EREENIA. Fear courts the blow, Fear brings the ruin on. Needs must the chariot-wheels of Destiny Crush him who throws himself before their track, Patient and prostrate. INDRA. All may yet be well. Who knows but Veeshnoo will descend and save, Once more incarnate? EREENIA. Look not there for help, Nor build on unsubstantial hope thy trust. Our Father Casyapa hath said he turns His doubtful eye to Seeva, even as thou Dost look to him for aid. But thine own strength Should for thine own salvation be put forth; Then might the higher Powers approving see And bless the brave resolve... Oh, that my arm Could wield yon lightnings which play idly there, In inoffensive radiance round thy head! The Swerga should not need a champion now, Nor Earth implore deliverance still in vain! INDRA. Thinkest thou I want the will? rash Son of Heaven, Till his triumphant car had measured o'er Of men received his yoke; then had he won His will, to ride upon their necks elate, And crown his conquests with the sacrifice That should, to men and gods, proclaim him Lord And Sovereign Master of the vassal World, Sole Rajah, the Omnipotent below. The steam of that portentous sacrifice Arose to Heaven. Then was the hour to strike; Then in the consummation of his pride, His height of glory, then the thunder-bolt Should have gone forth, and hurl'd him from his throne Down to the fiery floor of Padalon, Such To everlasting burnings, agony Eternal, and remorse which knows no end. That hour went by: grown impious in succes By prayer and penances he wrested now power from Fate, that soon, if Seeva turn not His eyes on earth, and no Avatar save, Soon will he seize the Swerga for his own, Roll on through Padalon his chariot wheels, Tear up the adamantine bolts which lock The accurst Asuras to its burning floor, And force the drink of Immortality From Yamen's charge... Vain were it now to strive; My thunder cannot pierce the sphere of power Wherewith, as with a girdle, he is bound. KAILYAL. Take me to earth, O gentle Deveta! Take me again to earth! This is no place Of rest for me! . my Father still must bear Take me to earth, that I may follow him!... I do not fear the Almighty Man! the Gods Are feeble here; but there are higher Powers Who will not turn their eyes from wrongs like ours; Take me to earth, O gentle Deveta!... 12. Saying thus she knelt, and to his knees she clung Her eyes, more eloquent than Angel's tongue, 13. Indra with admiration heard the Maid. Already in thy spirit thus divine, Be that high sense of duty still thy guide, And all good Powers will aid a soul like thine. Then turning to Ereenia, thus he said, Take her where Ganges hath its second birth, Below our sphere, and yet above the earth; There may Ladurlad rest beyond the power Of the dread Rajah, till the fated hour. VIII. THE SACRIFICE. 1. Dost thou tremble, O Indra, O God of the Sky, ... Wilt thou tamely the Swerga resign,... Art thou smitten, O Indra, with dread? Or seest thou not, seest thou not, Monarch divine, How many a day to Seeva's shrine Kehama his victim hath led? At noon his consummating blood will flow. Thou tremblest, O Indra, O God of the Sky, Thou tremblest on high for thy power! Is the Destroyer blind? Is the Preserver careless for mankind? 2. Along the mead the hallow'd Steed No human hand hath trick'd that mane A Before he fall at Seeva's shrine; Yield to the Tyrant of the World below; The Rajah's rod, and groan beneath his hateful sway. |