s: Thus, as Pushkara gave order--in the terror of his power,


s: Might the citizens no longer--hospitably serve the king.


s: In the agony of famine--Nala, after many days,


s: These to-day my welcome banquet--and my treasure these will be.


s: And the birds above him hovering--thus in human accents spake,


s: When the dice he saw departing--and himself without his robe,


s: Mournfully did Punyasloka--thus to Damayanti speak:


s: "They, O blameless, by whose anger--from my kingdom I am driven,


s: Life-sustaining food unable--in my misery to find--


s: In the dark extreme of misery--sad and frantic as I am,


s: Hear me, princess, hear and profit--by thy husband's best advice.


s: Passing by Avanti's city--and the height of Rishavàn;


s: Vindhya here, the mighty mountain--and Payoshni's seaward stream;


s: More than once to Bhima's daughter--anxious pointing out the way.


s: "My afflicted heart is breaking--and my sinking members fail,


s: When, O king, thy desperate counsel--once I think of, once again.


s: When thou sad and famine-stricken--thinkest of thy former bliss,


s: In the wild wood, oh, my husband,--I thy weariness will soothe.


s: Like a wife, in every sorrow--this the wise physicians own,


s: Healing herb is none or balsam--Nala, 'tis the truth I speak."


s: Slender-waisted Damayanti--true, indeed, is all thou'st said;


s: Like a wife no friendly medicine--to afflicted man is given.


s: If indeed, oh mighty monarch--thou wilt ne'er abandon me,


s: Wherefore then towards Vidarbha--dost thou point me out the way.


s: Well, I know thee, noble Nala--to desert me far too true,


s: Thus my sorrow still enhancing--oh, thou like the immortal gods;


s: If this be thy better counsel--'to her kindred let her go,'


s: Be it so, and both together--to Vidarbha set we forth.


s: Thee Vidarbha's king will honour--honour'd in his turn by thee;


s: Held in high respect and happy--in our mansion thou shall dwell.


s: "Mighty is thy father's kingdom--once was mine as mighty too;


s: Never will I there seek refuge--in my base extremity.


s: There I once appeared in glory--to the exalting of thy pride;


s: Shall I now appear in misery--to the increasing of thy shame?"


s: Nala thus to Damayanti--spake again, and yet again,


s: Comforting the noble lady--scant in half a garment clad.


s: Sank the lovely Damayanti--by his side with sleep opprest,


s: She thus plunged in sudden misery--she the tender, the devout.


s: But while on the cold earth slumbered--Damayanti, all distraught


s: Nala in his mind by sorrow--might no longer calmly sleep;


s: For the losing of his kingdom--the desertion of his friends,


s: And his weary forest wanderings--painful on his thought arose;


s: "If I do it, what may follow?--what if I refuse to do?


s: Were my instant death the better--or to abandon her I love.


s: But to me too deep devoted--suffers she distress and shame;


s: Reft of me she home may wander--to her royal father's house;


s: Faithful wandering ever with me--certain sorrow will she bear,


s: But if separated from me--chance of solace may be hers."


s: Long within his heart he pondered--and again, again weighed o'er.


s: From her virtue none dare harm her--in the lonely forest way,


s: Her the fortunate, the noble--my devoted wedded wife.


s: Thus his mind on Damayanti--dwelt in its perverted thought,


s: Wrought by Kali's evil influence--to desert his lovely wife.


s: Of himself without a garment--and of her with only one.


s: Pondering this within his spirit--round the cabin Nala went;


s: In that narrow cabin's circuit--Nala wandered here and there,


s: Till he found without a scabbard--shining, a well-tempered sword.


s: In her sleep Vidarbha's princess--with bewildered mind he fled.


s: Yet, his cruel heart relenting--to the cabin turns he back;


s: On the slumbering Damayanti--gazing, sadly wept the king;


s: "Thou, that sun nor wind hath ever--roughly visited, my love!


s: On the hard earth in a cabin--sleepest with thy guardian gone.


s: Thus attired in half a garment--she that aye so sweetly smiled,


s: Like to one distracted, beauteous--how at length will she awake?


s: And departing, still departing--he returned again, again;


s: Dragged away by that bad demon--ever by his love drawn back.


s: Nala, thus his heart divided--into two conflicting parts,


s: Like a swing goes backward, forward--from the cabin, to and fro.


s: Torn away at length by Kali--flies afar the frantic king,


s: Leaving there his wife in slumber--making miserable moans.


s: Reft of sense, possessed by Kali--thinking still on her he left,


s: Passed he in the lonely forest--leaving his deserted wife.


s: Scarcely had king Nala parted--Damayanti now refreshed,


s: Wakened up, the slender-waisted--timorous in the desert wood.


s: Oh, I'm lost! undone for ever--helpless in the wild wood left;


s: Faithful once to every duty--wert thou not, and true in word.


s: Art thou faithful to thy promise--to desert me thus in sleep.


s: Could'st thou then depart, forsaking--thy devoted, constant wife;


s: Hence one moment, thus deserted--one brief moment do I live.--


s: For myself I will not sorrow--nor for aught to me befalls.


s: Thou art all alone, my husband,--I will only mourn for thee.


s: Then, in all her depth of anguish--with her trouble as on fire,


s: So consumed with inward misery--ever sighing more and more,


s: May he far surpass in suffering--all that Nala suffers now,


s: May the evil one, to evil--who the blameless Nala drives,


s: Smitten by a curse as fatal--live a dark unblessed life."


s: Thus her absent lord lamenting--that high-minded raja's queen,


s: Every-where her lord went seeking--in the satyr-haunted wood.


s: Like a maniac, Bhima's daughter--wandered wailing here and there;


s: Her beyond all measure wailing--like the osprey screaming shrill,


s: Suddenly king Bhima's daughter--as she wandered near his lair,


s: Seized a huge gigantic serpent--in his raging famine fierce.


s: "O my guardian, thus unguarded--in this savage forest seized,


s: Seized by this terrific serpent--wherefore art not thou at hand?


s: Then a huntsman as he wandered--in the forest jungle thick,


s: As he heard her thus bewailing--in his utmost haste drew near.


s: In the grasp when he beheld her--of that long-eyed serpent fell,


s: Instant did the nimble huntsman--rapidly as he came on,


s: Pierce that unresisting serpent--with a sharp and mortal shaft:


s: Damayanti, by the huntsman--thus in soothing tone addressed,


s: All the story of her misery-told him, as it all befell;


s: In the transport of her anger--her indignant soul took fire.


s: Scarce that single word was uttered--suddenly that hunter bold


s: Down upon the earth fell lifeless--like a lightning blasted tree.


s: Slain that savage wild-beast hunter--onward went the lotus-eyed,


s: Pregnant with rich mines of metal--many a mountain it enclosed,


s: Many a shady resonant arbour--many a deep and wondrous glen;


s: Now alone, Vidarbha's daughter--wandering, her lost Nala sought.


s: Thou the holy Aswamedha--thou each sacrificial rite,


s: Hast performed, to me, me only--in thy holy faith thou'st failed.


s: Of each heaven-descended volume--one and simple is the truth.


s: Am not I the loved so dearly--purely, sinlessly beloved;


s: In this dark and awful forest--wherefore dost thou not reply?


s: None but I, thou'st said, for ever--none but I to thee am dear!


s: Why repliest thou not--her only thou desir'st--she only thee.


s: Meagre, miserable, pallid--tainted with the dust and mire,


s: Scantly clad in half a garment--lone, with no protector near;


s: Mighty king, a lonely wanderer--in this vast and trackless wood,


s: Damayanti, I address thee--wherefore answerest not my voice?


s: Nobly born, and nobly minded--beautiful in every limb,


s: Do I not e'en now behold thee--in this mountain, first of men,


s: In this lion-haunted forest--in this tiger-howling wood,


s: Lying down or seated, standing--or in majesty and might


s: Moving, do I not behold thee--the enhancer of my woe?


s: Who shall I address, afflicted--wasted by my grief away;


s: 'Hast thou haply seen my Nala--in the solitary wood?'


s: 'Him thou seek'st with eyes of lotus--Nala, sovereign of men--


s: Of the beasts art thou the monarch--all this forest thy domain,


s: For the daughter of Vidarbha--Damayanti, know thou me,


s: Consort of Nishadha's sovereign--Nala, slayer of his foes--


s: Seeking here my exile husband--lonely, wretched, sorrow-driven,


s: Thou, O king of beasts, console me--if my Nala thou hast seen;


s: Or, O lord of all the forest--Nala if thou canst not show,


s: Best of savage beasts, devour me--from my misery set me free.


s: Hearing thus my lamentation-now does that fell king of beasts


s: Go towards the crystal river--flowing downward to the sea.'--


s: To this mountain then the holy--crowned with many a lofty peak,


s: In its soul-exalting splendour--rising, many-hued, to heaven;


s: Full within of precious metal--rich with many a glowing gem,


s: Rising o'er the spreading forest--like a banner broad and high,


s: I salute thee, lowly bowing--I, the daughter of a king;


s: Of a king the royal consort--of a king's son I the bride.


s: Of Vidarbha the great sovereign--mighty hero is my sire.


s: He the offerer, best of monarchs--known by his commanding eye,


s: Pious, and of life unblemished--true in word, of generous speech,


s: Of Vidarbha the protector--conqueror of a host of foes;


s: Know me of that king the daughter--lowly thus approaching thee.


s: In Nishadha, mighty Mountain! dwelt the father of my lord.


s: High the name he won, the illustrious--Virasena was he called.


s: Of this king the son, the hero--prosperous and truly brave,


s: He who rules his father's kingdom--by hereditary right,


s: Slayer of his foes, dark Nala--Punyasloka is he called;


s: Holy, Veda read, and eloquent--soma quaffing, fire adoring,


s: Sacrificer, liberal giver--warrior, in all points a king,--


s: Like the elephant in courage--wise, impetuous, with long arms,


s: Valiant, and of truth unquestioned--my heroic, glorious lord;


s: Hast thou seen Nishadha's sovereign--mighty Nala hast thou seen?


s: Hero, mighty, strong in duty--true of promise, lord of earth,


s: If thou art within the forest--show thee in thy proper form.


s: When so eloquently deep-toned--like the sound of some dark cloud,


s: Damayanti then set forward--toward the region of the north.


s: To the ancient famous hermits--equal was that sacred crew;


s: Self-denying, strict in diet--temperate, and undefiled;


s: Water-drinking, air inhaling--and the leaves their simple food;


s: Mortified, for ever blessed--seeking the right way to heaven;


s: Lovely browed, and lovely tressed--lovely bosom'd, lovely lipp'd,


s: Pearl of women, ever blessed-Damayanti the devout,


s: She those holy men saluting--stood with modest form half bent.


s: In amaze we stand and wonder--cheer thee up, and mourn no more.


s: Of the wood art thou the goddess--or the mountain goddess thou;


s: Or the goddess of the river?--Blessed Spirit, speak the truth.


s: Nor the sylvan goddess am I,"--to the Wise she thus replied;


s: "Neither of the mountain, Brahmins--nor the river nymph am I.


s: Know me but a mortal being--O, ye rich in holiness!


s: Of that noble king the daughter--twice-born Sages, know ye me.


s: And the monarch of Nishadha--Nala named, the great in fame;


s: Of Nishadha's race the guardian--great in glory, great in might,


s: True in word, and skilled in duty--and the slayer of his foes.


s: Pious, heaven-devoted, prosperous--conqueror of hostile towns;


s: Nala named, the best of sovereigns--splendid as the king of gods.


s: Slayer of his foes in battle--glorious as the sun and moon.


s: He to some most evil minded--unrespected, wicked men,


s: After many a challenge, studious--he of virtue and of truth,


s: Damayanti, so they name me--yearning for my husband's sight.


