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

' 100 up to her as if calling on her to recal those terms of oppro- brium she had cast upon this innocent victim of circumstantial evidence. ‘My dear and affectionate child,’ said the aged queen, ‘ I am sorry for what I in my passion, and under the fullest impression of your infidelity, launched on your innocent head. I am fully sensible of the wrong I have done you, but let me hope that my future conduct towards you will in some degree atone for it.’ ‘ Ah!’ said the princess, ‘ do not say so; all that befals us is decreed by an unerring Providence. Had you not caused me to be expelled the palace, I might probably have never been enabled to find means for the recovery of my lost husband : it is to you that I am indebted for this happiness. Say not, then, that you have wronged me. The happiness of this moment more than atones for any amount of privation I may have been put to, and the latter has been but very slight indeed, comparatively.’ The king and queen were highly pleased at this disposition on the part of the injured princess to forget the past : if it were possible, it raised her in their estimation in an unparalleled degree, and they embraced her, with contrition and tears of joy streaming down their furrowed cheeks. It was too great a happiness for them to regain their son, whom they had never expected to see again in this life, and at the same time to find his wife, whom it was now evident they had unjustly expelled the palace, placed beyond suspicion, with a fine young king the fruit of their union. King Bhudrasain, after this, ordered a banquet to be prepared in honour of the great event we have recorded,—the meeting together of this dispersed family,—and it was kept up with all the splendour of royalty. In a short time he also caused his son, Prince Soorsain, to be crowned in his stead, and invested with the royal dignity. “ The youthful Balsain, during this visit, became smitten with the charms of a neighbouring princess, and was soon after married. After some weeks spent in con- viviality, he took leave of his father and grandsire, and

101 returned to his own territory, loaded with presents and proofs of the estimation in which he was held by all. There, surrounded by everything that could render a monarch happy, and in the enjoyment of the blessings of peace, he continued to reign for a series of years, until he had run the course allotted to him here below.” The parrot, having finished the tale, leaped into an opening in the wall and disappeared, followed by the wondering gaze of all those assembled in the room, who had been, as may well be supposed, attentive listeners to the whole story. We must now refresh the memory of our readers, and ask them to go back with us to where we left King Vickra- madetea, in the guise of a brahmin, with the Princess Pudmavuntty. King Vickramadetea, it will be remembered, was engaged in negociating for the hand of Pudmavuntty on behalf of Prince Duntsain, and had in some degree succeeded. It only remained for him to get over the condition attached by the princess of her acquiescence with his project, which was to make her laugh and speak four different times successively ; and it was to effect this that Vickramadetea had called in the aid of the spirit Veytal, who, under the assumed form of a parrot, entered upon the tale just related. They were yet engaged in praising the parrot, who had helped them to wile away the heavy hours of night with his interesting story, and wondering at the unlooked-for depth of understanding and grasp of thought (if we may so say) displayed by this tiny creature, when a Shaloonky,* represented in a painting on the wall of the princess’ apartment, became animated, and took her seat upon a chowrung before them. Who this Shaloonky was, and the purport of her visit, shall form the subject of another chapter. * A bird, Gracula religiosa. 152486

102 CHAPTER VII. Veytal reappears, in the form of a bird called Shaloonky, and com- mences to relate the history of Queen Shoodhamutty, her son Soomunt, and the Princess Malattee. WHEN Veytal, as the parrot, had left the presence of Vickramadetea and the princess, he transformed himself into a Shaloonky, who, as we said at the conclusion of the last chapter, took up her place, to the wonder of the gaping assem- bly, on a chowrung. She remained there for some time, shaking her wings and attracting attention in a most singular manner. Vickramadetea observing this, and knowing well that the Shaloonky was no other, as has been already said, than the spirit Veytal, requested her to oblige the company with one of those very interesting tales which abounded alike in good sense and instruction. He said it would be very acceptable, and would prevent them from falling asleep during the remainder of the night. "The parrot has but just left us," said he, "after recounting one of those admirable stories, which caused the time to pass agreeably away. I hope you will not be less obliging." The Shaloonky replied, "Oh, my good brahmin! your mode of address inclines me to comply with your wish, but you must be aware that I cannot do so without the sanction of my mistress. I am her slave, and must receive my orders from her before I engage in anything." The princess remained silent, as before, and would not deign a reply. "Never mind the princess, your mistress," said Vickramadetea; "be good enough to proceed with your story; you will much oblige me by it." "I am aware of your anxiety to hear me, and I am equally disposed to gratify you, but you must excuse me if I refuse you the gratification unless I am warranted by the bidding of your hostess, my sovereign lady." The Shaloonky being appa-

