Ramayana, Epic of Rama, Prince of India

VI. Sita Lost - 92
Pardon if an eager longing which befits a woman ill,
And an unknown fascination doth my inmost bosom fill,
As I mark his skin bespangled and his antlers, sapphire ray,
And his coat of starry radiance glowing in the light of day!”
Rama bade the faithful Lakshman with the gentle Sita stay,
Long through woods and gloomy gorges vainly held his cautious way,
Vainly set the snare in silence by the lake and in the dale,
’Scaping every trap, Maricha, pierced by Rama’s arrows fell,
Imitating Rama’s accents uttered forth his dying cry:
“Speed, my faithful brother Lakshman, helpless in the woods I die!”
IV. Lakshman’s Departure
“Heardst that distant cry of danger?” questioned Sita in distress,
“Woe, to me! who in my frenzy sent my lord to wilderness,
Speed, brave Lakshman, help my Rama, doleful was his distant cry,
And my fainting bosom falters and a dimness clouds my eye!
To the dread and darksome forest with thy keenest arrows speed,
Help thy elder and thy monarch, sore his danger and his need,
For perchance the cruel Rakshas gather round his lonesome path,
As the mighty bull is slaughtered by the lions in their wrath!”
Spake the hero: “Fear not, Sita! Dwellers of the azure height,
Rakshas nor the jungle-rangers match the peerless Rama’s might,
[95] Rama knows no dread or danger, and his mandate still I own,
And I may not leave thee, Lady, in this cottage all alone!
Cast aside thy causeless terror; in the sky or earth below,
In the nether regions, Rama knows no peer or equal foe,
He shall slay the deer of jungle, he shall voice no dastard cry,
’Tis some trick of wily Rakshas in this forest dark and high!
Sita, thou hast heard my elder bid me in this cottage stay,
Lakshman may not leave thee, Lady, for his duty – to obey,