Her rival strain would try,

A mighty songster, with the Maid to vie; She only bore her part in powerful sympathy.

13.

Well might they thus adore that heavenly Maid!
For never Nymph of Mountain,

Or Grove, or Lake, or Fountain,
With a diviner presence fill'd the shade.
No idle ornaments deface
Her natural grace,

Musk-spot, nor sandal-streak, nor scarlet stain,
Ear-drop nor chain, nor arm nor ankle-ring,
Nor trinketry on front, or neck, or breast,
Marring the perfect form: she seem'd a thing
Of Heaven's prime uncorrupted work, a child
Of early nature undefiled,

A daughter of the years of innocence.

And therefore all things loved her. When she stood
Beside the glassy pool, the fish, that flies

Quick as an arrow from all other eyes,
Hover'd to gaze on her. The mother bird,
When Kailyal's step she heard,

Sought not to tempt her from her secret nest,
But hastening to the dear retreat, would fly
To meet and welcome her benignant eye.

14.

Hope we have none, said Kailyal to her Sire.
Said she aright? and had the mortal Maid
No thoughts of heavenly aid,..

No secret hopes her inmost heart to move With longings of such deep and pure desire,

As Vestal Maids, whose piety is love,

Feel in their ecstasies, when rapt above, Their souls unto their heavenly Spouse aspire ? Why else so often doth that searching eye Roam through the scope of sky? Why, if she sees a distant speck on high, Starts there that quick suffusion to her cheek? "Tis but the Eagle in his heavenly height; Reluctant to believe, she hears his cry, And marks his wheeling flight,

Then pensively averts her mournful sight. Why ever else, at morn, that waking sigh, Because the lovely form no more is nigh Which hath been present to her soul all night; And that injurious fear

Which ever, as it riseth, is represt, Yet riseth still within her troubled breast, That she no more shall see the Glendoveer!

15.

Hath he forgotten me? The wrongful thought Would stir within her, and though still repell'd With shame and self-reproaches, would recur. Days after days unvarying come and go, And neither friend nor foe

Approaches them in their sequester'd bower. Maid of strange destiny! but think not thou Thou art forgotten now,

And hast no cause for farther hope or fear;

What

High-fated Maid, thou dost not know

eyes watch over thee for weal and woe! Even at this hour,

Searching the dark decrees divine,

Kehama, in the fulness of his power,

Perceives his thread of fate entwine with thine. The Glendoveer, from his far sphere, With love that never sleeps, beholds thee here, And in the hour permitted will be near. Dark Lorrinite on thee hath fixed her sight, And laid her wiles, to aid

Foul Arvalan when he shall next appear; For well she ween'd his Spirit would renew Old vengeance now, with unremitting hate; The Enchantress well that evil nature knew, The accursed Spirit hath his prey in view; And thus, while all their separate hopes pursue, All work, unconsciously, the will of Fate.

16.

Fate work'd its own the while. A band
Of Yoguees, as they roam'd the land
Seeking a spouse for Jaga-Naut their God,
Stray'd to this solitary glade,

And reach'd the bower wherein the Maid abode.
Wondering at form so fair, they deem'd the Power
Divine had led them to his chosen bride,

And seized and bore her from her Father's side.

113

XIV.

JAGA-NAUT.

1.

Joy in the City of great Jaga-Naut! Joy in the seven-headed Idol's shrine ! A virgin-bride his ministers have brought, A mortal maid, in form and face divine, Peerless among all daughters of mankind; Search'd they the world again from East to West, In endless quest,

Seeking the fairest and the best,

No maid so lovely might they hope to find; .. For she hath breathed celestial air, And heavenly food hath been her fare, And heavenly thoughts and feelings give her face That heavenly grace.

Joy in the City of great Jaga-Naut, Joy in the seven-headed Idol's shrine ! The fairest Maid his Yoguees sought, A fairer than the fairest have they brought, A maid of charms surpassing human thought, A maid divine.

2.

Now bring ye forth the Chariot of the God!
Bring him abroad,

That through the swarming City he may ride;
And by his side

Place ye the Maid of more than mortal grace, The Maid of perfect form and heavenly face; Set her aloft in triumph, like a bride Upon the Bridal Car,

And spread the joyful tidings wide and far, .. Spread it with trump and voice

That all may hear, and all who hear rejoice,.
Great Jaga-Naut hath found his mate! the God
Will ride abroad!

To-night will he go forth from his abode!
Ye myriads who adore him,

Prepare the

way before him!

3.

Uprear'd on twenty wheels elate,
Huge as a Ship, the Bridal Car appear'd;
Loud creak its ponderous wheels, as through the gate
A thousand Bramins drag the enormous load.
There throned aloft in state,

The Image of the seven-headed God
Came forth from his abode; and at his side
Sate Kailyal like a bride.

A bridal statue rather might she seem,

For she regarded all things like a dream, Having no thought, nor fear, nor will, nor aught Save hope and faith, that lived within her still.