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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?”

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夜半，那个自称的苦行人宣告说：

“弃家求神的时候到了。

啊，谁把我牵住在妄想里这么久呢？”

神低声说：“是我。”

但是这个人的耳朵是塞住的。

他的妻子和吃奶的孩子一同躺着，安静地睡在床的那边。

这个人说：“什么人把我骗了这么久呢？”

声音又说：“是神。”但是他听不见。

婴儿在梦中哭了，挨向他的母亲。

神命令说：“别走，傻子，不要离开你的家。”

但是他还是听不见。

神叹息又委屈地说：

“为什么我的仆人要把我丢下，而到处去找我呢？”