103 rently determined not to proceed with her story without the express command of the princess, and curiosity being at its height among the attendants and slaves there assembled, they ventured to address the princess. "May it please you, good lady, to direct the Shaloonky to gratify our eagerness to hear her story. It will, we feel assured, afford us no small amount of pleasure and amusement, as we doubt not it will be an excellent one,—as good as, if not better than the one the parrot amused us with a while ago." The princess was still silent, but the Veytal, by the peculiar powers of which he was possessed, influenced her mind, when she laughed involuntarily and bade the Shaloonky commence her narrative. Whereupon, after having noticed that the princess both laughed and spoke at the same time, she began as follows :— "In the city of Kawnty there lived a king named Kashei- shwer, and his queen Shoodhamutty, with an only child called Soomunt. According to the usual course of events, after a long and peaceful reign, this king expired, full of years and honour. Shortly after this sad occurrence, one of the neighbouring princes, who had long had an eye upon the kingdom of the deceased monarch, invaded it with a powerful army. The queen fled with her infant, who was but ten years old, without casting a thought behind. Weighed down with grief for the loss of her husband, she could ill take the active measures that were needed on such an occasion : she left all in the hands of her subordinates. She feared lest the fortunes of war should place her and the heir to the throne in the hands of their enemy, who might be induced to remove her dear child by some foul means, thus to put an end to all future contentions. She had not proceeded far when news reached her of the success of the invasion, and she thanked heaven that she with her child had escaped the unscrupulous enemy. Her patience was sorely tried by the hardships and privations she had to endure during her journey. Without any fixed placed to

104 go to, without the means of supplying herself and the infant with nourishment, and, more than all, without any apparent means of regaining her dominions and avenging the injury offered to her, she was indeed wretched in the extreme. Still, onward she went, remedying as much as in her lay these great evils, though, indeed, such remedies cannot be said to have by any means brought her the slightest relief. For a time she subsisted by parting one by one with the ornaments and jewels she had on when she fled from the palace : when these were all gone, alas ! her condition was miserable indeed. How many a day did, this fond mother deprive herself of food, that a sufficiency might be afforded her child ! But this could not last long ; nature would not permit it. Without food she must sink. She was in the very last stage of weakness : a feather's weight might have sealed her fate. The cravings of hunger she tried to appease by partaking of the wild fruits of the forest, and this but added to her sufferings. In this state, between hope (faint though it was) and despair, she thought of a brother she had, also a king, who was immensely rich and very power- ful. This idea, as it crossed her mind, cheered the dreari- ness with which she was enveloped, and raised her sinking heart. Towards him, therefore, she turned her steps. He was reigning in a city far from where she then was ; and the condition in which she arrived there may therefore be better conceived than described. No sooner did she present herself before the king her brother than he was struck dumb with the woeful picture of want and misery his sister presented. He received her with open arms, and soothed her grief with many words of consolation and the promise of seeing her righted, if possible. After hearing her rela- tion of all the sufferings she had undergone, and the cruel usage she had endured from the invader of her husband's dominions, he addressed her thus : ' Let me entreat you, dear sister, great as are the wrongs which have been heaped upon you, not to give way. Be assured that the Almighty never wills a thing without a good design. Though the

