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

76 THE RA:M^7A N. Book III.
Where the unnoticed rivers steal.
The hoary rime of dewy night,
And suns that glow with tempered light
Lend fresh co6l flavours to the rill
That sparkles from the topmost hill.
The cold has killed the lily's pride :
Leaf, filament, and flower have died :
With chilling breath rude winds have blown.
The withered stalk is left alone.
At this gay time, O noblest chief,
The faithful Bharat, worn by grief,
Lives in the royal town where he
Spends weary hours for love of thee.
From titles, honour, kingly sway,
From every joy he turns away
Couched on cold earth, his days are passed
With scanty fare and hermit's fast.
This moment from his humble bed
He lifts, perhaps, his weary head,
And girt by many a follower goes
To bathe where silver Sarju flows.
How, when the frosty morn is dim.
Shall Sarju be a bath for him
Nursed with all love and teuder caro,
So delicate and young and fair ?
How bright his hue !
his brilliant eye
With the broad lotus leaf may vie.
By fortune stamped for happy fate.
His graceful foxn; i« tall and straight.
In duty skilled, his words are trvith
He proudly rules each lust of youth.
Though his strong arm smites down the foe.
In gentle speech his accents flow.
Yet every joy has he resigned