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

33 In the same city with Dushwant resided a dancing-girl, named Kamsaina, who, having become acquainted with the high reputation which the merchant had attained for pro- fuseness and generosity, resolved upon calling daily at his house to amuse him with her singing. One day it occurred to her that she had dreamed over-night of Dushwant having injured her chastity. Under this impression she proceeded to the palace of the king, laid a formal complaint against the merchant, and demanded justice. The king, upon the girl's declaration, decided that Dushwant should pay the custom- ary fine for such offences—1,25,000 rupees. After the decision had been recorded, Dushwant was sent for to ap- pear before the king and his council, there to be subjected to interrogatories before the public assembly. As he was ignorant of the cause which procured him the honor of the king's summons, and being, as our readers will have per- ceived, innocent of any guilt, he was naturally enough thrown into a maze of perplexity ; and his astonishment may be better imagined than described, when the king made known to him the accusation that had been brought against him. By dint of cross-questioning and much labour he made the girl acknowledge, though not in direct terms, that her charge was founded on a mere dream, which had become so deeply rooted in her mind as to appear a reality. Having gained this advantage over his opponent, the mer- chant addressed the king in the following words :—" This being only, as your majesty has seen, a charge founded on a dream, or coined to extort money from me, I do not see that I am liable to the fine your majesty has been pleased to inflict upon me ; and I trust you will see the impropriety of enforcing it in a case, like the present, of an imaginary wrong said to have been done." The girl on this became so exasperated as to indulge in the most abusive epithets and unbecoming language towards Dushwant, notwithstand- ing that she was in the presence of the king and his whole court. This so affected poor Dushwant, that he agreed to pay the fine, and thus put a stop to the volley of abusive F o