The Hindu wife and the hymns By Sir William Jones ... Second edition [by William Jones] |
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A HYMN TO LACSHMI. |
 | The Hindu wife and the hymns |  |
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A HYMN TO LACSHMI.
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Daughter of Ocean and primeval Night,
Who, fed with moonbeams dropping silver dew,
And cradled in a wild wave dancing light,
Saw'st with a smile new shores and creatures new,
Thee, Goddess, I salute; thy gifts I sing,
And, not with idle wing,
Soar from this fragrant bow'r through tepid skies,
Ere yet the steeds of noon's effulgent king
Shake their green manes and blaze with rubied eyes:
Hence, floating o'er the smooth expense of day,
Thy bounties I survey,
See through man's oval realm thy charms display'd,
See clouds, air, earth, performing thy behest,
Plains by soft show'rs, thy tripping handmaids, dress'd,
And fruitful woods, in gold and gems array'd,
Spangling the mingled shade;
While autumn boon his yellow ensign rears,
And stores the world's true wealth in rip'ning ears.
Who, fed with moonbeams dropping silver dew,
And cradled in a wild wave dancing light,
Saw'st with a smile new shores and creatures new,
Thee, Goddess, I salute; thy gifts I sing,
And, not with idle wing,
Soar from this fragrant bow'r through tepid skies,
Ere yet the steeds of noon's effulgent king
Shake their green manes and blaze with rubied eyes:
Hence, floating o'er the smooth expense of day,
Thy bounties I survey,
See through man's oval realm thy charms display'd,
See clouds, air, earth, performing thy behest,
Plains by soft show'rs, thy tripping handmaids, dress'd,
And fruitful woods, in gold and gems array'd,
Spangling the mingled shade;
While autumn boon his yellow ensign rears,
And stores the world's true wealth in rip'ning ears.
But most that central tract thy smile adorns,
Which old Himála clips with fost'ring arms,
As with a wexing moon's half-circling horns,
And shields from bandits fell, or worse alarms
Of Tatar horse from Yunan late subdued,
Or Bactrian bowmen rude;
Snow-crown'd Himála, whence, with wavy wings
Far spread, as falcons o'er their nestlings brood,
Fam'd Brahmaputra joy and verdure brings,
And Sindhu's five-arm'd flood from Cashghar hastes,
To cheer the rocky wastes,
Through western this and that through orient plains;
While bluish Yamunà between them streams,
And Ganga pure with sunny radiance gleams,
Till Vánì, whom a russet ochre stains,
Their destin'd confluence gains:
Then flows in mazy knot the triple pow'r
O'er laughing Magadh and the vales of Gour.
Which old Himála clips with fost'ring arms,
As with a wexing moon's half-circling horns,
And shields from bandits fell, or worse alarms
Of Tatar horse from Yunan late subdued,
Or Bactrian bowmen rude;
Snow-crown'd Himála, whence, with wavy wings
Far spread, as falcons o'er their nestlings brood,
Fam'd Brahmaputra joy and verdure brings,
And Sindhu's five-arm'd flood from Cashghar hastes,
To cheer the rocky wastes,
Through western this and that through orient plains;
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And Ganga pure with sunny radiance gleams,
Till Vánì, whom a russet ochre stains,
Their destin'd confluence gains:
Then flows in mazy knot the triple pow'r
O'er laughing Magadh and the vales of Gour.
Not long inswath'd the sacred infant lay
(Celestial forms full soon their prime attain):
Her eyes, oft darted o'er the liquid way,
With golden light emblaz'd the darkling main;
And those firm breasts, whence all our comforts well,
Rose with enchanting swell;
Her loose hair with the bounding billows play'd,
And caught in charming toils each pearly shell,
That idling through the surgy forest stray'd;
When ocean suffer'd a portentous change,
Toss'd with convulsion strange;
For lofty Mandar from his base was torn,
With streams, rocks, woods, by Gods and Demons whirl'd,
While round his craggy sides the mad spray curl'd,
Hugh mountain, by the passive Tortoise borne:
Then sole, but not forlorn,
Shipp'd in a flow'r, that balmy sweets exhal'd,
O'er waves of dulcet cream Pedmala sail'd.
