{"id":3022,"date":"2013-07-13T01:45:26","date_gmt":"2013-07-13T01:45:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost\/?p=3022"},"modified":"2013-07-13T01:45:26","modified_gmt":"2013-07-13T01:45:26","slug":"02-songs-to-myrtilla-vol-02-collected-poems","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/01-works-of-sri-aurobindo\/03-cwsa\/02-collected-poems\/02-songs-to-myrtilla-vol-02-collected-poems","title":{"rendered":"-02_Songs to Myrtilla.html"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n\n\n
\n

 <\/td>\n

\n<\/p>\n

\n
\nSongs to Myrtilla<\/font><\/i><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\n

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

\n
\nSongs to Myrtilla<\/a><\/font><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

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

\nSweet is the night, sweet and cool<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAs to parched lips a running pool;<\/span><\/p>\n

\nSweet when the flowers have fallen asleep<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAnd only moonlit rivulets creep<\/span><\/p>\n

\nLike glow-worms in the dim and whispering wood,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nTo commune with the quiet heart and solitude.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nWhen earth is full of whispers, when<\/span><\/p>\n

\nNo daily voice is heard of men,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nBut higher audience brings<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThe footsteps of invisible things,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nWhen o’er the glimmering tree-tops bowed<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThe night is leaning on a luminous cloud,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAnd always a melodious breeze<\/span><\/p>\n

\nSings secret in the weird and charmed trees,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nPleasant ’tis then heart-overawed to lie<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAlone with that clear moonlight and that listening sky.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

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

\nBut day is sweeter; morning bright<\/span><\/p>\n

\nHas put the stars out ere the light,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAnd from their dewy cushions rise<\/span><\/p>\n

\nSweet flowers half-opening their eyes.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nO pleasant then to feel as if new-born<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThe sweet, unripe and virgin air, the air of morn.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAnd pleasant are her melodies,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nRustle of winds, rustle of trees,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nBirds’ voices in the eaves,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nBirds’ voices in the green melodious leaves;<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThe herdsman’s flute among his flocks,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nSweet water hurrying from reluctant rocks,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAnd all sweet hours and all sweet showers<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAnd all sweet sounds that please the noonday flowers.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\n

 <\/p>\n

\n
\nPage \u2013 9<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

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

\n

\nMorning has pleasure, noon has golden peace<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAnd afternoon repose and eve the heart’s increase.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nAll things are subject to sweet pleasure,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nBut three things keep her richest measure,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThe breeze that visits heaven<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAnd knows the planets seven,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThe green spring with its flowery truth<\/span><\/p>\n

\nCreative and the luminous heart of youth.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nTo all fair flowers and vernal<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThe wind makes melody diurnal.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nOn Ocean all night long<\/span><\/p>\n

\nHe rests, a voice of song.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThe blue sea dances like a girl<\/span><\/p>\n

\nWith sapphire and with pearl<\/span><\/p>\n

\nCrowning her locks. Sunshine and dew<\/span><\/p>\n

\nEach morn delicious life renew.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThe year is but a masque of flowers,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nOf light and song and honied showers.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nIn the soft springtide comes the bird<\/span><\/p>\n

\nOf heaven whose speech is one sweet word,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nOne word of sweet and magic power to bring<\/span><\/p>\n

\nGreen branches back and ruddy lights of spring.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nSummer has pleasant comrades, happy meetings<\/span><\/p>\n

\nOf lily and rose and from the trees divinest greetings.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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

\nFor who in April shall remember<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThe certain end of drear November?<\/span><\/p>\n

\nNo flowers then live, no flowers<\/span><\/p>\n

\nMake sweet those wretched hours;<\/span><\/p>\n

\nFrom dead or grieving branches spun<\/span><\/p>\n

\nUnwilling leaves lapse wearily one by one;<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThe heart is then in pain<\/span><\/p>\n

\nWith the unhappy sound of rain.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nNo secret boughs prolong<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

 <\/p>\n

\n
\nPage \u2013 10<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

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

\nA green retreat of song;<\/span><\/p>\n

\nSummer is dead and rich repose<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAnd springtide and the rose,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAnd woods and all sweet things make moan;<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThe weeping earth is turned to stone.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThe lovers of her former face,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nShapes of beauty, melody, grace,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nWhere are they? Butterfly and bird<\/span><\/p>\n

