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Book Vi. Canto Xxix. S'ard'ula Captured

Canto Xxix.: S'Rdla Captured.


The giant viewed with earnest ken

The Vnars and the lords of men;

Then thus, with grief and anger moved,

In bitter tone the spies reproved:

'Can faithful servants hope to please

Their master with such fates as these?

Or hope ye with wild words to wring

The bosom of your lord and king?

Such words were better said by those

Who come arrayed our mortal foes.

In vain your ears have heard the sage,

And listened to the lore of age,

Untaught, though lectured many a day,

The first great lesson, to obey,

'Tis marvel Rvan reigns and rules

Whose counsellors are blind and fools.

Has death no terrors that ye dare

To tempt your monarch to despair,

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From whose Imperial mandate flow

Disgrace and honour, weal and woe?

Yea, forest trees, when flames are fanned

About their scorching trunks, may stand;

But naught can set the sinner free

When kings the punishment decree.

I would not in mine anger spare

The traitorous foe-praising pair,

But years of faithful service plead

For pardon, and they shall not bleed.

Henceforth to me be dead: depart,

Far from my presence and my heart.'

Thus spoke the angry king: the two

Cried, Long live Rvan, and withdrew,

The giant monarch turned and cried

To strong Mahodar at his side:

'Go thou, and spies more faithful bring.

More duteous to their lord the king.'

Swift at his word Mahodar shed,

And came returning at the head

Of long tried messengers, who bent

Before their monarch reverent.

'Go quickly hence,' said Rvan 'scan

With keenest eyes the foeman's plan.

Learn who, as nearest friends, advise

And mould each secret enterprise.

Learn when he wakes and goes to rest,

Sound every purpose of his breast.

Learn what the prince intends to-day:

Watch keenly all, and come away.'

With joy they heard the words he said:

Then with S'rdla at their head

About the giant king they went

With circling paces reverent.

By fair Suvela's grassy side

The chiefs of Raghu's race they spied,

Where, shaded by the waving wood,

Vibhshan and Sugrva stood.

A while they rested there and viewed

The Vnars' countless multitude.

Vibhshan with observant eyes

Knew at a glance the giant spies,

And bade the warriors of his train

Bind the rash foes with cord and chain:

'S'rdla's is the sin,' he cried.

He neath the Vnars' hands had died,

But Rma from their fury freed

The captive in his utmost need,

And, merciful at sight of woe,

Loosed all the spies and bade them go.

Then home to Lank's monarch fled

The giant chiefs discomfited.

Footnotes

449:1
Here follows the enumeration of Sugrva's forces which I do not attempt to follow. It soon reaches a hundred thousand billions.
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