Page:The Bengali Book of English Verse.djvu/109

Rh No maiden art thou, but a spouse, Happy, and rich, and fair, and young." "Far otherwise, my lord is poor, And him at home thou shalt not find; Ask for my father; at the door Knock loudly; he is deaf, but kind. Seest thou that lofty gilded spire Above these tufts of foliage green? That is our place; its points of fire Will guide thee o'er the tract between."

"That is the temple spire."—"Yes, there We live; my father is the priest, The manse is near, a building fair But lowly to the temple's east. When thou hast knocked, and seen him, say, His daughter, at Dhamaser Ghat, Shell-bracelets bought from thee to-day, And he must pay so much for that. Be sure, he will not let thee pass Without the value and a meal, If he demur, or cry alas! No money hath he,—then reveal,

Within the small box, marked with streaks Of bright vermilion, by the shrine, The key whereof has lain for weeks Untouched, he'll find some coin,—'tis mine. That will enable him to pay The bracelet's price, now fare thee well!" She spoke, the pedlar went away, Charmed with her voice, as by some spell; While she left lonely there, prepared To plunge into the water pure, And like a rose her beauty bared, From all observance quite secure.