On me with much amazement they did gaze Whilst I your high Divinities extolled. But she that hath the lovely face, with mind 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,