s: a family illustrious.  The other day the curator of a museum


s: pointed out to me a little dark-skinned man who was arranging


s: their Chinese prints and said, ''That is the hereditary


s: connoisseur of the Mikado, he is the fourteenth of his family to


s: hold the post.'' 'He answered, 'When Rabindranath was a boy he


s: had all round him in his home literature and music.'  I thought


s: of the abundance, of the simplicity of the poems, and said, 'In


s: your country is there much propagandist writing, much criticism?


s: We have to do so much, especially in my own country, that our


s: minds gradually cease to be creative, and yet we cannot help it.


s: If our life was not a continual warfare, we would not have taste,


s: readers.  Four-fifths of our energy is spent in the quarrel with


s: bad taste, whether in our own minds or in the minds of others.'


s: 'I understand,' he replied, 'we too have our propagandist


s: writing.  In the villages they recite long mythological poems


s: adapted from the Sanskrit in the Middle Ages, and they often


s: insert passages telling the people that they must do their


s: I have carried the manuscript of these translations about with me


s: omnibuses and in restaurants, and I have often had to close it


s: of rhythm, of untranslatable delicacies of colour, of metrical


s: invention--display in their thought a world I have dreamed of all


s: much the growth of the common soil as the grass and the rushes.


s: A tradition, where poetry and religion are the same thing, has


s: passed through the centuries, gathering from learned and


s: unlearned metaphor and emotion, and carried back again to the


s: multitude the thought of the scholar and of the noble.  If the


s: civilization of Bengal remains unbroken, if that common mind


s: which--as one divines--runs through all, is not, as with us,


s: broken into a dozen minds that know nothing of each other,


s: something even of what is most subtle in these verses will have


s: come, in a few generations, to the beggar on the roads.  When


s: there was but one mind in England, Chaucer wrote his _Troilus


s: and Cressida_, and thought he had written to be read, or to be


s: read out--for our time was coming on apace--he was sung by


s: minstrels for a while.  Rabindranath Tagore, like Chaucer's


s: forerunners, writes music for his words, and one understands at


s: every moment that he is so abundant, so spontaneous, so daring in


s: which has never seemed strange, unnatural, or in need of defence.


s: ladies' tables, who turn the pages with indolent hands that they


s: may sigh over a life without meaning, which is yet all they can


s: know of life, or be carried by students at the university to be


s: laid aside when the work of life begins, but, as the generations


s: pass, travellers will hum them on the highway and men rowing upon


s: more bitter passion may bathe and renew its youth.  At every


s: moment the heart of this poet flows outward to these without


s: derogation or condescension, for it has known that they will


s: understand; and it has filled itself with the circumstance of


s: their lives.  The traveller in the read-brown clothes that he


s: wears that dust may not show upon him, the girl searching in her


s: bed for the petals fallen from the wreath of her royal lover, the


s: empty house, are images of the heart turning to God.  Flowers and


s: those figures full of mysterious meaning in a Chinese picture, is


s: strange to us, seems to have been taken up into this imagination;


s: we have met our own image, as though we had walked in Rossetti's


s: willow wood, or heard, perhaps for the first time in literature,


s: Since the Renaissance the writing of European saints--however


s: familiar their metaphor and the general structure of their


s: thought--has ceased to hold our attention.  We know that we must


s: at last forsake the world, and we are accustomed in moments of


s: weariness or exaltation to consider a voluntary forsaking; but


s: how can we, who have read so much poetry, seen so many paintings,


s: we in common with St.  Bernard covering his eyes that they may


s: not dwell upon the beauty of the lakes of Switzerland, or with


s: the violent rhetoric of the Book of Revelations?  We would, if we


s: got my leave.  Bid me farewell, my brothers!  I bow to you all


s: and take my departure.  Here I give back the keys of my door--and


s: I could give.  Now the day has dawned and the lamp that lit my


s: dark corner is out.  A summons has come and I am ready for my


s: journey.'  And it is our own mood, when it is furthest from 'a


s: Kempis or John of the Cross, that cries, 'And because I love this


s: our thoughts of the parting that this book fathoms all.  We had


s: not known that we loved God, hardly it may be that we believed in


s: exploration of the pathways of woods, in our delight in the


s: lonely places of hills, in that mysterious claim that we have


s: made, unavailingly on the woman that we have loved, the emotion


s: that created this insidious sweetness.  'Entering my heart


s: unbidden even as one of the common crowd, unknown to me, my king,


s: moment.'  This is no longer the sanctity of the cell and of the


s: scourge; being but a lifting up, as it were, into a greater


s: intensity of the mood of the painter, painting the dust and the


s: sunlight, and we go for a like voice to St. Francis and to


s: William Blake who have seemed so alien in our violent history.


s: We write long books where no page perhaps has any quality to make


s: as we fight and make money and fill our heads with politics--all


s: dull things in the doing--while Mr.  Tagore, like the Indian


s: civilization itself, has been content to discover the soul and


s: surrender himself to its spontaneity.  He often seems to contrast


s: and have more seeming weight in the world, and always humbly as


s: though he were only sure his way is best for him: 'Men going home


s: beggar maid, drawing my skirt over my face, and when they ask me,


s: another time, remembering how his life had once a different


s: shape, he will say, 'Many an hour I have spent in the strife of


s: the good and the evil, but now it is the pleasure of my playmate


s: of the empty days to draw my heart on to him; and I know not why


s: this sudden call to what useless inconsequence.'  An innocence, a


s: the birds and the leaves seem as near to him as they are near to


s: children, and the changes of the seasons great events as before


s: our thoughts had arisen between them and us.  At times I wonder


s: if he has it from the literature of Bengal or from religion, and


s: at other times, remembering the birds alighting on his brother's


s: hands, I find pleasure in thinking it hereditary, a mystery that


s: was growing through the centuries like the courtesy of a Tristan


s: or a Pelanore.  Indeed, when he is speaking of children, so much


s: a part of himself this quality seems, one is not certain that he


s: is not also speaking of the saints, 'They build their houses with


s: weave their boats and smilingly float them on the vast deep.


s: Children have their play on the seashore of worlds.  They know


s: not how to swim, they know not how to cast nets.  Pearl fishers


s: dive for pearls, merchants sail in their ships, while children


s: gather pebbles and scatter them again.  They seek not for hidden


s: treasures, they know not how to cast nets.'


s: Thou hast made me endless, such is thy pleasure.  This frail


s: vessel thou emptiest again and again, and fillest it ever with


s: This little flute of a reed thou hast carried over hills and


s: dales, and hast breathed through it melodies eternally new.


s: At the immortal touch of thy hands my little heart loses its


s: limits in joy and gives birth to utterance ineffable.


s: Thy infinite gifts come to me only on these very small hands of


s: mine.  Ages pass, and still thou pourest, and still there is room


s: When thou commandest me to sing it seems that my heart would


s: break with pride; and I look to thy face, and tears come to my


s: All that is harsh and dissonant in my life melts into one sweet


s: harmony--and my adoration spreads wings like a glad bird on its


s: I know thou takest pleasure in my singing.  I know that only as a


s: I touch by the edge of the far-spreading wing of my song thy feet


s: Drunk with the joy of singing I forget myself and call thee


s: I know not how thou singest, my master!  I ever listen in silent


s: The light of thy music illumines the world.  The life breath of


s: thy music runs from sky to sky.  The holy stream of thy music


s: breaks through all stony obstacles and rushes on.


s: My heart longs to join in thy song, but vainly struggles for a


s: voice.  I would speak, but speech breaks not into song, and I cry


s: Life of my life, I shall ever try to keep my body pure, knowing


s: that thy living touch is upon all my limbs.


s: I shall ever try to keep all untruths out from my thoughts,


s: knowing that thou art that truth which has kindled the light of


s: I shall ever try to drive all evils away from my heart and keep


s: my love in flower, knowing that thou hast thy seat in the inmost


s: And it shall be my endeavour to reveal thee in my actions,


s: knowing it is thy power gives me strength to act.


s: I ask for a moment's indulgence to sit by thy side.  The works


s: that I have in hand I will finish afterwards.


s: Away from the sight of thy face my heart knows no rest nor


s: respite, and my work becomes an endless toil in a shoreless sea


s: Today the summer has come at my window with its sighs and


s: murmurs; and the bees are plying their minstrelsy at the court of


s: Now it is time to sit quite, face to face with thee, and to sing


s: dedication of live in this silent and overflowing leisure.


s: Pluck this little flower and take it, delay not!  I fear lest it


s: I may not find a place in thy garland, but honour it with a touch


s: before I am aware, and the time of offering go by.


s: Though its colour be not deep and its smell be faint, use this


s: flower in thy service and pluck it while there is time.


s: My song has put off her adornments.  She has no pride of dress


s: and decoration.  Ornaments would mar our union; they would come


s: between thee and me; their jingling would drown thy whispers.


s: My poet's vanity dies in shame before thy sight.  O master poet,


s: I have sat down at thy feet.  Only let me make my life simple and


s: chains round his neck loses all pleasure in his play; his dress


s: In fear that it may be frayed, or stained with dust he keeps


s: himself from the world, and is afraid even to move.


s: Mother, it is no gain, thy bondage of finery, if it keep one


s: shut off from the healthful dust of the earth, if it rob one of


s: the right of entrance to the great fair of common human life.


s: O Fool, try to carry thyself upon thy own shoulders!  O beggar,


s: Leave all thy burdens on his hands who can bear all, and never


s: Thy desire at once puts out the light from the lamp it touches


s: with its breath.  It is unholy--take not thy gifts through its


s: unclean hands.  Accept only what is offered by sacred love.


s: Here is thy footstool and there rest thy feet where live the


s: When I try to bow to thee, my obeisance cannot reach down to the


s: depth where thy feet rest among the poorest, and lowliest, and


s: Pride can never approach to where thou walkest in the clothes of


s: the humble among the poorest, and lowliest, and lost.


s: My heart can never find its way to where thou keepest company


s: with the companionless among the poorest, the lowliest, and the


s: Leave this chanting and singing and telling of beads!  Whom dost


s: thou worship in this lonely dark corner of a temple with doors


s: all shut?  Open thine eyes and see thy God is not before thee!


s: He is there where the tiller is tilling the hard ground and where


s: shower, and his garment is covered with dust.  Put of thy holy


s: mantle and even like him come down on the dusty soil!


s: Deliverance?  Where is this deliverance to be found?  Our master


s: himself has joyfully taken upon him the bonds of creation; he is


s: Come out of thy meditations and leave aside thy flowers and


s: incense!  What harm is there if thy clothes become tattered and


s: stained?  Meet him and stand by him in toil and in sweat of thy


s: The time that my journey takes is long and the way of it long.


s: I came out on the chariot of the first gleam of light, and


s: pursued my voyage through the wildernesses of worlds leaving my


s: It is the most distant course that comes nearest to thyself, and


s: that training is the most intricate which leads to the utter


s: The traveller has to knock at every alien door to come to his


s: own, and one has to wander through all the outer worlds to reach


s: My eyes strayed far and wide before I shut them and said 'Here


s: The question and the cry 'Oh, where?' melt into tears of a


s: thousand streams and deluge the world with the flood of the


s: The song that I came to sing remains unsung to this day.


