A prince there was, named Nala, Virasen's noble breed, Goodly to see, and virtuous; a tamer of the steed; As Indra 'midst the gods, so he of kings was kingliest one, Sovereign of men, and splendid as the golden, glittering sun; Pure, knowing scripture, gallant; ruling nobly Nishadh's lands; Dice-loving, but a proud, true chief of her embattled bands; By lovely ladies lauded; free, trained in self-control; A shield and bow; a Manu on earth; a royal soul! And in Vidarbha's city the Raja Bhima dwelled; Save offspring, from his perfect bliss no blessing was withheld; For offspring, many a pious rite full patiently he wrought, Till Damana the Brahman unto his house was brought. Him Bhima, ever reverent, did courteously entreat, Within the Queen's pavilion led him, to rest and eat; Whereby that sage, grown grateful, gave her--for joy of joys-- A girl, the gem of girlhood, and three brave lusty boys-- Damana, Dama, Dânta, their names:--Damayanti she; No daughter more delightful, no sons could goodlier be. Stately and bright and beautiful did Damayanti grow; No land there was which did not the Slender-waisted know; A hundred slaves her fair form decked with robe and ornament-- Like Śachi's self to serve her a hundred virgins bent; And 'midst them Bhima's daughter, in peerless glory dight, Gleamed as the lightning glitters against the murk of night; Having the eyes of Lakshmi, long-lidded, black, and bright-- Nay--never Gods, nor Yakshas, nor mortal men among Was one so rare and radiant e'er seen, or sued, or sung As she, the heart-consuming, in heaven itself desired. And Nala, too, of princes the Tiger-Prince, admired Like Kama was; in beauty an embodied lord of love: And ofttimes Nala praised they all other chiefs above In Damayanti's hearing; and oftentimes to him, With worship and with wonder, her beauty they would limn; So that, unmet, unknowing, unseen, in each for each A tender thought of longing grew up from seed of speech; And love (thou son of Kunti!) those gentle hearts did reach. Thus Nala--hardly bearing in his heart Such longing--wandered in his palace-woods, And marked some water-birds, with painted plumes, Disporting. One, by stealthy steps, he seized; But the sky-traveller spake to Nala this:-- "Kill me not, Prince, and I will serve thee well. For I, in Damayanti's ear, will say Such good of Nishadh's lord, that nevermore Shall thought of man possess her, save of thee." Thereat the Prince gladly gave liberty To his soft prisoner, and all the swans Flew, clanging, to Vidarbha--a bright flock-- Straight to Vidarbha, where the Princess walked; And there, beneath her eyes, those winged ones Lighted. She saw them sail to earth, and marked-- Sitting amid her maids--their graceful forms;