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AUGUST, 1889.)
THE BALLAD OF THE GUJARI.
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"Why do you go about lanes and alleys, fair one, you ought to live behind the pardd." 20 "The lanes and alleys are good enough for me, to thy pardd I shall set fire."
“Thou art a base-born Hindwâội, thus to give impertinent) retorts to thy sovereign !" Says the Büdsüh, "Listen Gujari, listen to what I have to say. “What is the use of wearing ornaments of base metals, fair one? You ought to wear a
vér of gold." "My ornaments of base metals are good enough for me, to thy gold I shall set fire."
"Thou art," &c. 25 "What is this black coarse cloth that you wear, fair one? You ought to wear Dakhani
silks." “My black coarse cloth is good enough for me, to thy (Dakhani) silks I shall set fire." “Thou art," &c. "I have a wonderfully fine elephant, fair one; come and have a look at my elephant." “What is there to look at in thy elephant ? I have some grey cow-buffaloes at home, “That give a man and a quarter of milk each time, and they are (therefore) far better than
thy elephant.” "Thou art, " &c. 30 "My moustache is wonderfully formed, fair one; be allured by my monstache.” "What is there to look at in thy moustache P It is only like the tuft of hair at the end of
my goats' tails!" "Thou art," &c. " Which is your parents-in-law's house ? And to what man are you wife P" “The Fort of Gokul is my parents-in-law's house, and to the man Chanda I am wife." “Thou art," &c.
"To what ocuntry dost thon belong, shepherdess ? And what is thy name ?" 35 "I am (the) shepherdess of Fort Måndav, and Mênå the Gajari is my name."
"Now fix the price of your small earthen pot; and, fair one, what may be its price P" “If I name the price of my small earthen pot, thy senses would desert thee !" “Thou art," &c. "What is this meaningless jargon that thon talkest, fair one? Talk sense.
"With what arrogance thon speakest, fair one! I could give thee two or four slaps®!” 40 “Do not think I am alone (unprotected): nine lákhs of my Gujars will come down (to
defend me)! “I will give thee such a slap that thy turban will roll off thy head, and thy face will
grow red!
45
"I will cause thy ponies to be sold for a taká each, and thy camels at ten to a damri: "I will cause thy shields to be sold at a taká spiece, and thy swords at two kuris (cowries)
each !" The Badsah was enraged at this and had her cast into irons. "I entreat thee brother Brâhmaņ:10 I will give thee the necklace (that is) next my heart, "If thou wilt go and give this letter into the hands of my husband's brother, Hiriya. "Il When Hiriya read the letter (he said to his brother) - "Brother, our Gujarf has been cast
into prison." (And then he said to the soldiers,) -"Gird on tightly your shields and swords, brothers,
and gird on tightly all your weapons : "Let only those who are brave of heart accompany us, for cowards are not wanted (where
we shall go).
• Costly silks manufaotured in the Dakhan.
"An Indian weight oqual to about 80 lbs. • Here there is a pan on the two meanings of the word 353, 53, 53 moaning' with arrogance' and 13 again meaning 'a slap.'
One-twenty fourth part of an and. 10 Tho Boene changes here, and the Gujarl addresses a young Brahman. 11 Note that it is improper for a Hinda wife to address her husband oven by letter.
