(d) These were two passages in the law, the one was Deut. vi. 4-10, the other was Deut. xi. 13-22, which were written on a piece of parchment in one column, which, beinff rolled up and put into a pipe of reed or wood, was fastenea to the right side of tho door-post: this they imagine was useful to put them in mind of the Divme Being, to preserve them from sin, and from evil spirits, Targum Jon. in Deut. vi. 9. Maimon. Hilch. Tephilm. c. 6, s. 1, 6, and 6, 13. Vide Buxtorf Synagog. Jud. c 31.
(e) Magog was one of the sons of Japhet, Gen. z. 2, from whom, very probably the people called by those two names sprung, who srom to be tne Scythians or Tartars; for Josephus, Anti(}. Jud. 1. 1, c. 7, calls the Scythians Magogae; and Hierapolis in Cojlcsyria, Pliny (Nat. Hist. 1. 5, c. 23) says, was called by the Syrians Magog: and Marcus Panlus Venetus, 1. 1, c. 64, says that '* the countries of Gog and Magog are in Tartary, which they call Jug (perhaps raUicr Gog) and Mungug." Vide Schindler, Lex. Pent. fol. 288. Mention is m^e of these in Ezek. xxxviii. and xxxix., Rev. xx. 8, 9; with which last text may be compared what the Taigumist here says. The Jewish rabbins, in their writings, very frequently speak of the war of Gog and Magog, which they expect in the days of tho Messiah. See Mr. Mede's works, book 1, disc. 48, p. 374, and book 3, pp. 713, 751.
Ig) The Jews are of opinion, that those of their nation who die and are buried in other lands, at tho resurrection of the dead shall not rise where they died and were buried; but shall be rolled through the caverns of tho earth, into the land of Canaan, and there rise. This they call G-^n^an biaja gilgul hammetkinij " the rolling of the dead," or mS'^HJan bvb^ gdgul hammeckdothy " the roUing through the caverns," which they represent as very painful and afnicting; and say that this was the reason that Jacob desired he might not be buried in Egypt, and is now one reason why the Jews are so desirous of returning to their own land: nay, at this time' the more wealthy and religious among them go thither on this very account, especially when advanced in years, that they im^ die,
The Targum, or Chaldee paraphrcs€f on the Song of Songs*
wettis-, and come oui from under the Mount of Oiwes: bitt the wicked wfaioh die und are buried in the Und of Isr&ek ihnU be oa^st away^ (A) as a man casta a alone with a aling; iben all ibe iahabitaata of ihe earth aha 1 1 sayi What is the TightGoyaneaif of this people, whicb ascend out of the earthy even t^n ibouaand times ten Uiouaandt as in ibe day they came up out of the wilderness to the land of Israel, and are delicjoualy fed by the mercies of ihe l^ord, as in the day when they were bid (i) under Mount Sinai to receive the law, and in that very hour Zido, ^vhioh is the (A) mother of Israel^ shall bring forth her sons^ and Jerusalem receiife the children of the captivity.
Verae 6* Sei me as a seal upon ihtne henrij tf^l The children of Israel said in that day unto their Jjordt We pray thee, set us as the signature of a ring upon thine heart, as ibo signature of a ring upon ihine arm, tlmt we may not be carried captive any more; for strong as death is the love of thy Deity t and mighty as hell is the envy which the people bear unto us; and the hatred which they have reserved for us is like to Ihe cools of the Hre of helh (t) which the Lord created on the second (m) day of the creation of the world, to (n) burn tiierein those who commit idolatry.
(A) Though ihe resurrection af the doad ia one of the thirteeii articles of the Jewish creeds yet many of them are of
(i) The TargurniiC here lefcrs to a fabulorus notion of the Jews, that when the poople of Israel came lo Mount Sinai to receive tlie law^ the l^rd plucked up the mouotain, and re* moved It into tho mr, and set th« people under it^ where he gave the law uuto Ihem; thia thof eoUcct from Exod. lijt. 17, and Dcut. iv. II. And tliia, they vayf VBihe apfle tree under %vhich the Church is hore aaid to b^ raiaed up, Tar^m Jon- Jarchi and I3aa1 Hatturim in Exod. xix. 17, Jmrchi and Shir* haahirini Rabba in lex:.
{k) Sa Jerusalem ia aaid to be '* ihe mother of ua all/" in Gal. jv. 26.
(0 BSniJ ffchinn^mt *' the valley of Hirmom," where the idolaters caused their children to pass through the fim to Moledip and burned them» 2 Chron. xxviu. 3, and xxiiii. 6, Jer. vii. 31 1 and xrxii. 3&, R. David Kimchif in Psa. xjcvii. t3t saya that Gehinnom wa» a very contemptible place near Jerusalem ^ where all manuer of filthincaa lind dead carcaaaes were east \ and that a continual &re was kept thf^re to bum them: hence the word ia used very frequently by the Jewish rabbinaT to signify the place where the wicked are punished after death; and ao tho word ytcwa ia used in the New Teatament; aee Matt, v. S!£^ and x. Qd, and ebe where,
(m) Tho same ia asserted in Talmud Peaaeh. fol. 54, 1. Bereshith Rabba^ Pan^h. 4, and II and %l, Shemoth Rabba, Parasb. 15. Zohar in Deut fol 1£D, K Jarchi in laa. %xx. 33; and yet at other times they reckon hell among the flcven thinga which were created before tho world waa, Talmud Pesach, fol fi4, 1, and Nedanm. fol. 30, 2. Zohar in Lev. fol 14, 4. Targum Jon. in Gen, iii. 34, See Matt, XXV. 41.
