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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/2400-0.txt b/2400-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..3ce107f --- /dev/null +++ b/2400-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,8641 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Vikram and the Vampire, by Richard F. Burton + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Vikram and the Vampire + +Author: Richard F. Burton + +Release Date: November, 2000 [EBook #2400] +Last Updated: November 2, 2016 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK VIKRAM AND THE VAMPIRE *** + + + + +Produced by Sara Vazirian + + + + + + +VIKRAM AND THE VAMPIRE + +By Sir Richard F. Burton + +Classic Hindu Tales of Adventure, Magic, and Romance + +Edited by his Wife Isabel Burton + + “Les fables, loin de grandir les hommes, la Nature et Dieu, + rapetssent tout.” + Lamartine (Milton) + + “One who had eyes saw it; the blind will not understand it. + A poet, who is a boy, he has perceived it; he who understands it + will be + his sire’s sire.”--Rig-Veda (I.164.16). + + + +Preface + +Preface to the First (1870) Edition + +Introduction + +THE VAMPIRE’S FIRST STORY. In which a Man deceives a Woman + +THE VAMPIRE’S SECOND STORY. Of the Relative Villany of Men and Woman + +THE VAMPIRE’S THIRD STORY. Of a High-minded Family + +THE VAMPIRE’S FOURTH STORY. Of a Woman who told the Truth + +THE VAMPIRE’S FIFTH STORY. Of the Thief who Laughed and Wept + +THE VAMPIRE’S SIXTH STORY. In which Three Men dispute about a Woman + +THE VAMPIRE’S SEVENTH STORY. Showing the exceeding Folly of many wise +Fools + +THE VAMPIRE’S EIGHTH STORY. Of the Use and Misuse of Magic Pills + +THE VAMPIRE’S NINTH STORY. Showing that a Man’s Wife belongs not to his +body but to his Head + +THE VAMPIRE’S TENTH STORY. Of the Marvellous Delicacy of Three Queens + +THE VAMPIRE’S ELEVENTH STORY. Which puzzles Raja Vikram + +Conclusion + + + + +PREFACE + +The Baital-Pachisi, or Twenty-five Tales of a Baital is the history of +a huge Bat, Vampire, or Evil Spirit which inhabited and animated dead +bodies. It is an old, and thoroughly Hindu, Legend composed in Sanskrit, +and is the germ which culminated in the Arabian Nights, and which +inspired the “Golden Ass” of Apuleius, Boccacio’s “Decamerone,” the +“Pentamerone,” and all that class of facetious fictitious literature. + +The story turns chiefly on a great king named Vikram, the King Arthur of +the East, who in pursuance of his promise to a Jogi or Magician, brings +to him the Baital (Vampire), who is hanging on a tree. The difficulties +King Vikram and his son have in bringing the Vampire into the presence +of the Jogi are truly laughable; and on this thread is strung a series +of Hindu fairy stories, which contain much interesting information on +Indian customs and manners. It also alludes to that state, which induces +Hindu devotees to allow themselves to be buried alive, and to appear +dead for weeks or months, and then to return to life again; a curious +state of mesmeric catalepsy, into which they work themselves by +concentrating the mind and abstaining from food--a specimen of which I +have given a practical illustration in the Life of Sir Richard Burton. + +The following translation is rendered peculiarly; valuable and +interesting by Sir Richard Burton’s intimate knowledge of the language. +To all who understand the ways of the East, it is as witty, and as full +of what is popularly called “chaff” as it is possible to be. There is +not a dull page in it, and it will especially please those who delight +in the weird and supernatural, the grotesque, and the wild life. + +My husband only gives eleven of the best tales, as it was thought the +translation would prove more interesting in its abbreviated form. + +ISABEL BURTON. + +August 18th, 1893. + + + + +PREFACE TO THE FIRST (1870) EDITION. + +“THE genius of Eastern nations,” says an established and respectable +authority, “was, from the earliest times, much turned towards invention +and the love of fiction. The Indians, the Persians, and the Arabians, +were all famous for their fables. Amongst the ancient Greeks we hear +of the Ionian and Milesian tales, but they have now perished, and, +from every account we hear of them, appear to have been loose and +indelicate.” Similarly, the classical dictionaries define “Milesiae +fabulae” to be “licentious themes,” “stories of an amatory or mirthful +nature,” or “ludicrous and indecent plays.” M. Deriege seems indeed +to confound them with the “Moeurs du Temps” illustrated with artistic +gouaches, when he says, “une de ces fables milesiennes, rehaussees de +peintures, que la corruption romaine recherchait alors avec une folle +ardeur.” + +My friend, Mr. Richard Charnock, F.A.S.L., more correctly defines +Milesian fables to have been originally “certain tales or novels, +composed by Aristides of Miletus “; gay in matter and graceful in +manner. “They were translated into Latin by the historian Sisenna, the +friend of Atticus, and they had a great success at Rome. Plutarch, in +his life of Crassus, tells us that after the defeat of Carhes (Carrhae?) +some Milesiacs were found in the baggage of the Roman prisoners. The +Greek text; and the Latin translation have long been lost. The only +surviving fable is the tale of Cupid and Psyche,[1] which Apuleius calls +‘Milesius sermo,’ and it makes us deeply regret the disappearance of the +others.” Besides this there are the remains of Apollodorus and +Conon, and a few traces to be found in Pausanias, Athenaeus, and the +scholiasts. + +I do not, therefore, agree with Blair, with the dictionaries, or with M. +Deriege. Miletus, the great maritime city of Asiatic Ionia, was of old +the meeting-place of the East and the West. Here the Phoenician trader +from the Baltic would meet the Hindu wandering to Intra, from Extra, +Gangem; and the Hyperborean would step on shore side by side with the +Nubian and the Aethiop. Here was produced and published for the use of +the then civilized world, the genuine Oriental apologue, myth and tale +combined, which, by amusing narrative and romantic adventure, insinuates +a lesson in morals or in humanity, of which we often in our days must +fail to perceive the drift. The book of Apuleius, before quoted, is +subject to as many discoveries of recondite meaning as is Rabelais. +As regards the licentiousness of the Milesian fables, this sign of +semi-civilization is still inherent in most Eastern books of the +description which we call “light literature,” and the ancestral +tale-teller never collects a larger purse of coppers than when he +relates the worst of his “aurei.” But this looseness, resulting from +the separation of the sexes, is accidental, not necessary. The following +collection will show that it can be dispensed with, and that there is +such a thing as comparative purity in Hindu literature. The author, +indeed, almost always takes the trouble to marry his hero and his +heroine, and if he cannot find a priest, he generally adopts +an exceedingly left-hand and Caledonian but legal rite called +“gandharbavivaha.[2]” + +The work of Apuleius, as ample internal evidence shows, is borrowed from +the East. The groundwork of the tale is the metamorphosis of Lucius +of Corinth into an ass, and the strange accidents which precede his +recovering the human form. + +Another old Hindu story-book relates, in the popular fairy-book +style, the wondrous adventures of the hero and demigod, the great +Gandharba-Sena. That son of Indra, who was also the father of +Vikramajit, the subject of this and another collection, offended the +ruler of the firmament by his fondness for a certain nymph, and was +doomed to wander over earth under the form of a donkey. Through the +interposition of the gods, however, he was permitted to become a man +during the hours of darkness, thus comparing with the English legend-- + + Amundeville is lord by day, + But the monk is lord by night. + +Whilst labouring under this curse, Gandharba-Sena persuaded the King +of Dhara to give him a daughter in marriage, but it unfortunately so +happened that at the wedding hour he was unable to show himself in any +but asinine shape. After bathing, however, he proceeded to the assembly, +and, hearing songs and music, he resolved to give them a specimen of his +voice. + +The guests were filled with sorrow that so beautiful a virgin should be +married to a donkey. They were afraid to express their feelings to the +king, but they could not refrain from smiling, covering their mouths +with their garments. At length some one interrupted the general silence +and said: + +“O king, is this the son of Indra? You have found a fine bridegroom; you +are indeed happy; don’t delay the marriage; delay is improper in doing +good; we never saw so glorious a wedding! It is true that we once heard +of a camel being married to a jenny-ass; when the ass, looking up to the +camel, said, ‘Bless me, what a bridegroom!’ and the camel, hearing the +voice of the ass, exclaimed, ‘Bless me, what a musical voice!’ In that +wedding, however, the bride and the bridegroom were equal; but in this +marriage, that such a bride should have such a bridegroom is truly +wonderful.” + +Other Brahmans then present said: + +“O king, at the marriage hour, in sign of joy the sacred shell is blown, +but thou hast no need of that” (alluding to the donkey’s braying). + +The women all cried out: + +“O my mother![3] what is this? at the time of marriage to have an ass! +What a miserable thing! What! will he give that angelic girl in wedlock +to a donkey?” + +At length Gandharba-Sena, addressing the king in Sanskrit, urged him to +perform his promise. He reminded his future father-in-law that there is +no act more meritorious than speaking truth; that the mortal frame is +a mere dress, and that wise men never estimate the value of a person by +his clothes. He added that he was in that shape from the curse of his +sire, and that during the night he had the body of a man. Of his being +the son of Indra there could be no doubt. + +Hearing the donkey thus speak Sanskrit, for it was never known that an +ass could discourse in that classical tongue, the minds of the people +were changed, and they confessed that, although he had an asinine form +he was unquestionably the son of Indra. The king, therefore, gave him +his daughter in marriage.[4] The metamorphosis brings with it many +misfortunes and strange occurrences, and it lasts till Fate in the +author’s hand restores the hero to his former shape and honours. + +Gandharba-Sena is a quasi-historical personage, who lived in the century +preceding the Christian era. The story had, therefore, ample time to +reach the ears of the learned African Apuleius, who was born A.D. 130. + +The Baital-Pachisi, or Twenty-five (tales of a) Baital[5]--a Vampire or +evil spirit which animates dead bodies--is an old and thoroughly Hindu +repertory. It is the rude beginning of that fictitious history which +ripened to the Arabian Nights’ Entertainments, and which, fostered by +the genius of Boccaccio, produced the romance of the chivalrous days, +and its last development, the novel--that prose-epic of modern Europe. + +Composed in Sanskrit, “the language of the gods,” alias the Latin of +India, it has been translated into all the Prakrit or vernacular and +modern dialects of the great peninsula. The reason why it has not found +favour with the Moslems is doubtless the highly polytheistic spirit +which pervades it; moreover, the Faithful had already a specimen of that +style of composition. This was the Hitopadesa, or Advice of a Friend, +which, as a line in its introduction informs us, was borrowed from an +older book, the Panchatantra, or Five Chapters. It is a collection of +apologues recited by a learned Brahman, Vishnu Sharma by name, for the +edification of his pupils, the sons of an Indian Raja. They have been +adapted to or translated into a number of languages, notably into Pehlvi +and Persian, Syriac and Turkish, Greek and Latin, Hebrew and Arabic. And +as the Fables of Pilpay,[6] are generally known, by name at least, to +European litterateurs.. Voltaire remarks,[7] “Quand on fait reflexion +que presque toute la terre a ete infatuee de pareils comes, et qu’ils +ont fait l’education du genre humain, on trouve les fables de Pilpay, +Lokman, d’Esope bien raisonnables.” These tales, detached, but strung +together by artificial means--pearls with a thread drawn through +them--are manifest precursors of the Decamerone, or Ten Days. A modern +Italian critic describes the now classical fiction as a collection of +one hundred of those novels which Boccaccio is believed to have read out +at the court of Queen Joanna of Naples, and which later in life were by +him assorted together by a most simple and ingenious contrivance. But +the great Florentine invented neither his stories nor his “plot,” if +we may so call it. He wrote in the middle of the fourteenth century +(1344-8) when the West had borrowed many things from the East, rhymes[8] +and romance, lutes and drums, alchemy and knight-errantry. Many of the +“Novelle” are, as Orientalists well know, to this day sung and recited +almost textually by the wandering tale-tellers, bards, and rhapsodists +of Persia and Central Asia. + +The great kshatriya,(soldier) king Vikramaditya,[9] or Vikramarka, +meaning the “Sun of Heroism,” plays in India the part of King Arthur, +and of Harun al-Rashid further West. He is a semi-historical personage. +The son of Gandharba-Sena the donkey and the daughter of the King of +Dhara, he was promised by his father the strength of a thousand male +elephants. When his sire died, his grandfather, the deity Indra, +resolved that the babe should not be born, upon which his mother stabbed +herself. But the tragic event duly happening during the ninth month, +Vikram came into the world by himself, and was carried to Indra, who +pitied and adopted him, and gave him a good education. + +The circumstances of his accession to the throne, as will presently +appear, are differently told. Once, however, made King of Malaya, the +modern Malwa, a province of Western Upper India, he so distinguished +himself that the Hindu fabulists, with their usual brave kind of +speaking, have made him “bring the whole earth under the shadow of one +umbrella.” + +The last ruler of the race of Mayura, which reigned 318 years, was +Raja-pal. He reigned 25 years, but giving himself up to effeminacy, his +country was invaded by Shakaditya, a king from the highlands of Kumaon. +Vikramaditya, in the fourteenth year of his reign, pretended to espouse +the cause of Raja-pal, attacked and destroyed Shakaditya, and ascended +the throne of Delhi. His capital was Avanti, or Ujjayani, the modern +Ujjain. It was 13 kos (26 miles) long by 18 miles wide, an area of 468 +square miles, but a trifle in Indian History. He obtained the title of +Shakari, “foe of the Shakas,” the Sacae or Scythians, by his victories +over that redoubtable race. In the Kali Yug, or Iron Age, he stands +highest amongst the Hindu kings as the patron of learning. Nine persons +under his patronage, popularly known as the “Nine Gems of Science,” hold +in India the honourable position of the Seven Wise Men of Greece. + +These learned persons wrote works in the eighteen original dialects +from which, say the Hindus, all the languages of the earth have been +derived.[10] Dhanwantari enlightened the world upon the subjects of +medicine and of incantations. Kshapanaka treated the primary elements. +Amara-Singha compiled a Sanskrit dictionary and a philosophical +treatise. Shankubetalabhatta composed comments, and Ghatakarpara a +poetical work of no great merit. The books of Mihira are not mentioned. +Varaha produced two works on astrology and one on arithmetic. And +Bararuchi introduced certain improvements in grammar, commented upon the +incantations, and wrote a poem in praise of King Madhava. + +But the most celebrated of all the patronized ones was Kalidasa. His two +dramas, Sakuntala,[11] and Vikram and Urvasi,[12] have descended to +our day; besides which he produced a poem on the seasons, a work on +astronomy, a poetical history of the gods, and many other books.[13] + +Vikramaditya established the Sambat era, dating from A.C. 56. After +a long, happy, and glorious reign, he lost his life in a war with +Shalivahana, King of Pratisthana. That monarch also left behind him an +era called the “Shaka,” beginning with A.D. 78. It is employed, even +now, by the Hindus in recording their births, marriages, and similar +occasions. + +King Vikramaditya was succeeded by his infant son Vikrama-Sena, and +father and son reigned over a period of 93 years. At last the latter was +supplanted by a devotee named Samudra-pala, who entered into his body +by miraculous means. The usurper reigned 24 years and 2 months, and the +throne of Delhi continued in the hands of his sixteen successors, who +reigned 641 years and 3 months. Vikrama-pala, the last, was slain in +battle by Tilaka-chandra, King of Vaharannah[14]. + +It is not pretended that the words of these Hindu tales are preserved +to the letter. The question about the metamorphosis of cats into tigers, +for instance, proceeded from a Gem of Learning in a university much +nearer home than Gaur. Similarly the learned and still living Mgr. Gaume +(Traite du Saint-Esprit, p.. 81) joins Camerarius in the belief that +serpents bite women rather than men. And he quotes (p.. 192) Cornelius a +Lapide, who informs us that the leopard is the produce of a lioness with +a hyena or a bard.. + +The merit of the old stories lies in their suggestiveness and in their +general applicability. I have ventured to remedy the conciseness of +their language, and to clothe the skeleton with flesh and blood. + + To My Uncle, + + ROBERT BAGSHAW, OF DOVERCOURT, + + These Tales, + That Will Remind Him Of A Land Which + He Knows So Well, + Are Affectionately Inscribed. + + + + +INTRODUCTION + +The sage Bhavabhuti--Eastern teller of these tales--after making his +initiatory and propitiatory conge to Ganesha, Lord of Incepts, informs +the reader that this book is a string of fine pearls to be hung round +the neck of human intelligence; a fragrant flower to be borne on the +turband of mental wisdom; a jewel of pure gold, which becomes the brow +of all supreme minds; and a handful of powdered rubies, whose tonic +effects will appear palpably upon the mental digestion of every patient. +Finally, that by aid of the lessons inculcated in the following pages, +man will pass happily through this world into the state of absorption, +where fables will be no longer required. + +He then teaches us how Vikramaditya the Brave became King of Ujjayani. + +Some nineteen centuries ago, the renowned city of Ujjayani witnessed the +birth of a prince to whom was given the gigantic name Vikramaditya. +Even the Sanskrit-speaking people, who are not usually pressed for time, +shortened it to “Vikram”, and a little further West it would infallibly +have been docked down to “Vik”. + +Vikram was the second son of an old king Gandharba-Sena, concerning whom +little favourable has reached posterity, except that he became an ass, +married four queens, and had by them six sons, each of whom was more +learned and powerful than the other. It so happened that in course of +time the father died. Thereupon his eldest heir, who was known as Shank, +succeeded to the carpet of Rajaship, and was instantly murdered by +Vikram, his “scorpion”, the hero of the following pages.[15] + +By this act of vigour and manly decision, which all younger-brother +princes should devoutly imitate, Vikram having obtained the title of +Bir, or the Brave, made himself Raja. He began to rule well, and the +gods so favoured him that day by day his dominions increased. At +length he became lord of all India, and having firmly established his +government, he instituted an era--an uncommon feat for a mere monarch, +especially when hereditary. + +The steps,[16] says the historian, which he took to arrive at that +pinnacle of grandeur, were these: + +The old King calling his two grandsons Bhartari-hari and Vikramaditya, +gave them good counsel respecting their future learning. They were told +to master everything, a certain way not to succeed in anything. They +were diligently to learn grammar, the Scriptures, and all the +religious sciences. They were to become familiar with military +tactics, international law, and music, the riding of horses and +elephants--especially the latter--the driving of chariots, and the use +of the broadsword, the bow, and the mogdars or Indian clubs. They were +ordered to be skilful in all kinds of games, in leaping and running, in +besieging forts, in forming and breaking bodies of troops; they were +to endeavour to excel in every princely quality, to be cunning in +ascertaining the power of an enemy, how to make war, to perform +journeys, to sit in the presence of the nobles, to separate the +different sides of a question, to form alliances, to distinguish between +the innocent and the guilty, to assign proper punishments to the wicked, +to exercise authority with perfect justice, and to be liberal. The boys +were then sent to school, and were placed under the care of excellent +teachers, where they became truly famous. Whilst under pupilage, the +eldest was allowed all the power necessary to obtain a knowledge of +royal affairs, and he was not invested with the regal office till in +these preparatory steps he had given full satisfaction to his subjects, +who expressed high approval of his conduct. + +The two brothers often conversed on the duties of kings, when the +great Vikramaditya gave the great Bhartari-hari the following valuable +advice[17]: + +“As Indra, during the four rainy months, fills the earth with water, so +a king should replenish his treasury with money. As Surya the sun, +in warming the earth eight months, does not scorch it, so a king, in +drawing revenues from his people, ought not to oppress them. As Vayu, +the wind, surrounds and fills everything, so the king by his officers +and spies should become acquainted with the affairs and circumstances +of his whole people. As Yama judges men without partiality or prejudice, +and punishes the guilty, so should a king chastise, without favour, +all offenders. As Varuna, the regent of water, binds with his pasha or +divine noose his enemies, so let a king bind every malefactor safely in +prison. As Chandra,[18] the moon, by his cheering light gives pleasure +to all, thus should a king, by gifts and generosity, make his people +happy. And as Prithwi, the earth, sustains all alike, so should a king +feel an equal affection and forbearance towards every one.” + +Become a monarch, Vikram meditated deeply upon what is said of +monarchs:--“A king is fire and air; he is both sun and moon; he is the +god of criminal justice; he is the genius of wealth; he is the regent +of water; he is the lord of the firmament; he is a powerful divinity who +appears in human shape.” He reflected with some satisfaction that the +scriptures had made him absolute, had left the lives and properties +of all his subjects to his arbitrary will, had pronounced him to be +an incarnate deity, and had threatened to punish with death even ideas +derogatory to his honour. + +He punctually observed all the ordinances laid down by the author of the +Niti, or institutes of government. His night and day were divided into +sixteen pahars or portions, each one hour and a half, and they were +disposed of as follows:-- + +Before dawn Vikram was awakened by a servant appointed to this +special duty. He swallowed--a thing allowed only to a khshatriya or +warrior--Mithridatic every morning on the saliva[19], and he made the +cooks taste every dish before he ate of it. As soon as he had risen, +the pages in waiting repeated his splendid qualities, and as he left his +sleeping-room in full dress, several Brahmans rehearsed the praises +of the gods. Presently he bathed, worshipped his guardian deity, again +heard hymns, drank a little water, and saw alms distributed to the poor. +He ended this watch by auditing his accounts. + +Next entering his court, he placed himself amidst the assembly. He was +always armed when he received strangers, and he caused even women to be +searched for concealed weapons. He was surrounded by so many spies and +so artful, that of a thousand, no two ever told the same tale. At +the levee, on his right sat his relations, the Brahmans, and men of +distinguished birth. The other castes were on the left, and close to +him stood the ministers and those whom he delighted to consult. Afar +in front gathered the bards chanting the praises of the gods and of +the king; also the charioteers, elephanteers, horsemen, and soldiers of +valour. Amongst the learned men in those assemblies there were ever +some who were well instructed in all the scriptures, and others who had +studied in one particular school of philosophy, and were acquainted only +with the works on divine wisdom, or with those on justice, civil and +criminal, on the arts, mineralogy or the practice of physic; +also persons cunning in all kinds of customs; riding-masters, +dancing-masters, teachers of good behaviour, examiners, tasters, mimics, +mountebanks, and others, who all attended the court and awaited the +king’s commands. He here pronounced judgment in suits of appeal. His +poets wrote about him: + + The lord of lone splendour an instant suspends + His course at mid-noon, ere he westward descends; + And brief are the moments our young monarch knows, + Devoted to pleasure or paid to repose! + +Before the second sandhya,[20] or noon, about the beginning of the third +watch, he recited the names of the gods, bathed, and broke his fast in +his private room; then rising from food, he was amused by singers and +dancing girls. The labours of the day now became lighter. After eating +he retired, repeating the name of his guardian deity, visited the +temples, saluted the gods conversed with the priests, and proceeded +to receive and to distribute presents. Fifthly, he discussed political +questions with his ministers and councillors. + +On the announcement of the herald that it was the sixth watch--about +2 or 3 P.M.--Vikram allowed himself to follow his own inclinations, to +regulate his family, and to transact business of a private and personal +nature. + +After gaining strength by rest, he proceeded to review his troops, +examining the men, saluting the officers, and holding military councils. +At sunset he bathed a third time and performed the five sacraments of +listening to a prelection of the Veda; making oblations to the manes; +sacrificing to Fire in honour of the deities; giving rice to dumb +creatures; and receiving guests with due ceremonies. He spent the +evening amidst a select company of wise, learned, and pious men, +conversing on different subjects, and reviewing the business of the day. + +The night was distributed with equal care. During the first portion +Vikram received the reports which his spies and envoys, dressed in every +disguise, brought to him about his enemies. Against the latter he +ceased not to use the five arts, namely--dividing the kingdom, bribes, +mischief-making, negotiations, and brute-force--especially preferring +the first two and the last. His forethought and prudence taught him +to regard all his nearest neighbours and their allies as hostile. The +powers beyond those natural enemies he considered friendly because they +were the foes of his foes. And all the remoter nations he looked upon as +neutrals, in a transitional or provisional state as it were, till they +became either his neighbours’ neighbours, or his own neighbours, that is +to say, his friends or his foes. + +This important duty finished he supped, and at the end of the third +watch he retired to sleep, which was not allowed to last beyond three +hours. In the sixth watch he arose and purified himself. The seventh +was devoted to holding private consultations with his ministers, and to +furnishing the officers of government with requisite instructions. The +eighth or last watch was spent with the Purohita or priest, and with +Brahmans, hailing the dawn with its appropriate rites; he then bathed, +made the customary offerings, and prayed in some unfrequented place near +pure water. + +And throughout these occupations he bore in mind the duty of kings, +namely--to pursue every object till it be accomplished; to succour all +dependents, and hospitably to receive guests, however numerous. He was +generous to his subjects respecting taxes, and kind of speech; yet he +was inexorable as death in the punishment of offenses. He rarely hunted, +and he visited his pleasure gardens only on stated days. He acted in his +own dominions with justice; he chastised foreign foes with rigour; he +behaved generously to Brahmans, and he avoided favouritism amongst his +friends. In war he never slew a suppliant, a spectator, a person asleep +or undressed, or anyone that showed fear. Whatever country he conquered, +offerings were presented to its gods, and effects and money were given +to the reverends. But what benefited him most was his attention to the +creature comforts of the nine Gems of Science: those eminent men ate +and drank themselves into fits of enthusiasm, and ended by immortalizing +their patron’s name. + +Become Vikram the Great he established his court at a delightful and +beautiful location rich in the best of water. The country was difficult +of access, and artificially made incapable of supporting a host of +invaders, but four great roads met near the city. The capital was +surrounded with durable ramparts, having gates of defence, and near it +was a mountain fortress, under the especial charge of a great captain. + +The metropolis was well garrisoned and provisioned, and it surrounded +the royal palace, a noble building without as well as within. Grandeur +seemed embodied there, and Prosperity had made it her own. The nearer +ground, viewed from the terraces and pleasure pavilions, was a lovely +mingling of rock and mountain, plain and valley, field and fallow, +crystal lake and glittering stream. The banks of the winding Lavana +were fringed with meads whose herbage, pearly with morning dew, afforded +choicest grazing for the sacred cow, and were dotted with perfumed +clumps of Bo-trees, tamarinds, and holy figs: in one place Vikram +planted 100,000 in a single orchard and gave them to his spiritual +advisers. The river valley separated the stream from a belt of forest +growth which extended to a hill range, dark with impervious jungle, and +cleared here and there for the cultivator’s village. Behind it, rose +another sub-range, wooded with a lower bush and already blue with air, +whilst in the background towered range upon range, here rising abruptly +into points and peaks, there ramp-shaped or wall-formed, with sheer +descents, and all of light azure hue adorned with glories of silver and +gold. + +After reigning for some years, Vikram the Brave found himself at the +age of thirty, a staid and sober middle-aged man, He had several +sons--daughters are naught in India--by his several wives, and he had +some paternal affection for nearly all--except of course, for his eldest +son, a youth who seemed to conduct himself as though he had a claim to +the succession. In fact, the king seemed to have taken up his abode +for life at Ujjayani, when suddenly he bethought himself, “I must visit +those countries of whose names I am ever hearing.” The fact is, he had +determined to spy out in disguise the lands of all his foes, and to find +the best means of bringing against them his formidable army. + + * * * * * * + +We now learn how Bhartari Raja becomes Regent of Ujjayani. + +Having thus resolved, Vikram the Brave gave the government into the +charge of a younger brother, Bhartari Raja, and in the garb of a +religious mendicant, accompanied by Dharma Dhwaj, his second son, a +youth bordering on the age of puberty, he began to travel from city to +city, and from forest to forest. + +The Regent was of a settled melancholic turn of mind, having lost +in early youth a very peculiar wife. One day, whilst out hunting, he +happened to pass a funeral pyre, upon which a Brahman’s widow had just +become Sati (a holy woman) with the greatest fortitude. On his return +home he related the adventure to Sita Rani, his spouse, and she at once +made reply that virtuous women die with their husbands, killed by the +fire of grief, not by the flames of the pile. To prove her truth the +prince, after an affectionate farewell, rode forth to the chase, and +presently sent back the suite with his robes torn and stained, to report +his accidental death. Sita perished upon the spot, and the widower +remained inconsolable--for a time. + +He led the dullest of lives, and took to himself sundry spouses, all +equally distinguished for birth, beauty, and modesty. Like his brother, +he performed all the proper devoirs of a Raja, rising before the day to +finish his ablutions, to worship the gods, and to do due obeisance to +the Brahmans. He then ascended the throne, to judge his people according +to the Shastra, carefully keeping in subjection lust, anger, avarice, +folly, drunkenness, and pride; preserving himself from being seduced by +the love of gaming and of the chase; restraining his desire for dancing, +singing, and playing on musical instruments, and refraining from sleep +during daytime, from wine, from molesting men of worth, from dice, from +putting human beings to death by artful means, from useless travelling, +and from holding any one guilty without the commission of a crime. His +levees were in a hall decently splendid, and he was distinguished only +by an umbrella of peacock’s feathers; he received all complainants, +petitioners, and presenters of offenses with kind looks and soft words. +He united to himself the seven or eight wise councillors, and the +sober and virtuous secretary that formed the high cabinet of his royal +brother, and they met in some secret lonely spot, as a mountain, a +terrace, a bower or a forest, whence women, parrots, and other talkative +birds were carefully excluded. + +And at the end of this useful and somewhat laborious day, he retired to +his private apartments, and, after listening to spiritual songs and +to soft music, he fell asleep. Sometimes he would summon his brother’s +“Nine Gems of Science,” and give ear to their learned discourses. But it +was observed that the viceroy reserved this exercise for nights when +he was troubled with insomnia--the words of wisdom being to him an +infallible remedy for that disorder. + +Thus passed onwards his youth, doing nothing that it could desire, +forbidden all pleasures because they were unprincely, and working in the +palace harder than in the pauper’s hut. Having, however, fortunately for +himself, few predilections and no imagination, he began to pride himself +upon being a philosopher. Much business from an early age had dulled +his wits, which were never of the most brilliant; and in the steadily +increasing torpidity of his spirit, he traced the germs of that quietude +which forms the highest happiness of man in this storm of matter called +the world. He therefore allowed himself but one friend of his soul. He +retained, I have said, his brother’s seven or eight ministers; he was +constant in attendance upon the Brahman priests who officiated at the +palace, and who kept the impious from touching sacred property; and he +was courteous to the commander-in-chief who directed his warriors, to +the officers of justice who inflicted punishment upon offenders, and +to the lords of towns, varying in number from one to a thousand. But +he placed an intimate of his own in the high position of confidential +councillor, the ambassador to regulate war and peace. + +Mahi-pala was a person of noble birth, endowed with shining abilities, +popular, dexterous in business, acquainted with foreign parts, famed for +eloquence and intrepidity, and as Menu the Lawgiver advises, remarkably +handsome. + +Bhartari Raja, as I have said, became a quietist and a philosopher. +But Kama,[21] the bright god who exerts his sway over the three worlds, +heaven and earth and grewsome Hades,[22] had marked out the prince once +more as the victim of his blossom-tipped shafts and his flowery bow. +How, indeed, could he hope to escape the doom which has fallen equally +upon Brahma the Creator, Vishnu the Preserver, and dreadful Shiva the +Three-eyed Destroyer[23]? + +By reason of her exceeding beauty, her face was a full moon shining in +the clearest sky; her hair was the purple cloud of autumn when, gravid +with rain, it hangs low over earth; and her complexion mocked the pale +waxen hue of the large-flowered jasmine. Her eyes were those of the +timid antelope; her lips were as red as those of the pomegranate’s bud, +and when they opened, from them distilled a fountain of ambrosia. Her +neck was like a pigeon’s; her hand the pink lining of the conch-shell; +her waist a leopard’s; her feet the softest lotuses. In a word, a model +of grace and loveliness was Dangalah Rani, Raja Bhartari’s last and +youngest wife. + +The warrior laid down his arms before her; the politician spoke +out every secret in her presence. The religious prince would have +slaughtered a cow--that sole unforgivable sin--to save one of her +eyelashes: the absolute king would not drink a cup of water without her +permission; the staid philosopher, the sober quietist, to win from her +the shadow of a smile, would have danced before her like a singing-girl. +So desperately enamoured became Bhartari Raja. + +It is written, however, that love, alas! breeds not love; and so +it happened to the Regent. The warmth of his affection, instead of +animating his wife, annoyed her; his protestations wearied her; his vows +gave her the headache; and his caresses were a colic that made her blood +run cold. Of course, the prince perceived nothing, being lost in wonder +and admiration of the beauty’s coyness and coquetry. And as women must +give away their hearts, whether asked or not, so the lovely Dangalah +Rani lost no time in lavishing all the passion of her idle soul upon +Mahi-pala, the handsome ambassador of peace and war. By this means the +three were happy and were contented; their felicity, however, being +built on a rotten foundation, could not long endure. It soon ended in +the following extraordinary way. + +In the city of Ujjayani,[24] within sight of the palace, dwelt a Brahman +and his wife, who, being old and poor, and having nothing else to do, +had applied themselves to the practice of austere devotion.[25] They +fasted and refrained from drink, they stood on their heads and held +their arms for weeks in the air; they prayed till their knees were like +pads; they disciplined themselves with scourges of wire; and they walked +about unclad in the cold season, and in summer they sat within a circle +of flaming wood, till they became the envy and admiration of all the +plebeian gods that inhabit the lower heavens. In fine, as a reward for +their exceeding piety, the venerable pair received at the hands of a +celestial messenger an apple of the tree Kalpavriksha--a fruit which has +the virtue of conferring eternal life upon him that tastes it. + +Scarcely had the god disappeared, when the Brahman, opening his +toothless mouth, prepared to eat the fruit of immortality. Then his wife +addressed him in these words, shedding copious tears the while: + +“To die, O man, is a passing pain; to be poor is an interminable +anguish. Surely our present lot is the penalty of some great crime +committed by us in a past state of being.[26] Callest thou this state +life? Better we die at once, and so escape the woes of the world!” + +Hearing these words, the Brahman sat undecided, with open jaws and eyes +fixed upon the apple. Presently he found tongue: “I have accepted +the fruit, and have brought it here; but having heard thy speech, my +intellect hath wasted away; now I will do whatever thou pointest out.” + +The wife resumed her discourse, which had been interrupted by a more +than usually copious flow of tears. “Moreover, O husband, we are old, +and what are the enjoyments of the stricken in years? Truly quoth the +poet-- + + Die loved in youth, not hated in age. + +If that fruit could have restored thy dimmed eyes, and deaf ears, and +blunted taste, and warmth of love, I had not spoken to thee thus.” + +After which the Brahman threw away the apple, to the great joy of his +wife, who felt a natural indignation at the prospect of seeing her +goodman become immortal, whilst she still remained subject to the laws +of death; but she concealed this motive in the depths of her thought, +enlarging, as women are apt to do, upon everything but the truth. And +she spoke with such success, that the priest was about to toss in his +rage the heavenly fruit into the fire, reproaching the gods as if by +sending it they had done him an injury. Then the wife snatched it out +of his hand, and telling him it was too precious to be wasted, bade him +arise and gird his loins and wend him to the Regent’s palace, and +offer him the fruit--as King Vikram was absent--with a right reverend +brahmanical benediction. She concluded with impressing upon her +unworldly husband the necessity of requiring a large sum of money as a +return for his inestimable gift. “By this means,” she said, “thou mayst +promote thy present and future welfare.[27]” + +Then the Brahman went forth, and standing in the presence of the Raja, +told him all things touching the fruit, concluding with “O, mighty +prince! vouchsafe to accept this tribute, and bestow wealth upon me. I +shall be happy in your living long!” + +Bhartari Raja led the supplicant into an inner strongroom, where stood +heaps of the finest gold-dust, and bade him carry away all that he +could; this the priest did, not forgetting to fill even his eloquent and +toothless mouth with the precious metal. Having dismissed the devotee +groaning under the burden, the Regent entered the apartments of his +wives, and having summoned the beautiful Queen Dangalah Rani, gave her +the fruit, and said, “Eat this, light of my eyes! This fruit--joy of my +heart!--will make thee everlastingly young and beautiful.” + +The pretty queen, placing both hands upon her husband’s bosom, kissed +his eyes and lips, and sweetly smiling on his face--for great is the +guile of women--whispered, “Eat it thyself, dear one, or at least share +it with me; for what is life and what is youth without the presence of +those we love?” But the Raja, whose heart was melted by these unusual +words, put her away tenderly, and, having explained that the fruit would +serve for only one person, departed. + +Whereupon the pretty queen, sweetly smiling as before, slipped the +precious present into her pocket. When the Regent was transacting +business in the hall of audience she sent for the ambassador who +regulated war and peace, and presented him with the apple in a manner at +least as tender as that with which it had been offered to her. + +Then the ambassador, after slipping the fruit into his pocket also, +retired from the presence of the pretty queen, and meeting Lakha, one of +the maids of honour, explained to her its wonderful power, and gave +it to her as a token of his love. But the maid of honour, being an +ambitious girl, determined that the fruit was a fit present to set +before the Regent in the absence of the King. Bhartari Raja accepted it, +bestowed on her great wealth, and dismissed her with many thanks. + +He then took up the apple and looked at it with eyes brimful of tears, +for he knew the whole extent of his misfortune. His heart ached, he felt +a loathing for the world, and he said with sighs and groans[28]: + +“Of what value are these delusions of wealth and affection, whose +sweetness endures for a moment and becomes eternal bitterness? Love is +like the drunkard’s cup: delicious is the first drink, palling are the +draughts that succeed it, and most distasteful are the dregs. What is +life but a restless vision of imaginary pleasures and of real pains, +from which the only waking is the terrible day of death? The affection +of this world is of no use, since, in consequence of it, we fall at last +into hell. For which reason it is best to practice the austerities of +religion, that the Deity may bestow upon us hereafter that happiness +which he refuses to us here!” + +Thus did Bhartari Raja determine to abandon the world. But before +setting out for the forest, he could not refrain from seeing the queen +once more, so hot was the flame which Kama had kindled in his heart. +He therefore went to the apartments of his women, and having caused +Dangalah Rani to be summoned, he asked her what had become of the fruit +which he had given to her. She answered that, according to his command, +she had eaten it. Upon which the Regent showed her the apple, and she +beholding it stood aghast, unable to make any reply. The Raja gave +careful orders for her beheading; he then went out, and having had the +fruit washed, ate it. He quitted the throne to be a jogi, or religious +mendicant, and without communicating with any one departed into the +jungle. There he became such a devotee that death had no power over him, +and he is wandering still. But some say that he was duly absorbed into +the essence of the Deity. + + * * * * * * + +We are next told how the valiant Vikram returned to his own country. + +Thus Vikram’s throne remained empty. When the news reached King Indra, +Regent of the Lower Firmament and Protector of Earthly Monarchs, he sent +Prithwi Pala, a fierce giant,[29] to defend the city of Ujjayani till +such time as its lawful master might reappear, and the guardian used to +keep watch and ward night and day over his trust. + +In less than a year the valorous Raja Vikram became thoroughly tired of +wandering about the woods half dressed: now suffering from famine, then +exposed to the attacks of wild beasts, and at all times very ill at +ease. He reflected also that he was not doing his duty to his wives and +children; that the heir-apparent would probably make the worst use of +the parental absence; and finally, that his subjects, deprived of his +fatherly care, had been left in the hands of a man who, for ought he +could say, was not worthy of the high trust. He had also spied out +all the weak points of friend and foe. Whilst these and other equally +weighty considerations were hanging about the Raja’s mind, he heard a +rumour of the state of things spread abroad; that Bhartari, the regent, +having abdicated his throne, had gone away into the forest. Then quoth +Vikram to his son, “We have ended our wayfarings, now let us turn our +steps homewards!” + +The gong was striking the mysterious hour of midnight as the king and +the young prince approached the principal gate. And they were pushing +through it when a monstrous figure rose up before them and called out +with a fearful voice, “Who are ye, and where are ye going? Stand and +deliver your names!” + +“I am Raja Vikram,” rejoined the king, half choked with rage, “and I am +come to mine own city. Who art thou that darest to stop or stay me?” + +“That question is easily answered,” cried Prithwi Pala the giant, in his +roaring voice; “the gods have sent me to protect Ujjayani. If thou be +really Raja Vikram, prove thyself a man: first fight with me, and then +return to thine own.” + +The warrior king cried “Sadhu!” wanting nothing better. He girt his +girdle tight round his loins, summoned his opponent into the empty space +beyond the gate, told him to stand on guard, and presently began to +devise some means of closing with or running in upon him. The giant’s +fists were large as watermelons, and his knotted arms whistled through +the air like falling trees, threatening fatal blows. Besides which the +Raja’s head scarcely reached the giant’s stomach, and the latter, each +time he struck out, whooped so abominably loud, that no human nerves +could remain unshaken. + +At last Vikram’s good luck prevailed. The giant’s left foot slipped, and +the hero, seizing his antagonist’s other leg, began to trip him up. At +the same moment the young prince, hastening to his parent’s assistance, +jumped viciously upon the enemy’s naked toes. By their united exertions +they brought him to the ground, when the son sat down upon his stomach, +making himself as weighty as he well could, whilst the father, climbing +up to the monster’s throat, placed himself astride upon it, and pressing +both thumbs upon his eyes, threatened to blind him if he would not +yield. + +Then the giant, modifying the bellow of his voice, cried out-- + +“O Raja, thou hast overthrown me, and I grant thee thy life.” + +“Surely thou art mad, monster,” replied the king, in jeering tone, half +laughing, half angry. “To whom grantest thou life? If I desire it I can +kill thee; how, then, cost thou talk about granting me my life?” + +“Vikram of Ujjayani,” said the giant, “be not too proud! I will save +thee from a nearly impending death. Only hearken to the tale which I +have to tell thee, and use thy judgment, and act upon it. So shalt +thou rule the world free from care, and live without danger, and die +happily.” + +“Proceed,” quoth the Raja, after a moment’s thought, dismounting from +the giant’s throat, and beginning to listen with all his ears. + +The giant raised himself from the ground, and when in a sitting posture, +began in solemn tones to speak as follows: + +“In short, the history of the matter is, that three men were born in +this same city of Ujjayani, in the same lunar mansion, in the same +division of the great circle described upon the ecliptic, and in the +same period of time. You, the first, were born in the house of a king. +The second was an oilman’s son, who was slain by the third, a jogi, +or anchorite, who kills all he can, wafting the sweet scent of human +sacrifice to the nostrils of Durga, goddess of destruction. Moreover, +the holy man, after compassing the death of the oilman’s son, has +suspended him head downwards from a mimosa tree in a cemetery. He is now +anxiously plotting thy destruction. He hath murdered his own child--” + +“And how came an anchorite to have a child?” asked Raja Vikram, +incredulously. + +“That is what I am about to tell thee,” replied the giant. “In the good +days of thy generous father, Gandharba-Sena, as the court was taking its +pleasure in the forest, they saw a devotee, or rather a devotee’s head, +protruding from a hole in the ground. The white ants had surrounded his +body with a case of earth, and had made their home upon his skin. All +kinds of insects and small animals crawled up and down the face, yet not +a muscle moved. Wasps had hung their nests to its temples, and scorpions +wandered in and out of the matted and clotted hair; yet the hermit felt +them not. He spoke to no one; he received no gifts; and had it not been +for the opening of his nostrils, as he continually inhaled the pungent +smoke of a thorn fire, man would have deemed him dead. Such were his +religious austerities. + +“Thy father marvelled much at the sight, and rode home in profound +thought. That evening, as he sat in the hall of audience, he could speak +of nothing but the devotee; and his curiosity soon rose to such a pitch, +that he proclaimed about the city a reward of one hundred gold pieces to +any one that could bring to court this anchorite of his own free will. + +“Shortly afterwards, Vasantasena, a singing and dancing girl more +celebrated for wit and beauty than for sagesse or discretion, appeared +before thy sire, and offered for the petty inducement of a gold bangle +to bring the anchorite into the palace, carrying a baby on his shoulder. + +“The king hearing her speak was astonished, gave her a betel leaf in +token that he held her to her promise, and permitted her to depart, +which she did with a laugh of triumph. + +“Vasantasena went directly to the jungle, where she found the pious man +faint with thirst, shriveled with hunger, and half dead with heat +and cold. She cautiously put out the fire. Then, having prepared a +confection, she approached from behind and rubbed upon his lips a little +of the sweetmeat, which he licked up with great relish. Thereupon she +made more and gave it to him. After two days of this generous diet he +gained some strength, and on the third, as he felt a finger upon his +mouth, he opened his eyes and said, ‘Why hast thou come here?’ + +“The girl, who had her story in readiness, replied: “I am the daughter +of a deity, and have practiced religious observances in the heavenly +regions. I have now come into this forest!” And the devotee, who began +to think how much more pleasant is such society than solitude, asked her +where her hut was, and requested to be led there. + +“Then Vasantasena, having unearthed the holy man and compelled him to +purify himself, led him to the abode which she had caused to be built +for herself in the wood. She explained its luxuries by the nature of +her vow, which bound her to indulge in costly apparel, in food with six +flavours, and in every kind of indulgence.[30] In course of time the +hermit learned to follow her example; he gave up inhaling smoke, and he +began to eat and drink as a daily occupation. + +“At length Kama began to trouble him. Briefly the saint and saintess +were made man and wife, by the simple form of matrimony called the +Gandharba-vivaha,[31] and about ten months afterwards a son was born to +them. Thus the anchorite came to have a child. + +“Remained Vasantasena’s last feat. Some months passed: then she said +to the devotee her husband, ‘Oh saint! let us now, having finished our +devotions, perform a pilgrimage to some sacred place, that all the sins +of our bodies may be washed away, after which we will die and depart +into everlasting happiness.’ Cajoled by these speeches, the hermit +mounted his child upon his shoulder and followed her where she +went--directly into Raja Gandharba-Sena’s palace. + +“When the king and the ministers and the officers and the courtiers saw +Vasantasena, and her spouse carrying the baby, they recognized her from +afar. The Raja exclaimed, ‘Lo! this is the very singing girl who went +forth to bring back the devotee. ‘And all replied: ‘O great monarch! +thou speakest truly; this is the very same woman. And be pleased to +observe that whatever things she, having asked leave to undertake, went +forth to do, all these she hath done!’ Then gathering around her they +asked her all manner of questions, as if the whole matter had been the +lightest and the most laughable thing in the world. + +“But the anchorite, having heard the speeches of the king and his +courtiers, thought to himself, ‘They have done this for the purpose of +taking away the fruits of my penance.’ Cursing them all with terrible +curses, and taking up his child, he left the hall. Thence he went to the +forest, slaughtered the innocent, and began to practice austerities with +a view to revenge that hour, and having slain his child, he will attempt +thy life. His prayers have been heard. In the first place they deprived +thee of thy father. Secondly, they cast enmity between thee and thy +brother, thus dooming him to an untimely end. Thirdly, they are now +working thy ruin. The anchorite’s design is to offer up a king and a +king’s son to his patroness Durga, and by virtue of such devotional act +he will obtain the sovereignty of the whole world! + +“But I have promised, O Vikram, to save thee, if such be the will of +Fortune, from impending destruction. Therefore hearken well unto my +words. Distrust them that dwell amongst the dead, and remember that +it is lawful and right to strike off his head that would slay thee. So +shalt thou rule the universal earth, and leave behind thee an immortal +name!” + +Suddenly Prithwi Pala, the giant, ceased speaking, and disappeared. +Vikram and his son then passed through the city gates, feeling their +limbs to be certain that no bones were broken, and thinking over the +scene that had occurred. + + * * * * * * + +We now are informed how the valiant King Vikram met with the Vampire. + +It was the spring season when the Raja returned, and the Holi +festival[32] caused dancing and singing in every house. Ujjayani was +extraordinarily happy and joyful at the return of her ruler, who joined +in her gladness with all his kingly heart. The faces and dresses of +the public were red and yellow with gulal and abir,--perfumed +powders,[33]--which were sprinkled upon one another in token of +merriment. Musicians deafened the citizens’ ears, dancing girls +performed till ready to faint with fatigue, the manufacturers of +comfits made their fortunes, and the Nine Gems of Science celebrated the +auspicious day with the most long-winded odes. The royal hero, decked +in regal attire, and attended by many thousands of state palanquins +glittering with their various ornaments, and escorted by a suite of a +hundred kingly personages, with their martial array of the four hosts, +of cavalry, elephants, chariots, and infantry, and accompanied by Amazon +girls, lovely as the suite of the gods, himself a personification of +majesty, bearing the white parasol of dominion, with a golden staff and +tassels, began once more to reign. + +After the first pleasures of return, the king applied himself +unremittingly to good government and to eradicating the abuses which had +crept into the administration during the period of his wanderings. + +Mindful of the wise saying, “if the Rajadid not punish the guilty, the +stronger would roast the weaker like a fish on the spit,” he began +the work of reform with an iron hand. He confiscated the property of +a councillor who had the reputation of taking bribes; he branded the +forehead of a sudra or servile man whose breath smelt of ardent spirits, +and a goldsmith having been detected in fraud he ordered him to be cut +in shreds with razors as the law in its mercy directs. In the case of a +notorious evil-speaker he opened the back of his head and had his tongue +drawn through the wound. A few murderers he burned alive on iron beds, +praying the while that Vishnu might have mercy upon their souls. His +spies were ordered, as the shastra called “The Prince” advises, to mix +with robbers and thieves with a view of leading them into situations +where they might most easily be entrapped, and once or twice when the +fellows were too wary, he seized them and their relations and impaled +them all, thereby conclusively proving, without any mistake, that he was +king of earth. + +With the sex feminine he was equally severe. A woman convicted of having +poisoned an elderly husband in order to marry a younger man was thrown +to the dogs, which speedily devoured her. He punished simple infidelity +by cutting off the offender’s nose--an admirable practice, which is not +only a severe penalty to the culprit, but also a standing warning to +others, and an efficient preventative to any recurrence of the fault. +Faithlessness combined with bad example or brazen-facedness was further +treated by being led in solemn procession through the bazar mounted on +a diminutive and crop-eared donkey, with the face turned towards the +crupper. After a few such examples the women of Ujjayani became almost +modest; it is the fault of man when they are not tolerably well behaved +in one point at least. + +Every day as Vikram sat upon the judgment-seat, trying causes and +punishing offenses, he narrowly observed the speech, the gestures, +and the countenances of the various criminals and litigants and their +witnesses. Ever suspecting women, as I have said, and holding them to +be the root of all evil, he never failed when some sin or crime more +horrible than usual came before him, to ask the accused, “Who is she?” + and the suddenness of the question often elicited the truth by accident. +For there can be nothing thoroughly and entirely bad unless a woman is +at the bottom of it; and, knowing this, Raja Vikram made certain notable +hits under the most improbable circumstances, which had almost given him +a reputation for omniscience. But this is easily explained: a man intent +upon squaring the circle will see squares in circles wherever he looks, +and sometimes he will find them. + +In disputed cases of money claims, the king adhered strictly to +established practice, and consulted persons learned in the law. He +seldom decided a cause on his own judgment, and he showed great temper +and patience in bearing with rough language from irritated plaintiffs +and defendants, from the infirm, and from old men beyond eighty. +That humble petitioners might not be baulked in having access to the +“fountain of justice,” he caused an iron box to be suspended by a chain +from the windows of his sleeping apartment. Every morning he ordered +the box to be opened before him, and listened to all the placets at full +length. Even in this simple process he displayed abundant cautiousness. +For, having forgotten what little of the humanities he had mastered in +his youth, he would hand the paper to a secretary whose business it was +to read it out before him; after which operation the man of letters was +sent into an inner room, and the petition was placed in the hands of +a second scribe. Once it so happened by the bungling of the deceitful +kayasths(clerks) that an important difference was found to occur in the +same sheet. So upon strict inquiry one secretary lost his ears and +the other his right hand. After this petitions were rarely if ever +falsified. + +The Raja Vikram also lost no time in attacking the cities and towns and +villages of his enemies, but the people rose to a man against him, and +hewing his army to pieces with their weapons, vanquished him. This took +place so often that he despaired of bringing all the earth under the +shadow of his umbrella. + +At length on one occasion when near a village he listened to a +conversation of the inhabitants. A woman having baked some cakes was +giving them to her child, who leaving the edges would eat only the +middle. On his asking for another cake, she cried, “This boy’s way is +like Vikram’s in his attempt to conquer the world!” On his inquiring +“Mother, why, what am I doing; and what has Vikram done?” + +“Thou, my boy,” she replied, “throwing away the outside of the cake +eatest the middle only. Vikram also in his ambition, without subduing +the frontiers before attacking the towns, invades the heart of the +country and lays it waste. On that account, both the townspeople and +others rising, close upon him from the frontiers to the centre, and +destroy his army. That is his folly.” + +Vikram took notice of the woman’s words. He strengthened his army and +resumed his attack on the provinces and cities, beginning with the +frontiers, reducing the outer towns and stationing troops in the +intervals. Thus he proceeded regularly with his invasions. After a +respite, adopting the same system and marshalling huge armies, he +reduced in regular course each kingdom and province till he became +monarch of the whole world. + +It so happened that one day as Vikram the Brave sat upon the +judgment-seat, a young merchant, by name Mal Deo, who had lately arrived +at Ujjayani with loaded camels and elephants, and with the reputation +of immense wealth, entered the palace court. Having been received with +extreme condescension, he gave into the king’s hand a fruit which he had +brought in his own, and then spreading a prayer carpet on the floor he +sat down. Presently, after a quarter of an hour, he arose and went away. +When he had gone the king reflected in his mind: “Under this disguise, +perhaps, is the very man of whom the giant spoke.” Suspecting this, he +did not eat the fruit, but calling the master of the household he gave +the present to him, ordering him to keep it in a very careful manner. +The young merchant, however, continued every day to court the honour of +an interview, each time presenting a similar gift. + +By chance one morning Raja Vikram went, attended by his ministers, to +see his stables. At this time the young merchant also arrived there, and +in the usual manner placed a fruit in the royal hand. As the king +was thoughtfully tossing it in the air, it accidentally fell from his +fingers to the ground. Then the monkey, who was tethered amongst the +horses to draw calamities from their heads,[34] snatched it up and tore +it to pieces. Whereupon a ruby of such size and water came forth that +the king and his ministers, beholding its brilliancy, gave vent to +expressions of wonder. + +Quoth Vikram to the young merchant severely--for his suspicions were now +thoroughly roused--“Why hast thou given to us all this wealth?” + +“O great king,” replied Mal Deo, demurely, “it is written in the +scriptures (shastra) ‘Of Ceremony’ that ‘we must not go empty-handed +into the presence of the following persons, namely, Rajas, spiritual +teachers, judges, young maidens, and old women whose daughters we would +marry.’ But why, O Vikram, cost thou speak of one ruby only, since in +each of the fruits which I have laid at thy feet there is a similar +jewel?” Having heard this speech, the king said to the master of his +household, “Bring all the fruits which I have entrusted to thee.” The +treasurer, on receiving the royal command, immediately brought them, +and having split them, there was found in each one a ruby, one and all +equally perfect in size and water. Raja Vikram beholding such treasures +was excessively pleased. Having sent for a lapidary, he ordered him to +examine the rubies, saying, “We cannot take anything with us out of this +world. Virtue is a noble quality to possess here below--so tell justly +what is the value of each of these gems.[35]” + +To so moral a speech the lapidary replied, “Maha-Raja[36]! thou hast +said truly; whoever possesses virtue, possesses everything; virtue +indeed accompanies us always, and is of advantage in both worlds. Hear, +O great king! each gem is perfect in colour, quality and beauty. If I +were to say that the value of each was ten million millions of suvarnas +(gold pieces), even then thou couldst not understand its real worth. In +fact, each ruby would buy one of the seven regions into which the earth +is divided.” + +The king on hearing this was delighted, although his suspicions were +not satisfied; and, having bestowed a robe of honour upon the lapidary, +dismissed him. Thereon, taking the young merchant’s hand, he led him +into the palace, seated him upon his own carpet in presence of the +court, and began to say, “My entire kingdom is not worth one of these +rubies: tell me how it is that thou who buyest and sellest hast given me +such and so many pearls?” + +Mal Deo replied: “O great king, the speaking of matters like the +following in public is not right; these things--prayers, spells, drugs, +good qualities, household affairs, the eating of forbidden food, and the +evil we may have heard of our neighbour--should not be discussed in full +assembly. Privately I will disclose to thee my wishes. This is the +way of the world; when an affair comes to six ears, it does not remain +secret; if a matter is confided to four ears it may escape further +hearing; and if to two ears even Brahma the Creator does not know it; +how then can any rumour of it come to man?” + +Having heard this speech, Raja Vikram took Mal Deo aside, and began to +ask him, saying, “O generous man! you have given me so many rubies, and +even for a single day you have not eaten food with me; I am exceedingly +ashamed, tell me what you desire.” + +“Raja,” said the young merchant, “I am not Mal Deo, but Shanta-Shil,[37] +a devotee. I am about to perform spells, incantations and magical rites +on the banks of the river Godavari, in a large smashana, a cemetery +where bodies are burned. By this means the Eight Powers of Nature will +all become mine. This thing I ask of you as alms, that you and the young +prince Dharma Dhwaj will pass one night with me, doing my bidding. By +you remaining near me my incantations will be successful.” + +The valiant Vikram nearly started from his seat at the word cemetery, +but, like a ruler of men, he restrained his face from expressing his +feelings, and he presently replied, “Good, we will come, tell us on what +day!” + +“You are to come to me,” said the devotee, “armed, but without +followers, on the Monday evening the 14th of the dark half of the month +Bhadra.[38]” The Raja said: “Do you go your ways, we will certainly +come.” In this manner, having received a promise from the king, and +having taken leave, the devotee returned to his house: thence he +repaired to the temple, and having made preparations, and taken all the +necessary things, he went back into the cemetery and sat down to his +ceremonies. + +The valiant Vikram, on the other hand, retired into an inner apartment, +to consult his own judgment about an adventure with which, for fear of +ridicule, he was unwilling to acquaint even the most trustworthy of his +ministers. + +In due time came the evening moon’s day, the 14th of the dark half of +the month Bhadra. As the short twilight fell gloomily on earth, the +warrior king accompanied by his son, with turband-ends tied under their +chins, and with trusty blades tucked under their arms ready for foes, +human, bestial, or devilish, slipped out unseen through the palace +wicket, and took the road leading to the cemetery on the river bank. + +Dark and drear was the night. Urged by the furious blast of the +lingering winter-rains, masses of bistre-coloured cloud, like the forms +of unwieldy beasts, rolled heavily over the firmament plain. Whenever +the crescent of the young moon, rising from an horizon sable as the sad +Tamala’s hue,[39] glanced upon the wayfarers, it was no brighter than +the fine tip of an elephant’s tusk protruding from the muddy wave. A +heavy storm was impending; big drops fell in showers from the forest +trees as they groaned under the blast, and beneath the gloomy avenue the +clayey ground gleamed ghastly white. As the Raja and his son advanced, +a faint ray of light, like the line of pure gold streaking the dark +surface of the touchstone, caught their eyes, and directed their +footsteps towards the cemetery. + +When Vikram came upon the open space on the riverbank where corpses were +burned, he hesitated for a moment to tread its impure ground. But seeing +his son undismayed, he advanced boldly, trampling upon remnants of +bones, and only covering his mouth with his turband-end. + +Presently, at the further extremity of the smashana, or burning ground, +appeared a group. By the lurid flames that flared and flickered round +the half-extinguished funeral pyres, with remnants of their dreadful +loads, Raja Vikram and Dharma Dhwaj could note the several features of +the ill-omened spot. There was an outer circle of hideous bestial forms; +tigers were roaring, and elephants were trumpeting; wolves, whose +foul hairy coats blazed with sparks of bluish phosphoric light, were +devouring the remnants of human bodies; foxes, jackals, and hyenas +were disputing over their prey; whilst bears were chewing the livers of +children. The space within was peopled by a multitude of fiends. There +were the subtle bodies of men that had escaped their grosser frames +prowling about the charnel ground, where their corpses had been reduced +to ashes, or hovering in the air, waiting till the new bodies which +they were to animate were made ready for their reception. The spirits of +those that had been foully slain wandered about with gashed limbs; and +skeletons, whose mouldy bones were held together by bits of blackened +sinew, followed them as the murderer does his victim. Malignant witches +with shriveled skins, horrid eyes and distorted forms, crawled +and crouched over the earth; whilst spectres and goblins now stood +motionless, and tall as lofty palm trees; then, as if in fits, leaped, +danced, and tumbled before their evocator. The air was filled with +shrill and strident cries, with the fitful moaning of the storm-wind, +with the hooting of the owl, with the jackal’s long wild cry, and +with the hoarse gurgling of the swollen river, from whose banks the +earth-slip thundered in its fall. + +In the midst of all, close to the fire which lit up his evil +countenance, sat Shanta-Shil, the jogi, with the banner that denoted +his calling and his magic staff planted in the ground behind him. He +was clad in the ochre-coloured loin-wrap of his class; from his head +streamed long tangled locks of hair like horsehair; his black body was +striped with lines of chalk, and a girdle of thighbones encircled his +waist. His face was smeared with ashes from a funeral pyre, and his +eyes, fixed as those of a statue, gleamed from this mask with an +infernal light of hate. His cheeks were shaven, and he had not forgotten +to draw the horizontal sectarian mark. But this was of blood; and +Vikram, as he drew near saw that he was playing upon a human skull with +two shank bones, making music for the horrid revelry. + +Now Raja Vikram, as has been shown by his encounter with Indra’s +watchman, was a bold prince, and he was cautious as he was brave. The +sight of a human being in the midst of these terrors raised his mettle; +he determined to prove himself a hero, and feeling that the critical +moment was now come, he hoped to rid himself and his house forever of +the family curse that hovered over them. + +For a moment he thought of the giant’s words, “And remember that it is +lawful and right to strike off his head that would slay thee.” A stroke +with his good sword might at once and effectually put an end to the +danger. But then he remembered that he had passed his royal word to do +the devotee’s bidding that night. Besides, he felt assured that the hour +for action had not yet sounded. + +These reflections having passed through his mind with the rapid course +of a star that has lost its honours,[40] Vikram courteously saluted +Shanta-Shil. The jogi briefly replied, “Come sit down, both of ye.” The +father and son took their places, by no means surprised or frightened +by the devil dances before and around them. Presently the valiant Raja +reminded the devotee that he was come to perform his promise, and lastly +asked, “What commands are there for us?” + +The jogi replied, “O king, since you have come, just perform one piece +of business. About two kos[41] hence, in a southerly direction, there +is another place where dead bodies are burned; and in that place is a +mimosa tree, on which a body is hanging. Bring it to me immediately.” + +Raja Vikram took his son’s hand, unwilling to leave him in such +company; and, catching up a fire-brand, went rapidly away in the proper +direction. He was now certain that Shanta-Shil was the anchorite who, +enraged by his father, had resolved his destruction; and his uppermost +thought was a firm resolve “to breakfast upon his enemy, ere his enemy +could dine upon him.” He muttered this old saying as he went, whilst the +tom-toming of the anchorite upon the skull resounded in his ears, +and the devil-crowd, which had held its peace during his meeting with +Shanta-Shil, broke out again in an infernal din of whoops and screams, +yells and laughter. + +The darkness of the night was frightful, the gloom deepened till it was +hardly possible to walk. The clouds opened their fountains, raining so +that you would say they could never rain again. Lightning blazed forth +with more than the light of day, and the roar of the thunder caused the +earth to shake. Baleful gleams tipped the black cones of the trees and +fitfully scampered like fireflies over the waste. Unclean goblins dogged +the travellers and threw themselves upon the ground in their path and +obstructed them in a thousand different ways. Huge snakes, whose mouths +distilled blood and black venom, kept clinging around their legs in the +roughest part of the road, till they were persuaded to loose their hold +either by the sword or by reciting a spell. In fact, there were so many +horrors and such a tumult and noise that even a brave man would have +faltered, yet the king kept on his way. + +At length having passed over, somehow or other, a very difficult road, +the Raja arrived at the smashana, or burning place pointed out by the +jogi. Suddenly he sighted the tree where from root to top every branch +and leaf was in a blaze of crimson flame. And when he, still dauntless, +advanced towards it, a clamour continued to be raised, and voices kept +crying, “Kill them! kill them! seize them! seize them! take care that +they do not get away! let them scorch themselves to cinders! let them +suffer the pains of Patala.[42]” + +Far from being terrified by this state of things the valiant Raja +increased in boldness, seeing a prospect of an end to his adventure. +Approaching the tree he felt that the fire did not burn him, and so he +sat there for a while to observe the body, which hung, head downwards, +from a branch a little above him. + +Its eyes, which were wide open, were of a greenish-brown, and never +twinkled; its hair also was brown,[43] and brown was its face--three +several shades which, notwithstanding, approached one another in an +unpleasant way, as in an over-dried cocoa-nut. Its body was thin and +ribbed like a skeleton or a bamboo framework, and as it held on to a +bough, like a flying fox,[44] by the toe-tips, its drawn muscles stood +out as if they were ropes of coin. Blood it appeared to have none, or +there would have been a decided determination of that curious juice to +the head; and as the Raja handled its skin it felt icy cold and clammy +as might a snake. The only sign of life was the whisking of a ragged +little tail much resembling a goat’s. + +Judging from these signs the brave king at once determined the creature +to be a Baital--a Vampire. For a short time he was puzzled to reconcile +the appearance with the words of the giant, who informed him that the +anchorite had hung the oilman’s son to a tree. But soon he explained to +himself the difficulty, remembering the exceeding cunning of jogis +and other reverend men, and determining that his enemy, the better +to deceive him, had doubtless altered the shape and form of the young +oilman’s body. + +With this idea, Vikram was pleased, saying, “My trouble has been +productive of fruit.” Remained the task of carrying the Vampire to +Shanta-Shil the devotee. Having taken his sword, the Raja fearlessly +climbed the tree, and ordering his son to stand away from below, +clutched the Vampire’s hair with one hand, and with the other struck +such a blow of the sword, that the bough was cut and the thing fell +heavily upon the ground. Immediately on falling it gnashed its teeth and +began to utter a loud wailing cry like the screams of an infant in pain. +Vikram having heard the sound of its lamentations, was pleased, and +began to say to himself, “This devil must be alive.” Then nimbly sliding +down the trunk, he made a captive of the body, and asked “Who art thou?” + +Scarcely, however, had the words passed the royal lips, when the Vampire +slipped through the fingers like a worm, and uttering a loud shout +of laughter, rose in the air with its legs uppermost, and as before +suspended itself by its toes to another bough. And there it swung to and +fro, moved by the violence of its cachinnation. + +“Decidedly this is the young oilman!” exclaimed the Raja, after he had +stood for a minute or two with mouth open, gazing upwards and wondering +what he should do next. Presently he directed Dharma Dhwaj not to lose +an instant in laying hands upon the thing when it next might touch the +ground, and then he again swarmed up the tree. Having reached his former +position, he once more seized the Baital’s hair, and with all the force +of his arms--for he was beginning to feel really angry--he tore it from +its hold and dashed it to the ground, saying, “O wretch, tell me who +thou art?” + +Then, as before, the Raja slid deftly down the trunk, and hurried to the +aid of his son, who in obedience to orders, had fixed his grasp upon +the Vampire’s neck. Then, too, as before, the Vampire, laughing aloud, +slipped through their fingers and returned to its dangling-place. + +To fail twice was too much for Raja Vikram’s temper, which was right +kingly and somewhat hot. This time he bade his son strike the Baital’s +head with his sword. Then, more like a wounded bear of Himalaya than a +prince who had established an era, he hurried up the tree, and directed +a furious blow with his sabre at the Vampire’s lean and calfless legs. +The violence of the stroke made its toes loose their hold of the bough, +and when it touched the ground, Dharma Dhwaj’s blade fell heavily +upon its matted brown hair. But the blows appeared to have lighted on +iron-wood--to judge at least from the behaviour of the Baital, who no +sooner heard the question, “O wretch, who art thou?” than it returned in +loud glee and merriment to its old position. + +Five mortal times did Raja Vikram repeat this profitless labour. But +so far from losing heart, he quite entered into the spirit of the +adventure. Indeed he would have continued climbing up that tree and +taking that corpse under his arm--he found his sword useless--and +bringing it down, and asking it who it was, and seeing it slip through +his fingers, six times sixty times, or till the end of the fourth and +present age,[45] had such extreme resolution been required. + +However, it was not necessary. On the seventh time of falling, the +Baital, instead of eluding its capturer’s grasp, allowed itself to be +seized, merely remarking that “even the gods cannot resist a thoroughly +obstinate man.”[46] And seeing that the stranger, for the better +protection of his prize, had stripped off his waistcloth and was making +it into a bag, the Vampire thought proper to seek the most favourable +conditions for himself, and asked his conqueror who he was, and what he +was about to do? + +“Vile wretch,” replied the breathless hero, “know me to be Vikram the +Great, Raja of Ujjayani, and I bear thee to a man who is amusing himself +by drumming to devils on a skull.” + +“Remember the old saying, mighty Vikram!” said the Baital, with a +sneer, “that many a tongue has cut many a throat. I have yielded to thy +resolution and I am about to accompany thee, bound to thy back like a +beggar’s wallet. But hearken to my words, ere we set out upon the way. +I am of a loquacious disposition, and it is well nigh an hour’s walk +between this tree and the place where thy friend sits, favouring his +friends with the peculiar music which they love. Therefore, I shall +try to distract my thoughts, which otherwise might not be of the most +pleasing nature, by means of sprightly tales and profitable reflections. +Sages and men of sense spend their days in the delights of light and +heavy literature, whereas dolts and fools waste time in sleep and +idleness. And I purpose to ask thee a number of questions, concerning +which we will, if it seems fit to thee, make this covenant: + +“Whenever thou answerest me, either compelled by Fate or entrapped by my +cunning into so doing, or thereby gratifying thy vanity and conceit, +I leave thee and return to my favourite place and position in the +siras-tree, but when thou shalt remain silent, confused, and at a loss +to reply, either through humility or thereby confessing thine ignorance, +and impotence, and want of comprehension, then will I allow thee, of +mine own free will, to place me before thine employer. Perhaps I should +not say so; it may sound like bribing thee, but--take my counsel, and +mortify thy pride, and assumption, and arrogance, and haughtiness, as +soon as possible. So shalt thou derive from me a benefit which none but +myself can bestow.” + +Raja Vikram hearing these rough words, so strange to his royal ear, +winced; then he rejoiced that his heir apparent was not near; then +he looked round at his son Dharma Dhwaj, to see if he was impertinent +enough to be amused by the Baital. But the first glance showed him the +young prince busily employed in pinching and screwing the monster’s +legs, so as to make it fit better into the cloth. Vikram then seized +the ends of the waistcloth, twisted them into a convenient form for +handling, stooped, raised the bundle with a jerk, tossed it over his +shoulder, and bidding his son not to lag behind, set off at a round pace +towards the western end of the cemetery. + +The shower had ceased, and, as they gained ground, the weather greatly +improved. + +The Vampire asked a few indifferent questions about the wind and +the rain and the mud. When he received no answer, he began to feel +uncomfortable, and he broke out with these words: “O King Vikram, listen +to the true story which I am about to tell thee.” + + + + +VIKRAM AND THE VAMPIRE + + + + +THE VAMPIRE’S FIRST STORY -- In which a man deceives a woman. + +In Benares once reigned a mighty prince, by name Pratapamukut, to whose +eighth son Vajramukut happened the strangest adventure. + +One morning, the young man, accompanied by the son of his father’s +pradhan or prime minister, rode out hunting, and went far into the +jungle. At last the twain unexpectedly came upon a beautiful “tank [47]” + of a prodigious size. It was surrounded by short thick walls of fine +baked brick; and flights and ramps of cut-stone steps, half the length +of each face, and adorned with turrets, pendants, and finials, led down +to the water. The substantial plaster work and the masonry had fallen +into disrepair, and from the crevices sprang huge trees, under whose +thick shade the breeze blew freshly, and on whose balmy branches the +birds sang sweetly; the grey squirrels [48] chirruped joyously as they +coursed one another up the gnarled trunks, and from the pendent llianas +the longtailed monkeys were swinging sportively. The bountiful hand of +Sravana [49] had spread the earthen rampart with a carpet of the softest +grass and many-hued wild flowers, in which were buzzing swarms of bees +and myriads of bright winged insects; and flocks of water fowl, wild +geese, Brahmini ducks, bitterns, herons, and cranes, male and female, +were feeding on the narrow strip of brilliant green that belted the long +deep pool, amongst the broad-leaved lotuses with the lovely blossoms, +splashing through the pellucid waves, and basking happily in the genial +sun. + +The prince and his friend wondered when they saw the beautiful tank in +the midst of a wild forest, and made many vain conjectures about it. +They dismounted, tethered their horses, and threw their weapons upon the +ground; then, having washed their hands and faces, they entered a shrine +dedicated to Mahadeva, and there began to worship the presiding deity. + +Whilst they were making their offerings, a bevy of maidens, accompanied +by a crowd of female slaves, descended the opposite flight of steps. +They stood there for a time, talking and laughing and looking about them +to see if any alligators infested the waters. When convinced that the +tank was safe, they disrobed themselves in order to bathe. It was truly +a splendid spectacle. + +“Concerning which the less said the better,” interrupted Raja Vikram in +an offended tone.[50] + +--but did not last long. The Raja’s daughter--for the principal maiden +was a princess--soon left her companions, who were scooping up water +with their palms and dashing it over one another’s heads, and proceeded +to perform the rites of purification, meditation, and worship. Then she +began strolling with a friend under the shade of a small mango grove. + +The prince also left his companion sitting in prayer, and walked forth +into the forest. Suddenly the eyes of the Raja’s son and the Raja’s +daughter met. She started back with a little scream. He was fascinated +by her beauty, and began to say to himself, “O thou vile Karma,[51] why +worriest thou me?” + +Hearing this, the maiden smiled encouragement, but the poor youth, +between palpitation of the heart and hesitation about what to say, was +so confused that his tongue crave to his teeth. She raised her eyebrows +a little. There is nothing which women despise in a man more than +modesty, [52] for mo-des-ty-- + +A violent shaking of the bag which hung behind Vikram’s royal back broke +off the end of this offensive sentence. And the warrior king did not +cease that discipline till the Baital promised him to preserve more +decorum in his observations. + +Still the prince stood before her with downcast eyes and suffused +cheeks: even the spur of contempt failed to arouse his energies. Then +the maiden called to her friend, who was picking jasmine flowers so as +not to witness the scene, and angrily asked why that strange man was +allowed to stand and stare at her? The friend, in hot wrath, threatened +to call the slave, and throw Vajramukut into the pond unless he +instantly went away with his impudence. But as the prince was rooted to +the spot, and really had not heard a word of what had been said to him, +the two women were obliged to make the first move. + +As they almost reached the tank, the beautiful maiden turned her head to +see what the poor modest youth was doing. + +Vajramukut was formed in every way to catch a woman’s eye. The Raja’s +daughter therefore half forgave him his offence of mod----. Again she +sweetly smiled, disclosing two rows of little opals. Then descending +to the water’s edge, she stooped down and plucked a lotus. This she +worshipped; next she placed it in her hair, then she put it in her ear, +then she bit it with her teeth, then she trod upon it with her foot, +then she raised it up again, and lastly she stuck it in her bosom. After +which she mounted her conveyance and went home to her friends; whilst +the prince, having become thoroughly desponding and drowned in grief at +separation from her, returned to the minister’s son. + +“Females!” ejaculated the minister’s son, speaking to himself in a +careless tone, when, his prayer finished, he left the temple, and sat +down upon the tank steps to enjoy the breeze. He presently drew a roll +of paper from under his waist-belt, and in a short time was engrossed +with his study. The women seeing this conduct, exerted themselves in +every possible way of wile to attract his attention and to distract his +soul. They succeeded only so far as to make him roll his head with a +smile, and to remember that such is always the custom of man’s bane; +after which he turned over a fresh page of manuscript. And although he +presently began to wonder what had become of the prince his master, he +did not look up even once from his study. + +He was a philosopher, that young man. But after all, Raja Vikram, what +is mortal philosophy? Nothing but another name for indifference! Who was +ever philosophical about a thing truly loved or really hated?--no one! +Philosophy, says Shankharacharya, is either a gift of nature or the +reward of study. But I, the Baital, the devil, ask you, what is a born +philosopher, save a man of cold desires? And what is a bred philosopher +but a man who has survived his desires? A young philosopher?--a +cold-blooded youth! An elderly philosopher?--a leuco-phlegmatic old +man! Much nonsense, of a verity, ye hear in praise of nothing from your +Rajaship’s Nine Gems of Science, and from sundry other such wise fools. + +Then the prince began to relate the state of his case, saying, “O +friend, I have seen a damsel, but whether she be a musician from Indra’s +heaven, a maiden of the sea, a daughter of the serpent kings, or the +child of an earthly Raja, I cannot say.” + +“Describe her,” said the statesman in embryo. + +“Her face,” quoth the prince, “was that of the full moon, her hair like +a swarm of bees hanging from the blossoms of the acacia, the corners of +her eyes touched her ears, her lips were sweet with lunar ambrosia, her +waist was that of a lion, and her walk the walk of a king goose. [53] +As a garment, she was white; as a season, the spring; as a flower, the +jasmine; as a speaker, the kokila bird; as a perfume, musk; as a +beauty, Kamadeva; and as a being, Love. And if she does not come into my +possession I will not live; this I have certainly determined upon.” + +The young minister, who had heard his prince say the same thing more +than once before, did not attach great importance to these awful words. +He merely remarked that, unless they mounted at once, night would +surprise them in the forest. Then the two young men returned to their +horses, untethered them, drew on their bridles, saddled them, and +catching up their weapons, rode slowly towards the Raja’s palace. +During the three hours of return hardly a word passed between the +pair. Vajramukut not only avoided speaking; he never once replied till +addressed thrice in the loudest voice. + +The young minister put no more questions, “for,” quoth he to himself, +“when the prince wants my counsel, he will apply for it.” In this point +he had borrowed wisdom from his father, who held in peculiar horror the +giving of unasked-for advice. So, when he saw that conversation was +irksome to his master, he held his peace and meditated upon what he +called his “day-thought.” It was his practice to choose every morning +some tough food for reflection, and to chew the cud of it in his mind +at times when, without such employment, his wits would have gone +wool-gathering. You may imagine, Raja Vikram, that with a few years of +this head work, the minister’s son became a very crafty young person. + +After the second day the Prince Vajramukut, being restless from grief +at separation, fretted himself into a fever. Having given up writing, +reading, drinking, sleeping, the affairs entrusted to him by his father, +and everything else, he sat down, as he said, to die. He used constantly +to paint the portrait of the beautiful lotus gatherer, and to lie gazing +upon it with tearful eyes; then he would start up and tear it to pieces +and beat his forehead, and begin another picture of a yet more beautiful +face. + +At last, as the pradhan’s son had foreseen, he was summoned by the +young Raja, whom he found upon his bed, looking yellow and complaining +bitterly of headache. Frequent discussions upon the subject of the +tender passion had passed between the two youths, and one of them had +ever spoken of it so very disrespectfully that the other felt ashamed +to introduce it. But when his friend, with a view to provoke +communicativeness, advised a course of boiled and bitter herbs and +great attention to diet, quoting the hemistich attributed to the learned +physician Charndatta, + + A fever starve, but feed a cold, + +the unhappy Vajramukut’s fortitude abandoned him; he burst into tears, +and exclaimed, “Whosoever enters upon the path of love cannot survive +it; and if (by chance) he should live, what is life to him but a +prolongation of his misery?” + +“Yea,” replied the minister’s son, “the sage hath said-- + +“The road of love is that which hath no beginning nor end; Take thou heed +of thyself, man I ere thou place foot upon it. + +“And the wise, knowing that there are three things whose effect upon +himself no man can foretell--namely, desire of woman, the dice-box, and +the drinking of ardent spirits--find total abstinence from them the best +of rules. Yet, after all, if there is no cow, we must milk the bull.” + +The advice was, of course, excellent, but the hapless lover could not +help thinking that on this occasion it came a little too late. However, +after a pause he returned to the subject and said, “I have ventured +to tread that dangerous way, be its end pain or pleasure, happiness or +destruction.” He then hung down his head and sighed from the bottom of +his heart. + +“She is the person who appeared to us at the tank?” asked the pradhan’s +son, moved to compassion by the state of his master. + +The prince assented. + +“O great king,” resumed the minister’s son, “at the time of going away +had she said anything to you? or had you said anything to her?” + +“Nothing!” replied the other laconically, when he found his friend +beginning to take an interest in the affair. + +“Then,” said the minister’s son, “it will be exceedingly difficult to +get possession of her.” + +“Then,” repeated the Raja’s son, “I am doomed to death; to an early and +melancholy death!” + +“Humph!” ejaculated the young statesman rather impatiently, “did she +make any sign, or give any hint? Let me know all that happened: half +confidences are worse than none.” + +Upon which the prince related everything that took place by the side +of the tank, bewailing the false shame which had made him dumb, and +concluding with her pantomime. + +The pradhan’s son took thought for a while. He thereupon seized the +opportunity of representing to his master all the evil effects of +bashfulness when women are concerned, and advised him, as he would be a +happy lover, to brazen his countenance for the next interview. + +Which the young Raja faithfully promised to do. + +“And, now,” said the other, “be comforted, O my master! I know her name +and her dwelling-place. When she suddenly plucked the lotus flower and +worshipped it, she thanked the gods for having blessed her with a sight +of your beauty.” + +Vajramukut smiled, the first time for the last month. + +“When she applied it to her ear, it was as if she would have explained +to thee, ‘I am a daughter of the Carnatic: [54] and when she bit it with +her teeth, she meant to say that ‘My father is Raja Dantawat, [55]’ who, +by-the-bye, has been, is, and ever will be, a mortal foe to thy father.” + +Vajramukut shuddered. + +“When she put it under her foot it meant, ‘My name is Padmavati. [56]’” + +Vajramukut uttered a cry of joy. + +“And when she placed it in her bosom, ‘You are truly dwelling in my +heart’ was meant to be understood.” + +At these words the young Raja started up full of new life, and after +praising with enthusiasm the wondrous sagacity of his dear friend, +begged him by some contrivance to obtain the permission of his parents, +and to conduct him to her city. The minister’s son easily got leave for +Vajramukut to travel, under pretext that his body required change +of water, and his mind change of scene. They both dressed and armed +themselves for the journey, and having taken some jewels, mounted their +horses and followed the road in that direction in which the princess had +gone. + +Arrived after some days at the capital of the Carnatic, the minister’s +son having disguised his master and himself in the garb of travelling +traders, alighted and pitched his little tent upon a clear bit of ground +in one of the suburbs. He then proceeded to inquire for a wise woman, +wanting, he said, to have his fortune told. When the prince asked +him what this meant, he replied that elderly dames who professionally +predict the future are never above ministering to the present, and +therefore that, in such circumstances, they are the properest persons to +be consulted. + +“Is this a treatise upon the subject of immorality, devil?” demanded the +King Vikram ferociously. The Baital declared that it was not, but that +he must tell his story. + +The person addressed pointed to an old woman who, seated before the door +of her hut, was spinning at her wheel. Then the young men went up to her +with polite salutations and said, “Mother, we are travelling traders, +and our stock is coming after us; we have come on in advance for the +purpose of finding a place to live in. If you will give us a house, we +will remain there and pay you highly.” + +The old woman, who was a physiognomist as well as a fortune-teller, +looked at the faces of the young men and liked them, because their brows +were wide, and their mouths denoted generosity. Having listened to their +words, she took pity upon them and said kindly, “This hovel is yours, my +masters, remain here as long as you please.” Then she led them into an +inner room, again welcomed them, lamented the poorness of her abode, and +begged them to lie down and rest themselves. + +After some interval of time the old woman came to them once more, and +sitting down began to gossip. The minister’s son upon this asked her, +“How is it with thy family, thy relatives, and connections; and what are +thy means of subsistence?” She replied, “My son is a favourite servant +in the household of our great king Dantawat, and your slave is the +wet-nurse of the Princess Padmavati, his eldest child. From the coming +on of old age,” she added, “I dwell in this house, but the king provides +for my eating and drinking. I go once a day to see the girl, who is a +miracle of beauty and goodness, wit and accomplishments, and returning +thence, I bear my own griefs at home. [57]” + +In a few days the young Vajramukut had, by his liberality, soft speech, +and good looks, made such progress in nurse Lakshmi’s affections that, +by the advice of his companion, he ventured to broach the subject ever +nearest his heart. He begged his hostess, when she went on the morrow +to visit the charming Padmavati, that she would be kind enough to slip a +bit of paper into the princess’s hand. + +“Son,” she replied, delighted with the proposal--and what old woman +would not be?--“there is no need for putting off so urgent an affair +till the morrow. Get your paper ready, and I will immediately give it.” + +Trembling with pleasure, the prince ran to find his friend, who was +seated in the garden reading, as usual, and told him what the old nurse +had engaged to do. He then began to debate about how he should write +his letter, to cull sentences and to weigh phrases; whether “light of my +eyes” was not too trite, and “blood of my liver” rather too forcible. At +this the minister’s son smiled, and bade the prince not trouble his head +with composition. He then drew his inkstand from his waist shawl, nibbed +a reed pen, and choosing a piece of pink and flowered paper, he wrote +upon it a few lines. He then folded it, gummed it, sketched a lotus +flower upon the outside, and handing it to the young prince, told him to +give it to their hostess, and that all would be well. + +The old woman took her staff in her hand and hobbled straight to the +palace. Arrived there, she found the Raja’s daughter sitting alone in +her apartment. The maiden, seeing her nurse, immediately arose, +and making a respectful bow, led her to a seat and began the most +affectionate inquiries. After giving her blessing and sitting for +some time and chatting about indifferent matters, the nurse said, +“O daughter! in infancy I reared and nourished thee, now the Bhagwan +(Deity) has rewarded me by giving thee stature, beauty, health, and +goodness. My heart only longs to see the happiness of thy womanhood, +[58] after which I shall depart in peace. I implore thee read this +paper, given to me by the handsomest and the properest young man that my +eyes have ever seen.” + +The princess, glancing at the lotus on the outside of the note, slowly +unfolded it and perused its contents, which were as follows: + + 1. + + She was to me the pearl that clings + To sands all hid from mortal sight + Yet fit for diadems of kings, + The pure and lovely light. + + 2. + + She was to me the gleam of sun + That breaks the gloom of wintry day + One moment shone my soul upon, + Then passed--how soon!--away. + + 3. + + She was to me the dreams of bliss + That float the dying eyes before, + For one short hour shed happiness, + And fly to bless no more. + + 4. + + O light, again upon me shine; + O pearl, again delight my eyes; + O dreams of bliss, again be mine!-- + No! earth may not be Paradise. + +I must not forget to remark, parenthetically, that the minister’s son, +in order to make these lines generally useful, had provided them with a +last stanza in triplicate. “For lovers,” he said sagely, “are either in +the optative mood, the desperative, or the exultative.” This time he had +used the optative. For the desperative he would substitute: + + 4. + + The joys of life lie dead, lie dead, + The light of day is quenched in gloom + The spark of hope my heart hath fled + What now witholds me from the tomb + + +And this was the termination exultative, as he called it: + + 4. + + O joy I the pearl is mine again, + Once more the day is bright and clear + And now ‘tis real, then ‘twas vain, + My dream of bliss--O heaven is here! + + +The Princess Padmavati having perused this doggrel with a contemptuous +look, tore off the first word of the last line, and said to the nurse, +angrily, “Get thee gone, O mother of Yama, [59] O unfortunate creature, +and take back this answer”--giving her the scrap of paper--“to the fool +who writes such bad verses. I wonder where he studied the humanities. +Begone, and never do such an action again!” + +The old nurse, distressed at being so treated, rose up and returned +home. Vajramukut was too agitated to await her arrival, so he went to +meet her on the way. Imagine his disappointment when she gave him the +fatal word and repeated to him exactly what happened, not forgetting +to describe a single look! He felt tempted to plunge his sword into his +bosom; but Fortune interfered, and sent him to consult his confidant. + +“Be not so hasty and desperate, my prince,” said the pradhan’s son, +seeing his wild grief; “you have not understood her meaning. Later in +life you will be aware of the fact that, in nine cases out of ten, a +woman’s ‘no’ is a distinct ‘yes.’ This morning’s work has been good; the +maiden asked where you learnt the humanities, which being interpreted +signifies ‘Who are you?”’ + +On the next day the prince disclosed his rank to old Lakshmi, who +naturally declared that she had always known it. The trust they reposed +in her made her ready to address Padmavati once more on the forbidden +subject. So she again went to the palace, and having lovingly greeted +her nursling, said to her, “The Raja’s son, whose heart thou didst +fascinate on the brim of the tank, on the fifth day of the moon, in +the light half of the month Yeth, has come to my house, and sends this +message to thee: ‘Perform what you promised;’ we have now come; and +I also tell thee that this prince is worthy of thee: just as thou art +beautiful, so is he endowed with all good qualities of mind and body.” + +When Padmavati heard this speech she showed great anger, and, rubbing +sandal on her beautiful hands, she slapped the old woman’s cheeks, and +cried, “Wretch, Daina (witch)! get out of my house; did I not forbid +thee to talk such folly in my presence?” + +The lover and the nurse were equally distressed at having taken the +advice of the young minister, till he explained what the crafty damsel +meant. “When she smeared the sandal on her ten fingers,” he explained, +“and struck the old woman on the face, she signified that when the +remaining ten moonlight nights shall have passed away she will meet +you in the dark.” At the same time he warned his master that to all +appearances the lady Padmavati was far too clever to make a comfortable +wife. The minister’s son especially hated talented, intellectual, and +strong-minded women; he had been heard to describe the torments of +Naglok [60] as the compulsory companionship of a polemical divine and a +learned authoress, well stricken in years and of forbidding aspect, as +such persons mostly are. Amongst womankind he admired--theoretically, +as became a philosopher--the small, plump, laughing, chattering, +unintellectual, and material-minded. And therefore--excuse the +digression, Raja Vikram--he married an old maid, tall, thin, yellow, +strictly proper, cold-mannered, a conversationist, and who prided +herself upon spirituality. But more wonderful still, after he did marry +her, he actually loved her--what an incomprehensible being is man in +these matters! + +To return, however. The pradhan’s son, who detected certain symptoms of +strong-mindedness in the Princess Padmavati, advised his lord to be wise +whilst wisdom availed him. This sage counsel was, as might be guessed, +most ungraciously rejected by him for whose benefit it was intended. +Then the sensible young statesman rated himself soundly for having +broken his father’s rule touching advice, and atoned for it by blindly +forwarding the views of his master. + +After the ten nights of moonlight had passed, the old nurse was again +sent to the palace with the usual message. This time Padmavati put +saffron on three of her fingers, and again left their marks on the +nurse’s cheek. The minister’s son explained that this was to crave delay +for three days, and that on the fourth the lover would have access to +her. + +When the time had passed the old woman again went and inquired after her +health and well-being. The princess was as usual very wroth, and having +personally taken her nurse to the western gate, she called her “Mother +of the elephant’s trunk, [61]” and drove her out with threats of +the bastinado if she ever came back. This was reported to the young +statesman, who, after a few minutes’ consideration, said, “The +explanation of this matter is, that she has invited you to-morrow, at +nighttime, to meet her at this very gate. + +“When brown shadows fell upon the face of earth, and here and there a +star spangled the pale heavens, the minister’s son called Vajramukut, +who had been engaged in adorning himself at least half that day. He +had carefully shaved his cheeks and chin; his mustachio was trimmed and +curled; he had arched his eyebrows by plucking out with tweezers +the fine hairs around them; he had trained his curly musk-coloured +love-locks to hang gracefully down his face; he had drawn broad lines of +antimony along his eyelids, a most brilliant sectarian mark was affixed +to his forehead, the colour of his lips had been heightened by chewing +betel-nut-- + +“One would imagine that you are talking of a silly girl, not of a +prince, fiend!” interrupted Vikram, who did not wish his son to hear +what he called these fopperies and frivolities. + +--and whitened his neck by having it shaved (continued the Baital, +speaking quickly, as if determined not to be interrupted), and reddened +the tips of his ears by squeezing them, and made his teeth shine by +rubbing copper powder into the roots, and set off the delicacy of his +fingers by staining the tips with henna. He had not been less careful +with his dress: he wore a well-arranged turband, which had taken him at +least two hours to bind, and a rich suit of brown stuff chosen for the +adventure he was about to attempt, and he hung about his person a number +of various weapons, so as to appear a hero--which young damsels admire. + +Vajramukut asked his friend how he looked, and smiled happily when the +other replied “Admirable!” His happiness was so great that he feared +it might not last, and he asked the minister’s son how best to conduct +himself? + +“As a conqueror, my prince!” answered that astute young man, “if it so +be that you would be one. When you wish to win a woman, always impose +upon her. Tell her that you are her master, and she will forthwith +believe herself to be your servant. Inform her that she loves you, and +forthwith she will adore you. Show her that you care nothing for her, +and she will think of nothing but you. Prove to her by your demeanour +that you consider her a slave, and she will become your pariah. But +above all things--excuse me if I repeat myself too often--beware of the +fatal virtue which men call modesty and women sheepishness. Recollect +the trouble it has given us, and the danger which we have incurred: +all this might have been managed at a tank within fifteen miles of your +royal father’s palace. And allow me to say that you may still thank your +stars: in love a lost opportunity is seldom if ever recovered. The time +to woo a woman is the moment you meet her, before she has had time to +think; allow her the use of reflection and she may escape the net. And +after avoiding the rock of Modesty, fall not, I conjure you, into the +gulf of Security. I fear the lady Padmavati, she is too clever and too +prudent. When damsels of her age draw the sword of Love, they throw away +the scabbard of Precaution. But you yawn--I weary you--it is time for us +to move.” + +Two watches of the night had passed, and there was profound stillness on +earth. The young men then walked quietly through the shadows, till they +reached the western gate of the palace, and found the wicket ajar. The +minister’s son peeped in and saw the porter dozing, stately as a Brahman +deep in the Vedas, and behind him stood a veiled woman seemingly waiting +for somebody. He then returned on tiptoe to the place where he had left +his master, and with a parting caution against modesty and security, +bade him fearlessly glide through the wicket. Then having stayed a short +time at the gate listening with anxious ear, he went back to the old +woman’s house. + +Vajramukut penetrating to the staircase, felt his hand grasped by the +veiled figure, who motioning him to tread lightly, led him quickly +forwards. They passed under several arches, through dim passages and +dark doorways, till at last running up a flight of stone steps they +reached the apartments of the princess. + +Vajramukut was nearly fainting as the flood of splendour broke upon him. +Recovering himself he gazed around the rooms, and presently a tumult of +delight invaded his soul, and his body bristled with joy. [62] The scene +was that of fairyland. Golden censers exhaled the most costly perfumes, +and gemmed vases bore the most beautiful flowers; silver lamps +containing fragrant oil illuminated doors whose panels were wonderfully +decorated, and walls adorned with pictures in which such figures were +formed that on seeing them the beholder was enchanted. On one side of +the room stood a bed of flowers and a couch covered with brocade of +gold, and strewed with freshly-culled jasmine flowers. On the other +side, arranged in proper order, were attar holders, betel-boxes, +rose-water bottles, trays, and silver cases with four partitions for +essences compounded of rose leaves, sugar, and spices, prepared sandal +wood, saffron, and pods of musk. Scattered about a stuccoed floor white +as crystal, were coloured caddies of exquisite confections, and in +others sweetmeats of various kinds.[63] Female attendants clothed in +dresses of various colours were standing each according to her rank, +with hands respectfully joined. Some were reading plays and beautiful +poems, others danced and others performed with glittering fingers and +flashing arms on various instruments--the ivory lute, the ebony pipe +and the silver kettledrum. In short, all the means and appliances of +pleasure and enjoyment were there; and any description of the appearance +of the apartments, which were the wonder of the age, is impossible. + +Then another veiled figure, the beautiful Princess Padmavati, came up +and disclosed herself, and dazzled the eyes of her delighted Vajramukut. +She led him into an alcove, made him sit down, rubbed sandal powder upon +his body, hung a garland of jasmine flowers round his neck, sprinkled +rose-water over his dress, and began to wave over his head a fan of +peacock feathers with a golden handle. + +Said the prince, who despite all efforts could not entirely shake off +his unhappy habit of being modest, “Those very delicate hands of yours +are not fit to ply the pankha.[64] Why do you take so much trouble? I +am cool and refreshed by the sight of you. Do give the fan to me and sit +down.” + +“Nay, great king!” replied Padmavati, with the most fascinating of +smiles, “you have taken so much trouble for my sake in coming here, it +is right that I perform service for you.” + +Upon which her favourite slave, taking the pankha from the hand of the +princess, exclaimed, “This is my duty. I will perform the service; do +you two enjoy yourselves!” + +The lovers then began to chew betel, which, by the bye, they disposed of +in little agate boxes which they drew from their pockets, and they were +soon engaged in the tenderest conversation. + +Here the Baital paused for a while, probably to take breath. Then he +resumed his tale as follows: + +In the meantime, it became dawn; the princess concealed him; and when +night returned they again engaged in the same innocent pleasures. +Thus day after day sped rapidly by. Imagine, if you can, the youth’s +felicity; he was of an ardent temperament, deeply enamoured, barely +a score of years old, and he had been strictly brought up by serious +parents. He therefore resigned himself entirely to the siren for whom he +willingly forgot the world, and he wondered at his good fortune, which +had thrown in his way a conquest richer than all the mines of Meru.[65] +He could not sufficiently admire his Padmavati’s grace, beauty, bright +wit, and numberless accomplishments. Every morning, for vanity’s sake, +he learned from her a little useless knowledge in verse as well as +prose, for instance, the saying of the poet-- + + Enjoy the present hour, ‘tis thine; be this, O man, thy law; + Who e’er resew the yester? Who the morrow e’er foresaw? + +And this highly philosophical axiom-- + + Eat, drink, and love--the rest’s not worth a fillip. + +“By means of which he hoped, Raja Vikram!” said the demon, not heeding +his royal carrier’s “ughs” and “poohs,” “to become in course of time +almost as clever as his mistress.” + +Padmavati, being, as you have seen, a maiden of superior mind, was +naturally more smitten by her lover’s dulness than by any other of his +qualities; she adored it, it was such a contrast to herself.