Mrs. Midas by Carol Ann Duffy

 This poem, titled "Midas", is a contemporary reimagining of the myth of King Midas, who was granted the golden touch.

Midas: A Stanza-by-Stanza Analysis

Stanza 1:

Heading: The Golden Touch

Poetic Lines:

It was late September. I’d just poured a glass of wine, begun

to unwind, while the vegetables cooked. The kitchen

filled with the smell of itself, relaxed, its steamy breath

gently blanching the windows. So I opened one,

then with my fingers wiped the other’s glass like a brow.

He was standing under the pear tree snapping a twig.

Now the garden was long and the visibility poor, the way

the dark of the ground seems to drink the light of the sky,

but that twig in his hand was gold.

Summary:

The poem begins with a peaceful domestic scene, but this is quickly disrupted when the speaker notices her husband outside, turning a twig to gold.   

Analysis:

The initial domesticity sets up a contrast with the fantastical element of the golden touch. The language is sensory, creating a vivid picture of the kitchen and garden. The last line, "but that twig in his hand was gold," is a stark and sudden introduction of Midas's power.   

Stanza 2:

Heading: Midas's Power

Poetic Lines:

And then he plucked

a pear from a branch. – we grew Fondante d’Automne –

and it sat in his palm, like a lightbulb. On.

I thought to myself, Is he putting fairy lights in the tree?

Summary:

Midas continues to demonstrate his golden touch, transforming a pear into gold. The speaker is initially confused and somewhat amused by his actions.

Analysis:

The simile "like a lightbulb. On." emphasizes the pear's sudden transformation and brilliance. The speaker's question about fairy lights shows her disbelief and her attempt to rationalize the situation.

Stanza 3:

Heading: Midas's Transformation

Poetic Lines:

He came into the house. The doorknobs gleamed.

He drew the blinds. You know the mind; I thought of

the Field of the Cloth of Gold and of Miss Macready.

Summary:

As Midas enters the house, he continues to transform objects into gold. The speaker's thoughts wander to historical and literary references related to gold.

Analysis:

The gleaming doorknobs further illustrate Midas's power. The speaker's thoughts about the Field of the Cloth of Gold and Miss Macready (a character from "The Mill on the Floss" who hoards gold) show her growing concern about the implications of Midas's touch.

Stanza 4:

Heading: Midas's Arrogance

Poetic Lines:

He sat in that chair like a king on a burnished throne.

The look on his face was strange, wild, vain.

I said,

What in the name of God is going on?

He started to laugh.

Summary:

Midas's demeanor changes, and he appears arrogant and self-satisfied. The speaker confronts him, but he dismisses her concerns with laughter.

Analysis:

Midas's transformation is not just physical; it's also affecting his personality. The simile "like a king on a burnished throne" emphasizes his newfound arrogance. His laughter suggests a lack of awareness of the potential consequences of his power.

Stanza 5:

Heading: The Consequences

Poetic Lines:

I served up the meal. For starters, corn on the cob.

Within seconds he was spitting out the teeth of the rich.

He toyed with his spoon, then mine, then with the knives, the forks.

Summary:

The consequences of Midas's touch become immediately apparent when he tries to eat. The food turns to gold in his mouth, making it inedible.

Analysis:

The image of Midas "spitting out the teeth of the rich" is both grotesque and symbolic. It represents the hollowness of material wealth and the inability to find sustenance in gold.

Stanza 6:

Heading: The Golden Chalice

Poetic Lines:

He asked where was the wine. I poured with a shaking hand,

a fragrant, bone-dry white from Italy, then watched

as he picked up the glass, goblet, golden chalice, drank.

It was then that I started to scream.

Summary:

Midas tries to drink wine, but even the wine turns to gold. The speaker, witnessing the full extent of his power and its consequences, is horrified.

Analysis:

The transformation of the wine into a "golden chalice" further emphasizes the destructive nature of Midas's touch. The speaker's scream marks a turning point in the poem, as she realizes the full horror of the situation.

Stanza 7:

Heading: Midas's Regret

Poetic Lines:

He sank to his knees.

After we’d both calmed down, I finished the wine

on my own, hearing him out.

Summary:

Midas, faced with the consequences of his wish, is filled with regret. The speaker, after calming down, listens to his explanation.

Analysis:

Midas's kneeling posture suggests remorse and helplessness. The speaker's act of finishing the wine herself shows her taking control of the situation and asserting her own needs.

Stanza 8:

Heading: Isolation and Adaptation

Poetic Lines:

I made him sit

on the other side of the room and keep his hands to himself.

I locked the cat in the cellar. I moved the phone.

The toilet I didn’t mind.

Summary:

The speaker takes precautions to protect herself and her surroundings from Midas's touch. She isolates him and removes objects that he might touch, adapting to their new reality.

Analysis:

This stanza highlights the practical consequences of Midas's golden touch and the speaker's attempts to manage the situation. The isolation of Midas and the removal of objects show the disruption to their everyday life and the growing distance between them.

Stanza 9:

Heading: The Unfulfilled Wish

Poetic Lines:

I couldn’t believe my ears:

how he’d had a wish. Look, we all have wishes; granted.

But who has wishes granted?

Him.

Do you know about gold?

It feeds no one; aurum, soft, untarnishable; slakes

no thirst.

Summary:

The speaker reflects on the irony of Midas's wish, highlighting the contrast between the allure of gold and its inability to provide sustenance or fulfill basic human needs.

Analysis:

This stanza explores the theme of desire and the consequences of unfulfilled wishes. The speaker's rhetorical questions emphasize the irony of Midas's situation, as his wish for gold has brought him more suffering than satisfaction.

Stanza 10:

Heading: The Golden Cigarette

Poetic Lines:

He tried to light a cigarette; I gazed, entranced,

as the blue flame played on its luteous stem.

At least,

I said, you’ll be able to give up smoking for good.

Summary:

Even Midas's attempt to smoke a cigarette is thwarted by his golden touch. The speaker finds a moment of dark humor in the situation.

Analysis:

The image of the "blue flame played on its luteous stem" creates a visual contrast between the natural and the transformed. The speaker's comment about giving up smoking adds a touch of irony and underscores the absurdity of their situation.

Stanza 11:

Heading: Growing Distance

Poetic Lines:

Separate beds.

in fact, I put a chair against my door,

near petrified.

He was below, turning the spare room

into the tomb of Tutankhamun.

Summary:

The physical and emotional distance between the speaker and Midas grows. The speaker's fear of Midas's touch leads to further isolation and a disruption of their intimacy.

Analysis:

The separation of beds and the barricaded door symbolize the growing divide between the speaker and Midas. The reference to Tutankhamun's tomb foreshadows the potential consequences of Midas's touch, suggesting that it could lead to death and decay.

Stanza 12:

Heading: Lost Intimacy

Poetic Lines:

You see, we were passionate then,

in those halcyon days; unwrapping each other, rapidly,

like presents, fast food.

But now I feared his honeyed embrace,

the kiss that would turn my lips to a work of art.

Summary:

The speaker reflects on their past intimacy, contrasting it with her current fear of Midas's touch. The golden touch has transformed their passionate connection into something cold and lifeless.

Analysis:

This stanza highlights the loss of intimacy and the destructive impact of Midas's power on their relationship. The comparison of their past lovemaking to "unwrapping each other, rapidly, like presents" suggests a sense of spontaneity and joy that is now lost. The speaker's fear of Midas's touch underscores the transformation of their physical connection into something sterile and lifeless.

Stanza 13:

Heading: The Golden Heart

Poetic Lines:

And who, when it comes to the crunch, can live

with a heart of gold?

Summary:

The speaker questions the possibility of a fulfilling relationship with someone whose touch turns everything to gold, suggesting that true connection requires more than material wealth.

Analysis:

This stanza explores the limitations of material wealth and its inability to provide emotional sustenance. The rhetorical question, "who can live with a heart of gold?" emphasizes the incompatibility of Midas's golden touch with genuine human connection.

Stanza 14:

Heading: The Golden Child

Poetic Lines:

That night, I dreamt I bore

his child, its perfect ore limbs, its little tongue

like a precious latch, its amber eyes

holding their pupils like flies.

My dream milk

burned in my breasts.

Summary:

The speaker has a disturbing dream about bearing Midas's child, a child made of gold. The dream symbolizes the destructive potential of Midas's touch and its impact on their future.

Analysis:

The dream of the golden child represents the speaker's fears about the future of their relationship and the potential consequences of Midas's power. The image of the child with "perfect ore limbs" and a "little tongue like a precious latch" is both beautiful and grotesque, highlighting the duality of Midas's touch. The burning milk in her breasts symbolizes the pain and frustration caused by their situation.

Stanza 15:

Heading: Separation

Poetic Lines:

I woke to the streaming sun.

So he had to move out.

We’d a caravan

in the wilds, in a glade of its own.

I drove him up

under the cover of dark.

He sat in the back.

Summary:

The speaker decides that Midas must leave. She drives him to a secluded caravan in the wilderness, further isolating him from human contact.

Analysis:

This stanza marks a turning point in their relationship. The speaker's decision to send Midas away reflects her inability to cope with the consequences of his golden touch. The caravan in the wilderness symbolizes his isolation and the growing distance between them.

Stanza 16:

Heading: The Golden Landscape

Poetic Lines:

And then I came home, the woman who married the fool

who wished for gold.

At first, I visited, odd times,

parking the car a good way off, then walking.

You knew you were getting close.

Golden trout

on the grass.

Summary:

The speaker reflects on her decision to separate from Midas and describes her occasional visits to him. The landscape around his caravan bears the marks of his golden touch, creating a surreal and disturbing environment.

Analysis:

This stanza highlights the lasting consequences of Midas's wish and the speaker's attempts to come to terms with their new reality. The golden trout on the grass symbolize the unnatural transformation of the natural world and the pervasive impact of Midas's power.

Stanza 17:

Heading: Midas's Isolation

Poetic Lines:

One day, a hare hung from a larch,

a beautiful lemon mistake.

And then his footprints,

glistening next to the river’s path.

He was thin,

delirious; hearing, he said, the music of Pan

from the woods.

Summary:

The speaker continues to describe the golden landscape and Midas's deteriorating physical and mental state. His isolation and the constant transformation of his surroundings have taken a toll on him.

Analysis:

The image of the golden hare hanging from the larch further emphasizes the unnatural transformation of the natural world. Midas's "glistening footprints" and his "delirious" state suggest his growing alienation from reality. His claim of hearing the music of Pan hints at a desperate attempt to find meaning and connection in his isolated world.

Stanza 18:

Heading: The Last Straw

Poetic Lines:

Listen.

That was the last straw.

What gets me now is not the idiocy or greed

but lack of thought for me.

Pure selfishness.

Summary:

Midas's claim of hearing Pan's music is the final straw for the speaker. She recognizes his self-absorption and lack of consideration for her feelings, leading to her final decision to leave him.

Analysis:

This stanza marks the culmination of the speaker's growing disillusionment with Midas. His self-absorbed behavior and his inability to recognize the impact of his actions on her lead to her final break. The phrase "pure selfishness" encapsulates her realization of the incompatibility of their needs and desires.

Stanza 19:

Heading: The Speaker's Departure

Poetic Lines:

I sold

the contents of the house and came down here.

Summary:

The speaker leaves Midas, selling their belongings and moving away to start a new life. Her departure symbolizes her liberation from the destructive relationship and her pursuit of her own happiness.

Analysis:

This stanza highlights the speaker's decisive action in breaking free from the toxic relationship. The selling of their belongings represents a symbolic severing of ties and a commitment to moving on. Her departure signifies her newfound independence and her determination to create a life free from the constraints of Midas's golden touch.

Stanza 20:

Heading: Lingering Memories

Poetic Lines:

I think of him in certain lights, dawn, late afternoon,

and once a bowl of apples stopped me dead.

I miss most,

even now, his hands, his warm hands on my skin, his touch.

Summary:

Despite the pain and hardship, the speaker still carries memories of Midas, particularly the warmth of his touch. Her lingering feelings reveal the complexity of their relationship and the enduring power of human connection.

Analysis:

This final stanza offers a poignant reflection on the complexities of love and loss. Despite the destructive nature of Midas's golden touch and his self-absorbed behavior, the speaker still cherishes the memory of their past intimacy. Her longing for his touch highlights the enduring power of human connection and the bittersweet nature of memories.

Ted Hughes's Selections from Ovid's Metamorphoses - Pyramus and Thisbe - Analysis in English and Tamil

 Pyramus and Thisbe: A Stanza-by-Stanza Analysis

Stanza 1:

Heading: The Lovers

Poetic Lines:

Throughout the East men spoke in awe of Thisbe -

A girl who had suddenly bloomed

In Babylon, the mud-brick city.

The house she had grown up in adjoined

The house where Pyramus, so many years a boy,

Brooded bewildered by the moods of manhood.   

Summary:

Thisbe, a beautiful young woman from Babylon, and Pyramus, a neighboring young man, are introduced. Their houses are adjacent, allowing their love to blossom despite their families' disapproval.   

Analysis:

The stanza establishes the setting and introduces the two lovers, Thisbe and Pyramus. Their proximity and shared environment, symbolized by their adjoining houses, create a foundation for their connection. The phrase "brooded bewildered by the moods of manhood" hints at Pyramus's transition into adulthood and his emotional vulnerability.   

பாபிலோனில் திடீரென்று பூத்த ஒரு அழகான இளம்பெண் திஸ்பேவைப் பற்றி கிழக்கில் உள்ள ஆண்கள் பிரமிப்புடன் பேசினர். அவள் வளர்ந்த வீடு, பல ஆண்டுகளாக ஒரு சிறுவனாக இருந்த பைராமஸ் வசிக்கும் வீட்டிற்கு அருகில் இருந்தது, ஆண்மையின் மனநிலைகளால் குழப்பமடைந்தார். இந்த சரணம் அமைப்பை நிறுவுகிறது மற்றும் இரண்டு காதலர்கள், திஸ்பே மற்றும் பைராமஸை அறிமுகப்படுத்துகிறது.

Stanza 2:

Heading: Forbidden Love

Poetic Lines:

These two, playmates from the beginning,

Fell in love.

For angry reasons, no part of the story,

The parents of each forbade their child

To marry the other.   

Summary:

Thisbe and Pyramus, childhood friends, fall in love, but their families, due to unspecified reasons, forbid their marriage. This prohibition sets the stage for the challenges and tragedies that will follow.   

Analysis:

This stanza introduces the central conflict of the story: the forbidden love between Thisbe and Pyramus. The phrase "angry reasons, no part of the story" suggests that the families' objections are based on personal conflicts rather than any fault of the lovers themselves. This external opposition creates a sense of injustice and foreshadows the difficulties they will face in pursuing their love.   

குழந்தைப் பருவ நண்பர்களான திஸ்பேவும் பைராமஸும் காதலிக்கிறார்கள், ஆனால் அவர்களது குடும்பங்கள், காரணங்கள் தெரியவில்லை, அவர்கள் திருமணம் செய்வதைத் தடை செய்கிறார்கள். இந்த தடை அவர்கள் எதிர்கொள்ளும் சவால்கள் மற்றும் சோகங்களுக்கு மேடை அமைக்கிறது.

Stanza 3:

Heading: The Power of Prohibition

Poetic Lines:

That was that.

But prohibition feeds love,

Though theirs needed no feeding.

Through signs

Their addiction to each other

Was absolute, helpless, terminal.   