s: I have spent my days in stringing and in unstringing my


s: The time has not come true, the words have not been rightly set;


s: only there is the agony of wishing in my heart.


s: The blossom has not opened; only the wind is sighing by.


s: I have not seen his face, nor have I listened to his voice; only


s: I have heard his gentle footsteps from the road before my house.


s: The livelong day has passed in spreading his seat on the floor;


s: but the lamp has not been lit and I cannot ask him into my house.


s: I live in the hope of meeting with him; but this meeting is not


s: My desires are many and my cry is pitiful, but ever didst thou


s: save me by hard refusals; and this strong mercy has been wrought


s: Day by day thou art making me worthy of the simple, great gifts


s: that thou gavest to me unasked--this sky and the light, this body


s: There are times when I languidly linger and times when I awaken


s: and hurry in search of my goal; but cruelly thou hidest thyself


s: Day by day thou art making me worthy of thy full acceptance by


s: refusing me ever and anon, saving me from perils of weak,


s: I am here to sing thee songs.  In this hall of thine I have a


s: In thy world I have no work to do; my useless life can only break


s: When the hour strikes for thy silent worship at the dark temple


s: of midnight, command me, my master, to stand before thee to sing.


s: When in the morning air the golden harp is tuned, honour me,


s: I have had my invitation to this world's festival, and thus my


s: life has been blessed.  My eyes have seen and my ears have heard.


s: It was my part at this feast to play upon my instrument, and I


s: Now, I ask, has the time come at last when I may go in and see


s: thy face and offer thee my silent salutation?


s: I am only waiting for love to give myself up at last into his


s: hands.  That is why it is so late and why I have been guilty of


s: They come with their laws and their codes to bind me fast; but I


s: evade them ever, for I am only waiting for love to give myself up


s: People blame me and call me heedless; I doubt not they are right


s: The market day is over and work is all done for the busy.  Those


s: who came to call me in vain have gone back in anger.  I am only


s: waiting for love to give myself up at last into his hands.


s: Clouds heap upon clouds and it darkens.  Ah, love, why dost thou


s: let me wait outside at the door all alone?


s: In the busy moments of the noontide work I am with the crowd, but


s: If thou showest me not thy face, if thou leavest me wholly aside,


s: I keep gazing on the far-away gloom of the sky, and my heart


s: If thou speakest not I will fill my heart with thy silence and


s: endure it.  I will keep still and wait like the night with starry


s: The morning will surely come, the darkness will vanish, and thy


s: voice pour down in golden streams breaking through the sky.


s: Then thy words will take wing in songs from every one of my


s: birds' nests, and thy melodies will break forth in flowers in all


s: On the day when the lotus bloomed, alas, my mind was straying,


s: and I knew it not.  My basket was empty and the flower remained


s: Only now and again a sadness fell upon me, and I started up from


s: my dream and felt a sweet trace of a strange fragrance in the


s: That vague sweetness made my heart ache with longing and it


s: seemed to me that is was the eager breath of the summer seeking


s: I knew not then that it was so near, that it was mine, and that


s: this perfect sweetness had blossomed in the depth of my own


s: I must launch out my boat.  The languid hours pass by on the


s: The spring has done its flowering and taken leave.  And now with


s: the burden of faded futile flowers I wait and linger.


s: The waves have become clamorous, and upon the bank in the shady


s: lane the yellow leaves flutter and fall.


s: What emptiness do you gaze upon!  Do you not feel a thrill


s: passing through the air with the notes of the far-away song


s: In the deep shadows of the rainy July, with secret steps, thou


s: walkest, silent as night, eluding all watchers.


s: Today the morning has closed its eyes, heedless of the insistent


s: calls of the loud east wind, and a thick veil has been drawn over


s: The woodlands have hushed their songs, and doors are all shut at


s: every house.  Thou art the solitary wayfarer in this deserted


s: street.  Oh my only friend, my best beloved, the gates are open


s: in my house--do not pass by like a dream.


s: Art thou abroad on this stormy night on thy journey of love, my


s: friend?  The sky groans like one in despair.


s: I have no sleep tonight.  Ever and again I open my door and look


s: I can see nothing before me.  I wonder where lies thy path!


s: By what dim shore of the ink-black river, by what far edge of the


s: threading thy course to come to me, my friend?


s: If the day is done, if birds sing no more, if the wind has


s: flagged tired, then draw the veil of darkness thick upon me, even


s: tenderly closed the petals of the drooping lotus at dusk.


s: From the traveller, whose sack of provisions is empty before the


s: voyage is ended, whose garment is torn and dustladen, whose


s: strength is exhausted, remove shame and poverty, and renew his


s: life like a flower under the cover of thy kindly night.


s: In the night of weariness let me give myself up to sleep without


s: Let me not force my flagging spirit into a poor preparation for


s: It is thou who drawest the veil of night upon the tired eyes of


s: the day to renew its sight in a fresher gladness of awakening.


s: He came and sat by my side but I woke not.  What a cursed sleep


s: He came when the night was still; he had his harp in his hands,


s: and my dreams became resonant with its melodies.


s: Alas, why are my nights all thus lost?  Ah, why do I ever miss


s: his sight whose breath touches my sleep?


s: Light, oh where is the light?  Kindle it with the burning fire of


s: There is the lamp but never a flicker of a flame--is such thy


s: fate, my heart?  Ah, death were better by far for thee!


s: Misery knocks at thy door, and her message is that thy lord is


s: wakeful, and he calls thee to the love-tryst through the darkness


s: The sky is overcast with clouds and the rain is ceaseless.  I


s: know not what this is that stirs in me--I know not its meaning.


s: A moment's flash of lightning drags down a deeper gloom on my


s: sight, and my heart gropes for the path to where the music of the


s: Light, oh where is the light!  Kindle it with the burning fire of


s: void.  The night is black as a black stone.  Let not the hours


s: pass by in the dark.  Kindle the lamp of love with thy life.


s: Obstinate are the trammels, but my heart aches when I try to


s: Freedom is all I want, but to hope for it I feel ashamed.


s: I am certain that priceless wealth is in thee, and that thou art


s: my best friend, but I have not the heart to sweep away the tinsel


s: The shroud that covers me is a shroud of dust and death; I hate


s: My debts are large, my failures great, my shame secret and heavy;


s: He whom I enclose with my name is weeping in this dungeon.  I am


s: ever busy building this wall all around; and as this wall goes up


s: I take pride in this great wall, and I plaster it with dust and


s: sand lest a least hole should be left in this name; and for all


s: the care I take I lose sight of my true being.


s: I came out alone on my way to my tryst.  But who is this that


s: I move aside to avoid his presence but I escape him not.


s: He makes the dust rise from the earth with his swagger; he adds


s: his loud voice to every word that I utter.


s: He is my own little self, my lord, he knows no shame; but I am


s: ashamed to come to thy door in his company.


s: 'Prisoner, tell me, who was it that bound you?'


s: 'It was my master,' said the prisoner.  'I thought I could outdo


s: everybody in the world in wealth and power, and I amassed in my


s: own treasure-house the money due to my king.  When sleep overcame


s: found I was a prisoner in my own treasure-house.'


s: 'Prisoner, tell me, who was it that wrought this unbreakable


s: 'It was I,' said the prisoner, 'who forged this chain very


s: carefully.  I thought my invincible power would hold the world


s: captive leaving me in a freedom undisturbed.  Thus night and day


s: I worked at the chain with huge fires and cruel hard strokes.


s: When at last the work was done and the links were complete and


s: unbreakable, I found that it held me in its grip.'


s: By all means they try to hold me secure who love me in this


s: world.  But it is otherwise with thy love which is greater than


s: Lest I forget them they never venture to leave me alone.  But day


s: If I call not thee in my prayers, if I keep not thee in my heart,


s: When it was day they came into my house and said, 'We shall only


s: They said, 'We shall help you in the worship of your God and


s: humbly accept only our own share in his grace'; and then they


s: took their seat in a corner and they sat quiet and meek.


s: But in the darkness of night I find they break into my sacred


s: shrine, strong and turbulent, and snatch with unholy greed the


s: Let only that little be left of me whereby I may name thee my


s: Let only that little be left of my will whereby I may feel thee


s: on every side, and come to thee in everything, and offer to thee


s: Let only that little be left of me whereby I may never hide thee.


s: Let only that little of my fetters be left whereby I am bound


s: with thy will, and thy purpose is carried out in my life--and


s: Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high;


s: Where the world has not been broken up into fragments by narrow


s: Where words come out from the depth of truth;


s: Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection;


s: Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way into the


s: Where the mind is led forward by thee into ever-widening thought


s: Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake.


s: This is my prayer to thee, my lord--strike, strike at the root of


s: Give me the strength lightly to bear my joys and sorrows.


s: Give me the strength to make my love fruitful in service.


s: Give me the strength never to disown the poor or bend my knees


s: Give me the strength to raise my mind high above daily trifles.


s: And give me the strength to surrender my strength to thy will


s: I thought that my voyage had come to its end at the last limit of


s: were exhausted and the time come to take shelter in a silent


s: But I find that thy will knows no end in me.  And when old words


s: die out on the tongue, new melodies break forth from the heart;


s: and where the old tracks are lost, new country is revealed with


s: That I want thee, only thee--let my heart repeat without end.


s: All desires that distract me, day and night, are false and empty


s: As the night keeps hidden in its gloom the petition for light,


s: even thus in the depth of my unconsciousness rings the cry--'I


s: As the storm still seeks its end in peace when it strikes against


s: thy love and still its cry is--'I want thee, only thee'.


s: When the heart is hard and parched up, come upon me with a shower


s: When grace is lost from life, come with a burst of song.


s: When tumultuous work raises its din on all sides shutting me out


s: from beyond, come to me, my lord of silence, with thy peace and


s: When my beggarly heart sits crouched, shut up in a corner, break


s: open the door, my king, and come with the ceremony of a king.


s: When desire blinds the mind with delusion and dust, O thou holy


s: one, thou wakeful, come with thy light and thy thunder.


s: The rain has held back for days and days, my God, in my arid


s: heart.  The horizon is fiercely naked--not the thinnest cover of


s: a soft cloud, not the vaguest hint of a distant cool shower.


s: Send thy angry storm, dark with death, if it is thy wish, and


s: with lashes of lightning startle the sky from end to end.


s: But call back, my lord, call back this pervading silent heat,


s: still and keen and cruel, burning the heart with dire despair.


s: Let the cloud of grace bend low from above like the tearful look


s: of the mother on the day of the father's wrath.


