372 



Essay on Telugu Literature. 



ror, or horror, thou grievest not — what is this ? while my heart heaves 

 violently with horror and despair ! Alas ! he went alone into the forest. 

 It is late — and he cometh not — surely he hath this day fallen into the 

 hands of the giants. Delay not — go, I pray thee, to the prince ! (166 — 

 200). 



She spoke, pouring floods of tears and Laxmana replied thus to the 

 child of Janaca. 



Mother, why art thou alarmed ? surely no evil shall ever befall thy 

 spouse Rama. Dost not thou know the valour of thy beloved lord ? 

 Is it right to give vent to words so agonizing? surely this is the scream 

 of some demon who wishes to terrify .thy heart. What hath such a 

 pitiful shriek to do with the hero of tile solar* race. O daughter of 

 Janaca wherefore, art thou thus agitate)! ? I will without hesitation 

 follow the prince Rama: and shall the giants who oppose him main- 

 tain their footing ? they are no more than crickets that exult against 

 Wildfire. They will \\\ the end fall into it and turn to ashes or like the 

 mighty serpents that r^ise themselves/against the eagle andlperish in his 

 talons — or like a herd ofVL^nhants that rush upon the lionf (200 — 244). 



No, I am afraid to leave thVe^-no — be not weary of me — plant these 

 my words in thy heart. Be not grieved, O daughter of the king of men. 

 At these words the fires of wratfy arose in the heart of the lady and 

 grieved, she thus addressed the son of Sumitra. 



Thou ! art thou faithful towards Rama ? why art thou this day so 

 base ? even though thou nearest SriJ Rama calling on thee by name, 

 thou art, like a foe, filled with hatred in thy heart — is this becom- 

 ing ?****** 



Thus spoke Laxmana with his eyes filled with tears, and as his heart 

 could bear no more he exclaimed Mother, I am gone, I will without 

 delay bring thee thy lord, grieve not ! 



He said, and departed. But first he drew seven circles round the 

 bower, and said Mother, pass not these limits, and should any one ven- 

 ture to cross these lines, the intruder shall instantly pay for it with his 

 head. 



Then he addressed the god of fire, saying. Be not careless. I com- 

 mit the dame to thee ! 



* The two most ancient royal houses of India are traced up, one to the Sun, the other 

 to the Moon. 



+ Which is supposed to feed on elephant's flesh alone. Here and elsewhere I omit the 

 passages which are verbose or needless in a mere version. 



% Sri is equivalent to saint ; and St. George would be called Sri George. Here Sita 

 ' proceeds to violent language, and as usual finishes by threatening to drown herself. 



