Page:The Bengali Book of English Verse.djvu/44

And of the East and West so fair,
The home of Even's dewy star:
For all were his—o'er earth and sea
His flag had wav'd in Victory,
From proud Himala's realms of snow
To where upon the ocean-tide
Fair Lunka smiles in beauty's glow
And breathes soft perfumes far and wide,
And sits her like a regal maid
In her gay, bridal wreathes array'd!

A prouder scene the fiery sun
Had never, never shone upon!
Like golden clouds that on the breast
Of yonder Heavens love to rest,
Unnumber'd hosts in bright array
Glitter'd beneath the noon-tide ray;
A thousand flags wav'd on the air,
Like bright-wing'd birds disporting there;
A thousand spears flash'd in the light
In dazzling splendour high and bright.
The warrior-steed so fierce and proud
Neigh'd in wild fury shrill and loud.
The jewell'd elephant too stood
In solemn pride and quiet mood;
And in the glittering pomp of war
The mail-clad hero in his car.
For nations on that glorious day
Met there from regions far away—
The mightiest on this earth that be
In all the pride of Chivalrie—
To celebrate thy feast, proud Victory!

And all around the dazzled eye
Met scenes of gayest revelrie:
For, here beneath the perfum'd shade,
By some bright silken awning made,