{"id":1430,"date":"2013-07-13T01:34:45","date_gmt":"2013-07-13T01:34:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost\/?p=1430"},"modified":"2013-07-13T01:34:45","modified_gmt":"2013-07-13T01:34:45","slug":"63-the-vigil-of-thaliard-vol-05-collected-poems-volume-05","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/01-works-of-sri-aurobindo\/01-sabcl\/05-collected-poems-volume-05\/63-the-vigil-of-thaliard-vol-05-collected-poems-volume-05","title":{"rendered":"-63_The Vigil of Thaliard.htm"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n


\nIII<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

\nLONGER
\nPOEMS<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/font><\/p>\n


\n <\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n


\n <\/p>\n

<\/font><\/span>
\n
\nTHE
\nVIGIL OF THALIARD<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

\nAugust
\n1891<\/span> <\/span>–<\/span>
\n<\/span>April
\n1892
\n<\/span><\/font><\/p>\n

 \n<\/p>\n\n\n
\n

 <\/td>\n

\n

\n
\n
\n   
\nThe
\nVigil of Thaliard<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/font><\/p>\n

 \n<\/p>\n

                                   
\n<\/span>1<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Where
\nTime a sleeping dervish is<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Or
\nprinted legend of Romance<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Mid
\nlilies and mid gold-roses<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n<\/span>Of mediaeval France,<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Where
\nLife, a princely servitor<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n<\/span>Mid alien faces cast,<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Still
\nwears in memory of her<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n<\/span>The trappings of the Past,<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Sweet
\nLily\u2019s child, that golden grape<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n<\/span>Girl prince of Avelion,<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Thaliard
\nby early plucking hap<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n<\/span>Star-reaching Prince\u2019s son,<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Kept
\nvigil by the impious pool<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Beyond
\nthe misty moaning sea<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

To
\nwin from warlock\u2019s weird misrule<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n<\/span>His soul\u2019s sweet liberty.<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

                          
\n<\/span>2<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

For
\nif throughout the monstrous night<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Unblest
\nby ave or by creed<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

By
\nwitched water Christian wight<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n<\/span>Do finger bead by bead<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

His
\nscarlet rosary of sins<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n<\/span>And leave his soul ajar,<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

What
\nhour the sleepy Evening pins<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n<\/span>Her bodice with a star,<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Until,
\nthe pitchy veil withdrawn<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n<\/span>That swathes the looming1<\/sup>
\ndune,<\/font><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

The
\ncrowing trumpeter of dawn<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n<\/span>Blows addio to the moon,<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

The
\nawful record of his soul<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Shall
\nby God\u2019s finger blotted be,<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

And
\no\u2019er his drowned past shall roll<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n<\/span>Forgiveness like a sea.
\n <\/span> <\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n1
\n yellow<\/span><\/span><\/font><\/p>\n


\nPage-173<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

                                3
\n <\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

The
\nwarden of the starry waste<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Who
\nwalks with orange-coloured lamp<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

And
\nweird eyes nursing fire, paced<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n<\/span>Night\u2019s silver-tented camp.
\nThe rose-lipped golden-footed day,<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n<\/span>A flower by maiden culled,
\nBeneath star-blossomed arras lay<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n<\/span>In Evening\u2019s 1<\/sup>bosom lulled.<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

The
\nwater seemed a damson crust<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n<\/span>With golden sugar poured,<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Or
\nmirror caked with purple dust<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n<\/span>In lady\u2019s closet stored.<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

The
\nhour like a weary snake<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Coiled
\nslowly gliding serpentine<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Or
\ndrowsy nun perforce awake<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n<\/span>To pace a pillared shrine.<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

                          
\n<\/span>4
\n <\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

The
\nroses shuddered in their sleep,<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

The
\nlilies drooped their silver fires,<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

The
\nreeds upon the humming steep<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n<\/span>Bowed low their tapering spires;<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

For
\ntho\u2019 no sob pulsed in the air,<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n<\/span>No agony of wind,<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Down
\nHeaven’s moonlight-painted stair<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n<\/span>Trod angels who had sinned.<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Fireflies
\ndrizzled in the dark<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n<\/span>Like drops of burning rain,<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

The
\nglow-worm was a crawling spark,<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n<\/span>The pool a purple stain;<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

The
\nstars were grains of blazing sand,<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

A
\nhaunted soul the shadowy lea,<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

