diff options
Diffstat (limited to 'old/31968.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | old/31968.txt | 3373 |
1 files changed, 0 insertions, 3373 deletions
diff --git a/old/31968.txt b/old/31968.txt deleted file mode 100644 index ba60553..0000000 --- a/old/31968.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,3373 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Birth of the War-God, by Kalidasa - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - -Title: The Birth of the War-God - A Poem by Kalidasa - -Author: Kalidasa - -Translator: Ralph T. H. Griffith - -Release Date: April 12, 2010 [EBook #31968] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BIRTH OF THE WAR-GOD *** - - - - -Produced by David Edwards and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This book was -produced from scanned images of public domain material -from the Google Print project.) - - - - - - - - - - THE - BIRTH OF THE WAR-GOD. - - _A POEM BY KALIDASA._ - - Translated from the Sanskrit into English Verse - - BY - - RALPH T. H. GRIFFITH, M.A. - PRINCIPAL OF BENARES COLLEGE. - - Second Edition. - - LONDON: - TRUeBNER & CO., LUDGATE HILL. - 1879. - [_All rights reserved._] - - - TRUeBNER'S - ORIENTAL SERIES. - V. - - - - - PREFACE. - - -Of the history of KALIDASA, to whom by general assent the KUMARA -SAMBHAVA, or BIRTH OF THE WAR-GOD, is attributed, we know but little -with any certainty; we can only gather from a memorial-verse which -enumerates their names, that he was one of the 'Nine Precious Stones' -that shone at the Court of VIKRAMADITYA, King of OUJEIN, in the half -century immediately preceding the Christian era.[A] As the examination -of arguments for and against the correctness of this date is not -likely to interest general readers, I must request them to rest -satisfied with the belief that about the time when VIRGIL and HORACE -were shedding an undying lustre upon the reign of AUGUSTUS, our poet -KALIDASA lived, loved, and sang, giving and taking honour, at the -polished court of the no less munificent patron of Sanskrit -literature, at the period of its highest perfection. - - [A] [This date is much too early. It has been shown by H. - Jacobi from the astrological data contained in the poem that - the date of its composition cannot be placed earlier than - about the middle of the fourth century A.D.] - -Little as we know of Indian poetry, here and there an English reader -may be found, who is not entirely unacquainted with the name or works -of the author of the beautiful dramas of SAKONTALA and THE HERO AND -THE NYMPH, the former of which has long enjoyed an European celebrity -in the translation of SIR WILLIAM JONES, and the latter is one of the -most charming of PROFESSOR WILSON'S specimens of the Hindu Theatre; -here and there even in England may be found a lover of the graceful, -tender, picturesque, and fanciful, who knows something, and would -gladly know more, of the sweet poet of the CLOUD MESSENGER, and THE -SEASONS; whilst in Germany he has been deeply studied in the original, -and enthusiastically admired in translation,--not the Orientalist -merely, but the poet, the critic, the natural philosopher,--a GOETHE, -a SCHLEGEL, a HUMBOLDT, having agreed, on account of his tenderness of -feeling and his rich creative imagination, to set KALIDASA very high -among the glorious company of the Sons of Song.[B] - - [B] Goethe says: - - Willst du die Bluethe des fruehen, die Fruechte des spaeteren - Jahres, - Willst du was reizt and entzueckt, willst du was saettigt - and naehrt, - Willst du den Himmel, die Erde, mit einem Namen begreifen; - Nenn' ich Sakontala, Dich, und so ist Alles gesagt. - - See also Schlegel's Dramatic Literature, Lect. II., and - Humboldt's Kosmos, Vol. II. p. 40, and note. - -That the poem which is now for the first time offered to the general -reader, in an English dress, will not diminish this reputation is the -translator's earnest hope, yet my admiration of the grace and beauty -that pervade so much of the work must not allow me to deny that -occasionally, even in the noble Sanskrit, if we judge him by an -European standard, KALIDASA is bald and prosaic. Nor is this a defence -of the translator at the expense of the poet. Fully am I conscious how -far I am from being able adequately to reproduce the fanciful creation -of the sweet singer of OUJEIN; that numerous beauties of thought and -expression I may have passed by, mistaken, marred; that in many of the -more elaborate descriptions my own versification is 'harsh as the -jarring of a tuneless chord' compared with the melody of KALIDASA'S -rhythm, to rival whose sweetness and purity of language, so admirably -adapted to the soft repose and celestial rosy hue of his pictures, -would have tried all the fertility of resource, the artistic skill, -and the exquisite ear of the author of LALLA ROOKH himself. I do not -think this poem deserves, and I am sure it will not obtain, that -admiration which the author's masterpieces already made known at once -commanded; at all events, if the work itself is not inferior, it has -not enjoyed the good fortune of having a JONES or a WILSON for -translator. - -It may be as well to inform the reader, before he wonder at the -misnomer, that the BIRTH OF THE WAR-GOD was either left unfinished by -its author, or time has robbed us of the conclusion; the latter is the -more probable supposition, tradition informing us that the poem -originally consisted of twenty-two cantos, of which only seven now -remain.[C] - - [C] [Ten more cantos, of very inferior merit, have been - published since this was written.] - -I have derived great assistance in the work of translation from the -Calcutta printed edition of the poem in the Library of the East-India -House; but although the Sanskrit commentaries accompanying the text -are sometimes of the greatest use in unravelling the author's meaning, -they can scarcely claim infallibility; and, not unfrequently, are so -matter-of-fact and prosaic, that I have not scrupled to think, or -rather to feel, for myself. It is, however, PROFESSOR STENZLER'S -edition,[D] published under the auspices of the Oriental Translation -Fund (a society that has liberally encouraged my own undertaking), -that I have chiefly used. Valuable as this work is (and I will not -disown my great obligations to it), it is much to be regretted that -the extracts from the native commentators are so scanty, and the -annotations so few and brief. - - [D] [With a Latin translation.] - -And now one word as to the manner in which I have endeavoured to -perform my task. Though there is much, I think, that might be struck -out, to the advantage of the poem, this I have in no instance ventured -to do, my aim having been to give the English reader as faithful a -cast of the original as my own power and the nature of things would -permit, and, without attempting to give word for word or line for -line, to produce upon the imagination impressions similar to those -which one who studies the work in Sanskrit would experience. - -I will not seek to anticipate the critics, nor to deprecate their -animadversions, by pointing out the beauties of the poet, or -particularising the defects of him and his translator. That the former -will be appreciated, and the latter kindly dealt with, late experience -makes me confident; so that now, in the words of the Manager in the -Prelude to the HERO AND THE NYMPH, "I have only to request the -audience that they will listen to this work of KALIDASA with attention -and kindness, in consideration of its subject and respect for the -Author." - - ADDERLEY LIBRARY, MARLBOROUGH COLLEGE, - _April, 1853_. - - - - - PRELIMINARY NOTE. - - PRONUNCIATION. - - -As a general rule, the Sanskrit vowels are to be sounded like those of -the Italian alphabet, except the short or unaccented _a_, which has -the sound of that letter in the word _America_: "_pandit_," a learned -man, being pronounced _pundit_. - - _a_, long or accented like _a_ in _father_. - _e_ like _e_ in _they_. - _i_, short or unaccented, like _i_ in _pick_. - _i_, long or accented like _i_ in _pique_. - _o_ like _o_ in _go_. - _u_, short or unaccented, like _u_ in _full_. - _u_, long or accented like _u_ in _rule_. - -The diphthongs _ai_ and _au_ are pronounced severally like _i_ in -_rise_ and _ou_ in _our_. - -The consonants are sounded as in English. In the aspirates, however, -the sound of _h_ is kept distinct; _dh_, _th_, _ph_, _bh_, &c., being -pronounced as in _red-hot_, _pent-house_, _up-hill_, _abhor_, &c. _G_ -is always hard, whatever vowel follows. - -In HIMALAYA the accent is on the _second_ syllable. - - - - - THE - BIRTH OF THE WAR-GOD. - - - - -Canto First. - -_UMA'S NATIVITY._ - - - Far in the north HIMALAYA, lifting high - His towery summits till they cleave the sky, - Spans the wide land from east to western sea, - Lord of the hills, instinct with deity. - For him, when PRITHU ruled in days of old - The rich earth, teeming with her gems and gold, - The vassal hills and MERU drained her breast, - To deck HIMALAYA, for they loved him best; - And earth, the mother, gave her store to fill - With herbs and sparkling ores the royal hill. - Proud mountain-king! his diadem of snow - Dims not the beauty of his gems below. - For who can gaze upon the moon, and dare - To mark one spot less brightly glorious there? - Who, 'mid a thousand virtues, dares to blame - One shade of weakness in a hero's fame? - Oft, when the gleamings of his mountain brass - Flash through the clouds and tint them as they pass, - Those glories mock the hues of closing day, - And heaven's bright wantons hail their hour of play; - Try, ere the time, the magic of their glance, - And deck their beauty for the twilight dance. - Dear to the sylphs are the cool shadows thrown - By dark clouds wandering round the mountain's zone, - Till frightened by the storm and rain they seek - Eternal sunshine on each loftier peak. - Far spread the wilds where eager hunters roam, - Tracking the lion to his dreary home. - For though the melting snow has washed away - The crimson blood-drops of the wounded prey, - Still the fair pearls that graced his forehead tell - Where the strong elephant, o'ermastered, fell, - And clinging to the lion's claws, betray, - Falling at every step, the mighty conqueror's way. - There birch-trees wave, that lend their friendly aid - To tell the passion of the love-lorn maid, - So quick to learn in metal tints to mark - Her hopes and fears upon the tender bark. - - List! breathing from each cave, HIMALAYA leads - The glorious hymn with all his whispering reeds, - Till heavenly minstrels raise their voice in song, - And swell his music as it floats along. - There the fierce elephant wounds the scented bough - To ease the torment of his burning brow; - And bleeding pines their odorous gum distil - To breathe rare fragrance o'er the sacred hill. - There magic herbs pour forth their streaming light - From mossy caverns through the darksome night, - And lend a torch to guide the trembling maid - Where waits her lover in the leafy shade. - Yet hath he caves within whose inmost cells - In tranquil rest the murky darkness dwells, - And, like the night-bird, spreads the brooding wing - Safe in the shelter of the mountain-king, - Unscorned, uninjured; for the good and great - Spurn not the suppliant for his lowly state. - - Why lingers yet the heavenly minstrel's bride - On the wild path that skirts HIMALAYA'S side? - Cold to her tender feet--oh, cold--the snow, - Why should her steps--her homeward steps--be slow? - 'Tis that her slender ankles scarce can bear - The weight of beauty that impedes her there; - Each rounded limb, and all her peerless charms, - That broad full bosom, those voluptuous arms. - E'en the wild kine that roam his forests bring - The royal symbols to the mountain-king. - With tails outspread, their bushy streaming hair - Flashes like moonlight through the parted air. - What monarch's fan more glorious might there be, - More meet to grace a king as proud as he? - There, when the nymphs, within the cave's recess, - In modest fear their gentle limbs undress, - Thick clouds descending yield a friendly screen, - And blushing beauty bares her breast unseen. - With pearly dewdrops GANGA loads the gale - That waves the dark pines towering o'er the vale, - And breathes in welcome freshness o'er the face - Of wearied hunters when they quit the chase. - So far aloft, amid Himalayan steeps, - Crouched on the tranquil pool the lotus sleeps, - That the bright SEVEN who star the northern sky - Cull the fair blossoms from their seats on high; - And when the sun pours forth his morning glow - In streams of glory from his path below, - They gain new beauty as his kisses break - His darlings' slumber on the mountain lake. - - Well might that ancient hill by merit claim - The power and glory of a monarch's name; - Nurse of pure herbs that grace each holy rite, - Earth's meetest bearer of unyielding might. - The Lord of Life for this ordained him king, - And bade him share the sacred offering. - Gladly obedient to the law divine, - He chose a consort to prolong his line. - No child of earth, born of the Sage's will, - The fair nymph MENA pleased the sovran hill. - To her he sued, nor was his prayer denied, - The Saints' beloved was the mountain's bride. - Crowned with all bliss and beauty were the pair, - He passing glorious, she was heavenly fair. - Swiftly the seasons, winged with love, flew on, - And made her mother of a noble son, - The great MAINAKA, who in triumph led - His Serpent beauties to the bridal bed; - And once when INDRA'S might those pinions rent - That bare the swift hills through the firmament, - (So fierce his rage, no mountain could withstand - The wild bolt flashing from his red right hand,) - He fled to Ocean, powerful to save, - And hid his glory 'neath the friendly wave. - - A gentle daughter came at length to bless - The royal mother with her loveliness; - Born once again, for in an earlier life - High fame was hers, as ['S]IVA'S faithful wife. - But her proud sire had dared the God to scorn; - Then was her tender soul with anguish torn, - And jealous for the lord she loved so well, - Her angered spirit left its mortal cell. - Now deigned the maid, a lovely boon, to spring - From that pure lady and the mountain-king. - When Industry and Virtue meet and kiss, - Holy their union, and the fruit is bliss. - Blest was that hour, and all the world was gay, - When MENA'S daughter saw the light of day. - A rosy glow suffused the brightening sky; - An odorous breeze came sweeping softly by. - Breathed round the hill a sweet unearthly strain, - And the glad heavens poured down their flowery rain. - That fair young maiden diademmed with light - Made her dear mother's fame more sparkling bright. - As the blue offspring of the Turquois Hills - The parent mount with richer glory fills, - When the cloud's voice has caused the gem to spring, - Responsive to its gentle thundering. - Then was it sweet, as days flew by, to trace - The dawning charm of every infant grace, - Even as the crescent moons their glory pour - More full, more lovely than the eve before. - - As yet the maiden was unknown to fame; - Child of the Mountain was her only name. - But when her mother, filled with anxious care - At her stern penance, cried Forbear! Forbear! - To a new title was the warning turned, - And UMA was the name the maiden earned. - Loveliest was she of all his lovely race, - And dearest to her father. On her face - Looking with love he ne'er could satisfy - The thirsty glances of a parent's eye. - When spring-tide bids a thousand flowerets bloom - Loading the breezes with their rich perfume, - Though here and there the wandering bee may rest, - He loves his own--his darling mango--best. - The Gods' bright river bathes with gold the skies, - And pure sweet eloquence adorns the wise. - The flambeau's glory is the shining fire; - She was the pride, the glory of her sire, - Shedding new lustre on his old descent, - His loveliest child, his richest ornament. - The sparkling GANGA laved her heavenly home, - And o'er her islets would the maiden roam - Amid the dear companions of her play - With ball and doll to while the hours away. - As swans in autumn in assembling bands - Fly back to GANGA'S well-remembered sands: - As herbs beneath the darksome shades of night - Collect again their scattered rays of light: - So dawned upon the maiden's waking mind - The far-off memory of her life resigned, - And all her former learning in its train, - Feelings, and thoughts, and knowledge came again. - Now beauty's prime, that craves no artful aid, - Ripened the loveliness of that young maid: - That needs no wine to fire the captive heart,-- - The bow of Love without his flowery dart. - There was a glory beaming from her face, - With love's own light, and every youthful grace: - Ne'er had the painter's skilful hand portrayed - A lovelier picture than that gentle maid; - Ne'er sun-kissed lily more divinely fair - Unclosed her beauty to the morning air. - Bright as a lotus, springing where she trod, - Her glowing feet shed radiance o'er the sod. - That arching neck, the step, the glance aside, - The proud swans taught her as they stemmed the tide, - Whilst of the maiden they would fondly learn - Her anklets' pleasant music in return. - When the Almighty Maker first began - The marvellous beauty of that child to plan, - In full fair symmetry each rounded limb - Grew neatly fashioned and approved by Him: - The rest was faultless, for the Artist's care - Formed each young charm most excellently fair, - As if his moulding hand would fain express - The visible type of perfect loveliness. - What thing of beauty may the poet dare - With the smooth wonder of those limbs compare? - The young tree springing by the brooklet's side? - The rounded trunk, the forest-monarch's pride? - Too rough that trunk, too cold that young tree's stem; - A softer, warmer thing must vie with them. - Her hidden beauties though no tongue