105 events that have happened to you may appear to the short- sighted vision of man as cruel and unmerited in the extreme, some good will most probably be the result. In the mean while, you are welcome to my palace and to my arms. You may for the future reside here with your child, whose education I take upon myself. You will here meet with every deference due to your exalted rank.’ This in a great measure helped to assuage the grief of the widowed queen, and she took up her abode, with her infant, under the protection of her brother, with whom she lived in the greatest comfort and harmony. “The brother of the unfortunate Shoodhamutty had a daughter about four years old, who was called Malattee. Her virtues, modest deportment, and fascinating manners, won the esteem and love of all who came in contact with her. In beauty she rivalled Rutty.* One day this youthful princess was engaged in the amusements to which children are more or less addicted, when her father happened to pass by. She looked so beautiful, with the flush on her cheek called forth by the eagerness with which she pursued her game, that the father stopped to admire her. After gazing for awhile, unseen by her, he approached her, clasped her to his affectionate bosom, and loaded her with kisses. While so engaged he addressed her in the most affectionate words. ‘Daughter,’ said he, ‘you have now arrived at an age fitted to receive good and useful impressions; I there- fore wish to send you to school. You must endeavour to make yourself acquainted with everything fitted to adorn your rank and position, and the station in life which you will some day or other be called upon to fill.’ That same day he ordered a clever Pundit to be brought to him, and entrusted the child to his care, directing him to instruct her in the first instance in the accomplishments suited to her capacity, and by degrees to lead her mind to higher and nobler acquisitions; in short, to pay every possible attention to her improvement. The Pundit, in obedience to the

• The spouse of the God of Love. O

106 command of his sovereign, took the princess under-his care, and at once began to impart to her the first lessons. “ A few days after this occurrence, the widow of Kashei- shwer, having discovered that her brother had sent his daughter to school, requested that he would place her son Soomunt also under the care of the Pundit, being of an age when he should commence his studies. The king, her brother, acceded to the request, and recommended the youth to the Pundit, at the same time giving strict injunctions to the pedagogue to take as much care of his nephew as he bestowed upon the princess, and on no account to make the slightest difference between them, as he cared equally. for both. The Pundit did as he was directed, and took them both under his tuition. From that day the Princess Malattee and Prince Soomunt became fondly attached to each other, and their love increased and gained strength with their years. “ One day, the princess, being in a cheerful humour. and exuberant spirits, was engaged in discussing a variety of subjects with the prince, and began playfully to tease him while arguing with him. Prince Soomunt penetrated her thoughts, and knowing the motives which prompted her, felt much grieved, so he begged her to desist from such proofs of her regard. He desired her, also, to converse with him no longer in that strain. ‘ Princess,’ said he, ‘ why do you thus tempt me? Is there any hope of your becoming my wife?’ ‘ Ah, yes!’ said she, ‘ there can be no doubt that I am destined to become your partner for life, and if you do not object to it, I here promise to be constant to you.’ ‘ My good princess,’ replied the youth, ‘ think well, I entreat you, ere you pledge yourself to anything. How can I place any reliance on what you may now feel disposed to say? You are but a child yet, and do not know what you promise. Consult your parents first, and take their advice : ascertain whether they are favourable to our union. You should be guided by them in all things, for it is your duty so to be. They are older and wiser than yourself, and

107 therefore better able to enter into such momentous subjects. They have, I doubt not, already formed a plan for your disposal,—perhaps intending to wed you to some other prince; and though my heart may break in such case, I must submit to my fate. It would ill become me, a depen- dant on your father’s bounty, to raise my voice against it.’ ‘You may rely on what I now say,’ rejoined the princess; ‘I swear to you that with none other but yourself will I ever marry. I have bestowed my maiden affections on you: all others can be nothing more to me than what they are now.’ The prince, observing the determined tone in which the princess spoke, could not doubt her sincerity, and therefore said, ‘My dear Malattee, I resign myself entirely to you, and swear in my turn never to forsake you. No other woman shall be allowed even for a moment to contend for the place you must ever after this hold in my heart.’ Thus their first declaration of love ended in their swearing mutual constancy, nor did it once pass beyond their own bosoms. Their affection for each other daily increased, be- ing strengthened indissolubly by their constant intercourse. “The princess was now fast approaching the age at which it was thought desirable, by the nobility and princes of those days, that she should enter the hymeneal state. The king, her father, therefore ordered his minister to make overtures to a prince whom he thought fitted, both in person and acquirements, to receive his daughter in mar- riage. The minister told the king that ere he set about this mission it would be nothing but right that they should consult with a Josey* as to a good and auspicious hour at which to determine the matter, which was accordingly done. Having been directed by the Josey as to the precise time of departure and so forth, the minister commenced his journey, with a select band of retainers, and proceeded to the city of Brumhapoory, towards the north. After a short and prosperous journey he arrived at that city, and presented himself with his credentials before the reigning sovereign.

