LITMIR.BIZ

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       Waist so fine-turned, such limbs, such lighted eyes,

       The moon hath meaner radiance than she.

       Love at the sight of that soft smiling face

       Sprang to full passion, while he stood and gazed.

       Yet, faith and duty urging, he restrained

       His beating heart; but when those beauteous maids

       Spied Nala, from their cushions they uprose,

       Startled to see a man, yet startled more

       Because he showed so heavenly bright and fair.

       In wondering pleasure each saluted him,

       Uttering no sound, but murmuring to themselves:—

       "Aho! the grace of him: aho! the brilliance;

       Aho! what glorious strength lives in his limbs!

       What is he? Is he God, Gandharva, Yaksha?"

       But this unspoken, for they dared not breathe

       One syllable, all standing shyly there

       To see him, and to see his youth so sweet.

       Yet, softly glancing back to his soft glance,

       The Princess, presently, with fluttering breath,

       Accosted Nala, saying: "Fairest Prince,

       Who by thy faultless form hath filled my heart

       With sudden joy, coming as come the gods,

       Unstayed, I crave to know thee, who thou art;

       How didst thou enter? how wert thou unseen?

       Our palace is close-guarded, and the King

       Hath issued mandates stern."

       Tenderly spake

       The Prince, replying to those tender words:—

       "Most lovely! I am Nala. I am come

       A herald of the gods unto thee here.

       The gods desire thee, the immortal Four—

       Indra, Varuna, Yama, Agni. Choose,

       O Brightest! one from these to be thy lord.

       By their help is it I have entered in

       Unseen; none could behold me at thy gates,

       Nor stay me, passing; and to speak their will

       They sent me, fairest one and best. Do thou,

       Knowing the message, judge as seemeth well."

       She bowed her head, hearing the great gods named,

       And then, divinely smiling, said to him:—

       "Pledge thyself faithfully to me, and I

       Will seek, O Raja, only how to pay

       That debt with all I am, with all I have;

       For I and mine are thine—in full trust thine.

       Make me that promise, Prince. Thy gentle name—

       Sung by the swan—first set my thoughts afire;

       And for thy sake—only for thee—sweet Lord,

       The kings were summoned hither. If, alas!

       Fair Prince, thou dost reject my sudden love,

       So proffered, then must poison, flame, or flood,

       Or knitted cord, be my sad remedy."

       So spake Vidarbha's Pride; and Nala said:—

       "With gods so waiting—with the world's dread lords

       Hastening to woo, canst thou desire a man?

       Bethink! I, unto these, that make and mar,

       These all-wise ones, almighty, am like dust

       Under their feet: lift thy heart to the height

       Of what I bring. If mortal man offend

       The most high gods, death is what springs of it.

       Spare me to live, thou faultless lady! Choose

       Which of these excellent great gods thou wilt;

       Wear the unstained robes! bear on thy brows

       The wreaths which never fade, of heavenly blooms!

       Be, as thou mayest, a goddess, and enjoy

       Godlike delights! Him who enfolds the earth,

       Creating and consuming, Brightest Power,

       Hutâsa, Eater of the Sacrifice,

       What woman would not take? Or him whose rod

       Herds all the generations forward still

       On virtue's path, Red Yama, King of Death,

       What woman would affront? Or him, the all-good,

       All-wise destroyer of the Demons, first

       In heaven, Mahendra—who of womankind

       Is there that would not wed? Or, if thy mind

       Incline, doubt not to choose Varuna; he

       Is of these world-protectors. From a heart

       Full friendly cometh what I tell thee now."

       Unto Nishadha's Prince the maid replied—

       Tears of distress dimming her lustrous eyes—-

       "Humbly I reverence these mighty gods;

       But thee I choose, and thee I take for lord;

       And this I vow!"

       With folded palms she stood,

       And trembling lips, while his faint answer fell:—

       "Sent on such embassy, how shall I dare

       Speak, sweetest Princess, for myself to thee?

       Bound by my promise for the gods to sue,

       How can I be a suitor for myself?

       Silence is here my duty; afterwards,

       If I shall come, in mine own name I'll come,

       Mine own cause pleading. Ah, might that so be!"

       Checking her tears, Damayanti sadly smiled,

       And said full soft: "One way of hope I see,

       A blameless way, O Lord of men! wherefrom

       No fault shall rise, nor any danger fall.

       Thou also, Prince, with Indra and these gods,

       Must enter in where my Swayamvara

       Is held; then I, in presence of those gods,

       Will choose thee, dearest, for my lord; and so

       Blame shall not light on thee,"

       With which sweet words

       Soft in his ears, Nishadha straight returned

       There where the gods were gathered, waiting him;

       Whom the world's masters, on his way, perceived,

       And, spying, questioned, asking for his news:—

       "Saw'st thou her, Prince? Didst see the sweet-lipped one?

       What spake she of us? Tell us true; tell all!"

       Quoth Nala: "By your worshipful behest

       Sent to her house, the great gates entered I,

       Though the gray porters watched; but none might spy

       My entering, by your power, O radiant Ones,

       Saving the Raja's daughter; her I saw

       Amid her maidens, and by them was seen.

       On me with much amazement they did gaze

       Whilst I your high Divinities extolled.

       But

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