________________
APRIL, 1911.)
SONGS FROM NORTHERN INDIA
119
60 From the firing of the cannon will be a time of earthquake,
And no white Englishman will be saved whole, When I constantly slay with my cannon, I will raise the smoke of slaying to Caloutta.
Tell the commander to go back to Calcutta. 65 If he fights for years the fort will not come into his hands.
Tell the commander to commence the march back to-morrow morning. He had better consider what kind of death encompasses him." Replied the commander: "In my camp there is wasting of life.
I will attack and reduce the fort in two hours." 70 Then ball on ball began to fly on both sides.
Then went Jawahir (to the Raja) and spake at once : "Stop this for a little ; it will do no harm. Last night Baldeont (Bbaw&ni) sent me a dream.
Said the Raja :-Be off, Jawahir, thou filthy blockhead, 75 Thou dost not carry Baldeont on thy forehead, fool.
May thy power depart, thou filthy Jawahir. Thou hast joined the English and doet deceive me with words. Thou knowest everything, and hidest it from me."
The guns that were on the gate were turned on to the market. 80 Meanwhile they began to fire the guns again.
Then Bharatpûr Fort began to tremble like a leaf, When the firing ceased there was relief. The Rajá laughed himself and made the army to laugh.
Said the Raja : Hlear my words, O men of the army. 85 Cut off the head of this Lord (General) and bring about the supremacy of the Jats."
Said the army :-"We will never retreat from this place. Even if we be cut to pieces we will remain here at our posts. If we die and lose our lives, we cannot die a second time,
As long as there's life in our bodies we shall not be anmanly." 90 Moanwbile tbe (British) commander made another attack on the fort.
Then said the Pârbiyâs :"Sir, we go not. If there be in the fort one or two hundred sepoys, Even if there be not, the wrath of God will fall on us."
There was a noise of gar, gar, garrd, gar, gar, gar, gar 95 The drammers beat their drums furionsly.
The drummers beat the drums to cover their agitation. And warriors began to show their skill, as a Nat shows his dancing. Then many sepoys fell under pretence of the heat.
And many sepoys began to fire. 100 Then the (English) commander said to the sentry :-"Well, you are not afraid,
If death comes here, then shall I not die ?" Then all the English consulted and gave a signal, And put five or six bullets into the gas. Then the English gave another signal.
The noise of a kettle-drum.
...The English torms in the text are here very curious.
