Page:The Bengali Book of English Verse.djvu/104

72  The Indus' stormy waters fail'd To bar the victor's path; And Delhi's burning towers confest The awful Scythian's wrath.

A thousand terrors rode along By Gunga's quaking shore; And hungry vultures scream'd above Thy sacred shrine, Hurdwar.

And now he sleeps: rest, conqueror, rest! Thy vengeful task is o'er: The trumpet's voice, though loud it speaks, Will wake thee never more!

The world thy triumphs mark'd with dread; Sleep, ruthless tyrant, sleep! That breathless terror now has pass'd, The world has ceased to weep.

Rest, perturbed spirit, rest! Rest, thunder-bolt of heaven! The avenger's rod, the victor's might, To thee conjoint were given.

 

Malleck Feroze, otherwise called Jelaludeen, was the son of Malleck, a soldier of fortune and chief of the Afghan tribe called Khiliji. He was raised to the throne by a powerful faction, on the murder of Keikobad, of which he was believed to be the principal instigator: but he affected extreme regret at having his high office forced on him; and, while on the throne, was remarkable for his exceeding humility, clemency and simplicity of manners.

I am a king, but why forget That I am still a man? And why should gilded baubles lure, And thoughts unclean, and deeds impure Engross life's little span? 