So Rudra shines by worlds adored, In glory undefiled, When Nandi1 stands beside his lord, And King Himalaya's child.1 CANTO XVII.
The bathing and the prayer were o'er: 3e turned him from the grassy shore, And with his brother and his spouse Sought his fair home beneath the bough*, Sita and Lakshman by his side, )n to his cot the hero hied, And after rites at morning due Within the leafy shade withdrew.
1 The chief chamberlain and attendant >f Siva or Rudra.
2 Uma or Parvati, the consort of &va.
THE RAMA YAN.
Boole III.
Then, honoured by the devotees, As royal Rama sat at ease, With Sita near him, o'er his head A canopy of green boughs spread, He shone as shines the Lord of Night By Chitra's l side, his dear delight. With Lakshman there he sat and told Sweet stories of 'the days of old, And as the pleasant time he spent With heart upon each tale intent, A giantess, by fancy led, Came wandering to his leafy shed. Fierce £urpanakha, — her of yore The Ten-necked tyrant's mother bore,— Saw Rama with his noble mien Bright as the Gods in heaven are seen; Him from whose brow a glory gleamed, Like lotus leaves his full eyes beamed: Long-armed, of elephantine gait, With hair close coiled in hermit plait: In youthful vigour, nobly framed, By glorious marks a king proclaimed: Like some bright lotus lustrous-hued, With young Kandarpa's ' grace endued: As there like Indra's self he shone, She loved the youth she gazed upon. She grim of eye and foul of face Loved his sweet glance and forehead's grace: She of unlovely figure, him Of stately form and shapely limb: She whose dim locks disordered hung, Him whose bright hair on high brows clung: She whose fierce accents counselled fear, Him whose soft tones were sweet to hear; She whose dire form with age was dried, Him radiant in his youthful pride: She whose false lips maintained the wrong, Him in the words of virtue strong: She cruel-hearted, stained with sin, Him just in deed and pure within: She, hideous fiend, a thing to hate, Him formed each eye to captivate: Fierce passion in her bosom woke, And thus to Raghu's son she spoke: ' With matted hair above thy brows, With bow and shaft and this thy spouse, How hast thou sought in hermit dress The giant-haunted wilderness? What dost thou here? The cause explain: Why art thou come, and what to gain? ' As §urpanakha questioned so, Rama, the terror of the foe, In answer to the monster's call, With fearless candour told her all.
A star, one of the favourites of the on. l The God of love.
King Dasaratha reigned of old, Like Gods celestial brave and bold. I am his eldest son and heir, And Rama is the name I bear. This brother, Lakshman, younger born, Most faithful love to me has sworn. My wife, this princess, dear to fame, Is' Sita the Videhan dame. Obedient to my sire's behest And by the queen my mother pressed, To keep the law and merit win, I sought this wood to harbour in. But speak, for I of thee in turn Thy name, and race, and sire would learn. Thou art of giant race, I ween, Changing at will thy form and mien. Speak truly, and the cause declare That bids thee to these shades repair.' Thus Rama spoke: the demon heard, And thus replied by passion spurred: ' Of giant race, what form soe'er My fancy wills; 'tis mine to wear. Named Siirpanakha here I stray, And where I walk spread wild dismay. King Ravan is my brother: fame Has taught perchance his dreaded name. Strong Kumbhakarna slumbering deep In chains of never-ending sleep: Vibhishan of the duteous mind, In needs unlike his giant kind: Dushan and Khara, brave and bold Whose fame by every tongue is told: Their might by mine is far surpassed; But when, O best of men, I cast These fond eyes on thy form, I see My chosen love and lord in thee. Endowed with wondrous might am I: Where'er my fancy leads I fly. The poor misshapen Sita.leave, And me, thy worthier bride receive. Look on my beauty, and prefer A spouse more meet than one like her: I'll eat that ill-formed woman there: Thy brother too her fate shall share. But come, beloved; thou shalt roam With me through all our woodland home: Each varied grove with me shalt seek, And gaze upon each mountain peak.'
