Of empire, in the midst of Padalon, Where the eight causeys meet. Resplendent far and wide, Itself of solid diamond edificd, And all around it rollid the fiery flood. Magnificent, such structures as beseem A brazen tower and gateway at each end Station'd in arms the passage to defend, TI Thro log The Soul regardeth him doth he appear, For hope and fear, Beliold him as the King Reflecting back upon the sinful mind, Heighten'd with vengeance, and with wrath divine, Ils own ioboro deformity. His awful countenauce, Goodness and heavenly grace shine! Yet is he still And change is none The Immutable is he. The righteous Baly had his judgment-seat. A golden throne before them vacant stood; Three human forms sustain'd iis ponderous weight, With lifted hands outspread, and shoulders bow'd Bending beneath the load. And living breath they drew; Was Ob what a gorgeous sight it was to see The Diamond City blazing on its height With more than mid-sun splendour, by the light Of its own fiery river! Its lowers and domes and pinnacles and spires, Turrets and baltiements, that flash and quiver Through the red restless atmosphere for ever ;. And hovering over liead, The smoke and vapours of all Padalon, Fit firmament for such a world, were sprcad, With surge and swell, and everlasting motion, Heaving and opening like tumultuous ocean. heh TE Hec Which The At th The L Eig Gros Åt Nor were there wanting there As liuile might our earthly tempests vie Whose clouds of all metallic elements Sublim'd were full. For, when its thunder broke, Not all the united World's artillery, In one discbarge, could equal that loud stroke; And though the Diamond Towers and Baulements Stood firm up in their adamantine rock, Yet, while it volleyed round the vault of Hell, Earth's solid arch was shaken with the shock, And Cities in one mighty ruin fell. Kindles in its descent, At times the whole supernal element And roard as with the sound On steps of gold those fiery Statues stood, Could pierce its depth of night, In those eternal shadows : there she satc, And as the crembling Souls, wlio crowd around The Judgment-Seal, receivd the doom of fate, Her giant arms, extending from the cloud, Drew them within the darkness. Moving out, To grasp and bear away the innumerous rout, For ever and for ever, thus were seen The thousand mighty arms of that dread Queen. Taitin Suel Spe E Befa The pi Here, issuing from the car, the Glendoveer Did homage to the God, then rais d his head. Suppliaots we come, he said, I need not tell thee by what wrongs opprest, For nouglit can pass on earth to thee uuknown; Sufferers from tyranny we seek for rest, And Seeva bade us go to Yomen's throne; Here, he hath saill, all wrongs shall be redrest. Yamen replied, Even vow the hour draws near, When fate its hidden ways will manifest. Not for light purpose would The Wisest send His suppliants here, when we, in doubt and fear, The awful issue of the hour attend. Straight to the brazen bridge and gate The self-mov'd Chariot bears its mortal load. At sight of Carmala, And give the chariot way. Two forms inseparable ia unity Hath Yamen ; 88 even as with hope or fear On, or Speed XXIV. THE AMRECTA. 'So spake the King of Padalon, when, lo! The voice of lamentation ceas d in Bell, And sudden silence all around them fell, Silence more wild and terrible Than all the infernal dissonance before. Through that portentous stillness, far away, Unwonted sounds were heard, advancing on And deepening on their way; For now the inexorable hour Was come, and, in the fulness of his power, Now that the dreadful rites had all been done, Kehama from the Swerga liastened down, To seize upon the throne of Padalon. Behind, before him, and on every side, Wielding all weapons in his countless hands, Around the Lord of Hell Kehama stands! Then, too, the Lord of Hell puç forth his might: Tuick darkness, blacker than the blackest night, Rose from their wrath, and veil'd The unutterable fight, And soon the strife was donc. His unity, absorbing into one Who on the marble tomb He came in all his might and majesty, 91 And, by the attribute of Deily, In the same indivisible point of time, At the eight Gates he stood at once, and beat The Warden-Gods of Hell beneath his feet; Then, in his brazen Cars of triumph, straight, At the same moment, drove through every gate. By Aullays, hugest of created kind, Fiercest, and fleeter than the viewless wind, Ais Cars were drawn, ten yokes of ten abreast, What less sufficed for such almighty weight? Eight bridges from the fiery tlood arose Growing before his way; and on he goes, And drives the thundering Chariot-wheels along, At once o'er all the roads of Padalon. Silent the Man-Almighty sate; a smile Gleam'd on his dreadful lips, the while Dallying with power, he paused from following up His conquest, as a man in social hour Sips of the grateful cup, Even so kehama now forbore his haste: Having within his reach whate'er he sought, On his own haughty power he seem'd to muse, Pampering his arrogant heart with silent thought Before him stood the Golden throne in siglit, Nor seeing chuse but wonder. He cried; for whom doth Destiny prepare The