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.
当爱召唤你时,请追随她,尽管爱的道路艰难险峻。当爱的羽翼拥抱你时,请顺从她,尽管隐藏在其羽翼之下的剑可能会伤到你。当爱向你诉说时,请相信她,尽管她的声音可能打破你的梦想,就如同北风吹落花园里所有的花瓣。
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 our roots and shake them in their clinging to the earth.
爱会给你戴上桂冠,也会折磨你。爱会助你成长,也会给你修枝。爱会上升到枝头,抚爱你在阳光下颤动力的嫩枝,也会下潜至根部,撼动力你紧抓泥土的根基。
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 it self and takes naught but from itself. Love possesses not, nor would it be possessed, for love is sufficient unto love.
但是,如果你在恐惧之中只想寻求爱的平和与快乐,那你就最好掩盖真实的自我,避开爱的考验,进入不分季节的世界,在那里你将欢笑,但并非开怀大笑,你将哭泣,但并非尽情地哭。爱只将自己付出,也只得到自己。爱一无所有,也不会为谁所有,因为爱本身就已自足。