In My Lady's Praise Being Poems, Old and New: Written to the Honour of Fanny, Lady Arnold and Now Collected for her Memory: By Sir Edwin Arnold |
 |
|
I.
|
 | In My Lady's Praise |  |
99
I.
[See now! an Ivory Casket for your treasures]
See now! an Ivory Casket for your treasures,
Cut from a tusk some lord of Elephants
Yielded, besieged amid his forest-pleasures,
By circling foes. The creamy surface vaunts
Cut from a tusk some lord of Elephants
Yielded, besieged amid his forest-pleasures,
By circling foes. The creamy surface vaunts
Turquoise, in blue stars set, with Iolite,
That violet-tinted gem which somewhile hides
In Indian hills. Azures and purples bright
Play daintily across its sparkling sides!
That violet-tinted gem which somewhile hides
In Indian hills. Azures and purples bright
Play daintily across its sparkling sides!
And, look! the Casket bears so rich a labour
Of chiselled work, and stones, it may have been
By day the white delight, at night the neighbour
Of the soft slumbers of some Hindoo Queen.
Of chiselled work, and stones, it may have been
By day the white delight, at night the neighbour
Of the soft slumbers of some Hindoo Queen.
It may be wrought—who knows? of ivory
Taken from tooth of Raja Megh Koomar.
A famous Prince of Magadha was he,
Gentle in peace, and generous in war,
Taken from tooth of Raja Megh Koomar.
A famous Prince of Magadha was he,
Gentle in peace, and generous in war,
100
An elephant, in his last life but one,—
'Tis the Jain story—for a woodland-fire
Brake forth, consuming trees and grass. Undone
The forest-creatures died. Wider and higher
'Tis the Jain story—for a woodland-fire
Brake forth, consuming trees and grass. Undone
The forest-creatures died. Wider and higher
The red tongues raged; whereat this kingly beast.
Betook himself for flight; when—from the reeds—
A striped bush—mouse, of all things last and least,
Leaped forth, and ran between his feet, and pleads
Betook himself for flight; when—from the reeds—
A striped bush—mouse, of all things last and least,
Leaped forth, and ran between his feet, and pleads
To Raja Megh: “Ahi! great Prince! permit
I take asylum from this dreadful flame
Betwixt thy mighty legs!” Megh looked on it:
“Small art thou!” quotha “yet is life the same
I take asylum from this dreadful flame
Betwixt thy mighty legs!” Megh looked on it:
“Small art thou!” quotha “yet is life the same
Brother! for thee as me. Stay where thou art!
I never spurned aught living, nor shall now;
Sit close and fear not; I will not depart!”
Therewith he faced the fire, wielding a bough
I never spurned aught living, nor shall now;
Sit close and fear not; I will not depart!”
Therewith he faced the fire, wielding a bough
Of thick-leaved Sâl, to beat the heat away;
Which curled and hissed, and scorched, blistering one limb
And all his length of trunk, so sore—they say—
Megh died ere night; but saved the mouse. And him
Which curled and hissed, and scorched, blistering one limb
And all his length of trunk, so sore—they say—
Megh died ere night; but saved the mouse. And him
101
In the next life the just Gods made a king.
Mark, too, your casket's milky sides, how full
Of imagery! Here's a subtle thing—
A banyan-tree, whereat, with steadfast pull,
Mark, too, your casket's milky sides, how full
Of imagery! Here's a subtle thing—
A banyan-tree, whereat, with steadfast pull,
Toils a tusked Elephant to lay it low;
And 'mongst the dropping branches two which bear
A long-tailed clinging monkey, feeding so
On the red figs, he has no eyes to fear
And 'mongst the dropping branches two which bear
A long-tailed clinging monkey, feeding so
On the red figs, he has no eyes to fear
Those two rats, one so black, and one so white,
Which nibble at the branches: but beneath
A pit gapes, where you see the lurid light
Of snake-shapes twisting, and grim signs of death.
Which nibble at the branches: but beneath
A pit gapes, where you see the lurid light
Of snake-shapes twisting, and grim signs of death.
Shall I interpret? Life's the banyan tree;
Which Death, the elephant, in dust would lay;
And the poor foolish ape is Man; and, see!
This black rat is the Night, the white the Day,
Which Death, the elephant, in dust would lay;
And the poor foolish ape is Man; and, see!
This black rat is the Night, the white the Day,
Which ever gnaw, in turn, at life's thin branches
Whereto man clings; till, blind with sense and sin,
Fat with world's figs, down rolls he to those trenches
Dug by Death's feet, with serpents hid therein.
Whereto man clings; till, blind with sense and sin,
Fat with world's figs, down rolls he to those trenches
Dug by Death's feet, with serpents hid therein.
