The CortĂšge
The CortĂšge
INTRODUCTION
THE MOTIVE of Gibran in writing this work probably finds its basis in his never-ending efforts to analyze human society, its laws, rules and customs. In society Gibran perceives a general falsehood of living that leads the people from the truth, elating some persons, humiliating others. He admonishes that no individual can experience the fullness of life and enjoy the bounty of Nature while his fellowman is pursuing greed in order to attain his goal.
To illustrate his precepts, Gibran chooses two metaphorical characters. The first is Age, represented by a bent old man who lives in the city and suffers through its man-made laws, traditions, inheritances and corruptions. He wearies of the stifling clamor, and departs for the field in order to relax his trembling hands and meditate. In the field he meets Youth, symbolized by a handsome, robust young man whose eyes have seen only the trees, mountains and brooks, whose body has inhaled only the pure air, and whose ears have listened only to the singing of the streams and birds, and the whistling of the wind through the autumn leaves.
At this meeting, Youth is carrying a flute in his hand, preparing to greet Nature with his eternal melody of the open field. Youth and Age discuss freely their respective conceptions of life, Age commenting that naught but evil and misery are created in the city by human society, while Youth insists that only by leading a life close to the heart of Nature can oneâs heart find true pleasure and contentment, filling the heartâs domain to its fullest with simple, God-given joy.
From this debate between Age and Youth, Kahlil Gibranâs approaches to life, death, and religion are revealed. He does not propose that all persons abandon urbanity for life on the mountainside, but he endeavors to focus attention upon a simple formula for better life, and urges the people to unchain themselves from the rattling shackles of society and avail themselves, to as great a degree as possible, of the natural freedom and tranquility of rural existence. The field which Gibran describes is symbolic of the life of rich wholesomeness accruing to the heart of the person who abides close by the earth.
By reason of the nebulous, untranslatable character of the Arabic language, this play-poem is variously called The Procession and The Cavalcade. In considering Gibranâs sadness as reflected herein, the translator determined that The CortĂšge was best suited, as a title, to the authorâs intention. This same indefiniteness, inherent in the Arabic, required occasional departure from strict translation in order that Gibranâs mighty message be captured intact.
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Age: True, good deed by man is ever done,
But when man is gone, evil does not
Perish with him. Like turning wheels
We are controlled by the hands of
Time where eâer man resides. Say not
âThis man is famed and learned, or
Master of knowledge from the angels
Sent,â for in the city the best of
Man is but one of a flock, led by
The shepherd in strong voice. And he
Who follows not the command must soon
Stand before his killers.
Youth: There is no shepherd over man in
The beautiful field, nor sheep to
Graze nor hearts to bleed. Winter
Departs with her garment and Spring
Must come, but only by Godâs great
Command. Your people are born as
Slaves, and by your tyrants their
Souls are torn. Where eâer goes the
Leader, so go they, and woe unto
Him who would refuse!
Give me the flute and let me sing,
And through my soul let music ring;
The song of the flute is more sublime
Than all glory of kings in all of time.
Age: Life amid the throngs is but brief
And drug-laden slumber, mixed with
Mad dreams and spectres and fears.
The secret of the heart is encased
In sorrow, and only in sorrow is
Found our joy, while happiness serves
But to conceal the deep mystery of life,
And if sorrow I were to abandon for
The calm of the field, naught but
Emptiness would be my lot.
Youth: The joy of one is the sorrow of the
Other, and there is no sorrow in the
Beautiful field, or sadness brought
By scornful deed. The frolicsome
Breeze brings joy to sad hearts, and
Your sorrow of heart is but a dream of
Fancy, passing swiftly, like the quick
Brook. Your sorrow would in the field
Vanish, as the autumn leaf is sped off
On the forehead of the brook, and your
Heart would be calm, as the broad lake
Is calm under the great lights of God.
Give me the flute and let me sing,
And through my soul let music ring;
Heavenâs melody alone will ever remain,
All of earthâs objects are but vain.
Age: Few are those content with life and far
From care. The river of the field is
But a carrier of emptiness; the river
Of human life has been diverted into old
Cups of knowledge and presented to man
Who drinks of lifeâs richness but heeds
Not its warnings. He is joyous when the
Cups are of happiness, but he grumbles
When he prays to God and asks for the
Wealth he scarce merits. And when he
Attains his goal of iron riches his
Dreams of fear enslave him forever.
This world is but a wine shop whose
Owner is Time, and the drunkards
Demand much for little offering.
Youth: There is no wine in the beautiful
Field, for glorious intoxication of
The soul is the reward of all who
Seek it in the bosom of Nature. The
Cloud which shelters the moon must
Be pierced with ardour if one needs
Behold the moonâs light. The people
Of the city abuse the wine of Time,
For they think upon it as a temple,
And they drink of it with ease and
With unthinking, and they flee,
Scurrying into old age w...