370
மயிலை சீனி. வேங்கடசாமி ஆய்வுக்களஞ்சியம் - 20
Where, blazing lustre back upon the lamps,
Stood golden beakers under purple pall.
'Courage, 'said low the priest,
'So may the gods, for thy sake, save thy father!'
732
She shivered as he spoke, but, lips firm - prest
Imprisoning all the anguish at her heart,
She filled the fatal cup,
Raised her sad eyes, and vaguely gazed around her.
736
Sudden those eyes took light and joy and soul,
Sudden from neck to temples flushed the rose,
And with quick, gliding steps,
And the strange looks of one who walks in slumber,
740
She passed along the floors, and stooped above
A form, that, as she neared, with arms outstretched, On bended knees sunk down
And took the wine - cup with a hand that trembled:
744
A form of youth - and nobly beautiful
As Dorian models for lonian gods.
'Again!' it murmured low,
'O dream, at last! at last! how I have missed theel'
748
And she replied, 'The gods are merciful,
Keeping me true to thee when I despaired.
But now from every guest
Burst the quick cry of anger and of terror;
752
For rose the kneeler, rose that sovereign front Dire to the lives of men as Mars, the star; Zariades the Mede!
Rang from each lip: flashed from, each sheath the sabre:
756
Thrice stamped the Persian's foot: to the first sound
Ten thousand bucklers echoed back a clang;
The next, and the huge walls
Shook with the war-shout of ten thousand voices;
760
