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Who has expected me for years and years: One foot across the threshold and the other Inside her darkened cell of lurking fears; Irrevocable oath ! until I meet Such an impossible alms-giver, I shall not eat. The King Shatanik said: "Now will I wear War-armour"-and he said it with a frown: "Since I am hungry to enthuse the air With battle-throb and battle-threat and thud. I'll march for the tenth time on Champa Town With battle rapture ringing in my blood, My banner floated under heaven's wide arch, And this shall be my last and final march!" King Dadhivahan's might could hardly vie With that of king Shatanik, long-acclaimed Unvanquishable. Not afraid to die, He always felt that death was but a lie ! He leaped into the field like some untamed Lion whose battle-roar shattered the sky. Brief was the battle. In unspeakable dread King Dadhivahan, like a coward fled, Deserting battlefield and battle slaughter, Deserting Dharani, his loyal wife, Deserting Vasumati, his dear daughter: King Dadhivahan fled to save his life ! A camel-driver watched them from a-far And to himself he muttered: “Very soon They shall be mine. How beautiful they are ! The queen is a ripe-risen desert-mool, The princess, a raw-ripened desert star !
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