Canto Second.
THE ADDRESS TO BRAHMA.
While impious Tárak in resistless might
Was troubling Heaven and Earth with wild affright,
To Brahma's high abode, by Indra led,
The mournful Deities for refuge fled;
As when the Day-God's loving beams awake
The Lotus slumbering on the silver lake.
So Brahma deigned his glorious face to show,
And poured sweet comfort on their looks of woe.
Then nearer came the suppliant Gods to pay
Honour to him whose face turns every way:
They bowed them Ioav before the Lord of Speech,
And sought with truthful words his heart to reach:—
"Glory to Thee! before the world was made.
One single form thy Majesty displayed—
Next Thou, to body forth the mystic Three,
Didst fill three Persons—Glory, Lord, to Thee!
Unborn and unbegotten! from thy hand
The fruitful seed rained down; at thy command
From that small germ o'er quickening waters flung
All things that move, and all that move not, sprung;
