How could the glorious poem fail to gain

Each heart, each ear that listened to the strain!

So sweet each minstrel's voice who sang the praise

Of Ráma deathless in Válmíki's lays.

Ráma himself amid the wondering throng

Marked their fair forms, and loved the noble song,

While, still and weeping, round the nobles stood,

As, on a windless morn, a dewy wood.

On the two minstrels all the people gazed,

Praised their fair looks and marvelled as they praised;