imperial scat, and why are ye but Tlirec? Who are ye Silent and motionless remain The Azuras on their bed of pain, Waiting, with breathless hope, the great event. All Hell was hushd in dread, Such awe that Omnipresent coming spread; Nor had its voice been heard, though all its rout Innumerable had lifted up onc shout; Nor if the infernal firmament Had, in one unimaginable burst, Been audible, such louder terrors went Before his forms substantial. Round about The presence scattered lightnings far and wide, That quenchid on every side, When, with prodigious light, The Diamond City shakes! The adamantine Rock Is loosen'd with the shock! From its foundation mov'd, it heaves and quakes; The brazen portals crumbling fall to dust; Prone fall the Giant Guards Beneath the Aullays crush'd; On, on, through Yamenpur, their thundering feet Speed from all points to Yamen's judgment-scat. And lo! where multiplied, THIRD STATUE. In God's most holy name, impos'd a tale For ever lin vain the crime bewail. Even as thou here beholdest us, Long as eternity, A fourth will come to share His portion of the burthen, and complete The golden Throne for Yamen's judgment-seat. Thus hath it been appointed: he must be Equal'in guilt to us, the guilty Three. Kehama, come! too long we wait for thee! The Three took up the word, like choral song, Come, Rajah! Man-God! Earth's Almighty Lord ! Kehama, come! we wait for thee too long. Now, Seeva! look to thine abode! Hencefortlı, on 'equal footing we engage, Alike immortal now, and we shall wage. Our warfare, God to God! Joy fillid his impious soul, And to his lips he rais's the fatal bowl. A short and sudden laugh of wondering pride Burst from him in his triumph: to reply Scornful he deigo'd not; but with alter'd eye Wherein some ubtful meaning seem'd to lie, He turn'd to Kailyal. Muiden, thus he cried, I need not bid thee see And lo! even liere thou find'st me at thy side. Mine thou must be, being doom'd with me to share The Amreeta-cup of immortality; 93 Yea, by Myself I swear It hath been thius appointed. Joyfully Join then thy hand and heart and will with mine, Nor at such glorious destiny repine, Almighty as thou art, But still the resolute heart And virtuous will are free. Thou seest yon Golden Throne, Take thou thy seat thereon, Kehaina's willing bride, Beneath thy Father's feet, Else underneath that Throne, Prayers will be vain to move my mercy then. Thus long the Glendovecr had stood Watching the wonders of the eventful hour, Amazd but undismay'd; for in his heart Faith, overcoming fear, maintaiu'd its power. Nor dad that faith abaied, wlien the God Of Paulaloo was beaten down in fight; For then be look'd to see the heavenly might Of Seeva break upon them. But when now He saw the Amrecta in Kehama's band, An impulse which defied all self-command In that extremity Stung him, and he resolved to seize the cup, And dare the Rajali's force in Seeva's sight. Forward he sprung to tempt the unequal fray, When lo! the Anatomy, With warping arm, withistood liis desperate way, And from the Golden Throne the fiery Three Again, in one accord, renew'd their song, Kehama, come! we wait for thee loo long. O fool of drunken hope and frantic vice! Of knowledge, and to deem That immortality could be Victim of thine own wicked heart's device, Again the Virgin answerd, I have said! Ladurlad caught her in his proud embrace, While on his neck she lid In agony her face. He did not know the awful mystery Which touch it, even such its quality, Bring forth the Amreeta-cup! Kehama cried To Yamcn, rising steruly in his pride. It is within the Marble Sepulchre, And at his voice and look A huge Anatomy was seen reclin'd Within its marble womb. Give me the Cup! Again Kehama cried; no other charm Was needed than that voice of stern command. From his repose the ghastly form arose, Put forth his bony and gigantic arm, And gave the Amreeta to the Rajali's hand. Take! drink! with acceats dread the Spectre said, For thce and Kailyal bath it been assign'd, Ye only of the Children of Mankind. Then Seeva opened on the Accursed One His Eye of Anger: upon him alone The deed is done, Immortal be would be, Torture at once, and immortality, Jofinite everlasting agony. His outward body glows The fiery Three, cry, Have we expected thee, Henceforth we bear no niore The unequal weight; Come, Brother, we are Four! Then was the Man-Almighty's heart elate ; This is the consummation! he exclaim'd; Thus have I triumphed over Death and Fate. Vain his almightiness, for mightier pain Mov'd on, Subdued all power; pain rulcd supreme alone. And yielding to the bony hand The unemplied cup, be mov'd toward the throne, And at the vacant corner took his stand, Behold the Golden Throne at length complete, And Yamen silently ascends the Judgment-Scat. and bore away tlie Maid, While from the Golden Throne the Lord of Death With love benignant, ou Ladurlad smild, As sweetly as a Child, Lies down and slumbers, By Yamen blest, Ladurlad sunk 10 rest. Blessed that sleep! more blessed was the waking ! For on that niglit a heavenly morning broke, The light of heaven was round him when he woke, And in the Swerga, in