“Alas! our land is desolate,
The children cry for bread;
Around, fierce fire and sword devour,
Our women wail their dead.
“We pray for vengeance on the foe,
To death consign them all;
Siva, arise and fight for us,
Or see thine altars fall.”
As the expressive chorus comes to a close, an allegro movement leads to a dialogue between the people and the watchman, and subsequently with the horseman, who announces the approach of the victorious army, followed by a second chorus of the people invoking Siva (“Vishnu, Vishnu, thou hast heard our Cry!”). The scene is very dramatic throughout, and is accompanied by vigorous and suggestive music. The next number is a triumphal march, remarkable for its local color, and gradually increasing in power and effect as the army approaches the city. It is followed by an excited dialogue between Sâwa and Sayid, with choral responses, and leads up to a beautiful melody for Sayid:—
“Where sets the sun adown the crimson west