the golden threshold(金色的门槛)-第5部分
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THE GOLDEN THRESHOLD
ta'en for sacrifice： All the rich honey of my youth's desire； And all the
sweet oils from my crushed life drawn； And all my flower…like dreams and
gem…like fire Of hopes up…leaping like the light of dawn。
I have no more to give； all that was mine Is laid； a wrested tribute； at
thy shrine； Let me depart； for my whole soul is wrung； And all my
cheerless orisons are sung； Let me depart； with faint limbs let me creep To
some dim shade and sink me down to sleep。
THE SONG OF PRINCESS ZEB…UN…NISSA IN PRAISE OF HER
OWN BEAUTY
（From the Persian）
When from my cheek I lift my veil； The roses turn with envy pale；
And from their pierced hearts； rich with pain； Send forth their fragrance
like a wail。
Or if perchance one perfumed tress Be lowered to the wind's caress；
The honeyed hyacinths complain； And languish in a sweet distress。
And； when I pause； still groves among； （Such loveliness is mine） a
throng Of nightingales awake and strain Their souls into a quivering
song。
INDIAN DANCERS
Eyes ravished with rapture； celestially panting； what passionate
bosoms aflaming withfire Drink deep of the hush of the hyacinth
heavens that glimmer around them in fountains of light； O wild and
entrancing the strain of keen music that cleaveth the stars like a wail of
desire； And beautiful dancers with houri…like faces bewitch the
voluptuous watches of night。
The scents of red roses and sandalwood flutter and die in the maze of
their gem…tangled hair； And smiles are entwining like magical ser…
pents the poppies of lips that are opiate… sweet； Their glittering garments
of purple are burn… ing like tremulous dawns in the quiver… ing air； And
exquisite； subtle and slow are the tinkle and tread of their rhythmical；
slumber… soft feet。
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THE GOLDEN THRESHOLD
Now silent； now singing and swaying and swing… ing； like blossoms
that bend to the breezes or showers； Now wantonly winding； they flash；
now they falter； and； lingering； languish in radiant choir； Their jewel…
girt arms and warm； wavering； lily… long fingers enchant through
melodious hours； Eyes ravished with rapture； celestially pant… ing；
what passionate bosoms aflaming with fire！
MY DEAD DREAM
Have you found me； at last； O my Dream？ Seven aeons ago You died
and I buried you deep under forests of snow。 Why have you come hither？
Who bade you awake from your sleep And track me beyond the cerulean
foam of the deep？
Would you tear from my lintels these sacred green garlands of leaves？
Would you scare the white； nested； wild pigeons of joy from my eaves？
Would you touch and defile with dead fingers the robes of my priest？
Would you weave your dim moan with the chantings of love at my
feast？
Go back to your grave； O my Dream； under forests of snow； Where a
heart…riven child hid you once； seven aeons ago。 Who bade you arise
from your darkness？ I bid you depart！ Profane not the shrines I have
raised in the clefts of my heart。
DAMAYANTE TO NALA IN THE HOUR OF
EXILE
（A fragment）
Shalt thou be conquered of a human fate My liege； my lover； whose
imperial head Hath never bent in sorrow of defeat？ Shalt thou be
vanquished； whose imperial feet Have shattered armies and stamped
empires dead？ Who shall unking thee； husband of a queen？ Wear thou thy
majesty inviolate。 Earth's glories flee of human eyes unseen； Earth's
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THE GOLDEN THRESHOLD
kingdoms fade to a remembered dream； But thine henceforth shall be a
power supreme； Dazzling command and rich dominion； The winds thy
heralds and thy vassals all The silver…belted planets and the sun。 Where'er
the radiance of thy coming fall； Shall dawn for thee her saffron footcloths
spread； Sunset her purple canopies and red； In serried splendour； and the
night unfold Her velvet darkness wrought with starry gold For kingly