(Celestial forms full soon their prime attain):
Her eyes, oft darted o'er the liquid way,
With golden light emblaz'd the darkling main;
And those firm breasts, whence all our comforts well,
Rose with enchanting swell;
Her loose hair with the bounding billows play'd,
And caught in charming toils each pearly shell,
That idling through the surgy forest stray'd;
When ocean suffer'd a portentous change,
Toss'd with convulsion strange;
For lofty Mandar from his base was torn,
With streams, rocks, woods, by Gods and Demons whirl'd,
While round his craggy sides the mad spray curl'd,
Hugh mountain, by the passive Tortoise borne:
Then sole, but not forlorn,
Shipp'd in a flow'r, that balmy sweets exhal'd,
O'er waves of dulcet cream Pedmala sail'd.
So name the Goddess from her Lotos blue,
Or Camala, if more auspicious deem'd:
With many-petal'd wings the blossom flew,
And from the mount a flutt'ring sea-bird seem'd,
Till on the shore it stopp'd, the heav'n-lov'd shore,
Bright with unvalued store
Of gems marine by mirthful Indra won;
But she, (what brighter gem had shone before?)
No bride for old Maricha's frolic son,
On azure Heri fix'd her prosp'ring eyes:
Love bade the bridegroom rise;
Straight o'er the deep, then dimpling smooth, he rush'd;
And tow'rd th' unmeasur'd snake, stupendous bed,
The world's great mother, not reluctant, led:
All nature glow'd, whene'er she smil'd, or blush'd,
The king of serpents hush'd
His thousand heads, where diamond mirrors blaz'd,
That multiplied her image, as he gaz'd.
Or Camala, if more auspicious deem'd:
With many-petal'd wings the blossom flew,
And from the mount a flutt'ring sea-bird seem'd,
Till on the shore it stopp'd, the heav'n-lov'd shore,
Bright with unvalued store
Of gems marine by mirthful Indra won;
But she, (what brighter gem had shone before?)
No bride for old Maricha's frolic son,
On azure Heri fix'd her prosp'ring eyes:
Love bade the bridegroom rise;
Straight o'er the deep, then dimpling smooth, he rush'd;
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The world's great mother, not reluctant, led:
All nature glow'd, whene'er she smil'd, or blush'd,
The king of serpents hush'd
His thousand heads, where diamond mirrors blaz'd,
That multiplied her image, as he gaz'd.
Thus multiplied, thus wedded, they pervade,
In varying myriads of ethereal forms,
This pendent Egg by dovelike Maya laid,
And quell Mahesa's ire, when most it storms;
Ride on keen lightning and disarm its flash,
Or bid loud surges lash
Th' impassive rock, and leave the rolling barque
With oars unshatter'd milder seas to dash;
And oft, as man's unnumber'd woes they mark,
They spring to birth in some high-favour'd line,
Half human, half divine,
And tread life's maze transfigur'd, unimpair'd:
As when, through blest Vrindavan's od'rous grove,
They deign'd with hinds and village girls to rove,
And myrth or toil in field or dairy shar'd,
As lowly rustics far'd:
Blythe Radha she, with speaking eyes, was nam'd,
He Crishna, lov'd in youth, in manhood fam'd.
In varying myriads of ethereal forms,
This pendent Egg by dovelike Maya laid,
And quell Mahesa's ire, when most it storms;
Ride on keen lightning and disarm its flash,
Or bid loud surges lash
Th' impassive rock, and leave the rolling barque
With oars unshatter'd milder seas to dash;
And oft, as man's unnumber'd woes they mark,
They spring to birth in some high-favour'd line,
Half human, half divine,
And tread life's maze transfigur'd, unimpair'd:
As when, through blest Vrindavan's od'rous grove,
They deign'd with hinds and village girls to rove,
And myrth or toil in field or dairy shar'd,
As lowly rustics far'd:
Blythe Radha she, with speaking eyes, was nam'd,
He Crishna, lov'd in youth, in manhood fam'd.
Though long in Mathura with milkmaids bred,
Each bush attuning with his past'ral flute,
Ananda's holy steers the Herdsman fed,
His nobler mind aspir'd to nobler fruit:
The fiercest monsters of each brake or wood
His youthful arm withstood,
And from the rank mire of the stagnant lake
Drew the crush'd serpent with ensanguin'd hood;
Then, worse than rav'ning beast or fenny snake,
A ruthless king his pond'rous mace laid low,
And heav'n approv'd the blow:
No more in bow'r or wattled cabin pent,
By rills he scorn'd and flow'ry banks to dwell,
His pipe lay tuneless, and his wreathy shell
With martial clangor hills and forests rent;
On crimson wars intent
He sway'd high Dwaraca, that fronts the mouth
Of gulfy Sindhu from the burning south.