(a) The puniahment of the wicked in bell \9 very froqnently expreaaed by Jewiah wntera, by their burning in lire and ^biimatone, Bereahith Rabba, Paraab. 6 and 51. Zotmt in
The Lord of the world said unio his people, the bcmte of Israel, If all people, (o) wliich are like to ihe «4teii of the a«a, which are many, were gitJieied togelheri they could not extinguish my love anto thee i ttid if all the kings of the earth, which are like to tbo wiiitn of a river that runs fiercely* they eould pot roDcie thee out of the world: hut if a mao wiU grre aE iIa Buhatanoe of hia house to obtaiii wisdom id Ihe txftivity^ I will return unto him {p} double in the ^miA to come; and all the apoila {g) which thej afaall take from the armiea of Gog shall be his.
Verae B. Wc have a hiik Jts/rr, 4^<^.] At that tim the angeta of heaven shall ^y to ooe fti^other, Wt have one nation tu the earthy and her rigbieouanen it very little, and ihe kings and governors do not briof her forth to make war with the arnues of Gog* Whit shall we do for our sister, in the day wheo the oatkoi ahalt speak of going uj> against her to wax \
Verse 9. If ihe he a wall, 4c.] Miefa&el (r) tb* prince of Israel shall say, If she is fixed aa » wall among the fieoplei and gives silver to {irocure the {t) unity of the name of the Lord of the world, 1 lad you, together with their acribeai will stirrotmd b£T it borders of silvor, that the people pnay have xko po»ft to rule over her, even as a worm hath no power to rule over silver; and though she (f) i» poor in the
{o) So the woidfi MC eiplained in Shemoth Kahba, Ftfaik 49. Bcmidbar Rahba> VarmK 3. Eohar in Niil& fol tO^^ 3. Raya Mchimna, iW. in Gen. foL 51, 3. ShirhMten Rabba, Jarchi and Aben Ezra m ioc.
{it) That IS, the knowlDdj^e of tho unity of OaL 1%i dcKtruic of the unity of the IJ^vine Being is tbo SMtond olidl of th& Jowiab croesdf where they say that ** God b mat^ hI that there i» no unity in any re&|^oct bke hia;'* thi» thtj wm much magnify uid extol. Hence they often ktflre ihum mvA in their nioutfi*, *^ Hou, O Israel, tho Lord onf God it om Lord/* Dout. vi. 4; which, they think, ta etitircty mFtMMtmi with a trinity of persons, HelKei nya Mairaomik% {Hjklp Yesod Hattor&h, c I, a. 4,) ^* Thi« God i» ou*, not twoy or more th&n two \ but one. For there ia no uAtty like liu m any of the indmduftls which are found ia the world; nei^a la he one in •pccieaT whieh eomprchcjoda more mdividuilft;; nor one in body, which \s divided into parta an^ trmme*; but hci 18 flo one, that ihore is uo other unity like it n the world." All which is not so much opposed to the poijFtlieiva of the heathens, us to tbe plurahty of pertuiins in the Irmatfr and the incanmtion of Cbri^. But though modern Jewi biVB ozpLodod the dDcirmo of the trinity * aa ineonaiatent wi^ lliil of the unity of the Divine Being, yet their more aneiitat wniera do very manifestly speak of it as the great mystf ry <if failh, Zohor edit. Sultxbac. in Gen^ fnl. 1^ cot. 3; m E^odfol. 18, B, 4, fol. 58, 1, and fnl. 66, 2, 3; in Lev, M 37, X, and m Num. fol 67^ B. Jelzira. edit. Rittvigel. Cbl L 4^ 6, 38, 64. Vidt Josep. de Voisin. Disp. Hieoloff. Se S. Tmiktate, AUix^i judgment of thif Jewtah Chuni, iguwt tbt Unitariana, c. 9, 10, 1L
The Targum, or Chaldee paraphrase^ on the Smg of Songs.
cotnmandmeDU, we will seek mercies foi her fTotn the Lord; and the nghceousnesA of the law shall be remembered to her, m which mfants study, being writ* ten opoD (u) ihe table of the heait, and b placed over agaiost the natlona as a eedai.
Verse 10. 1 mn m waHj 4'c*] The congregation of Israel answered and saidi I am strottg in the words of Ibe law as a wall, and my sons are mighty as a tower; and at that linie the coDgregaiion of Israel foutid mercy in the eyes of her Lord^ and all the in> hahitanta of ihe earth aaked of her welfare.
Verse 1 1. Solomon had a vine^ntd at Baal-hamon^ 4c J One nation came up in the lot of the Lord of the world, {v} with whom is pe^e, which is like to a vineyard; (w) he placed it in Jerusalem, and delivered it into the hands of the kings of the house of David, who kept it as a Tinedrcaser keeps his vineyard; after that Solomon king of Israel died, it was Icf^ in the bands of his son Rehoboam; Jeroboam, the son of Nebal, Ciune and divided the kingdom with him, and took out of his hounds ten tribes, according to the word of Ahijah of Shiloh, who was a great man.
Verse IS. My vineyard ^ which is minej dfc] When Solomoni the king of Israel, heard the prophecy of Ahijah of Shiloh, he aought to {x) kiU him; but Ahijah fled from Solomon, and went into Egypt. And at that lime King Solomon was informed by propheoy that he should rule over the ten tribes all his days: hat aller his death Jeroboam, the son of Nebat} should
them ',** and m Vajikra JUbbfl, P«ia»h. 34, where thoae words in PTot. %xu. 3, ** The nch *nd poor meet together," are menttonedT it ti taid, ** Tha nch is m that i« rich in the ]aw; and the poor ia he thi^t ii poor in the law;*" aeo aJfio Zuhkr in Num. fol. 91, 3; with lH which co^pure 1 Tim. vi. 18,
(p) III Sbirhaihiriin Rabtw in loc. it 19 explained in the suae wa?; R. Abcn Ezra, by Solomon in the n4?xt veree. undetftarids tho King Mesfitah; though it k interpreted uf Bolomon, kitig of Israelt by the Targum and Jarchi m loCr by
mk over them; and the two ttibesi Judah and Bea- Jamitif Hehoboflm, the son of Solomon, should reiga over.
