He ceased: his finger bathed in dew Across Sugriva's eyes he drew. From dulling mist his vision freed', And spoke these words to suit the need: 'No time is this for fear: away With fainting heart and weak delay. Now, e'en the tear which sorrow wrings From loving eyes destruction brings. Up, on to battle at the head Of those brave troops which Rama led. Or guardian by his side remain Till sense and strength the prince regain. Soon shall the trance -bound' pair revive, And from our hearts all sorrow drive. Though prostrate on the earth he lie, THE RAMA YAN.
Boole VI.
Deem not that Rama's death is nigh; Deem not that Lakshnii will forget Or leave her darling champion yet. Rest here and be thy heart consoled; Ponder my word?, be firm and bold. I. foremost in the battle field, Will rally all who faint or yield. Their staring eyes betray their fear; They whisper each in other's ear. They, when they hear my cheering cry And see the friend of R&ma nigh, Will cast their gloom and fears away Like faded wreaths of yesterday.'
Thus calmed he King Sugriva's dread; Then gave new heart to those who fled. Fierce Indrajit, his soul on fire With pride of conquest, sought his sire, Raised reverent hands, and told him all, The battle and the princes' fall. Rejoicing at his foes' defeat Upsprang the monarch from his seat, Girt by his giant courtiers: round His warrior son his arms he wound, Close kisses on his head applied, And heard again how Rama died.
CANTO XLVII.
SITA'.
Still on the ground where R£ma slept Their faithful watch theVaiiars kept. There Angad stood o'er whelmed with grief And many a lord and warrior chief; And, ranged in densest mass around, Their tree-armed legions held the ground. Far ranged each Vanar's eager eye, Now swept the land, now sought the sky, All fearing, if a leaf was stirred, A Rakshas in the sound they heard. The lord of Lanka in his hall, Rejoicing at his foeman's fall, Commanded and the warders came Who ever watched the Maithil dame. •Go,' cried the Rakshas king, * relate To Janak's child her husband's fate. Low on the earth her Rama lies, And dark in death are Lakshman's eyes. Bring forth my car and let her ride To view the chieftains side by side. The lord to whom her fancy turned For whose dear sake my love she spurned, Lies smitten, as he fiercely led The battle, with his brother dead. Lead forth the royal lady: go, Her husband's lifeless body show. Then from all doubt and terror free Her softening heart will turn to me.' They heard his speech: the car was brought; That shady grove the warders sought Where, mourning Rama night and day, The melancholy lady lay. They placed her in the car and through The yielding air they swiftly flew. The lady looked upon the plain, Looked on the heaps of Vanar slain, Saw where, triumphant in the fight, Thronged the fierce rovers of the night, And Vanar chieftains, mournful-eyed, Watched by the fallen brothers' side. There stretched upon his gory bed Each brother lay as lie the dead, With shattered mail and splintered bow, Pierced by the arrows of the foe. When on the pair her eyes she bent, Burst from her lips a wild lament. Her eyes o'erflowed, she groaned and sighed And thus in trembling accents cried: CANTO XLVIII. SITA'S LAMENT.
' False are they all, proved false to-day, The prophets of my fortune, they Who in the tranquil time of old A blessed life for me foretold, Predicting I should never know A childless dame's, a widow's woe, False are they all, their words are vain. For thou, my lord and life, art slain. False was the priest and vain his lore Who blessed me in those days of yore By Rama's side in bliss to reign; For thou, my lord and life, art slain. They hailed me happy from my birth, Proud empress of the lord of earth. They blessed me— but the thought is pain- For thou, my lord and life, art slain. Ah, fruitless hope! each glorious sign That stamps the future queen is mine, With no ill-omened mark to show A widow's crushing hour of woe. They say my hair is black and fine, They praise my brows' continuous line; My even teeth divided well, My bosom for its graceful swell. They praise my feet and fingers oft; They say my skin is smooth and soft, And call me happy to possess The twelve fair marks that bring success. But ah, what profit shall I gain \ Thou, O my lord and life, art slain. The flattering seer in former days My gentle girlish smile would praise, 1 On each foot, and at the root of ead finger, Canto XLIX.
