On Marriage

Then Almitra spoke again and said, "And what of Marriage, master?"

And he answered saying:

You were born together, and together you shall be forevermore.

You shall be together when 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.

婚姻

　　艾尔梅特拉又开口问道：婚姻又是怎样的呢，大师？

　　他回答道：

　　你们一同降生，你们将永远相依。

　　当死神的白色羽翼驱散你们的日子，你们也应在一起。

　　的确，你们始终相守，即使在上帝的记忆中。

　　但在聚守中你们要保留空间，

　　让空中的风在你们之间飞舞。

　　彼此相爱，但不要让爱成为束缚；

　　让爱成为奔流于你们灵魂海岸间的大海。

　　盛满彼此的杯盏，但不要只从一只杯盏中取饮。

　　彼此互赠面包，但不要只向一块面包取食。

　　一起欢歌曼舞，但要保持各自的独立。

　　鲁特琴的琴弦也彼此分开，即使它们为同一首乐曲震颤。

　　奉献你们的心，但不要让对方保管。

　　因为只有生命之手才能接纳你们的心。

　　站立在一起，但不要靠得太近；

　　因为殿宇的支柱总是彼此分立的，

　　橡树和松柏也不在彼此的阴影下生长。

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