Summary:

Despite the families' prohibition, Thisbe and Pyramus's love intensifies. Their "addiction" to each other is described as absolute and terminal, highlighting the depth and intensity of their feelings.   

Analysis:

This stanza emphasizes the power of forbidden love. The prohibition, rather than extinguishing their feelings, only serves to strengthen their bond. The words "absolute, helpless, terminal" convey the all-consuming nature of their love and foreshadow the tragic consequences that may follow.   

குடும்பங்களின் தடையை மீறி, திஸ்பே மற்றும் பைராமஸின் காதல் தீவிரமடைகிறது. ஒருவருக்கொருவர் அவர்களின் "சார்பு" முழுமையானது மற்றும் முனையம் என்று விவரிக்கப்படுகிறது, அவர்களின் உணர்வுகளின் ஆழம் மற்றும் தீவிரத்தை எடுத்துக்காட்டுகிறது.

Stanza 4:

Heading: Hidden Glances

Poetic Lines:

And the worse for being hidden.

The more smothered their glances, the more

Agonised the look that leapt the gap.   

Summary:

The secrecy surrounding their love only intensifies their longing. Their stolen glances and hidden communication become charged with emotion and desperation.   

Analysis:

This stanza highlights the power of hidden desires and the intensity of forbidden love. The suppression of their feelings only serves to amplify their longing and create a sense of urgency in their interactions. The phrase "agonised the look that leapt the gap" conveys the depth of their unspoken emotions.   

அவர்களின் காதலைச் சுற்றியுள்ள ரகசியம் அவர்களின் ஏக்கத்தைத் தீவிரப்படுத்துகிறது. அவர்களின் திருட்டுத்தனமான பார்வைகள் மற்றும் மறைக்கப்பட்ட தொடர்பு உணர்ச்சி மற்றும் விரக்தியுடன் சார்ஜ் செய்யப்படுகிறது. இந்த சரணம் மறைக்கப்பட்ட ஆசைகளின் சக்தியையும், தடைசெய்யப்பட்ட காதலின் தீவிரத்தையும் எடுத்துக்காட்டுகிறது.

Stanza 5:

Heading: The Crack in the Wall

Poetic Lines:

In the shared wall that divided their houses,

Earth-tremors had opened a fissure.

For years, neither household had noticed.

But these lovers noticed.   

Summary:

A crack in the wall separating their houses becomes a secret passage for Thisbe and Pyramus to communicate. This hidden connection symbolizes their defiance of the imposed separation and their determination to stay connected.   

Analysis:

The crack in the wall represents a physical manifestation of their enduring bond. The fact that neither household noticed the fissure highlights the lovers' heightened awareness of each other and their surroundings. The crack becomes a symbol of hope and a means of overcoming the physical and social barriers that separate them.   

அவர்களின் வீடுகளைப் பிரிக்கும் சுவரில் ஒரு விரிசல் திஸ்பே மற்றும் பைராமஸ் தொடர்பு கொள்ள ஒரு ரகசிய பாதையாக மாறும். இந்த மறைக்கப்பட்ட இணைப்பு அவர்கள் மீது திணிக்கப்பட்ட பிரிவினைக்கான எதிர்ப்பையும், இணைந்திருக்க வேண்டும் என்ற அவர்களின் உறுதியையும் குறிக்கிறது.

Stanza 6:

Heading: Love's Clairvoyance

Poetic Lines:

Love is not blind.

And where love cannot peer

Pure clairvoyance whispers in its ear.

This crack, this dusty crawl-space for a spider,

Became the highway of their love-murmurs.   

Summary:

The poet suggests that love has a unique ability to perceive hidden connections and possibilities. The crack in the wall becomes a channel for their whispered expressions of love and longing.   

Analysis:

This stanza emphasizes the power of love to transcend physical limitations and social barriers. The crack in the wall, once a mere fissure, becomes a "highway of their love-murmurs," symbolizing the ability of love to find a way to connect even in the most restrictive circumstances.   

மறைக்கப்பட்ட இணைப்புகள் மற்றும் சாத்தியக்கூறுகளை உணரும் தனித்துவமான திறன் காதலுக்கு உள்ளது என்று கவிஞர் பரிந்துரைக்கிறார். சுவரில் உள்ள விரிசல் அவர்களின் காதல் மற்றும் ஏக்கத்தின் கிசுகிசுக்கப்பட்ட வெளிப்பாடுகளுக்கான ஒரு சேனலாக மாறும்.

Stanza 7:

Heading: Whispers of Love

Poetic Lines:

Brows to the plaster, lips to the leak of air

And cooking smells from the other interior,

The lovers kneeled, confessing their passion,

Sealing their two fates with a fracture.   

Summary:

Thisbe and Pyramus use the crack in the wall to communicate, their whispers of love mingling with the sounds and smells of their respective homes. Their secret confessions further solidify their bond and foreshadow their intertwined destinies.   

Analysis:

This stanza captures the intimacy and secrecy of their communication. The image of their "brows to the plaster, lips to the leak of air" conveys their physical closeness despite the wall that separates them. Their confessions of love, whispered through the crack, symbolize their defiance of the imposed separation and their determination to nurture their connection.   

திஸ்பேவும் பைராமஸும் சுவரில் உள்ள விரிசலைப் பயன்படுத்தி தொடர்பு கொள்கிறார்கள், அவர்களின் காதல் கிசுகிசுக்கள் அவர்களின் வீடுகளின் ஒலிகள் மற்றும் வாசனையுடன் கலக்கின்றன. அவர்களின் ரகசிய ஒப்புதல் வாக்குமூலங்கள் அவர்களின் பிணைப்பை மேலும் உறுதிப்படுத்துகின்றன மற்றும் அவர்களின் பின்னிப்பிணைந்த விதிகளை முன்னறிவிக்கின்றன.

Stanza 8:

Heading: The Wall's Jealousy

Poetic Lines:

Sometimes they slapped the wall, in frustration:

‘How can a wall be so jealous!

So deaf to us, so grudging with permission!   

Summary:

Frustrated by the physical barrier that separates them, Thisbe and Pyramus express their anger at the wall, personifying it as a jealous entity that prevents their union.   

Analysis:

The personification of the wall as a jealous entity highlights the lovers' frustration with the restrictions imposed on them. Their anger at the wall reflects their longing for a physical connection and their defiance of the social barriers that keep them apart.   

அவர்களைப் பிரிக்கும் உடல் தடைச்சுவரால் விரக்தியடைந்த திஸ்பேவும் பைராமஸும் சுவரில் தங்கள் கோபத்தை வெளிப்படுத்துகிறார்கள், அதை ஒரு பொறாமை கொண்ட நிறுவனமாக ஆளுமைப்படுத்துகிறார்கள், அது அவர்களின் தொழிற்சங்கத்தைத் தடுக்கிறது.

Stanza 9:

Heading: A Plea to the Wall

Poetic Lines:

‘If you can open this far for our voices

Why not fall wide open, let us kiss,

Let us join bodies as well as voices.   

Summary:

Thisbe and Pyramus plead with the wall to allow them to be together, expressing their desire for a physical union that mirrors their emotional connection.   

Analysis:

This stanza emphasizes the lovers' longing for a complete union, both emotional and physical. Their plea to the wall reflects their frustration with the limitations imposed on them and their desire to overcome the barriers that separate them.   

திஸ்பேவும் பைராமஸும் ஒன்றாக இருக்க அனுமதிக்கும்படி சுவரில் கெஞ்சுகிறார்கள், அவர்களின் உணர்ச்சிபூர்வமான தொடர்பைப் பிரதிபலிக்கும் ஒரு உடல் ஒன்றியத்திற்கான அவர்களின் விருப்பத்தை வெளிப்படுத்துகிறார்கள்.

Stanza 10:

Heading: Gratitude and Acceptance

Poetic Lines:

‘No, that would be too much.

That would mean

The wall repaired to part us utterly.

Ο wall, we are grateful.   

Summary:

Thisbe and Pyramus recognize the potential consequences of their wish, acknowledging that the wall's complete collapse could lead to their permanent separation. They express gratitude for the small connection the wall provides.   

Analysis:

This stanza reveals a sense of acceptance and gratitude amidst their longing. They recognize the delicate balance between connection and separation, acknowledging that the wall, while a barrier, also provides a means of communication. Their gratitude for the small crack highlights their ability to find hope and connection even in restrictive circumstances.   

திஸ்பேவும் பைராமஸும் தங்கள் விருப்பத்தின் சாத்தியமான விளைவுகளை அங்கீகரிக்கிறார்கள், சுவரின் முழுமையான சரிவு அவர்களின் நிரந்தர பிரிவினைக்கு வழிவகுக்கும் என்பதை ஒப்புக்கொள்கிறார்கள். சுவர் வழங்கும் சிறிய இணைப்புக்கு அவர்கள் நன்றியைத் தெரிவிக்கிறார்கள்.

Stanza 11:

Heading: A Secret Meeting Place

Poetic Lines:

‘Nowhere in the world

‘But in this tiny crack may our great loves,

Invisibly to us, meet and mingle.’   

Summary:

Thisbe and Pyramus cherish the secret connection provided by the crack in the wall, recognizing it as the only place where their love can freely express itself.   

Analysis:

This stanza emphasizes the importance of their secret meeting place as a sanctuary for their love. The crack in the wall, while a physical limitation, also represents a space of freedom and intimacy where their love can flourish away from the restrictions of their families and society.   

திஸ்பேவும் பைராமஸும் சுவரில் உள்ள விரிசல் வழங்கும் ரகசிய இணைப்பைப் போற்றுகிறார்கள், அது அவர்களின் காதல் சுதந்திரமாக வெளிப்படுத்தக்கூடிய ஒரே இடம் என்று அங்கீகரிக்கிறார்கள்.

Stanza 12:

Heading: A Risky Decision

Poetic Lines:

Then each would kiss the crack in the cold plaster,

Their own side of the wall, with a parting kiss.

This could not go on for long.

One day at their confessional, they decided

To obey love and risk everything.   

Summary:

Thisbe and Pyramus, unable to bear the limitations of their hidden communication, decide to risk everything for a chance to be together. Their decision marks a turning point in the narrative, as they defy the imposed separation and embrace the uncertainty of the future.   

Analysis:

This stanza highlights the lovers' growing frustration with the restrictions imposed on them and their determination to pursue their love, despite the risks. Their decision to "obey love and risk everything" signifies a willingness to challenge the status quo and embrace the unknown in pursuit of their happiness.   

திஸ்பேவும் பைராமஸும் தங்கள் மறைக்கப்பட்ட தொடர்பின் வரம்புகளைத் தாங்க முடியாமல், ஒன்றாக இருப்பதற்கான வாய்ப்புக்காக எல்லாவற்றையும் ரிஸ்க் செய்ய முடிவு செய்கிறார்கள். அவர்களின் முடிவு கதையில் ஒரு திருப்புமுனையைக் குறிக்கிறது.

Stanza 13:

Heading: The Plan

Poetic Lines:

They made their plan:

that night they would somehow

Escape from their guarded houses,

Leave the city, and tryst in the open country –

Their rendezvous the mulberry tree

Over the tomb of Ninus, a famous landmark.   

Summary:

Thisbe and Pyramus devise a plan to escape their homes and meet secretly outside the city walls. Their chosen meeting place, a mulberry tree near the tomb of Ninus, adds a layer of symbolism to their clandestine encounter.   

Analysis:

This stanza outlines the lovers' plan to defy their families and societal expectations. Their escape from their "guarded houses" symbolizes a rejection of the restrictions imposed on them. The mulberry tree, often associated with love and sacrifice, and the tomb of Ninus, a reminder of mortality, foreshadow the tragic events that will unfold.   

திஸ்பேவும் பைராமஸும் தங்கள் வீடுகளில் இருந்து தப்பித்து நகரச் சுவர்களுக்கு வெளியே ரகசியமாக சந்திக்க ஒரு திட்டத்தை வகுக்கிறார்கள். அவர்கள் தேர்ந்தெடுத்த சந்திப்பு இடம், நினஸின் கல்லறைக்கு அருகிலுள்ள ஒரு மல்பெரி மரம், அவர்களின் ரகசிய சந்திப்பில் குறியீட்டின் ஒரு அடுக்கைச் சேர்க்கிறது.

Stanza 14:

Heading: The Mulberry Tree

Poetic Lines:

At this time of the year the tree was loaded

With its milk-white fruit, that a cool spring

Made especially plump and succulent.   

Summary:

The poet describes the mulberry tree, laden with ripe fruit, emphasizing its abundance and allure. The tree's fruitfulness symbolizes the potential for love and happiness, contrasting with the looming tragedy.   

Analysis:

The description of the mulberry tree creates a sense of anticipation and hope. The tree's fruitfulness and the "milk-white" color of its fruit symbolize the purity and potential of their love. However, the juxtaposition of this idyllic image with the tomb of Ninus foreshadows the tragic turn of events.   

பழுத்த பழங்களால் நிரப்பப்பட்ட மல்பெரி மரத்தை கவிஞர் விவரிக்கிறார், அதன் மிகுதியையும் வசீகரத்தையும் வலியுறுத்துகிறார். மரத்தின் பலன் காதல் மற்றும் மகிழ்ச்சிக்கான சாத்தியத்தை அடையாளப்படுத்துகிறது, இது நெருங்கி வரும் சோகத்துடன் வேறுபடுகிறது.

Stanza 15:

Heading: Anticipation and Anxiety

Poetic Lines:

Their plan enthralled them – with the joy it promised.

A promise that seemed so sure

No possible snag or snarl, no shadow of an error,

No shiver of apprehension troubled it.

Their sole anxiety was the unrelenting

Glare of the sun in the day, that seemed to have stopped.   

Summary:

Thisbe and Pyramus are filled with anticipation and excitement for their planned meeting. Their only concern is the slow passage of time, as they eagerly await the arrival of nightfall.   

Analysis:

This stanza captures the lovers' eagerness and optimism as they anticipate their secret rendezvous. The phrase "no possible snag or snarl" highlights their naive belief in the flawless execution of their plan. However, the mention of the "unrelenting glare of the sun" foreshadows the potential for unforeseen obstacles and the fragility of their hopes.

திஸ்பேவும் பைராமஸும் தங்கள் திட்டமிட்ட சந்திப்பிற்காக எதிர்பார்ப்பு மற்றும் உற்சாகத்தில் நிரம்பியுள்ளனர். அவர்களின் ஒரே கவலை மெதுவான நேரம், ஏனெனில் அவர்கள் இரவு வரும் வரை ஆவலுடன் காத்திருக்கிறார்கள்.

Stanza 16:

Heading: Thisbe's Escape

Poetic Lines:

But suddenly it was dark.

Thisbe had oiled the hinges.

Now they helped her

Slip from the house like the shadow of a night-bird

Leaving the house-eaves.   

Summary:

Night falls, and Thisbe, having prepared for her escape, silently slips out of her house, unnoticed like a shadow.   

Analysis:

Thisbe's stealthy escape mirrors the secrecy and risk associated with their forbidden love. The image of the "shadow of a night-bird" emphasizes her quiet departure and her vulnerability in the darkness.   

இரவு வரும், திஸ்பே தனது தப்பிக்கும் திட்டத்தை தயார் செய்து, ஒரு நிழல் போல அமைதியாக தனது வீட்டை விட்டு வெளியேறுகிறாள்.

