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ity of orphalese； and of that land wherein you tarried those twelve years。〃
and almustafa was silent； and he looked away towards the hills and toward the vast ether； and there was a battle in his silence。
then he said： 〃my friends and my road…fellows； pity the nation that is full of beliefs and empty of religion。
〃pity the nation that wears a cloth it does not weave； eats a bread it does not harvest； and drinks a wine that flows not from its own winepress。
〃pity the nation that acclaims the bully as hero； and that deems the glittering conqueror bountiful。
〃pity the nation that despises a passion in its dream； yet submits in its awakening。
〃pity the nation that raises not its voice save when it walks in a funeral； boasts not except when its neck is laid between the sword and the block。
〃pity the nation whose statesman is a fox； whose philosopher is a juggle； and whose art is the art of patching and mimicking。
〃pity the nation that weles its new ruler with trumpetings； and farewells him with hootings； only to wele another with trumpetings again。
〃pity the nation whose sages are dumb with years and whose strong men are yet in the cradle。
〃pity the nation divided into fragments； each fragment deeming itself a nation。〃
wＷ w。xia oshuotxＴ。
The Garden Of The Prophet （2）
．小．说．．t．xt．天．堂．
the garden of the prophet （2）
and one said： 〃speak to us of that which is moving in your own heart even now。〃
and he looked upon that one； and there was in his voice a sound like a star singing； and he said： 〃in your waking dream； when you are hushed and listening to your deeper self； your thoughts； like snow… flakes； fall and flutter and garment all the sounds of your spaces with white silence。
〃and what are waking dreams but clouds that bud and blossom on the sky…tree of your heart？ and what are your thoughts but the petals which the winds of your heart scatter upon the hills and its fields？
〃and even as you wait for peace until the formless within you takes form； so shall the cloud gather and drift until the blessed fingers shape its grey desire to little crystal suns and moons and stars。〃
then sarkis； he who was the half…doubter； spoke and said： 〃but spring shall e； and all the snows of our dreams and our thoughts shall melt and be no more。〃
and he answered saying： 〃when spring es to seek his beloved amongst the slumbering groves and vineyards； the snows shall indeed melt and shall run in streams to seek the river in the valley； to be the cup…bearer to the myrtle…trees and laurel。
〃so shall the snow of your heart melt when your spring is e； and thus shall your secret run in streams to seek the river of life in the valley。 and the river shall enfold your secret and carry it to the great sea。
〃all things shall melt and turn into songs when spring es。 even the stars； the vast snow…flakes that fall slowly upon the larger fields； shall melt into singing streams。 when the sun of his face shall rise above the wider horizon； then what frozen symmetry would not turn into liquid melody？ and who among you would not be the cup…bearer to the myrtle and the laurel？
〃it was but yesterday that you were moving with the moving sea； and you were shoreless and without a self。 then the wind； the breath of life； wove you； a veil of light on her face； then her hand gathered you and gave you form； and with a head held high you sought the heights。 but the sea followed after you； and her song is still with you。 and though you have forgotten your parentage； she will for ever assert her motherhood； and for ever will she call you unto her。
〃in your wanderings among the mountains and the desert you will always remember the depth of her cool heart。 and though oftentimes you will not know for what you long； it is indeed for her vast and rhythmic peace。
〃and how else can it be？ in grove and in bower when the rain dances in leaves upon the hill； when snow falls； a blessing and a covenant； in the valley when you lead your flocks to the river； in your fields where brooks； like silver streams。 join together the green garment； in your gardens when the early dews mirror the heavens； in your meadows when the mist of evening half veils your way； in all these the sea is with you； a witness to your heritage； and a claim upon your love。
〃it is the snow…flake in you running down to the sea。〃
and on a morning as they walked in the garden； there appeared before the gate a woman； and it was karima； she whom almustafa had loved even as a sister in his boyhood。 and she stood without； asking nothing； nor knocking with her hand upon the gate； but only gazing with longing and sadness into the garden。
and almustafa saw the desire upon her eyelids； and with swift steps he came to the wall and the gate and opened unto her； and she came in and was made wele。
and she spoke and said： 〃wherefore have you withdrawn yourself from us altogether； that we may not live in the light of your countenance？ for behold； these many years have we loved you and waited with longing for your safe return。 and now the people cry for you and would have speech with you； and i am their messenger e to beseech you that you will show yourself to the people； and speak to them out of your wisdom； and fort the broken of heart and instruct our foolishness。〃
and looking upon her； he said： 〃call me not wise unless you call all men wise。 a young fruit am i； still clinging to the branch； and it was only yesterday that i was but a blossom。
〃and call none among you foolish； for in truth we are neither wise nor foolish。 we are green leaves upon the tree of life； and life itself is beyond wisdom； and surely beyond foolishness。
〃and have i indeed withdrawn myself from you？ know you not that there is no distance save that which the soul does not span in fancy？ and when the soul shall span that distance； it bees a rhythm in the soul。
〃the space that lies between you and your near neighbour unbefriended is indeed greater than that which lies between you and your beloved who dwells beyond seven lands and seven seas。
〃for in remembrance there are no distances； and only in oblivion is there a gulf that neither your voice nor your eye can abridge。
〃between the shores of the oceans and the summit of the highest mountain there is a secret road which you must needs travel ere you bee one with the sons of earth。
〃and between your knowledge and your understanding there is a secret path which you must needs discover ere you bee one with man； and therefore one with yourself。
〃between your right hand that gives and your left hand that receives there is a great space。 only by deeming them both giving and receiving can you bring them into spacelessness； for it is only in knowing that you have naught to give and naught to receive that you can overe space。
〃verily the vastest distance is that which lies between your sleep…vision and your wakefulness； and between that which is but a deed and that which is a desire。
〃and there is still another road which you must needs travel ere you bee one with life。 but of that road i shall not speak now； seeing that you are weary already of travelling。〃
then he went forth with the woman； he and the