THE RÁMÁYAN OF VÁLMÍKI, VOL. III - Gujarat Knowledge Centre

101
CANTO XXIII.
THE OMENS.
As forth upon its errand went
That huge ferocious armament,
An awful cloud, in dust and gloom.
With threatening thunders from its womb
Poured in sad augury a flood
Of rushing water mixt with blood.
The monarch's steeds, though strong and fleet.
Stumbled and fell : and
yet their feet
Passed o'er the bed of flowers that lay
Fresh gathered on the royal way.
No gleam of sunlight struggled through
The sombre pall of midnight hue,
Edged with a line of bloody red.
Like whirling torches overhead.
A vulture, fierce, of mighty size,
Terrific with his cruel eyes.
Perched on the staff enriched with gold,
Whence hung the flag in many a fold.
Each ravening bird, each beast of prey
Where JauasthAn's wild thickets lay,
Rose with a long discordant cry
And gathered as the host went by.
And from the south long, wild, and shrill.
Came spirit voices boding ill.
Like elephants in frantic mood.
Vast clouds terrific, sable-hued.
Hid all the sky wbere'er they bore