TheboatoftheboatmanMadhuismooredatthewharfofRajgunj.
Itisuselesslyladenwithjute, andhasbeenlyingthereidleforeversolong.
Ifhewouldonlylendmehisboat, Ishouldmanherwithahundredoars, andhoistsails, fiveorsixorseven.
Ishouldneversteerhertostupidmarkets.
Ishouldsailthesevenseasandthethirteenriversoffairyland.
But, mother, youwon’tweepformeinacorner.
IamnotgoingintotheforestlikeRamachandratocomebackonlyafterfourteenyears.
Ishallbecometheprinceofthestory, andfillmyboatwithwhateverIlike.
.
Weshallsetsailintheearlymorninglight.
Whenatnoontideyouarebathingatthepond, weshallbeinthelandofastrangeking.
WeshallpassthefordofTirpurni, andleavebehindusthedesertofTepāntar.
Whenwecomebackitwillbegettingdark, andIshalltellyouofallthatwehaveseen.
Ishallcrossthesevenseasandthethirteenriversoffairyland.
