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

' 100
up to her as if calling on her to recal those terms of oppro-
brium she had cast upon this innocent victim of circumstantial
evidence. ‘My dear and affectionate child,’ said the aged
queen, ‘ I am sorry for what I in my passion, and under
the fullest impression of your infidelity, launched on your
innocent head. I am fully sensible of the wrong I have
done you, but let me hope that my future conduct towards
you will in some degree atone for it.’ ‘ Ah!’ said the
princess, ‘ do not say so; all that befals us is decreed by
an unerring Providence. Had you not caused me to be
expelled the palace, I might probably have never been
enabled to find means for the recovery of my lost husband :
it is to you that I am indebted for this happiness. Say
not, then, that you have wronged me. The happiness of
this moment more than atones for any amount of privation
I may have been put to, and the latter has been but very
slight indeed, comparatively.’ The king and queen were
highly pleased at this disposition on the part of the injured
princess to forget the past : if it were possible, it raised
her in their estimation in an unparalleled degree, and they
embraced her, with contrition and tears of joy streaming
down their furrowed cheeks. It was too great a happiness
for them to regain their son, whom they had never expected
to see again in this life, and at the same time to find his
wife, whom it was now evident they had unjustly expelled
the palace, placed beyond suspicion, with a fine young king
the fruit of their union. King Bhudrasain, after this,
ordered a banquet to be prepared in honour of the great
event we have recorded,—the meeting together of this
dispersed family,—and it was kept up with all the splendour
of royalty. In a short time he also caused his son, Prince
Soorsain, to be crowned in his stead, and invested with the
royal dignity.
“ The youthful Balsain, during this visit, became
smitten with the charms of a neighbouring princess, and
was soon after married. After some weeks spent in con-
viviality, he took leave of his father and grandsire, and

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returned to his own territory, loaded with presents and
proofs of the estimation in which he was held by all. There,
surrounded by everything that could render a monarch
happy, and in the enjoyment of the blessings of peace, he
continued to reign for a series of years, until he had run
the course allotted to him here below.”
The parrot, having finished the tale, leaped into an
opening in the wall and disappeared, followed by the
wondering gaze of all those assembled in the room, who had
been, as may well be supposed, attentive listeners to the
whole story.
We must now refresh the memory of our readers, and
ask them to go back with us to where we left King Vickra-
madetea, in the guise of a brahmin, with the Princess
Pudmavuntty. King Vickramadetea, it will be remembered,
was engaged in negociating for the hand of Pudmavuntty
on behalf of Prince Duntsain, and had in some degree
succeeded. It only remained for him to get over the
condition attached by the princess of her acquiescence with
his project, which was to make her laugh and speak four
different times successively ; and it was to effect this that
Vickramadetea had called in the aid of the spirit Veytal,
who, under the assumed form of a parrot, entered upon the
tale just related. They were yet engaged in praising the
parrot, who had helped them to wile away the heavy hours
of night with his interesting story, and wondering at the
unlooked-for depth of understanding and grasp of thought
(if we may so say) displayed by this tiny creature, when a
Shaloonky,* represented in a painting on the wall of the
princess’ apartment, became animated, and took her seat
upon a chowrung before them. Who this Shaloonky was,
and the purport of her visit, shall form the subject of another
chapter.
* A bird, Gracula religiosa.
152486

102
CHAPTER VII.
Veytal reappears, in the form of a bird called Shaloonky, and com-
mences to relate the history of Queen Shoodhamutty, her son
Soomunt, and the Princess Malattee.
WHEN Veytal, as the parrot, had left the presence of
Vickramadetea and the princess, he transformed himself into
a Shaloonky, who, as we said at the conclusion of the last
chapter, took up her place, to the wonder of the gaping assem-
bly, on a chowrung. She remained there for some time,
shaking her wings and attracting attention in a most singular
manner. Vickramadetea observing this, and knowing well
that the Shaloonky was no other, as has been already said,
than the spirit Veytal, requested her to oblige the company
with one of those very interesting tales which abounded alike
in good sense and instruction. He said it would be very
acceptable, and would prevent them from falling asleep during
the remainder of the night. "The parrot has but just left us,"
said he, "after recounting one of those admirable stories,
which caused the time to pass agreeably away. I hope you
will not be less obliging." The Shaloonky replied, "Oh,
my good brahmin! your mode of address inclines me to
comply with your wish, but you must be aware that I cannot
do so without the sanction of my mistress. I am her slave,
and must receive my orders from her before I engage in
anything." The princess remained silent, as before, and
would not deign a reply. "Never mind the princess, your
mistress," said Vickramadetea; "be good enough to proceed
with your story; you will much oblige me by it." "I am
aware of your anxiety to hear me, and I am equally disposed
to gratify you, but you must excuse me if I refuse you the
gratification unless I am warranted by the bidding of your
hostess, my sovereign lady." The Shaloonky being appa-