s: Mighty in the use of weapons--wander desolate and sad.


s: Tell me, to this pleasant sojourn--sacred to these holy men,


s: Hath he come, the royal Nala?--hath Nishadha's monarch come?


s: If I see not noble Nala--ere few days, few nights are o'er,


s: I to happiness will join me--from this mortal frame set free.


s: Reft of him, my princely husband--what have I to do with life--


s: How endure existence longer--for my husband thus distressed."


s: To the lady thus complaining--lonely in the savage wood,


s: Through devotion now we see him--and thou too wilt see him soon;


s: That good monarch of Nishadha--Nala, slayer of his foes;


s: To his foemen causing terror--to his friends allaying grief,


s: Thou, oh noble, shalt thy husband--see, that king of noble race."


s: Damayanti, fair-limbed princess--wife of Virasena's son;


s: "Have I only seen a vision--what hath been this wondrous chance?


s: Long within her heart she pondered--Damayanti with sweet smile,


s: For her lord, to grief abandoned--miserable, pale of hue;


s: To another region passed she--there with voice by weeping choked,


s: Best of trees, the Asoca blooming--in the forest she approached,


s: With its leafy garlands radiant--as the joyous mountain king.


s: O thou tree with pleasant aspect--from my sorrow set me free.


s: Vitasoca, hast thou seen him--hast the fearless raja seen,


s: Nala, of his foes the slayer--Damayanti's lord beloved?


s: Hast thou seen Nishadha's monarch--hast thou seen mine only love,


s: Hast thou seen th' afflicted hero--wandering in the forest lone.


s: That I may depart ungrieving--fair Asoca, answer me.


s: Truly be thou named Asoca--as the extinguisher of grief."


s: Thus in her o'erpowering anguish--moved she round the Asoca tree.


s: Many a tree she stood and gazed on--many a river passed she o'er;


s: Lo, a caravan of merchants--elephants, and steeds, and cars,


s: And beyond, a pleasant river--with its waters cool and clear.


s: Maniac-like in form and feature--and in half a garment clad,


s: Thin and pallid, travel-tainted--matted all her locks with dust.


s: As they all beheld her standing--some in terror fled away;


s: Art thou sylvan nymph or genius--or celestial nymph divine?


s: Every-way regard our welfare--and protect us, undespised:


s: So our caravan in safety--may pursue its onward way,


s: So ordain it, O illustrious!--that good fortune wait on all."


s: Thus addressed by that assemblage--Damayanti, kingly-born,


s: Of another king the consort--seeking for my royal lord;


s: Know, Vidarbha's king, my father--and Nishadha's king, my lord,


s: Nala, is his name, the glorious--him, th' unconquered do I seek;


s: Of the caravan the captain--thus the lovely-limbed addressed,


s: Him that bears the name of Nala--nowhere have these eyes beheld.


s: Elephants, and pards, and tigers--lynxes, buffaloes, and bears,


s: See I in this trackless forest--uninhabited by men;


s: Save thyself, of human feature--nought, or human form, I've seen.


s: To the merchants then she answered--to the leader of the host,


s: "Tell me whither do ye travel!--whither bound your caravan?"


s: "To the realm of Chedi's sovereign--truth-discerning Subahu,


s: Soon this caravan will enter--travelling in search of gain."


s: This, the lovely princess hearing--from the captain of the band,


s: With the caravan set forward--seeking still her royal lord.


s: At the close of day arriving--there encamped they for the night.


s: Many saw their camels dying--mingled with the men on foot,


s: And in frantic tumult rushing--wildly struck each other down;


s: Many miserably shrieking--cast them down upon the earth,


s: Lay that caravan so wealthy--scattered all abroad or slain.


s: Pressing in her breath with terror--slowly rose she on her feet.


s: And Vaisravana the holy--of the Yakshas lord and king,


s: "Who is that ill-omened woman--that with maniac-staring eyes,


s: Witch or sorceress she, or dæmon--fatal cause of all our fears,


s: But no sooner Damayanti--their appalling words had heard,


s: In her shame and in her terror--to the forest shade she fled.


s: And that guilt imputed dreading--thus her fate began to wail:


s: "Woe is me, still o'er me hovers--the terrific wrath of fate;


s: No good fortune e'er attends me--of what guilt is this the doom?


s: Not a sin can I remember--not the least to living man.


s: To this infinite misfortune--hence by penal justice doomed?


s: Lost my husband, lost my kingdom--from my kindred separate;


s: Separate from noble Nala--from my children far away,


s: Widowed of my rightful guardian--in the serpent-haunted wood."


s: Of that caravan at morning--then the sad surviving few,


s: By the elephants they perish--this is through my luckless fate;


s: A still lengthening life of sorrow--I henceforth must sadly lead.


s: Therefore am not I too trampled--by this herd of furious beasts.


s: Every deed of living mortal--by over-ruling fate is done.


s: Yet no sin have I committed--in my blameless infancy,


s: To deserve this dire disaster--or in word, or deed, or thought.


s: For the choosing of my husband--are the guardians of the world,


s: Angry are the gods, rejected--for the noble Nala's sake?


s: The deserted Damayanti--with these sad and bitter words;


s: 'Twas the king of Chedi's city--truth-discerning Subahu.


s: Scantly clad in half a garment--entered she that stately town;


s: Gazing on her as she entered--to the monarch's royal seat;


s: From that palace lofty terrace--her the mother of the king


s: Yet in form so bright, irradiate--is our palace where she moves.


s: She those crowding men dispersing--quickly to the palace top


s: Made her mount--and in amazement--her the mother-queen addressed:


s: Men thou fear'st not, unattended--in celestial beauty safe."


s: Hearing thus her gentle language--Bhima's daughter made reply,


s: "Know me like thyself a mortal--a distressed, devoted wife;


s: Of illustrious race an handmaid--making where I will mine home;


s: On the roots and wild-fruits feeding--lonely, at the fall of eve.


s: And I still the hero followed--like his shadow on the way.


s: Him, arrayed in but one garment,--like a madman wandering wild,


s: To console my noble husband--I too entered the deep wood;


s: He within that dreary forest--for some cause, to me unknown,


s: Wild with hunger, reft of reason--that one single robe he lost.


s: I with but one robe, him naked--frantic, and with mind diseased,


s: Seeking him, my outcast husband--night and day am I consumed:


s: Him I see not, ever shining--like the lotus cup, beloved;


s: Sad herself, sad Bhima's daughter--did the mother queen address:


s: "Dwell with me, then, noble Lady--deep the joy in thee I feel,


s: And the servants of my household--shall thy royal husband seek;


s: Haply hither he may wander--as he roams about the world:


s: Dwelling here in peace and honour--thou thy husband wilt rejoin."


s: "On these terms, O nurse of heroes!--I with thee may make abode:


s: That I eat not broken victuals--wash not feet with menial hand:


s: Be my terms by thee accepted--gladly will I sojourn here,


s: But on other terms no sojourn--will this heart resolved admit."


s: Then to her with joyful spirit--spake the mother of the king:


s: In these words address her daughter--young Sunanda was her name:


s: "See this handmaid, my Sunanda--gifted with a form divine;


s: She in age thy lovely compeer--be she to thee as a friend;


s: Taking with her Damayanti--circled with her virgin peers.


s: Damayanti when deserting--royal Nala fled, ere long


s: Blazing in the forest jungle--he a mighty fire beheld;


s: Thence as of a living being--from the midst a voice he heard:


s: "Hasten, Nala!" oft and loudly--"Punyasloka, haste," it cried.


s: "Fear thou not," king Nala answered--plunging in the ruddy flame;


s: Narada, the famous hermit--I deceived, the holy sage;


s: He in righteous indignation--smote me with this awful curse:


s: Stay thou there as one unmoving--till king Nala passing by,


s: As he bit him, on the instant--all his kingly form was changed.


s: There he stood, and gazed in wonder--Nala, on his altered form.


s: In his proper shape the serpent--saw the sovereign of men.


s: Then Karkotaka the serpent--thus to Nala comfort spake:


s: All his body steeped in poison--till he free thee from thy woe,


s: Shall he dwell within thee prison'd--in the ecstacy of pain.


s: Fear not thou the tusked wild boar--foeman fear not thou, O king,


s: In the battle, chief of Rajas--victory is ever thine.


s: Go thou forth, thyself thus naming--Vahuca, the charioteer,


s: To the royal Rituparna--in the dice all-skilful he;


s: To Ayodhya's pleasant city--sovereign of Nishadha! go;


s: Thou the skill in dice possessing--soon wilt rise again to bliss;


s: In this garment clad resum'st thou--instantly thy proper form."


s: Saying thus, of vests celestial--gave he to the king a pair.


s: And king Nala, thus instructed--gifted with these magic robes,


s: Instantly the king of serpents--vanished from his sight away.


s: Vanished thus the King of Serpents--set Nishadha's raja forth,


s: Rituparna's royal city--on the tenth day entered he.


s: Straight before the royal presence--"Vahuca am I," he said,


s: "In the skill of taming horses--on the earth is not my peer;


s: Whatsoe'er the art, whatever--be most difficult to do,


s: I will strive to execute it--take me to thy service, king."


s: "Vahuca, I bid thee welcome--all this service shalt thou do,


s: On my horses' rapid motion--deeply is my mind engaged.


s: Ever shalt thou have for comrades--Varshneya and Jivala:


s: With these two pursue thy pleasure--Vahuca, abide with me."


s: Thus addressed, did Nala, honoured--by king Rituparna long,


s: With Varshneya in that city--and with Jivala abide:


s: There abode he, sadly thinking--of Vidarbha's daughter still.


s: In the evening, every evening--uttered he this single verse;


s: Thus the raja, ever speaking--Jivala one night addressed;


s: "Who is she, for whom thou grievest?--Vahuca, I fain would hear."


s: Once belonged a peerless lady--most infirm of word was he;


s: From some cause from her dissevered--went that frantic man away,


s: In his foolish soul thus parted--wanders he, by sorrow racked;


s: Him that noble lady following--in the forest lone and dread,


s: Lives, of that bad man forsaken--hard it is to say, she lives!


s: Lone, and young, the ways unknowing--undeserving of such fate,


s: By her lord she roams forsaken--hapless, by that luckless lord."


s: Thus remembering Damayanti--did Nishadha's king unknown,


s: Long within that dwelling sojourn--in the palace of the king.


s: Nala thus bereft of kingdom--with his wife to slavery sunk,


s: And, achieved this weighty business--found Nishadha's royal lord,


s: If nor hither Damayanti--nor king Nala may be brought,


s: Then a Brahmin, named Sudeva--came to pleasant Chedi-pur;


s: There within the kingly palace--he Vidarbha's daughter saw,


s: Standing with the fair Sunanda--on a royal holiday.


s: With her beauty once so peerless--worthy now of little praise,


s: "Even as once I wont to see her--such is yonder woman's form,


s: I my work have done, beholding--like the goddess world-adored,


s: Like the moonlight in its fulness--the desire of all the world.


s: From Vidarbha's pleasant waters--her by cruel fate plucked up,


s: Like a lotus flower uprooted--with the mire and dirt around:


s: Like the pallid night, when Rahu--swallows up the darkened moon:


s: For her husband wan with sorrow--like a gentle stream dried up;


s: Widowed now of all love's pleasures--of her noble kin despoiled,


s: Wretched, bearing life, her husband--in her hope again to see.


s: To the unadorned, a husband--is the chiefest ornament;


s: Of her husband if forsaken--she in splendour is not bright.


s: Difficult must be the trial--does king Nala, reft of her,


s: Still retain his wretched body--nor with sorrow pine away?


s: Her with her dark flowing tresses--with her long and lotus eyes,


s: Worthy of all joy, thus joyless--as I see, my soul is wrung.


