02愛
於是,艾蜜特拉說,跟我們說說「愛」吧。
他抬起頭,看著眾人,四周一片寂靜。
他大聲說道:
當愛召喚你時,緊隨它,雖然它的道路艱險崎嶇。
當愛的羽翼擁抱你時,依順它,雖然它翅端所藏的尖剌可能會弄傷你。
當愛開口對你說話時,相信它,雖然它的聲音會像北風傾摧花園似地震碎你的夢想。
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.
因為,愛既加冕於你,也必把你釘上十字架;愛既使你成長,也必令你受管教。
愛既上升到枝頭,撫慰著你在日光下顫動的嫩葉,也必下潛至根部,搖撼你緊抓住泥土的根節。
愛採集你們,如同農人收割一束束稻穀。
愛像打穀似地鞭出赤祼的你。
愛像篩子似地篩掉你的外穀。
愛像石磨似地磨出你的潔白。
愛更揉捏你使你柔和溫順;
而後,它把你放進神聖的火焰中,使你成為神的聖餐中的聖餅。
這些都是愛會對你做的事,使你洞悉自己內心的秘密,因著這樣的知識,成為「生命本質」的片斷。