What was it thou didst utter, hearing this? 
    Some gentle speech!  Say it again—­the Queen,
    My peerless mistress, fain would know from me. 
    Nay, on thy faith, when thou didst hear that man,
    What was it thou replied?  She would know.” 
      (Descendant of the Kurus!) Nala’s heart,
    While so the maid spoke, well-nigh burst with grief,
    And from his eyes fast flowed the rolling tears;
    But, mastering his anguish, holding down
    The passion of his pain, with voice which strove
    To speak through sobs, the Prince repeated this:—­

      “Even against the ruined, rash, ungrateful,
        Faithless, fond Prince, from whom the birds did steal
      His only cloth, whom now a penance fateful
        Dooms to sad days, that dark-eyed will not feel
      Anger; for if she saw him she should see
        A man consumed with grief and loss and shame;
      Ill or well lodged, ever in misery,
        Her unthroned lord, a slave without a name.”

      Speaking these verses, woful Nala moaned,
    And, overcome by thought, restrained no more
    His trickling tears; fast broke they forth (O King!). 
    But Keshini, returning, told his words
    To Damayanti, and the grief of him. 
      When Damayanti heard, sore-troubled still,
    Yet in her heart supposing him her Prince,
    Again she spake:  “Go, Kashini, and watch
    Whatever this man doeth; near him stand,
    Holding thy peace, and mark the ways of him
    And all his acts, going and coming; note
    If aught there be of strange in any deed. 
    Let them not give him fire, my girl—­not though
    This hindereth sore; nor water, though he ask
    Even with beseeching.  Afterwards observe,
    And bring me what befalls, and every sign
    Of earthly or unearthly power he shows;
    And whatsoever else Vahuka doth,
    See it, and say.” 
                    Thereon Keshini sped,
    Obeying Damayanti and—­at hand—­
    Whatever by that horse-tamer was wrought,
    The damsel watched, and all his ways; and came
    Back to the Princess, unto whom she told
    Each thing Vahuka did, as it befell,
    And what the signs were, and the wondrous works
    Of earthly and unearthly gifts in him.
      “Subhe!"[27] quoth she, “the man is magical,
    But high and holy mannered; never yet
    Saw I another such, nor heard of him. 
    Passing the low door of the inner court,
    Where one must stoop, he did not bow his head,
    But as he came the lintel lifted up
    And gave him space.  Bhima the King had sent
    Many and diverse meats for Rituparna,
    Of beast and bird and fish—­great store of food—­
    The which to cleanse some chatties stood hard by,
    All empty; yet he did but look on them,
    Wishful, and lo! the water