[66] At +first she did what many clever women do--she invested him with the +brightness of her own imagination. Still water, she pondered, runs deep; +certainly under this disguise must lurk a brilliant fancy, a penetrating +but a mature and ready judgment--are they not written by nature’s hand +on that broad high brow? With such lovely mustachios can he be aught but +generous, noble-minded, magnanimous? Can such eyes belong to any but a +hero? And she fed the delusion. She would smile upon him with intense +fondness, when, after wasting hours over a few lines of poetry, he +would misplace all the adjectives and barbarously entreat the metre. +She laughed with gratification, when, excited by the bright sayings that +fell from her lips, the youth put forth some platitude, dim as the lamp +in the expiring fire-fly. When he slipped in grammar she saw malice +under it, when he retailed a borrowed jest she called it a good one, and +when he used--as princes sometimes will--bad language, she discovered in +it a charming simplicity. + +At first she suspected that the stratagems which had won her heart were +the results of a deep-laid plot proceeding from her lover. But clever +women are apt to be rarely sharp-sighted in every matter which concerns +themselves. She frequently determined that a third was in the secret. +She therefore made no allusion to it. Before long the enamoured +Vajramukut had told her everything, beginning with the diatribe against +love pronounced by the minister’s son, and ending with the solemn +warning that she, the pretty princess, would some day or other play her +husband a foul trick. + +“If I do not revenge myself upon him,” thought the beautiful Padmavati, +smiling like an angel as she listened to the youth’s confidence, “may I +become a gardener’s ass in the next birth!” + +Having thus registered a vow, she broke silence, and praised to the +skies the young pradhan’s wisdom and sagacity; professed herself ready +from gratitude to become his slave, and only hoped that one day or +other she might meet that true friend by whose skill her soul had been +gratified in its dearest desire. “Only,” she concluded, “I am convinced +that now my Vajramukut knows every corner of his little Padmavati’s +heart, he will never expect her to do anything but love, admire, adore +and kiss him!” Then suiting the action to the word, she convinced him +that the young minister had for once been too crabbed and cynic in his +philosophy. + +But after the lapse of a month Vajramukut, who had eaten and drunk and +slept a great deal too much, and who had not once hunted, became bilious +in body and in mind melancholic. His face turned yellow, and so did +the whites of his eyes; he yawned, as liver patients generally do, +complained occasionally of sick headaches, and lost his appetite: +he became restless and anxious, and once when alone at night he thus +thought aloud: “I have given up country, throne, home, and everything +else, but the friend by means of whom this happiness was obtained I +have not seen for the long length of thirty days. What will he say to +himself, and how can I know what has happened to him?” + +In this state of things he was sitting, and in the meantime the +beautiful princess arrived. She saw through the matter, and lost not a +moment in entering upon it. She began by expressing her astonishment at +her lover’s fickleness and fondness for change, and when he was ready +to wax wroth, and quoted the words of the sage, “A barren wife may be +superseded by another in the eighth year; she whose children all die, in +the tenth; she who brings forth only daughters, in the eleventh; she +who scolds, without delay,” thinking that she alluded to his love, she +smoothed his temper by explaining that she referred to his forgetting +his friend. “How is it possible, O my soul,” she asked with the softest +of voices, that thou canst happiness here whilst thy heart is wandering +there? Why didst thou conceal this from me, O astute one? Was it for +fear of distressing me? Think better of thy wife than to suppose that +she would ever separate thee from one to whom we both owe so much! + +After this Padmavati advised, nay ordered, her lover to go forth that +night, and not to return till his mind was quite at ease, and she begged +him to take a few sweetmeats and other trifles as a little token of her +admiration and regard for the clever young man of whom she had heard so +much. + +Vajramukut embraced her with a transport of gratitude, which so inflamed +her anger, that fearing lest the cloak of concealment might fall from +her countenance, she went away hurriedly to find the greatest delicacies +which her comfit boxes contained. Presently she returned, carrying a bag +of sweetmeats of every kind for her lover, and as he rose up to depart, +she put into his hand a little parcel of sugar-plums especially intended +for the friend; they were made up with her own delicate fingers, and +they would please, she flattered herself, even his discriminating +palate. + +The young prince, after enduring a number of farewell embraces and +hopings for a speedy return, and last words ever beginning again, +passed safely through the palace gate, and with a relieved aspect walked +briskly to the house of the old nurse. Although it was midnight his +friend was still sitting on his mat. + +The two young men fell upon one another’s bosoms and embraced +affectionately. They then began to talk of matters nearest their hearts. +The Raja’s son wondered at seeing the jaded and haggard looks of his +companion, who did not disguise that they were caused by his anxiety as +to what might have happened to his friend at the hand of so talented and +so superior a princess. Upon which Vajramukut, who now thought Padmavati +an angel, and his late abode a heaven, remarked with formality--and two +blunders to one quotation--that abilities properly directed win for a +man the happiness of both worlds. + +The pradhan’s son rolled his head. + +“Again on your hobby-horse, nagging at talent whenever you find it in +others!” cried the young prince with a pun, which would have delighted +Padmavati. “Surely you are jealous of her!” he resumed, anything but +pleased with the dead silence that had received his joke; “jealous of +her cleverness, and of her love for me. She is the very best creature +in the world. Even you, woman-hater as you are, would own it if you only +knew all the kind messages she sent, and the little pleasant surprise +that she has prepared for you. There! take and eat; they are made by her +own dear hands!” cried the young Raja, producing the sweetmeats. “As she +herself taught me to say-- + + Thank God I am a man, + Not a philosopher!” + +“The kind messages she sent me! The pleasant surprise she has prepared +for me!” repeated the minister’s son in a hard, dry tone. “My lord will +be pleased to tell me how she heard of my name?” + +“I was sitting one night,” replied the prince, “in anxious thought about +you, when at that moment the princess coming in and seeing my condition, +asked, ‘Why are you thus sad? Explain the cause to me.’ I then gave +her an account of your cleverness, and when she heard it she gave me +permission to go and see you, and sent these sweetmeats for you: eat +them and I shall be pleased.” + +“Great king!” rejoined the young statesman, “one thing vouchsafe to +hear from me. You have not done well in that you have told my name. +You should never let a woman think that your left hand knows the secret +which she confided to your right, much less that you have shared it to +a third person. Secondly, you did evil in allowing her to see the +affection with which you honour your unworthy servant--a woman ever +hates her lover’s or husband’s friend.” + +“What could I do?” rejoined the young Raja, in a querulous tone of +voice. “When I love a woman I like to tell her everything--to have no +secrets from her--to consider her another self----” + +“Which habit,” interrupted the pradhan’s son, “you will lose when you +are a little older, when you recognize the fact that love is nothing but +a bout, a game of skill between two individuals of opposite sexes: the +one seeking to gain as much, and the other striving to lose as little as +possible; and that the sharper of the twain thus met on the chessboard +must, in the long run, win. And reticence is but a habit. Practise it +for a year, and you will find it harder to betray than to conceal your +thoughts. It hath its joy also. Is there no pleasure, think you, when +suppressing an outbreak of tender but fatal confidence in saying to +yourself, ‘O, if she only knew this?’ ‘O, if she did but suspect that?’ +Returning, however, to the sugar-plums, my life to a pariah’s that they +are poisoned!” + +“Impossible!” exclaimed the prince, horror-struck at the thought; +“what you say, surely no one ever could do. If a mortal fears not his +fellow-mortal, at least he dreads the Deity.” + +“I never yet knew,” rejoined the other, “what a woman in love does fear. +However, prince, the trial is easy. Come here, Muti!” cried he to the +old woman’s dog, “and off with thee to that three-headed kinsman of +thine, that attends upon his amiable-looking master.[67]” + +Having said this, he threw one of the sweetmeats to the dog; the animal +ate it, and presently writhing and falling down, died. + +“The wretch! O the wretch!” cried Vajramukut, transported with wonder +and anger. “And I loved her! But now it is all over. I dare not +associate with such a calamity!” + +“What has happened, my lord, has happened!” quoth the minister’s son +calmly. “I was prepared for something of this kind from so talented a +princess. None commit such mistakes, such blunders, such follies as your +clever women; they cannot even turn out a crime decently executed. O +give me dulness with one idea, one aim, one desire. O thrice blessed +dulness that combines with happiness, power.” + +This time Vajramukut did not defend talent. + +“And your slave did his best to warn you against perfidy. But now my +heart is at rest. I have tried her strength. She has attempted and +failed; the defeat will prevent her attempting again--just yet. But let +me ask you to put to yourself one question. Can you be happy without +her?” + +“Brother!” replied the prince, after a pause, “I cannot”; and he blushed +as he made the avowal. + +“Well,” replied the other, “better confess then conceal that fact; +we must now meet her on the battle-field, and beat her at her own +weapons--cunning. I do not willingly begin treachery with women, +because, in the first place, I don’t like it; and secondly, I know that +they will certainly commence practicing it upon me, after which I hold +myself justified in deceiving them. And probably this will be a good +wife; remember that she intended to poison me, not you. During the last +month my fear has been lest my prince had run into the tiger’s brake. +Tell me, my lord, when does the princess expect you to return to her?” + +“She bade me,” said the young Raja, “not to return till my mind was +quite at ease upon the subject of my talented friend.” + +“This means that she expects you back to-morrow night, as you cannot +enter the palace before. And now I will retire to my cot, as it is there +that I am wont to ponder over my plans. Before dawn my thought shall +mature one which must place the beautiful Padmavati in your power.” + +“A word before parting,” exclaimed the prince “you know my father has +already chosen a spouse for me; what will he say if I bring home a +second?” + +“In my humble opinion,” said the minister’s son rising to retire, “woman +is a monogamous, man a polygamous, creature, a fact scarcely established +in physiological theory, but very observable in every-day practice. For +what said the poet?-- + + Divorce, friend! Re-wed thee! The spring draweth near,[68] + And a wife’s but an almanac--good for the year. + +If your royal father say anything to you, refer him to what he himself +does.” + +Reassured by these words, Vajramukut bade his friend a cordial +good-night and sought his cot, where he slept soundly, despite the +emotions of the last few hours. The next day passed somewhat slowly. In +the evening, when accompanying his master to the palace, the minister’s +son gave him the following directions. + +“Our object, dear my lord, is how to obtain possession of the princess. +Take, then, this trident, and hide it carefully when you see her show +the greatest love and affection. Conceal what has happened, and when +she, wondering at your calmness, asks about me, tell her that last night +I was weary and out of health, that illness prevented my eating her +sweetmeats, but that I shall eat them for supper to-night. When she goes +to sleep, then, taking off her jewels and striking her left leg with the +trident, instantly come away to me. But should she lie awake, rub upon +your thumb a little of this--do not fear, it is only a powder of +grubs fed on verdigris--and apply it to her nostrils. It would make an +elephant senseless, so be careful how you approach it to your own face.” + +Vajramukut embraced his friend, and passed safely through the palace +gate. He found Padmavati awaiting him; she fell upon his bosom and +looked into his eyes, and deceived herself, as clever women will do. +Overpowered by her joy and satisfaction, she now felt certain that +her lover was hers eternally, and that her treachery had not been +discovered; so the beautiful princess fell into a deep sleep. + +Then Vajramukut lost no time in doing as the minister’s son had advised, +and slipped out of the room, carrying off Padmavati’s jewels and +ornaments. His counsellor having inspected them, took up a sack and made +signs to his master to follow him. Leaving the horses and baggage at +the nurse’s house, they walked to a burning-place outside the city. The +minister’s son there buried his dress, together with that of the prince, +and drew from the sack the costume of a religious ascetic: he assumed +this himself, and gave to his companion that of a disciple. Then quoth +the guru (spiritual preceptor) to his chela (pupil), “Go, youth, to the +bazar, and sell these jewels, remembering to let half the jewellers in +the place see the things, and if any one lay hold of thee, bring him to +me.” + +Upon which, as day had dawned, Vajramukut carried the princess’s +ornaments to the market, and entering the nearest goldsmith’s shop, +offered to sell them, and asked what they were worth. As your majesty +well knows, gardeners, tailors, and goldsmiths are proverbially +dishonest, and this man was no exception to the rule. He looked at the +pupil’s face and wondered, because he had brought articles whose value +he did not appear to know. A thought struck him that he might make a +bargain which would fill his coffers, so he offered about a thousandth +part of the price. This the pupil rejected, because he wished the affair +to go further. Then the goldsmith, seeing him about to depart, sprang up +and stood in the door way, threatening to call the officers of justice +if the young man refused to give up the valuables which he said had +lately been stolen from his shop. As the pupil only laughed at this, +the goldsmith thought seriously of executing his threat, hesitating only +because he knew that the officers of justice would gain more than he +could by that proceeding. As he was still in doubt a shadow darkened +his shop, and in entered the chief jeweller of the city. The moment the +ornaments were shown to him he recognized them, and said, “These jewels +belong to Raja Dantawat’s daughter; I know them well, as I set them only +a few months ago!” Then he turned to the disciple, who still held the +valuables in his hand, and cried, “Tell me truly whence you received +them?” + +While they were thus talking, a crowd of ten or twenty persons had +collected, and at length the report reached the superintendent of the +archers. He sent a soldier to bring before him the pupil, the goldsmith, +and the chief jeweller, together with the ornaments. And when all were +in the hall of justice, he looked at the jewels and said to the young +man, “Tell me truly, whence have you obtained these?” + +“My spiritual preceptor,” said Vajramukut, pretending great fear, “who +is now worshipping in the cemetery outside the town, gave me these white +stones, with an order to sell them. How know I whence he obtained them? +Dismiss me, my lord, for I am an innocent man.” + +“Let the ascetic be sent for,” commanded the kotwal.[69] Then, having +taken both of them, along with the jewels, into the presence of King +Dantawat, he related the whole circumstances. + +“Master,” said the king on hearing the statement, “whence have you +obtained these jewels?” + +The spiritual preceptor, before deigning an answer, pulled from under +his arm the hide of a black antelope, which he spread out and smoothed +deliberately before using it as an asan.[70] He then began to finger a +rosary of beads each as large as an egg, and after spending nearly an +hour in mutterings and in rollings of the head, he looked fixedly at the +Raja, and repined: + +“By Shiva! great king, they are mine own. On the fourteenth of the dark +half of the moon at night, I had gone into a place where dead bodies are +burned, for the purpose of accomplishing a witch’s incantation. After +long and toilsome labour she appeared, but her demeanour was so unruly +that I was forced to chastise her. I struck her with this, my trident, +on the left leg, if memory serves me. As she continued to be refractory, +in order to punish her I took off all her jewels and clothes, and told +her to go where she pleased. Even this had little effect upon her--never +have I looked upon so perverse a witch. In this way the jewels came into +my possession.” + +Raja Dantawat was stunned by these words. He begged the ascetic not +to leave the palace for a while, and forthwith walked into the private +apartments of the women. Happening first to meet the queen dowager, +he said to her, “Go, without losing a minute, O my mother, and look at +Padmavati’s left leg, and see if there is a mark or not, and what sort +of a mark!” Presently she returned, and coming to the king said, “Son, +I find thy daughter lying upon her bed, and complaining that she has met +with an accident; and indeed Padmavati must be in great pain. I found +that some sharp instrument with three points had wounded her. The girl +says that a nail hurt her, but I never yet heard of a nail making +three holes. However, we must all hasten, or there will be erysipelas, +tumefaction, gangrene, mortification, amputation, and perhaps death +in the house,” concluded the old queen, hurrying away in the pleasing +anticipation of these ghastly consequences. + +For a moment King Dantawat’s heart was ready to break. But he was +accustomed to master his feelings; he speedily applied the reins of +reflection to the wild steed of passion. He thought to himself, “the +affairs of one’s household, the intentions of one’s heart, and whatever +one’s losses may be, should not be disclosed to any one. Since Padmavati +is a witch, she is no longer my daughter. I will verily go forth and +consult the spiritual preceptor.” + +With these words the king went outside, where the guru was still sitting +upon his black hide, making marks with his trident on the floor. Having +requested that the pupil might be sent away, and having cleared the +room, he said to the jogi, “O holy man! what punishment for the heinous +crime of witchcraft is awarded to a woman in the Dharma-Shastra [71]?” + +“Great king!” replied the devotee, “in the Dharma Shastra it is thus +written: ‘If a Brahman, a cow, a woman, a child, or any other person +whatsoever who may be dependent on us, should be guilty of a perfidious +act, their punishment is that they be banished the country.’ However +much they may deserve death, we must not spill their blood, as +Lakshmi[72] flies in horror from the deed.” + +Hearing these words the Raja dismissed the guru with many thanks and +large presents. He waited till nightfall and then ordered a band of +trusty men to seize Padmavati without alarming the household, and to +carry her into a distant jungle full of fiends, tigers, and bears, and +there to abandon her. + +In the meantime, the ascetic and his pupil hurrying to the cemetery +resumed their proper dresses; they then went to the old nurse’s house, +rewarded her hospitality till she wept bitterly, girt on their weapons, +and mounting their horses, followed the party which issued from the gate +of King Dantawat’s palace. And it may easily be believed that they found +little difficulty in persuading the poor girl to exchange her chance in +the wild jungle for the prospect of becoming Vajramukut’s wife--lawfully +wedded at Benares. She did not even ask if she was to have a rival in +the house,--a question which women, you know, never neglect to put +under usual circumstances. After some days the two pilgrims of one love +arrived at the house of their fathers, and to all, both great and small, +excess in joy came. + +“Now, Raja Vikram!” said the Baital, “you have not spoken much; +doubtless you are engrossed by the interest of a story wherein a man +beats a woman at her own weapon--deceit. But I warn you that you will +assuredly fall into Narak (the infernal regions) if you do not make +up your mind upon and explain this matter. Who was the most to blame +amongst these four? the lover[73] the lover’s friend, the girl, or the +father?” + +“For my part I think Padmavati was the worst, she being at the bottom of +all their troubles,” cried Dharma Dhwaj. The king said something about +young people and the two senses of seeing and hearing, but his son’s +sentiment was so sympathetic that he at once pardoned the interruption. +At length, determined to do justice despite himself, Vikram said, “Raja +Dantawat is the person most at fault.” + +“In what way was he at fault?” asked the Baital curiously. + +King Vikram gave him this reply: “The Prince Vajramukut being tempted of +the love-god was insane, and therefore not responsible for his actions. +The minister’s son performed his master’s business obediently, without +considering causes or asking questions--a very excellent quality in a +dependent who is merely required to do as he is bid. With respect to the +young woman, I have only to say that she was a young woman, and thereby +of necessity a possible murderess. But the Raja, a prince, a man of a +certain age and experience, a father of eight! He ought never to have +been deceived by so shallow a trick, nor should he, without reflection, +have banished his daughter from the country.” + +“Gramercy to you!” cried the Vampire, bursting into a discordant shout +of laughter, “I now return to my tree. By my tail! I never yet heard a +Raja so readily condemn a Raja.” With these words he slipped out of the +cloth, leaving it to hang empty over the great king’s shoulder. + +Vikram stood for a moment, fixed to the spot with blank dismay. +Presently, recovering himself, he retraced his steps, followed by his +son, ascended the sires-tree, tore down the Baital, packed him up as +before, and again set out upon his way. + +Soon afterwards a voice sounded behind the warrior king’s back, and +began to tell another true story. + + + + +THE VAMPIRE’S SECOND STORY -- Of the Relative Villany of Men and Women. + +In the great city of Bhogavati dwelt, once upon a time, a young prince, +concerning whom I may say that he strikingly resembled this amiable son +of your majesty. + +Raja Vikram was silent, nor did he acknowledge the Baital’s indirect +compliment. He hated flattery, but he liked, when flattered, to be +flattered in his own person; a feature in their royal patron’s character +which the Nine Gems of Science had turned to their own account. + +Now the young prince Raja Ram (continued the tale teller) had an old +father, concerning whom I may say that he was exceedingly unlike your +Rajaship, both as a man and as a parent. He was fond of hunting, dicing, +sleeping by day, drinking at night, and eating perpetual tonics, while +he delighted in the idleness of watching nautch girls, and the vanity of +falling in love. But he was adored by his children because he took the +trouble to win their hearts. He did not lay it down as a law of heaven +that his offspring would assuredly go to Patala if they neglected the +duty of bestowing upon him without cause all their affections, as your +moral, virtuous, and highly respectable fathers are only too apt----. +Aie! Aie! + +These sounds issued from the Vampire’s lips as the warrior king, +speechless with wrath, passed his hand behind his back, and viciously +twisted up a piece of the speaker’s skin. This caused the Vampire to +cry aloud, more however, it would appear, in derision than in real +suffering, for he presently proceeded with the same subject. + +Fathers, great king, may be divided into three kinds; and be it said +aside, that mothers are the same. Firstly, we have the parent of many +ideas, amusing, pleasant, of course poor, and the idol of his children. +Secondly, there is the parent with one idea and a half. This sort of man +would, in your place, say to himself, “That demon fellow speaks a manner +of truth. I am not above learning from him, despite his position in +life. I will carry out his theory, just to see how far it goes”; and so +saying, he wends his way home, and treats his young ones with prodigious +kindness for a time, but it is not lasting. Thirdly, there is the real +one-idea’d type of parent-yourself, O warrior king Vikram, an admirable +example. You learn in youth what you are taught: for instance, the +blessed precept that the green stick is of the trees of Paradise; and +in age you practice what you have learned. You cannot teach yourselves +anything before your beards sprout, and when they grow stiff you cannot +be taught by others. If any one attempt to change your opinions you cry, + + What is new is not true, + What is true is not new. + +and you rudely pull his hand from the subject. Yet have you your uses +like other things of earth. In life you are good working camels for the +mill-track, and when you die your ashes are not worse compost than those +of the wise. + +Your Rajaship will observe (continued the Vampire, as Vikram began +to show symptoms of ungovernable anger) that I have been concise in +treating this digression. Had I not been so, it would have led me far +indeed from my tale. Now to return. + +When the old king became air mixed with air, the young king, though he +found hardly ten pieces of silver in the paternal treasury and legacies +for thousands of golden ounces, yet mourned his loss with the deepest +grief. He easily explained to himself the reckless emptiness of the +royal coffers as a proof of his dear kind parent’s goodness, because he +loved him. + +But the old man had left behind him, as he could not carry it off with +him, a treasure more valuable than gold and silver: one Churaman, a +parrot, who knew the world, and who besides discoursed in the most +correct Sanscrit. By sage counsel and wise guidance this admirable bird +soon repaired his young master’s shattered fortunes. + +One day the prince said, “Parrot, thou knowest everything: tell me +where there is a mate fit for me. The shastras inform us, respecting +the choice of a wife, ‘She who is not descended from his paternal or +maternal ancestors within the sixth degree is eligible by a high +caste man for nuptials. In taking a wife let him studiously avoid the +following families, be they ever so great, or ever so rich in kine, +goats, sheep, gold, or grain: the family which has omitted prescribed +acts of devotion; that which has produced no male children; that in +which the Veda (scripture) has not been read; that which has thick hair +on the body; and that in which members have been subject to hereditary +disease. Let a person choose for his wife a girl whose person has no +defect; who has an agreeable name; who walks gracefully, like a young +elephant; whose hair and teeth are moderate in quantity and in size; and +whose body is of exquisite softness.’” + +“Great king,” responded the parrot Churaman, “there is in the country +of Magadh a Raja, Magadheshwar by name, and he has a daughter called +Chandravati. You will marry her; she is very learned, and, what is +better far, very fait. She is of yellow colour, with a nose like the +flower of the sesamum; her legs are taper, like the plantain-tree; her +eyes are large, like the principal leaf of the lotus; her eye-brows +stretch towards her ears; her lips are red, like the young leaves of the +mango-tree; her face is like the full moon; her voice is like the sound +of the cuckoo; her arms reach to her knees; her throat is like the +pigeon’s; her flanks are thin, like those of the lion; her hair hangs +in curls only down to her waist; her teeth are like the seeds of the +pomegranate; and her gait is that of the drunken elephant or the goose.” + +On hearing the parrot’s speech, the king sent for an astrologer, and +asked him, “Whom shall I marry?” The wise man, having consulted his art, +replied, “Chandravati is the name of the maiden, and your marriage with +her will certainly take place.” Thereupon the young Raja, though he had +never seen his future queen, became incontinently enamoured of her. He +summoned a Brahman, and sent him to King Magadheshwar, saying, “If you +arrange satisfactorily this affair of our marriage we will reward you +amply”--a promise which lent wings to the priest. + +Now it so happened that this talented and beautiful princess had +a jay,[74] whose name was Madan-manjari or Love-garland. She also +possessed encyclopaedic knowledge after her degree, and, like the +parrot, she spoke excellent Sanscrit. + +Be it briefly said, O warrior king-for you think that I am talking +fables--that in the days of old, men had the art of making birds +discourse in human language. The invention is attributed to a great +philosopher, who split their tongues, and after many generations +produced a selected race born with those members split. He altered the +shapes of their skulls by fixing ligatures behind the occiput, which +caused the sinciput to protrude, their eyes to become prominent, and +their brains to master the art of expressing thoughts in words. + +But this wonderful discovery, like those of great philosophers +generally, had in it a terrible practical flaw The birds beginning to +speak, spoke wisely and so well, they told the truth so persistently, +they rebuked their brethren of the featherless skins so openly, they +flattered them so little and they counselled them so much, that mankind +presently grew tired of hearing them discourse. Thus the art gradually +fell into desuetude, and now it is numbered with the things that were. + +One day the charming Princess Chandravati was sitting in confidential +conversation with her jay. The dialogue was not remarkable, for maidens +in all ages seldom consult their confidantes or speculate upon the +secrets of futurity, or ask to have dreams interpreted, except upon one +subject. At last the princess said, for perhaps the hundredth time that +month, “Where, O jay, is there a husband worthy of me?” + +“Princess,” replied Madan-manjari, “I am happy at length to be able +as willing to satisfy your just curiosity. For just it is, though the +delicacy of our sex--” + +“Now, no preaching!” said the maiden; “or thou shalt have salt instead +of sugar for supper.” + +Jays, your Rajaship, are fond of sugar. So the confidante retained a +quantity of good advice which she was about to produce, and replied, + +“I now see clearly the ways of Fortune. Raja Ram, king of Bhogavati, is +to be thy husband. He shall be happy in thee and thou in him, for he is +young and handsome, rich and generous, good-tempered, not too clever, +and without a chance of being an invalid.” + +Thereupon the princess, although she had never seen her future husband, +at once began to love him. In fact, though neither had set eyes upon the +other, both were mutually in love. + +“How can that be, sire?” asked the young Dharma Dhwaj of his father. “I +always thought that--” + +The great Vikram interrupted his son, and bade him not to ask silly +questions. Thus he expected to neutralize the evil effects of the +Baital’s doctrine touching the amiability of parents unlike himself. + +Now, as both these young people (resumed the Baital) were of princely +family and well to do in the world, the course of their love was +unusually smooth. When the Brahman sent by Raja Ram had reached Magadh, +and had delivered his King’s homage to the Raja Magadheshwar, the latter +received him with distinction, and agreed to his proposal. The beautiful +princess’s father sent for a Brahman of his own, and charging him with +nuptial gifts and the customary presents, sent him back to Bhogavati in +company with the other envoy, and gave him this order, “Greet Raja Ram, +on my behalf, and after placing the tilak or mark upon his forehead, +return here with all speed. When you come back I will get all things +ready for the marriage.” + +Raja Ram, on receiving the deputation, was greatly pleased, and +after generously rewarding the Brahmans and making all the necessary +preparations, he set out in state for the land of Magadha, to claim his +betrothed. + +In due season the ceremony took place with feasting and bands of +music, fireworks and illuminations, rehearsals of scripture, songs, +entertainments, processions, and abundant noise. And hardly had the +turmeric disappeared from the beautiful hands and feet of the bride, +when the bridegroom took an affectionate leave of his new parents--he +had not lived long in the house--and receiving the dowry and the bridal +gifts, set out for his own country. + +Chandravati was dejected by leaving her mother, and therefore she +was allowed to carry with her the jay, Madanmanian. She soon told her +husband the wonderful way in which she had first heard his name, and +he related to her the advantage which he had derived from confabulation +with Churaman, his parrot. + +“Then why do we not put these precious creatures into one cage, +after marrying them according to the rites of the angelic marriage +(Gandharva-lagana)?” said the charming queen. Like most brides, she was +highly pleased to find an opportunity of making a match. + +“Ay! why not, love? Surely they cannot live happy in what the world +calls single blessedness,” replied the young king. As bridegrooms +sometimes are for a short time, he was very warm upon the subject of +matrimony. + +Thereupon, without consulting the parties chiefly concerned in their +scheme, the master and mistress, after being comfortably settled at the +end of their journey, caused a large cage to be brought, and put into it +both their favourites. + +Upon which Churaman the parrot leaned his head on one side and directed +a peculiar look at the jay. But Madan-manjari raised her beak high in +the air, puffed through it once or twice, and turned away her face in +extreme disdain. + +“Perhaps,” quoth the parrot, at length breaking silence, “you will tell +me that you have no desire to be married?” + +“Probably,” replied the jay. + +“And why?” asked the male bird. + +“Because I don’t choose,” replied the female. + +“Truly a feminine form of resolution this,” ejaculated the parrot. “I +will borrow my master’s words and call it a woman’s reason, that is to +say, no reason at all. Have you any objection to be more explicit?” + +“None whatever,” retorted the jay, provoked by the rude innuendo into +telling more plainly than politely exactly what she thought; “none +whatever, sir parrot. You he-things are all of you sinful, treacherous, +deceitful, selfish, devoid of conscience, and accustomed to sacrifice +us, the weaker sex, to your smallest desire or convenience.” + +“Of a truth, fair lady,” quoth the young Raja Ram to his bride, “this +pet of thine is sufficiently impudent.” + +“Let her words be as wind in thine ear, master,” interrupted the parrot. +“And pray, Mistress Jay, what are you she-things but treacherous, false, +ignorant, and avaricious beings, whose only wish in this world is to +prevent life being as pleasant as it might be?” + +“Verily, my love,” said the beautiful Chandravati to her bridegroom, +“this thy bird has a habit of expressing his opinions in a very free and +easy way.” + +“I can prove what I assert,” whispered the jay in the ear of the +princess. + +“We can confound their feminine minds by an anecdote,” whispered the +parrot in the ear of the prince. + +Briefly, King Vikram, it was settled between the twain that each should +establish the truth of what it had advanced by an illustration in the +form of a story. + +Chandravati claimed, and soon obtained, precedence for the jay. Then the +wonderful bird, Madan-manjari, began to speak as follows:-- + +I have often told thee, O queen, that before coming to thy feet, my +mistress was Ratnawati, the daughter of a rich trader, the dearest, the +sweetest, the---- + +Here the jay burst into tears, and the mistress was sympathetically +affected. Presently the speaker resumed---- + +However, I anticipate. In the city of Ilapur there was a wealthy +merchant, who was without offspring; on this account he was continually +fasting and going on pilgrimage, and when at home he was ever engaged in +reading the Puranas and in giving alms to the Brahmans. + +At length, by favour of the Deity, a son was born to this merchant, who +celebrated his birth with great pomp and rejoicing, and gave large gifts +to Brahmans and to bards, and distributed largely to the hungry, the +thirsty, and the poor. When the boy was five years old he had him taught +to read, and when older he was sent to a guru, who had formerly himself +been a student, and who was celebrated as teacher and lecturer. + +In the course of time the merchant’s son grew up. Praise be to Brahma! +what a wonderful youth it was, with a face like a monkey’s, legs like a +stork’s, and a back like a camel’s. You know the old proverb:-- + + Expect thirty-two villanies from the limping, and eighty +from the one-eyed man, + But when the hunchback comes, say “Lord defend us!” + +Instead of going to study, he went to gamble with other ne’er-do-weels, +to whom he talked loosely, and whom he taught to be bad-hearted as +himself. He made love to every woman, and despite his ugliness, he was +not unsuccessful. For they are equally fortunate who are very handsome +or very ugly, in so far as they are both remarkable and remarked. But +the latter bear away the palm. Beautiful men begin well with women, who +do all they can to attract them, love them as the apples of their eyes, +discover them to be fools, hold them to be their equals, deceive them, +and speedily despise them. It is otherwise with the ugly man, who, in +consequence of his homeliness, must work his wits and take pains with +himself, and become as pleasing as he is capable of being, till women +forget his ape’s face, bird’s legs, and bunchy back. + +The hunchback, moreover, became a Tantri, so as to complete his +villanies. He was duly initiated by an apostate Brahman, made a +declaration that he renounced all the ceremonies of his old religion, +and was delivered from their yoke, and proceeded to perform in token +of joy an abominable rite. In company with eight men and eight women-a +Brahman female, a dancing girl, a weaver’s daughter, a woman of ill +fame, a washerwoman, a barber’s wife, a milkmaid, and the daughter of a +land-owner--choosing the darkest time of night and the most secret part +of the house, he drank with them, was sprinkled and anointed, and went +through many ignoble ceremonies, such as sitting nude upon a dead body. +The teacher informed him that he was not to indulge shame, or aversion +to anything, nor to prefer one thing to another, nor to regard caste, +ceremonial cleanness or uncleanness, but freely to enjoy all the +pleasures of sense-that is, of course, wine and us, since we are the +representatives of the wife of Cupid, and wine prevents the senses from +going astray. And whereas holy men, holding that the subjugation or +annihilation of the passions is essential to final beatitude, accomplish +this object by bodily austerities, and by avoiding temptation, he +proceeded to blunt the edge of the passions with excessive indulgence. +And he jeered at the pious, reminding them that their ascetics are safe +only in forests, and while keeping a perpetual fast; but that he could +subdue his passions in the very presence of what they most desired. + +Presently this excellent youth’s father died, leaving him immense +wealth. He blunted his passions so piously and so vigorously, that in +very few years his fortune was dissipated. Then he turned towards +his neighbour’s goods and prospered for a time, till being discovered +robbing, he narrowly escaped the stake. At length he exclaimed, “Let the +gods perish! the rascals send me nothing but ill luck!” and so saying he +arose and fled from his own country. + +Chance led that villain hunchback to the city of Chandrapur, where, +hearing the name of my master Hemgupt, he recollected that one of his +father’s wealthiest correspondents was so called. Thereupon, with +his usual audacity, he presented himself at the house, walked in, +and although he was clothed in tatters, introduced himself, told his +father’s name and circumstances, and wept bitterly. + +The good man was much astonished, and not less grieved, to see the son +of his old friend in such woful plight. He rose up, however, embraced +the youth, and asked the reason of his coming. + +“I freighted a vessel,” said the false hunchback, “for the purpose +of trading to a certain land. Having gone there, I disposed of my +merchandise, and, taking another cargo, I was on my voyage home. +Suddenly a great storm arose, and the vessel was wrecked, and I escaped +on a plank, and after a time arrived here. But I am ashamed, since I +have lost all my wealth, and I cannot show my face in this plight in my +own city. My excellent father would have consoled me with his pity. But +now that I have carried him and my mother to Ganges,[75] every one will +turn against me; they will rejoice in my misfortunes, they will accuse +me of folly and recklessness--alas! alas! I am truly miserable.” + +My dear master was deceived by the cunning of the wretch. He offered him +hospitality, which was readily enough accepted, and he entertained him +for some time as a guest. Then, having reason to be satisfied with his +conduct, Hemgupt admitted him to his secrets, and finally made him a +partner in his business. Briefly, the villain played his cards so well, +that at last the merchant said to himself: + +“I have had for years an anxiety and a calamity in my house. My +neighbours whisper things to my disadvantage, and those who are bolder +speak out with astonishment amongst themselves, saying, ‘At seven or +eight, people marry their daughters, and this indeed is the appointment +of the law: that period is long since gone; she is now thirteen or +fourteen years old, and she is very tall and lusty, resembling a married +woman of thirty. How can her father eat his rice with comfort and sleep +with satisfaction, whilst such a disreputable thing exists in his +house? At present he is exposed to shame, and his deceased friends are +suffering through his retaining a girl from marriage beyond the period +which nature has prescribed.’ And now, while I am sitting quietly at +home, the Bhagwan (Deity) removes all my uneasiness: by his favour such +an opportunity occurs. It is not right to delay. It is best that I shall +give my daughter in marriage to him. Whatever can be done to-day is +best; who knows what may happen to-morrow?” + +Thus thinking, the old man went to his wife and said to her, “Birth, +marriage, and death are all under the direction of the gods; can anyone +say when they will be ours? We want for our daughter a young man who is +of good birth, rich and handsome, clever and honourable. But we do not +find him. If the bridegroom be faulty, thou sayest, all will go wrong. +I cannot put a string round the neck of our daughter and throw her into +the ditch. If, however, thou think well of the merchant’s son, now my +partner, we will celebrate Ratnawati’s marriage with him.” + +The wife, who had been won over by the hunchback’s hypocrisy, was also +pleased, and replied, “My lord! when the Deity so plainly indicates his +wish, we should do it; since, though we have sat quietly at home, the +desire of our hearts is accomplished. It is best that no delay be made: +and, having quickly summoned the family priest, and having fixed upon a +propitious planetary conjunction, that the marriage be celebrated.” + +Then they called their daughter--ah, me! what a beautiful being she was, +and worthy the love of a Gandharva (demigod). Her long hair, purple with +the light of youth, was glossy as the bramra’s[76] wing; her brow was +pure and clear as the agate; the ocean-coral looked pale beside her +lips, and her teeth were as two chaplets of pearls. Everything in her +was formed to be loved. Who could look into her eyes without wishing +to do it again? Who could hear her voice without hoping that such music +would sound once more? And she was good as she was fair. Her father +adored her; her mother, though a middle-aged woman, was not envious or +jealous of her; her relatives doted on her, and her friends could +find no fault with her. I should never end were I to tell her precious +qualities. Alas, alas! my poor Ratnawati! + +So saying, the jay wept abundant tears; then she resumed: + +When her parents informed my mistress of their resolution, she replied, +“Sadhu-it is well!” She was not like most young women, who hate nothing +so much as a man whom their seniors order them to love. She bowed +her head and promised obedience, although, as she afterwards told +her mother, she could hardly look at her intended, on account of his +prodigious ugliness. But presently the hunchback’s wit surmounted her +disgust. She was grateful to him for his attention to her father and +mother; she esteemed him for his moral and religious conduct; she pitied +him for his misfortunes, and she finished with forgetting his face, +legs, and back in her admiration of what she supposed to be his mind. + +She had vowed before marriage faithfully to perform all the duties of a +wife, however distasteful to her they might be; but after the nuptials, +which were not long deferred, she was not surprised to find that she +loved her husband. Not only did she omit to think of his features +and figure; I verily believe that she loved him the more for his +repulsiveness. Ugly, very ugly men prevail over women for two reasons. +Firstly, we begin with repugnance, which in the course of nature turns +to affection; and we all like the most that which, when unaccustomed to +it, we most disliked. Hence the poet says, with as much truth as is in +the male: + + Never despair, O man! when woman’s spite + Detests thy name and sickens at thy sight: + Sometime her heart shall learn to love thee more + For the wild hatred which it felt before, &c. + +Secondly, the very ugly man appears, deceitfully enough, to think little +of his appearance, and he will give himself the trouble to pursue +a heart because he knows that the heart will not follow after him. +Moreover, we women (said the jay) are by nature pitiful, and this our +enemies term a “strange perversity.” A widow is generally disconsolate +if she loses a little, wizen-faced, shrunken shanked, ugly, spiteful, +distempered thing that scolded her and quarrelled with her, and beat her +and made her hours bitter; whereas she will follow her husband to Ganges +with exemplary fortitude if he was brave, handsome, generous---- + +“Either hold your tongue or go on with your story,” cried the warrior +king, in whose mind these remarks awakened disagreeable family +reflections. + +“Hi! hi! hi!” laughed the demon; “I will obey your majesty, and make +Madan-manjari, the misanthropical jay, proceed.” + +Yes, she loved the hunchback; and how wonderful is our love! quoth the +jay. A light from heaven which rains happiness on this dull, dark earth! +A spell falling upon the spirit, which reminds us of a higher existence! +A memory of bliss! A present delight! An earnest of future felicity! +It makes hideousness beautiful and stupidity clever, old age young and +wickedness good, moroseness amiable, and low-mindedness magnanimous, +perversity pretty and vulgarity piquant. Truly it is sovereign alchemy +and excellent flux for blending contradictions is our love, exclaimed +the jay. + +And so saying, she cast a triumphant look at the parrot, who only +remarked that he could have desired a little more originality in her +remarks. + +For some months (resumed Madan-manjari), the bride and the bridegroom +lived happily together in Hemgupt’s house. But it is said: + + Never yet did the tiger become a lamb; + +and the hunchback felt that the edge of his passions again wanted +blunting. He reflected, “Wisdom is exemption from attachment, and +affection for children, wife, and home.” Then he thus addressed my poor +young mistress: + +“I have been now in thy country some years, and I have heard no tidings +of my own family, hence my mind is sad, I have told thee everything +about myself; thou must now ask thy mother leave for me to go to my own +city, and, if thou wishest, thou mayest go with me.” + +Ratnawati lost no time in saying to her mother, “My husband wishes to +visit his own country; will you so arrange that he may not be pained +about this matter?” + +The mother went to her husband, and said, “Your son-in-law desires leave +to go to his own country.” + +Hemgupt replied, “Very well; we will grant him leave. One has no power +over another man’s son. We will do what he wishes.” + +The parents then called their daughter, and asked her to tell them her +real desire-whether she would go to her father-in-law’s house, or would +remain in her mother’s home. She was abashed at this question, and could +not answer; but she went back to her husband, and said, “As my father +and mother have declared that you should do as you like, do not leave me +behind.” + +Presently the merchant summoned his son-in-law, and having bestowed +great wealth upon him, allowed him to depart. He also bade his daughter +farewell, after giving her a palanquin and a female slave. And the +parents took leave of them with wailing and bitter tears; their hearts +were like to break. And so was mine. + +For some days the hunchback travelled quietly along with his wife, in +deep thought. He could not take her to his city, where she would find +out his evil life, and the fraud which he had passed upon her father. +Besides which, although he wanted her money, he by no means wanted her +company for life. After turning on many projects in his evil-begotten +mind, he hit upon the following: + +He dismissed the palanquin-bearers when halting at a little shed in the +thick jungle through which they were travelling, and said to his wife, +“This is a place of danger; give me thy jewels, and I will hide them in +my waist-shawl. When thou reachest the city thou canst wear them again.” + She then gave up to him all her ornaments, which were of great value. +Thereupon he inveigled the slave girl into the depths of the forest, +where he murdered her, and left her body to be devoured by wild beasts. +Lastly, returning to my poor mistress, he induced her to leave the hut +with him, and pushed her by force into a dry well, after which exploit +he set out alone with his ill-gotten wealth, walking towards his own +city. + +In the meantime, a wayfaring man, who was passing through that jungle, +hearing the sound of weeping, stood still, and began to say to himself, +“How came to my ears the voice of a mortal’s grief in this wild wood?” + then followed the direction of the noise, which led him a pit, and +peeping over the side, he saw a woman crying at the bottom. The +traveller at once loosened his gird cloth, knotted it to his turband, +and letting down the line pulled out the poor bride. He asked her who +she was and how she came to fall into that well. She replied, “I am the +daughter of Hemgupt, the wealthiest merchant in the city of Chandrapur; +and I was journeying with my husband to his own country, when robbers +set upon us and surrounded us. They slew my slave girl, the threw me +into a well, and having bound my husband they took him away, together +with my jewels. I have no tidings of him, nor he of me.” And so saying, +she burst into tears and lamentations. + +The wayfaring man believed her tale, and conducted her to her home, +where she gave the same account of the accident which had befallen her, +ending with, “beyond this, I know not if they have killed my husband, or +have let him go.” The father thus soothed her grief “Daughter! have no +anxiety; thy husband is alive, and by the will of the Deity he will come +to thee in a few days. Thieves take men’s money, not their lives.” Then +the parents presented her with ornaments more precious than those which +she had lost; and summoning their relations and friends, they comforted +her to the best of their power. + +And so did I. The wicked hunchback had, meanwhile, returned to his own +city, where he was excellently well received, because he brought much +wealth with him. His old associates flocked around him rejoicing; and he +fell into the same courses which had beggared him before. Gambling and +debauchery soon blunted his passions, and emptied his purse. Again his +boon companions, finding him without a broken cowrie, drove him from +their doors, he stole and was flogged for theft; and lastly, half +famished, he fled the city. Then he said to himself, “I must go to my +father-in-law, and make the excuse that a grandson has been born to him, +and that I have come to offer him congratulations on the event.” + +Imagine, however, his fears and astonishment, when, as he entered the +house, his wife stood before him. At first he thought it was a ghost, +and turned to run away, but she went out to him and said, “Husband, +be not troubled! I have told my father that thieves came upon us, and +killed the slave girl and robbed me and threw me into a well, and bound +thee and carried thee off. Tell the same story, and put away all anxious +feelings. Come up and change thy tattered garments-alas! some misfortune +hath befallen thee. But console thyself; all is now well, since thou +art returned to me, and fear not, for the house is thine, and I am thy +slave.” + +The wretch, with all his hardness of heart, could scarcely refrain from +tears. He followed his wife to her room, where she washed his feet, +caused him to bathe, dressed him in new clothes, and placed food before +him. When her parents returned, she presented him to their embrace, +saying in a glad way, “Rejoice with me, O my father and mother! the +robbers have at length allowed him to come back to us.” Of course the +parents were deceived, they are mostly a purblind race; and Hemgupt, +showing great favour to his worthless son-in-law, exclaimed, “Remain +with us, my son, and be happy!” + +For two or three months the hunchback lived quietly with his wife, +treating her kindly and even affectionately. But this did not last long. +He made acquaintance with a band of thieves, and arranged his plans with +them. + +After a time, his wife one night came to sleep by his side, having put +on all her jewels. At midnight, when he saw that she was fast asleep, +he struck her with a knife so that she died. Then he admitted his +accomplices, who savagely murdered Hemgupt and his wife; and with their +assistance he carried off any valuable article upon which he could lay +his hands. The ferocious wretch! As he passed my cage he looked at it, +and thought whether he had time to wring my neck. The barking of a dog +saved my life; but my mistress, my poor Ratnawati-ah, me! ah, me!-- + +“Queen,” said the jay, in deepest grief, “all this have I seen with mine +own eyes, and have heard with mine own ears. It affected me in early +life, and gave me a dislike for the society of the other sex. With due +respect to you, I have resolved to remain an old maid. Let your majesty +reflect, what crime had my poor mistress committed? A male is of the +same disposition as a highway robber; and she who forms friendship with +such an one, cradles upon her bosom a black and venomous snake.” + +“Sir Parrot,” said the jay, turning to her wooer, “I have spoken. I +have nothing more to say, but that you he-things are all a treacherous, +selfish, wicked race, created for the express purpose of working our +worldly woe, and--” + +“When a female, O my king, asserts that she has nothing more to say, +but,” broke in Churaman, the parrot with a loud dogmatical voice, “I +know that what she has said merely whets her tongue for what she is +about to say. This person has surely spoken long enough and drearily +enough.” + +“Tell me, then, O parrot,” said the king, “what faults there may be in +the other sex.” + +“I will relate,” quoth Churaman, “an occurrence which in my early youth +determined me to live and to die an old bachelor.” + +When quite a young bird, and before my schooling began, I was caught +in the land of Malaya, and was sold to a very rich merchant called +Sagardati, a widower with one daughter, the lady Jayashri. As her father +spent all his days and half his nights in his counting-house, conning +his ledgers and scolding his writers, that young woman had more liberty +than is generally allowed to those of her age, and a mighty bad use she +made of it. + +O king! men commit two capital mistakes in rearing the “domestic +calamity,” and these are over-vigilance and under-vigilance. Some +parents never lose sight of their daughters, suspect them of all evil +intentions, and are silly enough to show their suspicions, which is an +incentive to evil-doing. For the weak-minded things do naturally say, +“I will be wicked at once. What do I now but suffer all the pains and +penalties of badness, without enjoying its pleasures?” And so they are +guilty of many evil actions; for, however vigilant fathers and mothers +may be, the daughter can always blind their eyes. + +On the other hand, many parents take no trouble whatever with their +charges: they allow them to sit in idleness, the origin of badness; they +permit them to communicate with the wicked, and they give them liberty +which breeds opportunity. Thus they also, falling into the snares of the +unrighteous, who are ever a more painstaking race than the righteous, +are guilty of many evil actions. + +What, then, must wise parents do? The wise will study the characters of +their children, and modify their treatment accordingly. If a daughter be +naturally good, she will be treated with a prudent confidence. If she +be vicious, an apparent trust will be reposed in her; but her father and +mother will secretly ever be upon their guard. The one-idea’d-- + +“All this parrot-prate, I suppose, is only intended to vex me,” cried +the warrior king, who always considered himself, and very naturally, a +person of such consequence as ever to be uppermost in the thoughts and +minds of others. “If thou must tell a tale, then tell one, Vampire! or +else be silent, as I am sick to the death of thy psychics.” + +“It is well, O warrior king,” resumed the Baital. + +After that Churaman the parrot had given the young Raja Ram a golden +mine full of good advice about the management of daughters, he proceeded +to describe Jayashri. + +She was tall, stout, and well made, of lymphatic temperament, and yet +strong passions. Her fine large eyes had heavy and rather full eyelids, +which are to be avoided. Her hands were symmetrical without being small, +and the palms were ever warm and damp. Though her lips were good, her +mouth was somewhat underhung; and her voice was so deep, that at times +it sounded like that of a man. Her hair was smooth as the kokila’s +plume, and her complexion was that of the young jasmine; and these were +the points at which most persons looked. Altogether, she was neither +handsome nor ugly, which is an excellent thing in woman. Sita the +goddess[77] was lovely to excess; therefore she was carried away by a +demon. Raja Bali was exceedingly generous, and he emptied his treasury. +In this way, exaggeration, even of good, is exceedingly bad. + +Yet must I confess, continued the parrot, that, as a rule, the beautiful +woman is more virtuous than the ugly. The former is often tempted, but +her vanity and conceit enable her to resist, by the self-promise that +she shall be tempted again and again. On the other hand, the ugly woman +must tempt instead of being tempted, and she must yield, because her +vanity and conceit are gratified by yielding, not by resisting. + +“Ho, there!” broke in the jay contemptuously. “What woman cannot win the +hearts of the silly things called men? Is it not said that a pig-faced +female who dwells in Landanpur has a lover?” + +I was about to remark, my king! said the parrot, somewhat nettled, if +the aged virgin had not interrupted me, that as ugly women are more +vicious than handsome women, so they are most successful. “We love the +pretty, we adore the plain,” is a true saying amongst the worldly +wise. And why do we adore the plain? Because they seem to think less of +themselves than of us-a vital condition of adoration. + +Jayashri made some conquests by the portion of good looks which she +possessed, more by her impudence, and most by her father’s reputation +for riches. She was truly shameless, and never allowed herself fewer +than half a dozen admirers at the time. Her chief amusement was to +appoint interviews with them successively, at intervals so short that +she was obliged to hurry away one in order to make room for another. And +when a lover happened to be jealous, or ventured in any way to criticize +her arrangements, she replied at once by showing him the door. Answer +unanswerable! + +When Jayashri had reached the ripe age of thirteen, the son of a +merchant, who was her father’s gossip and neighbour, returned home after +a long sojourn in far lands, whither he had travelled in the search of +wealth. The poor wretch, whose name, by-the-bye, was Shridat (Gift of +Fortune), had loved her in her childhood; and he came back, as men +are apt to do after absence from familiar scenes, painfully full of +affection for house and home and all belonging to it. From his cross, +stingy old uncle to the snarling superannuated beast of a watchdog, he +viewed all with eyes of love and melting heart. He could not see that +his idol was greatly changed, and nowise for the better; that her nose +was broader and more club-like, her eyelids fatter and thicker, her +under lip more prominent, her voice harsher, and her manner coarser. He +did not notice that she was an adept in judging of men’s dress, and that +she looked with admiration upon all swordsmen, especially upon those +who fought upon horses and elephants. The charm of memory, the +curious faculty of making past time present caused all he viewed to be +enchanting to him. + +Having obtained her father’s permission, Shridat applied for betrothal +to Jayashri, who with peculiar boldness, had resolved that no suitor +should come to her through her parent. And she, after leading him on by +all the coquetries of which she was a mistress, refused to marry him, +saying that she liked him as a friend, but would hate him as a husband. + +You see, my king! there are three several states of feeling with which +women regard their masters, and these are love, hate, and indifference. +Of all, love is the weakest and the most transient, because the +essentially unstable creatures naturally fall out of it as readily as +they fall into it. Hate being a sister excitement will easily become, +if a man has wit enough to effect the change, love; and hate-love +may perhaps last a little longer than love-love. Also, man has the +occupation, the excitement, and the pleasure of bringing about the +change. As regards the neutral state, that poet was not happy in his +ideas who sang-- + + Whene’er indifference appears, or scorn, + Then, man, despair! then, hapless lover, mourn! + +For a man versed in the Lila Shastra[78] can soon turn a woman’s +indifference into hate, which I have shown is as easily permuted to +love. In which predicament it is the old thing over again, and it ends +in the pure Asat[79] or nonentity. + +“Which of these two birds, the jay or the parrot, had dipped deeper into +human nature, mighty King Vikram?” asked the demon in a wheedling tone +of voice. + +The trap was this time set too openly, even for the royal personage, +to fall into it. He hurried on, calling to his son, and not answering a +word. The Vampire therefore resumed the thread of his story at the place +where he had broken it off. + +Shridat was in despair when he heard the resolve of his idol. He thought +of drowning himself, of throwing himself down from the summit of Mount +Girnar,[80] of becoming a religious beggar; in short, of a multitude +of follies. But he refrained from all such heroic remedies for despair, +having rightly judged, when he became somewhat calmer, that they would +not be likely to further his suit. He discovered that patience is +a virtue, and he resolved impatiently enough to practice it. And by +perseverance he succeeded. The worse for him! How vain are men to wish! +How wise is the Deity, who is deaf to their wishes! + +Jayashri, for potent reasons best known to herself, was married to +Shridat six months after his return home. He was in raptures. He called +himself the happiest man in existence. He thanked and sacrificed to the +Bhagwan for listening to his prayers. He recalled to mind with thrilling +heart the long years which he had spent in hopeless exile from all that +was dear to him, his sadness and anxiety, his hopes and joys, his toils +and troubles his loyal love and his vows to Heaven for the happiness of +his idol, and for the furtherance of his fondest desires. + +For truly he loved her, continued the parrot, and there is something +holy in such love. It becomes not only a faith, but the best of +faiths-an abnegation of self which emancipates the spirit from its +straightest and earthliest bondage, the “I”; the first step in the +regions of heaven; a homage rendered through the creature to the +Creator; a devotion solid, practical, ardent, not as worship mostly is, +a cold and lifeless abstraction; a merging of human nature into one far +nobler and higher the spiritual existence of the supernal world. For +perfect love is perfect happiness, and the only perfection of man; and +what is a demon but a being without love? And what makes man’s love +truly divine, is the fact that it is bestowed upon such a thing as +woman. + +“And now, Raja Vikram,” said the Vampire, speaking in his proper person, +“I have given you Madanmanjari the jay’s and Churaman the parrot’s +definitions of the tender passion, or rather their descriptions of its +effects. Kindly observe that I am far from accepting either one or the +other. Love is, according to me, somewhat akin to mania, a temporary +condition of selfishness, a transient confusion of identity. It enables +man to predicate of others who are his other selves, that which he is +ashamed to say about his real self. I will suppose the beloved object to +be ugly, stupid, vicious, perverse, selfish, low minded, or the reverse; +man finds it charming by the same rule that makes his faults and foibles +dearer to him than all the virtues and good qualities of his neighbours. +Ye call love a spell, an alchemy, a deity. Why? Because it deifies self +by gratifying all man’s pride, man’s vanity, and man’s conceit, under +the mask of complete unegotism. Who is not in heaven when he is talking +of himself? and, prithee, of what else consists all the talk of lovers?” + +It is astonishing that the warrior king allowed this speech to last +as long as it did. He hated nothing so fiercely, now that he was in +middle-age, as any long mention of the “handsome god.[81]” Having vainly +endeavoured to stop by angry mutterings the course of the Baital’s +eloquence, he stepped out so vigorously and so rudely shook that +inveterate talker, that the latter once or twice nearly bit off the tip +of his tongue. Then the Vampire became silent, and Vikram relapsed into +a walk which allowed the tale to be resumed. + +Jayashri immediately conceived a strong dislike for her husband, and +simultaneously a fierce affection for a reprobate who before had been +indifferent to her. The more lovingly Shridat behaved to her, the more +vexed end annoyed she was. When her friends talked to her, she turned up +her nose, raising her eyebrows (in token of displeasure), and remained +silent. When her husband spoke words of affection to her, she found them +disagreeable, and turning away her face, reclined on the bed. Then he +brought dresses and ornaments of various kinds and presented them to +her, saying, “Wear these.” Whereupon she would become more angry, +knit her brows, turn her face away, and in an audible whisper call him +“fool.” All day she stayed out of the house, saying to her companions, +“Sisters, my youth is passing away, and I have not, up to the present +time, tasted any of this world’s pleasures.” Then she would ascend to +the balcony, peep through the lattice, and seeing the reprobate going +along, she would cry to her friend, “Bring that person to me.” All night +she tossed and turned from side to side, reflecting in her heart, “I +am puzzled in my mind what I shall say, and whither I shall go. I have +forgotten sleep, hunger, and thirst; neither heat nor cold is refreshing +to me.” + +At last, unable any longer to support the separation from her reprobate +paramour, whom she adored, she resolved to fly with him. On one +occasion, when she thought that her husband was fast asleep, she rose up +quietly, and leaving him, made her way fearlessly in the dark night +to her lover’s abode. A footpad, who saw her on the way, thought to +himself, “Where can this woman, clothed in jewels, be going alone at +midnight?” And thus he followed her unseen, and watched her. + +When Jayashri reached the intended place, she went into the house, and +found her lover lying at the door. He was dead, having been stabbed by +the footpad; but she, thinking that he had, according to custom, drunk +intoxicating hemp, sat upon the floor, and raising his head, placed it +tenderly in her lap. Then, burning with the fire of separation from +him, she began to kiss his cheeks, and to fondle and caress him with the +utmost freedom and affection. + +By chance a Pisach (evil spirit) was seated in a large fig-tree[82] +opposite the house, and it occurred to him, when beholding this scene, +that he might amuse himself in a characteristic way. He therefore hopped +down from his branch, vivified the body, and began to return the woman’s +caresses. But as Jayashri bent down to kiss his lips, he caught the end +of her nose in his teeth, and bit it clean off. He then issued from the +corpse, and returned to the branch where he had been sitting. + +Jayashri was in despair. She did not, however, lose her presence of +mind, but sat down and proceeded to take thought; and when she had +matured her plan she arose, dripping with blood, and walked straight +home to her husband’s house. On entering his room she clapped her hand +to her nose, and began to gnash her teeth, and to shriek so violently, +that all the members of the family were alarmed. The neighbours also +collected in numbers at the door, and, as it was bolted inside, they +broke it open and rushed in, carrying lights. There they saw the +wife sitting upon the ground with her face mutilated, and the husband +standing over her, apparently trying to appease her. + +“O ignorant, criminal, shameless, pitiless wretch!” cried the people, +especially the women; “why hast thou cut off her nose, she not having +offended in any way?” + +Poor Shridat, seeing at once the trick which had been played upon him, +thought to himself: “One should put no confidence in a changeful mind, a +black serpent, or an armed enemy, and one should dread a woman’s doings. +What cannot a poet describe? What is there that a saint (jogi) does not +know? What nonsense will not a drunken man talk? What limit is there to +a woman’s guile? True it is that the gods know nothing of the defects of +a horse, of the thundering of clouds, of a woman’s deeds, or of a man’s +future fortunes. How then can we know?” He could do nothing but weep, +and swear by the herb basil, by his cattle, by his grain, by a piece of +gold, and by all that is holy, that he had not committed the crime. + +In the meanwhile, the old merchant, Jayashri’s father, ran off, and laid +a complaint before the kotwal, and the footmen of the police magistrate +were immediately sent to apprehend the husband, and to carry him bound +before the judge. The latter, after due examination, laid the affair +before the king. An example happening to be necessary at the time, the +king resolved to punish the offence with severity, and he summoned the +husband and wife to the court. + +When the merchant’s daughter was asked to give an account of what had +happened, she pointed out the state of her nose, and said, “Maharaj! why +inquire of me concerning what is so manifest?” The king then turned to +the husband, and bade him state his defence. He said, “I know nothing of +it,” and in the face of the strongest evidence he persisted in denying +his guilt. + +Thereupon the king, who had vainly threatened to cut off Shridat’s +right hand, infuriated by his refusing to confess and to beg for +mercy, exclaimed, “How must I punish such a wretch as thou art?” The +unfortunate man answered, “Whatever your majesty may consider just, that +be pleased to do.” Thereupon the king cried, “Away with him, and impale +him”; and the people, hearing the command, prepared to obey it. + +Before Shridat had left the court, the footpad, who had been looking +on, and who saw that an innocent man was about to be unjustly punished, +raised a cry for justice and, pushing through the crowd, resolved to +make himself heard. He thus addressed the throne: “Great king, the +cherishing of the good, and the punishment of the bad, is the invariable +duty of kings.” The ruler having caused him to approach, asked him who +he was, and he replied boldly, “Maharaj! I am a thief, and this man is +innocent and his blood is about to be shed unjustly. Your majesty has +not done what is right in this affair.” Thereupon the king charged +him to tell the truth according to his religion; and the thief related +explicitly the whole circumstances, omitting of course, the murder. + +“Go ye,” said the king to his messengers, “and look in the mouth of the +woman’s lover who has fallen dead. If the nose be there found, then has +this thief-witness told the truth, and the husband is a guiltless man.” + +The nose was presently produced in court, and Shridat escaped the stake. +The king caused the wicked Jayashri’s face to be smeared with oily soot, +and her head and eyebrows to be shaved; thus blackened and disfigured, +she was mounted upon a little ragged-limbed ass and was led around the +market and the streets, after which she was banished for ever from the +city. The husband and the thief were then dismissed with betel and other +gifts, together with much sage advice which neither of them wanted. + +“My king,” resumed the misogyne parrot, “of such excellencies as these +are women composed. It is said that ‘wet cloth will extinguish fire and +bad food will destroy strength; a degenerate son ruins a family, +and when a friend is in wrath he takes away life. But a woman is an +inflicter of grief in love and in hate, whatever she does turns out to +be for our ill. Truly the Deity has created woman a strange being in +this world.’ And again, ‘The beauty of the nightingale is its song, +science is the beauty of an ugly man, forgiveness is the beauty of a +devotee, and the beauty of a woman is virtue-but where shall we find +it?’ And again, ‘Among the sages, Narudu; among the beasts, the jackal; +among the birds, the crow; among men, the barber; and in this world +woman-is the most crafty.’ + +“What I have told thee, my king, I have seen with mine own eyes, and I +have heard with mine own ears. At the time I was young, but the event +so affected me that I have ever since held female kind to be a walking +pest, a two-legged plague, whose mission on earth, like flies and other +vermin, is only to prevent our being too happy. O, why do not children +and young parrots sprout in crops from the ground-from budding trees or +vinestocks?” + +“I was thinking, sire,” said the young Dharma Dhwaj to the warrior king +his father, “what women would say of us if they could compose Sanskrit +verses!” + +“Then keep your thoughts to yourself,” replied the Raja, nettled at his +son daring to say a word in favour of the sex. “You always take the part +of wickedness and depravity---” + +“Permit me, your majesty,” interrupted the Baital, “to conclude my +tale.” + +When Madan-manjari, the jay, and Churaman, the parrot, had given these +illustrations of their belief, they began to wrangle, and words ran +high. The former insisted that females are the salt of the earth, +speaking, I presume, figuratively. The latter went so far as to assert +that the opposite sex have no souls, and that their brains are in a +rudimental and inchoate state of development. Thereupon he was tartly +taken to task by his master’s bride, the beautiful Chandravati, who told +him that those only have a bad opinion of women who have associated with +none but the vicious and the low, and that he should be ashamed to abuse +feminine parrots, because his mother had been one. + +This was truly logical. + +On the other hand, the jay was sternly reproved for her mutinous and +treasonable assertions by the husband of her mistress, Raja Ram, who, +although still a bridegroom, had not forgotten the gallant rule of his +syntax-- + + The masculine is more worthy than the feminine; + +till Madan-manjari burst into tears and declared that her life was not +worth having. And Raja Ram looked at her as if he could have wrung her +neck. + +In short, Raja Vikram, all the four lost their tempers, and with them +what little wits they had. Two of them were but birds, and the others +seem not to have been much better, being young, ignorant, inexperienced, +and lately married. How then could they decide so difficult a question +as that of the relative wickedness and villany of men and women? Had +your majesty been there, the knot of uncertainty would soon have been +undone by the trenchant edge of your wit and wisdom, your knowledge and +experience. You have, of course, long since made up your mind upon the +subject? + +Dharma Dhwaj would have prevented his father’s reply. But the youth had +been twice reprehended in the course of this tale, and he thought it +wisest to let things take their own way. + +“Women,” quoth the Raja, oracularly, “are worse than we are; a man, +however depraved he may be, ever retains some notion of right and wrong, +but a woman does not. She has no such regard whatever.” + +“The beautiful Bangalah Rani for instance?” said the Baital, with a +demonaic sneer. + +At the mention of a word, the uttering of which was punishable by +extirpation of the tongue, Raja Vikram’s brain whirled with rage. He +staggered in the violence of his passion, and putting forth both hands +to break his fall, he dropped the bundle from his back. Then the Baital, +disentangling himself and laughing lustily, ran off towards the tree as +fast as his thin brown legs would carry him. But his activity availed +him little. + +The king, puffing with fury, followed him at the top of his speed, and +caught him by his tail before he reached the siras-tree, hurled him +backwards with force, put foot upon his chest, and after shaking out the +cloth, rolled him up in it with extreme violence, bumped his back half +a dozen times against the stony ground, and finally, with a jerk, threw +him on his shoulder, as he had done before. + +The young prince, afraid to accompany his father whilst he was pursuing +the fiend, followed slowly in the rear, and did not join him for some +minutes. + +But when matters were in their normal state, the Vampire, who had +endured with exemplary patience the penalty of his impudence, began in +honeyed accents, + +“Listen, O warrior king, whilst thy servant recounts unto thee another +true tale.” + + + + +THE VAMPIRE’S THIRD STORY -- Of a High-minded Family. + +In the venerable city of Bardwan, O warrior king! (quoth the Vampire) +during the reign of the mighty Rupsen, flourished one Rajeshwar, a +Rajput warrior of distinguished fame. By his valour and conduct he had +risen from the lowest ranks of the army to command it as its captain. +And arrived at that dignity, he did not put a stop to all improvements, +like other chiefs, who rejoice to rest and return thanks. On the +contrary, he became such a reformer that, to some extent, he remodelled +the art of war. + +Instead of attending to rules and regulations, drawn up in their studies +by pandits and Brahmans, he consulted chiefly his own experience and +judgment. He threw aside the systematic plans of campaigns laid down in +the Shastras or books of the ancients, and he acted upon the spur of +the moment. He displayed a skill in the choice of ground, in the use of +light troops, and in securing his own supplies whilst he cut off those +of the enemy, which Kartikaya himself, God of War, might have envied. +Finding that the bows of his troops were clumsy and slow to use, he had +them all changed before compelled so to do by defeat; he also gave his +attention to the sword handles, which cramped the men’s grasp but which +having been used for eighteen hundred years were considered perfect +weapons. And having organized a special corps of warriors using fire +arrows, he soon brought it to such perfection that, by using it against +the elephants of his enemies, he gained many a campaign. + +One instance of his superior judgment I am about to quote to thee, O +Vikram, after which I return to my tale; for thou art truly a warrior +king, very likely to imitate the innovations of the great general +Rajeshwar. + +(A grunt from the monarch was the result of the Vampire’s sneer.) + +He found his master’s armies recruited from Northern Hindustan, and +officered by Kshatriya warriors, who grew great only because they grew +old and--fat. Thus the energy and talent of the younger men were wasted +in troubles and disorders; whilst the seniors were often so ancient +that they could not mount their chargers unaided, nor, when they were +mounted, could they see anything a dozen yards before them. But they +had served in a certain obsolete campaign, and until Rajeshwar gave them +pensions and dismissals, they claimed a right to take first part in all +campaigns present and future. The commander-in-chief refused to use any +captain who could not stand steady on his legs, or endure the sun for a +whole day. When a soldier distinguished himself in action, he raised him +to the powers and privileges of the warrior caste. And whereas it had +been the habit to lavish circles and bars of silver and other metals +upon all those who had joined in the war, whether they had sat behind +a heap of sand or had been foremost to attack the foe, he broke through +the pernicious custom, and he rendered the honour valuable by conferring +it only upon the deserving. I need hardly say that, in an inordinately +short space of time, his army beat every king and general that opposed +it. + +One day the great commander-in-chief was seated in a certain room near +the threshold of his gate, when the voices of a number of people outside +were heard. Rajeshwar asked, “Who is at the door, and what is the +meaning of the noise I hear?” The porter replied, “It is a fine thing +your honour has asked. Many persons come sitting at the door of the rich +for the purpose of obtaining a livelihood and wealth. When they meet +together they talk of various things: it is these very people who are +now making this noise.” + +Rajeshwar, on hearing this, remained silent. + +In the meantime a traveller, a Rajput, Birbal by name, hoping to obtain +employment, came from the southern quarter to the palace of the chief. +The porter having listened to his story, made the circumstance known to +his master, saying, “O chief! an armed man has arrived here, hoping to +obtain employment, and is standing at the door. If I receive a command +he shall be brought into your honour’s presence.” + +“Bring him in,” cried the commander-in-chief. + +The porter brought him in, and Rajeshwar inquired, “O Rajput, who and +what art thou?” + +Birbal submitted that he was a person of distinguished fame for the use +of weapons, and that his name for fidelity and valour had gone forth to +the utmost ends of Bharat-Kandha.[83] + +The chief was well accustomed to this style of self introduction, and +its only effect upon his mind was a wish to shame the man by showing him +that he had not the least knowledge of weapons. He therefore bade him +bare his blade and perform some feat. + +Birbal at once drew his good sword. Guessing the thoughts which were +hovering about the chief’s mind, he put forth his left hand, extending +the forefinger upwards, waved his blade like the arm of a demon round +his head, and, with a dexterous stroke, so shaved off a bit of nail +that it fell to the ground, and not a drop of blood appeared upon the +finger-tip. + +“Live for ever!” exclaimed Rajeshwar in admiration. He then addressed +to the recruit a few questions concerning the art of war, or rather +concerning his peculiar views of it. To all of which Birbal answered +with a spirit and a judgment which convinced the hearer that he was no +common sworder. + +Whereupon Rajeshwar bore off the new man at arms to the palace of the +king Rupsen, and recommended that he should be engaged without delay. + +The king, being a man of few words and many ideas, after hearing his +commander-in-chief, asked, “O Rajput, what shall I give thee for thy +daily expenditure?” + +“Give me a thousand ounces of gold daily,” said Birbal, “and then I +shall have wherewithal to live on.” + +“Hast thou an army with thee?” exclaimed the king in the greatest +astonishment. + +“I have not,” responded the Rajput somewhat stiffly. “I have first, +a wife; second, a son; third, a daughter; fourth, myself; there is no +fifth person with me.” + +All the people of the court on hearing this turned aside their heads to +laugh, and even the women, who were peeping at the scene, covered their +mouths with their veils. The Rajput was then dismissed the presence. + +It is, however, noticeable amongst you humans, that the world often +takes you at your own valuation. Set a high price upon yourselves, +and each man shall say to his neighbour, “In this man there must be +something.” Tell everyone that you are brave, clever, generous, or even +handsome, and after a time they will begin to believe you. And when thus +you have attained success, it will be harder to unconvince them than it +was to convince them. Thus--- + +“Listen not to him, sirrah,” cried Raja Vikram to Dharma Dhwaj, the +young prince, who had fallen a little way behind, and was giving ear +attentively to the Vampire’s ethics. “Listen to him not. And tell me, +villain, with these ignoble principles of thine, what will become of +modesty, humility, self-sacrifice, and a host of other Guna or good +qualities which--which are good qualities?” + +“I know not,” rejoined the Baital, “neither do I care. But my habitually +inspiriting a succession of human bodies has taught me one fact. The +wise man knows himself, and is, therefore, neither unduly humble nor +elated, because he had no more to do with making himself than with the +cut of his cloak, or with the fitness of his loin-cloth. But the fool +either loses his head by comparing himself with still greater fools, or +is prostrated when he finds himself inferior to other and lesser fools. +This shyness he calls modesty, humility, and so forth. Now, whenever +entering a corpse, whether it be of man, woman, or child, I feel +peculiarly modest; I know that my tenement lately belonged to some +conceited ass. And--” + +“Wouldst thou have me bump thy back against the ground?” asked Raja +Vikram angrily. + +(The Baital muttered some reply scarcely intelligible about his having +this time stumbled upon a metaphysical thread of ideas, and then +continued his story.) + +Now Rupsen, the king, began by inquiring of himself why the Rajput had +rated his services so highly. Then he reflected that if this recruit +had asked so much money, it must have been for some reason which would +afterwards become apparent. Next, he hoped that if he gave him so much, +his generosity might some day turn out to his own advantage. Finally, +with this idea in his mind, he summoned Birbal and the steward of his +household, and said to the latter, “Give this Rajput a thousand ounces +of gold daily from our treasury.” + +It is related that Birbal made the best possible use of his wealth. +He used every morning to divide it into two portions, one of which was +distributed to Brahmans and Parohitas.[84] Of the remaining moiety, +having made two parts, he gave one as alms to pilgrims, to Bairagis +or Vishnu’s mendicants, and to Sanyasis or worshippers of Shiva, whose +bodies, smeared with ashes, were hardly covered with a narrow cotton +cloth and a rope about their loins, and whose heads of artificial hair, +clotted like a rope, besieged his gate. With the remaining fourth, +having caused food to be prepared, he regaled the poor, while he himself +and his family ate what was left. Every evening, arming himself with +sword and buckler, he took up his position as guard at the royal +bedside, and walked round it all night sword in hand. If the king +chanced to wake and asked who was present, Birbal immediately gave reply +that “Birbal is here; whatever command you give, that he will obey.” And +oftentimes Rupsen gave him unusual commands, for it is said, “To try thy +servant, bid him do things in season and out of season: if he obey thee +willingly, know him to be useful; if he reply, dismiss him at once. Thus +is a servant tried, even as a wife by the poverty of her husband, and +brethren and friends by asking their aid.” + +In such manner, through desire of money, Birbal remained on guard +all night; and whether eating, drinking, sleeping, sitting, going or +wandering about, during the twenty-four hours, he held his master in +watchful remembrance. This, indeed, is the custom; if a man sell another +the latter is sold, but a servant by doing service sells himself, and +when a man has become dependent, how can he be happy? Certain it is that +however intelligent, clever, or learned a man may be, yet, while he is +in his master’s presence, he remains silent as a dumb man, and struck +with dread. Only while he is away from his lord can he be at ease. +Hence, learned men say that to do service aright is harder than any +religious study. + +On one occasion it is related that there happened to be heard at +night-time the wailing of a woman in a neighbouring cemetery. The king +on hearing it called out, “Who is in waiting?” + +“I am here,” replied Birbal; “what command is there?” + +“Go,” spoke the king, “to the place whence proceeds this sound of +woman’s wail, and having inquired the cause of her grief, return +quickly.” + +On receiving this order the Rajput went to obey it; and the king, +unseen by him, and attired in a black dress, followed for the purpose of +observing his courage. + +Presently Birbal arrived at the cemetery. And what sees he there? A +beautiful woman of a light yellow colour, loaded with jewels from head +to foot, holding a horn in her right and a necklace in her left hand. +Sometimes she danced, sometimes she jumped, and sometimes she ran +about. There was not a tear in her eye, but beating her head and making +lamentable cries, she kept dashing herself on the ground. + +Seeing her condition, and not recognizing the goddess born of sea foam, +and whom all the host of heaven loved,[85] Birbal inquired, “Why art +thou thus beating thyself and crying out? Who art thou? And what grief +is upon thee?” + +“I am the Royal-Luck,” she replied. + +“For what reason,” asked Birbal, “art thou weeping?” + +The goddess then began to relate her position to the Rajput. She said, +with tears, “In the king’s palace Shudra (or low caste acts) are done, +and hence misfortune will certainly fall upon it, and I shall forsake +it. After a month has passed, the king, having endured excessive +affliction, will die. In grief for this, I weep. I have brought much +happiness to the king’s house, and hence I am full of regret that this +my prediction cannot in any way prove untrue.” + +“Is there,” asked Birbal, “any remedy for this trouble, so that the king +may be preserved and live a hundred years?” + +“Yes,” said the goddess, “there is. About eight miles to the east thou +wilt find a temple dedicated to my terrible sister Devi. Offer to her +thy son’s head, cut off with thine own hand, and the reign of thy king +shall endure for an age.” So saying Raj-Lakshmi disappeared. + +Birbal answered not a word, but with hurried steps he turned towards +his home. The king, still in black so as not to be seen, followed him +closely, and observed and listened to everything he did. + +The Rajput went straight to his wife, awakened her, and related to her +everything that had happened. The wise have said, “she alone deserves +the name of wife who always receives her husband with affectionate and +submissive words.” When she heard the circumstances, she at once aroused +her son, and her daughter also awoke. Then Birbal told them all that +they must follow him to the temple of Devi in the wood. + +On the way the Rajput said to his wife, “If thou wilt give up thy +son willingly, I will sacrifice him for our master’s sake to Devi the +Destroyer.” + +She replied, “Father and mother, son and daughter, brother and relative, +have I now none. You are everything to me. It is written in the +scripture that a wife is not made pure by gifts to priests, nor by +performing religious rites; her virtue consists in waiting upon her +husband, in obeying him and in loving him--yea! though he be lame, +maimed in the hands, dumb, deaf, blind, one eyed, leprous, or +humpbacked. It is a true saying that ‘a son under one’s authority, a +body free from sickness, a desire to acquire knowledge, an intelligent +friend, and an obedient wife; whoever holds these five will find them +bestowers of happiness and dispellers of affliction. An unwilling +servant, a parsimonious king, an insincere friend, and a wife not under +control; such things are disturbers of ease and givers of trouble.’” + +Then the good wife turned to her son and said “Child by the gift of thy +head, the king’s life may be spared, and the kingdom remain unshaken.” + +“Mother,” replied that excellent youth, “in my opinion we should hasten +this matter. Firstly, I must obey your command; secondly, I must promote +the interests of my master; thirdly, if this body be of any use to a +goddess, nothing better can be done with it in this world.” + +(“Excuse me, Raja Vikram,” said the Baital, interrupting himself, “if I +repeat these fair discourses at full length; it is interesting to hear a +young person, whose throat is about to be cut, talk so like a doctor of +laws.”) + +Then the youth thus addressed his sire: “Father, whoever can be of use +to his master, the life of that man in this world has been lived to good +purpose, and by reason of his usefulness he will be rewarded in other +worlds.” + +His sister, however, exclaimed, “If a mother should give poison to +her daughter, and a father sell his son, and a king seize the entire +property of his subjects, where then could one look for protection?” But +they heeded her not, and continued talking as they journeyed towards the +temple of Devi--the king all the while secretly following them. + +Presently they reached the temple, a single room, surrounded by a +spacious paved area; in front was an immense building capable of seating +hundreds of people. Before the image there were pools of blood, where +victims had lately been slaughtered. In the sanctum was Devi, a large +black figure with ten arms. With a spear in one of her right hands she +pierced the giant Mahisha; and with one of her left hands she held the +tail of a serpent, and the hair of the giant, whose breast the serpent +was biting. Her other arms were all raised above her head, and were +filled with different instruments of war; against her right leg leaned a +lion. + +Then Birbal joined his hands in prayer, and with Hindu mildness thus +addressed the awful goddess: “O mother, let the king’s life be prolonged +for a thousand years by the sacrifice of my son. O Devi, mother! +destroy, destroy his enemies! Kill! kill! Reduce them to ashes! Drive +them away! Devour them! devour them! Cut them in two! Drink! drink +their blood! Destroy them root and branch! With thy thunderbolt, spear, +scymitar, discus, or rope, annihilate them! Spheng! Spheng!” + +The Rajput, having caused his son to kneel before the goddess, struck +him so violent a blow that his head rolled upon the ground. He then +threw the sword down, when his daughter, frantic with grief, snatched it +up and struck her neck with such force that her head, separated from her +body, fell. In her turn the mother, unable to survive the loss of her +children, seized the weapon and succeeded in decapitating herself. +Birbal, beholding all this slaughter, thus reflected: “My children +are dead why, now, should I remain in servitude, and upon whom shall I +bestow the gold I receive from the king?” He then gave himself so deep a +wound in the neck, that his head also separated from his body. + +Rupsen, the king, seeing these four heads on the ground, said in his +heart, “For my sake has the family of Birbal been destroyed. Kingly +power, for the purpose of upholding which the destruction of a whole +household is necessary, is a mere curse, and to carry on government in +this manner is not just.” He then took up the sword and was about to +slay himself, when the Destroying Goddess, probably satisfied with +bloodshed, stayed his hand, bidding him at the same time ask any boon he +pleased. + +The generous monarch begged, thereupon, that his faithful servant might +be restored to life, together with all his high-minded family; and the +goddess Devi in the twinkling of an eye fetched from Patala, the regions +below the earth, a vase full of Amrita, the water of immortality, +sprinkled it upon the dead, and raised them all as before. After which +the whole party walked leisurely home, and in due time the king divided +his throne with his friend Birbal. + +Having stopped for a moment, the Baital proceeded to remark, in a +sententious tone, “Happy the servant who grudges not his own life to +save that of his master! And happy, thrice happy the master who can +annihilate all greedy longing for existence and worldly prosperity. +Raja, I have to ask thee one searching question--Of these five, who was +the greatest fool?” + +“Demon!” exclaimed the great Vikram, all whose cherished feelings about +fidelity and family affection, obedience, and high-mindedness, were +outraged by this Vampire view of the question; “if thou meanest by the +greatest fool the noblest mind, I reply without hesitating Rupsen, the +king.” + +“Why, prithee?” asked the Baital. + +“Because, dull demon,” said the king, “Birbal was bound to offer up +his life for a master who treated him so generously; the son could not +disobey his father, and the women naturally and instinctively killed +themselves, because the example was set to them. But Rupsen the king +gave up his throne for the sake of his retainer, and valued not a straw +his life and his high inducements to live. For this reason I think him +the most meritorious.” + +“Surely, mighty Vikram,” laughed the Vampire, “you will be tired of +ever clambering up yon tall tree, even had you the legs and arms of +Hanuman[86] himself.” + +And so saying he disappeared from the cloth, although it had been placed +upon the ground. + +But the poor Baital had little reason to congratulate himself on the +success of his escape. In a short time he was again bundled into the +cloth with the usual want of ceremony, and he revenged himself by +telling another true story. + + + + +THE VAMPIRE’S FOURTH STORY -- Of A Woman Who Told The Truth. + + +“Listen, great king!” again began the Baital. + +An unimportant Baniya[87] (trader), Hiranyadatt, had a daughter, whose +name was Madansena Sundari, the beautiful army of Cupid. Her face +was like the moon; her hair like the clouds; her eyes like those of a +muskrat; her eyebrows like a bent bow; her nose like a parrot’s bill; +her neck like that of a dove; her teeth like pomegranate grains; the +red colour of her lips like that of a gourd; her waist lithe and bending +like the pards: her hands and feet like softest blossoms; her complexion +like the jasmine-in fact, day by day the splendour of her youth +increased. + +When she had arrived at maturity, her father and mother began often to +resolve in their minds the subject of her marriage. And the people of +all that country side ruled by Birbar king of Madanpur bruited it abroad +that in the house of Hiranyadatt had been born a daughter by whose +beauty gods, men, and munis (sages) were fascinated. + +Thereupon many, causing their portraits to be painted, sent them +by messengers to Hiranyadatt the Baniya, who showed them all to his +daughter. But she was capricious, as beauties sometimes are, and when +her father said, “Make choice of a husband thyself,” she told him that +none pleased her, and moreover she begged of him to find her a husband +who possessed good looks, good qualities, and good sense. + +At length, when some days had passed, four suitors came from four +different countries. The father told them that he must have from each +some indication that he possessed the required qualities; that he was +pleased with their looks, but that they must satisfy him about their +knowledge. + +“I have,” the first said, “a perfect acquaintance with the Shastras (or +Scriptures); in science there is none to rival me. As for my handsome +mien, it may plainly be seen by you.” + +The second exclaimed, “My attainments are unique in the knowledge of +archery. I am acquainted with the art of discharging arrows and killing +anything which though not seen is heard, and my fine proportions are +plainly visible to you.” + +The third continued, “I understand the language of land and water +animals, of birds and of beasts, and I have no equal in strength. Of my +comeliness you yourself may judge.” + +“I have the knowledge,” quoth the fourth, “how to make a certain cloth +which can be sold for five rubies: having sold it I give the proceeds +of one ruby to a Brahman, of the second I make an offering to a deity, a +third I wear on my own person, a fourth I keep for my wife; and, having +sold the fifth, I spend it in giving feasts. This is my knowledge, and +none other is acquainted with it. My good looks are apparent.” + +The father hearing these speeches began to reflect, “It is said that +excess in anything is not good. Sita[88] was very lovely, but the demon +Ravana carried her away; and Bali king of Mahabahpur gave much alms, +but at length he became poor.[89] My daughter is too fair to remain a +maiden; to which of these shall I give her?” + +So saying, Hiranyadatt went to his daughter, explained the qualities of +the four suitors, and asked, “To which shall I give thee?” On hearing +these words she was abashed; and, hanging down her head, knew not what +to reply. + +Then the Baniya, having reflected, said to himself, “He who is +acquainted with the Shastras is a Brahman, he who could shoot an arrow +at the sound was a Kshatriya or warrior, and he who made the cloth was +a Shudra or servile. But the youth who understands the language of +birds is of our own caste. To him, therefore, will I marry her.” And +accordingly he proceeded with the betrothal of his daughter. + +Meanwhile Madansena went one day, during the spring season into the +garden for a stroll. It happened, just before she came out, that +Somdatt, the son of the merchant Dharmdatt, had gone for pleasure into +the forest, and was returning through the same garden to his home. + +He was fascinated at the sight of the maiden, and said to his friend, +“Brother, if I can obtain her my life will be prosperous, and if I do +not obtain her my living in the world will be in vain.” + +Having thus spoken, and becoming restless from the fear of separation, +he involuntarily drew near to her, and seizing her hand, said--“If thou +wilt not form an affection for me, I will throw away my life on thy +account.” + +“Be pleased not to do this,” she replied; “it will be sinful, and it +will involve me in the guilt and punishment of shedding blood; hence I +shall be miserable in this world and in that to be.” + +“Thy blandishments,” he replied, “have pierced my heart, and the +consuming thought of parting from thee has burnt up my body, and memory +and understanding have been destroyed by this pain; and from excess +of love I have no sense of right or wrong. But if thou wilt make me a +promise, I will live again.” + +She replied, “Truly the Kali Yug (iron age) has commenced, since which +time falsehood has increased in the world and truth has diminished; +people talk smoothly with their tongues, but nourish deceit in their +hearts; religion is destroyed, crime has increased, and the earth +has begun to give little fruit. Kings levy fines, Brahmans have waxed +covetous, the son obeys not his sire’s commands, brother distrusts +brother; friendship has departed from amongst friends; sincerity +has left masters; servants have given up service; man has abandoned +manliness; and woman has abandoned modesty. Five days hence, my marriage +is to be; but if thou slay not thyself, I will visit thee first, and +after that I will remain with my husband.” + +Having given this promise, and having sworn by the Ganges, she returned +home. The merchant’s son also went his way. + +Presently the marriage ceremonies came on, and Hiranyadatt the Baniya +expended a lakh of rupees in feasts and presents to the bridegroom. The +bodies of the twain were anointed with turmeric, the bride was made to +hold in her hand the iron box for eye paint, and the youth a pair of +betel scissors. During the night before the wedding there was loud and +shrill music, the heads and limbs of the young couple were rubbed with +an ointment of oil, and the bridegroom’s head was duly shaved. The +wedding procession was very grand. The streets were a blaze of flambeaux +and torches carried in the hand, fireworks by the ton were discharged +as the people passed; elephants, camels, and horses richly caparisoned, +were placed in convenient situations; and before the procession had +reached the house of the bride half a dozen wicked boys and bad young +men were killed or wounded.[90] After the marriage formulas were +repeated, the Baniya gave a feast or supper, and the food was so +excellent that all sat down quietly, no one uttered a complaint, or +brought dishonour on the bride’s family, or cut with scissors the +garments of his neighbour. + +The ceremony thus happily concluded, the husband brought Madansena home +to his own house. After some days the wife of her husband’s youngest +brother, and also the wife of his eldest brother, led her at night +by force to her bridegroom, and seated her on a bed ornamented with +flowers. + +As her husband proceeded to take her hand, she jerked it away, and at +once openly told him all that she had promised to Somdatt on condition +of his not killing himself. + +“All things,” rejoined the bridegroom, hearing her words, “have their +sense ascertained by speech; in speech they have their basis, and +from speech they proceed; consequently a falsifier of speech falsifies +everything. If truly you are desirous of going to him, go! + +“Receiving her husband’s permission, she arose and went off to the young +merchant’s house in full dress. Upon the road a thief saw her, and in +high good humour came up and asked-- + +“Whither goest thou at midnight in such darkness, having put on all +these fine clothes and ornaments?” + +She replied that she was going to the house of her beloved. + +“And who here,” said the thief, “is thy protector?” + +“Kama Deva,” she replied, “the beautiful youth who by his fiery arrows +wounds with love the hearts of the inhabitants of the three worlds, +Ratipati, the husband of Rati,[91] accompanied by the kokila bird,[92] +the humming bee and gentle breezes.” She then told to the thief the +whole story, adding-- + +“Destroy not my jewels: I give thee a promise before I go, that on my +return thou shalt have all these ornaments.” + +Hearing this the thief thought to himself that it would be useless +now to destroy her jewels, when she had promised to give them to him +presently of her own good will. He therefore let her go, and sat down +and thus soliloquized: + +“To me it is astonishing that he who sustained me in my mother’s womb +should take no care of me now that I have been born and am able to enjoy +the good things of this world. I know not whether he is asleep or dead. +And I would rather swallow poison than ask man for money or favour. For +these six things tend to lower a man:--friendship with the perfidious; +causeless laughter; altercation with women; serving an unworthy master; +riding an ass, and speaking any language but Sanskrit. And these five +things the deity writes on our fate at the hour of birth:--first, age; +secondly, action; thirdly, wealth; fourthly, science; fifthly, fame. +I have now done a good deed, and as long as a man’s virtue is in the +ascendant, all people becoming his servants obey him. But when virtuous +deeds diminish, even his friends become inimical to him.” + +Meanwhile Madansena had reached the place where Somdatt the young trader +had fallen asleep. + +She awoke him suddenly, and he springing up in alarm quickly asked her, +“Art thou the daughter of a deity? or of a saint? or of a serpent? Tell +me truly, who art thou? And whence hast thou come?” + +She replied, “I am human--Madansena, the daughter of the Baniya +Hiranyadatt. Dost thou not remember taking my hand in that grove, and +declaring that thou wouldst slay thyself if I did not swear to visit +thee first and after that remain with my husband?” + +“Hast thou,” he inquired, “told all this to thy husband or not?” + +She replied, “I have told him everything; and he, thoroughly +understanding the whole affair, gave me permission.” + +“This matter,” exclaimed Somdatt in a melancholy voice, “is like pearls +without a suitable dress, or food without clarified butter,[93] or +singing without melody; they are all alike unnatural. In the same way, +unclean clothes will mar beauty, bad food will undermine strength, a +wicked wife will worry her husband to death, a disreputable son will +ruin his family, an enraged demon will kill, and a woman, whether she +love or hate, will be a source of pain. For there are few things which a +woman will not do. She never brings to her tongue what is in her heart, +she never speaks out what is on her tongue, and she never tells what she +is doing. Truly the Deity has created woman a strange creature in this +world.” He concluded with these words: “Return thou home with another +man’s wife I have no concern.” + +Madansena rose and departed. On her way she met the thief, who, hearing +her tale, gave her great praise, and let her go unplundered.[94] + +She then went to her husband, and related the whole matter to him. But +he had ceased to love her, and he said, “Neither a king nor a minister, +nor a wife, nor a person’s hair nor his nails, look well out of their +places. And the beauty of the kokila is its note, of an ugly man +knowledge, of a devotee forgiveness, and of a woman her chastity.” + +The Vampire having narrated thus far, suddenly asked the king, “Of these +three, whose virtue was the greatest?” + +Vikram, who had been greatly edified by the tale, forgot himself, and +ejaculated, “The Thief’s.” + +“And pray why?” asked the Baital. + +“Because,” the hero explained, “when her husband saw that she loved +another man, however purely, he ceased to feel affection for her. +Somdatt let her go unharmed, for fear of being punished by the king. But +there was no reason why the thief should fear the law and dismiss her; +therefore he was the best.” + +“Hi! hi! hi!” laughed the demon, spitefully. “Here, then, ends my +story.” + +Upon which, escaping as before from the cloth in which he was slung +behind the Raja’s back, the Baital disappeared through the darkness of +the night, leaving father and son looking at each other in dismay. + +“Son Dharma Dhwaj,” quoth the great Vikram, “the next time when that +villain Vampire asks me a question, I allow thee to take the liberty of +pinching my arm even before I have had time to answer his questions. In +this way we shall never, of a truth, end our task.” + +“Your words be upon my head, sire,” replied the young prince. But he +expected no good from his father’s new plan, as, arrived under the +sires-tree, he heard the Baital laughing with all his might. + +“Surely he is laughing at our beards, sire,” said the beardless prince, +who hated to be laughed at like a young person. + +“Let them laugh that win,” fiercely cried Raja Vikram, who hated to be +laughed at like an elderly person. + + * * * * * * * + +The Vampire lost no time in opening a fresh story. + + + + +THE VAMPIRE’S FIFTH STORY -- Of the Thief Who Laughed and Wept. + +Your majesty (quoth the demon, with unusual politeness), there is a +country called Malaya, on the western coast of the land of Bharat--you +see that I am particular in specifying the place--and in it was a city +known as Chandrodaya, whose king was named Randhir. + +This Raja, like most others of his semi-deified order, had been in youth +what is called a Sarva-rasi[95]; that is, he ate and drank and listened +to music, and looked at dancers and made love much more than he studied, +reflected, prayed, or conversed with the wise. After the age of thirty +he began to reform, and he brought such zeal to the good cause, that in +an incredibly short space of time he came to be accounted and quoted +as the paragon of correct Rajas. This was very praiseworthy. Many of +Brahma’s viceregents on earth, be it observed, have loved food and +drink, and music and dancing, and the worship of Kama, to the end of +their days. + +Amongst his officers was Gunshankar, a magistrate of police, who, +curious to say, was as honest as he was just. He administered equity +with as much care before as after dinner; he took no bribes even in the +matter of advancing his family; he was rather merciful than otherwise +to the poor, and he never punished the rich ostentatiously, in order to +display his and his law’s disrespect for persons. Besides which, when +sitting on the carpet of justice, he did not, as some Kotwals do, use +rough or angry language to those who cannot reply; nor did he take +offence when none was intended. + +All the people of the city Chandrodaya, in the province of Malaya, +on the western coast of Bharatland, loved and esteemed this excellent +magistrate; which did not, however, prevent thefts being committed so +frequently and so regularly, that no one felt his property secure. At +last the merchants who had suffered most from these depredations went in +a body before Gunshankar, and said to him: + +“O flower of the law! robbers have exercised great tyranny upon us, so +great indeed that we can no longer stay in this city.” + +Then the magistrate replied, “What has happened, has happened. But in +future you shall be free from annoyance. I will make due preparation for +these thieves.” + +Thus saying Gunshankar called together his various delegates, and +directed them to increase the number of their people. He pointed out to +them how they should keep watch by night; besides which he ordered them +to open registers of all arrivals and departures, to make themselves +acquainted by means of spies with the movements of every suspected +person in the city, and to raise a body of paggis (trackers), who could +follow the footprints of thieves even when they wore thieving shoes,[96] +till they came up with and arrested them. And lastly, he gave the +patrols full power, whenever they might catch a robber in the act, to +slay him without asking questions. + +People in numbers began to mount guard throughout the city every night, +but, notwithstanding this, robberies continued to be committed. After +a time all the merchants having again met together went before the +magistrate, and said, “O incarnation of justice! you have changed your +officers, you have hired watchmen, and you have established patrols: +nevertheless the thieves have not diminished, and plundering is ever +taking place.” + +Thereupon Gunshankar carried them to the palace, and made them lay their +petition at the feet of the king Randhir. That Raja, having consoled +them, sent them home, saying, “Be ye of good cheer. I will to-night +adopt a new plan, which, with the blessing of the Bhagwan, shall free ye +from further anxiety.” + +Observe, O Vikram, that Randhir was one of those concerning whom the +poet sang-- + + The unwise run from one end to the other. + +Not content with becoming highly respectable, correct, and even +unimpeachable in point of character, he reformed even his reformation, +and he did much more than he was required to do. + +When Canopus began to sparkle gaily in the southern skies, the king +arose and prepared for a night’s work. He disguised his face by smearing +it with a certain paint, by twirling his moustachios up to his eyes, by +parting his beard upon his chin, and conducting the two ends towards his +ears, and by tightly tying a hair from a horse’s tail over his nose, so +as quite to change its shape. He then wrapped himself in a coarse outer +garment, girt his loins, buckled on his sword, drew his shield upon his +arm, and without saying a word to those within the palace, he went out +into the streets alone, and on foot. + +It was dark, and Raja Randhir walked through the silent city for nearly +an hour without meeting anyone. As, however, he passed through a back +street in the merchants’ quarter, he saw what appeared to be a homeless +dog, lying at the foot of a house-wall. He approached it, and up leaped +a human figure, whilst a loud voice cried, “Who art thou?” + +Randhir replied, “I am a thief; who art thou?” + +“And I also am a thief,” rejoined the other, much pleased at hearing +this; “come, then, and let us make together. But what art thou, a +high-loper or a lully-prigger[97]?” + +“A little more ceremony between coves in the lorst,[98]” whispered the +king, speaking as a flash man, “were not out of place. But, look sharp, +mind old Oliver,[99] or the lamb-skin man[100] will have the pull of +us, and as sure as eggs is eggs we shall be scragged as soon as +lagged.