Then Almitra spoke again and said,
And what of Marriage, master?
You were born together,
and together you shall be forevermore.
You shall be together
when the wings of death
scatter your days.
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 the same loaf.
Sing and dance together and be joyous,
but let each 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.