Verse 13. ThQU that dweitest in the gardens t 6fc.\ Solomon said al the end of his prophecy. The Lord of the world shall say to the coogregailon of Israel in the end of days, 0 thou congregation of Israel, which art like to a garden highly esteemed of among' the nations^ and sits in the school with the companions of the sanhedria, and the rest of the people which hearken to the voice of tha chief of the school, and learn from hia month liis words, cause me to hear the law, the voice of thy words, when thoti ait test to justify and condemn, and I will cotisent to whatever tliou dost.
Verse 14. Make haste ^ mif beloeed^ c^.] la tbil very hour the elders of the congregation of Israel shall say. Flee, O my beloved ^ the Lord of the world, from this defiled earth, and cause thy shechmah to dwell in the highest heavens, and in the time of straits, when we pray before thee, be thon like a roe, which f when it sleeps, (y) has one eye shut and the other eye open; or as a young hart, which, when it flees, looks behind it; so do thou look upon ns, and consider our sorrow and our affliction, fTom the highest heavens, until the time comes that thou wilt take pleasure in us, and redeem as, and bring tis to the mountain of Jerusalem, whfire the priests shall offer up before thee the sweet incense*
{w) So it ifl EiplEunod of the Ffopte of krtel* under the government of Solomon in Shirlmanirim R&bbSr and by Jarchi and Aben Earn in loc,
(f) This i« a vciy great mistake of the Tsrgumkt; for It wan JerobcMkm, and not Ahijoli^ who fled into Egypt^ whom Soloinoii eoughl to kill; see 1 King& ij. 40^
(y) The £amc is mentioned in Sbirhashiriin Rabb^ in loc.
A mystical poem, mppoood to hsfe % near feeenililanee to the Book of Canticles, many passages of which
The firmament is obscured by clouds, the woodlands are black with Tamala (1) trees.
That youth who roves in the forest must be fearful in the gloom of night.
Go, my daughter; bring the wanderer home to my rustic mansion.
Such was the command of Nanda, (3) the fortunate herdsman; and hence arose the loves of Radha (3) iod
Madhata, (4) who sported on the bank of Yamuna, (5) or hastened eagerly to the secret bower. If thy soul be delighted with the remembrance of Heri, (6) or sensible to the raptures of love, listen to the
voice of Jayadeva, whose notes are both sweet and brilJiant. O thou who reclinest on the bosom of Cahala, (7) whose ears flame with gems, and whose locks are embellished with sylvan flowers; Thou from whom the day-star derived his effulgence, who showedst the venom-breathing Calita, (8) who
beamedst like a sun on the tribe of Yadu, (9) that flourished like a lotos; Thou, who sittest on the plumage of Garura, (10) who, by subduing demons, gavest exquisite joy to the
assembly of immortals; Thou, for whom the daughter of Janaga (11) was decked in gay apparel, by whom Dushana (18) was
overthrown; Thou, whose eye sparkles like the water-lily, who calledst three worlds into existence; Thou, by whom the rocks of Mandar (13) were easily supported; who sippest nectar from the radiant lips
of Pbd»ia, (14) as the fluttering Chacora (15) drinks the moonbeams; Be victorious, O Heri, lord of conquest! Radha sought him long in vain, and her thoughts were confounded by the fever of desire. She was roving in the vernal season, among the twining Vasantis, (16) covered with soft blossoms, when a
damsel thus addressed her with youthful hilarity: ^The gale that has wantoned round the beautiful clove plant breathes from the hill of Mavlata; (17) The circling arbours resound with the notes of the Cocila, (18) and the murmurs of honey-making swarms; Now the hearts of damsels, whose lovers are travelling at a distance, are pierced with anguish; While the blossoms of Bacui (19) are conspicuous among the flowrets covered with bees. The Tamala, with leaves dark and fragrant, claims a tribute from the musk, which it vanquishes; And the clustering flowers of the Cinsuca (20) resembling the nails of Cama, (21) with wliich he rends the
hearts of the young. The full-blown Cesara (22) gleams like the sceptre of the world's monarch, love; And the pointed thyrsus of the Cetaci (23) resembles the darts by which lovers are wounded. See the bunches of Patali (24) flowers filled with bees, like the quiver of Smara, (25) full of shafts; While the tender blossom of the Caruna (26) smiles to see the whole world laying shame aside. The far-scented Madhavi (27) beautifies the trees, round which it twines; And the fresh Malica (28) seduces with rich perfume even the hearts of hermits; While the Amra (29) tree with blooming tresses is embraced by the gay creeper Atimucta, (30) And the blue streams of Yamuna wind round the groves of Vrindavah, (31) In this charming season, which gives pain to separated lovers, Toung Heri sports and dances with a company of damsels.
A breeze, like the breath of love, from the fragrant flowers of the Cetaci, kindles every heart. Whilst it perfumes the woods with the prolific duty which it shakes from the Mallica (32) with half
Ajid the Cocila bursts into song, when he sees the blossoms glistening on the loTeljr RaudaJ" (SS)
The jealous Radha gave no answer;
And, soon after, her officious friend, perceiving the foe of Mura (34) in the forest, eager ftt the rapttmMb
embraces of the herdsman's daughters, with whom he was dancing, Thus again addressed his forgotten mistress:
*' With a garland of wild flowers, descending even to the yellow mantle that girds his azure limbs. Distinguished by smiling cheeks, and by ear-rings that sparkle as he plays, Heri exults in the assemblage of amorous damsels.
One of them presses him with her swelling breast, while she warbles with exquisite melodj. Another, affected by a glance from his eye, stands meditating on the lotos of his &ce. A third, on pretence of whispering a secret in his ear, approaches his temides, and kisses them with ardour. One seizes his mantle, and draws him towards her, pointing to the bower on the banks of FofSMina, where
elegant Vanjulas (35) interweare their branches. He applauds anoUier who dances in the sportive circle, whilst her bracelets ring, as she beats time with
her palms. Now he caresses one, and kisses another, smiling on a third with complacency; And now he chases her, whose beauty has most allured him.