[101]” + +“Well, keep your red rag[102] quiet,” grumbled the other, “and let us be +working.” + +Then the pair, king and thief, began work in right earnest. The gang +seemed to swarm in the street. They were drinking spirits, slaying +victims, rubbing their bodies with oil, daubing their eyes with +lamp-black, and repeating incantations to enable them to see in the +darkness; others were practicing the lessons of the god with the golden +spear,[103] and carrying out the four modes of breaching a house: 1. +Picking out burnt bricks. 2. Cutting through unbaked ones when old, +when softened by recent damp, by exposure to the sun, or by saline +exudations. 3. Throwing water on a mud wall; and 4. Boring through one +of wood. The sons of Skanda were making breaches in the shape of lotus +blossoms, the sun, the new moon, the lake, and the water jar, and they +seemed to be anointed with magic unguents, so that no eye could behold, +no weapon harm them. + +At length having filled his bag with costly plunder, the thief said to +the king, “Now, my rummy cove, we’ll be off to the flash ken, where the +lads and the morts are waiting to wet their whistles.” + +Randhir, who as a king was perfectly familiar with “thieves’ Latin,” + took heart, and resolved to hunt out the secrets of the den. On the way, +his companion, perfectly satisfied with the importance which the new +cove had attached to a rat-hole,[104] and convinced that he was a true +robber, taught him the whistle, the word, and the sign peculiar to the +gang, and promised him that he should smack the lit[105] that night +before “turning in.” + +So saying the thief rapped twice at the city gate, which was at once +opened to him, and preceding his accomplice led the way to a rock about +two kos (four miles) distant from the walls. Before entering the dark +forest at the foot of the eminence, the robber stood still for a moment +and whistled twice through his fingers with a shrill scream that rang +through the silent glades. After a few minutes the signal was answered +by the hooting of an owl, which the robber acknowledged by shrieking +like a jackal. Thereupon half a dozen armed men arose from their +crouching places in the grass, and one advanced towards the new comers +to receive the sign. It was given, and they both passed on, whilst the +guard sank, as it were, into the bowels of the earth. All these things +Randhir carefully remarked: besides which he neglected not to take note +of all the distinguishable objects that lay on the road, and, when +he entered the wood, he scratched with his dagger all the tree trunks +within reach. + +After a sharp walk the pair reached a high perpendicular sheet of rock, +rising abruptly from a clear space in the jungle, and profusely printed +over with vermilion hands. The thief, having walked up to it, and made +his obeisance, stooped to the ground, and removed a bunch of grass. The +two then raised by their united efforts a heavy trap door, through which +poured a stream of light, whilst a confused hubbub of voices was heard +below. + +“This is the ken,” said the robber, preparing to descend a thin ladder +of bamboo, “follow me!” And he disappeared with his bag of valuables. + +The king did as he was bid, and the pair entered together a large hall, +or rather a cave, which presented a singular spectacle. It was lighted +up by links fixed to the sombre walls, which threw a smoky glare over +the place, and the contrast after the deep darkness reminded Randhir of +his mother’s descriptions of Patal-puri, the infernal city. Carpets of +every kind, from the choicest tapestry to the coarsest rug, were spread +upon the ground, and were strewed with bags, wallets, weapons, heaps of +booty, drinking cups, and all the materials of debauchery. + +Passing through this cave the thief led Randhir into another, which was +full of thieves, preparing for the pleasures of the night. Some were +changing garments, ragged and dirtied by creeping through gaps in the +houses: others were washing the blood from their hands and feet; these +combed out their long dishevelled, dusty hair: those anointed their +skins with perfumed cocoa-nut oil. There were all manner of murderers +present, a villanous collection of Kartikeya’s and Bhawani’s[106] crew. +There were stabbers with their poniards hung to lanyards lashed round +their naked waists, Dhaturiya-poisoners[107] distinguished by the +little bag slung under the left arm, and Phansigars[108] wearing their +fatal kerchiefs round their necks. And Randhir had reason to thank +the good deed in the last life that had sent him there in such strict +disguise, for amongst the robbers he found, as might be expected, a +number of his own people, spies and watchmen, guards and patrols. + +The thief, whose importance of manner now showed him to be the chief of +the gang, was greeted with applause as he entered the robing room, +and he bade all make salam to the new companion. A number of questions +concerning the success of the night’s work was quickly put and answered: +then the company, having got ready for the revel, flocked into the first +cave. There they sat down each in his own place, and began to eat and +drink and make merry. + +After some hours the flaring torches began to burn out, and drowsiness +to overpower the strongest heads. Most of the robbers rolled themselves +up in the rugs, and covering their heads, went to sleep. A few still sat +with their backs to the wall, nodding drowsily or leaning on one side, +and too stupefied with opium and hemp to make any exertion. + +At that moment a servant woman, whom the king saw for the first time, +came into the cave, and looking at him exclaimed, “O Raja! how came you +with these wicked men? Do you run away as fast as you can, or they will +surely kill you when they awake.” + +“I do not know the way; in which direction am I to go?” asked Randhir. + +The woman then showed him the road. He threaded the confused mass of +snorers, treading with the foot of a tiger-cat, found the ladder, raised +the trap-door by exerting all his strength, and breathed once more the +open air of heaven. And before plunging into the depths of the wood he +again marked the place where the entrance lay and carefully replaced the +bunch of grass. + +Hardly had Raja Randhir returned to the palace, and removed the traces +of his night’s occupation, when he received a second deputation of the +merchants, complaining bitterly and with the longest faces about their +fresh misfortunes. + +“O pearl of equity!” said the men of money, “but yesterday you consoled +us with the promise of some contrivance by the blessing of which our +houses and coffers would be safe from theft; whereas our goods have +never yet suffered so severely as during the last twelve hours.” + +Again Randhir dismissed them, swearing that this time he would either +die or destroy the wretches who had been guilty of such violence. + +Then having mentally prepared his measures, the Raja warned a company of +archers to hold themselves in readiness for secret service, and as each +one of his own people returned from the robbers’ cave he had him privily +arrested and put to death--because the deceased, it is said, do not, +like Baitals, tell tales. About nightfall, when he thought that the +thieves, having finished their work of plunder, would meet together as +usual for wassail and debauchery, he armed himself, marched out his men, +and led them to the rock in the jungle. + +But the robbers, aroused by the disappearance of the new companion, had +made enquiries and had gained intelligence of the impending danger. They +feared to flee during the daytime, lest being tracked they should be +discovered and destroyed in detail. When night came they hesitated to +disperse, from the certainty that they would be captured in the morning. +Then their captain, who throughout had been of one opinion, proposed to +them that they should resist, and promised them success if they would +hear his words. The gang respected him, for he was known to be brave: +they all listened to his advice, and they promised to be obedient. + +As young night began to cast transparent shade upon the jungle ground, +the chief of the thieves mustered his men, inspected their bows and +arrows, gave them encouraging words, and led them forth from the cave. +Having placed them in ambush he climbed the rock to espy the movements +of the enemy, whilst others applied their noses and ears to the level +ground. Presently the moon shone full upon Randhir and his band of +archers, who were advancing quickly and carelessly, for they expected +to catch the robbers in their cave. The captain allowed them to march +nearly through the line of ambush. Then he gave the signal, and at that +moment the thieves, rising suddenly from the bush fell upon the royal +troops and drove them back in confusion. + +The king also fled, when the chief of the robbers shouted out, “Hola! +thou a Rajput and running away from combat?” Randhir hearing this +halted, and the two, confronting each other, bared their blades and +began to do battle with prodigious fury. + +The king was cunning of fence, and so was the thief. They opened the +duel, as skilful swordsmen should, by bending almost double, skipping in +a circle, each keeping his eye well fixed upon the other, with frowning +brows and contemptuous lips; at the same time executing divers gambados +and measured leaps, springing forward like frogs and backward like +monkeys, and beating time with their sabres upon their shields, which +rattled like drums. + +Then Randhir suddenly facing his antagonist, cut at his legs with a loud +cry, but the thief sprang in the air, and the blade whistled harmlessly +under him. Next moment the robber chief’s sword, thrice whirled round +his head, descended like lightning in a slanting direction towards the +king’s left shoulder: the latter, however, received it upon his target +and escaped all hurt, though he staggered with the violence of the blow. + +And thus they continued attacking each other, parrying and replying, +till their breath failed them and their hands and wrists were numbed and +cramped with fatigue. They were so well matched in courage, strength, +and address, that neither obtained the least advantage, till the +robber’s right foot catching a stone slid from under him, and thus he +fell to the ground at the mercy of his enemy. The thieves fled, and the +Raja, himself on his prize, tied his hands behind him, and brought him +back to the city at the point of his good sword. + +The next morning Randhir visited his prisoner, whom he caused to be +bathed, and washed, and covered with fine clothes. He then had him +mounted on a camel and sent him on a circuit of the city, accompanied +by a crier proclaiming aloud: “Who hears! who hears! who hears! the king +commands! This is the thief who has robbed and plundered the city of +Chandrodaya. Let all men therefore assemble themselves together this +evening in the open space outside the gate leading towards the sea. And +let them behold the penalty of evil deeds, and learn to be wise.” + +Randhir had condemned the thief to be crucified,[109] nailed and tied +with his hands and feet stretched out at full length, in an erect +posture until death; everything he wished to eat was ordered to him +in order to prolong life and misery. And when death should draw near, +melted gold was to be poured down his throat till it should burst from +his neck and other parts of his body. + +In the evening the thief was led out for execution, and by chance the +procession passed close to the house of a wealthy landowner. He had a +favourite daughter named Shobhani, who was in the flower of her youth +and very lovely; every day she improved, and every moment added to +her grace and beauty. The girl had been carefully kept out of sight +of mankind, never being allowed outside the high walls of the garden, +because her nurse, a wise woman much trusted in the neighbourhood, +had at the hour of death given a solemn warning to her parents. The +prediction was that the maiden should be the admiration of the city, +and should die a Sati-widow[110] before becoming a wife. From that hour +Shobhani was kept as a pearl in its casket by her father, who had vowed +never to survive her, and had even fixed upon the place and style of his +suicide. + +But the shaft of Fate[111] strikes down the vulture sailing above the +clouds, and follows the worm into the bowels of the earth, and pierces +the fish at the bottom of the ocean--how then can mortal man expect to +escape it? As the robber chief, mounted upon the camel, was passing to +the cross under the old householder’s windows, a fire breaking out in +the women’s apartments, drove the inmates into the rooms looking upon +the street. + +The hum of many voices arose from the solid pavement of heads: “This is +the thief who has been robbing the whole city; let him tremble now, for +Randhir will surely crucify him!” + +In beauty and bravery of bearing, as in strength and courage, no man +in Chandrodaya surpassed the robber, who, being magnificently dressed, +looked, despite his disgraceful cavalcade, like the son of a king. He +sat with an unmoved countenance, hardly hearing in his pride the scoffs +of the mob; calm and steady when the whole city was frenzied with +anxiety because of him. But as he heard the word “tremble” his lips +quivered, his eyes flashed fire, and deep lines gathered between his +eyebrows. + +Shobhani started with a scream from the casement behind which she +had hid herself, gazing with an intense womanly curiosity into the +thoroughfare. The robber’s face was upon a level with, and not half a +dozen feet from, her pale cheeks. She marked his handsome features, +and his look of wrath made her quiver as if it had been a flash of +lightning. Then she broke away from the fascination of his youth and +beauty, and ran breathless to her father, saying: + +“Go this moment and get that thief released!” + +The old housekeeper replied: “That thief has been pilfering and +plundering the whole city, and by his means the king’s archers were +defeated; why, then, at my request, should our most gracious Raja +Randhir release him?” + +Shobhani, almost beside herself, exclaimed: “If by giving up your whole +property, you can induce the Raja to release him, then instantly so do; +if he does not come to me, I must give up my life!” + +The maiden then covered her head with her veil, and sat down in the +deepest despair, whilst her father, hearing her words, burst into a cry +of grief, and hastened to present himself before the Raja. He cried out: + +“O great king, be pleased to receive four lakhs of rupees, and to +release this thief.” + +But the king replied: “He has been robbing the whole city, and by reason +of him my guards have been destroyed. I cannot by any means release +him.” + +Then the old householder finding, as he had expected the Raja +inexorable, and not to be moved, either by tears or bribes, or by +the cruel fate of the girl, returned home with fire in his heart, and +addressed her: + + “Daughter, I have said and done all that is possible but it avails +me nought with the king. Now, then, we die.” + +In the mean time, the guards having led the thief all round the city, +took him outside the gates, and made him stand near the cross. Then the +messengers of death arrived from the palace, and the executioners began +to nail his limbs. He bore the agony with the fortitude of the brave; +but when he heard what had been done by the old householder’s daughter, +he raised his voice and wept bitterly, as though his heart had been +bursting, and almost with the same breath he laughed heartily as at a +feast. All were startled by his merriment; coming as it did at a time +when the iron was piercing his flesh, no man could see any reason for +it. + +When he died, Shobhani, who was married to him in the spirit, recited to +herself these sayings: + +“There are thirty-five millions of hairs on the human body. The woman +who ascends the pile with her husband will remain so many years in +heaven. As the snake-catcher draws the serpent from his hole, so she, +rescuing her husband from hell, rejoices with him; aye, though he may +have sunk to a region of torment, be restrained in dreadful bonds, have +reached the place of anguish, be exhausted of strength, and afflicted +and tortured for his crimes. No other effectual duty is known for +virtuous women at any time after the death of their lords, except +casting themselves into the same fire. As long as a woman in her +successive transmigrations, shall decline burning herself, like a +faithful wife, in the same fire with her deceased lord, so long shall +she not be exempted from springing again to life in the body of some +female animal.” + +Therefore the beautiful Shobhani, virgin and wife, resolved to burn +herself, and to make the next life of the thief certain. She showed +her courage by thrusting her finger into a torch flame till it became a +cinder, and she solemnly bathed in the nearest stream. + +A hole was dug in the ground, and upon a bed of green tree-trunks were +heaped hemp, pitch, faggots, and clarified butter, to form the funeral +pyre. The dead body, anointed, bathed, and dressed in new clothes, was +then laid upon the heap, which was some two feet high. Shobhani prayed +that as long as fourteen Indras reign, or as many years as there are +hairs in her head, she might abide in heaven with her husband, and be +waited upon by the heavenly dancers. She then presented her ornaments +and little gifts of corn to her friends, tied some cotton round both +wrists, put two new combs in her hair, painted her forehead, and tied up +in the end of her body-cloth clean parched rice[112] and cowrie-shells. +These she gave to the bystanders, as she walked seven times round the +funeral pyre, upon which lay the body. She then ascended the heap of +wood, sat down upon it, and taking the thief’s head in her lap, without +cords or levers or upper layer or faggots, she ordered the pile to be +lighted. The crowd standing around set fire to it in several places, +drummed their drums, blew their conchs, and raised a loud cry of “Hari +bol! Hari bol! [113]” Straw was thrown on, and pitch and clarified +butter were freely poured out. But Shobhani’s was a Sahamaran, a blessed +easy death: no part of her body was seen to move after the pyre was +lighted--in fact, she seemed to die before the flame touched her. + +By the blessing of his daughter’s decease, the old householder beheaded +himself.[114] He caused an instrument to be made in the shape of a +half-moon with an edge like a razor, and fitting the back of his neck. +At both ends of it, as at the beam of a balance, chains were fastened. +He sat down with eyes closed; he was rubbed with the purifying clay of +the holy river, Vaiturani[115]; and he repeated the proper incantations. +Then placing his feet upon the extremities of the chains, he suddenly +jerked up his neck, and his severed head rolled from his body upon the +ground. What a happy death was this! + +The Baital was silent, as if meditating on the fortunate transmigration +which the old householder had thus secured. + +“But what could the thief have been laughing at, sire?” asked the young +prince Dharma Dhwaj of his father. + +“At the prodigious folly of the girl, my son,” replied the warrior king, +thoughtlessly. + +“I am indebted once more to your majesty,” burst out the Baital, “for +releasing me from this unpleasant position, but the Raja’s penetration +is again at fault. Not to leave your royal son and heir labouring under +a false impression, before going I will explain why the brave thief +burst into tears, and why he laughed at such a moment.” + +He wept when he reflected that he could not requite her kindness in +being willing to give up everything she had in the world to save his +life; and this thought deeply grieved him. + +Then it struck him as being passing strange that she had begun to love +him when the last sand of his life was well nigh run out; that wondrous +are the ways of the revolving heavens which bestow wealth upon the +niggard that cannot use it, wisdom upon the bad man who will misuse it, +a beautiful wife upon the fool who cannot protect her, and fertilizing +showers upon the stony hills. And thinking over these things, the +gallant and beautiful thief laughed aloud. + +“Before returning to my sires-tree,” continued the Vampire, “as I am +about to do in virtue of your majesty’s unintelligent reply, I +may remark that men may laugh and cry, or may cry and laugh, about +everything in this world, from their neighbours’ deaths, which, as a +general rule, in no wise concern them, to their own latter ends, which +do concern them exceedingly. For my part, I am in the habit of laughing +at everything, because it animates the brain, stimulates the lungs, +beautifies the countenance, and--for the moment, good-bye, Raja Vikram!” + +The warrior king, being forewarned this time, shifted the bundle +containing the Baital from his back to under his arm, where he pressed +it with all his might. + +This proceeding, however, did not prevent the Vampire from slipping back +to his tree, and leaving an empty cloth with the Raja. + +Presently the demon was trussed up as usual; a voice sounded behind +Vikram, and the loquacious thing again began to talk. + + + + +THE VAMPIRE’S SIXTH STORY -- In Which Three Men Dispute about a Woman. + + +On the lovely banks of Jumna’s stream there was a city known as +Dharmasthal--the Place of Duty; and therein dwelt a certain Brahman +called Keshav. He was a very pious man, in the constant habit of +performing penance and worship upon the river Sidi. He modelled his own +clay images instead of buying them from others; he painted holy stones +red at the top, and made to them offerings of flowers, fruit, water, +sweetmeats, and fried peas. He had become a learned man somewhat late +in life, having, until twenty years old, neglected his reading, and +addicted himself to worshipping the beautiful youth Kama-Deva[116] and +Rati his wife, accompanied by the cuckoo, the humming-bee, and sweet +breezes. + +One day his parents having rebuked him sharply for his ungovernable +conduct, Keshav wandered to a neighbouring hamlet, and hid himself in +the tall fig-tree which shadowed a celebrated image of Panchanan.[117] +Presently an evil thought arose in his head: he defiled the god, and +threw him into the nearest tank. + +The next morning, when the person arrived whose livelihood depended on +the image, he discovered that his god was gone. He returned into the +village distracted, and all was soon in an uproar about the lost deity. + +In the midst of this confusion the parents of Keshav arrived, seeking +for their son; and a man in the crowd declared that he had seen a young +man sitting in Panchanan’s tree, but what had become of the god he knew +not. + +The runaway at length appeared, and the suspicions of the villagers fell +upon him as the stealer of Panchanan. He confessed the fact, pointed out +the place where he had thrown the stone, and added that he had polluted +the god. All hands and eyes were raised in amazement at this atrocious +crime, and every one present declared that Panchanan would certainly +punish the daring insult by immediate death. Keshav was dreadfully +frightened; he began to obey his parents from that very hour, and +applied to his studies so sedulously that he soon became the most +learned man of his country. + +Now Keshav the Brahman had a daughter whose name was the Madhumalati or +Sweet Jasmine. She was very beautiful. Whence did the gods procure the +materials to form so exquisite a face? They took a portion of the most +excellent part of the moon to form that beautiful face? Does any one +seek a proof of this? Let him look at the empty places left in the moon. +Her eyes resembled the full-blown blue nymphaea; her arms the charming +stalk of the lotus; her flowing tresses the thick darkness of night. + +When this lovely person arrived at a marriageable age, her mother, +father, and brother, all three became very anxious about her. For the +wise have said, “A daughter nubile but without a husband is ever a +calamity hanging over a house.” And, “Kings, women, and climbing plants +love those who are near them.” Also, “Who is there that has not suffered +from the sex? for a woman cannot be kept in due subjection, either by +gifts or kindness, or correct conduct, or the greatest services, or +the laws of morality, or by the terror of punishment, for she cannot +discriminate between good and evil.” + +It so happened that one day Keshav the Brahman went to the marriage of +a certain customer of his,[118] and his son repaired to the house of a +spiritual preceptor in order to read. During their absence, a young man +came to the house, when the Sweet Jasmine’s mother, inferring his good +qualities from his good looks, said to him, “I will give to thee my +daughter in marriage.” The father also had promised his daughter to +a Brahman youth whom he had met at the house of his employer; and the +brother likewise had betrothed his sister to a fellow student at the +place where he had gone to read. + +After some days father and son came home, accompanied by these two +suitors, and in the house a third was already seated. The name of the +first was Tribikram, of the second Baman, and of the third Madhusadan. +The three were equal in mind and body, in knowledge, and in age. + +Then the father, looking upon them, said to himself, “Ho! there is one +bride and three bridegrooms; to whom shall I give, and to whom shall +I not give? We three have pledged our word to these three. A strange +circumstance has occurred; what must we do?” + +He then proposed to them a trial of wisdom, and made them agree that he +who should quote the most excellent saying of the wise should become his +daughter’s husband. + +Quoth Tribikram: “Courage is tried in war; integrity in the payment of +debt and interest; friendship in distress; and the faithfulness of a +wife in the day of poverty.” + +Baman proceeded: “That woman is destitute of virtue who in her father’s +house is not in subjection, who wanders to feasts and amusements, who +throws off her veil in the presence of men, who remains as a guest +in the houses of strangers, who is much devoted to sleep, who drinks +inebriating beverages, and who delights in distance from her husband.” + +“Let none,” pursued Madhusadan, “confide in the sea, nor in whatever has +claws or horns, or who carries deadly weapons; neither in a woman, nor +in a king.” + +Whilst the Brahman was doubting which to prefer, and rather inclining +to the latter sentiment, a serpent bit the beautiful girl, and in a few +hours she died. + +Stunned by this awful sudden death, the father and the three suitors +sat for a time motionless. They then arose, used great exertions, +and brought all kinds of sorcerers, wise men and women who charm away +poisons by incantations. These having seen the girl said, “She cannot +return to life.” The first declared, “A person always dies who has been +bitten by a snake on the fifth, sixth, eighth, ninth, and fourteenth +days of the lunar month.” The second asserted, “One who has been bitten +on a Saturday or a Tuesday does not survive.” The third opined, “Poison +infused during certain six lunar mansions cannot be got under.” Quoth +the fourth, “One who has been bitten in any organ of sense, the lower +lip, the cheek, the neck, or the stomach, cannot escape death.” The +fifth said, “In this case even Brahma, the Creator, could not restore +life--of what account, then, are we? Do you perform the funeral rites; +we will depart.” + +Thus saying, the sorcerers went their way. The mourning father took up +his daughter’s corpse and caused it to be burnt, in the place where dead +bodies are usually burnt, and returned to his house. + +After that the three young men said to one another, “We must now seek +happiness elsewhere. And what better can we do than obey the words of +Indra, the God of Air, who spake thus?-- + +“‘For a man who does not travel about there is no felicity, and a good +man who stays at home is a bad man. Indra is the friend of him who +travels. Travel! + +“‘A traveller’s legs are like blossoming branches, and he himself grows +and gathers the fruit. All his wrongs vanish, destroyed by his exertion +on the roadside. Travel! + +“‘The fortune of a man who sits, sits also; it rises when he rises; it +sleeps when he sleeps; it moves well when he moves. Travel! + +“‘A man who sleeps is like the Iron Age. A man who awakes is like the +Bronze Age. A man who rises up is like the Silver Age. A man who travels +is like the Golden Age. Travel! + +“‘A traveller finds honey; a traveller finds sweet figs. Look at the +happiness of the sun, who travailing never tires. Travel!”’ + +Before parting they divided the relics of the beloved one, and then they +went their way. + +Tribikram, having separated and tied up the burnt bones, became one of +the Vaisheshikas, in those days a powerful sect. He solemnly forswore +the eight great crimes, namely: feeding at night; slaying any animal; +eating the fruit of trees that give milk, or pumpkins or young bamboos: +tasting honey or flesh; plundering the wealth of others; taking by force +a married woman; eating flowers, butter, or cheese; and worshipping the +gods of other religions. He learned that the highest act of virtue is +to abstain from doing injury to sentient creatures; that crime does not +justify the destruction of life; and that kings, as the administrators +of criminal justice, are the greatest of sinners. He professed the five +vows of total abstinence from falsehood, eating flesh or fish, theft, +drinking spirits, and marriage. He bound himself to possess nothing +beyond a white loin-cloth, a towel to wipe the mouth, a beggar’s dish, +and a brush of woollen threads to sweep the ground for fear of treading +on insects. And he was ordered to fear secular affairs; the miseries of +a future state; the receiving from others more than the food of a day +at once; all accidents; provisions, if connected with the destruction +of animal life; death and disgrace; also to please all, and to obtain +compassion from all. + +He attempted to banish his love. He said to himself, “Surely it was +owing only to my pride and selfishness that I ever looked upon a woman +as capable of affording happiness; and I thought, ‘Ah! ah! thine eyes +roll about like the tail of the water-wagtail, thy lips resemble the +ripe fruit, thy bosom is like the lotus bud, thy form is resplendent as +gold melted in a crucible, the moon wanes through desire to imitate the +shadow of thy face, thou resemblest the pleasure-house of Cupid; the +happiness of all time is concentrated in thee; a touch from thee would +surely give life to a dead image; at thy approach a living admirer would +be changed by joy into a lifeless stone; obtaining thee I can face all +the horrors of war; and were I pierced by showers of arrows, one glance +of thee would heal all my wounds.’ + +“My mind is now averted from the world. Seeing her I say, ‘Is this the +form by which men are bewitched? This is a basket covered with skin; it +contains bones, flesh, blood, and impurities. The stupid creature who +is captivated by this--is there a cannibal feeding in Currim a greater +cannibal than he? These persons call a thing made up of impure matter a +face, and drink its charms as a drunkard swallows the inebriating liquor +from his cup. The blind, infatuated beings! Why should I be pleased or +displeased with this body, composed of flesh and blood? It is my duty to +seek Him who is the Lord of this body, and to disregard everything which +gives rise either to pleasure or to pain.’” + +Baman, the second suitor, tied up a bundle of his beloved one’s ashes, +and followed--somewhat prematurely--the precepts of the great lawgiver +Manu. “When the father of a family perceives his muscles becoming +flaccid, and his hair grey, and sees the child of his child, let him +then take refuge in a forest. Let him take up his consecrated fire and +all his domestic implements for making oblations to it, and, departing +from the town to the lonely wood, let him dwell in it with complete +power over his organs of sense and of action. With many sorts of pure +food, such as holy sages used to eat, with green herbs, roots, and +fruit, let him perform the five great sacraments, introducing them with +due ceremonies. Let him wear a black antelope-hide, or a vesture of +bark; let him bathe evening and morning; let him suffer the hair of +his head, his beard and his nails to grow continually. Let him slide +backwards and forwards on the ground; or let him stand a whole day on +tiptoe; or let him continue in motion, rising and sitting alternately; +but at sunrise, at noon, and at sunset, let him go to the waters and +bathe. In the hot season let him sit exposed to five fires, four blazing +around him, with the sun above; in the rains let him stand uncovered, +without even a mantle, where the clouds pour the heaviest showers; +in the cold season let him wear damp clothes, and let him increase by +degrees the austerity of his devotions. Then, having reposited his holy +fires, as the law directs, in his mind, let him live without external +fire, without a mansion, wholly silent, feeding on roots and fruit.” + +Meanwhile Madhusadan the third, having taken a wallet and neckband, +became a Jogi, and began to wander far and wide, living on nothing but +chaff, and practicing his devotions. In order to see Brahma he attended +to the following duties; 1. Hearing; 2. Meditation; 3. Fixing the +Mind; 4. Absorbing the Mind. He combated the three evils, restlessness, +injuriousness, voluptuousness by settling the Deity in his spirit, by +subjecting his senses, and by destroying desire. Thus he would do away +with the illusion (Maya) which conceals all true knowledge. He repeated +the name of the Deity till it appeared to him in the form of a Dry +Light or glory. Though connected with the affairs of life, that is, with +affairs belonging to a body containing blood, bones, and impurities; to +organs which are blind, palsied, and full of weakness and error; to +a mind filled with thirst, hunger, sorrow, infatuation; to confirmed +habits, and to the fruits of former births: still he strove not to view +these things as realities. He made a companion of a dog, honouring it +with his own food, so as the better to think on spirit. He practiced all +the five operations connected with the vital air, or air collected in +the body. He attended much to Pranayama, or the gradual suppression of +breathing, and he secured fixedness of mind as follows. By placing his +sight and thoughts on the tip of his nose he perceived smell; on the +tip of his tongue he realized taste, on the root of his tongue he knew +sound, and so forth. He practiced the eighty-four Asana or postures, +raising his hand to the wonders of the heavens, till he felt no longer +the inconveniences of heat or cold, hunger or thirst. He particularly +preferred the Padma or lotus-posture, which consists of bringing the +feet to the sides, holding the right in the left hand and the left +in the right. In the work of suppressing his breath he permitted its +respiration to reach at furthest twelve fingers’ breadth, and gradually +diminished the distance from his nostrils till he could confine it to +the length of twelve fingers from his nose, and even after restraining +it for some time he would draw it from no greater distance than from +his heart. As respects time, he began by retaining inspiration for +twenty-six seconds, and he enlarged this period gradually till he became +perfect. He sat cross-legged, closing with his fingers all the avenues +of inspiration, and he practiced Prityahara, or the power of restraining +the members of the body and mind, with meditation and concentration, to +which there are four enemies, viz., a sleepy heart, human passions, a +confused mind, and attachment to anything but the one Brahma. He also +cultivated Yama, that is, inoffensiveness, truth, honesty, the forsaking +of all evil in the world, and the refusal of gifts except for sacrifice, +and Nihama, i.e., purity relative to the use of water after defilement, +pleasure in everything whether in prosperity or adversity, renouncing +food when hungry, and keeping down the body. Thus delivered from these +four enemies of the flesh, he resembled the unruffled flame of the lamp, +and by Brahmagnana, or meditating on the Deity, placing his mind on the +sun, moon, fire, or any other luminous body, or within his heart, or at +the bottom of his throat, or in the centre of his skull, he was enabled +to ascend from gross images of omnipotence to the works and the divine +wisdom of the glorious original. + +One day Madhusadan, the Jogi, went to a certain house for food, and the +householder having seen him began to say, “Be so good as to take your +food here this day!” The visitor sat down, and when the victuals were +ready, the host caused his feet and hands to be washed, and leading him +to the Chauka, or square place upon which meals are served, seated him +and sat by him. And he quoted the scripture: “No guest must be dismissed +in the evening by a housekeeper: he is sent by the returning sun, and +whether he come in fit season or unseasonably, he must not sojourn +in the house without entertainment: let me not eat any delicate food, +without asking my guest to partake of it: the satisfaction of a guest +will assuredly bring the housekeeper wealth, reputation, long life, and +a place in heaven.” + +The householder’s wife then came to serve up the food, rice and split +peas, oil, and spices, all cooked in a new earthen pot with pure +firewood. Part of the meal was served and the rest remained to be +served, when the woman’s little child began to cry aloud and to catch +hold of its mother’s dress. She endeavoured to release herself, but the +boy would not let go, and the more she coaxed the more he cried, and was +obstinate. On this the mother became angry, took up the boy and threw +him upon the fire, which instantly burnt him to ashes. + +Madhusadan, the Jogi, seeing this, rose up without eating. The master +of the house said to him, “Why eatest thou not?” He replied, “I am +‘Atithi,’ that is to say, to be entertained at your house, but how +can one eat under the roof of a person who has committed such a +Rakshasa-like (devilish) deed? Is it not said, ‘He who does not govern +his passions, lives in vain’? ‘A foolish king, a person puffed up with +riches, and a weak child, desire that which cannot be procured’? Also, +‘A king destroys his enemies, even when flying; and the touch of an +elephant, as well as the breath of a serpent, are fatal; but the wicked +destroy even while laughing’?” + +Hearing this, the householder smiled; presently he arose and went to +another part of the tenement, and brought back with him a book, treating +on Sanjivnividya, or the science of restoring the dead to life. This he +had taken from its hidden place, two beams almost touching one another +with the ends in the opposite wall. The precious volume was in single +leaves, some six inches broad by treble that length, and the paper was +stained with yellow orpiment and the juice of tamarind seeds to keep +away insects. + +The householder opened the cloth containing the book, untied the flat +boards at the top and bottom, and took out from it a charm. Having +repeated this Mantra, with many ceremonies, he at once restored the +child to life, saying, “Of all precious things, knowledge is the most +valuable; other riches may be stolen, or diminished by expenditure, but +knowledge is immortal, and the greater the expenditure the greater the +increase; it can be shared with none, and it defies the power of the +thief.” + +The Jogi, seeing this marvel, took thought in his heart, “If I could +obtain that book, I would restore my beloved to life, and give up this +course of uncomfortable postures and difficulty of breathing.” With this +resolution he sat down to his food, and remained in the house. + +At length night came, and after a time, all, having eaten supper, and +gone to their sleeping-places, lay down. The Jogi also went to rest in +one part of the house, but did not allow sleep to close his eyes. When +he thought that a fourth part of the hours of darkness had sped, and +that all were deep in slumber, then he got up very quietly, and going +into the room of the master of the house, he took down the book from the +beam-ends and went his ways. + +Madhusadan, the Jogi, went straight to the place where the beautiful +Sweet Jasmine had been burned. There he found his two rivals sitting +talking together and comparing experiences. They recognized him at once, +and cried aloud to him, “Brother! thou also hast been wandering over the +world; tell us this--hast thou learned anything which can profit us?” + He replied, “I have learned the science of restoring the dead to life”; +upon which they both exclaimed, “If thou hast really learned such +knowledge, restore our beloved to life.” + +Madhusadan proceeded to make his incantations, despite terrible sights +in the air, the cries of jackals, owls, crows, cats, asses, vultures, +dogs, and lizards, and the wrath of innumerable invisible beings, such +as messengers of Yama (Pluto), ghosts, devils, demons, imps, fiends, +devas, succubi, and others. All the three lovers drawing blood from +their own bodies, offered it to the goddess Chandi, repeating the +following incantation, “Hail! supreme delusion! Hail! goddess of the +universe! Hail! thou who fulfillest the desires of all. May I presume to +offer thee the blood of my body; and wilt thou deign to accept it, and +be propitious towards me!” + +They then made a burnt-offering of their flesh, and each one prayed, +“Grant me, O goddess! to see the maiden alive again, in proportion to +the fervency with which I present thee with mine own flesh, invoking +thee to be propitious to me. Salutation to thee again and again, under +the mysterious syllables any! any!” + +Then they made a heap of the bones and the ashes, which had been +carefully kept by Tribikram and Baman. As the Jogi Madhusadan proceeded +with his incantation, a white vapour arose from the ground, and, +gradually condensing, assumed a perispiritual form--the fluid envelope +of the soul. The three spectators felt their blood freeze as the bones +and the ashes were gradually absorbed into the before shadowy shape, and +they were restored to themselves only when the maiden Madhuvati begged +to be taken home to her mother. + +Then Kama, God of Love, blinded them, and they began fiercely to quarrel +about who should have the beautiful maid. Each wanted to be her sole +master. Tribikram declared the bones to be the great fact of the +incantation; Baman swore by the ashes; and Madhusadan laughed them both +to scorn. No one could decide the dispute; the wisest doctors were all +nonplussed; and as for the Raja--well! we do not go for wit or wisdom to +kings. I wonder if the great Raja Vikram could decide which person the +woman belonged to? + +“To Baman, the man who kept her ashes, fellow!” exclaimed the hero, not +a little offended by the free remarks of the fiend. + +“Yet,” rejoined the Baital impudently, “if Tribikram had not preserved +her bones how could she have been restored to life? And if Madhusadan +had not learned the science of restoring the dead to life how could +she have been revivified? At least, so it seems to me. But perhaps your +royal wisdom may explain.” + +“Devil!” said the king angrily, “Tribikram, who preserved her bones, by +that act placed himself in the position of her son; therefore he could +not marry her. Madhusadan, who, restoring her to life, gave her life, +was evidently a father to her; he could not, then, become her husband. +Therefore she was the wife of Baman, who had collected her ashes.” + +“I am happy to see, O king,” exclaimed the Vampire, “that in spite of my +presentiments, we are not to part company just yet. These little trips +I hold to be, like lovers’ quarrels, the prelude to closer union. With +your leave we will still practice a little suspension.” + +And so saying, the Baital again ascended the tree, and was suspended +there. + +“Would it not be better,” thought the monarch, after recapturing and +shouldering the fugitive, “for me to sit down this time and listen to +the fellow’s story? Perhaps the double exercise of walking and thinking +confuses me.” + +With this idea Vikram placed his bundle upon the ground, well tied up +with turband and waistband; then he seated himself cross-legged before +it, and bade his son do the same. + +The Vampire strongly objected to this measure, as it was contrary, he +asserted, to the covenant between him and the Raja. Vikram replied +by citing the very words of the agreement, proving that there was no +allusion to walking or sitting. + +Then the Baital became sulky, and swore that he would not utter another +word. But he, too, was bound by the chain of destiny. Presently he +opened his lips, with the normal prelude that he was about to tell a +true tale. + + + + +THE VAMPIRE’S SEVENTH STORY -- Showing the Exceeding Folly of Many Wise Fools. + + +The Baital resumed. + +Of all the learned Brahmans in the learnedest university of Gaur +(Bengal) none was so celebrated as Vishnu Swami. He could write verse as +well as prose in dead languages, not very correctly, but still, better +than all his fellows--which constituted him a distinguished writer. He +had history, theosophy, and the four Vedas of Scriptures at his fingers’ +ends, he was skilled in the argute science of Nyasa or Disputation, his +mind was a mine of Pauranic or cosmogonico-traditional lore, handed down +from the ancient fathers to the modern fathers: and he had written bulky +commentaries, exhausting all that tongue of man has to say, upon the +obscure text of some old philosopher whose works upon ethics, poetry, +and rhetoric were supposed by the sages of Gaur to contain the germs +of everything knowable. His fame went over all the country; yea, from +country to country. He was a sea of excellent qualities, the father and +mother of Brahmans, cows, and women, and the horror of loose persons, +cut-throats, courtiers, and courtesans. As a benefactor he was equal to +Karna, most liberal of heroes. In regard to truth he was equal to the +veracious king Yudhishtira. + +True, he was sometimes at a loss to spell a common word in his mother +tongue, and whilst he knew to a fingerbreadth how many palms and paces +the sun, the moon, and all the stars are distant from the earth, he +would have been puzzled to tell you where the region called Yavana[119] +lies. Whilst he could enumerate, in strict chronological succession, +every important event that happened five or six million years before he +was born, he was profoundly ignorant of those that occurred in his own +day. And once he asked a friend seriously, if a cat let loose in the +jungle would not in time become a tiger. + +Yet did all the members of alma mater Kasi, Pandits[120] as well +as students, look with awe upon Vishnu Swami’s livid cheeks, and +lack-lustre eyes, grimed hands and soiled cottons. + +Now it so happened that this wise and pious Brahmanic peer had four +sons, whom he brought up in the strictest and most serious way. They +were taught to repeat their prayers long before they understood a word +of them, and when they reached the age of four[121] they had read a +variety of hymns and spiritual songs. Then they were set to learn by +heart precepts that inculcate sacred duties, and arguments relating to +theology, abstract and concrete. + +Their father, who was also their tutor, sedulously cultivated, as all +the best works upon education advise, their implicit obedience, humble +respect, warm attachment, and the virtues and sentiments generally. He +praised them secretly and reprehended them openly, to exercise their +humility. He derided their looks, and dressed them coarsely, to preserve +them from vanity and conceit. Whenever they anticipated a “treat,” he +punctually disappointed them, to teach them self-denial. Often when he +had promised them a present, he would revoke, not break his word, in +order that discipline might have a name and habitat in his household. +And knowing by experience how much stronger than love is fear, he +frequently threatened, browbeat, and overawed them with the rod and +the tongue, with the terrors of this world, and with the horrors of the +next, that they might be kept in the right way by dread of falling into +the bottomless pits that bound it on both sides. + +At the age of six they were transferred to the Chatushpati[122] or +school. Every morning the teacher and his pupils assembled in the hut +where the different classes were called up by turns. They laboured till +noon, and were allowed only two hours, a moiety of the usual time, for +bathing, eating, sleep, and worship, which took up half the period. At +3 P.M. they resumed their labours, repeating to the tutor what they had +learned by heart, and listening to the meaning of it: this lasted till +twilight. They then worshipped, ate and drank for an hour: after which +came a return of study, repeating the day’s lessons, till 10 P.M. + +In their rare days of ease--for the learned priest, mindful of the words +of the wise, did not wish to dull them by everlasting work--they were +enjoined to disport themselves with the gravity and the decorum that +befit young Samditats, not to engage in night frolics, not to use free +jests or light expressions, not to draw pictures on the walls, not +to eat honey, flesh, and sweet substances turned acid, not to talk to +little girls at the well-side, on no account to wear sandals, carry an +umbrella, or handle a die even for love, and by no means to steal their +neighbours’ mangoes. + +As they advanced in years their attention during work time was +unremittingly directed to the Vedas. Wordly studies were almost +excluded, or to speak more correctly, whenever wordly studies were +brought upon the carpet, they were so evil entreated, that they well +nigh lost all form and feature. History became “The Annals of India on +Brahminical Principles,” opposed to the Buddhistical; geography “The +Lands of the Vedas,” none other being deemed worthy of notice; and law, +“The Institutes of Manu,” then almost obsolete, despite their exceeding +sanctity. + +But Jatu-harini[123] had evidently changed these children before they +were born; and Shani[124] must have been in the ninth mansion when they +came to light. + +Each youth as he attained the mature age of twelve was formally entered +at the University of Kasi, where, without loss of time, the first became +a gambler, the second a confirmed libertine, the third a thief, and the +fourth a high Buddhist, or in other words an utter atheist. + +Here King Vikram frowned at his son, a hint that he had better not +behave himself as the children of highly moral and religious parents +usually do. The young prince understood him, and briefly remarking that +such things were common in distinguished Brahman families, asked the +Baital what he meant by the word “Atheist.” + +Of a truth (answered the Vampire) it is most difficult to explain. The +sages assign to it three or four several meanings: first, one who denies +that the gods exist secondly, one who owns that the gods exist but +denies that they busy themselves with human affairs; and thirdly, one +who believes in the gods and in their providence, but also believes +that they are easily to be set aside. Similarly some atheists derive all +things from dead and unintelligent matter; others from matter living and +energetic but without sense or will: others from matter with forms +and qualities generable and conceptible; and others from a plastic and +methodical nature. Thus the Vishnu Swamis of the world have invested +the subject with some confusion. The simple, that is to say, the mass of +mortality, have confounded that confusion by reproachfully applying the +word atheist to those whose opinions differ materially from their own. + +But I being at present, perhaps happily for myself, a Vampire, and +having, just now, none of these human or inhuman ideas, meant simply to +say that the pious priest’s fourth son being great at second and small +in the matter of first causes, adopted to their fullest extent the +doctrines of the philosophical Buddhas.[125] Nothing according to him +exists but the five elements, earth, water, fire, air (or wind), and +vacuum, and from the last proceeded the penultimate, and so forth. With +the sage Patanjali, he held the universe to have the power of perpetual +progression.[126] He called that Matra (matter), which is an eternal +and infinite principle, beginningless and endless. Organization, +intelligence, and design, he opined, are inherent in matter as growth is +in a tree. He did not believe in soul or spirit, because it could not be +detected in the body, and because it was a departure from physiological +analogy. The idea “I am,” according to him, was not the identification +of spirit with matter, but a product of the mutation of matter in this +cloud-like, error-formed world. He believed in Substance (Sat) and +scoffed at Unsubstance (Asat). He asserted the subtlety and globularity +of atoms which are uncreate. He made mind and intellect a mere secretion +of the brain, or rather words expressing not a thing, but a state of +things. Reason was to him developed instinct, and life an element of +the atmosphere affecting certain organisms. He held good and evil to be +merely geographical and chronological expressions, and he opined that +what is called Evil is mostly an active and transitive form of Good. Law +was his great Creator of all things, but he refused a creator of law, +because such a creator would require another creator, and so on in a +quasi-interminable series up to absurdity. This reduced his law to a +manner of haphazard. To those who, arguing against it, asked him their +favourite question, How often might a man after he had jumbled a set of +letters in a bag fling them out upon the ground before they would fall +into an exact poem? he replied that the calculation was beyond his +arithmetic, but that the man had only to jumble and fling long enough +inevitably to arrive at that end. He rejected the necessity as well +as the existence of revelation, and he did not credit the miracles of +Krishna, because, according to him, nature never suspends her laws, and, +moreover, he had never seen aught supernatural. He ridiculed the idea +of Mahapralaya, or the great destruction, for as the world had +no beginning, so it will have no end. He objected to absorption, +facetiously observing with the sage Jamadagni, that it was pleasant +to eat sweetmeats, but that for his part he did not wish to become +the sweetmeat itself. He would not believe that Vishnu had formed the +universe out of the wax in his ears. He positively asserted that trees +are not bodies in which the consequences of merit and demerit are +received. Nor would he conclude that to men were attached rewards +and punishments from all eternity. He made light of the Sanskara, +or sacrament. He admitted Satwa, Raja, and Tama,[127] but only as +properties of matter. He acknowledged gross matter (Sthulasharir), and +atomic matter (Shukshma-sharir), but not Linga-sharir, or the archetype +of bodies. To doubt all things was the foundation of his theory, and to +scoff at all who would not doubt was the corner-stone of his practice. +In debate he preferred logical and mathematical grounds, requiring a +categorical “because” in answer to his “why?” He was full of morality +and natural religion, which some say is no religion at all. He gained +the name of atheist by declaring with Gotama that there are innumerable +worlds, that the earth has nothing beneath it but the circumambient +air, and that the core of the globe is incandescent. And he was called a +practical atheist--a worse form apparently--for supporting the following +dogma: “that though creation may attest that a creator has been, it +supplies no evidence to prove that a creator still exists.” On which +occasion, Shiromani, a nonplussed theologian, asked him, “By whom and +for what purpose werst thou sent on earth?” The youth scoffed at the +word “sent,” and replied, “Not being thy Supreme Intelligence, or +Infinite Nihility, I am unable to explain the phenomenon.” Upon which he +quoted-- + + How sunk in darkness Gaur must be + Whose guide is blind Shiromani! + +At length it so happened that the four young men, having frequently been +surprised in flagrant delict, were summoned to the dread presence of the +university Gurus,[128] who addressed them as follows:-- + +“There are four different characters in the world: he who perfectly +obeys the commands; he who practices the commands, but follows evil; he +who does neither good nor evil; and he who does nothing but evil. The +third character, it is observed, is also an offender, for he neglects +that which he ought to observe. But ye all belong to the fourth +category.” + +Then turning to the elder they said: + +“In works written upon the subject of government it is advised, ‘Cut off +the gambler’s nose and ears, hold up his name to public contempt, and +drive him out of the country, that he may thus become an example to +others. For they who play must more often lose than win; and losing, +they must either pay or not pay. In the latter case they forfeit caste, +in the former they utterly reduce themselves. And though a gambler’s +wife and children are in the house, do not consider them to be so, since +it is not known when they will be lost.[129] Thus he is left in a state +of perfect not-twoness (solitude), and he will be reborn in hell.’ O +young man! thou hast set a bad example to others, therefore shalt thou +immediately exchange this university for a country life.” + +Then they spoke to the second offender thus:---- + +“The wise shun woman, who can fascinate a man in the twinkling of an +eye; but the foolish, conceiving an affection for her, forfeit in +the pursuit of pleasure their truthfulness, reputation, and good +disposition, their way of life and mode of thought, their vows and +their religion. And to such the advice of their spiritual teachers comes +amiss, whilst they make others as bad as themselves. For it is said, +‘He who has lost all sense of shame, fears not to disgrace another; +‘and there is the proverb, ‘A wild cat that devours its own young is not +likely to let a rat escape;’ therefore must thou too, O young man! quit +this seat of learning with all possible expedition.” + +The young man proceeded to justify himself by quotations from the +Lila-shastra, his text-book, by citing such lines as-- + + Fortune favours folly and force, + +and by advising the elderly professors to improve their skill in the +peace and war of love. But they drove him out with execrations. + +As sagely and as solemnly did the Pandits and the Gurus reprove the +thief and the atheist, but they did not dispense the words of wisdom +in equal proportions. They warned the former that petty larceny is +punishable with fine, theft on a larger scale with mutilation of the +hand, and robbery, when detected in the act, with loss of life[130]; +that for cutting purses, or for snatching them out of a man’s +waistcloth,[131] ‘the first penalty is chopping off the fingers, the +second is the loss of the hand, and the third is death. Then they call +him a dishonour to the college, and they said, “Thou art as a woman, +the greatest of plunderers; other robbers purloin property which is +worthless, thou stealest the best; they plunder in the night, thou in +the day,” and so forth. They told him that he was a fellow who had read +his Chauriya Vidya to more purpose then his ritual.[132] And they drove +him from the door as he in his shamelessness began to quote texts about +the four approved ways of housebreaking, namely, picking out burnt +bricks, cutting through unbaked bricks, throwing water on a mud wall, +and boring one of wood with a centre-bit. + +But they spent six mortal hours in convicting the atheist, whose +abominations they refuted by every possible argumentation: by inference, +by comparison, and by sounds, by Sruti and Smriti, i.e., revelational +and traditional, rational and evidential, physical and metaphysical, +analytical and synthetical, philosophical and philological, historical, +and so forth. But they found all their endeavours vain. “For,” it is +said, “a man who has lost all shame, who can talk without sense, and who +tries to cheat his opponent, will never get tired, and will never be put +down.” He declared that a non-ad was far more probable than a monad (the +active principle), or the duad (the passive principle or matter.) He +compared their faith with a bubble in the water, of which we can never +predicate that it does exist or it does not. It is, he said, unreal, as +when the thirsty mistakes the meadow mist for a pool of water. He proved +the eternity of sound.[133] He impudently recounted and justified all +the villanies of the Vamachari or left-handed sects. He told them that +they had taken up an ass’s load of religion, and had better apply to +honest industry. He fell foul of the gods; accused Yama of kicking his +own mother, Indra of tempting the wife of his spiritual guide, and Shiva +of associating with low women. Thus, he said, no one can respect them. +Do not we say when it thunders awfully, “the rascally gods are dying!” + And when it is too wet, “these villain gods are sending too much +rain”? Briefly, the young Brahman replied to and harangued them all so +impertinently, if not pertinently, that they, waxing angry, fell upon +him with their staves, and drove him out of assembly. + +Then the four thriftless youths returned home to their father, who +in his just indignation had urged their disgrace upon the Pandits and +Gurus, otherwise these dignitaries would never have resorted to such +extreme measures with so distinguished a house. He took the opportunity +of turning them out upon the world, until such time as they might be +able to show substantial signs of reform. “For,” he said, “those who +have read science in their boyhood, and who in youth, agitated by evil +passions, have remained in the insolence of ignorance, feel regret in +their old age, and are consumed by the fire of avarice.” In order +to supply them with a motive for the task proposed, he stopped their +monthly allowance But he added, if they would repair to the neighbouring +university of Jayasthal, and there show themselves something better +than a disgrace to their family, he would direct their maternal uncle to +supply them with all the necessaries of food and raiment. + +In vain the youths attempted, with sighs and tears and threats of +suicide, to soften the paternal heart. He was inexorable, for two +reasons. In the first place, after wondering away the wonder with which +he regarded his own failure, he felt that a stigma now attached to +the name of the pious and learned Vishnu Swami, whose lectures upon +“Management during Teens,” and whose “Brahman Young Man’s Own Book,” + had become standard works. Secondly, from a sense of duty, he determined +to omit nothing that might tend to reclaim the reprobates. As regards +the monthly allowance being stopped, the reverend man had become every +year a little fonder of his purse; he had hoped that his sons would have +qualified themselves to take pupils, and thus achieve for themselves, as +he phrased it, “A genteel independence”; whilst they openly derided the +career, calling it “an admirable provision for the more indigent members +of the middle classes.” For which reason he referred them to their +maternal uncle, a man of known and remarkable penuriousness. + +The four ne’er-do-weals, foreseeing what awaited them at Jayasthal, +deferred it as a last resource; determining first to see a little life, +and to push their way in the world, before condemning themselves to the +tribulations of reform. + +They tried to live without a monthly allowance, and notably they failed; +it was squeezing, as men say, oil from sand. The gambler, having no +capital, and, worse still, no credit, lost two or three suvernas[134] +at play, and could not pay them; in consequence of which he was soundly +beaten with iron-shod staves, and was nearly compelled by the keeper +of the hell to sell himself into slavery. Thus he became disgusted; and +telling his brethren that they would find him at Jayasthal, he departed, +with the intention of studying wisdom. + +A month afterwards came the libertine’s turn to be disappointed. He +could no longer afford fine new clothes; even a well-washed coat was +beyond his means. He had reckoned upon his handsome face, and he had +matured a plan for laying various elderly conquests under contribution. +Judge, therefore, his disgust when all the women--high and low, rich +and poor, old and young, ugly and beautiful--seeing the end of his +waistcloth thrown empty over his shoulder, passed him in the streets +without even deigning a look. The very shopkeepers’ wives, who once had +adored his mustachio and had never ceased talking of his “elegant” gait, +despised him; and the wealthy old person who formerly supplied his small +feet with the choicest slippers, left him to starve. Upon which he also +in a state of repentance, followed his brother to acquire knowledge. + +“Am I not,” quoth the thief to himself, “a cat in climbing, a deer +in running, a snake in twisting, a hawk in pouncing, a dog in +scenting?--keen as a hare, tenacious as a wolf, strong as a lion?--a +lamp in the night, a horse on a plain, a mule on a stony path, a boat in +the water, a rock on land[135]?” The reply to his own questions was +of course affirmative. But despite all these fine qualities, +and notwithstanding his scrupulous strictness in invocating the +house-breaking tool and in devoting a due portion of his gains to the +gods of plunder,[136] he was caught in a store-room by the proprietor, +who inexorably handed him over to justice. As he belonged to the +priestly caste,[137] the fine imposed upon him was heavy. He could not +pay it, and therefore he was thrown into a dungeon, where he remained +for some time. But at last he escaped from jail, when he made his +parting bow to Kartikeya,[138] stole a blanket from one of the guards, +and set out for Jayasthal, cursing his old profession. + +The atheist also found himself in a position that deprived him of +all his pleasures. He delighted in afterdinner controversies, and in +bringing the light troops of his wit to bear upon the unwieldy masses of +lore and logic opposed to him by polemical Brahmans who, out of respect +for his father, did not lay an action against him for overpowering them +in theological disputation.[139] In the strange city to which he had +removed no one knew the son of Vishnu Swami, and no one cared to invite +him to the house. Once he attempted his usual trick upon a knot of +sages who, sitting round a tank, were recreating themselves with quoting +mystical Sanskrit shlokas[140] of abominable long-windedness. The result +was his being obliged to ply his heels vigorously in flight from the +justly incensed literati, to whom he had said “tush” and “pish,” at +least a dozen times in as many minutes. He therefore also followed the +example of his brethren, and started for Jayasthal with all possible +expedition. + +Arrived at the house of their maternal uncle, the young men, as by one +assent, began to attempt the unloosening of his purse-strings. Signally +failing in this and in other notable schemes, they determined to lay in +that stock of facts and useful knowledge which might reconcile them with +their father, and restore them to that happy life at Gaur which they +then despised, and which now brought tears into their eyes. + +Then they debated with one another what they should study + + * * * * * * * + +That branch of the preternatural, popularly called “white magic,” found +with them favour. + + * * * * * * * + +They chose a Guru or teacher strictly according to the orders of their +faith, a wise man of honourable family and affable demeanour, who was +not a glutton nor leprous, nor blind of one eye, nor blind of both +eyes, nor very short, nor suffering from whitlows,[141] asthma, or other +disease, nor noisy and talkative, nor with any defect about the fingers +and toes, nor subject to his wife. + + * * * * * * * + +A grand discovery had been lately made by a certain +physiologico-philosophico-psychologico-materialist, a Jayasthalian. In +investigating the vestiges of creation, the cause of causes, the effect +of effects, and the original origin of that Matra (matter) which some +regard as an entity, others as a non-entity, others self-existent, +others merely specious and therefore unexistent, he became convinced +that the fundamental form of organic being is a globule having another +globule within itself After inhabiting a garret and diving into the +depths of his self-consciousness for a few score years, he was able to +produce such complex globule in triturated and roasted flint by means +of--I will not say what. Happily for creation in general, the discovery +died a natural death some centuries ago. An edifying spectacle, indeed, +for the world to see; a cross old man sitting amongst his gallipots and +crucibles, creating animalculae, providing the corpses of birds, +beasts, and fishes with what is vulgarly called life, and supplying to +epigenesis all the latest improvements! + +In those days the invention, being a novelty, engrossed the thoughts of +the universal learned, who were in a fever of excitement about it. Some +believed in it so implicity that they saw in every experiment a +hundred things which they did not see. Others were so sceptical and +contradictory that they would not preceive what they did see. Those +blended with each fact their own deductions, whilst these span round +every reality the web of their own prejudices. Curious to say, the +Jayasthalians, amongst whom the luminous science arose, hailed it with +delight, whilst the Gaurians derided its claim to be considered an +important addition to human knowledge. + +Let me try to remember a few of their words. + +“Unfortunate human nature,” wrote the wise of Gaur against the wise +of Jayasthal, “wanted no crowning indignity but this! You had already +proved that the body is made of the basest element--earth. You had +argued away the immovability, the ubiquity, the permanency, the +eternity, and the divinity of the soul, for is not your favourite axiom, +‘It is the nature of limbs which thinketh in man’? The immortal mind is, +according to you, an ignoble viscus; the god-like gift of reason is the +instinct of a dog somewhat highly developed. Still you left us something +to hope. Still you allowed us one boast. Still life was a thread +connecting us with the Giver of Life. But now, with an impious hand, +in blasphemous rage ye have rent asunder that last frail tie.” And so +forth. + +“Welcome! thrice welcome! this latest and most admirable development of +human wisdom,” wrote the sage Jayasthalians against the sage Gaurians, +“which has assigned to man his proper state and status and station in +the magnificent scale of being. We have not created the facts which +we have investigated, and which we now proudly publish. We have proved +materialism to be nature’s own system. But our philosophy of matter +cannot overturn any truth, because, if erroneous, it will necessarily +sink into oblivion; if real, it will tend only to instruct and to +enlighten the world. Wise are ye in your generation, O ye sages of Gaur, +yet withal wondrous illogical.” And much of this kind. + +Concerning all which, mighty king! I, as a Vampire, have only to +remark that those two learned bodies, like your Rajaship’s Nine Gems +of Science, were in the habit of talking most about what they least +understood. + +The four young men applied the whole force of their talents to mastering +the difficulties of the life-giving process; and in due time, their +industry obtained its reward. + +Then they determined to return home. As with beating hearts they +approached the old city, their birthplace, and gazed with moistened eyes +upon its tall spires and grim pagodas, its verdant meads and venerable +groves, they saw a Kanjar,[142] who, having tied up in a bundle the skin +and bones of a tiger which he had found dead, was about to go on his +way. Then said the thief to the gambler, “Take we these remains with us, +and by means of them prove the truth of our science before the people +of Gaur, to the offence of their noses.[143]” Being now possessed of +knowledge, they resolved to apply it to its proper purpose, namely, +power over the property of others. Accordingly, the wencher, the +gambler, and the atheist kept the Kanjar in conversation whilst the +thief vivified a shank bone; and the bone thereupon stood upright, and +hopped about in so grotesque and wonderful a way that the man, being +frightened, fled as if I had been close behind him. + +Vishnu Swami had lately written a very learned commentary on the +mystical words of Lokakshi: + +“The Scriptures are at variance--the tradition is at variance. He who +gives a meaning of his own, quoting the Vedas, is no philosopher. + +“True philosophy, through ignorance, is concealed as in the fissures of +a rock. + +“But the way of the Great One--that is to be followed.” + +And the success of his book had quite effaced from the Brahman mind the +holy man’s failure in bringing up his children. He followed up this by +adding to his essay on education a twentieth tome, containing recipes +for the “Reformation of Prodigals.” + +The learned and reverend father received his sons with open arms. He had +heard from his brother-in-law that the youths were qualified to +support themselves, and when informed that they wished to make a public +experiment of their science, he exerted himself, despite his disbelief +in it, to forward their views. + +The Pandits and Gurus were long before they would consent to attend what +they considered dealings with Yama (the Devil). In consequence, however, +of Vishnu Swami’s name and importunity, at length, on a certain day, +all the pious, learned, and reverend tutors, teachers, professors, +prolocutors, pastors, spiritual fathers, poets, philosophers, +mathematicians, schoolmasters, pedagogues, bear-leaders, institutors, +gerund-grinders, preceptors, dominies, brushers, coryphaei, dry-nurses, +coaches, mentors, monitors, lecturers, prelectors, fellows, and heads of +houses at the university at Gaur, met together in a large garden, +where they usually diverted themselves out of hours with ball-tossing, +pigeon-tumbling, and kite-flying. + +Presently the four young men, carrying their bundle of bones and the +other requisites, stepped forward, walking slowly with eyes downcast, +like shrinking cattle: for it is said, the Brahman must not run, even +when it rains. + +After pronouncing an impromptu speech, composed for them by their +father, and so stuffed with erudition that even the writer hardly +understood it, they announced their wish to prove, by ocular +demonstration, the truth of a science upon which their short-sighted +rivals of Jayasthal had cast cold water, but which, they remarked in the +eloquent peroration of their discourse, the sages of Gaur had +welcomed with that wise and catholic spirit of inquiry which had ever +characterized their distinguished body. + +Huge words, involved sentences, and the high-flown compliment, +exceedingly undeserved, obscured, I suppose, the bright wits of the +intellectual convocation, which really began to think that their +liberality of opinion deserved all praise. + +None objected to what was being prepared, except one of the heads of +houses; his appeal was generally scouted, because his Sanskrit style was +vulgarly intelligible, and he had the bad name of being a practical man. +The metaphysician Rashik Lall sneered to Vaiswata the poet, who passed +on the look to the theo-philosopher Vardhaman. Haridatt the antiquarian +whispered the metaphysician Vasudeva, who burst into a loud laugh; +whilst Narayan, Jagasharma, and Devaswami, all very learned in +the Vedas, opened their eyes and stared at him with well-simulated +astonishment. So he, being offended, said nothing more, but arose and +walked home. + +A great crowd gathered round the four young men and their father, as +opening the bundle that contained the tiger’s remains, they prepared for +their task. + +One of the operators spread the bones upon the ground and fixed each one +into its proper socket, not forgetting even the teeth and tusks. + +The second connected, by means of a marvellous unguent, the skeleton +with the muscles and heart of an elephant, which he had procured for the +purpose. + +The third drew from his pouch the brain and eyes of a large tom-cat, +which he carefully fitted into the animal’s skull, and then covered the +body with the hide of a young rhinoceros. + +Then the fourth--the atheist--who had been directing the operation, +produced a globule having another globule within itself. And as the +crowd pressed on them, craning their necks, breathless with anxiety, +he placed the Principle of Organic Life in the tiger’s body with such +effect that the monster immediately heaved its chest, breathed, agitated +its limbs, opened its eyes, jumped to its feet, shook itself, glared +around, and began to gnash its teeth and lick its chops, lashing the +while its ribs with its tail. + +The sages sprang back, and the beast sprang forward. With a roar like +thunder during Elephanta-time,[144] it flew at the nearest of the +spectators, flung Vishnu Swami to the ground and clawed his four sons. +Then, not even stopping to drink their blood, it hurried after the +flying herd of wise men. Jostling and tumbling, stumbling and catching +at one another’s long robes, they rushed in hottest haste towards the +garden gate. But the beast, having the muscles of an elephant as well as +the bones of a tiger, made a few bounds of eighty or ninety feet each, +easily distanced them, and took away all chance of escape. To be brief: +as the monster was frightfully hungry after its long fast, and as +the imprudent young men had furnished it with admirable implements of +destruction, it did not cease its work till one hundred and twenty-one +learned and highly distinguished Pandits and Gurus lay upon the ground +chawed, clawed, sucked dry, and in most cases stone-dead. Amongst them, +I need hardly say, were the sage Vishnu Swami and his four sons. + +Having told this story the Vampire hung silent for a time. Presently he +resumed-- + +“Now, heed my words, Raja Vikram! I am about to ask thee, Which of +all those learned men was the most finished fool? The answer is easily +found, yet it must be distasteful to thee. Therefore mortify thy vanity, +as soon as possible, or I shall be talking, and thou wilt be walking +through this livelong night, to scanty purpose. Remember! science +without understanding is of little use; indeed, understanding is +superior to science, and those devoid of understanding perish as did the +persons who revivified the tiger. Before this, I warned thee to beware +of thyself, and of thine own conceit. Here, then, is an opportunity for +self-discipline--which of all those learned men was the greatest fool?” + +The warrior king mistook the kind of mortification imposed upon him, and +pondered over the uncomfortable nature of the reply--in the presence of +his son. + +Again the Baital taunted him. + +“The greatest fool of all,” at last said Vikram, in slow and by no means +willing accents, “was the father. Is it not said, ‘There is no fool like +an old fool’?” + +“Gramercy!” cried the Vampire, bursting out into a discordant laugh, “I +now return to my tree. By this head! I never before heard a father so +readily condemn a father.” With these words he disappeared, slipping out +of the bundle. + +The Raja scolded his son a little for want of obedience, and said that +he had always thought more highly of his acuteness--never could have +believed that he would have been taken in by so shallow a trick. Dharma +Dhwaj answered not a word to this, but promised to be wiser another +time. + +Then they returned to the tree, and did what they had so often done +before. + +And, as before, the Baital held his tongue for a time. Presently he +began as follows. + + + + +THE VAMPIRE’S EIGHTH STORY -- Of the Use and Misuse of Magic Pills. + + +The lady Chandraprabha, daughter of the Raja Subichar, was a +particularly beautiful girl, and marriage-able withal. One day as +Vasanta, the Spring, began to assert its reign over the world, animate +and inanimate, she went accompanied by her young friends and companions +to stroll about her father’s pleasure-garden. + +The fair troop wandered through sombre groves, where the dark +tamale-tree entwined its branches with the pale green foliage of the +nim, and the pippal’s domes of quivering leaves contrasted with the +columnar aisles of the banyan fig. They admired the old monarchs of the +forest, bearded to the waist with hangings of moss, the flowing creepers +delicately climbing from the lower branches to the topmost shoots, and +the cordage of llianas stretching from trunk to trunk like bridges for +the monkeys to pass over. Then they issued into a clear space dotted +with asokas bearing rich crimson flowers, cliterias of azure blue, +madhavis exhibiting petals virgin white as the snows on Himalaya, and +jasmines raining showers of perfumed blossoms upon the grateful earth. +They could not sufficiently praise the tall and graceful stem of the +arrowy areca, contrasting with the solid pyramid of the cypress, and the +more masculine stature of the palm. Now they lingered in the trellised +walks closely covered over with vines and creepers; then they stopped to +gather the golden bloom weighing down the mango boughs, and to smell +the highly-scented flowers that hung from the green fretwork of the +chambela. + +It was spring, I have said. The air was still except when broken by the +hum of the large black bramra bee, as he plied his task amidst the red +and orange flowers of the dak, and by the gushings of many waters that +made music as they coursed down their stuccoed channels between borders +of many coloured poppies and beds of various flowers. From time to +time the dulcet note of the kokila bird, and the hoarse plaint of +the turtle-dove deep hid in her leafy bower, attracted every ear and +thrilled every heart. The south wind--“breeze of the south,[145] the +friend of love and spring” blew with a voluptuous warmth, for rain +clouds canopied the earth, and the breath of the narcissus, the rose, +and the citron, teemed with a languid fragrance. + +The charms of the season affected all the damsels. They amused +themselves in their privacy with pelting blossoms at one another, +running races down the smooth broad alleys, mounting the silken swings +that hung between the orange trees, embracing one another, and at times +trying to push the butt of the party into the fishpond. Perhaps the +liveliest of all was the lady Chandraprabha, who on account of her rank +could pelt and push all the others, without fear of being pelted and +pushed in return. + +It so happened, before the attendants had had time to secure privacy +for the princess and her women, that Manaswi, a very handsome youth, a +Brahman’s son, had wandered without malicious intention into the garden. +Fatigued with walking, and finding a cool shady place beneath a tree, he +had lain down there, and had gone to sleep, and had not been observed +by any of the king’s people. He was still sleeping when the princess and +her companions were playing together. + +Presently Chandraprabha, weary of sport, left her friends, and singing +a lively air, tripped up the stairs leading to the summer-house. +Aroused by the sound of her advancing footsteps, Manaswi sat up; and +the princess, seeing a strange man, started. But their eyes had met, and +both were subdued by love--love vulgarly called “love at first sight.” + +“Nonsense!” exclaimed the warrior king, testily, “I can never believe in +that freak of Kama Deva.” He spoke feelingly, for the thing had happened +to himself more than once, and on no occasion had it turned out well. + +“But there is such a thing, O Raja, as love at first sight,” objected +the Baital, speaking dogmatically. + +“Then perhaps thou canst account for it, dead one,” growled the monarch +surlily. + +“I have no reason to do so, O Vikram,” retorted the Vampire, “when you +men have already done it. Listen, then, to the words of the wise. In the +olden time, one of your great philosophers invented a fluid pervading +all matter, strongly self-repulsive like the steam of a brass pot, and +widely spreading like the breath of scandal. The repulsiveness, however, +according to that wise man, is greatly modified by its second property, +namely, an energetic attraction or adhesion to all material bodies. Thus +every substance contains a part, more or less, of this fluid, pervading +it throughout, and strongly bound to each component atom. He called +it ‘Ambericity,’ for the best of reasons, as it has no connection with +amber, and he described it as an imponderable, which, meaning that it +could not be weighed, gives a very accurate and satisfactory idea of its +nature. + +“Now, said that philosopher, whenever two bodies containing that +unweighable substance in unequal proportions happen to meet, a current +of imponderable passes from one to the other, producing a kind +of attraction, and tending to adhere. The operation takes place +instantaneously when the force is strong and much condensed. Thus the +vulgar who call things after their effects and not from their causes, +term the action of this imponderable love at first sight; the wise +define it to be a phenomenon of ambericity. As regards my own opinion +about the matter, I have long ago told it to you, O Vikram! Silliness--” + +“Either hold your tongue, fellow, or go on with your story,” cried the +Raja, wearied out by so many words that had no manner of sense. + +Well! the effect of the first glance was that Manaswi, the Brahman’s +son, fell back in a swoon and remained senseless upon the ground where +he had been sitting; and the Raja’s daughter began to tremble upon +her feet, and presently dropped unconscious upon the floor of the +summer-house. Shortly after this she was found by her companions and +attendants, who, quickly taking her up in their arms and supporting her +into a litter, conveyed her home. + +Manaswi, the Brahman’s son, was so completely overcome, that he lay +there dead to everything. Just then the learned, deeply read, and +purblind Pandits Muldev and Shashi by name, strayed into the garden, and +stumbled upon the body. + +“Friend,” said Muldev, “how came this youth thus to fall senseless on +the ground?” + +“Man,” replied Shashi, “doubtless some damsel has shot forth the arrows +of her glances from the bow of her eyebrows, and thence he has become +insensible!” + +“We must lift him up then,” said Muldev the benevolent. + +“What need is there to raise him?” asked Shashi the misanthrope by way +of reply. + +Muldev, however, would not listen to these words. He ran to the pond +hard by, soaked the end of his waistcloth in water, sprinkled it over +the young Brahman, raised him from the ground, and placed him sitting +against the wall. And perceiving, when he came to himself, that his +sickness was rather of the soul than of the body, the old men asked him +how he came to be in that plight. + +“We should tell our griefs,” answered Manaswi, “only to those who will +relieve us! What is the use of communicating them to those who, when +they have heard, cannot help us? What is to be gained by the empty pity +or by the useless condolence of men in general?” + +The Pandits, however, by friendly looks and words, presently persuaded +him to break silence, when he said, “A certain princess entered this +summer-house, and from the sight of her I have fallen into this state. +If I can obtain her, I shall live; if not, I must die.” + +“Come with me, young man!” said Muldev the benevolent: “I will use +every endeavour to obtain her, and if I do not succeed I will make thee +wealthy and independent of the world.” + +Manaswi rejoined: “The Deity in his beneficence has created many jewels +in this world, but the pearl, woman, is chiefest of all; and for +her sake only does man desire wealth. What are riches to one who has +abandoned his wife? What are they who do not possess beautiful wives? +they are but beings inferior to the beasts! wealth is the fruit of +virtue; ease, of wealth; a wife, of ease. And where no wife is, how can +there be happiness?” And the enamoured youth rambled on in this way, +curious to us, Raja Vikram, but perhaps natural enough in a Brahman’s +son suffering under that endemic malady--determination to marry. + +“Whatever thou mayest desire,” said Muldev, “shall by the blessing of +heaven be given to thee.” + +Manaswi implored him, saying most pathetically, “O Pandit, bestow then +that damsel upon me!” + +Muldev promised to do so, and having comforted the youth, led him to his +own house. Then he welcomed him politely, seated him upon the carpet, +and left him for a few minutes, promising him to return. When he +reappeared, he held in his hand two little balls or pills, and showing +them to Manaswi, he explained their virtues as follows: + +“There is in our house an hereditary secret, by means of which I try to +promote the weal of humanity. But in all cases my success depends mainly +upon the purity and the heartwholeness of those that seek my aid. If +thou place this in thy mouth, thou shalt be changed into a damsel twelve +years old, and when thou withdrawest it again, thou shalt again recover +thine original form. Beware, however, that thou use the power for none +but a good purpose; otherwise some great calamity will befall thee. +Therefore, take counsel of thyself before undertaking this trial!” + +What lover, O warrior king Vikram, would have hesitated, under such +circumstances, to assure the Pandit that he was the most innocent, +earnest, and well-intentioned being in the Three Worlds? + +The Brahman’s son, at least, lost no time in so doing. Hence the +simple-minded philosopher put one of the pills into the young man’s +mouth, warning him on no account to swallow it, and took the other into +his own mouth. Upon which Manaswi became a sprightly young maid, and +Muldev was changed to a reverend and decrepid senior, not fewer than +eighty years old. + +Thus transformed, the twain walked up to the palace of the Raja +Subichar, and stood for a while to admire the gate. Then passing +through seven courts, beautiful as the Paradise of Indra, they entered, +unannounced, as became the priestly dignity, a hall where, surrounded by +his courtiers, sat the ruler. The latter, seeing the Holy Brahman under +his roof, rose up, made the customary humble salutation, and taking +their right hands, led what appeared to be the father and daughter to +appropriate seats. Upon which Muldev, having recited a verse, bestowed +upon the Raja a blessing whose beauty has been diffused over all +creation. + +“May that Deity[146] who as a mannikin deceived the great king Bali; who +as a hero, with a monkey-host, bridged the Salt Sea; who as a shepherd +lifted up the mountain Gobarddhan in the palm of his hand, and by it +saved the cowherds and cowherdesses from the thunders of heaven--may +that Deity be thy protector!” + +Having heard and marvelled at this display of eloquence, the Raja +inquired, “Whence hath your holiness come?” + +“My country,” replied Muldev, “is on the northern side of the great +mother Ganges, and there too my dwelling is. I travelled to a distant +land, and having found in this maiden a worthy wife for my son, I +straightway returned homewards. Meanwhile a famine had laid waste our +village, and my wife and my son have fled I know not where. Encumbered +with this damsel, how can I wander about seeking them? Hearing the name +of a pious and generous ruler, I said to myself, ‘I will leave her under +his charge until my return.’ Be pleased to take great care of her.” + +For a minute the Raja sat thoughtful and silent. He was highly pleased +with the Brahman’s perfect compliment. But he could not hide from +himself that he was placed between two difficulties: one, the charge +of a beautiful young girl, with pouting lips, soft speech, and roguish +eyes; the other, a priestly curse upon himself and his kingdom. He +thought, however, refusal the more dangerous; so he raised his face +and exclaimed, “O produce of Brahma’s head,[147] I will do what your +highness has desired of me.” + +Upon which the Brahman, after delivering a benediction of adieu almost +as beautiful and spirit-stirring as that with which he had presented +himself, took the betel[148] and went his ways. + +Then the Raja sent for his daughter Chandraprabha and said to her, “This +is the affianced bride of a young Brahman, and she has been trusted to +my protection for a time by her father-in-law. Take her therefore into +the inner rooms, treat her with the utmost regard, and never allow her +to be separated from thee, day or night, asleep or awake, eating or +drinking, at home or abroad.” + +Chandraprabha took the hand of Sita--as Manaswi had pleased to call +himself--and led the way to her own apartment. Once the seat of joy and +pleasure, the rooms now wore a desolate and melancholy look. The windows +were darkened, the attendants moved noiselessly over the carpets, as +if their footsteps would cause headache, and there was a faint scent of +some drug much used in cases of deliquium. The apartments were handsome, +but the only ornament in the room where they sat was a large bunch +of withered flowers in an arched recess, and these, though possibly +interesting to some one, were not likely to find favour as a decoration +in the eyes of everybody. + +The Raja’s daughter paid the greatest attention and talked with unusual +vivacity to the Brahman’s daughter-in-law, either because she had +roguish eyes, or from some presentiment of what was to occur, whichever +you please, Raja Vikram, and it is no matter which. Still Sita could not +help perceiving that there was a shade of sorrow upon the forehead of +her fair new friend, and so when they retired to rest she asked the +cause of it. + +Then Chandraprabha related to her the sad tale: “One day in the spring +season, as I was strolling in the garden along with my companions, +I beheld a very handsome Brahman, and our eyes having met, he became +unconscious, and I also was insensible. My companions seeing my +condition, brought me home, and therefore I know neither his name nor +his abode. His beautiful form is impressed upon my memory. I have now no +desire to eat or to drink, and from this distress my colour has become +pale and my body is thus emaciated.” And the beautiful princess sighed +a sigh that was musical and melancholy, and concluded by predicting for +herself--as persons similarly placed often do--a sudden and untimely end +about the beginning of the next month. + +“What wilt thou give me,” asked the Brahman’s daughter-in-law demurely, +“if I show thee thy beloved at this very moment?” + +The Raja’s daughter answered, “I will ever be the lowest of thy slaves, +standing before thee with joined hands.” + +Upon which Sita removed the pill from her mouth, and instantly having +become Manaswi, put it carefully away in a little bag hung round his +neck. At this sight Chandraprabha felt abashed, and hung down her head +in beautiful confusion. To describe-- + +“I will have no descriptions, Vampire!” cried the great Vikram, jerking +the bag up and down as if he were sweating gold in it. “The fewer of thy +descriptions the better for us all.” + +Briefly (resumed the demon), Manaswi reflected upon the eight forms of +marriage--viz., Bramhalagan, when a girl is given to a Brahman, or man +of superior caste, without reward; Daiva, when she is presented as +a gift or fee to the officiating priest at the close of a sacrifice; +Arsha, when two cows are received by the girl’s father in exchange for +the bride[149]; Prajapatya, when the girl is given at the request of a +Brahman, and the father says to his daughter and her to betrothed, “Go, +fulfil the duties of religion”; Asura, when money is received by the +father in exchange for the bride; Rakshasha, when she is captured in +war, or when her bridegroom overcomes his rival; Paisacha, when the +girl is taken away from her father’s house by craft; and eighthly, +Gandharva-lagan, or the marriage that takes place by mutual +consent.[150] + +Manaswi preferred the latter, especially as by her rank and age the +princess was entitled to call upon her father for the Lakshmi Swayambara +wedding, in which she would have chosen her own husband. And thus it is +that Rama, Arjuna, Krishna, Nala, and others, were proposed to by the +princesses whom they married. + +For five months after these nuptials, Manaswi never stirred out of +the palace, but remained there by day a woman, and a man by night. The +consequence was that he--I call him “he,” for whether Manaswi or Sita, +his mind ever remained masculine--presently found himself in a fair way +to become a father. + +Now, one would imagine that a change of sex every twenty-four hours +would be variety enough to satisfy even a man. Manaswi, however, was not +contented. He began to pine for more liberty, and to find fault with his +wife for not taking him out into the world. And you might have supposed +that a young person who, from love at first sight, had fallen senseless +upon the steps of a summer-house, and who had devoted herself to a +sudden and untimely end because she was separated from her lover, would +have repressed her yawns and little irritable words even for a year +after having converted him into a husband. But no! Chandraprabha soon +felt as tired of seeing Manaswi and nothing but Manaswi, as Manaswi was +weary of seeing Chandraprabha and nothing but Chandraprabha. Often she +had been on the point of proposing visits and out-of-door excursions. +But when at last the idea was first suggested by her husband, she at +once became an injured woman. She hinted how foolish it was for married +people to imprison themselves and to quarrel all day. When Manaswi +remonstrated, saying that he wanted nothing better than to appear before +the world with her as his wife, but that he really did not know what +her father might do to him, she threw out a cutting sarcasm upon his +effeminate appearance during the hours of light. She then told him of +an unfortunate young woman in an old nursery tale who had unconsciously +married a fiend that became a fine handsome man at night when no +eye could see him, and utter ugliness by day when good looks show to +advantage. And lastly, when inveighing against the changeableness, +fickleness, and infidelity of mankind, she quoted the words of the +poet-- + + Out upon change! it tires the heart + And weighs the noble spirit down; + A vain, vain world indeed thou art + That can such vile condition own + The veil hath fallen from my eyes, + I cannot love where I despise.... + +You can easily, O King Vikram, continue for yourself and conclude this +lecture, which I leave unfinished on account of its length. + +Chandraprabha and Sita, who called each other the Zodiacal Twins and +Laughter Light,[151] and All-consenters, easily persuaded the old +Raja that their health would be further improved by air, exercise, and +distractions. Subichar, being delighted with the change that had taken +place in a daughter whom he loved, and whom he had feared to lose, told +them to do as they pleased. They began a new life, in which short trips +and visits, baths and dances, music parties, drives in bullock chariots, +and water excursions succeeded one another. + +It so happened that one day the Raja went with his whole family to a +wedding feast in the house of his grand treasurer, where the latter’s +son saw Manaswi in the beautiful shape of Sita. This was a third case of +love at first sight, for the young man immediately said to a particular +friend, “If I obtain that girl, I shall live; if not, I shall abandon +life.” + +In the meantime the king, having enjoyed the feast, came back to his +palace with his whole family. The condition of the treasurer’s son, +however, became very distressing; and through separation from his +beloved, he gave up eating and drinking. The particular friend had kept +the secret for some days, though burning to tell it. At length he found +an excuse for himself in the sad state of his friend, and he immediately +went and divulged all that he knew to the treasurer. After this he felt +relieved. + +The minister repaired to the court, and laid his case before the king, +saying, “Great Raja! through the love of that Brahman’s daughter-in-law, +my son’s state is very bad; he has given up eating and drinking; in fact +he is consumed by the fire of separation. If now your majesty could show +compassion, and bestow the girl upon him, his life would be saved. If +not----” + +“Fool!” cried the Raja, who, hearing these words, had waxed very wroth; +“it is not right for kings to do injustice. Listen! when a person puts +any one in charge of a protector, how can the latter give away his trust +without consulting the person that trusted him? And yet this is what you +wish me to do.” + +The treasurer knew that the Raja could not govern his realm without +him, and he was well acquainted with his master’s character. He said +to himself, “This will not last long;” but he remained dumb, simulating +hopelessness, and hanging down his head, whilst Subichar alternately +scolded and coaxed, abused and flattered him, in order to open his lips. +Then, with tears in his eyes, he muttered a request to take leave; and +as he passed through the palace gates, he said aloud, with a resolute +air, “It will cost me but ten days of fasting!” + +The treasurer, having returned home, collected all his attendants, and +went straightway to his son’s room. Seeing the youth still stretched +upon his sleeping-mat, and very yellow for the want of food, he took his +hand, and said in a whisper, meant to be audible, “Alas! poor son, I can +do nothing but perish with thee.” + +The servants, hearing this threat, slipped one by one out of the room, +and each went to tell his friend that the grand treasurer had resolved +to live no longer. After which, they went back to the house to see if +their master intended to keep his word, and curious to know, if he did +intend to die, how, where, and when it was to be. And they were not +disappointed: I do not mean that the wished their lord to die, as he was +a good master to them but still there was an excitement in the thing---- + +(Raja Vikram could not refrain from showing his anger at the insult thus +cast by the Baital upon human nature; the wretch, however, pretending +not to notice it, went on without interrupting himself) + +----which somehow or other pleased them. + +When the treasurer had spent three days without touching bread or water, +all the cabinet council met and determined to retire from business +unless the Raja yielded to their solicitations. The treasurer was their +working man. “Besides which,” said the cabinet council, “if a certain +person gets into the habit of refusing us, what is to be the end of it, +and what is the use of being cabinet councillors any longer?” + +Early on the next morning, the ministers went in a body before the Raja, +and humbly represented that “the treasurer’s son is at the point of +death, the effect of a full heart and an empty stomach. Should he die, +the father, who has not eaten or drunk during the last three days” (the +Raja trembled to hear the intelligence, though he knew it), “his father, +we say, cannot be saved. If the father dies the affairs of the kingdom +come to ruin,--is he not the grand treasurer? It is already said +that half the accounts have been gnawed by white ants, and that some +pernicious substance in the ink has eaten jagged holes through the +paper, so that the other half of the accounts is illegible. It were +best, sire, that you agree to what we represent.” + +The white ants and corrosive ink were too strong for the Raja’s +determination. Still, wishing to save appearances, he replied, with much +firmness, that he knew the value of the treasurer and his son, that he +would do much to save them, but that he had passed his royal word, and +had undertaken a trust. That he would rather die a dozen deaths than +break his promise, or not discharge his duty faithfully. That man’s +condition in this world is to depart from it, none remaining in it; +that one comes and that one goes, none knowing when or where; but that +eternity is eternity for happiness or misery. And much of the same +nature, not very novel, and not perhaps quite to the purpose, but +edifying to those who knew what lay behind the speaker’s words. + +The ministers did not know their lord’s character so well as the grand +treasurer, and they were more impressed by his firm demeanour and the +number of his words than he wished them to be. After allowing his speech +to settle in their minds, he did away with a great part of its effect by +declaring that such were the sentiments and the principles--when a man +talks of his principles, O Vikram! ask thyself the reason why--instilled +into his youthful mind by the most honourable of fathers and the most +virtuous of mothers. At the same time that he was by no means obstinate +or proof against conviction. In token whereof he graciously permitted +the councillors to convince him that it was his royal duty to break his +word and betray his trust, and to give away another man’s wife. + +Pray do not lose your temper, O warrior king! Subichar, although a Raja, +was a weak man; and you know, or you ought to know, that the wicked may +be wise in their generation, but the weak never can. + +Well, the ministers hearing their lord’s last words, took courage, and +proceeded to work upon his mind by the figure of speech popularly called +“rigmarole.” They said: “Great king! that old Brahman has been gone +many days, and has not returned; he is probably dead and burnt. It +is therefore right that by giving to the grand treasurer’s son his +daughter-in-law, who is only affianced, not fairly married, you should +establish your government firmly. And even if he should return, bestow +villages and wealth upon him; and if he be not then content, provide +another and a more beautiful wife for his son, and dismiss him. A person +should be sacrificed for the sake of a family, a family for a city, a +city for a country, and a country for a king!” + +Subichar having heard them, dismissed them with the remark that as so +much was to be said on both sides, he must employ the night in thinking +over the matter, and that he would on the next day favour them with his +decision. The cabinet councillors knew by this that he meant that he +would go and consult his wives. They retired contented, convinced that +every voice would be in favour of a wedding, and that the young girl, +with so good an offer, would not sacrifice the present to the future. + +That evening the treasurer and his son supped together. + +The first words uttered by Raja Subichar, when he entered his daughter’s +apartment, were an order addressed to Sita: “Go thou at once to the +house of my treasurer’s son.” + +Now, as Chandraprabha and Manaswi were generally scolding each other, +Chandraprabha and Sita were hardly on speaking terms. When they heard +the Raja’s order for their separation they were-- + +--“Delighted?” cried Dharma Dhwaj, who for some reason took the greatest +interest in the narrative. + +“Overwhelmed with grief, thou most guileless Yuva Raja (young prince)!” + ejaculated the Vampire. + +Raja Vikram reproved his son for talking about thing of which he knew +nothing, and the Baital resumed. + +They turned pale and wept, and they wrung their hands, and they begged +and argued and refused obedience. In fact they did everything to make +the king revoke his order. + +“The virtue of a woman,” quoth Sita, “is destroyed through too much +beauty; the religion of a Brahman is impaired by serving kings; a cow +is spoiled by distant pasturage, wealth is lost by committing injustice, +and prosperity departs from the house where promises are not kept.” + +The Raja highly applauded the sentiment, but was firm as a rock upon the +subject of Sita marrying the treasurer’s son. + +Chandraprabha observed that her royal father, usually so conscientious, +must now be acting from interested motives, and that when selfishness +sways a man, right becomes left and left becomes right, as in the +reflection of a mirror. + +Subichar approved of the comparison; he was not quite so resolved, but +he showed no symptoms of changing his mind. + +Then the Brahman’s daughter-in-law, with the view of gaining time--a +famous stratagem amongst feminines--said to the Raja: “Great king, if +you are determined upon giving me to the grand treasurer’s son, exact +from him the promise that he will do what I bid him. Only on this +condition will I ever enter his house!” + +“Speak, then,” asked the king; “what will he have to do?” + +She replied, “I am of the Brahman or priestly caste, he is the son of a +Kshatriya or warrior: the law directs that before we twain can wed, he +should perform Yatra (pilgrimage) to all the holy places.” + +“Thou hast spoken Veda-truth, girl,” answered the Raja, not sorry to +have found so good a pretext for temporizing, and at the same time to +preserve his character for firmness, resolution, determination. + +That night Manaswi and Chandraprabha, instead of scolding each other, +congratulated themselves upon having escaped an imminent danger--which +they did not escape. + +In the morning Subichar sent for his ministers, including his grand +treasurer and his love-sick son, and told them how well and wisely the +Brahman’s daughter-in-law had spoken upon the subject of the marriage. +All of them approved of the condition; but the young man ventured to +suggest, that while he was a-pilgrimaging the maiden should reside under +his father’s roof. As he and his father showed a disposition to continue +their fasts in case of the small favour not being granted, the Raja, +though very loath to separate his beloved daughter and her dear friend, +was driven to do it. And Sita was carried off, weeping bitterly, to the +treasurer’s palace. That dignitary solemnly committed her to the charge +of his third and youngest wife, the lady Subhagya-Sundari, who was about +her own age, and said, “You must both live together, without any kind of +wrangling or contention, and do not go into other people’s houses.” And +the grand treasurer’s son went off to perform his pilgrimages. + +It is no less sad than true, Raja Vikram, that in less than six days the +disconsolate Sita waxed weary of being Sita, took the ball out of her +mouth, and became Manaswi. Alas for the infidelity of mankind! But it +is gratifying to reflect that he met with the punishment with which the +Pandit Muldev had threatened him. One night the magic pill slipped down +his throat. When morning dawned, being unable to change himself into +Sita, Manaswi was obliged to escape through a window from the lady +Subhagya-Sundari’s room. He sprained his ankle with the leap, and he lay +for a time upon the ground--where I leave him whilst convenient to me. + +When Muldev quitted the presence of Subichar, he resumed his old shape, +and returning to his brother Pandit Shashi, told him what he had done. +Whereupon Shashi, the misanthrope, looked black, and used hard words and +told his friend that good nature and soft-heartedness had caused him to +commit a very bad action--a grievous sin. Incensed at this charge, the +philanthropic Muldev became angry, and said, “I have warned the youth +about his purity; what harm can come of it?” + +“Thou hast,” retorted Shashi, with irritating coolness, “placed a sharp +weapon in a fool’s hand.” + +“I have not,” cried Muldev, indignantly. + +“Therefore,” drawled the malevolent, “you are answerable for all the +mischief he does with it, and mischief assuredly he will do.” + +“He will not, by Brahma!” exclaimed Muldev. + +“He will, by Vishnu!” said Shashi, with an amiability produced by having +completely upset his friend’s temper; “and if within the coming six +months he does not disgrace himself, thou shalt have the whole of my +book-case; but if he does, the philanthropic Muldev will use all his +skill and ingenuity in procuring the daughter of Raja Subichar as a wife +for his faithful friend Shashi.” + +Having made this covenant, they both agreed not to speak of the matter +till the autumn. + +The appointed time drawing near, the Pandits began to make inquiries +about the effect of the magic pills. Presently they found out that Sita, +alias Manaswi, had one night mysteriously disappeared from the grand +treasurer’s house, and had not been heard of since that time. This, +together with certain other things that transpired presently, convinced +Muldev, who had cooled down in six months, that his friend had won the +wager. He prepared to make honourable payment by handing a pill to old +Shashi, who at once became a stout, handsome young Brahman, some twenty +years old. Next putting a pill into his own mouth, he resumed the shape +and form under which he had first appeared before Raja Subichar; and, +leaning upon his staff, he led the way to the palace. + +The king, in great confusion, at once recognized the old priest, and +guessed the errand upon which he and the youth were come. However, he +saluted them, and offered them seats, and receiving their blessings, +he began to make inquiries about their health and welfare. At last he +mustered courage to ask the old Brahman where he had been living for so +long a time. + +“Great king,” replied the priest, “I went to seek after my son, and +having found him, I bring him to your majesty. Give him his wife, and I +will take them both home with me.” + +Raja Subichar prevaricated not a little; but presently, being hard +pushed, he related everything that had happened. + +“What is this that you have done?” cried Muldev, simulating excessive +anger and astonishment. “Why have you given my son’s wife in marriage to +another man? You have done what you wished, and now, therefore, receive +my Shrap (curse)!” + +The poor Raja, in great trepidation, said, “O Vivinity! be not thus +angry! I will do whatever you bid me.” + +Said Muldev, “If through dread of my excommunication you will freely +give whatever I demand of you, then marry your daughter, Chandraprabha, +to this my son. On this condition I forgive you. To me, now a necklace +of pearls and a venomous krishna (cobra capella); the most powerful +enemy and the kindest friend, the most precious gem and a clod of +earth; the softest bed and the hardest stone; a blade of grass and the +loveliest woman--are precisely the same. All I desire is that in some +holy place, repeating the name of God, I may soon end my days.” + +Subichar, terrified by this additional show of sanctity, at once +summoned an astrologer, and fixed upon the auspicious moment and lunar +influence. He did not consult the princess, and had he done so she would +not have resisted his wishes. Chandraprabha had heard of Sita’s +escape from the treasurer’s house, and she had on the subject her own +suspicions. Besides which she looked forward to a certain event, and +she was by no means sure that her royal father approved of the Gandharba +form of marriage--at least for his daughter. Thus the Brahman’s son +receiving in due time the princess and her dowry, took leave of the king +and returned to his own village. + +Hardly, however, had Chandraprabha been married to Shashi the Pandit, +when Manaswi went to him, and began to wrangle, and said, “Give me my +wife!” He had recovered from the effects of his fall, and having lost +her he therefore loved her--very dearly. + +But Shashi proved by reference to the astrologers, priests, and ten +persons as witnesses, that he had duly wedded her, and brought her to +his home; “therefore,” said he, “she is my spouse.” + +Manaswi swore by all holy things that he had been legally married to +her, and that he was the father of her child that was about to be. “How +then,” continued he, “can she be thy spouse?” He would have summoned +Muldev as a witness, but that worthy, after remonstrating with him, +disappeared. He called upon Chandraprabha to confirm his statement, but +she put on an innocent face, and indignantly denied ever having seen the +man. + +Still, continued the Baital, many people believed Manaswi’s story, as it +was marvellous and incredible. Even to the present day, there are +many who decidedly think him legally married to the daughter of Raja +Subichar. + +“Then they are pestilent fellows!” cried the warrior king Vikram, who +hated nothing more than clandestine and runaway matches. “No one knew +that the villain, Manaswi, was the father of her child; whereas, the +Pandit Shashi married her lawfully, before witnesses, and with all the +ceremonies.