பக்கம் எண் :

பதிப்பு : மனோன்மணியம் - நாடகம்355

Mute, as if musing in himself, the Prince
    Heard the wise counsel to its warning close.
    Then, with a gloomy look,
         Gazed on the reader of the stars, and answered     252
Leave thou to me that which to me belongs;
    My people need the Tanais for their rafts;
    Or soon or late that need
         Strings the Mede’s bow, and mounts the Scythian rider.      256
Mage, I would pluck my spirit from the hold
     Of a strong phantasy, which, night and day,
     Haunts it, unsinews life,
        And makes my heart the foe of my own reason.     260
Perchance in war, the gods ordain my cure;
     And courting war, I to myself give peace.
     Startled by these wild words,
         The Mage, in trust-alluring arts long - practised,      264
Led on the Prince to unfold their hidden sense;
    And having bound the listener by the oath
    Mage never broke, to hold
         Sacred the trust, the King thus told his trouble.      268
Know that each night (thro’ three revolving moons)
    An image comes before me in a dream;
    Ever the same sweet face,
         Lovely as that which blest the Carian’s slumber.      272
Nought mid the dark - eyed daughters of the East,
    Nought I have ever seen in waking hours,
    Rivals in charm this shape
         Which hath no life - unless a dream hath substance.      276
‘But never yet so clearly visible,
     Nor with such joy in its celestial smile
     Hath come the visitant,
         Making a temple of the soul it hallows,      280