Yedilliau's Bower, NOTES. For two alone, of all mankind, to me The Amreeta-Cup was given, Exclaim'd the Anatomy; The Man hath drunk, the Woman's turn is next. Come, Kailyal, come, receive thy doom, And do the Will of Heaven !Wonder, and Fear, and Awe at once perplext The mortal Maiden's heart, but over all Hope rose triumphant. With a trembling hand, Obedient to his call, Is it not your command, The pious Virgin cried: Ye know my innocent will, my heart sincere, Ye govern all things still, And wherefore should I fear! She said, and drank. The Eye of Mercy beam'd Upon the Maid: a cloud of fragrance steam'd Like incense-smoke, as all her mortal frame Dissolved beneath the potent agency Of that mysterious draught; such quality, From her pure touch, the fated Cup partook. Like one entranced she knell, Feeling her body melt Yet sull she feit Dimly our holiest hopes anticipate. Note 1, page 307, col. 1. Calmly she took her seat. Sue, says Bernier, whom I saw burn herself, when I parted from Suratto travel into Persia, in the presence of Monsicur Chardin of Paris, and of many English and Dutch, was of a middle age, and not unbandsome. To represent unto you the updaunted cheerfulness that appeared in her countenance, the resolution with which she marched, washed herself, spoke to the people; the confidence with which she looked upon us, viewed her little cabin, made up of very dry millet-straw and small wood, went into this cabin, and sat down upon the pile, and took her husband's head into her lap, and a torch into her own hand, and kindled the cabin, whilse I know not low many Brahmans were busy in kindling the fire round about : to represent to you, I say, all this as it ought, is not possible for me; I can ar present scarce believe it myself, though it be but a few days since I saw it. Miuc! mine! with rapturous joy Ereenia cried, Mine, mine, --for ever mine! thine! Then Yamen said, O thou to whom, by Fate, Alove of all mankind, this lot is given, Daughter of Earth, but now the Child of Heaven! Go with thy heavenly Male, Go to the Swerga Bowers, Of endless happiness. Note 2, page 307, col. 1. They strip ber ornaments away. She went out again to the river, and taking up some water in her hands, muttered some prayers, and offered it to the sun. All her ornaments were then taken from her; and her armlets were broken, and chaplets of white flowers were put upon hier neck and hands. Her hair was fucked up with five combs; and her forehead was marked with clay in the same manner as that of her husband.--STAVORINUS. Note 3, page 307, col. 1. The marriage-knot alone. When the time for consummating the marriage is come, they light the fire Homan with the wood of Ravasilon. The Bramin blesses the former, whichi, being done, the bridegroom takes three handfuls of rice, and throws it on the bride's head, whodoes the same to liim. Afterwards the bride's father clothes her in a dress according to his condition, and washes the bridegroom's feel; the bride's mother observing to pour out the water. This being done, the father puts his daughter's hand in his own, puts water into it, some pieces of moncy, and, giving it to the bridegroom, says, at the same But that sweet Angel, for she still retain'd Her human loves and liuman piety, Linger'd, with anxious eye Toward bim wistfully. Go! Yamen cried, nor cast that look behind Upon Ladurlad at this parting hour, For thou shalt find him in thy Mother's Bower. The Car, for Carmala his word obey'd, time, I have no longer any thing to do with you, and I Dellon also, whom I consider as one of the best iragive you up to the power of another. The Tali, which vellers in the East, expressly asserts, that widows are is a ribbon with a golden head hanging at it, is held rea- burnt there « de gré, ou de force. L'on n'en voit que dy; and, being shown to the company, some prayers and trop qui après avoir desiré et demandé la mort avec un blessings are pronounced; after which the bridegroom courage intrepide, et après avoir obtenu et acheté la pertakes it, and hangs it about the bride's neck. This knot mission de se brûler, ont tremblé à la vue du bucher, se is what particularly secures his possession of her; for, sont repenties, mais trop tard, de leur imprudence, et ont before he had bad the Tali on, all the rest of the cere- fail d'inutiles efforts pour se retracter. Mais lorsque monies might have been made to no purpose ; for it has cela arrive, bien loin que les Bramenes soient touches sometimes happened, that, when the bridegroom was d'aucune pitié, ils lient cruellement ces malheureuses, et going to fix it on, the bride's father has discovered his not les brûlent par force, sans avoir aucun égard a leurs being satisfied with the bridegroom's gift, when another, plaintes, ni à leurs cris.»