SIO Lieut-Colonel Tod on the Religious Establishments of Mexvar. 



" the mystic bower of her beloved. His heart was agitated by her sight, 

 " as the waves of the deep are affected by the lunar orb.* From his grace- 

 " ful waist flowed a pale yellow robe, which resembled the golden dust of 

 " the water-lily scattered over its blue petals.t His locks interwoven with 

 " blossoms were like a cloud variegated by the moon-beam. Tears of 

 " transport gushed in a stream from the full eyes of Radha, and their 

 " watery glances beamed on her best beloved. Even shame, which had 

 " before taken its abode in their dark pupils, was itself ashamed,t and 

 " departed when the fawn-eyed Radha gazed on the bright face of 

 " Crishna." 



The deified Yadu is now all tenderness and affection : and the poet pro- 

 ceeds to describe Apollo's bower on the sable Yamuna, in language equally 

 impassioned with that of the first of modern bards ; as " Love's recess,'' 

 where, " he who has loved not, here would learn that lore," and like him 

 the Hindu sanctifies it as 



" Tlie ground 



" Where early Love his Psyche's zone unbound, "§ 



In the morning the blue god aids in Rauha's simple toilet. He stains 

 her eye with antimony " whicli would make the blackest bee envious," 

 places " a circle of musk on her forehead," and intertwines " a chaplet of 

 flowers and peacock's feathers in her dark tresses," replacing " the zone of 

 golden bells." 



The bard concludes as he commenced, with an eulogium on the inspira- 

 tions of his muse, which it is evident were set to music. " Whatever is 

 " delightful in the modes of music, whatever is graceful in the fine strains 

 " of poetry, whatever is exquisite in the sweet art of love, let the happy 

 " and wise team from the songs of Jydeva." 



To return from this digression. This mystic dance, the Ras-mandal, 



* This is a favourite metaphor with the bards of India, to describe the alternations of the 

 exciting causes of love : and it is yet more important as shewing that Jydeva was the philosopher 

 as well as the poet of nature, in making the action of the moon upon the tides the basis of this 

 beautiful simile. 



f It will be again necessary to call to mind the colour of Crishna, to appreciate this elegant 

 metaphor. 



^ This idea is quite new. 



§ Childe Harold, Canto III. 