Stanza 17:

Heading: Thisbe's Journey

Poetic Lines:

The moonlight

That lit her path from the city

Found the sparks of her eyes, but not her pallor -

Her veil hid all but her eyes from night watchers.

So she came to the tomb.   

Summary:

Thisbe journeys through the moonlit city, her veiled face concealing her identity and emotions as she makes her way to the designated meeting place.   

Analysis:

Thisbe's veiled face symbolizes the hidden nature of their love and the risks she takes to be with Pyramus. The moonlight illuminating her eyes suggests a glimmer of hope and determination amidst the darkness and danger.   

திஸ்பே நகரம் வழியாக பயணிக்கிறாள், அவளுடைய முகம் தனது அடையாளத்தையும் உணர்ச்சிகளையும் மறைக்கிறது.

Stanza 18:

Heading: Thisbe's Arrival

Poetic Lines:

Sitting in the shadow

Of the tree dense with fruit

That reflected the moon, like new snow,

She stared out into the brilliant jumble

Of moonlight and shadows.   

Summary:

Thisbe arrives at the mulberry tree, its white fruit gleaming in the moonlight. She waits for Pyramus, her anticipation mixed with apprehension.   

Analysis:

The contrasting imagery of moonlight and shadows creates an atmosphere of mystery and uncertainty. The white mulberry fruit, once a symbol of hope, now reflects the ambiguity of their situation, as Thisbe waits in the darkness, unsure of what awaits her.   

திஸ்பே மல்பெரி மரத்தை அடைகிறாள், அதன் வெள்ளை பழங்கள் நிலவொளியில் பிரகாசிக்கின்றன. அவள் பைராமஸுக்காகக் காத்திருக்கிறாள், அவளுடைய எதிர்பார்ப்பு பயத்துடன் கலந்திருக்கிறது.

Stanza 19:

Heading: Thisbe's Fear

Poetic Lines:

She strained

To catch the first stirring of a shadow

That would grow into Pyramus.

It was then,

As she peered and listened,

And felt the huge silence, the hanging weight

Of the moonlit cliff above her,

And, above the cliff, the prickling stars,

That the first fear touched her.   

Summary:

As Thisbe waits, a sense of fear creeps in. The silence and the imposing presence of the cliff and stars create an atmosphere of vulnerability and foreshadow the impending danger.   

Analysis:

Thisbe's growing fear reflects the risks associated with their secret meeting. The "huge silence" and the "hanging weight of the moonlit cliff" symbolize the oppressive forces that threaten their love. The "prickling stars" add a sense of foreboding and suggest that fate may be working against them.   

திஸ்பே காத்திருக்கும்போது, ஒரு பய உணர்வு ஊடுருவுகிறது. மரணத்தின் அமைதியும், கம்பீரமான பாறையும், நட்சத்திரங்களும் பாதிப்பு மற்றும் முன்னறிவிப்பு ஆகியவற்றின் சூழ்நிலையை உருவாக்குகின்றன.

Stanza 20:

Heading: The Lioness

Poetic Lines:

She froze, her breath shrank, slight as a lizard’s.

Only her eyes moved.

She had seen, in her eye-corner, a shadow

That seemed to have shifted.

Now she could hear her heart.

Her head swivelled.

Somebody was walking towards her.

She stood, she leaned to the tree, her legs trembling.

She realised she was panting.

And almost cried out: ‘Pyramus!’

But at that moment

The shadow coughed a strange cough – hoarse, cavernous,

And was much nearer, moving too swiftly.

A strangely hobbling dwarf, bent under something.

Then her brain seemed to turn over.

Plain in the moonlight she saw

That what had looked like a dwarf

Was nothing of the kind.

A lioness

Was slouching directly towards her

Under its rippling shoulders, coming

To wash its bloody jaws,

And quench its hanging belly, its blood-salt surfeit,

In the spring beside her.   

Summary:

Thisbe's fear is realized as a lioness appears, its bloody jaws and hungry demeanor posing a direct threat. The sudden appearance of the predator disrupts the lovers' planned meeting and sets the stage for the tragic events that follow.   

Analysis:

The lioness represents a force of nature, a predator that disrupts the lovers' carefully laid plans. Its appearance symbolizes the intrusion of chaos and violence into their world, highlighting the fragility of their hopes and the ever-present danger in their environment.   

திஸ்பேவின் பயம் உணரப்படுகிறது, ஏனெனில் ஒரு சிங்கம் தோன்றுகிறது, அதன் இரத்தக்களரி தாடைகள் மற்றும் பசியுள்ள நடத்தை நேரடி அச்சுறுத்தலை ஏற்படுத்துகிறது. வேட்டையாடும் திடீர் தோற்றம் காதலர்களின் திட்டமிட்ட சந்திப்பை சீர்குலைத்து, அடுத்தடுத்த சோக நிகழ்வுகளுக்கு மேடை அமைக்கிறது.

Stanza 21:

Heading: Thisbe's Flight

Poetic Lines:

Without another thought, Thisbe was running –

She left her veil floating

To settle near the water.

She ran, ducking

Behind the tomb of Ninus, too frightened to scream,

And squeezing her eyes shut, squeezed herself

Into a crevice under the cliff.   

Summary:

Thisbe flees in terror, leaving behind her veil as she seeks refuge in a crevice near the tomb. Her fear and desperation underscore the power of the lioness and the threat it poses.   

Analysis:

Thisbe's flight highlights her vulnerability and her instinctive reaction to danger. The image of her "squeezing her eyes shut" conveys her fear and her attempt to block out the terrifying reality. The abandoned veil, a symbol of her femininity and identity, foreshadows the tragic misunderstanding that will follow.   

திஸ்பே திகிலில் ஓடுகிறாள், கல்லறைக்கு அருகில் ஒரு பிளவில் தஞ்சம் புகுந்தாள். அவளுடைய பயம் மற்றும் விரக்தி சிங்கத்தின் சக்தியையும் அது ஏற்படுத்தும் அச்சுறுத்தலையும் வலியுறுத்துகிறது.

Stanza 22:

Heading: The Lioness and the Veil

Poetic Lines:

The lioness drank, then found the veil,

The perfumed veil perfumed again

By a woman’s excitement, and her fear.

The beast began to play with the veil –

Forepaws tore downwards, jaw ripped upwards.

And the veil towelled the blood

From the sodden muzzle, and from the fangs.   

Summary:

The lioness discovers Thisbe's abandoned veil, its scent carrying the traces of her fear and excitement. The beast's playful mauling of the veil, staining it with blood, sets the stage for the tragic misinterpretation that will seal Pyramus's fate.   

Analysis:

The lioness's interaction with the veil is a pivotal moment in the narrative. The bloodstained veil becomes a symbol of Thisbe's supposed demise, leading Pyramus to believe that she has been killed by the lioness. This tragic misunderstanding highlights the role of fate and the fragility of human hopes in the face of unforeseen circumstances.   

சிங்கம் திஸ்பேவின் கைவிடப்பட்ட முக்காட்டைக் கண்டுபிடித்தது, அதன் வாசனை அவளுடைய பயம் மற்றும் உற்சாகத்தின் தடயங்களைக் கொண்டுள்ளது. முக்காட்டை சிங்கம் விளையாட்டுத்தனமாகத் தாக்கி, இரத்தத்தால் கறைபடுத்துவது, பைராமஸின் தலைவிதியை முத்திரையிடும் சோகமான தவறான விளக்கத்திற்கு மேடை அமைக்கிறது.

Stanza 23:

Heading: Pyramus's Arrival

Poetic Lines:

Soon the beast lost interest

In this empty skin, so savourless,

And the beautiful weave was abandoned.

The lioness went off.

She was absorbed

Among the moonlit rocks

As if she had never happened.

Only the veil

Waited for Pyramus

Who now emerged running, his shadow vaulting beside him.   

Summary:

Pyramus arrives at the meeting place, unaware of the danger that has just transpired. The abandoned, bloodstained veil is the only evidence of Thisbe's presence, creating a false impression of her tragic fate.   

Analysis:

Pyramus's arrival at the scene marks a turning point in the narrative. The stage is set for the tragic misunderstanding that will lead to his demise. The image of the abandoned veil, a symbol of Thisbe's supposed death, creates a sense of dramatic irony, as the audience is aware of the truth while Pyramus remains oblivious.   

பைராமஸ் சந்திப்பு இடத்திற்கு வருகிறார், சற்று முன்பு நடந்த ஆபத்தை அறியாமல். கைவிடப்பட்ட, இரத்தக் கறை படிந்த முக்காடு திஸ்பேவின் இருப்புக்கான ஒரே ஆதாரம், அவளுடைய சோகமான தலைவிதியின் தவறான எண்ணத்தை உருவாக்குகிறது.

Stanza 24:

Heading: Pyramus's Misinterpretation

Poetic Lines:

Both stopped at the spring.

The lion’s footprints, alien, deep, unwelcome,

Printed the spring’s margin.

Pyramus picked up the veil, too familiar

Blackened by blood though it was –

Blood so fresh and glistening.   

Summary:

Pyramus discovers the bloodstained veil and misinterprets it as evidence of Thisbe's death. The lion's footprints further reinforce his mistaken belief, leading him to despair.   

Analysis:

This stanza highlights the tragic consequences of misinterpretation and the power of circumstantial evidence to shape perception. Pyramus's discovery of the veil and the lion's footprints leads him to a false conclusion, sealing his tragic fate. The "blood so fresh and glistening" adds a sense of urgency and reinforces his belief in Thisbe's demise.   

பைராமஸ் இரத்தக் கறை படிந்த முக்காட்டைக் கண்டுபிடித்து, திஸ்பேவின் மரணத்திற்கான சான்றாக அதைத் தவறாகப் புரிந்துகொள்கிறார். சிங்கத்தின் கால்தடங்கள் அவரது தவறான நம்பிக்கையை மேலும் வலுப்படுத்துகின்றன, இது அவரை விரக்திக்கு இட்டுச் செல்கிறது.

Stanza 25:

Heading: Pyramus's Lament

Poetic Lines:

He groaned,

Not unlike the lioness

But groaning words:

‘Did our planning

Foresee this double death as a fitting

Finale to our love which was forbidden?   

Summary:

Pyramus, believing Thisbe to be dead, laments their tragic fate, his grief echoing the lioness's earlier growl. He questions whether their forbidden love was destined for such a tragic end.   

Analysis:

Pyramus's lament captures his despair and his acceptance of what he believes to be Thisbe's death. The comparison of his groan to the lioness's growl highlights the intrusion of violence and chaos into their love story. His question about their "forbidden love" suggests a sense of fatalism and the belief that their tragic fate was predetermined.   

திஸ்பே இறந்துவிட்டதாக நம்பும் பைராமஸ், அவர்களின் சோகமான தலைவிதியைப் புலம்புகிறார், அவரது துக்கம் சிங்கத்தின் முந்தைய உறுமலை எதிரொலிக்கிறது. அவர்களின் தடைசெய்யப்பட்ட காதல் அத்தகைய சோகமான முடிவுக்கு விதிக்கப்பட்டதா என்று அவர் கேள்வி எழுப்புகிறார்.

Stanza 26:

Heading: Pyramus's Guilt

Poetic Lines:

‘But Thisbe should have escaped the lion and lived.

I am to blame – for appointing this wild place

But failing to be here before her.’   

Summary:

Pyramus blames himself for Thisbe's supposed death, expressing his guilt for choosing the dangerous meeting place and for not arriving earlier to protect her.   

Analysis:

This stanza highlights Pyramus's sense of responsibility and his deep love for Thisbe. His self-blame reflects his inability to cope with the perceived loss of his beloved and his desire to protect her, even in death.   

திஸ்பேவின் கூறப்படும் மரணத்திற்கு பைராமஸ் தன்னைத்தானே குற்றம் சாட்டுகிறார், ஆபத்தான சந்திப்பு இடத்தைத் தேர்ந்தெடுத்ததற்கும், அவளைப் பாதுகாக்க முன்னதாக வராததற்கும் தனது குற்றத்தை வெளிப்படுத்துகிறார்.

Stanza 27:

Heading: Pyramus's Despair

Poetic Lines:

Then he roared aloud:

‘Are there any more lions

Living in the cliff there?

Come out and punish a criminal.’

He groaned again, to himself:

‘Cowards call for death – but courage

Does something about it.’   

Summary:

Pyramus, overwhelmed by grief and guilt, challenges any remaining lions to come and punish him. His words reflect his despair and his willingness to embrace death as a form of atonement.   

Analysis:

Pyramus's challenge to the lions represents a surrender to despair and a desire for self-punishment. His words, "Cowards call for death – but courage does something about it," foreshadow his decision to take his own life.   

துக்கம் மற்றும் குற்ற உணர்ச்சியால் மூழ்கிய பைராமஸ், மீதமுள்ள சிங்கங்களை வந்து தன்னைத் தண்டிக்கும்படி சவால் விடுகிறார். அவரது வார்த்தைகள் அவரது விரக்தியையும், பிராயச்சித்தமாக மரணத்தைத் தழுவ விருப்பத்தையும் பிரதிபலிக்கின்றன.

Stanza 28:

Heading: Pyramus's Suicide

Poetic Lines:

He swayed, weeping into the sticky remnant:

‘Let our blood mingle

As never in love, in this veil torn by a lion.’

He set his sword point to his chest

And ran at the tree, burying the blade to the hilt,

Then with his last effort pulled it from the wound.   

Summary:

Pyramus, driven by despair and a desire to be united with Thisbe in death, takes his own life. His blood stains the white mulberry fruit, a symbolic representation of their love and sacrifice.   

Analysis:

Pyramus's suicide is a tragic consequence of the misunderstanding and his inability to cope with the perceived loss of Thisbe. His desire for their blood to mingle in the veil symbolizes his longing for a union that was denied to them in life. The staining of the mulberry fruit foreshadows the lasting impact of their tragic love story.  

 திஸ்பேவுடன் மரணத்தில் ஒன்றுபட வேண்டும் என்ற விரக்தியாலும், ஆசையாலும் இயக்கப்படும் பைராமஸ், தனது சொந்த உயிரை மாய்த்துக் கொள்கிறார். அவரது இரத்தம் வெள்ளை மல்பெரி பழத்தை கறைபடுத்துகிறது, அது அவர்களின் காதல் மற்றும் தியாகத்தின் அடையாளமாகும்.

Stanza 29:

Heading: Thisbe's Return

Poetic Lines:

When a lead conduit splits, the compressed water

Jets like a fountain.

His blood shot out in bursts, each burst a heartbeat,

Showering the fruit of the tree –

Till the white fruits, now dyed hectic purple,

Dripped his own blood back onto his body

That spilled the rest of its life, in heavy brimmings,

To the tree roots that drank it

And took it up to the fruits, that fattened darker.

Thisbe’s fear for Pyramus and the lion,

And, almost worse, the thought that he might have arrived

And be at the tomb without her

Brought her running.   

Summary:

Thisbe, having escaped the lioness, returns to the meeting place, unaware of Pyramus's tragic actions. Her fear for his safety and her desire to be with him drive her back to the mulberry tree.   

Analysis:

Thisbe's return to the scene sets the stage for the final tragic discovery. The imagery of Pyramus's blood staining the mulberry fruit creates a sense of foreboding and foreshadows the devastating realization that awaits her. Her fear for Pyramus and her eagerness to be with him highlight the depth of her love and her unawareness of the tragic turn of events.   

