THEBOOKSOFKAHLILGIBRAN
TheMadman.
1918TwentyDrawings.
1919TheForerunner.
1920The
Próféta
Prophet.1923SandandFoam.
1926JesustheSonofMan.
1928TheForthGods.
1931TheWanderer.
1932TheGardenofthe
Próféta
Prophet1933ProsePoems.1934NymphsoftheValley.
THEPROPHET
Almustafa,thechosenandthebeloved,whowasadawnuntohisownday,hadwaitedtwelveyearsinthecityofOrphaleseforhisshipthatwastoreturnandbearhimbacktotheisleofhisbirth.
Andinthetwelfthyear,onthe
hetedik
seventhdayofIelool,themonthofreaping,heclimbedthehillwithoutthecitywallsandlookedseaward;andhebeheldhisshipcomingwiththe
ködben
mist.Thenthegatesofhisheartwereflungopen,andhisjoyflewfaroverthesea.
Andheclosedhiseyesandprayedinthesilencesofhissoul.
Butashedescendedthehill,a
szomorúság
sadnesscameuponhim,andhethoughtinhisheart:.HowshallIgoinpeaceandwithout
szomorúság
sorrow?Nay,notwithoutawoundinthespiritshallIleavethiscity.
LongwerethedaysofpainIhavespentwithinitswalls,andlongwerethenightsofaloneness;
andwhocandepartfromhispainandhisalonenesswithoutregret?
ToomanyfragmentsofthespirithaveIscatteredinthesestreets,andtoomanyarethechildrenofmylongingthatwalknakedamongthesehills,andIcannotwithdrawfromthemwithoutaburdenandan
fájdalom
ache.ItisnotagarmentIcastoffthisday,butaskinthatItearwithmyownhands.
NorisitathoughtIleavebehindme,butaheartmadesweetwithhungerandwiththirst.
YetIcannottarrylonger.
Theseathatcallsallthingsuntohercallsme,andImustembark.
Fortostay,thoughthehoursburninthenight,istofreezeandcrystallizeandbeboundinamould.
FainwouldItakewithmeallthatishere.
ButhowshallI?
Avoicecannotcarrythetongueandthelipsthatgaveitwings.
Alonemustitseekthe
étert
ether.Andaloneandwithouthisnestshallthe
sas
eagleflyacrossthesun.Nowwhenhereachedthefootofthehill,heturnedagaintowardsthesea,andhesawhisshipapproachingtheharbour,anduponherprowthemariners,themenofhisownland.
Andhissoulcriedouttothem,andhesaid:.
Sonsofmyancientmother,youridersofthetides,.
Howoftenhaveyousailedinmydreams.
Andnowyoucomeinmyawakening,whichismydeeperdream.
ReadyamItogo,andmyeagernesswithsailsfullset
várja
awaitsthewind.OnlyanotherbreathwillIbreatheinthisstillair,onlyanotherlovinglookcastbackward,.
AndthenIshallstandamongyou,aseafareramongseafarers.
Andyou,
óriási
vastsea,sleeplessmother,.Whoalonearepeaceandfreedomtotheriverandthe
patak
stream,.Onlyanotherwindingwillthis
patak
streammake,onlyanothermurmurinthisglade,.AndthenshallIcometoyou,aboundlessdroptoaboundlessocean.
Andashewalkedhesawfromafarmenandwomenleavingtheirfieldsandtheirvineyardsandhasteningtowardsthecitygates.
Andheheardtheirvoicescallinghisname,andshoutingfromfieldtofieldtellingoneanotherofthecomingofhisship.
Andhesaidtohimself:.
Shallthedayofpartingbethedayofgathering?
Andshallitbesaidthatmyevewasintruthmydawn?
AndwhatshallIgiveuntohimwhohaslefthisploughinmidfurrow,ortohimwhohasstoppedthewheelofhiswinepress?
Shallmyheartbecomeatreeheavy-ladenwithfruitthatImaygatherandgiveuntothem?
