1854.] On the Ballads and Legends of the Punjab. 129 



A voice which caus'd the life blood freeze shook all tli* affrighted 



strand, 

 And from that shroud, the youth to seize, came forth a giant hand. 

 Aghast, his eyeballs glaz'd and set, his palate scorch' d and dry, 

 His joints unstrung, denying yet the power to shrink or fly : 

 The hapless victim sate, one yell, despair's own freezing tone, 

 Forc'd his parch' d throat, then strangled fell, a faint and piteous 



moan. 



Bussaloo mark'd with other eye, to heaven he inly pray'd, 

 Then whilst his steed rear'd wild and high, unsheathed his battle-blade. 

 Down flash' d the steel, a clear blue flame, such heaven's dread 



armoury swell, 

 Sheer thro' the wrist gigantic came ; — the huge hand weltering fell, 

 Spouted the hot, red torrent forth, the writhing monster's roar, 

 Of pain and shame and coward wrath, the free wave backward bore ; 

 He yells, he flees, stride urging stride, the cloudy mantle roll'd, 

 Bound his gaunt form is scatter' d wide in many a giant fold ; 

 And now some monstrous limb breaks thro', now towers his shaggy 



head, 

 Like forest-tangled mountain brow, whose eye the watch fire red. 

 His knees the waving forest rend, huge trees uprooted lie, 

 Like grassy tufts, that crash or bend, when the merry hounds give 



cry: 

 And such the tumult, roar and din, as when Pavahk's* dread ire, 

 The wild Marootsf incense to win man's realm with girdling fire. 



His mighty brothers mark'd his flight, half wondering, half in dread; 

 " Up, up," he cried, " while haply flight avails to screen your head, 

 " The hour foretold in wizard lay, that hour of dole and doom, 

 " The rider of the dappled grey, the man of fate is come." 

 Thus Tera, as he fled amain nor respite knew nor stay 

 Till leagues six score and rivers twain, twixt him and vengeance lay. 

 Splash thro' Chenab's swol'n stream he strode, his knee the surges 

 found, 



* God of fire of Hindoo Mythology, 

 f Maroots the winds. 



