Page:Ancient Ballads and Legends of Hindustan.djvu/130

94 Osiers and willows on the edge
 * And purple buds and red,

Leant down,—and 'mid the pale green sedge
 * The lotus raised its head.

And softly, softly, hour by hour
 * Light faded, and a veil

Fell over tree, and wave, and flower,
 * On came the twilight pale.

Deeper and deeper grew the shades,
 * Stars glimmered in the sky,

The nightingale along the glades
 * Raised her preluding cry.

What is that momentary flash?
 * A gleam of silver scales

Reveals the Mahseer;—then a splash,
 * And calm again prevails.

As darkness settled like a pall
 * The eye would pierce in vain,

The fireflies gemmed the bushes all,
 * Like fiery drops of rain.