• An astrologer.

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The king was pleased to think that so powerful a monarch as he whose minister was now at his court should seek his alliance; and being convinced at a glance, as it were, of the advantages to be derived from it, he proceeded, as a preliminary of what was to follow, to receive the minister with every demonstration of joy and respect. He said that he had an only son, who was considered to be a youth of no mean parts; it would be perhaps wrong in him to eulo- gise his own child, but he would introduce him to the minister, who would thus be able to judge for himself. For his own part, he would be only too happy to meet the wishes of the king who sought thus to strengthen their friendship. If his son should be pleased with the description given of the princess, and the minister satisfied with the prince, nothing would remain but to fix a day on which to consum- mate the union. The prince was soon after introduced to the minister, who was struck at the very first with his beauty and bearing: In conversation the young man dis- played such wisdom and power of thought, that, so far as he was able to form an opinion in so short a time, the minister considered him to be a fit and acceptable partner for the princess on whose behalf he had been sent. He therefore expressed his satisfaction to the prince’s father, and promised him, on the part of his king, that the prince should be accepted as the future husband of the Princess Malattee; requesting at the same time that all the necessary preparations should be made for the marriage ceremony. Shortly after this he took leave of the monarch, and returned to his own city, where, with much joy, he communicated to his sovereign the successful termination of his mission, and the good fortune he had met with in securing a prince in every respect worthy of the honor,—the son of the king of Brumhapoory. He added that the king, accompanied by the prince and his whole court, would in a short time come to celebrate the marriage of the young couple. The king was delighted to hear what the minister had to say in favor of his future son-in-law, and of the success he had met

109 with, and gave immediate directions for everything necessary and suitable to be prepared for the occasion. "The news of the approaching nuptials of the Princess Malattee with a foreign prince, spread like wildfire, and the unfortunate Prince Soomunt heard it among the rest. He instantly sought an interview with his cousin, and having obtained it, said to her, 'My dear Malattee, can you explain the meaning of so much bustle, confusion, and preparation, as I observe throughout the palace?' The princess replied, that she knew not what it meant, and asked in her turn if the prince could enlighten her on the subject. Soomunt looked searchingly at her for a moment, and then said, 'Princess, I need hardly say that it will now be impossible for you to fulfil your engagement with me, and it would perhaps be wrong in me to expect you to do so. The pre- parations that you now see going forward are the prelude to your marriage with a foreign prince, son of the king of Brumhapoory, whom your father has accepted as your future husband.' The prince's looks did not accord with his apparent composure, and the princess perceiving it, replied, 'My dearest prince—my love!—do not allow yourself to be thus disturbed. If my father has pledged his royal word to unite me to the prince you have but just mentioned, recollect that I have long, long before that, bestowed my affections on you, and sealed the compact with a solemn oath to become yours and none other's. I am solely yours, and I call heaven to witness that I will never go back from my word, and thus be guilty of perjury and ingratitude. Depend on me. Compose yourself and be patient. Let the bridegroom come!' So saying, the lovers separated. "Every preparation being completed, the king sent for the sovereign of Brumhapoory, and invited a large number of friends on both sides to be present at the feast. He erected a commodious and very richly-furnished building for the reception of visitors, and for the celebration of the marriage ceremony. The king of Brumhapoory soon after arrived, and with him a numerous host of friends, relatives,

