विक्रम चरित (उज्जैन सम्राट् विक्रमादित्य - पराक्रम, न्याय एवं ३२ पुतलियों की कथा सटीक)

88 the least sentiment of regard for the king, from the repre- sentations you have made to me of him. I am contented to remain in my present condition ; and, having passed all the time I have been in this country in your service, I hope you will not give me the pain of speaking ill of you, which your present conduct, in insulting me by such impious and wicked proposals, will lead me to. There is, permit me to say, great and daring impiety in proposing to me what you do ; and you will pardon me if I refuse to hear anything more you can advance on such an odious subject, which can only have the painful effect of renewing my griefs.' For a time the actress was silenced ; having, however, made everything ready for the occasion of the king's reception, she returned to the attack. ‘If you will not,’ said she, ‘cheerfully and at once comply with my instructions, I will compel you to accept the king’s proposals, as he has declared that you are the choice and object of his desires, and he is not likely to consent to be thwarted in them.’ The unfortunate victim of this ruthless persecution in vain tried to dissuade the actress from her vile purpose. At last, finding it of no avail to argue with her on the enormity of the crime she meditated, she resolved to let things take their course, fully determined never on any account to prostitute her person. She even thought of endeavouring to excite the king’s com- passion by appealing to his generosity, and by representing to him that a son whom she mourned was of the same age as himself, which she thought might induce him to look upon her in the light of a mother. As this idea crossed her mind, she felt a yearning of the heart towards this youthful king, such as mothers alone can feel ; and a faint whisper within her told her that it might be—that it was her long- lost son ! The age, the mien, and the resemblance to her husband, all tended to confirm her suspicions. ‘I will, at all events, relate the circumstance to him,’ thought she, ‘and thus see if he is worthy of such a noble father and so chaste a mother.’ This idea made her, instead of wishing him away, long for his arrival. She accordingly went up