 | Songs of a Stranger |  |
52
THE INDIAN CUPID.
“The Indian Cupid is represented riding by moonlight on
a parrot, or lory, and attended by dancing-girls or nymphs,
the foremost of whom bears his colours, which are, a fish on a
red ground. His favourite place of resort is round Agra, and
principally the plains of Matra. His bow is of sugar-cane or
flowers, with a string of bees, and his five arrows each pointed
with an Indian blossom of a heating quality. His name is
Camdeo,—but he has at least twenty-three names.”—Sir Wm. Jones.
“The Indian Cupid is represented riding by moonlight on a parrot, or lory, and attended by dancing-girls or nymphs, the foremost of whom bears his colours, which are, a fish on a red ground. His favourite place of resort is round Agra, and principally the plains of Matra. His bow is of sugar-cane or flowers, with a string of bees, and his five arrows each pointed with an Indian blossom of a heating quality. His name is Camdeo,—but he has at least twenty-three names.”—Sir Wm. Jones.
Who is he that swiftly comes
In the lovely silence of night?—
I know him by his sparkling plumes,
That shine in the clear moonlight;
By the scarlet wings of his soaring bird,
And the ceaseless music round him heard.
I know him by his arrows,
And by his blossom'd bow;
By the forms of radiant beauty that bear,
And softly wave in the perfumed air,
His standard to and fro.
In the lovely silence of night?—
I know him by his sparkling plumes,
That shine in the clear moonlight;
By the scarlet wings of his soaring bird,
And the ceaseless music round him heard.
I know him by his arrows,
And by his blossom'd bow;
By the forms of radiant beauty that bear,
And softly wave in the perfumed air,
His standard to and fro.
Often and long, on the summer sea,
In the moonlight have I watched for thee—
When the glittering beam was downward thrown,
And each wave with a crest of diamond shone.
I have seen the thin clouds sail along,
And I raised, to welcome thee, many a song;
But long have I lingered, and watch'd in vain,
To see the light of thy starry train
Sweep in beauty across the sky,
To tones of heavenly harmony.
In the moonlight have I watched for thee—
When the glittering beam was downward thrown,
And each wave with a crest of diamond shone.
I have seen the thin clouds sail along,
And I raised, to welcome thee, many a song;
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To see the light of thy starry train
Sweep in beauty across the sky,
To tones of heavenly harmony.
Now I behold thee! now 'tis the hour—
Yes! thou art come in thy splendour and power!—
But, no! the vision is passing on,
The bright forms vanish one by one—
On the desolate shore I am left alone!
Yet stay! oh, stay!—like lightning they move—
Too well, by thy fleetness, I know thou art Love!
Yes! thou art come in thy splendour and power!—
But, no! the vision is passing on,
The bright forms vanish one by one—
On the desolate shore I am left alone!
Yet stay! oh, stay!—like lightning they move—
Too well, by thy fleetness, I know thou art Love!
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