may tell, - Yet ['S]IVA'S love will aid the fancy well: - No other maid could deem her boasted charms - Worthy the clasp of such a husband's arms. - Between the partings of fair UMA'S vest - Came hasty glimpses of a lovely breast: - So closely there the sweet twin hillocks rose, - Scarce could the lotus in the vale repose. - And if her loosened zone e'er slipped below, - All was so bright beneath the mantle's flow, - So dazzling bright, as if the maid had braced - A band of gems to sparkle round her waist; - And the dear dimples of her downy skin - Seemed fitting couch for Love to revel in. - Her arms were softer than the flowery dart, - Young KAMA'S arrow, that subdues the heart; - For vain his strife with ['S]IVA, till at last - He chose those chains to bind his conqueror fast. - E'en the new moon poured down a paler beam - When her long fingers flashed their rosy gleam, - And brighter than A['s]oka's blossom threw - A glory round, like summer's evening hue. - The strings of pearl across her bosom thrown - Increased its beauty, and enhanced their own,-- - Her breast, her jewels seeming to agree, - The adorner now, and now the adorned to be. - When BEAUTY gazes on the fair full moon, - No lotus charms her, for it blooms at noon: - If on that flower she feed her raptured eye, - No moon is shining from the mid-day sky; - She looked on UMA'S face, more heavenly fair, - And found their glories both united there. - The loveliest flower that ever opened yet - Laid in the fairest branch: a fair pearl set - In richest coral, with her smile might vie - Flashing through lips bright with their rosy dye. - And when she spoke, upon the maiden's tongue, - Distilling nectar, such rare accents hung, - The sweetest note that e'er the Koil poured - Seemed harsh and tuneless as a jarring chord. - The melting glance of that soft liquid eye, - Tremulous like lilies when the breezes sigh, - Which learnt it first--so winning and so mild-- - The gentle fawn, or MENA'S gentler child? - And oh, the arching of her brow! so fine - Was the rare beauty of its pencilled line, - LOVE gazed upon her forehead in despair - And spurned the bow he once esteemed so fair: - Her long bright tresses too might shame the pride - Of envious yaks who roamed the mountain-side. - Surely the Maker's care had been to bring - From Nature's store each sweetest, loveliest thing, - As if the world's Creator would behold - All beauty centred in a single mould. - - When holy NARAD--Saint who roams at will-- - First saw the daughter of the royal hill, - He hailed the bride whom ['S]IVA'S love should own - Half of himself, and partner of his throne. - HIMALAYA listened, and the father's pride - Would yield the maiden for no other's bride: - To Fire alone of all bright things we raise - The holy hymn, the sacrifice of praise. - But still the monarch durst not, could not bring - His child, unsought, to Heaven's supremest King; - But as a good man fears his earnest prayer - Should rise unheeded, and with thoughtful care - Seeks for some friend his eager suit to aid, - Thus great HIMALAYA in his awe delayed. - - Since the sad moment when his gentle bride - In the full glory of her beauty died, - The mournful ['S]IVA in the holy grove - Had dwelt in solitude, and known not love. - High on that hill where musky breezes throw - Their balmy odours o'er eternal snow; - Where heavenly minstrels pour their notes divine, - And rippling GANGA laves the mountain pine, - Clad in a coat of skin all rudely wrought - He lived for prayer and solitary thought. - The faithful band that served the hermit's will - Lay in the hollows of the rocky hill, - Where from the clefts the dark bitumen flowed. - Tinted with mineral dyes their bodies glowed; - Clad in rude mantles of the birch-tree's rind, - With bright red garlands was their hair entwined. - The holy bull before his master's feet - Shook the hard-frozen earth with echoing feet, - And as he heard the lion's roaring swell - In distant thunder from the rocky dell, - In angry pride he raised his voice of fear - And from the mountain drove the startled deer. - Bright fire--a shape the God would sometimes wear - Who takes eight various forms--was glowing there. - Then the great deity who gives the prize - Of penance, prayer, and holy exercise, - As though to earn the meed he grants to man, - Himself the penance and the pain began. - Now to that holy lord, to whom is given - Honour and glory by the Gods in heaven, - The worship of a gift HIMALAYA paid, - And towards his dwelling sent the lovely maid; - Her task, attended by her youthful train, - To woo his widowed heart to love again. - - The hermit welcomed with a courteous brow - That gentle enemy of hermit vow. - The still pure breast where Contemplation dwells - Defies the charmer and the charmer's spells. - Calm and unmoved he viewed the wondrous maid, - And bade her all his pious duties aid. - She culled fresh blossoms at the God's command, - Sweeping the altar with a careful hand; - The holy grass for sacred rites she sought, - And day by day the fairest water brought. - And if the unwonted labour caused a sigh, - The fair-haired lady turned her languid eye - Where the pale moon on ['S]IVA'S forehead gleamed, - And swift through all her frame returning vigour streamed. - - - - -_CANTO SECOND._ - - - - -Canto Second. - -_THE ADDRESS TO BRAHMA._ - - - While impious TARAK in resistless might - Was troubling heaven and earth with wild affright, - To BRAHMA'S high abode, by INDRA led, - The mournful deities for refuge fled. - As when the Day-God's loving beams awake - The lotus slumbering on the silver lake, - So BRAHMA deigned his glorious face to show, - And poured sweet comfort on their looks of woe. - Then nearer came the suppliant Gods to pay - Honour to him whose face turns every way. - They bowed them low before the Lord of Speech, - And sought with truthful words his heart to reach: - "Glory to Thee! before the world was made, - One single form thy Majesty displayed. - Next Thou, to body forth the mystic Three, - Didst fill three Persons: Glory, Lord, to Thee! - Unborn and unbegotten! from thy hand - The fruitful seed rained down; at thy command - From that small germ o'er quickening waters thrown - All things that move not, all that move have grown. - Before thy triple form in awe they bow: - Maker, preserver, and destroyer, Thou! - Thou, when a longing urged thee to create, - Thy single form in twain didst separate. - The Sire, the Mother that made all things be - By their first union were but parts of Thee. - From them the life that fills this earthly frame, - And fruitful Nature, self-renewing, came. - Thou countest not thy time by mortals' light; - With Thee there is but one vast day and night. - When BRAHMA slumbers fainting Nature dies, - When BRAHMA wakens all again arise. - Creator of the world, and uncreate! - Endless! all things from Thee their end await. - Before the world wast Thou! each Lord shall fall - Before Thee, mightiest, highest, Lord of all. - Thy self-taught soul thine own deep spirit knows; - Made by thyself thy mighty form arose; - Into the same, when all things have their end, - Shall thy great self, absorbed in Thee, descend. - Lord, who may hope thy essence to declare? - Firm, yet as subtile as the yielding air: - Fixt, all-pervading; ponderous, yet light, - Patent to all, yet hidden from the sight. - Thine are the sacred hymns which mortals raise, - Commencing ever with the word of praise, - With three-toned chant the sacrifice to grace, - And win at last in heaven a blissful place. - They hail Thee Nature labouring to free - The Immortal Soul from low humanity; - Hail Thee the stranger Spirit, unimpressed, - Gazing on Nature from thy lofty rest. - Father of fathers, God of gods art thou, - Creator, highest, hearer of the vow! - Thou art the sacrifice, and Thou the priest, - Thou, he that eateth; Thou, the holy feast. - Thou art the knowledge which by Thee is taught, - The mighty thinker, and the highest thought!" - - Pleased with their truthful praise, his favouring eye - He turned upon the dwellers in the sky, - While from four mouths his words in gentle flow - Come welling softly to assuage their woe: - "Welcome! glad welcome, Princes! ye who hold - Your lofty sovereignties ordained of old. - But why so mournful? what has dimmed your light? - Why shine your faces less divinely bright? - Like stars that pour forth weaker, paler gleams, - When the fair moon with brighter radiance beams. - O say, in vain doth mighty INDRA bear - The thunderbolt of heaven, unused to spare? - VRITRA, the furious fiend, 'twas strong to slay: - Why dull and blunted is that might to-day? - See, VARUN'S noose hangs idly on his arm, - Like some fell serpent quelled by magic charm. - Weak is KUVERA'S hand, his arm no more - Wields the dread mace it once so proudly bore; - But like a tree whose boughs are lopped away, - It tells of piercing woe, and dire dismay. - In days of yore how YAMA'S sceptre shone! - Fled are its glories, all its terrors gone; - Despised and useless as a quenched brand, - All idly now it marks the yielding sand. - Fallen are the Lords of Light, ere now the gaze - Shrank from the coming of their fearful blaze; - So changed are they, the undazzled eye may see - Like pictured forms, each rayless deity. - Some baffling power has curbed the breezes' swell: - Vainly they chafe against the secret spell. - We know some barrier checks their wonted course, - When refluent waters seek again their source. - The RUDRAS too--fierce demigods who bear - The curved moon hanging from their twisted hair-- - Tell by their looks of fear, and shame, and woe, - Of threats now silenced, of a mightier foe. - Glory and power, ye Gods, were yours of right: - Have ye now yielded to some stronger might, - Even as on earth a general law may be - Made powerless by a special text's decree? - Then say, my sons, why seek ye BRAHMA'S throne? - 'Tis mine to frame the worlds, and yours to guard your own." - - Then INDRA turned his thousand glorious eyes, - Glancing like lilies when the soft wind sighs, - And in the Gods' behalf, their mighty chief - Urged the Most Eloquent to tell their grief. - Then rose the heavenly Teacher, by whose side - Dim seemed the glories of the Thousand-eyed, - And with his hands outspread, to BRAHMA spake, - Couched on his own dear flower, the daughter of the lake: - "O mighty Being! surely thou dost know - The unceasing fury of our ruthless foe; - For thou canst see the secret thoughts that lie - Deep in the heart, yet open to thine eye. - The vengeful TARAK, in resistless might, - Like some dire Comet, gleaming wild affright, - O'er all the worlds an evil influence sheds, - And, in thy favour strong, destruction spreads. - All bow before him: on his palace wall - The sun's first ray and parting splendour fall; - Ne'er could he waken with a lovelier glance - His own dear lotus from her nightly trance. - For him, proud fiend, the moon no waning knows, - But with unminished full-orbed lustre glows. - Too faint for him the crescent glory set - Amid the blaze of ['S]IVA'S coronet. - How fair his garden, where the obedient breeze - Dares steal no blossom from the slumbering trees! - The wild wind checks his blustering pinions there, - And gently whispering fans the balmy air; - While through the inverted year the seasons pour, - To win the demon's grace, their flowery store. - For him, the River-god beneath the stream, - Marks the young pearl increase its silver gleam, - Until, its beauty and its growth complete, - He bears the offering to his master's feet. - The Serpents, led by VASUKI, their king, - Across his nightly path their lustre fling; - Bright as a torch their flashing jewels blaze, - Nor wind, nor rain, can dim their dazzling rays. - E'en INDRA, sovereign of the blissful skies, - To gain his love by flattering homage tries, - And sends him oft those flowers of wondrous hue - That on the heavenly tree in beauty grew. - Yet all these offerings brought from day to day, - This flattery, fail his ruthless hand to stay. - Earth, hell, and heaven, beneath his rage must groan, - Till force can hurl him from his evil throne. - Alas! where glowed the bright celestial bowers, - And gentle fair ones nursed the opening flowers, - Where heavenly trees a heavenly odour shed, - O'er a sad desert ruin reigns instead. - He roots up MERU'S sacred peaks, where stray - The fiery coursers of the God of Day, - To form bright slopes, and glittering mounds of ease, - In the broad gardens of his palaces. - There, on his couch, the mighty lord is fanned - To sweetest slumber by a heavenly band; - Poor captive nymphs, who stand in anguish by, - Drop the big tear, and heave the ceaseless sigh. - And now have INDRA'S elephants defiled - The sparkling stream where heavenly GANGA smiled, - And her gold lotuses the fiend has taken - To deck his pools, and left her all forsaken. - The Gods of heaven no more delight to roam - O'er all the world, far from their glorious home. - They dread the demon's impious might, nor dare - Speed their bright chariots through the fields of air. - And when our worshippers in duty bring - The appointed victims for the offering, - He tears them from the flame with magic art, - While we all powerless watch with drooping heart. - He too has stolen from his master's side - The steed of heavenly race, great INDRA'S pride. - No more our hosts, so glorious once, withstand - The fierce dominion of the demon's hand, - As herbs of healing virtue fail to tame - The sickness raging through the infected frame. - Idly the discus hangs on VISH[N.]U'S neck, - And our last hope is vain, that it would check - The haughty TARAK'S might, and flash afar - Ruin and death--the thunderbolt of war. - E'en INDRA'S elephant has felt the might - Of his fierce monsters in the deadly fight, - Which spurn the dust in fury, and defy - The threatening clouds that sail along the sky. - Therefore, O Lord, we seek a chief, that he - May lead the hosts of heaven to victory, - Even as holy men who long to sever - The immortal spirit from its shell for ever, - Seek lovely Virtue's aid to free the soul - From earthly ties and action's base control. - Thus shall he save us: proudly will we go - Under his escort 'gainst the furious foe; - And INDRA, conqueror in turn, shall bring - FORTUNE, dear captive, home with joy and triumphing." - - Sweet as the rains--the fresh'ning rains--that pour - On the parched earth when thunders cease to roar, - Were BRAHMA'S words: "Gods, I have heard your grief; - Wait ye in patience: time will bring relief. - 'Tis not for me, my children, to create - A chief to save you from your mournful fate. - Not by my hand the fiend must be destroyed, - For my kind favour has he once enjoyed; - And well ye know that e'en a poisonous tree - By him who planted it unharmed should be. - He sought it eagerly, and long ago - I gave my favour to your demon-foe, - And stayed his awful penance, that had hurled - Flames, death, and ruin o'er the subject world. - When that great warrior battles for his life, - O, who may conquer in the deadly strife, - Save one of ['S]IVA'S seed? He is the light, - Reigning supreme beyond the depths of night. - Nor I, nor VISH[N.]U, his full power may share, - Lo, where he dwells in solitude and prayer! - Go, seek the Hermit in the grove alone, - And to the God be UMA'S beauty shown. - Perchance, the Mountain-child, with magnet's force, - May turn the iron from its steadfast course, - Bride of the mighty God; for only she - Can bear to Him as water bears to me. - Then from their love a mighty Child shall rise, - And lead to war the armies of the skies. - Freed by his hand, no more the heavenly maids - Shall twine their glittering hair in mournful braids." - - He spake, and vanished from their wondering sight; - And they sped homeward to their world of light. - But INDRA, still on BRAHMA'S words intent, - To KAMA'S dwelling-place his footsteps bent. - Swiftly he came: the yearning of his will - Made INDRA'S lightning course more speedy still. - The LOVE-GOD, armed with flowers divinely sweet, - In lowly homage bowed before his feet. - Around his neck, where bright love-tokens clung, - Arched like a maiden's brow, his bow was hung, - And blooming SPRING, his constant follower, bore - The mango twig, his weapon famed of yore. - - - - -_CANTO THIRD._ - - - - -Canto Third. - -_THE DEATH OF LOVE._ - - - Is eager gaze the sovereign of the skies - looked full on _Kama_ with his thousand eyes: - E'en such a gaze as trembling suppliants bend, - When danger threatens, on a mighty friend. - - Close by his side, where INDRA bade him rest, - The LOVE-GOD sate, and thus his lord addressed: - "All-knowing INDRA, deign, my Prince, to tell - Thy heart's desire in earth, or heaven, or hell: - Double the favour, mighty sovereign, thou - Hast thought on KAMA, O, command him now: - Who angers thee by toiling for the prize, - By penance, prayer, or holy sacrifice? - What mortal being dost thou count thy foe? - Speak, I will tame him with my darts and bow. - Has some one feared the endless change of birth, - And sought the path that leads the soul from earth? - Slave to a glancing eye thy foe shall bow, - And own the witchery of a woman's brow; - E'en though the object of thine envious rage - Were taught high wisdom by the immortal sage, - With billowy passions will I whelm his soul, - Like rushing waves that spurn the bank's control. - Or has the ripe full beauty of a spouse, - Too fondly faithful to her bridal vows, - Ravished thy spirit from thee? Thine, all thine - Around thy neck her loving arms shall twine. - Has thy love, jealous of another's charms, - Spurned thee in wrath when flying to her arms? - I'll rack her yielding bosom with such pain, - Soon shall she be all love and warmth again, - And wildly fly in fevered haste to rest - Her aching heart close, close to thy dear breast. - Lay, INDRA, lay thy threatening bolt aside: - My gentle darts shall tame the haughtiest pride, - And all that war with heaven and thee shall