Page:Ancient Ballads and Legends of Hindustan.djvu/156

120 I fear not fire, I fear not sword, All dangers, father, I can dare; Alone, I can confront a horde, For oh! my God is everywhere!" "What! everywhere? Then in this hall, And in this crystal pillar bright? Now tell me plain, before us all, Is He herein, thy God of light?"

The monarch placed his steel-gloved hand Upon a crystal pillar near, In mockful jest was his demand, The answer came, low, serious, clear: "Yes, father, God is even here, And if He choose this very hour Can strike us dead, with ghastly fear, And vindicate His name and power."

"Where is this God? Now let us see." He spurned the pillar with his foot, Down, down it tumbled, like a tree Severed by axes from the root, And from within, with horrid clang That froze the blood in every vein, A stately sable warrior sprang, Like some phantasma of the brain.