In
\nforest-featured Broceliande<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n<\/span>Beyond the echoing sea.
\n <\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n1 <\/sup>
\ntwilit<\/span><\/font><\/p>\n


\n Page-174<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

                          
\n<\/span>5
\n <\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Sir
\nThaliard by the phantom edge<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Heard
\nrustling feet behind the trees<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

And
\nthe weird water lapped the sedge<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n<\/span>With wistful symphonies:<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Sometimes
\na thrill of voices broke<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n<\/span>In runic tongues of old,<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Sometimes
\npale fingers seemed to stroke<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n<\/span>His curls of crisping gold:<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Thin
\nlaughter sobbed he knew not where<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n<\/span>Till God\u2019s own candles paled,<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Or
\nelse out in the moonless air<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n<\/span>A golden infant wailed.<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Now
\nin the moon\u2019s enchanted wake<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Wild
\nshadows ran a giant race,<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

And
\nnow the golden glassing lake<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n<\/span>Was blotted with a face.<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

                          
\n<\/span>6
\n <\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

But
\nwhen the naked moon rose clear<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Above
\nthe ruins of the day,<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Childe
\nThaliard saw a glinting spear<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n<\/span>Across the milky way.<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

And
\nwhen the white moon\u2019s sliding feet<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n<\/span>One rank of stars had passed,<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Upon
\nhim smote the windy beat<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n<\/span>And terror of a blast.<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

The
\ntempest rippled thro\u2019 the leaves,<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n<\/span>New wine of evening sucked,<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

And
\nat the water-lily sheaves<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n<\/span>With nervous fingers plucked.<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

And
\nin its wind-white arms it bore<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

A
\nhelmeted1<\/sup>
\nand sceptred thing,<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

The
\nsemblance of a man, that wore<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n<\/span>The glory of a king.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n1 <\/sup>
\ndiademed<\/span><\/font><\/span><\/p>\n


\nPage-175<\/font><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

                          
\n<\/span>7
\n <\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

An
\nargent cincture studded thick<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

With
\nopal and the blushing stone<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Fine
\nwrought of texture Arabic<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n<\/span>About his middle shone:<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

And
\nin its buckled girth did sit,<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n<\/span>A fierce and cloudy star,<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Of
\ntemper fine as poet\u2019s wit<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n<\/span>The Orient scimitar.<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Morocco
\ngave his wrathful dart,<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n<\/span>The spring of widowed tears,<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Tempered
\nin Afric\u2019s sultry heart<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n<\/span>Or famous far Algiers.<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

His
\nbarb was hued like cedar\u2019s core<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

In
\nAramaic<\/span>
\n1<\/sup><\/span><\/font>
\nmountains born,<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Wild
\nas the sea on storm-vexed shore<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n<\/span>And fronted as the morn.<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

                          
\n<\/span>8
\n <\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Upon
\nhis kingly head the crown<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Was
\neloquent of Iran\u2019s gold<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Dropping
\nfine threads of glory down<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n<\/span>Upon the turban\u2019s fold.<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

His
\neyes were drops of smelted ore<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n<\/span>That in a foundry chase:<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

His
\nlips a cruel promise wore,<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n<\/span>A marble pride his face.<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

As
\nshows thro\u2019 gold caparison<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n<\/span>Laburnum dusky-stemmed,<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Thro\u2019
\nsilks in Persian harem spun<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n<\/span>His gorgeous body gleamed.<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Or
\nas a lithe and tropic snake<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

That
\nfrom some fine mosaic glares<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Or
\nspotted panther by a lake<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n<\/span>Beneath the Indian stars.<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n1 <\/sup>
\nAramean<\/span><\/font><\/p>\n

  Page-176<\/font><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

                          
\n<\/span>9
\n <\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

This
\nOrient vision burning bright<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Snapped
\nclose his bridle silver-lined<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Between
\nthe moonlight and the night,<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

The
\nwater and the wind.<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

His
\ncry sang like a stormy shower<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Upon
\na thundering sea:<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cO
\n<\/span>Thaliard<\/span>,
\nThaliard, Britain\u2019s flower,<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Wilt
\nbreak a lance with me?<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

The
\ngolden scythe of Mahomet<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Gleams
\ncrescent on my shield,<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

My
\nharvest upon thine is set,<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n<\/span>A cross in argent field.<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Prince-errant,
\nprop of battle styled<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n<\/span>And flawless glass of chivalry,<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

O
\nThaliard, Thaliard, golden childe,<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n<\/span> <\/span>Wilt break a lance with
\nme?\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

