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       Set upon me, hath chosen me, ye Gods.

       For thus she spake, my Princess: 'Let them come,

       And come thou, like a lordly tiger, too,

       Unto the place of my Swayamvara;

       There will I choose thee in their presence, Prince,

       To be my lord; and so there will not fall

       Blame, thou strong-armed! to thee,' This she did say

       Even as I tell it; and what shall be next,

       To will is yours, O ye immortal Ones!"

       Soon, when the moon was good, and day and hour

       Were found propitious, Bhima, King of men,

       Summoned the chiefs to the Swayamvara;

       Upon which message all those eager lords

       For love of Damayanti hastened there.

       Glorious with gilded pillars was the court,

       Whereto a gate-house opened, and thereby

       Into the square, like lions from the hills,

       Paced the proud guests; and there their seats they took,

       Each in his rank, the masters of the lands,

       With crowns of fragrant blossoms garlanded,

       And polished jewels swinging in their ears.

       Of some the thews, knitted and rough, stood forth

       Like iron maces; some had slender limbs,

       Sleek and fine-turned like the five-headed snake;

       Lords with long-flowing hair; glittering lords;

       High-nosed, and eagle-eyed, and heavy-browed;

       The faces of those kings shone in a ring

       As shine at night the stars; and that great square

       As thronged with Rajas was as Naga-land

       Is full of serpents; thick with warlike chiefs

       As mountain-caves with panthers. Unto these

       Entered, in matchless majesty of form,

       The Princess Damayanti. As she came,

       The glory of her ravished eyes and hearts,

       So that the gaze of all those haughty kings,

       Fastening upon her loveliness, grew fixed—

       Not moving save with her—step after step

       Onward and always following the maid.

       But while the styles and dignities of all

       Were cried aloud (O son of Bhârat!), lo!

       The Princess marked five of that throng alike

       In form and garb and visage. There they stood,

       Each from the next undifferenced, but each

       Nala's own self;—yet which might Nala be

       In nowise could that doubting maid descry.

       Who took her eye seemed Nala while she gazed,

       Until she looked upon his like; and so

       Pondered the lovely lady, sore-perplexed,

       Thinking, "How shall I tell which be the gods,

       And which is noble Nala?" Deep-distressed

       And meditative waxed she, musing hard

       What those signs were, delivered us of old,

       Whereby gods may be known: "Of all those signs

       Taught by our elders, lo! I see not one

       Where stand yon five." So murmured she, and turned

       Over and over every mark she knew.

       At last, resolved to make the gods themselves

       Her help at need, with reverent air and voice

       Humbly saluted she those heavenly ones,

       And with joined palms and trembling accents spake:—

       "As, when I heard the swans, I chose my Prince,

       By that sincerity I call ye, Gods,

       To show my Love to me and make me know!

       As in my heart and soul and speech I stand

       True to my choice, by that sincerity

       I call the all-knowing gods to make me know!

       As the high gods created Nishadha's chief

       To be my lord, by their sincerity

       I bid them show themselves, and make me know!

       As my vow, sealed to him, must be maintained

       For his name, and for mine, I call the gods

       By such sincerity to make me know!

       Let them appear, the masters of the world—

       The high gods—each one in his proper shape,

       That I may see Nishadha's chief, my choice,

       Whom minstrels praise, and Damayanti loves."

       Hearing that earnest speech—so passion-fraught,

       So full of truth, of strong resolve, of love,

       Of singleness of soul and constancy—

       Even as she spake, the gods disclosed themselves.

       By well-seen signs the effulgent Ones she knew.

       Shadowless stood they, with unwinking eyes,

       And skins which never moist with sweat; their feet

       Light-gliding o'er the ground, not touching it;

       The unfading blossoms on their brows not soiled

       By earthly dust, but ever fair and fresh.

       Whilst, by their side, garbed so and visaged so,

       But doubled by his shadow, stained with dust,

       The flower-cups wiltering in his wreath, his skin

       Pearly with sweat, his feet upon the earth,

       And eyes a-wink, stood Nala. One by one

       Glanced she on those divinities, then bent

       Her gaze upon the Prince, and, joyous, said:—

       "I know thee, and I name my rightful lord,

       Taking Nishadha's chief." Therewith she drew

       Modestly nigh, and held him by the cloth,

       With large eyes beaming love, and round his neck

       Hung the bright chaplet, love's delicious crown;

       So choosing him—him only—whom she named

       Before the face of all to be her lord.

       Oh, then brake forth from all those suitors proud,

       "Ha!" and "Aho!" But from the gods and saints,

       "Sadhu! well done! well done!" And all admired

       The happy Prince, praising the grace of him;

       While Virasena's son, delightedly,

       Spake to the slender-waisted these fond words:—

       "Fair Princess! since, before all gods and men,

       Thou makest me thy choice, right glad am I

       Of this thy mind, and true lord will I be.

       For so long, loveliest, as my breath endures,

       Thine am I! Thus I plight my troth to thee."

       So, with joined palms, unto that beauteous maid

       His gentle faith he pledged, rejoicing her;

       And, hand in hand, radiant with mutual love,

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