A-.MATOKY POEMS. 255 



like the Barava fire under the waves : how else couldst thou, 

 who wast consumed even to ashes, be still the inflamer of 

 our souls 1 By you and by the moon, though each of you 

 seems worthy of confidence, we lovers are cruelly deceived. 

 They who love as I do, ascribe flowery shafts to thee, and 

 cool beams to the moon, with equal impropriety ; for the 

 moon sheds fire on them with her dewy rays, and thou 

 pointest with sharp diamonds those arrows which seem to 

 be barbed with blossoms. Yet this god, who bears a fish 

 on his banners, and who wounds me to the soul, will give 

 me real delight if he destroy me with the aid of my beloved, 

 whose eyes are large and beautiful as those of a roe." 



We may say the same of the following effusion commu- 

 nicated by Mr. Ward : — 



" This beautiful nymph is nothing less than an archer ; 

 her eyebrows form the bow, the two extremities of her eyes 

 the bowstring, and her eyes the arrow. Whom does she 

 seek to wound ? My deer-formed heart." 



On the other hand, some of the descriptive passages, 

 especially those which relate to celestial objects, possess a 

 lofty, solemn, and pleasing character. In another part of 

 Sacontala, the prince, descending from an excursion to 

 heaven, thus interrogates his guide : — 



" Say, Matali, what mountain is that which, like an eve- 

 ning cloud, pours exhilarating streams, and forms a golden 

 zone between the western and eastern seas ? 



" Mat. That, O king ! is the mountain of Gandharvas, 

 named Hemacuts ; the universe contains not a more excel- 

 lent place for the successful devotion of the pious. There 

 Casyapa, father of the immortals, ruler of men, son of Ma- 

 richi, who sprang from the self-existent, resides with his 

 consort Aditi, blessed in holy retirement. 



" Dushmanta. May I approach the divine pair, and do 

 them complete homage 1 



"Mat. By all means — 



" We now enter the sanctuaiy of him who rules the 

 world, and the groves which are watered by streams from 

 celestial sources. 



" Duskm. This asylum is more delightful than paradise 

 itself : I could fancy myself bathing in a pool of nectar. 



" Mat. Behold the retreat of the" truly pious ! 



" Dushm. I seo with equal amazement both the pious 