raiment； soft as cygnet…down。 My hair shall braid thy temples like a crown
Of sapphires； and my kiss upon thy brows Like cithar…music lull thee to
repose； Till the sun yield thee homage of his light。
O king； thy kingdom who from thee can wrest？ What fate shall dare
uncrown thee from this breast； O god…born lover； whom my love doth gird
And armour with impregnable delight Of Hope's triumphant keen flame…
carven sword？
THE QUEEN'S RIVAL
QUEEN Gulnaar sat on her ivory bed； Around her countless treasures
were spread；
Her chamber walls were richly inlaid With agate； porphory； onyx and
jade；
The tissues that veiled her delicate breast； Glowed with the hues of a
lapwing's crest；
But still she gazed in her mirror and sighed 〃O King； my heart is
unsatisfied。〃
King Feroz bent from his ebony seat： 〃Is thy least desire unfulfilled； O
Sweet？
〃Let thy mouth speak and my life be spent To clear the sky of thy
discontent。〃
〃I tire of my beauty； I tire of this Empty splendour and shadowless
bliss；
〃With none to envy and none gainsay； No savour or salt hath my
dream or day。〃
Queen Gulnaar sighed like a murmuring rose： 〃Give me a rival； O
King Feroz。〃
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THE GOLDEN THRESHOLD
II
King Feroz spoke to his Chief Vizier： 〃Lo！ ere to…morrow's dawn be
here；
〃Send forth my messengers over the sea； To seek seven beautiful
brides for me；
〃Radiant of feature and regal of mien； Seven handmaids meet for the
Persian Queen。〃
。。。。。
Seven new moon tides at the Vesper call； King Feroz led to Queen
Gulnaar's hall
A young queen eyed like the morning star： 〃I bring thee a rival； O
Queen Gulnaar。〃
But still she gazed in her mirror and sighed： 〃O King； my heart is
unsatisfied。〃
Seven queens shone round her ivory bed； Like seven soft gems on a
silken thread；
Like seven fair lamps in a royal tower； Like seven bright petals of
Beauty's flower
Queen Gulnaar sighed like a murmuring rose 〃Where is my rival； O
King Feroz？〃
III
When spring winds wakened the mountain floods； And kindled the
flame of the tulip buds； When bees grew loud and the days grew long； And
the peach groves thrilled to the oriole's song；
Queen Gulnaar sat on her ivory bed； Decking with jewels her exquisite
head；
And still she gazed in her mirror and sighed： 〃O King； my heart is
unsatisfied。〃
Queen Gulnsar's daughter two spring times old； In blue robes bordered
with tassels of gold；
Ran to her knee like a wildwood fay； And plucked from her hand the
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THE GOLDEN THRESHOLD
mirror away。
Quickly she set on her own light curls Her mother's fillet with fringes
of pearls；
Quickly she turned with a child's caprice And pressed on the mirror a
swift； glad kiss。
Queen Gulnaar laughed like a tremulous rose： 〃Here is my rival； O
King Feroz。〃
THE POET TO DEATH
Tarry a while； O Death； I cannot die While yet my sweet life burgeons
with its spring； Fair is my youth； and rich the echoing boughs Where
dhadikulas sing。
Tarry a while； O Death； I cannot die With all my blossoming hopes
unharvested； My joys ungarnered； all my songs unsung； And all my tears
unshed。
Tarry a while； till I am satisfied Of love and grief； of earth and altering
sky； Till all my human hungers are fulfilled； O Death； I cannot die！
THE INDIAN GIPSY
In tattered robes that hoard a glittering trace Of bygone colours；
broidered to the knee； Behold her； daughter of a wandering race； Tameless；
with the bold falcon's agile grace； And the lithe tiger's sinuous majesty。
With frugal skill her simple wants she tends； She folds her tawny
heifers and her sheep On lonely meadows when the daylight ends； Ere the
quick night upon her flock descends Like a black panther from the caves
of sleep。
Time's river winds in foaming centuries Its changing； swift；
irrevocable course To far off and incalculable seas； She is twin…born with
primal mysteries； And drinks of life at Time's forgotten source。
