Part 9

SARGA THE SEVENTH.

VIPRALABDHAVARNANE NAGARANARAYANO.

KRISHNA SUPPOSED FALSE.

Meantime the moon, the rolling moon, clomb high, And over all Vrindávana it shone; The moon which on the front of gentle night Gleams like the chundun-mark on beauty's brow; The conscious moon which hath its silver face Marred with the shame of lighting earthly loves:

And while the round white lamp of earth rose higher, And still he tarried, Radha, petulant, Sang soft impatience and half-earnest fears:

(What follows is to the Music MÂLAVA and the Mode YATI.)

'Tis time!--he comes not!--will he come? Can he leave me thus to pine? Yami hê kam sharanam! Ah! what refuge then is mine?

For his sake I sought the wood, Threaded dark and devious ways; Yami hê kam sharanam! Can it be Krishna betrays?

Let me die then, and forget Anguish, patience, hope, and fear; Yami hê kam sharanam! Ah, why have I held him dear?

Ah, this soft night torments me, Thinking that his faithless arms-- Yami hê kam sharanam!-- Clasp some shadow of my charms.

Fatal shadow--foolish mock! When the great love shone confessed;-- Yami hê kam sharanam! Krishna's lotus loads my breast;

'Tis too heavy, lacking him; Like a broken flower I am-- Necklets, jewels, what are ye? Yami hê kam sharanam!

Yami hê kam sharanam! The sky is still, the forest sleeps; Krishna forgets--he loves no more; He fails in faith, and Radha weeps.

But the poet Jayadev-- He who is great Hari's slave, He who finds asylum sweet Only at great Hari's feet; He who for your comfort sings All this to the Vina's strings-- Prays that Radha's tender moan In your hearts be thought upon, And that all her holy grace Live there like the loved one's face.

Yet, if I wrong him! (sang she)--can he fail? Could any in the wood win back his kisses? Could any softest lips of earth prevail To hold him from my arms? any love-blisses

Blind him once more to mine? O Soul, my prize! Art thou not merely hindered at this hour? Sore-wearied, wandering, lost? how otherwise Shouldst thou not hasten to the bridal-bower?

But seeing far away that Maiden come Alone, with eyes cast down and lingering steps, Again a little while she feared to hear Of Krishna false; and her quick thoughts took shape In a fine jealousy, with words like these--

Something then of earth has held him From his home above, Some one of those slight deceivers-- Ah, my foolish love!

Some new face, some winsome playmate, With her hair untied, And the blossoms tangled in it, Woos him to her side.

On the dark orbs of her bosom-- Passionately heaved-- Sink and rise the warm, white pearl-strings, Oh, my love deceived!

Fair? yes, yes! the rippled shadow Of that midnight hair Shows above her brow--as clouds do O'er the moon--most fair:

And she knows, with wilful paces, How to make her zone Gleam and please him; and her ear-rings Tinkle love; and grown

Coy as he grows fond, she meets him With a modest show; Shaming truth with truthful seeming, While her laugh--light, low--

And her subtle mouth that murmurs. And her silken cheek, And her eyes, say she dissembles Plain as speech could speak.

Till at length, a fatal victress, Of her triumph vain, On his neck she lies and smiles there:-- Ah, my Joy!--my Pain!

But may Radha's fond annoy, And may Krishna's dawning joy, Warm and waken love more fit-- Jayadeva prayeth it-- And the griefs and sins assuage Of this blind and evil age.

O Moon! (she sang) that art so pure and pale, Is Krishna wan like thee with lonely waiting? O lamp of love! art thou the lover's friend, And wilt not bring him, my long pain abating? O fruitless moon! thou dost increase my pain O faithless Krishna! I have striven in vain. And then, lost in her fancies sad, she moaned--

(What follows is to the Music GURJJARÎ and the Mode EKATÂLÎ)