Indian Antiquary Vol 03

Author(s): Jas Burgess
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 10

THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[JANUARY, 1874.
The forest-hen with bosom fair
" Yes, sister, once your love I sought, Came down to gather water clear :
And to the stars I made my vow; The Boya saw, and that bright breast
Now, sister, lore avails me nought, With amorous touch the youth caressed.
No vows of love the stars hear now. 3. With flowing locks and jacket tight
Ay, stand you there on the well's bank steep Came Papa, stooped and water drew;
Till heaven send you water deep: At Ranga's touch, the roguish wight,
• Where lotus leaves make floating bed, That swelling jacket open flew.
There may you lay your haughty head."
The next song is a rude and almost childish Among the bushes on the mound,
rhyme, of which the whole merit and design is With many a kiss they sported round
to be wedded to the notes of a simple tune. In shelter of the leafy grove :
This and other songs of the kind are sung at that Show me thy pretty face, my love!
children's feast known as the kolatı, when a "See from the brook she goes," he cried, ring of children dance round together, holding "The maiden fair with nostrils wide;"
sticks in their hands, and each striking in time Then peeped and spied and followed keen,
to the measure his stick against that in his Mallappa Nayadu, I ween.
neighbour's hand. The effect is to make a rough Another song, similar to the last in form, and
instrumental accompaniment, that certainly adds with only a slight change of subject, tells how
something of music to the simple song; especially roiected lover upbraids his mistress, and when when the sound is wafted on the air of a su she comes to draw water at his well refuses to
night. help her :
Chinnadana nalla chinnadana Baviki varadi katti,
Ni vuri per 'emi ni per 'emi. Bavi nillu' ella toli;
Nizamuga cheppite Kanne padutsu nilluku vachche'
Ni venta vastanu nalla Chinnadana. "Kadava munagadu' emi chetunu."
Na vuru yela ra,
Na peru yela ra? "Käni kani-Kapadani,
Gurtugå Gudibanda peru * "Kankulu ivvaka potiv","ante,
Penugonda, andamu Palkonda " Vontiga nillu doruku, lammidi !"
Akkada vuntanu tsakkani chinnadana. Vollu yella vasantam ayye.'
Penugonda, Lepakshi, Peddapalem gattu
Tsanugonda, Lalanka, Santa Narasapuram Niv' akka, naku dakken' ante,
Cheruvu Dharmavaram Bukkapattanam Sakkalaku mukkukonti'
Vurindlu mavi, nalla Chinnadana Niv' akka naku dakka ledu,
Adugo ma vuru Tatimakulapalle.
Stalamaku ra nulla chinnadana. Sukkalaku mukka ledu.
He. Bavi gaddana vunda vale'
O maiden, fair maiden, Nillu lotu kana vale'
Come tell in my ear Damaraku parupu mida,
What village you dwell in, Dani metta kâna vale."
The name that you bear. And maiden, dear maiden,
I pray tell me true, I dug a well, and bridged it sure;
For maiden, fair maiden, The bullocks drew the water pure;
I would fain follow you. A maiden came to the water's brink, " Alas!" she cried, "my pot won't sink."
She.
Why ask me my village ? "Wait, maiden, wait; you would not deign
Why ask me my name? To give," he cried, " those ears of grain ;* A hussey gets no help from me ;-"
O maiden, fair maiden, Her painted form was fair to see.
Take heed what I tell : A present of betel or fruit or grain is a common token of accepted love, and its refusal a sign of rejection.
4.
He.