Book V. Canto Xxiv. S'it'a's Reply

Canto Xxiv.: St'S Reply.


Still with reproaches rough and rude

Those fiends the gentle queen pursued:

What! can so fair a life displease,

To dwell with him in joyous ease?

Dwell in his bowers a happy queen

In silk and gold and jewels' sheen?

Still must thy woman fancy cling

To Rma and reject our king?

Die in thy folly, or forget

That wretched wandering anchoret.

Come, Sita, in luxurious bowers

Spend with our lord thy happy hours;

The mighty lord who makes his own

The treasures of the worlds o'erthrown.'

Then, as a tear bedewed her eye,

The hapless lady made reply:

'I loathe, with heart and soul detest

The shameful life your words suggest.

Eat, if you will, this mortal frame:

My soul rejects the sin and shame.

A homeless wanderer though he be,

In him my lord, my life I see,

And, till my earthly days be done,

Will cling to great Ikshvku's son.

Then with fierce eyes on St set

They cried again with taunt and threat:

Each licking with her fiery tongue

The lip that to her bosom hung,

And menacing the lady's life

With axe, or spear or murderous knife:

'Hear, St, and our words obey.

Or perish by our hands to-day,

Thy love for Raghu's son forsake,

And Rvan for thy husband take,

Or we will rend thy limbs apart

And banquet on thy quivering heart.

Now from her body strike the head,

And tell the king the dame is dead.

Then by our lord's commandment she

A banquet for our band shall be.

Come, let the wine be quickly brought

That frees each heart from saddening thought.

Then to the western gate repair,

And we will dance and revel there.'