AndshallmydesiresflowlikeafountainthatImayfilltheircups?
AmIa
hárfa
harpthatthehandofthehatalmas
mightymaytouchme,oraflutethathisbreathmaypassthroughme?AseekerofsilencesamI,andwhattreasurehaveIfoundinsilencesthatImaydispensewithconfidence?
Ifthisismydayofharvest,inwhatfieldshaveIsowedthe
magot
seed,andinwhatunrememberedseasons?IfthisindeedbethehourinwhichIliftupmylantern,itisnotmyflamethatshallburntherein.
EmptyanddarkshallIraisemylantern,.
Andtheguardianofthenightshallfillitwithoilandheshalllightitalso.
Thesethingshesaidinwords.
Butmuchinhisheartremainedunsaid.
Forhehimselfcouldnotspeakhisdeepersecret.
Andwhenheenteredintothecityallthepeoplecametomeethim,andtheywerecryingouttohimaswithonevoice.
Andtheeldersofthecitystoodforthandsaid:.
Gonotyetawayfromus.
Anoontidehaveyoubeeninourtwilight,andyouryouthhasgivenusdreamstodream.
Nostrangerareyouamongus,noraguest,butoursonandourdearlybeloved.
Suffernotyetoureyestohungerforyourface.
Andthepriestsandthepriestessessaiduntohim:.
Letnotthewavesoftheseaseparateusnow,andtheyearsyouhavespentinourmidstbecomeamemory.
Youhavewalkedamongusaspirit,andyourshadowhasbeenalightuponourfaces.
Muchhavewelovedyou.
But
szótlan
speechlesswasourlove,andwithveilshasitbeenveiled.Yetnowitcries
hangosan
alouduntoyou,andwouldstandrevealedbeforeyou.Andeverhasitbeenthatloveknowsnotitsowndepthuntilthehourofseparation.
Andotherscamealsoandentreatedhim.
Butheansweredthemnot.
Heonlybenthishead;
andthosewhostoodnearsawhistearsfallinguponhisbreast.
Andheandthepeopleproceededtowardsthegreatsquarebeforethetemple.
AndtherecameoutofthesanctuaryawomanwhosenamewasAlmitra.
Andshewasaseeress.
Andhelookeduponherwithexceedingtenderness,foritwasshewhohadfirstsoughtandbelievedinhimwhenhehadbeenbutadayintheircity.
Andshehailedhim,saying:.
ProphetofGod,inquestoftheuttermost,longhaveyousearchedthedistancesforyourship.
Andnowyourshiphascome,andyoumustneedsgo.
Deepisyourlongingforthelandofyourmemoriesandthedwellingplaceofyourgreaterdesires;
andourlovewouldnotbindyounorourneedsholdyou.
Yetthisweaskereyouleaveus,thatyouspeaktousandgiveusofyourtruth.
Andwewillgiveituntoourchildren,andtheyuntotheirchildren,anditshallnotperish.
Inyouralonenessyouhavewatchedwithourdays,andinyourwakefulnessyouhavelistenedtotheweepingandthelaughterofoursleep.
Nowthereforediscloseustoourselves,andtellusallthathasbeenshownyouofthatwhichisbetweenbirthanddeath.
Andheanswered,.
PeopleofOrphalese,ofwhatcanIspeaksaveofthatwhichisevennowmovingwithinyoursouls?
ThensaidAlmitra,SpeaktousofLove.
Andheraisedhisheadandlookeduponthepeople,andtherefellastillnessuponthem.
Andwithagreatvoicehesaid:.
Whenlovebeckonstoyou,followhim,.
Thoughhiswaysarehardandsteep.
Andwhenhiswingsenfoldyouyieldtohim,.
Thoughtheswordhiddenamonghispinionsmaywoundyou.
Andwhenhespeakstoyoubelieveinhim,.
Thoughhisvoicemayshatteryourdreamsasthenorthwindlayswastethegarden.