s: Her recovering shall king Nala--to his happiness return,


s: King, albeit despoiled of kingdom--he his realm shall reassume;


s: In their age and virtues equal--equal in their noble race,


s: He alone of her is worthy--worthy she alone of him.


s: Me beseems it of that peerless--of that brave and prudent king,


s: To console the loyal consort--pining for her husband's sight.


s: Her will I address with comfort--with her moonlike glowing face.


s: Her with woe once unacquainted--woful now and lost in thought."


s: "I am named Sudeva, lady--I, thy brother's chosen friend,


s: By king Bhima's royal mandate--hither come in search of thee.


s: Well thy sire, thy royal mother--well thy noble brethren fare,


s: And well fare those little infants--well and happy are they both.


s: Many a question asked in order--and of every friend beloved.


s: And the daughter of Vidarbha--freely wept, so sudden thus


s: On Sudeva, best of Brahmins--gazing, on her brother's friend.


s: Her beheld the young Sunanda--weeping, wasted with distress,


s: As she thus her secret converse--with the wise Sudeva held.


s: Thus she spake unto her mother--"Lo, how fast our handmaid weeps,


s: All the truth of Damayanti--sitting at his ease, declared.


s: "In Vidarbha the just monarch--Bhima, in his glory dwells.


s: Of that king is she the daughter--Damayanti is her name;


s: And the raja of Nishadha--Nala, Virasena's son,


s: Of that king is she the consort--Punyasloka named, the Wise.


s: For the sake of Damayanti--wander we about the earth;


s: Till I found yon noble woman--in the palace of your son.


s: Like to her of mortal women--is there none, her beauty's peer;


s: In the midst, between her eyebrows--from her birth a lovely mole,


s: To Sudeva as she listened--uttering thus his strange discourse:


s: All the dust that mole concealing--young Sunanda washed away.


s: By the obscuring dust unclouded--shining out that mole appeared;


s: On the brow of Damayanti--like the unclouded moon in heaven.


s: Gazing on that mole, Sunanda--and the mother of the king,


s: Wept as fondly they embraced her--and an instant silent stood.


s: Then her tears awhile suppressing--thus the royal mother spake:


s: Are the daughters, king Sudaman--he that in Dasarna reigns;


s: She was wedded to king Bhima--and to Viravahu I.


s: In my fathers home, Dasarna--once I saw thee, newly born.


s: As to me thy father's lineage--is akin, so mine to thee;


s: Whatsoe'er my power commandeth--Damayanti, all is thine."


s: To the queen did Damayanti--in the gladness of her heart,


s: Having bowed in courteous homage--to her mother's sister, speak:


s: "While unknown I might continue--gladly dwelt I here with thee;


s: Every want supplied on th' instant--guarded by thy gentle care.


s: Orphaned of their sire, in sorrow--orphaned, ah, how long of me!


s: If thou yet wilt grant a favour--o'er all other favours dear,


s: To Vidarbha would I journey--quick the palanquin command."


s: "Be it so," her mother's sister--joyful, instant made reply.


s: Guarded by a mighty army--with th' approval of her son,


s: Sent the queen, that happy lady--in a palanquin, by men


s: So the queenly Damayanti--all in noblest guise performed.


s: And her royal sire Sudeva--with the thousand kine made glad,


s: Joyous to behold his daughter,--with a village and much wealth.


s: Thus addressed by Damayanti--very sorrowful the queen


s: Clouded all her face with weeping--not a word in answer spake.


s: But the princess, thus afflicted--when the female train beheld,


s: "'Damayanti, Lo thy daughter--for her husband sits and mourns.'


s: Sent around to every region--"Be your care the king to find."


s: Then those Brahmins at the mandate--of Vidarbha's royal lord,


s: First drew near to Damayanti--"Lo, now set we forth," they said.


s: Even as thou commandedst, sits she--sadly waiting thy return.


s: Grant thy pity, noble hero--answer to her earnest prayer.


s: Be this also said, to move him--to compassionate my state,


s: Why hast thou forgot that maxim--thou in every duty skilled.


s: Thou wert ever called the generous--thou the gentle and the wise.


s: Prince of men, O grant thy pity--grant it, lord of men, to me;


s: Mark him well, lest he be Nala--who he is, and where he dwells.


s: That again ye may approach him--do ye this without delay.


s: Whether he be of the wealthy--whether of the poor he be;


s: Be he covetous of riches--learn ye all he would desire."


s: Long the time that passed, a Brahmin--wise Parnada was his name,


s: Home returning to the city--thus to Bhima's daughter spake:


s: "Damayanti! royal Nala--as I sought Nishadha's king,


s: Came I to Ayodhya's city--the Bhangasuri's abode.


s: Thus as spake I, answered nothing--Rituparna, king of men;


s: Nor of all that full assemblage--more than once addressed by me.


s: By the king dismissed, when sate I--in a solitary place,


s: One of Rituparna's household--Vahuca, his name, drew near,


s: Charioteer of that great raja--with short arms and all deformed,


s: In the breastplate of their virtue--noble women live unharmed.


s: By the wretched, by the senseless--by the lost to every joy,


s: She by such a lord forsaken--yet to anger will not yield.


s: Secretly went Damayanti--and her mother thus addressed:


s: "Let not what I speak to Bhima--O my mother, be made known--


s: In thy presence to Sudeva--best of Brahmins, I would speak.


s: Let not this my secret counsel--to king Bhima be disclosed;


s: With the same good fortune swiftly--may Sudeva part from hence,


s: Home to bring the royal Nala--mother, to Ayodhya's town."


s: Resting from his toil, Parnada--of the Brahmin race the best,


s: Did the daughter of Vidarbha--honour, and with wealth reward.


s: "Brahmin! home if come my Nala--richer guerdon will I give;


s: Thus addressed, his grateful homage--and his benedictions paid,


s: Having thus achieved his mission--home the wise Parnada went.


s: Then accosting good Sudeva--Damayanti thus began,


s: Speak thou thus to Rituparna--Come, as of thine own accord.


s: Once again her Swayembara--does king Bhima's daughter hold;


s: Damayanti, thither hasten--all the kings and sons of kings;


s: Closely now the time is reckoned--when to-morrow's dawn appears;


s: Whether lives or is not living--royal Nala, no one knows."


s: Hearing thus Sudeva's language--Rituparna, king of men


s: With a gentle voice and blandly--thus to Vahuca began.


s: "Where the princess Damayanti--doth her Swayembara hold


s: In one day to far Vidarbha--Vahuca, I fain would go."


s: In these words the unknown Nala--by his royal lord addressed


s: Is't a stratagem thus subtly--for my sake devised and plann'd?


s: To desire this deed unholy--is that holy princess driven


s: Wrong'd by me, her basest husband--miserable, mind-estranged!


s: Fickle is the heart of woman--grievous too is my offence!


s: Hence she thus might act ignobly--in her exile, reft of friends,


s: Soul-disturbed by her great sorrow--in the excess of her despair.


s: Thus within his mind revolving--Vahuca, his wretched mind,


s: With his folded hands addressed he--Rituparna, king of men:


s: "I thy mandate will accomplish--I will go, O king of men,


s: In a single day, O raja--to Vidarbha's royal town."


s: Vahuca of all the coursers--did a close inspection make


s: Entering in the royal stable--by Bhangasuri's command.


s: Ever urged by Rituparna--Vahuca, in horses skilled,


s: As he gazed upon those coursers--spoke the king, almost in wrath:


s: These the horses to Vidharba--that will bear us, doubt not thou;


s: "In the knowledge thou of horses--Vahuca, hast matchless skill;


s: Then those four excelling horses--nobly bred--of courage high,


s: In their harness to the chariot--did the skilful Nala yoke.--


s: To the chariot yoked, as mounted--in his eager haste the king


s: All at once in th' air sprung upward--as the driver to unseat.


s: Then, as he beheld those horses--bearing him as fleet as wind,


s: Did the monarch of Ayodhya--in his silent wonder sit.


s: When the rattling of the chariot--when the guiding of the reins,


s: When of Vahuca the science--saw he, thus Varshneya thought:


s: "Is it Matali, the chariot--of the king of heaven that drives?


s: Lo, in Vahuca each virtue--of that godlike charioteer!


s: Is it Salihotra skilful--in the race, the strength of steeds,


s: That hath ta'en a human body--thus all-glorious to behold?


s: Is't, or can it be, king Nala--conqueror of his foemen's realms?


s: Is the lord of men before us?"--thus within himself he thought.


s: "If the skill possessed by Nala--Vahuca possesseth too,


s: Lo, of Vahuca the knowledge--and of Nala equal seems;


s: And of Vahuca and Nala--thus alike the age should be.


s: If 'tis not the noble Nala--it is one of equal skill.


s: His deformity of body--that my judgment still confounds;


s: Yet that proof alone is wanting--what shall then my judgment be?


s: Thus the charioteer Varshneya--sate debating in his mind;


s: Much, and much again he pondered--in the silence of his thought.


s: But the royal Rituparna--Vahuca's surpassing skill,


s: With the charioteer Varshneya--sate admiring, and rejoiced.


s: In the guiding of the coursers--his attentive hand he watched,


s: Wondered at his skill, consummate--in consummate joy himself.


s: Over rivers, over mountains--through the forests, over lakes,


s: Fleetly passed they, rapid gliding--like a bird along the air.


s: As the chariot swiftly travelled--lo, Bhangasuri the king


s: Saw his upper garment fallen--from the lofty chariot seat;


s: Though in urgent haste, no sooner--he his fallen mantle saw,


s: Than the king exclaimed to Nala--"Pause, and let us take it up:


s: Check, an instant, mighty-minded!--check thy fiery-footed steeds,


s: Ten miles, lo, it lies behind us--turn we not, to gain it, back."


s: Bowed with fruit, within the forest--saw a tall Vibhitak tree:


s: Gazing on that tree, the raja--spake to Vahuca in haste,


s: "Now, O charioteer, in numbers, thou shalt see my passing skill.


s: On yon tree are leaves how many?--Vahuca, how many fruit?


s: Say, how many are there fallen?--one above a hundred, there.


s: One leaf is there 'bove a hundred--and one fruit, O Vahuca!


s: "What thou speakest, to mine eyesight--all invisible appears;


s: Whether it may be, or may not--this not done, I cannot know.


s: I will number, thou beholding--all its fruits, O king of men,


s: But an instant let Varshneya--hold the bridles of the steeds."


s: To the charioteer the raja--answered, "Time is none to stay."


s: Vahuca replied, all eager--his own purpose to fulfil,


s: "Either stay thou here an instant--or go onward in thy speed,


s: With the charioteer Varshneya--go, for straight the road before."


s: "Charioteer! on earth thine equal--Vahuca, there may not be;


s: By thy guidance, skilled in horses!--to Vidarbha I would go:


s: I in thee have placed reliance--interrupt not then our course:


s: Willingly will I obey thee--Vahuca, in what thou ask'st,


s: If this day we reach Vidarbha--ere the sun hath sunk in night."


s: Vahuca replied, "No sooner--have I numbered yonder fruit,


s: To Vidarbha will I hasten--grant me then my prayer, O king."


s: Then the raja, all reluctant--"Stay then, and begin to count;


s: Of one branch one part, O blameless--from the tall Vibhitak tree,


s: Then, his soul possess'd with wonder--to the raja thus he said;


s: "Having counted, an thou sawest--even so many fruits there are,


s: Marvellous thy power, O monarch--by mine eyes beheld and proved,


s: Of that wonder-working science--fain the secret would I hear."


s: Then the raja spake in answer--eager to pursue his way,


s: "I of dice possess the science--and in numbers thus am skilled."


