And men to buy all rarest things that poured

Into her busy marts from foreign parts.

Here in this ancient port of Nundipore

In royal splendour lived a merchant youth,

Who scarce had reached his one-and-twentieth year.

His aged father had but lately died

And left him the sole heir of all his wealth.

And Rudra—for that was the brave youth's name—

Had heard from infant days full many tales

Of how his grandsire and his sire had braved