THE RAMAYAN.
And swear that holy water shed By Brahman hands upon my head Should make me queen, a monarch's bride: How is the promise verified? Matchless in might the brothers slew In Jariasthan the giant crew. And forced the indomitable sea To let them pass to rescue me. Theirs was the fiery weapon hurled By him who rules the watery world;! Theirs the dire shaft by Indra sped; Theirs was the mystic Brahma's Head.* In vain they fought, the bold and brave: A coward's hand their death- wounds gave. By secret shafts and magic spell The brothers, peers of Indra, fell. That foe, if seen by Rama's eye One moment, had not lived to fly. Though swift as thought, his utmost speed Had failed him in the hour of need. No might, no tear, no prayer may stay Fate's dark inevitable day. Nor could their matchless valour shield These heroes on the battle field. I sorrow for the noble dead, I mourn my hopes for ever fled; But chief my weeping eyes o'erflow For Queen Kausalya's hopeless woe. The widowed queen is counting now Each hour prescribed by Rama's vow, And lives because she longs to see Once more her princely sons and me.'
Then Trijata,3 of gentler mould Though Rakshas born, her grief consoled: 4 Dear Queen, thy causeless woe dispel: Thy husband lives, and all is well. Look round: in every Vanar face The light of joyful hope I trace. Not thus, believe me, shine the eyes Of warriors when their leader dies An Army, when the chief is dead. Flies from the field dispirited. Here, undisturbed in firm array, The Vanars by the brothers stay. Love prompts my speech: no longer grieve; Ponder my counsel, and believe. These lips of mine from earliest youth Have spoken, and shall speak, the truth. Deep in my heart thy gentle grace And patient virtues hold their place. Turn, lady, turn once more thine eye: Though pierced with shafts the heroes lie, 1 Varun.
* The name of one of the mystical weapons the command over which was given by Visvamitra to Rama, as related in Book I.
3 One of Sita's guard, and her com- forter on a former occasion also.
On brows and cheeks with blood-drops wet The light of beauty lingers yet. Such beauty ne'er is found in death, But vanishes with parting breath. O, trust the hope these tokens give; The heroes are not dead, but live.'
Then Sita joined her hands, and sighed, ' O, may thy words be verified!' The car was turned, which fleet as thought The mourning queen to Lanka brought, They led her to the garden, where Again she yielded to despair, Lamenting for the chiefs who bled On earth's cold bosom with the dead.
CANTO XLIX. RAMA'S LAMENT.
Banged round the spot where Rama fell Each Vanar chief stood sentinel.
At length the mighty hero broke The trance that held him, and awoke.
He saw his senseless brother, dyed With blood from head to foot, and cried; 'What have I now to do with life Or rescue of my prisoned wife, When thus before my weeping eyes, Slain in the fight, my brother lies?
A queen like Sita I may find Among the best of womankind, But never such a brother, tried In war, my guardian, friend, and guide.
If he be dead, the brave and true, I will not live but perish too.
How, reft of Lakshman, shall I meet My mother, and Kaikeyi greet?
My brother's eager question brook, And fond Sumitra's longing look?
What shall 1 say,o'erwhelmed with shame To cheer the miserable dame?
How, when she hears her son is dead, Will her sad heart be comforted?
Ah me, for longer life unfit This mortal body will I quit; For Lakshman slaughtered for my sake, From sleep of death will never wake.
Ah when I sank oppressed with care, Thy gentle voice could soothe despair.
And art thou, O my brother, killed?
Is that dear voice for ever stilled?
Cold are those lips, my brother, whence Came never word to breed offence {\ Ah. stretched upon the gory plain My brother lies untimely slain; Numbed is the mighty arm that slew The leaders of the giant crew.