know - The magic influence of thy KAMA'S bow; - For woman's curling lip shall bow them down, - Fainting in terror at her threatening frown. - Flowers are my arms, mine only warrior SPRING, - Yet in thy favour am I strong, great King. - What can their strength who draw the bow avail - Against my matchless power when I assail? - Strong is the Trident-bearing God, yet he, - The mighty ['S]IVA, e'en, must yield to me." - - Then INDRA answered with a dawning smile, - Resting his foot upon a stool the while: - "Dear God of Love, thou truly hast displayed - The power unrivalled of thy promised aid. - My hope is all in thee: my weapons are - The thunderbolt and thou, more mighty far. - But vain, all vain the bolt of heaven to fright - Those holy Saints whom penance arms aright. - Thy power exceeds all bound: thou, only thou, - All-conquering Deity, canst help me now! - Full well I know thy nature, and assign - This toil to thee, which needs a strength like thine: - As on that snake alone will KRISH[N.]A rest, - That bears the earth upon his haughty crest. - Our task is well-nigh done: thy boasted dart - Has power to conquer even ['S]IVA'S heart. - Hear what the Gods, oppressed with woe, would fain - From mighty ['S]IVA through thine aid obtain. - He may beget--and none in heaven but he--A - chief to lead our hosts to victory. - But all his mind with holiest lore is fraught, - Bent on the Godhead is his every thought. - Thy darts, O LOVE, alone can reach him now, - And lure his spirit from the hermit vow. - Go, seek HIMALAYA'S Mountain-child, and aid - With all thy loveliest charms the lovely maid, - So may she please his fancy: only she - May wed with ['S]IVA: such the fixt decree. - E'en now my bands of heavenly maids have spied - Fair UMA dwelling by the Hermit's side. - There by her father's bidding rests she still, - Sweet minister, upon the cold bleak hill. - Go, KAMA, go! perform this great emprise, - And free from fear the Rulers of the Skies; - We need thy favour, as the new-sown grain - Calls for the influence of the gentle rain. - Go, KAMA, go! thy flowery darts shall be - Crowned with success o'er this great deity. - Yea, and thy task is e'en already done, - For praise and glory are that instant won - When a bold heart dares manfully essay - The deed which others shrink from in dismay. - Gods are thy suppliants, KAMA, and on thee - Depends the triple world's security. - No cruel deed will stain thy flowery bow: - With all thy gentlest, mightiest valour, go! - And now, Disturber of the spirit, see - SPRING, thy beloved, will thy comrade be, - And gladly aid thee ['S]IVA'S heart to tame: - None bids the whispering Wind, and yet he fans the flame." - - He spake, and KAMA bowed his bright head down, - And took his bidding like a flowery crown. - Above his wavy curls great INDRA bent, - And fondly touched his soldier ere he went, - With that hard hand--but, O, how gentle now-- - That fell so heavy on his elephant's brow. - Then for that snow-crowned hill he turned away, - Where all alone the heavenly Hermit lay. - His fearful RATI and his comrade SPRING - Followed the guidance of Love's mighty king. - There will he battle in unwonted strife, - Return a conqueror or be reft of life. - - How fair was SPRING! To fill the heart with love, - And lure the Hermit from his thoughts above, - In that pure grove he grew so heavenly bright - That KAMA'S envy wakened at the sight. - Now the bright Day-God turned his burning ray - To where KUVERA holds his royal sway, - While the sad South in whispering breezes sighed - And mourned his absence like a tearful bride. - Then from its stem the red A['s]oka threw - Full buds and flowerets of celestial hue, - Nor waited for the maiden's touch, the sweet - beloved pressure of her tinkling feet. - There grew LOVE'S arrow, his dear mango spray, - Winged with young leaves to speed its airy way, - And at the call of SPRING the wild bees came, - Grouping the syllables of KAMA'S name. - How sighed the spirit o'er that loveliest flower - That boasts no fragrance to enrich its dower! - For Nature, wisest mother, oft prefers - To part more fairly those good gifts of hers. - There from the tree Palasa blossoms spread, - Curved like the crescent moon, their rosiest red, - With opening buds that looked as if young SPRING - Had pressed his nails there in his dallying: - Sweet wanton SPRING, to whose enchanting face - His flowery Tilaka gave fairer grace: - Who loves to tint his lip, the mango spray, - With the fresh colours of the early day, - And powder its fine red with many a bee - That sips the oozing nectar rapturously. - The cool gale speeding o'er the shady lawns - Shook down the sounding leaves, while startled fawns - Ran wildly at the viewless foe, all blind - With pollen wafted by the fragrant wind. - Sweet was the Koeil's voice, his neck still red - With mango buds on which he late had fed: - Twas as the voice of LOVE to bid the dame - Spurn her cold pride, nor quench the gentle flame. - What though the heat has stained the tints that dyed - With marvellous bloom the heavenly minstrel's bride? - Neither her smile nor sunny glances fail: - Bright is her lip, although her check be pale - E'en the pure hermits owned the secret power - Of warm SPRING coming in unwonted hour, - While LOVE'S delightful witchery gently stole - With strong sweet influence o'er the saintly soul. - - On came the Archer-God, and at his side - The timid RATI, his own darling bride, - While breathing nature showed how deep it felt, - At passion's glowing touch, the senses melt. - For there in eager love the wild bee dipp'd - In the dark flower-cup where his partner sipp'd. - Here in the shade the hart his horn declined, - And, while joy closed her eyes, caressed the hind. - There from her trunk the elephant had poured - A lily-scented stream to cool her lord, - While the fond love-bird by the silver flood - Gave to his mate the tasted lotus bud. - Full in his song the minstrel stayed to sip - The heavenlier nectar of his darling's lip. - Pure pearls of heat had late distained the dye, - But flowery wine was sparkling in her eye. - How the young creeper's beauty charmed the view, - Fair as the fairest maid, as playful too! - Here some bright blossoms, lovelier than the rest, - In full round beauty matched her swelling breast. - Here in a thin bright line, some delicate spray, - Red as her lip, ravished the soul away. - And then how loving, and how close they clung - To the tall trees that fondly o'er them hung! - Bright, heavenly wantons poured the witching strain, - Quiring for ['S]IVA'S ear, but all in vain. - No charmer's spell may check the firm control - Won by the holy o'er the impassioned soul. - - The Hermit's servant hasted to the door: - In his left hand a branch of gold he bore. - He touched his lip for silence: "Peace! be still! - Nor mar the quiet of this holy hill." - He spake: no dweller of the forest stirred, - No wild bee murmured, hushed was every bird. - Still and unmoved, as in a picture stood - All life that breathed within the waving wood. - As some great monarch when he goes to war - Shuns the fierce aspect of a baleful star, - So KAMA hid him from the Hermit's eye, - And sought a path that led unnoticed by, - Where tangled flowers and clustering trailers spread - Their grateful canopy o'er ['S]IVA'S head. - Bent on his hardy enterprise, with awe - The Three-eyed Lord--great Penitent--he saw. - There sate the God beneath a pine-tree's shade, - Where on a mound a tiger's skin was laid. - Absorbed in holiest thought, erect and still, - The Hermit rested on the gentle hill. - His shoulders drooping down, each foot was bent - Beneath the body of the Penitent. - With open palms the hands were firmly pressed, - As though a lotus lay upon his breast. - A double rosary in each ear, behind - With wreathing serpents were his locks entwined. - His coat of hide shone blacker to the view - Against his neck of brightly beaming blue. - How wild the look, how terrible the frown - Of his dark eyebrows bending sternly down! - How fiercely glared his eyes' unmoving blaze - Fixed in devotion's meditating gaze: - Calm as a full cloud resting on a hill, - A waveless lake when every breeze is still, - Like a torch burning in a sheltered spot, - So still was he, unmoving, breathing not. - So full the stream of marvellous glory poured - from the bright forehead of that mighty Lord, - Pale seemed the crescent moon upon his head, - And slenderer than a slender lotus thread. - At all the body's nine-fold gates of sense - He had barred in the pure Intelligence, - To ponder on the Soul which sages call - Eternal Spirit, highest, over all. - - How sad was KAMA at the awful sight, - How failed his courage in a swoon of fright! - As near and nearer to the God he came - Whom wildest thought could never hope to tame, - Unconsciously his hands, in fear and woe, - Dropped the sweet arrows and his flowery bow. - But UMA came with all her maiden throng, - And KAMA'S fainting heart again was strong; - Bright flowers of spring, in every lovely hue, - Around the lady's form rare beauty threw. - Some clasped her neck like strings of purest pearls, - Some shot their glory through her wavy curls. - Bending her graceful head as half-oppressed - With swelling charms even too richly blest, - Fancy might deem that beautiful young maiden - Some slender tree with its sweet flowers o'erladen. - From time to time her gentle hand replaced - The flowery girdle slipping from her waist: - It seemed that LOVE could find no place more fair, - So hung his newest, dearest bowstring there. - A greedy bee kept hovering round to sip - The fragrant nectar of her blooming lip. - She closed her eyes in terror of the thief, - And beat him from her with a lotus leaf. - The angry curl of RATI'S lip confessed - The shade of envy that stole o'er her breast. - Through KAMA'S soul fresh hope and courage flew, - As that sweet vision blessed his eager view. - So bright, so fair, so winning soft was she, - Who could not conquer in such company? - - Now UMA came, fair maid, his destined bride, - With timid steps approaching ['S]IVA'S side. - In contemplation will he brood no more, - He sees the Godhead, and his task is o'er. - He breathes, he moves, the earth begins to rock, - The Snake, her bearer, trembling at the shock. - Due homage then his own dear servant paid, - And told him of the coming of the maid. - He learnt his Master's pleasure by the nod, - And led HIMALAYA'S daughter to the God. - Before his feet her young companions spread - Fresh leaves and blossoms as they bowed the head, - While UMA stooped so low, that from her hair - Dropped the bright flower that starred the midnight there. - To him whose ensign bears the bull she bent, - Till each spray fell, her ear's rich ornament. - "Sweet maid," cried ['S]IVA, "surely thou shalt be - Blessed with a husband who loves none but thee!" - Her fear was banished, and her hope was high: - A God had spoken, and Gods cannot lie. - - Rash as some giddy moth that wooes the flame, - LOVE seized the moment, and prepared to aim. - Close by the daughter of the Mountain-King, - He looked on ['S]IVA, and he eyed his string. - While with her radiant hand fair UMA gave - A rosary, of the lotuses that lave - Their beauties in the heavenly GANGA'S wave, - And the great Three-Eyed God was fain to take - The offering for the well-loved suppliant's sake, - On his bright bow LOVE placed the unerring dart, - The soft beguiler of the stricken heart. - Like the Moon's influence on the sea at rest, - Came passion stealing o'er the Hermit's breast, - While on the maiden's lip that mocked the dye - Of ripe red fruit, he bent his melting eye. - And oh! how showed the lady's love for him, - The heaving bosom, and each quivering limb! - Like young Kadambas, when the leaf-buds swell, - At the warm touch of Spring they love so well. - But still, with downcast eyes, she sought the ground, - And durst not turn their burning glances round. - Then with strong effort, ['S]IVA lulled to rest, - The storm of passion in his troubled breast, - And seeks, with angry eyes that round him roll, - Whence came the tempest o'er his tranquil soul. - He looked, and saw the bold young archer stand, - His bow bent ready in his skilful hand, - Drawn towards the eye; his shoulder well depressed, - And the left foot thrown forward as a rest. - - Then was the Hermit-God to madness lashed, - Then from his eye red flames of fury flashed. - So changed the beauty of that glorious brow, - Scarce could the gaze support its terror now. - Hark! heavenly voices sighing through the air: - "Be calm, great ['S]IVA, O be calm and spare!" - Alas! that angry eye's resistless flashes - Have scorched the gentle King of Love to ashes! - But RATI saw not, for she swooned away; - Senseless and breathless on the earth she lay; - Sleep while thou mayst, unconscious lady, sleep! - Soon wilt thou rise to sigh and wake to weep. - E'en as the red bolt rives the leafy bough, - So ['S]IVA smote the hinderer of his vow; - Then fled with all his train to some lone place - Far from the witchery of a female face. - - Sad was HIMALAYA'S daughter: grief and shame - O'er the young spirit of the maiden came: - Grief--for she loved, and all her love was vain; - Shame--she was spurned before her youthful train. - She turned away, with fear and woe oppressed, - To hide her sorrow on her father's breast; - Then, in the fond arms of her pitying sire, - Closed her sad eyes for fear of ['S]IVA'S ire. - Still in his grasp the weary maiden lay, - While he sped swiftly on his homeward way. - Thus have I seen the elephant stoop to drink, - And lift a lily from the fountain's brink. - Thus, when he rears his mighty head on high, - Across his tusks I've seen that lily lie. - - - - -_CANTO FOURTH._ - - - - -Canto Fourth. - -_RATI'S LAMENT._ - - - Sad, solitary, helpless, faint, forlorn, - Woke KAMA'S darling from her swoon to mourn. - Too soon her gentle soul returned to know - The pangs of widowhood--that word of woe. - Scarce could she raise her, trembling, from the ground, - Scarce dared to bend her anxious gaze around, - Unconscious yet those greedy eyes should never - Feed on his beauty more--gone, gone for ever. - - "Speak to me, KAMA! why so silent? give - One word in answer--doth my KAMA live?" - There on the turf his dumb cold ashes lay, - Whose soul that fiery flash had scorched away. - She clasped the dank earth in her wild despair, - Her bosom stained, and rent her long bright hair, - Till hill and valley caught the mourner's cry, - And pitying breezes echoed sigh for sigh. - "Oh thou wast beautiful: fond lovers sware - Their own bright darlings were like KAMA, fair. - Sure woman's heart is stony: can it be - That I still live while this is all of thee? - Where art thou, KAMA? Could my dearest leave - His own fond RATI here alone to grieve? - So must the sad forsaken lotus die - When her bright river leaves his channel dry. - KAMA, dear KAMA, call again to mind - How thou wast ever gentle, I was kind. - Let not my prayer, thy RATI'S prayer, be vain; - Come as of old, and bless these eyes again! - Wilt thou not hear me? Think of those sweet hours - When I would bind thee with my zone of flowers, - Those soft gay fetters o'er thee fondly wreathing, - Thine only punishment when gently breathing - In tones of love thy heedless sigh betrayed - The name, dear traitor! of some rival maid. - Then would I pluck a floweret from my tress - And beat thee till I forced thee to confess, - While in my play the falling leaves would cover - The eyes--the bright eyes--of my captive lover. - And then those words that made me, oh, so blest-- - "Dear love, thy home is in my faithful breast!" - Alas, sweet words, too blissful to be true, - Or how couldst thou have died, nor RATI perish too? - - Yes, I will fly to thee, of thee bereft, - And leave this world which thou, my life, hast left. - Cold, gloomy, now this wretched world must be, - For all its pleasures came from only thee. - When night has veiled the city in its shade, - Thou, only thou, canst soothe the wandering maid, - And guide her trembling at the thunder's roar - Safe through the darkness to her lover's door. - In vain the wine-cup, as it circles by, - Lisps in her tongue and sparkles in her eye. - Long locks are streaming, and the cheek glows red: - But all is mockery, LOVE--dear LOVE--is dead. - The MOON, sweet spirit, shall lament for thee, - Late, dim, and joyless shall his rising be. - Days shall fly on, and he forget to take - His full bright glory, mourning for thy sake. - Say, KAMA, say, whose arrow now shall be - The soft green shoot of thy dear mango tree, - The favourite spray which Koeils love so well, - And praise in sweetest strain its wondrous spell? - This line of bees which strings thy useless bow - Hums mournful echo to my cries of woe. - Come in thy lovely shape and teach again - The Koeil's mate, that knows the tender strain, - Her gentle task to waft to longing ears - The lover's hope, the distant lover's fears. - Come, bring once more that ecstasy of bliss, - The fond dear look, the smile, and ah! that kiss! - Fainting with woe, my soul refuses rest - When memory pictures how I have been blest. - See, thou didst weave a garland, love, to deck - With all spring's fairest buds thy RATI'S neck. - Sweet are those flowers as they were culled to-day, - And is my KAMA'S form more frail than they? - His pleasant task my lover had begun, - But stern Gods took him ere the work was done; - Return, my KAMA, at thy RATI'S cry, - And stain this foot which waits the rosy dye. - Now will I hie me to the fatal pile, - And ere heaven's maids have hailed thee with a smile, - Or on my love their winning glances thrown, - I will be there, and claim thee for mine own. - Yet though I come, my lasting shame will be - That I have lived one moment after thee. - Ah, how shall I thy funeral rites prepare, - Gone soul and body to the viewless air? - "With thy dear SPRING I've seen thee talk and smile, - Shaping an arrow for thy bow