按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
long day。 The history of my past life like that of my former existences was
forgotten。 I felt like a flower； which has but a few fleeting hours to listen
to all the humming flatteries and whispered murmurs of the woodlands
and then must lower its eyes from the Sky； bend its head and at a breath
give itself up to the dust without a cry； thus ending the short story of a
perfect moment that has neither past nor future。
Vasanta
A limitless life of glory can bloom and spend itself in a morning。
Madana
Like an endless meaning in the narrow span of a song。
Chitra
The southern breeze caressed me to sleep。 From the flowering Malati
bower overhead silent kisses dropped over my body。 On my hair； my
breast； my feet； each flower chose a bed to die on。 I slept。 And； suddenly
in the depth of my sleep； I felt as if some intense eager look； like tapering
fingers of flame； touched my slumbering body。 I started up and saw the
Hermit standing before me。 The moon had moved to the west； peering
through the leaves to espy this wonder of divine art wrought in a fragile
12
… Page 13…
CHITRA
human frame。 The air was heavy with perfume； the silence of the night
was vocal with the chirping of crickets； the reflections of the trees hung
motionless in the lake； and with his staff in his hand he stood； tall and
straight and still； like a forest tree。 It seemed to me that I had； on opening
my eyes； died to all realities of life and undergone a dream birth into a
shadow land。 Shame slipped to my feet like loosened clothes。 I heard his
call〃Beloved； my most beloved！〃 And all my forgotten lives united as
one and responded to it。 I said； 〃Take me； take all I am！〃 And I stretched
out my arms to him。 The moon set behind the trees。 One curtain of
darkness covered all。 Heaven and earth； time and space； pleasure and pain；
death and life merged together in an unbearable ecstasy。 。 。 。 With the first
gleam of light； the first twitter of birds； I rose up and sat leaning on my left
arm。 He lay asleep with a vague smile about his lips like the crescent
moon in the morning。 The rosy red glow of the dawn fell upon his noble
forehead。 I sighed and stood up。 I drew together the leafy lianas to screen
the streaming sun from his face。 I looked about me and saw the same old
earth。 I remembered what I used to be； and ran and ran like a deer afraid of
her own shadow； through the forest path strewn with shephali flowers。 I
found a lonely nook； and sitting down covered my face with both hands；
and tried to weep and cry。 But no tears came to my eyes。
Madana
Alas； thou daughter of mortals！ I stole from the divine Storehouse the
fragrant wine of heaven； filled with it one earthly night to the brim； and
placed it in thy hand to drink yet still I hear this cry of anguish！
Chitra ＇bitterly＇
Who drank it？ The rarest completion of life's desire； the first union of
love was proffered to me； but was wrested from my grasp？ This borrowed
beauty； this falsehood that enwraps me； will slip from me taking with it the
only monument of that sweet union； as the petals fall from an overblown
flower； and the woman ashamed of her naked poverty will sit weeping day
and night。 Lord Love； this cursed appearance companions me like a
demon robbing me of all the prizes of loveall the kisses for which my
heart is athirst。
Madana
13
… Page 14…
CHITRA
Alas； how vain thy single night had been！ The barque of joy came in
sight； but the waves would not let it touch the shore。
Chitra
Heaven came so close to my hand that I forgot for a moment that it
had not reached me。 But when I woke in the morning from my dream I
found that my body had become my own rival。 It is my hateful task to
deck her every day； to send her to my beloved and see her caressed by him。
O god； take back thy boon！
Madana
But if I take it from you how can you stand before your lover？ To
snatch away the cup from his lips when he has scarcely drained his first
draught of pleasure； would not that be cruel？ With what resentful anger he
must regard thee then？
Chitra
That would be better far than this。 I will reveal my true self to him； a
nobler thing than this disguise。 If he rejects it； if he spurns me and breaks
my heart； I will bear even that in silence。
Vasanta
Listen to my advice。 When with the advent of autumn the flowering
season is over then comes the triumph of fruitage。 A time will come of
itself when the heat…cloyed bloom of the body will droop and Arjuna will
gladly accept the abiding fruitful truth in thee。 O child； go back to thy mad
festival。
14
… Page 15…
CHITRA
SCENE IV
Chitra
WHY do you watch me like that； my warrior？
Arjuna
I watch how you weave that garland。 Skill and grace； the twin brother
and sister； are dancing playfully on your finger tips。 I am watching and
thinking。
Chitra
What are you thinking； sir？
Arjuna
I am thinking that you； with this same lightness of touch and sweetness；
are weaving my days of exile into an immortal wreath； to crown me when
I return home。
Chitra
Home！ But this love is not for a home！
Arjuna
Not for a home？
Chitra
No。 Never talk of that。 Take to your home what is abiding and strong。
Leave the little wild flower where it was born； leave it beautifully to die at
the day's end among all fading blossoms and decaying leaves。 Do not take
it to your palace hall to fling it on the stony floor which knows no pity for
things that fade and are forgotten。
Arjuna
Is ours that kind of love？
Chitra
Yes； no other！ Why regret it？ That which was meant for idle days
should never outlive them。 Joy turns into pain when the door by which it
should depart is shut against it。 Take it and keep it as long as it lasts。 Let
not the satiety of your evening claim more than the desire of your morning
could earn。 。 。 。 The day is done。 Put this garland on。 I am tired。 Take me in
your arms； my love。 Let all vain bickerings of discontent die away at the
15
… Page 16…
CHITRA
sweet meeting of our lips。
Arjuna
Hush！ Listen； my beloved； the sound of prayer bells from the distant
vill
16
… Page 17…
CHITRA
age temple steals upon the evening air across the silent trees！
SCENE V
Vasanta
I CANNOT keep pace with thee； my friend！ I am tired。 It is a hard task
to keep alive the fire thou hast kindled。 Sleep overtakes me； the fan drops
from my hand； and cold ashes cover the glow of the fire。 I start up again
from my slumber and with all my might rescue the weary flame。 But this
can go on no longer。
Madana
I know； thou art as fickle as a child。 Ever restless is thy play in heaven
and on earth。 Things that thou for days buildest up with endless detail thou
dost shatter in a moment without regret。 But this work of ours is nearly
finished。 Pleasure…winged days fly fast； and the year； almost at its end；
swoons in rapturous bliss。
17
… Page 18…
CHITRA
SCENEVI
Arjuna
I WOKE in the morning and found that my dreams had distilled a
gem。 I have no casket to inclose it； no king's crown whereon to fix it； no
chain from which to hang it； and yet have not the heart to throw it away。
My Kshatriya's right arm； idly occupied in holding it； forgets its duties。
Enter CHITRA。
Chitra
Tell me your thoughts； sir！
Arjuna
My mind is busy with thoughts of hunting today。 See； how the rain
pours in torrents a