310 JOURNAL, E.A.S. (CEYLON). [VOL. II., PART II. 



How does thy feet a golden hue disclose, 

 So like the pollen of a full-blown rose ? 

 How does thy ruddy bill enchanting glow ? 

 Not fairer blossoms can the champac show ! 

 And what can match thy wing's superior hue, 

 Which wave, wide-spreading, like the lotus blue ? 

 When, beauteous as a vegetable gem, 

 Which winds have sever'd from its parent stem, 

 Thou soar'st, exultant, through the balmy air ? 

 Have not young goddesses made thee their care, 

 And fix'd thee, fluttering, in their jetty hair ? 

 And have not bees, who take their nightly rest 

 Within the water lily's fragrant breast, 

 Deceiv'd, crowd round thee in their mid career 

 In search of honey, through the fields of air ? 

 And have not Dryads, bright in charms divine, 

 Taught thee as pendents in their ears to shine ? 

 Friend of my soul ! say, hast thou e'er been prest 

 With pangs so fierce as those that wound my breast ? 

 No, happier in thy love, thy life is peace, 

 And rolling years but bring thy bliss increase ; 

 Such bliss, as searching the wide world around, 

 Save in thy presence, friend, is nowhere found. 



Literal translation. 

 0 Gracula religiosa ! in wisdom equal to that of ministers of 

 princes, and of speech sweet, and composed of excellent notes ! 

 mayest thou in the company of thy species live long ! When thou, 

 whose (two) feet are of golden hue, like unto the pollen of a full- 

 blown blossom — whose beak partially red and glistening, like unto 

 a cluster of champaka flowers — and whose wings, black and 

 delightfully wide-spread, like unto the leaves of the blue lotus ; 

 (when thou) takest thy airy flight like a flowery figure : have not 

 youthful goddesses dressed thee in their Jong jet-black (blue) 

 hair ? Have not swarms of bees, which make the lotuses their 

 habitation, approached and encircled thee? Have not the 

 goddesses of the forest made thee their ear ornaments ? Has no 



