grove will fill,
And strive to take me, or to kill.
And, at my death or capture, dies
The hope of Rama's enterprise.
For none can leap, save only me,
A hundred leagues across the sea.
It is a sin in me, I own,
To talk with Janak's child alone.
Yet greater is the sin if I
Be silent, and the lady die.
First I will utter Rama's name,
And laud the hero's gifts and fame.
Perchance the name she holds so dear
Will soothe the faithful lady's fear."

Canto XXXI. Hanuman's Speech.

Then in sweet accents low and mild
The Vanar spoke to Janak's child:
"A noble king, by sin unstained,
The mighty Dasaratha reigned.
Lord of the warrior's car and steed,
The pride of old Ikshvaku's seed.
A faithful friend, a blameless king,
Protector of each living thing.
A glorious monarch, strong to save,
Blest with the bliss he freely gave.
His son, the best of all who know
The science of the bended bow,
Was moon-bright Rama, brave and strong,
Who loved the right and loathed the wrong,
Who ne'er from kingly duty swerved,
Loved by the lands his might preserved.
His feet the path of law pursued;
His arm rebellious foes subdued.
His sire's command the prince obeyed
And, banished, sought the forest shade,
Where with his wife and brother he
Wandered a saintly devotee.
There as he roamed the wilds he slew
The bravest of the Rakshas crew.
The giant king the prince beguiled,
And stole his consort, Janak's child.
Then Rama roamed the country round,
And a firm friend, Sugriva, found,
Lord of the Vanar race, expelled
From his own realm which Bali held,
He conquered Bali and restored
The kingdom to the rightful lord.
Then by Sugriva's high decree
The Vanar legions searched for thee,
Sampati's counsel bade me leap
A hundred leagues across the deep.
And now my happy eyes have seen
At last the long-sought Maithil queen.
Such was the form, the eye, the grace
Of her whom Rama bade me trace."

He ceased: her flowing locks she drew
To shield her from a stranger's view;
Then, trembling in her wild surprise,
Raised to the tree her anxious eyes.

Canto XXXII. Sita's Doubt.

Her eyes the Maithil lady raised
And on the monkey speaker gazed.
She looked, and trembling at the sight
Wept bitter tears in wild affright.
She shrank a while with fear distraught,
Then, nerved again, the lady thought:
"Is this a dream mine eyes have seen,
This creature, by our laws unclean?
O, may the Gods keep Rama, still,
And Lakshman, and my s