Page images
PDF
EPUB

Came, in a glorious dream, the star-throned Seven,'
Whispering softly of the Lord of Heaven.

Proud waxed the monarch, as each happy queen
Told the bright visions that her eyes had seen:
No king, he deemed, with him in bliss could vie;
No, nor the Father of the earth and sky.
As many a river lends its silver breast

Where the calm image of the moon may rest,

So in the bosom of each lady lay

That God, divided, who is one for aye.

Soon, like the luminous herb, which, ere 'tis night,
Wins from the setting sun a ray of light,"
Kausalya gained a child, a lovely star,

To chase the shadow of the night afar :

A babe so bright, that every torch grew dim

In the queen's chamber, when it shone near him.

The seven great saints who are the stars of the constellation of Ursa Major. "The seven great saints who star the northern sky." Birth of the War-God.

2 The setting sun, say the Indian poets, deposits a portion of his light with certain plants which emit luminous rays in his absence,

"Like gems, in darkness, issuing rays

They've treasured from the sun that's set."--Lalla Rookh.

3 Kausalya was chief of the three queens of Dasaratha.

They named him Rama,' for the child shall bring Eternal joy to all who hail him king.

Then the young mother, languid, pale, and worn,

Looked, as she nursed her babe, her newly born,
Like Ganga by the autumn heat opprest,

With one sweet lotus on her island-breast.

And queen Kaikeyi bare a noble child,

Named Bharat, beautiful, and meek, and mild:

By fond affection and obedience, sent

To be his mother's pride and ornament:
Like gentle modesty that lends new grace
To each dear winning charm of Beauty's face.
Then queen Sumitra, fairest of the fair,

Twin children, Lakshman and Satrughna, bare :
Thus self-control and knowledge spring to light
When fruitful learning is employed aright.
The babes were born: then sin and sorrow fled,
And joy and virtue reigned supreme instead :
For Vishnu's self disdained not mortal birth,
And heaven came with him as he came to earth.
Once more the regions, where each guardian lord

1 Rama is derived from the root Ram to sport, take pleasure.

Had quailed before the giant he abhorred,

Were cheered with breezes pure from dust and stain,

And freed from terror hailed a gentler reign.

The fire was dimmed by cloudy smoke no more,

And the sun shone untroubled as before.

But Ravan's Glory poured her sorrows down
In jewels dropping from the giant's crown;
While drums of triumph beaten in the sky
Woke the king's music to a glad reply ;
And the first rite to bless the joyful hour
Was the rich down-pour of a fragrant shower
Of blossoms falling, from the heavenly trees,
On the proud monarch's gilded galleries.

Graced with the holy rites, and nursed with care,
As the babes strengthened, fairer and more fair,
So with their growth increased their father's joy-
An elder brother to each darling boy.

Modest by nature, gentle nurture's aid
More modest still the youthful princes made:
Thus, when the sacred oil its influence lends,
In brighter spires the hallowed flame ascends.

C

With virtues blent in sweet accord to grace

The ancient line of Raghu's' sinless race-
As all the seasons of the year combine
To deck the garden where the Gods recline-
They loved as brothers in their royal home,
But still in pairs they ever loved to roam.
Rama and Lakshman closer ties allied,
And Bharat wandered by Satrughna's side,
Linkt in eternal love, like wind and fire,
Or the dear moon and sea his foster-sire."

As when, at summer's close, dark clouds arise,
Bringing sweet comfort to men's longing eyes,
So the fair children won the people's hearts
By gentle graces and attractive arts:

Men deemed that Duty, Profit, Love, and Bliss,
Had come incarnate from their world to this.
And with more pride the father's bosom glowed
For the rare virtues and the love they showed,
Than for the pearls, in countless tribute poured
By the four oceans, to delight their lord.

Raghu, the great-grandfather of Rama was one of the most celebrated of the solar dynasty and has given his name to the family.

2 At the Churning of the Ocean the moon with other buried treasures was recovered from the Ocean by whom, therefore, it is still regarded with parental affection.

THE HEIR APPARENT.

"Dasaratha now made preparations for the public acknowledgment of Rama as destined to be the next king in regular succession, and as permitted during his father's lifetime to share with him the honours and fatigues of royalty."-MRS. SPEIR, Life in Ancient India.

But best and noblest of the noble four,
Good as the God whom all the worlds adore,
Lord of all virtues, by no stain defiled,
The king's chief glory was his eldest child.
For he was gallant, beautiful, and strong,
Void of all envy and the thought of wrong.
With gentle grace to man and child he spoke,
Nor could the churl his harsh reply provoke.
He paid due honour to the good and sage,
Renowned for virtue and revered for age;
And when at eve his warlike task was o'er
He sat and listened to their peaceful lore.
Just, pure, and prudent, full of tender ruth,
The foe of falsehood and the friend of truth;

« PreviousContinue »