CHAPTER IV

 I woke and found his letter with the morning.

 

I do not know what it says, for I cannot read.

 

I shall leave the wise man alone with his books, I shall not trouble him, for who knows if he can read what the letter says.

 

Let me hold it to my forehead and press it to my heart.

 

When the night grows still and stars come out one by one I will spread it on my lap and stay silent.

 

The rustling¹ leaves will read it aloud to me, the rushing stream will chant it, and the seven wise stars will sing it to me from the sky.

 

I cannot find what I seek, I cannot understand what I would learn; but this unread letter has lightened² my burdens and turned my thoughts into songs.

1 rustling   

n. 瑟瑟声，沙沙声 adj. 发沙沙声的

参考例句：

• the sound of the trees rustling in the breeze 树木在微风中发出的沙沙声
• the soft rustling of leaves 树叶柔和的沙沙声

2 lightened   

v.使（某物）更明亮( lighten的过去式和过去分词 )；变得更光明

参考例句：

• The bonfire lightened the sky. 营火照亮了天空。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The moon lightened the courtyard. 月亮照得院子里挺明快。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》