Book Five. The Book of Love
| Music | Book Five. Canto One:The Destined Meeting-Place |
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001 But now the destined spot and hour were close; 002 Unknowing she had neared her nameless goal. . . . 028 Pale waters ran like glimmering threads of pearl. 029 A sigh was straying among happy leaves; 030 Cool-perfumed with slow pleasure-burdened feet 031 Faint stumbling breezes faltered among flowers. 032 The white crane stood, a vivid motionless streak, 033 Peacock and parrot jewelled soil and tree, 034 The dove’s soft moan enriched the enamoured air 035 And fire-winged wild-drakes swam in silvery pools. |
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067 A matted forest-head invaded heaven 068 As if a blue-throated ascetic peered 069 From the stone fastness of his mountain cell 070 Regarding the brief gladness of the days; 071 His vast extended spirit couched behind. |
| Music | Book Five. Canto Two:Satyavan |
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034 As might a soul on Nature’s background limned 035 Stand out for a moment in a house of dream 036 Created by the ardent breath of life, 037 So he appeared against the forest verge 038 Inset twixt green relief and golden ray. . . . 046 His look was a wide daybreak of the gods, 047 His head was a youthful Rishi’s touched with light, 048 His body was a lover’s and a king’s. |
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085 At first her glance that took life’s million shapes 086 Impartially to people its treasure-house 087 Along with sky and flower and hill and star, 088 Dwelt rather on the bright harmonious scene. . . . 111 Her vision settled, caught and all was changed. 112 Her mind at first dwelt in ideal dreams, . . . 115 And saw in him the genius of the spot, 116 A symbol figure standing mid earth’s scenes, 117 A king of life outlined in delicate air. |
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118 Yet this was but a moment’s reverie; 119 For suddenly her heart looked out at him, 120 The passionate seeing used thought cannot match, 121 And knew one nearer than its own close strings. . . . 145 Hooves trampling fast, wheels largely stumbling ceased; 146 The chariot stood like an arrested wind. 147 And Satyavan looked out from his soul’s doors 148 And felt the enchantment of her liquid voice 149 Fill his youth’s purple ambience and endured 150 The haunting miracle of a perfect face. |
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151 Mastered by the honey of a strange flower-mouth, 152 Drawn to soul-spaces opening round a brow, 153 He turned to the vision like a sea to the moon 154 And suffered a dream of beauty and of change, 155 Discovered the aureole round a mortal’s head, 156 Adored a new divinity in things. |
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164 Marvelling he came across the golden sward: 165 Gaze met close gaze and clung in sight’s embrace. |
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203 There is a Power within that knows beyond 204 Our knowings; we are greater than our thoughts, 205 And sometimes earth unveils that vision here. 206 To live, to love are signs of infinite things, 207 Love is a glory from eternity’s spheres. |
| Music | Book Five. Canto Three:Satyavan and Savitri |
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017 Thus Satyavan spoke first to Savitri: . . . 023 How art thou named among the sons of men? . . . 050 I have heard strange voices cross the ether’s waves, 051 The Centaur’s wizard song has thrilled my ear; 052 I have glimpsed the Apsaras bathing in the pools, 053 I have seen the wood-nymphs peering through the leaves; 054 The winds have shown to me their trampling lords, 055 I have beheld the princes of the Sun 056 Burning in thousand-pillared homes of light. 057 So now my mind could dream and my heart fear . . . 060 Thou drov’st thy horses from the Thunderer’s worlds. |
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100 Musing she answered, “I am Savitri, 101 Princess of Madra. Who art thou? What name 102 Musical on earth expresses thee to men? 103 What trunk of kings watered by fortunate streams 104 Has flowered at last upon one happy branch? |
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112 And Satyavan replied to Savitri: 113 “In days when yet his sight looked clear on life, 114 King Dyumatsena once, the Shalwa, reigned . . . 122 Heaven’s brilliant gods recalled their careless gifts, 123 Took from blank eyes their glad and helping ray . . . 127 He sojourns in two solitudes, within 128 And in the solemn rustle of the woods. 129 Son of that king, I, Satyavan, have lived 130 Contented, for not yet of thee aware, 131 In my high-peopled loneliness of spirit |
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164 A visioned spell pursued my boyhood’s hours, . . . 173 The neighing pride of rapid life that roams 174 Wind-maned through our pastures, on my seeing mood 175 Cast shapes of swiftness; trooping spotted deer 176 Against the vesper sky became a song 177 Of evening to the silence of my soul. 178 I caught for some eternal eye the sudden 179 King-fisher flashing to a darkling pool; 180 A slow swan silvering the azure lake, 181 A shape of magic whiteness, sailed through dream; . . . 183 Pranked butterflies, the conscious flowers of air, . . . 187 The brilliant long-bills in their vivid dress, 188 The peacock scattering on the breeze his moons 189 Painted my memory like a frescoed wall. |
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209 I glimpsed the presence of the One in all. 210 But still there lacked the last transcendent power . . . 216 I shall feel the World-Mother in thy golden limbs 217 And hear her wisdom in thy sacred voice. |
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223 “Speak more to me, speak more, O Satyavan, 224 Speak of thyself and all thou art within; . . . 227 Speak till a light shall come into my heart 228 And my moved mortal mind shall understand 229 What all the deathless being in me feels. 230 It knows that thou art he my spirit has sought 231 Amidst earth’s thronging visages and forms 232 Across the golden spaces of my life.” |
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233 And Satyavan like a replying harp 234 To the insistent calling of a flute 235 Answered her questioning and let stream to her 236 His heart in many-coloured waves of speech: 237 “O golden princess, perfect Savitri, . . . 309 Wilt thou not make this mortal bliss thy sphere? 310 Descend, O happiness, with thy moon-gold feet 311 Enrich earth’s floors upon whose sleep we lie. |
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327 “O Satyavan, I have heard thee and I know; 328 I know that thou and only thou art he.” 329 Then down she came from her high carven car 330 Descending with a soft and faltering haste; . . . 335 Her gleaming feet upon the green-gold sward 336 Scattered a memory of wandering beams 337 And lightly pressed the unspoken desire of earth 338 Cherished in her too brief passing by the soil. |
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339 Then flitting like pale-brilliant moths her hands 340 Took from the sylvan verge’s sunlit arms 341 A load of their jewel-faces’ clustering swarms, 342 Companions of the spring-time and the breeze. 343 A candid garland set with simple forms 344 Her rapid fingers taught a flower song, 345 The stanzaed movement of a marriage hymn. |
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349 A sacrament of joy in treasuring palms 350 She brought, flower-symbol of her offered life, 351 Then with raised hands that trembled a little now 352 At the very closeness that her soul desired, 353 This bond of sweetness, their bright union’s sign, 354 She laid on the bosom coveted by her love. |
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355 As if inclined before some gracious god 356 Who has out of his mist of greatness shone 357 To fill with beauty his adorer’s hours, 358 She bowed and touched his feet with worshipping hands; . . . 360 And made her body the room of his delight, 361 Her beating heart a remembrancer of bliss. |
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362. He bent to her and took into his own 363. Their married yearning joined like folded hopes; |
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364 As if a whole rich world suddenly possessed, 365 Wedded to all he had been, became himself, 366 An inexhaustible joy made his alone, 367 He gathered all Savitri into his clasp. |
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