1854.] On the Ballads and Legends of the Punjab, 135 



"Immortal author of our Hue Kuveera # (24) dread," sue cried, 

 " Eor what uublest, perverse desigu thiue offspring's might and pride ; 

 "Lords of the earth to day we mov'd, but frames of giant might 

 "All uninform'd with soul have prov'd ; earth, heaven hath seen our 



flight. [sire, 



"What owe we thee, dread father, say, that thou should'st be our 

 " Ton lumbering forms, death's easy prey, or souls of glowworm fire. 

 " Are gods than mortal men less wight, that from the union rise, 

 "Souls shrunk and dwindled in their might, whilst form dilates 



in size ; 

 " Eecall thy bitter gift of life, since thou hast not to give 

 " The fame which gilds our being's strife and makes it life to live." 

 Thus in the cavern' d gloom she pour'd her wild reproachful cry, 

 And from the rocks in deep accord, uprose a mournful sigh. 



Dreams broke Eussaloo's toil-worn rest, mid strife and vision' d 



woes, 

 To calm his tempest-shaken breast his guardian (25) saint arose : 

 Benignly o'er the prince he smil'd, then as he vanish' d slow 

 In Eavi's current, rippling wild, seem'd beck'ning him below. 

 The Eaja burst the bonds of sleep and donn'd his azure arms, 

 "Whilst stars of heaven sweet dew showers weep, bright in neglected 



charms. 

 Beneath him far meandering spread, the Eavi's twilight flood, 

 Fring'd with dense groves of gloom and dread, a spirit haunted wood. 

 Calm as young maiden's sinless rest, ere love hath taught a sigh 

 Or care hath dimm'd her spotless breast, the starlit waters lie ; 

 Tor ever rippling clear and bright, the blissful current flows, 

 No rock to break, no cloud t' affright her musical repose. 

 Blest in the water's sweet embrace a fairy island smil'd, 

 Three trees of noblest growth and grace, wav'd o'er the flowery wild ; 

 And fondly droop their foliage down, the gliding wave to bless, 

 Which, coy as maiden, dances on and shuns the soft caress. 

 And through the foliage gleaming fair a snowy fane aspires, 

 Enshrin'd as Wood-nymph, chaste and rare, sweet mark of pure 



desires. 



* Kuveera, one of the inferior deities. God of wealth. 



