Indian Poetry / Containing "The Indian Song of Songs," from the Sanskrit of the Gîta Govinda of Jayadeva, Two books from "The Iliad Of India" (Mahábhárata), "Proverbial Wisdom" from the Shlokas of the Hitopadesa, and other Oriental Poems.

The sky is clouded; and the wood resembles The sky, thick-arched with black Tamâla boughs; O Radha, Radha! take this Soul, that trembles In life's deep midnight, to Thy golden house. So Nanda spoke,—and, led by Radha's spirit, The feet of Krishna found the road aright; Wherefore, in bliss which all high hearts inherit, Together taste they Love's divine delight.
He who wrote these things for thee, Of the Son of Wassoodee , Was the poet Jayadeva; Him Saraswati gave ever Fancies fair his mind to throng, Like pictures palace-walls along; Ever to his notes of love Lakshmi's mystic dancers move. If thy spirit seeks to brood On Hari glorious, Hari good; If it feeds on solemn numbers. Dim as dreams and soft as slumbers, Lend thine ear to Jayadev, Lord of all the spells that save. Umapatidhara's strain Glows like roses after rain; Sharan's stream-like song is grand, If its tide ye understand; Bard more wise beneath the sun Is not found than Govardhun; Dhoyi holds the listener still With his shlokes of subtle skill; But for sweet words suited well Jayadeva doth excel.

( What follows is to the Music Mâlava and the Mode Rupaka.)
O thou that held'st the blessed Veda dry When all things else beneath the floods were hurled; Strong Fish-God! Ark of Men! Jai! Hari, jai! Hail, Keshav, hail! thou Master of the world!
The round world rested on thy spacious nape; Upon thy neck, like a mere mole, it stood: O thou that took'st for us the Tortoise-shape, Hail, Keshav, hail! Ruler of wave and wood!
The world upon thy curving tusk sate sure, Like the Moon's dark disc in her crescent pale; O thou who didst for us assume the Boar, Immortal Conqueror! hail, Keshav, hail!
When thou thy Giant-Foe didst seize and rend, Fierce, fearful, long, and sharp were fang and nail; Thou who the Lion and the Man didst blend, Lord of the Universe! hail, Narsingh, hail!
Wonderful Dwarf!—who with a threefold stride Cheated King Bali—where thy footsteps fall Men's sins, O Wamuna! are set aside: O Keshav, hail! thou Help and Hope of all!