<SPAN name="toc433" id="toc433"></SPAN>
<SPAN name="pdf434" id="pdf434"></SPAN>
<SPAN name="CantoIII-XIX" id="CantoIII-XIX" class="tei tei-anchor"></SPAN>
<h2 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.88em; margin-top: 2.88em"><span style="font-size: 144%">Canto XIX. The Rousing Of Khara.</span></h2>
<div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em">
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">When Khara saw his sister lie</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">With blood-stained limbs and troubled eye,</div>
<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page252"></span><SPAN name="Pg252" id="Pg252" class="tei tei-anchor"></SPAN>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Wild fury in his bosom woke,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And thus the monstrous giant spoke;</div>
</div>
<div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em">
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 2.00em"><span class="tei tei-q" style="text-align: left">“Arise, my sister; cast away</span></div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">This numbing terror and dismay,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And straight the impious hand declare</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">That marred those features once so fair.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">For who his finger tip will lay</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">On the black snake in childish play,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And unattacked, with idle stroke</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">His poison-laden fang provoke?</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Ill-fated fool, he little knows</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Death's noose around his neck he throws,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Who rashly met thee, and a draught</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Of life-destroying poison quaffed.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Strong, fierce as death, 'twas thine to choose</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Thy way at will, each shape to use;</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">In power and might like one of us:</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">What hand has maimed and marred thee thus?</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">What God or fiend this deed has wrought,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">What bard or sage of lofty thought</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Was armed with power supremely great</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Thy form to mar and mutilate?</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">In all the worlds not one I see</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Would dare a deed to anger me:</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Not Indra's self, the Thousand-eyed,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Beneath whose hand fierce Páka<SPAN id="noteref_459" name="noteref_459" href="#note_459"><span class="tei tei-noteref" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 60%; vertical-align: super">459</span></span></SPAN>
died.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">My life-destroying darts this day</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">His guilty breath shall rend away,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">E'en as the thirsty wild swan drains</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Each milk-drop that the wave retains.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Whose blood in foaming streams shall burst</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">O'er the dry ground which lies athirst,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">When by my shafts transfixed and slain</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">He falls upon the battle plain?</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">From whose dead corpse shall birds of air</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The mangled flesh and sinews tear,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And in their gory feast delight,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">When I have slain him in the fight?</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Not God or bard or wandering ghost,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">No giant of our mighty host</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Shall step between us, or avail</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">To save the wretch when I assail.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Collect each scattered sense, recall</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Thy troubled thoughts, and tell me all.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">What wretch attacked thee in the way,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span class="tei tei-q" style="text-align: left">And quelled thee in victorious fray?”</span></div>
</div>
<div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em">
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 2.00em">His breast with burning fury fired,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Thus Khara of the fiend inquired:</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And then with many a tear and sigh</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Thus Śúrpaṇakhá made reply:</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span class="tei tei-q" style="text-align: left">“'Tis Daśaratha's sons, a pair</span></div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Strong, resolute, and young, and fair:</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">In coats of dark and blackdeer's hide,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And like the radiant lotus eyed:</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">On berries roots and fruit they feed,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And lives of saintly virtue lead:</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">With ordered senses undefiled,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Ráma and Lakshmaṇ are they styled.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Fair as the Minstrels' King<SPAN id="noteref_460" name="noteref_460" href="#note_460"><span class="tei tei-noteref" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 60%; vertical-align: super">460</span></span></SPAN> are they,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And stamped with signs of regal sway.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">I know not if the heroes trace</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Their line from Gods or Dánav<SPAN id="noteref_461" name="noteref_461" href="#note_461"><span class="tei tei-noteref" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 60%; vertical-align: super">461</span></span></SPAN> race.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">There by these wondering eyes between</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The noble youths a dame was seen,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Fair, blooming, young, with dainty waist,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And all her bright apparel graced.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">For her with ready heart and mind</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The royal pair their strength combined,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And brought me to this last distress,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Like some lost woman, comfortless.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Perfidious wretch! my soul is fain</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Her foaming blood and theirs to drain.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">O let me head the vengeful fight,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And with this hand my murderers smite.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Come, brother, hasten to fulfil</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">This longing of my eager will.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">On to the battle! Let me drink</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span class="tei tei-q" style="text-align: left">Their lifeblood as to earth they sink.”</span></div>
</div>
<div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em">
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 2.00em">Then Khara, by his sister pressed,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Inflamed with fury, gave his hest</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">To twice seven giants of his crew,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Fierce as the God of death to view:</div>
</div>
<div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em">
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 2.00em">'Two men equipped with arms, who wear</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Deerskin and bark and matted hair,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Leading a beauteous dame, have strayed</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">To the wild gloom of Daṇḍak's shade.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">These men, this cursed woman slay,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And hasten back without delay,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">That this my sister's lips may be</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Red with the lifeblood of the three.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Giants, my wounded sister longs</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">To take this vengeance for her wrongs.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">With speed her dearest wish fulfil,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And with your might these creatures kill.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Soon as your matchless strength shall lay</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">These brothers dead in battle fray,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">She in triumphant joy will laugh,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span class="tei tei-q" style="text-align: left">And their hearts' blood delighted quaff.”</span></div>