s: Vahuca replied; "That science--if to me thou wilt impart,


s: In return, O king, receive thou--my surpassing skill in steeds."


s: Then the raja Rituparna--by his pressing need induced,


s: Eager for that skill in horses--"Be it so," thus 'gan to say;


s: "Well, O Vahuca, thou speakest--thou my skill in dice receive,


s: And of steeds thy wondrous knowledge--be to me a meet return."


s: Rituparna, all his science--saying this, to Nala gave.


s: Soon as he in dice grew skilful--Kali from his body passed:


s: He Karkotaka's foul poison--vomiting from out his mouth,


s: Went from forth his body Kali--tortured by that fiery curse.


s: Nala, wasted by that conflict--came not instant to himself,


s: But, released from that dread venom--Kali his own form resumed:


s: And Nishadha's monarch, Nala--fain would curse him in his ire.


s: Him addressed the fearful Kali--trembling, and with folded hands;


s: When by thee she was deserted--since that time, O king of men,


s: I have dwelt in thee in anguish--in the ecstacy of pain.


s: By the King of Serpents' poison--I have burned by night, by day;


s: To thy mercy now for refuge--flee I, hear my speech, O king:


s: And the fearful Kali entered--in the cloven Vibhitak tree:


s: To no eyes but those of Nala--visible, had Kali spoken.


s: Then the monarch of Nishadha--from his inward fever freed,


s: When away had vanished Kali--when the fruits he had numbered all,


s: Proudly mounting on the chariot--onward urged the rapid steeds.


s: All his soul elate with transport--Nala swifter, swifter drove;


s: With his face towards Vidarbha--rode the raja in his pride:


s: And when forward Nala journeyed--Kali to his home returned.


s: So released from all his sufferings--Nala went, the king of men,


s: Dispossessed by Kali, wanting--only now his proper form.


s: With the evening in Vidarbha--men at watch, as they drew near,


s: Mighty Rituparna's coming--to king Bhima did proclaim.


s: Then that king, by Bhima's mandate--entered in Kundina's walls,


s: All the region round him echoing--with the thunders of his car.


s: But the echoing of that chariot--when king Nala's horses heard,


s: As a cloud that hoarsely thunders--at the coming of the rains.


s: Elephants and peacocks hearing--the fleet chariot rattling on,


s: "How the rolling of yon chariot--filling, as it seems, th' earth,


s: If this day I see not Nala--with his glowing moonlike face,


s: I the gentle pressure feel not--without doubt I shall not live.


s: In his might like the strong lion--like the raging elephant,


s: Not an idle word remember--in his noble converse free.


s: Lofty, patient, like a hero--liberal beyond all kings,


s: Nought ignoble, as the eunuch--even in private, may he do.


s: As I think upon his virtues--as I think by day, by night,


s: All my heart is rent with anguish--widowed of in own beloved."


s: Thus lamenting, she ascended--as with frenzied mind possessed,


s: To the palace roof's high terrace--to behold the king of men.


s: In the middle court high seated--in the car, the lord of earth,


s: Rituparna with Varshneya--and with Vahuca she saw,


s: When Varshneya from that chariot--and when Vahuca came down,


s: To the noble monarch Bhima--he drew near, for strength renowned.


s: Him received with highest honour--Bhima, for without due cause,


s: Deemed not he, the mighty raja--with such urgent speed had come.


s: When nor king within the palace--nor king's son he could behold,


s: Nor of Swayembara heard he--nor assembled Brahmins saw.


s: Thus within his mind deep pondering--spoke of Kosala the lord.


s: "Hither, O majestic Bhima--to salute thee am I come."


s: But king Bhima smiled in secret--as he thought within his mind,


s: "What the cause of this far journey--of a hundred Yojanas.


s: Passing through so many cities--for this cause he set not forth;


s: For this cause of little moment--to our court he hath not come:


s: What the real cause, hereafter--haply I may chance to know."


s: After royal entertainment--then the king his guest dismissed:


s: There retired king Rituparna--with Varshneya in his suite.


s: Vahuca, meantime, the chariot--to the chariot-house had led,


s: And the charioteer Varshneya--and the seeming Vahuca,


s: Hath the charioteer Varshneya--Nala's noble science learned?


s: Therefore did the rolling chariot--seem as of Nishadha's king?"


s: Thus when Damayanti pondered--in the silence of her soul,


s: Sent she then her beauteous handmaid--to that king her messenger.


s: "Go, Kesinia, go, enquire thou--who is yonder charioteer,


s: On the chariot seat reposing--all deformed, with arms so short?


s: Much and sorely do I doubt me--whether Nala it may be,


s: As my bosom's rapture augurs--as the gladness of my heart.


s: Then to Vahuca departing--went that zealous messenger,


s: On the palace' loftiest terrace--Damayanti sate and gazed.


s: "Happy omen mark thy coming--I salute thee, king of men:


s: Of the princess Damayanti--hear, O lord of men, the speech:


s: 'From what region came ye hither--with what purpose are ye come?'


s: "Soon a second Swayembara, heard the king of Kosala,


s: Damayanti holds: to-morrow--will it be, the Brahmin said:


s: "'Tis the far-renowned Varshneya--Punyasloka's charioteer:


s: He, when Nala fled an exile--to Bhangasuri retired.


s: Skilful I in taming horses--and a famous charioteer.


s: Rituparna's chosen driver--dresser of his food am I."


s: "Knows the charioteer Varshneya--whither royal Nala went?


s: Of his fortune hath he told thee--Vahuca, what hath he said?"


s: "He of the unhappy Nala--safe the children borne away,


s: Wheresoe'er he would, departed--of king Nala knows he nought:


s: Nothing of Nishadha's raja--fair one! living man doth know.


s: Of himself to living mortal--Nala will no sign betray."


s: "He that to Ayodhya's city--went, the holy Brahmin first,


s: Of his faithful wife these sayings--uttered once and once again;


s: Even as thou commanded'st, sits she--sadly waiting thy return,


s: Grant thy pity, noble hero--answer to her earnest prayer.'


s: Of king Nala, by the handmaid--fair Kesinia thus addressed,


s: "Even in the extreme of misery--noble women still preserve


s: By the wretched, by the senseless--by the lost to every joy,


s: She by such a lord forsaken--to resentment will not yield.


s: Against him, by hunger wasted--of his robe by birds despoiled,


s: All that Vahuca had spoken--all th' emotion he betrayed.


s: Hearing this, fair Damayanti--all abandoned to her grief.


s: Thinking still that he was Nala--to Kesinia spake again.


s: "Go, Kesinia, go, examine--Vahuca, and all his acts,


s: Silent take thy stand beside him--and observe whate'er he does;


s: Nor, Kesinia, be there given him--fire his labours to assist:


s: Neither be there given him water--in thy haste, at his demand:


s: All, when thou hast well observed him--every act to me repeat,


s: Every act that more than mortal--seems in Vahuca, relate."


s: Thus addressed by Damayanti--straight Kesinia went again,


s: Of the tamer of the horses--every act observed, came back;


s: Every act as she had seen it--she to Damayanti told:


s: Every more than mortal wonder--that in Vahuca appeared.


s: "Very holy is he, never--mortal man, in all my life,


s: Have I seen, or have I heard of--Damayanti, like to him.


s: He drew near the lowly entrance--bowed not down his stately head;


s: For the use of Rituparna--much and various viands came;


s: Sent, as meet, by royal Bhima--and abundant animal food.


s: Of the withered grass a handful--held it upward to the sun:


s: On the instant, brightly blazing--shone the all-consuming fire.


s: Much I marvelled at the wonder--and in mute amazement stood;


s: Lo, a second greater marvel--sudden burst upon my sight!


s: And another greater wonder--lady, did I there behold:


s: He the flowers which he had taken--gently moulded in his hands,


s: Damayanti when these wonders--of the king of men she heard,


s: With a gentle voice and weeping--to Kesinia spake again:


s: "Go, again, Kesinia, secret--and by Vahuca unseen,


s: Of those viands bring a portion--by his skilful hand prepared:"


s: She to Vahuca approaching--unperceived stole soft away


s: Of the well-cooked meat a morsel--warm she bore it in her haste,


s: And to Damayanti gave it--fair Kesinia, undelayed.


s: Of the food prepared by Nala--well the flavour did she know;


s: Tasting it she shrieked in transport--"Nala is yon charioteer."


s: Trying then a new emotion--of her mouth ablution made:


s: She her pair of infant children--with Kesinia sent to him.


s: Soon as he young Indrasena--and her little brother saw,


s: From his hold released the children--to Kesinia speaking thus:


s: "Oh! so like mine own twin children--was yon lovely infant pair,


s: Seeing them thus unexpected--have I broken out in tears:


s: If so oft thou comest hither--men some evil will suspect,


s: Seeing the profound emotion--of that wisest king of men,


s: Passing back in haste, Kesinia--told to Damayanti all:


s: Then again did Damayanti--mission to Kesinia give,


s: To approach her royal mother--in her haste her lord to see.


s: "Vahuca we've watched most closely--Nala we suspect him still;


s: Only from his form we doubt him--this myself would fain behold.


s: Cause him enter here, my mother--to my wishes condescend;


s: Known or unknown to my father--let it be decided now."


s: By that handmaid thus accosted--then the queen to Bhima told


s: All his daughter's secret counsel--and the raja gave assent.


s: Sudden as he gazed upon her--upon Damayanti gazed,


s: With an agonizing sorrow--was the noble lady seized.


s: Clad, then, in a scarlet mantle--hair dishevelled, mire-defiled,


s: Unto Vahuca this language--Damayanti thus addressed:


s: "Vahuca beheld'st thou ever--an upright and noble man,


s: Who departed and abandoned--in the wood, his sleeping wife?


s: To the lord of earth, from folly--what offence can I have given?


s: That he fled, within the forest--leaving me, by sleep oppressed?


s: Openly, the gods rejected--was he chosen by me, my lord:


s: "Gaming that I lost my kingdom--'twas not mine own guilty deed,


s: It was Kali wrought within me--hence it was I fled from thee;


s: Ever burning, fiercer, hotter--as when fire is heaped on fire.


s: He, by my religious patience--my devotion, now subdued,


s: Lo! the end of all our sorrows--beautiful! is now at hand.


s: I, the evil one departed, hither have made haste to come;


s: For thy sake, O round-limbed! only;--other business have I none.


s: 'Now the daughter of king Bhima--will a second husband choose,


s: 'Free from every tie, as wills she--as her fancy may beseem,'


s: Hearing this, came hither speeding--king Bhangasuri in haste."


s: Damayanti, when from Nala--heard she this his grievous charge,


s: With her folded hands, and trembling--thus to Nala made reply:


s: "Do not me, O noble-minded--of such shameless guilt suspect,


s: Thou, when I the gods rejected--Nala, wert my chosen lord.


s: Only thee to find, the Brahmins--went to the ten regions forth,


s: Thee in Kosala, the palace--of king Rituparna saw.


s: Since, beside thyself, no mortal--in the world, within the day,


s: Could drive on the fleetest coursers--for a hundred Yojanas.


s: To attest this truth, O monarch!--thus I touch thy sacred feet;


s: Even in heart have I committed--never evil thought 'gainst thee.


s: This my sacred truth attest they--or this day abandon me."


s: Thus adjured, a solemn witness--spake the wind from out the air;


s: "She hath done or thought no evil--Nala, 'tis the truth we speak:


s: For beside thyself no mortal--might a hundred Yojanas drive.


s: Even as thus the wind was speaking--flowers fell showering all


s: And the gods sweet music sounded--on the zephyr floating light.


s: As on this surpassing wonder--royal Nala stood and gazed,


s: Of the blameless Damayanti--melted all his jealous doubts.


