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Book Vi. Canto Cviii. The Battle

Canto Cviii.: The Battle.


He spoke, and vanished: Rma raised

His eyes with reverence meet, and praised

The glorious Day-God full in view:

Then armed him for the fight anew.

Urged onward by his charioteer

The giant's foaming steeds came near,

And furious was the battle's din

Where each resolved to die or win.

The Rkshas host and Vnar bands

Stood with their weapons in their hands,

And watched in terror and dismay

The fortune of the awful fray.

The giant chief with rage inflamed

His darts at Rma's pennon aimed;

But when they touched the chariot made

By heavenly hands their force was stayed.

Then Rma's breast with fury swelled;

He strained the mighty bow he held.

And straight at Rvan's banner flew

An arrow as the string he drew--

A deadly arrow swift of flight,

Like some huge snake ablaze with light,

Whose fury none might e'er repel,--

And, split in twain, the standard fell.

At Rma's steeds sharp arrows, hot

With flames of fire, the giant shot.

Unmoved the heavenly steeds sustained

The furious shower the warrior rained,

As though soft lotus tendrils smote

Each haughty crest and glossy coat,

Then volleyed swift by magic art,

Tree, mountain peak and spear and dart,

Trident and pike and club and mace

Flew hurtling straight at Rma's face.

But Rma with his steeds and car

Escaped the storm which fell afar

Where the strange missiles, as they rushed

To earth, a thousand Vnars crushed.

p. 493

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