As thus she spoke, the monster gazed With sparkling eyes where passion blazed: Then he, in lore of language learned, This answer eloquent returned; CANTO XVIII.
THE MUTILATION.
On her ensnared in Kama's net His eyes the royal Rama set, Canto XIX.
THE RAMAYAN, And thus, her passion to beguile, Addressed her with a gentle smile: ' I have a wife: behold her here, My Sita ever true and dear: And one like thee will never brook Upon a rival spouse to look. But there my brother Laksbmatt stands i Unchained is he by nuptial bands: A youth heroic* loved of all, Gracious and gallant, fair and tall. With winning looks, most nobly bred, Unmatched till now, he longs to wed. Meet to enjoy thy youthful charms, O take him to thy loving arms. Enamoured on his bosom lie, Fair damsel of the radiant eye, As the warm sunlight loves to rest Upon her darling Meru's breast.'
The hero spoke, the monster heard, While passion still her bosom stirred. Away from llama's side she broke, And thus in turn to Lakshman spoke: Come, for thy bride take me who shine In fairest grace that suits with thine. Thou by my side from grove to grove Of Dandak's wild in bliss shalt rove.'
Then Lakshmao, skilled in soft address, Wooed by the amorous giantess, With art to turn her love aside, To Surpanakhi thus replied: ' And can so high a dame agree The slave-wife of a slave to be? I, lotus-hued! in good and ill Am bondsman to my brother's will. Be thou, fair creature radiant- eyed, My honoured brother's younger bride: With faultless tint and dainty limb, A happy wife, bring joy to him. He from his spouse grown old and grey, Deformed, untrue, will turn away, Her withered charms will gladly leave, And to his fair young darling cleave. For who could be so fond and blind, O loveliest of all female kind, To love another dame and slight Thy beauties rich in all delight? ' Thus Lakshman praised in scornful jest The long-toothed liend with loathly breast, Who fondly heard his speech, nor knew His mocking words were aught but true. Again inflamed with love she fled To Rama, in his leafy shed Where Sita rested by his side, And to the mighty victor cried: ' What, Rama, canst thou blindly cling To this old false misshapen thing? Wilt thou refuse the charms of youth For withered breast and grinning tooth 1 Canst thou this wretched creature prize And look on me with scornful eyes'/ This aged crone this very hour Before thy face will I devour: Then joyous, from all rivals free, Through Dandak will I stray with thee.1 She spoke, "and with a glance of flame Rushed on the fawn-eyed Maithil dame: \ So would a horrid meteor mar Fair Rohini's soft beaming star. But as the furious fiend drew near, Like Death's dire noose which chills with fear, The mighty chief her purpose stayed, And spoke, his brother to upbraid: ' Ne'er should we just with creatures rude, Of savage race and wrathful mood. Think, Lakshman, think how nearly slain My dear Videhari breathes again. Let not the hideous wretch escape Without a mark to mar her shape. Strike, lord of men, the monstrous fiend, Deformed, and foul, and evil-miened.'
He spoke: then Lakshman's wrath rose high, And there before his brother's eye, He drew that sword which none could stay, And cleft her nose and ears away. Noseless and earless, torn and maimed, With fearful shrieks the fiend exclaimed, And frantic in her wild distress Besought the distant wilderness. Deformed, terrific, huge, and dread, As on she moved, her gashes bled, And groan succeeded groan as loud As roars, ere rain, the thunder cloud. Still on the fearful monster passed, While streams of blood kept falling fast, And with a roar, and arms outspread Within the boundless wood she fled. To Janasthan the monster flew; Fierce Khara there she found, With chieftains of the giant crew In thousands ranged around. Before his awful feet she bent And fell with piercing cries, As when a bolt in swift descent Comes flashing from the skies. There for a while with senses dazed Silent she lay and scared: At length her drooping head she raised.
