kled duly with the moistened grain.
High o'er their heads sweet Beauty's Queen displayed
Upon a stem of reed a cool green shade,
While the young lotus-leaves of which 'twas made
Seemed, as they glistened to the wondering view,
All richly pearled with drops of beady dew.
In twofold language on each glorious head
The Queen of Speech her richest blessings shed;
In strong, pure, godlike utterance for his ear,
To her in liquid tones, soft, beautifully clear.

Now for awhile they gaze where maids divine
In graceful play the expressive dance entwine;
Whose eloquent motions, with an actor's art,
Show to the life the passions of the heart.

The rite was ended; then the heavenly band
Prayed ['S]IVA, raising high the suppliant hand:
"Now, for the dear sake of thy lovely bride,
Have pity on the gentle God," they cried,
"Whose tender body thy fierce wrath has slain:
Give all his honour, all his might again."
Well pleased, he smiled, and gracious answer gave:
['S]IVA himself now yields him KAMA'S slave.
When duly given, the great will ne'er despise
The gentle pleading of the good and wise.

Now have they left the wedded pair alone;
And ['S]IVA takes her hand within his own
To lead his darling to the bridal bower,
Decked with bright gold and all her sumptuous dower.
She blushes sweetly as her maidens there
Look with arch smiles and glances on the pair;
And for one moment, while the damsels stay,
From him she loves turns her dear face away.

NOTES.

_CANTO FIRST._

The Hindu Deity of War, the leader of the celestial armies, is known
by the names Kartikeya and Skanda. He is represented with six faces
and corresponding arms, and is mounted upon a peacock.

_Himalaya._] Mansion of Snow; from _hima_, snow, and _alaya_, mansion.
The accent is on the _second_ syllable.

_Prithu._] It is said that in the reign of this fabulous monarch,
gods, saints, demons, and other supernatural beings, drained or
_milked_ from the earth various treasures, appointing severally one of
their own class as the recipient, or _Calf_, to use the word of the
legend. Himalaya was thus highly favoured by the sacred Mount Meru,
and the other hills. The story is found in the sixth chapter of the
_Harivansa_, which forms a supplement to the _Mahabharat_.

_Still the fair pearls_, &c.] It was the belief of the Hindus that
elephants wore these precious jewels in their heads.

_