Page:TheBirth of the War-God.djvu/84

His twining serpents, destined still to be
The pride and honour of the Deity,
Changed but their bodies—in each sparkling crest
The blazing gems still shone their loveliest.
What need of jewels on the brow of Him
Who wears the Crescent Moon?—no spot may dim
Its youthful beauty, e'en in light of day
Shedding the glory of its quenchless ray.

⁠Well-pleased the God in all his pride arrayed
Saw his bright image mirrored in the blade
Of the huge sword they brought; then calmly leant
On Nandi's arm, and toward his Bull he went,
Whose broad back covered with a tiger's hide,
Was steep to climb as Mount Kailása's side,
Yet the dread monster humbly shrank fur fear
And bowed in reverence as his Lord drew near.
⁠The Matrons followed him, a saintly throng,
Their ear-rings waving as they dashed along —
Sweet faces, with such glories round them shed
As made the air one lovely Lotus bed.
On flew those bright Ones—Káli came behind,
The skulls that decked her rattling in the wdnd:
Like the dark rack that scuds across the sky,
With herald Lightning and the Crane's shrill cry.

⁠Hark! from the glorious bands that lead the way,
Harp, drum, and pipe, and shrilling trumpet's bray,
Burst through the sky upon the startled ear
And tell the Gods the hour of worship 's near.
⁠They came; the Sun presents a silken shade
Which Heaven's own artist for the God had made,