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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
[OCTOBER, 1917
Let us again return to the Faerie Queen (II, 13) :
"No tree whose braunches did not bravely spring; No braunch whereon a fine bird did not sitt; No bird but did her shrill notes sweetly sing; No song but did containe a lovely ditt. Trees, braunches, birds and songs, were framed fitt
For to allure frajle mind to carelesse ease." These lines remind us the first verse of the Sukarambhdaamvada
"मार्गे मागे मूतनं चूतखण्डम् खण्डे खण्डे कोकिलानां विरावः। रावे राव मानिनी मानभङ्गः
*: : | 15" (XI)
“कमप्यर्थ चिरं ध्यावा व प्रस्फुरिताधराः। बाष्पस्तम्भितकण्डस्वादनुनवव वनं गताः|| 16"
-Pratima of Bhâsa, II, 17. This way Râma, Sitâ and Lakshamana went to forest according to Bhâsa. It is quite different in Ramayana, wherein we read a long farewell message. Whether Bhåsa or some one else be the author of the dramas published by Mr. Ganapati SÅstri, the skill of the dramatist is quite evident. He has heightened to an extraordinary pitch the pathos of the situation by dropping the message altogether, and thus making it an indication of intense grief.
In Ramayana, the farewell message was meant to show the feelings of grief; but by a stroke (we should consider it to be of the pen of a genius ) it has been dropped, in spite of Ramayana, simply to express the grief. That Råma went away without leaving a message behind him is sufficient to drive mad his affectionate father. We have come across many cases where Bhasa puts aside older authorities, or historical facts. Here is one of them where he does so with great success and rare effect. We cite a parallel to the above verse of Bhâsa:
"Neither could say farewell, but through their eyes Grief interrupted speech with tears' supplies."
-T. Carew's "A Pastoral Dialogue :" last lines. The following lines are perfectly oriental in sentiment, although we read them in the Faerie Queen, I, 12, 36-7(XII)
"And to the knight his daughter dear he tied
With sacred rites and vows for ever to abide." " His own two hands the holy knott did knitt
That none but death for ever can divide; His own two hands, for such a turne most fit, The houseling fire did kindle and provide,
And holy water thereon sprinkled wide; ..." “The houseling fire", we consider, is more connected with India and the Indian life than with any other race on the earth. Even in the drama of Shakespeare we read
“For in the temple, by and by, with us These couples shall eternally be knit."
--- A Midsummer Night's Dream, IV, 1, 185-6. Here the parallels come to an end, We hope their significance will not be lost upon the reader.
15On the road there are olusters of mangoe-trees and every such cluster resounds with the cooings of cuckoon; Every note of cuckoo makes the proud lady give up her prido: and with that, spring up (in her heart) the five-arrowed god."
* "For a long timy they thought: and (then ) quivered their lids to utter something; but toare prevented their speech; hence, without uttering a word, they went away to forest."
