As the Sun withdrew his rays from the
garden, and the moon threw cushioned
beams upon the flowers, I sat under the
trees pondering upon the phenomena of the
atmosphere, looking through the branches
at the strewn stars which glittered like chips
of silver upon a blue carpet; and I could
hear from a distance the agitated murmur
of the rivulet singing its way briskly into the
valley.
When the birds took shelter among the
boughs, and the flowers folded their petals,
and tremendous silence descended, I heard
a rustle of feet though the grass. I took
heed and saw a young couple approaching
my arbor. The say under a tree where I
could see them without being seen.
After he looked about in every direction, I
heard the young man saying, Sit by me,
my beloved, and listen to my heart; smile,
for your happiness is a symbol of our future;
be merry, for the sparkling days rejoice
with us.
My soul is warning me of the doubt in your
heart, for doubt in love is a sin. Soon you
will be the owner of this vast land, lighted
by this beautiful moon; soon you will be the
mistress of my palace, and all the servants
and maids will obey your commands.
Smile, my beloved, like the gold smiles
from my fathers coffers.
My heart refuses to deny you its secret.
Twelve months of comfort and travel await
us; for a year we will spend my fathers
gold at the blue lakes of Switzerland, and
viewing the edifices of Italy and Egypt, and
resting under the Holy Cedars of Lebanon;
you will meet the princesses who will envy
you for your jewels and clothes.
All these things I will do for you; will you
be satisfied?
In a little while I saw them walking and
stepping on flowers as the rich step upon
the hearts of the poor. As they disappeared
from my sight, I commenced to make
comparison between love and money, and
to analyze their position in the heart.
Money The source of insincere love; the
spring of false light and fortune; the well of
poisoned water; the desperation of old age
I was still wandering in the vast desert of
contemplation when a forlorn and specter-
like couple passed by me and sat on the
grass; a young man and a young woman
who had left their farming shacks in the
nearby fields for this cool and solitary place.
After a few moments of complete silence, I
heard the following words uttered with
sighs from weather-bitten lips, Shed not
tears, my beloved; love that opens our eyes
and enslaves our hearts can give us the
blessing of patience. Be consoled in our
delay our delay, for we have taken an oath
and entered Loves shrine; for our love will
ever grow in adversity; for it is in Loves
name that we are suffering the obstacles of
poverty and the sharpness of misery and
the emptiness of separation. I shall attack
these hardships until I triumph and place in
your hands a strength that will help over all
things to complete the journey of life.
Love - which is God - will consider our sighs
and tears as incense burned at His altar and
He will reward us with fortitude. Good-bye,
my beloved; I must leave before the
heartening moon vanishes.
A pure voice, combined of the consuming
flame of love, and the hopeless bitterness
of longing and the resolved sweetness of
patience, said, Good-bye, my beloved.
They separated, and the elegy to their
was smothered by the wails of my crying
heart.
I looked upon slumbering Nature, and with
deep reflection discovered the reality of a
vast and infinite thing - something no
power could demand, influence acquire, nor
riches purchase. Nor could it be effaced by
the tears of time or deadened by sorrow; a
thing which cannot be discovered by the
blue lakes of Switzerland or the beautiful
edifices of Italy.
It is something that gathers strength with
patience, grows despite obstacles, warms in
winter, flourishes in spring, casts a breeze in
summer, and bears fruit in autumn - I found
Love.