shone
Like stars the gems that kept her gold gown close:
But still a little while she paused--abashed
At her delight, of her deep joy afraid--
And they that tended her sang once more this:

(_What follows is to the Music_ VARADI _and the Mode_ RUPAKA.)

Enter, thrice-happy! enter, thrice-desired!
And let the gates of Hari shut thee in
With the soul destined to thee from of old.

Tremble not! lay thy lovely shame aside;
Lay it aside with thine unfastened zone,
And love him with the love that knows not fear,

Because it fears not change; enter thou in,
Flower of all sweet and stainless womanhood!
For ever to grow bright, for ever new;

Enter beneath the flowers, O flower-fair!
Beneath these tendrils, Loveliest! that entwine
And clasp, and wreathe and cling, with kissing stems;

Enter, with tender-blowing airs of heaven,
Soft as love's breath and gentle as the tones
Of lover's whispers, when the lips come close:

Enter the house of Love, O loveliest!
Enter the marriage-bower, most beautiful!
And take and give the joy that Hari grants,

Thy heart has entered, let thy feet go too!
Lo, Krishna! lo, the one that thirsts for thee!
Give him the drink of amrit from thy lips.

* * * * *

Then she, no more delaying, entered straight;
Her step a little faltered, but her face
Shone with unutterable quick love; and--while,

The music of her bangles passed the porch--
Shame, which had lingered in her downcast eyes,
Departed shamed[5] ... and like the mighty deep,
Which sees the moon and rises, all his life
Uprose to drink her beams.

(_Here ends that Sarga of the Gita Govinda entitled_
RADHIKAMILANE SANANDADAMODARO.)

[Footnote 5: This complete anticipation (_salajja lajjapi_) of the
line--

"Upon whose brow shame is ashamed to sit"

--occurs at the close of the Sarga, part of which is here perforce
omitted, along with the whole of the last one.]

* * * * *

Hari keep you! He whose might,
On the King of Serpents seated,
Flashes forth in dazzling light
From the Great Snake's gems repeated:
Hari keep you! He whose graces,
Manifold in majesty,--
Multiplied in heavenly places--
Multiply on earth--to see
Better with a hundred eyes
Her bright charms who by him lies.