the while. - Where is he now, thy darling friend, the giver - Of many a bright sweet arrow for thy quiver? - Is he too sent upon death's dreary path, - Scorched by the cruel God's inexorable wrath?" - - Stricken in spirit by her cries of woe, - Like venomed arrows from a mighty bow, - A moment fled, and gentle SPRING was there, - To ask her grief, to soothe her wild despair. - She beat her breast more wildly than before, - With greater floods her weeping eyes ran o'er. - When friends are nigh the spirit finds relief - In the full gushing torrent of its grief. - - "Turn, gentle friend, thy weeping eyes, and see - That dear companion who was all to me. - His crumbling dust with which the breezes play, - Bearing it idly in their course away, - White as the silver feathers of a dove, - Is all that's left me of my murdered love. - Now come, my KAMA. SPRING, who was so dear, - Longs to behold thee. Oh, appear, appear! - Fickle to women LOVE perchance may bend - His ear to listen to a faithful friend. - Remember, he walked ever at thy side - O'er bloomy meadows in the warm spring-tide, - That Gods above, and men, and fiends below - Should own the empire of thy mighty bow, - That ruthless bow, which pierces to the heart, - Strung with a lotus-thread, a flower its dart. - As dies a torch when winds sweep roughly by, - So is my light for ever fled, and I, - The lamp his cheering rays no more illume, - Am wrapt in darkness, misery and gloom. - Fate took my love, and spared the widow's breath, - Yet fate is guilty of a double death. - When the wild monster tramples on the ground - The tree some creeper garlands closely round, - Reft of the guardian which it thought so true, - Forlorn and withered, it must perish too. - Then come, dear friend, the true one's pile prepare, - And send me quickly to my husband there. - Call it not vain: the mourning lotus dies - When the bright MOON, her lover, quits the skies. - When sinks the red cloud in the purple west, - Still clings his bride, the lightning, to his breast. - All nature keeps the eternal high decree: - Shall woman fail? I come, my love, to thee! - Now on the pile my faint limbs will I throw, - Clasping his ashes, lovely even so,-- - As if beneath my weary frame were spread - Soft leaves and blossoms for a flowery bed. - And oh, dear comrade (for in happier hours - Oft have I heaped a pleasant bed of flowers - For thee and him beneath the spreading tree), - Now quickly raise the pile for LOVE and me. - And in thy mercy gentle breezes send - To fan the flame that wafts away thy friend, - And shorten the sad moments that divide - Impatient KAMA from his RATI'S side; - Set water near us in a single urn, - We'll sip in heaven from the same in turn; - And let thine offering to his spirit be - Sprays fresh and lovely from the mango tree, - Culled when the round young buds begin to swell, - For KAMA loved those fragrant blossoms well." - - As RATI thus complained in faithful love, - A heavenly voice breathed round her from above, - Falling in pity like the gentle rain - That brings the dying herbs to life again: - "Bride of the flower-armed God, thy lord shall be - Not ever distant, ever deaf to thee. - Give me thine ear, sad lady, I will tell - Why perished KAMA, whom thou lovedst well. - The Lord of Life in every troubled sense - Too warmly felt his fair child's influence. - He quenched the fire, but mighty vengeance came - On KAMA, fanner of the unholy flame. - When ['S]IVA by her penance won has led - HIMALAYA'S daughter to her bridal bed, - His bliss to KAMA shall the God repay, - And give again the form he snatched away. - Thus did the gracious God, at JUSTICE' prayer, - The term of LOVE'S sad punishment declare. - The Gods, like clouds, are fierce and gentle too, - Now hurl the bolt, now drop sweet heavenly dew. - Live, widowed lady, for thy lover's arms - Shall clasp again--oh, fondly clasp--thy charms. - In summer-heat the streamlet dies away - Beneath the fury of the God of Day: - Then, in due season, comes the pleasant rain, - And all is fresh, and fair, and full again." - Thus breathed the spirit from the viewless air, - And stilled the raging of her wild despair; - While SPRING consoled with every soothing art, - Cheered by that voice from heaven, the mourner's heart, - Who watched away the hours, so sad and slow, - That brought the limit of her weary woe, - As the pale moon, quenched by the conquering light - Of garish day, longs for its own dear night. - - - - -_CANTO FIFTH._ - - - - -Canto Fifth. - -_UMA'S REWARD._ - - - Now woe to UMA, for young Love is slain, - Her Lord hath left her, and her hope is vain. - Woe, woe to UMA! how the Mountain-Maid - Cursed her bright beauty for its feeble aid! - 'Tis Beauty's guerdon which she loves the best, - To bless her lover, and in turn be blest. - Penance must aid her now--or how can she - Win the cold heart of that stern deity? - Penance, long penance: for that power alone - Can make such love, so high a Lord, her own. - - But, ah! how troubled was her mother's brow - At the sad tidings of the mourner's vow! - She threw her arms around her own dear maid, - Kissed, fondly kissed her, sighed, and wept, and prayed: - "Are there no Gods, my child, to love thee here? - Frail is thy body, yet thy vow severe. - The lily, by the wild bee scarcely stirred, - Bends, breaks, and dies beneath the weary bird." - Fast fell her tears, her prayer was strong, but still - That prayer was weaker than her daughter's will. - Who can recall the torrent's headlong force, - Or the bold spirit in its destined course? - She sent a maiden to her sire, and prayed - He for her sake would grant some bosky shade, - That she might dwell in solitude, and there - Give all her soul to penance and to prayer. - In gracious love the great HIMALAYA smiled, - And did the bidding of his darling child. - Then to that hill which peacocks love she came, - Known to all ages by the lady's name. - - Still to her purpose resolutely true, - Her string of noble pearls aside she threw, - Which, slipping here and there, had rubbed away - The sandal dust that on her bosom lay, - And clad her in a hermit coat of bark, - Rough to her gentle limbs, and gloomy dark, - Pressing too tightly, till her swelling breast - Broke into freedom through the unwonted vest. - Her matted hair was full as lovely now - As when 'twas braided o'er her polished brow. - Thus the sweet beauties of the lotus shine - When bees festoon it in a graceful line; - And, though the tangled weeds that crown the rill - Cling o'er it closely, it is lovely still. - With zone of grass the votaress was bound, - Which reddened the fair form it girdled round: - Never before the lady's waist had felt - The ceaseless torment of so rough a belt. - Alas! her weary vow has caused to fade - The lovely colours that adorned the maid. - Pale is her hand, and her long finger-tips - Steal no more splendour from her paler lips, - Or, from the ball which in her play would rest, - Made bright and fragrant, on her perfumed breast. - Rough with the sacred grass those hands must be, - And worn with resting on her rosary. - Cold earth her couch, her canopy the skies, - Pillowed upon her arm the lady lies: - She who before was wont to rest her head - In the soft luxury of a sumptuous bed, - Vext by no troubles as she slumbered there, - But sweet flowers slipping from her loosened hair. - The maid put off, but only for awhile, - Her passioned glances and her witching smile. - She lent the fawn her moving, melting gaze, - And the fond creeper all her winning ways. - The trees that blossomed on that lonely mount - She watered daily from the neighbouring fount: - If she had been their nursing mother, she - Could not have tended them more carefully. - Not e'en her boy--her own bright boy--shall stay - Her love for them: her first dear children they. - Her gentleness had made the fawns so tame, - To her kind hand for fresh sweet grain they came, - And let the maid before her friends compare - Her own with eyes that shone as softly there. - - Then came the hermits of the holy wood - To see the votaress in her solitude; - Grey elders came; though young the maid might seem, - Her perfect virtue must command esteem. - They found her resting in that lonely spot, - The fire was kindled, and no rite forgot. - In hermit's mantle was she clad; her look - Fixt in deep thought upon the Holy Book. - So pure that grove: all war was made to cease, - And savage monsters lived in love and peace. - Pure was that grove: each newly built abode - Had leafy shrines where fires of worship glowed. - - But far too mild her penance, UMA thought, - To win from heaven the lordly meed she sought. - She would not spare her form, so fair and frail, - If sterner penance could perchance prevail. - Oft had sweet pastime wearied her, and yet - Fain would she match in toil the anchoret. - Sure the soft lotus at her birth had lent - Dear UMA'S form its gentle element; - But gold, commingled with her being, gave - That will so strong, so beautifully brave. - Full in the centre of four blazing piles - Sate the fair lady of the winning smiles, - While on her head the mighty God of Day - Shot all the fury of his summer ray; - Yet her fixt gaze she turned upon the skies, - And quenched his splendour with her brighter eyes. - To that sweet face, though scorched by rays from heaven, - Still was the beauty of the lotus given, - Yet, worn by watching, round those orbs of light - A blackness gathered like the shades of night. - She cooled her dry lips in the bubbling stream, - And lived on Amrit from the pale moon-beam, - Sometimes in hunger culling from the tree - The rich ripe fruit that hung so temptingly. - Scorched by the fury of the noon-tide rays, - And fires that round her burned with ceaseless blaze, - Summer passed o'er her: rains of Autumn came - And throughly drenched the lady's tender frame. - So steams the earth, when mighty torrents pour - On thirsty fields all dry and parched before. - The first clear rain-drops falling on her brow, - Gem it one moment with their light, and now - Kissing her sweet lip find a welcome rest - In the deep valley of the lady's breast; - Then wander broken by the fall within - The mazy channels of her dimpled skin. - There as she lay upon her rocky bed, - No sumptuous roof above her gentle head, - Dark Night, her only witness, turned her eyes, - Red lightnings flashing from the angry skies, - And gazed upon her voluntary pain, - In wind, in sleet, in thunder, and in rain. - Still lay the maiden on the cold damp ground, - Though blasts of winter hurled their snows around, - Still pitying in her heart the mournful fate - Of those poor birds, so fond, so desolate,-- - Doomed, hapless pair, to list each other's moan - Through the long hours of night, sad and alone. - Chilled by the rain, the tender lotus sank: - She filled its place upon the streamlet's bank. - Sweet was her breath as when that lovely flower - Sheds its best odour in still evening's hour. - Red as its leaves her lips of coral hue: - Red as those quivering leaves they quivered too. - - Of all stern penance it is called the chief - To nourish life upon the fallen leaf. - But even this the ascetic maiden spurned, - And for all time a glorious title earned. - APARNA--Lady of the unbroken fast-- - Have sages called her, saints who knew the past. - Fair as the lotus fibres, soft as they, - In these stern vows she passed her night and day. - No mighty anchoret had e'er essayed - The ceaseless penance of this gentle maid. - - There came a hermit: reverend was he - As Brahmanhood's embodied sanctity. - With coat of skin, with staff and matted hair, - His face was radiant, and he spake her fair. - Up rose the maid the holy man to greet, - And humbly bowed before the hermit's feet. - Though meditation fill the pious breast, - It finds a welcome for a glorious guest: - The sage received the honour duly paid, - And fixed his earnest gaze upon the maid. - While through her frame unwonted vigour ran, - Thus, in his silver speech, the blameless saint began: - "How can thy tender frame, sweet lady, bear - In thy firm spirit's task its fearful share? - Canst thou the grass and fuel duly bring, - And still unwearied seek the freshening spring? - Say, do the creeper's slender shoots expand, - Seeking each day fresh water from thy hand, - Till like thy lip each ruddy tendril glows, - That lip which, faded, still outreds the rose? - With loving glance the timid fawns draw nigh: - Say dost thou still with joy their wants supply? - For thee, O lotus-eyed, their glances shine, - Mocking the brightness of each look of thine. - O Mountain-Lady, it is truly said - That heavenly charms to sin have never led, - For even penitents may learn of thee - How pure, how gentle Beauty's self may be. - Bright GANGA falling with her heavenly waves, - HIMALAYA'S head with sacred water laves, - Bearing the flowers the seven great Sages fling - To crown the forehead of the Mountain-King. - Yet do thy deeds, O bright-haired maiden, shed - A richer glory round his awful head. - Purest of motives, Duty leads thy heart: - Pleasure and gain therein may claim no part. - O noble maid, the wise have truly said - That friendship soon in gentle heart is bred. - Seven steps together bind the lasting tie: - Then bend on me, dear Saint, a gracious eye. - Fain, lovely UMA, would a Brahman learn - What noble guerdon would thy penance earn. - Say, art thou toiling for a second birth, - Where dwells the great Creator? O'er the earth - Resistless sway? Or fair as Beauty's Queen, - Peerless, immortal, shall thy form be seen? - The lonely soul bowed down by grief and pain, - By penance' aid some gracious boon may gain. - But what, O faultless one, can move thy heart - To dwell in solitude and prayer apart? - Why should the cloud of grief obscure thy brow, - 'Mid all thy kindred, who so loved as thou? - Foes hast thou none: for what rash hand would dare - From serpent's head the magic gem to tear? - Why dost thou seek the hermit's garb to try, - Thy silken raiment and thy gems thrown by? - As though the sun his glorious state should leave, - Rayless to harbour 'mid the shades of eve. - Wouldst thou win heaven by thy holy spells? - Already with the Gods thy father dwells. - A husband, lady? O forbear the thought, - A priceless jewel seeks not, but is sought. - Maiden, thy deep sighs tell me it is so; - Yet, doubtful still, my spirit seeks to know - Couldst thou e'er love in vain? What heart so cold - That hath not eagerly its worship told? - Ah! could the cruel loved one, thou fair maid, - Look with cold glances on that bright hair's braid? - Thy locks are hanging loosely o'er thy brow, - Thine ear is shaded by no lotus now. - See, where the sun hath scorched that tender neck - Which precious jewels once were proud to deck. - Still gleams the line where they were wont to cling, - As faintly shows the moon's o'ershadowed ring. - Now sure thy loved one, vain in beauty's pride, - Dreamed of himself when wandering at thy side, - Or he would count him blest to be the mark - Of that dear eye, so soft, so lustrous dark. - But, gentle UMA, let thy labour cease; - Turn to thy home, fair Saint, and rest in peace. - By many a year of penance duly done - Rich store of merit has my labour won. - Take then the half, thy secret purpose name; - Nor in stern hardships wear thy tender frame." - - The holy Brahman ceased: but UMA'S breast - In silence heaved, by love and fear opprest. - In mute appeal she turned her languid eye, - Darkened with weeping, not with softening dye, - To bid her maiden's friendly tongue declare - The cherished secret of her deep despair: - "Hear, holy Father, if thou still wouldst know, - Why her frail form endures this pain and woe, - As the soft lotus makes a screen to stay - The noontide fury of the God of Day. - Proudly disdaining all the blest above, - With heart and soul she seeks for ['S]IVA'S love. - For him alone, the Trident-wielding God, - The thorny paths of penance hath she trod. - But since that mighty one hath KAMA slain, - Vain every hope, and every effort vain. - E'en as life fled, a keen but flowery dart - Young LOVE, the Archer, aimed at ['S]IVA'S heart. - The God in anger hurled the shaft away, - But deep in UMA'S tender soul it lay; - Alas, poor maid! she knows no comfort now, - Her soul's on fire, her wild locks hide her brow. - She quits her father's halls, and frenzied roves - The icy mountain and the lonely groves. - Oft as the maidens of the minstrel throng - To hymn great ['S]IVA'S praises raised the song, - The lovelorn lady's sobs and deep-drawn sighs - Drew tears of pity from their gentle eyes. - Wakeful and fevered in the dreary night - Scarce closed her eyes, and then in wild affright - Rang through the halls her very bitter cry, - "God of the azure neck, why dost thou fly?" - While their soft bands her loving arms would cast - Hound the dear vision fading all too fast. - Her skilful hand, with true love-guided art, - Had traced the image graven on her heart. - "Art thou all present? Dost thou fail to see - Poor UMA'S anguish and her love for thee?" - Thus oft in frenzied grief her voice was heard, - Chiding the portrait with reproachful word. - Long thus in vain for ['S]IVA'S love she strove, - Then turned in sorrow to this holy grove. - Since the sad maid hath sought these forest glades - To hide her grief amid the dreary shades, - The fruit hath ripened on the spreading bough; - But ah! no fruit hath crowned her holy vow. - Her faithful friends alone must ever mourn - To see that beauteous form by penance worn, - But oh! that ['S]IVA would some favour deign, - As INDRA pitieth the parching plain!" - The maiden ceased: his secret joy dissembling, - The Brahman turned to UMA pale and trembling: - "And is it thus, or doth the maiden jest? - Is this the darling secret of thy breast?" - - Scarce could the maid her choking voice command, - Or clasp her rosary with quivering hand: - "O holy Sage, learned in the Vedas' lore, - 'Tis even thus. Great ['S]IVA I