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THE NÁGÁNANDA.
51

Jímútaváhana.
(raising the heroine's face, and looking at it).

Dear one, to no purpose hast thou been wearied by us, through our anxiety to see the flower garden, since this face of thine, resplendent with its creepers of eyebrows and shoot-like pink lips, is a very garden of paradise. Compared with this, every garden is but a jungle.


Girl (addressing the Vidúshaka, with a smile).

You have heard how he describes the princess. I will now paint you.


Vidúshaka (gladly).

O lady! I am alive again now. Pray, then, do me the favour in your best style, that yon fellow may never again call me a tawny monkey.


Girl.

Sir, you seemed lovely to me at the marriage watch, with your eyes shut through drowsiness. Therefore stand like that for me to paint you.

[Vidúshaka does so.

Girl (to herself).

Whilst he stands with his eyes shut, I will blacken his face with the juice of a tamála shoot, which will do as well as indigo.

[Rising and squeezing a tamála shoot,
she blackens his face.