30

WAISHINAVA POETS OF BENG AL.

FEBRUARY, 1873.]

Herata nã herata sahachari májh.

As though the sun and moon rose together driv

Šuna, suna, Mādhab, tohári dohäi

ing away the darkness.

Bara aparſip aju pekhalu Rāī; Mukharuchi manohar, adhara surang,

Cho. Ah lady! the moonlight has increased : With what labour how many charms fate has

Phutala bándhuli kamalaka sang.

given to thee!

Lochana janu thira bhringa akār

Thy budding breast thou coverest with thy robe, showing it a very little;

Madhu mätala kiye urai má pár.

Bhāńaka bhai gima thori janu. Kājare sājala Madan dhanu Bhaiyaye Bidyapati dautik bachane Bikasala anga nä jāyat dharame.—I. iv. 5. (80.) Translation.

Sporting, (or) not sporting, on seeing folk (she feels) shame; Seeing, (or) not seeing, (she remains) among

With how much soever labour thou hidest it, the snowy mountain cannot be hid.

Looking sidelong with glancing eye, adorned with collyrium, Like a lotus shaken by the wind, tilted by the weight of the bees.

Quoth Bidyāpati—Listen, maiden, know that such as is all this,

Rai Sib Singh and Rüpmarāyan, (such is)

her companions.

Lachhima Debi in truth.

Hear, hear, Madhab, the cry for help to thee! In ill guise have I seen Räi to-day;

The charming brilliance of her face, her tinted lip (Were as though) the bºndhuli flowered beside -

the lotus.

(Her) eye like a fixed bee in shape, (Which) drunk with honey flies not away. The slight curve of her eyebrows (is) as though Love had adorned his bow with lamp-black. Quoth Bidyāpati—A messenger's word indeed The budding limbs are not being embraced.

The next example is historically interesting as containing the names of the master's patrons. Legend says that Lachhima Debi was to Bidyā

pati what Beatrice was to Dante, and Laura to Petrarch ; and it is hinted that she was some

thing more; but this latter insinuation seems to be contradicted by his attachment to the hus band, Sib Singh, so I prefer not to believe it.

V.

(Description of Spring.) Åola ritupati rāja Basant, Dhāola alikulamādhabi panth ; Dinakara kiraiya bhel paugand ; Kesara kusuma dharala hema dand, Nripa asana naba pithala pāt; Kānchana kusuma chhatra dharu mäth ; Mauli rasăla mukuta bhel tăy, Samukhahi kokila pañchama gåy.

Sikhikula nächat alikula jantr, An dwijakula paphu ášish mantr. Chandratap ure kusuma parāg, Malaya paban saha bhel anurag. Kunda billi taru dharala nišān, Patala tula asoka dalabán, Kinsuka labangalatá eka sang,

Sainya säjala madhu makhyik kul, Sisiraka sabahun karala nirmāl.

IV. Sundara badane sindúra bindu sāāala chikura

bhār; Janu rabišaši sangahi uyala pichhe kari andhiyār -

Rāmā he adhik chandrima bhel :

Kata nã jatane kata adabhūta bihi bahi tore del. Uraja ankura chire jhāpāyasi thor thor darśāy; Kata mä jatane kata ná gopasi hime giri na lukāy. Chanchala lochane bańka nehārini afjana šobha na täy,

Janu in dibara pabane pelila ali bhare ultây. Bhana Bidyāpati Sunaha jubati e sab e riipa jān, Rây Sib Singh, Rūpanarāyana, Lachhimá Debi paramān-III. xxiv. 7. (1352.) Translation.

On (her) fair face the vermilion spot, black (her) weight of hair, -

Udhārala sarasija pāola prán, Nija nabadale kara àsana dān. Naba Brindåbana rājye bihār; Bidyāpati kaha samayaka sår.—III. xxvi. 7. (1450.) Translation.

The lord of the seasons has come, King

Spring ; the bees hasten towards the Madhavi : the rays of the sun have reached their youthful prime: the kesara flower has set up its golden sceptre, a king's throne is the fresh couch of its leaves ; the kūnchan flower holds the um

brella over his head, its fragrant garland is a crown to him ; in front (of him) the koil sings its sweetest note.

The tribe of peacocks dances

(like) a swarm of bees, (like) another crowd of