Page:Stars of the Desert.djvu/158



Rani, decked in silk and pearls, With Jasmin flowers among her curls, Said, while the stars grew bright above, "Draw near, O girls, and speak of love!"

"Ah, how shall I tell thee of love, O Queen, For mine was knotted with hate; With a dancing-girl he had faithless been And rendered me desolate.

"He lay in the Tamarind shade at rest, Where Hunuman's Temple is, And a little knife crept out of my breast To bury itself in his!"

"If Fate should say, 'Thy course is run,' It would not make me sad; All that I wished to do is done, All that I would have, had. My Lord has left his life with me, And mine divinely glad!

146