C.D. Warner, et al., comp.
The Library of the World’s Best Literature. An Anthology in Thirty Volumes. 1917.

Author Unknown

A Group of Indian Epigrams: An Indian Narcissus

Translation of Charles Rockwell Lanman, editor

[It is a bit of genuinely Indian exaggeration that the flower-girl should be fooled by supposing the reflection of her own blue eyes in the water to be real lotuses.]

THOU maiden fair, that by the lotus-pool

The dark-blue lilies gatherest,

There floats one beauty near thy hand.

Why pluck’st it not? why hesitating stand?

The reason I may guess:

The mirrored loveliness

Of thine own orbèd eyes of blue,

So lotus-like in shape and hue,

Full oft deceived thee.

“If thou’rt a blossom real,” sayst thou,

“I’ll not believe thee.”

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