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Book Vi. Canto Ix. Vibh'ishan's Counsel

Canto Ix.: Vibhshan'S Counsel.

A
score of warriors 1 forward sprang,

And loud the clashing iron rang

Of mace and axe and spear and sword,

As thus they spake unto their lord:

'Their king Sugrva will we slay,

And Raghu's sons, ere close of day,

And strike the wretch Hanmn down,

The spoiler of our golden town.'

But sage Vibhshan strove to calm

The chieftains' fury; palm to palm

He joined in lowly reverence, pressed

Before them, and the throng addressed: 2

'Dismiss the hope of conquering one

So stern and strong as Raghu's son.

In due control each sense he keeps

With constant care that never sleeps.

Whose daring heart has e'er conceived

The exploit Hanumn achieved,

Across the fearful sea to spring,

The tributary rivers' king?

O Rkshas lords, in time be wise,

Nor Rma's matchless power despise.

And say, what evil had the son

Of Raghu to our monarch done,

Who stole the dame he loved so well

And keeps her in his citadel;

If Kharu in his foolish pride

Encountered Rma, fought, and died,

May not the meanest love his life

And guard it in the deadly strife?

The Maithil dame, O Rkshas King,

Sore peril to thy realm will bring.

Restore her while there yet is time,

Nor let us perish for thy crime.

O, let the Maithil lady go

Ere the avenger bend his bow

To ruin with his arrowy showers

Our Lank with her gates and towers.

Let Janak's child again be free

Ere the wild Vnars cross the sea,

In their resistless might assail

Our city and her ramparts scale.

Ah, I conjure thee by the ties

0f brotherhood, be just and wise.

In all my thoughts thy good I seek,

And thus my prudent counsel speak.

Let captive Sit be restored

Ere, fierce as autumn's sun, her lord

Send his keen arrows from the string

To drink the life-blood of our king.

This fury from thy soul dismiss,

The bane of duty, peace, and bliss.

Seek duty's path and walk therein,

And joy and endless glory win.

Restore the captive, ere we feel

The piercing point of Rma's steel.

O spare thy city, spare the lives

Of us, our friends, our sons and wives.'

Thus spake Vibhshan wise and brave:

The Rkshas king no answer gave,

But bade his lords the council close,

And sought his chamber for repose.

Footnotes

433:1
Their names are Nikumbha, Rabhasa, Sryas'atru, Suptaghna, Yajnakopa, Mahprava, Mahodara, Agniketu, Ras'miketu, Durdharsha, Indrasatru, Prahasta, Virupksha, Vajradanshtra, Dhmrksha, Durmukha, Mahbala.

433:2
Similarly Antenor urges the restoration of Helen:

'Let Sparta's treasures be this hour restored,

And Argive Helen own her ancient lord.

As this advice ye practise or reject,

So hope success, or dread the dire effect,'

POPE'S "Homer's Iliad," Book VII.
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