And all the tale declared, How Rama, Lakshman, and the dame Had reached that lonely place: Then told her injuries and shame, And showed her bleeding face.
CANTO XIX.
THE ROOSING OF KHARA.
When Khara saw his sister lie With blood-stained limbs and troubled eye, THE RAMAYAN.
Boolt III.
Wild fury in his bosom woke, And thus the monstrous giant spoke; ' Arise, my sister; cast away This numbing terror and dismay, And straight the impious hand declare That marred those features once so fair. For who his finger tip will lay On the black snake in childish play, And unattacked, with idle stroke His poison-laden fang provoke? Ill-fated fool, he little knows Death's noose around his neck he throws, Who rashly met thee, and a draught Of life-destroying poison quaffed. Strong, fierce as death, 'tw as thi ne to choose Thy way at will, each shape to use; In power and might like one of us: What hand has maimed and marred thee thus?
thus?
What God or fiend this deed has wrought, What bard or sage of lofty thought Was armed with power supremely great Thy form to mar and mutilate? In all the worlds not one I see Would dare a deed to anger me: Not Indra's self, the Thousand-eyed, Beneath whose hand fierce Paka1 died. My life-destroying darts this day His guilty breath shall rend away, E'en as the thirsty wild swan drains Each milk-drop that the wave retains. Whose blood in foaming streams shall burst O'er the dry ground which lies at hirst, When by my shafts transfixed and slain He falls upon the battle plain? From whose dead corpse shall birds of air The mangled flesh and sinews tear, And in their gory feast delight, When I have slain. him in the fight? Not God or bard or wandering ghost, No giant of our mighty host Shall step between us, or avail To save the wretch when I assail. Collect each scattered sense, recall Thy troubled thoughts, and tell me all. What wretch attacked thee in the way, And quelled thee in victorious fray?'
His breast with burning fury fired, Thus Khara of the fiend inquired: And then with many a tear and sigh Thus ^urpanakha made reply: ' 'Tis Dasaratha's sons, a pair Strong, resolute, and young, and fair: In coats of dark and blackdeer's hide, And like the radiant lotus eyed: On berries roots and fruit they feed, And lives of saintly virtue lead: With ordered senses undefiled, Kama and Lakshman are they styled.
A demon slain by ludra.
Fair as the Minstrels' King1 are they, And stamped with signs of regal sway. I know not if the heroes trace Their line from Gods or Danav55 race. There by these wondering eyes between The noble youths a dame was seen, Fair, blooming, young, with dainty waist, And all her bright apparel graced. For her with ready heart and mind The royal pair their strength combined, And brought me to this last distress, Like some lost woman, comfortless. Perfidious wretch! my soul is fain Her foaming blood and theirs to drain. O let me head the vengeful fight, And with this hand my murderers smite. Come, brother, hasten to fulfil This longing of my eager will. On to the battle! Let me drink Their lifeblood as to earth they sink.'
Then Khara, by his sister pressed, Inflamed with fury, gave his nest To twice seven giants of his crew, Fierce as the God of death to view: 'Two men equipped with arms, who wear Deerskin and bark and matted hair, Leading a beauteous dame, have strayed To the wild gloom of Dandak's shade. These men, this cursed woman slay, And hasten back without delay, That this my sister's lips may be Red with the Jifeblood of the three. Giants, my wounded sister longs To take this vengeance for her wrongs. With speed her dearest wish fulfil, And with your might these creatures kill. Soon as your matchless strength shall lay These brothers dead in battle fray, She in triumphant joy will laugh, And their hearts' blood delighted quaff.'
The giants heard the words he said, And forth with Surpanakha sped, As mighty clouds in autumn fly Urged by the wind along the sky.
CANTO XX.
THE GIANTS' DEATH.
Fierce Surpanakha with her train To Rama's dwelling came again, And to the eager giants showed Where Sita and the youths abode. Within the leafy cot they spied The hero by his consort's side, And faithful Lakshman ready still To wait upon his brother's will.
