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

170'

by the object dearest to us? Life without love would become a loathsome burden.' " Shambae allowed. three days to pass by without attempting anything further, except that she asked the princess, in a playful manner, to let her have a sight of the wonderful sword which had been bestowed by the hermit on her husband. 'It must be a miraculous one,' said she. Moheeny was quite ignorant of the villany that lurked under so much apparent regard and solicitude; she there- fore did not hesitate to satisfy her in this particular, and, with that view, conducted her to the inner room. Shambae marked well the spot where it hung; and, to disarm suspi- cion, again entered into an eulogistic dissertation on the sincerity of the prince's attachment to his wife. The widow determined in her own mind, however, that the prince should die that night; so she made a fierce fire in the kitchen, and, after they had all retired for the night, she went on tip-toe into the room where the sword was suspended, and stole away with it in her possession. She then hastened to put it into the fire; and, as it became red-hot, the life of Prince Sewdass gradually ebbed away, until at length he expired! " Next morning, when Moheeny awoke and arose from her bed, she thought she noticed something unusual in the appearance of her husband; she therefore tried to awaken him, but what was her horror at finding that he was stiff and lifeless! She instantly raised an alarm, and cried for help. 'Oh, my dear and loving husband!' exclaimed she, in an agony of grief, 'what is this that has happened to you? Why lie you there so motionless and still?' She then rushed from the apartment, calling wildly to Shambae for assistance, like one suddenly bereft of her senses. The suspicion of the widow's treachery now for the first time crossed her mind, and on glancing at the place where the sword usually hung, her fears were confirmed—it had disappeared! She wept bitter tears of repentance—she beat her breast, and tore her hair. 'Unhappy wretch that