103
rently determined not to proceed with her story without the
express command of the princess, and curiosity being at its
height among the attendants and slaves there assembled,
they ventured to address the princess. "May it please
you, good lady, to direct the Shaloonky to gratify our
eagerness to hear her story. It will, we feel assured, afford
us no small amount of pleasure and amusement, as we
doubt not it will be an excellent one,—as good as, if not
better than the one the parrot amused us with a while ago."
The princess was still silent, but the Veytal, by the peculiar
powers of which he was possessed, influenced her mind, when
she laughed involuntarily and bade the Shaloonky commence
her narrative. Whereupon, after having noticed that the
princess both laughed and spoke at the same time, she began
as follows :—
"In the city of Kawnty there lived a king named Kashei-
shwer, and his queen Shoodhamutty, with an only child
called Soomunt. According to the usual course of events,
after a long and peaceful reign, this king expired, full of
years and honour. Shortly after this sad occurrence, one
of the neighbouring princes, who had long had an eye upon
the kingdom of the deceased monarch, invaded it with a
powerful army. The queen fled with her infant, who was
but ten years old, without casting a thought behind.
Weighed down with grief for the loss of her husband, she
could ill take the active measures that were needed on such
an occasion : she left all in the hands of her subordinates.
She feared lest the fortunes of war should place her and
the heir to the throne in the hands of their enemy, who
might be induced to remove her dear child by some foul
means, thus to put an end to all future contentions. She
had not proceeded far when news reached her of the success
of the invasion, and she thanked heaven that she with her
child had escaped the unscrupulous enemy. Her patience
was sorely tried by the hardships and privations she had to
endure during her journey. Without any fixed placed to

104
go to, without the means of supplying herself and the infant
with nourishment, and, more than all, without any apparent
means of regaining her dominions and avenging the injury
offered to her, she was indeed wretched in the extreme.
Still, onward she went, remedying as much as in her lay
these great evils, though, indeed, such remedies cannot be
said to have by any means brought her the slightest relief.
For a time she subsisted by parting one by one with the
ornaments and jewels she had on when she fled from the
palace : when these were all gone, alas ! her condition was
miserable indeed. How many a day did, this fond mother
deprive herself of food, that a sufficiency might be afforded
her child ! But this could not last long ; nature would not
permit it. Without food she must sink. She was in the
very last stage of weakness : a feather's weight might have
sealed her fate. The cravings of hunger she tried to appease
by partaking of the wild fruits of the forest, and this but
added to her sufferings. In this state, between hope (faint
though it was) and despair, she thought of a brother she
had, also a king, who was immensely rich and very power-
ful. This idea, as it crossed her mind, cheered the dreari-
ness with which she was enveloped, and raised her sinking
heart. Towards him, therefore, she turned her steps. He
was reigning in a city far from where she then was ; and the
condition in which she arrived there may therefore be better
conceived than described. No sooner did she present
herself before the king her brother than he was struck dumb
with the woeful picture of want and misery his sister
presented. He received her with open arms, and soothed
her grief with many words of consolation and the promise
of seeing her righted, if possible. After hearing her rela-
tion of all the sufferings she had undergone, and the cruel
usage she had endured from the invader of her husband's
dominions, he addressed her thus : ' Let me entreat you,
dear sister, great as are the wrongs which have been heaped
upon you, not to give way. Be assured that the Almighty
never wills a thing without a good design. Though the