s: Where dost thou stand behind them all, my lover, hiding thyself


s: in the shadows?  They push thee and pass thee by on the dusty


s: road, taking thee for naught.  I wait here weary hours spreading


s: my offerings for thee, while passers-by come and take my flowers,


s: The morning time is past, and the noon.  In the shade of evening


s: my eyes are drowsy with sleep.  Men going home glance at me and


s: smile and fill me with shame.  I sit like a beggar maid, drawing


s: my skirt over my face, and when they ask me, what it is I want, I


s: Oh, how, indeed, could I tell them that for thee I wait, and that


s: keep for my dowry this poverty.  Ah, I hug this pride in the


s: I sit on the grass and gaze upon the sky and dream of the sudden


s: splendour of thy coming--all the lights ablaze, golden pennons


s: flying over thy car, and they at the roadside standing agape,


s: when they see thee come down from thy seat to raise me from the


s: dust, and set at thy side this ragged beggar girl a-tremble with


s: shame and pride, like a creeper in a summer breeze.


s: But time glides on and still no sound of the wheels of thy


s: chariot.  Many a procession passes by with noise and shouts and


s: glamour of glory.  Is it only thou who wouldst stand in the


s: shadow silent and behind them all?  And only I who would wait and


s: Early in the day it was whispered that we should sail in a boat,


s: only thou and I, and never a soul in the world would know of this


s: In that shoreless ocean, at thy silently listening smile my songs


s: Is the time not come yet?  Are there works still to do?  Lo, the


s: evening has come down upon the shore and in the fading light the


s: Who knows when the chains will be off, and the boat, like the


s: last glimmer of sunset, vanish into the night?


s: The day was when I did not keep myself in readiness for thee; and


s: unknown to me, my king, thou didst press the signet of eternity


s: And today when by chance I light upon them and see thy signature,


s: Thou didst not turn in contempt from my childish play among dust,


s: This is my delight, thus to wait and watch at the wayside where


s: shadow chases light and the rain comes in the wake of the summer.


s: Messengers, with tidings from unknown skies, greet me and speed


s: along the road.  My heart is glad within, and the breath of the


s: From dawn till dusk I sit here before my door, and I know that of


s: In the meanwhile I smile and I sing all alone.  In the meanwhile


s: the air is filling with the perfume of promise.


s: Have you not heard his silent steps?  He comes, comes, ever


s: Every moment and every age, every day and every night he comes,


s: Many a song have I sung in many a mood of mind, but all their


s: notes have always proclaimed, 'He comes, comes, ever comes.'


s: In the fragrant days of sunny April through the forest path he


s: In the rainy gloom of July nights on the thundering chariot of


s: In sorrow after sorrow it is his steps that press upon my heart,


s: and it is the golden touch of his feet that makes my joy to


s: I know not from what distant time thou art ever coming nearer to


s: meet me.  Thy sun and stars can never keep thee hidden from me


s: In many a morning and eve thy footsteps have been heard and thy


s: messenger has come within my heart and called me in secret.


s: I know not only why today my life is all astir, and a feeling of


s: tremulous joy is passing through my heart.


s: It is as if the time were come to wind up my work, and I feel in


s: the air a faint smell of thy sweet presence.


s: The night is nearly spent waiting for him in vain.  I fear lest


s: in the morning he suddenly come to my door when I have fallen


s: asleep wearied out.  Oh friends, leave the way open to him--


s: If the sounds of his steps does not wake me, do not try to rouse


s: me, I pray.  I wish not to be called from my sleep by the


s: clamorous choir of birds, by the riot of wind at the festival of


s: morning light.  Let me sleep undisturbed even if my lord comes of


s: Ah, my sleep, precious sleep, which only waits for his touch to


s: vanish.  Ah, my closed eyes that would open their lids only to


s: the light of his smile when he stands before me like a dream


s: Let him appear before my sight as the first of all lights and all


s: from his glance.  And let my return to myself be immediate return


s: The morning sea of silence broke into ripples of bird songs; and


s: the flowers were all merry by the roadside; and the wealth of


s: gold was scattered through the rift of the clouds while we busily


s: We sang no glad songs nor played; we went not to the village for


s: barter; we spoke not a word nor smiled; we lingered not on the


s: way.  We quickened our pace more and more as the time sped by.


s: The sun rose to the mid sky and doves cooed in the shade.


s: Withered leaves danced and whirled in the hot air of noon.  The


s: shepherd boy drowsed and dreamed in the shadow of the banyan


s: tree, and I laid myself down by the water and stretched my tired


s: My companions laughed at me in scorn; they held their heads high


s: and hurried on; they never looked back nor rested; they vanished


s: in the distant blue haze.  They crossed many meadows and hills,


s: and passed through strange, far-away countries.  All honour to


s: you, heroic host of the interminable path!  Mockery and reproach


s: pricked me to rise, but found no response in me.  I gave myself


s: up for lost in the depth of a glad humiliation--in the shadow of


s: The repose of the sun-embroidered green gloom slowly spread over


s: my heart.  I forgot for what I had travelled, and I surrendered


s: my mind without struggle to the maze of shadows and songs.


s: At last, when I woke from my slumber and opened my eyes, I saw


s: thee standing by me, flooding my sleep with thy smile.  How I had


s: You came down from your throne and stood at my cottage door.


s: I was singing all alone in a corner, and the melody caught your


s: ear.  You came down and stood at my cottage door.


s: Masters are many in your hall, and songs are sung there at all


s: hours.  But the simple carol of this novice struck at your love.


s: One plaintive little strain mingled with the great music of the


s: world, and with a flower for a prize you came down and stopped at


s: I had gone a-begging from door to door in the village path, when


s: thy golden chariot appeared in the distance like a gorgeous dream


s: My hopes rose high and methought my evil days were at an end, and


s: The chariot stopped where I stood.  Thy glance fell on me and


s: thou camest down with a smile.  I felt that the luck of my life


s: had come at last.  Then of a sudden thou didst hold out thy right


s: Ah, what a kingly jest was it to open thy palm to a beggar to


s: beg!  I was confused and stood undecided, and then from my wallet


s: But how great my surprise when at the day's end I emptied my bag


s: on the floor to find a least little gram of gold among the poor


s: heap.  I bitterly wept and wished that I had had the heart to


s: The night darkened.  Our day's works had been done.  We thought


s: that the last guest had arrived for the night and the doors in


s: the village were all shut.  Only some said the king was to come.


s: It seemed there were knocks at the door and we said it was


s: nothing but the wind.  We put out the lamps and lay down to


s: sleep.  Only some said, 'It is the messenger!' We laughed and


s: There came a sound in the dead of the night.  We sleepily thought


s: and it troubled us in our sleep.  Only some said it was the sound


s: The night was still dark when the drum sounded.  The voice came


s: 'Wake up!  delay not!' We pressed our hands on our hearts and


s: shuddered with fear.  Some said, 'Lo, there is the king's flag!'


s: We stood up on our feet and cried 'There is no time for delay!'


s: The king has come--but where are lights, where are wreaths?


s: Where is the throne to seat him?  Oh, shame!  Oh utter shame!


s: Where is the hall, the decorations?  Someone has said, 'Vain is


s: this cry!  Greet him with empty hands, lead him into thy rooms


s: Open the doors, let the conch-shells be sounded!  in the depth of


s: thunder roars in the sky.  The darkness shudders with lightning.


s: Bring out thy tattered piece of mat and spread it in the


s: courtyard.  With the storm has come of a sudden our king of the


s: I thought I should ask of thee--but I dared not--the rose wreath


s: thou hadst on thy neck.  Thus I waited for the morning, when thou


s: beggar I searched in the dawn only for a stray petal or two.


s: Ah me, what is it I find?  What token left of thy love?  It is no


s: sword, flashing as a flame, heavy as a bolt of thunder.  The


s: hast thou got?' No, it is no flower, nor spices, nor vase of


s: perfumed water--it is thy dreadful sword.


s: I sit and muse in wonder, what gift is this of thine.  I can find


s: From now there shall be no fear left for me in this world, and


s: thou shalt be victorious in all my strife.  Thou hast left death


s: for my companion and I shall crown him with my life.  Thy sword


s: is with me to cut asunder my bonds, and there shall be no fear


s: From now I leave off all petty decorations.  Lord of my heart, no


s: more coyness and sweetness of demeanour.  Thou hast given me thy


s: sword for adornment.  No more doll's decorations for me!


s: Beautiful is thy wristlet, decked with stars and cunningly


s: sword with its curve of lightning like the outspread wings of the


s: It quivers like the one last response of life in ecstasy of pain


s: at the final stroke of death; it shines like the pure flame of


s: being burning up earthly sense with one fierce flash.


s: Beautiful is thy wristlet, decked with starry gems; but thy


s: sword, O lord of thunder, is wrought with uttermost beauty,


s: I asked nothing from thee; I uttered not my name to thine ear.


s: When thou took'st thy leave I stood silent.  I was alone by the


s: well where the shadow of the tree fell aslant, and the women had


s: gone home with their brown earthen pitchers full to the brim.


s: They called me and shouted, 'Come with us, the morning is wearing


s: I heard not thy steps as thou camest.  Thine eyes were sad when


s: they fell on me; thy voice was tired as thou spokest low--'Ah, I


s: am a thirsty traveller.'  I started up from my day-dreams and


s: poured water from my jar on thy joined palms.  The leaves rustled


s: _babla_ flowers came from the bend of the road.


s: I stood speechless with shame when my name thou didst ask.


s: Indeed, what had I done for thee to keep me in remembrance?  But


s: the memory that I could give water to thee to allay thy thirst


s: will cling to my heart and enfold it in sweetness.  The morning


s: hour is late, the bird sings in weary notes, _neem_ leaves


s: rustle overhead and I sit and think and think.


s: Languor is upon your heart and the slumber is still on your eyes.


s: Has not the word come to you that the flower is reigning in


s: splendour among thorns?  Wake, oh awaken!  let not the time pass


s: At the end of the stony path, in the country of virgin solitude,


s: my friend is sitting all alone.  Deceive him not.  Wake, oh


s: What if the sky pants and trembles with the heat of the midday


s: sun--what if the burning sand spreads its mantle of thirst--


s: Is there no joy in the deep of your heart?  At every footfall of


s: yours, will not the harp of the road break out in sweet music of


s: Thus it is that thy joy in me is so full.  Thus it is that thou


s: hast come down to me.  O thou lord of all heavens, where would be


s: Thou hast taken me as thy partner of all this wealth.  In my


s: heart is the endless play of thy delight.  In my life thy will is


s: And for this, thou who art the King of kings hast decked thyself


s: in beauty to captivate my heart.  And for this thy love loses


s: itself in the love of thy lover, and there art thou seen in the


s: Light, my light, the world-filling light, the eye-kissing light,


s: Ah, the light dances, my darling, at the centre of my life; the


s: light strikes, my darling, the chords of my love; the sky opens,


s: the wind runs wild, laughter passes over the earth.


s: The butterflies spread their sails on the sea of light.  Lilies


s: and jasmines surge up on the crest of the waves of light.


