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

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to her calculating mistress, as we must no doubt call her, and expressed her willingness to receive the king. The actress became quite enraptured at the turn affairs had taken, and lavished her praise profusely on the princess, who was now little better than—in fact was, her slave. “ The king spent the day, as usual, in the affairs of his state, and at night he set out with a choice retinue for the house of the actress, picturing to himself how much he would enjoy the society and person of the dazzling object of his sudden affection. He had not, however, gone many steps, when he heard the unwelcome chirping of the bird Pingla, which boded disappointment. That was a supersti- tious time, and the king himself was not exempt from a belief in such omens. He was therefore much annoyed at this opposition, and, instead of proceeding onwards, returned to the palace to consult his astrologers. He called one of the best among them, and acquainted him with the private mission on which he had been bent, and the sign he had received. The astrologer's reply was to the effect that in a person of his rank and position so flagrant an act of injustice and crime as he contemplated would not be per- mitted. The king, on hearing this, put off the visit until the following night, and retired to rest in great dudgeon. “ The actress in the mean while had prepared everything, fully expecting that the king would honor her with a visit that night, but she was doomed to be disappointed. She kept looking out of the windows of her dwelling continually, and thus remained until the night was far advanced, when, finding that there was no longer any likelihood of the king's appearance, she thought he had perhaps only declared his intention with a view to make fun of her, at which she was greatly grieved. She at length retired for the night, not to sleep, however, for she was too much agitated in her mind, but to devise means to bring about her wishes. As soon as the morning dawned she was up and dressed, ready to proceed to the palace, to ascertain if possible the cause of the disappointment she had experienced the previous night. On M