CIX.
Dūtikā: O Kān, I saw the tender she beside herself!
Love is distraught by koil's calls,—
And day by day she wastes away.
He stays abroad, he sends no news,—
How shall the Braj girls live?
The best and fairest of the world endures
The poison and the pain of parting!
She who might have no bed except his bosom,
Now grovels on the ground,—
As if the full round moon lay fallen asunder
In a withered campak garland.
From then till now I have consoled her,
Nought else has saved her life!
Vidyāpati says: O pitiless Mādhava,
She swooned away to hear your name!
CX.
Sakhī: Making a promise to return 'To-morrow,' her lover went away,—
Writing the word 'To-morrow,' the wall is full!
The day had dawned, she asked of everyone:
Tell me, O tell me, when will to-morrow come?
'Awaiting to-morrow, abandoning hope,—
Never again shall I lie by Kānu's side.'
Vidyāpati says: Hearken, fair damsel:
The beauties of the town are holding him back.
CXI.
Rādhā: Everyone praises the gifts of love,
That love whereby the virtuous woman is made a wanton!
Had I but known how cruel was love,
Should I have passed the limits of sin?
Now it has come to be poison to me:
Let no one set their love on Hari, on Hari!
Vidyāpati says: Hearken, fair damsel:
Would you first drink water and then consider the giver's birth?
CXII.
Rādhā: How many reproaches and scornful words of my elders
I counted for nought in my heart, deep-laden in love.
For whose sake I forsook without shame the path of duty,
He now has forsaken my companionship.
Now dearest maiden, tell Murari for me and remind him,
'The worthy forsake not any without regard to their innocence.'
O dear companion, he that is wise,
Even though sentence be harsh, does justice at least.
What more can I say, that am but a helpless woman?
It is you that are skilled in speech and full of resource.
Tell Kānu this with honeyed words,
I pray you do it, appease his wrath.
For your wiles are many, and what do I know?
Vidyāpati says: This song is of love.