Page:Ancient Ballads and Legends of Hindustan.djvu/50

14 The woods primeval, where reside
 * The holy hermits;—henceforth here

Must live the fair and gentle bride:
 * But this thought brought with it no fear.

Fear! With her husband by her still?
 * Or weariness! Where all was new?

Hark! What a welcome from the hill!
 * There gathered are a hermits few.

Screaming the peacocks upward soar;
 * Wondering the timid wild deer gaze;

And from Briarean fig-trees hoar
 * Look down the monkeys in amaze

As the procession moves along;
 * And now behold, the bridegroom's sire

With joy comes forth amid the throng;—
 * What reverence his looks inspire!

Blind! With his partner by his side!
 * For them it was a hallowed time!

Warmly they greet the modest bride
 * With her dark eyes and front sublime!

One only grief they feel.—Shall she
 * Who dwelt in palace halls before,

Dwell in their huts beneath the tree?
 * Would not their hard life press her sore;—