先知国_纪伯伦_-第6章

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azed　and　follow　her　in　wonder　and　astonishment。〃

and　he　ceased　from　speaking；　and　a　vast　silence　enfolded　the　people；　and　in　the　silence　there　was　an　unheard　song；　and　they　were　forted　of　their　loneliness　and　their　aching。

and　he　left　them　straightway　and　followed　the　path　which　led　to　his　garden；　which　was　the　garden　of　his　mother　and　his　father；　wherein　they　lay　asleep；　they　and　their　forefathers。

and　there　were　those　who　would　have　followed　after　him；　seeing　that　it　was　a　home…ing；　and　he　was　alone；　for　there　was　not　one　left　of　all　his　kin　to　spread　the　feast　of　wele；　after　the　manner　of　his　people。

but　the　captain　of　his　ship　counselled　them　saying：　〃suffer　him　to　go　upon　his　way。　for　his　bread　is　the　bread　of　aloneness；　and　in　his　cup　is　the　wine　of　remembrance；　which　he　would　drink　alone。〃

and　his　mariners　held　their　steps；　for　they　knew　it　was　even　as　the　captain　of　the　ship　had　told　them。　and　all　those　who　gathered　upon　the　sea…wall　restrained　the　feet　of　their　desire。

only　karima　went　after　him；　a　little　way；　yearning　over　his　aloneness　and　his　memories。　and　she　spoke　not；　but　turned　and　went　unto　her　own　house；　and　in　the　garden　under　the　almond…tree　she　wept；　yet　she　knew　not　wherefore。

and　almustafa　came　and　found　the　garden　of　his　mother　and　his　father；　and　he　entered　in；　and　closed　the　gate　that　no　man　might　e　after　him。

and　for　forty　days　and　forty　nights　he　dwelt　alone　in　that　house　and　that　garden；　and　none　came；　not　even　unto　the　gate；　for　it　was　closed；　and　all　the　people　knew　that　he　would　be　alone。

and　when　the　forty　days　and　nights　were　ended；　almustafa　opened　the　gate　that　they　might　e　in。

and　there　came　nine　men　to　be　with　him　in　the　garden；　three　mariners　from　his　own　ship；　three　who　had　been　his　rades　in　play　when　they　were　but　children　together。　and　these　were　his　disciples。

and　on　a　morning　his　disciples　sat　around　him；　and　there　were　distances　and　remembrances　in　his　eyes。　and　that　disciple　who　was　called　hafiz　said　unto　him：　〃master；　tell　us　of　the　city　of　orphalese；　and　of　that　land　wherein　you　tarried　those　twelve　years。〃

and　almustafa　was　silent；　and　he　looked　away　towards　the　hills　and　toward　the　vast　ether；　and　there　was　a　battle　in　his　silence。

then　he　said：　〃my　friends　and　my　road…fellows；　pity　the　nation　that　is　full　of　beliefs　and　empty　of　religion。

〃pity　the　nation　that　wears　a　cloth　it　does　not　weave；　eats　a　bread　it　does　not　harvest；　and　drinks　a　wine　that　flows　not　from　its　own　winepress。

〃pity　the　nation　that　acclaims　the　bully　as　hero；　and　that　deems　the　glittering　conqueror　bountiful。

〃pity　the　nation　that　despises　a　passion　in　its　dream；　yet　submits　in　its　awakening。

〃pity　the　nation　that　raises　not　its　voice　save　when　it　walks　in　a　funeral；　boasts　not　except　when　its　neck　is　laid　between　the　sword　and　the　block。

〃pity　the　nation　whose　statesman　is　a　fox；　whose　philosopher　is　a　juggle；　and　whose　art　is　the　art　of　patching　and　mimicking。

〃pity　the　nation　that　weles　its　new　ruler　with　trumpetings；　and　farewells　him　with　hootings；　only　to　wele　another　with　trumpetings　again。

〃pity　the　nation　whose　sages　are　dumb　with　years　and　whose　strong　men　are　yet　in　the　cradle。

〃pity　the　nation　divided　into　fragments；　each　fragment　deeming　itself　a　nation。〃

wＷ　w。xia　oshuotxＴ。



The　Garden　Of　The　Prophet　（2）

．小．说．．t．xt．天．堂．
the　garden　of　the　prophet　（2）　

and　one　said：　〃speak　to　us　of　that　which　is　moving　in　your　own　heart　even　now。〃

and　he　looked　upon　that　one；　and　there　was　in　his　voice　a　sound　like　a　star　singing；　and　he　said：　〃in　your　waking　dream；　when　you　are　hushed　and　listening　to　your　deeper　self；　your　thoughts；　like　snow…　flakes；　fall　and　flutter　and　garment　all　the　sounds　of　your　spaces　with　white　silence。

〃and　what　are　waking　dreams　but　clouds　that　bud　and　blossom　on　the　sky…tree　of　your　heart？　and　what　are　your　thoughts　but　the　petals　which　the　winds　of　your　heart　scatter　upon　the　hills　and　its　fields？

〃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