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

212 thus coming to my place of residence, the force of your affection for me, and believe me, mine is not less !' ' I believe you,' replied Charoo, ' else why those tears—those tears of joy, and this eagerness and fond solicitude ? I cannot doubt that you are my own Chitrangee, in a far more perfect form. But yet how cruelly have you not behaved to me, in pretending to expire ! I have not had a moment's peace since our separation. Still, great as have been my sufferings, I have borne all with fortitude, for something within me whispered that we should some day meet again, though I never once expected it would be so soon. My tears hinder my saying more !' Charoo here wept copiously, and he felt refreshed thereby. Chitrangee asked pardon for the deception she had been guilty of, and informed Charoo of all the particulars regarding herself—how she had been condemned by Indra to live in the world, and by what means she had regained her former position. She was delighted indeed to see Charoo there, though she grieved to see the havoc which her separation from him had caused : he was but the shadow of his former self, owing to the uneasiness of mind he had suffered and the fatigues of his journey. Chitrangee lost no time, after full explanations had been given and received, in ordering a splendid bath to be prepared, where Charoo indulged in a luxury to which he had been for some time a stranger, after which she perfumed his person, and, having arrayed him in a complete suit of the richest materials, ornamented with the finest pearls and diamonds, conveyed him to a large hall, where they sat down together on a sandal-wood zopala,* Charoo feeling greatly improved, both in person and spirits, and the pleasure he experienced beaming from his sparkling eyes. The slaves were left standing at a distance from the happy couple, in order that they might converse more freely. When dinner was ready, they adjourned to another room, and there partook of it together, after which they sat

• A swinging cot.