49

    You came down from your throne and stood at my cottage door.

    I was singing all alone in a corner， and the melody caught your ear.

    You came down and stood at my cottage door.

    Masters are many in your hall， and songs are sung there at all hours.

    But the simple carol of this novice struck at your love. One plaintive

    little strain mingled with the great music of the world， and with a

    flower for a prize you came down and stopped at my cottage door.

    50

    I had gone a-begging from door to door in the village path， when thy

    golden chariot appeared in the distance like a gorgeous dream and I

    wondered who was this King of all kings！

    My hopes rose high and methought my evil days were at an end， and I

    stood waiting for alms to be given unasked and for wealth scattered on

    all sides in the dust.

    The chariot stopped where I stood. Thy glance fell on me and thou

    camest down with a smile. I felt that the luck of my life had come at

    last. Then of a sudden thou didst hold out thy right hand and say

    `What hast thou to give to me？'

    Ah， what a kingly jest was it to open thy palm to a beggar to beg！ I

    was confused and stood undecided， and then from my wallet I slowly

    took out the least little grain of corn and gave it to thee.

    But how great my surprise when at the day's end I emptied my bag on

    the floor to find a least little gram of gold among the poor heap. I

    bitterly wept and wished that I had had the heart to give thee my all.

    51

    The night darkened. Our day's works had been done. We thought that the

    last guest had arrived for the night and the doors in the village were

    all shut. Only some said the king was to come. We laughed and said

    `No， it cannot be！'

    It seemed there were knocks at the door and we said it was nothing but

    the wind. We put out the lamps and lay down to sleep. Only some said，

    `It is the messenger！' We laughed and said `No， it must be the wind！'

    There came a sound in the dead of the night. We sleepily thought it

    was the distant thunder. The earth shook， the walls rocked， and it

    troubled us in our sleep. Only some said it was the sound of wheels.

    We said in a drowsy murmur， `No， it must be the rumbling of clouds！'

    The night was still dark when the drum sounded. The voice came `Wake

    up！ delay not！' We pressed our hands on our hearts and shuddered with

    fear. Some said， `Lo， there is the king's flag！' We stood up on our

    feet and cried `There is no time for delay！'

    The king has come——but where are lights， where are wreaths？ Where is

    the throne to seat him？ Oh， shame！ Oh utter shame！ Where is the hall，

    the decorations？ Someone has said， `Vain is this cry！ Greet him with

    empty hands， lead him into thy rooms all bare！'

    Open the doors， let the conch-shells be sounded！ in the depth of the

    night has come the king of our dark， dreary house. The thunder roars

    in the sky. The darkness shudders with lightning. Bring out thy

    tattered piece of mat and spread it in the courtyard. With the storm

    has come of a sudden our king of the fearful night.

    52

    I thought I should ask of thee——but I dared not——the rose wreath

    thou hadst on thy neck. Thus I waited for the morning， when thou didst

    depart， to find a few fragments on the bed. And like a beggar I

    searched in the dawn only for a stray petal or two.

    Ah me， what is it I find？ What token left of thy love？ It is no

    flower， no spices， no vase of perfumed water. It is thy mighty sword，

    flashing as a flame， heavy as a bolt of thunder. The young light of

    morning comes through the window and spread itself upon thy bed. The

    morning bird twitters and asks， `Woman， what hast thou got？' No， it is

    no flower， nor spices， nor vase of perfumed water——it is thy dreadful

    sword.

    I sit and muse in wonder， what gift is this of thine. I can find no

    place to hide it. I am ashamed to wear it， frail as I am， and it hurts

    me when press it to my bosom. Yet shall I bear in my heart this honour

    of the burden of pain， this gift of thine.

    From now there shall be no fear left for me in this world， and thou

    shalt be victorious in all my strife. Thou hast left death for my

    companion and I shall crown him with my life. Thy sword is with me to

    cut asunder my bonds， and there shall be no fear left for me in the

    world.

    From now I leave off all petty decorations. Lord of my heart， no more

    shall there be for me waiting and weeping in corners， no more coyness

    and sweetness of demeanour. Thou hast given me thy sword for

    adornment. No more doll's decorations for me！

    53

    Beautiful is thy wristlet， decked with stars and cunningly wrought in

    myriad-coloured jewels. But more beautiful to me thy sword with its

    curve of lightning like the outspread wings of the divine bird of

    Vishnu， perfectly poised in the angry red light of the sunset.

    It quivers like the one last response of life in ecstasy of pain at

    the final stroke of death； it shines like the pure flame of being

    burning up earthly sense with one fierce flash.

    Beautiful is thy wristlet， decked with starry gems； but thy sword， O

    lord of thunder， is wrought with uttermost beauty， terrible to behold

    or think of.

    54

    I asked nothing from thee； I uttered not my name to thine ear. When

    thou took'st thy leave I stood silent. I was alone by the well where

    the shadow of the tree fell aslant， and the women had gone home with

    their brown earthen pitchers full to the brim. They called me and

    shouted， `Come with us， the morning is wearing on to noon.' But I

    languidly lingered awhile lost in the midst of vague musings.