சிங்கத்திலிருந்து தப்பித்த திஸ்பே, பைராமஸின் சோகமான செயல்களை அறியாமல், சந்திப்பு இடத்திற்குத் திரும்புகிறாள். அவரது பாதுகாப்பிற்கான அவளுடைய பயம் மற்றும் அவருடன் இருக்க வேண்டும் என்ற ஆசை அவளை மல்பெரி மரத்திற்குத் திருப்பித் தருகிறது.

Stanza 30:

Heading: Thisbe's Discovery

Poetic Lines:

But when she saw

The tree that had been snow-white with its fruit

Now purple-dark, blackish in the moonlight,

Her new fear was that she had lost her bearings

And come to the wrong place.

Then she heard

A grunting cough in the tree’s shadow

And saw the body sprawl, as if in sleep,

Into the moonlight.   

Summary:

Thisbe discovers Pyramus's body lying beneath the mulberry tree, the fruit now stained with his blood. The sight of his lifeless form fills her with horror and disbelief.   

Analysis:

Thisbe's discovery of Pyramus's body marks the climax of the tragedy. The transformation of the mulberry tree, its fruit now stained with his blood, symbolizes the destructive consequences of their forbidden love. The image of his body sprawled "as if in sleep" creates a poignant contrast between the peaceful appearance and the tragic reality of his death.  

 திஸ்பே மல்பெரி மரத்தின் கீழ் பைராமஸின் உடலைக் கண்டுபிடித்தாள், பழம் இப்போது அவரது இரத்தத்தால் கறை படிந்துள்ளது. அவரது உயிரற்ற வடிவத்தின் காட்சி அவளை திகில் மற்றும் அவநம்பிக்கையால் நிரப்புகிறது.

Stanza 31:

Heading: Thisbe's Grief

Poetic Lines:

Now she screamed.

Unafraid of the lion

Again and again she screamed.

She embraced his corpse, fierce as any lion,

More passionately than she had ever dreamed

Of embracing it in life.   

Summary:

Thisbe, overcome with grief, embraces Pyramus's lifeless body, her cries of despair echoing through the night. Her passionate embrace reflects the depth of her love and her inability to accept his death.   

Analysis:

Thisbe's unrestrained grief captures the rawness of her emotions and her desperate longing for Pyramus. The comparison of her embrace to a lioness highlights the intensity of her feelings and her refusal to be separated from him, even in death.   

துக்கத்தால் வெல்லப்பட்ட திஸ்பே, பைராமஸின் உயிரற்ற உடலைத் தழுவுகிறாள், அவளுடைய விரக்தியின் அழுகைகள் இரவில் எதிரொலிக்கின்றன. அவளுடைய உணர்ச்சிமிக்க அரவணைப்பு அவளுடைய அன்பின் ஆழத்தையும், அவனது மரணத்தை ஏற்க இயலாமையையும் பிரதிபலிக்கிறது.

Stanza 32:

Heading: A Fleeting Reunion

Poetic Lines:

She screamed to him

To wake up and speak to her.

His eyes opened a moment, but death

Was closing their light as they gazed at her.   

Summary:

Thisbe's desperate pleas for Pyramus to awaken are met with a brief flicker of life in his eyes before death finally claims him. This fleeting moment of connection only intensifies the tragedy of their situation.   

Analysis:

This brief reunion, where their eyes meet one last time, adds a layer of poignancy to the tragedy. The image of death "closing their light" symbolizes the finality of their separation and the extinguishing of their hopes and dreams.   

பைராமஸ் விழித்தெழுந்து தன்னிடம் பேசுவதற்கான திஸ்பேவின் கெஞ்சல்கள், மரணம் இறுதியாக அவரைப் பெறுவதற்கு முன்பு அவரது கண்களில் ஒரு சிறிய வாழ்க்கைப் பளிச்சிடுதலுடன் சந்திக்கின்றன. இந்த விரைவான தருணம் அவர்களின் நிலைமையின் சோகத்தைத் தீவிரப்படுத்துகிறது.

Stanza 33:

Heading: Thisbe's Decision

Poetic Lines:

Thisbe looked down at her hand, it was clutching

The soggy rag of her veil.

She saw his scabbard empty.

‘It was your love

That persuaded your own hand to kill you.

My love is as great, my hand as ready.   

Summary:

Thisbe, realizing the circumstances of Pyramus's death, decides to follow him in suicide. Her unwavering love and her desire to be reunited with him drive her to this desperate act.   

Analysis:

Thisbe's decision to take her own life reflects the depth of her love and her inability to imagine a life without Pyramus. Her words, "My love is as great, my hand as ready," echo Pyramus's earlier declaration, highlighting the mirroring of their actions and the intertwined nature of their fates.   

பைராமஸின் மரணத்தின் சூழ்நிலைகளை உணர்ந்த திஸ்பே, தற்கொலை மூலம் அவரைப் பின்தொடர முடிவு செய்கிறாள். அவளுடைய அசைக்க முடியாத அன்பும் அவருடன் மீண்டும் இணைய வேண்டும் என்ற ஆசையும் அவளை இந்த அவநம்பிக்கையான செயலுக்கு இட்டுச் செல்கின்றன.

Stanza 34:

Heading: Thisbe's Plea

Poetic Lines:

‘Once I am with you

My story can be told:

the cause of your death,

But your consolation for ever.

‘Death has divided us, so it is right

That death should bring us together

In an unbreakable wedlock.   

Summary:

Thisbe expresses her belief that their story will be told and remembered, serving as a testament to their love and sacrifice. She also expresses her desire to be united with Pyramus in death, their love transcending the physical limitations of life.   

Analysis:

Thisbe's plea for their story to be remembered highlights the enduring power of love and sacrifice. Her desire for a "unbreakable wedlock" in death reflects her longing for a permanent union that was denied to them in life.   

அவர்களின் கதை சொல்லப்பட்டு நினைவில் வைக்கப்படும் என்றும், அவர்களின் காதல் மற்றும் தியாகத்திற்கு சான்றாக செயல்படும் என்றும் திஸ்பே நம்பிக்கை தெரிவிக்கிறார். மரணத்தில் பைராமஸுடன் இணைய வேண்டும் என்ற தனது விருப்பத்தையும் அவள் வெளிப்படுத்துகிறாள், அவர்களின் காதல் வாழ்க்கையின் உடல் வரம்புகளை மீறுகிறது.

Stanza 35:

Heading: Thisbe's Last Wish

Poetic Lines:

Parents,

‘As you find our bodies,

Limbs entwined, stiffened in a single knot,

Do not separate us.

Burn us as we lived

‘In the one flame.   

Summary:

Thisbe addresses their parents, requesting that their bodies be buried together, symbolizing their eternal union. Her wish reflects her desire to defy the separation imposed on them in life.   

Analysis:

Thisbe's last wish highlights her defiance of the social and familial barriers that separated them in life. Her request to be buried together with Pyramus represents a final act of rebellion against the forces that kept them apart.   

திஸ்பே தங்கள் பெற்றோரை உரையாற்றுகிறார், அவர்களின் உடல்கள் ஒன்றாக அடக்கம் செய்யப்பட வேண்டும் என்று கோருகிறார், இது அவர்களின் நித்திய ஒன்றியத்தை அடையாளப்படுத்துகிறது. அவளுடைய விருப்பம் வாழ்க்கையில் அவர்கள் மீது திணிக்கப்பட்ட பிரிவினையை மீற வேண்டும் என்ற விருப்பத்தை பிரதிபலிக்கிறது.

Stanza 36:

Heading: Thisbe's Farewell

Poetic Lines:

And you who live on, with your boughs laden,

Over two stripped of their blossom, their seed and their life,

‘Remember how we died.

‘Remember us

By the colour of our blood in your fruit.

So when men gather your fruit, and crush its ripeness,

‘Let them think of our deaths.’   

Summary:

Thisbe addresses the mulberry tree, asking it to serve as a reminder of their tragic love story. The darkening of the mulberry fruit symbolizes their sacrifice and the enduring legacy of their love.   

Analysis:

Thisbe's address to the mulberry tree highlights the connection between their love and the natural world. The tree, a witness to their tragic fate, becomes a symbol of their enduring love and sacrifice. The darkening of the fruit serves as a permanent reminder of their story, ensuring that their love will be remembered throughout time.   

திஸ்பே மல்பெரி மரத்தை உரையாற்றுகிறார், அது அவர்களின் சோகமான காதல் கதையின் நினைவூட்டலாக செயல்படும்படி கேட்கிறார். மல்பெரி பழத்தின் கருமை அவர்களின் தியாகத்தையும் அவர்களின் காதலின் நீடித்த மரபையும் குறிக்கிறது.

Stanza 37:

Heading: Thisbe's Suicide

Poetic Lines:

She spoke, then set the point of the warm sword

Beneath her breast and fell on it.

With her last strength she wound him with her arms and legs.   

Summary:

Thisbe, following through with her decision, takes her own life, her final embrace with Pyramus symbolizing their eternal union.   

Analysis:

Thisbe's suicide completes the tragic cycle of their love story. Her final embrace with Pyramus represents a defiant act of love and a rejection of the forces that sought to keep them apart. Their intertwined bodies symbolize their eternal union, a love that transcends even death.   

தனது முடிவைத் தொடர்ந்து, திஸ்பே தனது சொந்த உயிரை மாய்த்துக் கொள்கிறாள், பைராமஸுடனான அவளுடைய இறுதி அரவணைப்பு அவர்களின் நித்திய ஒன்றியத்தை அடையாளப்படுத்துகிறது. திஸ்பேவின் தற்கொலை அவர்களின் காதல் கதையின் சோக சுழற்சியை நிறைவு செய்கிறது

Stanza 38:

Heading: The Gods' Compassion

Poetic Lines:

The gods were listening and were touched.

And the gods touched their parents.

Ever after

Mulberries, as they ripen, darken purple.   

Summary:

The gods, moved by the lovers' tragic fate, grant their wish for an eternal union. The mulberry fruit, forever stained with their blood, serves as a lasting reminder of their love and sacrifice.   

Analysis:

The gods' intervention represents a recognition of the lovers' unwavering devotion and a final act of compassion. The darkening of the mulberry fruit symbolizes the transformation of their tragic love story into a timeless symbol of love and sacrifice. 

  காதலர்களின் சோகமான தலைவிதியால் கடவுள்கள் நெகிழ்ச்சியடைந்து, நித்திய ஒன்றியத்திற்கான அவர்களின் விருப்பத்தை நிறைவேற்றுகிறார்கள். அவர்களின் இரத்தத்தால் என்றென்றும் கறை படிந்த மல்பெரி பழம், அவர்களின் காதல் மற்றும் தியாகத்தின் நீடித்த நினைவூட்டலாக செயல்படுகிறது.

Stanza 39:

Heading: Eternal Union

Poetic Lines:

And the two lovers in their love-knot,

One pile of inseparable ashes,

Were closed in a single urn.   

Summary:

Thisbe and Pyramus are finally united in death, their ashes mingled in a single urn, symbolizing their eternal bond.   

Analysis:

The final stanza offers a sense of closure to the tragic love story. The image of their ashes mingled in a single urn represents the fulfillment of their desire for an unbreakable union. Their love, once forbidden and tragically misunderstood, is now immortalized in their shared fate.

திஸ்பேவும் பைராமஸும் இறுதியாக மரணத்தில் ஒன்றுபடுகிறார்கள், அவர்களின் சாம்பல் ஒரு கலசத்தில் கலக்கப்படுகிறது, இது அவர்களின் நித்திய பிணைப்பை அடையாளப்படுத்துகிறது. இந்த இறுதி சரணம் சோகமான காதல் கதைக்கு ஒரு முடிவைத் தருகிறது.

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Ted Hughes's Selections from Ovid's Metamorphoses - Echo and Narcissus - Analysis in English and Tamil

 Echo and Narcissus: A Stanza-by-Stanza Analysis

Stanza 1:

Heading: The Prophecy of Tiresias

Poetic Lines:

When the prophetic vision awoke

Behind the blind eyes of Tiresias

And stared into the future,

The first to test how deeply he saw

And how lucidly

Was Liriope, a swarthy nymph of the fountain.   

Summary:

The blind prophet Tiresias, renowned for his ability to see the future, is approached by Liriope, a nymph, who seeks to test his powers.   

Analysis:

The stanza establishes Tiresias's prophetic abilities and introduces Liriope, a nymph who will play a crucial role in the story. The image of "prophetic vision" awakening behind Tiresias's blind eyes emphasizes his unique gift of inner sight.   

எதிர்காலத்தைப் பார்க்கும் திறனுக்காக புகழ்பெற்ற குருட்டு தீர்க்கதரிசி டயர்சியாஸை, ஒரு நிம்ஃப் லிரியோப் அணுகுகிறார், அவர் தனது சக்திகளை சோதிக்க முற்படுகிறார். டயர்சியாஸின் தீர்க்கதரிசன திறன்களை இந்த சரணம் நிறுவுகிறது மற்றும் கதையில் ஒரு முக்கிய பங்கை வகிக்கும் லிரியோப்பை அறிமுகப்படுத்துகிறது.

Stanza 2:

Heading: The Birth of Narcissus

Poetic Lines:

She was swept off her feet by the river Cephisus

Who rolled her into the bed of a dark pool,

Then cast her up on the shingle pregnant.

The boy she bore, even in his cradle,

Had a beauty that broke hearts.

She named this child Narcissus.   

Summary:

Liriope, after a passionate encounter with the river god Cephisus, gives birth to a remarkably beautiful boy named Narcissus.   

Analysis:

This stanza describes the birth of Narcissus, whose extraordinary beauty will be central to the story. The image of Liriope being "swept off her feet" by the river god conveys the passionate nature of their encounter, while the phrase "beauty that broke hearts" foreshadows the impact Narcissus will have on others.   

நதி கடவுள் செஃபிஸஸுடனான உணர்ச்சிமிக்க சந்திப்பிற்குப் பிறகு, லிரியோப் நார்சிஸஸ் என்ற அழகான ஆண் குழந்தையைப் பெற்றெடுக்கிறார். இந்த சரணம் நார்சிஸஸின் பிறப்பை விவரிக்கிறது, அதன் அசாதாரண அழகு கதைக்கு மையமாக இருக்கும்.

Stanza 3:

Heading: The Prophecy of Narcissus's Fate

Poetic Lines:

Gossips

Came to Tiresias: ‘Can her boy live long

With such perfect beauty?’ The seer replied:

‘Yes, unless he learns to know himself.’   

Summary:

Liriope, concerned about her son's fate, consults Tiresias, who prophesies that Narcissus will live a long life unless he "learns to know himself." This cryptic prophecy foreshadows Narcissus's tragic downfall.   

Analysis:

Tiresias's prophecy introduces the central theme of self-knowledge and its importance in navigating life's challenges. The cryptic nature of the prophecy creates a sense of foreboding and suggests that Narcissus's extraordinary beauty may also be his downfall.   

தனது மகனின் தலைவிதியைப் பற்றி கவலைப்படும் லிரியோப், டயர்சியாஸை அணுகுகிறார், அவர் நார்சிஸஸ் "தன்னை அறியக் கற்றுக்கொள்ளாவிட்டால்" ஒரு நீண்ட ஆயுளை வாழ்வார் என்று தீர்க்கதரிசனம் கூறுகிறார். இந்த மர்மமான தீர்க்கதரிசனம் நார்சிஸஸின் சோகமான வீழ்ச்சியை முன்னறிவிக்கிறது.

