his grief
    To great Sugriva, Vanar chief,
    Who, knowing all the tale, before
    The sacred flame alliance swore. 
    Sugriva to his new-found friend
    Told his own story to the end:—­
    His hate of Bali for the wrong
    And insult he had borne so long. 
    And Rama lent a willing ear
    And promised to allay his fear. 
    Sugriva warned him of the might
    Of Bali, matchless in the fight,
    And, credence for his tale to gain,
    Showed the huge fiend by Bali slain. 
    The prostrate corse of mountain size
    Seemed nothing in the hero’s eyes;
    He lightly kicked it, as it lay,
    And cast it twenty leagues away. 
    To prove his might his arrows through
    Seven palms in line, uninjured, flew. 
    He cleft a mighty hill apart,
    And down to hell he hurled his dart. 
    Then high Sugriva’s spirit rose,
    Assured of conquest o’er his foes. 
    With his new champion by his side
    To vast Kishkindha’s cave he hied. 
    Then, summoned by his awful shout,
    King Bali came in fury out,
    First comforted his trembling wife,
    Then sought Sugriva in the strife. 
    One shaft from Rama’s deadly bow
    The monarch in the dust laid low. 
    Then Rama bade Sugriva reign
    In place of royal Bali slain. 
    Then speedy envoys hurried forth
    Eastward and westward, south and north,
    Commanded by the grateful King
    Tidings of Rama’s spouse to bring. 
    Then by Sampati’s counsel led,
    Brave Hanuman, who mocked at dread,
    Sprang at one wild tremendous leap
    Two hundred leagues, across the deep. 
    To Lanka’s[32] town he urged his way,
    Where Ravan held his royal sway. 
    There pensive ’neath Asoka boughs
    He found poor Sita, Rama’s spouse. 
    He gave the hapless girl a ring,
    A token from her lord and King. 
    A pledge from her fair hand he bore;
    Then battered down the garden door. 
    Five captains of the host he slew,
    Seven sons of councillors o’erthrew;
    Crushed youthful Aksha on the field,
    Then to his captors chose to yield. 
    Soon from their bonds his limbs were free,
    But honoring the high decree
    Which Brahma had pronounced of yore,
    He calmly all their insults bore. 
    The town he burnt with hostile flame,
    And spoke again with Rama’s dame,
    Then swiftly back to Rama flew
    With tidings of the interview.

    Then with Sugriva for his guide,
    Came Rama to the ocean side. 
    He smote the sea with shafts as bright
    As sunbeams in their summer height,
    And quick appeared the River’s King
    Obedient to the summoning. 
    A bridge was thrown by Nala o’er
    The narrow sea from shore to shore. 
    They crossed to Lanka’s golden town,
    Where Rama’s hand smote