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118
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
"Listen my friend, to the orders of the Company."
He called the Corporal and the Sergeant from their quarters,
And collected the war battalion 'by the left.'
The (British) officer began to say:-"there is preparation for an advance on Bharatpûr.
20 Either I shall take the fort or I will die."
When they heard this, the sepoys began to say in their hearts:
"There is no way of escaping from this, brothers.
Who could take this fort by slaying and fighting?
This fort of Bharatpur is the strongest of all."
25 Anta-gurgur made the first attack.
He lost his life, but did not redeem his oath (get what he aimed at).
No one knows how he reached the fort.
The gunners then got the guns ready,
And blew him up quickly with the balls from Bharatpûr.
30 Many gave a clue to where he had been, but they found no trace of him. All were frightened in their hearts, but did not say so with their tongues :By God, our home is in this fighting;
Why then should we fear greatly to attack Bharatpur ?"
They were fond of swinging clubs and single-sticks;
35 But on hearing the orders they were thrilled in their hearts.
They ate largely and looked like elephants,
But on hearing this order they became afraid.
They were wrestlers who fought in the wrestling-ground, But they became terrified in their hearts.
40 Said the officer:-"let us go to Mathurâ Cantonment brothers." Their hearts were troubled, and they began to march again. The tents and marquees of the army were struck,
And many of the sepoys began to try and hide themselves. Said the officer:-"We must now march in the morning."
45 Then the wives and daughters of the sepoys began to weep:
"Now has departed the life of my married-garment."
How can they come back quickly to live at home?"
The army marched day and night and halted nowhere.
They stopped when they reached the Pearl lake.
50 The Râjå went up into his fort and saw them.
"What sort of army has encamped? There is no limit to the multitude.
I know, also, that the Europeans have attacked me."
The Raja called all his gunners:
"What you see, kill."
55 Five hundred balls fell upon the European army.
"The (English) officer's reason is gone who attacked me.
Fortune has departed from Hindustan, and destruction has come."
When I set my eighty-nine guns on wheels,
I will not leave a (white) Englishman any where.
[APRIL, 1911.
Native nickname for some English General.
The husband has departed.
Observe the English word "halt" in the text.
