The Curse of Kehama, Volume 2 (of 2)

"The Curse of Kehama, Volume 2 (of 2)" by Robert Southey is a narrative poem written in the early 19th century. This epic work draws on elements from various mythologies and follows the story of Kailyal and her father, Ladurlad, as they navigate a world filled with curses, divine beings, and trials. Central to the narrative is the powerful figure of Kehama, whose actions significantly impact the fates of the characters. The opening of this volume introduces readers to Kailyal and her father in a tranquil, yet foreboding woodland setting. They reflect on their shared sufferings and the behavioral expectations placed upon them by the forces of fate. As Kailyal prays in a sacred grove, she is beset by feelings of despair over their looming trials. The narrative swiftly shifts in tone as a band of Yoguees, in search of a bride for their god Jaga-Naut, disrupts their solitude by abducting Kailyal. This act sets in motion a series of events that intertwines their destinies, revealing the central conflict involving divine powers, human sacrifice, and a quest for redemption amidst turmoil. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Robert Southey was an English poet of the Romantic school, and Poet Laureate from 1813 until his death. Like the other Lake Poets, William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Southey began as a radical but became steadily more conservative as he gained respect for Britain and its institutions. Other romantics such as Byron accused him of siding with the establishment for money and status. He is remembered especially for the poem "After Blenheim" and the original version of "Goldilocks and the Three Bears".