102
But here's a fairer legend carved! A balance
Wherein they weigh a Prince against a Dove;
An Eagle looking on! the Eagle's talons
Bloody; the Prince's face alight with love!
Wherein they weigh a Prince against a Dove;
An Eagle looking on! the Eagle's talons
Bloody; the Prince's face alight with love!
Shall I interpret? Raja Sagaras
This is; for kindly heart of large renown:
One morning, when in full Divan he was,
A white dove through the lattice fluttered down,
This is; for kindly heart of large renown:
One morning, when in full Divan he was,
A white dove through the lattice fluttered down,
Her silver plumage pink with blood, and ruffled;
And, following on fierce wings, an Eagle. She,
Nigh dead with fear, her fainting pinions muffled
In the King's breast-cloth, seeking sanctuary
And, following on fierce wings, an Eagle. She,
Nigh dead with fear, her fainting pinions muffled
In the King's breast-cloth, seeking sanctuary
Close to his heart. Then screamed the cruel bird
“Give me my prey, just King!” But Sagaras
Fondling the Dove, said: “Never is it heard
A prince repelled his suppliant!” Hot as brass
“Give me my prey, just King!” But Sagaras
Fondling the Dove, said: “Never is it heard
A prince repelled his suppliant!” Hot as brass
Glared the great Eagle's eyes while it did cry:
“I conjure thee by justice! She is mine!
We drave her from the wood, my mate and I,
We hunger! give the pigeon's meat—or thine!”
“I conjure thee by justice! She is mine!
We drave her from the wood, my mate and I,
We hunger! give the pigeon's meat—or thine!”
103
“Thou hast thy right,” answered the King, “but I
The right to ransom; bring me scales, and weigh
My flesh against this dove's.” So, fearlessly
Drew he a sword, and lopped his hand away.
The right to ransom; bring me scales, and weigh
My flesh against this dove's.” So, fearlessly
Drew he a sword, and lopped his hand away.
The bird weighed more! More of his bleeding flesh
Shore that kind Prince; yet still mounted the scale!
Add what he would, heaping fresh gifts on fresh,
The Dove proves aye the heavier! To prevail
Shore that kind Prince; yet still mounted the scale!
Add what he would, heaping fresh gifts on fresh,
The Dove proves aye the heavier! To prevail
Into the balance then himself he laid,
Pallid and fainting, “for” quoth he, “a King
Were liever dead, and eagle's food, than made
A shame through ages, doing such a thing!”
Pallid and fainting, “for” quoth he, “a King
Were liever dead, and eagle's food, than made
A shame through ages, doing such a thing!”
Thereat—the legend runs—the Drums of Heaven
Beat tender music, and strange blossoms rained
Out of the sky; and from those oceans seven,
Which ring our Earth, came Spirits of Bliss, constrained
Beat tender music, and strange blossoms rained
Out of the sky; and from those oceans seven,
Which ring our Earth, came Spirits of Bliss, constrained
By such sweet deed to show themselves, and praise
My Raja carven here: also the Dove
Shook off her feathers, and great Uma was
Shiva's fair Queen, Mother of Light and Love!
My Raja carven here: also the Dove
Shook off her feathers, and great Uma was
Shiva's fair Queen, Mother of Light and Love!
104
And the black Eagle into Dharma turned
The God of Justice; and the Raja's hurts
Were healed; and all the hearts of people burned
With worship! So had Mercy her deserts. . . .
The God of Justice; and the Raja's hurts
Were healed; and all the hearts of people burned
With worship! So had Mercy her deserts. . . .
Another sculptured side! A mango-tree
Laden with fruit: one who a hatchet bears
Of black hue; one breaking a branchlet,—see!—
Blue-visaged; while a third, red-featured, tears
Laden with fruit: one who a hatchet bears
Of black hue; one breaking a branchlet,—see!—
Blue-visaged; while a third, red-featured, tears
Raw mangoes down: a fourth sits in the leaves
Eating the ripest;—he is yellow: five
Is this light-tinted Rishi who receives
The fallen fruit, and passes. Shall I give
Eating the ripest;—he is yellow: five
Is this light-tinted Rishi who receives
The fallen fruit, and passes. Shall I give
Interpretation? 'Tis a parable
Of mortals using life and living things;
A Hindoo Artist's fable; he would tell
By colours who is wise, and which man brings
Of mortals using life and living things;
A Hindoo Artist's fable; he would tell
By colours who is wise, and which man brings
Shame on himself and sorrow to his kind.
Black, with vile selfishness, is he that goes,
To hew the tree for mangoes to his mind;
Conquerors and criminals are such as those.
