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

82 allow to be developed in its own time in the course of the narrative. “The king of that city was very virtuous and exceedingly rich. He had seven children, all daughters, who were very handsome in their way ; and the only thing that grieved him was the want of a male child on whom to bestow the weight of the crown he had worn for a series of years with credit and honor. Every time his wife, the queen, became pregnant, he was buoyed up with hope, and as often had he been disappointed. In the present case his feelings took another turn : he was enraged to think that he should be thus baulked in his expectations, and he swore that if the queen did not present him with a son, he would discard her as unworthy to share in the honors of his exalted rank and position. This cruel mandate threw the queen into great dejection, and she was heard to say, ‘I do not know what fate may have reserved for me, but should it be the will of God again to give me a female child, I must strive to replace the child with a boy.’ She was, however, at a loss how to effect this desirable but unnatural end. In this dilemma she thought of consulting the midwife who usually attended upon her, and who happened to be the same whose services had been engaged by the actress. She sent for this trafficker in children, and disclosed to her what so heavily weighed on her mind. She said that the midwife would confer a great obligation on her by attending to her request, and exhorted her to render her assistance without the least apprehension in a matter of so great moment. ‘The king, my lord and husband,’ said the disconsolate queen, ‘has expressly told me that if in this my eighth confinement I do not present him with a son, he will abandon me, and never more see me, on which account I am much troubled in mind, not knowing what will be the issue. I therefore beg you will, soon after my delivery, in case I shall have given birth to a female child, exchange it for a male one, which you must procure in its stead. I hope you will not refuse to do me this invaluable piece of service; you are well fitted