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

114 feelings, and said, ‘Your kindness overpowers me! What you have proposed is quite agreeable to me, and accords with my wishes. I will do as you please. But hearken to what I have to say : it is now broad daylight; if I were to accompany you into the city, it is more than probable that we should attract attention. Some of the king’s attend- ants or domestics might meet us, and, seeing me in your company, would immediately suspect you of having become possessed of me by some foul means. Acting upon such a conclusion they will most assuredly separate us, do you some grievous harm, or detain you in custody. What will then become of me? Your kindness and humane disposi- tion have greatly pleaded for you, and I feel now that I could not have fallen into better hands. Would you then be so cruel as to work your own ruin and mine, by exposing yourself to the consequences of being seen with me in the public thoroughfare? Let me entreat you to consent to pass the day with me in some secluded place, and we can enter the city at night.’ She displayed such evident signs of sincerity in all she said, that the thief was quite vain enough to think he had touched her heart. He therefore thought the advice good, and accordingly resolved upon acting on it. They went into one of the gardens, which were numerous in the outskirts of the town, there to await the approach of night. The princess first alighted from the horse, and the thief followed. She then opened the saddle-bags, took out some gold coins, and, giving them to her companion, said, ‘Go you to the market-place and procure some provisions for us, and, above all, do not forget to purchase a vessel that will contain food for two.’ The thief was so smitten with the charms of the princess, and so thoroughly convinced of his feelings being reciprocated, that no suspicion found an entrance for a moment into his mind, so completely had the princess hoodwinked him. He set off for the market, as he had been bidden, and purchased all that he had been directed, as well as various other articles which he thought would be acceptable to the princess.