Black, with vile selfishness, is he that goes,
To hew the tree for mangoes to his mind;
Conquerors and criminals are such as those.
105
And not quite black—but blue—this egotist
Who breaks a branch to reach some rosy fruit;
Such be seducers, profligates; I wist
Small thought have they of the sad withered shoot!
Who breaks a branch to reach some rosy fruit;
Such be seducers, profligates; I wist
Small thought have they of the sad withered shoot!
A little fairer-tinted—red—is he
Who will not harm branchlet or trunk; yet mounts
Into the thickest harvest of the tree,
Plucking what comes: and this man—yellow—counts
Who will not harm branchlet or trunk; yet mounts
Into the thickest harvest of the tree,
Plucking what comes: and this man—yellow—counts
Better complexion still, who only takes
The ripe fruits, made for eating. But the best
Behold him in that patient saint who makes
The fallen ones suffice! His hues attest—
The ripe fruits, made for eating. But the best
Behold him in that patient saint who makes
The fallen ones suffice! His hues attest—
(White or wheat-coloured)—that the carver meant him
The sweet contented soul who seeks small share
Gratefully, and goes by: since Heaven hath sent him
To serve and work, not feast and wanton here.
The sweet contented soul who seeks small share
Gratefully, and goes by: since Heaven hath sent him
To serve and work, not feast and wanton here.
Ah! the last panel! Asia's secrets those,
Cut with proud patience on the creamy tooth!
Here you divine a form serene which shows
Smooth perfect limbs, and glorious grace of youth;
Cut with proud patience on the creamy tooth!
Here you divine a form serene which shows
Smooth perfect limbs, and glorious grace of youth;
106
One side all male, and one all tender woman;
The right-half God, but Goddess all the left;
With braided hair, full bosoms, beauties human:
Over its head a bat, and water-eft;
The right-half God, but Goddess all the left;
With braided hair, full bosoms, beauties human:
Over its head a bat, and water-eft;
Beneath, a climbing plant shoots three-fold leaves,
With pale blue flowerets. 'Tis our Hindoo's way
To teach how “Maya's” subtle art deceives
By double sexes, forms of things which play
With pale blue flowerets. 'Tis our Hindoo's way
To teach how “Maya's” subtle art deceives
By double sexes, forms of things which play
In various disguise of “He” and “She,”
Of serpent, beast, and bird; of moving lives,
And lives not moving. “All is phantasy!
There is one Being only!” this he strives
Of serpent, beast, and bird; of moving lives,
And lives not moving. “All is phantasy!
There is one Being only!” this he strives
To carve upon the casket, showing us
Ardhanarîshwara—female and male—
Who hath both natures; and the bat proves thus
That mouse and bird unite, as skin and scale
Ardhanarîshwara—female and male—
Who hath both natures; and the bat proves thus
That mouse and bird unite, as skin and scale
Meet in the eft. The plant with triple leaf
Ah, that's a marvel of our Indian jungle!
Dull botanists—who flout the sweet belief
That Dryads live, and with harsh Latin bungle
Ah, that's a marvel of our Indian jungle!
Dull botanists—who flout the sweet belief
That Dryads live, and with harsh Latin bungle
107
Tree use and beauty—those have never told
Half ardently Desmodium's miracle!
If you should watch its buds of blue and gold
And light green leaflets, you would see them tell
Half ardently Desmodium's miracle!
If you should watch its buds of blue and gold
And light green leaflets, you would see them tell
Minute by minute the day-watches all,
And all the hours of night, ever alert;
One petiole rising while the others fall;
A herb which lives and moves, and doth assert
And all the hours of night, ever alert;
One petiole rising while the others fall;
A herb which lives and moves, and doth assert
A soul of sentience overpassing bounds
Set for the leafy world. Have we not seen
In sunny Singhalesian garden-grounds,
The grasses shrink where our quick steps had been,
Set for the leafy world. Have we not seen
In sunny Singhalesian garden-grounds,
The grasses shrink where our quick steps had been,
Modest and timid as a maid that blushes,
But is not to be touched? Flowers, too, there be
Which sparkle flame in opening; one that flushes
Scarlet, at sunset only. Briefly, he—
But is not to be touched? Flowers, too, there be
Which sparkle flame in opening; one that flushes
Scarlet, at sunset only. Briefly, he—
Our Hindoo—thinks men, creatures, trees all one;
He calls Desmodium a mystic name.
But close the Casket's lid! I were undone
If this should weary you. Now shines the flame
He calls Desmodium a mystic name.
But close the Casket's lid! I were undone
If this should weary you. Now shines the flame
| In My Lady's Praise | |