In Hindu Literature 237 



That circles round the flower whose nectared cup 

 Teems with the dew of morning, I must pause 

 Ere eagerly I taste the proffered sweetness." 



The king warns the bee that hovers about the h'ps of 

 Sakoontala's picture : — 



" Dost thou presume to disobey ? Now hear me — 

 An thou but touch the lips of my beloved, 

 Sweet as the opening blossom, whence I quaffed 

 In happier days love's nectar, I will place thee 

 Within the hollow of yon lotus cup, 

 And there imprison thee for thy presumption." 



Kalidasa's " The Birth of the War God," is also rich in 

 exquisite love songs, and through the whole is intertwined 

 the song and the flight of the bee. 



The poet describes the love that Uma's father bears to 

 her. She was to him what the mango blossom was to the 

 bee. He loved her above all things, just as — 



" When spring-tide bids a thousand flowerets bloom, 

 Loading the breezes with their rich perfume. 

 Though here and there the wandering bee may rest, 

 He loves his own — his darling mango — best." 



Uma is destined to become the bride of Siva, who has 

 become a hermit, and all the forces of Kama, the god of 

 love, his humming bees, his flowery shafts, his companion 

 and helper Spring, are brought to bear upon the stern 

 deity. In the hermit's grove. Spring, wondrous to behold, 

 appears, to turn the hermit from his thoughts on things 

 above. 



" There grew Love's arrow, his dear mango spray, 

 Winged with young leaves to speed its airy way, 

 And at the call of Spring the wild bees came, 

 Grouping the syllables of Kama's name." 



Sweet wanton Spring : — 



