These the Nymphs that Chaday led, All, to such the boon is giv'n, "Ye fairer souls! ye warriours slain! "So India's sons, a living train, "Shall lead their rites to Rutren's shrine, "Shall swiftly sweep the walks of War, "For ever bold, for ever free; "And Rutren, from his crimson car, "Shall give the wreath of Victory. "So India's Nymphs, on Oglu's plain, "Shall pay their vows to Chaday due; "So shall they weep no Lover slain, "The Lover crown'd, the Virgin true." He spake, The golden eye of Day appear'd, And Rutren led the Heroe-band All sad and sorrowing from their native strand; Chaday curs'd the sacred light, The living God of Fire she fear'd, And swiftly sought again the bowels of the Night. Swift with her fled the virgin train; But India's Genius lov'd no other plain, On Indian ground for ever shall he stay, Nor shun the depths of night, nor fear the fires of day. ODE TO THE SUN. * ODE II. HAIL to the God, whose golden ray Shall beam upon the silky lap of Earth! They feel thy sacred flame, and own thy glowing pow'r. Arise, ye sons of India, rise! The Lord of Heav'n ascends the skies, This, and the Songs of War and Victory, are supposed to have been sung, or recited, by a Chorus of Bramins, at different times, as the different occasions required. Springs, op'ning, from its lowly bed, And meets th' enliv'ning Lord, and lifts the blushing head! * The Sea-Nymphs leave the sportful plains, They feel the coming God, and won the passing wind. Hence to the woods and seas for prey! The Lord of Heav'n ascends the skies: Arise! and spread the incense-breathing flow'rs! The God of Day shall smile-the God, the day are ours, THE LOVE SONG. ODE III. WHERE high-brow'd Meli swell'd its mountain height, And smooth Savannahs drew th' enchanted sight, * The Indians have their inferior Deities, who preside over the woods and rivers. With flow'ry blossoms fair, a tulip-grove "O thou! whose love, with generous vow "Still may'st thou joy with me to rovę "By kindly pow'rs of Nature led. "But now what sad unkind delay, "And force thee from this sheltering glade? "And drag thee to the destin'd cell. "Where rapes and horrid murders dwell? .. "Rise then, my spear of bloody pow'r, "To thee belongs the vengeful hour! "And thou shalt give the wretch to know "The fatal fury of thy blow. "But ah, how vain the fancied fear! "No monster wild, no savage near "Could force her from the seats of Love: "But yet, tho' brutal force should fail Might not the Maid delight to stray, "Where, (O curse the treacherous tongue "With cunning sounds of Flatt'ry hung!) "Some happier and some dearer youth, "In borrow'd words of seeming truth, "With all the wily tricks of Art "Has stol'n upon her easy heart? "And shall a rival's wanton arms, "Hang, raptur'd, on her faithless charms; And, unreveng'd, the sweets enjoy "That all my fond desires employ? "No, by the lightning of my spear, "By all my hopes of future fame, By all my father's shadows drear, "And holy Rutren's pow'rful name; |