Page:Ancient Ballads and Legends of Hindustan.djvu/133

Rh So thought the king, and on his brow
 * The beads of anguish spread,

And Sindhu, fully conscious now,
 * The anguish plainly read.

"What dost thou fear, O mighty king?
 * For sure a king thou art!

Why should thy bosom anguish wring?
 * No crime was in thine heart!

Unwittingly the deed was done;
 * It is my destiny,

O fear not thou, but pity one
 * Whose fate is thus to die.

No curses, no!—I bear no grudge,
 * Not thou my blood hast spilt,

Lo! here before the unseen Judge,
 * Thee I absolve from guilt.

The iron, red-hot as it burns,
 * Burns those that touch it too,

Not such my nature,—for it spurns,
 * Thank God, the like to do.