Page:History of Bengali Language and Literature.djvu/337

 IV.] BENGALI LANGUAGE & LITERATURE. 301 house.” ‘You call your husband a stranger to me ?”- Said Chandi, “but he is devoted to me !”’ ‘and indeed it was true that Kalaketu the hunter was a worshipper of Chandi. At these words of the goddess, Phullara’s voice became choked with tears ; but without manifesting any external sign of her emotion, she quoted from the Castras_ to show the grave indiscretion of staying in a strange house without permission. ‘ Think of Sita’’ she said “ how faultless she was, yet she was. put to shame, because she had lived in Ravana’s house for a time; Renuka, the wife of Bhrigu, was behead- ed because her husband suspected her. If your co-wife quarrels with you, you can surely give tit for tat. Why should you leave your husband’s roof for that ?” ‘“T understand my own affairs,” said Chandi, “it Phullara is not for you to instruct me in my duty.” At this, ata a feeling of great unrest overtook Phullara, and she Poverty. tried by a description of her abject poverty to work upon her guest’s mind, that she might give up the idea of staying with them. She said, “ only look, lady, at my poor hut, the roof made of palm leaves, supported on a single post made of ricinus tree! It breaks every year in the summer-storms. ডি তি In the month of Vaicakha, the fierce sun glares over head and its rays are like living fire. There is no shade to be found under the trees, my feet burn on the hot sands, as I go to the market to sell the meat. My torn rags are so scanty that I can scarcely draw them up to cover my head. If I leave my চি in the market for amoment, the kites fall upon it, and empty it immediately, Through the days of ®