Stanza 4:

Heading: Narcissus's Aloof Beauty

Poetic Lines:

All regarded these words as a riddle –

Till time solved them with a strange madness.

A stranger death completed the explanation.

In his sixteenth year Narcissus,

Still a slender boy but already a man,

Infatuated many.

His beauty had flowered,

But something glassy about it, a pride,

Kept all his admirers at a distance.   

Summary:

Narcissus grows into a young man, his beauty captivating many. However, his pride and aloofness create a barrier between him and those who admire him.   

Analysis:

This stanza highlights the duality of Narcissus's beauty. While it attracts many admirers, his pride and "glassy" demeanor keep them at bay. This isolation sets the stage for his encounter with Echo and his eventual downfall.   

நார்சிஸஸ் ஒரு இளைஞனாக வளர்கிறார், அவனது அழகு பலரை வசீகரிக்கிறது. இருப்பினும், அவரது பெருமை மற்றும் அலட்சியம் அவருக்கும் அவரைப் போற்றுபவர்களுக்கும் இடையே ஒரு தடையை உருவாக்குகிறது. இந்த தனிமை எதிரொலியுடனான அவரது சந்திப்புக்கும், இறுதியில் அவரது வீழ்ச்சிக்கும் மேடை அமைக்கிறது.

Stanza 5:

Heading: Echo's Affliction

Poetic Lines:

None dared be familiar, let alone touch him.

A day came, out on the mountain

Narcissus was driving and netting and killing the deer

When Echo saw him.

Echo who cannot be silent

When another speaks. Echo who cannot

Speak at all

Unless another has spoken.

Echo, who always answers back.   

Summary:

Narcissus, while hunting in the mountains, is spotted by Echo, a nymph cursed by Juno to only repeat the words of others. Her unique affliction prevents her from expressing her own feelings and desires.   

Analysis:

Echo's inability to speak her own words symbolizes the frustration and limitations of unrequited love. Her dependence on the words of others foreshadows the challenges she will face in trying to communicate her feelings to Narcissus.

  மலைகளில் வேட்டையாடும் போது, நார்சிஸஸ் எதிரொலியால் கவனிக்கப்படுகிறார், ஜூனோவால் மற்றவர்களின் வார்த்தைகளை மட்டுமே மீண்டும் செய்யும்படி சபிக்கப்பட்ட ஒரு நிம்ஃப். அவளுடைய தனித்துவமான துன்பம் அவளை தனது சொந்த உணர்வுகளையும் ஆசைகளையும் வெளிப்படுத்துவதைத் தடுக்கிறது. 

Stanza 6:

Heading: Echo's Former Self

Poetic Lines:

In those days, this nymph was more than a voice.

She had a pretty body.

But her prattle was the same –

Never anything more

Than the last word or two, the tail end

Of what she heard uttered by others,

Which she repeated over and over.   

Summary:

The poet describes Echo's former self, highlighting her physical beauty in addition to her vocal peculiarity. Her inability to form her own sentences, however, remains a defining characteristic.   

Analysis:

This stanza provides a glimpse into Echo's past and emphasizes the contrast between her physical beauty and her limited ability to communicate. Her "prattle" reinforces the idea that she is trapped in a cycle of repetition, unable to express her true self.   

எதிரொலியின் முந்தைய சுயத்தை கவிஞர் விவரிக்கிறார், அவளுடைய குரல் தனித்தன்மைக்கு கூடுதலாக அவளுடைய உடல் அழகை எடுத்துக்காட்டுகிறார். இருப்பினும், அவளுடைய சொந்த வாக்கியங்களை உருவாக்க இயலாமை ஒரு வரையறுக்கும் பண்பாகவே உள்ளது.

Stanza 7:

Heading: The Origin of Echo's Affliction

Poetic Lines:

Juno had stricken her

With this odd affliction.

When Juno, following a tip-off,

Would be stalking Jupiter, to catch him

In some dell, with a nymph,

Echo made it her duty

To engage the goddess in an unending

Rigmarole of chatter.   

Summary:

The poet reveals the origin of Echo's affliction, stemming from her role in distracting Juno while Jupiter pursued other nymphs. Her punishment is a consequence of her involvement in the affairs of the gods.   

Analysis:

This stanza provides context for Echo's condition, highlighting the consequences of interfering in the affairs of the gods. Her punishment, while seemingly harsh, reflects the importance of respecting the boundaries between mortals and the divine.   

வியாழன் மற்ற நிம்ஃப்களைப் பின்தொடரும்போது ஜூனோவை திசை திருப்புவதில் எதிரொலி பங்கு வகித்ததிலிருந்து அவளுடைய துன்பத்தின் தோற்றம் உருவானது என்பதை கவிஞர் வெளிப்படுத்துகிறார். அவளுடைய தண்டனை கடவுள்களின் விவகாரங்களில் அவள் ஈடுபட்டதன் விளைவு.

Stanza 8:

Heading: Juno's Punishment

Poetic Lines:

Till the nymph

Had pleased the god enough

To be let go.

Echo did this so often,

And so artfully, Juno

In a rage turned on her: ‘Your tongue

Has led me in such circles,

Henceforth

It will have to trail

Helplessly after others, uttering

Only the last words, helplessly,

Of what you last heard.’   

Summary:

Juno, angered by Echo's repeated interference, curses her to only repeat the last words spoken by others. This punishment effectively silences Echo's own voice and desires.   

Analysis:

Juno's curse represents a silencing of Echo's individuality and a loss of control over her own expression. Her punishment reflects the power dynamics between gods and mortals and the consequences of challenging the established order.   

எதிரொலியின் தொடர்ச்சியான தலையீட்டால் கோபமடைந்த ஜூனோ, மற்றவர்களால் பேசப்படும் கடைசி வார்த்தைகளை மட்டுமே மீண்டும் செய்யும்படி அவளை சபிக்கிறார். இந்த தண்டனை எதிரொலியின் சொந்த குரலையும் ஆசைகளையும் திறம்பட அமைதிப்படுத்துகிறது.

Stanza 9:

Heading: Echo's Infatuation

Poetic Lines:

The moment Echo saw Narcissus

She was in love.

She followed him

Like a starving wolf

Following a stag too strong to be tackled.   

Summary:

Echo, upon seeing Narcissus, falls instantly in love with him. Her desire for him is as intense as a starving wolf's pursuit of a stag, highlighting the overwhelming nature of her feelings.   

Analysis:

Echo's immediate infatuation with Narcissus sets the stage for the tragedy that will unfold. The comparison to a "starving wolf" emphasizes the intensity of her desire and her desperation to be with him.   

நார்சிஸஸைப் பார்த்தவுடன், எதிரொலி உடனடியாக அவன் மீது காதல் கொள்கிறாள். அவனை நோக்கிய அவளுடைய ஆசை பட்டினியால் வாடும் ஓநாய் ஒரு மானைப் பின்தொடர்வது போல் தீவிரமானது, அவளுடைய உணர்வுகளின் மிகப்பெரிய தன்மையை எடுத்துக்காட்டுகிறது.

Stanza 10:

Heading: Echo's Longing

Poetic Lines:

And like a cat in winter at a fire

She could not edge close enough

To what singed her, and would burn her.

She almost burst

With longing to call out to him and somehow

Let him know what she felt.   

Summary:

Echo's desire to be close to Narcissus is tempered by her fear of rejection. Her longing is so intense that it almost consumes her, but she is unable to express her feelings due to her affliction.   

Analysis:

This stanza captures the internal conflict between Echo's desire for Narcissus and her fear of rejection. The comparison to a "cat in winter at a fire" conveys her simultaneous attraction and apprehension. Her inability to express her feelings further emphasizes her frustration and helplessness.   

நார்சிஸஸுக்கு அருகில் இருக்க வேண்டும் என்ற எதிரொலியின் ஆசை நிராகரிக்கப்படும் என்ற பயத்தால் தணிக்கப்படுகிறது. அவளுடைய ஏக்கம் மிகவும் தீவிரமானது, அது அவளை கிட்டத்தட்ட விழுங்குகிறது, ஆனால் அவளுடைய துன்பம் காரணமாக அவளால் தன் உணர்வுகளை வெளிப்படுத்த முடியவில்லை.

Stanza 11:

Heading: Echo's Limitations

Poetic Lines:

But she had to wait

For some other to speak

So she could snatch their last words

With whatever sense they might lend her.   

Summary:

Echo's curse prevents her from initiating conversation or expressing her own thoughts. She is forced to rely on the words of others, even though they may not accurately reflect her feelings.   

Analysis:

This stanza highlights the limitations imposed by Echo's affliction. Her inability to speak her own words underscores her dependence on others and her frustration in trying to communicate her true feelings. 

எதிரொலியின் சாபம் அவளை உரையாடலைத் தொடங்குவதையோ அல்லது தனது சொந்த எண்ணங்களை வெளிப்படுத்துவதையோ தடுக்கிறது. அவளுடைய உணர்வுகளை துல்லியமாக பிரதிபலிக்காவிட்டாலும், அவள் மற்றவர்களின் வார்த்தைகளை நம்பியிருக்க வேண்டிய கட்டாயத்தில் உள்ளாள்.

Stanza 12: The Chance Encounter

Poetic Lines:

It so happened, Narcissus

Had strayed apart

From his companions.

He hallooed them: ‘Where are you?

I’m here.’ 

Summary:

Narcissus, separated from his hunting companions, calls out to them, unaware that Echo is listening nearby. 

Analysis:

This stanza sets the stage for the encounter between Narcissus and Echo. Narcissus's separation from his companions creates an opportunity for Echo to interact with him, but her affliction will complicate their communication. 

நார்சிஸஸ் தனது வேட்டைத் தோழர்களிடமிருந்து பிரிந்து, அவர்களை அழைக்கிறார், எதிரொலி அருகில் கேட்டுக் கொண்டிருக்கிறது என்பதை அறியாமல். இந்த சரணம் நார்சிஸஸ் மற்றும் எதிரொலிக்கு இடையிலான சந்திப்பிற்கு மேடை அமைக்கிறது.

Stanza 13: Echo's Response

Poetic Lines:

And Echo

Caught at the syllables as if they were precious:

‘I’m here,’ she cried, ‘I’m here’ and ‘I’m here’ and ‘I’m here.’ 

Summary:

Echo, hearing Narcissus's call, responds by repeating his words, her voice echoing through the mountains. Her repetition highlights her inability to form her own sentences and her dependence on the words of others. 

Analysis:

Echo's response, while a natural consequence of her affliction, also symbolizes her eagerness to connect with Narcissus. Her repetition of his words, "I'm here," can be interpreted as both a literal response and a metaphorical expression of her own desire to be present in his life. 

நார்சிஸஸின் அழைப்பைக் கேட்ட எதிரொலி, அவருடைய வார்த்தைகளை மீண்டும் கூறுவதன் மூலம் பதிலளிக்கிறாள், அவளுடைய குரல் மலைகள் வழியாக எதிரொலிக்கிறது. அவளுடைய மறுபடியும் அவளுடைய சொந்த வாக்கியங்களை உருவாக்க இயலாமையையும் மற்றவர்களின் வார்த்தைகளைச் சார்ந்திருப்பதையும் எடுத்துக்காட்டுகிறது.

Stanza 14: Narcissus's Confusion

Poetic Lines:

Narcissus looked around wildly.

‘I’ll stay here,’ he shouted.

‘You come to me.’

And ‘Come to me,’

Shouted Echo.

‘Come to me,

To me, to me, to me.’

Narcissus stood baffled,

Whether to stay or go. 

Summary:

Narcissus, confused by the disembodied voice, responds to Echo, inviting her to join him. Echo, in turn, repeats his invitation, creating a confusing and disorienting exchange. 

Analysis:

This stanza highlights the communication challenges posed by Echo's affliction. Her repetition of Narcissus's words creates a sense of confusion and misunderstanding. Narcissus's bafflement reflects his inability to comprehend the nature of the voice he is interacting with. 

உடலற்ற குரலால் குழப்பமடைந்த நார்சிஸஸ், எதிரொலிக்கு பதிலளித்து, அவளை தன்னுடன் சேர அழைக்கிறார். எதிரொலி, அவரது அழைப்பை மீண்டும் கூறுகிறார், இது ஒரு குழப்பமான மற்றும் திசைதிருப்பும் பரிமாற்றத்தை உருவாக்குகிறது.

Stanza 15: A Fleeting Meeting

Poetic Lines:

He began to run,

Calling as he ran: ‘Stay there.’

But Echo

Cried back, weeping to utter it, ‘Stay there,

Stay there, stay there, stay there.’

Narcissus stopped and listened.

Then, more quietly,

‘Let’s meet halfway.

Come.’

And Echo

Eagerly repeated it: ‘Come.’ 

Summary:

Narcissus, still confused, continues to interact with Echo, their exchange leading to a brief meeting. However, their communication remains limited by Echo's inability to express her own thoughts. 

Analysis:

This stanza captures the fleeting nature of the encounter between Narcissus and Echo. Their brief meeting is marked by a sense of anticipation and longing, but Echo's limitations prevent a deeper connection from forming. 

நார்சிஸஸ் இன்னும் குழப்பமடைந்து, எதிரொலியுடன் தொடர்பு கொள்கிறார், அவர்களின் பரிமாற்றம் ஒரு சிறிய சந்திப்புக்கு வழிவகுக்கிறது. இருப்பினும், எதிரொலி தனது சொந்த எண்ணங்களை வெளிப்படுத்த இயலாமையால் அவர்களின் தொடர்பு குறைவாகவே உள்ளது.

Stanza 16: Narcissus's Rejection

Poetic Lines:

But when she emerged from the undergrowth

Her expression pleading,

Her arms raised to embrace him,

Narcissus turned and ran.

‘No,’ he cried ‘no, I would sooner be dead

Than let you touch me.’ 

Summary:

Echo, finally revealing herself to Narcissus, is met with rejection. Narcissus's harsh words and his refusal to be touched deeply wound Echo. 

Analysis:

Narcissus's rejection of Echo marks a turning point in the narrative. His inability to see beyond his own desires and his fear of vulnerability lead him to inflict pain on Echo, who only sought connection and love. 

இறுதியாக நார்சிஸஸுக்குத் தன்னைக் காட்டிக் கொள்ளும் எதிரொலி நிராகரிக்கப்படுகிறது. நார்சிஸஸின் கடுமையான வார்த்தைகளும், தொட மறுப்பதும் எதிரொலியை ஆழமாகக் காயப்படுத்துகின்றன.

Stanza 17: Echo's Despair

Poetic Lines:

Echo collapsed in sobs,

As her voice lurched among the mountains:

‘Touch me, touch me, touch me, touch me.’

Echo moped under the leaves.

Humiliated, she hid

In the deep woods. 

Summary:

Echo, heartbroken by Narcissus's rejection, retreats into the woods, her voice echoing her despair. Her humiliation and pain drive her to isolation. 

Analysis:

Echo's retreat into the woods symbolizes her emotional withdrawal from the world. Her repeated cries of "touch me" convey her longing for connection and her despair at being rejected. Her isolation foreshadows her eventual transformation into a mere voice, a reflection of her silenced desires. 

நார்சிஸஸால் நிராகரிக்கப்பட்ட எதிரொலி, காடுகளுக்குள் பின்வாங்குகிறாள், அவளுடைய குரல் அவளுடைய விரக்தியை எதிரொலிக்கிறது. அவளுடைய அவமானமும் வலியும் அவளை தனிமைக்கு இட்டுச் செல்கின்றன.