    I heard not thy steps as thou camest. Thine eyes were sad when they

    fell on me； thy voice was tired as thou spokest low——`Ah， I am a

    thirsty traveller.' I started up from my day-dreams and poured water

    from my jar on thy joined palms. The leaves rustled overhead； the

    cuckoo sang from the unseen dark， and perfume of babla flowers came

    from the bend of the road.

    I stood speechless with shame when my name thou didst ask. Indeed，

    what had I done for thee to keep me in remembrance？ But the memory

    that I could give water to thee to allay thy thirst will cling to my

    heart and enfold it in sweetness. The morning hour is late， the bird

    sings in weary notes， neem leaves rustle overhead and I sit and think

    and think.

    55

    Languor is upon your heart and the slumber is still on your eyes.

    Has not the word come to you that the flower is reigning in splendour

    among thorns？ Wake， oh awaken！ let not the time pass in vain！

    At the end of the stony path， in the country of virgin solitude， my

    friend is sitting all alone. Deceive him not. Wake， oh awaken！

    What if the sky pants and trembles with the heat of the midday

    sun——what if the burning sand spreads its mantle of thirst——

    Is there no joy in the deep of your heart？ At every footfall of yours，

    will not the harp of the road break out in sweet music of pain？

    56

    Thus it is that thy joy in me is so full. Thus it is that thou hast

    come down to me. O thou lord of all heavens， where would be thy love

    if I were not？

    Thou hast taken me as thy partner of all this wealth. In my heart is

    the endless play of thy delight. In my life thy will is ever taking

    shape.

    And for this， thou who art the King of kings hast decked thyself in

    beauty to captivate my heart. And for this thy love loses itself in

    the love of thy lover， and there art thou seen in the perfect union of

    two.

    57

    Light， my light， the world-filling light， the eye-kissing light，

    heart-sweetening light！

    Ah， the light dances， my darling， at the centre of my life； the light

    strikes， my darling， the chords of my love； the sky opens， the wind

    runs wild， laughter passes over the earth.

    The butterflies spread their sails on the sea of light. Lilies and

    jasmines surge up on the crest of the waves of light.

    The light is shattered into gold on every cloud， my darling， and it

    scatters gems in profusion.

    Mirth spreads from leaf to leaf， my darling， and gladness without

    measure. The heaven's river has drowned its banks and the flood of joy

    is abroad.

    58

    Let all the strains of joy mingle in my last song——the joy that makes

    the earth flow over in the riotous excess of the grass， the joy that

    sets the twin brothers， life and death， dancing over the wide world，

    the joy that sweeps in with the tempest， shaking and waking all life

    with laughter， the joy that sits still with its tears on the open red

    lotus of pain， and the joy that throws everything it has upon the

    dust， and knows not a word.

    59

    Yes， I know， this is nothing but thy love， O beloved of my

    heart——this golden light that dances upon the leaves， these idle

    clouds sailing across the sky， this passing breeze leaving its

    coolness upon my forehead.

    The morning light has flooded my eyes——this is thy message to my

    heart. Thy face is bent from above， thy eyes look down on my eyes， and

    my heart has touched thy feet.

    60

    On the seashore of endless worlds children meet. The infinite sky is

    motionless overhead and the restless water is boisterous. On the

    seashore of endless worlds the children meet with shouts and dances.

    They build their houses with sand and they play with empty shells.

    With withered leaves they weave their boats and smilingly float them

    on the vast deep. Children have their play on the seashore of worlds.

    They know not how to swim， they know not how to cast nets. Pearl

    fishers dive for pearls， merchants sail in their ships， while children

    gather pebbles and scatter them again. they seek not for hidden

    treasures， they know not how to cast nets.

    The sea surges up with laughter and pale gleams the smile of the sea

    beach. Death-dealing waves sing meaningless ballads to the children，

    even like a mother while rocking her baby's cradle. The sea plays with

    children， and pale gleams the smile of the sea beach.

    On the seashore of endless worlds children meet. Tempest roams in the

    pathless sky， ships get wrecked in the trackless water， death is

    abroad and children play. On the seashore of endless worlds is the

    great meeting of children.

    回到前页

    GITANJALI

    61

    The sleep that flits on baby's eyes——does anybody know from where it

    comes？ Yes， there is a rumour that it has its dwelling where， in the

    fairy village among shadows of the forest dimly lit with glow-worms，

    there hang two timid buds of enchantment. From there it comes to kiss

    baby's eyes.

    The smile that flickers on baby's lips when he sleeps——does anybody

    know where it was born？ Yes， there is a rumour that a young pale beam

    of a crescent moon touched the edge of a vanishing autumn cloud， and

    there the smile was first born in the dream of a dew-washed

    morning——the smile that flickers on baby's lips when he sleeps.

    The sweet， soft freshness that blooms on baby's limbs——does anybody

    know where it was hidden so long？ Yes， when the mother was a young

    girl it lay pervading her heart in tender and silent mystery of

    love——the sweet， soft freshness that has bloomed on baby's limbs.