                          
\n<\/span>10
\n <\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

As
\ntrailing thunder dies in heaven<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Thro\u2019
\nsilence trailed his latest word,<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

And
\nfire like the bearded levin<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n<\/span>Beneath his eyelids stirred.<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Child
\nThaliard saw the burning stars<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n<\/span>Vermilion grown like blood<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Thrice
\ndrew the serpent cross of Mars,<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n<\/span>Thrice clamoured where he stood.<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

But
\nThaliard saw a milk-white star<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n<\/span>Grow large against the moon,<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Quelled
\nby whose candid flames, afar<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n<\/span>Mars\u2019 ruby paled in a swoon.<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNot
\nhere,\u201d he faltered like the wind,<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNot
\nhere where murmurs poison sleep,<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

When
\nhaunted memories grown half blind<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n<\/span>Their ghastly vigils keep.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n


\nPage-177<\/font><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\n                                   
\n<\/span>11
\n <\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNot
\nhere, when drifts past happy shores<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

From
\nmortal vision far withdrawn<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

With
\nlustrous sails and dripping oars<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n<\/span>The hull that brings the dawn.<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Seek
\nme, but in the cloudy time<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n<\/span>When ruin blazons forth<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

In
\nsanguine hues the vaporous clime<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n<\/span>And champaigns of the North.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

As
\nwine that from the bubbling lips<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n<\/span>Of some fine beaker falls,<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

This
\nhoneyed utterance largely slips<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n<\/span>Like murmurs in vast halls.<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

The
\nwimpled moon bent down her ear,<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

And
\nin the granaries of light<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

The
\nseedling splendours thrilled to hear,<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n<\/span>And all the east grew
\nbright.<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

  <\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

                          
\n<\/span>12
\n  <\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

The
\nphantom like a burning page<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Was
\nfurrowed with the ploughs of wrath,<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

And
\nthro\u2019 his wintry orbs white rage<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n<\/span>Rolled like the dead sea-froth.<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

His
\nlance poised slanting like a ray<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n<\/span>Of ominous sunlight fell,<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Astarte
\nin the milky way <\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n<\/span>Saw death half-risen from hell:<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

And
\nsoon the cold hooves of his horse<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n<\/span>On shivering lilies trod,<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Till,
\nyellow anguish borrowing force,<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n<\/span>Childe Thaliard cried on God.<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

The
\nphantom, withering thro\u2019 the bars.<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Of
\nBeing like transitory sound,<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Left
\nbut the murmur of the stars,<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n<\/span>Left but the hush profound.<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n


\n Page-178<\/font><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

                                   
\n<\/span>13
\n <\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

And
\nnow the naked wanton moon<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Shed
\nlanguorous glances on the lake<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Whose
\nripples sobbing from their swoon<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n<\/span>Grew golden for her sake:<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

The
\namorous stars were faint with love;<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n<\/span>Earth\u2019s awning seemed so light<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

That
\nHesper like a flying dove<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n<\/span>Would tremble into sight.<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

When
\nThaliard saw in drooping skies<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n<\/span>Large drops of beauty burn,<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

A
\nwhite-winged chorus did arise,<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n<\/span>The prayers that purely yearn.<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

But
\nThaliard saw the curling deep<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

With
\nfoamy moon-tints blaze and break,<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Till
\nthe slack spirit longed to steep.<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n<\/span>Rich fancies in the lake.<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

  <\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

                          
\n<\/span>14
\n <\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

 The
\npenitent chorus of his prayers<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Were
\nmingled with voluptuous speech<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Of
\ndaedal images and airs<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n<\/span>Luxurious wrapping each:<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

A
\nblue papyrus-leaf designed<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n<\/span>With fretted curls of fire,<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

A
\npurple page with coronet lined<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n<\/span>Or labyrinthine spire:<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

The
\nfiery-coloured bee of night<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n<\/span>With folded purple wing,<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Or
\nsolitary chrysolite<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n<\/span>Shut in an emerald ring:<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

The
\nvellum binding of a book,<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

A
\nscented volume spiced with Ind,<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

A
\nmagic purse by Genie shook<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n<\/span>To loose a murmuring wind.<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n


\nPage-179<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

 <\/span>15  
\n <\/span><\/p>\n

But
\n hark! a wailing anguish woke <\/span><\/p>\n

The
\n silence with a fiery sting: <\/span><\/p>\n

The
\n foaming gulfs of clamour broke <\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n <\/span>Around a fallen king: <\/span><\/p>\n

