Page:TheBirth of the War-God.djvu/80

Each noble matron of Himálaya's race
Folds his dear Uma in a long embrace,
Pours blessings on her head, and prays her take
Some priceless jewel for her friendship's sake.

With sweetest influence a star of power
Had joined the spotted Moon—at that blest hour
To deck fair Uma many a noble dame
And many a gentle maid assiduous came;
And well she graced their toil, more brightly fair
With feathery grass and wild flowers in her hair—
A silken robe flowed free below her waist.
Her sumptuous head a glittering arrow graced—
So shines the young unclouded Moon at last.
Greeting the Sun, its darksome season past.
Sweet-scented Lodra dust and Sandal dyed
The delicate beauties of the fair young bride.
Veiled with a soft light robe: her tiring-girls
Then led her to a chamber decked with pearls
And paved with sapphires, where the lulling sound
Of choicest music breathed divinely round.
There o'er the Lady's limbs they poured by turns
Streams of pure water from their golden urns.
Fresh from the cooling bath the lovely Maid
In fairest white her tender form arrayed—
So opes the Kása all her shining flowers
Lured from their buds by softly falling showers.
Then to a court with canopies o'erhead
A crowd of noble dames the Maiden led—
A court for solemn rites, where gems and gold
Adorn tlu> ])illars that the roof uphold.