Forevenaslovecrownsyousoshallhecrucifyyou.
Evenasheisforyourgrowthsoisheforyourpruning.
Evenashe
emelkedik
ascendstoyourheightandcaressesyourtenderestbranchesthatquiverinthesun,.Soshallhe
leszáll
descendtoyourrootsandshakethemintheirclingingtotheearth.Likesheavesof
kukorica
cornhegathersyouuntohimself.Hethreshesyoutomakeyounaked.
Hesiftsyoutofreeyoufromyourhusks.
Hegrindsyoutowhiteness.
Hekneadsyouuntilyouarepliant;.
Andthenheassignsyoutohis
szent
sacredfire,thatyoumaybecomeszent
sacredbreadforGod’ssacredfeast.Allthesethingsshalllovedountoyouthatyoumayknowthesecretsofyourheart,andinthatknowledgebecomeafragmentofLife’sheart.
Butifinyourfearyouwouldseekonlylove’speaceandlove’spleasure,.
Thenitisbetterforyouthatyoucoveryournakednessandpassoutoflove’sthreshing-floor,.
Intotheseasonlessworldwhereyoushalllaugh,butnotallofyourlaughter,andweep,butnotallofyourtears.
Lovegivesnaughtbutitselfandtakesnaughtbutfromitself.
Lovepossessesnotnorwoulditbepossessed;.
Forloveissufficientuntolove.
Whenyouloveyoushouldnotsay,“Godisinmyheart,”butrather,“IamintheheartofGod.”
Andthinknotyoucandirectthecourseoflove,forlove,ifitfindsyouworthy,directsyourcourse.
Lovehasnootherdesirebuttofulfilitself.
Butifyouloveandmustneedshavedesires,letthesebeyourdesires:.
To
elolvadni
meltandbelikearunningbrookthatsingsitsmelodytothenight.Toknowthepainoftoomuch
gyengédség
tenderness.Tobewoundedbyyourownunderstandingoflove;.
Andtobleedwillinglyandjoyfully.
Towakeatdawnwithawingedheartandgivethanksforanotherdayofloving;.
Torestatthe
délben
noonhourandmeditatelove’secstacy;.Toreturnhomeateventidewithgratitude;.
Andthentosleepwithaprayerforthebelovedinyourheartandasongofpraiseuponyourlips.
ThenAlmitraspokeagainandsaid,AndwhatofMarriagemaster?
Andheansweredsaying:.
Youwereborntogether,andtogetheryoushallbeforevermore.
Youshallbetogetherwhenthewhitewingsofdeathscatteryourdays.
Aye,youshallbetogethereveninthesilentmemoryofGod.
Butlettherebespacesinyourtogetherness,.
Andletthewindsoftheheavensdancebetweenyou.
Loveoneanother,butmakenotabondoflove:.
Letitratherbeamovingseabetweentheshoresofyoursouls.
Filleachother’scupbutdrinknotfromonecup.
Giveoneanotherofyourbreadbuteatnotfromthesameloaf.
Singanddancetogetherandbejoyous,butleteachoneofyoubealone,.
Evenasthestringsofalutearealonethoughtheyquiverwiththesamemusic.
Giveyourhearts,butnotintoeachother’skeeping.
ForonlythehandofLifecancontainyourhearts.
Andstandtogetheryetnottooneartogether:.
Forthepillarsofthetemplestandapart,.
Andtheoaktreeandthecypressgrownotineachother’sshadow.
Andawomanwhoheldababeagainstherbosomsaid,SpeaktousofChildren.
Andhesaid:.
Yourchildrenarenotyourchildren.
TheyarethesonsanddaughtersofLife’slongingforitself.
Theycomethroughyoubutnotfromyou,.
Andthoughtheyarewithyouyettheybelongnottoyou.
Youmaygivethemyourlovebutnotyourthoughts,.
Fortheyhavetheirownthoughts.
