________________
APRIL, 1893.]
PARSI AND GUJARATI HINDU NUPTIAL SONGS.
103
Put your foot in the stirrup, brother Søråbji, and mount your horse. Your aunt (father's sister) holds you by the hem of your garment.
Let go, aunt, let go your hold, 20 And I shall give you your due.
How can I forget the claims of her who took me in her lap, When my name was given me P3 Let us send a hundi (on some firm) in Gajarât, and get a good patori (for
my aunt). The bridegroom looks as bright as the Sun, 25 And as pare as the Moon. The bridegroom stands under the festoons of flowers (that adorn the doorway)
smelling the flowers, And looks as beautiful as the flowers themselves. The bridegroom stands under the festoons of flowers (that adorn the doorway)
chewing pán, And looks as delicate as a pán-leaf.
No. 9. Song sung at the close of the Wedding Ceremony. All hail this (blessed) day! (On such a day) I would get my (other) sons married, if I had the means. I would not make a moment's delay.
All hail this (blessed) day! 5 The Sun has risen auspiciously over my Mêhêrwanji's head. We have celebrated the marriage of our Sôrâbji. All hail this (blessed) day! Brothers, have your little sons married,
(As) I have married my Sôrabji and brought (the couple) home. 10 All hail this (blessed) day!
My Méharwanji dotes on his son and daughter-in-law. My Ratanbai's daughter and son-in-law are her petted children. All hail this (blessed) day!
We hail with delight the rising of the Sun and the Moon. 15 We rejoice that my Sôråbji's mother gave birth to a son like him.
All hail this (blessed) day ! Is gave thee an order, goldsmith: I told thee to make an armlet for my Sôrábji's arm,
And a nine-stringed necklace for my Sirinbai. 2U I gave thee an order, mercer:
I told thee to bring a plaid for my Sôrabji, And a pair of patóris for my Sirinbài. I gave thee an order, jeweller:
I told thee to bring rings for my Soråbji, 25 And a pair of bracelets for my Sirinbai.
Father-in-law, make your court-yard (gates) a little higher (?), That my Sôrabji may enter on horse-back. All bail this (blessed) day!
My procession of wedding guests is too large to be accommodated (in your yard). 30 All hail this (blessed) day!
My Sôrábji has won his bride in person. And he has brought the Rani Laksmaņifor a wife. All hail this (blessed) day!
It is the privilege of the father's sister to hold the baby in her arms, while the astrologer finds out a name for it. See note 11, Part 1. Tho bridegroom's mother is supposed to repeat these lines.
An allegory.