National Epics by Kate Milner Rabb
page 58 of 525 (11%)
page 58 of 525 (11%)
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"Line for line, Princess, as thou sangest so,"
Quoth Yama, "all that lovely praise of good, Grateful to hallowed minds, lofty in sound, And couched in dulcet numbers--word by word-- Dearer thou grew'st to me. O thou great heart, Perfect and firm! ask any boon from me,-- Ask an incomparable boon!" She cried Swiftly, no longer stayed: "Not Heaven I crave, Nor heavenly joys, nor bliss incomparable, Hard to be granted, even by thee; but him, My sweet lord's life, without which I am dead; Give me that gift of gifts! I will not take Aught less without him,--not one boon--no praise, No splendors, no rewards,--not even those sons Whom thou didst promise. Ah, thou wilt not now Bear hence the father of them and my hope! Make thy free word good; give me Satyavan Alive once more." And thereupon the God-- The Lord of Justice, high Vaivaswata-- Loosened the noose and freed the Prince's soul, And gave it to the lady, saying this, With eyes grown tender: "See, thou sweetest queen Of women, brightest jewel of thy kind! Here is thy husband. He shall live and reign Side by side with thee, saved by thee,--in peace And fame and wealth, and health, many long years, |
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