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

Canto XVI. THE RJ^MA'VAN. 75
The barley, wheat, and woodland steep,
Where, as the suu goes up the sky.
The curlew and the saras cry.
See where the rice plants scarce uphold
Their full ears tinged with paly gold.
Bending their ripe heads slowly down
Fair as the date tree's flowery crown.
Though now the sun has mounted high
Seeking the forehead of the sky.
Such mist obscures his struggling beams,
No bigger than the moon he seems.
Though weak at first, his rays at length
Grow pleasant in their noonday strength.
And where a while they chance to fall
Fling a faint splendour over all.
See, o'er the woods w^here grass is wet
With hoary drops that cling there yet,
With soft light clothing earth and bough
There steals a tender glory now.
Yon elephant who longs to drink.
Still standing on the river's brink.
Plucks back his trunk in shivering haste
From the cold wave he fain would taste.
The very fowl that haunt the mere
Stand doubtful on the bank, and fear
To dip them in the wintry wave
As cowards dread to meet the brave.
The frost of night, the rime of davvn
Bind flowerless trees and glades of lawn
Benumbed in apathetic chill
Of icy chains they slumber still.
You hear the hidden sSras cry
From floods that wrapped in vapour lie.
And frosty-shining sands reveal