ss ease, and free
Thyself, O Queen, thy son, and me!"

Delighted at the words she said,
Kaikeyi lifted from the bed,
Like autumn's moon, her radiant head,
And joyous at the tidings gave
A jewel to the hump-back slave;
And as she gave the precious toy
She cried in her exceeding joy:
"Take this, dear maiden, for thy news
Most grateful to mine ear, and choose
What grace beside most fitly may
The welcome messenger repay.
I joy that Rama gains the throne:
Kausalya's son is as mine own."

Canto VIII. Manthara's Speech.

The damsel's breast with fury burned:
She answered, as the gift she spurned:
"What time, O simple Queen, is this
For idle dreams of fancied bliss?
Hast thou not sense thy state to know,
Engulfed in seas of whelming woe;
Sick as I am with grief and pain
My lips can scarce a laugh restrain
To see thee hail with ill-timed joy
A peril mighty to destroy.
I mourn for one so fondly blind:
What woman of a prudent mind
Would welcome, e'en as thou hast done,
The lordship of a rival's son,
Rejoiced to find her secret foe
Empowered, like death, to launch the blow;
I see that Rama still must fear
Thy Bharat, to his throne too near.
Hence is my heart disquieted,
For those who fear are those we dread.
Lakshman, the mighty bow who draws,
With all his soul serves Rama's cause;
And chains as strong to Bharat bind
Satrughna, with his heart and mind,
Now next to Rama, lady fair,
Thy Bharat is the lawful heir:
And far remote, I ween, the chance
That might the younger two advance.
Yes, Queen, 'tis Rama that I dread,
Wise, prompt, in warlike science bred;
And oh, I tremble when I think
Of thy dear child on ruin's brink.
Blest with a lofty fate is she,
Kausalya; for her son will be
Placed, when the moon and Pushya meet,
By Brahmans on the royal seat,
Thou as a slave in suppliant guise
Must wait upon Kausalya's eyes,
With all her wealth and bliss secured
And glorious from her foes assured.
Her slave with us who serve thee, thou
Wilt see thy son to Rama bow,
And Sita's friends exult o'er all,
While Bharat's wife shares Bharat's fall."

As thus the maid in wrath complained,
Kaikeyi saw her heart was pained,
And answered eager in defence
Of Rama's worth and excellence:
"Nay, Rama, born the monarch's heir,
By holy fathers trained with care,
Virtuous, grateful, pure, and true,
Claims royal sway as rightly due.
He, like a sire, will long defend
Each brother, minister, and friend.
Then why, O