The Ramayana Part 161

Within these walls, O Chiefs, abide, Nor part ye from our monarch's side."

Canto IX. Vibhishan's Counsel.

A score of warriors(914) forward sprang, And loud the clas.h.i.+ng iron rang Of mace and axe and spear and sword, As thus they spake unto their lord: "Their king Sugriva will we slay, And Raghu's sons, ere close of day, And strike the wretch Hanuman down, The spoiler of our golden town."

But sage Vibhisha? strove to calm The chieftains' fury; palm to palm He joined in lowly reverence, pressed(915) Before them, and the throng addressed:

"Dismiss the hope of conquering one So stern and strong as Raghu's son.

In due control each sense he keeps With constant care that never sleeps.

Whose daring heart has e'er conceived The exploit Hanuman achieved, Across the fearful sea to spring, The tributary rivers' king?

O Rakshas lords, in time be wise, Nor Rama's matchless power despise.

And say, what evil had the son Of Raghu to our monarch done, Who stole the dame he loved so well And keeps her in his citadel; If Khara in his foolish pride Encountered Rama, fought, and died, May not the meanest love his life And guard it in the deadly strife?

The Maithil dame, O Rakshas King, Sore peril to thy realm will bring.

Restore her while there yet is time, Nor let us perish for thy crime.

O, let the Maithil lady go Ere the avenger bend his bow To ruin with his arrowy showers Our Lanka with her gates and towers.

Let Janak's child again be free Ere the wild Vanars cross the sea, In their resistless might a.s.sail Our city and her ramparts scale.

Ah, I conjure thee by the ties Of brotherhood, be just and wise.

In all my thoughts thy good I seek, And thus my prudent counsel speak.

Let captive Sita be restored Ere, fierce as autumn's sun, her lord Send his keen arrows from the string To drink the life-blood of our king.

This fury from thy soul dismiss, The bane of duty, peace, and bliss.

Seek duty's path and walk therein, And joy and endless glory win.

Restore the captive, ere we feel The piercing point of Rama's steel.

O spare thy city, spare the lives Of us, our friends, our sons and wives."

Thus spake Vibhisha? wise and brave: The Rakshas king no answer gave, But bade his lords the council close, And sought his chamber for repose.

Canto X. Vibhishan's Counsel.

Soon as the light of morning broke, Vibhisha? from his slumber woke, And, duty guiding every thought, The palace of his brother sought.

Vast as a towering hill that shows His peaks afar, that palace rose.

Here stood within the monarch's gate Sage n.o.bles skilful in debate.

There strayed in glittering raiment through The courts his royal retinue, Where in wild measure rose and fell The music of the drum and sh.e.l.l, And talk grew loud, and many a dame Of fairest feature went and came Through doors a marvel to behold, With pearl inlaid on burning gold: Therein Gandharvas or the fleet Lords of the storm might joy to meet.

He pa.s.sed within the wondrous pile, Chief glory of the giants' isle: Thus, ere his fiery course be done, An autumn cloud admits the sun.

He heard auspicious voices raise With loud accord the note of praise, And sages, deep in Scripture, sing Each glorious triumph of the king.

He saw the priests in order stand, Curd, oil, in every sacred hand; And by them flowers were laid and grain, Due offerings to the holy train.

Vibhisha? to the monarch bowed, Raised on a throne above the crowd: Then, skilled in arts of soft address, He raised his voice the king to bless, And sate him on a seat where he Full in his brother's sight should be.

The chieftain there, while none could hear, Spoke his true speech for Rava?'s ear, And to his words of wisdom lent The force of weightiest argument:

"O brother, hear! since Rama's queen A captive in thy house has been, Disastrous omens day by day Have struck our souls with wild dismay.

No longer still and strong and clear The flames of sacrifice appear, But, restless with the frequent spark, Neath clouds of smoke grow faint and dark.

Our ministering priests turn pale To see their wonted offerings fail, And ants and serpents creep and crawl Within the consecrated hall.(916) Dried are the udders of our cows, Our elephants have juiceless brows,(917) Nor can the sweetest pasture stay The charger's long unquiet neigh.

Big tears from mules and camels flow Whose staring coats their trouble show, Nor can the leech's art restore Their health and vigour as before.

Rapacious birds are fierce and bold: Not single hunters as of old, In banded troops they chase the prey, Or gathering on our temples stay.

Through twilight hours with shriek and howl Around the city jackals prowl, And wolves and foul hyaenas wait Athirst for blood at every gate.

One sole atonement still may cure These evils, and our weal a.s.sure.

Restore the Maithil dame, and win An easy pardon for thy sin."

The Rakshas monarch heard, and moved To sudden wrath his speech reproved:

"No danger, brother, can I see: The Maithil dame I will not free.

Though all the G.o.ds for Rama fight, He yields to my superior might."

Thus the tremendous king who broke The ranks of heavenly warriors spoke, And, sternly purposed to resist, His brother from the hall dismissed.

Canto XI. The Summons.

Still Rava?'s haughty heart rebelled, The counsel of the wise repelled, And, as his breast with pa.s.sion burned, His thoughts again to Sita turned.

Thus, to each sign of danger blind, To love and war he still inclined.

Then mounted he his car that glowed With gems and golden net, and rode Where, gathered at the monarch's call, The n.o.bles filled the council hall.

A host of warriors bright and gay With coloured robes and rich array, With s.h.i.+eld and mace and spear and sword, Followed the chariot of their lord.

Mid the loud voice of sh.e.l.ls and beat Of drums he raced along the street, And, ere he came, was heard afar The rolling thunder of his car.

He reached the doors: the n.o.bles bent Their heads before him reverent: And, welcomed with their loud acclaim, Within the glorious hall he came.

He sat upon a royal seat With golden steps beneath his feet, And bade the heralds summon all His captains to the council hall.

The heralds heard the words he spake, And sped from house to house to wake The giants where they slept or spent The careless hours in merriment.

These heard the summons and obeyed: From chamber, grove, and colonnade, On elephants or cars they rode, Or through the streets impatient strode.

As birds on rustling pinions fly Through regions of the darkened sky, Thus cars and mettled coursers through The crowded streets of Lanka flew.

The council hall was reached, and then, As lions seek their mountain den, Through ma.s.sy doors that opened wide, With martial stalk the captains hied.

Welcomed with honour as was meet They stooped to press their monarch's feet, And each a place in order found On stool, on cus.h.i.+on, or the ground.

Nor did the sage Vibhisha? long Delay to join the n.o.ble throng.

High on a car that shone like flame With gold and flas.h.i.+ng gems he came, Drew near and spoke his name aloud, And reverent to his brother bowed.

Canto XII. Ravan's Speech.

The king in counsel unsurpa.s.sed His eye around the synod cast, And fierce Prahasta, first and best Of all his captains, thus addressed:

"Brave master of each warlike art, Arouse thee and perform thy part.

Array thy fourfold forces(918) well To guard our isle and citadel."

The captain of the hosts obeyed, The troops with prudent skill arrayed; Then to the hall again he hied, And stood before the king and cried: "Each inlet to the town is closed Without, within, are troops disposed.

With fearless heart thine aim pursue And do the deed thou hast in view."

Thus spoke Prahasta in the zeal That moved him for the kingdom's weal.

And thus the monarch, who pursued His own delight, his speech renewed: "In ease and bliss, in toil and pain, In doubts of duty, pleasure, gain, Your proper path I need not tell, For of yourselves ye know it well.

The Storm-G.o.ds, Moon, and planets bring New glory to their heavenly king,(919) And, ranged about your monarch, ye Give joy and endless fame to me.