Book I. Canto Xvii. Rishyas'ring's Return Canto Xvii.: Rishyas 'RING'S Return. Now when the high-souled monarch's rite, The As'vamedh, was finished quite, Their sacrificial dues obtained, The Gods their heavenly homes regained. The lofty-minded saints withdrew, Each to his place, with honour due, And kings and chieftains, one and all, Who came to grace the festival. And Das'aratha, ere they went,Addressed them thus benevolent: 'Now may you, each with joyful heart, To your own realms, O Kings, depart. Peace and good luck attend you there, And blessing, is my friendly prayer;Let cares of state each mind engage To guard his royal heritage.A monarch from his throne expelled No better than the dead is held.So he who cares for power and might Must guard his realm and royal right.Such care a meed in heaven will bring Better than rites and offering.Such care a king his country owes As man upon himself bestows,When for his body he provides Raiment and every need besides. For future days should kings foresee, And keep the present error-free.Thus did the king the kings exhort: They heard, and turned them from the court And, each to each in friendship bound, Went forth to all the realms around.The rites were o'er, the guests were sped: The train the best of Brhmans led, In which the king with joyful soul, With his dear wives, and with the wholeOf his imperial host and train Of cars and servants turned again, And, as a monarch dear to fame, Within his royal city came. Next, Rishyas'ring, well-honoured sage, And S'nt, sought their hermitage. The king himself, of prudent mind, Attended him, with troops behind.And all her men the town outpoured With Saint Vas'ishtha and their lord. High mounted on a car of state, O'ercanopied fair S'nt sate, Drawn by white oxen, while a band Of servants marched on either hand. Great gifts of countless price she bore, With sheep and goats and gems in shore.Like Beauty's self the lady shone With all the jewels she had on, As, happy in her sweet content. Peerless amid the fair she went.Not Queen Paulom's 1b self could be More loving to her lord than she. She who had lived in happy ease, Honoured with all her heart could please,While dames and kinsfolk ever vied To see her wishes gratified,Soon as she knew her husband's will Again to seek the forest, still Was ready for the hermit's cot, Nor murmured at her altered lot.The king attended to the wild That hermit and his own dear child,And in the centre of a throng Of noble courtiers rode along.The sage's son had let prepare A lodge within the wood, and there While they lingered blithe and gay. Then, duly honoured, went their way. The glorious hermit Rishyas'ringDrew near and thus besought the king: p. 30 'Return, my honoured lord, I pray, Return, upon thy homeward way.' The monarch, with the waiting crowd, Lifted his voice and wept aloud, And with eyes dripping still to eachOf his good queens he spake this speech: 'Kaus'aly and Sumitr dear, And thou, my sweet Kaikey, hear. All upon S'nt feast your gaze, The last time for a length of days.' To S'nt's arms the ladies leapt, And hung about her neck and wept, And cried, '0, happy be the life Of this great Brhman and his wife. The Wind, the Fire, the Moon on high. The Earth, the Streams, the circling sky, Preserve thee in the wood, true spouse, Devoted to thy husband's vows. And O dear S'nt, ne'er neglectTo pay the dues of meek respect To the great saint, thy husband's sire, With all observance and with fire. And, sweet one, pure of spot and blame, Forget not thou thy husband's claim; In every change, in good and ill, Let thy sweet words delight him still,And let thy worship constant be: Her lord is woman's deity. To learn thy welfare, dearest friend, The king will many a Brhman send. Let happy thoughts thy spirit cheer. And be not troubled, daughter dear.' These soothing words the ladies said. And pressed their lips upon her head. Each gave with sighs her last adieu, Then at the king's command withdrew.The king around the hermit went With circling footsteps reverent,And placed at Rishyas'ring's command Some soldiers of his royal band. The Brhman bowed in turn and cried, 'May fortune never leave thy side. O mighty King, with justice reign, And still thy people's love retain.' He spoke, and turned away his face, And, as the hermit went, The monarch, rooted to the place, Pursued with eyes intent.But when the sage had past from view King Das'aratha turned him too, Still fixing on his friend each thought. With such deep love his breast was fraught.Amid his people's loud acclaim Home to his royal seat he came, And lived delighted there, Expecting when each queenly dame, Upholder of his ancient fame, Her promised son should bear.The glorious sage his way pursued Till close before his eyes he viewed Sweet Champ, Lomapd's fair town, Wreathed with her Champacs' 1 leafy crown. Soon as the saint's approach he knew, The king, to yield him honour due, Went forth to meet him with a bandOf priests and nobles of the land: 'Hail, Sage,' he cried, 'O joy to me! What bliss it is, my lord, to seeThee with thy wife and all thy train Returning to my town again. Thy father, honoured Sage, is well,Who hither from his woodland cell Has sent full many a messenger For tidings both of thee and her.' Then joyfully, for due respect, The monarch bade the town be decked. The king and Rishyas'ring elateEntered the royal city's gate: In front the chaplain rode. Then, loved and honoured with all care By monarch and by courtier, there The glorious saint abode.Footnotes 29:1 This Canto will appear ridiculous to the European reader. But it should be remembered that the monkeys of an Indian forest, the 'bough-deer ' as the poets call them, are very different animals from the 'turpissima bestia ' that accompanies the itinerant organ-grinder or grins in the Zoological Gardens of London. Milton has made his hero, Satan, assume the forms of a cormorant, a toad, and a serpent, and I cannot see that this creation of semi-divine Vnars, or monkeys, is more ridiculous or undignified. 29: 1b The consort of Ladra, called also S'ach and Indrn.
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