1 Chitraratha, King of the Gaudharvas. 3 Titanic.
Canto XXL THE RAMAYAN.
Then noble Rama raised his eye And saw the giants standing nigh, And tiien, as nearer still they pressed. His glorious brother thus addressed, ' Be thine a while, my brother dear, To watch o'er Pita's safety here, And 1 will slay these creatures who The footsteps of my spouse pursue.'
He spoke, and reverent Lakshmau heard Submissive to his brother's word. 3'he son of Raghu, virtuous-souled, Strung his great bow adorned with gold, And, with the weapon in his hand, Addressed him to the giant band: 4 Rama and Lakshman we, who spring From Dasaratha, mighty king; We dwell a while with S'ita here In Uandak forest wild and drear. On woodland roots and fruit we feed, And lives of strictest rule we lead. Say why would ye our lives oppress Who sojourn in the wilderness. Sent hither by the hermits' prayer With bow and darts unused to spare, For vengeance am I come to slay Your sinful band in battle fray. Rest as ye are: remain content, Nor try the battle's dire event. Unless your offered lives ye spurn, 0 rovers of the night, return.'
They listened wnile the hero spoke, Arid fury in each breast awoke. The Brahman-slayers raised on high Their mighty spears and made reply: They spoke with eyes aglow with ire, While Rama's burnt with vengeful lire, And answered thus, in fury wild, That peerless chief whose tones were mild: • Nay thou hast angered, overbold, Khara our lord, the mighty- souled, And for thy sin, in battle strife Shalt yield to us thy forfeit life. Mo power hast thou alone to stand Against the numbers of our band. 'Twere vain to match thy single might Against us in the front of right. W hen we equipped for fight advance With brandished pike and mace and lance, Thou, vanquished in the desperate field, Ihy^bow, thy strength, thy life shalt yield.1 With bitter words and threatening mien 1 hus furious spoke the fierce fourteen, And raising scymitar and spear On Rama rushed in wild career. Their levelled spears the giant crew Against the matchless hero threw. His bow the son of Raghu bent, And twice seven shafts to meet them sent, - And every javelin sundered fell By the bright darts he aimed. so well. The hero saw: his auger grew To fury: from his side he drew Fresh sunbright arrows pointed keen, In number, like his foes, fourteen.
His bow he grasped, the string he drew, And gazing on the giant crew, As Indra casts the levin, so 8hot forth his arrrows at the foe.
The hurtling arrows, stained with gore, Through the fiends' breasts a passage tore, And in the earth lay buried deep As serpents through an ant-hill creep.
Like trees up torn by stormy blast The shattered fiends to earth were cast, And there with mangled bodies they, Bathed in their blood and breathless, lay.
With fainting heart and furious eye The demon saw her champions die. With drying wounds that scarcely bled Back to her brother's home she fled. Oppressed with pain, with loud lament At Khara's feet the monster bent. There like a plant whence slowly come The trickling drops of oozy gum, With her grim features pale with pain She poured her tears in ceaseless rain. There routed Surpanakha lay, And told her brother all, The issue of the bloody fray, Her giant champions' fall.
CANTO XXL THE ROUSING OF KHARA.
Low in the dust he saw her lie, And Khara's wrath grew fierce and high, Aloud he cried to her who came Disgracefully with baffled aim: ' I sent with thee at thy request The bravest of my giants, best Of all who feed upon the slain: Why art thou weeping here again? Still to their master's interest true, My faithful, noble, loyal crew, Though slaughtered in the bloody fray, Would yet their monarch's word obey. Now I, my sister, fain would know The cause of this thy fear and woe, Why like a snake thou writhest there, Calling for aid in wild despair. Nay, lie not thus in lowly guise: Oast off thy weakness and arise!'
