《先知》选摘（3）Thenthegatesofhisheartwereflungopen?andhisjoyflewfaroverthesea.Andheclosedhiseyesandprayedinthesilencesofhissoul.Butashedescendedthehill?asadnesscameuponhim?andhethoughtinhisheart:HowshallIgoinpeaceandwithoutsorrow?Nay?notwithoutawoundinthespiritshallIleavethiscity.LongwerethedaysofpainIhavespentwithinitswalls?andlongwerethenightsofaloneness;andwhocandepartfromhispainandhisalonenesswithoutregret?ToomanyfragmentsofthespirithaveIscatteredinthesestreets?andtoomanyarethechildrenofmylongingthatwalknakedamongthesehills?andIcannotwithdrawfromthemwithoutaburdenandanache.ItisnotagarmentIcastoffthisday?butaskinthatItearwithmyownhands.NorisitathoughtIleavebehindme?butaheartmadesweetwithhungerandwiththirst.YetIcannottarrylonger.Theseathatcallsallthingsuntohercallsme?andImustembark.Fortostay?thoughthehoursburninthenight?istofreezeandcrystallizeandbeboundinamould.FainwouldItakewithmeallthatishere.ButhowshallI?Avoicecannotcarrythetongueandthelipsthatgivesitwings.Alonemustitseektheether.Andaloneandwithouthisnestshalltheeagleflyacrossthesun.Nowwhenhereachedthefootofthehill?heturnedagaintowardsthesea?andhesawhisshipapproachingtheharbour?anduponherprowthemariners?themenofhisownland.Andhissoulcriedouttothem?andhesaid:Sonsofmyancientmother?youridersofthetides.Howoftenhaveyousailedinmydreams.Andnowyoucomeinmyawakening?whichismydeeperdream.ReadyamItogo?andmyeagernesswithsailsfullsetawaitsthewind.OnlyanotherbreathwillIbreatheinthisstillair?onlyanotherlovinglookcastbackwards.AndthenIshallstandamongyou?aseafareramongseafarers.Andyou?vastsea?sleeplessmother?Whoalonearepeaceandfreedomtotheriverandthestream?Onlyanotherwindingwillthisstreammake?onlyanothermurmurinthisglade?AndthenshallIcometoyou?aboundlessdroptoaboundlessocean.Andashewalkedhesawfromafarmenandwomenleavingtheirfieldsandtheirvineyardsandhasteningtowardsthecitygates.Andheheardtheirvoicescallinghisname?andshoutingfromfieldtofieldtellingoneanotherofthecomingofhisship.Andhesaidtohimself:Shallthedayofpartingbethedayofgathering?Andshallitbesaidthatmyevewasintruthmydawn?AndwhatshallIgiveuntohimwhohaslefthisploughinmidfurrow?ortohimwhohasstoppedthewheelofhiswinepress?Shallmyheartbecomeatreeheavy?ladenwithfruitthatImaygatherandgiveuntothem?AndshallmydesiresflowlikeafountainthatImayfilltheircups?AmIaharpthatthehandofthemightymaytouchme?oraflutethathisbreathmaypassthroughme?AseekerofsilencesamI?andwhattreasurehaveIfoundinsilencesthatImaydispensewithconfidence?Ifthisismydayofharvest?inwhatfieldshaveIsowedtheseed?andinwhatunrememberedseasons?IfthisindeedbethehourinwhichIliftupmylantern?itisnotmyflamethatshallburntherein.EmptyanddarkshallIraisemylantern?Andtheguardianofthenightshallfillitwithoilandheshalllightitalso.Thesethingshesaidinwords.Butmuchinhisheartremainedunsaid.Forhehimselfcouldnotspeakhisdeepersecret.Andwhenheenteredintothecityallthepeoplecametomeethim?andtheywerecryingouttohimaswithonevoice.Andtheeldersofthecitystoodforthandsaid:Gonotyetawayfromus.Anoontidehaveyoubeeninourtwilight?andyouryouthhasgivenusdreamstodream.Nostrangerareyouamongus?noraguest?butoursonandourdearlybeloved.Suffernotyetoureyestohungerforyourface.Andthepriestsandthepriestessessaiduntohim:Letnotthewavesoftheseaseparateusnow,andtheyearsyouhavespentinourmidstbecomeamemory.Youhavewalkedamongusaspirit,andyourshadowhasbeenalightuponourfaces.Muchhavewelovedyou.Butspeechlesswasourlove,andwithveilshasitbeenveiled.Yetnowitcriesalouduntoyou,andwouldstandrevealedbeforeyou.Andeverhasitbeenthatloveknowsnotitsowndepthuntilthehourofseparation.