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Book Vi. Canto Cxxiv. The Departure

Canto Cxxiv.: The Departure.


The giant lord the chariot viewed,

And humbly thus his speech renewed:

'Behold, O King, the car prepared:

Now be thy further will declared.'

He ceased: and Rma spake once more:

'These hosts who thronged to Lank's shore

Their faith and might have nobly shown,

And set thee on the giants' throne.

Let pearls and gems and gold repay

The feats of many a desperate day,

That all may go triumphant hence

Proud of their noble recompense.'

Vibhshan, ready at his call,

With gold and gems enriched them all.

Ihen Rma clomb the glorious car

That shone like day's resplendent star.

There in his lap he held his dame

Vailing her eyes in modest shame.

Beside him Lakshman took his stand,

Whose mighty bow still armed his hand,

'O King Vibhshan,' Rma cried,

'O Vnar chiefs, so long allied,

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My comrades till the foemen fell,

List, for I speak a long farewell.

The task, in doubt and fear begun,

With your good aid is nobly done.

Leave Lank's shore, your steps retrace,

Brave warriors of the Vnar race

Thou, King Sugrva, true, through all,

To friendship's bond and duty's call,

Seek far Kishkindha with thy train

And o'er thy realm in glory reign.

Farewell, Vibhshan, Lank's throne

Won by our arms is now thine own,

Thou, mighty lord, hast nought to dread

From heavenly Gods by Indra led.

My last farewell, O King, receive,

For Lank's isle this hour I leave.'

Loud rose their cry in answer: 'We,

O Raghu's son, would go with thee.

With thee delighted would we stray

Where sweet Ayodhy's groves are gay,

Then in the joyous synod view

King-making balm thy brows bedew;

Our homage to Kaus'aly pay,

And hasten on our homeward way.'

Their prayer the son of Raghu heard,

And spoke, his heart with rapture stirred:

'Sugrva, O my faithful friend,

Vibhshan and ye chiefs, ascend.

A joy beyond all joys the best

Will fill my overflowing breast,

If girt by you, O noble band,

I seek again my native land.'

With Vnar lords in danger tried

Sugrva sprang to Rma's side,

And girt by chiefs of giant kind

Vibhshan's step was close behind.

Swift through the air, as Rma chose,

The wondrous car from earth arose.

And decked with swans and silver wings

Bore through the clouds its freight of kings.
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