SRI AUROBINDO
Translations
from Sanskrit and Other Languages
II. From Bengali
Selected Poems of Chandidas
Love, but my words are vain as air!
In my sweet joyous youth, a heart untried,
Thou took’st1 me in Love’s sudden snare,
Thou wouldst not let me in my home abide.
And now I have nought else to try,
But I will make my soul one strong desire
And into Ocean leaping die:
So shall my heart be cooled of all its fire.
As Nanda’s son, the joy of Braja’s girls,
And I will make thee Radha then,
A laughing child’s face set with lovely curls.
Then I will love thee and then leave;
Under the Codome’s boughs when thou goest by
Bound to the water morn or eve,
Lean on that tree fluting melodiously.
Thou shalt hear me and fall at sight
Under my charm; my voice shall wholly move
Thy simple girl’s heart to delight;
Then shalt thou know the bitterness of love.
1 2009 ed. CWSA, vol.2: tookst