A
\n distant moan of battle high <\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n <\/span>Above a phantom land, <\/span><\/p>\n

And
\n heron-weird a woman’s cry <\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n <\/span>Went shrilling down the strand. <\/span><\/p>\n

While
\n terror with a vulture’s force <\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n <\/span>Was plucking at his throat, <\/span><\/p>\n

He
\n heard the shrill hooves of a horse <\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n <\/span>Prick echoes less remote. <\/span><\/p>\n

And
\n like old accents Night may lend <\/span><\/p>\n

On
\n lips long hushed in endless sleep, <\/span><\/p>\n

The
\n voice of a familiar friend <\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n <\/span>Came shuddering from the deep. <\/span><\/p>\n

                           
\n <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n <\/span>16   
\n <\/span><\/p>\n

“Thaliard,
\n awake; the smiling morn <\/span><\/p>\n

Forgets
\n the cloud of yesterday: <\/span><\/p>\n

The
\n sceptre from thy house is tom, <\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n <\/span>Thy glory washed away. <\/span><\/p>\n

Amid
\n the reeling battle trod, <\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n <\/span>As a poppy in the mill, <\/span><\/p>\n

With
\n white face lifted up to God, <\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n <\/span>Thy sire lies very still. <\/span><\/p>\n

Pendragon’s
\n spear has stung him dead, <\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n <\/span>He sleeps among the slain; <\/span><\/p>\n

The
\n glorious princes heap his bed, <\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n <\/span>Like lilies in a plain. <\/span><\/p>\n

Thy
\n brothers Galert and Gyneth <\/span><\/p>\n

Like
\n toppling mountains whelmed I saw <\/span><\/p>\n

Beneath
\n the shadowy winds of death <\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n <\/span>In the rushing tide of war. <\/span><\/p>\n


\n Page-180 <\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

                                   
\n <\/span>17  
\n <\/span><\/p>\n

“Thy
\n sister, fawn-eyed Guendolen, <\/span><\/p>\n

Haled
\n captive from thy tottering hall, <\/span><\/p>\n

Lies
\n helpless in the dragon’s den <\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n <\/span>Luxurious Gawain’s thrall. <\/span><\/p>\n

His
\n kisses tremble on her mouth <\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n <\/span>Like moonbeams on a rose, <\/span><\/p>\n

For
\n she is water to his drouth, <\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n <\/span>He sunlight to her snows: <\/span><\/p>\n

Her
\n flowering body to his love <\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n <\/span>A pleasance-garden sweet; <\/span><\/p>\n

Her
\n spirit, meeker than a dove, <\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n <\/span>Fawns blindly at his feet. <\/span><\/p>\n

And
\n with the pelting words of shame, <\/span><\/p>\n

Like
\n delicate pigments bleared by storm, <\/span><\/p>\n

The
\n gorgeous colouring of thy name <\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n <\/span>Is losing gloss and form. <\/span><\/p>\n

  
\n <\/span><\/p>\n

                          
\n <\/span>18  <\/span><\/p>\n

“The
\n night-wind in thy yawning dome <\/span><\/p>\n

Has
\n made her nest alive with song, <\/span><\/p>\n

The
\n humming wasps of Aeolus roam, <\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n <\/span>Low-flying in a throng: <\/span><\/p>\n

The
\n thunder like a flying stork <\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n <\/span>Clangs hoarsely but aloof, <\/span><\/p>\n

And
\n lightning with his vermil fork <\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n <\/span>Has written on thy roof. <\/span><\/p>\n

The
\n lion lodges in thy gate, <\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n <\/span>The werewolf is thy guest, <\/span><\/p>\n

The
\n night-owl, like a sombre fate, <\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n <\/span>Wails weirdly without rest. <\/span><\/p>\n

Thy
\n deeds are grown a haunting rhyme, <\/span><\/p>\n

A
\n fragment breaking from the past, <\/span><\/p>\n

An
\n atom, which the meteor, Time, <\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n <\/span>In his fiery flight has cast.” <\/span><\/p>\n

 Page-181<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

                          
\n <\/span>19  <\/span><\/p>\n

With
\n sobs of shuddering agony bled <\/span><\/p>\n

The
\n silence as with stinging whips, <\/span><\/p>\n

But
\n Thaliard felt slim fingers laid <\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n <\/span>Upon
\n his writhen lips. <\/span><\/p>\n

