CHAPTER CX.
Battle of the Wise Princes, with the Ignorant Barbarian.
Argument:—Description of the warfare before the city gates, betwixt the Royal armies and the Rude Invaders of the Realm.
Vasishtha continued:—In the mean time the battle was raging in its full fury, between the royal forces, and the hostile bands that had advanced before the city gates.
2. Here the enemies were plundering the city and villages, and there they set fire to the houses and hamlets; the sky was obscured by clouds of smoke and dust, and the air was filled by loud cries of havoc and wailing on every side.
3. The sun was obscured by the thickening shadow, of the network of arrows spread over the skies; and the disk of the sun now appeared to view: and was then lost to sight the next moment.
4. The burning fire of the incendiaries, set to flame the leaves of the forest trees; and the fire brands of burning wood, were falling as loosely all around, as the iron sleets of arrow breast were hurling through the air.
5. The flame of the blazing fire, added a double lustre, to the burnished and brandishing weapons; and the souls of the great combatants falling in battle, were borne aloft to the regions of Indra, where they were ministered by the heavenly nymphs.
6. The Thundering peals of fierce elephants, excited the bravery of bravados: and missile weapons of various kinds, were flung about in showers.
7. The loud shouts and cries of the combatants, depressed the spirits of dastardly cowards; and the hoary clouds of dust flying in the air, appeared as elephants intercepting the paths of the midway skies.
8. Chieftains eager to die in the field, were roving about with loud shouts; and men were falling in numbers here and there, as if stricken by lightnings in the battle field.