Canto 11Karma
Book 3. Part Three - Baroda and Bengal Circa 1900 – 1909
(Radha’s Complaint)
Love, but my words are vain as air!
In my sweet joyous youth, a heart untried,
Thou tookst me in Love’s sudden snare,
5Thou wouldst not let me in my home abide.
And now I have nought else to try,
But I will make my soul one strong desire
And into Ocean leaping die:
So shall my heart be cooled of all its fire.
10Die and be born to life again
As Nanda’s son, the joy of Braja’s girls,
And I will make thee Radha then,
A laughing child’s face set with lovely curls.
Then I will love thee and then leave;
15Under the codome’s boughs when thou goest by
Bound to the water morn or eve,
Lean on that tree fluting melodiously.
Thou shalt hear me and fall at sight
Under my charm; my voice shall wholly move
20Thy simple girl’s heart to delight;
Then shalt thou know the bitterness of love.
(From an old Bengali poem)