and plants over his shoulder.  As he enters, he sits on Radha’s bed, lifts her veil, gazes intently at her face and declares that certainly she is very ill indeed.  He then takes her pulse and says, ’it is the water of love that is rotting her heart like a poison.’  Radha is elated at this diagnosis, rouses herself and stretches her limbs.  ‘You have understood my trouble,’ she says.  ‘Now tell me what I am to do.’  ’I feel somewhat diffident at explaining my remedy,’ replies the doctor, ’But if I had the time and place, I could ease your fever and cure you utterly.’  As he says this, Radha knows that he is Krishna and this is only another of his reckless wiles designed to bring him near her.

But it was less in the recording of new incidents than in lyrical descriptions of Radha and Krishna, their physical charms and ecstatic meetings, that the poets excelled.

  i

  Krishna is dancing in a medley of moods and poses. 
  His crown sways, his eye-brows move,
  Displaying the arts of a clever dancer. 
  The swing of his waist makes his girdle sing
  And the anklets jingle. 
  One fancies one is listening to the sweet voice of a pair of geese as
    they touch each other in dalliance. 
  The bangles glitter and the rings and armlets shoot their rays. 
  When with passion he moves his arms, what grace the movements bless! 
  Now he dances after the gait of ladies and now in a manner of his own. 
  The poet’s lord is the jewel of the passionate
  And builds his dance in the depths of ecstasy.[62]

  (Sur Das)

  ii

  With Krishna in their midst the cowherds come to their homes. 
  The calves and cows are ahead, frisking and playing as they go. 
  All the pipes and horns go forth, each his own notes playing. 
  The sound of the flute moves the cows to low as they raise a cloud of
    dust. 
  The crown of peacocks’ feathers glistens on the head like a young moon. 
  The cowherd boys frolic on the path and Krishna in the centre sings his
    song. 
  Ravished by the sight, the cowgirls pour out their minds and bodies,
  Gazing on Krishna, quenching their heart’s desire.

  (Sur Das)

  iii

  Radha’s glances dart from side to side. 
  Her restless body and clothes are heavy with dust. 
  Her glistening smile shines again and again. 
  Shy, she raises her skirt to her lips. 
  Startled, she stirs and once again is calm,
  As now she enters the ways of love. 
  Sometimes she gazes at her blossoming breasts
  Hiding them quickly, then forgetting they are there. 
  Childhood and girlhood melt in one
  And young and old are both forgotten. 
  Says Vidyapati:  O Lord of life,
  Do you not know the signs of youth?[63]

  (Vidyapati)

  iv