Living

Epigram LIX

by Bhartrihari traditionally 5th–7th century AD

Translated by Paul Elmer More (1898) · From A Century of Indian Epigrams (1898)

Living

Like as a dancing-girl to sound of lyres
Delights the king and wakens sweet desires
For one brief hour, and having shown her art
With lingering bow behind the scene retires:

So o'er the Soul alluring Nature vaunts
Her lyric spell, and all her beauty flaunts;
And she, too, in her time withdrawing leaves
The Watcher to his peace — 't is all she wants.

MLA

Bhartrihari. “Epigram LIX.” Translated by Paul Elmer More. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/bhartrihari/56/.

Chicago

Bhartrihari. “Epigram LIX.” Translated by Paul Elmer More. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/bhartrihari/56/.

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