s: The light is shattered into gold on every cloud, my darling, and


s: Mirth spreads from leaf to leaf, my darling, and gladness without


s: Let all the strains of joy mingle in my last song--the joy that


s: makes the earth flow over in the riotous excess of the grass, the


s: waking all life with laughter, the joy that sits still with its


s: tears on the open red lotus of pain, and the joy that throws


s: everything it has upon the dust, and knows not a word.


s: sailing across the sky, this passing breeze leaving its coolness


s: The morning light has flooded my eyes--this is thy message to my


s: heart.  Thy face is bent from above, thy eyes look down on my


s: eyes, and my heart has touched thy feet.


s: On the seashore of endless worlds children meet.  The infinite


s: sky is motionless overhead and the restless water is boisterous.


s: On the seashore of endless worlds the children meet with shouts


s: They build their houses with sand and they play with empty


s: shells.  With withered leaves they weave their boats and


s: smilingly float them on the vast deep.  Children have their play


s: They know not how to swim, they know not how to cast nets.  Pearl


s: children gather pebbles and scatter them again.  they seek not


s: for hidden treasures, they know not how to cast nets.


s: The sea surges up with laughter and pale gleams the smile of the


s: sea beach.  Death-dealing waves sing meaningless ballads to the


s: children, even like a mother while rocking her baby's cradle.


s: The sea plays with children, and pale gleams the smile of the sea


s: On the seashore of endless worlds children meet.  Tempest roams


s: in the pathless sky, ships get wrecked in the trackless water,


s: death is abroad and children play.  On the seashore of endless


s: worlds is the great meeting of children.


s: The sleep that flits on baby's eyes--does anybody know from where


s: glow-worms, there hang two timid buds of enchantment.  From there


s: The smile that flickers on baby's lips when he sleeps--does


s: anybody know where it was born?  Yes, there is a rumour that a


s: young pale beam of a crescent moon touched the edge of a


s: vanishing autumn cloud, and there the smile was first born in the


s: The sweet, soft freshness that blooms on baby's limbs--does


s: anybody know where it was hidden so long?  Yes, when the mother


s: was a young girl it lay pervading her heart in tender and silent


s: mystery of love--the sweet, soft freshness that has bloomed on


s: When I bring to you coloured toys, my child, I understand why


s: there is such a play of colours on clouds, on water, and why


s: flowers are painted in tints--when I give coloured toys to you,


s: When I sing to make you dance I truly now why there is music in


s: leaves, and why waves send their chorus of voices to the heart of


s: When I bring sweet things to your greedy hands I know why there


s: is honey in the cup of the flowers and why fruits are secretly


s: filled with sweet juice--when I bring sweet things to your greedy


s: When I kiss your face to make you smile, my darling, I surely


s: understand what pleasure streams from the sky in morning light,


s: and what delight that is that is which the summer breeze brings


s: to my body--when I kiss you to make you smile.


s: Thou hast made me known to friends whom I knew not.  Thou hast


s: given me seats in homes not my own.  Thou hast brought the


s: distant near and made a brother of the stranger.


s: I am uneasy at heart when I have to leave my accustomed shelter;


s: I forget that there abides the old in the new, and that there


s: Through birth and death, in this world or in others, wherever


s: thou leadest me it is thou, the same, the one companion of my


s: endless life who ever linkest my heart with bonds of joy to the


s: When one knows thee, then alien there is none, then no door is


s: shut.  Oh, grant me my prayer that I may never lose the bliss of


s: the touch of the one in the play of many.


s: On the slope of the desolate river among tall grasses I asked


s: her, 'Maiden, where do you go shading your lamp with your mantle?


s: raised her dark eyes for a moment and looked at my face through


s: the dusk.  'I have come to the river,' she said, 'to float my


s: lamp on the stream when the daylight wanes in the west.'  I stood


s: In the silence of gathering night I asked her, 'Maiden, your


s: lights are all lit--then where do you go with your lamp?  My


s: house is all dark and lonesome--lend me your light.'  She raised


s: her dark eyes on my face and stood for a moment doubtful.  'I


s: have come,' she said at last, 'to dedicate my lamp to the sky.'


s: I stood and watched her light uselessly burning in the void.


s: In the moonless gloom of midnight I ask her, 'Maiden, what is


s: your quest, holding the lamp near your heart?  My house is all


s: dark and lonesome--lend me your light.'  She stopped for a minute


s: watched her little lamp uselessly lost among lights.


s: What divine drink wouldst thou have, my God, from this


s: My poet, is it thy delight to see thy creation through my eyes


s: and to stand at the portals of my ears silently to listen to


s: Thy world is weaving words in my mind and thy joy is adding music


s: She who ever had remained in the depth of my being, in the


s: twilight of gleams and of glimpses; she who never opened her


s: veils in the morning light, will be my last gift to thee, my God,


s: Words have wooed yet failed to win her; persuasion has stretched


s: I have roamed from country to country keeping her in the core of


s: my heart, and around her have risen and fallen the growth and


s: Over my thoughts and actions, my slumbers and dreams, she reigned


s: Many a man knocked at my door and asked for her and turned away


s: There was none in the world who ever saw her face to face, and


s: she remained in her loneliness waiting for thy recognition.


s: Thou art the sky and thou art the nest as well.


s: O thou beautiful, there in the nest is thy love that encloses the


s: There comes the morning with the golden basket in her right hand


s: bearing the wreath of beauty, silently to crown the earth.


s: And there comes the evening over the lonely meadows deserted by


s: herds, through trackless paths, carrying cool draughts of peace


s: in her golden pitcher from the western ocean of rest.


s: But there, where spreads the infinite sky for the soul to take


s: her flight in, reigns the stainless white radiance.  There is no


s: day nor night, nor form nor colour, and never, never a word.


s: Thy sunbeam comes upon this earth of mine with arms outstretched


s: and stands at my door the livelong day to carry back to thy feet


s: clouds made of my tears and sighs and songs.


s: With fond delight thou wrappest about thy starry breast that


s: mantle of misty cloud, turning it into numberless shapes and


s: folds and colouring it with hues everchanging.


s: It is so light and so fleeting, tender and tearful and dark, that


s: why it may cover thy awful white light with its pathetic shadows.


s: The same stream of life that runs through my veins night and day


s: runs through the world and dances in rhythmic measures.


s: It is the same life that shoots in joy through the dust of the


s: earth in numberless blades of grass and breaks into tumultuous


s: It is the same life that is rocked in the ocean-cradle of birth


s: I feel my limbs are made glorious by the touch of this world of


s: life.  And my pride is from the life-throb of ages dancing in my


s: Is it beyond thee to be glad with the gladness of this rhythm?


s: to be tossed and lost and broken in the whirl of this fearful


s: All things rush on, they stop not, they look not behind, no power


s: Keeping steps with that restless, rapid music, seasons come


s: dancing and pass away--colours, tunes, and perfumes pour in


s: endless cascades in the abounding joy that scatters and gives up


s: That I should make much of myself and turn it on all sides, thus


s: casting coloured shadows on thy radiance--such is thy


s: Thou settest a barrier in thine own being and then callest thy


s: severed self in myriad notes.  This thy self-separation has taken


s: The poignant song is echoed through all the sky in many-coloured


s: tears and smiles, alarms and hopes; waves rise up and sink again,


s: This screen that thou hast raised is painted with innumerable


s: figures with the brush of the night and the day.  Behind it thy


s: seat is woven in wondrous mysteries of curves, casting away all


s: The great pageant of thee and me has overspread the sky.  With


s: the tune of thee and me all the air is vibrant, and all ages pass


s: He it is, the innermost one, who awakens my being with his deep


s: He it is who puts his enchantment upon these eyes and joyfully


s: plays on the chords of my heart in varied cadence of pleasure and


s: He it is who weaves the web of this _maya_ in evanescent


s: hues of gold and silver, blue and green, and lets peep out


s: through the folds his feet, at whose touch I forget myself.


s: Days come and ages pass, and it is ever he who moves my heart in


s: many a name, in many a guise, in many a rapture of joy and of


s: Deliverance is not for me in renunciation.  I feel the embrace of


s: Thou ever pourest for me the fresh draught of thy wine of various


s: My world will light its hundred different lamps with thy flame


s: and place them before the altar of thy temple.


s: No, I will never shut the doors of my senses.  The delights of


s: sight and hearing and touch will bear thy delight.


s: Yes, all my illusions will burn into illumination of joy, and all


s: The day is no more, the shadow is upon the earth.  It is time


s: that I go to the stream to fill my pitcher.


s: The evening air is eager with the sad music of the water.  Ah, it


s: passer-by, the wind is up, the ripples are rampant in the river.


s: I know not if I shall come back home.  I know not whom I shall


s: chance to meet.  There at the fording in the little boat the


s: Thy gifts to us mortals fulfil all our needs and yet run back to


s: The river has its everyday work to do and hastens through fields


s: and hamlets; yet its incessant stream winds towards the washing


s: The flower sweetens the air with its perfume; yet its last


s: Thy worship does not impoverish the world.


s: From the words of the poet men take what meanings please them;


s: Day after day, O lord of my life, shall I stand before thee face


s: to face.  With folded hands, O lord of all worlds, shall I stand


s: Under thy great sky in solitude and silence, with humble heart


s: In this laborious world of thine, tumultuous with toil and with


s: struggle, among hurrying crowds shall I stand before thee face to


s: And when my work shall be done in this world, O King of kings,


s: alone and speechless shall I stand before thee face to face.


s: I know thee as my God and stand apart--I do not know thee as my


s: own and come closer.  I know thee as my father and bow before thy


s: I stand not where thou comest down and ownest thyself as mine,


s: there to clasp thee to my heart and take thee as my comrade.


s: Thou art the Brother amongst my brothers, but I heed them not, I


s: divide not my earnings with them, thus sharing my all with thee.


s: In pleasure and in pain I stand not by the side of men, and thus


s: stand by thee.  I shrink to give up my life, and thus do not


s: When the creation was new and all the stars shone in their first


s: splendour, the gods held their assembly in the sky and sang 'Oh,


s: the picture of perfection!  the joy unalloyed!'


s: But one cried of a sudden--'It seems that somewhere there is a


s: break in the chain of light and one of the stars has been lost.'


s: The golden string of their harp snapped, their song stopped, and


s: they cried in dismay--'Yes, that lost star was the best, she was


s: From that day the search is unceasing for her, and the cry goes


s: on from one to the other that in her the world has lost its one


s: Only in the deepest silence of night the stars smile and whisper


s: among themselves--'Vain is this seeking!  unbroken perfection is


s: If it is not my portion to meet thee in this life then let me


s: ever feel that I have missed thy sight--let me not forget for a


s: moment, let me carry the pangs of this sorrow in my dreams and in


s: As my days pass in the crowded market of this world and my hands


s: grow full with the daily profits, let me ever feel that I have


s: gained nothing--let me not forget for a moment, let me carry the


s: pangs of this sorrow in my dreams and in my wakeful hours.