105
events that have happened to you may appear to the short-
sighted vision of man as cruel and unmerited in the extreme,
some good will most probably be the result. In the mean
while, you are welcome to my palace and to my arms. You
may for the future reside here with your child, whose
education I take upon myself. You will here meet with
every deference due to your exalted rank.’ This in a great
measure helped to assuage the grief of the widowed queen,
and she took up her abode, with her infant, under the
protection of her brother, with whom she lived in the greatest
comfort and harmony.
“The brother of the unfortunate Shoodhamutty had a
daughter about four years old, who was called Malattee.
Her virtues, modest deportment, and fascinating manners,
won the esteem and love of all who came in contact with her.
In beauty she rivalled Rutty.* One day this youthful
princess was engaged in the amusements to which children
are more or less addicted, when her father happened to pass
by. She looked so beautiful, with the flush on her cheek
called forth by the eagerness with which she pursued her
game, that the father stopped to admire her. After gazing
for awhile, unseen by her, he approached her, clasped her
to his affectionate bosom, and loaded her with kisses.
While so engaged he addressed her in the most affectionate
words. ‘Daughter,’ said he, ‘you have now arrived at an
age fitted to receive good and useful impressions; I there-
fore wish to send you to school. You must endeavour to
make yourself acquainted with everything fitted to adorn
your rank and position, and the station in life which you
will some day or other be called upon to fill.’ That same
day he ordered a clever Pundit to be brought to him, and
entrusted the child to his care, directing him to instruct
her in the first instance in the accomplishments suited to
her capacity, and by degrees to lead her mind to higher and
nobler acquisitions; in short, to pay every possible attention
to her improvement. The Pundit, in obedience to the

• The spouse of the God of Love.
  O

106
command of his sovereign, took the princess under-his care,
and at once began to impart to her the first lessons.
“ A few days after this occurrence, the widow of Kashei-
shwer, having discovered that her brother had sent his
daughter to school, requested that he would place her son
Soomunt also under the care of the Pundit, being of an age
when he should commence his studies. The king, her
brother, acceded to the request, and recommended the youth
to the Pundit, at the same time giving strict injunctions to
the pedagogue to take as much care of his nephew as he
bestowed upon the princess, and on no account to make the
slightest difference between them, as he cared equally. for
both. The Pundit did as he was directed, and took them
both under his tuition. From that day the Princess
Malattee and Prince Soomunt became fondly attached to
each other, and their love increased and gained strength
with their years.
“ One day, the princess, being in a cheerful humour. and
exuberant spirits, was engaged in discussing a variety of
subjects with the prince, and began playfully to tease him
while arguing with him. Prince Soomunt penetrated her
thoughts, and knowing the motives which prompted her,
felt much grieved, so he begged her to desist from such
proofs of her regard. He desired her, also, to converse with
him no longer in that strain. ‘ Princess,’ said he, ‘ why do
you thus tempt me? Is there any hope of your becoming
my wife?’ ‘ Ah, yes!’ said she, ‘ there can be no doubt
that I am destined to become your partner for life, and if
you do not object to it, I here promise to be constant to
you.’ ‘ My good princess,’ replied the youth, ‘ think well,
I entreat you, ere you pledge yourself to anything. How
can I place any reliance on what you may now feel disposed
to say? You are but a child yet, and do not know what
you promise. Consult your parents first, and take their
advice : ascertain whether they are favourable to our union.
You should be guided by them in all things, for it is your
duty so to be. They are older and wiser than yourself, and

107
therefore better able to enter into such momentous subjects.
They have, I doubt not, already formed a plan for your
disposal,—perhaps intending to wed you to some other
prince; and though my heart may break in such case, I
must submit to my fate. It would ill become me, a depen-
dant on your father’s bounty, to raise my voice against it.’
‘You may rely on what I now say,’ rejoined the princess;
‘I swear to you that with none other but yourself will I
ever marry. I have bestowed my maiden affections on you:
all others can be nothing more to me than what they are
now.’ The prince, observing the determined tone in which
the princess spoke, could not doubt her sincerity, and
therefore said, ‘My dear Malattee, I resign myself entirely
to you, and swear in my turn never to forsake you. No
other woman shall be allowed even for a moment to contend
for the place you must ever after this hold in my heart.’
Thus their first declaration of love ended in their swearing
mutual constancy, nor did it once pass beyond their own
bosoms. Their affection for each other daily increased, be-
ing strengthened indissolubly by their constant intercourse.
“The princess was now fast approaching the age at which
it was thought desirable, by the nobility and princes of
those days, that she should enter the hymeneal state. The
king, her father, therefore ordered his minister to make
overtures to a prince whom he thought fitted, both in
person and acquirements, to receive his daughter in mar-
riage. The minister told the king that ere he set about this
mission it would be nothing but right that they should
consult with a Josey* as to a good and auspicious hour at
which to determine the matter, which was accordingly done.
Having been directed by the Josey as to the precise time
of departure and so forth, the minister commenced his
journey, with a select band of retainers, and proceeded to
the city of Brumhapoory, towards the north. After a short
and prosperous journey he arrived at that city, and presented
himself with his credentials before the reigning sovereign.