Stanza 18: Echo's Transformation

Poetic Lines:

From that day

Like a hurt lynx, for her

Any cave was a good home.

But love was fixed in her body

Like a barbed arrow.

There it festered

With his rejection.

Sleeplessly

She brooded over the pain,

Wasting away as she suffered,

The petal of her beauty

Fading and shrivelling, falling from her –

Leaving her voice and bones. 

Summary:

Echo, consumed by her unrequited love and the pain of rejection, wastes away until only her voice remains. Her physical form fades, symbolizing the loss of self and the enduring power of unfulfilled desire. 

Analysis:

Echo's transformation into a mere voice represents the ultimate consequence of her unrequited love. Her physical form fades as her emotional pain consumes her, highlighting the destructive potential of unfulfilled desire. The image of the "barbed arrow" festering in her body conveys the lingering pain and the inability to escape the memory of rejection. 

பதிலளிக்கப்படாத காதல் மற்றும் நிராகரிப்பின் வலியால் எதிரொலி, அவளுடைய குரல் மட்டுமே எஞ்சும் வரை வீணாகிறது. அவளுடைய உடல் வடிவம் மங்கிப்போகிறது, சுய இழப்பையும் நிறைவேறாத ஆசையின் நீடித்த சக்தியையும் குறிக்கிறது.

Stanza 19: Echo's Legacy

Poetic Lines:

Her bones, they say, turned

Into stone, sinking into the humus.

Her voice roamed off by itself,

Unseen in the forest, unseen

On the empty mountainside –

Though all could hear it

Living the only life left to Echo. 

Summary:

Echo's physical form completely disappears, leaving only her voice to wander the mountains and forests. Her disembodied voice symbolizes the lingering presence of unrequited love and the enduring power of memory. 

Analysis:

Echo's final transformation into a disembodied voice represents the ultimate loss of self and the enduring legacy of her unfulfilled love. Her voice, echoing through the natural world, serves as a constant reminder of the pain of rejection and the power of memory to preserve past experiences. 

எதிரொலியின் உடல் வடிவம் முற்றிலும் மறைந்துவிடும், அவளுடைய குரல் மட்டுமே மலைகள் மற்றும் காடுகளில் அலைந்து திரிகிறது. அவளுடைய உடலற்ற குரல் பதிலளிக்கப்படாத காதலின் நீடித்த இருப்பையும் நினைவகத்தின் நீடித்த சக்தியையும் குறிக்கிறது.

Stanza 20: Narcissus's Pattern of Rejection

Poetic Lines:

Narcissus had rebuffed her adoration

As he had the passionate attentions

Of many another nymph of the wilderness

And many another man. 

Summary:

Narcissus's rejection of Echo is not an isolated incident. He has a pattern of rejecting the affections of others, both nymphs and men, highlighting his inability to form meaningful connections. 

Analysis:

This stanza emphasizes Narcissus's emotional detachment and his inability to reciprocate the feelings of others. His repeated rejection of those who admire him underscores his self-absorption and his lack of empathy. 

எதிரொலியை நிராகரிப்பது நார்சிஸஸுக்கு ஒரு தனிமைப்படுத்தப்பட்ட சம்பவம் அல்ல. நிம்ஃப்கள் மற்றும் ஆண்கள் இருவரின் பாசத்தையும் நிராகரிக்கும் ஒரு முறையை அவர் கொண்டிருக்கிறார், அர்த்தமுள்ள தொடர்புகளை உருவாக்க இயலாமையை எடுத்துக்காட்டுகிறார்.

Stanza 21: A Prayer for Retribution

Poetic Lines:

One of these, mocked and rejected,

Lifted his hands to heaven:

‘Let Narcissus love and suffer

As he has made us suffer.

Let him, like us, love and know it is hopeless.

And let him, like Echo, perish of anguish.’ 

Summary:

One of Narcissus's rejected admirers prays for retribution, asking the gods to make Narcissus experience the same pain and suffering he has inflicted on others. 

Analysis:

This stanza introduces the theme of divine justice and the idea that actions have consequences. The rejected admirer's prayer for retribution foreshadows Narcissus's eventual downfall and suggests that his self-absorption will ultimately lead to his own suffering. 

நிராகரிக்கப்பட்ட நார்சிஸஸின் प्रशंसகர்களில் ஒருவர் பழிவாங்கும்படி பிரார்த்தனை செய்கிறார், நார்சிஸஸ் மற்றவர்களுக்கு ஏற்படுத்திய அதே வலி மற்றும் துன்பத்தை அனுபவிக்க கடவுள்களிடம் கேட்கிறார்.

Stanza 22: Nemesis Grants the Prayer

Poetic Lines:

Nemesis, the corrector,

Heard this prayer and granted it. 

Summary:

Nemesis, the goddess of retribution, hears the prayer and sets in motion the events that will lead to Narcissus's downfall. 

Analysis:

Nemesis's intervention signifies the inevitability of justice and the consequences of Narcissus's actions. Her role as the "corrector" highlights the theme of balance and the idea that those who inflict pain on others will ultimately experience suffering themselves. 

பழிவாங்கும் தெய்வமான Nemesis, பிரார்த்தனையைக் கேட்டு, நார்சிஸஸின் வீழ்ச்சிக்கு வழிவகுக்கும் நிகழ்வுகளை நகர்த்துகிறது.

Stanza 23: The Pristine Pool

Poetic Lines:

There was a pool of perfect water.

No shepherd had ever driven sheep

To trample the margins.

No cattle

Had slobbered their muzzles in it

And befouled it.

No wild beast

Had ever dashed through it. 

Summary:

The poet describes a pristine pool of water, untouched by humans or animals. This untouched pool will serve as the setting for Narcissus's fateful encounter with his own reflection. 

Analysis:

The description of the pristine pool creates a sense of tranquility and isolation. The absence of any human or animal presence suggests a place untouched by the outside world, a fitting setting for Narcissus's self-absorption to take center stage. 

மனிதர்களோ விலங்குகளோ தொடாத பழமையான நீர்நிலையை கவிஞர் விவரிக்கிறார். இந்தத் தொடப்படாத குளம் நார்சிஸஸ் தனது சொந்த பிரதிபலிப்புடன் மோசமான சந்திப்பிற்கான அமைப்பாக செயல்படும்.

Stanza 24: Narcissus's Discovery

Poetic Lines:

No bird had ever paddled there preening and bathing.

Only surrounding grasses drank its moisture

And though the arching trees kept it cool

No twigs rotted in it, and no leaves.

Weary with hunting and the hot sun

Narcissus found this pool. 

Summary:

Narcissus, exhausted from hunting, discovers the pristine pool. His arrival at this isolated spot sets the stage for his fateful encounter with his own reflection. 

Analysis:

Narcissus's arrival at the pool marks a turning point in the narrative. The pool, untouched by the outside world, becomes a mirror for his self-absorption. His weariness and the heat of the sun create a sense of vulnerability and susceptibility, making him more prone to the pool's allure. 

வேட்டையாடுவதில் சோர்வடைந்த நார்சிஸஸ், பழமையான குளத்தைக் கண்டுபிடித்தார். இந்த தனிமைப்படுத்தப்பட்ட இடத்திற்கு அவர் வருவது அவரது சொந்த பிரதிபலிப்புடன் அவரது மோசமான சந்திப்பிற்கு மேடை அமைக்கிறது.

Stanza 25: Narcissus's Reflection

Poetic Lines:

Gratefully he stretched out full length,

To cup his hands in the clear cold

And to drink.

But as he drank

A strange new thirst, a craving, unfamiliar,

Entered his body with the water,

And entered his eyes

With the reflection in the limpid mirror. 

Summary:

Narcissus, intending to quench his thirst, is captivated by his own reflection in the pool's clear water. A new and unfamiliar desire awakens within him, sparked by the image he sees. 

Analysis:

Narcissus's encounter with his reflection marks the beginning of his downfall. The "strange new thirst" that enters him symbolizes his burgeoning self-infatuation. The pool, a mirror to his own image, becomes a source of both fascination and destruction. 

தனது தாகத்தைத் தணிக்க விரும்பும் நார்சிஸஸ், குளத்தின் தெளிவான நீரில் தனது சொந்த பிரதிபலிப்பால் வசீகரிக்கப்படுகிறார். அவர் பார்க்கும் படத்தால் ஒரு புதிய மற்றும் ناآشنا ஆசை அவருக்குள் எழுகிறது.

Stanza 26: Narcissus's Self-Infatuation

Poetic Lines:

He could not believe the beauty

Of those eyes that gazed into his own.

As the taste of water flooded him

So did love.

So he lay, mistaking

That picture of himself on the meniscus

For the stranger who could make him happy. 

Summary:

Narcissus falls in love with his own reflection, mistaking it for a separate being. His self-infatuation blinds him to reality, trapping him in a cycle of unfulfillable desire. 

Analysis:

This stanza highlights Narcissus's inability to recognize himself, symbolizing his lack of self-awareness. His infatuation with his own reflection represents a dangerous detachment from reality and a descent into self-absorption.

நார்சிஸஸ் தனது சொந்த பிரதிபலிப்புடன் காதல் கொள்கிறார், அதை ஒரு தனி நபராக தவறாக நினைக்கிறார். அவரது சுய மோகம் அவரை யதார்த்தத்திற்கு குருடாக்குகிறது, நிறைவேற்ற முடியாத ஆசையின் சுழற்சியில் அவரை சிக்க வைக்கிறது.

Stanza 27: Narcissus's Entrapment

Poetic Lines:

He lay, like a fallen garden statue,

Gaze fixed on his image in the water,

Comparing it to Bacchus or Apollo,

Falling deeper and deeper in love

With what so many had loved so hopelessly.   

Summary:

Narcissus becomes completely absorbed in his own reflection, comparing his beauty to that of the gods Bacchus and Apollo. His self-love deepens, mirroring the unrequited love others have felt for him.   

Analysis:

This stanza highlights Narcissus's self-absorption and his detachment from reality. The comparison to a "fallen garden statue" emphasizes his static state and his emotional immobility. His comparison of himself to gods underscores his inflated sense of self-importance and his blindness to his own flaws.   

நார்சிஸஸ் தனது சொந்த பிரதிபலிப்பில் முழுமையாக உள்வாங்கப்படுகிறார், அவரது அழகை பச்சஸ் மற்றும் அப்பல்லோ கடவுள்களின் அழகுடன் ஒப்பிடுகிறார். அவரது சுய காதல் ஆழமடைகிறது, மற்றவர்கள் அவருக்காக உணர்ந்த பதிலளிக்கப்படாத காதலைப் பிரதிபலிக்கிறது.

Stanza 28: The Unattainable Self

Poetic Lines:

Not recognizing himself

He wanted only himself.

He had chosen

From all the faces he had ever seen

Only his own.   

Summary:

Narcissus's lack of self-awareness is further emphasized. He desires only himself, failing to recognize that the object of his affection is merely a reflection.   

Analysis:

This stanza captures the essence of Narcissus's tragedy. His inability to recognize himself symbolizes his lack of self-knowledge and his entrapment in a cycle of unfulfillable desire. His choice of his own reflection over all other faces underscores his self-absorption and his isolation from genuine human connection.   

நார்சிஸஸின் சுய விழிப்புணர்வு இல்லாமை மேலும் வலியுறுத்தப்படுகிறது. அவர் தன்னை மட்டுமே விரும்புகிறார், பாசத்தின் பொருள் வெறும் பிரதிபலிப்பு என்பதை அங்கீகரிக்கத் தவறிவிடுகிறார்.

Stanza 29: The Torturer and the Tortured

Poetic Lines:

He was himself

The torturer who now began his torture.

He plunged his arms deep to embrace

One who vanished in agitated water.   

Summary:

Narcissus becomes both the torturer and the tortured, as his attempts to embrace his reflection only lead to its disappearance. His actions symbolize the self-destructive nature of his self-love.   

Analysis:

This stanza highlights the futility of Narcissus's self-love. His attempts to embrace his reflection only disrupt the image, creating a cycle of frustration and longing. The metaphor of the "torturer who now began his torture" emphasizes the self-inflicted nature of his suffering.   

நார்சிஸஸ் சித்திரவதை செய்பவராகவும் சித்திரவதை செய்யப்பட்டவராகவும் மாறுகிறார், ஏனெனில் அவரது பிரதிபலிப்பைத் தழுவ முயற்சிப்பது அதன் மறைவுக்கு வழிவகுக்கிறது. அவரது செயல்கள் அவரது சுய காதலின் சுய அழிவு தன்மையை அடையாளப்படுத்துகின்றன.

Stanza 30: The Illusion of Reciprocation

Poetic Lines:

Again and again he kissed

The lips that seemed to be rising to kiss his

But dissolved, as he touched them,

Into a soft splash and a shiver of ripples.   

Summary:

Narcissus's attempts to connect with his reflection are met with further frustration. The image he kisses dissolves upon contact, highlighting the illusory nature of his desires.   

Analysis:

This stanza emphasizes the unattainable nature of Narcissus's desires. The image of the dissolving kiss symbolizes the impossibility of finding fulfillment in self-love. His repeated attempts to connect with his reflection only perpetuate his frustration and despair.   

அவரது பிரதிபலிப்புடன் இணைவதற்கான நார்சிஸஸின் முயற்சிகள் மேலும் விரக்தியுடன் சந்திக்கின்றன. அவர் முத்தமிடும் படம் தொடர்பு கொண்டவுடன் கரைகிறது, அவரது ஆசைகளின் மாயத்தோற்ற தன்மையை எடுத்துக்காட்டுகிறது.

Stanza 31: Narcissus's Plea

Poetic Lines:

How could he clasp and caress his own reflection?

And still he could not comprehend

What the deception was, what the delusion.

He simply became more excited by it.

Poor misguided boy!

Why clutch so vainly

At such a brittle figment?   

Summary:

Narcissus, unable to grasp the reality of his situation, continues to be consumed by his self-infatuation. His blindness to the truth deepens his entrapment in the illusion.   

Analysis:

This stanza highlights Narcissus's lack of self-awareness and his inability to recognize the futility of his desires. His continued pursuit of his own reflection, despite the repeated frustrations, underscores his entrapment in the illusion.   

தனது நிலைமையின் யதார்த்தத்தைப் புரிந்து கொள்ள முடியாத நார்சிஸஸ், தனது சுய மோகத்தால் தொடர்ந்து உட்கொள்ளப்படுகிறார். உண்மைக்கு அவன் குருடாக இருப்பது மாயையில் அவன் சிக்கிக் கொள்வதை ஆழப்படுத்துகிறது.

Stanza 32: The Shadow Self

Poetic Lines:

What you hope

To lay hold of has no existence.

This is your own shadow.

It comes with you.

While you stay it stays.

So it will go

When you go – if ever you can go.   

Summary:

Narcissus's reflection is described as a shadow, an intangible image that has no existence independent of himself. This metaphor emphasizes the futility of his pursuit and the self-destructive nature of his self-love.   

Analysis:

The comparison of Narcissus's reflection to a shadow highlights the ephemeral and unattainable nature of his desires. The shadow, a mere projection of himself, has no substance or independent existence. His inability to separate himself from his shadow symbolizes his entrapment in a cycle of self-absorption.   

