The veil, and, by the mole upon his breast,
Behold in him thine own begotten son--
Was by thy orders banished from the land.
Grant that I now may plead for him, because
A woman's words can sooner soothe the heart.
I crave your Majesty to pardon him
For loving me, and take him back unto
His father's home; grant also, gracious king,
That I, a princess, may be worthy deemed
Of being wedded to thine only son."




_CHANDRA_.

A TALE OF THE FIELD OF TELLIKÓTA, A.D. 1565.


At length the four great Mahometan governments, A'dil Sháh, Nízám Sháh,
Baríd, and Kútb Sháh, formed a league against Rám Rája, then ruling at
Bijáyanagar. A great battle took place on the Kishna, near Tálicót,
which, for the numbers engaged, the fierceness of the conflict, and the
importance of the stake, resembled those of the early Mahometan
invaders. The barbarous spirit of those days seemed also to be renewed
in it; for, on the defeat of the Hindus, their old and brave rája, being
taken prisoner, was put to death in cold blood, and his head was kept
till lately at Bijapúr as a trophy.

This battle destroyed the monarchy of Bijáyanagar, which at that time