Each bush attuning with his past'ral flute,
Ananda's holy steers the Herdsman fed,
His nobler mind aspir'd to nobler fruit:
The fiercest monsters of each brake or wood
His youthful arm withstood,
And from the rank mire of the stagnant lake
Drew the crush'd serpent with ensanguin'd hood;
Then, worse than rav'ning beast or fenny snake,
A ruthless king his pond'rous mace laid low,
And heav'n approv'd the blow:
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By rills he scorn'd and flow'ry banks to dwell,
His pipe lay tuneless, and his wreathy shell
With martial clangor hills and forests rent;
On crimson wars intent
He sway'd high Dwaraca, that fronts the mouth
Of gulfy Sindhu from the burning south.
A Bràhmen young, who, when the heav'nly boy
In Vraja green and scented Gócul play'd,
Partook each transient care, each flitting joy,
And hand in hand through dale or thicket stray'd,
By fortune sever'd from the blissful seat,
Had sought a lone retreat;
Where in a costless hut sad hours he pass'd,
Its mean thatch pervious to the daystar's heat,
And fenceless from night's dew or pinching blast:
Firm virtue he possess'd and vig'rous health,
But they were all his wealth.
Sudaman was he nam'd; and many a year
(If glowing song can life and honour give)
From sun to sun his honour'd name shall live:
Oft strove his consort wise their gloom to cheer,
And hide the stealing tear;
But all her thrift could scarce each eve afford
The needful sprinkling of their scanty board.
In Vraja green and scented Gócul play'd,
Partook each transient care, each flitting joy,
And hand in hand through dale or thicket stray'd,
By fortune sever'd from the blissful seat,
Had sought a lone retreat;
Where in a costless hut sad hours he pass'd,
Its mean thatch pervious to the daystar's heat,
And fenceless from night's dew or pinching blast:
Firm virtue he possess'd and vig'rous health,
But they were all his wealth.
Sudaman was he nam'd; and many a year
(If glowing song can life and honour give)
From sun to sun his honour'd name shall live:
Oft strove his consort wise their gloom to cheer,
And hide the stealing tear;
But all her thrift could scarce each eve afford
The needful sprinkling of their scanty board.
Now Fame, who rides on sunbeams, and conveys
To woods and antres deep her spreading gleam,
Illumin'd earth and heav'n with Crishna's praise:
Each forest echoed loud the joyous theme,
But keener joy Sudaman's bosom thrill'd,
And tears ecstatic rill'd:
“My friend, he cried, is monarch of the skies!”
Then counsell'd she, who nought unseemly will'd:
“Oh! haste; oh! seek the God with lotos eyes;
The pow'r that stoops to soften human pain,
Though bashful penury his hope depress'd;
A tatter'd cincture was his only vest,
And o'er his weaker shoulder loosely spread
To woods and antres deep her spreading gleam,
Illumin'd earth and heav'n with Crishna's praise:
Each forest echoed loud the joyous theme,
But keener joy Sudaman's bosom thrill'd,
And tears ecstatic rill'd:
“My friend, he cried, is monarch of the skies!”
Then counsell'd she, who nought unseemly will'd:
“Oh! haste; oh! seek the God with lotos eyes;
The pow'r that stoops to soften human pain,
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A tatter'd cincture was his only vest,
And o'er his weaker shoulder loosely spread
Floated the mystic thread:
Secure from scorn the crowded paths he trode
Through yielding ranks, and hail'd the Shepherd God.
Secure from scorn the crowded paths he trode
Through yielding ranks, and hail'd the Shepherd God.
“Friend of my childhood, lov'd in riper age,
A dearer guest these mansions never grac'd:
O meek in social hours, in council sage!”
So spake the Warriour, and his neck embrac'd;
And e'en the Goddess left her golden seat
Her lord's compeer to greet:
He charm'd, but prostrate on the hallow'd floor,
Their purfled vestment kiss'd and radiant feet;
Then from a small fresh leaf, a borrow'd store
(Such off'rings e'en to mortal kings are due)
Of modest rice he drew.