adore. - Thus would my steadfast heart his love obtain, - For this I gladly bear the toil and pain. - Surely the strong desire, the earnest will, - May win some favour from his mercy still." - - "Lady," cried he, "that mighty Lord I know; - Ever his presence bringeth care and woe. - And wouldst thou still a second time prepare - The sorrows of his fearful life to share? - Deluded maid, how shall thy tender hand, - Decked with the nuptial bracelet's jewelled band, - Be clasped in his, when fearful serpents twine - In scaly horror round that arm divine? - How shall thy robe, with gay flamingoes gleaming, - Suit with his coat of hide with blood-drops streaming? - Of old thy pathway led where flowerets sweet - Made pleasant carpets for thy gentle feet. - And e'en thy foes would turn in grief away - To see these vermeil-tinted limbs essay, - Where scattered tresses strew the mournful place, - Their gloomy path amid the tombs to trace. - On ['S]IVA'S heart the funeral ashes rest, - Say, gentle lady, shall they stain thy breast, - Where the rich tribute of the Sandal trees - Sheds a pure odour on the amorous breeze? - A royal bride returning in thy state, - The king of elephants should bear thy weight. - How wilt thou brook the mockery and the scorn - When thou on ['S]IVA'S bull art meanly borne? - Sad that the crescent moon his crest should be: - And shall that mournful fate be shared by thee? - His crest, the glory of the evening skies, - His bride, the moonlight of our wondering eyes! - Deformed is he, his ancestry unknown; - By vilest garb his poverty is shown. - O fawn-eyed lady, how should ['S]IVA gain - That heart for which the glorious strive in vain - No charms hath he to win a maiden's eye: - Cease from thy penance, hush the fruitless sigh! - Unmeet is he thy faithful heart to share, - Child of the Mountain, maid of beauty rare! - Not 'mid the gloomy tombs do sages raise - The holy altar of their prayer and praise." - - Impatient UMA listened: the quick blood - Rushed to her temples in an angry flood. - Her quivering lip, her darkly-flashing eye - Told that the tempest of her wrath was nigh. - Proudly she spoke: "How couldst thou tell aright - Of one like ['S]IVA, perfect, infinite? - 'Tis ever thus, the mighty and the just - Are scorned by souls that grovel in the dust. - Their lofty goodness and their motives wise - Shine all in vain before such blinded eyes. - Say who is greater, he who strives for power, - Or he who succours in misfortune's hour? - Refuge of worlds, O how should ['S]IVA deign - To look on men enslaved to paltry gain? - The spring of wealth himself, he careth naught - For the vile treasures that mankind have sought. - His dwelling-place amid the tombs may be, - Yet Monarch of the three great worlds is he. - What though no love his outward form may claim, - The stout heart trembles at his awful name. - Who can declare the wonders of his might? - The Trident-wielding God, who knows aright? - Whether around him deadly serpents twine, - Or if his jewelled wreaths more brightly shine; - Whether in rough and wrinkled hide arrayed, - Or silken robe, in glittering folds displayed; - If on his brow the crescent moon he bear, - Or if a shrunken skull be withering there; - The funeral ashes touched by him acquire - The glowing lustre of eternal fire; - Falling in golden showers, the heavenly maids - Delight to pour them on their shining braids. - What though no treasures fill his storehouse full, - What though he ride upon his horned bull, - Not e'en may INDRA in his pride withhold - The lowly homage that is his of old, - But turns his raging elephant to meet - His mighty Lord, and bows before his feet, - Right proud to colour them rich rosy red - With the bright flowers that deck his prostrate head. - Thy slanderous tongue proclaims thy evil mind, - Yet in thy speech one word of truth we find. - Unknown thou call'st him: how should mortal man - Count when the days of BRAHMA'S Lord began? - But cease these idle words: though all be true, - His failings many and his virtues few, - Still clings my heart to him, its chosen lord, - Nor fails nor falters at thy treacherous word. - Dear maiden, bid yon eager boy depart: - Why should the slanderous tale defile his heart? - Most guilty who the faithless speech begins, - But he who stays to listen also sins." - She turned away: with wrath her bosom swelling, - Its vest of bark in angry pride repelling: - But sudden, lo, before her wondering eyes - In altered form she sees the sage arise; - 'Tis ['S]IVA'S self before the astonished maid, - In all his gentlest majesty displayed. - She saw, she trembled, like a river's course, - Checked for a moment in its onward force, - By some huge rock amid the torrent hurled - Where erst the foaming waters madly curled. - One foot uplifted, shall she turn away? - Unmoved the other, shall the maiden stay? - The silver moon on ['S]IVA'S forehead shone, - While softly spake the God in gracious tone: - "O gentle maiden, wise and true of soul, - Lo, now I bend beneath thy sweet control. - Won by thy penance, and thy holy vows, - Thy willing slave ['S]IVA before thee bows." - - He spake, and rushing through her languid frame, - At his dear words returning vigour came. - She knew but this, that all her cares were o'er, - Her sorrows ended, she should weep no more! - - - - -_CANTO SIXTH._ - - - - -Canto Sixth. - -_UMA'S ESPOUSALS._ - - - Now gentle UMA bade a damsel bear - To ['S]IVA, Soul of All, her maiden prayer: - "Wait the high sanction of HIMALAYA'S will, - And ask his daughter from the royal hill." - Then ere the God, her own dear Lord, replied, - In blushing loveliness she sought his side. - Thus the young mango hails the approaching spring - By its own tuneful bird's sweet welcoming. - - In UMA'S ear he softly whispered, yea, - Then scarce could tear him from her arms away. - Swift with a thought he summoned from above - The Seven bright Saints to bear his tale of love. - They came, and She, the Heavenly Dame, was there, - Lighting with glories all the radiant air; - Just freshly bathed in sacred GANGA'S tide, - Gemmed with the dancing flowers that deck her side, - And richly scented with the nectarous rill - That heavenly elephants from their brows distil. - Fair strings of pearl their radiant fingers hold, - Clothed are their limbs in hermit-coats of gold; - Their rosaries, large gems of countless price, - Shone like the fruit that glows in Paradise, - As though the glorious trees that blossom there - Had sought the forest for a life of prayer. - With all his thousand beams the God of Day, - Urging his coursers down the sloping way, - His banner furled at the approach of night, - Looks up in reverence on those lords of light. - Ancient creators: thus the wise, who know, - Gave them a name in ages long ago: - With BRAHMA joining in creation's plan, - And perfecting the work His will began; - Still firm in penance, though the hermit-vow - Bears a ripe harvest for the sages now. - Brightest in glory 'mid that glorious band - See the fair Queen, the Heavenly Lady, stand. - Fixing her loving eyes upon her spouse, - She seemed sent forth to crown the sage's vows - With sweet immortal joy, the dearest prize - Strong prayer could merit from the envious skies. - With equal honour on the Queen and all - Did the kind glance of ['S]IVA'S welcome fall. - No partial favour by the good is shown: - They count not station, but the deed alone. - So fair she shone upon his raptured view, - He longed for wedlock's heavenly pleasures too. - What hath such power to lead the soul above - By virtue's pleasant path as wedded love! - Scarce had the holy motive lent its aid - To knit great ['S]IVA to the Mountain-Maid, - When KAMA'S spirit that had swooned in fear - Breathed once again and deemed forgiveness near. - - The ancient Sages reverently adored - The world's great Father and its Sovran Lord, - And while a soft ecstatic thrilling ran - O'er their celestial frames, they thus began: - "Glorious the fruit our holy studies bear, - Our constant penance, sacrifice and prayer. - For that high place within thy thoughts we gain - Which fancy strives to reach, but longs in vain. - How blest is he, the glory of the wise, - Deep in whose thoughtful breast thy Godhead lies! - But who may tell his joy who rests enshrined, - O BRAHMA'S great Creator, in thy mind! - We dwell on high above the cold moon's ray; - Beneath our mansion glows the God of Day, - But now thy favour lends us brighter beams, - Blest with thy love our star unchanging gleams. - How should we tell what soul-entrancing bliss - Enthrals our spirit at an hour like this? - Great Lord of All, thou Soul of Life indwelling, - We crave one word thy wondrous nature telling. - Though to our eyes thy outward form be shown, - How can we know thee as thou shouldst be known? - In this thy present shape, we pray thee, say - Dost thou create? dost thou preserve or slay? - But speak thy wish; called from our starry rest - We wait, O ['S]IVA, for our Lord's behest" - - Then answered thus the Lord of glory, while - Flashed from his dazzling teeth so white a smile, - The moon that crowned him poured a larger stream - Of living splendour from that pearly gleam: - "Ye know, great Sages of a race divine, - No selfish want e'er prompts a deed of mine. - Do not the forms--eight varied forms--I wear, - The truth of this to all the world declare? - Now, as that thirsty bird that drinks the rain - Prays the kind clouds of heaven to soothe its pain, - So the Gods pray me, trembling 'neath their foe, - To send a child of mine and end their woe. - I seek the Mountain-Maiden as my bride: - Our hero son shall tame the demon's pride. - Thus the priest bids the holy fire arise, - Struck from the wood to aid the sacrifice. - Go, ask HIMALAYA for the lovely maid: - Blest are those bridals which the holy aid. - So shall more glorious honours gild my name, - And win the father yet a prouder fame. - Nor, O ye heavenly Sages, need I teach - What for the maiden's hand shall be your speech, - For still the wise in worthiest honour hold - The rules and precepts ye ordained of old. - This Lady too shall aid your mission there: - Best for such task a skilful matron's care. - And now, my heralds, to your task away, - Where proud HIMALAYA holds his royal sway; - Then meet me where this mighty torrent raves - Down the steep channel with its headlong waves." - - Thus while that holiest One his love confessed, - The hermits listened: from each saintly breast - Fled the false shame that yet had lingered there, - And love and wedlock showed divinely fair. - - On through the heaven, o'er tracts of swordlike blue, - Towards the gay city, swift as thought, they flew, - Bright with high domes and palaces most fair, - As if proud ALAKA were planted there, - Or PARADISE poured forth, in showers that bless, - The rich o'erflowings of its loveliness. - Round lofty towers adorned with gems and gold - Her guardian stream the holy GANGA rolled. - On every side, the rampart's glowing crown, - Bright wreaths of fragrant flowers hung waving down,-- - Flowers that might tempt the maids of heavenly birth - To linger fondly o'er that pride of earth. - Its noble elephants, unmoved by fear, - The distant roaring of the lions hear. - In beauty peerless, and unmatched in speed, - Its thousand coursers of celestial breed. - Through the broad streets bright sylphs and minstrels rove: - Its dames are Goddesses of stream and grove. - Hark! the drum echoes louder and more loud - From glittering halls whose spires are wrapt in cloud. - It were the thunder, but that voice of fear - Falls not in measured time upon the ear. - 'Tis balmy cool, for many a heavenly tree, - With quivering leaves and branches waving free, - Sheds a delightful freshness through the air,-- - Fans which no toil of man has stationed there. - The crystal chambers where they feast at night - Flash back the beamings of the starry light. - So brightly pure that silver gleam is shed, - Playing so fondly round each beauteous head, - That all seem gifted from those lights above - With richest tokens of superior love. - How blest its maidens! cloudless is their day, - And radiant herbs illume their nightly way. - No term of days, but endless youth they know; - No Death save him who bears the Flowery Bow: - Their direst swoon, their only frenzy this-- - The trance of love, the ecstasy of bliss! - Ne'er can their lovers for one hour withstand - The frown, the quivering lip, the scornful hand; - But seek forgiveness of the angry fair, - And woo her smile with many an earnest prayer. - Around, wide gardens spread their pleasant bowers, - Where the bright Champac opes her fragrant flowers: - Dear shades, beloved by the sylphs that roam - In dewy evening from their mountain home. - - Ah! why should mortals fondly strive to gain - Heaven and its joys by ceaseless toil and pain? - E'en the Saints envied as their steps drew near, - And owned a brighter heaven was opened here. - They lighted down; braided was each long tress, - Bright as the pictured flame, as motionless. - HIMALAYA'S palace-warders in amaze - On the Seven Sages turned their eager gaze,-- - A noble company of celestial race - Where each in order of his years had place,-- - Glorious, as when the sun, his head inclining, - Sees his own image 'mid the waters shining. - To greet them with a gift HIMALAYA sped, - Earth to her centre shaking at his tread. - By his dark lips with mountain metals dyed, - His arms like pines that clothe his lofty side: - By his proud stature, by his stony breast, - Lord of the Snowy Hills he stood confest. - On to his Council-hall he led the way, - Nor failed due honour to the Saints to pay. - On couch of reed the Monarch bade them rest, - And thus with uplift hands those Heavenly Lords addressed: - "Like soft rain falling from a cloudless sky, - Or fruit, when bloom has failed to glad the eye, - So are ye welcome, Sages; thus I feel - Ecstatic thrilling o'er my spirit steal, - Changed, like dull senseless iron to burning gold, - Or some rapt creature, when the heavens unfold - To eyes yet dim with tears of earthly care, - The rest, the pleasures, and the glory there. - Long pilgrim bands from this auspicious day - To my pure hill shall bend their constant way. - Famed shall it be o'er all the lands around, - For where the good have been is holy ground. - Now am I doubly pure, for GANGA'S tide - Falls on my head from heaven and laves my side. - Henceforth I boast a second stream as sweet, - The water, Sages, that has touched your feet. - Twice by your favour is HIMALAYA blest,-- - This towery mountain that your feet have prest, - And this my moving form is happier still - To wait your bidding, to perform your will. - These mighty limbs that fill the heaven's expanse - Sink down, o'erpowered, in a blissful trance. - So bright your presence, at the glorious sight - My brooding shades of darkness turn to light. - The gloom that haunts my mountain caverns flies, - And cloudy passion in the spirit dies. - O say, if here your arrowy course ye sped - To throw fresh glory round my towering head. - Surely your wish, ye Mighty Ones, can crave - No aid, no service from your willing slave. - Yet deem me worthy of some high behest: - The lord commandeth, and the slave is blest. - Declare your pleasure, then, bright heavenly band: - We crave no guerdon but your sole command. - Yours are we all, HIMALAYA and his bride, - And this dear maiden child our hope and pride." - - Not once he spake: his cavern mouths around - In hollow echoings gave again the sound. - Of all who speak beyond compare the best, - ANGIRAS answered at the Saints' request: - "This power hast thou, great King, and mightier far, - Thy mind is lofty as thy summits are. - Sages say truly, VISH[N.]U is thy name: - His spirit breatheth in thy mountain frame. - Within the caverns of thy boundless breast - All things that move and all that move not rest. - How on his head so soft, so delicate, - Could the great Snake uphold the huge earth's weight, - Did not thy roots, far-reaching down to hell, - Bear up the burden and assist him well? - Thy streams of praise, thy pure rills' ceaseless flow - Make glad the nations wheresoe'er they go, - Till, shedding purity on every side, - They sink at length in boundless Ocean's tide. - Blest is fair GANGA, for her heavenly stream - Flows from the feet of him that sits supreme; - And blest once more, O mighty Hill, is she - That her bright waters spring anew from thee. - Vast grew his body when the avenging God - In three huge strides o'er all creation trod. - Above, below, his form increased, but thou - Wast ever glorious and as vast as now. - By thee is famed SUMERU forced to hide - His flashing rays and pinnacles of pride, - For thou hast won thy station in the skies - 'Mid the great Gods who claim the sacrifice. - Firm and unmoved remains thy lofty hill, - Yet thou canst bow before the holy still. - Now--for the glorious work will fall on thee,-- - Hear thou the cause of this our embassy. - We also, Mountain Monarch, since we bear - To thee the message, in the labour share. - The Highest, Mightiest, Noblest One, adored - By the proud title of our Sovran Lord: - The crescent moon upon his brow bears he, - And wields the wondrous powers of Deity. - He in this earth and varied forms displayed, - Bound each to other by exchange of aid, - Guides the great world and all the things that are, - As flying coursers whirl the glittering car. - Him good men seek with holy thought and prayer, - Who fills their breast and makes his dwelling there. - When saints, we read, his lofty sphere attain, - They ne'er may fall to this base earth again: - His messengers, great King, we crave the hand - Of thy fair daughter at the God's command. - At such blest union, as of TRUTH and VOICE, - A father's heart should grieve not, but rejoice. - Her Lord is Father of the world, and she - Of all that liveth shall the mother be. - Gods that adore him with the Neck of Blue - In homage bent shall hail the Lady too, - And give