Dutt, Romesh Chunder: The literature of Bengal: being an attempt to trace the progress of the national mind in its various aspects, as reflected in the nation’s literature from the earliest times to the present day ; with copious extracts from the best writers (Calcutta, 1877)

52 LITERATURE OP BENGAL.

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v His parents were scandalized, and sent for him; but
in vain. At last the mother of Chandidas went to Rami's
house and forced the poet to come back. A ceremony
was then' commenced, and Brahmans were fed in order

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that Cbandidas might be taken into his caste again. The
feasting was going on, Chandidas was personally distri-
buting food, when lo ! Rami appeared^ and said/' Wretch !
wilt thou leave me and get back to thy caste. V The
lover's heart relented, and he rushed to her embrace.

girl's .bands were engaged in holding her clothes,
and Chandidas too was holding the food he ' was distri-
buting. Suddenly each found a pair of new hands t©
embrace each other. The guests were struck with wonder,
and took Candidas back to his caste, without compelling
him to leave Rami the washerwoman.

Chandidas was a renowned singer. One day he went
"to a neighbouring village Matipur to sing with his para- <
mour, and when they were returning, the house in which
they had taken shelter crumbled down, and they were
both crushed and died in each other's arms. It is said
the ruins of the house are still to be seen. We now turn
to the works of these poets.

Bidyapati was a learned poet. The Sanskrit was the
Store from which he borr-owed his ideas and images, and
there are some passages in his works which are almost
a translation from Jayadeva. The subjoined .passages will
serve as an instance.*