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

170'

by the object dearest to us? Life without love would
become a loathsome burden.'
" Shambae allowed. three days to pass by without
attempting anything further, except that she asked the
princess, in a playful manner, to let her have a sight of
the wonderful sword which had been bestowed by the hermit
on her husband. 'It must be a miraculous one,' said she.
Moheeny was quite ignorant of the villany that lurked
under so much apparent regard and solicitude; she there-
fore did not hesitate to satisfy her in this particular, and,
with that view, conducted her to the inner room. Shambae
marked well the spot where it hung; and, to disarm suspi-
cion, again entered into an eulogistic dissertation on the
sincerity of the prince's attachment to his wife. The widow
determined in her own mind, however, that the prince should
die that night; so she made a fierce fire in the kitchen,
and, after they had all retired for the night, she went on
tip-toe into the room where the sword was suspended, and
stole away with it in her possession. She then hastened to
put it into the fire; and, as it became red-hot, the life of
Prince Sewdass gradually ebbed away, until at length he
expired!
" Next morning, when Moheeny awoke and arose from
her bed, she thought she noticed something unusual in the
appearance of her husband; she therefore tried to awaken
him, but what was her horror at finding that he was stiff
and lifeless! She instantly raised an alarm, and cried for
help. 'Oh, my dear and loving husband!' exclaimed she,
in an agony of grief, 'what is this that has happened to
you? Why lie you there so motionless and still?' She
then rushed from the apartment, calling wildly to Shambae
for assistance, like one suddenly bereft of her senses. The
suspicion of the widow's treachery now for the first time
crossed her mind, and on glancing at the place where the
sword usually hung, her fears were confirmed—it had
disappeared! She wept bitter tears of repentance—she
beat her breast, and tore her hair. 'Unhappy wretch that