Indian Antiquary Vol 04

Author(s): Jas Burgess
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 62

52
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
2. Conversation between husband and wife about growing old. O thou, in grass-covered hut, In the wood-house, my mate, Like the flower thou art dried up, Like the red flower thou art faded: Is it from the earth's heat, my mate, Or from the heaven's glow,
That thou like the flower art dried,
That my mate like the red flower is faded ? The husband's answer.
It comes not from the earth's heat,
It comes not from the heaven's glow ;
Time goes on, my mate,
Age is drawing near;
Time goes on, my mate, Like a narrow footpath;
Age draws nigh, companion, As on a broad highway.
As in a dull, damp upland, O mate,
Have we become dull, O mate;
As in a confused waste vale, O companion,
Have we become confused;
You are dull and I am dull, O mate,
We are both alike dull;
You are confused and I am confused, O mate, We are both alike confused.
3. Alternate song at the wedding between bride and bridegroom.
(Chiefly sung by the person who brings in the bride.) Bride. Come in, lad, come in
To the kuda-tree's low shade, To the fruit-tree's deep recess Go in, lad, go in.
Bridegroom.-I will go in, I will go in,
Though I have not much gold, For the kuda-tree's low shade, For the fruit-tree's deep recess. Bride. Is not the price of the wedding-money
there ?
Then, my lad, go not about, loving, piping;
If thou hast not much money,
Then, my lad, my lad, go not about piping with
your teeth:
Then say not to me "Come here,"
Then say not to me "Go with (me);"
My hair-top is loosed,
My upper covering is unbound.
Wilt thou care for me like the falcons,
Thou who sayest to me, "Come to me"? Wilt thou provide for me like the great falcons, Thou who sayest to me "Go with me"?
[FEBRUARY, 1875.
Bridegroom,-A village is there, and land is also there, my dearie;
Wilt thou carry it away rolling it up like a mat?
A village is there, and land is also there, Wilt thou carry it away like wood on thy back?
(The meaning is, Don't be so covetous.) Thy mother's and father's house was like the possessor's of the village (dicku),
Like water are they dried up;
Thy uncles and cousins were like the wise men (sadu),
They are extinguished like fire.
Thy father and mother are overgrown with thorns,
Thy relations are covered with stones:
Ah, weeping comes over me
They are grown over with thorns; Sorrow rises up in my soul
They are covered over with stones.
4. Satirical song of the bride's relations
Our lassie, our lassie (konea),
Rub her and adorn her, our lassie.
Your young man is a crow young man, is a
crow young man ;
Our rice, our rice is the white flower-rice, Our rice, our rice is the white flower-rice; Our flesh is like the beautiful cotton-plant, Our flesh is like the beautiful cotton-plant; Eat well, O guests,
Eat well, O guests,
And stuff it in with the bar of the oxen's house!
The tone and form of this song has in Mundari something very cheerful, droll, and har
monions.
5. Drinking-song on the women who at the marriage provide the rice-brandy.
Draw out, draw ont
The kila sala (rice) beer;
Strain out, strain out The tali sala old beer; Give some, O drawer-out, Into the masuri leaf-vessel, Share out the beer to me. Well, now, O drawer-out, Into the talari leaf-vessel
Share out the beer to me. She who draws it out is drunk, O aye, She who shares it out is drunk, O aye.