\nNo more are seen, no songs are heard.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThey see her beauty spent, her splendours done;<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThey seek a younger earth, a surer sun.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nWhen youth has quenched its soft and magic light,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nDelightful things remain but dead is their delight.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

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

\nAh! for a little hour put by<\/span><\/p>\n

\nDim Hades and his pageantry.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nForget the future, leave the past,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThe little hour thy life shall last.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nLearn rather from the violet’s days<\/span><\/p>\n

\nSoft-blooming in retired ways<\/span><\/p>\n

\nOr dewy bell, the maid undrest<\/span><\/p>\n

\nWith creamy childhood in her breast,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nFierce foxglove and the briony<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAnd sapphire thyme, the work-room of the bee.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nBehold in emerald fire<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThe spotted lizard crawl<\/span><\/p>\n

\nUpon the sun-kissed wall<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAnd coil in tangled brake<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThe green and sliding snake<\/span><\/p>\n

\nUnder the red-rose-briar.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nNay, hither see<\/span><\/p>\n

\nLured by thy rose of lips the bee<\/span><\/p>\n

\nTo woo thy petals open, O sweet,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nHis flowery murmur here repeat,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nForsaking all the joys of thyme.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

 <\/p>\n

\n
\nPage \u2013 11<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

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

\nStain not thy perfumed prime<\/span><\/p>\n

\nWith care for autumn’s pale decay,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nBut live like these thy sunny day.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nSo when thy tender bloom must fall,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThen shalt thou be as one who tasted all<\/span><\/p>\n

\nLife’s honey and must now depart<\/span><\/p>\n

\nA broken prodigal from pleasure’s mart,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nA leaf with whom each golden sunbeam sinned,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nA dewy leaf and kissed by every wandering wind.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

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

\nHow various are thy children, Earth!<\/span><\/p>\n

\nBehold the rose her lovely birth,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nWhat fires from the bud proceed,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAs if the vernal air did bleed.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nBreezes and sunbeams, bees and dews<\/span><\/p>\n

\nHer lords and lovers she indues,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAnd these her crimson pleasures prove;<\/span><\/p>\n

\nHer life is but a bath of love;<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThe wide world perfumes when she sighs<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAnd, burning all the winds, of love she dies.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThe lily liveth pure,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nYet has she lovers, friends,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAnd each her bliss intends;<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThe bees besides her treasure<\/span><\/p>\n

\nBesiege of pollened pleasure,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nNor long her gates endure.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThe snowdrop cold<\/span><\/p>\n

\nHas vowed the saintly state to hold<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAnd far from green spring’s amorous guilds<\/span><\/p>\n

\nHer snowy hermitage she builds.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nCowslip attends her vernal duty<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAnd stops the heart with beauty.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThe crocus asks no vernal thing,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nBut all the lovely lights of spring<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAre with rich honeysuckle boon<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

 <\/p>\n

\n
\nPage \u2013 12<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

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

\nAnd praise her through one summer moon.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThus the sweet children of the earth<\/span><\/p>\n

\nFulfil their natural selves and various birth.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nFor one is proud and one sweet months approve<\/span><\/p>\n

\nDiana’s saint, but most are bond-maidens of Love.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nLove’s feet were on the sea<\/span><\/p>\n

\nWhen he dawned on me.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nHis wings were purple-grained and slow;<\/span><\/p>\n

\nHis voice was very sweet and very low;<\/span><\/p>\n

\nHis rose-lit cheeks, his eyes’ pale bloom<\/span><\/p>\n

\nWere sorrow’s anteroom;<\/span><\/p>\n

\nHis wings did cause melodious moan;<\/span><\/p>\n

\nHis mouth was like a rose o’erblown;<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThe cypress-garland of renown<\/span><\/p>\n

\nDid make his shadowy crown.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nFair as the spring he gave<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAnd sadder than a winter’s wave<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAnd sweet as sunless asphodel,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nMy shining lily, Florimel,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nMy heart’s enhaloed moon,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nMy winter’s warmth, my summer’s shady boon.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

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

\nNot from the mighty sea<\/span><\/p>\n

\nLove visited me.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nI found as in a jewelled box<\/span><\/p>\n

\nLove, rose-red, sleeping with imprisoned locks;<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAnd I have ever known him wild<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAnd merry as a child,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAs roses red, as roses sweet,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThe west wind in his feet,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nTulip-girdled, kind and bold,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nWith heartsease in his curls of gold,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nSince in the silver mist<\/span><\/p>\n

