Love-cluster was contented. She took the pearls from her neck and gave
them to her friend as a present. And she said: "Let us go now. Then in
the morning you must keep your promise." So she went to her room.
In the morning Jasmine crept out without being seen to hunt for the
house of Lotus-lake. When she got there, she found Lotus-lake under a
tree in the garden. He was lying on a couch of lotus-leaves moistened
with sandal, and the friend who knew his secret was fanning him with
plantain-leaf fans, for he was tortured by the flames of love. And
Jasmine hid, to find out whether this was lovesickness for her friend
or not.
Then the friend said to Lotus-lake: "My friend, comfort your heart by
glancing a moment at this charming garden. Do not be so troubled."
But he said to his friend: "My heart has been stolen by Love-cluster.
It is no longer in my body. How can I comfort it? Love has made an
empty quiver of me. So invent some plan by which I may meet the thief
of my heart."
Then Jasmine came out joyfully and without fear and showed herself. And
she said: "Sir, Love-cluster has sent me to you, and I am the bearer of
a message to you. Is it good manners to enter the heart of an innocent
girl by force, steal her thoughts, and run away? It is strange, but the
sweet girl is ready to give her person and her life to you, her
charmer. For day and night she heaves sighs hot as the smoke from the
fire of love that burns in her heart. And teardrops carry her rouge
away and fall, like bees longing for the honey of her lotus-face. So,
if you wish it, I will tell you what is good for both of you."
And Lotus-lake said: "My good girl, the words which tell me that my
love is lonely and longing, frighten me and comfort me. You are our
only refuge. Devise a plan."
And Jasmine answered: "This very night I will bring Love-cluster
secretly to the garden. You must be outside. Then I will cleverly let
you in, and so you two will be united." Thus Jasmine delighted the
Brahman's son, and went away successful to please Love-cluster with the
news.
Then the sun and the daylight fled away, pursuing the twilight. And the
East adorned her face with the moon. And the white night-blooming
lotuses laughed, their faces expanding at the thought of the glory that
was coming to them. At that hour the lover Lotus-lake came secretly,
adorned and filled with longing, to the garden-gate of his beloved. And
Jasmine led Love-cluster secretly into the garden, for she had lived
through the day somehow.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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