Stories from Tagore
=filigree.= From two Latin words, "filum," a thread, and "granum," a
grain.
=otto-of-roses.= A corruption of attar. The word is originally Arabic
and Persian.
=turban.= This word has now taken its place in most of the European
languages. It has come to Europe from the Turkish "tulbend" and
the Persian "dulband."
=tobacco.= This word came originally from Central America. It was
brought to Europe by the Spaniards, who pronounced it "tabaco." It
has now travelled all round the world, and has gained a place in
all the Indian vernaculars as well as in the Further East.
=boon.= The Old English word "ben" meant a prayer, and this was the
original meaning of "boon." But a new word appeared in English,
viz. the adjective "boon" from the French "bon," meaning "good."
(Compare _boon companion_). This influenced the earlier word,
which thus gained its present meaning of a "blessing" or "gift."
=smoulder.= "Smolder" is an Old English word meaning "smoke." Cognate
words in English are _smother_ and _small_, which come from the
same root.
=gingerly.= The origin of this word is very doubtful. Some connect it
with "ging" or "gang," meaning "to go." Others with "gent-"
meaning "gentle" or "graceful." The word has no relation to
"ginger" which is an Eastern word coming originally from the
Sanskrit _ASec.raga-vera_ and the Hindustani _zunjubil_.
=fantastic.= From the Greek "phainA," to manifest. Compare _emphasis_,
_emphatic_, _fantasy_, _fancy_, _phenomenon_.
NOTES
NOTES
I.--THE CABULIWALLAH
"The Cabuliwallah" is one of the most famous of the Poet's "Short
Stories." It has been often translated. The present translation is by
the late Sister Nivedita, and her simple, vivid style should be noticed
by the Indian student reader. It is a good example of modern English,
with its short sentences, its careful choice of words, and its luminous
clearness of meaning.
=Cabuliwallah.=] A man from Cabul or Kabul, the capital of
Afghanistan.
=embarked.=] Like a ship putting out to sea on a new voyage.
=Bhola.=] Mini's attendant.
=Protap Singh.=] Rabindranath Tagore pictures himself as engaged in
writing a novel, full of wild adventures. These names are made up
to suit the story.
=so precarious.=] The writer amusingly imagines the hero and heroine
actually swinging by the rope until he can get back to his desk
and finish writing about how they escaped.
=Abdurrahman.=] The Amir of Kabul.
=Frontier policy.=] The question about guarding the North-West of
India against invasion.
=without demur.=] Without making any objection, or asking for more
money.
=judicious bribery.=] He gave her little presents, _judging_ well what
she would like best.
=new fangled.=] The parents had not talked about such things, as
old-fashioned people would have certainly done.
=euphemism.=] This means, in Greek, "fair speech." Here it means a
pleasant word used instead of the unpleasant word "jail."
=kings went forth.=] During the hot weather the kings of ancient India
used to stay at home: they would begin to fight again at the
beginning of the cold weather.
=my heart would go out.=] That is to say, he would long to see such
places.
=fall to weaving.=] This is an English idiom, like "set to": it means
to begin.
=conjure themselves.=] Just as the conjurer makes all kinds of things
appear before the eyes.
=vegetable existence.=] Vegetables are rooted to the ground. So
Rabindranath is rooted to his desk and cannot make long journeys.
=As it was indefinite.=] Because there was no actual reason for it.
Indefinite here means vague.
=forbid the man the house.=] This is a brief way of saying forbid the
man to enter the house.
=bebagged.=] This word is made up for the occasion, and means "laden
with bags." Compare the words bedewed, besmeared.
=just where.=] The word "just" has become very commonly used in modern
English. It means "exactly," "merely" or "at the very moment."
Compare "He had just gone out." "It was just a joke."
=Scarcely on speaking terms.=] Rabindranath Tagore is here making a
joke; "not to be on speaking terms" means usually "to be
displeased with." Mini had become so eager to talk with her girl
friends that she had almost neglected her father.
=Durga.=] The Durga Festival in Bengal is supposed to represent the
time when Parvati, or Durga, left her father's home in the
Himalayas, called Kailas, and went to live with her husband,
Siva.
=Bhairavi.=] One of the musical tunes which denotes separation.
=chandeliers.=] The glass ornamental hangings on which candles were
lighted in great houses at weddings.
=better-omened.=] It was not considered a good omen, or good fortune,
to meet a criminal on a wedding day.
=dispersed.=] Used up.
=Parbati.=] Another allusion to the Goddess Durga and her home in the
Himalayas.
=apparition.=] This word comes from the same root as the word to
"appear." It means a sudden or strange sight. It often means a
ghost. Mini had so changed that when she appeared in her wedding
dress she startled him, as if he had seen a ghost.
=make friends with her anew.=] His own daughter would not know him at
first.
=Saw before him the barren mountains.=] His memory was so strong that
it made him forget the crowded Calcutta street and think of his
home in the mountains.
