The Pre-marital love

Pope (1886)She of the beaming eyes, To my rash look her glance replies, As if the matchless goddess' hand Led forth an armed band

MeaningThis female beauty returning my looks is like a celestial maiden coming with an army to contend against me

Pope (1886)Death's form I formerly Knew not; but now 'tis plain to me; He comes in lovely maiden's guise, With soul-subduing eyes

MeaningI never knew before what is called Yama; I see it now; it is the eyes that carry on a great fight with (the help of) female qualities

Pope (1886)In sweet simplicity, A woman's gracious form hath she; But yet those eyes, that drink my life, Are with the form at strife

MeaningThese eyes that seem to kill those who look at them are as it were in hostilities with this feminine simplicity

Pope (1886)The light that on me gleams, Is it death's dart? or eye's bright beams?Or fawn's shy glance? All three appear In form of maiden here

MeaningIs it Yama, (a pair of) eyes or a hind ?- Are not all these three in the looks of this maid ?

Pope (1886)If cruel eye-brow's bow, Unbent, would veil those glances now; The shafts that wound this trembling heart Her eyes no more would dart

MeaningHer eyes will cause (me) no trembling sorrow, if they are properly hidden by her cruel arched eyebrows

Pope (1886)As veil o'er angry eyes Of raging elephant that lies, The silken cincture's folds invest This maiden's panting breast

MeaningThe cloth that covers the firm bosom of this maiden is (like) that which covers the eyes of a rutting elephant

Pope (1886)Ah woe is me my might, That awed my foemen in the fight, By lustre of that beaming brow Borne down, lies broken now

MeaningOn her bright brow alone is destroyed even that power of mine that used to terrify the most fearless

Pope (1886)Like tender fawn's her eye; Clothed on is she with modesty; What added beauty can be lent; By alien ornament

MeaningOf what use are other jewels to her who is adorned with modesty, and the meek looks of a hind ?

Pope (1886)The palm-tree's fragrant wine, To those who taste yields joys divine; But love hath rare felicity For those that only see

MeaningUnlike boiled honey which yields delight only when it is drunk, love gives pleasure even when looked at

Pope (1886)The furtive glance, that gleams one instant bright, Is more than half of love's supreme delight

MeaningA single stolen glance of her eyes is more than half the pleasure (of sexual embrace)

Pope (1886)She looked, and looking drooped her head:On springing shoot of love 'its water shed

MeaningShe has looked (at men) and stooped (her head); and that (sign) waters as it were (the corn of) our love

Pope (1886)I look on her: her eyes are on the ground the while:I look away: she looks on me with timid smile

MeaningWhen I look, she looks down; when I do not, she looks and smiles gently

Pope (1886)She seemed to see me not; but yet the maidHer love, by smiling side-long glance, betrayed

MeaningShe not only avoids a direct look at me, but looks as it were with a half-closed eye and smiles

Pope (1886)Though with their lips affection they disown, Yet, when they hate us not, 'tis quickly known

MeaningThough they may speak harshly as if they were strangers, the words of the friendly are soon understood

Pope (1886)The slighting words that anger feign, while eyes their love revealAre signs of those that love, but would their love conceal

MeaningLittle words that are harsh and looks that are hateful are (but) the expressions of lovers who wish to act like strangers

Pope (1886)I gaze, the tender maid relents the while; And, oh the matchless grace of that soft smile

MeaningWhen I look, the pitying maid looks in return and smiles gently; and that is a comforting sign for me

Pope (1886)The look indifferent, that would its love disguise, Is only read aright by lovers' eyes

MeaningBoth the lovers are capable of looking at each other in an ordinary way, as if they were perfect strangers

Pope (1886)When eye to answering eye reveals the tale of love, All words that lips can say must useless prove

MeaningThe words of the mouths are of no use whatever, when there is perfect agreement between the eyes (of lovers)

Pope (1886)Disease and medicine antagonists we surely see; This maid, to pain she gives, herself is remedy

MeaningThe remedy for a disease is always something different (from it); but for the disease caused by this jewelled maid, she is herself the cure

Pope (1886)Than rest in her soft arms to whom the soul is giv'n, Is any sweeter joy in his, the Lotus-eyed-one's heaven

MeaningCan the lotus-eyed Vishnu's heaven be indeed as sweet to those who delight to sleep in the delicate arms of their beloved ?

Pope (1886)Withdraw, it burns; approach, it soothes the pain; Whence did the maid this wondrous fire obtain

MeaningFrom whence has she got this fire that burns when I withdraw and cools when I approach ?

