Then Almitra spoke again and said:
” .. And what have you to tell us about marriage, O teacher ?”
And he answered, saying:
” You were born together and together you will always stay.
You will be together when the wings of death scatter you.
Yes, you will be together in the very silent memory of God.
But leave spaces between you,
And let the winds of the air come and dance there.
Love one another, but don’t make love a shackle;
Better let there be a whirling sea between the shores of your souls.
Fill each other’s chalice, but don’t both drink from one.
Share your bread, but do not eat from the same slice,
Sing and dance together… and rejoice, but make each of you alone,
Just as the strings of the lute vibrate each other, but they play together.
Give your hearts, but do not hand them over to the other for safekeeping,
For only the hand of Life can encompass them.
Be together, but not very close,
For the pillars of the temple stand at a distance from each other
And oak and cypress don’t grow in each other’s shade.”