a glory to her feet with gems - That sparkle in their priceless diadems. - Hear what a roll shall blazon forth thy line,-- - Maid, Father, Suitor, Messengers divine! - Give him the chosen lady, and aspire - To call thy son the Universe's Sire, - Who laudeth none, but all mankind shall raise - To Him through endless time the songs of praise." - - Thus while he spake the lady bent her head - To hide her cheek, now blushing rosy red, - And numbered o'er with seeming care the while - Her lotus' petals in sweet maiden guile. - With pride and joy HIMALAYA'S heart beat high, - Yet ere he spake he looked to MENA'S eye: - Full well he knew a mother's gentle care - Learns her child's heart and love's deep secret there, - And this the hour, he felt, when fathers seek - Her eye for answer or her changing cheek. - His eager look HIMALAYA scarce had bent - When MENA'S eye beamed back her glad assent. - O gentle wives! your fondest wish is still - To have with him you love one heart, one will. - - He threw his arms around the blushing maid - In queenly garment and in gems arrayed, - Awhile was silent, then in rapture cried, - "Come, O my daughter! Come, thou destined bride - Of ['S]IVA, Lord of All: this glorious band - Of Saints have sought thee at the God's command; - And I thy sire this happy day obtain - The best reward a father's wish would gain." - Then to the Saints he cried: "Pure Hermits, see - The spouse of ['S]IVA greets your company." - They looked in rapture on the maid, and poured - Their fullest blessing on her heavenly lord. - So low she bowed, the gems that decked her hair - And sparkled in her ear fell loosened there; - Then with sweet modesty and joy opprest - She hid her blushes on the Lady's breast, - Who cheered the mother weeping for her child, - Her own dear UMA, till again she smiled: - Such bliss and glory should be hers above, - Yea, mighty ['S]IVA'S undivided love. - - They named the fourth for UMA'S nuptial day; - Then sped the Sages on their homeward way; - And thanked by ['S]IVA with a gracious eye - Sought their bright rest amid the stars on high. - Through all those weary days the lover sighed - To wind his fond arms round his gentle bride. - Oh, if the Lord of Heaven could find no rest, - Think, think how Love, strong Love, can tear a mortal's breast! - - - - -_CANTO SEVENTH._ - - - - -Canto Seventh. - -_UMA'S BRIDAL._ - - - In light and glory dawned the expected day - Blest with a kindly star's auspicious ray, - When gaily gathered at HIMALAYA'S call - His kinsmen to the solemn festival. - Through the broad city every dame's awake - To grace the bridal for her monarch's sake; - So great their love for him, this single care - Makes one vast household of the thousands there. - Heaven is not brighter than the royal street - Where flowers lie scattered 'neath the nobles' feet, - And banners waving to the breeze unfold - Their silken broidery over gates of gold. - And she, their child, upon her bridal day - Bears her dear parents' every thought away. - So, when from distant shores a friend returns, - With deeper love each inmost spirit burns. - So, when grim Death restores his prey again - Joy brighter shines from memory of pain. - Each noble matron of HIMALAYA'S race - Folds his dear UMA in a long embrace, - Pours blessings on her head, and prays her take - Some priceless jewel for her friendship's sake. - With sweetest influence a star of power - Had joined the spotted moon: at that blest hour - To deck fair UMA many a noble dame - And many a gentle maid assiduous came. - And well she graced their toil, more brightly fair - With feathery grass and wild flowers in her hair. - A silken robe flowed free below her waist; - Her sumptuous head a glittering arrow graced. - So shines the young unclouded moon at last, - Greeting the sun, its darksome season past. - Sweet-scented Lodhra dust and Sandal dyed - The delicate beauties of the fair young bride, - Veiled with a soft light robe. Her tiring-girls - Then led her to a chamber decked with pearls - And paved with sapphires, where the lulling sound - Of choicest music breathed divinely round. - There o'er the lady's limbs they poured by turns - Streams of pure water from their golden urns. - Fresh from the cooling bath the lovely maid - In fairest white her tender form arrayed. - So opens the Kasa all her shining flowers - Lured from their buds by softly falling showers. - Then to a court with canopies o'erhead - A crowd of noble dames the maiden led-- - A court for solemn rites, where gems and gold - Adorn the pillars that the roof uphold. - There on a couch they set her with her face - Turned toward the east. So lovely then the grace - Of that dear maid, so ravishing her smile, - E'en her attendants turned to gaze awhile; - For though the brightest gems around her lay, - Her brighter beauty stole their eyes away. - Through her long tresses one a chaplet wound, - And one with fragrant grass her temples crowned, - While o'er her head sweet clouds of incense rolled - To try and perfume every shining fold. - Bright dyes of saffron and the scented wood - Adorned her beauty, till the maiden stood - Fairer than GANGA when the Love-birds play - O'er sandy islets in her silvery bay. - To what rare beauty shall her maids compare - Her clear brow shaded by her glossy hair? - Less dazzling pure the lovely lotus shines - Flecked by the thronging bees in dusky lines. - Less bright the moon, when a dark band of cloud - Enhances beauties which it cannot shroud. - Behind her ear a head of barley drew - The eye to gaze upon its golden hue. - But then her cheek, with glowing saffron dyed, - To richer beauty called the glance aside. - Though from those lips, where Beauty's guerdon lay, - The vermeil tints were newly washed away, - Yet o'er them, as she smiled, a ray was thrown - Of quivering brightness that was all their own. - - "Lay this dear foot upon thy lover's head - Crowned with the moon," the laughing maiden said, - Who dyed her lady's feet--no word spake she, - But beat her with her wreath in playful glee. - Then tiring-women took the jetty dye - To guard, not deck, the beauty of her eye, - Whose languid half-shut glances might compare - With lotus leaves just opening to the air; - And as fresh gems adorned her neck and arms, - So quickly changing grew the maiden's charms, - Like some fair plant where bud succeeding bud - Unfolds new beauty; or a silver flood - Where gay birds follow quickly; or like night, - When crowding stars come forth in all their light. - Oft as the mirror would her glance beguile - She longed to meet her Lord's approving smile. - Her tasteful skill the timid maid essays - To win one smile of love, one word of praise. - - The happy mother took the golden dye - And raised to hers young UMA'S beaming eye. - Then swelled her bosom with maternal pride - As thus she decked her darling for a bride. - Oh, she had longed to trace on that fair brow - The nuptial line, yet scarce could mark it now. - On UMA'S rounded arm the woollen band - Was fixt securely by the nurse's hand. - Blind with the tears that filled her swimming eye, - In vain the mother strove that band to tie. - Spotless as curling foam-flakes stood she there, - As yielding soft, as graceful and as fair: - Or like the glory of an autumn night - Robed by the full moon in a veil of light. - Then at her mother's hest, the maid adored - The spirit of each high ancestral lord, - Nor failed she next the noble dames to greet, - And give due honour to their reverend feet. - They raised the maiden as she bowed her head: - "Thine be the fulness of his love!" they said. - Half of his being, blessing high as this - Can add no rapture to her perfect bliss. - Well-pleased HIMALAYA viewed the pomp and pride - Meet for his daughter, meet for ['S]IVA'S bride; - Then sought the hall with all his friends to wait - The bridegroom's coming with a monarch's state. - - Meanwhile by heavenly matrons' care displayed - Upon KUVERA'S lofty mount were laid - The ornaments of ['S]IVA, which of yore - At his first nuptials the bridegroom wore. - He laid his hand upon the dress, but how - Shall robes so sad, so holy, grace him now? - His own dire vesture took a shape as fair - As gentle bridegroom's heart could wish to wear. - The withering skull that glazed the eye with dread, - Shone a bright coronal to grace his head. - That elephant's hide the God had worn of old - Was now a silken robe inwrought with gold. - Ere this his body was with dust besprent: - With unguent now it shed delightful scent; - And that mid-eye which glittering like a star - Shot the wild terror of its glance afar-- - So softly now its golden radiance beamed-- - A mark of glory on his forehead seemed. - His twining serpents, destined still to be - The pride and honour of the deity, - Changed but their bodies: in each sparkling crest - The blazing gems still shone their loveliest. - What need of jewels on the brow of Him - Who wears the crescent moon? No spot may dim - Its youthful beauty, e'en in light of day - Shedding the glory of its quenchless ray. - Well-pleased the God in all his pride arrayed - Saw his bright image mirrored in the blade - Of the huge sword they brought; then calmly leant - On NANDI'S arm, and toward his bull he went, - Whose broad back covered with a tiger's hide - Was steep to climb as Mount KAILASA'S side. - Yet the dread monster humbly shrank for fear, - And bowed in reverence as his Lord drew near. - The matrons followed him, a saintly throng, - Their ear-rings waving as they dashed along: - Sweet faces, with such glories round them shed - As made the air one lovely lotus bed. - On flew those bright ones: KALI came behind, - The skulls that decked her rattling in the wind: - Like the dark rack that scuds across the sky, - With herald lightning and the crane's shrill cry. - - Hark! from the glorious bands that lead the way, - Harp, drum, and pipe, and shrilling trumpet's bray, - Burst through the sky upon the startled ear - And tell the Gods the hour of worship's near. - They came; the SUN presents a silken shade - Which heaven's own artist for the God had made, - Gilding his brows, as though bright GANGA rolled - Adown his holy head her waves of gold. - She in her Goddess-shape divinely fair, - And YAMUNA, sweet river-Nymph, were there, - Fanning their Lord, that fancy still might deem - Swans waved their pinions round each Lady of the Stream. - E'en BRAHMA came, Creator, Lord of Might, - And VISH[N.]U glowing from the realms of light. - "Ride on," they cried, "thine, thine for ever be - The strength, the glory, and the victory." - To swell his triumph that high blessing came - Like holy oil upon the rising flame. - In those Three Persons the one God was shown, - Each first in place, each last,--not one alone; - Of ['S]IVA, VISH[N.]U, BRAHMA, each may be - First, second, third, among the Blessed Three. - By INDRA led, each world-upholding Lord - With folded hands the mighty God adored. - In humble robes arrayed, the pomp and pride - Of glorious deity they laid aside. - They signed to NANDI, and the favourite's hand - Guided his eye upon the suppliant band. - He spake to VISH[N.]U, and on INDRA smiled, - To BRAHMA bowed--the lotus' mystic child. - On all the hosts of heaven his friendly eye - Beamed duly welcome as they crowded nigh. - The Seven Great Saints their blessings o'er him shed, - And thus in answer, with a smile, he said: - "Hail, mighty Sages! hail, ye Sons of Light! - My chosen priests to celebrate this rite." - Now in sweet tones the heavenly minstrels tell - His praise, beneath whose might TRIPURA fell. - He moves to go: from his moon-crest a ray - Sheds quenchless light on his triumphant way. - On through the air his swift bull bore him well, - Decked with the gold of many a tinkling bell; - Tossing from time to time his head on high, - Enwreathed with clouds as he flew racing by, - As though in furious charge he had uptorn - A bank of clay upon his mighty horn. - - Swiftly they came where in its beauty lay - The city subject to HIMALAYA'S sway. - No foeman's foot had ever trod those halls, - No foreign bands encamped around the walls. - Then ['S]IVA'S glances fixed their eager hold - On that fair city as with threads of gold. - The God whose neck still gleams with cloudy blue - Burst on the wondering people's upturned view, - And on the earth descended, from the path - His shafts once dinted in avenging wrath. - Forth from the gates a noble army poured - To do meet honour to the mighty Lord. - With all his friends on elephants of state - The King of Mountains passed the city gate, - So gaily decked, the princes all were seen - Like moving hills inwrapt in bowery green. - As the full rushing of two streams that pour - Beneath one bridge with loud tumultuous roar, - So through the city's open gate streamed in - Mountains and Gods with tumult and with din. - So glorious was the sight, wonder and shame, - When ['S]IVA bowed him, o'er the Monarch came; - He knew not he had bent his lofty crest - In reverent greeting to his heavenly guest - HIMALAYA, joying in the festive day, - Before the immortal bridegroom led the way - Where heaps of gay flowers burying half the feet - Lay breathing odours through the crowded street. - Careless of all beside, each lady's eye - Must gaze on ['S]IVA as the troop sweeps by. - One dark-eyed beauty will not stay to bind - Her long black tresses, floating unconfined - Save by her little hand; her flowery crown - Hanging neglected and unfastened down. - One from her maiden tore her foot away - On which the dye, all wet and streaming, lay, - And o'er the chamber rushing in her haste, - Where'er she stepped, a crimson footprint traced. - Another at the window takes her stand; - One eye is dyed,--the pencil in her hand. - Here runs an eager maid, and running, holds - Loose and ungirt her flowing mantle's folds, - Whilst, as she strives to close the parting vest, - Its brightness gives new beauty to her breast. - Oh! what a sight! the crowded windows there - With eager faces excellently fair, - Like sweetest lilies, for their dark eyes fling - Quick glances quivering like the wild bee's wing. - - Onward in peerless glory ['S]IVA passed; - Gay banners o'er his way their shadows cast, - Each palace dome, each pinnacle and height - Catching new lustre from his crest of light. - On swept the pageant: on the God alone - The eager glances of the dames were thrown; - On his bright form they fed the rapturous gaze, - And only turned to marvel and to praise: - "Oh, well and wisely, such a lord to gain - The Mountain-Maid endured the toil and pain. - To be his slave were joy; but Oh, how blest - The wife--the loved one--lying on his breast! - Surely in vain, had not the Lord of Life - Matched this fond bridegroom and this loving wife, - Had been his wish to give the worlds a mould - Of perfect beauty! Falsely have they told - How the young flower-armed God was burnt by fire - At the red flash of ['S]IVA'S vengeful ire. - No: jealous LOVE a fairer form confessed, - And cast away his own, no more the loveliest. - How glorious is the Mountain King, how proud - Earth's stately pillar, girt about with cloud! - Now will he lift his lofty head more high, - Knit close to ['S]IVA by this holy tie." - - Such words of praise from many a bright-eyed dame - On ['S]IVA'S ear with soothing witchery came. - Through the broad streets 'mid loud acclaim he rode, - And reached the palace where the King abode. - There he descended from his monster's side, - As the sun leaves a cloud at eventide. - Leaning on VISH[N.]U'S arm he passed the door - Where mighty BRAHMA entered in before. - Next INDRA came, and all the host of heaven, - The noble Saints and those great Sages seven. - Then led they ['S]IVA to a royal seat; - Fair gifts they brought, for such a bridegroom meet: - With all due rites, the honey and the milk, - Rich gems were offered and two robes of silk. - - At length by skilful chamberlains arrayed - They led the lover to the royal maid. - Thus the fond Moon disturbs the tranquil rest - Of Ocean glittering with his foamy crest, - And leads him on, his proud waves swelling o'er, - To leap with kisses on the clasping shore. - He gazed on UMA. From his lotus eyes - Flashed out the rapture of his proud surprise. - Then calm the current of his spirit lay - Like the world basking in an autumn day. - They met; and true love's momentary shame - O'er the blest bridegroom and his darling came. - Eye looked to eye, but, quivering as they met, - Scarce dared to trust the rapturous gazing yet. - In the God's hand the priest has duly laid - The radiant fingers of the Mountain-Maid, - Bright, as if LOVE with his dear sprays of red - Had sought that refuge in his hour of dread. - From hand to hand the soft infection stole, - Till each confessed it in the inmost soul. - Fire filled his veins, with joy she trembled; such - The magic influence of that thrilling touch. - - How grows their beauty, when two lovers stand - Eye fixt on eye, hand fondly linkt in hand! - Then how, unblamed, may mortal minstrel dare - To paint in words the beauty of that pair! - Around the fire in solemn rite they trod, - The lovely lady and the glorious God; - Like day and starry midnight when they meet - In the broad plains at lofty MERU'S feet. - Thrice at the bidding of the priest they came - With swimming eyes around the holy flame. - Then at his word the bride in order due - Into the blazing fire the parched grain threw, - And toward her face the scented smoke she drew, - Which softly wreathing o'er her fair cheek hung, - And round her ears in flower-like beauty clung. - As o'er the incense the sweet lady stooped, - The ear of barley from her tresses drooped, - And rested on her cheek, beneath the eye - Still brightly beaming with the jetty dye. - - "This flame be witness of your wedded life: - Be just, thou husband, and be true, thou wife!" - Such was the priestly blessing on the bride. - Eager she listened, as the earth when dried - By parching summer suns drinks deeply in - The first soft