Thus the wanton Hkri frolics, in the season of sweets, among the maids of Vrajth (36) Who rush to his embraces, as if he were pleaaore itself assuming a human form; And one of them, under a pretext of hymning his diviiie perfectimis, whispers in his ear, * Thy lips, my beloved, are nectar.' "
Raoha remains in the forest: but, resenting the promiscuous passion of Heri, and his neglect of her beauty,
which he once thought superior. She retires to a bower of twining plants, the summit of which resounds with the humming of swarms engaged
in their sweet labours; And there, fallen languid on the ground, she thus addresses her female companion: " Though he take recreation in my absence, and smile on all around him.
Yet my soul remembers him, whose beguiling reed modulates an air sweetened by the nectar of his quivering lip. While his ear sparkles with gems, and his eye darts amorous glances;
Him, whose looks are decked with the plumes of peacocks resplendent with many-coloured moons; And whose mantle gleams like a dark blue cloud illumined with rainbows; Him, whose graceful smile gives new lustre to his lips, brilliant and sofl as a dewy leaf, sweet and ruddy as
the blossom of Bandhujiva^ (37) While they tremble with eagerness to kiss the daughters of the herdsmen;
Him, who disperses the gloom with beams from the jewels which decorate his bosom, his wrists, and his ankles; On whose forehead shines a circlet of sandal wood, which makes even the moon contemptible, when it moves
through irradiated clouds; Him, whose ear-rings are formed of entire gems in the shape of the fish Macara (38) on the banners of love. Even the yellow-robed god, whose attendants are the chiefs of deities, of holy men, and of demons; Him who reclines under a gay Cadumba (39) tree, who formerly delighted me while he gracefully waved in
the dance, And all his soul sparkled in his eye.
My weak mind thus enumerates his qualities; and, though offended, strives to banish offence. What else can do it 1 It cannot part with its affection for Crishna, whose love is excited by other d^miip^]f^
and who sports in the absence of Radha. Bring, O my sweet friend, that vanquisher of the demon Cesi (40) to sport with me, who am repairing to a
secret bower. Who look timidly on all sides, who meditate with amorous fancy on his divine transfiguration. Bring him, whose discourse was once composed of the gentlest words, to converse with me, who am bashftd
on his first approach, And express my thoughts with a smile sweet as honey. Bring him, who formerly slept on my bosom, to recline with me on a green bed of leaves just gathered, while
his lips shed dew, and my arms enfold him. Bring him, who has attained the perfection of skill in love's art, whose hand used to press these firm and
delicate spheres, to play with me, Whose voice rivals that of the Cocila, and whose tresses are bound with waving blossom. Bring him, who formerly drew me by the locks to hie emhnce, to repose with me whose feet tinkle, as thej
move, with rings of gold and of gems,
Whose looaefled Tom souimIb, a« it fdU; and whait liralw art slender liiid flexible m the creeping pUat.
That god I whose cheeks are beautified by I he nectai of hia emiles,
Who«e pipe drops in his ecaUay from bia hand, 1 saw in tJie grove enmtokd by th« damsels of Vraja, who
gazed on him a±jkance from the corners of their eyes. I saw him in the groTC with happier damaela^ yet the sight of him delighti^ij me. Son is the gale which breathes over yon clear pool, and cypanda Ihe cloaterbg tbaa^ma of the toWa
Asoca; (41) Soft, yet grievous to me in the absence of the foe of Madhc. DeligUtfid are the flowers of Amr<s trees on the mountain top, while th« morinufing hem jmraae their tolop-
tuous toil; Delightful, yet afflicting to me, 0 friend, ia the absence of the youthful Cesma*^^
Meaotimei the deatroyer of CaHiAi (13) baving brought to hie remembraiiee the amiable Radha, foraook \\a
beautiful damsela of Vrttja^ He Boaght her in all part^ of the foiest; liia whole wonnd from love's arrow hied again; He repented of his levity j and, aeated in a bower near ihe hank of YamHm, the blue daughter of the soOt
Thus poured forth his lamentation:
" She is departed; she saw me, no doubt, suTroonded by tl^e wanton shepherd esaes j
Yet, conscious of my fault, I durst not iDtercepi her flight.
Wo is me! she feels a seuse of injured honour^ and ia departed in wrath.
How wiU she conduct herself t How will she express her pain in so long a separatjon 1
What is wealth to me I What are numerous attendants?
What are the pleasures of the world I What joy can I receive Crom a heavenly abode I
I eeem to behold her face with eyebrows contracting themBclves through a just leBentmeitt;
It resembles a fresh lotos, over which two black bees are fluttering-
I seem, so present is she to my imagination, even now to caress her with eagemeaa.
Why then do I seek her in this forest? w*hy do I lament her without cause I
0 slender damsel, I know that anger has torn thy soil bosom; But whither thou art retired, that I know not. How ean I invite thee to return T
Thou art seen by me, indeed, in a vision; thou seemest to more before me. Ah! why dost thou not rush, as before, to my embrace 1 Do but forgive me ^ never again will I commit a similar offence* Grant me but a sight of thee, O lovely Eadhica; for my paaaion torments me.
1 am not the terrible Mahesa: (43) a garland of w^ater*liliea with subtle 0amentA decks my athoaldeis; act"
serpents, with twisted folds. The blue petals of the lotos glitter on my neck; not the azure gleam of poison. Powdered sandal -wood is sprinkled on my limbs; not pale ashes,
0 god of love, mistake me not for Mahadeva. (44) Wound me not again; approach me not in anger;
1 love already but too passionately i yet I have lost my beloved. Hold not in thy hand that shaft l»).rbed with an Amra flower.
Brace not ihy bow, 0 conqueror of the world. Is it valour to slay one w^ho faints 1 My heart is already pierced by arrows from Rodhams eyes, black and keen as those of an antelope; Yet my eyes are not gratified with her presence.
