Vain cruelty! the stake Fell in white ashes from his hold, but he Was full, and at the height; The burning stream of radiance nothing harm'd him; And from all other flame 11. Anon the Spirit waved a second hand; Down rush'd the obedient whirlwind from the sky, Scoop'd up the sand like smoke, and from on high Shed the hot shower upon Ladurlad's head. Where'er he turns, the accursed Hand is there; East, West, and North, and South, on every side The Hand accursed waves in air to guide The dizzying storm; ears, nostrils, eyes, and mouth. 12. What, Arvalan! hast thou so soon forgot The grasp of Pollear? Wilt thou still defy The righteous Powers of heaven? or know'st thou not That there are yet superior Powers on high, Son of the Wicked?... Lo, in rapid flight, Ereenia hastens from the etherial height, Bright is the sword celestial in his hand; Like lightning in its path athwart the sky, He comes and drives, with angel-arm, the blow. Oft have the Asuras, in the wars of Heaven, Felt that keen sword by arm angelic driven, And fled before it from the fields of light, Thrice through the vulnerable shade The Glendoveer impels the griding blade, The wicked Shade flies howling from his foe. So let that Spirit foul Fly, and for impotence of anger, howl, Writhing with anguish, and his wounds deplore ; Worse punishment hath Arvalan deserved, And righteous Fate hath heavier doom in store. 13. Not now the Glendoveer pursues his flight; And gently there he laid The astonish'd Father by the happy Maid, The Maid now shedding tears of deep delight. Beholding all things with incredulous eyes, Still dizzy with the sand-storm, there he lay, While sailing up the skies, the living Bark Through air and sunshine held its heavenly way. X. MOUNT-MERU. ༤. SWIFT through the sky the vessel of the Suras Fatherly cares and filial veneration, All with which Nature halloweth her daughters, Ship of the Gods, how richly art thou laden! Proud of the charge, thou voyagest rejoicing, Clouds float around to honour thee, and Evening Lingers in heaven. 2. A Stream descends on Meru mountain; None hath seen its secret fountain; It had its birth, so Sages say, When Parvati presumed to lay, Her hands, too venturous Goddess, in her mirth, In sudden trance opprest, forgot their powers. And Ganges thence upon the world descended, 3. None hath seen its secret fountain; From rock to rock, with shivering force rebounding, The mighty cataract rushes; Heaven around, Like thunder, with the incessant roar resounding, And Meru's summit shaking with the sound. Wide spreads the snowy foam, the sparkling spray Dances aloft; and ever there at morning The earliest sunbeams haste to wing their way, With rainbow wreaths the holy stream adorning ; And duly the adoring Moon at night Sheds her white glory there, And in the watery air Suspends her halo-crowns of silver light. 4. A mountain-valley in its blessed breast Receives the stream, which there delights to lie, Untroubled and at rest, Beneath the untainted sky. There in a lovely lake it seems to sleep, Of the Tree of Life on Hemakoot, 5. Towards this Lake, above the nether sphere, When Indra by the Rajah shall be driven |