n all."
Thus addressed by that assemblage--Damayanti, kingly-born,
Answered thus with gentle language--grieving for her husband lost.
Of that caravan the leader--and the whole assembled host,
Youths and boys, and grey-haired elders--and the guides, thus answered she:
"Know me, like yourselves, a mortal--daughter of a king of men,
Of another king the consort--seeking for my royal lord;
Know, Vidarbha's king, my father--and Nishadha's king, my lord,
Nala, is his name, the glorious--him, th' unconquered do I seek;
Know ye aught of that good monarch--tell me, quick, of my beloved,
Of the tiger hero, Nala--slayer of a host of foes."
Of the caravan the captain--thus the lovely-limbed addressed,
Suchi was his name, the merchant--"Hear, illustrious queen, my speech;
Of this caravan the captain--I, O Lady with sweet smile,
Him that bears the name of Nala--nowhere have these eyes beheld.
Elephants, and pards, and tigers--lynxes, buffaloes, and bears,
See I in this trackless forest--uninhabited by men;
Save thyself, of human feature--nought, or human form, I've seen.
So may he, the king of Yakshas--Manibhadra, guard us well."[91]
To the merchants then she answered--to the leader of the host,
"Tell me whither do ye travel!--whither bound your caravan?"

_The_ CAPTAIN _of the caravan spake._

"To the realm of Chedi's sovereign[92]--truth-discerning Subahu,
Soon this caravan will enter--travelling in search of gain."

BOOK XIII.

[93]This, the lovely princess hearing--from the captain of the band,
With the caravan set forward--seeking still her royal lord.
Long their journey through the forest--through the dark and awful glens;
Then a lake of loveliest beauty--fragrant with the lotus flowers,
Saw those merchants, wide and pleasant--with fresh grass and shady trees;
Flowers and fruits bedecked its borders--where the birds melodious sang:
In its clear delicious waters--soul-enchanting, icy cool,
With their horses all o'erwearied--thought they then to plunge and bathe;
At the signal of the captain--entered all that pleasant grove.
At the close of day arriving--there encamped they for the night.
When the midnight came, all noiseless--came in silence deep and still,
Weary slept the band of merchants--lo, a herd of elephants,[94]
Oozing moisture from their temples--came to drink the