Her eyes are full of shafts; her eyebrows are bows; and the tips of her ears are silken striag^. Thus artned by Ananga, (45) the god of deauro^ she marches, herself a goddeas, lo ensure hia trjDm(ih0t«i
the vanquished universe. I meditate on her delightful emhraee, on the ravishing glances darted from her eye, On the fragrant h>tos of her mouth, on her nectar-dropping speech^ On her hps, ruddy as the berries of the Bimba (46) plant; Yet even my fixed meditation on such an assemblage of charms increases instead of alleviatiag Ihe misery
The damsel, commisiioned by Raoba, found the disconsolate god under an arbour of spreading Vmtir^s by the side of Yamuna; where, presenting heraelf gracefully before him, she thus describcHl the affliction of his beloTed;
" She deapbea essence of anndal-woodt and «?eti by moonlight siu brocNimg ovm her gloomy aonow;
She declares the g^te of M&laya to be venom; mod the sandil-trees, tbrotigh wbieb tt has bre&the^, to hare
been the haunt of serpents, Thtifl, O Mjidhatat is she afflicted in thy ^bsesce with the psin which lore^s dart h&s occasioned r her sonl
is fixed on thee, Fresh arrow A of desire are cootiuually asstiiiing heii and she forms a net of lotos leaves as armour for ber
hearty which thou alone should st fortiiy. She makes her owo bed of the arrows daried hy iJie fiowery-ahafted god: but when she hoped for Ihy
embrace, she had formed for tbea a couch of soft blos&oms. Her face is like a water-ldy, veiled in the dew of tears; and her eyes appear Like moons ecUpsed^ which let
fall their gathered nectar through pain caused by the tooth of the furious dragon. She draws thy image with mnsk in the character of the deity with live sliaHis, having subdued the Macar^
or homed shark, and holding an arrow tipped with an Amra flower « thus she draws thy picture, and
worships it. At the close of every sentence, 0 Madbata, she exclaims, At thy feet am I fallen i and in thy ahsenee e?en
the moon, though it be a vase AiU of nectar^ inHames my limbs. Then by the power of imagination she figures thee standing before her; ihee, who art not easily attabed; She sighs, she smiles, she mourns, she weeps, she moves from side to side, sbs lAmenls and rejoices by turns^ Her abode is a forest; the circle of her female companions Is a net; Her sighs are flames of fire kindled in a thicket; heraelf (alas ] through Ihy absence) is become a timid
roe; and love is the tiger who springs on her like Yam a, the genius of death. So emaciated is ber beautiful bod yt that even the light garl^^cl which waves over her bosom she thinka a load. Such, O brighl-haired god, is Kadra when thou art absent. If powder of sandal-wood finely levigated be moistened and applied to her bosom, the st&rts, and mistakes it
for poison. Her sighs form a breeze long extended, and bum her like the flame which redoced CAiniAftPi (47) to aalies She throws around her eyes, like blue water-lilies wiih broken slrdks, dropping lucid streams. Even her bed of tender leaves appears in her sight like a kindled lire. The palm of her hand supports her aching temple, moitoriless as the crescent rising at eve. Hiai, Hkbi, thas in silence she meditates on thy name, as if her wish were gratified, md sb€ were dymg
through thy absence. She rends her locks; she pants; ahe laments inarticulately;
She trembles; she pines; she mosea * she moves from place to place; she closes her eyes; She falls; she rises again; she faints; in such a fever of love she may live, O celestial physician, if Ihou
administer the remedy; But shouldst thou be unkind, her malady will be desperate* Thus, O divine healer, by the nectar of thy love must Rap ha be restored to health \ and if thou refuse it^
thy heart must be harder than the thunder -stone. Long has her soul pined, and long has she been heated with sandal- wood, moonlight, and water-lilies, with
which others are cooled; Yet she patiently and in secret meditates on thee, who alone eanst relieve her.
Shouldst thou be inconstant, how can she, wasted as she is to a shadow, support Hfe a single moment T How can she. who lately could not endure thy tibsence even an instant, forbear sighing now^ when she looks
with half- closed eyes on the Rasala with blooming branches, which remind her of the vernal season,
when she first beheld thee with rapture V ** Here have I chosen my abode: go quickly to Raoha j sooth her with my message, and conduct her hither." So spoke ihe foe of Mad»u (48) to the anions damsel, who hastened back, and thus addressed her
companion: '* Whilst a sweet hreeze from the hills of Mahya comes wafting on his plumes the young ged of desire^ While man; a flower points his extended petals to pierce the bosoms of separated lovers. The deity crowned with sylvan blossoms laments, 0 friend, in thy absence* Even the dewy rays of the moon burn him; and as the shaft of love is descending, he motmts inaxticnlately
with increasing distraction. When the bees murmur softly, he covers his ears;
Misery sits fixed in his heart, and every retumiog night adds angtiish Co angnlsb^ He quits his radiant palace for the wild forest, where he sinks oq i bed of cold clay, and frequently muttera
thy name, in yoEi bower, to which the pilgrims of leva are uaed to repair, he meditates on thy form, repeating in silence
some enchanting word wbicli once dropped from thy lips, and thirsling for \h& nectar which they alone
can supply. Delay not, O loveliest of woman; follow the lord of thy heart: behold, he seeks the appointed ahader bdfhl
with the ornaments of love, and confident of the promised bliss. Having bound his locks with forest flowers, ho lu^tens to yon arbour, where a soft gale breathes over tN
banks of Yamuna:
My tiflcki mors dellcato tliati tbe t^ndereat bloasoTUt is hurt by the garland that eQciiclet it i
Flowers are, mdeed, the iutows of love, and he play a wilh theEn cruelly,
I make ihLa wood my dwelling^: 1 regurd not the roughness of the Veia^ tr§es;
But iba destroyer of Madhu holds me not tu his remembrance I
Why eomejj he not to the bower of the blooming Vunjulas^ asajgned for meeting T
gfome ardeot riTali no doubt, keepa him locked id her embrace-
Ot hare his companions detained him wiih mirthful recTeatione T
Else why roams he not throug'h the cool shades 1
Perhaps, through weakness^ the heart-sick lover ta anable to advance even a step J"
80 saying, she raised her eyes; and, seeing her damsel return silent and mournful, unaooompanied by
MiiDHAirA, flhe was alarmed even to frenzy; And, as if she actually beheld him in the arms of a fivaJ, she thus described the vision which overpowered
her intellect ^ ** Yes, in habiliments becoming the war of love, and with treaaea waving like flowery banners, A damsel, more alluring than Radha, enjoys the conqueror of Ma.dhi;.