— Tom. i, p. 138. offering more, has carried off the bride with her father's It would be easy to multiply authorities upon this consent. But, when once the Tali is put on, the mar- point. Let it suftice to mention one important historical riage is indissoluble; and, whenever the husband dies, fact: When the great Albuquerque had established himthe Tali is burnt along with him, to shew that the mar- self at Goa, he forbade these accursed sacrifices, the woriaye bands are broke. Besides these particular cere- men extolled him for it as their benefactor and deliverer, monies, the people have notice of the wedding by a Pan- (Commentarios de Alb. ii. 20,) and no European in India dal, which is raised before the bride's door some days was ever so popular, or so revered by the patives. Yet, before. The whole concludes with an entertainment if we are to believe the anti-missionaries, none but fools, which the bride's father gives to the common friends; fanatics, and pretenders to humanity, would wish to deand during this festivity, which continues five days, alms prive the Hindoo women of the right of burning them. are given to the poor, and the fire Woman is kept in. selves! may be useful (says Colonel Mark Wilks) The seventh day, the new-married couple set out for the to examine the reasonableness of interfering with the bridegroom's house, whither they frequently go by torch- most exceptionable of all their institutions. It has been light. The bride and bridegroom are carried in a thought an abomination not to be tolerated, that a wisedan, pass through the chief streets of the city, and are dow should immolate herself on the funeral pile of her accompanied by their friends, who are either on horse- deceased husband. But what judgment should we form back or mounted on elephants.---.. ROGER. of the Hindoo, who (if any of our institutions admitted Note 4, page 307, col. 1. the parallel) should forcibly pretend 10 stand between a Christian and the hope of eternal salvation? And shall They force her on, they bind her to the dead. we not hold him to be a driveller in politics and morals, 'T is true, says Bernier, that I have seen some of them, a fanatic io religion, and a pretender in humanity, who which, al the sight of the pile and the fire, appeared to would forcibly wrest this hope from the Hindoo wihave some apprehension, and that, perhaps, would have dow ?»— Historical Sketches of the South of India, vol. i, gone back. Those demons, the Bramins, that are there p. 499. with their great sticks, astonish them, and hearten them Such opinions, and such language, may safely be up, or even thrust them in; as I have seen it done to a left to the indigoation and pity which they cannot fail young woman that retreated five or six paces from the to excite. I shall only express my astonishment, that pile, and to another, that was much disturbed when she any thing so monstrous, and so miserably futile, should saw the fire take hold of her clothes, these executioners have proceeded from a man of learning, great good thrusting her in with their long poles. sense, and general good feelings, as Colonel Wilks At Labor, I saw a very handsome and a very young evideutly appears to be. woman burnt; I believe she was not above twelve years of age. This poor unhappy creature appeared rather Note 5, page 307, col. 1. dead than alive when she came near the pile; she shook One drops, another plunges in. and wept bitterly. Meanwbile, three or four of these When Bernier was passing from Amad-Avad to Agra, executioners, the Bramins, together with an old hag that there came news to him in a borough, where the caraheld her under the arm, thrust her on, and made her sit van rested under the shade ( staying for the cool of the down upon the wood; and, lest she should run away, evening to march on their journey), that a woman was they tied her legs and hands; and so they burnt her then upon the point of burning herself with the body alive. I had enough to do to contain myself for indig- of her husband. I presently rose, says be, and ran to nation.-BERNIER. the place where it was to be done, which was a great Pietro Della Valle conversed with a widow, who was pit, with a pile of wood raised in it, whereon I saw laid about to burn herself by her own choice. She told him, a dead corpse and a woman, which, at a distance, seemthat, generally speaking, women were not forced to burned to me pretty fair, sitting near it on the same pile, theinselves; but sometimes, among people of rank, when besides four or five Bramins, putting the fire to it from a young woman, who was handsome, was left a widow, all sides; five women of a middle age, and well enough and in danger of marrying again, (which is never prac-dressed, holding one another by the hand, and dancing tised among them, because of the confusion and disgrace about the pit, and a great crowd of people, meo and which are inseparable from such a thing) or of falling in- women, looking on. The pile of wood was presently to other irregularities, then, indeed, the relatious of the all on fire, because store of oil and butter had been husband, if they are atallienacious of the honour of the thrown upon it: and I saw, at the same time, through family, compel hier to burn herself, whether she likes it the flames, that the fire took bold of the clothes of the orno, merely to prevent the inconveniencies which might woman, that were imbued with well-scented oils, mintake place. gled with powder of sandal and saffron. All this I saw, |