110 and retainers, as well as a number of elephants and horses, and a large army, all richly and gracefully adorned, befitting the grand and joyous occasion. The princess' father hearing of it, went forth with a retinue to honor the king of Brum- hapoory, and to lead him into the city, after the usual simunt poojea.* Having performed all the ceremonies usual on such occasions, they entered the city together, amidst the joyful shouts of the people, and spent the day in great festivity. On the following day they worshipped the customary divinity, according to the established prac- tice, and it was agreed that the marriage should take place the same night at twelve o'clock. The king, Malattee's father, conducted his guests, both nobles and princes, in procession, to bring the bridegroom to his house ; the queen also accompanied them, with the ladies of the court and the wives of the nobles and citizens, to honour the bridegroom's mother. “It was now nearly eight o'clock, and the bride was seated in the palace, near the Gowrihar.† The inmates of the palace were all engaged in their respective employments, and the attendants of the princess, overcome by sleep, had extended themselves one after the other on the floor. The princess, at intervals, anxiously looked around, to see if Prince Soomunt were visible, but he was not to be found. He had intended accompanying her father to escort the bridegroom, but with much grief and suffering and many inward pangs. He went a short distance, but he felt so oppressed that he could go no further; he therefore returned to the palace without the knowledge of any one, nor did the king or anybody else notice the grief that was weighing him down : they were too much elated with the joy they felt at the approaching nuptials to perceive it. As soon as . the prince reached the palace, he proceeded at once towards

• The honours and courtesies paid at the village boundary, or in the temple, to the bridegroom. † The name under which Shiva and Parvutty are worshipped at marriage ceremonies.

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the apartment in which he thought he was likely to find the princess, intending to take his last fond leave of her. The princess saw him, and having beckoned him to approach nearer, herself advancing towards him, said, ‘There is in my father’s stable a horse very swift of foot,—he can go over twelve yojuns in an hour. Do not lose time : go and bring him here, saddled and bridled.’ The prince immedi- ately went in search of the horse, the princess in the mean while occupying herself in selecting some clothes and valu- ables ; having secured which, and the horse also being just then brought by the prince, they both mounted him, and, leaving the palace, went out of the city by an unfrequented road. They went on, without once stopping, until they arrived at a grove in which there were a number of mango trees in full bearing. Just then it occurred to the princess that she had forgotten to bring with her a valuable garland, composed of nine sorts of jewels, which had been prepared for the occasion of her wedding, but had left it at the Gowrihar, where she was seated when the prince met her on his return from the marriage procession. She appeared very anxious to obtain this garland ; the prince therefore proposed that she should wait at the grove while he went back to the palace to recover it, promising to return in a short time. The night being far advanced and extremely dark, and the distance to be traversed very great, the princess was unwilling to allow the prince to hazard the risk of the attempt ; he, however, assured her he would take every precaution, and not stay long away from her. To prevent any mistake on his return, and that she might be sure none other than himself approached her in the darkness of the night, he said he would utter a peculiar sound as a signal, which was agreed upon between the lovers. He then left her in the grove, under cover of the foliage of the trees, and directed his steps towards the palace. He was not long in gaining admittance there, unnoticed by any of the numerous attendants who now thronged the court-yard and every avenue leading to the

`112

royal mansion. He recovered the treasure, in short, and began to retrace his steps to where he had left the princess anxiously praying for the success of his mission and for his speedy arrival. "The locality in which the luckless Malattee had found a temporary shelter was infested by a notorious gang of thieves, one of whom, unfortunately, happened to be near enough to overhear the parting dialogue of the lovers. Allowing a sufficient time to elapse, the thief approached the princess, and gave the signal agreed upon. As soon as the princess heard it, and without in the least suspecting it could be any one but the prince, she hastened delightedly forward to meet him. Though her anxiety of mind and apprehension had been very acute during the short interval which had elapsed, she felt amply repaid for it now. Coming up, therefore, to him whom she imagined to be the prince, she held out her hand and welcomed him. The impostor did not allow her to enter into any lengthy talk, but immediately brought forward the horse that had been left standing beside her, and urged her speedily to resume her seat. The poor victim, fearing that perhaps the prince had been discovered, and was pursued by her father’s men, lost not a moment in complying, and thus, seated beside the thief, she was carried along with great swiftness, under the experienced guidance of one to whom every inch of ground was familiar. The darkness was so intense that they could not see each other’s faces, neither could the princess speak, so great was the rapidity with which they travelled; the wily thief, also, preserved a strict silence, which the princess attributed to the same cause. The morning was now fast breaking, and the warblings of the feathered songsters of the woods began to be heard. Malattee, finding that the horse had been made to slacken his pace, was congratulating herself and the prince upon their escape. She was now quite easy in her mind, thinking that their pursuers, if any there were, must now have been left so far behind as to be unable to overtake or even trace them. In this state of