s: Then by dust all undefiled--he the heavenly vest put on,


s: Thought upon the King of Serpents--and his proper form resumed.


s: In his own proud form her husband--Bhima's royal daughter saw,


s: Loud she shrieked, the undespised--and embraced the king of men.


s: Bhima's daughter, too, king Nala--shining glorious as of old,


s: In her calm and gentle sorrow--softly sighed the long-eyed queen:


s: All the tale of Damayanti--and of Nala all the tale,


s: To king Bhima in her transport--told Vidarbha's mother-queen.


s: Then replied that mighty monarch--"Nala, his ablutions done,


s: Thus rejoined to Damayanti--I to-morrow will behold."


s: They the livelong night together--slow related, each to each,


s: With glad hearts, Vidarbha's princess--and the kingly Nala dwelt.


s: Like as the glad earth to water--opens its half-budding fruits,


s: When that night was passed and over--Nala, that high-gifted king,


s: Humbly Nala paid his homage--to the father of his queen,


s: Reverently did Damayanti--pay her homage to her sire.


s: Him received the royal Bhima--as his son, with highest joy,


s: Honoured, as became him, nobly:--then consoled that monarch wise


s: Damayanti, to king Nala--reconciled, the faithful wife.


s: Royal Nala, all these honours--as his homage meet, received;


s: And in fitting terms, devotion--to his royal sire declared.


s: Mighty then, through all the city--ran the wakening sound of joy;


s: Rituparna heard of Nala--in the form of Vahuca,


s: Now re-wed, to Damayanti--and the king of men rejoiced.


s: To the king, before his presence--Nala courteous made excuse.


s: In his turn Ayodhya's monarch--in like courteous language spake.


s: He, received thus hospitably--wondering to Nishadha's king,


s: "Bliss be with thee, reunited--to thy queen:" 'twas thus he said.


s: I might wish undone, thy pardon--grant me, I beseech thee, king."


s: Thou of old, my friend, my kinsman--wert, O sovereign of men,


s: From this time henceforth thy friendship--be my glory and my joy.


s: As in mine own royal palace--dwelt I ever, king, in thine.


s: My surpassing skill in horses--all is thine that I possess;


s: That on thee bestow I gladly--if, O king, it seem thee good."


s: Nala thus to Rituparna--gave his subtle skill in steeds,


s: Gladly he received the present--with each regulation meet.


s: Gifted with that precious knowledge--then Bhangasuri the king,


s: Home returned to his own city--with another charioteer.


s: Rituparna thus departed--Nala, then the king of men,


s: In the city of Kundina--sojourned for no length of time.


s: There a month when he had sojourned--of king Bhima taking leave,


s: Guarded but by few attendants--to Nishadha took his way.


s: With a single splendid chariot--and with elephants sixteen,


s: And with fifty armed horsemen--and six hundred men on foot;


s: Then the son of Virasena--to king Pushkara drew near;


s: Set I now upon the hazard--Pushkara, thy kingdom thou:


s: In the game once more contend we--'tis my settled purpose this,


s: Brother, at a single hazard--play we boldly for our lives.


s: From another he who treasures--he who mighty realm hath won,


s: 'Tis esteemed a bounden duty--to play back the counter game.


s: An hereditary kingdom--may by any means be sought,


s: Be re-won by any venture--this the maxim of the wise.


s: Of two courses set before thee--Pushkara, the option make,


s: Or in play to stand the hazard--or in battle stretch the bow."


s: "Oh what joy! abundant treasures--thou hast won, again to play;


s: Oh what joy! of Damayanti--now the hard-won prize is mine:


s: Oh what joy! again thou livest--with thy consort, mighty armed!


s: When this day the round-limbed princess--Damayanti, undespised,


s: With his sword th' indignant Nala--fain had severed off his head.


s: In a single throw by Nala--was the perilous venture gained;


s: Pushkara, in play thus conquered--with a smile the king rejoined:


s: Not thyself achieved the conquest--that subdued me heretofore!


s: Live thou henceforth at thy pleasure--freely I thy life bestow,


s: And of thine estate and substance--give I thee thy fitting share.


s: And mine unabated friendship--never shall from thee depart.


s: Pushkara, thus finding comfort--answered to Nishadha's lord,


s: Answered he to Punyasloka--bowing low with folded hands:


s: "Everlasting be thy glory! may'st thou live ten thousand years!


s: That my life to me thou grantest--and a city for mine home!"


s: Hospitably entertained--there a month when he had dwelt,


s: Joyful to his own proud city--Pushkara, with all his kin,


s: With a well-appointed army--of attendant slaves an host,


s: Shining like the sun departed,--in his full meridian orb.


s: As he entered, to his subjects--Nala spake the words of peace.


s: From the city, from the country--all, with hair erect with joy,


s: Setting forth to do thee homage--as to Indra all the gods."


s: Then at peace the tranquil city--the first festal gladness o'er,


s: With a mighty host escorted--Damayanti brought he home.


s: Damayanti rich in treasures--in her father's blessings rich,


s: Glad dismissed the mighty-minded--Bhima, fearful in his strength.


s: Nala lived, as lives the sovereign--of the gods in Nandana.


s: Re-ascended thus to glory--he, among the kings of earth,


s: Ruled his realm in Jambudwipa--thus re-won, with highest fame;


s: And all holy rites performed he--with devout munificence.


s: This extract from the Ramayana has been edited by M. Chezy,


s: with a free translation into French prose by M. Bournouf, a


s: literal version into Latin, and a grammatical commentary and


s: Through the arts of one of his wives Kaikéyí, to whom he had


s: made an incautious vow to grant her demand, Dasaratha is


s: obliged to send his victorious son Rama into banishment at


s: the very moment of his marriage with the beautiful Sita. Rama


s: is accompanied in his exile by Lakshmana. The following


s: episode describes the misery and distress of the father,


s: Scarce Rama to the wilderness--had with his younger brother gone,


s: As when on subtle poison hid--an unsuspecting child hath fed;


s: Or elephant, the stream to drink,--intent my savage game to slay,


s: By this, thy fatal shaft, this one--three miserable victims fall,


s: With troubled mind I stood, cast down--t' inevitable endless woe.


s: Most holy ones, unknowingly--a deed of awful guilt I've done.


s: With bow in hand I took my way--along Sarayu's pleasant brink,


s: The savage buffalo to slay--or elephant come down to drink.


s: One last embrace, and then, beloved--upon thy lonely journey go!


s: To us the blind, the destitute--with helpless hunger perishing?


s: My parents, weep no more for me--yon warrior monarch slew me not,


s: A curse I lay upon thy heart--whose fearful pain I know too well.


s: The shepherd of his people old--at midnight on his bed of death,


s: The hostility of the kindred races of Pandu and Kuru forms


s: one of the great circles of Indian fable. It fills great part


s: of the immense poem, the Mahabharata. At this period the five


s: sons of Pandu and their mother Kunti have been driven into


s: the wilderness from the court of their uncle Dritarashtra at


s: Nâgapur. The brothers, during their residence in the forest,


s: have an encounter with a terrible giant, Hidimba, the


s: prototype of the Cyclops of Homer, and of the whole race of


s: giants of northern origin, who, after amusing our ancestors,


s: children of larger growth, descended to our nurseries, from


s: whence they are now well-nigh exploded. After this adventure


s: the brothers take up their residence in the city of Ekachara,


s: where they are hospitably received in the house of a Brahmin.


s: The neighbourhood of this city is haunted by another terrible


s: giant, Baka, whose cannibal appetite has been glutted by a


s: succession of meaner victims. It is now come to the Brahmin's


s: turn to furnish the fatal banquet; they overhear the


s: following complaint of their host, whose family, consisting


s: of himself, his wife, a grown up daughter, and a son a little


s: child, must surrender one to become the horrible repast of


s: the monster. In turn, the father, the mother, in what may be


s: fairly called three singularly pathetic Indian elegies,


s: enforce each their claim to the privilege of suffering for


s: Alas for life, so vain, so weary--in this changing world below,


s: Ever-teeming root of sorrow--still dependent, full of woe!


s: Oh to find a place of refuge--in this dire extremity,


s: For my wife, my son, my daughter--and myself what hope may be?


s: Thee I chose, and thee I honoured--as enjoins the holy book.


s: Can to thy death surrender--mine own true, my faithful wife?


s: Yet my son can I abandon--in his early bloom of life,


s: Of myself begot, the virgin--could I ever her forsake?


s: If myself I offer, sorrow--in the next world my lot must be,


s: Hardly then could live my children--and my wife bereft of me.


s: One of these so dear to offer--to the wise, were sin, were shame,


s: As of lowly caste, my husband--yield not thus thy soul to woe,


s: This is not a time for wailing--who the Vedas knows must know:


s: Fate inevitable orders--all must yield to death in turn,


s: Hence the doom, th' irrevocable--it beseems not thee to mourn.


s: Tis the wife's most holy duty--law on earth without repeal,


s: That her life she offer freely--when demands her husband's weal.


s: And e'en now, a deed so noble--hath its meed of pride and bliss,


s: In the next world life eternal--and unending fame in this.


s: 'Tis a high, yet certain duty--that my life I thus resign,


s: 'Tis thy right, as thy advantage--both the willing deed enjoin--


s: How these little ones from ruin--how my hapless self to save:


s: Thus by all the rude and reckless--with profane desires pursued,


s: Scorning me in their wild passion--will unworthy suitors pour.


s: And if I refuse to give her--mindful of thy virtuous course,


s: In the power of the unworthy--the sweet daughter that I bore;


s: As the fish when water fails them--both would miserably perish.


s: Thus of all the three is ruin--the inevitable lot,


s: Desolate of thee, their guardian--wherefore, Oh, forsake us not!


s: The dark way before her husband--'tis a wife's first bliss to go,


s: I for thee forsook my kindred--and forsake my life for thee.


s: More than offering 'tis, than penance--liberal gift or sacrifice,


s: For thy bliss, for thy well-doing--thine and all thy race's weal.


s: Let me then discharge the duty--and preserve thyself by me,


s: Of the man the death is certain--of the woman yet in doubt,


s: Wherefore, noblest, on the instant--as the victim send me out.


s: I have lived with many blessings--I have well fulfilled my part,


s: I've borne children, I am aged--in my soul I've all revolved,


s: And to her wilt do thy duty--gentle as to me, and kind.


s: Many wives if he espouses--man incurs nor sin nor blame,


s: For a wife to wed another--'tis inexpiable shame.


s: This well weighed within thy spirit--and the sin thyself to die,


s: Save thyself, thy race, thy children--be the single victim I.


s: Of these two the troubled language--in the chamber as she heard,


s: Why to sorrow thus abandoned?--weep not thus, as all forlorn,


s: Hear ye now my speech, my parents--and your sorrows may be borne.


s: Ever here the son by offering--or hereafter doth atone,


s: Either way is he th' atoner--hence the wise have named him son.


s: Daughters too, the great forefathers--of a noble race desire,


s: In a little time we perish--who may dare to question how?


s: But if first depart to heaven--he that after me was born,


s: I shall die, unused to sorrow--yet to deepest sorrow left.


s: But thyself, my sire! my mother--and my gentle brother save,


s: Shall I quickly be, my father!--reft of thy paternal care!


s: But my father, thus preserving--thus preserving all that's thine,


s: As they heard her lamentation--in their troubled anguish deep,


s: Wept the father, wept the mother--'gan the daughter too to weep.


s: Then the little son beheld them--and their doleful moan he heard;


s: First to one, and then to th' other--smiling went he to and fro.


