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The royal tamers of their foes
Rested awhile in sweet repose--
Then to the chief of hermits sued
Standing in suppliant attitude:--
"Begin, O best of saints, we pray,
Initiatory rites to-day.
This Perfect Grove shall be anew
Made perfect, and thy words be true."
Then, thus addressed, the holy man,
The very glorious sage, began
The high preliminary rite,
Restraining sense and appetite.
Calmly the youths that night reposed,
And rose when morn her light disclosed--
Their morning worship paid, and took
Of lustral water from the brook.
Thus purified they breathed the prayer,
Then greeted Visvamitra where
As celebrant he sate beside
The flame with sacred oil supplied.


CANTO XXXII
VISVAMITRA'S SACRIFICE
That conquering pair, of royal race,
Skilled to observe due time and place--
To Kusik's hermit son addressed,
In timely words, their meet request:--
"When must we, lord, we pray thee tell,
Those Rovers of the Night repel?
Speak, lest we let the moment fly,
And pass the due occasion by.


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