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

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