Marriage

Then Almitra spoke again and said, And what of Marriage master?

Then Almitra spoke again and said, What about Marriage, master?

And he answered saying:

And he replied:

You were born together, and together you shall be forevermore.

You were born together, and you will be together forever.

You shall be together when the white wings of death scatter your days.

You will be together when the white wings of death scatter your days.

Aye, you shall be together even in the silent memory of God.

Yes, you will be together even in the silent memory of God.

But let there be spaces in your togetherness,

But give each other space in your togetherness,

And let the winds of the heavens dance between you.

And let the winds of the sky dance between you.

Love one another, but make not a bond of love:

Love one another, but do not make love a bond:

Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls.

Instead, let it be a moving sea between the shores of your souls.

Fill each other’s cup but drink not from one cup.

Fill each other’s cups, but do not drink from the same cup.

Give one another of your bread but eat not from the same loaf. Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let each one of you be alone,

Share your bread with each other, but do not eat from the same loaf. Sing and dance together and be joyful, but let each of you be alone,

Even as the strings of a lute are alone though they quiver with the same music.

Just as the strings of a lute are separate, though they vibrate with the same music.

Give your hearts, but not into each other’s keeping.

Give your hearts, but do not entrust them to each other.

For only the hand of Life can contain your hearts.

Because only the hand of Life can hold your hearts.

And stand together yet not too near together:

And stand together, but not too close together:

For the pillars of the temple stand apart,

Because the pillars of the temple stand apart,

And the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other’s shadow.

And the oak and the cypress do not grow in each other's shadow.