shade,
And hasting there his homage paid.
He took Ahalya to his side,
From sin and folly purified,
And let his new-found consort bear
In his austerities a share.

Then Rama, pride of Raghu's race,
Welcomed by Gautam, face to face,
Who every highest honour showed,
To Mithila pursued his road.

Canto L. Janak.

The sons of Raghu journeyed forth,
Bending their steps 'twixt east and north.
Soon, guided by the sage, they found,
Enclosed, a sacrificial ground.
Then to the best of saints, his guide,
In admiration Rama cried:

"The high-souled king no toil has spared,
But nobly for his rite prepared,
How many thousand Brahmans here,
From every region, far and near,
Well read in holy lore, appear!
How many tents, that sages screen,
With wains in hundreds, here are seen!
Great Brahman, let us find a place
Where we may stay and rest a space."
The hermit did as Rama prayed,
And in a spot his lodging made,
Far from the crowd, sequestered, clear,
With copious water flowing near.

Then Janak, best of kings, aware
Of Visvamitra lodging there,
With Satananda for his guide--
The priest on whom he most relied,
His chaplain void of guile and stain--
And others of his priestly train,
Bearing the gift that greets the guest,
To meet him with all honour pressed.
The saint received with gladsome mind
Each honour and observance kind:
Then of his health he asked the king,
And how his rites were prospering,
Janak, with chaplain and with priest,
Addressed the hermits, chief and least,
Accosting all, in due degree,
With proper words of courtesy.
Then, with his palms together laid,
The king his supplication made:
"Deign, reverend lord, to sit thee down
With these good saints of high renown."
Then sate the chief of hermits there,
Obedient to the monarch's prayer.
Chaplain and priest, and king and peer,
Sate in their order, far or near.
Then thus the king began to say:
"The Gods have blest my rite to-day,
And with the sight of thee repaid
The preparations I have made.
Grateful am I, so highly blest,
That thou, of saints the holiest,
Hast come, O Brahman, here with all
These hermits to the festival.
Twelve days, O Brahman Sage, remain--
For so the learned priests ordain--
And then, O heir of Kusik's name,
The Gods will come their dues to claim."

With looks that testified delight
Thus spake he to the anchorite,
Then with his suppliant hands upraised,
He asked, as earnestly he gazed:
"These princely