1854.] On the Ballads and Legends of the Punjab. 131 



Arose in all its silvery might, to shame their dastard choice. 

 " What, not one blow ? And will ye flee, ye god-descended crew, 

 " Mindless of name and fame and me, who this vile recreance view ? 

 " The very squirrel guards her nest, the lapwing takes not flight, 

 " Until at least her foeman's crest, salute the trembler's sight ; 

 " But ye, of bulk so huge, of soul less than might serve to fill 

 " A squirrel's frame, can flight control fate's dark inviolate will ? 

 " To fate pertain life, death ; but we ourselves suffice alone 

 " To live from self-reproval free, and die in fair renown." 



The woman's greater soul prevail' d, Pehoon and Chindia strode 

 Each in his cloudy mantle veil'd. Earth, shudder'd as they trod. 

 Pehoon upheav'd a trident vast, that wont on each huge prong 

 An ox entire to rivet fast, 'mid mirth and jovial song. 

 Its crest high pois'd a tall Chenarr,* the forest pride and stay, 

 Chindia the stem uprooted tore and rent the limbs away. 

 A mighty rod whose lightest thwack tho' playfully it fell, 

 Had crush' d primaeval Mammoth's back or shiver' d Kurma'sf shell. 

 But Pugrputt drew forth his sliug ; an elephant's hide entire 

 The thong, two cables serv'd for string, a rock the missile dire, 

 So vast, that ship of mightiest beam, of all which swell thy state 

 Dread Ganges,heav'n-descended Queen, had sunk beneath the weight. 

 Such pebbles in his scrip he bore, the burliest son of might, 

 But recreant to the immost core, his thoughts were bent on flight. 

 And still he loiter'd, plucking now some taller Simbhul'sJ head, 

 Or whistling shrill as tempests blow round Bhaiugra's§ peak of dread. 



Soon as Eussaloo met their eye, mirth stirr'd the giant brood, 

 Was this the foe they needs must fly, athirst to quaff their blood ? 

 Their laughter shook th' affrighted earth, like thunder-peals it rang, 

 Old Pir Punjaul|| enjoy'd their mirth and echoed back the clang 



* The Chenarr or Oriental plane, the noblest of forest trees. It is not indigenous 

 to the Punjaub, although it will grow there readily from slips. 



f Kui ma, the fabulous tortoise, who supports the elephant Ihrawut, who sup. 

 ports the earth. 



X Simbhul of the Punjaub, Saymul of India, the Indian cotton tree, the loftiest 

 tree indigenous to the country bearing a laige red flower. 



§ Mount Bhaingra an isolated summit in Huzura about 8000 feet high. 



|| Mount Pir Punjaul the elevated range walling in Cashmere southward. 