s: Then a blade of spear-grass lifting--thus in bolder glee he said,


s: The following extract from the Mahábhárata was published by


s: Bopp, with a German translation, (the promised Latin version


s: has not yet reached this country,) with four other extracts


s: from the same poem. It is inserted here not on account of its


s: poetical merit, but on account of the interest of the


s: subject. It is the genuine, and probably the earliest,


s: version of the Indian tradition of the Flood. The author has


s: made the following observations on this subject in the


s: Quarterly Review, which he ventures here to transcribe.


s: Nothing has thrown so much discredit on oriental studies,


s: particularly on the valuable Asiatic Researches, as the fixed


s: determination to find the whole of the Mosaic history in the


s: remoter regions of the East. It was not to be expected that,


s: when the new world of oriental literature was suddenly


s: disclosed, the first attempts to explore would be always


s: guided by cool and dispassionate criticism. Even Sir W. Jones


s: was led away, at times, by the ardour of his imagination; and


s: the gorgeous palaces of the Mahabadian dynasty, which were


s: built on the authority of the Desatir and the Dabistan, and


s: thrown upward into an age anterior even to the earliest


s: Indian civilisation, have melted away, and 'left not a wreck


s: behind,' before the cooler and more profound investigations


s: of Mr. Erskine. Sir W. Jones was succeeded by Wilford, a


s: man of most excursive imagination, bred in the school of


s: Bryant, who, even if he had himself been more deeply versed


s: in the ancient language, would have been an unsafe guide. But


s: Wilford, it is well known, unfortunately betrayed to the


s: crafty and mercenary pundits whom he employed, the objects


s: which he hoped to find; and these unscrupulous interpreters,


s: unwilling to disappoint their employer, had little difficulty


s: in discovering, or forging, or interpolating, whatever might


s: suit his purpose. The honest candour with which Wilford, a


s: man of the strictest integrity, made the open and humiliating


s: confession of the deceptions which had been practised upon


s: him, ought for ever to preserve his memory from disrespect.


s: The fictions to which he had given currency, only retained,


s: and still we are ashamed to say retain, their ground in


s: histories of the Bible and works of a certain school of


s: theology, from which no criticism can exorcise an error once


s: established: still, however, with sensible men, a kind of


s: suspicion was thrown over the study itself; and the cool and


s: sagacious researches of men, probably better acquainted with


s: their own language than some of the Brahmins themselves, were


s: implicated in the fate of the fantastic and, though


s: profoundly learned, ever injudicious reveries of Wilford.


s: Now, however, that we may depend on the genuineness of our


s: documents, it is curious to examine the Indian version or


s: versions of the universal tradition of the Deluge; for,


s: besides this extract from the Mahábhárata, Sir W. Jones had


s: extracted from the Bhagavata Purana another, and, in some


s: respects, very different legend. Both of these versions are


s: strongly impregnated with the mythological extravagance of


s: India; but the Purana, one of the Talmudic books of Indian


s: tradition, as M. Bopp observes, is evidently of a much later


s: date than the ruder and simpler fable of the old Epic. It


s: belongs to a less ancient school of poetry, and a less


s: ancient system of religion. While it is much more exuberant


s: in its fiction, it nevertheless betrays a sort of


s: apprehension lest it shall shock the less easy faith of a


s: more incredulous reader; it is manifestly from the religious


s: school of the follower of Vishnu, and, indeed, seems to have


s: some reference to one of the philosophic systems. Yet the


s: outline of the story is the same. In the Máhábharatic


s: version, Manu, like Noah, stands alone in an age of universal


s: depravity. His virtues, however, are of the Indian cast--the


s: most severe and excruciating penance by which he extorts, as


s: Vivaswata's son, a raja--and a sage of mighty fame,


s: King of men, the first great fathers--in his glory equalled he,


s: In his might and kingly power--Manu, and in earthly bliss,


s: And in wonder-working penance--sire and grandsire far surpassed.


s: To the penitent with tresses--streaming loose, and wet, and long,


s: "Blessed! lo, the least of fishes--of the mighty fish in dread,


s: Over us impends for ever--our inevitable fate.


s: Ere I sink, if thou wilt free me--from th' extremity of dread,


s: Meet return can I compensate--when the holy deed is done."


s: Speaking thus the fish when heard he--full of pity all his heart,


s: Brought the son of Vivaswata--to the river shore the fish,


s: Cast it in a crystal vessel--like the moonshine clear and bright.


s: Cleaved to him the heart of Manu--as to a beloved son.


s: Spake again the fish to Manu--as he saw him, thus he spake:


s: "O all prosperous! O all gentle!--bring me to another place."


s: Then the fish from out the vessel--blessed Manu took again;


s: And with gentle speed he bare him,--Manu, to a spacious lake.


s: There the conqueror of cities,--mighty Manu, cast him in.


s: "Bring me now, O blest and holy!--to the Ganga, ocean's bride,


s: Let me dwell in her wide waters--yet, O loved one, as thou wilt,


s: Be it so; whate'er thy bidding,--murmur would beseem me ill,


s: Thus addressed, the happy Manu--took again the fish, and bore


s: To the sacred stream of Ganga--and himself he cast him in.


s: "Mightiest! I can dwell no longer--here in Ganga's narrow stream;


s: Manu's self from Ganga's water--took again that wondrous fish,


s: And he brought him to the ocean,--with his own hand cast him in.


s: Brought by Manu to the ocean--very large that fish appeared,


s: But not yet of form unmeasured,--spread delicious odours round.


s: But that fish by kingly Manu--cast into the ocean wide,


s: In these words again bespake him--and he smiled as thus he spake:


s: In a little time, O blessed!--all this firm and seated earth,


s: All that moves upon its surface--shall a deluge sweep away.


s: Near it comes, of all creation--the ablution day is near;


s: Therefore what I now forewarn thee--may thy highest weal secure.


s: Build thyself a ship, O Manu--strong, with cables well prepared,


s: And thyself, with the seven Sages--mighty Manu enter in.


s: From thy ship keep watch, O hermit--watch for me, as I draw near;


s: Doubt thou not, O lofty minded!--of my warning speech the truth."


s: King of men, the born of Manu!--Manu saw the sea-borne fish,


s: In his form foreshewn, the horned--like a mountain huge and high.


s: In his bark along the ocean--boldly went the king of men:


s: Like a trembling, drunken woman--reeled that ship, O king of men.


s: All around a waste of water--water all, and air and sky.


s: In the whole world of creation--princely son of Bharata!


s: None was seen but those seven Sages--Manu only, and the fish.


s: At the fish's mandate quickly--to the peak of Himavan


s: To the sage, the god of mercy--thus with fixed look bespake:


s: "I am lord of all creation--Brahma, higher than all height;


s: I in fishlike form have saved thee--Manu, in the perilous hour;


s: By an all-surpassing penance--this great work must be achieved.


s: Through my mercy, thy creation--to confusion ne'er shall run,"


s: Spake the fish, and on the instant--to the invisible he passed.


s: Vivaswata's son, all eager--the creation to begin,


s: Stood amid his work confounded:--mighty penance wrought he then.


s: So fulfilled that rigorous penance--instant Manu 'gan create--


s: Instant every living creature--Raja! he began to form.


s: Such the old, the famous legend--named the story of the Fish,


s: Which to thee I have related--this for all our sins atones.


s: He that hears it, Manu's legend,--in the full possession he,


s: certain guilt; but having wholly subdued them, he thence attains


s: MARSHMAN'S translation, sect. vi. p. 64.]


s: accented this word not quite correctly Nĭshādhă, in order to


s: And then again the soul, in this state of unbroken quietude,


s: etymology, Man, Mensch, properly means "the knowing," the Being


s: Bhima-parâkrama. There is a play upon the words, Bhima meaning


s: translated by deliver (or preserve, WILSON, in voce) is a common


s: ending of many words, without the peculiar signification of


s: The Indian poetry is full of instances of this strong desire for


s: Who fed with moonbeams dropping silent dew,


s: though, according to Bopp, it means _in fine compositi, Optimus,


s: God of each lovely sight, each lovely sound.


s: Soul-kindling, world-inflaming, star y-crowned,


s: translators are altogether mistaken; they have been misled by the


s: asserts, to mean a mythic bird, closely resembling the swan, or


s: considerable gifts. Mr. Wilson, in his Meghaduta, has given me a


s: beautiful forms and complexion, usually seen in Hindu sculptures


s: Celestial genii tow'rd their king advance


s: (So called by men) in heaven Gandharvas named,


s: Soon when the bands in lucid rows assemble,


s: SIR W. JONES, Ode to Indra.--See Ramayana, l. 125.]


s: _heart-sleeper_, (i. e. love, reposing or dwelling in the heart).


s: future husband. The Swayembara is not among the eight kinds of


s: marriageable; but after that term let her choose for herself a


s: Olympus. His city is called Amaravati; his palace Vaijayanti; his


s: Palace of glory, bless'd by glory's king.


s: With prospering shade embower me, whilst I sing


s: Thy wonders yet unreached by mortal flight.


s: Sky-piercing mountain! in thy bowers of love,


s: No tears are seen, save where medicinal stalks


s: Weep drops balsamic o'er the silvered walks.


s: No plaints are heard, save where the restless dove


s: Of coy repulse, and mild reluctance talks.


s: Mantled in woven gold, with gems inchas'd,


s: From whose fresh laps, in young fantastic mazes,


s: Bathing the lithe convolvulus that winds


s: desirous of defeating each other, exert their utmost strength in


s: new-killed in battle now-a-days, that I see none arriving in my


s: Or speaks Purander best thy martial fame,


s: Or Sacra, mystic name.--SIR W. JONES, Hymn to Indra.


s: Bala and Vritra were the "giants" slain by Indra.]


s: self-destruction. See Hindu Theatre, ii. 237 and 299.]


s: Yama: he is called the Dharma raja, king of justice. WILFORD in


s: Asiatic Researches. Compare SOUTHEY's description in the Curse of


s: founded; and his interview with Sawitri in BOPP's collection of


s: When through the waves of war thy charger sprang,


s: Each rock rebellowed, and each forest rang,


s: attributes of Varuna, has been lost--that in this line 'varanam,


s: seligendum' should be written instead of 'Varunam.' The Calcutta


s: edition has the same reading, however, and the change is not


s: necessary: if any alteration be made it should probably be in the


s: reason he must avoid reading on those lunar days."]


s: "The roof is supported by a great number of pillars: with the


s: devotion of the silent spirit, the purely mental worship, is the


s: holiest and most acceptable service to the gods. Compare WILKINS,


s: Indra, the giant-killer; Sachi, his spouse.]


s: Glows in Avanti's or Visala's name.     line 193.


s: Aryaverta, the land of virtue, or India. It is named also in the


s: Payoshni, a river that flows from the Vindhya, mentioned in the


s: Brahmanda Purana. Asiatic Researches, viii. 341.]


s: 'capripedes satyri' in Greece, I have thought the satyr not so


s: performance of the sacrifice: such are the births of him who is


s: thoughts, were enwrapt, enabled them to see things future.]


s: Where the wild elephant delights to shed


s: The juice exuding fragrant from his head


s: WILSON's Cloud-Messenger, p. 127, and note.]


s: being. This necessary corollary from the doctrine of the


s: parents, that he was born blind." JOHN, ix. 2.]


s: That snatched my love from the uplifted sword,


s: Like the pale moon from Rahu's ravenous jaws.


s: To death, like the full moon to Rahu's jaws


s: personified as one of the daughters of Daksha, and wives of the


s: moon.--Sanscrit Dict. in voce. Comp. Vikrama and Urvasi, p. 57.]


s: Dasarna's fields await the coming shower.


s: incessant wind kindles the fire in the grove of bamboos, so their


s: fidelity. "A virtuous wife ascends to heaven, though she have no


s: Ah Malati, how can I bear to contemplate


s: The young Tamala, bowed beneath the weight


s: Of the light rain; the quivering drops that dance


s: That echoes round, as pleased the pea-fowl hail


s: The bow of heaven propitious to their loves.--p. 108.


