原文欣赏

当爱在召唤

When love beckons to you, follow her, though her ways are hard and steep. And when her wings enfold you, yield to her, though the sword hidden among her pinions may wound you. And when she speaks to you, believe in her, though her voice may shatter your dreams as the north wind lays waste the garden.

　　For even as love crowns you so shall she crucify you. Even as she is for your growth so is she for your pruning. Even as she ascends to your height and caresses your tenderest branches that quiver in the sun, so shall she descend 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’s pleasure, then it is better for you that you cover your nakedness and pass out of love’s threshing-floor, into the reasonless world where you shall laugh, but not all of your laughter, and weep, but not all of your tears. Love gives naught but itself and takes naught but from itself. Love possesses not, nor would it be possessed, for love is sufficient unto love.

　　Love has no other desire but to fulfill itself. But if you love and must 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 understandings of love;
　　And to 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 and a song of praise upon your lips.

参考翻译

当爱召唤你时，请追随她，尽管爱的道路艰难险峻。当爱的羽翼拥抱你时，请顺从她，尽管隐藏在其羽翼之下的剑可能会伤到你。当爱向你诉说时，请相信她，尽管她的声音可能会打破你的梦想，就如同北风吹落花园里所有的花瓣。
　　
爱会给你戴上桂冠，也会折磨你。爱会助你成长，也会给你修枝。爱会上升到枝头，抚爱你在阳光下颤动的嫩枝，也会下潜至根部，撼动你紧抓泥土的根基。
　　
但是，如果你在恐惧中只想寻求爱的平和与快乐，那你就最好掩盖住真实的自我，避开爱的考验，进入不分季节的世界，在那里你将欢笑，但并不是开怀大笑，你将哭泣，但并非尽情地哭。爱只将自己付出，也只得到自己。爱一无所有，也不会为谁所有，因为爱本身就已自足。
爱除了实现自我别无他求。但是如果你爱而又不得不有所求，那就请期望：
　
将自己融化并像奔流的溪水一般向夜晚吟唱自己优美的曲调。
　
明了过多的温柔所带来的苦痛。
被自己对爱的理解所伤害；
　　
并情愿快乐地悲伤。
　
在黎明带着轻快的心醒来并感谢又一个有爱的日子；
　
在中午休息并品味爱的喜悦；
在黄昏怀着感恩的心回家；
　　
然后为内心所爱之人祈祷，吟唱赞美之歌，并带着祷告和歌声入眠。