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

108

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