The traditionary story is that he was a wandering minstrel, blind and old, who travelled from place to place singing his lays to the music of his harp, in the courts of princes or the cottages of peasants, — a dependant upon the voluntary offerings of his hearers. […] It contains several well-rounded epic poems, the most beautiful of which is the Episode of Nala, — a prince who, succumbing to a weakness common to his contemporaries, has gambled away his kingdom. […] She is associated with her brother, the prince of archery, in nearly all his adventures, and in attributes she is his feminine counterpart. […] His agility and strength made him easily prince in athletic pursuits. […] Her two elder sisters had long been married to princes; but Psyche’s beauty failed to awaken love.

chacun fuit sa présence importune Et la contagion de sa triste fortune : Tel un flatteur délaisse un prince infortuné. […] Le sujet, dans ces jours de fête, Du prince devenait l’égal, Et le même bandeau royal Semblait ceindre la même tête. […] prince, ah !