Some proffer'd grains the soft-ey'd Hero ate,
And more had eaten, but, with placid mien,
Bright Rucmini (thus name th' all-bounteous Queen)
Exclaim'd: “Ah, hold! enough for mortal state!”
Then grave on themes elate
Discoursing, or on past adventures gay,
They clos'd with converse mild the rapt'rous day.
A dearer guest these mansions never grac'd:
O meek in social hours, in council sage!”
So spake the Warriour, and his neck embrac'd;
And e'en the Goddess left her golden seat
Her lord's compeer to greet:
He charm'd, but prostrate on the hallow'd floor,
Their purfled vestment kiss'd and radiant feet;
Then from a small fresh leaf, a borrow'd store
(Such off'rings e'en to mortal kings are due)
Of modest rice he drew.
Some proffer'd grains the soft-ey'd Hero ate,
And more had eaten, but, with placid mien,
Bright Rucmini (thus name th' all-bounteous Queen)
Exclaim'd: “Ah, hold! enough for mortal state!”
Then grave on themes elate
Discoursing, or on past adventures gay,
They clos'd with converse mild the rapt'rous day.
At smile of dawn dismiss'd, ungifted, home
The hermit plodded, till sublimely rais'd
On granite columns many a sumptuous dome
He view'd, and many a spire, that richly blaz'd,
And seem'd, impurpled by the blush of morn,
The lowlier plains to scorn
Imperious: they, with conscious worth serene,
Laugh'd at vain pride, and bade new gems adorn
Each rising shrub, that clad them. Lovely scene
And more than human! His astonish'd sight
Drank deep the strange delight:
He saw brisk fountains dance, crisp riv'lets wind
O'er borders trim, and round inwoven bow'rs,
Where sportive creepers, threading ruby flow'rs
On em'rald stalks, each vernal arch intwin'd,
Luxuriant though confin'd;
And heard sweet-breathing gales in whispers tell
From what young bloom they sipp'd their spicy smell.
The hermit plodded, till sublimely rais'd
On granite columns many a sumptuous dome
He view'd, and many a spire, that richly blaz'd,
And seem'd, impurpled by the blush of morn,
The lowlier plains to scorn
Imperious: they, with conscious worth serene,
Laugh'd at vain pride, and bade new gems adorn
Each rising shrub, that clad them. Lovely scene
And more than human! His astonish'd sight
Drank deep the strange delight:
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O'er borders trim, and round inwoven bow'rs,
Where sportive creepers, threading ruby flow'rs
On em'rald stalks, each vernal arch intwin'd,
Luxuriant though confin'd;
And heard sweet-breathing gales in whispers tell
From what young bloom they sipp'd their spicy smell.
Soon from the palace-gate in broad array
A maiden legion, touching tuneful strings,
Descending strow'd with flow'rs the brighten'd way,
And straight, their jocund van in equal wings
Unfolding, in their vacant centre show'd
Their chief, whose vesture glow'd
With carbuncles and smiling pearls atween;
And o'er her head a veil translucent flow'd,
Which, dropping light, disclos'd a beauteous queen,
Who, breathing love, and swift with timid grace,
Sprang to her lord's embrace
With ardent greeting and sweet blandishment;
His were the marble tow'rs, th' officious train,
The gems unequal'd and the large domain:
When bursting joy its rapid stream had spent,
The stores, which heav'n had lent,
He spread unsparing, unattach'd employ'd,
With meekness view'd, with temp'rate bliss enjoy'd.
A maiden legion, touching tuneful strings,
Descending strow'd with flow'rs the brighten'd way,
And straight, their jocund van in equal wings
Unfolding, in their vacant centre show'd
Their chief, whose vesture glow'd
With carbuncles and smiling pearls atween;
And o'er her head a veil translucent flow'd,
Which, dropping light, disclos'd a beauteous queen,
Who, breathing love, and swift with timid grace,
Sprang to her lord's embrace
With ardent greeting and sweet blandishment;
His were the marble tow'rs, th' officious train,
The gems unequal'd and the large domain:
When bursting joy its rapid stream had spent,
The stores, which heav'n had lent,
He spread unsparing, unattach'd employ'd,
With meekness view'd, with temp'rate bliss enjoy'd.
Such were thy gifts, Pedmala, such the pow'r!
