“There shone with gems that flashed afar, The marvel of the Flower-named car, ’Mid wondrous dwellings still confessed Supreme and nobler than the rest. Thereon with wondrous art designed Were _turkis_ birds of varied kind, And many a sculptured serpent rolled His twisted coil in burnished gold. And steeds were there of noblest form, With flying feet as fleet as storm; And elephants with deftest skill Stood sculptured by a silver rill, Each bearing on his trunk a wreath Of lilies from the flood beneath. There Lakshmi, beauty’s heavenly queen, Wrought by the artist’s skill was seen Beside a flower-clad pool to stand, Holding a lotus in her hand.”[34] --+GRIFFITH+ (bk. v., canto vii.). The zenana or women’s apartment, guarded by she-demons,[35] which Hanuman next entered in the still hours of the night, when the feast was over, the music had ceased and all the inmates were hushed in slumber, affords the poet the opportunity of painting a charming picture, which the reader will, I am sure, thank me for reproducing here in Mr. Griffith’s agreeable version: “He stood within a spacious hall With fretted roof and painted wall, The giant Ravan’s boast and pride, Loved even as a lovely bride. ’Twere long to tell each marvel there, The crystal floor, the jewelled stair, The gold, the silver, and the shine Of crysolite and almandine. There breathed the fairest blooms of spring; There flashed the proud swan’s silver wing, The splendour of whose feathers broke Through fragrant wreaths of aloe smoke. ‘’Tis Indra’s heaven,’ the Vanar cried, Gazing in joy from side to side; ‘The home of all the gods is this, The mansion of eternal bliss!’ There were the softest carpets spread, Delightful to the sight and tread, Where many a lovely woman lay O’ercome by sleep, fatigued with play. The wine no longer cheered the feast, The sound of revelry had ceased. The tinkling feet no longer stirred, No chiming of a zone was heard. So, when each bird has sought her nest, And swans are mute and wild bees rest, Sleep the fair lilies on the lake Till the sun’s kiss shall bid them wake. Like the calm field of winter’s sky Which stars unnumbered glorify, So shone and glowed the sumptuous room With living stars that chased the gloom. ‘These are the stars,’ the chieftain cried, ‘In autumn nights that earthward glide, In brighter forms to reappear And shine in matchless lustre here.’ With wondering eyes awhile he viewed Each graceful form and attitude. One lady’s head was backward thrown, Bare was her arm and loose her zone. The garland that her brow had graced Hung closely round another’s waist. Here gleamed two little feet all bare Of anklets that had sparkled there. Here lay a queenly dame at rest In all her glorious garments dressed. There slept another whose small hand Had loosened every tie and band.