The strains of the flute that made the heaven to bend to the earth, that brought the stars closer to the hillsides, and drew the gods from their abodes of light, had ceased; and the voice of Him that was All-Love fell on the ears of the Gopis in sound as sweet as the flute's dear strains: "O Gopis mine, maids of Braja! My peace and greeting be with you all! But why are ye here one and all? Tell Me this! "The hour is late, and your homes at a distance are, and the forests are dark, and wild beasts are in plenty. And alone ye have come without husband, or father! "What is it, pray tell Me, that brings you here? Is it love for Me that brings you here? I draw all to Myself and all love Me. "But, O Gopis dear, the Scriptures ever have said that the chaste woman leaveth not her husband, father and babe, to look on the face of a youth. "Pure are your hearts, I know; but it is not good that ye come to Me, and it looseneth your chances to reach that place where all of your hearts do long to dwell, when to your bodies ye have said farewell. "Perhaps ye have come to see the forest, silvered by the autumn full moon! Or mayhap to greet the breezes that come from the hillsides! Or the blossoms of the trees that grace its sides to behold! If this be so, now ye have seen them, depart to your homes, lest the hearts of your friends be alarmed at your absence." The bevy of women, that crowded about Him, grew pale with pain and ashen with fear. Tears came to their eyes and anxiety to their souls, as they heard the words of Him who was all in all to them; till one, more brave than the rest, broke forth: "O Lord, for the Master of Love art Thou, send us not away from Thy side. All have we left to serve Thee, our Master. Husbands have we, and fathers and brothers, but to Thee alone we belong. They are but the keepers of our earthly bodies: Thou art the custodian of our souls. "Our souls are Thine, for Thou art the Soul from which we came; and panting we come to find again the Home wherein to rest. "Difficult art Thou to find, O Lord! and now we have found Thee, Oh thrust us not from Thy Lotus Feet, we who find our joy and happiness in Thee! "Thy flute hath drawn us from our homes! Oh, suffer us to remain with Thee and know Thee as Thou art! Unable are we to live without Thy love, O Lord! and our duties of home cannot engage us since our minds are ever contemplating Thee. "If Thou sendest us away, we shall die. Be Thou kind to us, Thy servants, and grant us to serve Thee with our Love." Then singing into their midst He came, He the Lord of the Highest, the Lord of Love and Lord of the Lowest and Lord of Mercy! And with mighty Love swayed He all alike. And each self was forgotten and Love alone was. Now singing in chorus, now dancing, now skipping, the Lord and his maidens in those forest groves roamed, till the river was reached.