The Prophet Page #2

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For their souls

dwell in a house of tomorrow

Which you cannot visit,

not even in your dreams

You may strive

To be like them

But seek not to make them like you

For life goes not backward

Nor tarries with yesterday

You are the bows from which your children

As living arrows are sent forth

The archer sees the mark

upon the path of the infinite

And He bends you with His might

That His arrows may go swift and far

Let your bending in the archer's hand

be for gladness

For even as he loves the arrow that flies

He loves the bow that is stable

Let your bending in the archer's hand

be for gladness

For even as he loves the arrow that flies

He loves the bow that is stable

"For even as he loves the arrow that flies

"So He loves also the bow that is stable"

- Halim!

- Ow! Ohh!

Sergeant, to what do I owe this honor?

I've come to inform you that you

are released from your confinement.

What? Released?

But we should throw a party, with music.

Released, released.

Mustafa!

You are released on the condition

that you return to your own country

and never again set foot on Orphalese.

Oh.

If Halim is up to it...

Hmm!

...we will escort you to

your port of emigration.

Now.

What, now?

Oh.

Well, I'll help you pack up your things.

All your work.

No, you'll clean up and then leave.

We will deal with his

personal effects later.

Sergeant, come on now.

Surely, there's time to gather...

You will come with us now.

Unless you want to remain locked up

here for another seven years.

Hmm-hmm.

Difficult decision, that one.

Here is your final pay.

After today, your services

are no longer required.

I'm so sorry, Kamila.

I hope that you will find work soon.

Your visits have been

a bright spot in my time here.

Goodbye.

Thank you, Mustafa, for everything.

Ugh.

And please say goodbye

to my new friend, Almitra.

I wish we had had more time.

What?

Mmm.

Ha!

I should have known. The silent thief.

You're developing quite the reputation

at the marketplace.

Don't think you're too young to spend

a few nights in jail, my friend.

Heh! And you, too!

Ow!

Rat traps!

Halim!

Almitra, no!

You heard the Sergeant.

We can't afford any more trouble.

I know, I know. I'm gonna miss him, too.

All right, I guess I'd better finish up.

Look! It's the poet!

Mustafa?

Is he free?

It's been so long.

Mustafa!

- Have you been freed?

- Where are they taking you?

To the harbor. This is a happy day.

For all of you, of course, but for me too!

I'm being released. I'm going home.

- Great!

- Wonderful!

Then you must join us in celebrating!

Absolutely not!

We have a schedule to stick to.

Sergeant! You don't

like braised lamb shank?

All right. Five minutes, not a moment longer!

Yes, yes, thank you.

Strike up the band.

We have two occasions to celebrate.

Kissing. That's all he knows.

Give her time to eat, for heaven's sake.

Mmm.

They're newlyweds. That's what

they're supposed to do, right?

Who knows? The last time

I kissed a pretty girl,

the Dead Sea was only sick.

- Enough.

- Grandpa.

Oh.

Thank you.

I've missed this!

A toast to the happy couple!

And for Mustafa!

To love and freedom!

To love and freedom!

To freedom!

To love?

Mustafa,

please, would you give a blessing

to my daughter's marriage?

It would be my honor.

"You were born together

And together you shall be forevermore

"You shall be together when

The white wings of death scatter your days

"Yes, 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"

- Thank you, Mustafa.

- It was lovely.

My pleasure.

Ha-ha!

I said "five minutes."

And you've taken advantage

of my generosity.

- Let's go. Now!

- Oh!

Killjoy.

Goodbye, everybody.

And good luck to the two of you.

And thank you, Mustafa, for our blessing.

Again with the kissing.

Come here.

Goodbye, Mustafa.

Goodbye!

Ah! It's a beautiful day for sailing.

If Mustafa sets foot

on that ship, I'll eat my fez!

Take care of yourself.

Goodbye, good people. Goodbye!

Safe journey!

Farewell!

My cake!

I'll stick with the baklava.

Those foolish peasants.

They hang on your every word.

After all this time, they still see you

as their great leader.

With all due respect, Sergeant,

they're neither foolish nor peasants.

And I'm no leader.

What, then? A teacher?

What is a teacher?

He can only lead you

to the threshold of your own mind.

We all stand alone

in our understanding, Sergeant.

You and I.

You hear that, Mustafa?

That's who the people are.

Sheep, waiting to be led

by the strongest...

Ow!

Are you, uh, all right, sir?

Who did that? Hmm?

Well, Sergeant,

I suppose even the sheep

have the last word, sometimes.

Whoa!

Good boy.

Well,

I did...

Huh? Huh! Oh!

Huh?

Oh!

You see?

Mustafa?

It's him.

Hurry.

Mustafa?

Mustafa.

Ooh!

Oh!

Ugh.

Oh!

Oh! Ho! Ho!

- Oh, my!

- Are you okay?

That was a close one.

It's all right, it's all right, I...

Oh, I am fine, thanks.

- Welcome back.

- Good to see you again.

- How's your wife?

- We missed you.

How are the children?

So big now you wouldn't recognize them.

That's terrific.

So glad you're back.

Yes, yes, yes.

We're all pleased as punch

to see Mustafa again.

But it's time to get back to

whatever it is you people do.

That's right, Gramps.

Your olives aren't going to

press themselves, are they?

You've important work to do.

Oh, no, sir.

His words are worth

more than my sacks of olives.

Nonsense, my friend.

Oh! It's true, Mustafa.

I don't know how I could have

gotten through that terrible drought year

without your words to reassure me.

Or us, when our child was ill.

Or me, putting up with my mother-in-law.

Truly, your work means more than ours.

Oh, shut up!

Oh, dear, let me help you.

My friend, all work is noble.

"You work that you may keep pace

"With the earth and the soul of the earth

"For to be idle is to become

A stranger unto the seasons

"And to step out of life's procession

"That marches in majesty

And proud submission towards the infinite

"When you work you are a flute

"Through whose heart

The whispering of the hours turns to music

"And when you work with love

You bind yourself to yourself

"And to one another, and to God

"And what is it to work with love?

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