The
\n soul’s redoubts flung each to each <\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n <\/span>A ringing challenge round, <\/span><\/p>\n

To
\n clench the ruby gates of speech <\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n <\/span>On the corridors of sound. <\/span><\/p>\n

In
\n dancing dithyrambs thro’ each vein <\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n <\/span>A dizzy echo sang, <\/span><\/p>\n

While
\n on the anvil of his brain <\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n <\/span>The steely syllables rang: <\/span><\/p>\n

And
\n from the avenues of the heart <\/span><\/p>\n

Thro’
\n which the river of being pours, <\/span><\/p>\n

The
\n torpid life with a sudden start <\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n <\/span>Recoiled upon its doors. <\/span><\/p>\n

                           
\n <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

                          
\n <\/span>20  <\/span><\/p>\n

The
\n voice was now a violin <\/span><\/p>\n

Shrill-winding,
\n now a startled bat, <\/span><\/p>\n

And
\n now as linnet’s warble thin, <\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n <\/span>Now wailful as a gnat, <\/span><\/p>\n

But
\n gathered volume as of yore <\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n <\/span>Until with refluent tide, <\/span><\/p>\n

Like
\n Ocean ebbing from her shore; <\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n <\/span>The murmur ebbed and died. <\/span><\/p>\n

Like
\n beauty losing maidenhood <\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n <\/span>Astarte debonair. <\/span><\/p>\n

Undid
\n the crocus-coloured snood <\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n <\/span>That bound her glimmering hair. <\/span><\/p>\n

And
\n up the ladder of the moon, <\/span><\/p>\n

As
\n white smoke curls upon a glass, <\/span><\/p>\n

He
\n saw with flakes of glory strewn <\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n <\/span>A radiant figure pass.<\/span>
\n <\/span><\/p>\n

\nPage-182<\/font>
\n <\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t <\/span>                          
\n <\/span>21<\/span><\/p>\n

Again
\n the stealthy minutes crept <\/span><\/p>\n

On
\n tiptoe to the breathless hour <\/span><\/p>\n

And
\n loud suspense her riot kept <\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n <\/span>Till budding doom should flower. <\/span><\/p>\n

The
\n yellow moon, whom Heaven once more <\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n <\/span>From silver cowl did shake, <\/span><\/p>\n

With
\n golden letters scribbled o’er <\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n <\/span>The purple-written lake. <\/span><\/p>\n

But
\n when to Heaven’s polished breast <\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n <\/span>Her rounded amulet clung <\/span><\/p>\n

Below
\n in the blue palimpsest.<\/span>
\n <\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n <\/span>A slit, a chasm sprung.
\n <\/span><\/p>\n

A
\n meteor from the purple brink, <\/span><\/p>\n

A
\n vivid star no eye may lose, <\/span><\/p>\n

A
\n pictured bowl of nectarous drink, <\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n <\/span>An apparition rose. <\/span><\/p>\n

  
\n <\/span><\/p>\n

                          
\n <\/span>22  <\/span><\/p>\n

And
\n in the bridal pomp of hell <\/span><\/p>\n

Walked
\n beauty hand in hand with sin, <\/span><\/p>\n

And
\n Thought, the glorious infidel <\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n <\/span>A helmed Paladin; <\/span><\/p>\n

When
\n shuttering under cloudy bars <\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n <\/span>Astarte’s radiant eye, <\/span><\/p>\n

God
\n sowed with multitudinous stars <\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n <\/span>His peacock in the sky, <\/span><\/p>\n

The
\n diamonds perished from the deep; <\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n <\/span>The moon-tints from the edge,
\n The wrinkled water smoothed in sleep <\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n <\/span>His locks of ruffled sedge. <\/span><\/p>\n

Imagination,
\n like a sponge <\/span><\/p>\n

Wrung
\n very pure of beauty, wept, <\/span><\/p>\n

As
\n from his pores with a tired plunge <\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n <\/span>His flakes of fancy leaped.<\/span><\/p>\n


\nPage-183<\/font>
\n <\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t                          
\n <\/span>23  
\n <\/span><\/p>\n

Astarte
\n from her cloudy chair <\/span><\/p>\n

Paced
\n with her troop of star-sweet girls; <\/span><\/p>\n

Unfilleted
\n her glorious hair <\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n <\/span>Hung loose in cowslip curls. <\/span><\/p>\n

And
\n like the flower-song of a bee <\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n <\/span>On April’s daffodil skirt, <\/span><\/p>\n