With soothing words the giant chief Assuaged the fury of her grief. Her weeping eyes she slowly dried And to her brother thus replied: ' I sought thee in my shame and fear With severed nose and mangled ear: My gashes like a river bled, I bought thee and was comforted.
THE RAM AY AN.
Bool III.
Those twice seven giants, brave and strong, Thou sentest to avenge the wrong, To lay the savage Rama low, And Lakshman who misused me so. But ah, the shafts of Rama through The bodies of my champions flew: Though madly tierce their spears they plied, Beneath his conquering might they died. I saw them, famed for strength and speed, I saw my herpes fall and bleed: Great trembling seized my every limb At the great deed achieved by him. ]n trouble, horror, doubt, and dread, Again to thee for help I fled. "While terror haunts my troubled sight, I seek thee, rover of the night. And canst thou not thy sister free From this wide waste of troublous sea Whose sharks are doubt and terror, where Each wreathing wave is dark despair? Low lie on earth thy giant train By ruthless Kama's arrows slain, And all the mighty demons, fed On blood, who followed me are dead. Now if within thy breast may be Pity for them and love for me, If thou, O rover of the night, Have valour and with him can fight, Subdue the giants' cruel foe Who dwells where Damjak's thickets grow. But if thine arm in vain assay This queller of his foes to slay, Now surely here before thine eyes, Wronged and ashamed thy sister dies. Too well, alas, too well I see That, strong in war as thou mayst be, Thou canst not in the battle stand When Rama meets thee hand to hand. Go forth, thou hero but in name, Assuming might thou canst not claim; (Jail friend arid kin, no longer stay; Away from Janasthan, away! Shame of thy race! the weak alone Beneath thine arm may sink o'erthrown; Fly Kama and his brother: they Are men too strong for thee to slay. How canst thou hope, O weak and base, To make this grove thy dwelling-place? With Rama's might unmeet to vie, O'ermastered thou wilt quickly die. A hero strong in valorous deed Is Rama, Dasaratha's seed; And scarce of weaker might than he His brother chief who mangled me.'
Thus wept and wailed in deep distress The grim misshapen giantess: Before her brother's feet she lay O'erwhelmed with grief, and swooned away.
CANTO XXII KHARA'S WRATH, Roused by the taunting words she spoke. The mighty Khara's wrath awoke, And there, while giants girt him round, In these tierce words an utterance found; * I cannot, peerless one, contain. Mine anger at this high disdain, Galling as salt when sprinkled o'er The rawness of a bleeding sore. Kama in little count I hold, Weak man whose days are quickly told. The caitiff with his life to -clay For all his evil deeds shall pay. Dry, sister, dry each needless tear, Stint thy lament and banish fear, For Rama and his brother go This day to Yama's realm below. My warrior's axe shall stretch him slain, Ere set of sun, upon the plain, Then shall thy sated lips be red With his warm blood in torrents shed.1 As Khara's speech the demon heard, With sudden joy her heart was stirred: She fondly praised him as the boast And glory of the giant host. First moved to ire by taunts and stings, Now soothed by gentle flatten ngs, To Dushan, who his armies led, The demon Khara spoke, and said: 4 Friend, from the host of giants call Full fourteen thousand, best of all, Slaves of my will, of fearful might, Who never turn their backs in fight; Fiends who rejoice to slay and mar, Dark as the clouds of autumn are: Make ready quickly, O my friend, My chariot and the bows I bend. My swords, my shafts of brilliant sheen, My divers lances long and keen. On to the battle will I lead These heroes of Pulastya's seed, And thus, O famed for warlike skill, Kama my wicked foeman k^1.'
He spoke, and ere his speech was done, His chariot glittering like the sun, Yoked and announced, by Dushan's care, With dappled steeds was ready there. High as a peak from Meru rent It burned with golden ornament; The pole of lazulite, of gold Were the bright wheels whereon it rolled. With gold and moonstone blazoned o'er, Fish, flowers, trees, rocks, the panels bore; Auspicious birds embossed thereon, And stars in costly emblem shone. O'er flashing swords his banner hung, And sweet bells, ever tinkling, swung.