mind she addressed her companion in the Sanscrit, the language usually employed by princes and nobles in those days, but the thief, not being familiar with it, could not respond to the sentiments she expressed, many of which called for reply. She, as may naturally be concluded, was surprised at this unusual silence on the part of the prince, who formerly had barely allowed a word to escape her without participating fully in her feelings and responding to them, or, if wrong, gently correcting them. At this time, too, there was sufficient light for distinguishing each other, and, oh!—with what horror and dismay did she not behold, as she turned an inquiring glance on the man beside her, the countenance which was presented to her wondering eyes! He had neither nose nor ears,—his right hand had been cut off at the wrist,—he was black and dirty, coarsely clad, and presented altogether a most unseemly and revolting appearance! She screamed at the sight of this wretched and frightful-looking being, and soon lost all her presence of mind. He tried to soothe her, and the princess, becoming gradually aware of the position she was in, and suspecting into what hands she had fallen, was wise and considerate enough not to carry her antipathy too far, lest he should be provoked to ill-treat her. She became at last calm; her sorrow, however, weighed heavily upon her, and she was in all respects an object of pity; yet she very prudently refrained from audibly expressing the agony of her feelings. “ It was now broad day, the sun began to shed forth his lustre from the heavens, and they were approaching a city which stood before them. The thief, addressing Malattee, said, ‘ Fair princess, I wish you to understand that I am a resident in yonder city. I am about to convey you to my house, and it is my earnest request that you will for the future consider yourself mistress of all I possess. By attending to my concerns and presiding over my domestic affairs, you will secure for yourself a happy retreat, and also enjoy every sort of pleasure.’ Malattee disguised her P

114 feelings, and said, ‘Your kindness overpowers me! What you have proposed is quite agreeable to me, and accords with my wishes. I will do as you please. But hearken to what I have to say : it is now broad daylight; if I were to accompany you into the city, it is more than probable that we should attract attention. Some of the king’s attend- ants or domestics might meet us, and, seeing me in your company, would immediately suspect you of having become possessed of me by some foul means. Acting upon such a conclusion they will most assuredly separate us, do you some grievous harm, or detain you in custody. What will then become of me? Your kindness and humane disposi- tion have greatly pleaded for you, and I feel now that I could not have fallen into better hands. Would you then be so cruel as to work your own ruin and mine, by exposing yourself to the consequences of being seen with me in the public thoroughfare? Let me entreat you to consent to pass the day with me in some secluded place, and we can enter the city at night.’ She displayed such evident signs of sincerity in all she said, that the thief was quite vain enough to think he had touched her heart. He therefore thought the advice good, and accordingly resolved upon acting on it. They went into one of the gardens, which were numerous in the outskirts of the town, there to await the approach of night. The princess first alighted from the horse, and the thief followed. She then opened the saddle-bags, took out some gold coins, and, giving them to her companion, said, ‘Go you to the market-place and procure some provisions for us, and, above all, do not forget to purchase a vessel that will contain food for two.’ The thief was so smitten with the charms of the princess, and so thoroughly convinced of his feelings being reciprocated, that no suspicion found an entrance for a moment into his mind, so completely had the princess hoodwinked him. He set off for the market, as he had been bidden, and purchased all that he had been directed, as well as various other articles which he thought would be acceptable to the princess.