• An astrologer.

108

The king was pleased to think that so powerful a monarch
as he whose minister was now at his court should seek his
alliance; and being convinced at a glance, as it were, of
the advantages to be derived from it, he proceeded, as a
preliminary of what was to follow, to receive the minister
with every demonstration of joy and respect. He said that
he had an only son, who was considered to be a youth of
no mean parts; it would be perhaps wrong in him to eulo-
gise his own child, but he would introduce him to the
minister, who would thus be able to judge for himself. For
his own part, he would be only too happy to meet the wishes
of the king who sought thus to strengthen their friendship.
If his son should be pleased with the description given of
the princess, and the minister satisfied with the prince,
nothing would remain but to fix a day on which to consum-
mate the union. The prince was soon after introduced to
the minister, who was struck at the very first with his
beauty and bearing: In conversation the young man dis-
played such wisdom and power of thought, that, so far as
he was able to form an opinion in so short a time, the
minister considered him to be a fit and acceptable partner
for the princess on whose behalf he had been sent. He
therefore expressed his satisfaction to the prince’s father, and
promised him, on the part of his king, that the prince
should be accepted as the future husband of the Princess
Malattee; requesting at the same time that all the necessary
preparations should be made for the marriage ceremony.
Shortly after this he took leave of the monarch, and returned
to his own city, where, with much joy, he communicated to
his sovereign the successful termination of his mission, and
the good fortune he had met with in securing a prince in
every respect worthy of the honor,—the son of the king of
Brumhapoory. He added that the king, accompanied by
the prince and his whole court, would in a short time come
to celebrate the marriage of the young couple. The king
was delighted to hear what the minister had to say in favor
of his future son-in-law, and of the success he had met

109
with, and gave immediate directions for everything necessary
and suitable to be prepared for the occasion.
"The news of the approaching nuptials of the Princess
Malattee with a foreign prince, spread like wildfire, and the
unfortunate Prince Soomunt heard it among the rest. He
instantly sought an interview with his cousin, and having
obtained it, said to her, 'My dear Malattee, can you explain
the meaning of so much bustle, confusion, and preparation,
as I observe throughout the palace?' The princess replied,
that she knew not what it meant, and asked in her turn if
the prince could enlighten her on the subject. Soomunt
looked searchingly at her for a moment, and then said,
'Princess, I need hardly say that it will now be impossible
for you to fulfil your engagement with me, and it would
perhaps be wrong in me to expect you to do so. The pre-
parations that you now see going forward are the prelude
to your marriage with a foreign prince, son of the king of
Brumhapoory, whom your father has accepted as your
future husband.' The prince's looks did not accord with his
apparent composure, and the princess perceiving it, replied,
'My dearest prince—my love!—do not allow yourself to
be thus disturbed. If my father has pledged his royal
word to unite me to the prince you have but just mentioned,
recollect that I have long, long before that, bestowed my
affections on you, and sealed the compact with a solemn
oath to become yours and none other's. I am solely yours,
and I call heaven to witness that I will never go back from
my word, and thus be guilty of perjury and ingratitude.
Depend on me. Compose yourself and be patient. Let
the bridegroom come!' So saying, the lovers separated.
"Every preparation being completed, the king sent for
the sovereign of Brumhapoory, and invited a large number
of friends on both sides to be present at the feast. He
erected a commodious and very richly-furnished building
for the reception of visitors, and for the celebration of the
marriage ceremony. The king of Brumhapoory soon after
arrived, and with him a numerous host of friends, relatives,

