1854.] On the Ballads and Legends of the Punjab. 143 



" To snatch from thee thy hapless bride, would 'whelm thee in her 



fate. 

 "' Twixt thee and me they scowling stand, e'en while thine arms 



entwine 

 "My thrilling frame — our love is bann'd, I never can be thine." 



He sooth'd her with love's whisper low, with reason's lore divine, 

 Smooth' d each bright tress that o'er her brow far flung its golden 



twine, 

 Then led her to the terrace high, where wheel' d beneath her sight 

 The Jusrut's* youthful chivalry, array'd for mimic fight. 

 The day wore on with pageant fair, the bridal hour drew nigh ; 

 A caldron vast the Maenials bear of silver sculptur'd high ; 

 [Rich spoil of Yavan's kingly race, a noble Pont and rare, 

 Full many a young and laughing grace, had plung'd delighted there. 

 With sculptur'd forms emboss' d and drest, strange shapes of classic 



lore; 

 There coiling hydras rear the crest, there winged lions roar. 

 Satyrs and fawns and Dryads troop the basement rich around, 

 And mermaids fair and Nereids group upon the watery bound. 

 Bright urns with olive oil replete, a thousand maidens bring, 

 In spotless robes, with naked feet, the nuptial chaunt they sing. 

 Into the basins vasty hold evers'd their large supplies, 

 Till to the jewell'd brim of gold, the sluggish tides arise. 

 Crackles the cedar fire beneath, up boil the unctuous waves 

 A gulf whose dire embrace is death, the stranded silver laves ; 

 And round and round the blazing bound the bride in youthful 



charms 

 And hero tried, in manhood's pride, march with inwoven arms. 

 Then frenzy fir'd the maiden's eye ; for 'mid the lurid haze 

 Of vapours curling wild and high in dim fantastic maze. 

 Ghastly and gaunt her brothers stood, as when in death they fell, 

 AVith soil deform'd and stain'd with blood from wounds that darkly 



well. 

 Each on the ghastly token laid his hand of purple dye, 

 And fasten' d on the frenzied maid his glaz'd and stony eye : 

 * The Jusrut family succeeded the Pandoos in the Punjaub. 