For, when thy smile irradiates yon blue fields,
Observant Indra sheds the genial show'r,
And pregnant earth her springing tribute yields
Of spiry blades, that clothe the champaign dank,
Or skirt the verd'rous bank,
That in th' o'erflowing rill allays his thirst:
Then, rising gay in many a waving rank,
The stalks redundant into laughter burst;
The rivers broad, like busy should'ring bands,
Clap their applauding hands;
The marish dances and the forest sings;
The vaunting trees their bloomy banners rear;
And shouting hills proclaim th' abundant year,
That food to herds, to herdsmen plenty brings,
And wealth to guardian kings.
Shall man unthankful riot on thy stores?
Ah, no! he bends, he blesses, he adores.
For, when thy smile irradiates yon blue fields,
Observant Indra sheds the genial show'r,
And pregnant earth her springing tribute yields
Of spiry blades, that clothe the champaign dank,
Or skirt the verd'rous bank,
That in th' o'erflowing rill allays his thirst:
Then, rising gay in many a waving rank,
The stalks redundant into laughter burst;
The rivers broad, like busy should'ring bands,
Clap their applauding hands;
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The vaunting trees their bloomy banners rear;
And shouting hills proclaim th' abundant year,
That food to herds, to herdsmen plenty brings,
And wealth to guardian kings.
Shall man unthankful riot on thy stores?
Ah, no! he bends, he blesses, he adores.
But, when his vices rank thy frown excite,
Excessive show'rs the plains and valleys drench,
Or warping insects heath and coppice blight,
Or drought unceasing, which no streams can quench,
The germin shrivels or contracts the shoot,
Or burns the wasted root:
Excessive show'rs the plains and valleys drench,
Or warping insects heath and coppice blight,
Or drought unceasing, which no streams can quench,
The germin shrivels or contracts the shoot,
Or burns the wasted root:
Then fade the groves with gather'd crust imbrown'd,
The hills lie gasping, and the woods are mute,
Low sink the riv'lets from the yawning ground;
Till Famine gaunt her screaming pack lets slip,
And shakes her scorpion whip;
Dire forms of death spread havock, as she flies,
Pain at her skirts and Mis'ry by her side,
And jabb'ring spectres o'er her traces glide;
The mother clasps her babe, with livid eyes,
Then, faintly shrieking, dies:
He drops expiring, or but lives to feel
The vultures bick'ring for their horrid meal.
The hills lie gasping, and the woods are mute,
Low sink the riv'lets from the yawning ground;
Till Famine gaunt her screaming pack lets slip,
And shakes her scorpion whip;
Dire forms of death spread havock, as she flies,
Pain at her skirts and Mis'ry by her side,
And jabb'ring spectres o'er her traces glide;
The mother clasps her babe, with livid eyes,
Then, faintly shrieking, dies:
He drops expiring, or but lives to feel
The vultures bick'ring for their horrid meal.
From ills, that, painted, harrow up the breast,
(What agonies, if real, must they give!)
Preserve thy vot'ries: be their labours blest!
Oh! bid the patient Hindu rise and live.
His erring mind, that wizard lore beguiles
Clouded by priestly wiles,
To senseless nature bows for nature's God.
Now, stretch'd o'er ocean's vast from happier isles,
He sees the wand of empire, not the rod:
Ah, may those beams, that western skies illume,
Disperse th' unholy gloom!
Meanwhile may laws, by myriads long rever'd,
Their strife appease, their gentler claims decide;
So shall their victors, mild with virtuous pride,
To many a cherish'd grateful race endear'd,
With temper'd love be fear'd:
Though mists profane obscure their narrow ken,
They err, yet feel; though pagans, they are men.
(What agonies, if real, must they give!)
Preserve thy vot'ries: be their labours blest!
Oh! bid the patient Hindu rise and live.
His erring mind, that wizard lore beguiles
Clouded by priestly wiles,
To senseless nature bows for nature's God.
Now, stretch'd o'er ocean's vast from happier isles,
He sees the wand of empire, not the rod:
Ah, may those beams, that western skies illume,
Disperse th' unholy gloom!
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Their strife appease, their gentler claims decide;
So shall their victors, mild with virtuous pride,
To many a cherish'd grateful race endear'd,
With temper'd love be fear'd:
Though mists profane obscure their narrow ken,
They err, yet feel; though pagans, they are men.
| The Hindu wife and the hymns | |