Her form is tranafigured by the touch of ber divine lover x her garland quivera over her swelling bosom; JJer faee like the moon is graced with clouds of dark hair, and trembles while she quails the neetareaus dew
of his Up; Her bright ear-nnga dance over her cheeksi which they irradiate; and the small beUs on her girdle tinkle as
she moves. Bashful at first, she smiles at length on her embracer, and espTessea her joy with inarticulate murmurs; While she floats on the wares of desire, and closes her eyes dazzled with the bla^e of approaching Cama; And now this heroine in love^a warfare faJls, exhausted and vanquished by the resistless McaARi. But alas \ in my bosom prevails the flame of jetiiousy, and yon moonj which dbpels the sorrow of others^
increases mine* See again, where the foe of Muju sports in yon grove, on the baidt of the Ygmuna^ See how he kisses tbe lip of my rival, and imprints on her forehead an ornament of pure musk, black as the
young antelope on tbe lupar orb \ Now, like tbe husband of Reti, (52) be fixes white blossoms on her dark locks, where they gleam like
flaahea of light mng among the ctirled clouds. On her breasts^ like two firmaments, he places a string of gems like a radiant constellation. He binds on her arms, graceful as the stalks of ihe water-Jily, and adorned with hands glowing like the petals
of its flower, a bracelet of sapphires, which reaerablea a cluster of beea. Ah! see how be ties round her waist a rich ginlle illumined with golden bells, Which seem to laugh as they tinkle, at the inferior brightneas of the leafy garlands, which lovers hang on
their bowers to propitiate the god of desire. He places her sof^ foot, as he roc li ties by her side, on liis ardent bosom, and stains it with the ruddy hue of
Say, my iiiend, why pass I my nigbta in tliia tangled forest without joy, and without hope,
While the faithleas bTotber of Haladhera clasps my rival in his arma 1
Yet why, my companion, ahouldat thou mourn, though my perfidious youth has disappointed me I
W'hat oflence is it of thine, if be sport with a crowd of damsels happier than I \
Mark, how my soul, attracted by his irresistible charms, bursts from its mortal frame, and rashes ta mta; with ita beloved.
She, whom the god enjoys, erowned with sylvan flowers.
Sits carelesaly on a bed of leaves with him, whose wanton eyes resemble blue water-lilies agitated by ihe breeze.
She feels no flame from the gales of Malay a with him, whose words are sweeter than the water of life.
She derides the shafts of soul- born Caha with him, whose lips are like a red lotos in full bloom.
She ia cooled by the nioon^'s dewy beams, while she reclines with him^ whose hands and feet glow like vernal flowers.
No female companion deludes her, while she sports with him, whose veature blazes like tried gold.
She faints not through excess of passion, while she caresses that youth who surpasses in beauty the inhabitants of all worlds.
0 gale, scented with sandaJy who breathest loro from the regions of the south, be propitious but for ft
moment: When then hast brought my beloved before my eyea, thou may est freely waft away my soul. Love, with eyea like blue water-lilies, again assails me, and triumphs; And, while the peifldy of my beloved rends my heart, my female friend \& my foe; The cool breeze torches me like a flame, and the neetar-droppiug moon is my poison. Bring disease and death, 0 gale of Malayct t Sei^e my spitit, O god with fire arrows I
1 ask not mercy from thee: no more will £ dwell In the cottage of my father.
Recoire me in thy ai^ure waves, 0 sister of YAura, (53) that the ardour of my heart tnay be allayed. ** G 895
Spread & sttidg of gems 6n tboee tv^o soft globes; let the golden bell^ of thy moiie tmkls, and piocldm (He
mild edict of lore. Siy, O damsel, with deltc&te speech, shall I dye red with the juice ef Alactaea Uwise beautiful feet, which
make the fttU blown land^Jotos blush with shame t Abandon thy deubta of my heart, now indeed fluttering through fear of thy displeasura, but hereafter to be
Hxed wholly on thee; A heart, which has no foom in it for another: none else can enter itj but lore, the bodylesB god. Ijet htm wing his arrowy; let him wound me moTlally; decline not, O cruel, the pleaauie of i^eing me expire. Thy face is bright as the moon, though its beams drop the?enom of maddening desire; Let thy neetareouA lip he the charmer, who alone haa power to lull the serpent, or supply an antidote for hia
poison. Thy silence afflicta rae: Oh! speak with the voice of music, and lei thy aweet aecenta allay my ardour. Abandon thy wrath: but abandon not a lover, who surpaaaea in beauty the soas of men, and who kneels befoie
thee, O thou most beautiful among women. Thy lips arc a Bandhujiva flower; the lustre of the Madhuea (56) beams on thy cheek; Thine eye outahines the blue lotoa; thy nose is a bud of the Tila^; (50) the Cunda (57) blossom yields to
thy teeth; Thus the fiowery -shafted god borrows from thee the points ef his darts, and subdues the universe. Surely thou descendcst from heave n^ O slender damsel, attended by a company uf youthful goddetises } and all
iheir beauties are collected b ihec."
He sp^e; and seeing her appeased by his homage, flew to hb bower, clad in a gay mantle.
