an burn, or water drown,
I follow him:--choose what thou wilt,
Truth with its everlasting crown,
Or falsehood, treachery, and guilt.

"Remain here, with a vain pretence
Of shielding me from wrong and shame,
Or go and die in his defence
And leave behind a noble name.
Choose what thou wilt,--I urge no more,
My pathway lies before me clear,
I did not know thy mind before,
I know thee now,--and have no fear."

She said and proudly from him turned,--
Was this the gentle Sita? No.
Flames from her eyes shot forth and burned,
The tears therein had ceased to flow.
"Hear me, O Queen, ere I depart,
No longer can I bear thy words,
They lacerate my inmost heart
And torture me, like poisoned swords.

"Have I deserved this at thine hand?
Of lifelong loyalty and truth
Is this the meed? I understand
Thy feelings, Sita, and in sooth
I blame thee not,--but thou mightst be
Less rash in judgement. Look! I go,
Little I care what comes to me
Wert thou but safe,--God keep thee so!

"In going hence I disregard
The plainest orders of my chief,
A deed for me,--a soldier,--hard
And deeply painful, but thy grief
And language, wild and wrong, allow
No other course. Mine be the crime,
And mine alone,--but oh, do thou
Think better of me from this time.

"Here with an arrow, lo, I trace
A magic circle ere I leave,
No evil thing within this space
May come to harm thee or to grieve.
Step not, for aught, across the line,
Whatever thou mayst see or hear,
So shalt thou balk the bad design
Of every enemy I fear.

"And now farewell! What thou hast said,
Though it has broken quite my heart,
So that I wish that I were dead--
I would before, O Queen, we part
Freely forgive, for well I know
That grief and fear have made thee wild,
We part as friends,--is it not so?"
And speaking thus,--he sadly smiled.

"And oh ye sylvan gods that dwell
Among these dim and sombre shades,
Whose voices in the breezes swell
And blend with noises of cascades,
Watch over Sita, whom alone
I leave, and keep her safe from harm,
Till we return unto our own,
I and my brother, arm in arm.

"For though ill omens round us rise
And frighten her dear heart, I fee