Translations Of Shakuntala And Other Works Part 46

_with its artificial pool_;

A pool is near, to which an emerald stair Leads down, with blooming lotuses of gold Whose stalks are polished beryl; resting there, The wistful swans are glad when they behold Thine image, and forget the lake they loved of old.

XIV

_its hill of sport, girdled by bright hedges, like the dark cloud girdled by the lightening_;

And on the bank, a sapphire-crested hill Round which the golden plantain-hedges fit; She loves the spot; and while I marvel still At thee, my friend, as flashing lightnings flit About thine edge, with restless rapture I remember it.

XV

_its two favourite trees, which will not blossom while their mistress is grieving_;

The ashoka-tree, with sweetly dancing lines, The favourite bakul-tree, are near the bower Of amaranth-engirdled jasmine-vines; Like me, they wait to feel the winning power Of her persuasion, ere they blossom into flower.

XVI

_its tame peac.o.c.k_;

A golden pole is set between the pair, With crystal perch above its emerald bands As green as young bamboo; at sunset there Thy friend, the blue-necked peac.o.c.k, rises, stands, And dances when she claps her bracelet-tinkling hands.

XVII

_and its painted emblems of the G.o.d of wealth_.

These are the signs--recall them o'er and o'er, My clever friend--by which the house is known, And the Conch and Lotus painted by the door: Alas! when I am far, the charm is gone-- The lotus' loveliness is lost with set of sun.

XVIII

Small as the elephant cub thou must become For easy entrance; rest where gems enhance The glory of the hill beside my home, And peep into the house with lightning-glance, But make its brightness dim as fireflies' twinkling dance.

XIX

_The Yaksha's bride_.

The supremest woman from G.o.d's workshop gone-- Young, slender; little teeth and red, red lips, Slight waist and gentle eyes of timid fawn, An idly graceful movement, generous hips, Fair bosom into which the sloping shoulder slips--

XX

Like a bird that mourns her absent mate anew Pa.s.sing these heavy days in longings keen, My girlish wife whose words are sweet and few, My second life, shall there of thee be seen-- But changed like winter-blighted lotus-blooms, I ween.

XXI

Her eyes are swol'n with tears that stream unchidden; Her lips turn pale with sorrow's burning sighs; The face that rests upon her hand is hidden By hanging curls, as when the glory dies Of the suffering moon pursued by thee through nightly skies.

XXII

_The pa.s.sion of love pa.s.ses through ten stages, eight of which are suggested in this stanza and the stanzas which follow. The first stage is not indicated; it is called Exchange of Glances_.

Thou first wilt see her when she seeks relief In worship; or, half fancying, half recalling, She draws mine image worn by absent grief; Or asks the caged, sweetly-singing starling: "Do you remember, dear, our lord? You were his darling."

XXIII

_In this stanza and the preceding one is suggested the second stage: Wistfulness_.

Or holds a lute on her neglected skirt, And tries to sing of me, and tries in vain; For she dries the tear-wet string with hands inert, And e'er begins, and e'er forgets again, Though she herself composed it once, the loving strain.

XXIV

_Here is suggested the third stage: Desire_.

Or counts the months of absence yet remaining With flowers laid near the threshold on the floor, Or tastes the bliss of hours when love was gaining The memories recollected o'er and o'er-- woman's comforts when her lonely heart is sore.

XXV

_Here is suggested the fourth stage: Wakefulness_.

Such daytime labours doubtless ease the ache Which doubly hurts her in the helpless dark; With news from me a keener joy to wake, Stand by her window in the night, and mark My sleepless darling on her pallet hard and stark.

XXVI

_Here is suggested the fifth stage: Emaciation_.

Resting one side upon that widowed bed, Like the slender moon upon the Eastern height, So slender she, now worn with anguish dread, Pa.s.sing with stifling tears the long, sad night Which, spent in love with me, seemed but a moment's flight.

XXVII

_Here is suggested the sixth stage: Loss of Interest in Ordinary Pleasures_.

On the cool, sweet moon that through the lattice flashes She looks with the old delight, then turns away And veils her eyes with water-weighted lashes, Sad as the flower that blooms in sunlight gay, But cannot wake nor slumber on a cloudy day.

XXVIII

_Here is suggested the seventh stage: Loss of Youthful Bashfulness_.

One unanointed curl still frets her cheek When tossed by sighs that burn her blossom-lip; And still she yearns, and still her yearnings seek That we might be united though in sleep-- Ah! Happy dreams come not to brides that ever weep.

XXIX

_Here is suggested the eighth stage: Absent-mindedness.

For if she were not absent-minded, she would arrange the braid so as not to be annoyed by it_.

Her single tight-bound braid she pushes oft-- With a hand uncared for in her lonely madness-- So rough it seems, from the cheek that is so soft: That braid ungarlanded since the first day's sadness, Which I shall loose again when troubles end in gladness.

x.x.x

_Here is suggested the ninth stage: Prostration.

The tenth stage, Death, is not suggested_.