1854.] On tlie Ballads and Legends of tlie Punjab. 145 



Yet still, from others' bliss deriv'd a solace pure he found, 



"Which wrecks of youthful hope surviv'd and freshness scatter' d 



round. 

 'Twas when time's softening wing had swept the furrow' d scars of 



woe, 

 And tears in midnight silence wept had ceas'd at length their flow ; 

 That summon' d by the general wail, Eussaloo sought the bound 

 Of Abisara's fertile vale, with mountains girdled round : 

 Tor there the Eakuss dire, who fled the hero's conquering brand, 

 Still haunts the rugged mountain head and wastes th' affrighted 



land. 

 He travers'd swift the selfsame track Pehoon had trod erewhile 

 Till old Gundgurh tower'd steep and black in morning's golden 



smile ; 

 The monster heard that voice of doom and dropt his shuddering prey, 

 And to his den's deep, cavern'd gloom fled, wing'd with wild dismay. 

 In vain Eussaloo hail'd him back with truceful proffers wooed ; 

 And through the cavern's entrail black his footstep far pursued; 

 To all but Terror's impulse dead, he deeper grop'd his way ! 

 Eussaloo slow retrac'd his tread, back to the light of day ; 

 There in the cavern's jaws of death uphung his dreadful bow, 

 Secure, the sight would chain beneath man's dire, but dastard foe. 



And centuries since have roll'd away and threescore times renew'd 

 Hath man's sad race by slow decay, the bygone race pursued ; 

 Yet pent within that dungeon hold, the Eakuss dire remaius 

 Where old Pirthan, his forehead bold lifts o'er the subject plains ; 

 And oft' to scape his doom of night will seek the entrance low : 

 But aw'd and terror struck at sight of good Eussaloo's bow, 

 Back to the darkest gloom retrace his step with hideous roar, 

 Which rocks the mountain to its base, and quells the affrighted shore. 



And good Eussaloo's frame is dust and little men alone 

 Tread where the mighty, wise and just, 'erst built a glorious throne. 

 Yet stabled in a cavern old on bleak Sirbhunna's crest 

 Stands, barb'd for fight, his war-steed bold, impatient of his rest ; 

 And near the cave disjected lies, the Valve, with his strong bow 



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