s: When I sit by the roadside, tired and panting, when I spread my


s: bed low in the dust, let me ever feel that the long journey is


s: still before me--let me not forget a moment, let me carry the


s: When my rooms have been decked out and the flutes sound and the


s: laughter there is loud, let me ever feel that I have not invited


s: thee to my house--let me not forget for a moment, let me carry


s: the pangs of this sorrow in my dreams and in my wakeful hours.


s: I am like a remnant of a cloud of autumn uselessly roaming in the


s: vapour, making me one with thy light, and thus I count months and


s: If this be thy wish and if this be thy play, then take this


s: fleeting emptiness of mine, paint it with colours, gild it with


s: gold, float it on the wanton wind and spread it in varied


s: And again when it shall be thy wish to end this play at night, I


s: shall melt and vanish away in the dark, or it may be in a smile


s: of the white morning, in a coolness of purity transparent.


s: On many an idle day have I grieved over lost time.  But it is


s: never lost, my lord.  Thou hast taken every moment of my life in


s: Hidden in the heart of things thou art nourishing seeds into


s: sprouts, buds into blossoms, and ripening flowers into


s: I was tired and sleeping on my idle bed and imagined all work had


s: Time is endless in thy hands, my lord.  There is none to count


s: Days and nights pass and ages bloom and fade like flowers.  Thou


s: Thy centuries follow each other perfecting a small wild flower.


s: We have no time to lose, and having no time we must scramble for


s: And thus it is that time goes by while I give it to every


s: querulous man who claims it, and thine altar is empty of all


s: At the end of the day I hasten in fear lest thy gate to be shut;


s: Mother, I shall weave a chain of pearls for thy neck with my


s: The stars have wrought their anklets of light to deck thy feet,


s: Wealth and fame come from thee and it is for thee to give or to


s: withhold them.  But this my sorrow is absolutely mine own, and


s: when I bring it to thee as my offering thou rewardest me with thy


s: It is the pang of separation that spreads throughout the world


s: and gives birth to shapes innumerable in the infinite sky.


s: It is this sorrow of separation that gazes in silence all nights


s: from star to star and becomes lyric among rustling leaves in


s: It is this overspreading pain that deepens into loves and


s: desires, into sufferings and joy in human homes; and this it is


s: that ever melts and flows in songs through my poet's heart.


s: When the warriors came out first from their master's hall, where


s: had they hid their power?  Where were their armour and their


s: They looked poor and helpless, and the arrows were showered upon


s: them on the day they came out from their master's hall.


s: When the warriors marched back again to their master's hall where


s: They had dropped the sword and dropped the bow and the arrow;


s: peace was on their foreheads, and they had left the fruits of


s: their life behind them on the day they marched back again to


s: Death, thy servant, is at my door.  He has crossed the unknown


s: The night is dark and my heart is fearful--yet I will take up the


s: I will worship him placing at his feet the treasure of my heart.


s: He will go back with his errand done, leaving a dark shadow on my


s: In desperate hope I go and search for her in all the corners of


s: My house is small and what once has gone from it can never be


s: But infinite is thy mansion, my lord, and seeking her I have to


s: I stand under the golden canopy of thine evening sky and I lift


s: I have come to the brink of eternity from which nothing can


s: vanish--no hope, no happiness, no vision of a face seen through


s: Oh, dip my emptied life into that ocean, plunge it into the


s: deepest fullness.  Let me for once feel that lost sweet touch in


s: Deity of the ruined temple!  The broken strings of _Vina_


s: sing no more your praise.  The bells in the evening proclaim not


s: your time of worship.  The air is still and silent about you.


s: In your desolate dwelling comes the vagrant spring breeze.  It


s: brings the tidings of flowers--the flowers that for your worship


s: Your worshipper of old wanders ever longing for favour still


s: refused.  In the eventide, when fires and shadows mingle with the


s: Many a festival day comes to you in silence, deity of the ruined


s: temple.  Many a night of worship goes away with lamp unlit.


s: Many new images are built by masters of cunning art and carried


s: to the holy stream of oblivion when their time is come.


s: Only the deity of the ruined temple remains unworshipped in


s: No more noisy, loud words from me--such is my master's will.


s: Henceforth I deal in whispers.  The speech of my heart will be


s: Men hasten to the King's market.  All the buyers and sellers are


s: there.  But I have my untimely leave in the middle of the day, in


s: Let then the flowers come out in my garden, though it is not


s: their time; and let the midday bees strike up their lazy hum.


s: Full many an hour have I spent in the strife of the good and the


s: evil, but now it is the pleasure of my playmate of the empty days


s: On the day when death will knock at thy door what wilt thou offer


s: Oh, I will set before my guest the full vessel of my life--I will


s: All the sweet vintage of all my autumn days and summer nights,


s: all the earnings and gleanings of my busy life will I place


s: before him at the close of my days when death will knock at my


s: O thou the last fulfilment of life, Death, my death, come and


s: Day after day I have kept watch for thee; for thee have I borne


s: All that I am, that I have, that I hope and all my love have ever


s: thine eyes and my life will be ever thine own.


s: The flowers have been woven and the garland is ready for the


s: bridegroom.  After the wedding the bride shall leave her home and


s: I know that the day will come when my sight of this earth shall


s: be lost, and life will take its leave in silence, drawing the


s: Yet stars will watch at night, and morning rise as before, and


s: hours heave like sea waves casting up pleasures and pains.


s: When I think of this end of my moments, the barrier of the


s: moments breaks and I see by the light of death thy world with its


s: Things that I longed for in vain and things that I got--let them


s: pass.  Let me but truly possess the things that I ever spurned


s: I have got my leave.  Bid me farewell, my brothers!  I bow to you


s: Here I give back the keys of my door--and I give up all claims to


s: We were neighbours for long, but I received more than I could


s: give.  Now the day has dawned and the lamp that lit my dark


s: corner is out.  A summons has come and I am ready for my journey.


s: At this time of my parting, wish me good luck, my friends!  The


s: sky is flushed with the dawn and my path lies beautiful.


s: Ask not what I have with me to take there.  I start on my journey


s: I shall put on my wedding garland.  Mine is not the red-brown


s: dress of the traveller, and though there are dangers on the way I


s: The evening star will come out when my voyage is done and the


s: plaintive notes of the twilight melodies be struck up from the


s: I was not aware of the moment when I first crossed the threshold


s: What was the power that made me open out into this vast mystery


s: When in the morning I looked upon the light I felt in a moment


s: that I was no stranger in this world, that the inscrutable


s: without name and form had taken me in its arms in the form of my


s: Even so, in death the same unknown will appear as ever known to


s: me.  And because I love this life, I know I shall love death as


s: The child cries out when from the right breast the mother takes


s: it away, in the very next moment to find in the left one its


s: When I go from hence let this be my parting word, that what I


s: I have tasted of the hidden honey of this lotus that expands on


s: the ocean of light, and thus am I blessed--let this be my parting


s: In this playhouse of infinite forms I have had my play and here


s: have I caught sight of him that is formless.


s: My whole body and my limbs have thrilled with his touch who is


s: beyond touch; and if the end comes here, let it come--let this be


s: When my play was with thee I never questioned who thou wert.  I


s: knew nor shyness nor fear, my life was boisterous.


s: In the early morning thou wouldst call me from my sleep like my


s: own comrade and lead me running from glade to glade.


s: On those days I never cared to know the meaning of songs thou


s: sangest to me.  Only my voice took up the tunes, and my heart


s: Now, when the playtime is over, what is this sudden sight that is


s: I will deck thee with trophies, garlands of my defeat.  It is


s: never in my power to escape unconquered.


s: I surely know my pride will go to the wall, my life will burst


s: its bonds in exceeding pain, and my empty heart will sob out in


s: music like a hollow reed, and the stone will melt in tears.


s: I surely know the hundred petals of a lotus will not remain


s: closed for ever and the secret recess of its honey will be bared.


s: From the blue sky an eye shall gaze upon me and summon me in


s: silence.  Nothing will be left for me, nothing whatever, and


s: utter death shall I receive at thy feet.


s: When I give up the helm I know that the time has come for thee to


s: Then take away your hands and silently put up with your defeat,


s: my heart, and think it your good fortune to sit perfectly still


s: These my lamps are blown out at every little puff of wind, and


s: trying to light them I forget all else again and again.


s: But I shall be wise this time and wait in the dark, spreading my


s: mat on the floor; and whenever it is thy pleasure, my lord, come


s: I dive down into the depth of the ocean of forms, hoping to gain


s: No more sailing from harbour to harbour with this my weather-


s: beaten boat.  The days are long passed when my sport was to be


s: And now I am eager to die into the deathless.


s: Into the audience hall by the fathomless abyss where swells up


s: the music of toneless strings I shall take this harp of my life.


s: I shall tune it to the notes of forever, and when it has sobbed


s: out its last utterance, lay down my silent harp at the feet of


s: Ever in my life have I sought thee with my songs.  It was they


s: who led me from door to door, and with them have I felt about me,


s: It was my songs that taught me all the lessons I ever learnt;


s: they showed me secret paths, they brought before my sight many a


s: They guided me all the day long to the mysteries of the country


s: of pleasure and pain, and, at last, to what palace gate have the


s: brought me in the evening at the end of my journey?


s: I boasted among men that I had known you.  They see your pictures


s: not how to answer them.  I say, 'Indeed, I cannot tell.'  They


s: blame me and they go away in scorn.  And you sit there smiling.


s: I put my tales of you into lasting songs.  The secret gushes out


s: from my heart.  They come and ask me, 'Tell me all your


s: meanings.'  I know not how to answer them.  I say, 'Ah, who knows


s: In one salutation to thee, my God, let all my senses spread out


s: Like a rain-cloud of July hung low with its burden of unshed


s: showers let all my mind bend down at thy door in one salutation


s: Let all my songs gather together their diverse strains into a


s: single current and flow to a sea of silence in one salutation to


s: Like a flock of homesick cranes flying night and day back to


s: their mountain nests let all my life take its voyage to its


s: THIRD ADVENTURE: How Siegfried Came to Worms.


s: FOURTH ADVENTURE: How Siegfried Fought with the Saxons.


s: FIFTH ADVENTURE: How Siegfried first Saw Kriemhild.


s: SIXTH ADVENTURE: How Gunther Fared to Isenland to Brunhild.


s: SEVENTH ADVENTURE: How Gunther Won Brunhild.


s: TENTH ADVENTURE: How Brunhild was Received at Worms.


s: ELEVENTH ADVENTURE: How Siegfried Came Home with his Wife.


s: TWELFTH ADVENTURE: How Gunther Bade Siegfried to the Feast.


s: THIRTEENTH ADVENTURE: How They Fared to the Feast.


s: FOURTEENTH ADVENTURE: How the Queens Berated Each Other.


s: FIFTEENTH ADVENTURE: How Siegfried was Betrayed.


s: SIXTEENTH ADVENTURE: How Siegfried was Slain.


s: SEVENTEENTH ADVENTURE: How Kriemhild Mourned for Siegfried.