droppings when the rains begin. - - "Look, gentle UMA," cried her Lord, "afar - Seest thou the brightness of yon polar star? - Like that unchanging ray thy faith must shine." - Sobbing, she whispered, "Yes, for ever thine." - - The rite is o'er. Her joyful parents now - At BRAHMA'S feet in duteous reverence bow. - Then to fair UMA spake the gracious Power - Who sits enthroned upon the lotus flower: - "O beautiful lady, happy shalt thou be, - And hero children shall be born of thee;" - Then looked in silence: vain the hope to bless - The bridegroom, ['S]IVA, with more happiness. - - Then from the altar, as prescribed of old, - They turned, and rested upon seats of gold; - And, as the holy books for men ordain, - Were sprinkled duly with the moistened grain. - High o'er their heads sweet Beauty's Queen displayed - Upon a stem of reed a cool green shade, - While the young lotus-leaves of which 'twas made - Seemed, as they glistened to the wondering view, - All richly pearled with drops of beady dew. - In twofold language on each glorious head - The Queen of Speech her richest blessings shed; - In strong, pure, godlike utterance for his ear, - To her in liquid tones, soft, beautifully clear. - - Now for awhile they gaze where maids divine - In graceful play the expressive dance entwine; - Whose eloquent motions, with an actor's art, - Show to the life the passions of the heart. - - The rite was ended; then the heavenly band - Prayed ['S]IVA, raising high the suppliant hand: - "Now, for the dear sake of thy lovely bride, - Have pity on the gentle God," they cried, - "Whose tender body thy fierce wrath has slain: - Give all his honour, all his might again." - Well pleased, he smiled, and gracious answer gave: - ['S]IVA himself now yields him KAMA'S slave. - When duly given, the great will ne'er despise - The gentle pleading of the good and wise. - - Now have they left the wedded pair alone; - And ['S]IVA takes her hand within his own - To lead his darling to the bridal bower, - Decked with bright gold and all her sumptuous dower. - She blushes sweetly as her maidens there - Look with arch smiles and glances on the pair; - And for one moment, while the damsels stay, - From him she loves turns her dear face away. - - - - -NOTES. - - -_CANTO FIRST._ - -The Hindu Deity of War, the leader of the celestial armies, is known -by the names Kartikeya and Skanda. He is represented with six faces -and corresponding arms, and is mounted upon a peacock. - -_Himalaya._] Mansion of Snow; from _hima_, snow, and _alaya_, mansion. -The accent is on the _second_ syllable. - -_Prithu._] It is said that in the reign of this fabulous monarch, -gods, saints, demons, and other supernatural beings, drained or -_milked_ from the earth various treasures, appointing severally one of -their own class as the recipient, or _Calf_, to use the word of the -legend. Himalaya was thus highly favoured by the sacred Mount Meru, -and the other hills. The story is found in the sixth chapter of the -_Harivansa_, which forms a supplement to the _Mahabharat_. - -_Still the fair pearls_, &c.] It was the belief of the Hindus that -elephants wore these precious jewels in their heads. - -_Till heavenly minstrels_, &c.] A class of demi-gods, the songsters of -the Hindu Paradise, or Indra's heaven. - -_There magic herbs_, &c.] Frequent allusion is made by Kalidas and -other Sanskrit poets to a phosphoric light emitted by plants at night. - -_E'en the wild kine_, &c.] The _Chouri_, or long brush, used to whisk -off insects and flies, was with the Hindus what the sceptre is with -us. It was usually made of the tail-hairs of the _Yak_, or _Bos -Grunniens_. Thus the poet represents these animals as doing honour to -the Monarch of Mountains with these emblems of sovereignty. - -_That the bright Seven._] The Hindus call the constellation _Ursa -Major_ the seven Rishis, or Saints. They will appear as actors in the -course of the poem. - -_And once when Indra's might._] We learn from the _Ramayana_ that the -mountains were originally furnished with wings, and that they flew -through the air with the speed of the wind. For fear lest they should -suddenly fall in their flight, Indra, King of the Gods, struck off -their pinions with his thunderbolt; but Mainaka was preserved from a -similar fate by the friendship of Ocean, to whom he fled for refuge. - -_Born once again_, &c.] The reader will remember the Hindu belief in -the Transmigration of Souls. The story alluded to by the poet is -this:--"_Daksha_ was the son of _Brahma_ and father of _Sati_, whom, -at the recommendation of the _Rishis_, or Sages, he espoused to -_['S]iva_, but he was never wholly reconciled to the uncouth figure -and practices of his son-in-law. Having undertaken to celebrate a -solemn sacrifice, he invited all the Gods except _['S]iva_, which so -incensed _Sati_, that she threw herself into the sacrificial -fire."--(Wilson, Specimens of Hindu Theatre, Vol. II. p. 263.) The -name of _Sati_, meaning good, true, chaste woman, is the modern -_Suttee_, as it is corruptly written. - -_As the blue offspring of the Turquois Hills._] These hills are placed -in Ceylon. The precious stone grows, it is said, at the sound of -thunder in the rainy season. - -_At her stern penance._] This is described in the fifth canto. The -meaning of the name Uma is "Oh, do not." - -_The Gods' bright river._] The celestial Ganges, which falls from -heaven upon Himalaya's head, and continues its course on earth. - -_Young Kama's arrow._] Kama, the Hindu Cupid, is armed with a bow, the -arrows of which are made of flowers. - -_And brighter than A['s]oka's rich leaves._] Nothing, we are told, can -exceed the beauty of this tree when in full bloom. It is, of course, a -general favourite with the poets of India. - -_The strings of pearl._] - - "Then, too, the pearl from out its shell - Unsightly, in the sunless sea - (As 'twere a spirit, forced to dwell - In form unlovely) _was set free_, - And round the neck of woman threw - _A light it lent and borrowed too_." - MOORE--_Loves of the Angels._ - -Moore is frequently the best interpreter, unconsciously, of an Indian -poet's thought. It is worth remarking, that the Sanskrit word _mukta_, -pearl (literally _freed_), signifies also the _spirit_ released from -mundane existence, and re-integrated with its divine original. - -_The sweetest note that e'er the Koeil poured._] The _Kokila_, or -_Koeil_, the black or Indian cuckoo, is the bulbul or nightingale of -Hindustan. It is also the herald of spring, like its European -namesake, and the female bird is the especial messenger of Love. - -_When holy Narad._] A divine sage, son of Brahma. - -_The holy bull._] The animal on which the God ['S]iva rides, as Indra -on the elephant. - -_Who takes eight various forms._] ['S]iva is called Wearer of the -Eight Forms, as being identical with the Five Elements, Mind, -Individuality, and Crude Matter. - -_Where the pale moon on ['S]iva's forehead._] ['S]iva's crest is the -new moon, which is sometimes described as forming a third eye in his -forehead. We shall find frequent allusions to this in the course of -the poem. - - -_CANTO SECOND._ - -_While impious Tarak._] A demon who, by a long course of austerities, -had acquired power even over the Gods. This Hindu notion is familiar -to most of us from Southey's "Curse of Kehama." - -_Whose face turns every way._] Brahma is represented with four faces, -one towards each point of the compass. - -_The mystic Three._] "The triad of qualities," a philosophical term -familiar to all the systems of Hindu speculation. They are thus -explained in the _Tattwa Samasa_, a text-book of the Sankhya -school:--"Now it is asked, What is the 'triad of qualities'? It is -replied, The triad of qualities consists of 'Goodness,' 'Foulness,' -and 'Darkness.' By the 'triad of qualities' is meant the 'three -qualities.' Goodness is endlessly diversified, accordingly as it is -exemplified in calmness, lightness, complacency, attainment of wishes, -kindliness, contentment, patience, joy, and the like; summarily, it -consists of happiness. 'Foulness' is endlessly diversified, -accordingly as it is exemplified in grief, distress, separation, -excitement, anxiety, fault-finding, and the like; summarily, it -consists of pain. 'Darkness' is endlessly diversified, accordingly as -it is exemplified in envelopment, ignorance, disgust, abjectness, -heaviness, sloth, drowsiness, intoxication, and the like; summarily, -it consists of delusion." - -_Thou, when a longing_, &c.] "Having divided his own substance, the -mighty power became half male, half female, or _nature active and -passive_."--_Manu_, Ch. I. - -So also in the old Orphic hymn it is said, - - [Greek: Zeus arsen geneto, Zeus ambrotos epleto numphe.] - "Zeus was a male; Zeus was a deathless damsel." - -_The sacred hymns._] Contained in the Vedas, or Holy Scriptures of the -Hindus. - -_The word of praise._] The mystic syllable OM, prefacing all the -prayers and most of the writings of the Hindus. It implies the Indian -triad, and expresses the Three in One. - -_They hail thee, Nature._] The object of Nature's activity, according -to the Sankhya system, is "the final liberation of individual soul." -"The incompetency of nature, an irrational principle, to institute a -course of action for a definite purpose, and the unfitness of rational -soul to regulate the acts of an agent whose character it imperfectly -apprehends, constitute a principal argument with the theistical -Sankhyas for the necessity of a Providence, to whom the ends of -existence are known, and by whom Nature is guided.... The atheistical -Sankhyas, on the other hand, contend that there is no occasion for a -guiding Providence, but that the activity of nature, for the purpose -of accomplishing soul's object, is an intuitive necessity, as -illustrated in the following passage:--As it is a function of milk, an -unintelligent (substance), to nourish the calf, so it is the office of -the chief principle (nature) to liberate the soul."--Prof. Wilson's -_Sankhya Karika_. - -_Hail Thee the stranger Spirit_, &c.] "Soul is witness, solitary, -bystander, spectator, passive."--_Sankh. Kar._ verse xix. - -_See, Varun's noose._] The God of Water. - -_Weak is Kuvera's hand._] The God of Wealth. - -_Yama's sceptre._] The God and Judge of the Dead. - -_The Lords of Light._] The Adityas, twelve in number, are forms of the -sun, and appear to represent him as distinct in each month of the -year. - -_The Rudras._] A class of demi-gods, eleven in number, said to be -inferior manifestations of ['S]iva, who also bears this name. - -_E'en as on earth_, &c.] Thus the commandment,--Thou shalt not kill, -is abrogated by the injunction to kill animals for sacrifice. - -_The heavenly Teacher._] Vrihaspati, the son of Angiras. - -_His own dear flower._] The lotus, on which Brahma is represented -reclining. - -_Their flashing jewels._] According to the Hindu belief, serpents wear -precious jewels in their heads. - -_Chakra._] A discus, or quoit, the weapon of Vishnu. - -_As water bears to me._] "HE, having willed to produce various beings -from his own divine substance, first with a thought created the -waters, and placed in them a productive seed."--_Manu_, Ch. I. - -_Mournful braids._] As a sign of mourning, especially for the loss of -their husbands, the Hindustani women collect their long hair into a -braid, called in Sanskrit _ve[n.]i_. - -_The mango twig._] We shall meet with several allusions to this tree -as the favourite of Love and the darling of the bees. - - -_CANTO THIRD._ - -_Who angers thee, &c._] To understand properly this speech of Kama, it -is necessary to be acquainted with some of the Hindu notions regarding -a future state. "The highest kind of happiness is absorption into the -divine essence, or the return of that portion of spirit which is -combined with the attributes of humanity to its original source. This -happiness, according to the philosopher, is to be obtained only by the -most perfect abstraction from the world and freedom from passion, even -while in a state of terrestrial existence.... Besides this ultimate -felicity, the Hindus have several minor degrees of happiness, amongst -which is the enjoyment of Indra's Swarga, or, in fact, of a Muhammadan -Paradise. The degree and duration of the pleasures of this paradise -are proportioned to the merits of those admitted to it; and they who -have enjoyed this lofty region of Swarga, but whose virtue is -exhausted, revisit the habitation of mortals."--Prof. Wilson's _Megha -Duta_. Compare also "The Lord's Song."--_Specimens of Old Indian -Poetry_, pp. 67, 68. - -Indra, therefore, may be supposed to feel jealous whenever a human -being aspires to something higher than that heaven of which he is the -Lord. - -The "chain of birth" alluded to is of course the metempsychosis, or -transmigration of souls, a belief which is not to be looked upon (says -Prof. Wilson in the preface to his edition of the _Sankhya Karika_) as -a mere popular superstition. It is the main principle of all Hindu -metaphysics; it is the foundation of all Hindu philosophy. The great -object of their philosophical research in every system, Brahminical -or Buddhist, is the discovery of the means of putting a stop to -further transmigration; the discontinuance of corporeal being; the -liberation of soul from body. - -_As on that Snake._] Sesha, the Serpent King, is in the Hindu -mythology the supporter of the earth, as, in one of the fictions of -the Edda,-- - - "That sea-snake, tremendous curled, - Whose monstrous circle girds the world." - -He is also the couch and canopy of the God Vishnu, or, as he -is here called, Krish[n.]a,--that hero being one of his incarnations, -and considered identical with the deity himself. - -_The threefold world._] Earth, heaven, and hell. - -_His fearful Rati._] The wife of Kama, or Love. - -_To where Kuvera &c._] The demi-god Kuvera was regent -of the north. - -_Nor waited for the maiden's touch._] Referring to the Hindu -notion that the A['s]oka blossoms at the touch of a woman's -foot. So Shelley says, - - "I doubt not, the flowers of that garden sweet - Rejoiced in the sound of her gentle feet." - _Sensitive Plant._ - -_Grouping the syllables._] This comparison seems forced rather too far -to suit a European taste. Kalidas is not satisfied with calling the -mango-spray the Arrow of Love; he must tell us that its leaves are the -feathers, and that the bees have marked it with the owner's name. - -_That loveliest flower._] The Karnikara. - -_His flowery Tilaka._] The name of a tree; it also means a mark made -with coloured earths or unguents upon the forehead and between the -eyebrows, either as an ornament or a sectarial distinction; the poet -intends the word to convey both ideas at once here. In this passage is -another comparison of the mango-spray: it is called the _lip_ of Love; -its _rouge_ is the blush of morning, and its darker beautifying powder -the clustering bees. From the universal custom of dying the lips, the -Sanskrit poets are constantly speaking of their "vermeil tints," &c., -as will be sufficiently evident in the course of this work. - -_The Hermit's servant._] By name Nandi. - -_His neck of brightly-beaming blue._] An ancient legend tells us that -after the deluge the ocean was churned by Gods and demons, in order to -recover the Amrit and other treasures that had been lost in it:-- - - "Then loud and long a joyous sound - Rang through the startled sky: - 'Hail to the Amrit, lost and found!' - A thousand voices cry. - But from the wondrous churning streamed - A poison fierce and dread, - Burning like fire: where'er it streamed - Thick noisome mists were spread. - The wanting venom onwards went, - And filled the Worlds with fear, - Till Brahma to their misery bent - His gracious pitying ear; - And ['S]iva those destroying streams - Drank up at Brahma's beck. - Still in thy throat the dark flood gleams, - God of the azure neck!" - Specimens of Old Indian Poetry--_Churning of the Ocean._ - -_Gates of sense._] The eyes, ears, &c. - - -_CANTO FOURTH._ - -_Late, dim, and joyless shall his rising be._] The Moon, in Hindu -mythology, is a male deity. - -_This line of bees._] Kama's bow is sometimes represented as strung in -this extraordinary manner. - -_And stain this foot._] "Staining the soles of the feet with a red -colour, derived from the Mehndee, the Lac, &c., is a favourite -practice of the Hindu toilet."