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

212
thus coming to my place of residence, the force of your
affection for me, and believe me, mine is not less !' ' I
believe you,' replied Charoo, ' else why those tears—those
tears of joy, and this eagerness and fond solicitude ? I
cannot doubt that you are my own Chitrangee, in a far
more perfect form. But yet how cruelly have you not
behaved to me, in pretending to expire ! I have not had a
moment's peace since our separation. Still, great as have
been my sufferings, I have borne all with fortitude, for
something within me whispered that we should some day
meet again, though I never once expected it would be so
soon. My tears hinder my saying more !' Charoo here
wept copiously, and he felt refreshed thereby. Chitrangee
asked pardon for the deception she had been guilty of, and
informed Charoo of all the particulars regarding herself—how
she had been condemned by Indra to live in the world, and
by what means she had regained her former position. She
was delighted indeed to see Charoo there, though she
grieved to see the havoc which her separation from him had
caused : he was but the shadow of his former self, owing to
the uneasiness of mind he had suffered and the fatigues of
his journey. Chitrangee lost no time, after full explanations
had been given and received, in ordering a splendid bath
to be prepared, where Charoo indulged in a luxury to which
he had been for some time a stranger, after which she
perfumed his person, and, having arrayed him in a complete
suit of the richest materials, ornamented with the finest
pearls and diamonds, conveyed him to a large hall, where
they sat down together on a sandal-wood zopala,* Charoo
feeling greatly improved, both in person and spirits, and the
pleasure he experienced beaming from his sparkling eyes.
The slaves were left standing at a distance from the happy
couple, in order that they might converse more freely.
When dinner was ready, they adjourned to another room,
and there partook of it together, after which they sat

• A swinging cot.