s: EIGHTEENTH ADVENTURE: How Sigmund Fared Home Again.


s: TWENTY-FIRST ADVENTURE: How Kriemhild Fared to the Huns.


s: TWENTY-SECOND ADVENTURE: How Etzel Kept the Wedding-feast.


s: TWENTY-SIXTH ADVENTURE: How Gelfrat was Slain by Dankwart.


s: TWENTY-SEVENTH ADVENTURE: How They Came to Bechelaren.


s: THIRTY-THIRD ADVENTURE: How the Burgundians Fought with the Huns.


s: THIRTY-SIXTH ADVENTURE: How the Queen Bade Set Fire to the Hall.


s: THIRTY-SEVENTH ADVENTURE: How the Margrave Ruediger was Slain.


s: At the appointed time King Volsung and his sons go as invited to


s: parallelism and their respective significance as monuments of


s: civilization; suffice it to indicate briefly the chief points of


s: In the course of time this nature-myth became transformed into a


s: It is unnecessary here to record the speculations--for beyond


s: 'gloom', signifies, the powers of darkness to whom the light-hero


s: treasure the name Nibelungen is still applied to Alberich and the


s: For description of the Nibelungen strophe see below, Chapter 7.


s: expression of the conflict between the heathen and the Christian


s: The poem _Biterolf_, written soon after the Nibelungenlied, and


s: For a complete list of these, also of magazine articles, etc.,


s: relating to the Nibelungenlied, see F. E. Sandbach, The


s: Legends of by-gone times reveal wonders and prodigies,


s: Of heroes worthy endless fame,--of matchless braveries,--


s: Of jubilees and festal sports,--of tears and sorrows great,--


s: And knights who daring combats fought:--the like I now relate.


s: In stories of our fathers high marvels we are told


s: Of champions well approved in perils manifold.


s: Of feasts and merry meetings, of weeping and of wail,


s: And deeds of gallant daring I'll tell you in my tale.


s: Many a wondrous story have the tales of old,


s: Of feats of knightly glory, and of the Heroes bold,


s: Of the delights of feasting, of weeping and of wail,


s: Of noble deeds of daring; you may list strange things in my tale.


s: To us, in olden legends, / is many a marvel told


s: Of praise-deserving heroes, / of labours manifold,


s: Of weeping and of wailing, / of joy and festival;


s: Of bold knights' battling shall you / now hear a wondrous tale.


s: Apart from the many faults of interpretation all of the metrical


s: Uns ist in alten maeren / wunders vil geseit


s: von heleden lobebaeren, / von grozer arebeit,


s: von frouden, hochgeziten, / von weinen und von klagen,


s: von kuener recken striten / muget ir nu wunder hoeren sagen.


s: In sinen besten ziten, / bi sinen jungen tagen,


s: man mohte michel wunder / von Sivride sagen,


s: waz eren an im wuchse / und wie scoene was sin lip.


s: sit heten in ze minne / diu vil waetlichen wip.


s: (_Auftakt_) of the second half of line three. The absence of the


s: Piper, _Die Nibelungen_. (Vol. 6 of Kurschner's Deutsche


s: Zarncke, _Das Nibelungenlied_, 6th ed., Leipzig, 1887.


s: To us in olden story / are wonders many told


s: Of heroes rich in glory, / of trials manifold:


s: Of joy and festive greeting, / of weeping and of woe,


s: Of keenest warriors meeting, / shall ye now many a wonder know.


s: There once grew up in Burgundy / a maid of noble birth,


s: Nor might there be a fairer / than she in all the earth:


s: Kriemhild hight the maiden, / and grew a dame full fair,


s: 'Twould well become the highest / to love the winsome maid,


s: Keen knights did long to win her, / and none but homage paid.


s: Beauty without measure, / that in sooth had she,


s: And virtues wherewith many / ladies else adorned might be.


s: Three noble lords did guard her, / great as well in might,


s: Gunther and Gernot, / each one a worthy knight,


s: And Giselher their brother, / a hero young and rare.


s: The lady was their sister / and lived beneath the princes' care.


s: These lords were free in giving, / and born of high degree;


s: Undaunted was the valor / of all the chosen three.


s: It was the land of Burgundy / o'er which they did command,


s: And mighty deeds of wonder / they wrought anon in Etzel's land.


s: At Worms amid their warriors / they dwelt, the Rhine beside,


s: And in their lands did serve them / knights of mickle pride,


s: Who till their days were ended / maintained them high in state.


s: They later sadly perished / beneath two noble women's hate.


s: A high and royal lady, / Ute their mother hight,


s: Their father's name was Dankrat, / a man of mickle might.


s: To them his wealth bequeathed he / when that his life was done,


s: For while he yet was youthful / had he in sooth great honor won.


s: In truth were these three rulers, / as I before did say,


s: Great and high in power, / and homage true had they


s: Eke of knights the boldest / and best that e'er were known,


s: Keen men all and valiant, / as they in battle oft had shown.


s: There was of Tronje Hagen, / and of that princely line


s: His brother valiant Dankwart; / and eke of Metz Ortwein;


s: Then further the two margraves, / Gere and Eckewart;


s: Of Alzei was Volker, / a doughty man of dauntless heart.


s: Rumold the High Steward, / a chosen man was he,


s: Sindold and Hunold / they tended carefully


s: Each his lofty office / in their three masters' state,


s: And many a knight beside them / that I the tale may ne'er relate.


s: Dankwart he was Marshal; / his nephew, then, Ortwein


s: Upon the monarch waited / when that he did dine;


s: Sindold was Cup-bearer, / a stately thane was he,


s: And Chamberlain was Hunold, / masters all in courtesy.


s: Of the kings' high honor / and their far-reaching might,


s: Of their full lofty majesty / and how each gallant knight


s: Found his chiefest pleasure / in the life of chivalry,


s: In sooth by mortal never / might it full related be.


s: Amid this life so noble / did dream the fair Kriemhild


s: How that she reared a falcon, / in beauty strong and wild,


s: That by two eagles perished; / the cruel sight to see


s: The dream then to her mother / Queen Ute she told,


s: But she could not the vision / than thus more clear unfold:


s: "The falcon that thou rearedst, / doth mean a noble spouse:


s: God guard him well from evil / or thou thy hero soon must lose."


s: "Of spouse, O darling mother, / what dost thou tell to me?


s: Without a knight to woo me, / so will I ever be,


s: Unto my latest hour / I'll live a simple maid,


s: That I through lover's wooing / ne'er be brought to direst need."


s: "Forswear it not so rashly," / her mother then replied.


s: "On earth if thou wilt ever / cast all care aside,


s: 'Tis love alone will do it; / thou shalt be man's delight,


s: "Now urge the case, dear mother," / quoth she, "not further here.


s: How joy at last doth sorrow / lead oft-times in its train.


s: That I no ruth may borrow, / from both alike I'll far remain."


s: Long time, too, did Kriemhild / her heart from love hold free,


s: And many a day the maiden / lived right happily,


s: Ere good knight saw she any / whom she would wish to woo.


s: In honor yet she wedded / anon a worthy knight and true.


s: He was that same falcon / she saw the dream within


s: Unfolded by her mother. / Upon her nearest kin,


s: That they did slay him later, / how wreaked she vengeance wild!


s: There grew likewise in Netherland / a prince of noble kind,


s: Siegmund hight his father, / his mother Siegelind--


s: Within a lordly castle / well known the country o'er,


s: By the Rhine far downward: / Xanten was the name it bore.


s: Siegfried they did call him, / this bold knight and good;


s: Many a realm he tested, / for brave was he of mood.


s: He rode to prove his prowess / in many a land around:


s: Heigh-ho! what thanes of mettle / anon in Burgundy he found!


s: In the springtime of his vigor, / when he was young and bold,


s: Could tales of mickle wonder / of Siegfried be told,


s: How he grew up in honor, / and how fair he was to see:


s: Anon he won the favor / of many a debonair lady.


s: As for a prince was fitting, / they fostered him with care:


s: Yet how the knightly virtues / to him native were!


s: 'Twas soon the chiefest glory / of his father's land,


s: He soon was grown in stature / that he at court did ride.


s: The people saw him gladly, / lady and maid beside


s: Did wish that his own liking / might lead him ever there.


s: In youth they let him never / without safe escort ride;


s: Soon bade Siegmund and Siegelind / apparel rich provide;


s: Men ripe in wisdom taught him, / who knew whence honor came.


s: Thus many lands and people / he won by his wide-honored name.


s: Now was he of such stature / that he could weapons bear:


s: Of what thereto he needed / had he an ample share.


s: Then to think of loving / fair maids did he begin,


s: And well might they be honored / for wooer Siegfried bold to win.


s: Then bade his father Siegmund / make known to one and all


s: That he with his good kinsmen / would hold high festival.


s: And soon were tidings carried / to all the neighboring kings;


s: Wherever they found any / who knight was fit to be


s: By reason of his kindred, / all such were courteously


s: Unto the land invited / to join the festal throng,


s: Of this high time of revelry / might I great wonders tell.


s: Siegmund and Siegelind / great honor won full well,


s: Such store of goodly presents / they dealt with generous hand,


s: Four hundred lusty squires / were there to be clad


s: That they upon the doublets / embroidered cunningly


s: Of those soon to be knighted: / 't was thus it had to be,


s: Seats bade the host for many / a warrior bold make right


s: Then went unto the minster / full many a noble knight


s: And gallant squires beside them. / The elder there with right


s: Did wait upon the younger, / as once for them was done.


s: They were all light-hearted, / in hope of pleasure every one.


s: God to praise and honor / they sang the mass' song;


s: There, too, were crowds of people, / a great and surging throng,


s: When after knightly custom / knighthood received they then,


s: In such a stately pageant / as scarce might ever be again.


s: They hastened where they found them / saddled many a steed;


s: In the court of Siegmund's castle / they tilted with such speed


s: That far the din resounded / through castle and through hall,


s: As in the play with clamor / did join the fiery riders all.


s: From hands of knights a many: / each with other there did vie.


s: The king he bade give over: / they led the chargers out:


s: There was seen all shattered / many a boss well-wrought,


s: And many a stone full costly / lay there upon the sward


s: And wine, of all the rarest, / that then in plenty flowed.


s: In such merry manner / all day did last the feast.


s: Many a wandering minstrel / knew not any rest,


s: But sang to win the presents / dealt out with bounteous hand;


s: The monarch then did order / Siegfried his youthful son


s: In fee give lands and castles, / as he erstwhile had done.


s: To all his sword-companions / he gave with such full hand,


s: The festival yet lasted / until the seventh day.


s: Siegelind after old custom / in plenty gave away


s: --For so her son she honored-- / rich gifts of shining gold:


s: In sooth deserved she richly / that all should him in honor hold.


s: Never a wandering minstrel / was unprovided found:


s: Horses there and raiment / so free were dealt around,


s: As if to live they had not / beyond it one day more.


s: I ween a monarch's household / ne'er bestowed such gifts before.


