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

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innumerable, but have hitherto gained no tidings of my
beloved! I at last thought she might have returned to her
father’s palace, but I have since learned the contrary from
a wicked thief, in the disguise of a mendicant, who told me
how he had taken her away that night from the grove, and
how he was cheated by her under a pretext she formed of
sending him to purchase provisions in the market, during
which interval she escaped. This thief has also, for her
sake, assumed the same disguise as myself. Since I parted
from him up to the present moment, I have been almost a
stranger to rest,—uneasiness of mind and the fatigues of
the journey have totally banished sleep!’ The Princess
Malattee could not but be touched at the recital of the
hardships and sufferings her beloved had undergone. How-
ever, she curbed her inclination a little longer, and said,
‘Well, mendicant, do you intend to wander in search of
her any more? She may be in some unknown place; if
so, how can you expect to find her? She may ere now
have found another lover, still more handsome than your-
self; how then is it possible you can recover her from his
hands? I would advise you to search for her no more.
Live here happily with me: I will procure for you an
excellent and beauteous lady who will respect you in a far
greater degree than did your beloved Malattee.’ ‘Oh,
gracious king!’ said Soomunt in reply, ‘pray hear me.
With regard to women, I have sworn that they shall all be
alike to me: I will never look on one save as a mother or
a sister.’ He then showed her the garland which he had
always carried about with him, at sight of which, and the
associations connected with it then crowding upon her mind,
she was deeply affected, and could scarcely conceal her
emotion. ‘Do you think,’ said she, ‘that if your Malattee
were to meet you in this place you would know her again?’
‘She cannot be here,’ replied he; ‘and I beg you will
excuse me for refusing to accept your invitation to remain.
I would rather that this body of mine should fall gradually
into decay, than that I should prove false to Malattee, and
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