Canto XXIII.
THE RAM A? AN.
That mighty host with sword and shield And car was ready for the field: And Khara saw, and Dushan cried, ' Forth to the fight, ye giants', ride.' Then banners waved, and shield and sword Flashed as the host obeyed its lord. From Janasthan they sallied out With eager speed, and din, and shout, Armed with the mace for close attacks, The bill, the spear, the battle-axe, Steel quoit and club that flashed afar, Huge bow and sword and scymitar, The dart to pierce, the bolt to strike, The murderous bludgeon, lance, and pike. So forth from Janasthan, intent On Khara's will, the monsters went. He saw their awful march: not far Behind the host he drove his car. Ware of his master's will, to speed The driver urged each gold-decked steed. Then forth the warrior's coursers sprang, And with tumultuous murmur rang Each distant quarter of the sky And realms that intermediate lie. High and more high within his breast His pride triumphant rose, While terrible as Death he pressed Or. ward to slay his foes. * More swiftly yet,' as on they fled, He cried in thundering tones Loud as a cloud that overhead Hails down a flood of stones.
CANTO XXIII.
THE OMENS.
? forth upon its errand went _ iiat huge ferocious armament, An awful cloud, in dust and gloom, With threatening thunders from its womb Poured in sad augury a flood Of rushing water mixt with blood. The monarch's steeds, though strong and fleet, Stumbled and fell: and yet their feet Passed o'er the bed of flowers that lay Fresh gathered on the royal way. No gleam of sunlight struggled through The sombre pall of midnight hue, Edged with a line of bloody red, Like whirling torches overhead, A vulture, fierce, of mighty size, Terrific with his cruel eyes, Perched on the staff enriched with gold, Whence hung the flag in many a fold. Each ravening bird, each beast of prey Where Janasthan's wild thickets lay, Rose with a long discordant cry And gathered as the host went by, And from the south long, wild, and shrill, Came spirit voices boding ill.
Like elephants in frantic mood, Vast clouds terrific, sable-hued, Hid all the sky where'er they bore Their load of water mixt with gore.
Above, below, around were spread Thick shades of darkness strange and dread, Nor could the wildered glance descry A point or quarter of the sky.
Then came o'er heaven a sanguine hue, Though evening's flush not yet was due, While each ill-omened bird that flies Assailed the king with harshest cries.
There screamed the vulture and the crane, And the loud jackal shrieked again.
Each hideous thing that bodes aright Disaster in the coming fight, With gaping mouth that hissed and flamed, The ruin of the host proclaimed.
Eclipse untimely reft away The brightness of the Lord of Day, And near his side was seen to glow A mace-like comet boding woe.
Then while the sun was lost to view A mighty wind arose and blew, And stars like fireflies shed their light, Nor waited for the distant night.
The lilies drooped, the brooks were dried, The fish and birds that swam them died, And every tree that was so fair With flower and fruit was stripped and bare.
The wild wind ceased, yet, raised on high, Dark clouds of dust involved the sky.
In doleful twitter long sustained The restless Sank as1 complained, And from the heavens with flash and flame Terrific meteors roaring came.
Earth to her deep foundation shook With rock and tree and plain and brool?, As Khara with triumphant shout, Borne in his chariot, sallied out.
His left arm throbbed: he knew full well That omen, and his visage fell.
Each awful sign the giant viewed, And sudden tears his eye bedewed.
Care on his brow sat chill and black, Yet mad with wrath he turned not back.
Upon each fearful sight that raised The shuddering hair the chieftain gazed, And laughing in his senseless pride Thus to his giant legions cried: 'By sense of mightiest strength upborne, These feeble signs I laugh to scorn.
I could bring down the stars that shine In heaven with these keen shafts of mine.