Transfixed with shafts, with blood-streams red. Thou liest ou thy lowly bed: THE RAM AY AN.
Book VI, So sinks to rest, his journey done, Mid arrowy rays the crimson sun. Thou, when from home and sire I fled, The wood's wild ways with me wouldst tread: Now close to thine my steps shall be, For 1 in death will follow thee. Vibhishan now will curse my name, And R4ma as a braggart blame, Who promised— but his word is vain— That he in Lanka's isle should reign. Return, Sugriva: reft of me Lead back thy Vanars o'er the sea, Nor hope to battle face to face With him who rules the giant race, Well have ye done and nobly fought, And death in desperate combat sought. All that heroic might can do, Brave Vanars, has been done by you. My faithful friends 1 now dismiss: Return: my last farewell is this.'
Bedewed with tears was every cheek As thus the Vanars heard him speak. Vibhishan on the field had stayed The Vanar hosts who fled dismayed. Now lifting up his mace on high With martial step the chief drew nigh. The hosts who watched by Rama's side Beheld his shape and giant stride. 'Tis he, 'tis Ravan's son, they thought: And all in flight their safety sought.
CANTO L.
THE BROKEN SPELL.
Sugriva viewed the flying crowd, And thus to Angad cried aloud: ' Why run the trembling hosts, as flee Storm-scattered barks across the sea?' 'Dost thou not mark,' the chief replied, * Transfixed with shafts, with blood- streams dyed, With arrowy toils about them wound, The sons of Raghu on the ground V That moment brought Viohishan near: Sugriva knew the cause of fear, And ordered Jamba van, who led The bears, to check the hosts that fled. The king of bears his hest obeyed: The Vauars' headlong flight was stayed. A little while Vibhishan eyed The brothers fallen side* by side. His giant fingers wet with dew Across the heroes' eyes he drew, Still on the pair his sad look bent, And spoke these words in wild lament: 4 Ah for the mighty chiefs brought low By coward hand and stealthy blow! Brave pair who loved the open tight, Slain by that rover of the night. Dishonest is the victory won By Indrajit my brother's son. I on their might for aid relied, And in my cause they fought and died. Lost is the hope that soothed each pain: I live, but live no more to reign, While Lanka's lord, untouched by ill, Exults in safe defiance still.'
' Not thus,' Sugriva said, * repine, For Lanka's isle shall still be thine. Nor let the tyrant and his son Exult before the fight be done. These royal chiefs, though now dismayed, Freed from the spell by Garud's aid, Triumphant yet the foe shall meet And lay the robber at their feet.'
His hope the Vanar monarch told, And thus Vibhishan's grief consoled. Then to Sushen who at his side Expectant stood,. Sugriva cried: 'When these regain their strength and sense, Fly, bear them to Kishldndha hence. Here with my legions will I stay, The tyrant and his kinsmen slay, And, rescued from the giant king, The Maithil lady will I bring, Like Glory lost of old, restored By Sakra, heaven's almighty lord.'
Sushen made answer: * Hear me yet: When Gods and fiends in battle met, So fiercely fought the demon crew, So wild a storm of arrows flew, That heavenly warriors faint with pain, Sank smitten by the ceaseless rain. Vrihaspati,1 with herb and spell, Cured the sore wounds of those who fell. And, skilled in arts that heal and save, New life and sense and vigour gave. Far, on the.Milky Ocean's shore, Still grow those herbs in boundless store; Let swiftest Vanars thither speed And bring them for our utmost need. Those herbs that on the mountain spring Let Panas and Sampati bring, For well the wondrous leaves they know. That heal each wound and life bestow. Beside that sea which, churned of yore, The amrit on its surface bore, Where the white billows lash the land, Chandra's fair height and Drona stand. Planted by Gods each glittering steep Looks down upon the milky deep. Let fleet Hanuman bring us thence Those herbs of wondrous influence.'
