Their flesh I ate, their blood I drank,

And with my cruel deeds dismayed

All dwellers in the forest shade,

Spoiling their rites in bitter hate,

With human blood inebriate.

Once in the wood I chanced to see

Ráma again, a devotee,

A hermit, fed on scanty fare,

Who made the good of all his care.

His noble wife was by his side,