Tales of Ind - And Other Poems by T. Ramakrishna
page 56 of 79 (70%)
page 56 of 79 (70%)
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Our holy ancient writings say it is
No sin deceit to conquer by deceit; And hence fail not to send immediate word That Bukka should to-morrow eve expect Thee as befits a woman of thy rank, And with a hundred maidens in his tent. Take twenty litters, and let one appear More gorgeous than the rest, for thee to sit, Take but a hundred of thy faithful men, All armed to fight for their dear king and queen. Thou art a kshatriya girl, thou knowest well To fight, and therefore take thy fav'rite bow And arrows and conceal thy person with A maiden's veil, armed fully as thou art, And likewise let thy men be covered too, To look like thine own maids of honour, let Each litter, with a man inside, be borne By four, go forth equipped likewise, surprise The foe, bring him a prisoner, or upon The field of battle die a noble death. And death need have no horrors unto thee, But unto those to whom this world is bright, Its prospects hopeful and its pleasures keen, And to the healthy and the young death's pangs Are most severe when life is plucked, and from Sere age, when all is ready for the end, Life unperceived goes as from one that sleeps. The gentlest wind brings down the serest leaf. To sever from the parent stem by force The freshest must be plucked, and so with man. |
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