Sakhi: Happy is your birth, and blest your beauty!
For all are crying upon Kanu, Kanu,
And he is laden deep with love of you.

The longing cloud desires the catak,
The moon desires the partridge,
The vine upholds the full-grown tree,—
There is amazement in my heart!

When there you stood with hanging hair,
Across your breast but half its veil,
Then Kanu, seeing all, was sorely troubled,—
Tell me, dear damsel, what is your intent?

When you laughed and showed your teeth,
With hand on hand held over head,
And your unconscious glances pierced his heart,—
Then seeing him, you took a maiden on your lap!

Such is my tale of you, O beauty,
Advise you thereupon:
You are the idol of his heart, and he a frame forlorn,
Says Vidyapati the poet.

XXVI.

Sakhi: Hearken, hearken, O virtuous Radha:
Murdering Madhava, what is the good you will gain?

By day the moon is pale and lonely,
Likewise he waxes thinner and thinner:
His rings and bracelets slip,—
I think he must remake them many times.

I cannot understand your ways;
The poet rests his head upon his hands!

XXVII.

Sakhi: Make your decision, Beauty:
Kana is waxen wood for want of you,
Sometimes he laughs for little cause:
What would he say with passionate words?

Very sorry are his sighs,
He cries, O Wel-a-way:
His helpless body trembles,
None can hold him still.

Saith Vidyapati: Dear maiden,
Witness Rupanarayana.

XXVIII.

Sakhi: Hearken fair damsel, to good advice,
For I shall teach you special wisdom:
First you shall sit beside the bed,
With bended neck, but half regarding him.

And when your lover touches you, push out your hand,
Remaining silent, uttering never a word:
And when he takes you forcibly and clasps you to his side,
Passionately you shall exclaim. Nay, nay!

In his embrace, your body you shall wrench aside,
Breaking away in the moment of delight.
Saith Vidyapati: What can I say?
Yourself the Guru shall teach e'en Love himself.

XXIX.

Sakhi: Now hear me, daughter of a king,
For I have come to speak with you:
You have destroyed the life of precious Kana,—
What work is this that you have wrought?

When day declined, I think,
You walked beside the water's edge,
And when you saw him, did embrace
Some maiden's neck, demurely smiling:

And showing him your moon-face,
You put him in a sorry plight.
Then suddenly you came away, before he saw you well
Now he is weeping, Wel-a-way.

Giving him just a glimpse of your breast,
You stole his heart:
Vidyapati enquires: Beauty,
How shall Kanu live?

XXX.

Sakhi: Attend my teaching, artless maid,
And I shall give you good advice:
First you shall deck your hair with jewels,
And paint your curving eyes with surm.

Then you shall go to him with all your body folded close,
And seeming to be dumb, shall stay apart:
My dear, at first you shall not go anigh him,
But with wanton glances, fair one, shall awaken Love.

Hiding your breasts, your shoulders showing,
Your girdle knotted fast,
You shall appear offended, yet be loving,
You shall refrain desire, that ever springs afresh.

Says Vidyapati: This is the first degree:
They that be worthy shall taste the fruit.

XXXI.

Radha: I know not the taste of love, nor the colour of desire;
How may I have ado, my dear, with yonder swain,
That I should love him as you ask?
A young thing I, afraid of shame.

What can I tell you, dearest maiden?
I may not dare to have ado with him,
He is a herdsman lover, new-enflamed,
With all five arrows Love awakens his desire.

No sooner seeing me, but he will clip me tight:
Who then will save me, when my life is dying?
Vidyapati says: Your fears are vain,
Believe me, that his love is not of such a sort.

XXXII.

Radha: Leave me, dear maid, I pray you,—
I will not go whereas he is:
Nought do I know the skill of words,
Or art of signs, nor how to pretend offense.

All of my friends arraying me at once,—
I cannot even bind my own hair!
I never have heard what dalliance means,
How may I mix with Madhava?

He is learned in love, a passionate swain,
And I a weak girl of scanty wisdom.
Says Vidyapati: What counsel do I give?
'Tis that there should be union.