Meanwhile the rushing wind grew loud, Red lightnings flashed from banks of cloud. The mountains shook, the wild waves rose, And smitten with resistless blows The preceptor of the Gods, Canto LIL THE RAM AT AN.
Unrooted fell each stately tree That fringed the margin of the sea. All life within the waters feared: Then, as the Vanars gazed, appeared King Garud's self, a wondrous sight, Disclosed in flames of fiery light. From his fierce eye in sudden dread All serpents in a moment fled. And those transformed to shafts that bound The princes vanished in the ground. On Raghu's sons his eyes he bent, And hailed the lords armi potent. Then o'er[them stooped the feathered king, And touched their faces with his wing. His healing touch their pangs allayed, And closed each rent the shafts had made. Again their eyes were bright and bold, Again the smooth skin shone like gold, Again within their shell enshrined Came memory and each power of mind; And, from those numbing bonds released, Their spirit, zeal, and strength increased. Firm on their feet they stood, and then Thus Rama spake, the lord of men: 1 By thy dear grace in sorest need From deadly bonds we both are freed. To these glad eyes as welcome now As Aja1 or my sire art thpu. Who art thou, mighty being? say, Thus glorious in thy bright array.' He ceased: the king of birds replied, While flashed his eye with joy and pride: ' In me, O Raghu's son, behold One who has loved thee from of old: Garud, the lord of all that fly. Thy guardian and thy friend am I. Not all the Gods in heaven could loose These numbing bonds, this serpent noose, Wherewith fierce Ravan's son, renowned For magic arts, your limbs had bound. Those arrows fixed in every limb Were mighty snakes, transformed by him. Blood-thirsty race, they live beneath The earth, and slay with venomed teeth. On, smite the lord of Lanka's isle, But guard you from the giants' guile Who each dishonest art employ And by deceit brave foes destroy. So shall the tyrant Ravan bleed, And Sita from his power be freed.' Thus Garud spake: then, swift as thought, The region 'of the sky he sought, Where in the distance like a blaze Of fire he vanished from the gaze.
Then the glad Vanars' joy rang out In many a wild tumultuous shout, And the loud roar of drum and shell Startled each distant sentinel.
CANTO LI.
DHU'MRAKSHA'S SALLY.
King Ravan, where he sat within, Heard from his hall the deafening din, And with a spirit ill at ease Addressed his lords in words like these: * That warlike shout, those joyous cries, Loud as the thunder of the skies, Upsent from every Vanar throat, Some new-born confidence denote. Hark, how the sea and trembling shore Re-echo with the Vanars' roar. Though arrowy chains, securely twined Both Kama and his brother bind, Still must the fierce triumphant shout Disturb my soul with rising doubt. Swift envoys to the army send, And learn what change these cries portend.* Obedient, at their master's call, Fleet giants clombthe circling wall. They saw the Vanars formed and led: They saw Sugriva at their head, Tiie brothers from their bonds released: And hope grew faint and fear increased. Their faces pale with doubt and dread, Back to the giant king they sped, And to his startled ear revealed The tidings of the battle field.
The flush of rage a while gave place To chilling fear that changed his face: ' What?' cried the tyrant.' are my foes Freed from the binding snakes that close With venomed clasp round head and limb, Bright as the sun and fierce like him: The spell a God bestowed of yore, The spell that never failed before? If arts like these be useless, how Shall giant strength avail us now Go forth, Dhumraksha, good at need, The bravest of my warriors lead: Force through the foe thy conquering way, And Rama and the Vanars slay.'
Before his king with reverence due Dhumraksha bowed him, and withdrew. Around him at his summons came Fierce legions led by chiefs of fame. Well armed with sword and spear and mace, They hurried to the gathering place, And rushed to battle, borne at speed By elephant and car and steed.
CANTO LIT.
DHU'MRAKSHA'S DEATH.
The Vanars saw the giant foe Pour from the gate in gallant show, THE RAMAYAN.
