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Speech of Dussaruth to the Assembled States-General of His Empire*
Then with a far reverberating sound As of a cloud in heaven or war-drum’s call Deep-voiced to battle and with echoings In the wide roof of his majestic voice That like the resonant surges onward rolled Moving men’s hearts to joy, a King to Kings He spoke and all they heard him.
“It is known To you, O princes, how this noblest realm Was by my fathers ruled, the kings of old Who went before me, even as one dearest son Is by his parents cherished; therefore I too Would happier leave than when my youth assumed Their burden, mankind, my subjects, and this vast World-empire of the old Ikshwacou kings. Lo, I have trod in those imperial steps My fathers left, guarding with sleepless toil The people while strength was patient in this frame O’erburdened with the large majestic world. But now my body broken is and old, Aging beneath the shadow of the white Canopy imperial and outworn with long Labouring for the good of all mankind. My people. Nature fails me! I have lived Thousands of years and many lives of men And all my worn heart wearies for repose. Weary am I of bearing up this heavy Burden austere of the great world, duties Not sufferable by souls undisciplined: O folk, to rest from greatness I desire. Therefore with your august, assembled will, O powers and O twice-born nations, I Would share with Rama this great kingdom’s crown,
*Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 2, 1-20. Page – 5 Rama, my warrior son, son by kingly birth And by gifts inherited confessed my son, Rama, a mighty nation’s joy. Less fair, Yoked with his favouring constellation bright, The regent moon shall be than Rama’s face, When morn upon his crowning smiles. O folk, Say then shall Luxman’s brother be your lord, Glory’s high favourite who empire breathes? Yea, if the whole vast universe should own My son for king, it would be kinged indeed And regal: Lords, of such desirable Fortune I would possess this mother of men; Then would I be at peace, at last repose Transferring to such shoulders Earth. Pronounce If I have nobly planned, if counselled well; Grant me your high permissive voices; people, But if my narrower pleasure, private hope, Of welfare general the smooth disguise Have in your censure donned, then let the folk Themselves advise their monarch or command. For other is disinterested thought And by the clash of minds dissimilar Counsel increases.”
Then with a deep sound As when a cloud with rain and thunder armed Invades the skies, the jewelled peacocks loud Clamour, assembled monarchs praised their king. And like a moving echo came the voice Of the great commons answering them, a thunder And one exultant roar. Earth seemed to rock Beneath the noise. Thus by their Emperor high Of the people metropolitan: all these Deliberated and became one mind. Resolved, they answered then their aged king. Page – 6 |
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