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

108

The king was pleased to think that so powerful a monarch as he whose minister was now at his court should seek his alliance; and being convinced at a glance, as it were, of the advantages to be derived from it, he proceeded, as a preliminary of what was to follow, to receive the minister with every demonstration of joy and respect. He said that he had an only son, who was considered to be a youth of no mean parts; it would be perhaps wrong in him to eulo- gise his own child, but he would introduce him to the minister, who would thus be able to judge for himself. For his own part, he would be only too happy to meet the wishes of the king who sought thus to strengthen their friendship. If his son should be pleased with the description given of the princess, and the minister satisfied with the prince, nothing would remain but to fix a day on which to consum- mate the union. The prince was soon after introduced to the minister, who was struck at the very first with his beauty and bearing: In conversation the young man dis- played such wisdom and power of thought, that, so far as he was able to form an opinion in so short a time, the minister considered him to be a fit and acceptable partner for the princess on whose behalf he had been sent. He therefore expressed his satisfaction to the prince’s father, and promised him, on the part of his king, that the prince should be accepted as the future husband of the Princess Malattee; requesting at the same time that all the necessary preparations should be made for the marriage ceremony. Shortly after this he took leave of the monarch, and returned to his own city, where, with much joy, he communicated to his sovereign the successful termination of his mission, and the good fortune he had met with in securing a prince in every respect worthy of the honor,—the son of the king of Brumhapoory. He added that the king, accompanied by the prince and his whole court, would in a short time come to celebrate the marriage of the young couple. The king was delighted to hear what the minister had to say in favor of his future son-in-law, and of the success he had met