SRI AUROBINDO
Translations
from Sanskrit and Other Languages
II. From Bengali
VII
Alternate Version
See the sweet bud half-open blow!
The light and wilful feet grow wise
And yield their rudderless gait to the eyes.
Each moment see her hand repress
Upon her bosom her fluttering dress1
Nor questions she her comrades now
Too shy to her secret thought to show.
Madhav, how shall faltering word
Her sweet and twilight age record.
Within her lovely chains were held.
Ah yet the god of yearning eyes
Just where her heart’s high2 waves arise
Made for himself a sacred ground
Where two unrivalled towers are found.
Love’s speech her listening heart doth stop
As the hunter’s song the antelope.
Two powers dispute this beauteous prize,
Nought one deems gained while aught there lies
To gain, nor the other failure owns
While yet he holds his golden thrones.
Still with sweet violence she clings
To her loved childhood’s parting wings.
1 The wilful flutterings of her dress
2 wild