Youmayhousetheirbodiesbutnottheirsouls,.
Fortheirsouls
lakik
dwellinthehouseoftomorrow,whichyoucannotvisit,noteveninyourdreams.Youmay
igyekszel
strivetobelikethem,butseeknottomakethemlikeyou.Forlifegoesnotbackwardnortarrieswithyesterday.
Youarethebowsfromwhichyourchildrenaslivingarrowsaresentforth.
The
íjász
archerseesthemarkuponthepathofthevégtelen
infinite,andHebendsyouwithHismightthatHisarrowsmaygoswiftandfar.LetyourbendingintheArcher’shandbeforgladness;.
Forevenashelovesthearrowthatflies,soHelovesalsothebowthatis
stabil
stable.Thensaidarichman,SpeaktousofGiving.
Andheanswered:.
Yougivebutlittlewhenyougiveofyourpossessions.
Itiswhenyougiveofyourselfthatyoutrulygive.
Forwhatareyourpossessionsbutthingsyoukeepandguardforfearyoumayneedthemtomorrow?
Andtomorrow,whatshalltomorrowbringtotheoverprudentdogburyingbonesinthetracklesssandashefollowsthepilgrimstotheholycity?
Andwhatisfearofneedbutneeditself?
Isnot
félelem
dreadofthirstwhenyourwellisfull,theszomjúság
thirstthatisunquenchable?Therearethosewhogivelittleofthemuchwhichtheyhave—andtheygiveitforrecognitionandtheirhiddendesiremakestheirgiftsunwholesome.
Andtherearethosewhohavelittleandgiveitall.
Thesearethebelieversinlifeandthebountyoflife,andtheircofferisneverempty.
Therearethosewhogivewithjoy,andthatjoyistheirreward.
Andtherearethosewhogivewithpain,andthatpainistheirbaptism.
Andtherearethosewhogiveandknownotpainingiving,nordotheyseekjoy,norgivewithmindfulnessof
erény
virtue;.Theygiveasinyondervalleythemyrtlebreathesitsfragranceintospace.
ThroughthehandsofsuchastheseGodspeaks,andfrombehindtheireyesHesmilesupontheearth.
Itiswelltogivewhenasked,butitisbettertogiveunasked,throughunderstanding;.
Andtotheopen-handedthesearchforonewhoshallreceiveisjoygreaterthangiving.
Andisthereaughtyouwouldwithhold?
Allyouhaveshallsomedaybegiven;.
Thereforegivenow,thattheseasonofgivingmaybeyoursandnotyourinheritors’.
Youoftensay,“Iwouldgive,butonlytothedeserving.”
Thetreesinyour
gyümölcsös
orchardsaynotso,northeflocksinyourpasture.Theygivethattheymaylive,fortowithholdistoperish.
Surelyhewhois
méltó
worthytoreceivehisdaysandhisnights,isméltó
worthyofallelsefromyou.Andhewhohasdeservedtodrinkfromtheoceanoflifedeservestofillhiscupfromyourlittlestream.
Andwhatdesertgreatershalltherebe,thanthatwhichliesinthecourageandtheconfidence,
sőt
naythecharity,ofreceiving?Andwhoareyouthatmenshouldrendtheirbosomandunveiltheirpride,thatyoumayseetheirworthnakedandtheirprideunabashed?
Seefirstthatyouyourselfdeservetobeagiver,andaninstrumentofgiving.
Forintruthitislifethatgivesuntolife—whileyou,whodeemyourselfagiver,arebutawitness.
Andyoureceivers—andyouareallreceivers—assumenoweightof
hála
gratitude,lestyoulayayokeuponyourselfanduponhimwhogives.Ratherrisetogetherwiththegiveronhisgiftsasonwings;.
Fortobeovermindfulofyourdebt,isitodoubthisgenerositywhohasthefreeheartedearthformother,andGodforfather.
Thenanoldman,akeeperofaninn,said,SpeaktousofEatingandDrinking.