ring steps invade
The shelter of our pathless shade,
And hither come in fair disguise
Of hermit garb as Bali's spies."

Each lord beheld with troubled heart
Those masters of the bowman's art,
And left the mountain side to seek
Sure refuge on a loftier peak.
The Vanar chief in rapid flight
Found shelter on a towering height,
And all the band with one accord
Were closely gathered round their lord.
Their course the same, with desperate leap
Each made his way from steep to steep,
And speeding on in wild career
Filled every height with sudden fear.
Each heart was struck with mortal dread,
As on their course the Vanars sped,
While trees that crowned the steep were bent
And crushed beneath them as they went.
As in their eager flight they pressed
For safety to each mountain crest,
The wild confusion struck with fear
Tiger and cat and wandering deer.
The lords who watched Sugriva's will
Were gathered on the royal hill,
And all with reverent hands upraised
Upon their king and leader gazed.
Sugriva feared some evil planned,
Some train prepared by Bali's hand.
But, skilled in words that charm and teach,
Thus Hanuman(538) began his speech:

"Dismiss, dismiss thine idle fear,
Nor dread the power of Bali here.
For this is Malaya's glorious hill(539)
Where Bali's might can work no ill.
I look around but nowhere see
The hated foe who made thee flee,
Fell Bali, fierce in form and face:
Then fear not, lord of Vanar race.
Alas, in thee I clearly find
The weakness of the Vanar kind,
That loves from thought to thought to range,
Fix no belief and welcome change.
Mark well each hint and sign and scan,
Discreet and wise, thine every plan.
How may a king, with sense denied,
The subjects of his sceptre guide?"

Hanuman,(540) wise in hour of need,
Urged on the chief his prudent rede.
His listening ear Sugriva bent,
And spake in words more excellent:

"Where is the dauntless heart that free
From terror's chilling touch can see
Two stranger warriors, strong as those,
Equipped with swords and shafts and bows,
With mighty arms and large full eyes,
Like glorious children of the skies?
Bali my foe, I ween, has sent
These chiefs to aid his dark intent.
Hence doubt and fear disturb me still,
For thousands serve a monarch's will,
In borrowed garb they come, and those
Who walk disguised are counted foes.
With secret thoughts they watch their time,
And wound fond hearts that fear no crime.
My foe in state affairs is w