Lamps were all out, doors were all shut, and stars were all hidden by the sky of August.
Whose feet were those with anklets, his breast of a sudden?
He woke up startled, and the light from a woman’s lamp struck his forgiving eyes.
It was the dancing girl, starred with jewels, clouded with a pale-blue , drunk with the wine of her youth.
She lowered her lamp and saw the young face, beautiful.
“Forgive me, young ,” said the woman; “graciously come to my house. The dusty earth is not a fit bed for you.”
The ascetic answered, “Woman, go on your way; when the time is ripe I will come to you.”
Suddenly the black night showed its teeth in a flash of lightning.
The storm from the corner of the sky, and the woman trembled in fear.
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