The Gardener 25
“e to us; youth; tell us truly why there is madness in your eyes?”
“I know not what wine of wild poppy I have drunk; that there is this madness in my eyes。”
“Ah; shame!”
“Well; some are wise and some foolish; some are watchful and some careless。
There are eyes that smile and eyes that weep—and madness is in my eyes。”
“Youth; why do you stand so still under the shadow of the tree?”
“My feet are languid with the burden of my heart; and I stand still in the shadow。”
“Ah; shame!”
“Well; some march on their way and some linger; some are free and some are fettered—and my feet are languid with the burden of my heart。”
The Gardener 26
“What es from your willing hands I take。 I beg for nothing more。”
“Yes; yes; I know you; modest mendicant; you ask for all that one has。”
“If there be a stray flower for me I will wear it in my heart。”
“But if there be thorns?”
“I will endure them。”
“Yes; yes; I know you; modest mendicant; you ask for all that one has。”
“If but once you should raise your loving eyes to my face it would make my life sweet beyond death。”
“But if there by only cruel glances?”
“I will keep them piercing my heart。”
“Yes; yes; I know you; modest mendicant; you ask for all that one has。”
The Gardener 27
“Trust love even if it brings sorrow。 Do not close up your heart。”
“Ah no; my friend; your words are dark; I cannot understand them。”
“The heart is only for giving away with a tear and a song; my love。”
“Ah no; my friend; your words are dark; I cannot understand them。”
“Pleasure is frail like a dewdrop; while it laughs it dies。 But sorrow is strong and abiding。 Let sorrowful love wake in your eyes。”
“Ah no; my friend; your words are dark; I cannot understand them。”
“The lotus blooms in the sight of the sun; and loses all that it has。 It would not remain in bud in the eternal winter mist。”
“Ah no; my friend; your words are dark; I cannot understand them。”
The Gardener 28
Your questioning eyes are sad。 They seek to know my meaning as the moon would fathom the sea。
园丁集 第十章(3)
I have bared my life before your eyes from end to end; with nothing hidden or held back。 That is why you know me not。
If it were only a gem I could break it into a hundred pieces and string them into a chain to put on your neck。
If it were only a flower; round and small and sweet; I could pluck it from its stem to set it in your hair。
But it is a heart; my beloved。 Where are its shores and its bottom?
You know not the limits of this kingdom; still you are its queen。
If it were only a moment of pleasure it would flower in an easy smile; and you could see it and read it in a moment。