The famous hill of Chitrakuta' woos

Thy friendly presence for awhile to stay;

There, as the grateful rest thy strength renews,
Do not, for pity, gentle Cloud, refuse

To soothe his burning heat with thy soft rain. ·
Sweet mercy, watered with the kindly dews
Of virtue, is a seed ne'er sown in vain :

Soon will the generous act its worthy fruit obtain.

XVII.

Linger an hour, then, launching lightly forth,

Leave the dark glades which Wood-nymphs wander o'er;
Pursue thine airy journey to the north

With pinions swifter for thy minisht store.

Soon over Vindhya's mountains wilt thou soar,

And Reva's rippling stream whose waters glide

Beneath their feet, without their rush and roar,
In many a rock-barred channel, summer-dried,
Like lines of paint that deck an elephant's huge side.

1 "The mountain here mentioned must be in the vicinity of Omerk untuk, and part of the same range: the name signifies, "the variegated or wonderful peak," and is applied to a number of hills: the most famous hill of this name is situated in Bundelkund." H. H. WILSON.

XVIII.

Here, where the air is heavy with the scent

Of elephants that roam along the rill,

From the fair stream restore thy treasures spent

In travel, and thy wasted bosom fill,

Lest the rude wind drive thee about at will.

To cheer thy way, each bud shall lovelier grow,
And fragrant jasmine be more fragrant still,

The burning woods waft odours from below,

And clear-toned birds delight thy onward path to show.

XIX.

Each Sylph shall watch thee with observant eyes,

And mark the Rain-birds eager for the rain
Flocking to meet thee from the distant skies.

Then he will count, in ever lengthening chain,
Mounting from fen and field, crane after crane,
And, when thy voice of thunder, loud and clear,
Proclaims thee nigh, to his fond breast will strain
His darling, mingling with each kiss a tear

Drawn from his happy eyes by love's unreasoning fear.

XX.

Ah me! in vain, 'mid lovely scenes like those,

I bid my friendly herald to be fleet;

Will not each mountain woo thee to repose,

Where wild woods murmur and the flowers are sweet?

Will not the peacock, as he turns to greet

Thy coming with love-beaming eye, prevail?

Will not his tender looks my hopes defeat;

With too successful blandishment assail

Thy yielding heart, and cause thy promised truth to fail?

XXI.

On, on, my herald! as thou sailest nigh,

A green of richer glory will invest

Dasarna's groves where the pale leaf is dry.

There shall the swans awhile their pinions rest.

Then the Rose-apple, in full beauty drest,

Shall show her fruit: then shall the crane prepare,

Warned of the coming rain, to build her nest,

And many a tender spray shall rudely tear

From the old village tree, the peasants' sacred care.

XXII.

But rest not yet; thy steady course pursue,
And a town foremost on the rolls of fame,
Vidisa,' seat of kings, will charm thy view,
And bless thee far above thy fondest aim;
Where Vetravati, like an amorous dame

With arching brows, her rippling waves will show,
And with each winning art thy love will claim,
Enslaving thee with the melodious flow

Of streams that kiss the bank, murmuring soft and low.

XXIII.

Thence to a lowlier hill direct thy flight,

And for a moment on its crest descend ;

Thy touch its faint Kadambas shall delight,

And through each spray new life and rapture send

That bud and blossom shall with joy distend.

These are the groves where youthful lovers meet

Their gold-bought beauties, whose rich perfumes blend
With the wild flowers till every dark retreat

Is loaded with the scent that fills the rocky seat.

1 Vidisa appears to be the modern Bhilsa in the province of Malwa,

XXIV.

Rise with new vigour in thy wings, and look
Upon the fainting jasmine-buds that pine
Along the parcht bank of the mountain brook :
To their mute prayer in pitying love incline,
And water them with those sweet drops of thine,
Shading awhile the heat-drop-beaded face

Of the young flower-girl as she hastes to twine
Her fragrant wreath, too languid to replace

The drooping lotus-bud she culled her ear to grace.

XXV.

Here bend a little from thy straight career,

And though thou speedest on to northern skies,

Turn and behold a wondrous sight, for near

Thy path Oujein's' imperial domes arise.

Shouldst thou not see her women's glorious eyes,

That flash to love or kindle to disdain

In fire that with the lightning's splendour vies

Ujjayani, or the modern Oujein, is supposed to have been the residence of our poet, and the capital of his celebrated patron, Vikramaditya. It has been a place of great note, from the earliest periods of Hindu tradition down to the present day." H. H. WILSON.