Page:Ancient Ballads and Legends of Hindustan.djvu/77

Rh Was that the tiger's sullen growl?
 * What means this rush of many feet?

Can creatures wild so near us prowl?
 * Rise up, and hasten homewards, sweet!"

He rose, but could not find the track,
 * And then, too well, Savitri knew

His wonted force had not come back.
 * She made a fire, and from the dew

Essayed to shelter him. At last
 * He nearly was himself again,—

Then vividly rose all the past
 * And with the past, new fear and pain.

"What anguish must my parents feel
 * Who wait for me the livelong hours!

Their sore wound let us haste to heal
 * Before it festers, past our powers:

For broken-hearted, they may die!
 * Oh hasten dear,—now I am strong,

No more I suffer, let us fly,
 * Ah me! each minute seems so long.

They told me once, they could not live
 * Without me, in their feeble age,

Their food and water I must give
 * And help them in the last sad stage