Ramayana 2.67b

Perchance thy purpose is to sound The grace thy son with me has found; Perchance the words that, all these days, Thou still hast said in Rama's praise, Were only feigned, designed to cheer With flatteries a father's ear. Soon as thy grief, my Queen, I knew, My bosom felt the anguish too. In empty halls art thou possessed, And subject to anothers' hest? Now on Ikshvaku's ancient race Falls foul disorder and disgrace, If thou, O Queen, whose heart so long Has loved the good should choose the wrong. Not once, O large-eyed dame, hast thou Been guilty of offence till now, Nor said a word to make me grieve, Now will I now thy sin believe. With thee my Rama used to hold Like place with Bharat lofty-souled. As thou so often, when the pair Were children yet, wouldst fain declare. And can thy righteous soul endure That Rama glorious, pious, pure, Should to the distant wilds be sent For fourteen years of banishment? Yea, Rama Bharat's self exceeds In love to thee and sonlike deeds, And, for deserving love of thee, As Bharat, even so is he. Who better than that chieftain may Obedience, love, and honour pay, Thy dignity with care protect, Thy slightest word and wish respect? Of all his countless followers none Can breathe a word against my son; Of many thousands not a dame Can hint reproach or whisper blame. All creatures feel the sweet control Of Rama's pure and gentle soul. The pride of Manu's race he binds To him the people's grateful minds. He wins the subjects with his truth, The poor with gifts and gentle ruth, His teachers with his docile will, The foemen with his archer skill. Truth, purity, religious zeal, The hand to give, the heart to feel, The love that ne'er betrays a friend, The rectitude that naught can bend, Knowledge, and meek obedience grace My Rama pride of Raghu's race. Canst thou thine impious plot design 'Gainst him in whom these virtues shine, Whose glory with the sages vies, Peer of the Gods who rule the skies!