Meanwhile the news was spread that Timmaraj And that young min'ster, who these many years Was seeking through her mother Chandra's hand, And Bukka, ruler of the neighbouring state, Whom she her father fondly wished should wed, Had started on their steeds to Chengalpore; Each vowed to be the first to drag the beast Unto the royal city for six miles, And there slay him before the palace gate.

But soon the thought of that mad beast unnerved Both Bukka and the minister of the state.

One pierced the min'ster dead; the other pierced The royal Bukka, who unconscious fell.

Unto their homes some ran the news t'acquaint, Some to the wounded Bukka and his horse, But many to the riverside to find Their min'ster lying dead by arrow pierced.

" None dared save Bukka to essay the feat, Who forthwith sprang upon his horse, and soon O'ertook the running pair, for Timma's horse, Though deemed the fleetest in the land, now felt His double weight, his wonted speed decreased.

the villain Bukka, who, upon The outskirts of the newly-founded state, Was hovering like a falcon o'er his prey, Pounced suddenly upon the lonely youth And safely carried him to his abode; Then tidings sent to Chandra in these words: "Dear maid!

" Bukka, whose ire was roused, sent word at last "Beware, you foolish maid!

Now, therefore, let a silken veil be drawn, And underneath a bowl of oil be placed, And the reflection of thy face therein Let Bukka see and Timmaraj be saved.

" To this the queen consent unwilling gave, And Bukka to the palace gladly came, Resolved to freedom give to Timmaraj, If Chandra were like other maidens fair, But sure possess her, if she shone among The daughters of the earth surpassing fair,

The veil was drawn, the bowl of oil was placed, And lo! was seen therein a face, whose like The royal Bukka ne'er had seen before In all his life; like lightning it appeared, Bright'ning the surface for an instant, and Like lightning vanished, planting in his breast Impassioned love for Chandra, and a love Too deeply rooted to be rooted out.

" And Bukka made reply"O maiden fair, O Chandra!

Our holy ancient writings say it is No sin deceit to conquer by deceit; And hence fail not to send immediate word That Bukka should to-morrow eve expect Thee as befits a woman of thy rank, And with a hundred maidens in his tent.

" The morrow came, and Chandra sallied forth And, as directed by her Brahmin sage, Went with a hundred of her armèd men, All veiled, surprised the foe, who, flushed with hope, Unguarded waited but to welcome her: Then safely rescued her lost Timmaraj; The fatal jav'lin wrung from Bukka's hands, And himself too a prisoner brought in chains.

Then in the spacious palace hall, amidst Her faithful men, the noble queen sat veiled With Timmaraj, long absent from the throne, And spake to Bukka, standing in the front With folded hands, in angry words like these: "By treach'ry thrice thou triedst to win, and thrice Hast failed, and, when my noble Timmaraj Went singly forth to bring the maddened beast, Concealed thou didst aim at his life and failed.

" And like a criminal who, by pity freed, At once goes forth worse sins to perpetrate, So Bukka, vowing vengeance, left the hall, And henceforth love and hate alternate played In his dark breasthate for this grave insult, And by a woman offered, and love too, A bestial passion for her wondrous charms;

That Bukka, with a perjured tale, came on The day of marriage was made known to all, Soon after they had left their native home.

And now the wily Bukka with those foes Of foreign faith conspired; what though he fought As usual in the ranks of Vijiapore, Under the banner of her Hindu king!

Many felt proud by Timma to be led To victory in the field or glorious death, And many too in that assembly said That Bukka should not join their Hindu ranks, For he would, in the midst of battle, join The Moslem ranks and surely bring defeat And ruin too upon their agèd king, The noble Ramaraj of Vijiapore, And cause their ancient kingdom's overthrow.

But said one counted high for wisdom there: "Do good, and so chide him that evil does, Is the oft-quoted saying of our true And ancient faith, and this is but the war For mastery 'tween different creeds and faiths, And hence let Bukka forthwith come to fight Against the common foes, who thus combined To mar our ancient faith and change our lives, And let our Ramaraj himself go forth And lead, and

Or, if he falls, let him to Swarga go To join th' immortals there; and one word more To thee, O Timma,bury all the past, And Bukka for his sins forgive, and both Go hand in hand to fight the Moslem foes.

Your agèd sire and our dear monarch leads The war, and Bukka, as a Hindu true, Joins us to fight against the Moslem horde, And doubly glad I am that in this war, With Bukka vying in the field with me,

Your agèd sire and our dear monarch leads The war, and Bukka, as a Hindu true, Joins us to fight against the Moslem horde, And doubly glad I am that in this war, With Bukka vying in the field with me,

the ever treach'rous Bukka pounced Sudden on his own ranks; the king was slain; His ghastly head upon a pole was shown, And helpless and forlorn the Hindus stood; But, ere perfidious Bukka could run with The Moslem foes, to capture him alive, A faithful soldier Timma called, gave him His Chandra's jav'lin, in his steady grip To hold, then boldly ran his body through And instantly fell lifeless to the ground.

the ever treach'rous Bukka pounced Sudden on his own ranks; the king was slain; His ghastly head upon a pole was shown, And helpless and forlorn the Hindus stood; But, ere perfidious Bukka could run with The Moslem foes, to capture him alive, A faithful soldier Timma called, gave him His Chandra's jav'lin, in his steady grip To hold, then boldly ran his body through And instantly fell lifeless to the ground.

there comes a shout, and yonder runs Exulting Bukka to seize me alive.