先知国_纪伯伦_-第7章
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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 their beggary and their remembrances and their dreaming。
〃and behold； the daughter of the great king rose from sleep and put upon her silken raiment and her pearls and rubies； and she scattered musk upon her hair and dipped her fingers in amber。 then she descended from her tower to her garden； where the dew of night found her golden sandals。
〃in the stillness of the night the daughter of a ploughman； tending his sheep in a field； and returning to her fathers house at eventide with the dust of the curving roads upon her feet； and the fragrance of the vineyards in the folds of her garment。
and when the night is e； and the angel of the night is upon the world； she would steal her steps to the river…valley where her lover awaits。
〃would that she were a nun in a cloister burning her heart for incense； that her heart may rise to the wind； and exhausting her spirit； a candle； for a light arising toward the greater light； together with all those who worship and those who love and are beloved。
〃would rather that she were a woman ancient of years； sitting in the sun and remembering who had shared her youth。〃
and the night waxed deep； and almustafa was dark with the night； and his spirit was as a cloud unspent。 and he cried again：
〃heavy…laden is my soul with her own ripe fruit；
heavy…laden is my soul with her fruit。
who now will e and eat and be fulfilled？
my soul is overflowing with her wine。
who now will pour and drink and be cooled of the desert heat？
〃would that i were a tree flowerless and fruitless；
for the pain of abundance is more bitter than barrenness；
and the sorrow of the rich from whom no one will take
is greater than the grief of the beggar to whom none would give。
〃would that i were a well； dry and parched ； and men throwing stones into me；
for this were better and easier to be borne than to be a source of living water
when men pass by and will not drink。
〃would that i were a reed trodden under foot；
for that were better than to be a lyre of silvery strings
in a house whose lord has no fingers
and whose children are deaf。〃
now； for seven days and seven nights no man came nigh the garden； and he was alone with is memories and his pain； for even those who had heard his words with love and patience had turned away to the pursuits of other days。
only karima came； with silence upon her face like a veil； and with cup and plate within her hand； drink and meat for his aloneness and his hunger。 and after setting these before him； she walked her way。
and almustafa came again to the pany of the white poplars within the gate； and he sat looking upon the road。 and after a while he beheld as it were a cloud of dust blown above the road and ing toward him。 and from out the cloud came the nine； and before them karima guiding them。
and almustafa advanced and met them upon the road； and they passed through the gate； and all was well； as though they had gone their path but an hour ago。
they came in and supped with him at his frugal board； after that karima had laid upon it the bread and the fish and poured the last of the wine into the cups。 and as she poured； she besought the master saying： 〃give me leave that i go into the city and fetch wine to replenish your cups； for this is spent。〃
and he looked upon her； and in his eyes were a journey and a far country； and he said： 〃nay； for it is sufficient unto the hour。〃
and they ate and drank and were satisfied。 and when it was finished； almustafa spoke in a vast voice； deep as the sea and full as a great tide under the moon； and he said： 〃my rades and my road…fellows； we must needs part this day。 long have we climbed the steepest mountains and we have wrestled with the storms。 we have known hunger； but we have also sat at wedding…feasts。 oftentimes have we been naked； but we have also worn kingly raiment。 we have indeed travelled far； but now we part。 together you shall go your way； and alone must i go mine。
〃and though the seas and the vast lands shall separate us； still we shall be panions upon our journey to the holy mountain。
〃but before we go our severed roads； i would give unto you the harvest and the gleaning of my heart：
〃go you upon your way with singing； but let each song be brief； for only the songs that die young upon your lips shall live in human hearts。 〃tell a lovely truth in little words； but never an ugly truth in any words。 tell the maiden whose hair shines in the sun that she is the daughter of the morning。 but if you shall behold the sightless； say not to him that he is one with night。
〃listen to the flute…player as it were listening to april； but if you shall hear the critic and the fault…finder speak； be deaf as your own bones and as distant as your fancy。
〃my rades and my beloved； upon your way you shall meet men with hoofs； give them your wings。 and men with horns； give them wreaths of laurel。 and men with claws； give them petals for fingers。 and men with forked tongues； give them honey words。
〃ay； you shall meet all these and more； you shall meet the lame selling crutches； and the blind； mirrors。 and you shall meet the rich men begging at the gate of the temple。
〃to the lame give your swiftness； to the blind of your vision； and see that you give of yourself to the rich beggars； they are the most needy of all； for surely no man would stretch a hand for alms unless he be poor indeed； though of great possessions。
〃my rades and my friends； i charge you by our love that you be countless paths which cross one another in the desert； where the lions and the rabbits walk； and also the wolves and the sheep。
〃and remember this of me： i teach you not giving； but receiving； not denial； but fulfilment； and not yielding； but understanding； with the smile upon the lips。
〃i teach you not silence； but rather a song not over…loud。
〃i teach you your larger self； which contains all men。〃
and he rose from the board and went out straightway into the garden and walked under the shadow of the cypress…trees as the day waned。 and they followed him； at a little distance； for their heart was heavy； and their tongue clave to the roof of their mouth。
only karima； after she had put by the fragments； came unto him and said： 〃master； i would that you suffer me to prepare food against the morrow and your journey。〃
and he looked upon her with eyes that saw other worlds that this； and he said： 〃my sister； and my beloved； it is done； even from the beginning of time。 the food and the drink is ready； for the morrow； even as for our yesterday and our today。
〃i go； but if i go with a truth not yet voiced； that very truth will again seek me and gather me； though my elements be scattered throughout the silences of eternity； and again shall i e before you that i may speak with a voice born anew out of the heart of those boundless silences。
〃and if there be aught of beauty that i have declared not unto you； then once again shall i be called； ay； even by mine own name； almustafa； and i shall give you a sign； that you may know i have e back to speak all that is lacking； for god will not suffer hi
