vinda, which I fear will fuffer by the comparison. In the estimation of its merits, the peculiarities of the Hindu tafte should be kept conftantly in view.

Letter Eleventh.

SALUTATION TO GANESA,

BELOVED EL HASSAN, FRIEND OF MY HEART,

As the pilgrim, who having traverfed immenfe defarts, where no verdure fprings to cheer the eye, and not a flower perfumes the fcorching winds; arriving at length in fame green vale, where rivulets are enamelled with banks of flowers, trees drop balfamic gums, birds fing in the thickets, and fragrance floats in the wind, ftops a while; and, enchanted by fuch various beauty, lingers till evening; fo I, having arrived in the Elyfian regions of poetry and imagination, not content to stay an hour, and then depart, still love to ramble into every grove, and to trace the beauties of every prof pect.

As my last contained fome of the many beauties of Solomon's Song, it now remains to exhibit fome fpecimens of the

Gitagovinda. Thou, my friend, wilt remember, that the fubject of this Poem is the loves of RADHA and CHRISHNA. Chrishna is called through the poem by feveral other names, as Heri, Madhava, the vanquisher of the demon Ceft, the destroyer of Canfa, &c.

THE introductory lines of the Poem inform the reader of the subject.*

THE firmament is obfcured by clouds; the woodlands are black with Tamala trees. That youth, who roves in

* The Story of the following poem is fimply this. CHRISHNA or "the divine goodness," having defcended from heaven, wanders about in the foreft, at the twilight, waiting for RADHA or "the human foul, to come forth voluntarily, and folicit him to enter her cottage, and share its hospitality.

Radha delaying to go forth, Chrishna, offended, betakes himself to thofe, who are more anxious for his presence.

Radha, alarmed and almost in despair, feeks the offended God a long time in the forest. She feeks him long in vain; but at length is admitted to his embraces; although this is the confumination of her wishes, ftill fhe exhibits the coyness and reluctance of beauty refolving to submit, yet loth to yield its independence.

The ardor of Chrishna represents the ready difpofition of the "divine goodnefs" to be reconciled to "the human foul." The "officious friend" of Radha, probably represents the combined force of an awakened confcience, and an alarmed imagination.

It is neceffary to remember that both Chrishna and Radha are called frequently by other names; but they are cafily diftinguished by their actions and fentiments.

the foreft will be fearful in the gloom of night. Go my daughter, bring the wanderer home to my ruftic manfion. Such was the command of Nanda, the fortunate herdsman; and hence arose the love of RADHA and MADHAVA, who sported on the banks of Yamana, or haftened eagerly to the fecret bower."

OBEDIENT to the command of her father, RADHA goes out into the foreft in fearch of CRISHNA. The poem then praceeds.

"RADHA fought him long in vain, and her thoughts were confounded by the fever of defire. She roved in the vernal morning among the twining Vafantis, cov ered with foft bloffoms; when a damfel thus addressed her with youthful hilarity. "The gale, that has wantoned round the beautiful clove plants, breathes now from the hills of Maylaya. The Tamala, with leaves dark and odorous, claims a tribute from the mufk, which it vanquishes. See the bunches of Patali flowers filled with bees, like the quiver of Smara, full of

fhafts; while the Amra tree, with blooming treffes, is embraced by the gay creeper Atimucta,and the blue streams of Yamuna,* wind round the groves of Vrindavan. In this charming feafon, which gives pain to feperated lovers, young HERI Sports and dances with a company of damfels."

THE jealous RADHA gave no answer; and foon after, her officious friend, perceiving the foe of MURA in the foreft, eager for the rapturous embraces of the herdsmen's daughters, with whom he was dancing, thus again addressed his forgot. ten mistress.

WITH a garland of wild flowers, descending even to the yellow mantle, that girds his azure limbs, diftinguished by finiling cheeks and by ear-rings, that fparkle, as he plays, Heri exults in the af fembly of amorous damfels. One of them preffes him with her fwelling breaft; while the warbles with exquifite melody. A. nother, affected by a glance from his eye, ftands meditating on the lotos of his face. A third, on pretence of whispering a fecret in his ear, approaches his temples

* An Indian river.