INTRODUCTION. - 53 else she fixes her gaze on the cloud, and is as motionless as a woman in a picture. Rādhā—Come now ye maids! He has come without our seeking. Providence assuredly has brought him so near us. Oh! let us all go to him. He, for whom we are lamenting in this wilderness, has out of his great love himself come to meet us. Oh! what good hap that he has again visited the Vrindå-groves | The night of our sorrow is past and the auspicious morning of joy has dawned. He has come home back—a victor. We must give him fitting welcome. Jars must be filled with water and placed before him. Red powder must be spread, and the earth should be decorated with the Alipana paintings. But see, there is no time to lose. Our rounded breasts will serve as the jars, the pearl-necklace will be like the paintings, and for red powder our Kumkuma will proclaim the welcome. In our very heart of hearts shall we give him his royal seat, and we shall wash his lotus-feet with our tears, and wipe them again with our flowing tresses. Look 1 how like the collyrium anjana or like a rain-cloud with darkish tint he looks: A beautiful pearl necklace hangs on his breast! Oh what a likeness it bears to the rows of cranes that fly in the bosom of distant clouds! His crown of peacockfeathers resembles the rain-bow, and his yellow garments dazzle the eyes like the lightning's flash. With her gaze still fired on the cloud. O come thou, soul of our soul. Hast thou remembered us, loved one, after all this weary time. Assuredly it is strange that with our great sufferings we are still alive. Our life hangs but on the hope of seeing you once more. The cloud does not move. Why, O loved one, why dost thou stand thus 2 Come, if only for a moment, to this pleasant bower. If thou comest here, thou wilt thyself behold our great sufferings. Wert thou well all this while ” It is good that thou hast come now. For, if thou hadst come a little later we should not hawe met. My life would have gOne out. Many a woman like myself yearns to offer her heart
