Ramayana, Epic of Rama, Prince of India

VIII. Sita Discovered - 118
Well I know this sweet memorial, Sita wore it on her head,
And her proud and peerless beauty on the gem a lustre shed!
Ah, methinks the gracious Janak stands again before my eye,
With a father’s fond affection, with a monarch’s stature high,
Ah, methinks my bride and consort, she who wore it on her brow,
Stands again before the altar speaks again her loving vow,
Ah, the sad the sweet remembrance! ah, the happy days gone by,
Once again, O loving vision, wilt thou gladden Rama’s eye?
[126] Speak again, my faithful vassal, how my Sita wept and prayed,
Like the water to the thirsty, dear to me what Sita said,
Did she send this sweet remembrance as a blessing from above,
As a true and tender token of a woman’s changeless love,
Did she waft her heart’s affection o’er the billows of the sea,
Wherefore came she not in person from her foes and fetters free?
Hanuman, my friend and comrade, lead me to the distant isle,
Where my soft-eyed Sita lingers midst the Rakshas dark and vile,
Where my true and tender consort like a lone and stricken deer,
Girt by Rakshas stern and ruthless sheds the unavailing tear,
Where she weeps in ceaseless anguish, sorrow-stricken sad and pale,
Like the Moon by dark clouds shrouded then her light and lustre fail!
Speak again, my faithful henchman, loving message of my wife,
Like some potent drug her accents renovate my fainting life,
Arm thy forces, friend Sugriva, Rama shall not brook delay,
While in distant Lanka’s confines Sita weeps the livelong day,
Marshal forth thy bannered forces, cross the ocean in thy might,
Rama speeds on wings of vengeance Lanka’s impious lord to smite!