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Book Iv. Canto L. The Enchanted Cave

Canto L.: The Enchanted Cave.


Angad and Tra by his side,

Again rose Hanumntried

Each mountain cavern, dark and deep,

And stony pass and wooded steep,

The lion's and the tiger's home,

By rushing torrents white with foam.

Then with new ardour, south and west,

O'er Vindhya's height the search they pressed.

The day prescribed was near and they

Still wandered on their weary way.

They reached the southern land beset

With woody mountains like a net.

At length a mighty cave they spied

That opened in a mountain's side.

Where many a verdant creeper grew

And o'er the mouth its tendrils threw.

Thence issued crane, and swan, and drake,

And trooping birds that love the lake.

The Vnarsed within to cool

Their fevered lips in spring or pool.

Vast was the cavern dark and dread,

Where not a ray of light was shed;

Yet not the more their eyesight failed,

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Their courage sank or valour quailed.

On through the gloom the Vnarssed

With hunger, thirst, and toil distressed,

Poor helpless wanderers, sad, forlorn,

With wasted faces wan and worn.

At length, when life seemed lost for aye,

They saw a splendour as of day,

A wondrous forest, fair and bright,

Where golden trees shot flamy light.

And lotus-covered pools were there

With pleasant waters fresh and fair,

And streams their rippling currents rolled

By seats of silver and of gold.

Fair houses reared their stately height

Of burnished gold and lazulite,

And glorious was the lustre thrown

Through lattices of precious stone.

And there were flowers and fruit on stems

Of coral decked with rarest gems,

And emerald leaves on silver trees,

And honeycomb and golden bees.

Then as the Vnarser drew,

A holy woman met their view.

Around her form was duly tied

A garment of the blackdeer's hide. 1

Pure votaress she shone with light

Of fervent zeal and holy rite.

Then Hanumnre the rest

With reverent words the dame addressed:

'Who art thou? say: and who is lord

Of this vast cave with treasures stored?'
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