Page:Tales from the Indian Epics.djvu/60

54 me?" "O King," answered the swan, "I will so speak your praises to Damayanti that she will never care in her life for any man but you." The king was charmed by the reply and loosed the swan. The great bird shook itself, rose into the heavens and, soon overtaking its companions, led them into Damayanti's garden and settled to earth close to her feet. The fair princess and her handmaids were enraptured with the golden wings that flashed in the sunlight. "Let us catch one," cried Damayanti, "let us catch it and keep it." And as she spoke she and all her maidens ran forward to catch the beautiful swans. Instantly the flock separated in all directions and as the damsels followed them they too became separated, until at last Damayanti ran alone after the swan which Nala had caught and then let go. When the swan had led Damayanti into a hidden corner of the garden, it let Damayanti catch it and then spoke to her with human speech. "Fair princess," said the golden swan, "in the kingdom of the Nishadas lives the handsomest prince in all the world. On my powerful pinions I often cross over the earth and sometimes even enter the skies of heaven. But never have I seen a youth either mortal or immortal who can compare in beauty with Nala, King of the Nishadas. Choose him only as your husband. For as you are the loveliest of maidens, he is the most beautiful of youths." Then the love in Damayanti's heart for Nala grew into a passionate longing. "O swan," she said, "as you have praised Nala to me, so praise me to Nala." "I will," promised the swan and instantly rose in the sky, and, flying towards the country of the Nishadas, became a speck among the clouds and then vanished. But when it reached King Nala's garden it hovered