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

36 of that populous town; and while all admired and praised him, there was one who conceived against him the deadliest hatred imaginable, and that person was the discomfited actress or dancing-girl against whom he had given his deci- sion. Nothing short of the life of the parrot would satisfy her. Many were the designs she revolved in her mind to effect this purpose, till at last, an opportunity offering itself, she hit upon the following plan. It came to her knowledge that Dushwant's wife was in bed sick, and she thought this a fine chance to seek a reconciliation with Dushwant, and then, by her wiles and deception, to gain a mastery over him; this object once attained, every facility, she thought, would be afforded her for executing her foul work. Accord- ingly, one night, she decked herself out in her best clothes, so as to set off her charms and symmetry of shape to the best advantage, and went into Dushwant's house. She entered his apartment by a secret door that was known to her, and noiselessly approached the bed on which Dushwant lay alone, and sat beside him. The unsuspecting Dush- want was fast asleep, and had been so for some time, as the night was far advanced when this temptress set out from her dwelling. Seated beside Dushwant, she began to bestow on him the softest caresses, and to call on him by the most endearing and loving epithets. Dushwant here- upon suddenly awoke, and was astonished to find a female form near him of such exquisite beauty, which the rays of the lamp that fell upon her displayed to great advantage, the mellowness of the light, added to the sombre shade of the room, rendering her smiling countenance and richly- jewelled bust like those of a houri, come to keep watch over the sleeping merchant in his now lonely bed-chamber. She appeared, indeed, the height of female perfection, and the softness of her manners and the ingratiating tone of her speech might have gone far towards overcoming a person of firmer principle than poor Dushwant. His first words were expressive of surprise at the visionary being, as he thought, before him. "Am I awake or asleep?" said he. After