110
and retainers, as well as a number of elephants and horses,
and a large army, all richly and gracefully adorned, befitting
the grand and joyous occasion. The princess' father hearing
of it, went forth with a retinue to honor the king of Brum-
hapoory, and to lead him into the city, after the usual
simunt poojea.* Having performed all the ceremonies
usual on such occasions, they entered the city together,
amidst the joyful shouts of the people, and spent the day
in great festivity. On the following day they worshipped
the customary divinity, according to the established prac-
tice, and it was agreed that the marriage should take place
the same night at twelve o'clock. The king, Malattee's
father, conducted his guests, both nobles and princes, in
procession, to bring the bridegroom to his house ; the queen
also accompanied them, with the ladies of the court and the
wives of the nobles and citizens, to honour the bridegroom's
mother.
“It was now nearly eight o'clock, and the bride was
seated in the palace, near the Gowrihar.† The inmates of
the palace were all engaged in their respective employments,
and the attendants of the princess, overcome by sleep, had
extended themselves one after the other on the floor. The
princess, at intervals, anxiously looked around, to see if
Prince Soomunt were visible, but he was not to be found.
He had intended accompanying her father to escort the
bridegroom, but with much grief and suffering and many
inward pangs. He went a short distance, but he felt so
oppressed that he could go no further; he therefore returned
to the palace without the knowledge of any one, nor did
the king or anybody else notice the grief that was weighing
him down : they were too much elated with the joy they
felt at the approaching nuptials to perceive it. As soon as .
the prince reached the palace, he proceeded at once towards

• The honours and courtesies paid at the village boundary, or in
  the temple, to the bridegroom.
  † The name under which Shiva and Parvutty are worshipped at
  marriage ceremonies.

111

the apartment in which he thought he was likely to find
the princess, intending to take his last fond leave of her.
The princess saw him, and having beckoned him to approach
nearer, herself advancing towards him, said, ‘There is in
my father’s stable a horse very swift of foot,—he can go
over twelve yojuns in an hour. Do not lose time : go and
bring him here, saddled and bridled.’ The prince immedi-
ately went in search of the horse, the princess in the mean
while occupying herself in selecting some clothes and valu-
ables ; having secured which, and the horse also being just
then brought by the prince, they both mounted him, and,
leaving the palace, went out of the city by an unfrequented
road. They went on, without once stopping, until they
arrived at a grove in which there were a number of mango
trees in full bearing. Just then it occurred to the princess
that she had forgotten to bring with her a valuable garland,
composed of nine sorts of jewels, which had been prepared
for the occasion of her wedding, but had left it at the
Gowrihar, where she was seated when the prince met her
on his return from the marriage procession. She appeared
very anxious to obtain this garland ; the prince therefore
proposed that she should wait at the grove while he went
back to the palace to recover it, promising to return in a
short time. The night being far advanced and extremely
dark, and the distance to be traversed very great, the
princess was unwilling to allow the prince to hazard the
risk of the attempt ; he, however, assured her he would
take every precaution, and not stay long away from her.
To prevent any mistake on his return, and that she might
be sure none other than himself approached her in the
darkness of the night, he said he would utter a peculiar
sound as a signal, which was agreed upon between the
lovers. He then left her in the grove, under cover of the
foliage of the trees, and directed his steps towards the
palace. He was not long in gaining admittance there,
unnoticed by any of the numerous attendants who now
thronged the court-yard and every avenue leading to the

`112

royal mansion. He recovered the treasure, in short, and
began to retrace his steps to where he had left the princess
anxiously praying for the success of his mission and for his
speedy arrival.
"The locality in which the luckless Malattee had found
a temporary shelter was infested by a notorious gang of
thieves, one of whom, unfortunately, happened to be near
enough to overhear the parting dialogue of the lovers.
Allowing a sufficient time to elapse, the thief approached
the princess, and gave the signal agreed upon. As soon as
the princess heard it, and without in the least suspecting
it could be any one but the prince, she hastened delightedly
forward to meet him. Though her anxiety of mind and
apprehension had been very acute during the short interval
which had elapsed, she felt amply repaid for it now. Coming
up, therefore, to him whom she imagined to be the prince,
she held out her hand and welcomed him. The impostor
did not allow her to enter into any lengthy talk, but
immediately brought forward the horse that had been left
standing beside her, and urged her speedily to resume her
seat. The poor victim, fearing that perhaps the prince had
been discovered, and was pursued by her father’s men, lost
not a moment in complying, and thus, seated beside the
thief, she was carried along with great swiftness, under the
experienced guidance of one to whom every inch of ground
was familiar. The darkness was so intense that they could
not see each other’s faces, neither could the princess speak,
so great was the rapidity with which they travelled; the
wily thief, also, preserved a strict silence, which the princess
attributed to the same cause. The morning was now fast
breaking, and the warblings of the feathered songsters of
the woods began to be heard. Malattee, finding that the
horse had been made to slacken his pace, was congratulating
herself and the prince upon their escape. She was now
quite easy in her mind, thinking that their pursuers, if any
there were, must now have been left so far behind as to be
unable to overtake or even trace them. In this state of

