Glared his eyes on her eyes, passing o'er the plain, Glared at the tent-purdah--never glared again!
Never opened after unto gaze or glance, Eyes that saw a Rajpoot dance a shameful dance;
For the kiss she gave him was his first and last-- Kiss of dagger, driven to his heart, and past.
At her feet he wallowed, choked with wicked blood; In his breast the katar quivered where it stood.
At the hilt his fingers vainly--wildly--try, Then they stiffen feeble;--die! thou slayer, die!
From his jewelled scabbard drew she Shureef's sword, Cut a-twain the neck-bone of the Muslim lord.
Underneath the starlight,--sooth, a sight of dread! Like the Goddess Kali, comes she with the head,
Comes to where her brothers guard their murdered chief; All the camp is silent, but the night is brief.
At his feet she flings it, flings her burden vile; "Soorj! I keep my promise! Brothers, build the pile!"
They have built it, set it, all as Rajpoots do From the cage of iron taken Soorj Dehu;
In the lap of Neila, seated on the pile, Laid his head--she radiant, like a queen the while.
Then the lamp is lighted, and the ghee is poured-- "Soorj, we burn together: O my love, my lord!"
In the flame and crackle dies her tender tongue, Dies the Ranee, truest, all true wives among.
At the dawn a clamour runs from tent to tent, Like the wild geese cackling when the night is spent.
"Shureef Khan lies headless! gone is Soorj Dehu! And the wandering Nautch-girl, who has seen her, who?"
This but know the sentries, at the "breath of morn" Forth there fared two horsemen, by the first was borne.
The urn of clay, the vessel that Rajpoots use to bring The ashes of dead kinsmen to Gungas' holy spring.