AT midnight the would-be ascetic announced:
“This is the time to give up my home and seek for God. Ah, who has held me so long in delusion here?”
God whispered, “I,” but the ears of the man were stopped.
With a baby asleep at her breast lay his wife, peacefully sleeping on one side of the bed.
The man said, “Who are ye that have fooled me so long?”
The voice said again, “They are God,” but he heard it not.
The baby cried out in its dream, nestling close to its mother.
God commanded, “Stop, fool, leave not thy home,” but still he heard not.
God sighed and complained, “Why does my servant wander to seek me, forsaking me?”
夜半,那個自稱的苦行人宣告說:
“棄家求神的時候到了。
啊,誰把我牽住在妄想里這么久呢?”
神低聲說:“是我?!?/p>
但是這個人的耳朵是塞住的。
他的妻子和吃奶的孩子一同躺著,安靜地睡在床的那邊。
這個人說:“什么人把我騙了這么久呢?”
聲音又說:“是神。”但是他聽不見。
嬰兒在夢中哭了,挨向他的母親。
神命令說:“別走,傻子,不要離開你的家。”
但是他還是聽不見。
神嘆息又委屈地說:
“為什么我的仆人要把我丟下,而到處去找我呢?”