Ramayana, Epic of Rama, Prince of India

IX. The Council of War - 120
Last, unwisest are the monarchs who nor death nor danger weigh,
Think not, ask not friendly counsel, by their passions borne away!
Wisest counsel comes from courtiers who in holy lore unite,
Next, when varying plans and reasons blending lead unto the right,
Last and worst, when stormy passions mark the hapless king’s debate,
And his friends are disunited when his foe is at the gate!
Therefore freely speak your counsel and your monarch’s task shall be
But to shape in deed and action what your wisest thoughts decree,
Speak with minds and hearts united, shape your willing monarch’s deed,
Counsel peace, or Ravan’s forces to a war of vengeance lead,
Ere Sugriva’s countless forces cross the vast and boundless main,
Ere the wrathful Rama girdles Lanka with a living chain!”
II. Prahasta’s Speech
[129] Dark and high as summer tempest mighty-armed Prahasta rose,
Spake in fierce and fiery accents hurling challenge on his foes:
“Wherefore, Ravan, quails thy bosom, gods against thee stride in vain,
Wherefore fear the feeble mortals, homeless hermits, helpless men?
Hanuman approached in secret, stealing like a craven spy,
Not from me in open combat would alive the Vanar fly,
Let him come with all his forces, to the confines of the sea
I will chase the scattered army and thy town from foemen free!
Not in fear and hesitation Ravan should repent his deed,
While his gallant Raksha forces stand beside him in his need,
Not in tears and vain repentance Sita to his consort yield,
While his chieftains guard his empire in the battle’s gory field!”
III. Durmukha’s Speech
Durmukha of cruel visage and of fierce and angry word,
Rose within the Council Chamber, spake to Lanka’s mighty lord:
“Never shall the wily foeman boast of insult on us flung,
Hanuman shall die a victim for the outrage and the wrong!