爱尔美差又说，夫子，婚姻怎样讲呢？

他回答说：

你们一块儿出世，也要永远合一。

在死的白翼隔绝你们的岁月的时候，他们也要合一。

噫，连在静默地忆想上帝之时，你们也要合一。

不过在你们合一之中，要有间隙。

让天风在你们中间舞荡。

彼此相爱，但不要做成爱的系链：

只让他在你们灵魂的沙岸中间，做一个流动的海。

彼此斟满了杯，却不要在同一杯中啜饮。

彼此递赠着面包，却不要在同一块上取食。

快乐地在一处舞唱，却仍让彼此静独，

连琴上的那些弦子也是单独的，虽然他们在同一的音调中颤动。

彼此赠献你们的心，却不要互相保留。

因为只有生命的手，才能把持你们的心。

要站在一处，却不要太密迩：

因为殿里的柱子，也是分立在两旁，

橡树和松柏，也不在彼此的荫中生长。

03

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.