Translations Of Shakuntala And Other Works Part 43

XIX

_The Reva, or Nerbudda River, foaming against the mountain side_,

His bowers are sweet to forest maidens ever; Do thou upon his crest a moment bide, Then fly, rain-quickened, to the Reva river Which gaily breaks on Vindhya's rocky side, Like painted streaks upon an elephant's dingy hide.

XX

_and flavoured with the ichor which exudes from the temples of elephants during the mating season_.

Refresh thyself from thine exhausted state With ichor-pungent drops that fragrant flow; Thou shalt not then to every wind vibrate-- Empty means ever light, and full means added weight.

XXI

Spying the madder on the banks, half brown, Half green with shoots that struggle to the birth, Nibbling where early plantain-buds hang down, Scenting the sweet, sweet smell of forest earth, The deer will trace thy misty track that ends the dearth.

XXII

Though thou be pledged to ease my darling's pain, Yet I foresee delay on every hill Where jasmines blow, and where the peac.o.c.k-train Cries forth with joyful tears a welcome shrill; Thy sacrifice is great, but haste thy journey still.

XXIII

_The Dasharna country_,

At thine approach, Dasharna land is blest With hedgerows where gay buds are all aglow, With village trees alive with many a nest Abuilding by the old familiar crow, With lingering swans, with ripe rose-apples' darker show.

XXIV

_and its capital Vidisha, on the banks of Reed River_.

There shalt thou see the royal city, known Afar, and win the lover's fee complete, If thou subdue thy thunders to a tone Of murmurous gentleness, and taste the sweet, Love-rippling features of the river at thy feet.

XXV

A moment rest on Nichais' mountain then, Where madder-bushes don their blossom coat As thrilling to thy touch; where city men O'er youth's unbridled pleasures fondly gloat In caverns whence the perfumes of gay women float.

XXVI

Fly on refreshed; and sprinkle buds that fade On jasmine-vines in gardens wild and rare By forest rivers; and with loving shade Caress the flower-girls' heated faces fair, Whereon the lotuses droop withering from their hair.

XXVII

_The famous old city of Ujjain, the home of the poet, and dearly beloved by him_;

Swerve from thy northern path; for westward rise The palace balconies thou mayst not slight In fair Ujjain; and if bewitching eyes That flutter at thy gleams, should not delight Thine amorous bosom, useless were thy gift of sight.

XXVIII

_and the river, personified as a loving woman, whom the cloud will meet just before he reaches the city_.

The neighbouring mountain stream that gliding grants A glimpse of charms in whirling eddies pursed, While noisy swans accompany her dance Like a tinkling zone, will slake thy loving thirst-- A woman always tells her love in gestures first.

XXIX

Thou only, happy lover! canst repair The desolation that thine absence made: Her shrinking current seems the careless hair That brides deserted wear in single braid, And dead leaves falling give her face a paler shade.

x.x.x

_The city of Ujjain is fully described_,

Sufficed, though fallen from heaven, to bring down heaven on earth!

x.x.xI

Where the river-breeze at dawn, with fragrant gain From friendly lotus-blossoms, lengthens out The clear, sweet pa.s.sion-warbling of the crane, To cure the women's languishing, and flout With a lover's coaxing all their hesitating doubt.

x.x.xII

Enriched with odours through the windows drifting From perfumed hair, and greeted as a friend By peac.o.c.k pets their wings in dances lifting, On flower-sweet balconies thy labour end, Where prints of dear pink feet an added glory lend.

x.x.xIII

_especially its famous shrine to Shiva, called Mahakala_;

Black as the neck of Shiva, very G.o.d, Dear therefore to his hosts, thou mayest go To his dread shrine, round which the gardens nod When breezes rich with lotus-pollen blow And ointments that the gaily bathing maidens know.

x.x.xIV

Reaching that temple at another time, Wait till the sun is lost to human eyes; For if thou mayest play the part sublime Of Shiva's drum at evening sacrifice, Then hast thou in thy thunders grave a priceless prize.

x.x.xV

The women there, whose girdles long have tinkled In answer to the dance, whose hands yet seize And wave their fans with l.u.s.trous gems besprinkled, Will feel thine early drops that soothe and please, And recompense thee from black eyes like cl.u.s.tering bees.

x.x.xVI

_and the black cloud, painted with twilight red, is bidden to serve as a robe for the G.o.d, instead of the b.l.o.o.d.y elephant hide which he commonly wears in his wild dance_.

Clothing thyself in twilight's rose-red glory, Embrace the dancing Shiva's tree-like arm; He will prefer thee to his mantle gory And spare his grateful G.o.ddess-bride's alarm, Whose eager gaze will manifest no fear of harm.

x.x.xVII

_After one night of repose in the city_

Where women steal to rendezvous by night Through darkness that a needle might divide, Show them the road with lightning-flashes bright As golden streaks upon the touchstone's side-- But rain and thunder not, lest they be terrified.

x.x.xVIII

On some rich balcony where sleep the doves, Through the dark night with thy beloved stay, The lightning weary with the sport she loves; But with the sunrise journey on thy way-- For they that labour for a friend do not delay.