ried,
New to the bliss so long denied,
Like Visvamitra once, alas,
He marks not how the seasons pass.
That saint ten thousand years remained,
By sweet Ghritachi's(640) love enchained,
And deemed those years, that flew away
So lightly, but a single day.
O, if those years unheeded flew
By him who times and seasons knew,
Unequalled for his lofty mind,
What marvel meaner eyes are blind?
Then be not angry, Raghu's son,
And let thy brother feel for one
Who many a weary year has spent
Stranger to love and blandishment.
Let not this wrath thy soul inflame,
Like some mean wretch unknown to fame:
For high and noble hearts like thine
Love mercy and to ruth incline,
Calm and deliberate, and slow
With anger's raging fire to glow.
At length, O righteous prince, relent,
Nor let my words in vain be spent,
This sudden blaze of fury slake,
I pray thee for Sugriva's sake.
He would renounce at Rama's call
Ruma and Angad, me and all
Who call him lord: his gold and grain,
The favour of his friend to gain.
His arm shall slay the fiend more base
In soul than all his impious race,
And happy Rama reunite
To Sita, rival in delight
Of the triumphant Moon when he
Rejoins his darling Rohini.(641)
Ten million million demons guard
The gates of Lanka firmly barred.
All hope until that host be slain,
To smite the robber king is vain.
Nor with Sugriva's aid alone
May king and host be overthrown.
Thus ere he died--for well he knew--
Spake Bali, and his words are true.
I know not what his proofs might be,
But speak the words he spake to me.
Hence far and wide our lords are sent
To raise the mightiest armament,
For their return Sugriva waits
Ere he can sally from his gates.
Still is the oath Sugriva swore
Kept firmly even as before:
And the great host this day will be
Assembled by the king's decree,
Ten thousand thousand troops, who wear
The form of monkey and of bear,
Prepared for thee the war to wage:
Then let thy wrath no longer rage.
The matrons of the Vanar race
See marks of fury in thy face;
They see thine eyes like blood are red,
And will not yet be comforted."

Canto XXXVI. Sugriva's Speech.

She ceased: and Lakshman gave assent,
Won by her gentle argument.
So Tara's pleading, just and mild,
His softening heart had reconciled.
His altered mood Sugriva saw,
And cast aside the fear and awe
Like raiment heavy with the rain
Which on his troubled soul had lain.
Then quickly to the ground he threw
His flowery g