mind she addressed her companion in the Sanscrit, the
language usually employed by princes and nobles in those
days, but the thief, not being familiar with it, could not
respond to the sentiments she expressed, many of which
called for reply. She, as may naturally be concluded, was
surprised at this unusual silence on the part of the prince,
who formerly had barely allowed a word to escape her
without participating fully in her feelings and responding
to them, or, if wrong, gently correcting them. At this
time, too, there was sufficient light for distinguishing each
other, and, oh!—with what horror and dismay did she not
behold, as she turned an inquiring glance on the man
beside her, the countenance which was presented to her
wondering eyes! He had neither nose nor ears,—his right
hand had been cut off at the wrist,—he was black and
dirty, coarsely clad, and presented altogether a most
unseemly and revolting appearance! She screamed at the
sight of this wretched and frightful-looking being, and soon
lost all her presence of mind. He tried to soothe her, and
the princess, becoming gradually aware of the position she
was in, and suspecting into what hands she had fallen, was
wise and considerate enough not to carry her antipathy too
far, lest he should be provoked to ill-treat her. She became
at last calm; her sorrow, however, weighed heavily upon
her, and she was in all respects an object of pity; yet she
very prudently refrained from audibly expressing the agony
of her feelings.
“ It was now broad day, the sun began to shed forth his
lustre from the heavens, and they were approaching a city
which stood before them. The thief, addressing Malattee,
said, ‘ Fair princess, I wish you to understand that I am a
resident in yonder city. I am about to convey you to my
house, and it is my earnest request that you will for the
future consider yourself mistress of all I possess. By
attending to my concerns and presiding over my domestic
affairs, you will secure for yourself a happy retreat, and
also enjoy every sort of pleasure.’ Malattee disguised her
P

114
feelings, and said, ‘Your kindness overpowers me! What
you have proposed is quite agreeable to me, and accords
with my wishes. I will do as you please. But hearken to
what I have to say : it is now broad daylight; if I were
to accompany you into the city, it is more than probable
that we should attract attention. Some of the king’s attend-
ants or domestics might meet us, and, seeing me in your
company, would immediately suspect you of having become
possessed of me by some foul means. Acting upon such a
conclusion they will most assuredly separate us, do you
some grievous harm, or detain you in custody. What will
then become of me? Your kindness and humane disposi-
tion have greatly pleaded for you, and I feel now that I
could not have fallen into better hands. Would you then
be so cruel as to work your own ruin and mine, by exposing
yourself to the consequences of being seen with me in the
public thoroughfare? Let me entreat you to consent to
pass the day with me in some secluded place, and we can
enter the city at night.’ She displayed such evident signs
of sincerity in all she said, that the thief was quite vain
enough to think he had touched her heart. He therefore
thought the advice good, and accordingly resolved upon
acting on it. They went into one of the gardens, which
were numerous in the outskirts of the town, there to
await the approach of night. The princess first alighted
from the horse, and the thief followed. She then opened
the saddle-bags, took out some gold coins, and, giving them
to her companion, said, ‘Go you to the market-place and
procure some provisions for us, and, above all, do not forget
to purchase a vessel that will contain food for two.’ The
thief was so smitten with the charms of the princess, and so
thoroughly convinced of his feelings being reciprocated,
that no suspicion found an entrance for a moment into his
mind, so completely had the princess hoodwinked him. He
set off for the market, as he had been bidden, and purchased
all that he had been directed, as well as various other
articles which he thought would be acceptable to the princess.

