

〃once　i　sought　the　pany　of　men　and　sat　with　them　at　their　banquet…tables　and　drank　deep　with　them；　but　their　wine　did　not　rise　to　my　head；　nor　did　it　flow　into　my　bosom。　it　only　descended　to　my　feet。　my　wisdom　was　left　dry　and　my　heart　was　locked　and　sealed。　only　my　feet　were　with　them　in　their　fog。

〃and　i　sought　the　pany　of　men　no　more；　nor　drank　wine　with　them　at　their　board。

〃therefore　i　say　unto　you；　though　the　hoofs　of　the　hours　beat　heavily　upon　your　bosom；　what　of　it？　it　is　well　for　you　to　drink　your　cup　of　sorrow　alone；　and　your　cup　of　joy　shall　you　drink　alone　also。〃

and　on　a　day；　as　phardrous；　the　greek；　walked　in　the　garden；　he　struck　his　foot　upon　a　stone　and　he　was　angered。　and　he　turned　and　picked　up　the　stone；　saying　in　a　low　voice：　〃o　dead　thing　in　my　path！〃　and　he　flung　away　the　stone。

and　almustafa；　the　chosen　and　the　beloved；　said：　〃why　say　you：　o　dead　thing？　have　you　been　thus　long　in　this　garden　and　know　not　that　there　is　nothing　dead　here？　all　things　live　and　glow　in　the　knowledge　of　the　day　and　the　majesty　of　the　night。　you　and　the　stone　are　one。　there　is　a　difference　only　in　heart…beats。　your　heart　beats　a　little　faster；　does　it；　my　friend？　ay；　but　it　is　not　so　tranquil。

〃its　rhythm　may　be　another　rhythm；　but　i　say　unto　you　that　if　you　sound　the　depths　of　your　soul　and　scale　the　heights　of　space；　you　shall　hear　one　melody；　and　in　that　melody　the　stone　and　the　star　sing；　the　one　with　the　other；　in　perfect　unison。

〃if　my　words　reach　not　your　understanding；　then　let　be　until　another　dawn。　if　you　have　cursed　this　stone　because　in　your　blindness　you　have　stumbled　upon　it；　then　would　you　curse　a　star　if　so　be　your　head　should　encounter　it　in　the　sky。　but　the　day　will　e　when　you　will　gather　stones　and　stars　as　a　child　plucks　the　valley…lilies；　and　then　shall　you　know　that　all　these　things　are　living　and　fragrant。〃

and　on　the　first　day　of　the　week　when　the　sounds　of　the　temple　bells　sought　their　ears；　one　spoke　and　said：　〃master；　we　hear　much　talk　of　god　hereabout。　what　say　you　of　god；　and　who　is　he　in　very　truth？〃

and　he　stood　before　them　like　a　young　tree；　fearless　of　wind　or　tempest；　and　he　answered　saying：　〃think　now；　my　rades　and　beloved；　of　a　heart　that　contains　all　your　hearts；　a　love　that　enpasses　all　your　loves；　a　spirit　that　envelops　all　your　spirits；　a　voice　enfolding　all　your　voices；　and　a　silence　deeper　than　all　your　silences；　and　timeless。

〃seek　now　to　perceive　in　your　selffulness　a　beauty　more　enchanting　than　all　things　beautiful；　a　song　more　vast　than　the　songs　of　the　sea　and　the　forest；　a　majesty　seated　upon　the　throne　for　which　orion　is　but　a　footstool；　holding　a　sceptre　in　which　the　pleiades　are　naught　save　the　glimmer　of　dewdrops。

〃you　have　sought　always　only　food　and　shelter；　a　garment　and　a　staff；　seek　now　one　who　is　neither　an　aim　for　your　arrows　nor　a　stony　cave　to　shield　you　from　the　elements。

〃and　if　my　words　are　a　rock　and　a　riddle；　then　seek；　none　the　less；　that　your　hearts　may　be　broken；　and　that　your　questionings　may　bring　you　unto　the　love　and　the　wisdom　of　the　most　high；　whom　men　call　god。〃

and　they　were　silent；　every　one；　and　they　were　perplexed　in　their　heart；　and　almustafa　was　moved　with　passion　for　them；　and　he　gazed　with　tenderness　upon　them　and　said：　〃let　us　speak　rather　of　the　gods；　your　neighbours；　and　of　your　brothers；　the　elements　that　move　about　your　houses　and　your　fields。

〃you　would　rise　up　in　fancy　unto　the　cloud；　and　you　deem　it　height；　and　you　would　pass　over　the　vast　sea　and　claim　it　to　be　distance。　but　i　say　unto　you　that　when　you　sow　a　seed　in　the　earth；　you　reach　a　greater　height；　and　when　you　hail　the　beauty　of　the　morning　to　your　neighbour；　you　cross　a　greater　sea。

〃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。〃

。；



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