Ancient Ballads and Legends of Hindustan Part 3

"I know that in this transient world All is delusion,--nothing true; I know its shows are mists unfurled To please and vanish. To renew Its bubble joys, be magic bound In _Maya's_ network frail and fair, Is not my aim! The gladsome sound Of husband, brother, friend, is air To such as know that all must die, And that at last the time must come, When eye shall speak no more to eye And Love cry,--Lo, this is my sum.

"I know in such a world as this No one can gain his heart's desire, Or pa.s.s the years in perfect bliss; Like gold we must be tried by fire; And each shall suffer as he acts And thinks,--his own sad burden bear; No friends can help,--his sins are facts That nothing can annul or square, And he must bear their consequence.

Can I my husband save by rites?

Ah, no,--that were a vain pretence, Justice eternal strict requites.

"He for his deeds shall get his due As I for mine: thus here each soul Is its own friend if it pursue The right, and run straight for the goal; But its own worst and direst foe If it choose evil, and in tracks Forbidden, for its pleasure go.

Who knows not this, true wisdom lacks, Virtue should be the turn and end Of every life, all else is vain, Duty should be its dearest friend If higher life, it would attain."

"So sweet thy words ring on mine ear, Gentle Savitri, that I fain Would give some sign to make it clear Thou hast not prayed to me in vain.

Satyavan's life I may not grant, Nor take before its term thy life, But I am not all adamant, I feel for thee, thou faithful wife!

Ask thou aught else, and let it be Some good thing for thyself or thine, And I shall give it, child, to thee, If any power on earth be mine."

"Well be it so. My husband's sire, Hath lost his sight and fair domain, Give to his eyes their former fire, And place him on his throne again."

"It shall be done. Go back, my child, The hour wears late, the wind feels cold, The path becomes more weird and wild, Thy feet are torn, there's blood, behold!

Thou feelest faint from weariness, Oh try to follow me no more; Go home, and with thy presence bless Those who thine absence there deplore."

"No weariness, O Death, I feel, And how should I, when by the side Of Satyavan? In woe and weal To be a helpmate swears the bride.

This is my place; by solemn oath Wherever thou conductest him I too must go, to keep my troth; And if the eye at times should brim, 'Tis human weakness, give me strength My work appointed to fulfil, That I may gain the crown at length The G.o.ds give those who do their will.

"The power of goodness is so great We pray to feel its influence For ever on us. It is late, And the strange landscape awes my sense; But I would fain with thee go on, And hear thy voice so true and kind; The false lights that on objects shone Have vanished, and no longer blind, Thanks to thy simple presence. Now I feel a fresher air around, And see the glory of that brow With flashing rubies fitly crowned.

"Men call thee Yama--conqueror, Because it is against their will They follow thee,--and they abhor The Truth which thou wouldst aye instil.

If they thy nature knew aright, O G.o.d, all other G.o.ds above!

And that thou conquerest in the fight By patience, kindness, mercy, love, And not by devastating wrath, They would not shrink in childlike fright To see thy shadow on their path, But hail thee as sick souls the light."

"Thy words, Savitri, greet mine ear As sweet as founts that murmur low To one who in the deserts drear With parched tongue moves faint and slow, Because thy talk is heart-sincere, Without hypocrisy or guile; Demand another boon, my dear, But not of those forbad erewhile, And I shall grant it, ere we part: Lo, the stars pale,--the way is long, Receive thy boon, and homewards start, For ah, poor child, thou art not strong."

"Another boon! My sire the king Beside myself hath children none, Oh grant that from his stock may spring A hundred boughs." "It shall be done.

He shall be blest with many a son Who his old palace shall rejoice."

"Each heart-wish from thy goodness won, If I am still allowed a choice, I fain thy voice would ever hear, Reluctant am I still to part, The way seems short when thou art near And Satyavan, my heart's dear heart.

"Of all the pleasures given on earth The company of the good is best, For weariness has never birth In such a commerce sweet and blest; The sun runs on its wonted course, The earth its plenteous treasure yields, All for their sake, and by the force Their prayer united ever wields.

Oh let me, let me ever dwell Amidst the good, where'er it be, Whether in lowly hermit-cell Or in some spot beyond the sea.

"The favours man accords to men Are never fruitless, from them rise A thousand acts beyond our ken That float like incense to the skies; For benefits can ne'er efface, They multiply and widely spread, And honour follows on their trace.

Sharp penances, and vigils dread, Austerities, and wasting fasts, Create an empire, and the blest Long as this spiritual empire lasts Become the saviours of the rest."

"O thou endowed with every grace And every virtue,--thou whose soul Appears upon thy lovely face, May the great G.o.ds who all control Send thee their peace. I too would give One favour more before I go; Ask something for thyself, and live Happy, and dear to all below, Till summoned to the bliss above.

Savitri ask, and ask unblamed."-- She took the clue, felt Death was Love, For no exceptions now he named,

And boldly said,--"Thou knowest, Lord, The inmost hearts and thoughts of all!

