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

36
of that populous town; and while all admired and praised
him, there was one who conceived against him the deadliest
hatred imaginable, and that person was the discomfited
actress or dancing-girl against whom he had given his deci-
sion. Nothing short of the life of the parrot would satisfy
her. Many were the designs she revolved in her mind to
effect this purpose, till at last, an opportunity offering itself,
she hit upon the following plan. It came to her knowledge
that Dushwant's wife was in bed sick, and she thought this
a fine chance to seek a reconciliation with Dushwant, and
then, by her wiles and deception, to gain a mastery over
him; this object once attained, every facility, she thought,
would be afforded her for executing her foul work. Accord-
ingly, one night, she decked herself out in her best clothes,
so as to set off her charms and symmetry of shape to the
best advantage, and went into Dushwant's house. She
entered his apartment by a secret door that was known to
her, and noiselessly approached the bed on which Dushwant
lay alone, and sat beside him. The unsuspecting Dush-
want was fast asleep, and had been so for some time, as
the night was far advanced when this temptress set out from
her dwelling. Seated beside Dushwant, she began to
bestow on him the softest caresses, and to call on him by
the most endearing and loving epithets. Dushwant here-
upon suddenly awoke, and was astonished to find a female
form near him of such exquisite beauty, which the rays of
the lamp that fell upon her displayed to great advantage,
the mellowness of the light, added to the sombre shade of
the room, rendering her smiling countenance and richly-
jewelled bust like those of a houri, come to keep watch over
the sleeping merchant in his now lonely bed-chamber. She
appeared, indeed, the height of female perfection, and the
softness of her manners and the ingratiating tone of her
speech might have gone far towards overcoming a person of
firmer principle than poor Dushwant. His first words were
expressive of surprise at the visionary being, as he thought,
before him. "Am I awake or asleep?" said he. After