Pope (1886)In her embrace, whose locks with flowery wreaths are bound, Each varied form of joy the soul can wish is found

MeaningEach varied form of joy the soul can wish is found

Pope (1886)Ambrosia are the simple maiden's arms; when I attainTheir touch, my withered life puts forth its buds again

MeaningThe shoulders of this fair one are made of ambrosia, for they revive me with pleasure every time I embrace them

Pope (1886)As when one eats from household store, with kindly graceSharing his meal: such is this golden maid's embrace

MeaningThe embraces of a gold-complexioned beautiful female are as pleasant as to dwell in one's own house and live by one's own (earnings) after distributing (a portion of it in charity)

Pope (1886)Sweet is the strict embrace of those whom fond affection binds, Where no dissevering breath of discord entrance finds

MeaningTo ardent lovers sweet is the embrace that cannot be penetrated even by a breath of breeze

Pope (1886)The jealous variance, the healing of the strife, reunion gained:These are the fruits from wedded love obtained

MeaningLove quarrel, reconciliation and intercourse - these are the advantages reaped by those who marry for lust

Pope (1886)The more men learn, the more their lack of learning they detect;'Tis so when I approach the maid with gleaming jewels decked

MeaningAs (one's) ignorance is discovered the more one learns, so does repeated intercourse with a welladorned female (only create a desire for more)

Pope (1886)You deemed, as you saw the flowers, her eyes were as flowers, my soul, That many may see; it was surely some folly that over you stole

MeaningO my soul, fancying that flowers which are seen by many can resemble her eyes, you become confused at the sight of them

Pope (1886)As tender shoot her frame; teeth, pearls; around her odours blend; Darts are the eyes of her whose shoulders like the bambu bend

MeaningThe complexion of this bamboo-shouldered one is that of a shoot; her teeth, are pearls; her breath,

Pope (1886)The lotus, seeing her, with head demiss, the ground would eye, And say, 'With eyes of her, rich gems who wears, we cannot vie.'

MeaningIf the blue lotus could see, it would stoop and look at the ground saying, "I can never resemble the eyes of this excellent jewelled one."

Pope (1886)The flowers of the sensitive plant as a girdle around her she placed; The stems she forgot to nip off; they 'll weigh down the delicate waist

MeaningNo merry drums will be beaten for the (tender) waist of her who has adorned herself with the anicham without having removed its stem

Pope (1886)The stars perplexed are rushing wildly from their spheres; For like another moon this maiden's face appears

MeaningThe stars have become confused in their places not being able to distinguish between the moon and the maid's countenance

Pope (1886)In moon, that waxing waning shines, as sports appear, Are any spots discerned in face of maiden here

MeaningCould there be spots in the face of this maid like those in the bright full moon ?

Pope (1886)Farewell, O moon! If that thine orb could shineBright as her face, thou shouldst be love of mine

MeaningIf you can indeed shine like the face of women, flourish, O moon, for then would you be worth loving ?

Pope (1886)If as her face, whose eyes are flowers, thou wouldst have charms for me, Shine for my eyes alone, O moon, shine not for all to see

MeaningO moon, if you wish to resemble the face of her whose eyes are like (these) flowers, do not appear so as to be seen by all

Pope (1886)The flower of the sensitive plant, and the down on the swan's white breast, As the thorn are harsh, by the delicate feet of this maiden pressed

MeaningThe anicham and the feathers of the swan are to the feet of females, like the fruit of the (thorny) Nerunji

Pope (1886)Between this maid and me the friendship kindIs as the bonds that soul and body bind

MeaningThe love between me and this damsel is like the union of body and soul

Pope (1886)For her with beauteous brow, the maid I love, there place is none; To give her image room, O pupil of mine eye, begone

MeaningO you image in the pupil (of my eye)! depart; there is no room for (my) fair-browed beloved

Pope (1886)Life is she to my very soul when she draws nigh; Dissevered from the maid with jewels rare, I die

MeaningMy fair-jewelled one resembles the living soul (when she is in union with me), the dying soul when she leaves me

Pope (1886)I might recall, if I could once forget; but from my heartHer charms fade not, whose eyes gleam like the warrior's dart

MeaningIf I had forgotten her who has bright battling eyes, I would have remembered (thee); but I never forget her (Thus says he to her maid)

Pope (1886)My loved one's subtle form departs not from my eyes; I wink them not, lest I should pain him where he lies

MeaningMy lover would not depart from mine eyes; even if I wink, he would not suffer (from pain); he is so ethereal

Pope (1886)My love doth ever in my eyes reside; I stain them not, fearing his form to hide

MeaningAs my lover abides in my eyes, I will not even paint them, for he would (then) have to conceal himself

Pope (1886)Within my heart my lover dwells; from food I turnThat smacks of heat, lest he should feel it burn

MeaningAs my lover is in my heart, I am afraid of eating (anything) hot, for I know it would pain him

Pope (1886)I fear his form to hide, nor close my eyes:'Her love estranged is gone!' the village cries

MeaningI will not wink, knowing that if I did, my lover would hide himself; and for this reason, this town says, he is unloving

Pope (1886)Rejoicing in my very soul he ever lies;'Her love estranged is gone far off!' the village cries

MeaningMy lover dwells in my heart with perpetual delight; but the town says he is unloving and (therefore) dwells afar

Pope (1886)My body and my soul, that can no more endure, Will lay reserve aside, and mount the 'horse of palm'

MeaningHaving got rid of shame, the suffering body and soul save themselves on the palmyra horse

Pope (1886)I once retained reserve and seemly manliness; To-day I nought possess but lovers' 'horse of palm'

MeaningModesty and manliness were once my own; now, my own is the palmyra horse that is ridden by the lustful