\nBright Cymothea’s lips I kissed,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\n

 <\/p>\n

\n
\nPage \u2013 13<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

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

\nWhose laughter dances like a gleam<\/span><\/p>\n

\nOf sunlight on a hidden stream<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThat through a wooded way<\/span><\/p>\n

\nRuns suddenly into the perfect day.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nBut what were Cymothea, placed<\/span><\/p>\n

\nWhere like a silver star Myrtilla blooms?<\/span><\/p>\n

\nSuch light as cressets cast<\/span><\/p>\n

\nIn long and sun-lit rooms.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThy presence is to her<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAs oak to juniper,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThy beauty as the gorgeous rose<\/span><\/p>\n

\nTo privet by the lane that blows,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nGold-crowned blooms to mere fresh grass,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nEternal ivy to brief blooms that pass.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

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

\nBut Florimel beside thee, sweet,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nPales like a candle in the brilliant noon.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nSnowdrops are thy feet,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThy waist a crescent moon,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAnd like a silver wand<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThy body slight doth stand<\/span><\/p>\n

\nOr like a silver beech aspire.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThine arms are walls for white caresses,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThy mouth a tale of crimson kisses,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThine eyes two amorous treasuries of fire.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nTo what shall poet liken thee?<\/span><\/p>\n

\nArt thou a goddess of the sea<\/span><\/p>\n

\nPurple-tressed and laughter-lipped<\/span><\/p>\n

\nFrom thy choric sisters slipped<\/span><\/p>\n

\nTo wander on the flowery land?<\/span><\/p>\n

\nOr art thou siren on the treacherous sand<\/span><\/p>\n

\nSummer-voiced to charm the ear<\/span><\/p>\n

\nOf the wind-vext mariner?<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAh! but what are these to thee,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nBrighter gem than knows the sea,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

\n
\nPage \u2013 14<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

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

\nLovelier girl than sees the stream<\/span><\/p>\n

\nNaked, Naiad of a dream,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nWhiter Dryad than men see<\/span><\/p>\n

\nDancing round the lone oak-tree,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nFlower and most enchanting birth<\/span><\/p>\n

\nOf ten ages of the earth!<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThe Graces in thy body move<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAnd in thy lips the ruby hue of Love.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n
\nO Co\u00efl,
\nCo\u00efl<\/font><\/a><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nO
\nCo\u00efl<\/font>, honied envoy of the spring,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nCease thy too happy voice, grief’s record, cease:<\/span><\/p>\n

\nFor I recall that day of vernal trees,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThe soft asoca’s bloom, the laden winds<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAnd green felicity of leaves, the hush,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThe sense of Nature living in the woods.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nOnly the river rippled, only hummed<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThe languid murmuring bee, far-borne and slow,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nEmparadised in odours, only used<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThe ringdove his divine heart-moving speech;<\/span><\/p>\n

\nBut sweetest to my pleased and singing heart<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThy voice, O
\nCo\u00efl<\/font>, in the peepel tree.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\nO me! for pleasure turned to bitterest tears!<\/span><\/p>\n

\nO me! for the swift joy, too great to live,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThat only bloomed one hour! O wondrous day,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThat crowned the bliss of those delicious years.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThe vernal radiance of my lover’s lips<\/span><\/p>\n

\nWas shut like a red rose upon my mouth,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nHis voice was richer than the murmuring leaves,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nHis love around me than the summer air.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nFive hours entangled in the coil’s<\/font>
\ncry<\/span><\/p>\n

\nLay my beloved twixt my happy breasts.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nO voice of tears! O sweetness uttering death!<\/span><\/p>\n

\nO lost ere yet that happy cry was still!<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