115 ·
In the mean while, no sooner had the thief turned his back,
than the princess, divesting herself of her garments, dressed
herself in those of Prince Soomunt, and by this means she
wrought so complete a transformation in her appearance that
her nearest friends would scarcely have recognised her. She
lost no time in mounting her horse, and then set off on her
flight, taking the forward road, being afraid to retrace
her path, lest she should be pursued and overtaken by the
thief.
“ Shortly after the princess had made her escape, the
thief returned, loaded with the purchases he had been
making, but, to his utter confusion and disappointment, he
found that both the horse and the princess had disappeared.
Now, only, did the deluded wretch became sensible of the
ruse put on him by the princess to lull his suspicions, the
result of which he but too painfully felt. So enamoured
had he become of the princess, that he was like one beside
himself when the truth for the first time flashed across his
mind;—he swore, stamped his feet, and displayed all the
symptoms of an ungovernable and inordinate passion.
Overcome by his violence, he sank to the ground in an
agony of despair, and deplored his misfortune, as he termed
it, in the following strain :—‘ Ah ! what an execrable fool
am I ! Almost at the very moment when, without any pains
on my part, this treasure of inestimable worth was thrown
in my way, I have, by my own folly and blindness, lost it
for ever ! I am the most miserable of beings ! Unlucky
I am and have been, and unlucky I shall remain through
life ! As well might a string of pearls be given to an ape,
a brilliant jewel to one born blind, or a soft and impressive
speech be addressed to a deaf man ! I have proved myself
little or no better than these. The cup that was offered
to me contained all that man could desire, and yet have I,
like an idiot,—a fool, a blind infatuated fool !—dashed it
from my lips, and turned from the proffered boon !’ In a
state bordering on despair, and fully determined not to con-
tinue living in the world as he had so far done, he dyed his

116
clothes brown, converted his dress into that of a devotee,
and went roaming about different countries, in the exercise
of penance and religious duties.
“The princess in the mean time had gone far on her
travels. One hot day, as she was leisurely proceeding along,
she overheard an altercation between two young men.
They were pupils of an ascetic, who, before he died, a short
time previous, had bequeathed three different articles to
them, which were to be equally divided. They could not,
however, come to an amicable settlement as regarded the
partition of the bequest. They were yet disputing when
the princess, still in disguise, happened to ride past them.
They resolved to appeal to her, which was accordingly done.
Nearly in the same breath they unfolded to her the cause
of their dispute. The princess desired to know what were
the three things which had been left to them by their tutor;
upon which they produced a wallet, a bowl or plate, and a
pair of wooden shoes. The princess then asked them to
inform her of the use of these articles. In their simplicity
they told her that the plate, if duly reverenced and entreated,
would yield forthwith an abundance of shoodpukwan,* that
the wallet would produce any amount of gold, and that the
shoes would transport their owner to any part of the world
on his merely expressing the wish. Malattee, on hearing
this explanation, said that she could not pronounce any
judgment unless they agreed to abide by it, and to do as
she would bid them. Being desirous to put an end to their
contention, they at once consented to this, whereupon she
pointed to a tree at a distance, and said, ‘He who returns
first to me after running to that tree and touching it, shall
become the possessor of two of these articles, and the other
shall take the remaining one for his share.’ They agreed
to this, and, placing the three articles in the hands of their
umpire, started away at their utmost speed towards the
tree. When they had placed a good distance between
them and the princess, the latter, availing herself of the

• Pure confectionery.

117 .
favorable opportunity that now presented itself, whipped
her horse and sped away at a rapid rate in an opposite
direction, with the valuable articles in her possession. She
did not draw rein until she had gallopped over some fifteen
yojuns of road. The two pupils, having touched the tree
indicated, ran back one after the other to receive from the
hands of the umpire what had fallen to their respective
shares ; but how great was their astonishment and dismay
at finding that both the rider and the horse had disappeared
whilst they had been engaged in contending for the prize,
and with them also the three valuable articles, which were
their all. They examined every nook in which they thought
the umpire might have concealed himself, but all to no
purpose, and at length they gave up the search in despair.
It was now that they become conscious of the absurdity of
their dispute, whereby, not only had neither reaped the
slightest benefit, but a stranger had become enriched: ‘ It
is a just punishment,’ said they, ‘ and will teach us to be
more discreet and less confiding for the future.’ Neverthe-
less, they grieved much for their loss. It has been truly
observed that internal commotions profit only those who
hover around the contending parties ; the latter are never
benefitted. Thus two brothers, disputing each other's
claim on the property left by a parent, go to law, and are
thereby drained of every coin they possess, until at length,
lacking the means of carrying on the litigation, they are
left impoverished, powerless, and full of remorse for their
want of foresight and their mismanagement.
“ The Princess Malattee, during her flight, might have
been observed to scan the horizon from time to time, to see
if she were pursued ; and, as no sign betokened such to
be the case, she stopped her horse, and entered a temple of
Shiva, which was near. Having paid her devotions to the
idol, she reposed there for the remainder of the day. While
there, she thought frequently of Prince Soomunt, and felt
great anxiety as to his fate. She spent most of the night
in endeavouring to devise some mode by which to obtain

