(196) The brightness of day approached the west, following the path
of the sun's chariot-wheels, like a stream of water. Day wiped away
all the glow of the lotuses with the sun's orb hastening downwards
like a hand roseate as fresh shoots. The pairs of cakravakas, whose
necks were hidden in swarms of bees approaching from familiarity
with the scent of lotuses, were separated as if drawn by the noose
of destiny. The sun's orb poured forth, under the guise of a rosy
glow, the lotus honey-draught, as it were, drunk in with its rays
till the end of day, as if in weariness of its path through the
heavens. And when in turn the blessed sun approached another world,
and was a very red lotus-earring of the West, when twilight shone
forth with its lotus-beds opening into the lake of heaven, (197)
when in the quarters of space lines of darkness showed clear like
decorations of black aloes; when the glow of eve was driven out by
darkness like a band of red lotuses by blue lotuses dark with bees;
when bees slowly entered the hearts of red lotuses, as if they were
shoots of darkness, to uproot the sunshine drunk in by the lotus-beds;
when the evening glow had melted away, like the garland round the face
of the Lady of night; when the oblations in honour of the goddess of
twilight were cast abroad in all quarters; when the peacock's poles
seemed tenanted by peacocks, by reason of the darkness gathered round
their summits, though no peacocks were there; when the doves, very
ear-lotuses of the Lakshmi of palaces, were roosting in the holes of
the lattices; when the swings of the zenana had their bells dumb,
and their gold seats motionless and bearing no fair dames; when
the bands of parrots and mainas ceased chattering, and had their
cages hung up on the branches of the palace mango-trees; when the
lutes were banished, and their sound at rest in the ceasing of the
concert; when the tame geese were quiet as the sound of the maidens'
anklets was stilled; (198) when the wild elephants had the clefts of
their cheeks free from bees, and their ornaments of pearls, cowries,
and shells taken away; when the lights were kindled in the stables
of the king's favourite steeds; when the troops of elephants for the
first watch were entering; when the family priests, having given their
blessing, were departing; when the jewelled pavements, emptied almost
of attendants on the dismissal of the king's suite, spread out wide,
kissed by the reflection of a thousand lights shining in the inner
apartments, like offerings of golden campak-blossoms; when the palace
tanks, with the splendours of the lamps falling on them, seemed as if
the fresh sunlight had approached to soothe the lotus-beds grieved by
separation from the sun; when the caged lions were heavy with sleep;
and when Love had entered the zenana like a watchman, with arrows in
hand and bow strung; when the words of Love's messenger were uttered
in the ear, bright in tone as the blossoms in a garland; when the
hearts of froward dames, widowed by grief, were smouldering in the
fire transmitted to them from the sun-crystals; and when evening had
closed in, Candrapida ... went to the king's palace....