Ramayana, Epic of Rama, Prince of India

VI. Sita Lost - 96
VI. Ravan’s Wooing
“Listen, Brahman!” answered Sita, – unsuspecting in her mind
That she saw a base betrayer in a hermit seeming kind, –
“I am born of royal Janak, ruler of Videha’s land,
Rama prince of proud Kosala by his valour won my hand.
[99] Years we passed in peaceful pleasure in Ayodhya’s happy clime,
Rich in every rare enjoyment gladsome passed our happy time,
Till the monarch Dasa-ratha, – for his days were almost done, –
Wished to crown the royal Rama as his Heir and Regent son.
But the scheming Queen Kaikeyi claimed a long-forgotten boon,
That my consort should be exiled and her son should fill the throne,
She would take no rest or slumber, nourishment of drink or food,
Till her Bharat ruled the empire, Rama banished to the wood!
Five and twenty righteous summers graced my good and gracious lord,
True to faith and true to duty, true in purpose deed and word,
Loved of all his loyal people, rich in valour and in fame,
For the rite of consecration Rama to his father came.
Spake Kaikeyi to my husband: – ‘List thy father’s promise fair,
Bharat shall be ruling monarch, do thou to the woods repair,’
Ever gentle, ever duteous, Rama listened to obey,
And through woods and pathless jungles we have held our lonely way!
This, O pious-hearted hermit, is his story of distress,
And his young and faithful brother follows him in wilderness,
Lion in his warlike valour, hermit in his saintly vow,
Lakshman with his honoured elder wanders through the forest now.
Rest thee here, O holy Brahman, rich in piety and fame,
Till the forest-ranging brothers greet thee with the forest game,
Speak, if so it please thee, father, what great rishi claims thy birth,
Wherefore in this pathless jungle wand’rest friendless on this earth.”