Eoolc V Rejoiced with warriors' fierce delight And shouted, longing for the fight. Near came the hosts and nearer yet: Dire was the tumult as they met, As, serried line to line opposed, The Vanars and the giants closed. Fierce on the foe the Vanars rushed, And, wielding trees, the foremost crushed; But, feathered from the heron's wing, With eager flight from sounding string. Against them shot with surest aim A ceaseless storm of arrows came; And, pierced in head and chest and side, Full many a Vanar fell and died. They perished slain in fierce attacks With sword and pike and battle-axe; But myriads following undismayed Their valour in the tight displayed. Unnumbered Vanars rent and torn With shaft and spear to earth were borne. But crushed by branchy trees and blocks Of jagged stone and shivered rocks Which the wild Vanars wielded well The bravest of the giants fell. Their trampled banners strewed the fields, And broken swords and spears and shields; And, crushed by blows which none might stay, stay, Cars, elephants, and riders lay. Dhuinraksha turned his furious eye And saw his routed legions fly. Still dauntless, with terrific blows, He struck and slew his foremost foes. At every blow, at every thrust, He laid a Vanar in the dust. So fell they neath the sword and lance In battle's wild Gandharva1 dance, Where clang of bow and clash of sword Did duty for the silvery chord, And hoofs that rang and steeds that neighed Loud concert for the dancers made. So fiercely from Dhumraksha's bow His arrows rained in ceaseless flow, The Vanar legions turned and fled To all the winds discomfited. Hanuman saw the Vanars fly: He heaved a mighty rock on high, His keen eyes flashed with wrathful fire, And. rapid as the Wind his sire, Strong as the rushing tempests are, He hurled it at the advancing car. Swift through the air the missile sang: The giant from the chariot sprang, Ere crushed by that terrific blow Lay pole and wheel and flag and bow. Hanuman's eyes with fury blazed; A mountain's rocky peak he raised, 1 The Gandharvas are warriors and Minstrels of Indra'i heaven, Poised it on high in act to throw, And rushed upon his giant foe. Dhuinraksha saw: he raised his mace And smote Hanuman on the face, Who maddened by the wound's keen par Again upon his foeman sprang; And on the giant's head the rock Descended with resistless shock. Crushed was each limb: a shapeless ma He lay upon the blood-stained grass.
CANTO LIII.
VAJRADANSHTRA'S SALLY.
When Ravan in his palace heard The mournful news, bis wrath \vasstirre< And, gasping like a furious snake, To Vajradanshtra thus he spake: * Go forth, my fiercest captain, lead The bravest of the giants' breed. Go forth, the sons of Raghu slay And by their side Sugriva lay.'
He ceased: the chieftain bowed hishea And forth with gathered troops he sped. Cars, camels, steeds were well arrayed, And coloured banners o'er them played. Rings decked his arms: about his waist The life-protecting mail was braced, And on the chieftain's forehead set Glittered his cap and coronet. Borne on a bannered car that glowed With golden sheen the warrior rode, And footmen marched with spear an sword sword And bow and mace behind their lord. In pomp and pride of warlike state They sallied from the southern gate, But saw, as on their way they sped, Dread signs around and overhead. For there were meteors falling fast, Though not a cloud its shadow cast; And each ill-omened bird and beast, Forboding death, the fear increased, While many a giant slipped and reeled, Falling before he reached the field, They met in mortal strife engaged, And long and fierce the battle raged. [ Spears, swords uplifted, gleamed an flashed, And many a chief to earth was dashed. A ceaseless storm of arrows rained, And limbs were pierced and blood -dh tained.
Terrific was the sound that filled The air, and every heart was chilled, As hurtling o'er the giants flew The rocks and trees which Vanars threv Fierce as a hungry lion when Unwary deer approach his den, lanto LIV.
THE RAM AY AN.
Angad, his eyes with fury red, Waving a tree above his head, Hushed with wild charge which none could stay Where stood the giants' dense array. Like tall trees levelled by the blast l-Jef ore him fell the giants fast, A.nd earth that streamed with blood was Btrown With warriors, steeds, and cars o'erthrown.