\n
\nPage \u2013 15<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

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

\nO tireless voice of spring! Again I lie<\/span><\/p>\n

\nIn odorous gloom of trees; unseen and near<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThe wind-lark gurgles in the golden leaves,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThe woodworm spins in shrillness on the bough:<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThou by the waters wailing to thy love,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nO chocrobacque! have comfort, since to thee<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThe dawn brings sweetest recompense of tears<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAnd she thou lovest hears thy pain. But I<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAm desolate in the heart of fruitful months,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAm widowed in the sight of happy things,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nUttering my moan to the unhoused winds,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nO
\nco\u00efl<\/font>,
\nco\u00efl<\/font>, to the winds and thee.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\n
\nGoethe<\/a><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\nA perfect face amid barbarian faces,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nA perfect voice of sweet and serious rhyme,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nTraveller with calm, inimitable paces,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nCritic with judgment absolute to all time,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nA complete strength when men were maimed and weak,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nGerman obscured the spirit of a Greek.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n
\nThe Lost Deliverer<\/a><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nPythian he came; repressed beneath his heel<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThe hydra of the world with bruised head.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nVainly, since Fate’s immeasurable wheel<\/span><\/p>\n

\nCould parley with a straw. A weakling sped<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThe bullet when to custom’s usual night<\/span><\/p>\n

\nWe fell because a woman’s faith was light.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

 <\/p>\n

\n
\nPage \u2013 16<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

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

\n
\nCharles Stewart Parnell<\/a><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

\n
\n1891<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\nO pale and guiding light, now star unsphered,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nDeliverer lately hailed, since by our lords<\/span><\/p>\n

\nMost feared, most hated, hated because feared,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nWho smot’st them with an edge surpassing swords!<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThou too wert then a child of tragic earth,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nSince vainly filled thy luminous doom of birth.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n
\nHic Jacet<\/a><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

\n
\nGlasnevin Cemetery<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nPatriots, behold your guerdon. This man found<\/span><\/p>\n

\nErin, his mother, bleeding, chastised, bound,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nNaked to imputation, poor, denied,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nWhile alien masters held her house of pride.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAnd now behold her! Terrible and fair<\/span><\/p>\n

\nWith the eternal ivy in her hair,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nArmed with the clamorous thunder, how she stands<\/span><\/p>\n

\nLike Pallas’ self, the Gorgon in her hands.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nTrue that her puissance will be easily past,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThe vision ended; she herself has cast<\/span><\/p>\n

\nHer fate behind her: yet the work not vain<\/span><\/p>\n

\nSince that which once has been may be again,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAnd she this image yet recover, fired<\/span><\/p>\n

\nWith godlike workings, brain and hands inspired,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nSo stand, the blush of battle on her cheek,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nVoice made armipotent, deeds that loudly speak,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nLike some dread Sphinx, half patent to the eye,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nHalf veiled in formidable secrecy.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAnd he who raised her from her forlorn life<\/span><\/p>\n

\nLoosening the fountains of that mighty strife,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\n

 <\/p>\n

\n
\nPage \u2013 17<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

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

\nWhere sits he? On what high foreshadowing throne<\/span><\/p>\n

\nGuarded by grateful hearts? Beneath this stone<\/span><\/p>\n

\nHe lies: this guerdon only Ireland gave,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nA broken heart and an unhonoured grave.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n
\nLines on Ireland<\/a><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

\n
\n1896<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\nAfter six hundred years did Fate intend<\/span><\/p>\n

\nHer perfect perseverance thus should end?<\/span><\/p>\n

\nSo many years she strove, so many years,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nEnduring toil, enduring bitter tears,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nShe waged religious war, with sword and song<\/span><\/p>\n

\nInsurgent against Fate and numbers, strong<\/span><\/p>\n

\nTo inflict as to sustain; her weak estate<\/span><\/p>\n

\nCould not conceal the goddess in her gait;<\/span><\/p>\n

\nGoddess her mood. Therefore that light was she<\/span><\/p>\n

\nIn whom races of weaker destiny<\/span><\/p>\n

\nTheir beauteous image of rebellion saw;<\/span><\/p>\n

\nTreason could not unnerve, violence o’erawe
\n\u2014<\/span><\/p>\n

\nA mirror to enslaved nations, never<\/span><\/p>\n

\nO’ercome, though in the field defeated ever.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nO mutability of human merit!<\/span><\/p>\n

\nHow changed, how fallen from her ancient spirit!<\/span><\/p>\n

\nShe that was Ireland, Ireland now no more,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nIn beggar’s weeds behold at England’s door<\/span><\/p>\n

\nNeglected sues or at the best returned<\/span><\/p>\n

\nWith hollow promise, happy if not spurned<\/span><\/p>\n

\nPerforce, she that had yesterday disdained<\/span><\/p>\n

\nLess than her mighty purpose to have gained.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nHad few short change of seasons puissance then,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nO nurse and mother of heroic men,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThy genius to outwear, thy strength well-placed<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAnd old traditionary courage, waste<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