There is no need to utter word, Upon thy mercy sole, I call.

If speech be needful to obtain Thy grace,--oh hear a wife forlorn, Let my Satyavan live again And children unto us be born, Wise, brave, and valiant." "From thy stock A hundred families shall spring As lasting as the solid rock, Each son of thine shall be a king."

As thus he spoke, he loosed the knot The soul of Satyavan that bound, And promised further that their lot In pleasant places should be found Thenceforth, and that they both should live Four centuries, to which the name Of fair Savitri, men would give,-- And then he vanished in a flame.

"Adieu, great G.o.d!" She took the soul, No bigger than the human thumb, And running swift, soon reached her goal, Where lay the body stark and dumb.

She lifted it with eager hands And as before, when he expired, She placed the head upon the bands That bound her breast which hope new-fired, And which alternate rose and fell; Then placed his soul upon his heart Whence like a bee it found its cell, And lo, he woke with sudden start!

His breath came low at first, then deep, With an unquiet look he gazed, As one awaking from a sleep Wholly bewildered and amazed.

PART V.

As consciousness came slowly back He recognised his loving wife-- "Who was it, Love, through regions black Where hardly seemed a sign of life Carried me bound? Methinks I view The dark face yet--a n.o.ble face, He had a robe of scarlet hue, And ruby crown; far, far through s.p.a.ce He bore me, on and on, but now,"-- "Thou hast been sleeping, but the man With glory on his kingly brow, Is gone, thou seest, Satyavan!

"O my beloved,--thou art free!

Sleep which had bound thee fast, hath left Thine eyelids. Try thyself to be!

For late of every sense bereft Thou seemedst in a rigid trance; And if thou canst, my love, arise, Regard the night, the dark expanse Spread out before us, and the skies."

Supported by her, looked he long Upon the landscape dim outspread, And like some old remembered song The past came back,--a tangled thread.

"I had a pain, as if an asp Gnawed in my brain, and there I lay Silent, for oh! I could but gasp, Till someone came that bore away My spirit into lands unknown: Thou, dear, who watchedst beside me,--say Was it a dream from elfland blown, Or very truth,--my doubts to stay."

"O Love, look round,--how strange and dread The shadows of the high trees fall, Homeward our path now let us tread, To-morrow I shall tell thee all.

"Arise! Be strong! Gird up thy loins!

Think of our parents, dearest friend!

The solemn darkness haste enjoins, Not likely is it soon to end.

Hark! Jackals still at distance howl, The day, long, long will not appear, Lo, wild fierce eyes through bushes scowl, Summon thy courage, lest I fear.

Was that the tiger's sullen growl?

What means this rush of many feet?

Can creatures wild so near us prowl?

Rise up, and hasten homewards, sweet!"

He rose, but could not find the track, And then, too well, Savitri knew His wonted force had not come back.

She made a fire, and from the dew Essayed to shelter him. At last He nearly was himself again,-- Then vividly rose all the past, And with the past, new fear and pain.

"What anguish must my parents feel Who wait for me the livelong hours!

Their sore wound let us haste to heal Before it festers, past our powers:

"For broken-hearted, they may die!

Oh hasten dear,--now I am strong, No more I suffer, let us fly, Ah me! each minute seems so long.

They told me once, they could not live Without me, in their feeble age, Their food and water I must give And help them in the last sad stage Of earthly life, and that Beyond In which a son can help by rites.

Oh what a love is theirs--how fond!

Whom now Despair, perhaps, benights.

"Infirm herself, my mother dear Now guides, methinks, the tottering feet Of my blind father, for they hear And hasten eagerly to meet Our fancied steps. O faithful wife Let us on wings fly back again, Upon their safety hangs my life!"

He tried his feelings to restrain, But like some river swelling high They swept their barriers weak and vain, Sudden there burst a fearful cry, Then followed tears,--like autumn rain.

Hush! Hark, a sweet voice rises clear!

A voice of earnestness intense, "If I have worshipped Thee in fear And duly paid with reverence The solemn sacrifices,--hear!

Send consolation, and thy peace Eternal, to our parents dear, That their anxieties may cease.

Oh, ever hath I loved Thy truth, Therefore on Thee I dare to call, Help us, this night, and them, for sooth Without thy help, we perish all."

She took in hers Satyavan's hand, She gently wiped his falling tears, "This weakness, Love, I understand!

Courage!" She smiled away his fears.

"Now we shall go, for thou art strong."

She helped him rise up by her side And led him like a child along, He, wistfully the basket eyed Laden with fruit and flowers. "Not now, To-morrow we shall fetch it hence."

And so, she hung it on a bough, "I'll bear thy saw for our defence."

In one fair hand the saw she took, The other with a charming grace She twined around him, and her look She turned upwards to his face.

Thus aiding him she felt anew His bosom beat against her own-- More firm his step, more clear his view, More self-possessed his words and tone Became, as swift the minutes past, And now the pathway he discerns, And 'neath the trees, they hurry fast, For Hope's fair light before them burns.