The night now veiled aH visible objects j and the damsel thus exhorted Badkm^ while she decked her with
beaming ornaments: ^ Follow, gentle RAnaicA, follow the son of Madhu; His disclosure was elegantly composed of sweet phrases; he prostrated himself at thy feet^ and he now
hastens to his delightful couch by yon grove of branching Vanjal^. Bind round thy ankle rings beaming with gems; and advance with mincing steps t like the pearl-fed Maralti. Drink with ravished ears the soft accents of Hrni j and feast on love, while the warbling CociIoa obeys the
mild ordinance of the flower-darting god. Abandon delay i see the whole assembly of slender plants, pointing to the bower with fingers of young leaves,
agitated by the gale, make signals for thy departure. Aak those two round hillocks, which receive pure dew*drops from the g^iland playing on thy neck, and the
buds whose tops start sloft witli the thought of thy darling; Aski and they wilt tell, that thy son) is intent on the warfare of Imm: Advance, fervid warrior, advance with alacrityi whUe the sound of thy Itnkling walst<bellfl shaU represent
martial music. Lead with thee some favoured maid; grasp her liand with thine, whose fingers are long and onoeth as love*a
arrows. March; and with the noise of thy bracelets proclaim thy approach to the youth, who will ovm himself thy
slave. < She will come; she will exult in beholding me; she will pour accents of delight; She will enfold me with eager arms \ she will melt with affection.'
Such are his thoughts at this moment; and, thus thinking, he looks through the long av«nue; He trembles; he rejoices; he bums; he mores from plaee to place; he falnis, when he sees thee not
coming, and falls in his gloomy bower^ The night now dresses in habiliments fit for secrecy the many damscle, who hasten to thdr places of
assignation; She sets off with blacknes* thoir beauiifwl eyes; fiies dark Tamtda leaves behind their ears; Decks their locks with the deep a^ura of water-lilies, and sprinkles musk on their panting bosoms. The noetumal sky, black as the touchstone, tries the gold of their aflections, And is marked with rich lines from the flashes of their beauty, in which they surpass the brightest Coihmi-
rwinj." Bjldha, thus incited, tripped through the forest; but shame overpowered her, when^ by the light of innumerable gems on the arms, the neck, and the feet of her beloved, She saw him at the door of his flowery mansion; then her damsel again addressed her with ardent exultation: " Enter, sweet RAnttA} the bower of Haai; seek delight, 0 thou whose bosom laughs with the foreUsie of
happiness. Enter, sweet RaduAi the bower gneed with a bed of Asoca teavoB; seek delight, 0 thou whose garland leaps
_igitized by VriOOQlC
In llic morning she tosb di^ajrayedf and her eyea beirayed a nigEit withonl slumber; ivhen the yellow-rob&d
god, who ga^ed on b€i with transport, thaa mediiated on her cbaTins in his heavenfy mind; Thongh har tooka be diffused at random; Ihough the }aitre of ber Upa be faded; though her garland and xdna
be fallen from their enchanting station a; And though ^he hide theii places with her hands, looking towards me with bashful ailenoe, yel eTen thus
disarrayed^ she fills me with ecstatic delight. Bu£ RA.DHA, preparing to array heraelf, before the company of nympbt could se^ her GonfuBioi^, ^pake thujs
with exaltatinn to her obeequious lover: place, O son of YAi>Vt ^itb fingers cooler than sandal* wcyod, place a circlet of musk on Ihis breasti which
rei^mbles a vase of consecrated water, crowned with fresh leavea, and fixed near a vernal bower) to
propitiate the god of love. Place» my darling, the glossy piowdet, w^teh would itiik^ the blackest bee eavious, on this eye, whose
gl&nees are keener than arrows darted by the htisband of Reti. Fix, O accomplished youth, the two gems, M^bich form part of love's chain, in tho«e ears, whence the ante^
lopes of thine eyes may rtjn downwards, and sport at pleasure. Place now a fresh circle of muak, black as the lunar spots* on the moon of my forehead; and mix gay
flowets on my tresses with a peacock's feathers, in graceful order, that they rtiay wave like ihc banners
of Ca^a.. Now replace, 0 tender-hearted, the loose ornaments of my vesture; and refii ihe golden bells of my girdle
on their destined station, which resembles those hills where the f od with five shafU, who destroyed
SAMn^RjL, (59) keeps his elephant ready for battle* While she s|>ake the heart of Yah a va triumphed; And obeying her sportful behests, he placed musky ip6iA
on her bosom and forehead, dyed her temples with radiant hues, embellished her eyes with additional
blackness, decked her braided hair and her neck with fresh garlimds, and tied on her wrists the loosened
bracelets, on her ankles tbe beamy rings, and round her waiat the zone of belts, that sounded with
ravishing melody. Whatever is delightful in the modes of music, whatete^ is divlfte in meditations on TisHinj, (60) whatever is
extiuisite in the sweet art of love, whatever is graceful in the fine strains of poetry, all that let the happy
and wise learn from the songs of Javadeva, (01) whose soul is united wuh tbe foot of Narayak. May that Heai be your stipportt who expanded himself into an infinity of bright forms, when, eager to gasCt
with myriads of eyes, on the daughter of the ocean, he displayed his great character of the all-pervading
deity, by tbe multiplied reileetiona of his divine person in the numberless gems on the many heads of the
king of serpents, whom he chose for his couch; That Heri, who removing his lucid veil from the bosom of Pedma, and fixing his eyes on the delicious buds
ihat grew on it, diverted her attention by declaring that, when she had chosen him as her bridegroom
Dear the sea of mUk^ the disappointed husband of Psrvate (62) drank in despair the venom, which dyed
bis neck azure I
I HAVE now placed before my readers this extraordinary poem, which I believe will be considered by every adequate Judge to be equaJj if not superior, to every thing of the kind that has been produced, either by tbe ancients or modems. The poem is confessedly mystical, relating to tbe pure and affectionate intercourse between the Deity and human souls; and is capable of a very extended comment, to illustrate its phraseologyj and explain its almost numberless allusions to the mylhological system of tbe Hindoos.. But the chief design of its introduction ber€ is to illustrate the phraseology of the Song jDF Songs. The raost superficial reader cannot but be struck with ihc similarity of the language of the metaphors and imagery. There are few turns of thonght in the Song of Sangs that may not find a parallel in the Gitagovinda; and even the strongly impassioned language of Solomon may be everywhere supported by that of Jmjadeva, and vice versa. Could it be proved that the love between Christ and ihe Church were really the subject of the Canticles, the Gitagovinda might be applied with tbe utmost success to illustrate and explain all its imagery^ and all its allusions: but we have no key to unlock its reference; BO data to which we can confidently refer; and though it be generally allowed to be a mystic songf yet all interpreters follow their own creed in its explanation; and it is only on the general subject that any two of them agree. As I am not satisfied that the common method used in its interpretation is either correct or genuine, I have simply avoided the rocka which others have been wreckedj but have constructed no chart according lo whidi a mi prosperous voyage might be projected.