s: The bird with lucid eyes, to lure thee fail.--l. 147.


s: Pleased on each terrace, dancing with delight,


s: The friendly peacock hails thy grateful flight.--l. 215.]


s: Their being. Myriads were they born, and all


s: In vesture heavenly clad, and heavenly gems;


s: Yet more divine their native semblance, rich


s: With all the gifts of grace and youth and beauty.


s: A train innumerous followed, yet thus fair


s: Nor god nor demon sought their widowed love;


s: Thus Rághava they still remain, their charms


s: The common treasure of the host of heaven.


s: --WILSON's Translation, Preface to the Drama of Vikrama and


s: papilionaceous; and its fruit, entirely without use in domestic


s: economy, compared particularly with the Amra, may well be called


s: progress of the cloud, welcomed as it passes along by the joy of


s: Literally: Whom Brahma has placed with me in trust for a future


s: barrenness of their minds to study the sacred Vedas.]


s: Sixty thousand leagues in length, all unweary, full of wrath,


s: recommence their impious and destructive work.


s: 'And downward dug they many a rood, and downward till they


s: saw aghast, Where the earth-bearing elephant stood, ev'n like


s: a mountain tall and vast. 'Tis he whose head aloft sustains


s: the broad earth's forest-clothed round, With all its vast and


s: spreading plains, and many a stately city crown'd. If


s: underneath the o'erbearing load bows down his weary head,


s: 'tis then The mighty earthquakes are abroad, and shaking down


s: the abodes of men. Around earth's pillar moved they slowly,


s: and thus in humble accents blest Him the lofty and the holy,


s: that bears the region of the East. And southward dug they


s: many a rood, until before their shuddering sight, The next


s: earth-bearing elephant stood, huge Mahapadmas' mountain


s: height. Upon his head earth's southern bound, all full of


s: wonder, saw they rest. Slow and awe-struck paced they round,


s: and him, earth's southern pillar, blest. Westward then their


s: work they urge, king Sagara's six myriad race, Unto the vast


s: earth's western verge, and there in his appointed place The


s: next earth-bearing elephant stood, huge Saumanasa's mountain


s: crest; Around they paced in humble mood, and in like


s: courteous phrase addrest, And still their weary toil endure,


s: and onward dig until they see Last earth-bearing Himapandure,


s: His prayers are irresistible; but Brahma forewarns him, that the


s: 'High on the top of Himavān the mighty Mashawara stood;


s: And "Descend," he gave the word to the heaven-meandering water--


s: Full of wrath, the mandate heard Himavān's majestic daughter.


s: To a giant's stature soaring and intolerable speed,


s: Siva, in his turn enraged, resists her fury.


s: 'Down on Sankara's holy head, down the holy fell, and there


s: Amid the entangling meshes spread, of his loose and flowing hair.


s: 'Up the raja at the sign upon his glittering chariot leaps,


s: Instant Ganga the divine follows his majestic steps, From the


s: high heaven burst she forth first on Siva's lofty crown,


s: Headlong then and prone to earth thundering rushed the


s: cataract down. Swarms of bright-hued fish came dashing;


s: turtles, dolphins in their mirth, Fallen or falling,


s: glancing, flashing, to the many gleaming earth. And all the


s: host of heaven came down, spirits and genii, in amaze, And


s: each forsook his heavenly throne, upon that glorious scene to


s: gaze. On cars, like high tower'd cities, seen, with elephants


s: and coursers, rode, Or on soft swinging palanquin, lay


s: wondering each observant god. As met in bright divan each


s: coruscating æther glow'd, as with a hundred suns ablaze. And


s: with the fish and dolphins gleaming, and scaly crocodiles and


s: snakes, Glanc'd the air, as when fast streaming the blue


s: lightning shoots and breaks: And in ten thousand sparkles


s: bright went flashing up the cloudy spray, The snowy flocking


s: swans less white, within its glittering mists at play. And


s: headlong now poured down the flood, and now in silver


s: circlets wound, Then lakelike spread all bright and broad,


s: then gently, gently flowed around, Then 'neath the cavern'd


s: earth descending, then spouted up the boiling tide, Then


s: stream with stream harmonious blending, swell bubbling up or


s: smooth subside. By that heaven-welling water's breast, the


s: genii and the sages stood, Its sanctifying dews they blest,


s: and plung'd within the lustral flood. Whoe'er beneath the


s: curse of heaven from that immaculate world had fled, To th'


s: impure earth in exile driven, to that all-holy baptism sped;


s: And purified from every sin, to the bright spirit's bliss


s: restor'd, Th' etherial sphere they entered in, and through


s: th' empyreal mansions soar'd. The world in solemn jubilee


s: behold these heavenly waves draw near, From sin and dark


s: pollution free, bathed in the blameless waters clear. Swift


s: king Bhagiratha drave upon his lofty glittering car, And


s: swift with her obeisant wave bright Ganga followed him afar.'


s: Alacananda and takes the name of the Ganges.]


s: Three of us afloat in the meadow by the swing.


s: Three of us aboard in the basket on the lea.


s: Winds are in the air, they are blowing in the spring,


s: And waves are on the meadow like the waves there are at sea.


s: Where shall we adventure, to-day that we're afloat,


s: Wary of the weather and steering by a star?


s: Shall it be to Africa, a-steering of the boat,


s: Hi! but here's a squadron a-rowing on the sea--


s: Cattle on the meadow a-charging with a roar!


s: Quick, and we'll escape them, they're as mad as they can be,


s: The wicket is the harbor and the garden is the shore.


s: Among the bed-clothes, through the hills.


s: The lights from the parlor and kitchen shone out


s: Through the blinds and the windows and bars;


s: And high over head and all moving about,


s: There were thousands of millions of stars.


s: There ne'er were such thousands of leaves on a tree,


s: As the crowds of the stars that looked down upon me,


s: And that glittered and winked in the dark.


s: The Dog, and the Plough, and the Hunter and all,


s: These shone in the sky, and the pail by the wall


s: They saw me at last, and they chased me with cries,


s: But the glory kept shining and bright in my eyes,


s: Till the shining scythes went far and wide


s: And they piled them here in mountain-tops


s: The moon has a face like the clock in the hall;


s: She shines on thieves on the garden wall,


s: And birdies asleep in the forks of the trees.


s: The squalling cat and the squeaking mouse,


s: The howling dog by the door of the house,


s: All love to be out by the light of the moon.


s: But all of the things that belong to the day


s: And flowers and children close their eyes


s: Till up in the morning the sun shall rise.


s: The world is so full of a number of things,


s: I'm sure we should all be as happy as kings


s: Late in the night when the fires are out,


s: I have a little shadow that goes in and out with me,


s: And what can be the use of him is more than I can see.


s: He is very, very like me, from the heels up to the head;


s: And I see him jump before me, when I jump into my bed.


s: The funniest thing about him is the way he likes to grow--


s: Not at all like proper children, which is always very slow;


s: For he sometimes shoots up taller, like an india-rubber ball,


s: And he sometimes gets so little that there's none of him at all.


s: He hasn't got a notion of how children ought to play,


s: And can only make a fool of me in every sort of way.


s: He stays so close beside me, he's a coward you can see;


s: I'd think shame to stick to nursie as that shadow sticks to me!


s: One morning, very early, before the sun was up,


s: I 'rose and found the shining dew on every buttercup;


s: But my lazy little shadow, like an arrant sleepy head,


s: Had stayed at home behind me and was fast asleep in bed.


s: My tea is nearly ready and the sun has left the sky;


s: It's time to take the window to see Leerie going by;


s: For every night at teatime and before you take your seat,


s: With lantern and with ladder he comes posting up the street.


s: Now Tom would be a driver and Maria go to sea,


s: And my papa's a banker and as rich as he can be;


s: But I, when I am stronger and can choose what I'm to do,


s: O Leerie, I'll go round at night and light the lamps with you!


s: For we are very lucky, with a lamp before the door,


s: And Leerie stops to light it as he lights so many more;


s: And O, before you hurry by with ladder and with light,


s: O Leerie, see a little child and nod to him to-night!


s: Breaking the branches and crawling below,


s: Out through the breach in the wall of the garden,


s: Here is the mill with the humming of thunder,


s: Here is the weir with the wonder of foam,


s: Here is the sluice with the race running under--


s: Sounds of the village grow stiller and stiller,


s: Stiller the note of the birds on the hill;


s: Dusty and dim are the eyes of the miller,


s: Deaf are his ears with the moil of the mill.


s: Years may go by, and the wheel in the river


s: Wheel as it wheels for us, children, to-day.


s: Wheel and keep roaring and foaming for ever


s: Home from the Indies and home from the ocean,


s: Heroes and soldiers we all shall come home;


s: Still we shall find the old mill wheel in motion,


s: Turning and churning that river to foam.


s: You with the bean that I gave when we quarreled,


s: Honored and old and all gaily apparelled,


s: Here we shall meet and remember the past.


s: When children are playing alone on the green,


s: In comes the playmate that never was seen.


s: When children are happy and lonely and good,


s: The Friend of the Children comes out of the wood.


s: But he's sure to be present, abroad or at home,


s: When children are happy and playing alone.


s: He lies in the laurels, he runs on the grass,


s: He sings when you tinkle the musical glass;


s: Whene'er you are happy and cannot tell why,


s: The Friend of the Children is sure to be by!


s: He loves to be little, he hates to be big,


s: 'Tis he that inhabits the caves that you dig;


s: 'Tis he when you play with your soldiers of tin


s: That sides with the Frenchman and never can win.


s: 'Tis he, when at night you go off to your bed,


s: Bids you go to your sleep and not trouble your head;


s: For wherever they're lying, in cupboard or shelf,


s: 'Tis he will take care of your playthings himself.


s: O it's I that am the captain of a tidy little ship,


s: Of a ship that goes a-sailing on the pond;


s: And my ship it keeps a-turning all around and all about;


s: But when I'm a little older, I shall find the secret out


s: How to send my vessel sailing on beyond.


s: For I mean to grow as little as the dolly at the helm,


s: And with him beside to help me, it's a-sailing I shall go,


s: It's a-sailing on the water, when the jolly breezes blow


s: For beside the dolly sailor, I'm to voyage and explore,


s: To land upon the island where no dolly was before,


s: And to fire the penny cannon in the bow.


s: I woke before the morning, I was happy all the day,


s: I never said an ugly word, but smiled and stuck to play.


s: And now at last the sun is going down behind the wood,


s: And I am very happy, for I know that I've been good.


s: My bed is waiting cool and fresh, with linen smooth and fair,


s: And I must off to sleepsin-by, and not forget my prayer.


s: I know that, till to-morrow I shall see the sun arise,


s: No ugly dream shall fright my mind, no ugly sight my eyes.


s: But slumber hold me tightly, till I waken in the dawn,


s: And hear the thrushes singing in the lilacs round the lawn.


s: All round the house is the jet-black night;


s: It crawls in the corners, hiding from the light,


s: Now my little heart goes a-beating like a drum,


s: And all round the candle the crooked shadows come,


s: The shadow of the balusters, the shadow of the lamp,


s: The shadow of the child that goes to bed--


s: All the wicked shadows coming, tramp, tramp, tramp,


s: Faster than fairies, faster than witches,


s: And charging along like troops in a battle,


s: All through the meadows the horses and cattle:


s: All of the sights of the hill and the plain


s: Here is a child who clambers and scrambles,


s: And there is the green for stringing the daisies!


s: And here is a mill and there is a river,


s: These nuts, that I keep in the back of the nest


s: Where all my lead soldiers are lying at rest,


s: Were gathered in autumn by nursie and me


s: In a wood with a well by the side of the sea.


