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,
What if my arm be feeble as thine own
Against the dread Kehama? He went on
Conquering in irresistible career,

Till his triumphant car had measured o'er
The insufficient earth, and all the Kings

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
And bow'd her head, in tears and silence praying.
Rising anon, around his neck she flung
Her arms, and there with folded hands she hung,
And fixing on the guardian Glendoveer

Her eyes, more eloquent than Angel's tongue,
Again she cried, There is no comfort here!
I must be with my Father in his pain..
Take me to earth, O Deveta, again!

13.

Indra with admiration heard the Maid.
O Child of Earth, he cried,

Already in thy spirit thus divine,
Whatever weal or woe betide,

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,
Why slumber those thunders of thine?
Dost thou tremble on high,.

...

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?
Nine and ninety days are fled,
Nine and ninety steeds have bled;
One more, the rite will be complete,
One victim more, and this the dreadful day.
Then will the impious Rajah seize thy seat,
And wrest the thunder-sceptre from thy sway.
Along the mead the hallow'd Steed
Yet bends at liberty his way;

At noon his consummating blood will flow.
O day of woe! above, below,

Thou tremblest, O Indra, O God of the Sky,
Thy thunder is vain,

Thou tremblest on high for thy power!
But where is Veeshnoo at this hour,
But where is Seeva's eye?

Is the Destroyer blind?

Is the Preserver careless for mankind?

2.

Along the mead the hallow'd Steed
Still wanders whereso'er he will,
O'er hill, or dale, or plain;

No human hand hath trick'd that mane
From which he shakes the morning dew;
His mouth has never felt the rein,
His lips have never froth'd the chain;
For pure of blemish and of stain,
His neck unbroke to mortal yoke,
Like Nature free the Steed must be,
Fit offering for the Immortals he.

A
year and day the Steed must stray
Wherever chance may guide his way,

Before he fall at Seeva's shrine;
The year and day have pass'd away,
Nor touch of man hath marr'd the rite divine.
And now at noon the Steed must bleed,
The perfect rite to-day must force the meed
Which Fate reluctant shudders to bestow;
Then must the Swerga-God

Yield to the Tyrant of the World below;
Then must the Devetas obey

The Rajah's rod, and groan beneath his hateful sway.