--WILSON. - - -_CANTO FIFTH._ - -_And worn with resting on her rosary._] The Hindus use their rosaries -much as we do, carrying them in their hands or on their wrists. As -they turn them over, they repeat an inaudible prayer, or the name of -the particular deity they worship, as Vish[n.]u or S'iva. The -_Rudraksha mala_ (which we may suppose Uma to have used) is a string -of the seeds or berries of the Eleocarpus, and especially dedicated to -S'iva. It should contain 108 berries or beads, each of which is -fingered with the mental repetition of one of S'iva's 108 -appellations. - -_Not e'en her boy._] Kartikeya, the God of War. - -_Of those poor birds._] The Chakravaki. These birds are always -observed to fly in pairs during the day, but are supposed to remain -separate during the night. - -_That friendship soon in gentle heart is bred._] - - "Amor in cor gentil ratto s'apprende." - DANTE. - - -_CANTO SIXTH._ - -_The Heavenly Dame._] Arundhati, wife of one of the Seven Saints. - -_The Boar._] An Avatar, or incarnation of Vish[n.]u. In this form he -preserved the world at the deluge. - -_That thirsty bird._] The Chataka, supposed to drink nothing but -rain-water. - -_Proud Alaka._] The capital of Kuvera, the God of Wealth. - -_The bright Champac._] - - "The maid of India blest again to hold - In her broad lap the Champac's leaves of gold." - _Lalla Rookh._ - -_Angiras._] One of the Seven Saints; the father of Vrihaspati, the -teacher of the gods. - -_Vast grew his body._] Alluding to the Vamana, or Dwarf Avatar of -Vish[n.]u, wrought to restrain the pride of the giant Bali, who had -expelled the Gods from heaven. In that form he presented himself -before the giant, and asked him for three paces of land to build a -hut. Bali ridiculed and granted the request. The dwarf immediately -grew to a prodigious size, so that he measured the earth with one -pace, and the heavens with another. - -_Sumeru._] Another name of the sacred Mount Meru; or rather the same -word, with su, good, prefixed. - - -_CANTO SEVENTH._ - -_Kailasa's side._] A mountain, the fabulous residence of Kuvera, and -favourite haunt of S'iva, placed by the Hindus among the Himalayas. - -_Kali came behind._] The name of one of the divine matrons. The word -also signifies in Sanskrit a row or succession of clouds, suggesting -the comparison which follows. - -_In twofold language._] In Sanskrit and Prakrit. The latter is a -softened modification of the former, to which it bears the same -relation as Italian to Latin; it is spoken by the female characters -of the Hindu drama. - - - - THE END. - - - PRINTED BY BALLANTYNE, HANSON AND CO. - EDINBURGH AND LONDON - - - - - TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES - - -1. Passages in italics are surrounded by _underscores_. - -2. For this text version the Greek letters have been replaced with -transliterations in brackets [Greek:] using English alphabet table, -without diacritical marks. - -3. The following words use accented characters in the original: - ['S]iva has S with an acute - A['s]oka has s with an acute - Vish[n.]u has n with with dot below - Krish[n.]a has n with with dot below - ve[n.]i has n with with dot below - -4. Other than the changes listed above, printer's inconsistencies -in spelling, punctuation, hyphenation, and ligature usage have been -retained. - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Birth of the War-God, by Kalidasa - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BIRTH OF THE WAR-GOD *** - -***** This file should be named 31968.txt or 31968.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - https://www.gutenberg.org/3/1/9/6/31968/ - -Produced by David Edwards and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This book was -produced from scanned images of public domain material -from the Google Print project.) - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no -one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation -(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without -permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, -set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to -copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to -protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project -Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you -charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you -do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the -rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose -such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and -research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do -practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is -subject to the trademark license, especially commercial -redistribution. - - - -*** START: FULL LICENSE *** - -THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE -PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK - -To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free -distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work -(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project -Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project -Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at -https://gutenberg.org/license). - - -Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works - -1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to -and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property -(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all -the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy -all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. -If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the -terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or -entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. - -1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be -used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who -agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few -things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works -even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See -paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement -and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic -works. See paragraph 1.E below. - -1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" -or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the -collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an -individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are -located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from -copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative -works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg -are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project -Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by -freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of -this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with -the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by -keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project -Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. - -1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern -what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in -a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check -the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement -before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or -creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project -Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning -the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United -States. - -1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: - -1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate -access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently -whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the -phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project -Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, -copied or distributed: - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - -1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived -from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is -posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied -and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees -or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work -with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the -work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 -through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the -Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or -1.E.9. - -1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted -with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution -must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional -terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked -to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the -permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. - -1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm -License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this -work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. - -1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this -electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without -prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with -active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project -Gutenberg-tm License. - -1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, -compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any -word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or -distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than -"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version -posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), -you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a -copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon -request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other -form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm -License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. - -1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, -performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works -unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. - -1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing -access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided -that - -- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from - the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method - you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is - owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he - has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the - Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments - must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you - prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax - returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and - sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the - address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to - the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." - -- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies - you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he - does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm - License. You must require such a user to return or - destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium - and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of - Project Gutenberg-tm works. - -- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any - money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the - electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days - of receipt of the work. - -- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free - distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. - -1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set -forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from -both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael -Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the -Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. - -1.F. - -1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable -effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread -public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm -collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic -works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain -"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or -corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual -property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a -computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by -your equipment. - -1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right -of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project -Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all -liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal -fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT -LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE -PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE -TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE -LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR -INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH -DAMAGE. - -1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a -defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can -receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a -written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you -received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with -your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with -the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a -refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity -providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to -receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy -is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further -opportunities to fix the problem. - -1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth -in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER -WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO -WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. - -1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied -warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. -If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the -law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be -interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by -the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any -provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. - -1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the -trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone -providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance -with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, -promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, -harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, -that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do -or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm -work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any -Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. - - -Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm - -Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of -electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers -including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists -because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from -people in all walks of life. - -Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the -assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's -goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will -remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure -and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. -To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation -and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 -and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. - - -Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive -Foundation - -The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit -501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the -state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal -Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification -number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at -https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent -permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. - -The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. -Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered -throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at -809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email -business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact -information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official -page at https://pglaf.org - -For additional contact information: - Dr. Gregory B. Newby - Chief Executive and Director - gbnewby@pglaf.org - - -Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation - -Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide -spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of -increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be -freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest -array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations -($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt -status with the IRS. - -The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating -charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United -States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a -considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up -with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations -where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To -SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any -particular state visit https://pglaf.org - -While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we -have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition -against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who -approach us with offers to donate. - -International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make -any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from -outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. - -Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation -methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other -ways including including checks, online payments and credit card -donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate - - -Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic -works. - -Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm -concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared -with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project -Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. - - -Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed -editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. -unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily -keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. - - -Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: - - https://www.gutenberg.org - -This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, -including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to -subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. |