</div>
<div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em">
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 2.00em">The giants heard the words he said,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And forth with Śúrpaṇakhá sped,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">As mighty clouds in autumn fly</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Urged by the wind along the sky.</div>
</div></div>
<div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 4.00em; margin-top: 4.00em">
<SPAN name="toc435" id="toc435"></SPAN>
<SPAN name="pdf436" id="pdf436"></SPAN>
<SPAN name="CantoIII-XX" id="CantoIII-XX" class="tei tei-anchor"></SPAN>
<h2 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.88em; margin-top: 2.88em"><span style="font-size: 144%">Canto XX. The Giants' Death.</span></h2>
<div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em">
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Fierce Śúrpaṇakhá with her train</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">To Ráma's dwelling came again,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And to the eager giants showed</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Where Sítá and the youths abode.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Within the leafy cot they spied</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The hero by his consort's side,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And faithful Lakshmaṇ ready still</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">To wait upon his brother's will.</div>
<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page253"></span><SPAN name="Pg253" id="Pg253" class="tei tei-anchor"></SPAN>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Then noble Ráma raised his eye</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And saw the giants standing nigh,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And then, as nearer still they pressed.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">His glorious brother thus addressed,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span class="tei tei-q" style="text-align: left">“Be thine a while, my brother dear,</span></div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">To watch o'er Sítá's safety here,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And I will slay these creatures who</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span class="tei tei-q" style="text-align: left">The footsteps of my spouse pursue.”</span></div>
</div>
<div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em">
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 2.00em">He spoke, and reverent Lakshmaṇ heard</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Submissive to his brother's word.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The son of Raghu, virtuous-souled,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Strung his great bow adorned with gold,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And, with the weapon in his hand,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Addressed him to the giant band:</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span class="tei tei-q" style="text-align: left">“Ráma and Lakshmaṇ we, who spring</span></div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">From Daśaratha, mighty king;</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">We dwell a while with Sítá here</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">In Daṇḍak forest wild and drear.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">On woodland roots and fruit we feed,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And lives of strictest rule we lead.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Say why would ye our lives oppress</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Who sojourn in the wilderness.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Sent hither by the hermits' prayer</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">With bow and darts unused to spare,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">For vengeance am I come to slay</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Your sinful band in battle fray.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Rest as ye are: remain content,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Nor try the battle's dire event.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Unless your offered lives ye spurn,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span class="tei tei-q" style="text-align: left">O rovers of the night, return.”</span></div>
</div>
<div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em">
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 2.00em">They listened while the hero spoke,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And fury in each breast awoke.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The Bráhman-slayers raised on high</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Their mighty spears and made reply:</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">They spoke with eyes aglow with ire,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">While Ráma's burnt with vengeful tire,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And answered thus, in fury wild,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">That peerless chief whose tones were mild:</div>
</div>
<div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em">
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 2.00em"><span class="tei tei-q" style="text-align: left">“Nay thou hast angered, overbold,</span></div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Khara our lord, the mighty-souled,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And for thy sin, in battle strife</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Shalt yield to us thy forfeit life.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">No power hast thou alone to stand</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Against the numbers of our band.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">'Twere vain to match thy single might</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Against us in the front of fight.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">When we equipped for fight advance</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">With brandished pike and mace and lance,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Thou, vanquished in the desperate field,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span class="tei tei-q" style="text-align: left">Thy bow, thy strength, thy life shalt yield.”</span></div>
</div>
<div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em">
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 2.00em">With bitter words and threatening mien</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Thus furious spoke the fierce fourteen,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And raising scimitar and spear</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">On Ráma rushed in wild career.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Their levelled spears the giant crew</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Against the matchless hero threw.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">His bow the son of Raghu bent,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And twice seven shafts to meet them sent,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And every javelin sundered fell</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">By the bright darts he aimed so well.</div>
</div>
<div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em">
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 2.00em">The hero saw: his anger grew</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">To fury: from his side he drew</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Fresh sunbright arrows pointed keen,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">In number, like his foes, fourteen.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">His bow he grasped, the string he drew,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And gazing on the giant crew,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">As Indra casts the levin, so</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Shot forth his arrows at the foe.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The hurtling arrows, stained with gore,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Through the fiends' breasts a passage tore,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And in the earth lay buried deep</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">As serpents through an ant-hill creep</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Like trees uptorn by stormy blast</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The shattered fiends to earth were cast,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And there with mangled bodies they,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Bathed in their blood and breathless, lay.</div>
