4 
The Bengali Poem, Candi. 
Par brighter than the elephant’s gems gleam with a lightning flash thy teeth, 
While red like bimbas * shine thy lips, a nose-ring gem thy nose beneath. 
The gauze -like dress that veils thee round and adds a charm to every limb; 
The pearl-like shells upon thy hands,—all makes my mind with wonder dim! 
Say, art thou TTrvaqi come down, or IJma dressed in all her sheen, 
Indranif or Tilottama,J or say what other heavenly queen? 
I cannot fathom in my thought why you have left your husband so ? 
Oh I entreat you, tell me true, what spell has brought you down thus low ? 
Was it some burst of jealous rage ? But if meanwhile of grief he dies, 
Who is to tend his dying hours, as at the ghat he languid lies? 
Was it some crabbed mother-in-law or husband’s sister’s scolding tongue ? 
I will go with you to your home and try my best to right the wrong.” 
“How many questions more?” she said; “here in your house I’m come 
to stop; 
Your husband’s griefs have pierced my heart, I ’ll bring him wealth beyond 
his hope. 
But would you know the ills I bear? My husband has a favourite wife,§ 
Ganga her name, a crown to him; but all the house she fills with strife. 
All day she storms, and he the while eats poison at his wild carouse; 
What wonder that I banish shame and hurry headlong from the house? 
Alas that I was ever born, a helpless woman doomed to be, 
Myself despised, my rival loved ! have I not cause for jealousy ? 
My cruel father knew full well the hated rival I should find, 
And yet he gave his daughter up, no faintest scruple moved his mind. 
Rich is my lord, and seven co-wives live with him in what peace they may, 
Each hating each, their railing tongues are never silent all the day. 
He eats datura ** till his brains are addled, and he wanders on 
Drowsily mooning in a dream, but glad to find himself alone. 
With ashes is his body spread, with bones benecklaced round his throat; 
Thank heaven, he wears a tiger’s skin which serves alike for shirt and coat. 
Snakes form his wreaths, he beats his drum, and laughs all worldly joys to 
scorn; 
The god of love ne’er ventures near, he knows him for his foe long-sworn. 
* The fruit of Momordica monadelpha. 
t Indra’s wife. 
X A celebrated Apsaras, or nymph. 
§ In this description of her husband there is a series of veiled allusions to Civa as the 
religious mendicant of the Tantras. 
** The thorn-apple (Datura stramonium). 