A
\n whisper from the smiling sea <\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n <\/span>In her crocus gown did flirt. <\/span><\/p>\n

The
\n waters quivering to her wiles <\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n <\/span>Among the rushes whipped, <\/span><\/p>\n

As
\n thro’ the network of her smiles <\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n <\/span>Her visible murmur slipped. <\/span><\/p>\n

But
\n when they wooed her to repeat <\/span><\/p>\n

Her
\n primrose-painted pilgrimage, <\/span><\/p>\n

She
\n dipped the white palms of her feet <\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n <\/span>In beds of bubbling sedge; <\/span><\/p>\n

 
\n <\/span><\/p>\n

                           
\n <\/span>24  
\n <\/span><\/p>\n

Her
\n body lapped in cloth of gold <\/span><\/p>\n

A
\n wave disguised in moonlight seemed, <\/span><\/p>\n

Whose
\n every curve and curious fold <\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n <\/span>With opal facets gleamed. <\/span><\/p>\n

Her
\n nestling mass of rounded curls <\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n <\/span>Were soft as velvet cloths <\/span><\/p>\n

Once
\n fingered by Arabian girls <\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n <\/span>Or piled in Syrian booths. <\/span><\/p>\n

She
\n was an ebon-fram\u00e8d lyre <\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n <\/span>Where wind-waked murmurs dance, <\/span><\/p>\n

A
\n tinted statue of Desire <\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n <\/span>In studios of Romance. <\/span><\/p>\n

Her
\n glowing cheeks just ripe with youth, <\/span><\/p>\n

The
\n purple passion of her eyes; <\/span><\/p>\n

Half
\n seemed a splendid mock at truth, <\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n <\/span>A brilliant mesh of lies. <\/span><\/p>\n


\n Page-184<\/font>
\n <\/span><\/p>\n

\n

                          
\n <\/span>25  
\n <\/span><\/p>\n

Below
\n with balmy sobs that drank <\/span><\/p>\n

The
\n must of life thro’ thirsty lips, <\/span><\/p>\n

Her
\n pained bosom heaved and sank <\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n <\/span>Like Ocean-cradled ships. <\/span><\/p>\n

And
\n as bee-blossoms sapphire-looped, <\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n <\/span>The humming waves that kiss, <\/span><\/p>\n

Her
\n creamy forehead almost drooped <\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n <\/span>Burthened with too much bliss. <\/span><\/p>\n

The
\n artist Grace who limned her fair <\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n <\/span>With moist and liberal brush <\/span><\/p>\n

Painted
\n a glory in her hair <\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n <\/span>And mixed a gorgeous blush <\/span><\/p>\n

To
\n tint her cheeks with a flowery bloom, <\/span><\/p>\n

To
\n touch her lips with scarlet fire, – <\/span><\/p>\n

An
\n empire’s beauty in small room, <\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n <\/span>A vision of desire. <\/span><\/p>\n

  
\n <\/span><\/p>\n

                          
\n <\/span>26  
\n <\/span><\/p>\n

A
\n fairy witch by painful charms <\/span><\/p>\n

Had
\n burgeoned this refulgent flower, <\/span><\/p>\n

Embraced
\n by wild and wanton arms <\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n <\/span>In weird and midnight hour. <\/span><\/p>\n

She
\n on the amber milk of bees <\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n <\/span>By magic mother nursed, <\/span><\/p>\n

In
\n laurel-sheltered libraries <\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n <\/span>Cons rudiments accurst,
\n <\/span><\/p>\n

The
\n most familiar things of hell <\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n <\/span>The mightiest names inherits, <\/span><\/p>\n

And
\n learns what iron syllable <\/span><\/p>\n

                 
\n <\/span>Compels reluctant spirits. <\/span><\/p>\n

A
\n perilous thorn on fire with bloom, <\/span><\/p>\n

A
\n poppied spell, an empress snake, <\/span><\/p>\n

She
\n rose, the alchemist of doom, <\/span><\/p>\n

The
\n Lady of the Lake. <\/span><\/p>\n

 
\n <\/span><\/p>\n

                                      
\n <\/span>(Incomplete)<\/i> <\/span><\/p>\n


\n Page-185<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

 <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n <\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

III LONGER POEMS     THE VIGIL OF THALIARD August 1891 – April 1892         The Vigil of Thaliard                                       1 Where…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[32],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1430","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-05-collected-poems-volume-05","wpcat-32-id"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1430","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1430"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1430\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1430"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1430"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1430"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}