narch--'All his subjects here are met;
Ill they brook this dire misfortune[59]--in their justice-loving king'."
Then, her voice half choked with anguish--spake the sorrow-stricken queen,
Spirit-broken, Bhima's daughter--to Nishadha's sovereign spake,
"Raja, lo! the assembled city--at the gate their king to see:
With the counsellors of wisdom--by their loyal duty led.
Deign thou, monarch, to admit them,"--thus again, again she said.
To the queen with beauteous eyelids--uttering thus her sad lament,
Still possessed by wicked Kali--answered not the king a word.
Then those counsellors of wisdom--and those loyal citizens,
"'Tis not he," exclaimed in sorrow,--and in shame and grief went home.
Thus of Pushkara and Nala--still went on that fatal play;
Many a weary month it lasted--and still lost the king of men.

BOOK VIII.

Damayanti then beholding--Punyasloka, king of men,[60]
Undistracted, him distracted--with the maddening love of play.
In her dread and in her sorrow--thus did Bhima's daughter speak;
Pondering on the weighty business--that concerned the king of men.
Trembling at his guilty frenzy--yet to please him still intent.
Nala, 'reft of all his treasures--when the noble woman saw,
Thus addressed she Vrihatsena,--her old faithful slave and nurse,
Friendly in all business dextrous--most devoted, wise in speech:
"Vrihatsena, go, the council--as at Nala's call convene,
Say what he hath lost of treasure--and what treasure yet remains."
Then did all that reverend council--Nala's summons as they heard,
"Our own fate is now in peril"--speaking thus, approach the king.
And a second time his subjects--all assembling, crowded near,
And the queen announced their presence;--of her words he took no heed.
All her words thus disregarded--when king Bhima's daughter found,
To the palace, Damayanti--to conceal her shame returned.
When the dice she heard for ever--adverse to the king of men,
And of all bereft, her Nala--to the nurse again she spake:
"Go again, my Vrihatsena,--in the name of Nala, go,
To the charioteer, Varshneya,--great the deed must now be done."
Vrihatsena on the instant--Damayanti's words she heard,
Caused the charioteer be summoned--by her messengers of trust.
Bhima's daughter to Varshneya--winning with her gentle voice,
Spake, the time, the place well choosing--fo