</div>
<div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em">
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 2.00em">With fainting heart and furious eye</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The demon saw her champions die.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">With drying wounds that scarcely bled</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Back to her brother's home she fled.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Oppressed with pain, with loud lament</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">At Khara's feet the monster bent.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">There like a plant whence slowly come</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The trickling drops of oozy gum,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">With her grim features pale with pain</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">She poured her tears in ceaseless rain,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">There routed Śúrpaṇakhá lay,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 2.00em">And told her brother all,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The issue of the bloody fray,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 2.00em">Her giant champions' fall.</div>
</div></div>
<div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 4.00em; margin-top: 4.00em">
<SPAN name="toc437" id="toc437"></SPAN>
<SPAN name="pdf438" id="pdf438"></SPAN>
<SPAN name="CantoIII-XXI" id="CantoIII-XXI" class="tei tei-anchor"></SPAN>
<h2 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.88em; margin-top: 2.88em"><span style="font-size: 144%">Canto XXI. The Rousing Of Khara.</span></h2>
<div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em">
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Low in the dust he saw her lie,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And Khara's wrath grew fierce and high.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Aloud he cried to her who came</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Disgracefully with baffled aim:</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span class="tei tei-q" style="text-align: left">“I sent with thee at thy request</span></div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The bravest of my giants, best</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Of all who feed upon the slain:</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Why art thou weeping here again?</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Still to their master's interest true,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">My faithful, noble, loyal crew,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Though slaughtered in the bloody fray,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Would yet their monarch's word obey.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Now I, my sister, fain would know</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The cause of this thy fear and woe,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Why like a snake thou writhest there,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Calling for aid in wild despair.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Nay, lie not thus in lowly guise:</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span class="tei tei-q" style="text-align: left">Cast off thy weakness and arise!”</span></div>
</div>
<div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em">
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 2.00em">With soothing words the giant chief</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Assuaged the fury of her grief.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Her weeping eyes she slowly dried</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And to her brother thus replied:</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span class="tei tei-q" style="text-align: left">“I sought thee in my shame and fear</span></div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">With severed nose and mangled ear:</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">My gashes like a river bled,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">I sought thee and was comforted.</div>
<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page254"></span><SPAN name="Pg254" id="Pg254" class="tei tei-anchor"></SPAN>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Those twice seven giants, brave and strong,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Thou sentest to avenge the wrong,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">To lay the savage Ráma low,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And Lakshmaṇ who misused me so.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">But ah, the shafts of Ráma through</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The bodies of my champions flew:</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Though madly fierce their spears they plied,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Beneath his conquering might they died.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">I saw them, famed for strength and speed,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">I saw my heroes fall and bleed:</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Great trembling seized my every limb</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">At the great deed achieved by him.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">In trouble, horror, doubt, and dread,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Again to thee for help I fled.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">While terror haunts my troubled sight,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">I seek thee, rover of the night.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And canst thou not thy sister free</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">From this wide waste of troublous sea</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Whose sharks are doubt and terror, where</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Each wreathing wave is dark despair?</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Low lie on earth thy giant train</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">By ruthless Ráma's arrows slain,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And all the mighty demons, fed</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">On blood, who followed me are dead.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Now if within thy breast may be</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Pity for them and love for me,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">If thou, O rover of the night,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Have valour and with him can fight,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Subdue the giants' cruel foe</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Who dwells where Daṇḍak's thickets grow.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">But if thine arm in vain assay</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">This queller of his foes to slay,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Now surely here before thine eyes,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Wronged and ashamed thy sister dies.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Too well, alas, too well I see</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">That, strong in war as thou mayst be,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Thou canst not in the battle stand</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">When Ráma meets thee hand to hand.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Go forth, thou hero but in name,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Assuming might thou canst not claim;</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Call friend and kin, no longer stay:</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Away from Janasthán, away!</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Shame of thy race! the weak alone</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Beneath thine arm may sink o'erthrown:</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Fly Ráma and his brother: they</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Are men too strong for thee to slay.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">How canst thou hope, O weak and base,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">To make this grove thy dwelling-place?</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">With Ráma's might unmeet to vie,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">O'ermastered thou wilt quickly die.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">A hero strong in valorous deed</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Is Ráma, Daśaratha's seed:</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And scarce of weaker might than he</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span class="tei tei-q" style="text-align: left">His brother chief who mangled me.”</span></div>
</div>
<div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em">
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 2.00em">Thus wept and wailed in deep distress</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The grim misshapen giantess:</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Before her brother's feet she lay</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">O'erwhelmed with grief, and swooned away.</div>
</div></div>
<div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 4.00em; margin-top: 4.00em">
<div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />