Hindoo Tales Part 11

With this I entirely agreed, and we prepared for defence. As I had expected, the king, finding how he had been deceived, sent soldiers to take us; but, though they made many attempts, we drove them back day after day, with very small loss to ourselves.

Meanwhile, fearing lest we should at last be overpowered, if something more were not done, I determined, if possible, to seize the person of the king; and, as my father's house was not far from the palace, I began to make an underground pa.s.sage inside, in order to reach his sleeping-room, the exact position of which I had learnt from my father. After digging for some distance, I came, to my great astonishment, into a large, lofty, well-lighted room, occupied by a number of women, among whom was a young lady of surpa.s.sing beauty, resembling the wife of Kama, or the tutelary G.o.ddess of the city, who had hidden herself here to avoid the sight of so much wickedness above.

The women were equally astonished at seeing me, and ran away, alarmed, into other adjoining rooms. One old woman, however, remained behind, and, falling at my feet, said "Have pity on us poor helpless women; surely thou art a G.o.d, for no mortal could have thus found his way hither. O tell us why thou art come."

"Calm yourself," I answered, "You have nothing to fear from me. I am Arthapala, the son of the minister Kamapala and the Princess Kantimati, and have come thus unexpectedly on you while making an underground pa.s.sage from my father's house to the palace; but tell me who you all are, and how you come to be living here."

"O prince," she answered, "I had heard of your birth, but not of your preservation, and happy am I now to see you. Know that the young lady whom you have just seen is the granddaughter of your maternal grandfather, Chandasinha. The eldest son of that king died before his father, leaving his wife pregnant, and she lost her life in giving birth to this daughter, who was committed to my care. One day the king sent for me, and said: 'I intend this child when grown up to be given in marriage to Darpasara, son of the King of Malwa; and, remembering the misconduct of her aunt, I am determined that nothing of the kind shall happen with her. I have therefore caused a s.p.a.cious palace to be made underground, and have furnished it with provisions and all other necessaries for even a hundred years. I have great confidence in you; you will therefore go down into this subterranean dwelling, taking with you the princess and such attendants as you may think desirable, and will remain there until she is grown up, when I shall fetch you from below, and give her in marriage as I have intended.' So saying, he lifted up a small trap-door in the court-yard close to his own apartment, and showed me the steps leading to this place. The next day we all came down, and have remained here ever since. Twelve years have now pa.s.sed, and the king seems to have forgotten us. I must tell you also that the princess, though destined by her grandfather for Darpasara, was originally intended for you; for her mother, while the child was as yet unborn, promised that her daughter should become the wife of the son of Kantimati if he should ever return. Look on her, therefore, as your intended, and do what is best for us."

Having received this account from the old woman, I told her to have no fear on the princess's account, but to trust entirely in me, and that I would soon liberate them from their long and tedious imprisonment.

She then took a lamp and showed me the steps leading to the trap-door, which I forced open, and soon found my way into the king's bed-room.

There, before he was sufficiently awake to call for help, I seized, gagged, and bound him, and dragging him along, as an ichneumon drags a serpent, past the astonished women and through the tunnel which I had made, I brought him, trembling with fear and bowed down by shame, to my father's house, and showed him to my parents, telling them how I had captured him, and how I had discovered the princess in the subterranean palace.

When the seizure of the king was known, those who were previously well-disposed to my father immediately joined us, and all opposition ceased.

Soon afterwards I married the princess, who looked on me as her deliverer from the dungeon; Sinhaghosha was deposed; and I, having double claim to the throne, was acknowledged king in his stead.

Hearing that the King of Anga, a devoted friend of your father, was at war, and attacked by a strong enemy, we have marched hither with an army to his a.s.sistance, and I have had the pleasure of helping to deliver him from his enemies, and the still greater happiness of meeting with you. I now beg of you to decide what shall be done with the deposed king, our prisoner, whom we have brought with us. My mother is very anxious to liberate him, but hitherto it has not been thought safe to do so.

The prince answered: "Let that unworthy young man be freed, on condition of giving up all claim to the throne and leading a private life; and let him devote himself to pious meditation, which is the purifier of evil deeds." Then turning with a kind look to Pramati, he said: "Do you now relate your adventures," with which request he at once complied:--

ADVENTURES OF PRAMATI.

My lord, while wandering like the rest of your friends in search of you, I found myself one evening in a large forest, far from any habitation. Thinking it useless to attempt to go further in an unknown country and in darkness, I prepared to sleep there. Having bathed in the water of a small lake, and made myself a bed of leaves, I lay down under a large tree, commending myself to the deities presiding over the place, and was very soon asleep.

Presently a strange and delightful feeling came over me, gladdening my inmost soul; and I awoke, hardly knowing whether what I saw was a reality or a dream, for on looking round me I saw that I was no longer in the forest, but in a very large and lofty room, lying on a soft couch with white muslin curtains; all around me were a number of sleeping women. Among them my eyes were especially attracted towards a young lady of exceeding beauty, lying in a very graceful att.i.tude, covered only by a silken petticoat, her bosom slowly rising and falling, and her bud-like lower lip quivering with the soft movement of the breath in quiet sleep.

