e than once to Bhima's daughter--anxious pointing out the way.
She, with voice half choked with sorrow--with her weight of woe oppressed,
These sad words did Damayanti--to Nishadha's monarch speak:--
"My afflicted heart is breaking--and my sinking members fail,
When, O king, thy desperate counsel--once I think of, once again.
Robbed of kingdom, robbed of riches--naked, thirst and hunger worn;
How shall I depart and leave thee--in the wood by man untrod.
When thou sad and famine-stricken--thinkest of thy former bliss,
In the wild wood, oh, my husband,--I thy weariness will soothe.
Like a wife, in every sorrow--this the wise physicians own,
Healing herb is none or balsam--Nala, 'tis the truth I speak."

NALA _spake_.

Slender-waisted Damayanti--true, indeed, is all thou'st said;
Like a wife no friendly medicine--to afflicted man is given.
Fear not that I thee abandon--Wherefore, timid, dread'st thou this?
Oh, myself might I abandon--and not thee, thou unreproached.

DAMAYANTI _spake_.

If indeed, oh mighty monarch--thou wilt ne'er abandon me,
Wherefore then towards Vidarbha--dost thou point me out the way.
Well, I know thee, noble Nala--to desert me far too true,
Only with a soul distracted--would'st thou leave me, lord of earth.
Yet, again, the way thou pointest--yet, again, thou best of men,
Thus my sorrow still enhancing--oh, thou like the immortal gods;
If this be thy better counsel--'to her kindred let her go,'
Be it so, and both together--to Vidarbha set we forth.
Thee Vidarbha's king will honour--honour'd in his turn by thee;
Held in high respect and happy--in our mansion thou shall dwell.

BOOK X.

NALA _spake_.

"Mighty is thy father's kingdom--once was mine as mighty too;
Never will I there seek refuge--in my base extremity.
There I once appeared in glory--to the exalting of thy pride;
Shall I now appear in misery--to the increasing of thy shame?"
Nala thus to Damayanti--spake again, and yet again,
Comforting the noble lady--scant in half a garment clad.
Both together by one garment[68]--covered, roamed they here and there;
Wearied out by thirst and famine--to a cabin drew they near.
When they reached that lowly cabin--then did great Nishadha's king
With the princess of Vidarbha--on the hard earth seat them down;
Naked, with no mat to rest on--we