[黎巴嫩]卡裏·紀伯倫/Kahlil Gibran
卡裏·紀伯倫（1883-1931），黎巴嫩詩人。阿拉伯現代文學複興運動的先驅之一，阿拉伯現代小說和散文的主要奠基者。他的作品蘊涵了豐富的社會性和深刻的東方精神，不以情節取勝，重在抒發豐富情感。從20世紀20年代起，紀伯倫的創作重心由小說轉向散文和散文詩，從用阿拉伯語寫作變為用英語寫作為主。《先知》是紀伯倫的頂峰之作。本文即選自《先知》。
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.
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 your roots and shake them in their clinging to the earth.
Like sheaves of corn he gathers you unto himself.
He threshes you to make you naked.
He sifts you to free you from your husks.
He grinds you to whiteness.
He kneads you until you are pliant;
And then he assigns you to his sacred fire, that you may become sacred bread for God's sacred feast.
All these things shall love do unto you that you may know the secrets of your heart, and in that knowledge become a fragment of Life's heart.
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.