The late learned and pious Mr. Romame seems to have thought that a competent knowled of the original language might lead to its proper illustration; and is indignant at those v liave attempted its explanation without this necessary quah£cation. Of his knowledge of i sacred language no man doubts. I, also, have brought some acquaintance with tbe origi to bear on the subject; but^ though perhaps as well acquainted with the meaning of tlie wo as Mr. Roraaine himselfj I have not been able lo discover his system in the poem; toe dare not by conjecture put a meaning on any tiling that professes to be a revelation b God* I respect many of its interpreters for their piety and leamingj but I cannot foUow il steps; they have not proved to me that Solomon's Song refers to the love of Chrisi and Church, Let this be my apology with the candid reader for not entering into a more tended comment on this ex h'a ordinary book.
To ascertain some of the latter parts of this poem, I have been obliged to trust to own judgment; as Sir William Jones, from whom I have borrowed thesei had not marl any division; and I have had the original of the four first parts only*
As to the old version of the Canticles which I have introduced, the reader will be pleaj lo observe, it is that which was used by our forefathers before and after the reformation; < word of which I would not presume to alter or change. It is sacred both by age and use ioo, $
(1) Tax ALU TREE. — ^A dafk-leaTed tjee, eommon in M»t'hiura and other parti, but mi Jbtind in Bengal.—
(3) Radha. — One of tlje principal and fa^^ourite miBtresaea of CriBhna. (i) Madhmja^^^nB of the namefl of Cnshna, implying the possession of Ma or LocKmi} his heBTonlj consorts
(5) YamvTui. — Vulgarly caUed Jumna, the river which flows hy Dehlee, Mat^bura, and Ayrm,
(8) Caliya* — A hnga jsnake, who from ^e Jumna infested the neighbourbood of Gooul liU deatrojed hj
Criahna. t) Yadu. — The name of a tribe, deifred from Yadn, a eelehrated Eaja, famed to have been descended fioni the moo& I) Garura. — Not the vnlture known by this name in Bengal; but a fabled bird^ anawering in some respecta to the eagle of Jupitert and described to be the bearer of Vbbnu, the bearenly Crishna.) Jmmca^ — A Raja of Tirhoot, whose daughter Suta was offered in marriage to whoever could draw a bow of immense size; and won by Crishna, in his ineamatioa of Ramehundra, 0 Dushmia.- — A demon giant, slain by Crishna in the form of Rama, t) Mandar. — A mountain of immense size, with which Crishna is said to have chnmed the oeean in hia aecond incarnation. I) Pedma. — A name of Lachmii of the same meaning with Camala. ») Chacora, — ^A poetical bird, deaciibed like the partridge, but imagined to be enamoured of th^ moon, and to feed on her beams, i) VasantL — A vernal creeper, bearing a yellow and white flower. ') Maylaya. — A moantain in the Dekkan, on which aandal trees grow in abundance. f) Cacila. — An admired singing bird with green plumage, with red beak and feet, common in Mat*hura, and said to sing only in the spring seaison. The same name is given to a bfackbird in Bengal, called the Rocil, which only sings in the night. i) BacuL — A beautiful tree, commonly called oibicuiar, well known in Bengal, by the namea of Moulseree i) Ceiurit.' — A beautiful flower, with yellow and while petals, better known by the name of Nagekur«) Cetaci. ^The female Ceyora, a thorny shrub, whose flowers yield a fine perfume.) Pakdi. — A large hollow flower, of which one species is ted, the other white, ■) Smara. — A name of th© god of love, signifying trfe«ff.
<) Ccrruna. — A delicate creeper, with small red flowers, called in Persian labk-peiehed, or love-tangler.) Madha9i. — A creeper bearing am all white flowers.
i) ^fnfo,^ — The mango tree; with its flowers the god Coma tips his arrows. i) Atimutta. — A fragrant creeper, which runs to a great extent, called al^o MidmsluL It bears a flower of yellowiah white, soraelimes caUed also Madhavi.) Vrindavan. — An extensive forest of Vraja. i) Malliea. — A species of jasmine, white and odoriferous, t) Rasaia^^An epithet of the mango, implying teplete vritk sweet jaice,:) Mura. — A demon and giant stain by Crishna.
i) Vanjaia. — A large tree, called dso Varvon, producing white flowers, I) Vraja. — A country about 170 miles in circumference, between Dehloe and Agta> inclttdjng the city of
Mat^hora, and intersected by the Jumna^ ') Bandhujitfa, — A red flower, named likewise Doperheca. I) Macara,—^A homed fish, supposed to be the hammer shark. k) Cadumha* — A flower tree, vulgarly called Cnddum, very common in Bengal, and mach esteemed by the
,} Asoca* — A tall tree, somewhat resembling the beech, consecrated to Mahadeva, S) Coma. — The maternal uncle of Crishna, destroyed by him for his iniqultiesp I) MaA€jff.— Literally, mighty lord, an epithet of the god Shiva.