CANTO LIV.
VAJRADANSHTRA'S DEATH, The giant leader fiercely rained His arrows and the tight maintained. Each time the clanging cord he drew His certain shaft a Vanar slew. Then, as the creatures he has made Fly to the Lord of Life for aid, To Angad for protection fled The Vanar hosts dispirited. Then raged the battle fiercer yet When Angad and the giant met. A hundred thousand arrows, hot With flames of fire, the giant shot; And every shaft he deftly sent His foeinan'a body pierced and rent. From Angad's limbs ran floods of gore: A stately tree from earth he tore, Which, maddened as his gashes bled, He hurled at his opponent's head. His bow the dauntless giant drew; Co meet the tree swift arrows flew, Checked the huge missile's onward way, And harmless on the earth it lay. A while the Vanar chieftain gazed, Then from the earth a rock he raised Rent from a thunder-splitten height, And cast it with resistless might. The giant marked, and, mace in hand, Leapt from his chariot to the sand, Ere the rough mass descending broke The seat, the wheel, the pole and yoke. Then Angad seized a shattered hill, Whereon the trees were flowering still, And with full force the jagged peak Fell crashing on the giant's cheek. He staggered, reeled, and fell: the blood 3-ushed from the giant in a flood.
Reft of his might, each sense astray, A while upon the sand he lay. But strength and wandering sense returned Again his eyes with fury burned, And with his mace upraised on high He wounded Angad on the thigh. Then from his hand his mace he threw, And closer to his foeman drew.
Then with their fists they fought, and smote On brow and cheek and chest and throat. Worn out with toil, their limbs bedewed, With blood, the strife they still renewed, Like Mercury and fiery Mars Met in fierce battle mid the stars.
A while the deadly fight was stayed: Bach armed him with liis trusty blade Whose sheath with tinkling bells supplied, And golden net, adorned his side; And grasped his ponderous leather shield To fight till one should fall or yield. Uunumbered wounds they gave and took: Their wearied bodies reeled and shook. At length upon the sand that drank Streams of their blood the warriors sank, But as a serpent rears his head Sore wounded by a peasant's tread, So Angad, fallen on his knees, Yet gathered strength his sword to seize; And, severed by the glittering blade, The giant's head on earth was laid.
I omit Cantos LV., LVL, LVII., and LVIII. which relate how Akampan and Frahasta sally out and fall. There is little novelty of incident in these Cantos and the result are exactly the same as before. In Canto LV. Akampan, at the command of Ravan, leads forth his troops. Evil omens are seen and heard. The enemies meet, and many fall on each side, the Vanars transfixed with arrows, the Rakshases crushed with rocks and trees.
In Canto LVL Akampan sees that the Rakshases are worsted, and fights with redoubled rage and vigour. The Vanars fall fast under his "nets of arrows." Hanuman comes to the rescue. He throws mountain peaks at the giant which are dexterously stopped with flights of arrows; and at last beats him down and kills him with a tree.
In Canto LVII. Ravan is seriously alarmed. He declares that he himself, Kumbhakarna or Frahasta, must go forth. Prahasta sallies out vaunting that the fowls of the air shall eat their fill of Vanar flesh.
In Canto LVIII. the two armies meet. Dire is the conflict; ceaseless is the rain of stones and arrows. At last Nila meets Prahasta and breaks his bow. Prahasta leaps from his car, and the giant and the Vanar fight on foot. Nila with a huge tree crushes his opponent who falls like ft tree when its roots are cut, THE RAM AY AN.
Book V CANTO LIX.
BAVAN S SALLY.
They told him that the chief was killed, And Bavan's breast with rage was filled. Then, fiercely moved by wrath and pride, Thus to his lords the tyrant cried: 'No longer, nobles, may we show This lofty scorn for such a foe By whom our bravest, with his train Of steeds and elephants, is slain.' Myself this day will take the field, And Raghu's sons their lives shall yield.'
