His gentle manners, ever soft and kind, All hearts to him in firm affection bind. Truthful and just, that noble prince of men Is loved and honoured by each citizen. A docile pupil, prompt to succour woe, Holy and wise, to all most justly dear: To curse him with the doom of banishment ? A poor old weeping man whose death is nigh. Once more, O Queen, my suppliant hands entreat; Once more my lips are on thy lovely feet. O save my Rama, save my dearest child, Nor let me die a wretch dishonoured and defiled.' No thrill of pity through her bosom ran, As thus again the cruel Queen began: If thou hast promised and art now forsworn, How wilt thou keep thine ancient name from scorn? And ne'er beyond his stated limit sweeps." A just and truthful king, who being unwilling to deprive a hawk of his prey or to betray the dove to which he had promised protection, gave his own flesh to the hawk who would accept nothing else instead. The story is told in the Mahabharata, in different ways, of more than one king. 2 "What more changeful than the Sea? But over his great tides Fidelity presides." - WORDSWORTH. Remember all I did for thy dear sake, And tremble now thy promised word to break. No tears shall soften me, no gift or prayer; THE STEP-MOTHER. The night "long and dreary as a hundred years" which the unhappy King has spent in lamentation and entreaties to the inexorable Kaikeyi is past, and the morning appointed for the consecration of Rama is come. Rama having been summoned enters the chamber where the King and Kaikeyi are. Weighed down by woe, with wild despairing mien, There sate the Monarch with the cruel Queen. Then Rama bowed, his royal sire to greet, And did obeisance at Kaikeyi's feet. The King with downcast eyes still brimming o'er As though his heedless foot had toucht a snake. Ꭰ A mighty monarch but an hour ago, Now a poor mourner, weak and wan with woe: And pierced with sorrow for his father's sake, 'Tell me my fault, or plead for me and win Most full of love, so silent and unkind? Death has no terror like a father's ire. |