32 
The Bengali Poem , Oandi. 
I have no mistress now but only you, 
I am all yours—you know my words are true. 
I ’ll bear you witness what your griefs have been, 
I’ve vexed my inmost heart for what I’ve seen. 
Show him the rags and switch; disprove her lies, 
And make her presence hateful to his eyes,. 
Multiply all her misdeeds as you please ; 
Paint heart ne’er brought a rival to one’s knees.” 
Poor Khullana smiled to hear such comforting, 
And gave the girl in gratitude a ring; 
Then Duya rose and brought the jewel-case, 
And straight unlocked its stores before her face, 
While she adorned her mistress with the best, 
And with art’s utmost skill her person dressed, 
Bings, gold, pearls, jewels—what can art do more? 
"When lo ! they hear the merchant at the door! 
He bids farewell to his attendant train, 
And calls for his wife to greet him home again. 
Khullana comes at once her lord to meet, 
And pours a stream of oil before his feet; 
But she was as a stranger to his eye, 
Some nymph, perhaps, come down from Indra’s sky; 
His compliments but pained her as she heard, 
And with head bowed she answered ne’er a word. 
Covering her face she turned within at last, 
But Duya heard behind the door what passed, 
And eager to be friends with both she flew 
To tell th’ expectant co-wife all she knew. 
“ Oh have you heard, my lady, what has come? 
My lord, thank heaven ! has safely reached his home, 
And who but Khullana, forward minx though prim, 
Has rushed to be the first to welcome him! 
She with her youth, best clothes, and fineries,— 
What an unfair advantage’t was to seize! 
She never asked your leave, but ran to th’ gate, 
Eager to be the first at any rate. 
Had we but had a wiser lord, alack! 
He would have scorned her tricks and thrust her back.” 