[152] She therefore remains his wife, and the child will +perform the funeral obsequies for him, and offer water to the manes of +his pitris (ancestors). At least, so say law and justice.” + +“Which justice is often unjust enough!” cried the Vampire; “and ply thy +legs, mighty Raja; let me see if thou canst reach the sires-tree before +I do.” + + * * * * * + +“The next story, O Raja Vikram, is remarkably interesting.” + + + + +THE VAMPIRE’S NINTH STORY -- Showing That a Man’s Wife Belongs Not to His Body but to His Head. + + +Far and wide through the lovely land overrun by the Arya from the +Western Highlands spread the fame of Unmadini, the beautiful daughter +of Haridas the Brahman. In the numberless odes, sonnets, and acrostics +addressed to her by a hundred Pandits and poets her charms were sung +with prodigious triteness. Her presence was compared to light shining +in a dark house; her face to the full moon; her complexion to the yellow +champaka flower; her curls to female snakes; her eyes to those of the +deer; her eyebrows to bent bows; her teeth to strings of little opals; +her feet to rubies and red gems,[153] and her gait to that of the wild +goose. And none forgot to say that her voice affected the author like +the song of the kokila bird, sounding from the shadowy brake, when the +breeze blows coolly, or that the fairy beings of Indra’s heaven would +have shrunk away abashed at her loveliness. + +But, Raja Vikram! all the poets failed to win the fair Unmadini’s love. +To praise the beauty of a beauty is not to praise her. Extol her wit and +talents, which has the zest of novelty, then you may succeed. For the +same reason, read inversely, the plainer and cleverer is the bosom you +would fire, the more personal you must be upon the subject of its grace +and loveliness. Flattery you know, is ever the match which kindles +the Flame of love. True it is that some by roughness of demeanour and +bluntness in speech, contrasting with those whom they call the “herd,” + have the art to succeed in the service of the bodyless god.[154] But +even they must-- + +The young prince Dharma Dhwaj could not help laughing at the thought +of how this must sound in his father’s ear. And the Raja hearing +the ill-timed merriment, sternly ordered the Baital to cease his +immoralities and to continue his story. + +Thus the lovely Unmadini, conceiving an extreme contempt for poets +and literati, one day told her father who greatly loved her, that her +husband must be a fine young man who never wrote verses. Withal she +insisted strongly on mental qualities and science, being a person of +moderate mind and an adorer of talent--when not perverted to poetry. + +As you may imagine, Raja Vikram, all the beauty’s bosom friends, seeing +her refuse so many good offers, confidently predicted that she would +pass through the jungle and content herself with a bad stick, or that +she would lead ring-tailed apes in Patala. + +At length when some time had elapsed, four suitors appeared from four +different countries, all of them claiming equal excellence in youth and +beauty, strength and understanding. And after paying their respects to +Haridas, and telling him their wishes, they were directed to come early +on the next morning and to enter upon the first ordeal--an intellectual +conversation. + +This they did. + +“Foolish the man,” quoth the young Mahasani, “that seeks permanence in +this world--frail as the stem of the plantain-tree, transient as the +ocean foam. + +“All that is high shall presently fall; all that is low must finally +perish. + +“Unwillingly do the manes of the dead taste the tears shed by their +kinsmen: then wail not, but perform the funeral obsequies with +diligence.” + +“What ill-omened fellow is this?” quoth the fair Unmadini, who was +sitting behind her curtain; “besides, he has dared to quote poetry!” + There was little chance of success for that suitor. + +“She is called a good woman, and a woman of pure descent,” quoth the +second suitor, “who serves him to whom her father and mother have +given her; and it is written in the scriptures that a woman who in the +lifetime of her husband, becoming a devotee, engages in fasting, and in +austere devotion, shortens his days, and hereafter falls into the fire. +For it is said-- + + “A woman’s bliss is found not in the smile + Of father, mother, friend, nor in herself; + Her husband is her only portion here, + Her heaven hereafter.” + +The word “serve,” which might mean “obey,” was peculiarly disagreeable +to the fair one’s ears, and she did not admire the check so soon placed +upon her devotion, or the decided language and manner of the youth. She +therefore mentally resolved never again to see that person, whom she +determined to be stupid as an elephant. + +“A mother,” said Gunakar, the third candidate, “protects her son in +babyhood, and a father when his offspring is growing up. But the man of +warrior descent defends his brethren at all times. Such is the custom of +the world, and such is my state. I dwell on the heads of the strong!” + +Therefore those assembled together looked with great respect upon the +man of valour. + +Devasharma, the fourth suitor, contented himself with listening to the +others, who fancied that he was overawed by their cleverness. And when +it came to his turn he simply remarked, “Silence is better than speech.” + Being further pressed, he said, “A wise man will not proclaim his age, +nor a deception practiced upon himself, nor his riches, nor the loss +of riches, nor family faults, nor incantations, nor conjugal love, nor +medicinal prescriptions, nor religious duties, nor gifts, nor reproach, +nor the infidelity of his wife.” + +Thus ended the first trial. The master of the house dismissed the +two former speakers, with many polite expressions and some trifling +presents. Then having given betel to them, scented their garments with +attar, and sprinkled rose-water over their heads, he accompanied them to +the door, showing much regret. The two latter speakers he begged to come +on the next day. + +Gunakar and Devasharma did not fail. When they entered the assembly-room +and took the seats pointed out to them, the father said, “Be ye pleased +to explain and make manifest the effects of your mental qualities. So +shall I judge of them.” + +“I have made,” said Gunakar, “a four-wheeled carriage, in which the +power resides to carry you in a moment wherever you may purpose to go.” + +“I have such power over the angel of death,” said Devasharma, “that I +can at all times raise a corpse, and enable my friends to do the same.” + +Now tell me by thy brains, O warrior King Vikram, which of these two +youths was the fitter husband for the maid? + +Either the Raja could not answer the question, or perhaps he would not, +being determined to break the spell which had already kept him walking +to and fro for so many hours. Then the Baital, who had paused to let +his royal carrier commit himself, seeing that the attempt had failed, +proceeded without making any further comment. + +The beautiful Unmadini was brought out, but she hung down her head and +made no reply. Yet she took care to move both her eyes in the direction +of Devasharma. Whereupon Haridas, quoting the proverb that “pearls +string with pearls,” formally betrothed to him his daughter. The soldier +suitor twisted the ends of his mustachios into his eyes, which were red +with wrath, and fumbled with his fingers about the hilt of his sword. +But he was a man of noble birth, and presently his anger passed away. + +Mahasani the poet, however, being a shameless person--and when can we be +safe from such?--forced himself into the assembly and began to rage and +to storm, and to quote proverbs in a loud tone of voice. He remarked +that in this world women are a mine of grief, a poisonous root, the +abode of solicitude, the destroyers of resolution, the occasioners of +fascination, and the plunderers of all virtuous qualities. From the +daughter he passed to the father, and after saying hard things of him as +a “Maha-Brahman,”[155] who took cows and gold and worshipped a monkey, +he fell with a sweeping censure upon all priests and sons of priests, +more especially Devasharma. As the bystanders remonstrated with him, +he became more violent, and when Haridas, who was a weak man, appeared +terrified by his voice, look, and gesture, he swore a solemn oath that +despite all the betrothals in the world, unless Unmadini became his wife +he would commit suicide, and as a demon haunt the house and injure the +inmates. + +Gunakar the soldier exhorted this shameless poet to slay himself at +once, and to go where he pleased. But as Haridas reproved the warrior +for inhumanity, Mahasani nerved by spite, love, rage, and perversity to +an heroic death, drew a noose from his bosom, rushed out of the house, +and suspended himself to the nearest tree. + +And, true enough, as the midnight gong struck, he appeared in the form +of a gigantic and malignant Rakshasa (fiend), dreadfully frightened the +household of Haridas, and carried off the lovely Unmadini, leaving word +that she was to be found on the topmost peak of Himalaya. + +The unhappy father hastened to the house where Devasharma lived. There, +weeping bitterly and wringing his hands in despair, he told the terrible +tale, and besought his intended son-in-law to be up and doing. + +The young Brahman at once sought his late rival, and asked his aid. +This the soldier granted at once, although he had been nettled at being +conquered in love by a priestling. + +The carriage was at once made ready, and the suitors set out, bidding +the father be of good cheer, and that before sunset he should embrace +his daughter. They then entered the vehicle; Gunakar with cabalistic +words caused it to rise high in the air, and Devasharma put to flight +the demon by reciting the sacred verse,[156] “Let us meditate on the +supreme splendour (or adorable light) of that Divine Ruler (the sun) +who may illuminate our understandings. Venerable men, guided by the +intelligence, salute the divine sun (Sarvitri) with oblations and +praise. Om!” + +Then they returned with the girl to the house, and Haridas blessed them, +praising the sun aloud in the joy of his heart. Lest other accidents +might happen, he chose an auspicious planetary conjunction, and at a +fortunate moment rubbed turmeric upon his daughter’s hands. + +The wedding was splendid, and broke the hearts of twenty-four rivals. +In due time Devasharma asked leave from his father-in-law to revisit his +home, and to carry with him his bride. This request being granted, he +set out accompanied by Gunakar the soldier, who swore not to leave the +couple before seeing them safe under their own roof-tree. + +It so happened that their road lay over the summits of the wild Vindhya +hills, where dangers of all kinds are as thick as shells upon the +shore of the deep. Here were rocks and jagged precipices making the +traveller’s brain whirl when he looked into them. There impetuous +torrents roared and flashed down their beds of black stone, threatening +destruction to those who would cross them. Now the path was lost in the +matted thorny underwood and the pitchy shades of the jungle, deep and +dark as the valley of death. Then the thunder-cloud licked the earth +with its fiery tongue, and its voice shook the crags and filled their +hollow caves. At times, the sun was so hot, that wild birds fell dead +from the air. And at every moment the wayfarers heard the trumpeting of +giant elephants, the fierce howling of the tiger, the grisly laugh of +the foul hyaena, and the whimpering of the wild dogs as they coursed by +on the tracks of their prey. + +Yet, sustained by the five-armed god[157] the little party passed safely +through all these dangers. They had almost emerged from the damp glooms +of the forest into the open plains which skirt the southern base of the +hills, when one night the fair Unmadini saw a terrible vision. + +She beheld herself wading through a sluggish pool of muddy water, which +rippled, curdling as she stepped into it, and which, as she advanced, +darkened with the slime raised by her feet. She was bearing in her arms +the semblance of a sick child, which struggled convulsively and filled +the air with dismal wails. These cries seemed to be answered by a +multitude of other children, some bloated like toads, others mere +skeletons lying upon the bank, or floating upon the thick brown waters +of the pond. And all seemed to address their cries to her, as if she +were the cause of their weeping; nor could all her efforts quiet or +console them for a moment. + +When the bride awoke, she related all the particulars of her ill-omened +vision to her husband; and the latter, after a short pause, informed +her and his friend that a terrible calamity was about to befall them. He +then drew from his travelling wallet a skein of thread. This he divided +into three parts, one for each, and told his companions that in case of +grievous bodily injury, the bit of thread wound round the wounded +part would instantly make it whole. After which he taught them the +Mantra,[158] or mystical word by which the lives of men are restored to +their bodies, even when they have taken their allotted places amongst +the stars, and which for evident reasons I do not want to repeat. It +concluded, however, with the three Vyahritis, or sacred syllables--Bhuh, +Bhuvah, Svar! + +Raja Vikram was perhaps a little disappointed by this declaration. He +made no remark, however, and the Baital thus pursued: + +As Devasharma foretold, an accident of a terrible nature did occur. +On the evening of that day, as they emerged upon the plain, they were +attacked by the Kiratas, or savage tribes of the mountain.[159] A small, +black, wiry figure, armed with a bow and little cane arrows, stood in +their way, signifying by gestures that they must halt and lay down their +arms. As they continued to advance, he began to speak with a shrill +chattering, like the note of an affrighted bird, his restless red eyes +glared with rage, and he waved his weapon furiously round his head. Then +from the rocks and thickets on both sides of the path poured a shower of +shafts upon the three strangers. + +The unequal combat did not last long. Gunakar, the soldier, wielded his +strong right arm with fatal effect and struck down some threescore of +the foes. But new swarms came on like angry hornets buzzing round the +destroyer of their nests. And when he fell, Devasharma, who had left +him for a moment to hide his beautiful wife in the hollow of a tree, +returned, and stood fighting over the body of his friend till he also, +overpowered by numbers, was thrown to the ground. Then the wild men, +drawing their knives, cut off the heads of their helpless enemies, +stripped their bodies of all their ornaments, and departed, leaving the +woman unharmed for good luck. + +When Unmadini, who had been more dead than alive during the affray, +found silence succeed to the horrid din of shrieks and shouts, she +ventured to creep out of her refuge in the hollow tree. And what does +she behold? her husband and his friend are lying upon the ground, with +their heads at a short distance from their bodies. She sat down and wept +bitterly. + +Presently, remembering the lesson which she had learned that very +morning, she drew forth from her bosom the bit of thread and proceeded +to use it. She approached the heads to the bodies, and tied some of +the magic string round each neck. But the shades of evening were fast +deepening, and in her agitation, confusion and terror, she made a +curious mistake by applying the heads to the wrong trunks. After which, +she again sat down, and having recited her prayers, she pronounced, as +her husband had taught her, the life-giving incantation. + +In a moment the dead men were made alive. They opened their eyes, shook +themselves, sat up and handled their limbs as if to feel that all was +right. But something or other appeared to them all wrong. They placed +their palms upon their foreheads, and looked downwards, and started to +their feet and began to stare at their hands and legs. Upon which they +scrutinized the very scanty articles of dress which the wild men had +left upon them, and lastly one began to eye the other with curious +puzzled looks. + +The wife, attributing their gestures to the confusion which one might +expect to find in the brains of men who have just undergone so great a +trial as amputation of the head must be, stood before them for a +moment or two. She then with a cry of gladness flew to the bosom of +the individual who was, as she supposed, her husband. He repulsed her, +telling her that she was mistaken. Then, blushing deeply in spite of her +other emotions, she threw both her beautiful arms round the neck of the +person who must be, she naturally concluded, the right man. To her utter +confusion, he also shrank back from her embrace. + +Then a horrid thought flashed across her mind: she perceived her fatal +mistake, and her heart almost ceased to beat. + +“This is thy wife!” cried the Brahman’s head that had been fastened to +the soldier’s body. + +“No; she is thy wife!” replied the soldier’s head which had been placed +upon the Brahman’s body. + +“Then she is my wife!” rejoined the first compound creature. + +“By no means! she is my wife,” cried the second. + +“What then am I?” asked Devasharma-Gunakar. + +“What do you think I am?” answered Gunakar-Devasharma, with another +question. + +“Unmadini shall be mine,” quoth the head. + +“You lie, she shall be mine,” shouted the body. + +“Holy Yama,[160] hear the villain,” exclaimed both of them at the same +moment. + + * * * * * + +In short, having thus begun, they continued to quarrel violently, each +one declaring that the beautiful Unmadini belonged to him, and to him +only. How to settle their dispute Brahma the Lord of creatures only +knows. I do not, except by cutting off their heads once more, and by +putting them in their proper places. And I am quite sure, O Raja Vikram! +that thy wits are quite unfit to answer the question, To which of +these two is the beautiful Unmadini wife? It is even said--amongst us +Baitals--that when this pair of half-husbands appeared in the presence +of the Just King, a terrible confusion arose, each head declaiming all +the sins and peccadilloes which its body had committed, and that Yama +the holy ruler himself hit his forefinger with vexation.[161] + +Here the young prince Dharma Dhwaj burst out laughing at the ridiculous +idea of the wrong heads. And the warrior king, who, like single-minded +fathers in general, was ever in the idea that his son had a velleity for +deriding and otherwise vexing him, began a severe course of reproof. He +reminded the prince of the common saying that merriment without cause +degrades a man in the opinion of his fellows, and indulged him with a +quotation extensively used by grave fathers, namely, that the loud laugh +bespeaks a vacant mind. After which he proceeded with much pompousness +to pronounce the following opinion: + +“It is said in the Shastras----” + +“Your majesty need hardly display so much erudition! Doubtless it +comes from the lips of Jayudeva or some other one of your Nine Gems of +Science, who know much more about their songs and their stanzas than +they do about their scriptures,” insolently interrupted the Baital, who +never lost an opportunity of carping at those reverend men. + +“It is said in the Shastras,” continued Raja Vikram sternly, after +hesitating whether he should or should not administer a corporeal +correction to the Vampire, “that Mother Ganga[162] is the queen amongst +rivers, and the mountain Sumeru[163] is the monarch among mountains, and +the tree Kalpavriksha[164] is the king of all trees, and the head of +man is the best and most excellent of limbs. And thus, according to this +reason, the wife belonged to him whose noblest position claimed her.” + +“The next thing your majesty will do, I suppose,” continued the +Baital, with a sneer, “is to support the opinions of the Digambara, who +maintains that the soul is exceedingly rarefied, confined to one place, +and of equal dimensions with the body, or the fancies of that worthy +philosopher Jaimani, who, conceiving soul and mind and matter to be +things purely synonymous, asserts outwardly and writes in his books that +the brain is the organ of the mind which is acted upon by the immortal +soul, but who inwardly and verily believes that the brain is the mind, +and consequently that the brain is the soul or spirit or whatever you +please to call it; in fact, that soul is a natural faculty of the body. +A pretty doctrine, indeed, for a Brahman to hold. You might as well +agree with me at once that the soul of man resides, when at home, either +in a vein in the breast, or in the pit of his stomach, or that half of +it is in a man’s brain and the other or reasoning half is in his heart, +an organ of his body.” + +“What has all this string of words to do with the matter, Vampire?” + asked Raja Vikram angrily. + +“Only,” said the demon laughing, “that in my opinion, as opposed to the +Shastras and to Raja Vikram, that the beautiful Unmadini belonged, +not to the head part but to the body part. Because the latter has an +immortal soul in the pit of its stomach, whereas the former is a box of +bone, more or less thick, and contains brains which are of much the same +consistence as those of a calf.” + +“Villain!” exclaimed the Raja, “does not the soul or conscious life +enter the body through the sagittal suture and lodge in the +brain, thence to contemplate, through the same opening, the divine +perfections?” + +“I must, however, bid you farewell for the moment, O warrior king, +Sakadhipati-Vikramadityal[165]! I feel a sudden and ardent desire to +change this cramped position for one more natural to me.” + +The warrior monarch had so far committed himself that he could not +prevent the Vampire from flitting. But he lost no more time in following +him than a grain of mustard, in its fall, stays on a cow’s horn. And +when he had thrown him over his shoulder, the king desired him of his +own accord to begin a new tale. + +“O my left eyelid flutters,” exclaimed the Baital in despair, “my heart +throbs, my sight is dim: surely now beginneth the end. It is as Vidhata +hath written on my forehead--how can it be otherwise[166]? Still listen, +O mighty Raja, whilst I recount to you a true story, and Saraswati[167] +sit on my tongue.” + + + + +THE VAMPIRE’S TENTH STORY [168] -- Of the Marvellous Delicacy of Three Queens. + + +The Baital said, O king, in the Gaur country, Vardhman by name, there +is a city, and one called Gunshekhar was the Raja of that land. His +minister was one Abhaichand, a Jain, by whose teachings the king also +came into the Jain faith. + +The worship of Shiva and of Vishnu, gifts of cows, gifts of lands, gifts +of rice balls, gaming and spirit-drinking, all these he prohibited. In +the city no man could get leave to do them, and as for bones, into +the Ganges no man was allowed to throw them, and in these matters the +minister, having taken orders from the king, caused a proclamation to +be made about the city, saying, “Whoever these acts shall do, the Raja +having confiscated, will punish him and banish him from the city.” + +Now one day the Diwan[169] began to say to the Raja, “O great king, to +the decisions of the Faith be pleased to give ear. Whosoever takes the +life of another, his life also in the future birth is taken: this very +sin causes him to be born again and again upon earth and to die And thus +he ever continues to be born again and to die. Hence for one who has +found entrance into this world to cultivate religion is right and +proper. Be pleased to behold! By love, by wrath, by pain, by desire, +and by fascination overpowered, the gods Brahma, Vishnu, and Mahadeva +(Shiva) in various ways upon the earth are ever becoming incarnate. +Far better than they is the Cow, who is free from passion, enmity, +drunkenness, anger, covetousness, and inordinate affection, who supports +mankind, and whose progeny in many ways give ease and solace to the +creatures of the world These deities and sages (munis) believe in the +Cow.[170] + +“For such reason to believe in the gods is not good. Upon this earth +be pleased to believe in the Cow. It is our duty to protect the life of +everyone, beginning from the elephant, through ants, beasts, and birds, +up to man. In the world righteousness equal to that there is none. Those +who, eating the flesh of other creatures, increase their own flesh, +shall in the fulness of time assuredly obtain the fruition of Narak +[17l]; hence for a man it is proper to attend to the conversation of +life. They who understand not the pain of other creatures, and who +continue to slay and to devour them, last but few days in the land, and +return to mundane existence, maimed, limping, one-eyed, blind, dwarfed, +hunchbacked, and imperfect in such wise. Just as they consume the bodies +of beasts and of birds, even so they end by spoiling their own bodies. +From drinking spirits also the great sin arises, hence the consuming of +spirits and flesh is not advisable.” + +The minister having in this manner explained to the king the sentiments +of his own mind, so brought him over to the Jain faith, that whatever +he said, so the king did. Thus in Brahmans, in Jogis, in Janganis, in +Sevras, in Sannyasis,[172] and in religious mendicants, no man believed, +and according to this creed the rule was carried on. + +Now one day, being in the power of Death, Raja Gunshekhar died. Then +his son Dharmadhwaj sat upon the carpet (throne), and began to rule. +Presently he caused the minister Abhaichand to be seized, had his head +shaved all but seven locks of hair, ordered his face to be blackened, +and mounting him on an ass, with drums beaten, had him led all about the +city, and drove him from the kingdom. From that time he carried on his +rule free from all anxiety. + +It so happened that in the season of spring, the king Dharmadhwaj, +taking his queens with him, went for a stroll in the garden, where there +was a large tank with lotuses blooming within it. The Raja admiring its +beauty, took off his clothes and went down to bathe. + +After plucking a flower and coming to the bank, he was going to give it +into the hands of one of his queens, when it slipped from his fingers, +fell upon her foot, and broke it with the blow. Then the Raja being +alarmed, at once came out of the tank, and began to apply remedies to +her. + +Hereupon night came on, and the moon shone brightly: the falling of its +rays on the body of the second queen formed blisters And suddenly from +a distance the sound of a wooden pestle came out of a householder’s +dwelling, when the third queen fainted away with a severe pain in the +head. + +Having spoken thus much the Baital said “O my king! of these three +which is the most delicate?” The Raja answered, “She indeed is the most +delicate who fainted in consequence of the headache.” The Baital hearing +this speech, went and hung himself from the very same tree, and the +Raja, having gone there and taken him down and fastened him in the +bundle and placed him on his shoulder, carried him away. + + + + +THE VAMPIRE’S ELEVENTH STORY -- Which Puzzles Raja Vikram. + + +There is a queer time coming, O Raja Vikram!--a queer time coming +(said the Vampire), a queer time coming. Elderly people like you talk +abundantly about the good old days that were, and about the degeneracy +of the days that are. I wonder what you would say if you could but look +forward a few hundred years. + +Brahmans shall disgrace themselves by becoming soldiers and being +killed, and Serviles (Shudras) shall dishonour themselves by wearing the +thread of the twice-born, and by refusing to be slaves; in fact, society +shall be all “mouth” and mixed castes.[173] The courts of justice shall +be disused; the great works of peace shall no longer be undertaken; wars +shall last six weeks, and their causes shall be clean forgotten; the +useful arts and great sciences shall die starved; there shall be no Gems +of Science; there shall be a hospital for destitute kings, those, at +least, who do not lose their heads, and no Vikrama---- + +A severe shaking stayed for a moment the Vampire’s tongue. + +He presently resumed. Briefly, building tanks feeding Brahmans; lying +when one ought to lie; suicide, the burning of widows, and the burying +of live children, shall become utterly unfashionable. + +The consequence of this singular degeneracy, O mighty Vikram, will +be that strangers shall dwell beneath the roof tree in Bharat Khanda +(India), and impure barbarians shall call the land their own. They come +from a wonderful country, and I am most surprised that they bear it. The +sky which ought to be gold and blue is there grey, a kind of dark white; +the sun looks deadly pale, and the moon as if he were dead.[174] The +sea, when not dirty green, glistens with yellowish foam, and as you +approach the shore, tall ghastly cliffs, like the skeletons of giants, +stand up to receive or ready to repel. During the greater part of the +sun’s Dakhshanayan (southern declination) the country is covered with a +sort of cold white stuff which dazzles the eyes; and at such times the +air is obscured with what appears to be a shower of white feathers or +flocks of cotton. At other seasons there is a pale glare produced by the +mist clouds which spread themselves over the lower firmament. Even the +faces of the people are white; the men are white when not painted blue; +the women are whiter, and the children are whitest: these indeed often +have white hair. + +“Truly,” exclaimed Dharma Dhwaj, “says the proverb, ‘Whoso seeth the +world telleth many a lie.’” + +At present (resumed the Vampire, not heeding the interruption), they run +about naked in the woods, being merely Hindu outcastes. Presently +they will change--the wonderful white Pariahs! They will eat all food +indifferently, domestic fowls, onions, hogs fed in the street, donkeys, +horses, hares, and (most horrible!) the flesh of the sacred cow. +They will imbibe what resembles meat of colocynth, mixed with water, +producing a curious frothy liquid, and a fiery stuff which burns the +mouth, for their milk will be mostly chalk and pulp of brains; they will +ignore the sweet juices of fruits and sugar-cane, and as for the pure +element they will drink it, but only as medicine, They will shave their +beards instead of their heads, and stand upright when they should sit +down, and squat upon a wooden frame instead of a carpet, and appear +in red and black like the children of Yama.[175] They will never offer +sacrifices to the manes of ancestors, leaving them after their death +to fry in the hottest of places. Yet will they perpetually quarrel and +fight about their faith; for their tempers are fierce, and they would +burst if they could not harm one another. Even now the children, who +amuse themselves with making puddings on the shore, that is to say, +heaping up the sand, always end their little games with “punching,” + which means shutting the hand and striking one another’s heads, and it +is soon found that the children are the fathers of the men. + +These wonderful white outcastes will often be ruled by female chiefs, +and it is likely that the habit of prostrating themselves before a woman +who has not the power of cutting off a single head, may account +for their unusual degeneracy and uncleanness. They will consider no +occupation so noble as running after a jackal; they will dance for +themselves, holding on to strange women, and they will take a pride in +playing upon instruments, like young music girls. + +The women, of course, relying upon the aid of the female chieftains, +will soon emancipate themselves from the rules of modesty. They will +eat with their husbands and with other men, and yawn and sit carelessly +before them showing the backs of their heads. They will impudently +quote the words, “By confinement at home, even under affectionate and +observant guardians, women are not secure, but those are really safe who +are guarded by their own inclinations “; as the poet sang-- + + Woman obeys one only word, her heart. + +They will not allow their husbands to have more than one wife, and +even the single wife will not be his slave when he needs her services, +busying herself in the collection of wealth, in ceremonial purification, +and feminine duty; in the preparation of daily food and in the +superintendence of household utensils. What said Rama of Sita his wife? +“If I chanced to be angry, she bore my impatience like the patient earth +without a murmur; in the hour of necessity she cherished me as a mother +does her child; in the moments of repose she was a lover to me; in times +of gladness she was to me as a friend.” And it is said, “a religious +wife assists her husband in his worship with a spirit as devout as his +own. She gives her whole mind to make him happy; she is as faithful to +him as a shadow to the body, and she esteems him, whether poor or rich, +good or bad, handsome or deformed. In his absence or his sickness she +renounces every gratification; at his death she dies with him, and he +enjoys heaven as the fruit of her virtuous deeds. Whereas if she be +guilty of many wicked actions and he should die first, he must suffer +much for the demerits of his wife.” + +But these women will talk aloud, and scold as the braying ass, and make +the house a scene of variance, like the snake with the ichneumon, +the owl with the crow, for they have no fear of losing their noses or +parting with their ears. They will (O my mother!) converse with strange +men and take their hands; they will receive presents from them, and, +worst of all, they will show their white faces openly without the least +sense of shame; they will ride publicly in chariots and mount horses, +whose points they pride themselves upon knowing, and eat and drink in +crowded places--their husbands looking on the while, and perhaps even +leading them through the streets. And she will be deemed the pinnacle of +the pagoda of perfection, that most excels in wit and shamelessness, and +who can turn to water the livers of most men. They will dance and sing +instead of minding their children, and when these grow up they will send +them out of the house to shift for themselves, and care little if they +never see them again.[176] But the greatest sin of all will be this: +when widowed they will ever be on the look-out for a second husband, and +instances will be known of women fearlessly marrying three, four, and +five times.[177] You would think that all this licence satisfies them. +But no! The more they have the more their weak minds covet. The men have +admitted them to an equality, they will aim at an absolute superiority, +and claim respect and homage; they will eternally raise tempests about +their rights, and if anyone should venture to chastise them as they +deserve, they would call him a coward and run off to the judge. + +The men will, I say, be as wonderful about their women as about all +other matters. The sage of Bharat Khanda guards the frail sex strictly, +knowing its frailty, and avoids teaching it to read and write, which it +will assuredly use for a bad purpose. For women are ever subject to the +god[178] with the sugar-cane bow and string of bees, and arrows tipped +with heating blossoms, and to him they will ever surrender man, dhan, +tan--mind, wealth, and body. When, by exceeding cunning, all human +precautions have been made vain, the wise man bows to Fate, and he +forgets, or he tries to forget, the past. Whereas this race of white +Pariahs will purposely lead their women into every kind of temptation, +and, when an accident occurs, they will rage at and accuse them, killing +ten thousand with a word, and cause an uproar, and talk scandal and +be scandalized, and go before the magistrate, and make all the evil as +public as possible. One would think they had in every way done their +duty to their women! + +And when all this change shall have come over them, they will feel +restless and take flight, and fall like locusts upon the Aryavartta +(land of India). Starving in their own country, they will find enough +to eat here, and to carry away also. They will be mischievous as the saw +with which ornament-makers trim their shells, and cut ascending as well +as descending. To cultivate their friendship will be like making a gap +in the water, and their partisans will ever fare worse than their foes. +They will be selfish as crows, which, though they eat every kind of +flesh, will not permit other birds to devour that of the crow. + +In the beginning they will hire a shop near the mouth of mother Ganges, +and they will sell lead and bullion, fine and coarse woollen cloths, +and all the materials for intoxication. Then they will begin to send for +soldiers beyond the sea, and to enlist warriors in Zambudwipa (India). +They will from shopkeepers become soldiers: they will beat and be +beaten; they will win and lose; but the power of their star and the +enchantments of their Queen Kompani, a daina or witch who can draw the +blood out of a man and slay him with a look, will turn everything to +their good. Presently the noise of their armies shall be as the roaring +of the sea; the dazzling of their arms shall blind the eyes like +lightning; their battle-fields shall be as the dissolution of the world; +and the slaughter-ground shall resemble a garden of plantain trees after +a storm. At length they shall spread like the march of a host of ants +over the land They will swear, “Dehar Ganga[179]!” and they hate nothing +so much as being compelled to destroy an army, to take and loot a city, +or to add a rich slip of territory to their rule. And yet they will go +on killing and capturing and adding region to region, till the Abode of +Snow (Himalaya) confines them to the north, the Sindhu-naddi (Incus) +to the west, and elsewhere the sea. Even in this, too, they will +demean themselves as lords and masters, scarcely allowing poor +Samudradevta[180] to rule his own waves. + +Raja Vikram was in a silent mood, otherwise he would not have allowed +such ill-omened discourse to pass uninterrupted. Then the Baital, who in +vain had often paused to give the royal carrier a chance of asking him a +curious question, continued his recital in a dissonant and dissatisfied +tone of voice. + +By my feet and your head,[181] O warrior king! it will fare badly +in those days for the Rajas of Hindustan, when the red-coated men of +Shaka[182] shall come amongst them. Listen to my words. + +In the Vindhya Mountain there will be a city named Dharmapur, whose king +will be called Mahabul. He will be a mighty warrior, well-skilled in the +dhanur-veda (art of war)[183], and will always lead his own armies to +the field. He will duly regard all the omens, such as a storm at the +beginning of the march, an earthquake, the implements of war dropping +from the hands of the soldiery, screaming vultures passing over or +walking near the army, the clouds and the sun’s rays waxing red, thunder +in a clear sky, the moon appearing small as a star, the dropping of +blood from the clouds, the falling of lightning bolts, darkness filling +the four quarters of the heavens, a corpse or a pan of water being +carried to the right of the army, the sight of a female beggar with +dishevelled hair, dressed in red, and preceding the vanguard, the +starting of the flesh over the left ribs of the commander-in-chief, and +the weeping or turning back of the horses when urged forward. + +He will encourage his men to single combats, and will carefully train +them to gymnastics. Many of the wrestlers and boxers will be so strong +that they will often beat all the extremities of the antagonist into his +body, or break his back, or rend him into two pieces. He will promise +heaven to those who shall die in the front of battle and he will have +them taught certain dreadful expressions of abuse to be interchanged +with the enemy when commencing the contest. Honours will be conferred +on those who never turn their backs in an engagement, who manifest a +contempt of death, who despise fatigue, as well as the most formidable +enemies, who shall be found invincible in every combat, and who display +a courage which increases before danger, like the glory of the sun +advancing to his meridian splendour. + +But King Mahabul will be attacked by the white Pariahs, who, as usual, +will employ against him gold, fire, and steel. With gold they will win +over his best men, and persuade them openly to desert when the army is +drawn out for battle. They will use the terrible “fire weapon,[184]” + large and small tubes, which discharge flame and smoke, and bullets as +big as those hurled by the bow of Bharata.[185] And instead of using +swords and shields, they will fix daggers to the end of their tubes, and +thrust with them like lances. + +Mahabul, distinguished by valour and military skill, will march out of +his city to meet the white foe. In front will be the ensigns, bells, +cows’-tails, and flags, the latter painted with the bird Garura,[186] +the bull of Shiva, the Bauhinia tree, the monkey-god Hanuman, the lion +and the tiger, the fish, an alms-dish, and seven palm-trees. Then will +come the footmen armed with fire-tubes, swords and shields, spears and +daggers, clubs, and bludgeons. They will be followed by fighting men +on horses and oxen, on camels and elephants. The musicians, the +water-carriers, and lastly the stores on carriages, will bring up the +rear. + +The white outcastes will come forward in a long thin red thread, and +vomiting fire like the Jwalamukhi.[187] King Mahabul will receive them +with his troops formed in a circle; another division will be in the +shape of a halfmoon; a third like a cloud, whilst others shall represent +a lion, a tiger, a carriage, a lily, a giant, and a bull. But as the +elephants will all turn round when they feel the fire, and trample upon +their own men, and as the cavalry defiling in front of the host will +openly gallop away; Mahabul, being thus without resource, will enter his +palanquin, and accompanied by his queen and their only daughter, will +escape at night-time into the forest. + +The unfortunate three will be deserted by their small party, and live +for a time on jungle food, fruits and roots; they will even be compelled +to eat game. After some days they will come in sight of a village, which +Mahabul will enter to obtain victuals. There the wild Bhils, famous for +long years, will come up, and surrounding the party, will bid the Raja +throw down his arms. Thereupon Mahabul, skilful in aiming, twanging and +wielding the bow on all sides, so as to keep off the bolts of the +enemy, will discharge his bolts so rapidly, that one will drive forward +another, and none of the barbarians will be able to approach. But he +will have failed to bring his quiver containing an inexhaustible store +of arms, some of which, pointed with diamonds, shall have the faculty +of returning again to their case after they have done their duty. The +conflict will continue three hours, and many of the Bhils will be slain: +at length a shaft will cleave the king’s skull, he will fall dead, and +one of the wild men will come up and cut off his head. + +When the queen and the princess shall have seen that Mahabul fell dead, +they will return to the forest weeping and beating their bosoms. They +will thus escape the Bhils, and after journeying on for four miles, at +length they will sit down wearied, and revolve many thoughts in their +minds. + +They are very lovely (continued the Vampire), as I see them with the eye +of clear-seeing. What beautiful hair! it hangs down like the tail of +the cow of Tartary, or like the thatch of a house; it is shining as +oil, dark as the clouds, black as blackness itself. What charming faces! +likest to water-lilies, with eyes as the stones in unripe mangos, noses +resembling the beaks of parrots, teeth like pearls set in corals, ears +like those of the redthroated vulture, and mouths like the water of +life. What excellent forms! breasts like boxes containing essences, the +unopened fruit of plantains or a couple of crabs; loins the width of a +span, like the middle of the viol; legs like the trunk of an elephant, +and feet like the yellow lotus. + +And a fearful place is that jungle, a dense dark mass of thorny shrubs, +and ropy creepers, and tall canes, and tangled brake, and gigantic +gnarled trees, which groan wildly in the night wind’s embrace. But a +wilder horror urges the unhappy women on; they fear the polluting touch +of the Bhils; once more they rise and plunge deeper into its gloomy +depths. + +The day dawns. The white Pariahs have done their usual work, They have +cut off the hands of some, the feet and heads of others, whilst many +they have crushed into shapeless masses, or scattered in pieces upon the +ground. The field is strewed with corpses, the river runs red, so that +the dogs and jackals swim in blood; the birds of prey sitting on the +branches, drink man’s life from the stream, and enjoy the sickening +smell of burnt flesh. + +Such will be the scenes acted in the fair land of Bharat. + +Perchance two white outcastes, father and son, who with a party of men +are scouring the forest and slaying everything, fall upon the path which +the women have taken shortly before. Their attention is attracted by +footprints leading towards a place full of tigers, leopards, bears, +wolves, and wild dogs. And they are utterly confounded when, after +inspection, they discover the sex of the wanderers. + +“How is it,” shall say the father, “that the footprints of mortals are +seen in this part of the forest?” + +The son shall reply, “Sir, these are the marks of women’s feet: a man’s +foot would not be so small.” + +“It is passing strange,” shall rejoin the elder white Pariah, “but thou +speakest truth. Certainly such a soft and delicate foot cannot belong to +anyone but a woman.” + +“They have only just left the track,” shall continue the son, “and look! +this is the step of a married woman. See how she treads on the inside of +her sole, because of the bending of her ankles.” And the younger white +outcaste shall point to the queen’s footprints. + +“Come, let us search the forest for them,” shall cry the father, “what +an opportunity of finding wives fortune has thrown in our hands. But no! +thou art in error,” he shall continue, after examining the track pointed +out by his son, “in supposing this to be the sign of a matron. Look at +the other, it is much longer; the toes have scarcely touched the ground, +whereas the marks of the heels are deep. Of a truth this must be +the married woman.” And the elder white outcaste shall point to the +footprints of the princess. + +“Then,” shall reply the son, who admires the shorter foot, “let us first +seek them, and when we find them, give to me her who has the short feet, +and take the other to wife thyself.” + +Having made this agreement they shall proceed on their way, and +presently they shall find the women lying on the earth, half dead +with fatigue and fear. Their legs and feet are scratched and torn by +brambles, their ornaments have fallen off, and their garments are +in strips. The two white outcastes find little difficulty, the first +surprise over, in persuading the unhappy women to follow them home, and +with great delight, conformably to their arrangement, each takes up his +prize on his horse and rides back to the tents. The son takes the queen, +and the father the princess. + +In due time two marriages come to pass; the father, according to +agreement, espouses the long foot, and the son takes to wife the short +foot. And after the usual interval, the elder white outcaste, who had +married the daughter, rejoices at the birth of a boy, and the younger +white outcaste, who had married the mother, is gladdened by the sight of +a girl. + +Now then, by my feet and your head, O warrior king Vikram, answer me one +question. What relationship will there be between the children of the +two white Pariahs? + +Vikram’s brow waxed black as a charcoal-burner’s, when he again heard +the most irreverent oath ever proposed to mortal king. The question +presently attracted his attention, and he turned over the Baital’s +words in his head, confusing the ties of filiality, brotherhood, and +relationship, and connection in general. + +“Hem!” said the warrior king, at last perplexed, and remembering, in his +perplexity, that he had better hold his tongue--“ahem!” + +“I think your majesty spoke?” asked the Vampire, in an inquisitive and +insinuating tone of voice. + +“Hem!” ejaculated the monarch. + +The Baital held his peace for a few minutes, coughing once or twice +impatiently. He suspected that the extraordinary nature of this last +tale, combined with the use of the future tense, had given rise to a +taciturnity so unexpected in the warrior king. He therefore asked if +Vikram the Brave would not like to hear another little anecdote. + +This time the king did not even say “hem!” Having walked at an +unusually rapid pace, he distinguished at a distance the fire kindled by +the devotee, and he hurried towards it with an effort which left him no +breath wherewith to speak, even had he been so inclined. + +“Since your majesty is so completely dumbfoundered by it, perhaps this +acute young prince may be able to answer my question?” insinuated the +Baital, after a few minutes of anxious suspense. + +But Dharma Dhwaj answered not a syllable. + + + CONCLUSION. + +At Raja Vikram’s silence the Baital was greatly surprised, and he +praised the royal courage and resolution to the skies. Still he did not +give up the contest at once. + +“Allow me, great king,” pursued the Demon, in a dry tone of voice, “to +wish you joy. After so many failures you have at length succeeded in +repressing your loquacity. I will not stop to enquire whether it was +humility and self-restraint which prevented your answering my last +question, or whether Rajait was mere ignorance and inability. Of course +I suspect the latter, but to say the truth your condescension in at last +taking a Vampire’s advice, flatters me so much, that I will not look too +narrowly into cause or motive.” + +Raja Vikram winced, but maintained a stubborn silence, squeezing his +lips lest they should open involuntarily. + +“Now, however, your majesty has mortified, we will suppose, a somewhat +exacting vanity, I also will in my turn forego the pleasure which I had +anticipated in seeing you a corpse and in entering your royal body for +a short time, just to know how queer it must feel to be a king. And what +is more, I will now perform my original promise, and you shall derive +from me a benefit which none but myself can bestow. First, however, +allow me to ask you, will you let me have a little more air?” + +Dharma Dhwaj pulled his father’s sleeve, but this time Raja Vikram +required no reminder: wild horses or the executioner’s saw, beginning +at the shoulder, would not have drawn a word from him. Observing his +obstinate silence, the Baital, with an ominous smile, continued: + +“Now give ear, O warrior king, to what I am about to tell thee, and bear +in mind the giant’s saying, ‘A man is justified in killing one who has +a design to kill him.’ The young merchant Mal Deo, who placed such +magnificent presents at your royal feet, and Shanta-Shil the devotee +saint, who works his spells, incantations, and magical rites in a +cemetery on the banks of the Godaveri river, are, as thou knowest, one +person--the terrible Jogi, whose wrath your father aroused in his folly, +and whose revenge your blood alone can satisfy. With regard to myself, +the oilman’s son, the same Jogi, fearing lest I might interfere with his +projects of universal dominion, slew me by the power of his penance, +and has kept me suspended, a trap for you, head downwards from the +sires-tree. + +“That Jogi it was, you now know, who sent you to fetch me back to him on +your back. And when you cast me at his feet he will return thanks to you +and praise your valour, perseverance and resolution to the skies. I warn +you to beware. He will lead you to the shrine of Durga, and when he +has finished his adoration he will say to you, ‘O great king, salute my +deity with the eight-limbed reverence.’” + +Here the Vampire whispered for a time and in a low tone, lest some +listening goblin might carry his words if spoken out loud to the ears of +the devotee Shanta-Shil. + +At the end of the monologue a rustling sound was heard. It proceeded +from the Baital, who was disengaging himself from the dead body in the +bundle, and the burden became sensibly lighter upon the monarch’s back. + +The departing Baital, however, did not forget to bid farewell to the +warrior king and to his son. He complimented the former for the last +time, in his own way, upon the royal humility and the prodigious +self-mortification which he had displayed--qualities, he remarked, which +never failed to ensure the proprietor’s success in all the worlds. + +Raja Vikram stepped out joyfully, and soon reached the burning ground. +There he found the Jogi, dressed in his usual habit, a deerskin thrown +over his back, and twisted reeds instead of a garment hanging round +his loins. The hair had fallen from his limbs and his skin was bleached +ghastly white by exposure to the elements. A fire seemed to proceed from +his mouth, and the matted locks dropping from his head to the ground +were changed by the rays of the sun to the colour of gold or saffron. He +had the beard of a goat and the ornaments of a king; his shoulders were +high and his arms long, reaching to his knees: his nails grew to such a +length as to curl round the ends of his fingers, and his feet resembled +those of a tiger. He was drumming upon a skull, and incessantly +exclaiming, “Ho, Kali! ho, Durga! ho, Devi!” + +As before, strange beings were holding their carnival in the Jogi’s +presence. Monstrous Asuras, giant goblins, stood grimly gazing upon the +scene with fixed eyes and motionless features. Rakshasas and messengers +of Yama, fierce and hideous, assumed at pleasure the shapes of foul and +ferocious beasts. Nagas and Bhutas, partly human and partly bestial, +disported themselves in throngs about the upper air, and were dimly +seen in the faint light of the dawn. Mighty Daityas, Bramba-daityas, and +Pretas, the size of a man’s thumb, or dried up like leaves, and Pisachas +of terrible power guarded the place. There were enormous goats, vivified +by the spirits of those who had slain Brahmans; things with the bodies +of men and the faces of horses, camels and monkeys; hideous worms +containing the souls of those priests who had drunk spirituous liquors; +men with one leg and one ear, and mischievous blood-sucking demons, who +in life had stolen church property. There were vultures, wretches that +had violated the beds of their spiritual fathers, restless ghosts that +had loved low-caste women, shades for whom funeral rites had not been +performed, and who could not cross the dread Vaitarani stream,[188] and +vital souls fresh from the horrors of Tamisra, or utter darkness, and +the Usipatra Vana, or the sword-leaved forest. Pale spirits, Alayas, +Gumas, Baitals, and Yakshas,[189] beings of a base and vulgar order, +glided over the ground, amongst corpses and skeletons animated by female +fiends, Dakinis, Yoginis, Hakinis, and Shankinis, which were dancing +in frightful revelry. The air was filled with supernatural sights and +sounds, cries of owls and jackals, cats and crows, dogs, asses, and +vultures, high above which rose the clashing of the bones with which the +Jogi sat drumming upon the skull before him, and tending a huge cauldron +of oil whose smoke was of blue fire. But as he raised his long lank +arm, silver-white with ashes, the demons fled, and a momentary silence +succeeded to their uproar. The tigers ceased to roar and the elephants +to scream; the bears raised their snouts from their foul banquets, and +the wolves dropped from their jaws the remnants of human flesh. And when +they disappeared, the hooting of the owl, and ghastly “ha! ha!” of the +curlew, and the howling of the jackal died away in the far distance, +leaving a silence still more oppressive. + +As Raja Vikram entered the burning-ground, the hollow sound of solitude +alone met his ear. Sadly wailed the wet autumnal blast. The tall gaunt +trees groaned aloud, and bowed and trembled like slaves bending before +their masters. Huge purple clouds and patches and lines of glaring +white mist coursed furiously across the black expanse of firmament, +discharging threads and chains and lozenges and balls of white and blue, +purple and pink lightning, followed by the deafening crash and roll of +thunder, the dreadful roaring of the mighty wind, and the torrents of +plashing rain. At times was heard in the distance the dull gurgling of +the swollen river, interrupted by explosions, as slips of earth-bank +fell headlong into the stream. But once more the Jogi raised his arm and +all was still: nature lay breathless, as if awaiting the effect of his +tremendous spells. + +The warrior king drew near the terrible man, unstrung his bundle from +his back, untwisted the portion which he held, threw open the cloth, +and exposed to Shanta-Shil’s glittering eyes the corpse, which had now +recovered its proper form--that of a young child. Seeing it, the devotee +was highly pleased, and thanked Vikram the Brave, extolling his courage +and daring above any monarch that had yet lived. After which he repeated +certain charms facing towards the south, awakened the dead body, and +placed it in a sitting position. He then in its presence sacrificed +to his goddess, the White One,[190] all that he had ready by his +side--betel leaf and flowers, sandal wood and unbroken rice, fruits, +perfumes, and the flesh of man untouched by steel. Lastly, he half +filled his skull with burning embers, blew upon them till they shot +forth tongues of crimson light, serving as a lamp, and motioning the +Raja and his son to follow him, led the way to a little fane of the +Destroying Deity erected in a dark clump of wood, outside and close to +the burning ground. + +They passed through the quadrangular outer court of the temple whose +piazza was hung with deep shade.