Page:Katha sarit sagara, vol2.djvu/363

 garden, she saw him at the foot of a tree. He was rolling about, burning with the fire of love, on a bed composed of lotus-leaves moistened with sandal-wood juice, and a confidential friend of his was trying to give him relief by fanning him with a plantain-leaf. She said to herself, " Is it possible that he has been reduced to this stage of love's malady by separation from her"? So she remained there in concealment, to find out the truth about it.

In the meanwhile that friend of Kamalákara's said to him, " Cast your eye, my friend, for a moment round this delightful garden, and cheer up your heart. Do not give way to despondency." When the young Bráhman heard this, he answered his friend, " My friend, my heart has been taken from me by Anangamanjarí the merchant's daughter, and my breast left empty; so how can I cheer up my heart. Moreover Love, finding me robbed of my heart, has made me a quiver for his arrows; so enable me to get hold of that girl, who stole it."

When the young Bráhman said that, Málatiká's doubts were removed, and she was delighted, and showed herself, and went up to him, and said, " Happy man, Anangamanjarí has sent me to you, and I hereby give you her message, the meaning of which is clear, ' What sort of conduct is this for a virtuous man, to enter a fair one's bosom by force, and after stealing away her heart, to go off without showing himself.' It is strange too that though you have stolen the lady's heart, she now wishes to surrender to you herself and her life. For day and night she furnaces forth from her hot sighs, which appear like smoke rising from the fire of love in her burning heart. And her tear-drops, black with collyrium, fall frequently, looking like bees attracted by the fragrance of her lotus-like face. So if you like I will say what will be for the good of both of you."

When Malatiká said this, Kamalákara answered her, " My good lady this speech of yours, though it comforts me by shewing that my beloved loves me, terrifies me, as it tells that the fair one is in a state of unhappiness. So you are our only refuge in this matter; do as you think best." When Kamalákara said this, Málatiká answered, " I will to-night bring" Anangamanjarí secretly into the garden belonging to her house, and you must take care to be outside. Then I will manage by some device of mine to let you in, and so you will be able to see one another in accordance with your wishes." When Málatiká had by these words delighted the young Bráhman, she went away, having accomplished her object, and delighted Anangamanjarí also.

Then the sun, in love with the twilight, departed somewhere or other together with the day, and the heaven adorned itself, placing the moon on its western quarter, like a patch on the forehead. And the pure white kumuda-cluster laughed joyously with the cheerful faces of its opened