Lost in astonishment, I said to myself; "What has become of that great forest wrapt in darkness? How is my bed of leaves exchanged for this soft couch? Whence is this dome above me, lofty as the great temple of Siva? Who are all these lovely women, like a troop of Apsaras lying down wearied with play? And who can this beautiful lady be? She cannot be a G.o.ddess, for the G.o.ds do not sleep thus, nor do they perspire, and I see the drops breaking forth on her forehead. She must then be a mortal; but O how lovely! how peacefully she sleeps, as if she had never known the anxieties of love! My heart is drawn towards her."

With these thoughts I rose up and approached the bed where she lay, and stood looking at her as if entranced, becoming every moment more enamoured, longing to touch her, but held back by the fear of disturbing her.

While I was thus gazing, she gradually awoke, and raising herself into a sitting posture, looked at me attentively with eyes more than half closed. At first her lips were opened, as if she were about to cry out; but, apparently restrained by some secret power, she remained silent, trembling all over, and showing in her countenance the signs of mingled doubt, fear, astonishment, bashfulness, and love; till at last, overcome again by sleep, she slowly sank down again on the bed.

Almost at the same time I felt myself irresistibly overcome by drowsiness, and was very soon fast asleep.

When I awoke, I found myself on the bed of leaves once more, alone in the gloomy forest, and day was beginning to appear.

When I was quite awake I had some difficulty in collecting my thoughts, and I said to myself: "Can all this of which I have such a vivid impression be other than a reality, or was it only a dream, a magical delusion? Whatever it may be, I will not quit this place till I find out the truth, and I will place myself under the protection of the deity who sent the vision."

Having formed this resolution, I was waiting where I had slept, when I saw approaching me a female form faded like a flower scorched by the sun, with eyes red from weeping, lips parched by the hot breath of sighs, wearing a scanty black dress, without ornaments, and with her hair in a single braid, like an affectionate wife mourning for the absence of her husband;[6] and with all this having an air of divine dignity, which made me regard her with reverence, and think that she might be the tutelary G.o.ddess of the place, to whom I had commended myself; and I prostrated myself before her. But she raised me up with her arms, and after kissing me again and again, said, with a voice broken by tears and sobs, "O, my darling, surely you have heard from the Queen Vasumati how one night a fairy appeared to her, and placing the child Arthapala[7] in her arms, told her husband's name and her own; and how the child was brought by order of Kuvera; and then disappeared. I am that fairy--your mother. Bewildered by unreasonable jealousy and anger, I abandoned my husband, your father, Kamapala; and for that sin I was cursed by Durga, who condemned me to be possessed by an evil spirit for a year. That year, which seemed to me like a thousand years, is ended; and I am now come from the great festival of Siva, where I have met my relations, who had a.s.sembled there, and have received full pardon from the G.o.ddess.

"In my way thither, I pa.s.sed by this place, saw you about to lie down, and heard your prayer to the local deity.

"Being still partly under the influence of the curse, I did not recognise you as my son. Yet even as a stranger I felt an interest in you, and could not bear the thought of leaving you exposed to danger in such a wild place. I therefore waited till you were fast asleep; and having considered where I could deposit you while I was gone to meet the G.o.ddess, since I could not take you with me, it occurred to me to carry you to the palace of the King of Sravasti, and leave you to sleep there till my return. I therefore carried you through the air, and placed you in the sleeping apartment of the Princess Navamalika, feeling sure that no one would disturb you there. I then went to the temple; and after paying due wors.h.i.+p to Siva, and receiving the congratulations of my a.s.sembled friends, I was dismissed by the G.o.ddess, who said: 'You are forgiven; the curse is ended; go and be happy with your husband.' After which I returned to the palace; and taking you up, brought you to this place, and laid you, still sleeping, on your bed of leaves. Since then, I have been watching for your awaking; for as soon as the curse was removed, I knew you to be my son.

"I must now leave you, and go to your father. I know what pa.s.sed in the palace; how you have fallen in love with the princess, and her feelings towards you. Do not despond; before long you will see her again."

She then warmly embraced me; and saying: "I go with reluctance, farewell for the present," she departed.

Having thus found the supposed dream to be a reality, and that the lady whom I had seen was the Princess Navamalika, I was confirmed in my love, and set out for Sravasti, determined, if possible, to see her again.

On the road, I came to a village where there was a large fair and a great concourse of traders. Various amus.e.m.e.nts were going on; among others, a c.o.c.k-fight, which I stopped to look at, and sat down near an old brahman, who was watching the fight with great interest. On seeing me smile, he asked the reason; and I answered: "What simpletons some of the breeders here must be to pit a Balaka c.o.c.k against one of the Narikela breed, which is sure to win."

With a knowing look, he whispered to me: "Hus.h.!.+ these blockheads know no better. I see you are a sharp fellow; sit quiet and say nothing."

Then he offered me betel and p.a.w.n from his box; and we got into conversation.

