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

37

gazing at her for awhile, and feeling his resolution of
having nothing to do with a strange woman fast failing him,
he drew the bed-clothes over his face, and composed him-
self to sleep, as if to shut out the temptress from his view.
But she proceeded to address him, lavishing on him at the
same time the most fond and melting caresses. “My
dear sir,” said she, “this is not a dream, as you imagine,
but a reality. The humblest of your slaves, and the most
devoted of your servants, is here to offer her love at your
feet.” The merchant rose in much anger at this announce-
ment, and asked her how she dared clandestinely to enter
his apartment at that unseasonable hour. “I have some
slight notion of the reason,” said he; “it is the hope of
securing the money you were prevented from extorting from
me at the court the other day that has brought you hither,
and you have some new design for effecting your purpose.
I set no value upon a few gold pieces; but leave me,—leave
me, I tell you, and never more approach me.” “I am in
possession of much wealth,” replied she, “through your bene-
volence and kind-heartedness. I no longer wish for more.
Another and far more devouring passion has brought me
here at the dead of the night;—I am dying of love for you!
—it is fast consuming me,—and unless you give me proofs
of its being reciprocated, alas! I feel I must inevitably
perish, either by my own hands or with the fire within me.
Say,” and she threw herself on her knees, “may I hope
that you will deign to pity me—to ease my poor heart
of the pain which is now fast rending it in pieces? Oh,
speak to me!—let me hear at least a few words of conso-
lation ere you doom me to death and to perdition!” and
she burst into tears. A woman in tears is a moving
and dangerous spectacle, which few can withstand; when to
this were added the position of this designing creature and
the beauty of her person—her eyes glistening with every
demonstration of love, and her bosom heaving in a whirl-
wind of passion, assumed though it was—we can well con-
ceive the peculiar workings of the heart in one whose weak-