On hearing these affectionate words, so deep and crafty, the queen, being only a weak-minded woman and under the influence of a divine delusion, really believed her enemy to be a friend.
Chaupâi
Again and again in kindly terms she questioned her, like a fawn bewitched by the song of a huntress. Her reason veered as fate would have it so; and the slave-girl rejoiced at the success of her scheme. “You ask, but I am afraid to reply, now that you have given me the name of mischief-maker;” thus spoke the malignant star of Avadh, trimming and fashioning her speech in every way to win confidence: “You spoke, O queen, of Sita and Rama as your friends; and true enough Rama did love you once, but now those days are past; in time friends become foes. The sun invigorates the lotus, but burns it to ashes if it have no water: the rival queen would tear you up by the root; take care of your garden and hedge it about.
Chaupâi
Again and again in kindly terms she questioned her, like a fawn bewitched by the song of a huntress. Her reason veered as fate would have it so; and the slave-girl rejoiced at the success of her scheme. “You ask, but I am afraid to reply, now that you have given me the name of mischief-maker;” thus spoke the malignant star of Avadh, trimming and fashioning her speech in every way to win confidence: “You spoke, O queen, of Sita and Rama as your friends; and true enough Rama did love you once, but now those days are past; in time friends become foes. The sun invigorates the lotus, but burns it to ashes if it have no water: the rival queen would tear you up by the root; take care of your garden and hedge it about.