115 · In the mean while, no sooner had the thief turned his back, than the princess, divesting herself of her garments, dressed herself in those of Prince Soomunt, and by this means she wrought so complete a transformation in her appearance that her nearest friends would scarcely have recognised her. She lost no time in mounting her horse, and then set off on her flight, taking the forward road, being afraid to retrace her path, lest she should be pursued and overtaken by the thief. “ Shortly after the princess had made her escape, the thief returned, loaded with the purchases he had been making, but, to his utter confusion and disappointment, he found that both the horse and the princess had disappeared. Now, only, did the deluded wretch became sensible of the ruse put on him by the princess to lull his suspicions, the result of which he but too painfully felt. So enamoured had he become of the princess, that he was like one beside himself when the truth for the first time flashed across his mind;—he swore, stamped his feet, and displayed all the symptoms of an ungovernable and inordinate passion. Overcome by his violence, he sank to the ground in an agony of despair, and deplored his misfortune, as he termed it, in the following strain :—‘ Ah ! what an execrable fool am I ! Almost at the very moment when, without any pains on my part, this treasure of inestimable worth was thrown in my way, I have, by my own folly and blindness, lost it for ever ! I am the most miserable of beings ! Unlucky I am and have been, and unlucky I shall remain through life ! As well might a string of pearls be given to an ape, a brilliant jewel to one born blind, or a soft and impressive speech be addressed to a deaf man ! I have proved myself little or no better than these. The cup that was offered to me contained all that man could desire, and yet have I, like an idiot,—a fool, a blind infatuated fool !—dashed it from my lips, and turned from the proffered boon !’ In a state bordering on despair, and fully determined not to con- tinue living in the world as he had so far done, he dyed his

116 clothes brown, converted his dress into that of a devotee, and went roaming about different countries, in the exercise of penance and religious duties. “The princess in the mean time had gone far on her travels. One hot day, as she was leisurely proceeding along, she overheard an altercation between two young men. They were pupils of an ascetic, who, before he died, a short time previous, had bequeathed three different articles to them, which were to be equally divided. They could not, however, come to an amicable settlement as regarded the partition of the bequest. They were yet disputing when the princess, still in disguise, happened to ride past them. They resolved to appeal to her, which was accordingly done. Nearly in the same breath they unfolded to her the cause of their dispute. The princess desired to know what were the three things which had been left to them by their tutor; upon which they produced a wallet, a bowl or plate, and a pair of wooden shoes. The princess then asked them to inform her of the use of these articles. In their simplicity they told her that the plate, if duly reverenced and entreated, would yield forthwith an abundance of shoodpukwan,* that the wallet would produce any amount of gold, and that the shoes would transport their owner to any part of the world on his merely expressing the wish. Malattee, on hearing this explanation, said that she could not pronounce any judgment unless they agreed to abide by it, and to do as she would bid them. Being desirous to put an end to their contention, they at once consented to this, whereupon she pointed to a tree at a distance, and said, ‘He who returns first to me after running to that tree and touching it, shall become the possessor of two of these articles, and the other shall take the remaining one for his share.’ They agreed to this, and, placing the three articles in the hands of their umpire, started away at their utmost speed towards the tree. When they had placed a good distance between them and the princess, the latter, availing herself of the

• Pure confectionery.

