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

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the apartment in which he thought he was likely to find the princess, intending to take his last fond leave of her. The princess saw him, and having beckoned him to approach nearer, herself advancing towards him, said, ‘There is in my father’s stable a horse very swift of foot,—he can go over twelve yojuns in an hour. Do not lose time : go and bring him here, saddled and bridled.’ The prince immedi- ately went in search of the horse, the princess in the mean while occupying herself in selecting some clothes and valu- ables ; having secured which, and the horse also being just then brought by the prince, they both mounted him, and, leaving the palace, went out of the city by an unfrequented road. They went on, without once stopping, until they arrived at a grove in which there were a number of mango trees in full bearing. Just then it occurred to the princess that she had forgotten to bring with her a valuable garland, composed of nine sorts of jewels, which had been prepared for the occasion of her wedding, but had left it at the Gowrihar, where she was seated when the prince met her on his return from the marriage procession. She appeared very anxious to obtain this garland ; the prince therefore proposed that she should wait at the grove while he went back to the palace to recover it, promising to return in a short time. The night being far advanced and extremely dark, and the distance to be traversed very great, the princess was unwilling to allow the prince to hazard the risk of the attempt ; he, however, assured her he would take every precaution, and not stay long away from her. To prevent any mistake on his return, and that she might be sure none other than himself approached her in the darkness of the night, he said he would utter a peculiar sound as a signal, which was agreed upon between the lovers. He then left her in the grove, under cover of the foliage of the trees, and directed his steps towards the palace. He was not long in gaining admittance there, unnoticed by any of the numerous attendants who now thronged the court-yard and every avenue leading to the