his fantasy,
    And how the gaming held him; sad, and ’feared,
    The heavy fortunes pondering of her Prince;
    Hating the fault, but to the offender kind;
    And fearing Nala should be stripped of all,
    This thing devised:  Vrihatsena she called—­
    Her foster-nurse and faithful ministrant—­
    True, skilful at all service, soft of speech,
    Kind-hearted; and she said, “Vrihatsena,
    Go call the ministers to council now,
    As though ’twere Nala bade; and make them count
    What store is gone of treasure, what abides.” 
    So went Vrihatsena, and summoned those;
    And when they knew all things, as from the Prince,
    “Truly we, too, shall perish!” cried they then;
    And all to Nala went, and all the town,
    A second time assembling, thronged his gates:—­
    Which Bhima’s daughter told; but not one word
    Answered the Prince.  And when she saw her lord
    Put by her plea, utterly slighting it,
    Back to her chamber, full of shame, she goes,
    And there still hears the dice are falling ill;
    Still hears of Nala daily losing more;
    So that again unto her nurse she spake:—­
    “Send to Varshneya, good Vrihatsena;
    Say to the charioteer—­in Nala’s name—­
    ‘A great thing is to do.  Come thou!’” And this—­
    So soon as Damayanti uttered it—­
    Vrihatsena, by faithful servants, told
    Unto the son of Vrishni, who, being come
    In fitting time and place, heard the sweet Queen
    In mournful music speak these wistful words:—­
    “Thou knowest how thy Raja trusted thee;
    Now he hath fall’n on evil; succor him! 
    The more that Pushkara conquers in the play,
    The wilder rage of gaming takes thy lord—­
    The more for Pushkara the dice light well,
    More contrary they happen to the Prince: 
    Nor heeds he, as were meet, kindred or friends;
    Nay, of myself he putteth by the prayer
    Unanswered, being bewitched; for well I deem
    This is not noble-minded Nala’s sin,
    But some ill spell possesseth him to shut
    His ears to me.  Thou, therefore, charioteer! 
    Our refuge be; do what I shall command;
    My heart is dark with fear.  Yea, it may fall
    Our lord will perish.  Wherefore, harnessing
    His chosen steeds, which fly as swift as thought. 
    Take these our children in the chariot
    And drive to Kundina, delivering there
    Unto my kin the little ones, and car,
    And horses.  Afterwards abide thou there,
    Or otherwhere depart.” 
                           Varshneya heard
    The words of Damayanti, and forthwith
    In Nala’s council-hall recounted them,
    The chief men being present; who, thus met,
    And long debating, gave him leave to go. 
    So with that royal pair to Bhima’s town
    Drove he, and at Vidarbha rendered up,