2

[82.94. S.

See, Vasantasena, see!

The clouds hang drooping to the mountain peaks,
Like a maiden's heart, that distant lover seeks:
The peacocks startle, when the thunder booms,
And fan the heaven with all their jeweled plumes. 13

And again:

Mud-stained, and pelted by the streaming rain,
To drink the falling drops the frogs are fain;
Full-throated peacocks love's shrill passion show,
And nipa flowers like brilliant candles glow;
Unfaithful clouds obscure the hostage moon,
Like knaves, unworthy of so dear a boon;
Like some poor maid of better breeding bare,
The impatient lightning rests not anywhere. 14

_Vasantasena._[65] Sir, what you say is most true. For

The night, an angry rival, bars my way;
Her thunders fain would check and hinder me:
"Fond fool! with him I love thou shalt not stay,
'T is I, 't is I, he loves," she seems to say,
"Nor from my swelling bosom shall he flee." 15

_Courtier._ Yes, yes. That is right. Scold the night.

_Vasantasena._ And yet, sir, why scold one who is so ignorant of
woman's nature! For you must remember:

The clouds may rain, may thunder ne'er so bold,
May flash the lightning from the sky above;
That woman little recks of heat or cold,
Who journeys to her love. 16

_Courtier._ But see, Vasantasena! Another cloud,

Sped by the fickle fury of the air--
A flood of arrows in his rushing streams,
His drum, the roaring thunder's mighty blare,
His banner, living lightning's awful gleams--

Rages within the sky, and shows him bold
'Mid beams that to the moon allegiance owe,
Like a hero-king within the hostile hold
Of his unwarlike foe. 17

P. 142.9]

_Vasantasena._ True, true. And more than this:

As dark as elephants, these clouds alone
Fall like a cruel dart--
With streaks of lightning and with white birds strewn--
To wound my wretched heart.
But, oh, why should the heron, bird of doom,
With that perfidious sound[66]
Of "Rain! Rain! Rain!"--grim summons to the tomb
For her who spends her lonely hours in gloom--
Strew salt upon the wound? 18

_Courtier._ Very true, Vasantasena. And yet again:

It seems as if the sky would take the guis