Ramayana, Epic of Rama, Prince of India

III. The Death of the King - 51
Man and boy and maid and matron followed Rama with their eye,
As the thirsty seek the water when the parched fields are dry,
Clinging to the rapid chariot, by its side, before, behind,
Thronging men and wailing women wept for Rama good and kind:
“Draw the reins, benign Sumantra, slowly drive the royal car,
We would once more see our Rama banished long and banished far,
Iron-hearted is Kausalya from her Rama thus to part,
Rends it not her mother’s bosom thus to see her son depart?
True is righteous-hearted Sita cleaving to her husband still,
As the ever present sunlight cleaves to Meru’s golden hill,
Faithful and heroic Lakshman! thou hast by thy brother stood,
And my duty still unchanging thou hast sought the pathless wood,
Fixed in purpose, true in valour, mighty boon to thee is given,
And the narrow path thou choosest is the righteous path to heaven!”
[48] Thus they spake in tears and anguish as they followed him apace,
And their eyes were fixed on Rama, pride of Raghu’s royal race,
Meanwhile ancient Dasa-ratha from his palace chamber came,
With each weeping queen and consort, with each woe-distracted dame!
And around the aged monarch rose the piercing voice of pain,
Like the wail of forest creatures when the forest-king is slain,
And the faint and feeble monarch was with age and anguish pale,
Like the darkened moon at eclipse when his light and radiance fail!
Rama saw his ancient father with a faltering footstep go,
Used to royal pomp and splendour, stricken now by age and woe,
Saw his mother faint and feeble to the speeding chariot hie,
As the mother-cow returneth to her young that loiters by,
Still she hastened to the chariot, “Rama! Rama!” was her cry,
And a throb was in her bosom and a tear was in her eye!
“Speed, Sumantra,” uttered Rama, “from this torture let me part,
Speed, my friend, this sight of sadness breaks a much-enduring heart,