Akhbar-i Mahabbat 1.6

1.6

Calcutta is a wonderful city, in the country of Bang. It is a specimen of both China and Farang. Its buildings are heart-attracting and delightful. Their heads are exalted to the height of the sky. The decorations executed in them by skilful persons Exhibit a variety of good colours and beautiful drawings. From the beauty of the works of the European artists The senses of the spectator are overpowered. The hat-wearing Englishmen who dwell in them All speak the truth and have good dispositions. As are the dwellings, so are their occupants. How can I sufficiently indite their praises ? The roads made of pounded brick are so level, That the morning breezes sweep away all the dirt from them. In all the lanes persons whose faces are like the moon take their walks, So that you would say the earth was bathed in moonlight. One is like the moon, the other like the planet Jupiter, The third shows a beauty like that of Venus. As a multitude of persons like the planets roam in every direction, The streets take the resemblance of the Milky Way.