not she;
    Nor husband worthy of Vidarbha’s Pride,
    Save it were Nala.  It is meet I bring
    Comfort forthwith to yon despairing one,
    The consort of the just and noble Prince,
    For whom I see her heart-sick.  I will go
    And speak good tidings to this moon-faced Queen,
    Who once knew nought of sorrows, but to-day
    Stands yonder, plunged heart-deep in woful thought.” 
      So, all those signs and marks considering
    Which stamped her Bhima’s child, Sudeva drew
    Nearer, and said:  “Vidarbhi, Nala’s wife,
    I am the Brahmana Sudeva, friend
    Unto my lord, thy brother, and I come
    By royal Bhima’s mandate, seeking thee. 
    That Maharaja, thy father, dwells in health;
    Thy mother and thy house are well; and well—­
    With promise of long years—­thy little ones,
    Sister and brother.  Yet, for thy sake, Queen,
    Thy kindred sit as men with spirit gone;
    In search of thee a hundred twice-born rove
    Over all lands.” 
                     But (O King Yudhisthir!)
    Hardly one word she heard before she broke
    With question after question on the man,
    Asking of this dear friend and that and this;
    All mingled with quick tears, and tender sighs,
    And hungry gazing on her brother’s friend,
    Sudeva—­best of Brahmanas—­come there. 
    Which soon Sunanda marked, watching them speak
    Apart, and Damayanti all in tears. 
    Then came she to her mother, saying:  “See,
    The handmaid thou didst give me talks below
    With one who is a Brahman, all her words
    Watered with weeping; if thou wilt, demand
    What this man knows.” 
                         Therewith swept forth amazed
    The mother of the Raja, and beheld
    How Nala’s wife spake with the Brahmana. 
    Whom straight she bade them summon; and, being brought,
    In this wise questioned:  “Knowest thou whose wife,
    Whose daughter, this one is; and how she left
    Her kin; and wherefore, being heavenly-eyed
    And noble-mannered, she hath wandered here? 
    I am full fain to hear this; tell me all,
    No whit withholding; answer faithfully—­
    Who is our slave-girl with the goddess gait?”
      The Brahmana Sudeva, so addressed,
    Seating himself at ease, unto the Queen
    Told Damayanti’s story, how all fell. 
      Sudeva said:  “There reigns in majesty
    King Bhima at Vidarbha; and of him
    The Princess Damayanti here is child;
    And Virasena’s son, Nala, is Lord
    Over Nishadha, praised-in-song and wise;
    And of that Prince this lady is the wife. 
    In play his brother worsted Nala—­stripped
    Of lands and wealth the Prince; who fled his realm,
    Wandering with Damayanti—­where, none knew. 
    In quest of Damayanti we have roamed
    The earth’s face o’er, until I found her here