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

VantoXLV. THE R^^MAYAN. 207
Let all thy doubt and woe depart.
Thy lord, be sure, will soon be here
And bring thee back that best of deer.
Not his, not his that mournful cry,
Nor haply came it from the sky
Some giant's art was busy there
And framed a castle based on air.
A precious pledge art thou, consigned
To me by him of noblest mind
Nor can I, fairest dame, forsake
The pledge which Rdma bade me take.
Upon our heads, O Queen, we drew
The giants' hate when Rama slew
Their chieftain Khara, and the shade
Of Janasthan in ruin laid.
Through all this mighty wood they rove
With varied cries from grove to grove.
On rapine bent they wander here
But 0, dismiss thy causeless fear.'
Bright flashed her eye as Lakshmaij spoke,
And forth her words of fury broke
Upon her truthful guardian, flung
With bitter taunts that pierced and stung
' Shame on such false compassion, base
Defiler of thy glorious race
'Twere joyous sight, I ween, to thee
My lord in direst strait to see.
Thou knowest RSma sore bested,
Or word like this thou ne'er hadst said.
No marvel if we find such sin
In rivals false to kith and kin.
Wretches like thee of evil kind.
Concealing crime with crafty mind*
Thou, wretch, thine aid wilt still deny.