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

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means disappeared from us, and, while we are deploring
your loss, see what this wretched wife of yours has done!'
The princess, after allowing the queen to vent her feelings,
addressed her as follows, in vindication of her conduct:—
'Oh, mother! do not think for one moment that I am
faithless to my husband, or that I can ever lose sight of
what is due to me in my position.' She then explained
all the circumstances connected with her present condition,
and showed the queen the ring which had been given to
her by the prince on the eventful night of his visit, and
which she hoped would dispel every unworthy suspicion in
this delicate affair. But it was of no weight: the queen
examined the ring, and asked the princess why she
did not show the prince to her when he appeared. 'I
have a great and, as it appears to me, reasonable doubt
of the truth of your statement,' said the queen. Return-
ing to her palace, she resolved upon laying the whole
case before the king. She was engaged in devising the
best mode for doing so, when he, as was usual with him
after dismissing his council, presented himself at the door
of the queen's apartment, intending to spend half an hour
with her in conversation. On entering, he found her in a
melancholy mood; he therefore desired to be informed of the
cause of her sadness. She then revealed to him the state
of the princess, and her belief, which she had no ground for
doubting, that the child was the fruit of an illicit amour.
At this the king became greatly incensed against the inno-
cent princess, and much grieved when he thought of the
consequences attending it. 'What dreadful news is this
that I hear?' said he; 'I have scarce got over the wound
inflicted by the untimely fate of my dear child, and for
whom I daily renew my lamentations, but I must meet with
another blow, as if to crush me between them. Was not
the death of my son sufficient to bring my grey hairs in
sorrow to the grave? Must this fresh affliction be also
added to it? The princess has indeed been guilty of a
glaring outrage on the honour of our family by her