\n
\nPage \u2013 18<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

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

\nThy vehement nature? Nay, not time, but thou<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThese ancient praises strov’st to disavow.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nFor ’tis not foreign force, nor weight of wars,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nNor treason, nor surprise, nor opposite stars,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nNot all these have enslaved nor can, whate’er<\/span><\/p>\n

\nVulgar opinion bruit, nor years impair,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nRuin discourage, nor disease abate<\/span><\/p>\n

\nA nation. Men are fathers of their fate;<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThey dig the prison, they the crown command.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nYet thine own self a little understand,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nUnhappy country, and be wise at length.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAn outward weakness doing deeds of strength<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAmazed the nations, but a power within<\/span><\/p>\n

\nDirected, like effective spirit unseen<\/span><\/p>\n

\nBehind the mask of trivial forms, a source<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAnd fund of tranquil and collected force.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThis was the sense that made thee royal, blessed<\/span><\/p>\n

\nWith sanction from on high and that impressed<\/span><\/p>\n

\nWhich could thyself transfigure and infuse<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThine action with such pride as kings do use.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nBut thou to thine own self disloyal, hast<\/span><\/p>\n

\nRenounced the help divine turning thy past<\/span><\/p>\n

\nTo idle legends and fierce tales of blood,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nMere violent wrath with no proposed good.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nTherefore effective wisdom, skill to bend<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAll human things to one predestined end<\/span><\/p>\n

\nRenounce thee. Honest purpose, labour true,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThese dwell not with the self-appointed crew<\/span><\/p>\n

\nWho, having conquered by death’s aid, abuse<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThe public ear, \u2014 for seldom men refuse<\/span><\/p>\n

\nCredence, when mediocrity multiplied<\/span><\/p>\n

\nEquals itself with genius \u2014 fools! whose pride<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAbsurd the gods permit a little space<\/span><\/p>\n

\nTo please their souls with laughter, then replace<\/span><\/p>\n

\nIn the loud limbo of futilities.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nHow fallen art thou being ruled by these!<\/span><\/p>\n

\nIgnoble hearts, courageous to effect<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\n

 <\/p>\n

\n
\nPage \u2013 19<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

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

\nTheir country’s ruin; such the heavens reject<\/span><\/p>\n

\nFor their high agencies and leave exempt<\/span><\/p>\n

\nOf force, mere mouths and vessels of contempt.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThey of thy famous past and nature real<\/span><\/p>\n

\nUncareful, have denied thy rich ideal<\/span><\/p>\n

\nFor private gains, the burden would not brook<\/span><\/p>\n

\nOf that sustaining genius, when it took<\/span><\/p>\n

\nA form of visible power, since it demanded<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAll meaner passions for its sake disbanded.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAs once against the loud Euphratic host<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThe lax Ionians of the Asian coast<\/span><\/p>\n

\nDrew out their numbers, but not long enduring<\/span><\/p>\n

\nRigorous hard-hearted toil to the alluring<\/span><\/p>\n

\nCool shadow of the olives green withdrew;<\/span><\/p>\n

\nFreedom’s preparators though well they knew<\/span><\/p>\n

\nLabour exact, discipline, pains well nerved<\/span><\/p>\n

\nIn the severe unpitying sun, yet swerved<\/span><\/p>\n

\nFrom their ordeal; Ireland so deceiving<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThe world’s great hope, her temples large relieving<\/span><\/p>\n

\nOf the too heavy laurel, rather chose<\/span><\/p>\n

\nMisery, civil battle, triumphant foes<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThan rational order and divine control.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nTherefore her brighter fate and nobler soul<\/span><\/p>\n

\nGlasnevin with that hardly-honoured bier<\/span><\/p>\n

\nReceived. But the immortal mind austere,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nBy man rejected, of eternal praise<\/span><\/p>\n

\nHas won its meed and sits with heavenly bays,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nNot variable breath of favour, crowned<\/span><\/p>\n

\nOn high. And grieves it not, spirit renowned,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nMortal ingratitude though now forgiven,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nGrieves it not, even on the hills of heaven,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAfter so many mighty toils, defeats<\/span><\/p>\n

