VI.] BENGALI LANGUAGE & LITERATURE. 711 There are hundreds of songs describing the transitoriness of life and the vanity of human wishes ; and there is hardly a. rustic in a Bengal- village who does not sing to himself some favourite tune having for its burden the mutability of fortune, as, after his weary day of labour, he lays down his tools to retire to rest. Here is another song of the same class : —
- “ Tell me who are you, carried on a bamboo
bier to the funeral ground? Some of your fellows bear you on their shoulders, and while others fol- low with faggots for the pyre. Your little child is calling for his father. Why so unkind that you have no word for him to-day. Did you not, with the sweat of your brow, earn gold mohurs and rupees, wandering from Delhi to Lahore and thence to Dacca, for the purpose ? You strove to heap up wealth. You would not spend for your own com- fort. a) fouc.anna-bit or even--a pice. Tell me, brother, bow much of this hard-earned money are you carrying with you now?” These wailing songs are sung by the villagers in chorus. The melody is high-pitched, and the air resounds on all sides with the chant.
- বাসের দোলাতে উঠে, কেহে বটে, শ্মশান ঘাটে যাচ্ছ চলে,
সঙ্গে সব কাঠের ভরা, লাটবহরা, জাতবেহারার কাধে চড়ে 2:5০: 22251: বাবলে ও তুমি কওন! কথা, নাইক ব্যথা, কিসের জনা এমন হলে? বুরে ষে দিল্লি লাহোর, ঢাকার সহর, টাকা মোহর এনেছিলে, খেলে না পয়স! সিকি, কওনা দেখি, তার কি কিছু সঙ্গে নিলে ” A popular song by Kangal Harinatha.
