‘MĀLATĪ AND MĀDHAVA’
31
Lavangikd: Then the high-souled youth gave me the garland. (Hands it over to Malati).
Malati: (Receiving it and looking at it joyfully) It is unevenly strung in one portion.
Lavangikd: You yourself are to blame for it.
Malati: How?
Lavangikd: Because he was then so much taken off his mind by you.
Malati: Friend Lavangika, you seem to have made up your
mind to comfort me under all circumstances.
Lavangikd: Have I not told you that I saw with my own eyes clear signs of love in him?
Malati: Could it all be natural to him and we are deceived?
Or is it as you guess?
Lavangikd: (Ironically) Your deportment then, I suppose, was also natural!
Malati: (Bashfully) And then?
Lavangikd: I returned and on my way went to Mandarika
with whom I had left the portrait in the morning.
Malati: With what intent?
Lavangikd: You know she is in love with Kalahamsa. I thought she would show it to him and bring good news.
Malati: (To herself) Could he have shown the portrait to his master? (To Lavangikd) And what is the good news she has brought?
Lavangikd: Here is the portrait and you see from it what solace Madhava should have derived from it. (Shows the portrait to her).
Malati: (Contemplating it) Alas! Even now my heart feels not sure. It despairs where it ought to hope. Oh! I see something written here. (Reads it.) Illustrious youth, your words are not less sweet than your form. But alas! your sight, though so joyful then, has become a torment to me since. Lucky are those damsels that never meet you; or having met, are yet able to be mistresses over their hearts.