117 . favorable opportunity that now presented itself, whipped her horse and sped away at a rapid rate in an opposite direction, with the valuable articles in her possession. She did not draw rein until she had gallopped over some fifteen yojuns of road. The two pupils, having touched the tree indicated, ran back one after the other to receive from the hands of the umpire what had fallen to their respective shares ; but how great was their astonishment and dismay at finding that both the rider and the horse had disappeared whilst they had been engaged in contending for the prize, and with them also the three valuable articles, which were their all. They examined every nook in which they thought the umpire might have concealed himself, but all to no purpose, and at length they gave up the search in despair. It was now that they become conscious of the absurdity of their dispute, whereby, not only had neither reaped the slightest benefit, but a stranger had become enriched: ‘ It is a just punishment,’ said they, ‘ and will teach us to be more discreet and less confiding for the future.’ Neverthe- less, they grieved much for their loss. It has been truly observed that internal commotions profit only those who hover around the contending parties ; the latter are never benefitted. Thus two brothers, disputing each other's claim on the property left by a parent, go to law, and are thereby drained of every coin they possess, until at length, lacking the means of carrying on the litigation, they are left impoverished, powerless, and full of remorse for their want of foresight and their mismanagement. “ The Princess Malattee, during her flight, might have been observed to scan the horizon from time to time, to see if she were pursued ; and, as no sign betokened such to be the case, she stopped her horse, and entered a temple of Shiva, which was near. Having paid her devotions to the idol, she reposed there for the remainder of the day. While there, she thought frequently of Prince Soomunt, and felt great anxiety as to his fate. She spent most of the night in endeavouring to devise some mode by which to obtain

118 intelligence of him, but nothing likely to succeed occurred to her ; it was with a heavy heart, therefore, that she set out on her journey on the morrow. About noon she reached a large city, the king of which, as she heard, had lately died and left no successor,—neither son, brother, cousin, or any other relative. The minister, after the last sad rites had been paid to the deceased monarch, summoned a council to elect a person to fill the throne. The several councillors and nobles made many propositions and suggestions, but at length the minister spoke as follows :—' I have heard it declared by a most learned hermit, that it is affirmed in the divine law that a selection in such cases as this should be thus made : a female elephant, richly adorned, with a chaplet or string of flowers on her trunk, should be let loose in the city, and on whoever she may place this, chaplet of flowers, that same person should be proclaimed king.' This was highly approved of, seconded, and carried by acclama- tion. A female elephant was immediately procured, and, having been completely decorated for the occasion, and the chaplet placed on her trunk, she was allowed to roam at large about the city. At the same time a number of musicians were engaged, who by their performances gave effect to the proceeding; the troops also marched out in warlike array, and paraded on each side of the elephant, which continued to roam about until sunset, without deigning to bestow the chaplet on any of those assembled on the plain, who, one and all, from the prince to the peasant, were clad in their holiday apparel. That day passed, as we have said, without the selection being made; and all the people retired for the night. The next day the ceremony was repeated, but with the same result, and the like on the third day; but on the fourth, the elephant was seen to proceed towards the outskirts of the town, where she encountered the Princess Malattee making towards the city gate, and, going up to her, unhesitatingly put the chaplet around her neck, and then, lifting her gently from off her horse, placed her on her own back. The elephant now

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steadily marched up to the palace, and halted before the minister, councillors, and nobles, who had assembled there in anticipation of paying their homage to their new monarch. There Malattee alighted, and was received with every demonstration of respect and obedience; the air being rent with shouts of ‘Long life and prosperity to the new king!’ The minister and the other members of the court then wished to know by what name she was to be distinguished, and she told them the name of her lover—Soomunt. They then imparted to her the circumstances attending the demise of the late king, and ended by investing her with the royal prerogatives. Shortly after, the courtiers paid their usual homage, and retired to their respective houses. “The new king (who is for the present to be known as Soomunt) was now seated on the throne, having been acknowledged monarch by the whole population. For many days successively the city was in a state of rejoicing, and a profusion of alms were bestowed on the poor; Malattee passing the time in a delirium of joy. The minister then called a council, which afforded the new monarch the greatest pleasure and satisfaction, for Malattee was anxious to obtain intelligence of her absent lover,—as to what part of the world he was in, and in what circumstances situated. She therefore took advantage of the opportunity thus presented, and directed the minister to make it known throughout her dominions that she would hold an anashutre,* to entertain strangers of every description; and that, after they had partaken of the food prepared for them, each and all of them were to present themselves in person before her, to receive the virah.† Arrangements were accordingly made to carry out the anashutre, and persons appointed to invite all devotees and hermits to it. Malattee also fixed upon a time at which to distribute the virah in person.

• A charitable act,—the distribution of food to travellers and wayfarers. † A betel-leaf, rolled up with betel-nut, khat, lime, and spices, ready to be put into the mouth.