Of Marraige

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

• And he answered saying:

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

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

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

• But let there be spaces in your togetherness,

• And let the winds of the heavens dance between you.

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

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

• Fill each other's cup but drink not from one 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,

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

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

• For only the hand of Life can contain your hearts.

• And stand together yet not too near together:

• For the pillars of the temple stand apart,

• And the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other's shadow