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

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allow to be developed in its own time in the course of the
narrative.
“The king of that city was very virtuous and exceedingly
rich. He had seven children, all daughters, who were very
handsome in their way ; and the only thing that grieved
him was the want of a male child on whom to bestow the
weight of the crown he had worn for a series of years with
credit and honor. Every time his wife, the queen, became
pregnant, he was buoyed up with hope, and as often had
he been disappointed. In the present case his feelings took
another turn : he was enraged to think that he should be
thus baulked in his expectations, and he swore that if the
queen did not present him with a son, he would discard her
as unworthy to share in the honors of his exalted rank and
position. This cruel mandate threw the queen into great
dejection, and she was heard to say, ‘I do not know what
fate may have reserved for me, but should it be the will of
God again to give me a female child, I must strive to
replace the child with a boy.’ She was, however, at a loss
how to effect this desirable but unnatural end. In this
dilemma she thought of consulting the midwife who usually
attended upon her, and who happened to be the same whose
services had been engaged by the actress. She sent for
this trafficker in children, and disclosed to her what so heavily
weighed on her mind. She said that the midwife would
confer a great obligation on her by attending to her request,
and exhorted her to render her assistance without the least
apprehension in a matter of so great moment. ‘The king,
my lord and husband,’ said the disconsolate queen, ‘has
expressly told me that if in this my eighth confinement I do
not present him with a son, he will abandon me, and never
more see me, on which account I am much troubled in
mind, not knowing what will be the issue. I therefore beg
you will, soon after my delivery, in case I shall have given
birth to a female child, exchange it for a male one, which
you must procure in its stead. I hope you will not refuse
to do me this invaluable piece of service; you are well fitted