The hours trip rapidly away； hiding their dreams in their skirts。
Our life is short； it yields but a few days for love。
Were it for work and drudgery it would be endlessly long。
Brother； keep that in mind and rejoice。
Beauty is sweet to us； because she dances to the same fleeting tune with our lives。
Knowledge is precious to us； because we shall never have time to plete it。
All is done and finished in the eternal Heaven。
But earth’s flowers of illusion are kept eternally fresh by death。
Brother； keep that in mind and rejoice。
The Gardener 69
I hunt for the golden stag。
You may smile； my friends； but I pursue the vision that eludes me。
I run across hills and dales； I wander through nameless lands； because I am hunting for the golden stag。
You e and buy in the market and go back to your homes laden with goods； but the spell of the homeless winds has touched me I know not when and where。
I have no care in my heart； all my belongings I have left far behind me。
I run across hills and dales； I wander through nameless lands—because I am hunting for the golden stag。
The Gardener 70
I remember a day in my childhood I floated a paper boat in the ditch。
It was a wet day of July； I was alone and happy over my play。
I floated my paper boat in the ditch。
Suddenly the storm clouds thickened； winds came in gusts； and rain poured in torrents。
Rills of muddy water rushed and swelled the stream and sunk my boat。
Bitterly I thought in my mind that the storm came on purpose to spoil my happiness； all its malice was against me。
The cloudy day of July is long today； and I have been musing over all those games in life wherein I was loser。
I was blaming my fate for the many tricks it played on me； when suddenly I remembered the paper boat that sank in the ditch。
The Gardener 71
The day is not yet done； the fair is not over； the fair on the river…bank。
I had feared that my time had been squandered and my last penny lost。
But no； my brother； I have still something left。 My fate has not cheated me of everything。
The selling and buying are over。 txt小说上传分享
园丁集 第十二章（4）
All the dues on both sides have been gathered in； and it is time for me to go home。
But； gatekeeper； do you ask for your toll？
Do not fear； I have still something left。 My fate has not cheated me of everything。
The Gardener 72
With days of hard travail I raised a temple。 It had no doors or windows； its walls were thickly built with massive stones。
I forgot all else； I shunned all the world； I gazed in rapt contemplation at the image I had set upon the altar。
It was always night inside； and lit by the lamps of perfumed oil。
The ceaseless smoke of incense wound my heart in its heavy coils。
Sleepless； I carved on the walls fantastic figures in mazy bewildering lines—winged horses； flowers with human faces； women with limbs like serpents。
The lull in the wind threatens storm； and the lowering clouds in the west bode no good。
The hushed water waits for the wind。
I hurry to cross the river before the night overtakes me。
O ferryman； you want your fee！
Yes； brother； I have still something left。 My fate has not cheated me of everything。
In the wayside under the tree sits the beggar。 Alas； he looks at my face with a timid hope！
He thinks I am rich with the day’s profit。
Yes； brother； I have still something left。 My fate has not cheated me of everything。
The night grows dark and the road lonely。 Fireflies gleam among the leaves。
Who are you that follow me with stealthy silent steps？
Ah； I know； it is your desire to rob me of all my gains。 I will not disappoint you！
For I still have something left； and my fate has not cheated me of everything。
At midnight I reach home。 My hands are empty。
You are waiting with anxious eyes at my door； sleepless and silent。
Like a timorous bird you fly to my breast with eager love。
Ay； ay； my God； much remains still。 My fate has not cheated me of everything。
No passage was left anywhere through which could enter the song of birds； the murmur of leaves or hum of the busy village。
The only sound that echoed in its dark dome was that of incantations which I chanted。
My mind became keen and still like a pointed flame； my senses swooned in ecstasy。
I knew not how time passed till the thunderstone had struck the temple； and a pain stung me through the heart。
The lamp looked pale and ashamed； the carvings on the walls； like chained dreams； stared meaningless in the light as they would fain hide themselves。
I looked at the image on the altar。 I saw it smiling and alive with the living touch of God。
The night I had imprisoned had spread its wings and vanished。
The Gardener 73
Infinite wealth is not yours； my patient and dusky mother dust！
You toil to fill the mouths of your children； but food is scarce。
The gift of gladness that you have for us is never perfect。
The toys that you make for your children are fragile。
You cannot satisfy all our hungry hopes； but should I desert you for that？
Your smile which is shadowed with pain is sweet to my eyes。 txt小说上传分享
园丁集 第十二章（5）
Your love which knows not fulfilment is dear to my heart。
From your breast you have fed us with life but not immortality； that is why your eyes are ever wakeful。
For ages you are working with colour and song； yet your heaven is not built； but only its sad suggestion。
Over your creations of beauty there is the mist of tears。
I will pour my songs into your mute heart； and my love into your love。
I will worship you with labour。
I have seen your tender face and I love your mournful dust； Mother Earth。
The Gardener 74
In the world’s audience hall； the simple blade of grass sits on the same carpet with the sunbeam and the stars of midnight。
Thus my songs share their seats in the heart of the world with the music of the clouds and forests。
But； you man of riches； your wealth has no part in the simple grandeur of the sun’s glad gold and the mellow gleam of the musing moon。
The blessing of all…embracing sky is not shed upon it。
And when death appears； it pales and withers and crumbles into dust。
The Gardener 75
At midnight the would…be ascetic announced：
“This is the time to give up my home and seek for God。 Ah； who has held me so long in delusion here？”
God whispered；“I。”but the ears of the man were stopped。
With a baby asleep at her breast lay his wife； peacefully sleeping on one side of the bed。
The man said；“Who are ye that have fooled me so long？”
The voice said again；“They are God。”but he heard it not。
The baby cried out in its dream； nestling close to its mother。
God manded；“Stop； fool； leave not thy home。”but still he heard not。
God sighed and plained；“Why does my servant wander to seek me； forsaking me？”
The Gardener 76
The fair was on before the temple。 It had rained from the early morning and the day came to its end。
Brighter than all the gladness of the crowd was the bright smile of a girl who bought for a farthing a whistle of palm leaf。
The shrill joy of that whistle floated above all laughter and noise。
An endless throng of people came and jostled together。 The road was muddy； the river in flood； the field under water in ceaseless rain。
Greater than all the troubles of the crowd was a little boy’s trouble—he had not a farthing to buy a painted stick。
His wistful eyes gazing at the shop made this whole meeting of men so pitiful。
The Gardener 77
The workman and his wife from the west country are busy digging to make bricks for the kiln。
Their little daughter goes to the landing…place by the river； there she has no end of scouring and scrubbing of pots and pans。
Her little brother； with shaven head and brown； naked； mud…covered limbs；follows after her and waits patiently on the high bank at her bidding。
She goes back home with the full pitcher poised on h