Part 5 (2/2)

As courtier's fingers strike the lute's tense string, The dancing ear-ring smites your wounded cheek.

Why should you flee, with dreadful terror weak, As flees the crane when heaven's thunders ring? 24

_Sansth_.

Your jingling gems, girl, clink like anything; Like Draupadi you flee, when Rama kisshed her.

I'll sheize you quick, as once the monkey-king Sheized Subhadra, Vishvavasu's shweet s.h.i.+shter. 25

_Servant_.

He's the royal protege; Do whatever he may say.

And you shall have good fish and flesh to eat.

For when dogs have all the fish And the flesh that they can wish, Even carrion seems to them no longer sweet. 26

_Courtier_. Mistress Vasantasena,

The girdle drooping low upon your hips Flashes as brilliant as the s.h.i.+ning stars; The wondrous terror of your fleeing mars Your charms; for red realgar, loosened, slips As on an imaged G.o.d, from cheek and lips. 27

_Sansth_.

We're chasing you with all our main and might, As dogs a jackal when they hunt and find it; But you are quick and nimble in your flight, And shteal my heart with all the roots that bind it. 28

[11.23. S.

_Vasantasena._ Pallavaka! Parabhritika!

_Sansthanaka._ Mashter! a man! a man!

_Courtier._ Don't be a coward.

_Vasantasena._ Madhavika! Madhavika!

_Courtier._ [_Laughing._] Fool! She is calling her servants.

_Sansthanaka._ Mashter! Is she calling a woman?

_Courtier._ Why, of course.

_Sansthanaka._ Women! I kill hundreds of 'em. I'm a brave man.

_Vasantasena._ [_Seeing that no one answers._] Alas, how comes it that my very servants have fallen away from me? I shall have to defend myself by mother-wit.

_Courtier._ Don't stop the search.

_Sansthanaka._ Shqueal, Vasantasena, shqueal for your cuckoo Parabhritika, or for your blosshom Pallavaka or for all the month of May! Who's going to save you when I'm chasing you?

Why shpeak of Bhimasena? Or the shon Of Jamadagni, that thrice-mighty one?

The ten-necked ogre? Shon of Kunti fair?

Jusht look at me! My fingers in your hair, Jusht like Duhshasana, I'll tear, and tear. 29

Look, look!

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