When her love beckons you, follow him, though his ways are hard andsteep. And when his wings enfold you, yield to him, though the swordhidden among his pinions may wound you. And when he speaks to you,believe in him, though his voice may shatter your dreams as the northwind lays waste the garden.
For even as love crowns you so shall he crucify you. Even as he isfor your growth so is he for your pruning. Even as he is for yourgrowth so is he for your pruning. Even as he ascends to your height andcaresses your tenderest branches that quiver in the sun, so shall hedescend to your roots and shake them in their clinging to the earth.
But if, in your fear, you would seek only love’s peace and love’spleasure, then it is better for you that you cover your nakedness andpass out of love’s threshing-floor, into the seasonless world where youshall laugh, but not all of your laughter, and weep, but not all ofyourtears. Love gives naught but itself and takes naught but from itself.Love possesses not, nor would it be possessed, for love is sufficientunto love.
Love has no other desire but to fulfill itself. But if you love and 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.
当爱挥手召唤你时，跟随着它，尽管它的道路艰难而险峻。当它展翼拥抱你时，依顺着它，尽管它羽翼中的利刃会伤害你。当它对你说话时，要相信它，尽管它的声音会击碎你的梦，像狂风扫尽花园中的花。
爱虽可为你加冕，也能将你钉上十字架。它虽可助你成长，也能将你削砍剪枝。它会攀至你的高处，轻抚你在阳光下颤动的最柔嫩的枝条，它也会降至你的根底，动摇你紧紧依附着大地的根须。
但是如果你出于畏惧而去寻求爱的和平与爱的欢乐，那你最好掩起自己的赤裸，离开爱的打谷场，踏入那没有季节的世界，在那里，你会开怀，但不是尽情欢笑，你会哭泣，但不是尽为泪水。爱除了自身别无所予，除了自身也别无所取。爱不占有，也不被占有：因为爱有了自己就足够了。
爱别无他求，只求成全自己。但如果你爱了，又有所渴求，就让这些成为你的所求吧：
融化为一道奔流的溪水，在黑夜吟唱自己的清曲。
体会太多温柔带来的痛苦。
被自己对爱的体会所伤害。
心甘情愿的滴血。
清晨，带着一颗生翼的心醒来，感谢又一个充满爱的日子;
午休，沉思爱的心醉神怡;
黄昏，带着感激归家;
睡前，为你心中的挚爱祈祷