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5.

The will of Heaven be done, Ladurlad cried,
Nor more the man replied;

But placed his daughter in the etherial bark,
Then took his seat beside.

There was no word at parting, no adieu. Down from that empyreal height they flew : One groan Ladurlad breathed, yet utter'd not, When, to his heart and brain,

The fiery Curse again like lightning shot. And now on earth the Sire and Child alight, Up soar'd the Ship of Heaven, and sail'd away from

sight.

6.

O ye immortal Bowers,

Where hitherto the Hours

Have led their dance of happiness for aye,

With what a sense of woe

Do ye expect the blow,

And see your heavenly dwellers driven

away

Lo! where the aunnay-birds of graceful mien,

Whose milk-white forms were seen,

Lovely as Nymphs, your ancient trees between, And by your silent springs,

With melancholy cry

Now spread unwilling wings;

Their stately necks reluctant they protend,
And through the sullen sky,

To other worlds, their mournful progress bend.

7.

The affrighted gales to-day

O'er their beloved streams no longer play, The streams of Paradise have ceased to flow; The Fountain-Tree withholds its diamond shower, In this portentous hour, ..

...

This dolorous hour,... this universal woe. Where is the Palace, whose far-flashing beams, With streaks and streams of ever-varying light, Brighten'd the polar night

Around the frozen North's extremest shore? Gone like a morning rainbow,... like a dream,. A star that shoots and falls, and then is seen no more.

8.

Now! now!... Before the Golden Palaces,
The Bramin strikes the inevitable hour.
The fatal blow is given,

That over Earth and Heaven
Confirms the Almighty Rajah in his power.
All evil Spirits then,

That roam the World about,
Or wander through the sky,
Set up a joyful shout.

The Asuras and the Giants join the cry;

The damn'd in Padalon acclaim

Their hoped Deliverer's name;

...

Heaven trembles with the thunder-drowning sound;
Back starts affrighted Ocean from the shore,
And the adamantine vaults and brazen floor
Of Hell, are shaken with the roar.

Up rose the Rajah through the conquer'd sky, To seize the Swerga for his proud abode; Myriads of evil Genii round him fly, As royally on wings of winds he rode, And scaled high Heaven, triumphant like a God.

103

XIII.

THE RETREAT.

1.

AROUND her Father's neck the Maiden lock'd Her arms, when that portentous blow was given; Clinging to him she heard the dread uproar, And felt the shuddering shock which ran through Heaven;

Earth underneath them rock'd,

Her strong foundations heaving in commotion, Such as wild winds upraise in raving Ocean, As though the solid base were rent asunder. And lo! where, storming the astonish'd sky, Kehama and his evil host ascend!

Before them rolls the thunder,

Ten thousand thousand lightnings round them fly, Upward the lengthening pageantries aspire, Leaving from Earth to Heaven a widening wake of fire.

2.

When the wild uproar was at length allay'd, And Earth recovering from the shock was still, Thus to her father spake the imploring Maid: Oh! by the love which we so long have borne

Each other, and we ne'er shall cease to bear,...
Oh! by the sufferings we have shared,

And must not cease to share,..
One boon I supplicate in this dread hour,
One consolation in this hour of woe!
Father, thou hast it in thy power,

Thou wilt not, Father, sure refuse me now
The only comfort my poor heart can know.

3.

O dearest, dearest Kailyal! with a smile
Of tenderness and anguish, he replied,
O best beloved, and to be loved the best,
Best worthy,.. set thy duteous heart at rest.
I know thy wish, and let what will betide,

Ne'er will I leave thee wilfully again.
My soul is strengthen'd to endure its pain;
Be thou in all my wanderings, still my guide;
Be thou, in all my sufferings, at my side.

4.

The Maiden, at those welcome words, imprest A passionate kiss upon her father's cheek: They look'd around them then as if to seek Where they should turn, North, South, or East or West,

Wherever to their vagrant feet seem'd best. But, turning from the view her mournful eyes, Oh, whither should we wander, Kailyal cries, Or wherefore seek in vain a place of rest? Have we not here the Earth beneath our tread Heaven overhead,

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