nd _shala_, and _nyagrodha_, and
bamboo. But every kind of tree was multiplied many times, and each was
a very giant, and a marvel of its kind. And the champaks and the
_shalas_ were loaded with their blossoms that filled the air with
heavy fragrance, and glimmered in the dusk: and the bamboos stood in
clumps, like pillars, each as thick as my own body, with their tall
plumes waving very gently to and fro like _chowris_ over my head; and
the trunks and the roots of the _nyagrodhas_[23] writhed and twisted
round me like serpents' coils and women's limbs, pointing at me as it
were with weird wooden arms, till I felt as if I were walking in some
strange dream forest whose Yakshas and Yakshinis were watching me and
mocking me as I went along. And suddenly, I looked, and far away
through the trees I saw the moon nearly full rising slowly like a
great red nocturnal sun, on the edge of the pallid eastern sky, as if
it had come to watch me too, before the sun was down. And a feeling
that was almost fear began to creep into my soul, as I moved on
slowly, not knowing where I was. And all at once, I came out suddenly
upon a terrace and stood still. For just below me was a lake, whose
water was black, and absolutely still, and it was filled with
innumerable lotuses, that stood straight up out of the mirror that
they floated in, all turned red by the rays of the setting sun, which
was just about to disappear, taking as it were a last fond look at
them, as it stood, blood-red, on the rim of the world.

And then, like a flash of lightning, recollection rushed into my soul.
And my heart gave a bound, as if it wanted to leap from my body. And I
exclaimed, with agitation: Ha! Why, it is the very lake, and these are
the very lotuses, and the very sun that I saw in my dream! And even
as I spoke, I heard behind me the low sweet voice of a woman, saying
slowly: I fear that I have kept thee waiting for a long time: and
canst thou forgive me?

And instantly I cried out: The words! the words! And I turned sharp
round, shaking like a leaf, with a heart that beat in my body like a
drum. Lo! there, just before me, stood the lady of my dream. And
exactly as before, her dark blue garments shone like copper in the red
sun's rays, and the star stood trembling in her high dark hair. And
exactly as before, she stood up, absolutely straight, as if on purpose
to throw into strong relief the undulating curves of her lovely form,
and yet she differed from