Login
|
Join PoetrySoup
Home
Submit Poems
Login
Sign Up
Member Home
My Poems
My Quotes
My Profile & Settings
My Inboxes
My Outboxes
Soup Mail
Contest Results/Status
Contests
Poems
Poets
Famous Poems
Famous Poets
Dictionary
Types of Poems
Quotes
Short Stories
Articles
Forum
Blogs
Poem of the Day
New Poems
Resources
Syllable Counter
Anthology
Grammar Check
Greeting Card Maker
Classifieds
Member Area
Member Home
My Profile and Settings
My Poems
My Quotes
My Short Stories
My Articles
My Comments Inboxes
My Comments Outboxes
Soup Mail
Poetry Contests
Contest Results/Status
Followers
Poems of Poets I Follow
Friend Builder
Soup Social
Poetry Forum
New/Upcoming Features
The Wall
Soup Facebook Page
Who is Online
Link to Us
Member Poems
Poems - Top 100 New
Poems - Top 100 All-Time
Poems - Best
Poems - by Topic
Poems - New (All)
Poems - New (PM)
Poems - New by Poet
Poems - Random
Poems - Read
Poems - Unread
Member Poets
Poets - Best New
Poets - New
Poets - Top 100 Most Poems
Poets - Top 100 Most Poems Recent
Poets - Top 100 Community
Poets - Top 100 Contest
Famous Poems
Famous Poems - African American
Famous Poems - Best
Famous Poems - Classical
Famous Poems - English
Famous Poems - Haiku
Famous Poems - Love
Famous Poems - Short
Famous Poems - Top 100
Famous Poets
Famous Poets - Living
Famous Poets - Most Popular
Famous Poets - Top 100
Famous Poets - Best
Famous Poets - Women
Famous Poets - African American
Famous Poets - Beat
Famous Poets - Cinquain
Famous Poets - Classical
Famous Poets - English
Famous Poets - Haiku
Famous Poets - Hindi
Famous Poets - Jewish
Famous Poets - Love
Famous Poets - Metaphysical
Famous Poets - Modern
Famous Poets - Punjabi
Famous Poets - Romantic
Famous Poets - Spanish
Famous Poets - Suicidal
Famous Poets - Urdu
Famous Poets - War
Poetry Resources
Anagrams
Bible
Book Store
Character Counter
Cliché Finder
Poetry Clichés
Common Words
Copyright Information
Grammar
Grammar Checker
Homonym
Homophones
How to Write a Poem
Lyrics
Love Poem Generator
New Poetic Forms
Plagiarism Checker
Poetics
Poetry Art
Publishing
Random Word Generator
Spell Checker
Store
What is Good Poetry?
Word Counter
Email Poem
Your IP Address: 3.138.199.50
From Email:
Required
Email Address Not Valid.
To Email:
Email Address Not Valid.
Required
Subject
Required
Personal Note:
Poem Title:
Poem
AN INDIAN LEGEND. [This very fine Ballad was also first given in the Horen.] (MAHADEVA is one of the numerous names of Seeva, the destroyer,-- the great god of the Brahmins.) MAHADEVA,* Lord of earth For the sixth time comes below, As a man of mortal birth,-- Like him, feeling joy and woe. Hither loves he to repair, And his power behind to leave; If to punish or to spare, Men as man he'd fain perceive. And when he the town as a trav'ller hath seen, Observing the mighty, regarding the mean, He quits it, to go on his journey, at eve. He was leaving now the place, When an outcast met his eyes,-- Fair in form, with painted face,-- Where some straggling dwellings rise. "Maiden, hail!"--"Thanks! welcome here! Stay!--I'll join thee in the road.' "Who art thou?"--"A Bayadere, And this house is love's abode." The cymbal she hastens to play for the dance, Well skill'd in its mazes the sight to entrance, Then by her with grace is the nosegay bestow'd. Then she draws him, as in play, O'er the threshold eagerly: "Beauteous stranger, light as day Thou shalt soon this cottage see. I'll refresh thee, if thou'rt tired, And will bathe thy weary feet; Take whate'er by thee's desired, Toying, rest, or rapture sweet."-- She busily seeks his feign'd suff'rings to ease; Then smiles the Immortal; with pleasure he sees That with kindness a heart so corrupted can beat. And he makes her act the part Of a slave; he's straight obey'd. What at first had been but art, Soon is nature in the maid. By degrees the fruit we find, Where the buds at first obtain; When obedience fills the mind, Love will never far remain. But sharper and sharper the maiden to prove, The Discerner of all things below and above, Feigns pleasure, and horror, and maddening pain. And her painted cheeks he kisses, And his vows her heart enthrall; Feeling love's sharp pangs and blisses, Soon her tears begin to fall. At his feet she now must sink, Not with thoughts of lust or gain,-- And her slender members shrink, And devoid of power remain. And so the bright hours with gladness prepare Their dark, pleasing veil of a texture so fair, And over the couch softly, tranquilly reign. Late she falls asleep, thus bless'd,-- Early wakes, her slumbers fled, And she finds the much-loved guest On her bosom lying dead. Screaming falls she on him there, But, alas, too late to save! And his rigid limbs they bear Straightway to their fiery grave. Then hears she the priests and the funeral song, Then madly she runs, and she severs the throng: "Why press tow'rd the pile thus? Why scream thus, and rave?" Then she sinks beside his bier, And her screams through air resound: "I must seek my spouse so dear, E'en if in the grave he's bound. Shall those limbs of grace divine Fall to ashes in my sight? Mine he was! Yes, only mine! Ah, one single blissful night!" The priests chaunt in chorus: "We bear out the old, When long they've been weary, and late they've grown cold: We bear out the young, too, so thoughtless and light. "To thy priests' commands give ear! This one was thy husband ne'er; Live still as a Bayadere, And no duty thou need'st share. To deaths silent realms from life, None but shades attend man's frame, With the husband, none but wife,-- That is duty, that is fame. Ye trumpets, your sacred lament haste to raise Oh, welcome, ye gods, the bright lustre of days! Oh, welcome to heaven the youth from the flame!" Thus increased her torments are By the cruel, heartless quire; And with arms outstretching far Leaps she on the glowing pyre. But the youth divine outsprings From the flame with heav'nly grace, And on high his flight he wings, While his arms his love embrace. In the sinner repentant the Godhead feels joy; Immortals delight thus their might to employ. Lost children to raise to a heavenly place. 1797.
Type the characters you see in the picture
Required