The "Padmini," or lotus-woman, is described by Hindu writers as the type of most perfect feminine beauty. "She in whom the following signs and symptoms appear is called a _Padmini_: Her face is pleasing as the full moon; her body, well clothed with flesh, is as soft as the Shiras or mustard flower; her skin is fine, tender, and fair as the yellow lotus, never dark colored. Her eyes are bright and beautiful as the orbs of the fawn, well cut, and with reddish corners. Her bosom is hard, full, and high; she; has a good neck; her nose is straight and lovely; and three folds or wrinkles cross her middle--about the umbilical region. Her _yoni_ [vulva] resembles the opening lotus bud, and her love-seed is perfumed like the lily that has newly burst. She walks with swanlike [more exactly, flamingolike] gait, and her voice is low and musical as the note of the Kokila bird [the Indian cuckoo]; she delights in white raiment, in fine jewels, and in rich dresses. She eats little, sleeps lightly, and being as respectful and religious as she is clever and courteous, she is ever anxious to worship the gods and to enjoy the conversation of Brahmans. Such, then, is the Padmini, or lotus-woman." (_The Kama Sutra of Vatsyayana_, 1883, p. 11.) The Hebrew ideal of feminine beauty is set forth in various passages of the _Song of Songs_. The poem is familiar, and it will suffice to quote one passage:-- "How beautiful are thy feet in sandals, O prince's daughter! Thy rounded thighs are like jewels, The work of the hands of a cunning workman. Thy navel is like a rounded goblet Wherein no mingled wine is wanting; Thy belly is like a heap of wheat Set about with lilies. Thy two breasts are like two fawns They are twins of a roe. Thy neck is like the tower of ivory; Thine eyes as the pools in Heshbon, by the gate of Bathrabbim; Thy nose is like the tower of Lebanon That looketh toward Damascus. Thine head upon thee is like Carmel And the hair of thine head like purple; The king is held captive in the tresses thereof. This thy stature is like to a palm-tree, And thy breasts to clusters of grapes, And the smell of thy breath like apples, And thy mouth like the best wine." And the man is thus described in the same poem:--