நார்சிஸஸின் பிரதிபலிப்பு ஒரு நிழலாக விவரிக்கப்படுகிறது, அது தன்னிலிருந்து சுதந்திரமாக இருக்கும் ஒரு அருவமான படம். இந்த உருவகம் அவரது நாட்டத்தின் பயனற்ற தன்மையையும், அவரது சுய காதலின் சுய அழிவு தன்மையையும் வலியுறுத்துகிறது.

Stanza 33: Narcissus's Despair

Poetic Lines:

He could not go.

He wanted neither to eat nor to sleep.

Only to lie there – eyes insatiably

Gazing into the eyes that were no eyes.

This is how his own eyes destroyed him.   

Summary:

Narcissus becomes completely consumed by his self-love, neglecting his basic needs and fixated solely on his own reflection. His obsession leads to his physical and emotional decline.   

Analysis:

This stanza depicts the destructive consequences of Narcissus's self-absorption. His neglect of his physical needs and his obsessive focus on his reflection symbolize his detachment from reality and his descent into self-destruction. The phrase "his own eyes destroyed him" emphasizes the self-inflicted nature of his downfall.   

நார்சிஸஸ் தனது சுய காதலால் முழுமையாக உட்கொள்ளப்படுகிறார், அவரது அடிப்படைத் தேவைகளை புறக்கணித்து, அவரது சொந்த பிரதிபலிப்பில் மட்டுமே கவனம் செலுத்துகிறார். அவரது வெறி அவரது உடல் மற்றும் உணர்ச்சி வீழ்ச்சிக்கு வழிவகுக்கிறது.

Stanza 34: Narcissus's Lament

Poetic Lines:

He sat up, and lifting his arms

Called to the forest: ‘You trees,

Was there ever a love

As cruel as mine is to me?   

Summary:

Narcissus, in a moment of despair, addresses the trees of the forest, lamenting the cruelty of his self-love. His plea for recognition highlights his isolation and his longing for connection.   

Analysis:

Narcissus's address to the trees represents his desperation and his yearning for understanding. The trees, silent witnesses to his suffering, symbolize the natural world that he has rejected in his pursuit of self-gratification. His question, "Was there ever a love as cruel as mine?" underscores the self-destructive nature of his obsession.   

விரக்தியின் ஒரு கணத்தில், நார்சிஸஸ் காட்டின் மரங்களை உரையாற்றுகிறார், அவரது சுய காதலின் கொடுமையைப் புலம்புகிறார். அங்கீகாரத்திற்கான அவரது வேண்டுகோள் அவரது தனிமையையும் தொடர்புக்கான அவரது ஏக்கத்தையும் எடுத்துக்காட்டுகிறது.

Stanza 35: Narcissus's Isolation

Poetic Lines:

You aged voyeurs, you eavesdroppers,

Among all the lovers who have hidden

Under your listening leaves

Was there ever a love

As futureless as mine?   

Summary:

Narcissus continues his lament, questioning the trees about the uniqueness of his suffering. He emphasizes the hopelessness and isolation of his self-love.   

Analysis:

Narcissus's comparison of his love to those who have "hidden under your listening leaves" highlights his isolation and his inability to form genuine connections. His self-love is depicted as "futureless," emphasizing its lack of potential for growth or fulfillment.

  நார்சிஸஸ் தனது புலம்பலைத் தொடர்கிறார், அவரது துன்பத்தின் தனித்துவத்தைப் பற்றி மரங்களிடம் கேள்வி எழுப்புகிறார். அவர் தனது சுய காதலின் நம்பிக்கையற்ற தன்மையையும் தனிமையையும் வலியுறுத்துகிறார். 

Stanza 36: The Unbridgeable Gap

Poetic Lines:

What I love is untouchable.

We are kept apart

Neither by seas nor mountains

Nor the locked-up gates of cities.

Nothing at all comes between us –

Only the skin of water.   

Summary:

Narcissus describes the unattainable nature of his desire, emphasizing that the only barrier between him and the object of his affection is the surface of the water. This barrier, while seemingly insignificant, represents an insurmountable obstacle.   

Analysis:

This stanza highlights the paradox of Narcissus's self-love. The object of his desire is both himself and completely unattainable. The "skin of water" symbolizes the boundary between reality and illusion, between self and the reflection of self.   

தனது ஆசையின் அடைய முடியாத தன்மையை நார்சிஸஸ் விவரிக்கிறார், அவருக்கும் அவரது பாசத்திற்கும் இடையிலான ஒரே தடை நீரின் மேற்பரப்பு என்பதை வலியுறுத்துகிறார். இந்த தடை, அற்பமானதாகத் தோன்றினாலும், ஒரு கடக்க முடியாத தடையை குறிக்கிறது.

Stanza 37: The Illusion of Reciprocation

Poetic Lines:

He wants my love as I want his.

As I lean to kiss him

He lifts up his face to kiss me –

Why can’t I reach him?

Why can’t he reach me?   

Summary:

Narcissus describes the illusion of reciprocation in his self-love. The reflection mimics his actions, creating a false sense of connection and deepening his delusion.   

Analysis:

This stanza emphasizes the deceptive nature of Narcissus's self-love. The reflection's mimicry of his actions reinforces his belief that his feelings are reciprocated, further entangling him in the illusion. The questions "Why can't I reach him? Why can't he reach me?" highlight the inherent frustration and impossibility of his desire.   

தனது சுய காதலில் பரஸ்பர மாயையை நார்சிஸஸ் விவரிக்கிறார். பிரதிபலிப்பு அவரது செயல்களைப் பிரதிபலிக்கிறது, இது ஒரு தவறான தொடர்பு உணர்வை உருவாக்குகிறது மற்றும் அவரது மாயையை ஆழப்படுத்துகிறது.

Stanza 38: The Dissolving Embrace

Poetic Lines:

In that very touch of the kiss

We vanish from each other – he vanishes

Into the skin of water.   

Summary:

Narcissus's attempts to connect with his reflection are met with further frustration. The image he tries to embrace dissolves upon contact, emphasizing the ephemeral nature of his desires.   

Analysis:

This stanza reinforces the unattainable nature of Narcissus's self-love. The image of the dissolving embrace symbolizes the impossibility of finding fulfillment in his reflection. His attempts to connect with the image only perpetuate his frustration and despair.   

அவரது பிரதிபலிப்புடன் இணைவதற்கான நார்சிஸஸின் முயற்சிகள் மேலும் விரக்தியுடன் சந்திக்கின்றன. அவர் தழுவ முயற்சிக்கும் படம் தொடர்பு கொள்ள முயலும் போது படம் கரைந்து போகிறது, அவரது ஆசைகளின் நிலையற்ற தன்மையை வலியுறுத்துகிறது. இந்த சரணம் நார்சிஸஸின் சுய காதலின் அடைய முடியாத தன்மையை வலியுறுத்துகிறது.

Stanza 39: Narcissus's Confusion

Poetic Lines:

‘Who are you?

Come out.

Come up

Onto the land.

I never saw beauty

To compare with yours.

Oh why do you always

Dodge away at the last moment

And leave me with my arms full of nothing

But water and the memory of an image.   

Summary:

Narcissus, still unable to recognize himself, pleads with his reflection to come out of the water. His confusion and frustration highlight his blindness to the truth of his situation.   

Analysis:

This stanza emphasizes Narcissus's lack of self-awareness and his inability to recognize the futility of his desires. His plea to his reflection to "come out" reveals his detachment from reality and his entrapment in the illusion.   

தன்னை அடையாளம் காண இன்னும் முடியாத நார்சிஸஸ், தனது பிரதிபலிப்பை தண்ணீரிலிருந்து வெளியே வரும்படி கெஞ்சுகிறார். அவரது குழப்பம் மற்றும் விரக்தி அவரது நிலைமையின் உண்மைக்கு அவரது குருட்டுத்தன்மையை எடுத்துக்காட்டுகிறது.

Stanza 40: Narcissus's Self-Doubt

Poetic Lines:

It cannot be my ugliness

Or my age that repels you,

If all the nymphs are so crazy about me.   

Summary:

Narcissus, momentarily doubting himself, questions why his reflection would reject him when others find him so desirable. His self-doubt, however, is quickly overshadowed by his self-infatuation.   

Analysis:

This stanza reveals a brief flicker of self-doubt in Narcissus's mind. However, his inability to truly recognize himself prevents him from confronting his flaws and accepting responsibility for his isolation.   

நார்சிஸஸ், தன்னைப் பற்றி சந்தேகிக்கும் தருணத்தில், மற்றவர்கள் அவரை மிகவும் விரும்பத்தக்கதாகக் கருதும்போது அவரது பிரதிபலிப்பு அவரை ஏன் நிராகரிக்கும் என்று கேள்வி எழுப்புகிறார். இருப்பினும், அவரது சுய சந்தேகம் விரைவில் அவரது சுய மோகத்தால் மறைக்கப்படுகிறது.

Stanza 41: The Illusion of Shared Emotions

Poetic Lines:

Your face is full of love

As your eyes look into my eyes

I see it, and my hope shakes me.

I stretch my arms to you, you stretch yours

As eagerly to me.

You laugh when I laugh.

I have watched your tears through my tears.

When I tell you my love I see your lips

Seeming to tell me yours – though I cannot hear it.   

Summary:

Narcissus describes the illusion of shared emotions with his reflection. The image mimics his expressions and actions, reinforcing his belief that his feelings are reciprocated.   

Analysis:

This stanza emphasizes the deceptive nature of Narcissus's self-love. The reflection's mimicry of his emotions creates a false sense of connection and deepens his delusion. The image of watching "tears through my tears" highlights the self-reflexive nature of his experience and his inability to distinguish between himself and his reflection.   

தனது பிரதிபலிப்புடன் பகிரப்பட்ட உணர்ச்சிகளின் மாயையை நார்சிஸஸ் விவரிக்கிறார். படம் அவரது வெளிப்பாடுகள் மற்றும் செயல்களைப் பிரதிபலிக்கிறது, அவரது உணர்வுகள் பரஸ்பரம் என்ற நம்பிக்கையை வலுப்படுத்துகிறது.

Stanza 42: The Realization

Poetic Lines:

‘You are me.

Now I see that.

I see through my own reflection.

But it is too late.   

Summary:

Narcissus finally recognizes that the object of his affection is merely his own reflection. However, this realization comes too late, as he is already consumed by his self-love.   

Analysis:

This stanza marks a crucial turning point in the narrative. Narcissus's realization of the truth reveals a glimmer of self-awareness, but his acknowledgment that it is "too late" underscores the tragic consequences of his self-absorption.   

தனது பாசத்தின் பொருள் வெறும் பிரதிபலிப்பு என்பதை நார்சிஸஸ் இறுதியாக அங்கீகரிக்கிறார். இருப்பினும், இந்த உணர்தல் மிகவும் தாமதமாக வருகிறது, ஏனெனில் அவர் ஏற்கனவே தனது சுய காதலால் உட்கொள்ளப்படுகிறார்.

Stanza 43: The Despair of Self-Love

Poetic Lines:

I am in love with myself.

I torture myself.

What am I doing –

Loving or being loved?

What can my courtship gain?

What I want, I am.

But being all that I long for –

That is my destitution.   

Summary:

Narcissus grapples with the realization of his self-love, recognizing the futility and self-destructive nature of his desire. His questions highlight the paradox of his situation and the impossibility of finding fulfillment in his reflection.   

Analysis:

This stanza captures the internal conflict and despair that Narcissus experiences as he confronts the truth of his self-love. The questions he poses reflect his confusion and his struggle to reconcile his desire with the reality of his situation. The phrase "being all that I long for – that is my destitution" encapsulates the paradox of his self-absorption, where the fulfillment of his desire leads to his own destruction.   

தனது சுய காதலின் யதார்த்தத்தை நார்சிஸஸ் போராடுகிறார், அவரது ஆசையின் பயனற்ற தன்மையையும் சுய அழிவு தன்மையையும் அங்கீகரிக்கிறார். அவர் எழுப்பும் கேள்விகள் அவரது நிலைமையின் முரண்பாட்டையும், அவரது பிரதிபலிப்பில் நிறைவைக் காணும் சாத்தியமற்ற தன்மையையும் எடுத்துக்காட்டுகின்றன.

Stanza 44: Longing for Separation

Poetic Lines:

Why can’t I get apart from my body?

This is a new kind of lover’s prayer.

To wish himself apart from the one he loves.   

Summary:

Narcissus expresses his longing to separate himself from his own body, recognizing that his physical form is the source of his self-infatuation. His desire for separation represents a desperate attempt to escape the cycle of self-destruction.   

Analysis:

This stanza highlights the paradoxical nature of Narcissus's desire. He longs to be free from his own body, the very source of his beauty and the object of his affection. His desire for separation reflects his growing awareness of the self-destructive nature of his self-love.

நார்சிஸஸ் தனது சொந்த உடலில் இருந்து தன்னைப் பிரிக்க வேண்டும் என்ற தனது விருப்பத்தை வெளிப்படுத்துகிறார், அவரது உடல் வடிவம் அவரது சுய மோகத்திற்கு ஆதாரம் என்பதை அங்கீகரிக்கிறார். பிரிவினைக்கான அவரது விருப்பம் சுய அழிவின் சுழற்சியில் இருந்து தப்பிக்க ஒரு தீவிரமான முயற்சியை குறிக்கிறது.

Stanza 45: Narcissus's Plea

Poetic Lines:

Why can’t I get apart from my body?

This is a new kind of lover’s prayer.

To wish himself apart from the one he loves.   

Summary:

Narcissus expresses his longing to separate himself from his own body, recognizing that his physical form is the source of his self-infatuation. His desire for separation represents a desperate attempt to escape the cycle of self-destruction.   

Analysis:

This stanza highlights the paradoxical nature of Narcissus's desire. He longs to be free from his own body, the very source of his beauty and the object of his affection. His desire for separation reflects his growing awareness of the self-destructive nature of his self-love.  

 நார்சிஸஸ் தனது சொந்த உடலில் இருந்து தன்னைப் பிரிக்க வேண்டும் என்ற தனது விருப்பத்தை வெளிப்படுத்துகிறார், அவரது உடல் வடிவம் அவரது சுய மோகத்திற்கு ஆதாரம் என்பதை அங்கீகரிக்கிறார். பிரிவினைக்கான அவரது விருப்பம் சுய அழிவின் சுழற்சியில் இருந்து தப்பிக்க ஒரு தீவிரமான முயற்சியை குறிக்கிறது.

Stanza 46: The Inevitability of Decline

Poetic Lines:

‘This impotent grief

Is taking my strength

And my life.

My beauty is in full bloom –

But I am a cut flower.   

Summary:

Narcissus recognizes that his grief and self-infatuation are draining his life force. The comparison to a "cut flower" symbolizes the ephemeral nature of his beauty and the inevitability of decline.   

Analysis:

This stanza emphasizes the destructive consequences of Narcissus's self-absorption. His grief and unfulfilled desire are consuming him, leading to his physical and emotional decline. The image of the "cut flower" highlights the fragility of beauty and the transient nature of life.  

 தனது துக்கமும் சுய மோகமும் தனது வாழ்க்கை சக்தியை வடிகட்டுகின்றன என்பதை நார்சிஸஸ் அங்கீகரிக்கிறார். "வெட்டப்பட்ட பூ" உடனான ஒப்பீடு அவரது அழகின் நிலையற்ற தன்மையையும் வீழ்ச்சியின் தவிர்க்க முடியாத தன்மையையும் குறிக்கிறது.