118
intelligence of him, but nothing likely to succeed occurred
to her ; it was with a heavy heart, therefore, that she set
out on her journey on the morrow. About noon she reached
a large city, the king of which, as she heard, had lately died
and left no successor,—neither son, brother, cousin, or any
other relative. The minister, after the last sad rites had
been paid to the deceased monarch, summoned a council
to elect a person to fill the throne. The several councillors
and nobles made many propositions and suggestions, but
at length the minister spoke as follows :—' I have heard it
declared by a most learned hermit, that it is affirmed in the
divine law that a selection in such cases as this should be
thus made : a female elephant, richly adorned, with a
chaplet or string of flowers on her trunk, should be let loose
in the city, and on whoever she may place this, chaplet of
flowers, that same person should be proclaimed king.' This
was highly approved of, seconded, and carried by acclama-
tion. A female elephant was immediately procured, and,
having been completely decorated for the occasion, and
the chaplet placed on her trunk, she was allowed to roam
at large about the city. At the same time a number of
musicians were engaged, who by their performances gave
effect to the proceeding; the troops also marched out in
warlike array, and paraded on each side of the elephant,
which continued to roam about until sunset, without
deigning to bestow the chaplet on any of those assembled on
the plain, who, one and all, from the prince to the peasant,
were clad in their holiday apparel. That day passed, as
we have said, without the selection being made; and all the
people retired for the night. The next day the ceremony
was repeated, but with the same result, and the like on the
third day; but on the fourth, the elephant was seen to
proceed towards the outskirts of the town, where she
encountered the Princess Malattee making towards the city
gate, and, going up to her, unhesitatingly put the chaplet
around her neck, and then, lifting her gently from off her
horse, placed her on her own back. The elephant now

119

steadily marched up to the palace, and halted before the
minister, councillors, and nobles, who had assembled there
in anticipation of paying their homage to their new monarch.
There Malattee alighted, and was received with every
demonstration of respect and obedience; the air being rent
with shouts of ‘Long life and prosperity to the new king!’
The minister and the other members of the court then
wished to know by what name she was to be distinguished,
and she told them the name of her lover—Soomunt. They
then imparted to her the circumstances attending the
demise of the late king, and ended by investing her with the
royal prerogatives. Shortly after, the courtiers paid their
usual homage, and retired to their respective houses.
“The new king (who is for the present to be known
as Soomunt) was now seated on the throne, having been
acknowledged monarch by the whole population. For many
days successively the city was in a state of rejoicing, and a
profusion of alms were bestowed on the poor; Malattee
passing the time in a delirium of joy. The minister then
called a council, which afforded the new monarch the greatest
pleasure and satisfaction, for Malattee was anxious to obtain
intelligence of her absent lover,—as to what part of the
world he was in, and in what circumstances situated. She
therefore took advantage of the opportunity thus presented,
and directed the minister to make it known throughout her
dominions that she would hold an anashutre,* to entertain
strangers of every description; and that, after they had
partaken of the food prepared for them, each and all of them
were to present themselves in person before her, to receive
the virah.† Arrangements were accordingly made to carry
out the anashutre, and persons appointed to invite all
devotees and hermits to it. Malattee also fixed upon a
time at which to distribute the virah in person.

• A charitable act,—the distribution of food to travellers and
  wayfarers.
  † A betel-leaf, rolled up with betel-nut, khat, lime, and spices,
  ready to be put into the mouth.