Page:Tales from the Indian Epics.djvu/64

58 love her and that we bid her choose one of us four as her husband." But Nala said, "Lord Indra, I too love Damayanti, and, loving her, how can I plead another's suit?" "Nishada King," retorted Indra, "you forget that you are an Aryan prince and that you cannot go back on your word once given. You promised us that you would convey our message and now you would break your word." Nala sought in vain to escape from the snare. At last he said, "As you will, Lord Indra. But the palace of King Bhima is guarded night and day. How can I enter it?" "O King," replied Indra, "fear nothing; I shall take you past the guards." "As you will, Lord Indra," said Nala, and as the words left his lips he saw that he stood inside one of the palace rooms. On a couch in front of him rested the beautiful princess and round her stood her waiting maids. Suddenly they became aware of Nala's presence. Springing to her feet the princess cried, "Fair youth, who are you and how did you come here? For the doors of the royal palace are closed night and day and outside them the king's sentinels keep watch, day and night."

"Fair princess," said the king, with a smile that won Damayanti's heart, "I am Nala, King of the Nishadas. But I am come to you as a messenger of the Immortals. The gods Indra and Agni, Varuna and Yama, all love and long for you. Therefore choose one of them for your husband." But Damayanti shook her head sadly and said, "Fair Prince, I loved you before ever I saw you, because of what the golden swan told me of your beauty; and now that I have seen you I can never love another, even though he be an Immortal. Love me in return, O King Nala. For if you do not, I cannot bear to live longer." The king's heart leapt with joy, but he could