II.--THE HOME-COMING
=every one seconded the proposal.=] All were so eagerly in favour
that they wanted to speak at once in support of it.
=regal dignity.=] His position as a king of the other boys.
=fertile brain.=] Full of inventions and plans.
=manoeuvre.=] A French word meaning a plan of battle.
=point of honour.=] He would feel himself disgraced if he gave way.
=Mother Earth.=] Earth is here pictured as a person. There is a
well-known story of a giant who gained fresh power every time his
body touched the earth, which was his Mother.
=Furies.=] These were supposed to be certain demons, who pursued
guilty men with loud cries.
=the servant was master.=] Notice the play of words here. The
"servant" and "master" change places.
=critical juncture.=] At this exact moment when things were so
dangerous.
=Dada.=] The usual Bengal word for "Brother."
=no love was lost.=] This is a mild way of saying that they disliked
one another.
=on pins and needles.=] Exceedingly restless; like some one standing
on sharp points.
=in perpetuity.=] The phrase is a mock legal one, meaning "for all
time."
=by no means pleased.=] She was very displeased, because she had
already children of her own. In English a phrase is often put in a
negative way to imply a very strong positive statement. Thus "by
no means happy" may mean "very unhappy."
=committing such an indiscretion.=] Doing such an unwise thing.
=indecent haste.=] A mock humorous expression, meaning "very quickly."
=craves for recognition.=] Wishes to be noticed and loved.
=physical love.=] Just as a young animal clings to its mother for
protection.
=animal instinct.=] The phrase repeats in another form what was said
before, in the words "a kind of physical love."
=pursed her lips.=] Drew her lips tight like the mouth of a purse
which is tightened by pulling the string.
=as if expecting some one.=] He was looking for his mother.
=very critical.=] Very dangerous. The danger point of the illness
might be reached at any moment and death might come.
=By the mark.=] When a shallow place comes at sea, or on a great
river, one of the sailors throws a piece of lead, with a string
tied to it, into the water, and then looks at the _mark_ on the
string. He calls out that the depth is "three" or "four" fathoms
according to the mark.
=plumb-line.=] The line with a lead weight.
=plumbing.=] To plumb is to get to the bottom of a piece of water.
Here Phatik is pictured as himself going deeper and deeper into
the sea of death, which none can fathom.
=the holidays.=] The Bengali word for "holiday" means also "release."
It is as though he were saying, "My release has come." This cannot
be represented in the English.
III.--ONCE THERE WAS A KING
In this story Rabindranath Tagore begins with some amusing sentences
about the dull, matter of fact character of modern scientific people,
who cannot enjoy a fairy story without asking "Is it true?" The Poet
implies that there are deeper truths than modern science has yet
discovered. The ending of the present story will show this more clearly.
=sovereign truth.=] There is a play upon the word "sovereign" which
can mean "kingly" and also "supreme."
=exacting.=] There is further play here with the words "exact" and
"exacting." "Exact" means precise and "exacting" means making
others precise.
=legendary haze.=] The ancient legends are very obscure, just like an
object seen through a mist.
=knowledge.=] Mere book knowledge,--knowledge of outside things.
=truth.=] Inner truth such as comes from the heart of man and cannot
be reasoned or disputed.
=half past seven.=] The time when his tutor was due.
=no other need.=] As if God would continue the rain merely to keep his
tutor away!
=If not.=] Though it might not have been caused by his prayers, still
for some reason the rain did continue.
=nor did my teacher.=] Supply the words "give up."
=punishment to fit the crime.=] An amusing reference to the doctrine
of _karma_, which states that each deed will have its due reward
or punishment.
=as me.=] Strictly speaking it should be "I" not "me" but he is
writing not too strictly.
=I hope no child.=] The author here amusingly pretends that the
child's way of getting out of his lessons was too shocking for
young boys in the junior school to read about.
=I will marry my daughter to him.=] The verb to "marry" in English can
be used in two senses:--
(1) To wed some one: to take in marriage.
(2) To get some one wedded: to give in marriage.
The later sense is used here.
=in the dawn of some indefinite time.=] In some past existence long
ago.
=If my grandmother were an author.=] Here Rabindranath returns to his
mocking humour. A modern author, he says, would be obliged to
explain all sorts of details in the story.
=hue and cry.=] This is a phrase used for the noise and bustle that is
made when people are searching for a thief.
=Her readers.=] Referring back to the Grandmother.
=in an underhand way.=] Under the disguise of a fairy story.
=grandmother again.=] That is, in the old conditions when people were
not too exacting about accuracy.
=luckless grandson.=] A humorous way of referring to himself. The
author had the misfortune to be born in the modern age of science.
=Seven wings.=] The word "wings" is here used, not for "wings" like
those of birds, but for the sides of a large building, projecting
out at an angle from the main building.
=But what is the use....=] The author here breaks off the story, as
though it were useless to go on any further in these modern days
when every thing has to be scientifically proved.