My warrior-love, like the wild elephant, My Prince of princes--I shall surely die! Nought call I now to mind he said or did That was not rightly said and justly done. No idle word he spake, even in free speech; Patient and lordly; generous to bestow Beyond all givers; scorning to be base, Yea, even in secret--such Nishadha was. Alas! when, day and night, I think of him, How is my heart consumed, reft of its joy!" So meditating, like one torn by thoughts, She mounted to the palace-roof to see; And thence, in the mid-court, the car beheld Arriving. Rituparna and Vahûka She saw, with Vrishni's son, descend and loose The panting horses, wheeling back the car. Then Rituparna, alighting, sought the King, Bhima the Maharaja, far-renowned-- Whom Bhima with fair courtesies received; Since well he deemed such breathless visit made With deep cause, knowing not the women's plots. "_Swâgatam!"_ cried he; "what hath brought thee, Prince?" For nothing wist he that the Raja came Suitor of Damayanti. Questioned so, This Raja Rituparna, wise and brave, Seeing no kings nor princes in the court, Nor noise of the Swayamvara, nor crowd Of Bráhmans gathering--weighing all those things, Answered in this wise: "I am come, great Lord, To make thee salutations!" But the King Laughed in his beard at Rituparna's word-- That this of many weary yojanas Should be the mark. "_Ahoswid_! Hath he passed Through twenty towns," thought he, "and hither flown To bid good-morrow? Nay, it is not that. Good! I shall know it when he bids me know." Thereat, with friendly speech his noble guest The King to rest dismissed. "Repose thyself," He said; "the road was long; weary thou art." And Rituparna, with sentences of grace Replying to this graciousness, was led By slaves to the allotted sleeping-room; And after Rituparna, Varshneya went. Vahûka, left alone, the chariot ran Into its shed, and from the foamy steeds Unbuckled all the harness, thong by thong, Speaking soft words to them; then sat him down, Alone, forgotten, on the driving-seat. But Damayanti, seeing Rituparna, And Vrishni's son, and him called Vahûka, Spake sorrowful: "Whose was the thunder, then, Of that fleet car? It seemed like Nala's own; Yet here I see no Nala! Hath yon man My lord's art learned, or th'other one, that thus Their car should thunder as when Nala comes? Could Rituparna drive as Nala doth, So that those chariot-wheels should sound like his?" And, after having pondered (O my King!), The beauteous Princess sent her handmaiden To Vahûka, that she might question him. "Go, Keshinî," the Princess said; "inquire Who is that man upon the driving-seat, Misshapen, with the shrunken arm. Approach Composedly, question him winningly