Impelled by warlike fury I Could cause e'en Death himself to die.
i The Sarik£ is the Maina, a bird like a starling, THE RAM AY AN.
£ook III.
I will not seek my home again Until my pointed shafts have slain This Raghu's son so fierce in pride, And Lakshman by his brother's side. And she, my sister, she for whom These sons of Raghu meet their doom, She with delighted lips shall drain The lifeblood of her foemen slain. Fear not for me: I ne'er have known Defeat, in battle overthrown. Fear not for me, O giants; true Are the proud words I speak to you. The king of Gods who rules on high, If wild Airavat bore him nigh, Should fall before me bolt in hand: And shall these two my wrath withstand! ' He ended and the giant host Who heard their chief's triumphant boast, Rejoiced with equal pride elate, Entangled in the noose of Fate.
Then met on high in bright array, With eyes that longed to see the fray, God and Gandharva, sage and saint, With beings pure from earthly taint. Blest for good works aforetime wrought, Thus each to other spake his thought: 4 Now joy to Brahmans, joy to kine, And all whom world count half divine I May Raghu's offspring slay in fight Pulastya's sons who roam by night!' In words like these and more, the best Of high-souled saints their hopes expressed, Bending their eager eyes from where Car- borne with Gods they rode in air. Beneath them stretching far, they viewed The giants' death-doomed multitude. They saw where, urged with fury, far Before the host rolled Khara's car, And close beside their leader came Twelve giant peers of might and fame.1 Four other chiefs58 before the rest Behind their leader Dushan pressed. Impetuous, cruel, dark, and dread, All thirsting for the fray, The hosts of giant warriors sped Onward upon their way. With eager speed they reached the spot Where dwelt the princely two, — Like planets in a league to blot The sun and moon from view.
1 Their names which are rather un- manageable and of no importance are Syenagami, Prithusyarna, Yajnasatru, Vihangama, Durjaya, Paraviraksha, Purusha, Kalakamuka, Meghaniali, Maha- mali, Varasya, Rudhirasaua.
* Mahakapala, Sthulaksha, Pramatha, Trisiras.
CANTO XXIV.
THE HOST IN SIGHT.
While Khara. urged by valiant rage, Drew near that little hermitage, Those wondrous signs in earth and sky Smote on each prince's watchful eye. When Rama saw those signs of woe Fraught with destruction to the foe, With bold impatience scarce repressed His brother chief he thus addressed: 1 These fearful signs, my brother bold, Which threaten all our foes, behold: All laden, as they strike the view, With ruin to the fiendish crew. The angry clouds are gathering fast, Their skirts with dusty gloom o'ercast, And harsh with loud-voiced thunder, rain Thick drops of blood upon the plain- See, burning for the coming tight, My shafts with wreaths of smoke are white, And my great bow embossed with gold Throbs eager for the master's hold. Each bird that through the forest flies Sends out its melancholy cries. All signs foretell the dangerous strife, The jeopardy of limb and life. Each sight, each sound gives warning clear That foemen meet and death is near. But courage, valiant brother! well The throbuings of mine arm foretell That ruin waits the hostile powers, And triumph in the fight is ours. I hail the welcome omen: thou Art bright of face and clear of brow. For Lakshman, when the eye can trace A cloud upon the warrior's face Stealing the cheerful light away, His life is doomed in battle fray. List, brother, to that awful cry: With shout and roar the fiends draw nigh. With thundering beat of many a drum The savage-hearted giants come. The wise who value safety know To meet, prepared, the coming blow: In paths of prudence trained aright They watch the stroke before it smite. Take thou thine arrows and thy bow, And with the Maithil lady go For shelter to the mountain cave Where thickest trees their branches wave. I will not have thee, Lakshman, say One word in answer, but obey.' By all thy honour for these feet Of mine, dear brother, 1 entreat. Thy warlike arm, I know could, smite To death these rovers of the night; But I this day would fight alone Till all the fiends be overthrown.'