And Rama's glories every hour are sung

In town and village by the old and young.

Then grant the prayer, by us this day renewed,

And consecrate our Prince, Lord Rama, lotus-hued."

MANTHARA'S GUILE.

"But this happiness was all destroyed by the intrigues of Dasaratha's second wife, who was jealous of Rama, and determined that her son Bharat should be the future king." MRS. SPEIR.

High on the palace roof Kaikeyi's maid,
The crook-back Manthara, the town surveyed.

She saw the water sprinkled o'er the street,

And flowery heaps and garlands fresh and sweet:

Saw pennons playing in the scented air,

And busy Brahmans bustling here and there.

From every corner, as around she gazed,

She heard a concert of glad music raised;
While every temple shone with purest white,
That the maid marvelled at the festive sight.

She turned to Rama's nurse, who standing by,

Gazed on the scene with rapture-rolling eye,

And cried I pray thee, aged matron, say,
Does Rama's mother scatter gifts to-day?

Have the Gods listened to Kausalya's vow,

And made the frugal Queen so lavish now?'

The white-robed nurse, with transport uncontrolled,

All the glad story to the damsel told :

'To-morrow's happy light will see,' she cried, 'Prince Rama Regent by his father's side.'

Down from the roof, high as Kailasa's' head, In furious haste the crook-back maiden sped: Planning accursed guile, her soul aflame,

Where Queen Kaikeyi lay asleep, she came.

'Up, Queen!' she cried, unclose thy heedless eyes;

Huge peril threatens thee, awake! arise!

Art thou still sleeping, still too blind to see

The load of misery that crushes thee?

One of the loftiest peaks of the Himalayas.

Boast of thy husband's love, and find too late
His vaunted favour but disguises hate.
Ruin to thee and thine, thy lord has planned
To make Prince Rama Regent o'er the land.
In fear and grief and rage thy faithful slave
Has hither fled to warn thee and to save.
Are not my fortunes closely knit with thine?
Thy gain and peril, both, are also mine.

And thou, the scion of a princely race,

Shouldst know the frauds which royal hearts disgrace.
Poor Queen, he loves thee not: thy treacherous lord
Can smile upon thee while he bares the sword:

And thy sweet soul, pure from all thought of sin,
Sees not the cruel snares that hem thee in.

Kind flattering words he makes thine empty dower,
But Queen Kausalya has the wealth and power.
Far from thy side thine own dear son he sends
To live an exile with his mother's friends;
And, every rival thus removed from sight,
He gives to Rama all the royal might.
Alas deluded lady, thou hast prest
A deadly serpent to thy foolish breast,

Lavishing love on him who works thee woe,

No loving husband but a mortal foe.

Come, rouse thee, mistress, while there yet is time;
Ensure thy safety and prevent the crime.

Up from thy careless ease! awake, and be
The saviour of thy son, thyself, and me.'

Up rose Kaikeyi radiant with delight,
Like the calm moon upon the autumn night,
And spoke these words in answer, as she gave,
For the glad news, a necklace to the slave:
"Take this, dear maiden, for thy pains, and say
How can my love thy welcome tale repay.
I joy that Rama shares his father's throne:

I love Kausalya's son e'en as I love mine own.'

The handmaid's soul with grief and fury burned;

She cried in anger, as the gift she spurned:

What on the sea of whelming ruin tost, Canst thou rejoice when all but hope is lost? Heart-sick I am, yet smile to see thy joy

When peril threatens and will soon destroy.