86-88] PADUMAWATI. 43 women of Simhala, for the dark night cannot be compared with the day. Their bodies are fragrant as flowers. Why should I describe their feet, to which every head (is bowed). Compounded are they of gold and fragrant essence. Filled are they with beauty and good fortune ?' When the queen heard this she was enrag- ed, as if salt had been thrown upon her heart. 87. (Cried she) 'If this parrot remain in the palace, he may sometime tell this unto the King. If the King hear he will became enamoured. He will desert his kingdom and become an ascetic. By storing poison it becometh not grapes. See that this chanticleer of love give not forth his note.' She called her quick-running maid-servant, and no longer able to restrain her anger in her heart, gave unto her the parrot. See this parrot. He is an evil- worker. He doth not even belong to her who cherished him. With his mouth he sayeth one thing, and in his belly dwelleth another; and for this fault hath he been sold in half a score of markets. Keep not a bird that speaketh such evil things. Take him and kill him where no one can see thee.
- This is the day-time, that I ever dreaded. In the night, have I hid my
sun. He desireth to give the sun) to the lotus, and to be to me a peacock.' 88. The maiden went off with the parrot to kill him, but, while she consi. dered, wisdom came into her heart. The parrot,' quoth she, 'giveth ease unto my lord. He whom the master loveth should not be killed. He is a pandit with his passions all subdued, and blame lieth at the door (not of such, but at the door) of him who looketh not before him. She who understandeth not a woman's actions, falleth into error and afterwards lamenteth. Nāgamati hath but the wisdom of a serpent, and no parrot ever hath become a peacock. What hope can there be in the arm of a woman that obeyeth not her Lord ? Perhaps when the King returneth at nightfall, the bird will be sought for, and then will the horse's disease fall upon the monkey's head. Two things, murder and sin, cannot be kept hidden, even though a man try to hide them. In the end they cause destruction, themselves bearing the witness.'9 1 The humblest part of their body. Ex pede Herculem.' 2 Her heart was like a blazing fire, which crackled ominously when salt was thrown upon it. 8 The cock-crow of love will awaken the king, and warn him to search for the day of Padmavatī, now that the night of Nāgamati is past. 4 i.e., He deserted his late mistress. 6 Nāgamati was black but comely, Padmavati fair as the day. Nāgamati has kept her beloved (her sun) devoted to the night (herself). Now he will leave the night, and seek the day. 6 The peacock eats snakes. Nāgamati refers to her name, in which nāga means snake. The lotus is Padmavati. 7 Again a pan on the name, see note to last stanza. A serpent cannot distinguish between good and evil, and bites every one (good and bad) indifferently. 8 i.e., The punishment due to the queen will fall on me. According to tradition, if you wish to keep your horses well, keep a monkey in the stable. It is believed that all diseases, to which horses are liable, leave them and fly to the monkey. 9 Here again the postposition (sai) precedes the noun (õpu) to which it belongs. Cf. v. lxvi, 3.
