236 The Honey-Makers 



And in thy circling movements hover near, 



To murmur tender secrets in her ear ; 



Or, as she coyly waves her hand, to sip 



Voluptuous nectar from her lower lip ! 



While rising doubts my heart's fond hopes destroy, 



Thou dost the fulness of her charms enjoy." 



Sakoontala, reclining upon a couch of Hewers, requests 

 the king to leave her, upon which she receives the ardent 

 reply : — 



" When I have gently stolen from thy lips 

 Their yet untasted nectar, to allay 

 The raging of my thirst, e'en as the bee 

 Sips the fresh honey from the opening bud." 



An early love of the king, fearing his disaffection, is 

 heard to sing, — 



" How often hither did'st thou rove, 



Sweet bee, to kiss the mango's cheek 

 Oh ! leave not then thy early love, 

 The lily's honeyed lip to seek." 



The mango — " this tree the favorite of Love and the 

 darling of the bees " — is a favorite of the poet as well, and 

 "red mango buds " blush from nearly every page, while 

 one seldom finds the mango without finding at the same 

 time its companion and lover, the bee. The mango and 

 the lotus vie with each other in the favor of the Hindu 

 poet, and the bees linger lovingly about both of them. 



As the result of a curse, Dushyanta forgets his wife 

 Sakoontala after he has married her and when she appears 

 before him he exclaims : — 



" What charms are here revealed before mine eyes ! 

 Truly no blemish mars the symmetry 

 Of that fair form ; yet can I ne'er believe 

 She is my wedded wife ; and like a bee 