High on the royal car, that glowed With glory from his face, he rode; And tambour shell and drum pealed out, And joyful was each giant's shout. A mighty host, with eyeballs red Like flames of kindled fire, he led. He passed the city gate, and viewed, Arrayed, the Vanar multitude, Those wielding massy rocks, and these Armed with the stems of uptorn trees, And Rama with his eyes aglow With warlike ardour viewed the foe, And thus the brave Vibhishan, best Of weapon-wielding chiefs, addressed: 1 What captain leads this bright array Where lances gleam and banners play, And thousands armed with spear arid sword Await the bidding of their lord? ' ' Seest, thou,' Vibhishan answered, ' one Whose face is as the morning sun, Preeminent for hugest frame? Akampan1 is the giant's name, Behold that chieftain, chariot-borne, Whom Brahma's chosen gifts adorn. He wields a bow like Indra'sown; A lion on his flag is shown, His eyes with baleful fire are lit: 'Tis Bavan's son, 'tis Indrajit. There, brandishing in mighty hands His huge bow, Atikaya stands. And that proud warrior o'er whose head A moon- bright canopy is spread; Whose might, in many a battle tried, Has tamed imperial Indra's pride; Who wears a crown of burnished gold, Is Lanka's lord the lofty-souled.'
He ceased: and Kama knew his foe, And laid an arrow on his bow: ' Woe to the wretch,' he cried, ' whom fate Abandons to my deadly hate.' He spoke, and, firm by Lakshman's side, The giant to the fray defied.
1 ' It is to be understood,' says the commentator, * that this is not the Akam- pan who has recently been slain.'
The lord of Lanka bade his train Of warriors by the gates remain, To guard the city from surprise By Bama's forest-born allies. Then as some monster of the sea Cleaves swift-advancing billows, he Charged with impetuous ouset through The foe. and cleft the host in two. Sugriva ran, the king to meet: A hill uprooted from its seat He hurled,with trees that graced the heigh Against the rover of the night; But cleft with shafts that checked its wa Harmless upon the earth it lay. Then fiercer Ravan's fury grew, An arrow from his side he drew, Swift as a thunderbolt, aglow With tire, and launched it at the foe. Through flesh and bone a way it found, And stretched Sugriva on the ground. Sushen and Nala saw him fall, Gavaksha, Gavaya heard their call, Arid, poising hills, in act to fling They charged amain the giant king. They charged, they hurled the hills in vain He checked them with his arrowy rain, And every brave assailant felt The piercing wounds his missiles dealt, Then smitten by the shafts that came Keen, fleet, and thick, with certain aim, They fled to Rama, sure defence Against the oppressor's violence, Then, reverent palm to palm applied, Thus Lakshman to his brother cried: ' To me, my lord, the task entrust To lay this giant in the dust.'
' Go, then,' said Rama, ' bravely fight; Beat down this rover of the night. But he, unmatched in bold emprise, Fears not the Lord of earth and skies, Keep on thy guard: with keenest eye Thy moments of attack espy. Let hand and eye in due accord Protect thee with the bow and sword.'
Then Lakshman round his brother thre^ His mighty arms in honour due, Bent lowly down his reverent head, And onward to the battle sped. Hanuman from afar beheld How Ravan's shafts the Vanars quelled: To meet the giant's car he ran, Baised his right arm and thus began: • If Brahma's boon thy life has screened From Yaksha, God, Gandharva, fiend, With these contending fear no ill, But tremble at a Vanar still.' With fury flashing from his eye The lord of Lanka made reply: ' Strike, Vanar, strike: the fray begin, And hope eternal fame to win. This arm shall prove thee in the strife Canto LIX.
THE RAM AY AN.
And end thy glory and thy life.' ' Remember,' cried the Wind-God's son, 1 Remember all that I have done, My prowess, King, thou knowest well, Shown in the fight when Aksha1 fell.'