Meanwhile, the birds fought furiously; and there was much vociferation on both sides; but, as I had predicted, the Balaka c.o.c.k was beaten.

The old man was delighted at the victory of the other, which was his own. He seemed to have taken a great liking to me, though our ages were so different, and invited me to his house, where I was very hospitably treated, and pa.s.sed the night.

The next morning he accompanied me some distance on the way to Sravasti; and said, at parting: "Remember, I am your friend; do not hesitate to apply to me if there is anything in which I can help you."

After he had left me, I continued my journey; and arriving late and very tired at Sravasti, I lay down to sleep in an arbour in one part of the park outside the city. There I slept soundly till awakened by the noise of the swans and other birds in a lake not far off.

Soon after I had risen, I heard the tinkling of anklets, and saw a young lady walking towards me, with a painted canvas in her hand. When she came near, she looked first at me, and then at the painting. This she did several times, and was evidently surprised and pleased at the comparison On casting an eye on the picture, I also was much surprised, finding it to be a portrait of myself.

Feeling sure that the likeness could not be accidental, and that there must be some reason for her making the comparison and seeming so pleased at the result, I would not at first make any inquiry of her, but merely said: "This is a public place; we need not stand on ceremony; pray sit down with me." This she did; and we got into conversation about the news of the town.

At last she said to me: "You seem to be quite a stranger here, and look as if you were travel-tired. Will you be offended if I ask you to come and rest at my house?"

"Offended!" I answered. "You do me a very great favour; I shall be most delighted to accept your invitation." Upon this, she rose, and I followed her to her house, where I was most kindly entertained. When I was refreshed with bathing and food, she said to me: "You have been travelling about in various countries. Have you, in your travels, met with any very extraordinary adventure?"

On hearing this question, I thought: "I have now good ground for hope.

The picture represents that very room which I saw, with its lofty ceiling and white canopies--even the bed where the princess was lying.

Instigated by love, she has doubtless painted my portrait from recollection; and, in the hope that I may be discovered through the likeness, has entrusted it to this lady who has now invited me to her house. She evidently thinks that I am the person; but hesitates to put a direct question to me. If I am right, I will soon remove her doubt."

I asked her, therefore: "Will you allow me to examine that picture?"

She put it into my hand; and I drew on it the princess lying as I had seen her; and giving it back, said: "One night, while sleeping in a forest, I had a very wonderful dream. I found myself lying in just such a room as that which is represented in this painting; and saw there a very beautiful young lady, such as I have painted here; could that have been anything more than a dream?"

When she heard this, her face lighted up, and she answered: "That was no dream, but a reality; and you are indeed the person I was looking for." Then she told me the whole story; how the princess had seen and fallen in love with me; and how she had painted that picture and given it to her friend, that it might be the means of discovering me; and how delighted she would now be to hear that I was found at last.

I begged her to a.s.sure the princess that I was even more anxious to see her, and had come to Sravasti solely from the hope of finding her.

"If your friend is disposed to favour me," I continued, "beg her to wait patiently a few days; I will arrange a plan which will enable us to be together in her apartments, without danger to either of us." To this she agreed, and having taken leave of her, I went back to the village where the old brahman lived, whom I had met at the c.o.c.k-fight.

I found him at home, and delighted to see me. After I was rested and refreshed, he asked me, "What has brought you back so soon? is there anything in which you require my a.s.sistance?"

"There is,"' I answered, "a very important affair, in which you can materially a.s.sist me. The King of the Sravastans, Dharmavardhana,[8]

whose character corresponds with his name, has a very beautiful daughter. By an extraordinary chance, I have seen and fallen in love with her. I have reason to believe that she was equally struck by me, but know not how to contrive a meeting between us without your help; will you therefore a.s.sist me?"

"What is your plan?" he asked, "and how can I be of service in carrying it out?"

"My plan is this," I replied. "I will dress as a woman, and pa.s.s for your daughter; and you are so clever and ready-witted, that I think you will be able to get me into the palace as a companion to the princess, and even to manage so that she shall become my wife." Then I told him how I thought this might be accomplished; and he quite approved of what I proposed, entered into it with great spirit, and promised his ready co-operation.

Accordingly, the first day that the king was sitting in public to administer justice, the old man approached, followed by me dressed as a woman, walking modestly behind him, and bowing down to the king, he said: "My lord, I have heard of your great beneficence, and how you are the father of all your subjects, the protector and friend of the helpless; I am therefore come to ask a great favour. This girl is my only daughter. Her mother died soon after her birth. I have brought her up, and she has never left me; but I am desirous now to be relieved of this charge and to see her well married. A long time ago, she was engaged to a young brahman, who went to Oujein, to study there, and acquire the means of supporting a wife and family. I have been expecting his return for some time, but have heard nothing of him; I am, therefore, very uneasy on my daughter's account, and purpose to go to Oujein, and find out whether he is alive or dead. I cannot leave my daughter alone, and have no friend or near relation with whom I can place her. Will your majesty deign to allow her to remain under your protection until my return?"