s: Thus closed the merry feasting / in this right worthy way,


s: And 't was well known thereafter / how those good knights did say


s: While that they both were living, / Siegmund and Siegelind,


s: No crown their son desired, / --thereto he had no mind.


s: Yet would he fain be master / o'er all the hostile might


s: That in the lands around him / opposed the keen and fiery knight.


s: Seldom in sooth, if ever, / the hero's heart was sad.


s: He heard them tell the story, / how that a winsome maid


s: There lived afar in Burgundy, / surpassing fair to see:


s: Of her exceeding beauty / the fame spread far and near,


s: And of the thing, moreover, / were knights oft-times aware


s: How the maid's high spirit / no mortal could command:


s: Although to win her favor / were many wooers bent,


s: In her own heart would never / Kriemhild thereto consent


s: That any one amongst them / for lover she would have:


s: Still to her was he a stranger / to whom anon her troth she gave.


s: To true love turned his fancy / the son of Siegelind.


s: 'Gainst his, all others' wooing / was like an idle wind:


s: Full well did he merit / a lady fair to woo,


s: And soon the noble Kriemhild / to Siegfried bold was wedded true.


s: By friends he oft was counselled, / and many a faithful man,


s: Since to think of wooing / in earnest he began,


s: That he a wife should find him / of fitting high degree.


s: "The noble royal maiden / in Burgundy that dwells,


s: For sake of all her beauty. / Of her the story tells,


s: Ne'er monarch was so mighty / that, if for spouse he sighed,


s: Unto King Siegmund also / the thing was soon made known.


s: His people talked about it, / whereby to him was shown


s: The Prince's fixed purpose. / It grieved him sorely, too,


s: That his son intent was / the full stately maid to woo.


s: Siegelind asked and learned it, / the noble monarch's wife.


s: For her loved son she sorrowed / lest he should lose his life,


s: For well she knew the humor / of Gunther and his men.


s: Then gan they from the wooing / strive to turn the noble thane.


s: Then said the doughty Siegfried: / "O father dear to me,


s: Without the love of woman / would I ever be,


s: Could I not woo in freedom / where'er my heart is set.


s: Whate'er be said by any, / I'll keep the selfsame purpose yet."


s: "Since thou wilt not give over," / the king in answer said,


s: "Am I of this thy purpose / inwardly full glad,


s: And straightway to fulfil it / I'll help as best I can,


s: Yet in King Gunther's service / is many a haughty-minded man.


s: "And were there yet none other / than Hagen, warrior-knight,


s: He with such haughty bearing / is wont to show his might,


s: That I do fear right sorely / that sad our end may be,


s: If we set out with purpose / to win the stately maid for thee."


s: "Shall we by that be hindered?" / outspake Siegfried then;


s: "Whate'er in friendly fashion / I cannot obtain


s: I'll yet in other manner / take that, with sword in hand.


s: "I grieve to hear thy purpose," / said Siegmund the king;


s: "If any one this story / unto the Rhine should bring,


s: Then durst thou never after / within that land be seen.


s: Gunther and Gernot, / --well known to me they long have been.


s: "By force, however mighty, / no man can win the maid,"


s: Spake King Siegmund further, / "to me hath oft been said.


s: But if with knightly escort / thither thou wilt ride,


s: "No wish," then answered Siegfried, / "it ever was of mine,


s: That warrior knights should follow / with me unto the Rhine


s: As if arrayed for battle: / 'twould make my heart full sad,


s: To force in hostile manner / to yield to me the stately maid.


s: "By my own hand--thus only-- / trust I to win my bride;


s: With none but twelve in company / to Gunther's land I'll ride.


s: In this, O royal father, / thy present help I pray."


s: Gray and white fur raiment / had his companions for the way.


s: Siegelind his mother / then heard the story too,


s: And grieved she was on hearing / what her dear son would do,


s: For she did fear to lose him / at hands of Gunther's men.


s: Thereat with heart full heavy / began to weep the noble queen.


s: Then came forth Sir Siegfried / where the queen he sought,


s: And to his weeping mother / thus gently spake his thought:


s: "No tear of grief thou shouldest / ever shed for me,


s: "So help me on my journey / to the land of Burgundy,


s: And furnish such apparel / for all my knights and me,


s: As warriors of our station / might well with honor wear.


s: Then I in turn right truly / to thee my gratitude will swear."


s: "Since thou wilt not give over," / Siegelind then replied,


s: "My only son, I'll help thee / as fits thee forth to ride,


s: With the best apparel / that riders ever wore,


s: Thee and thy companions: / ye shall of all have goodly store."


s: Then bowed the youthful Siegfried / the royal dame before,


s: And said: "Upon the journey / will I take no more,


s: But twelve good knights only: / for these rich dress provide,


s: Then sat at work fair women / by night and eke by day,


s: And rest indeed but little / from busy toil had they,


s: Until they had made ready / the dress Siegfried should wear.


s: Firm bent upon the journey, / no other counsel would he hear.


s: His father bade a costly / garb for him prepare,


s: That leaving Siegmund's country / he the same might wear.


s: Then fast the day grew nearer / when they should thence depart.


s: Men and likewise women / went sorrowing in heart,


s: If that they should ever / see more their native land.


s: With full equipment laden / the sumpter horses there did stand.


s: Than were the gallant Siegfried / and his chosen band.


s: He longed to take departure / straightway for Burgundian land.


s: Leave granted they with sadness, / both the king and queen,


s: The which to turn to gladness / sought the warrior keen,


s: And spake then: "Weep ye shall not / at all for sake of me,


s: Forever free from doubtings / about my safety may ye be."


s: That 'mongst their friends so many / thereby were doomed to die.


s: Good cause had they to sorrow / at last o'er all their misery.


s: Upon the seventh morning / to Worms upon the strand


s: Did come the keen knights riding. / Bright shone many a band


s: Of gold from their apparel / and rich equipment then;


s: New-made shields they carried / that were both strong and wide


s: And brightly shone their helmets / as thus to court did ride


s: Siegfried the keen warrior / into King Gunther's land.


s: Of knights before was never / beheld so richly clad a band.


s: The points of their long scabbards / reached down unto the spur,


s: And spear full sharply pointed / bore each chosen warrior.


s: The one that Siegfried carried / in breadth was two good span,


s: And grimly cut its edges / when driven by the fearless man.


s: Reins with gold all gleaming / held they in the hand,


s: The saddle-bands were silken. / So came they to the land.


s: On every side the people / to gape at them began,


s: And also out to meet them / the men that served King Gunther ran.


s: Gallant men high-hearted, / knight and squire too,


s: Hastened to receive them, / for such respect was due,


s: And bade the guests be welcome / unto their master's land.


s: Then would they eke the chargers / lead forth unto their rest;


s: "If that be known to any, / let him not delay,


s: Where I your royal master / now shall find, to say,--


s: Gunther, king so mighty / o'er the land of Burgundy."


s: "If that the king thou seekest, / right soon may he be found.


s: Within that wide hall yonder / with his good knights around


s: But now I saw him sitting. / Thither do thou repair,


s: And thou may'st find around him / many a stately warrior there."


s: Now also to the monarch / were the tidings told,


s: That within his castle / were knights arrived full bold,


s: All clad in shining armor / and apparelled gorgeously;


s: But not a man did know them / within the land of Burgundy.


s: Thereat the king did wonder / whence were come to him


s: These knights adventure seeking / in dress so bright and trim,


s: And shields adorned so richly / that new and mighty were.


s: Outspake a knight then straightway, / Ortwein by name was he,


s: Strong and keen as any / well was he known to be:


s: "Since we of them know nothing, / bid some one quickly go


s: And fetch my uncle Hagen: / to him thou shalt the strangers show.


s: "To him are known far kingdoms / and every foreign land,


s: And if he know these strangers / we soon shall understand."


s: The king then sent to fetch him: / with his train of men


s: Unto the king's high presence / in stately gear went he then.


s: What were the king's good pleasure, / asked Hagen grim in war.


s: "In the court within my castle / are warriors from afar,


s: And no one here doth know them: / if them thou e'er didst see


s: In any land far distant, / now shalt thou, Hagen, tell to me."


s: "That will I do, 'tis certain."-- / To a window then he went,


s: And on the unknown strangers / his keen eye he bent.


s: Well pleased him their equipment / and the rich dress they wore,


s: Yet ne'er had he beheld them / in land of Burgundy before.


s: He said that whencesoever / these knights come to the Rhine,


s: They bear a royal message, / or are of princely line.


s: "Their steeds are so bedizened, / and their apparel rare:


s: Further then spake Hagen: / "As far as goes my ken,


s: Though I the noble Siegfried / yet have never seen,


s: Yet will I say meseemeth, / howe'er the thing may be,


s: "'Tis some new thing he bringeth / hither to our land.


s: The valiant Nibelungen / fell by the hero's hand,


s: Schilbung and Nibelung, / from royal sire sprung;


s: "As once alone the hero / rode without company,


s: Found he before a mountain / --as hath been told to me--


s: With the hoard of Nibelung / full many stalwart men;


s: "The hoard of King Nibelung / entire did they bear


s: Forth from a mountain hollow. / And now the wonder hear,


s: How that they would share it, / these two Nibelung men.


s: "He came so near unto them / that he the knights espied,


s: And they in turn him also. / One amongst them said:


s: 'Here comes the doughty Siegfried, / hero of Netherland.'


s: "Right well did they receive him, / Schilbung and Nibelung,


s: And straight they both together, / these noble princes young,


s: Bade him mete out the treasure, / the full valorous man,


s: And so long time besought him / that he at last the task began.


s: "As we have heard in story, / he saw of gems such store


s: That they might not be laden / on wagons full five score;


s: More still of gold all shining / from Nibelungenland.


s: 'Twas all to be divided / between them by keen Siegfried's hand.


s: "Then gave they him for hire / King Nibelung's sword.


s: And sooth to say, that service / brought them but small reward,


s: That for them there performed / Siegfried of dauntless mood.


s: "They had there of their followers / twelve warriors keen,


s: And strong they were as giants: / what booted giants e'en?


s: Them slew straightway in anger / Siegfried's mighty hand,


s: And warriors seven hundred / he felled in Nibelungenland


s: "With the sword full trusty, / Balmung that hight.


s: Full many a youthful warrior / from terror at the sight


s: Of that deadly weapon / swung by his mighty hand


s: Did render up his castle / and pledge him fealty in the land.


s: "Thereto the kings so mighty, / them slew he both as well.


s: But into gravest danger / through Alberich he fell,


s: "Nor could prevail against him / the Dwarf, howe'er he tried.


s: E'en as two wild lions / they coursed the mountainside,


s: Where he the sightless mantle / from Alberich soon won.


s: This is the _tarnkappe_, a cloak that made the wearer invisible,


s: "Who then dared join the struggle, / all slain around they lay.


s: Then he bade the treasure / to draw and bear away


s: Thither whence 'twas taken / by the Nibelungen men.


