Poems (Greenwell)/Madana
MADANA
The invisible Madana (or Kama), the Hindu Cupid, is armed with a bow of Sugar-cane, strung with bees, and five arrows, each tipped with a flower exercising a peculiar and distinct influence on the heart; among these, one alone of fatal and unerring flight is headed, and the head covered with honeycomb.
Summer! Summer! soft around, With a hushed and dream-like sound, From a beating heart that knows Too much rapture for repose, Breathless, tremulous, arise Murmurs; thick mysterious sighs; Whispers, faintly wandering by, Breathe a warning out and die; Lightly o'er the bending grass,Changeful gleams and shadows pass; Through the leaves a conscious thrill Lightly runs, and all is still; Like the tree[1] whose branch and stem Flame with many a sudden gem,Blushing in its haste to greet Touch of Beauty's slender feet;
}} Earth with inner joy opprest, Shaken from her central rest, Through her bursting bloom reveals Hidden ecstasy she feels: Now the rich, unfolding Rose Through its crimson splendour glows Jasmine blossoms manifold Shed their stars of paly gold; On the lake's broad bosom borne,Redd'ning to the redd'ning dawn, Flashes many a floating cup Raised to drink the sunbeams up; Drooping on the heavy air Faint with sweetness that they bear, Now the Mango buds grow pale O'er their passion-breathing tale; And the Champak's leaves disclose Where, amid their vestal snows, Kindling at deep gleaming eyes Fiery-hearted fragrance lies; Summer! Summer! now the air Trembles—Madana is there! Watch not for his flitting wing, List not for the bounding string, Floating 'mid the groves to choose Gorgeous blossoms, mingled hues, Viewless as the viewless wind, Weaving spells for heart and mind, Flower-armed, flower-crowned Deity, Light his unseen arrows fly! Tremble not! the archer's smile Plays but carelessly the while Summer lightning o'er the sky Flashing, flick' ring restlessly; Sporting with the passing hours, He hath winged their flight with flowers; Gentle witchery and brief, He hath breathed o'er bud and leaf; That hath lent to glance and tone Light and sweetness not their own; And as these shall fade away, Will the pleasant charm decay,Droop, and leave no trace behind Where its clasping tendrils twined, Fading, fleeting, like the sigh Of some wandering melody; Like a blissful dream that flings Light upon the coming day,Like a bird whose gorgeous wings Glitter as it flits away; So they vanish! yet the heart Ere its gentle guests depart Links a thought for after hours,—Summer! to thy songs and flowers!
Yet beware the hidden power, Madana hath yet his hour: These were but the chords that thrill Lightly to a master's will,— Tones, his wand'ring fingers fling Breeze-like from the trembling string, Ere he call forth all the fire, All the passion of the Lyre; Ere he stir through one deep strain All the founts of joy and pain. One full chord is yet unshaken, One wild note hath yet to waken,One keen arrow yet to fly—Tremble! Madana is nigh! O'er the fatal shaft is thrown Sweetness all the archer's own; For his strength in sweetness lies—Sweetness, that through gentle eyes (E'en in gazing half withdrawn) Sheds upon the soul a dawn; Sweetness ling'ring in a word, Softly uttered, faintly heard, Yet within the heart to dwell,Treasured deep in many a cell, Long with haunting echoes rife,When the sounds have died to life; From that subtle arrow's might, Vain is wisdom, vain is flight!Vain the charmer's boasted spell Mightier charms than his to quell; Groves of sandal and of balm Yield no soothing, yield no calm,Though their odorous branches shed Fragrant tears upon thy head, Vainly o'er thine aching brow Droops the incense-breathing bough, Not the cooling[2] Lotus leaf Gives to hurt like thine relief; To thy throbbing temples prest, Bound upon thy burning breast; Vainly! still through pulse and vein Glows the dull unceasing pain; Vainly, vainly! still the smart Rankles in thy stricken heart. Therefore from the earth a sound, Hushed, and dream-like, and profound, Gathers—warning whispers rise, Murmurs, thick, mysterious sighs! Therefore all the haunted air Trembles—Madana is there!