\nSo many, cold repulse and vernal heats<\/span><\/p>\n

\nOf hope, iron endurance throned apart<\/span><\/p>\n

\nIn lonely strength within thy godlike heart,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nObloquy faced, health lost, the goal nigh won,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nTo see at last thy strenuous work undone?<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

\n
\nPage \u2013 20<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

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

\nSo falls it ever when a race condemned<\/span><\/p>\n

\nTo strict and lasting bondage, have contemned<\/span><\/p>\n

\nTheir great deliverer, self and ease preferring<\/span><\/p>\n

\nTo labour’s crown, by their own vileness erring.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThus the uncounselled Israelites of old,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nBinding their mightiest, for their own ease sold,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nWho else had won them glorious liberty<\/span><\/p>\n

\nTo his Philistian foes, as thine did thee.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThou likewise, had thy puissant soul endured<\/span><\/p>\n

\nWithin its ruined house to stay immured,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nWith parallel disaster and o’erthrow<\/span><\/p>\n

\nHadst daunted and their conjured strength laid low.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nBut time was adverse. Thus too Heracles<\/span><\/p>\n

\nIn exile closed by the Olynthian seas,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nNot seeing Thebes nor Dirce any more,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nHis friendless eyelids on an alien shore.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nYet not unbidden of heaven the men renowned<\/span><\/p>\n

\nHave laboured, though no fruit apparent crowned<\/span><\/p>\n

\nNor praise contemporary touched with leaf<\/span><\/p>\n

\nOf civic favour, who for joy or grief<\/span><\/p>\n

\nTo throned injustice never bowed the head.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThey triumph from the houses of the dead.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThou too, high spirit, mighty genius, glass<\/span><\/p>\n

\nOf patriots, into others’ deeds shalt pass<\/span><\/p>\n

\nWith force and tranquil fortitude thy dower,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAn inspiration and a fount of power.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nNor to thy country only nor thy day<\/span><\/p>\n

\nArt thou a name and a possession, stay<\/span><\/p>\n

\nOf loftiest natures, but where’er and when<\/span><\/p>\n

\nIn time’s full ripeness and the date of men<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAlien oppression maddened has the wise,  \u2014 <\/span> <\/p>\n

\nFor ever thus preparing Nemesis<\/span><\/p>\n

\nIn ruling nations unjust power has borne<\/span><\/p>\n

\nInsolence, injustice, madness, outrage, scorn,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nIts natural children, then, by high disdain<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAnd brave example pushed to meet their pain,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThe pupils of thy greatness shall appear,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

 <\/p>\n

\n
\nPage \u2013 21<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

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

\nSouls regal to the mould divine most near,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAnd reign, or rise on throne-intending wings,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nMaking thee father to a line of kings.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\n
\nOn a Satyr and Sleeping Love<\/a><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\nMe whom the purple mead that Bromius owns<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAnd girdles rent of amorous girls did please,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nNow the inspired and curious hand decrees<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThat waked quick life in these quiescent stones,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nTo yield thee water pure. Thou lest the sleep<\/span><\/p>\n

\nYon perilous boy unchain, more softly creep.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

 <\/p>\n

\n
\nA Rose of Women<\/a><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\nNow lilies blow upon the windy height,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nNow flowers the pansy kissed by tender rain,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nNarcissus builds his house of self-delight<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAnd Love’s own fairest flower blooms again;<\/span><\/p>\n

\nVainly your gems, O meadows, you recall;<\/span><\/p>\n

\nOne simple girl breathes sweeter than you all.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

 <\/p>\n

\n
\nSaraswati with the Lotus<\/a><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n(Bankim Chandra Chatterji. Obiit 1894<\/i>)<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\nThy tears fall fast, O mother, on its bloom,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nO white-armed mother, like honey fall thy tears;<\/span><\/p>\n

\nYet even their sweetness can no more relume<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThe golden light, the fragrance heaven rears,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThe fragrance and the light for ever shed<\/span><\/p>\n

\nUpon his lips immortal who is dead.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

\n
\nPage \u2013 22<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/font>
\n<\/span>\n<\/td>\n

\n

 <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  Songs to Myrtilla   Songs to Myrtilla   GLAUCUS Sweet is the night, sweet and cool As to parched lips a running pool; Sweet…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[57],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3022","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-02-collected-poems","wpcat-57-id"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3022","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=3022"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3022\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3022"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3022"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3022"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}