With greetings kind, and bid him answer thee According to the truth. I feel at heart A doubt--a hope--that this, perchance, may be My Lord and Prince; there is some new-born joy Fluttering within my breast. Accost him, girl; And, ere thou partest, what Parnâda said, Say thou, and hear him answer, blameless one, And bring it on thy lips!" Then went the maid Demurely, and accosted Vahûka, While Damayanti watched them from the roof. "_Kushalam tê bravîmi_--health and peace I wish thee!" said she. "Wilt thou answer true What Damayanti asks? She sends to ask Whence set ye forth, and wherefore are ye come Hither? Vidarbha's Princess fain would know." "'Twas told my Raja," Vahûka replied, "That Damayanti for the second turn Holds her Swayamvara: the Bráhman's word Was, "This shall be to-morrow." So he sped, Hearing that news, with steeds which in one day Fly fifty yojanas, swift as the winds, Exceeding fleet. His charioteer am I." "Who, then," Keshinî asked, "is he that rode The third? whence cometh he, and what his race? And thou thyself whence sprung? and tell me why Thou servest thus?" Then Vahûka replied:-- "Varshneya is the third who rode with us, The famous charioteer of Nala he: When thy Prince fled, he went to Koshala And took our service. I in horse-taming And dressing meat have skill; so am I made King Rituparna's driver and his cook." "Knoweth Varshneya, then, where Nala fled?" Inquired the maid; "and did he tell thee this, Or what spake he?" "Of that unhappy Prince He brought the children hither, and then went Even where he would, of Nala wotting nought; Nor wotteth any man, fair damsel! more. Hidden from mortal eyes Nishadha lives, Wandering the world, his very body changed. Of Nala only Nala's own heart knows, And by no sign doth he bewray himself." Keshinî said: "That Bráhman who did wend First to Ayodhyâ bore a verse to say Over and over, everywhere--strange words, Wove by a woman's wit. Listen to these:-- 'Whither art thou departed, cruel lover, Who stole the half of thy belovèd's cloth, And left her to awaken and discover The wrong thou wroughtest to the love of both? She, as thou didst command, a sad watch keepeth, With woful heart wearing the rended dress. Prince, hear her cry who thus forever weepeth; Be mindful, hero; comfort her distress!'