Stanza 47: The Wish for Death

Poetic Lines:

Let death come quickly –

Carry me off

Where this pain

Can never follow.

The one I loved should be let live –

He should live on after me, blameless.

But when I go – both of us go.’   

Summary:

Narcissus welcomes death as a release from his suffering, expressing his desire for the "one he loved" (his reflection) to live on. However, he recognizes that his death will also mean the end of his reflection, highlighting the inseparable nature of their existence.   

Analysis:

Narcissus's wish for death reflects his despair and his inability to escape the cycle of self-destruction. His concern for the "one he loved" underscores his continued delusion and his inability to separate himself from his reflection. The phrase "when I go – both of us go" emphasizes the self-reflexive nature of his experience and the inevitable end of his self-infatuation.   

நார்சிஸஸ் மரணத்தை தனது துன்பத்திலிருந்து விடுதலையாக வரவேற்கிறார், "அவர் நேசித்தவர்" (அவரது பிரதிபலிப்பு) வாழ வேண்டும் என்ற தனது விருப்பத்தை வெளிப்படுத்துகிறார். இருப்பினும், அவரது மரணம் அவரது பிரதிபலிப்பின் முடிவையும் குறிக்கும் என்பதை அவர் அங்கீகரிக்கிறார், அவர்களின் இருப்பின் பிரிக்க முடியாத தன்மையை எடுத்துக்காட்டுகிறார்.

Stanza 48: Narcissus's Tears

Poetic Lines:

Then Narcissus wept into the pool.

His tears shattered the still shrine

And his image blurred.   

Summary:

Narcissus weeps into the pool, his tears disrupting the surface and distorting his reflection. This disruption symbolizes the breakdown of his illusion and the confrontation with his own mortality.   

Analysis:

Narcissus's tears represent a release of his pent-up emotions and a recognition of his own vulnerability. The disruption of the pool's surface symbolizes the shattering of his illusion and the confrontation with the reality of his situation.   

நார்சிஸஸ் குளத்தில் அழுகிறார், அவரது கண்ணீர் மேற்பரப்பை சீர்குலைத்து அவரது பிரதிபலிப்பை சிதைக்கிறது. இந்த சீர்குலைவு அவரது மாயையின் முறிவையும் அவரது சொந்த மரணத்தை எதிர்கொள்வதையும் குறிக்கிறது.

Stanza 49: Narcissus's Plea

Poetic Lines:

He cried after it: ‘Don’t leave me.

If I cannot touch you at least let me see you.

Let me nourish my starving, luckless love –

If only by looking.’   

Summary:

Narcissus pleads with his reflection not to leave him, expressing his desire to at least see the image that has captivated him. His plea highlights his continued attachment to the illusion and his inability to let go of his self-love.   

Analysis:

Narcissus's plea to his reflection reveals his desperation and his continued entrapment in the illusion. Even though he recognizes the unattainable nature of his desire, he cannot bear to be separated from the image that has consumed him.   

நார்சிஸஸ் தனது பிரதிபலிப்பை விட்டு வெளியேற வேண்டாம் என்று கெஞ்சுகிறார், குறைந்தபட்சம் அவரை வசீகரித்த படத்தைப் பார்க்க வேண்டும் என்ற தனது விருப்பத்தை வெளிப்படுத்துகிறார். அவரது வேண்டுகோள் மாயையுடனான அவரது தொடர்ச்சியான பற்றுதலையும், அவரது சுய காதலை விட்டுவிட இயலாமையையும் எடுத்துக்காட்டுகிறது.

Stanza 50: Narcissus's Self-Harm

Poetic Lines:

Then he ripped off his shirt,

And beat his bare chest with white fists.

The skin flushed under the blows.   

Summary:

Narcissus, in a fit of frustration and despair, harms himself, his actions reflecting the self-destructive nature of his obsession.   

Analysis:

Narcissus's self-harm symbolizes the extent to which his self-love has consumed him. His inability to connect with his reflection leads to a violent outburst against himself, highlighting the destructive consequences of his unfulfilled desire.   

விரக்தி மற்றும் விரக்தியின் பொருத்தத்தில், நார்சிஸஸ் தன்னைத்தானே காயப்படுத்திக் கொள்கிறார், அவரது செயல்கள் அவரது வெறித்தனத்தின் சுய அழிவு தன்மையை பிரதிபலிக்கின்றன.

Stanza 51: Narcissus's Transformation

Poetic Lines:

When Narcissus saw this

In the image returned to perfection

Where the pool had calmed –

It was too much for him.

Like wax near the flame,

Or like hoar-frost

Where the first ray of the morning sun

Creeps across it,

He melted – consumed

By his love.   

Summary:

Narcissus, witnessing his own self-inflicted pain reflected in the pool, is overwhelmed and begins to fade away. His transformation into a flower symbolizes the consequences of his self-absorption and the ephemeral nature of beauty.   

Analysis:

Narcissus's transformation into a flower represents the culmination of his self-love and the ultimate expression of his self-destruction. The imagery of melting wax and frost conveys the fragility of beauty and the transient nature of life. His consumption by his own love highlights the self-inflicted nature of his downfall.   

குளத்தில் பிரதிபலித்த தனது சொந்த வலியைக் கண்டு, நார்சிஸஸ் மூழ்கி மங்கத் தொடங்குகிறார். ஒரு பூவாக அவரது உருமாற்றம் அவரது சுய-உறிஞ்சுதலின் விளைவுகளையும் அழகின் நிலையற்ற தன்மையையும் குறிக்கிறது.

Stanza 52: Echo's Witness

Poetic Lines:

Like Echo’s the petal of his beauty

Faded, shrivelled, fell –

He disappeared from his own eyes.

Till nothing remained of the body

That had driven Echo to distraction.

Echo was watching all this misery.   

Summary:

Echo witnesses Narcissus's transformation and demise, her own experience of unrequited love mirroring his self-destruction. Her presence as a witness underscores the interconnectedness of their fates.   

Analysis:

Echo's presence as a witness to Narcissus's downfall creates a sense of closure to her own story. Her experience of unrequited love and her eventual transformation into a mere voice parallel Narcissus's self-absorption and his ultimate demise. Their shared fate highlights the destructive potential of unfulfilled desire and the importance of self-awareness.   

நார்சிஸஸின் உருமாற்றத்தையும் மரணத்தையும் எதிரொலி காண்கிறது, பதிலளிக்கப்படாத காதல் அவரது சுய அழிவைப் பிரதிபலிக்கிறது. சாட்சியாக அவளுடைய இருப்பு அவர்களின் தலைவிதியின் ஒன்றோடொன்று இணைந்திருப்பதை அடிக்கோடிட்டுக் காட்டுகிறது.

Stanza 53: Echo's Lament

Poetic Lines:

Remembering how it happened before

To her, when he ran from her,

Her anger blazed

But her pity smothered it.

And when he moaned, ‘Alas,’ she wept,

And groaned. ‘Alas.’   

Summary:

Echo, despite her own pain, feels pity for Narcissus as he suffers the consequences of his self-love. Her empathy and compassion highlight the complexity of her emotions and her ability to transcend her own suffering.   

Analysis:

Echo's pity for Narcissus reveals her capacity for empathy and forgiveness. Despite the pain he caused her, she recognizes his suffering and laments his tragic fate. Her ability to transcend her own pain and offer compassion highlights her emotional maturity and her connection to the natural world, which often reflects themes of renewal and acceptance.   

எதிரொலி, தனது சொந்த வலி இருந்தபோதிலும், நார்சிஸஸ் தனது சுய காதலின் விளைவுகளை அனுபவிக்கும்போது அவருக்கு பரிதாபப்படுகிறார். அவளுடைய பச்சாதாபம் மற்றும் இரக்கம் அவளுடைய உணர்ச்சிகளின் சிக்கலான தன்மையையும், அவளுடைய சொந்த துன்பத்தை மீறும் திறனையும் எடுத்துக்காட்டுகின்றன.

Stanza 54: Narcissus's Farewell

Poetic Lines:

His last words,

As he gazed into the dark pool,

‘Farewell, you incomparable boy,

I have loved you in vain’

Returned from her lips with sorrow doubled:

‘I have loved you in vain.’

And after his last ‘Farewell’

Came her last ‘Farewell.’   

Summary:

Narcissus bids farewell to his reflection, acknowledging the futility of his love. Echo echoes his words, her own farewell carrying the weight of her unrequited love and her shared fate with Narcissus.   

Analysis:

Narcissus's farewell to his reflection represents a final recognition of the truth and an acceptance of his fate. Echo's repetition of his words adds a layer of poignancy, highlighting the shared nature of their suffering and the enduring power of unfulfilled love.   

நார்சிஸஸ் தனது பிரதிபலிப்பிற்கு விடைபெறுகிறார், அவரது காதலின் பயனற்ற தன்மையை ஒப்புக்கொள்கிறார். எதிரொலி அவருடைய வார்த்தைகளை எதிரொலிக்கிறது, அவளுடைய சொந்த விடைபெறுதல் அவளுடைய பதிலளிக்கப்படாத காதலின் எடையையும் நார்சிஸஸுடனான அவளுடைய பகிரப்பட்ட தலைவிதியையும் சுமக்கிறது.

Stanza 55: Narcissus's Death

Poetic Lines:

He pillowed his head on the grass.

So finally death

Closed the eyes that had loved themselves too much.   

Summary:

Narcissus dies, his death a consequence of his self-absorption and unfulfilled desire. The closing of his eyes symbolizes the end of his delusion and his separation from the reflection that consumed him.   

Analysis:

Narcissus's death marks the culmination of his tragic fate. His inability to recognize himself and form genuine connections leads to his self-destruction. The closing of his eyes represents the end of his illusion and his separation from the reflection that captivated him. 

  நார்சிஸஸ் இறந்துவிடுகிறார், அவரது மரணம் அவரது சுய-உறிஞ்சுதல் மற்றும் நிறைவேறாத ஆசையின் விளைவாகும். அவரது கண்களை மூடுவது அவரது மாயையின் முடிவையும், அவரை விழுங்கிய பிரதிபலிப்பிலிருந்து அவரது பிரிவினையையும் குறிக்கிறது.

Stanza 56: Narcissus in the Underworld

Poetic Lines:

When he entered the Land of the Dead

Narcissus could not resist it –

He ran straight to the banks of the Styx

And gazed down at the smear of his shadow

Trembling on the fearful current.   

Summary:

Even in the afterlife, Narcissus remains fixated on his own image, seeking out his reflection in the river Styx. His continued self-absorption highlights the enduring power of his obsession.   

Analysis:

Narcissus's continued pursuit of his reflection in the underworld emphasizes the deep-seated nature of his self-infatuation. Even death has not freed him from his obsession, suggesting that his self-love has become an intrinsic part of his identity.   

பாதாள உலகத்திலும் கூட, நார்சிஸஸ் தனது சொந்த படத்தில் நிலைத்திருக்கிறார், ஸ்டைக்ஸ் நதியில் தனது பிரதிபலிப்பைத் தேடுகிறார். அவரது தொடர்ச்சியான சுய-உறிஞ்சுதல் அவரது வெறித்தனத்தின் நீடித்த சக்தியை எடுத்துக்காட்டுகிறது.

Stanza 57: Mourning and Remembrance

Poetic Lines:

His sisters, the nymphs of the fountains,

Cropped their hair and mourned him

In a lamenting song – and far off,

Wandering heartbroken among the hills

Echo sang the refrain.   

Summary:

Narcissus's sisters mourn his death, their lament echoing through the natural world. Echo, still heartbroken, joins in their mourning, her voice a constant reminder of their shared fate.   

Analysis:

The nymphs' mourning and Echo's participation in their lament create a sense of collective grief and remembrance. Their voices, echoing through the hills, symbolize the enduring impact of Narcissus's story and the lasting consequences of his self-absorption.   

நார்சிஸஸின் சகோதரிகள் அவருடைய மரணத்திற்காக துக்கப்படுகிறார்கள், அவர்களின் புலம்பல் இயற்கை உலகம் முழுவதும் எதிரொலிக்கிறது. எதிரொலி, இன்னும் இதயம் நொறுங்கி, அவர்களின் துக்கத்தில் சேர்கிறது, அவளுடைய குரல் அவர்களின் பகிரப்பட்ட தலைவிதியின் நிலையான நினைவூட்டலாகும்.

Stanza 58: The Transformation

Poetic Lines:

When men came with timber

To build a pyre, and with crackling torches

For the solemnity

That would reduce Narcissus

To a handful of dust in an urn –

No corpse could be found.   

Summary:

When people come to cremate Narcissus's body, they find that it has disappeared. This disappearance foreshadows his transformation into a flower.   

Analysis:

The disappearance of Narcissus's body marks a final transformation, symbolizing his transcendence of his human form and his integration into the natural world. This transformation serves as a reminder of the cyclical nature of life and death and the enduring power of nature.  

 மக்கள் நார்சிஸஸின் உடலை எரிக்க வரும்போது, அது மறைந்துவிட்டதைக் காண்கிறார்கள். இந்த மறைவு ஒரு பூவாக அவரது உருமாற்றத்தை முன்னறிவிக்கிறது.

Stanza 59: The Narcissus Flower

Poetic Lines:

But there, in the pressed grass where he had perished,

A tall flower stood unbroken –

Bowed, a ruff of white petals

Round a dainty bugle centre

Yellow as egg yolk.   

Summary:

In the place where Narcissus died, a beautiful flower has bloomed. This flower, named after Narcissus, symbolizes the enduring legacy of his story and the transformation of self-love into a thing of beauty.   

Analysis:

The emergence of the narcissus flower represents a final act of redemption and transformation. Narcissus's self-love, which led to his destruction, is now embodied in a beautiful and delicate flower. This transformation suggests that even the most destructive forces can be transformed into something positive and enduring.   

நார்சிஸஸ் இறந்த இடத்தில், ஒரு அழகான பூ பூத்திருக்கிறது. நார்சிஸஸின் பெயரால் அழைக்கப்படும் இந்த பூ, அவரது கதையின் நீடித்த மரபையும், சுய காதலை அழகாக மாற்றுவதையும் குறிக்கிறது.

Stanza 60: The Legacy of the Myth

Poetic Lines:

Yes, it was this quiet woodland flower

Trumpeted the fame of Tiresias

Throughout Achaia.   

Summary:

The narcissus flower serves as a reminder of Tiresias's prophecy and the tragic story of Narcissus. The flower's enduring presence symbolizes the lasting impact of the myth and its continued relevance throughout time.   

Analysis:

This final stanza emphasizes the enduring legacy of the myth of Narcissus and Echo. The narcissus flower, a symbol of both beauty and self-absorption, serves as a constant reminder of the importance of self-knowledge and the dangers of unrequited love. The flower's presence throughout Achaia suggests that the story's message has resonated across time and continues to hold meaning for those who encounter it.

நார்சிஸஸ் மற்றும் எதிரொலியின் கட்டுக்கதையின் நீடித்த மரபை இந்த இறுதி சரணம் வலியுறுத்துகிறது. அழகு மற்றும் சுய-உறிஞ்சுதல் இரண்டின் அடையாளமாக, நார்சிஸஸ் பூ, சுய அறிவின் முக்கியத்துவம் மற்றும் பதிலளிக்கப்படாத காதலின் ஆபத்துகளை தொடர்ந்து நினைவூட்டுகிறது.

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