And beholding that tawny-colored monkey like unto a mass of lightnings
and wearing a white cloth, hidden on the tree, Sita's mind was greatly
agitated. And she saw there the humble, sweet-speeched monkey, appearing
graceful like unto a collection of full-blown _Asoka_ flowers and having
eyes resembling burning gold. And observing that foremost of the
monkeys, sitting humbly, that daughter of the king of Mithila, again
greatly amazed, thought.--"This monkey is the most terrible of his race
and therefore hard to be got at and looked at." Thinking this she again
sank in fear. And stricken with grief she again bewailed in piteous
accents exclaiming,--"O Rama! O Lakshmana!" And she wept silently and
lowly. And then beholding that best of monkeys approach her humbly, the
fair daughter of the Mithili's king, thought,--"Is this a dream mine
eyes have seen?" And she again looked towards that Wind-god's son, the
foremost of the monkeys, the best of those gifted with intelligence,
having a huge disfigured countenance, highly accomplished and wearing a
dress mentioned before. And beholding him Sita was almost out of breath
with fear. And regaining soon her sense the large-eyed damsel again
thought, --"I have seen a very inauspicious dream to-day--to see a
monkey in a dream is reckoned inauspicious by the sages. May good betide
Rama, Lakshmana and my Sire the king of Janaka. It is no dream, I have
not slept, worn with grief and trouble as I am. Apart from my lord
having the countenance of the full-moon, I have no happiness. Thinking
of Rama always and uttering his name, each sight I see and each sound I
hear brings him to my eye or ear. And therefore his form appearing in my
mind is distressing me to-day, who am entirely sunk in his thoughts. And
thinking of him always I see him before me and hear his words. Methinks
this is but a phantom of the mind. And thinking this I still behold the
same. But an imaginary object can never have a form. And I still find a
distinct form addressing me. Be glory to Vachaspati, Indra, the self
existent Brahma, the lord of fire and may they so grant that the
creature who hath spoken before me, be real and not imaginary."