於是愛爾美差說：請給我們談愛。
他舉頭望著民眾，他們一時靜默了。他用洪亮的聲音說：
當愛向你們召喚的時候，跟隨著他，雖然他的路程艱險而陡峻。
當他的翅翼圍卷你們的時候，屈服於他，雖然那藏在羽翮中間的劍刃許會傷毀你們。
當他對你們說話的時候，信從他，雖然他的聲音也許會把你們的夢魂擊碎，如同北風吹荒了林園。
愛雖給你加冠，他也要將你釘在十字架上。他雖栽培你，他也刈剪你。
他雖升到你的最高處，撫惜你在日中顫動的枝葉，他也要降到你的根下，搖動你的根柢的一切關節，使之歸土。
如同一捆稻粟，他把你束聚起來。
他舂打你使你赤裸。
他篩分你使你脫去皮殼。
他磨碾你直至潔白。他揉搓你直至柔韌；
然後他送你到他的聖火上去，使你成為上帝聖筵上的聖餅。
這些都是愛要給你們做的事情，使你知道自己心中的秘密，在這知識中你便成了「生命心」中的一屑。
假如你在你的疑懼中，只尋求愛的和平與逸樂，那不如掩蓋你的裸露，而躲過愛的篩打，
而走入那沒有季候的世界，在那裡你將歡笑，卻不是盡量的笑悅；你將哭泣，卻沒有流乾了眼淚。
愛除自身外無施與，除自身外無接受。
愛不佔有，也不被佔有。
因為愛在愛中滿足了。
當你愛的時候，你不要說，「上帝在我的心中」，卻要說，「我在上帝的心裡。」
不要想你能導引愛的路程，因為若是他覺得你配，他就導引你。
愛沒有別的願望，只要成全自己。
但若是你愛，而且需求願望，就讓以下的做你的願望罷：溶化了你自己，像溪流般對清夜吟唱著歌曲。
要知道過度溫存的痛苦。
讓你對愛的瞭解毀傷了你自己；而且甘願地喜樂地流血。
清晨醒起，以喜颺的心來致謝這愛的又一日；
日中靜息，默念愛的濃歡；
晚潮退時，感謝地回家；
然後在睡時祈禱，因為有被愛者在你的心中，有讚美之歌在你的唇上。
■ 彼此戀愛，卻不要做愛的系鏈。
■ 當你愛的時候，你不要說「上帝在我心中」，卻要說「我在上帝的心裡」
02
On Love
A Then said Almitra, "Speak to us of Love." And he raised his head and looked upon the people, and there fell a stillness upon them. And with a great voice he said:
When love beckons to you follow him.
Though his ways are hard and steep.
And when his wings enfold you yield to him.
Though the sword hidden among his pinions may wound you.
And when he speaks to you believe in him.
Though his voice may shatter your dreams as the north wind lays waste the garden.
For even as love crowns you so shall he crucify you. Even as he is for your growth so is he for your pruning.
Even as he ascends to your height and caresses your tenderest branches that quiver in the sun,
So shall he descend to your roots and shake them in their clinging to the earth.
Like sheaves of corn he gathers you unto himself.
He threshes you to make you naked.
He sifts you to free you from your husks.
He grinds you to whiteness.
He kneads you until you are pliant;
And then he assigns you to his sacred fire, that you may become sacred bread for God's sacred feast.
All these things shall love do unto you that you may know the secrets of your heart, and in that knowledge become a fragment of Life's heart.
But if in your fear you would seek only love's peace and love's pleasure.
Then it is better for you that you cover your nakedness and pass out of love's threshing-floor,
Into the seasonless world where you shall laugh, but not all of your laughter, and weep, but not all of your tears.
Love gives naught but itself and takes naught but from itself.
Love possesses not nor would it be possessed;
For love is sufficient unto love.
When you love you should not say, "God is in my heart," but rather, I am in the heart of God."
And think not you can direct the course of love, for love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course.
Love has no other desire but to fulfil itself.
But if you love and must needs have desires, let these be your desires:
To melt and be like a running brook that sings its melody to the night.
To know the pain of too much tenderness.
To be wounded by your own understanding of love;
And to bleed willingly and joyfully.
To wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving;
To rest at the noon hour and meditate love's ecstasy;
To return home at eventide with gratitude;
And then to sleep with a prayer for the beloved in your heart and a song of praise upon your lips.