    62

    When I bring to you coloured toys， my child， I understand why there is

    such a play of colours on clouds， on water， and why flowers are

    painted in tints——when I give coloured toys to you， my child.

    When I sing to make you dance I truly now why there is music in

    leaves， and why waves send their chorus of voices to the heart of the

    listening earth——when I sing to make you dance.

    When I bring sweet things to your greedy hands I know why there is

    honey in the cup of the flowers and why fruits are secretly filled

    with sweet juice——when I bring sweet things to your greedy hands.

    When I kiss your face to make you smile， my darling， I surely

    understand what pleasure streams from the sky in morning light， and

    what delight that is that is which the summer breeze brings to my

    body——when I kiss you to make you smile.

    63

    Thou hast made me known to friends whom I knew not. Thou hast given me

    seats in homes not my own. Thou hast brought the distant near and made

    a brother of the stranger.

    I am uneasy at heart when I have to leave my accustomed shelter； I

    forget that there abides the old in the new， and that there also thou

    abidest.

    Through birth and death， in this world or in others， wherever thou

    leadest me it is thou， the same， the one companion of my endless life

    who ever linkest my heart with bonds of joy to the unfamiliar.

    When one knows thee， then alien there is none， then no door is shut.

    Oh， grant me my prayer that I may never lose the bliss of the touch of

    the one in the play of many.

    64

    On the slope of the desolate river among tall grasses I asked her，

    `Maiden， where do you go shading your lamp with your mantle？ My house

    is all dark and lonesome——lend me your light！' she raised her dark

    eyes for a moment and looked at my face through the dusk. `I have come

    to the river，' she said， `to float my lamp on the stream when the

    daylight wanes in the west.' I stood alone among tall grasses and

    watched the timid flame of her lamp uselessly drifting in the tide.

    In the silence of gathering night I asked her， `Maiden， your lights

    are all lit——then where do you go with your lamp？ My house is all

    dark and lonesome——lend me your light.' She raised her dark eyes on

    my face and stood for a moment doubtful. `I have come，' she said at

    last， `to dedicate my lamp to the sky.' I stood and watched her light

    uselessly burning in the void.

    In the moonless gloom of midnight I ask her， `Maiden， what is your

    quest， holding the lamp near your heart？ My house is all dark and

    lonesome——lend me your light.' She stopped for a minute and thought

    and gazed at my face in the dark. `I have brought my light，' she said，

    `to join the carnival of lamps.' I stood and watched her little lamp

    uselessly lost among lights.

    65

    What divine drink wouldst thou have， my God， from this overflowing cup

    of my life？

    My poet， is it thy delight to see thy creation through my eyes and to

    stand at the portals of my ears silently to listen to thine own

    eternal harmony？

    Thy world is weaving words in my mind and thy joy is adding music to

    them. Thou givest thyself to me in love and then feelest thine own

    entire sweetness in me.

    66

    She who ever had remained in the depth of my being， in the twilight of

    gleams and of glimpses； she who never opened her veils in the morning

    light， will be my last gift to thee， my God， folded in my final song.

    Words have wooed yet failed to win her； persuasion has stretched to

    her its eager arms in vain.

    I have roamed from country to country keeping her in the core of my

    heart， and around her have risen and fallen the growth and decay of my

    life.

    Over my thoughts and actions， my slumbers and dreams， she reigned yet

    dwelled alone and apart.

    many a man knocked at my door and asked for her and turned away in

    despair.

    There was none in the world who ever saw her face to face， and she

    remained in her loneliness waiting for thy recognition.

    67

    Thou art the sky and thou art the nest as well.

    O thou beautiful， there in the nest is thy love that encloses the soul

    with colours and sounds and odours.

    There comes the morning with the golden basket in her right hand

    bearing the wreath of beauty， silently to crown the earth.

    And there comes the evening over the lonely meadows deserted by herds，

    through trackless paths， carrying cool draughts of peace in her golden

    pitcher from the western ocean of rest.

    But there， where spreads the infinite sky for the soul to take her

    flight in， reigns the stainless white radiance. There is no day nor

    night， nor form nor colour， and never， never a word.

    68

    Thy sunbeam comes upon this earth of mine with arms outstretched and

    stands at my door the livelong day to carry back to thy feet clouds

    made of my tears and sighs and songs.

    With fond delight thou wrappest about thy starry breast that mantle of

    misty cloud， turning it into numberless shapes and folds and colouring

    it with hues everchanging.

    It is so light and so fleeting， tender and tearful and dark， that is

    why thou lovest it， O thou spotless and serene. And that is why it may

    cover thy awful white light with its pathetic shadows.

    69

    The same stream of life that runs through my veins night and day runs

    through the world and dances in rhythmic measures.

    It is the same life that shoots in joy through the dust of the earth

    in numberless blades of grass and breaks into tumultuous waves of

    leaves and flowers.

    It is the same life that is rocked in the ocean-cradle of birth and of

    death， in ebb and in flow.

    I feel my limbs are made glorious by the touch of this world of life.

    And my pride is from the life-throb of ages dancing in my blood this

    moment.

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