s: Alberich for his valor / was then appointed Chamberlain.


s: "An oath he had to swear him, / he'd serve him as his slave;


s: To do all kinds of service / his willing pledge he gave"--


s: Thus spake of Tronje Hagen-- / "That has the hero done;


s: Might as great before him / was never in a warrior known.


s: "Still know I more about him, / that has to me been told.


s: A dragon, wormlike monster, / slew once the hero bold.


s: Then in its blood he bathed him, / since when his skin hath been


s: "Let us the brave knight-errant / receive so courteously


s: That we in nought shall merit / his hate, for strong is he.


s: He is so keen of spirit / he must be treated fair:


s: He has by his own valor / done many a deed of prowess rare."


s: The monarch spake in wonder: / "In sooth thou tellest right.


s: Now see how proudly yonder / he stands prepared for fight,


s: He and his thanes together, / the hero wondrous keen!


s: "That canst thou," out spake Hagen, / "well in honor do.


s: He is of noble kindred, / a high king's son thereto.


s: 'Tis seen in all his bearing; / meseems in truth, God wot,


s: The tale is worth the hearing / that this bold knight has hither


s: Then spake the mighty monarch: / "Be he right welcome here.


s: Keen is he and noble, / of fame known far and near.


s: So shall he be fair treated / in the land of Burgundy."


s: The king and his knights with him / received so well the guest,


s: That the hearty greeting / did their good will attest.


s: Thereat in turn the stranger / in reverence bowed low,


s: That in their welcome to him / they did such courtesy bestow.


s: "To me it is a wonder," / straightway spake the host,


s: "From whence, O noble Siegfried, / come to our land thou dost,


s: Or what here thou seekest / at Worms upon the Rhine."


s: Him the stranger answered: / "Put thou away all doubts of thine.


s: "I oft have heard the tiding / within my sire's domain,


s: How at thy court resided / --and know this would I fain--


s: Knights, of all the keenest, / --'tis often told me so--


s: That e'er a monarch boasted: / now come I hither this to know.


s: "Thyself have I heard also / high praised for knightly worth;


s: 'Tis said a nobler monarch / ne'er lived in all the earth.


s: Thus speak of thee the people / in all the lands around.


s: Nor will I e'er give over / until in this the truth I've found.


s: "I too am warrior noble / and born to wear a crown;


s: So would I right gladly / that thou of me shouldst own


s: That I of right am master / o'er people and o'er land.


s: Of this shall now my honor / and eke my head as pledges stand.


s: "And art thou then so valiant / as hath to me been told,


s: I reck not, will he nill he / thy best warrior bold,


s: I'll wrest from thee in combat / whatever thou may'st have;


s: The king was seized with wonder / and all his men beside,


s: To see the manner haughty / in which the knight replied


s: That he was fully minded / to take from him his land.


s: "How could it be my fortune," / Gunther the king outspoke,


s: "What my sire long ruled over / in honor for his folk,


s: Now to lose so basely / through any vaunter's might?


s: "Nowise will I give over," / was the keen reply.


s: "If peace through thine own valor / thy land cannot enjoy,


s: To me shall all be subject: / if heritage of mine


s: "Thy land and all that mine is, / at stake shall equal lie.


s: Whiche'er of us be victor / when now our strength we try,


s: To him shall all be subject, / the folk and eke the land."


s: But Hagen spake against it, / and Gernot too was quick at hand.


s: "Such purpose have we never," / Gernot then said,


s: "For lands to combat ever, / that any warrior dead


s: Should lie in bloody battle. / We've mighty lands and strong;


s: Of right they call us master, / and better they to none belong."


s: There stood full grim and moody / Gernot's friends around,


s: And there as well amongst them / was Ortwein to be found.


s: He spake: "This mild peace-making / doth grieve me sore at heart,


s: "If thou and thy two brothers / yourselves to help had naught,


s: And if a mighty army / he too had hither brought,


s: I trow I'd soon be able / to make this man so keen


s: His manner now so haughty / of need replace by meeker mien."


s: Thereat did rage full sorely / the hero of Netherland:


s: "Never shall be measured / 'gainst me in fight thy hand.


s: I am a mighty monarch, / thou a king's serving-knight;


s: Of such as thou a dozen / dare not withstand me in the fight."


s: For swords then called in anger / of Metz Sir Ortwein:


s: Son of Hagen's sister / he was, of Tronje's line.


s: That Hagen so long was silent / did grieve the king to see.


s: Spake he thus to Ortwein: / "Curb now thy wrathful tongue,


s: For here the noble Siegfried / hath done us no such wrong;


s: We yet can end the quarrel / in peace,--such is my rede--


s: Then spake the mighty Hagen: / "Sad things do I forebode


s: For all thy train of warriors, / that this knight ever rode


s: Unto the Rhine thus armed. / 'Twere best he stayed at home;


s: For from my masters never / to him such wrong as this had come."


s: But outspake Siegfried proudly, / whose heart was ne'er dismayed:


s: This arm shall give example / whereby thou plain shall see


s: How stern anon its power / here in Burgundy will be."


s: "Yet that myself will hinder," / said then Gernot.


s: All his men forbade he / henceforth to say aught


s: With such unbridled spirit / to stir the stranger's ire.


s: "Such strife would ill befit us," / Gernot spake again;


s: "For though should die in battle / a host of valiant men


s: 'Twould bring us little honor / and ye could profit none."


s: Thereto gave Siegfried answer, / good King Siegmund's noble son:


s: To begin the combat / with all those friends of his,


s: Of whom he hath so many / here in Burgundy?"


s: Answer him they durst not, / for such was Gernot's stern decree.


s: "Thou shalt to us be welcome," / outspake young Giselher,


s: "And all thy brave companions / that hither with thee fare.


s: Full gladly we'll attend thee, / I and all friends of mine."


s: Then spake the stately monarch: / "But ask thou courteously,


s: And all that we call ours / stands at thy service free;


s: So with thee our fortune / we'll share in ill and good."


s: Thereat the noble Siegfried / a little milder was of mood.


s: Then carefully was tended / all their knightly gear,


s: And housed in goodly manner / in sooth the strangers were,


s: All that followed Siegfried; / they found a welcome rest.


s: In Burgundy full gladly / anon was seen the noble guest.


s: They showed him mickle honor / thereafter many a day,


s: And more by times a thousand / than I to you could say.


s: His might respect did merit, / ye may full well know that.


s: Scarce a man e'er saw him / who bore him longer any hate.


s: And when they held their pastime, / the kings with many a man,


s: Then was he ever foremost; / whatever they began,


s: None there that was his equal, / --so mickle was his might--


s: As is the knightly custom, / before the ladies fair


s: To games they turned for pastime, / these knights of mettle rare;


s: But he had fixed his fancy / to win one fairest maiden's hand.


s: In all that they were doing / he'd take a ready part.


s: A winsome loving maiden / he bore within his heart;


s: Him only loved that lady, / whose face he ne'er had seen,


s: But she full oft in secret / of him spake fairest words, I ween.


s: And when before the castle / they sped in tournament,


s: The good knights and squires, / oft-times the maiden went


s: And gazed adown from casement, / Kriemhild the princess rare.


s: And knew he she was gazing / whom in his heart he bore,


s: He joy enough had found him / in jousting evermore.


s: And might he only see her, / --that can I well believe--


s: Whene'er with his companions / to castle court he went,


s: E'en as do now the people / whene'er on pleasure bent,


s: There stood 'fore all so graceful / Siegelind's noble son,


s: For whom in love did languish / the hearts of ladies many a one.


s: Eke thought he full often: / "How shall it ever be,


s: That I the noble maiden / with my own eyes may see,


s: Whom I do love so dearly / and have for many a day?


s: To me is she a stranger, / which sorely grieves my heart to say."


s: Whene'er the kings so mighty / rode o'er their broad domain,


s: Then of valiant warriors / they took a stately train.


s: In King Gunther's country / a year completely through,


s: And never once the meanwhile / the lovely maid did see,


s: Now come wondrous tidings / to King Gunther's land,


s: By messengers brought hither / from far upon command


s: Of knights unknown who harbored / against him secret hate.


s: Of these I now will tell you: / There was King Luedeger


s: From out the land of Saxons, / a mighty warrior,


s: And eke from land of Denmark / Luedegast the king:


s: Whene'er they rode to battle / went they with mighty following.


s: Come were now their messengers / to the land of Burgundy,


s: Sent forth by these foemen / in proud hostility.


s: Then asked they of the strangers / what tidings they did bring:


s: Then spake to them King Gunther: / "A welcome, on my word.


s: Who 'tis that send you hither, / that have I not yet heard:


s: Now shall ye let me know it," / spake the monarch keen.


s: Then dreaded they full sorely / to see King Gunther's angry mien.


s: "Wilt them, O king, permit us / the tidings straight to tell


s: That we now have brought thee, / no whit will we conceal,


s: But name thee both our masters / who us have hither sent:


s: Luedegast and Luedeger, / --to waste thy land is their intent.


s: "Their hate hast thou incurred, / and thou shalt know in sooth


s: That high enraged against thee / are the monarchs both.


s: Their hosts they will lead hither / to Worms upon the Rhine;


s: "Within weeks a dozen / their march will they begin;


s: And if thy friends be valiant, / let that full quick be seen,


s: To help thee keep in safety / thy castles and thy land:


s: "Or wilt thou with them parley, / so let it quick be known,


s: Before their hosts so mighty / of warlike men come down


s: To Worms upon Rhine river / sad havoc here to make,


s: "Bide ye now the meanwhile," / the king did answer kind,


s: "Till I take better counsel; / then shall ye know my mind.


s: Have I yet warriors faithful, / from these I'll naught conceal,


s: The lordly Gunther wondered / thereat and troubled sore,


s: As he the message pondered / in heart and brooded o'er.


s: He sent to fetch grim Hagen / and others of his men,


s: And bade likewise in hurry / to court bring hither Gernot then.


s: Thus at his word his trusted / advisers straight attend.


s: He spake: "Our land to harry / foes all unknown will send


s: Of men a mighty army; / a grievous wrong is this.


s: "Our swords ward such things from us," / Gernot then said;


s: "Since but the fated dieth, / so let all such lie dead.


s: Wherefore I'll e'er remember / what honor asks of me:


s: Whoe'er hath hate against us / shall ever here right welcome be."


s: Then spake the doughty Hagen: / "Methinks 'twould scarce be good;


s: Help can we never summon, / the days are now so few."


s: The messengers in the borough / were harbored well the while,


s: And though their sight was hateful, / in hospitable style


s: As his own guests to tend them / King Gunther gave command,


s: The king was filled with sorrow / and his heart was sad.


s: Then saw his mournful visage / a knight to help full glad,


s: Who could not well imagine / what 'twas that grieved him so.


s: "To me it is great wonder," / said Siegfried to the king,


s: "How thou of late hast changed / to silent sorrowing


s: The joyous ways that ever / with us thy wont have been."


s: Then unto him gave answer / Gunther the full stately thane: