水瓶面面書寫幸福

愛爾美查再次說： 大師，那麼關於婚姻又是如何？

他回答道：

你們一同出生，而且永遠相伴。

當死亡白色的羽翼掠過你們的生命時，你們將會合一。

是的，甚至在神靜默的記憶中，你們也在一起。

但要在你們的依偎裡留有餘地，

讓天堂的風兒在你們中間舞蹈。

彼此相愛，卻不要讓愛成為束縛；

讓它成為湧動在你們魂靈岸間的大海。

要斟滿每個人的杯盞卻不是從一只中啜飲。

將你的麵包送給另外一個，而不是從同一片上分食。

一起快樂地唱歌跳舞，但要讓你們中的每個人都能獨立。

即使是豎琴上的琴弦也是獨立的，儘管它們在同一首樂曲中震顫。

給出你的心靈，但不是要交給對方保留。

因為只有生活之手才能容納你們的心靈。

要站在一起卻不能靠得太近，

因為廳堂裡的廊柱是分開而立，

而橡樹和松柏也不能在彼此的樹蔭裡生長。

—語出紀伯倫《先知》，譯者／王立
 

THEN Almitra spoke again, And what of Marriage, master?

And he answered saying:

You were born together, and together you shall be for evermore.

You shall be together when the white wings of death scatter your days.

Aye, you shall be together even in the silent memory of God.

But let there be spaces in your togetherness.

And let the winds of the heavens dance between you.

Love one another, but make not a bond of love;

Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls.

Fill each other’s cup but drink not from one cup.

Give one another of your bread but eat not from the same loaf.

Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let each one of you be alone,

Even as the strings of a lute are alone though they quiver with the same music.

Give your hearts, but not into each other’s keeping.

For only the hand of Life can contain your hearts.

And stand together yet not too near together,

For the pillars of the temple stand apart,

And the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other’s shadow.

---Kahlil Gibran, The Prophet