on his journey hopefully.  Like the god of love incarnate he looked.  Even the ruling gods heard of the great event and went to join the worldly rulers.  As they approached the earth’s surface they beheld King Nala.  Pleased with his looks, they accosted him and said:  “We are immortals journeying on account of Darnayanti.  As for you, go you and bring Damayanti this message:  ’The four gods, Indra, Agni, Yama, Varuna, desire to have you for a wife.  Choose one of these four gods as your wedded husband.’”

Folding his hands humbly, Nala replied: 

“The very same affair has induced me to make this journey:  therefore you must not send me on this errand.  For how could a man who himself feels the longing of love woo the same woman for another?”

But the gods ordered him to go at once, because he had promised to serve them before he knew what they wanted.  They endowed him with power to enter the carefully guarded apartments of the princess, and presently he found himself in her presence.  Her lovely face, her charmingly moulded limbs, her slender body, her beautiful eyes, diffused a splendor that mocked the light of the moon and increased his pangs of love; but he resolved to keep his promise.  When the young maidens beheld him they could not utter a word; they were dazed by the splendor of his appearance, and abashed, the beautiful virgins.  At last the astonished Damayanti began to speak and said with a sweet smile: 

“Who are you, you with the faultless form, who increase the yearnings of my love?  Like an immortal you came here, O hero!  I would like to know you better, noble, good man.  Closely guarded is my house, however, and most strict in his orders is the king.”

“My name, gracious maiden, is Nala,” he replied.

“As messenger of the gods have I come.  Four of them—­Indra, Agni, Varuna, Yama—­would like you as bride, therefore choose one of them as husband, O beauty!  That I entered unseen is the result, too, of their power.  Now you have heard all; act as seems proper to you.”

As he spoke the names of the gods Damayanti bowed humbly; then she laughed merrily and said: 

“Follow you the inclination of your heart and be kind to me.  What can I do to please you?  Myself and all that is mine belongs to you.  Lay aside all diffidence, my master and husband!  Alas, the entire speech of the gold-swans, my prince, was to me a real firebrand.  It was for your sake, O hero, that all these kings were in reality called together so hastily.  Should you ever, O my pride, be able to scorn me, who is so devoted to you, I shall resort on your account to poison, fire, water, rope.”

“How can you,” retorted Nala,