Pope (1886)Love's rushing tide will sweep away the raftOf seemly manliness and shame combined

MeaningThe raft of modesty and manliness, is, alas, carried-off by the strong current of lust

Pope (1886)The maid that slender armlets wears, like flowers entwined, Has brought me 'horse of palm,' and pangs of eventide

MeaningShe with the small garland-like bracelets has given me the palmyra horse and the sorrow that is endured at night

Pope (1886)Of climbing 'horse of palm' in midnight hour, I think; My eyes know no repose for that same simple maid

MeaningMine eyes will not close in sleep on your mistress's account; even at midnight will I think of mounting the palmyra horse

Pope (1886)There's nought of greater worth than woman's long-enduring soul, Who, vexed by love like ocean waves, climbs not the 'horse of palm'

MeaningThere is nothing so noble as the womanly nature that would not ride the palmyra horse, though plunged a sea of lust

Pope (1886)In virtue hard to move, yet very tender, too, are we; Love deems not so, would rend the veil, and court publicity

MeaningEven the Lust (of women) transgresses its secrecy and appears in public, forgetting that they are too chaste and liberal (to be overcome by it)

Pope (1886)'There's no one knows my heart,' so says my love, And thus, in public ways, perturbed will rove

MeaningAnd thus, in public ways, perturbed will rove

Pope (1886)Before my eyes the foolish make a mock of me, Because they ne'er endured the pangs I now must drie

MeaningEven strangers laugh (at us) so as to be seen by us, for they have not suffered

Pope (1886)The village hath to us this rumour giv'n, that makes her mine; Unweeting all the rareness of the maid with flower-like eyne

MeaningNot knowing the value of her whose eyes are like flowers this town has got up a rumour about me

Pope (1886)The rumour spread within the town, is it not gain to me?It is as though that were obtained that may not be

MeaningWill I not get a rumour that is known to the (whole) town ? For what I have not got is as if I had got it (already)

Pope (1886)The rumour rising makes my love to rise; My love would lose its power and languish otherwise

MeaningRumour increases the violence of my passion; without it it would grow weak and waste away

Pope (1886)The more man drinks, the more he ever drunk would be; The more my love's revealed, the sweeter 'tis to me

MeaningAs drinking liquor is delightful (to one) whenever one is in mirth, so is lust delightful to me whenever it is the subject of rumour

Pope (1886)I saw him but one single day: rumour spreads soonAs darkness, when the dragon seizes on the moon

MeaningIt was but a single day that I looked on (my lover); but the rumour thereof has spread like the seizure of the moon by the serpent

Pope (1886)My anguish grows apace: the town's reportManures it; my mother's word doth water it

MeaningThis malady (of lust) is manured by the talk of women and watered by the (harsh) words of my mother

Pope (1886)With butter-oil extinguish fire! 'Twill proveHarder by scandal to extinguish love

MeaningTo say that one could extinguish passion by rumour is like extinguishing fire with ghee

Pope (1886)When he who said 'Fear not!' hath left me blamed, While many shrink, can I from rumour hide ashamed

MeaningWhen the departure of him who said "fear not" has put me to shame before others, why need I be ashamed of scandal

Pope (1886)If we desire, who loves will grant what we require; This town sends forth the rumour we desire

MeaningThe rumour I desire is raised by the town (itself); and my lover would if desired consent (to my following him)

Pope (1886)It once was perfect joy to look upon his face; But now the fear of parting saddens each embrace

MeaningHis very look was once pleasing; but (now) even intercourse is painful through fear of separation

Pope (1886)To trust henceforth is hard, if ever he depart, E'en he, who knows his promise and my breaking heart

MeaningAs even the lover who understands (everything) may at times depart, confidence is hardly possible

Pope (1886)If he depart, who fondly said, 'Fear not,' what blame's incurredBy those who trusted to his reassuring word

MeaningIf he who bestowed his love and said "fear not" should depart, will it be the fault of those who believed in (his) assuring words ?

Pope (1886)If you would guard my life, from going him restrainWho fills my life! If he depart, hardly we meet again

MeaningIf you would save (my life), delay the departure of my destined (husband); for if he departs, intercourse will become impossible

Pope (1886)To cherish longing hope that he should ever gracious be, Is hard, when he could stand, and of departure speak to me

MeaningIs hard, when he could stand, and of departure speak to me

Pope (1886)The bracelet slipping from my wrist announced beforeDeparture of the Prince that rules the ocean shore

MeaningDo not the rings that begin to slide down my fingers forebode the separation of my lord ?

Pope (1886)'Tis sad to sojourn in the town where no kind kinsmen dwell;'Tis sadder still to bid a friend beloved farewell

MeaningPainful is it to live in a friendless town; but far more painful is it to part from one's lover

Pope (1886)Fire burns the hands that touch; but smart of loveWill burn in hearts that far away remove

MeaningFire burns when touched; but, like the sickness of love, can it also burn when removed ?

Pope (1886)Sorrow's sadness meek sustaining, Driving sore distress away, Separation uncomplaining Many bear the livelong day

MeaningAs if there were many indeed that can consent to the impossible, kill their pain, endure separation and yet continue to live afterwards