29. Her pure form was sacred to touch, and conferred a hilarity to the heart, as the holy stream of the Ganges, exhilarates the flock of swans floating upon it. 30. She was as a second Rati, born to serve her lord, who was Káma in person on earth to give joy to all souls. 31. She was sorry at his sorrow, and delighted to see him delightful; and was thoughtful to see him pensive. Thus was she an exact picture of her lord, except that she was afraid to find him angry. CHAPTER XVI. JOY AND GRIEF OF THE PRINCESS. This single wived husband, enjoyed the pleasure of an undivided and unfeigned love, in company with his only consort, as with an _Apsará_ (or heavenly nymph) on earth. (The _Apsaras_ are the _Abisares_ of Ptolemy and _Absairs_ of the Persians: a term applied to the fairy race in the watery valley of Cashmere, supposed to be the site of Paradise-Firdous, and the scene of innocent attachment). 2. The seats of their youthful sports were the gardens and groves, the arbours of shrubberies, and forests of Tamála trees. They sported also in the pleasant arbours of creepers and delightful alcoves of flowers. 3. They delighted themselves in the inner apartments, on beds decked with fragrant flowers, and on walks strewn over with fresh blossoms. They amused in their swinging cradles in their pleasure gardens in spring, and in rowing their tow-boats in summer heat. 4. Hills overgrown with sandal woods and shades of shady forests; the alcoves of Nípa and Kadamba trees, and coverts of the Páribhadra or Devadáru-cedars, were their favourite resorts in summer. 5. They sat besides the beds of _kunda_ and _Mandára_ plants, redolent with the fragrance of full-blown flowers; and strayed about the vernal green-woods, resounding with the melody of _kokilas’_ notes. 6. The glossy beds of grassy tufts, the mossy seats of woods and lawns, and water-falls flooding the level lands with showers of rain (were also their favourite resorts). 7. Mountain layers overlaid with gems, minerals and richest stones; the shrines of gods and saints, holy hermitages and places of pilgrimage, were oft visited by them. 8. Lakes of full-blown lotuses and lilies, smiling _Kumudas_ of various hues, and wood-lands darkened by green foliage, or overhung with flowers and fruitage, were their frequent haunts. 9. They passed their time in the amorous dalliances of godlike youths; and their personal beauty, was graced by the generous pastimes, of their mutual fondness and affection. 10. They amused each other with bon-mots and witticisms and solution of riddles; with story telling and playing the tricks of hold-fists _mushti-bandha_ (_purmuthi_), and the various games of chess and dice. 11. They diverted themselves with the reading of dramas and narratives, and interpretation of stanzas difficult even to the learned. And sometimes they roamed about cities, towns and villages.