s: This whistle we made (and how clearly it sounds!)


s: By the side of a field at the end of the grounds.


s: Of a branch of a plane, with a knife of my own,


s: It was nursie who made it, and nursie alone!


s: The stone, with the white and the yellow and grey,


s: We discovered I cannot tell _how_ far away;


s: And I carried it back although weary and cold,


s: For though father denies it, I'm sure it is gold.


s: But of all of my treasures the last is the king,


s: For there's very few children possess such a thing;


s: And that is a chisel, both handle and blade,


s: Which a man who was really a carpenter made.


s: What are you able to build with your blocks?


s: Rain may keep raining and others go roam,


s: But I can be happy and building at home.


s: Let the sofa be mountains, the carpet be sea,


s: And a harbor as well where my vessels may ride.


s: Great is the palace with pillar and wall,


s: To where my toy vessels lay safe in the bay.


s: This one is sailing and that one is moored:


s: Hark to the song of the sailors on board!


s: And see the steps of my palace, the kings


s: Coming and going with presents and things!


s: Now I have done with it, down let it go!


s: Block upon block lying scattered and free,


s: What is there left of my town by the sea?


s: The kirk and the palace, the ships and the men


s: And as long as I live and where'er I may be,


s: I'll always remember my town by the sea.


s: He digs the flowers, green, red and blue,


s: _From a photograph by Underwood and Underwood_


s: _From a photograph by kind permission of Mr. Crawford Price_


s: _From a photograph by Topical Press Agency_


s: _Delivered for the first time in the Chapter House of Canterbury


s: illuminated brains and warm hearts. No, I never will finish if I


s: Still it might be asked: Has such a great body indeed an aim?


s: Short-sighted people, who are ready at once with a reply on any


s: question, will say: The only aim of this great Empire is the


s: _Third_: this Empire is an experiment in the realisation of human


s: I read the other day a German menacing song:


s: A small strip of land with five million inhabitants and without


s: Allow me to give you only a few examples of the


s: It is better not to be born than to misuse life.


s: If life does not mean work, then life is worth nothing.


s: Work and virtue are sisters, as well as idleness and vice.


s: Now I would like to indicate slightly what The English Political


s: victorious in the Balkans as well as in the Slav world.


s: The English political interest in the future Greater Serbia, or


s: Do persist and do not weary in this way,--it will bring your dear


s: represented almost throughout our history the model of the true


s: A gipsy asked a king: Of how much value are your riches? The king


s: At the time when Cromwell fought in the name of the Bible for the


s: At the time when Adam Smith wrote his famous work, _The Wealth of


s: The Cross is mentioned first, and then Freedom. Why?


s: Twelve poor apostles did more good to man than the twelve richest


s: It is better to die for the Cross than to live against the Cross.


s: To die for the Cross and Freedom means two lives and no death.


s: I was very sorry to see that Greece broke her pledged word and


s: Tamerlan. Stephen hated both the Asiatic monsters--Bayazet and


s: not for existence, not for sea, not for wealth, but for Cross and


s: exterminate, to suffocate, to enchain, the small creations of the


s: dreamed. Your statesmen--I will mention only a few of them: Pitt,


s: Now I will try to show you how the Serbian village


s: sentences are very like the Proverbs in the Bible, very like La


s: everywhere, in the middle, or above or below.


s: "Better to die than" to live so and so, or than to do this or


s: that--hundreds of the Serbian proverbs begin with those words. In


s: Justice? Justice is better than injustice.


s: Patience? That is the great virtue of the sufferers.


s: Honour? Better to die than to give up honour.


s: Mercifulness? It shines like the sun over the world.


s: A beggar? He puts your heart to the test.


s: Death? God is behind death and therefore death is no evil.


s: Humility? It is always rewarded by love.


s: Fearlessness? It is commended very strongly.


s: Cowardice? It is repudiated and despised to the utmost.


s: Chivalry? Always; towards friends and enemies.


s: Work? Without work prayer does not help.


s: Freedom? Man is man only in living in freedom and in fighting for


s: God? He is the Lord of the World and thy steady companion.


s: Again I must come back to the Serbian village. Prayer is there


s: And all the songs begin, I repeat it, with the verse:


s: "Dear God, we are thankful to Thee for all."


s: "I have lost, you have won this hazard yet perchance


s: My loss may shine yet goodlier than your gain


s: destructive deed has been praised with eloquent words in all the


s: We could reply to this German accusation: "Did not your greatest


s: The Bulgars even mocked the Serbs for allying themselves with the


s: We Serbs have nothing to reply to this Bulgar mockery, since they


s: On hearing that the soldiers became cheerful.


s: It happened indeed that the officer was killed. The private asked


s: "I did what I was ordered and what I promised to do. Now you can


s: sentence me even to death; at least I will not be ashamed in the


s: In the offensive against the Austrians in December 1914 a Serbian


s: "Marko of Prilep never killed a disarmed man"


s: He kept silent for a moment and then replied:


s: branches of a tree; a gipsy woman saw me and said:


s: And she gave to the girls and she herself took--poison.


s: "You see after all you must yield Scutari to us."


s: What is the first principle for humanity?


s: Some say to speak, others to remain silent.


s: Some say to hasten, others to go slowly.


s: Some say to destroy life, and others to preserve it.


s: It is Life and Death, and God over both.


s: Scrutiny magnifies the enigma of life, prayer lessens it.


s: Whether righteous or unrighteous, you must die; but if you die


s: If I see your eyes, I know you a little.


s: If I hear your voice, I know you still more.


s: If I see your actions, I will know you altogether.


s: When St. Peter was asked why he would be crucified head down, he


s: There are two brotherhoods among men, that of purity and that of


s: Both man and the air are purified by movement.


s: Life has silken wings, but Death uses iron scissors.


s: As many tears and sighs are caused by life as by death.


s: Although opposed, the pleasure and the pain lend strength to one


s: In every humble superstition there is greater beauty than in any


s: If you are freezing on a winter night, it is a warm couch.


s: If you are hungry, it is a place where hunger is never felt.


s: Too much light as well as too much darkness causes blindness.


s: When you kill a lion, you can say: "I sinned because I killed my


s: When the wind blows, the fool tries to compete by shouting.


s: Summer is most loved in winter, and winter in summer.


s: Ugliness moves slowly, but beauty is in great haste.


s: God speaks every language except the godless,


s: If you kill a solitary man, his kinsmen from the other world will


s: There is no real death except the death of the soul.


s: There is no real joy except the joy of a righteous man.


s: The joy of the sinner is half joy and half retribution.


s: What is man? Something between God and clay.


s: What is God? Something of which clay and man are the shadow.


s: A Turk asked a Serb why the Serbs reminded people of the field of


s: Men are unhappy when striving to know all truth, because truth is


s: A good custom hallows life and keeps men in brotherly unity.


s: Not God, but the prophets make division among men.


s: God is the spirit and form-maker; man is only the imitator of the


s: The man who fears customs fears the touch of dead and living.


s: Under every success lies a new enemy, the demon of pride.


s: Among all immoderate things the unrestrained tongue is the most


s: Life without prayer--night without moonlight.


s: God is not hidden, but our eyes are too small to see Him.


s: It is better to go to bed hungry than with a stolen supper in the


s: The night rebuked the clouds because they were so black. The wolf


s: It is better to be as patient as God than as righteous as God.


s: "To grow old quickly and to see God," said the child.


s: "To become rich and to serve God," said the poor man.


s: Every murder means also partly a suicide.


s: Except his soul, there is nothing in man which can be saved from


s: The words "Thank you" show that life is founded on injustice.


s: Death is the cleverest thief. He can steal a living man who is


s: surrounded by the most formidable guard.


s: Many people think, but few are thinkers.


s: Many people pray, but few are religious.


s: Many people hope, but few are not disappointed.


s: Light and darkness are enemies, but both are necessary.


s: A man's life is not one man's life, but is the life of mankind so


s: Man grows old, but not the world. Man dies, but the world cannot.


s: Not everything is in touch with God, nor yet with the sun.


s: That man is my friend who lives laboriously like the bee and dies


s: When wolves and sheep are brothers, what will the wolves eat?


s: The greatest pain should not be the subject of speech.


s: The headache is worse than a pain in the hand, a toothache than a


s: Economise in speaking, but not in thinking.


s: Only an oath to do evil may you break with God's permission.


s: If you help a beggar, you wipe out the fault of your ancestors.


s: God and sinners wish to annihilate one another.


s: Hark! the moon is to the day-star calling:


s: "Morning star! say, where hast thou been wandering;


s: Tell me where thou hast so long been lingering;


s: Where hast white days three so wasted,--tell me?"


s: To the moon, anon, the day-star answer'd:


s: "I have wander'd, moon! and I have linger'd,


s: Lingered o'er Belgrad's white towers, and wondered


s: At the marvellous things which I have witnessed:


s: How two brothers have their wealth partitioned,


s: They had thus arranged the shares allotted,


s: Well their father's substance had divided:


s: Servia, too, as far as Ujitz's fortress.


s: Dmitar took the lower fortress'd cities,


s: Bogdan took the upper fortress'd cities,


s: And the church-possessing town, Rujitza.


s: Such a trifle; but a feud soon follow'd,--


s: A black courser and a grey-wing'd falcon!


s: Dmitar claims the steed, as elder brother


s: Claims the steed, and claims the grey-wing'd falcon.


s: Bogdan will not yield or horse or falcon.


s: Took upon his hand the grey-wing'd falcon,


s: Kill with poison thou my brother Bogdan;


s: Tarry thou in my white court no longer."


s: When the lady heard her lord's commandments,


s: To herself she thought, and said in silence,


s: --'And shall I attempt it?--I, poor cuckoo!


s: Shall I kill my brother--kill with poison!--


s: 'Twere a monstrous crime before high heaven,


s: 'Twere a sin and shame before my people.


s: Great and small would point their fingers at me,


s: That is she who kill'd her husband's brother!'


s: Never will my husband come to bless me!'


s: Thus she thought, until a thought relieved her;


s: Had bestow'd upon his daughter's nuptials;


s: Full of golden wine she fill'd the vessel,


s: Low to earth she bow'd herself before him,


s: And she kiss'd his hands and garments meekly.


s: 'Lo! I bring to thee this cup, my brother!


s: This gold cup, with golden wine o'erflowing.


s: And most cheerfully gave steed and falcon.


s: Meanwhile through the day was Dmitar wandering


s: In the mountain-forest; nought he found there;


s: But chance brought him at the fall of evening


s: Where a golden-pinion'd duck was swimming.


s: Dmitar loosen'd then his grey-wing'd falcon,


s: Bade him seize the golden-pinion'd swimmer.


s: Faster than the hunter's eye could follow,


s: Lo! the duck had seized the grey-wing'd falcon,


s: And against his sides had crush'd his pinion.


s: Soon as Dmitar Jakshich saw, he stripp'd him,


s: Stripp'd him swiftly of his hunting garments;--


s: Then with pitying voice he ask'd his falcon:


s: 'Hast thou courage yet, my faithful falcon!


s: Whispering, said the falcon to his master:


s: Then the thought pierced through the breast of Dmitar,


s: That his wife was charged to kill his brother.


s: Swift he threw him on his mighty courser--


s: Swift he hurried to Bijögrad's fortress,


s: Praying that his brother had not perish'd.


s: He had hardly reached the bridge of Chekmel,


s: When he spurr'd his raven steed so fiercely


s: That the impetuous courser's feet sank under,


s: And were crushed and broken on the pavement.


s: Flung it on the courser's nether haunches,


s: And he fled alone to Belgrad's fortress.


s: First he sought, impatient, for his lady--


s: Tell me, tell me, hast thou kill'd my brother?'


s: 'No! indeed I have not killed thy brother;