[191] In silence they circumambulated +the small central shrine, and whenever Shanta-Shil directed, Raja Vikram +entered the Sabha, or vestibule, and struck three times upon the gong, +which gave forth a loud and warning sound. + +They then passed over the threshold, and looked into the gloomy inner +depths. There stood Smashana-Kali,[192] the goddess, in her most horrid +form. She was a naked and very black woman, with half-severed head, +partly cut and partly painted, resting on her shoulder; and her tongue +lolled out from her wide yawning mouth[193]; her eyes were red like +those of a drunkard; and her eyebrows were of the same colour: her +thick coarse hair hung like a mantle to her heels. She was robed in an +elephant’s hide, dried and withered, confined at the waist with a belt +composed of the hands of the giants whom she had slain in war: two dead +bodies formed her earrings, and her necklace was of bleached skulls. +Her four arms supported a scimitar, a noose, a trident, and a ponderous +mace. She stood with one leg on the breast of her husband, Shiva, and +she rested the other on his thigh. Before the idol lay the utensils of +worship, namely, dishes for the offerings, lamps, jugs, incense, copper +cups, conches and gongs; and all of them smelt of blood. + +As Raja Vikram and his son stood gazing upon the hideous spectacle, the +devotee stooped down to place his skull-lamp upon the ground, and drew +from out his ochre-coloured cloth a sharp sword which he hid behind his +back. + +“Prosperity to thine and thy son’s for ever and ever, O mighty Vikram!” + exclaimed Shanta-Shil, after he had muttered a prayer before the image. +“Verily thou hast right royally redeemed thy pledge, and by the virtue +of thy presence all my wishes shall presently be accomplished. Behold! +the Sun is about to drive his car over the eastern hills, and our task +now ends. Do thou reverence before this my deity, worshipping the earth +through thy nose, and so prostrating thyself that thy eight limbs may +touch the ground.[194] Thus shall thy glory and splendour be great; the +Eight Powers[195] and the Nine Treasures shall be thine, and prosperity +shall ever remain under thy roof-tree.” + +Raja Vikram, hearing these words, recalled suddenly to mind all that the +Vampire had whispered to him. He brought his joined hands open up to +his forehead, caused his two thumbs to touch his brow several times, and +replied with the greatest humility, + +“O pious person! I am a king ignorant of the way to do such obeisance. +Thou art a spiritual preceptor: be pleased to teach me and I will do +even as thou desirest.” + +Then the Jogi, being a cunning man, fell into his own net. As he bent +him down to salute the goddess, Vikram, drawing his sword, struck him +upon the neck so violent a blow, that his head rolled from his body upon +the ground. At the same moment Dharma Dhwaj, seizing his father’s arm, +pulled him out of the way in time to escape being crushed by the image, +which fell with the sound of thunder upon the floor of the temple. + +A small thin voice in the upper air was heard to cry, “A man is +justified in killing one who has the desire to kill him.” Then glad +shouts of triumph and victory were heard in all directions. They +proceeded from the celestial choristers, the heavenly dancers, the +mistresses of the gods, and the nymphs of Indra’s Paradise, who left +their beds of gold and precious stones, their seats glorious as the +meridian sun, their canals of crystal water, their perfumed groves, and +their gardens where the wind ever blows in softest breezes, to applaud +the valour and good fortune of the warrior king. + +At last the brilliant god, Indra himself, with the thousand eyes, rising +from the shade of the Parigat tree, the fragrance of whose flowers fills +the heavens, appeared in his car drawn by yellow steeds and cleaving the +thick vapours which surround the earth--whilst his attendants sounded +the heavenly drums and rained a shower of blossoms and perfumes--bade +the Vikramajit the Brave ask a boon. + +The Raja joined his hands and respectfully replied, + +“O mighty ruler of the lower firmament, let this my history become +famous throughout the world!” + +“It is well,” rejoined the god. “As long as the sun and moon endure, and +the sky looks down upon the ground, so long shall this thy adventure be +remembered over all the earth. Meanwhile rule thou mankind.” + +Thus saying, Indra retired to the delicious Amrawati[196] Vikram took up +the corpses and threw them into the cauldron which Shanta-Shil had been +tending. At once two heroes started into life, and Vikram said to them, +“When I call you, come!” + +With these mysterious words the king, followed by his son, returned +to the palace unmolested. As the Vampire had predicted, everything was +prosperous to him, and he presently obtained the remarkable titles, +Sakaro, or foe of the Sakas, and Sakadhipati-Vikramaditya. + +And when, after a long and happy life spent in bringing the world under +the shadow of one umbrella, and in ruling it free from care, the warrior +king Vikram entered the gloomy realms of Yama, from whom for mortals +there is no escape, he left behind him a name that endured amongst men +like the odour of the flower whose memory remains long after its form +has mingled with the dust.[197] + + + + +FOOTNOTES + + +[Footnote 1: Metamorphoseon, seu de Asino Aureo, libri Xl. The well known and +beautiful episode is in the fourth, the fifth, and the sixth books.] + +[Footnote 2: This ceremony will be explained in a future page.] + +[Footnote 3: A common exclamation of sorrow, surprise, fear, and other emotions. +It is especially used by women.] + +[Footnote 4: Quoted from view of the Hindoos, by William Ward, of Serampore (vol. +i. p. 25).] + +[Footnote 5: In Sanskrit, Vetala-pancha-Vinshati. “Baital” is the modern form of +“Vetala”.] + +[Footnote 6: In Arabic, Badpai el Hakim.] + +[Footnote 7: Dictionnaire philosophique sub v. “Apocryphes.”] + +[Footnote 8: I do not mean that rhymes were not known before the days of +Al-Islam, but that the Arabs popularized assonance and consonance in +Southern Europe.] + +[Footnote 9: “Vikrama” means “valour” or “prowess.”] + +[Footnote 10: Mr. Ward of Serampore is unable to quote the names of more than +nine out of the eighteen, namely: Sanskrit, Prakrit, Naga, Paisacha, +Gandharba, Rakshasa, Ardhamagadi, Apa, and Guhyaka--most of them being +the languages of different orders of fabulous beings. He tells us, +however, that an account of these dialects may be found in the work +called Pingala.] + +[Footnote 11: Translated by Sir Wm. Jones, 1789; and by Professor Williams, 1856.] + +[Footnote 12: Translated by Professor H. H. Wilson.] + +[Footnote 13: The time was propitious to savans. Whilst Vikramaditya lived, +Magha, another king, caused to be written a poem called after his name +For each verse he is said to have paid to learned men a gold piece, +which amounted to a total of 5,280l.--a large sum in those days, which +preceded those of Paradise Lost. About the same period Karnata, a third +king, was famed for patronizing the learned men who rose to honour at +Vikram’s court. Dhavaka, a poet of nearly the same period, received from +King Shriharsha the magnificent present of 10,000l. for a poem called +the Ratna-Mala.] + +[Footnote 14: Lieut. Wilford supports the theory that there were eight +Vikramadityas, the last of whom established the era. For further +particulars, the curious reader will consult Lassen’s Anthologia, and +Professor H. H. Wilson’s Essay on Vikram (New), As. Red.. ix. 117.] + +[Footnote 15: History tells us another tale. The god Indra and the King of Dhara +gave the kingdom to Bhartari-hari, another son of Gandhar-ba-Sena, by +a handmaiden. For some time, the brothers lived together; but presently +they quarrelled. Vikram being dismissed from court, wandered from place +to place in abject poverty, and at one time hired himself as a servant +to a merchant living in Guzerat. At length, Bhartari-hari, disgusted +with the world on account of the infidelity of his wife, to whom he was +ardently attached, became a religious devotee, and left the kingdom to +its fate. In the course of his travels, Vikram came to Ujjayani, and +finding it without a head, assumed the sovereignty. He reigned with +great splendour, conquering by his arms Utkala, Vanga, Kuch-bahar, +Guzerat, Somnat, Delhi, and other places; until, in his turn, he was +conquered, and slain by Shalivahan.] + +[Footnote 16: The words are found, says Mr. Ward, in the Hindu History compiled +by Mrityungaya.] + +[Footnote 17: These duties of kings are thus laid down in the Rajtarangini. It is +evident, as Professor H. H. Wilson says, that the royal status was by +no means a sinecure. But the rules are evidently the closet work of some +pedantic, dogmatic Brahman, teaching kingcraft to kings. He directs his +instructions, not to subordinate judges, but to the Raja as the chief +magistrate, and through him to all appointed for the administration of +his justice.] + +[Footnote 18: Lunus, not Luna.] + +[Footnote 19: That is to say, “upon an empty stomach.”] + +[Footnote 20: There are three sandhyas amongst the Hindus--morning, mid-day, and +sunset; and all three are times for prayer.] + +[Footnote 21: The Hindu Cupid.] + +[Footnote 22: Patali, the regions beneath the earth.] + +[Footnote 23: The Hindu Triad.] + +[Footnote 24: Or Avanti, also called Padmavati. It is the first meridian of the +Hindus, who found their longitude by observation of lunar eclipses, +calculated for it and Lanka, or Ceylon. The clepsydra was used for +taking time.] + +[Footnote 25: In the original only the husband “practiced austere devotion.” For +the benefit of those amongst whom the “pious wife” is an institution, I +have extended the privilege.] + +[Footnote 26: A Moslem would say, “This is our fate.” A Hindu refers at once to +metempsychosis, as naturally as a modern Swedenborgian to spiritism.] + +[Footnote 27: In Europe, money buys this world, and delivers you from the pains +of purgatory; amongst the Hindus, it furthermore opens the gate of +heaven.] + +[Footnote 28: This part of the introduction will remind the reader of the two +royal brothers and their false wives in the introduction to the Arabian +Nights. The fate of Bhartari Raja, however, is historical.] + +[Footnote 29: In the original, “Div”--a supernatural being god, or demon. This +part of the plot is variously told. According to some, Raja Vikram was +surprised, when entering the city to see a grand procession at the house +of a potter and a boy being carried off on an elephant to the violent +grief of his parents The King inquired the reason of their sorrow, and +was told that the wicked Div that guarded the city was in the habit of +eating a citizen per diem. Whereupon the valorous Raja caused the boy +to dismount; took his place; entered the palace; and, when presented as +food for the demon, displayed his pugilistic powers in a way to excite +the monsters admiration.] + +[Footnote 30: In India, there is still a monastic order the pleasant duty of +whose members is to enjoy themselves as much as possible. It has been +much the same in Europe. “Representez-vous le convent de l’Escurial +ou du Mont Cassin, ou les cenobites ont toutes sortes de commodities, +necessaires, utiles, delectables, superflues, surabondantes, puisqu’ils +ont les cent cinquante mille, les quatre cent mille, les cinq cent mille +ecus de rente; et jugez si monsieur l’abbe a de quoi laisser dormir +la meridienne a ceux qui voudront.”--Saint Augustin, de l’Ouvrage des +Moines, by Le Camus, Bishop of Belley, quoted by Voltaire, Dict. Phil., +sub v. “Apocalypse.”] + +[Footnote 31: This form of matrimony was recognized by the ancient Hindus, and +is frequent in books. It is a kind of Scotch +wedding--ultra-Caledonian--taking place by mutual consent, without +any form or ceremony. The Gandharbas are heavenly minstrels of Indra’s +court, who are supposed to be witnesses.] + +[Footnote 32: The Hindu Saturnalia.] + +[Footnote 33: The powders are of wheaten flour, mixed with wild ginger-root, +sappan-wood, and other ingredients. Sometimes the stuff is thrown in +syringes.] + +[Footnote 34: The Persian proverb is--“Bala e tavilah bar sat i maimun”: “The +woes of the stable be on the monkey’s head!” In some Moslem countries +a hog acts prophylactic. Hence probably Mungo Park’s troublesome pig at +Ludamar.] + +[Footnote 35: So the moribund father of the “babes in the wood” lectures his +wicked brother, their guardian: “To God and you I recommend + My children deare this day: + But little while, be sure, we have + Within this world to stay.” + But, to appeal to the moral sense of a goldsmith!] + +[Footnote 36: Maha (great) raja (king): common address even to those who are not +royal.] + +[Footnote 37: The name means. “Quietistic Disposition.”] + +[Footnote 38: August. In the solar-lunar year of the Hindu the months are divided +into fortnights--light and dark.] + +[Footnote 39: A flower, whose name frequently occurs in Sanskrit poetry.] + +[Footnote 40: The stars being men’s souls raised to the sky for a time pro +portioned to their virtuous deeds on earth.] + +[Footnote 41: A measure of length, each two miles.] + +[Footnote 42: The warm region below.] + +[Footnote 43: Hindus admire only glossy black hair; the “bonny brown hair” + loved by our ballads is assigned by them to low-caste men, witches, and +fiends.] + +[Footnote 44: A large kind of bat; a popular and silly Anglo-Indian name. It +almost justified the irate Scotchman in calling “prodigious leears” + those who told him in India that foxes flew and tress were tapped for +toddy.] + +[Footnote 45: The Hindus, like the European classics and other ancient peoples, +reckon four ages:--The Satya Yug, or Golden Age, numbered 1,728,000 +years: the second, or Treta Yug, comprised 1,296,000; the Dwapar Yug had +864,000 and the present, the Kali Yug, has shrunk to 832,000 years.] + +[Footnote 46: Especially alluding to prayer. On this point, Southey justly +remarks (Preface to Curse of Kehama): “In the religion of the Hindoos +there is one remarkable peculiarity. Prayers, penances, and sacrifices +are supposed to possess an inherent and actual value, in one degree +depending upon the disposition or motive of the person who performs +them. They are drafts upon heaven for which the gods cannot refuse +payment. The worst men, bent upon the worst designs, have in this manner +obtained power which has made them formidable to the supreme deities +themselves.” Moreover, the Hindu gods hear the prayers of those who +desire the evil of others. Hence when a rich man becomes poor, his +friends say, “See how sharp are men’s teeth!” and, “He is ruined because +others could not bear to see his happiness!”] + +[Footnote 47: A pond, natural or artificial; in the latter case often covering an +extent of ten to twelve acres.] + +[Footnote 48: The Hindustani “gilahri,” or little grey squirrel, whose twittering +cry is often mistaken for a bird’s.] + +[Footnote 49: The autumn or rather the rainy season personified--a hackneyed +Hindu prosopopoeia.] + +[Footnote 50: Light conversation upon the subject of women is a persona offence +to serious-minded Hindus.] + +[Footnote 51: Cupid in his two forms, Eros and Anteros.] + +[Footnote 52: This is true to life in the East, women make the first advances, +and men do the begueules.] + +[Footnote 53: Raja-hans, a large grey goose, the Hindu equivalent for our swan.] + +[Footnote 54: Properly Karnatak; karna in Sanskrit means an ear.] + +[Footnote 55: Danta in Sanskrit is a tooth.] + +[Footnote 56: Padma means a foot.] + +[Footnote 57: A common Hindu phrase equivalent to our “I manage to get on.”] + +[Footnote 58: Meaning marriage maternity, and so forth.] + +[Footnote 59: Yama is Pluto; ‘mother of Yama’ is generally applied to an old +scold.] + +[Footnote 60: Snake-land: the infernal region.] + +[Footnote 61: A form of abuse given to Durga, who was the mother of Ganesha +(Janus); the latter had an elephant’s head.] + +[Footnote 62: Unexpected pleasure, according to the Hindus, gives a bristly +elevation to the down of the body.] + +[Footnote 63: The Hindus banish “flasks,” et hoc genus omne, from these scenes, +and perhaps they are right.] + +[Footnote 64: The Pankha, or large common fan, is a leaf of the Corypha +umbraculifera, with the petiole cut to the length of about five feet, +pared round the edges and painted to look pretty. It is waved by the +servant standing behind a chair.] + +[Footnote 65: The fabulous mass of precious stones forming the sacred mountain of +Hindu mythology.] + +[Footnote 66: “I love my love with an ‘S,’ because he is stupid and not +pyschological.”] + +[Footnote 67: Hindu mythology has also its Cerberus, Trisisa, the “three headed” + hound that attends dreadful Yama (Pluto)] + +[Footnote 68: Parceque c’est la saison des amours.] + +[Footnote 69: The police magistrate, the Catual of Camoens.] + +[Footnote 70: The seat of a Hindu ascetic.] + +[Footnote 71: The Hindu scriptures.] + +[Footnote 72: The Goddess of Prosperity.] + +[Footnote 73: In the original the lover is not blamed; this would be the Hindu +view of the matter; we might be tempted to think of the old injunction +not to seethe a kid in the mother’s milk.] + +[Footnote 74: In the original a “maina “-the Gracula religiosa.] + +[Footnote 75: As we should say, buried them.] + +[Footnote 76: A large kind of black bee, common in India.] + +[Footnote 77: The beautiful wife of the demigod Rama Chandra.] + +[Footnote 78: The Hindu Ars Amoris.] + +[Footnote 79: The old philosophers, believing in a “Sat” (xx xx), postulated an +Asat (xx xx xx) and made the latter the root of the former.] + +[Footnote 80: In Western India, a place celebrated for suicides.] + +[Footnote 81: Kama Deva. “Out on thee, foul fiend, talk’st thou of nothing but +ladies?”] + +[Footnote 82: The pipal or Ficus religiosa, a favourite roosting-place for +fiends.] + +[Footnote 83: India.] + +[Footnote 84: The ancient name of a priest by profession, meaning “praepositus” + or praeses. He was the friend and counsellor of a chief, the minister +of a king, and his companion in peace and war. (M. Muller’s Ancient +Sanskrit Literature, p. 485).] + +[Footnote 85: Lakshmi, the Goddess of Prosperity. Raj-Lakshmi would mean the +King’s Fortune, which we should call tutelary genius. Lakshichara is our +“luckless,” forming, as Mr. Ward says, an extraordinary coincidence of +sound and meaning in languages so different. But the derivations are +very distinct.] + +[Footnote 86: The Monkey God.] + +[Footnote 87: Generally written “Banyan.”] + +[Footnote 88: The daughter of Raja Janaka, married to Ramachandra. The latter +placed his wife under the charge of his brother Lakshmana, and went +into the forest to worship, when the demon Ravana disguised himself as a +beggar, and carried off the prize.] + +[Footnote 89: This great king was tricked by the god Vishnu out of the sway of +heaven and earth, but from his exceeding piety he was appointed to reign +in Patala, or Hades.] + +[Footnote 90: The procession is fair game, and is often attacked in the dark with +sticks and stones, causing serious disputes. At the supper the guests +confer the obligation by their presence, and are exceedingly exacting.] + +[Footnote 91: Rati is the wife of Kama, the God of Desire; and we explain the +word by “Spring personified.”] + +[Footnote 92: The Indian Cuckoo (Cucuius Indicus). It is supposed to lay its eggs +in the nest of the crow.] + +[Footnote 93: This is the well-known Ghi or Ghee, the one sauce of India which is +as badly off in that matter as England.] + +[Footnote 94: The European reader will observe that it is her purity which +carries the heroine through all these perils. Moreover, that her virtue +is its own reward, as it loses to her the world.] + +[Footnote 95: Literally, “one of all tastes”--a wild or gay man, we should say.] + +[Footnote 96: These shoes are generally made of rags and bits of leather; they +have often toes behind the foot, with other similar contrivances, yet +they scarcely ever deceive an experienced man.] + +[Footnote 97: The high-toper is a swell-thief, the other is a low dog.] + +[Footnote 98: Engaged in shoplifting.] + +[Footnote 99: The moon.] + +[Footnote 100: The judge.] + +[Footnote 101: To be lagged is to be taken; scragging is hanging.] + +[Footnote 102: The tongue.] + +[Footnote 103: This is the god Kartikeya, a mixture of Mars and Mercury, +who revealed to a certain Yugacharya the scriptures known as +“Chauriya-Vidya”--Anglice, “Thieves’ Manual.” The classical robbers +of the Hindu drama always perform according to its precepts. There is +another work respected by thieves and called the “Chora-Panchashila,” + because consisting of fifty lines.] + +[Footnote 104: Supposed to be a good omen.] + +[Footnote 105: Share the booty.] + +[Footnote 106: Bhawani is one of the many forms of the destroying goddess, the +wife of Shiva.] + +[Footnote 107: Wretches who kill with the narcotic seed of the stramonium.] + +[Footnote 108: Better know as “Thugs,” which in India means simply “rascals.”] + +[Footnote 109: Crucifixion, until late years, was common amongst the Buddhists +of the Burmese empire. According to an eye-witness, Mr. F. Carey, the +punishment was inflicted in two ways. Sometimes criminals were crucified +by their hands and feet being nailed to a scaffold; others were merely +tied up, and fed. In these cases the legs and feet of the patient began +to swell and mortify at the expiration of three or four days; men are +said to have lived in this state for a fortnight, and at last they +expired from fatigue and mortification. The sufferings from cramp also +must be very severe. In India generally impalement was more common than +crucifixion.] + +[Footnote 110: Our Suttee. There is an admirable Hindu proverb, which says, “No +one knows the ways of woman; she kill her husband and becomes a Sati.”] + +[Footnote 111: Fate and Destiny are rather Moslem than Hindu fancies.] + +[Footnote 112: Properly speaking, the husbandman should plough with not fewer +than four bullocks; but few can afford this. If he plough with a cow +or a bullock, and not with a bull, the rice produced by his ground is +unclean, and may not be used in any religious ceremony.] + +[Footnote 113: A shout of triumph, like our “Huzza” or “Hurrah!” of late degraded +into “Hooray.” “Hari bol” is of course religious, meaning “Call upon +Hari!” i.e. Krishna, i.e. Vishnu.] + +[Footnote 114: This form of suicide is one of those recognized in India. So +in Europe we read of fanatics who, with a suicidal ingenuity, have +succeeded in crucifying themselves.] + +[Footnote 115: The river of Jaganath in Orissa; it shares the honours of sanctity +with some twenty-nine others, and in the lower regions it represents the +classical Styx.] + +[Footnote 116: Cupid. His wife Rati is the spring personified. The Hindu poets +always unite love and spring, and perhaps physiologically they are +correct.] + +[Footnote 117: An incarnation of the third person of the Hindu Triad, or +Triumvirate, Shiva the God of Destruction, the Indian Bacchus. The image +has five faces, and each face has three eyes. In Bengal it is found in +many villages, and the women warn their children not to touch it on pain +of being killed.] + +[Footnote 118: A village Brahman on stated occasions receives fees from all the +villagers.] + +[Footnote 119: The land of Greece.] + +[Footnote 120: Savans, professors. So in the old saying, “Hanta, Pandit Sansara +“--Alas! the world is learned! This a little antedates the well-known +schoolmaster.] + +[Footnote 121: Children are commonly sent to school at the age of five. Girls are +not taught to read, under the common idea that they will become widows +if they do.] + +[Footnote 122: Meaning the place of reading the four Shastras.] + +[Footnote 123: A certain goddess who plays tricks with mankind. If a son when +grown up act differently from what his parents did, people say that he +has been changed in the womb.] + +[Footnote 124: Shani is the planet Saturn, which has an exceedingly baleful +influence in India as elsewhere.] + +[Footnote 125: The Eleatic or Materialistic school of Hindu philosophy, which +agrees to explode an intelligent separate First Cause.] + +[Footnote 126: The writings of this school give an excellent view of the +“progressive system,” which has popularly been asserted to be a modern +idea. But Hindu philosophy seems to have exhausted every fancy that can +spring from the brain of man.] + +[Footnote 127: Tama is the natural state of matter, Raja is passion acting upon +nature, and Satwa is excellence These are the three gunas or qualities +of matter.] + +[Footnote 128: Spiritual preceptors and learned men.] + +[Footnote 129: Under certain limitations, gambling is allowed by Hindu law and +the winner has power over the person and property of the loser. No +“debts of honour” in Hindustan!] + +[Footnote 130: Quotations from standard works on Hindu criminal law, which in +some points at least is almost as absurd as our civilized codes.] + +[Footnote 131: Hindus carry their money tied up in a kind of sheet which is wound +round the waist and thrown over the shoulder.] + +[Footnote 132: A thieves’ manual in the Sanskrit tongue; it aspires to the +dignity of a “Scripture.”] + +[Footnote 133: All sounds, say the Hindus, are of similar origin, and they do not +die; if they did, they could not be remembered.] + +[Footnote 134: Gold pieces.] + +[Footnote 135: These are the qualifications specified by Hindu classical +authorities as necessary to make a distinguished thief.] + +[Footnote 136: Every Hindu is in a manner born to a certain line of life, +virtuous or vicious, honest or dishonest and his Dharma, or religious +duty, consists in conforming to the practice and the worship of his +profession. The “Thug,” for instance, worships Bhawani, who enables him +to murder successfully; and his remorse would arise from neglecting to +murder.] + +[Footnote 137: Hindu law sensibly punishes, in theory at least, for the same +offence the priest more severely than the layman--a hint for him to +practice what he preaches.] + +[Footnote 138: The Hindu Mercury, god of rascals.] + +[Footnote 139: A penal offence in India. How is it that we English have omitted +to codify it? The laws of Manu also punish severely all disdainful +expressions, such as “tush” or “pish,” addressed during argument to a +priest.] + +[Footnote 140: Stanzas, generally speaking, on serious subjects.] + +[Footnote 141: Whitlows on the nails show that the sufferer, in the last life, +stole gold from a Brahman.] + +[Footnote 142: A low caste Hindu, who catches and exhibits snakes and performs +other such mean offices.] + +[Footnote 143: Meaning, in spite of themselves.] + +[Footnote 144: When the moon is in a certain lunar mansion, at the conclusion of +the wet season.] + +[Footnote 145: In Hindustan, it is the prevailing wind of the hot weather.] + +[Footnote 146: Vishnu, as a dwarf, sank down into and secured in the lower +regions the Raja Bali, who by his piety and prayerfulness was subverting +the reign of the lesser gods; as Ramachandra he built a bridge between +Lanka (Ceylon) and the main land; and as Krishna he defended, by +holding up a hill as an umbrella for them, his friends the shepherds +and shepherdesses from the thunders of Indra, whose worship they had +neglected.] + +[Footnote 147: The priestly caste sprang, as has been said, from the noblest part +of the Demiurgus; the three others from lower members.] + +[Footnote 148: A chew of betel leaf and spices is offered by the master of the +house when dismissing a visitor.] + +[Footnote 149: Respectable Hindus say that receiving a fee for a daughter is like +selling flesh.] + +[Footnote 150: A modern custom amongst the low caste is for the bride and +bridegroom, in the presence of friends, to place a flower garland on +each other’s necks, and thus declare themselves man and wife. The old +classical Gandharva-lagan has been before explained.] + +[Footnote 151: Meaning that the sight of each other will cause a smile, and that +what one purposes the other will consent to.] + +[Footnote 152: This would be the verdict of a Hindu jury.] + +[Footnote 153: Because stained with the powder of Mhendi, or the Lawsonia inermis +shrub.] + +[Footnote 154: Kansa’s son: so called because the god Shiva, when struck by his +shafts, destroyed him with a fiery glance.] + +[Footnote 155: “Great Brahman”; used contemptuously to priests who officiate +for servile men. Brahmans lose their honour by the following things: +By becoming servants to the king; by pursuing any secular business; by +acting priests to Shudras (serviles); by officiating as priests for a +whole village; and by neglecting any part of the three daily services. +Many violate these rules; yet to kill a Brahman is still one of the five +great Hindu sins. In the present age of the world, the Brahman may not +accept a gift of cows or of gold; of course he despises the law. As +regards monkey worship, a certain Rajah of Nadiya is said to have +expended 10,000L in marrying two monkeys with all the parade and +splendour of the Hindu rite.] + +[Footnote 156: The celebrated Gayatri, the Moslem Kalmah.] + +[Footnote 157: Kama again.] + +[Footnote 158: From “Man,” to think; primarily meaning, what makes man think.] + +[Footnote 159: The Cirrhadae of classical writers.] + +[Footnote 160: The Hindu Pluto; also called the Just King.] + +[Footnote 161: Yama judges the dead, whose souls go to him in four hours and +forty minutes; therefore a corpse cannot be burned till after that time. +His residence is Yamalaya, and it is on the south side of the earth; +down South, as we say. (I, Sam. xxv. 1, and xxx. 15). The Hebrews, like +the Hindus, held the northern parts of the world to be higher than the +southern. Hindus often joke a man who is seen walking in that direction, +and ask him where he is going.] + +[Footnote 162: The “Ganges,” in heaven called Mandakini. I have no idea why we +still adhere to our venerable corruption of the word.] + +[Footnote 163: The fabulous mountain supposed by Hindu geographers to occupy the +centre of the universe.] + +[Footnote 164: The all-bestowing tree in Indra’s Paradise which grants everything +asked of it. It is the Tuba of Al-Islam and is not unknown to the +Apocryphal New Testament.] + +[Footnote 165: “Vikramaditya, Lord of the Saka.” This is prevoyance on the part +of the Vampire; the king had not acquired the title.] + +[Footnote 166: On the sixth day after the child’s birth, the god Vidhata writes +all its fate upon its forehead. The Moslems have a similar idea, and +probably it passed to the Hindus.] + +[Footnote 167: Goddess of eloquence. “The waters of the Saraswati” is the +classical Hindu phrase for the mirage.] + +[Footnote 168: This story is perhaps the least interesting in the collection. I +have translated it literally, in order to give an idea of the original. +The reader will remark in it the source of our own nursery tale about +the princess who was so high born and delicately bred, that she could +discover the three peas laid beneath a straw mattress and four feather +beds. The Hindus, however, believe that Sybaritism can be carried so +far; I remember my Pandit asserting the truth of the story.] + +[Footnote 169: A minister. The word, as is the case with many in this collection, +is quite modern Moslem, and anachronistic.] + +[Footnote 170: The cow is called the mother of the gods, and is declared by +Brahma, the first person of the triad, Vishnu and Shiva being the second +and the third, to be a proper object of worship. “If a European speak to +the Hindu about eating the flesh of cows,” says an old missionary, “they +immediately raise their hands to their ears; yet milkmen, carmen, and +farmers beat the cow as unmercifully as a carrier of coals beats his ass +in England.” The Jains or Jainas (from ji, to conquer; as subduing the +passions) are one of the atheistical sects with whom the Brahmans have +of old carried on the fiercest religious controversies, ending in many +a sanguinary fight. Their tenets are consequently exaggerated and +ridiculed, as in the text. They believe that there is no such God as the +common notions on the subject point out, and they hold that the highest +act of virtue is to abstain from injuring sentient creatures. Man does +not possess an immortal spirit: death is the same to Brahma and to a +fly. Therefore there is no heaven or hell separate from present pleasure +or pain. Hindu Epicureans!--“Epicuri de grege porci.”] + +[Footnote 171: Narak is one of the multitudinous places of Hindu punishment, said +to adjoin the residence of Ajarna. The less cultivated Jains believe in +a region of torment. The illuminati, however, have a sovereign contempt +for the Creator, for a future state, and for all religious ceremonies. +As Hindus, however, they believe in future births of mankind, somewhat +influenced by present actions. The “next birth” in the mouth of a Hindu, +we are told, is the same as “to-morrow” in the mouth of a Christian. The +metempsychosis is on an extensive scale: according to some, a person +who loses human birth must pass through eight millions of successive +incarnations--fish, insects, worms, birds, and beasts--before he can +reappear as a man.] + +[Footnote 172: Jogi, or Yogi, properly applies to followers of the Yoga or +Patanjala school, who by ascetic practices acquire power over the +elements. Vulgarly, it is a general term for mountebank vagrants, +worshippers of Shiva. The Janganis adore the same deity, and carry +about a Linga. The Sevras are Jain beggars, who regard their chiefs +as superior to the gods of other sects. The Sannyasis are mendicant +followers of Shiva; they never touch metals or fire, and, in religious +parlance, they take up the staff They are opposed to the Viragis, +worshippers of Vishnu, who contend as strongly against the worshippers +of gods who receive bloody offerings, as a Christian could do against +idolatry.] + +[Footnote 173: The Brahman, or priest, is supposed to proceed from the mouth of +Brahma, the creating person of the Triad; the Khshatriyas (soldiers) +from his arms; the Vaishyas (enterers into business) from his thighs; +and the Shudras, “who take refuge in the Brahmans,” from his feet. Only +high caste men should assume the thread at the age of puberty.] + +[Footnote 174: Soma, the moon, I have said, is masculine in India.] + +[Footnote 175: Pluto.] + +[Footnote 176: Nothing astonishes Hindus so much as the apparent want of +affection between the European parent and child.] + +[Footnote 177: A third marriage is held improper and baneful to a Hindu woman. +Hence, before the nuptials they betroth the man to a tree, upon which +the evil expends itself, and the tree dies.] + +[Footnote 178: Kama] + +[Footnote 179: An oath, meaning, “From such a falsehood preserve me, Ganges!”] + +[Footnote 180: The Indian Neptune.] + +[Footnote 181: A highly insulting form of adjuration.] + +[Footnote 182: The British Islands--according to Wilford.] + +[Footnote 183: Literally the science (veda) of the bow (dhanush). This weapon, +as everything amongst the Hindus, had a divine origin: it was of three +kinds--the common bow, the pellet or stone bow, and the crossbow or +catapult.] + +[Footnote 184: It is a disputed point whether the ancient Hindus did or did not +know the use of gunpowder.] + +[Footnote 185: It is said to have discharged balls, each 6,400 pounds in weight.] + +[Footnote 186: A kind of Mercury, a god with the head and wings of a bird, who is +the Vahan or vehicle of the second person of the Triad, Vishnu.] + +[Footnote 187: The celebrated burning springs of Baku, near the Caspian, are so +called. There are many other “fire mouths.”] + +[Footnote 188: The Hindu Styx.] + +[Footnote 189: From Yaksha, to eat; as Rakshasas are from Raksha, to +preserve.--See Hardy’s Manual of Buddhism, p. 57.] + +[Footnote 190: Shiva is always painted white, no one knows why. His wife Gauri +has also a European complexion. Hence it is generally said that the sect +popularly called “Thugs,” who were worshippers of these murderous gods, +spared Englishmen, the latter being supposed to have some rapport with +their deities.] + +[Footnote 191: The Hindu shrine is mostly a small building, with two inner +compartments, the vestibule and the Garbagriha, or adytum, in which +stands the image.] + +[Footnote 192: Meaning Kali of the cemetery (Smashana); another form of Durga.] + +[Footnote 193: Not being able to find victims, this pleasant deity, to satisfy +her thirst for the curious juice, cut her own throat that the blood +might spout up into her mouth. She once found herself dancing on her +husband, and was so shocked that in surprise she put out her tongue to a +great length, and remained motionless. She is often represented in this +form.] + +[Footnote 194: This ashtanga, the most ceremonious of the five forms of Hindu +salutation, consists of prostrating and of making the eight parts of +the body--namely, the temples, nose and chin, knees and hands--touch the +ground.] + +[Footnote 195: “Sidhis,” the personified Powers of Nature. At least, so we +explain them: but people do not worship abstract powers.] + +[Footnote 196: The residence of Indra, king of heaven, built by Wishwa-Karma, the +architect of the gods.] + +[Footnote 197: In other words, to the present day, whenever a Hindu novelist, +romancer, or tale writer seeks a peg upon which to suspend the texture +of his story, he invariably pitches upon the glorious, pious, and +immortal memory of that Eastern King Arthur, Vikramaditya, shortly +called Vikram.] + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg’s Vikram and the Vampire, by Richard F. 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Burton + </title> + <style type="text/css" xml:space="preserve"> + + body { margin:5%; background:#faebd0; text-align:justify} + P { text-indent: 1em; margin-top: .25em; margin-bottom: .25em; } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%; } + hr { width: 50%; text-align: center;} + .foot { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; text-indent: -3em; font-size: 90%; } + blockquote {font-size: 97%; font-style: italic; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + .mynote {background-color: #DDE; color: #000; padding: .5em; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 95%;} + .toc { margin-left: 10%; margin-bottom: .75em;} + .toc2 { margin-left: 20%;} + div.fig { display:block; margin:0 auto; text-align:center; } + div.middle { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; } + .figleft {float: left; margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 1%;} + .figright {float: right; margin-right: 0%; margin-left: 1%;} + .pagenum {display:inline; font-size: 70%; font-style:normal; + margin: 0; padding: 0; position: absolute; right: 1%; + text-align: right;} + pre { font-style: italic; font-size: 90%; margin-left: 10%;} + +</style> + </head> + <body> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Vikram and the Vampire, by Richard F. Burton + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Vikram and the Vampire + +Author: Richard F. Burton + +Release Date: November, 2000 [EBook #2400] +Last Updated: November 2, 2016 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK VIKRAM AND THE VAMPIRE *** + + + + +Produced by Sara Vazirian and David Widger + + + + + +</pre> + <div style="height: 8em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h1> + VIKRAM AND THE VAMPIRE + </h1> + <h2> + By Sir Richard F. Burton + </h2> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <h3> + Classic Hindu Tales of Adventure, Magic, and Romance + </h3> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <h3> + Edited by his Wife Isabel Burton + </h3> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “Les fables, loin de grandir les hommes, la Nature et Dieu, + rapetssent tout.” + Lamartine (Milton) + + “One who had eyes saw it; the blind will not understand it. + A poet, who is a boy, he has perceived it; he who understands it + will be + his sire’s sire.”—Rig-Veda (I.164.16). +</pre> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <big><b>CONTENTS</b></big> + </p> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_PREF"> PREFACE </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_PREF"> PREFACE TO THE FIRST (1870) EDITION. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_INTR"> INTRODUCTION </a> + </p> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0008"> <big><b>VIKRAM AND THE VAMPIRE</b></big> </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0009"> THE VAMPIRE’S FIRST STORY — In which a man + deceives a woman. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0010"> THE VAMPIRE’S SECOND STORY — Of the + Relative Villany of Men and Women. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0011"> THE VAMPIRE’S THIRD STORY — Of a + High-minded Family. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0012"> THE VAMPIRE’S FOURTH STORY — Of A Woman + Who Told The Truth. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0013"> THE VAMPIRE’S FIFTH STORY — Of the Thief + Who Laughed and Wept. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0014"> THE VAMPIRE’S SIXTH STORY — In Which Three + Men Dispute about a Woman. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0015"> THE VAMPIRE’S SEVENTH STORY — Showing the + Exceeding Folly of Many Wise Fools. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0016"> THE VAMPIRE’S EIGHTH STORY — Of the Use + and Misuse of Magic Pills. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0017"> THE VAMPIRE’S NINTH STORY — Showing That a + Man’s Wife Belongs Not to His Body but to His Head. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0018"> THE VAMPIRE’S TENTH STORY [168] — Of the + Marvellous Delicacy of Three Queens. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0019"> THE VAMPIRE’S ELEVENTH STORY — Which + Puzzles Raja Vikram. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_FOOT"> FOOTNOTES </a> + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h2> + PREFACE + </h2> + <p> + The Baital-Pachisi, or Twenty-five Tales of a Baital is the history of a + huge Bat, Vampire, or Evil Spirit which inhabited and animated dead + bodies. It is an old, and thoroughly Hindu, Legend composed in Sanskrit, + and is the germ which culminated in the Arabian Nights, and which inspired + the “Golden Ass” of Apuleius, Boccacio’s “Decamerone,” the “Pentamerone,” + and all that class of facetious fictitious literature. + </p> + <p> + The story turns chiefly on a great king named Vikram, the King Arthur of + the East, who in pursuance of his promise to a Jogi or Magician, brings to + him the Baital (Vampire), who is hanging on a tree. The difficulties King + Vikram and his son have in bringing the Vampire into the presence of the + Jogi are truly laughable; and on this thread is strung a series of Hindu + fairy stories, which contain much interesting information on Indian + customs and manners. It also alludes to that state, which induces Hindu + devotees to allow themselves to be buried alive, and to appear dead for + weeks or months, and then to return to life again; a curious state of + mesmeric catalepsy, into which they work themselves by concentrating the + mind and abstaining from food—a specimen of which I have given a + practical illustration in the Life of Sir Richard Burton. + </p> + <p> + The following translation is rendered peculiarly; valuable and interesting + by Sir Richard Burton’s intimate knowledge of the language. To all who + understand the ways of the East, it is as witty, and as full of what is + popularly called “chaff” as it is possible to be. There is not a dull page + in it, and it will especially please those who delight in the weird and + supernatural, the grotesque, and the wild life. + </p> + <p> + My husband only gives eleven of the best tales, as it was thought the + translation would prove more interesting in its abbreviated form. + </p> + <p> + ISABEL BURTON. + </p> + <p> + August 18th, 1893. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <a name="link2H_PREF" id="link2H_PREF"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + PREFACE TO THE FIRST (1870) EDITION. + </h2> + <p> + “THE genius of Eastern nations,” says an established and respectable + authority, “was, from the earliest times, much turned towards invention + and the love of fiction. The Indians, the Persians, and the Arabians, were + all famous for their fables. Amongst the ancient Greeks we hear of the + Ionian and Milesian tales, but they have now perished, and, from every + account we hear of them, appear to have been loose and indelicate.” + Similarly, the classical dictionaries define “Milesiae fabulae” to be + “licentious themes,” “stories of an amatory or mirthful nature,” or + “ludicrous and indecent plays.” M. Deriege seems indeed to confound them + with the “Moeurs du Temps” illustrated with artistic gouaches, when he + says, “une de ces fables milesiennes, rehaussees de peintures, que la + corruption romaine recherchait alors avec une folle ardeur.” + </p> + <p> + My friend, Mr. Richard Charnock, F.A.S.L., more correctly defines Milesian + fables to have been originally “certain tales or novels, composed by + Aristides of Miletus “; gay in matter and graceful in manner. “They were + translated into Latin by the historian Sisenna, the friend of Atticus, and + they had a great success at Rome. Plutarch, in his life of Crassus, tells + us that after the defeat of Carhes (Carrhae?) some Milesiacs were found in + the baggage of the Roman prisoners. The Greek text; and the Latin + translation have long been lost. The only surviving fable is the tale of + Cupid and Psyche,<a href="#linknote-1" name="linknoteref-1" + id="linknoteref-1">[1]</a> which Apuleius calls ‘Milesius sermo,’ and it + makes us deeply regret the disappearance of the others.” Besides this + there are the remains of Apollodorus and Conon, and a few traces to be + found in Pausanias, Athenaeus, and the scholiasts. + </p> + <p> + I do not, therefore, agree with Blair, with the dictionaries, or with M. + Deriege. Miletus, the great maritime city of Asiatic Ionia, was of old the + meeting-place of the East and the West. Here the Phoenician trader from + the Baltic would meet the Hindu wandering to Intra, from Extra, Gangem; + and the Hyperborean would step on shore side by side with the Nubian and + the Aethiop. Here was produced and published for the use of the then + civilized world, the genuine Oriental apologue, myth and tale combined, + which, by amusing narrative and romantic adventure, insinuates a lesson in + morals or in humanity, of which we often in our days must fail to perceive + the drift. The book of Apuleius, before quoted, is subject to as many + discoveries of recondite meaning as is Rabelais. As regards the + licentiousness of the Milesian fables, this sign of semi-civilization is + still inherent in most Eastern books of the description which we call + “light literature,” and the ancestral tale-teller never collects a larger + purse of coppers than when he relates the worst of his “aurei.” But this + looseness, resulting from the separation of the sexes, is accidental, not + necessary. The following collection will show that it can be dispensed + with, and that there is such a thing as comparative purity in Hindu + literature. The author, indeed, almost always takes the trouble to marry + his hero and his heroine, and if he cannot find a priest, he generally + adopts an exceedingly left-hand and Caledonian but legal rite called + “gandharbavivaha.<a href="#linknote-2" name="linknoteref-2" + id="linknoteref-2">[2]</a>” + </p> + <p> + The work of Apuleius, as ample internal evidence shows, is borrowed from + the East. The groundwork of the tale is the metamorphosis of Lucius of + Corinth into an ass, and the strange accidents which precede his + recovering the human form. + </p> + <p> + Another old Hindu story-book relates, in the popular fairy-book style, the + wondrous adventures of the hero and demigod, the great Gandharba-Sena. + That son of Indra, who was also the father of Vikramajit, the subject of + this and another collection, offended the ruler of the firmament by his + fondness for a certain nymph, and was doomed to wander over earth under + the form of a donkey. Through the interposition of the gods, however, he + was permitted to become a man during the hours of darkness, thus comparing + with the English legend— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Amundeville is lord by day, + But the monk is lord by night. +</pre> + <p> + Whilst labouring under this curse, Gandharba-Sena persuaded the King of + Dhara to give him a daughter in marriage, but it unfortunately so happened + that at the wedding hour he was unable to show himself in any but asinine + shape. After bathing, however, he proceeded to the assembly, and, hearing + songs and music, he resolved to give them a specimen of his voice. + </p> + <p> + The guests were filled with sorrow that so beautiful a virgin should be + married to a donkey. They were afraid to express their feelings to the + king, but they could not refrain from smiling, covering their mouths with + their garments. At length some one interrupted the general silence and + said: + </p> + <p> + “O king, is this the son of Indra? You have found a fine bridegroom; you + are indeed happy; don’t delay the marriage; delay is improper in doing + good; we never saw so glorious a wedding! It is true that we once heard of + a camel being married to a jenny-ass; when the ass, looking up to the + camel, said, ‘Bless me, what a bridegroom!’ and the camel, hearing the + voice of the ass, exclaimed, ‘Bless me, what a musical voice!’ In that + wedding, however, the bride and the bridegroom were equal; but in this + marriage, that such a bride should have such a bridegroom is truly + wonderful.” + </p> + <p> + Other Brahmans then present said: + </p> + <p> + “O king, at the marriage hour, in sign of joy the sacred shell is blown, + but thou hast no need of that” (alluding to the donkey’s braying). + </p> + <p> + The women all cried out: + </p> + <p> + “O my mother!<a href="#linknote-3" name="linknoteref-3" id="linknoteref-3">[3]</a> + what is this? at the time of marriage to have an ass! What a miserable + thing! What! will he give that angelic girl in wedlock to a donkey?” + </p> + <p> + At length Gandharba-Sena, addressing the king in Sanskrit, urged him to + perform his promise. He reminded his future father-in-law that there is no + act more meritorious than speaking truth; that the mortal frame is a mere + dress, and that wise men never estimate the value of a person by his + clothes. He added that he was in that shape from the curse of his sire, + and that during the night he had the body of a man. Of his being the son + of Indra there could be no doubt. + </p> + <p> + Hearing the donkey thus speak Sanskrit, for it was never known that an ass + could discourse in that classical tongue, the minds of the people were + changed, and they confessed that, although he had an asinine form he was + unquestionably the son of Indra. The king, therefore, gave him his + daughter in marriage.<a href="#linknote-4" name="linknoteref-4" + id="linknoteref-4">[4]</a> The metamorphosis brings with it many + misfortunes and strange occurrences, and it lasts till Fate in the + author’s hand restores the hero to his former shape and honours. + </p> + <p> + Gandharba-Sena is a quasi-historical personage, who lived in the century + preceding the Christian era. The story had, therefore, ample time to reach + the ears of the learned African Apuleius, who was born A.D. 130. + </p> + <p> + The Baital-Pachisi, or Twenty-five (tales of a) Baital<a href="#linknote-5" + name="linknoteref-5" id="linknoteref-5">[5]</a>—a Vampire or evil + spirit which animates dead bodies—is an old and thoroughly Hindu + repertory. It is the rude beginning of that fictitious history which + ripened to the Arabian Nights’ Entertainments, and which, fostered by the + genius of Boccaccio, produced the romance of the chivalrous days, and its + last development, the novel—that prose-epic of modern Europe. + </p> + <p> + Composed in Sanskrit, “the language of the gods,” alias the Latin of + India, it has been translated into all the Prakrit or vernacular and + modern dialects of the great peninsula. The reason why it has not found + favour with the Moslems is doubtless the highly polytheistic spirit which + pervades it; moreover, the Faithful had already a specimen of that style + of composition. This was the Hitopadesa, or Advice of a Friend, which, as + a line in its introduction informs us, was borrowed from an older book, + the Panchatantra, or Five Chapters. It is a collection of apologues + recited by a learned Brahman, Vishnu Sharma by name, for the edification + of his pupils, the sons of an Indian Raja. They have been adapted to or + translated into a number of languages, notably into Pehlvi and Persian, + Syriac and Turkish, Greek and Latin, Hebrew and Arabic. And as the Fables + of Pilpay,<a href="#linknote-6" name="linknoteref-6" id="linknoteref-6">[6]</a> + are generally known, by name at least, to European litterateurs.. Voltaire + remarks,<a href="#linknote-7" name="linknoteref-7" id="linknoteref-7">[7]</a> + “Quand on fait reflexion que presque toute la terre a ete infatuee de + pareils comes, et qu’ils ont fait l’education du genre humain, on trouve + les fables de Pilpay, Lokman, d’Esope bien raisonnables.” These tales, + detached, but strung together by artificial means—pearls with a + thread drawn through them—are manifest precursors of the Decamerone, + or Ten Days. A modern Italian critic describes the now classical fiction + as a collection of one hundred of those novels which Boccaccio is believed + to have read out at the court of Queen Joanna of Naples, and which later + in life were by him assorted together by a most simple and ingenious + contrivance. But the great Florentine invented neither his stories nor his + “plot,” if we may so call it. He wrote in the middle of the fourteenth + century (1344-8) when the West had borrowed many things from the East, + rhymes<a href="#linknote-8" name="linknoteref-8" id="linknoteref-8">[8]</a> + and romance, lutes and drums, alchemy and knight-errantry. Many of the + “Novelle” are, as Orientalists well know, to this day sung and recited + almost textually by the wandering tale-tellers, bards, and rhapsodists of + Persia and Central Asia. + </p> + <p> + The great kshatriya,(soldier) king Vikramaditya,<a href="#linknote-9" + name="linknoteref-9" id="linknoteref-9">[9]</a> or Vikramarka, meaning the + “Sun of Heroism,” plays in India the part of King Arthur, and of Harun + al-Rashid further West. He is a semi-historical personage. The son of + Gandharba-Sena the donkey and the daughter of the King of Dhara, he was + promised by his father the strength of a thousand male elephants. When his + sire died, his grandfather, the deity Indra, resolved that the babe should + not be born, upon which his mother stabbed herself. But the tragic event + duly happening during the ninth month, Vikram came into the world by + himself, and was carried to Indra, who pitied and adopted him, and gave + him a good education. + </p> + <p> + The circumstances of his accession to the throne, as will presently + appear, are differently told. Once, however, made King of Malaya, the + modern Malwa, a province of Western Upper India, he so distinguished + himself that the Hindu fabulists, with their usual brave kind of speaking, + have made him “bring the whole earth under the shadow of one umbrella.” + </p> + <p> + The last ruler of the race of Mayura, which reigned 318 years, was + Raja-pal. He reigned 25 years, but giving himself up to effeminacy, his + country was invaded by Shakaditya, a king from the highlands of Kumaon. + Vikramaditya, in the fourteenth year of his reign, pretended to espouse + the cause of Raja-pal, attacked and destroyed Shakaditya, and ascended the + throne of Delhi. His capital was Avanti, or Ujjayani, the modern Ujjain. + It was 13 kos (26 miles) long by 18 miles wide, an area of 468 square + miles, but a trifle in Indian History. He obtained the title of Shakari, + “foe of the Shakas,” the Sacae or Scythians, by his victories over that + redoubtable race. In the Kali Yug, or Iron Age, he stands highest amongst + the Hindu kings as the patron of learning. Nine persons under his + patronage, popularly known as the “Nine Gems of Science,” hold in India + the honourable position of the Seven Wise Men of Greece. + </p> + <p> + These learned persons wrote works in the eighteen original dialects from + which, say the Hindus, all the languages of the earth have been derived.<a + href="#linknote-10" name="linknoteref-10" id="linknoteref-10">[10]</a> + Dhanwantari enlightened the world upon the subjects of medicine and of + incantations. Kshapanaka treated the primary elements. Amara-Singha + compiled a Sanskrit dictionary and a philosophical treatise. + Shankubetalabhatta composed comments, and Ghatakarpara a poetical work of + no great merit. The books of Mihira are not mentioned. Varaha produced two + works on astrology and one on arithmetic. And Bararuchi introduced certain + improvements in grammar, commented upon the incantations, and wrote a poem + in praise of King Madhava. + </p> + <p> + But the most celebrated of all the patronized ones was Kalidasa. His two + dramas, Sakuntala,<a href="#linknote-11" name="linknoteref-11" + id="linknoteref-11">[11]</a> and Vikram and Urvasi,<a href="#linknote-12" + name="linknoteref-12" id="linknoteref-12">[12]</a> have descended to our + day; besides which he produced a poem on the seasons, a work on astronomy, + a poetical history of the gods, and many other books.<a href="#linknote-13" + name="linknoteref-13" id="linknoteref-13">[13]</a> + </p> + <p> + Vikramaditya established the Sambat era, dating from A.C. 56. After a + long, happy, and glorious reign, he lost his life in a war with + Shalivahana, King of Pratisthana. That monarch also left behind him an era + called the “Shaka,” beginning with A.D. 78. It is employed, even now, by + the Hindus in recording their births, marriages, and similar occasions. + </p> + <p> + King Vikramaditya was succeeded by his infant son Vikrama-Sena, and father + and son reigned over a period of 93 years. At last the latter was + supplanted by a devotee named Samudra-pala, who entered into his body by + miraculous means. The usurper reigned 24 years and 2 months, and the + throne of Delhi continued in the hands of his sixteen successors, who + reigned 641 years and 3 months. Vikrama-pala, the last, was slain in + battle by Tilaka-chandra, King of Vaharannah<a href="#linknote-14" + name="linknoteref-14" id="linknoteref-14">[14]</a>. + </p> + <p> + It is not pretended that the words of these Hindu tales are preserved to + the letter. The question about the metamorphosis of cats into tigers, for + instance, proceeded from a Gem of Learning in a university much nearer + home than Gaur. Similarly the learned and still living Mgr. Gaume (Traite + du Saint-Esprit, p.. 81) joins Camerarius in the belief that serpents bite + women rather than men. And he quotes (p.. 192) Cornelius a Lapide, who + informs us that the leopard is the produce of a lioness with a hyena or a + bard.. + </p> + <p> + The merit of the old stories lies in their suggestiveness and in their + general applicability. I have ventured to remedy the conciseness of their + language, and to clothe the skeleton with flesh and blood. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + To My Uncle, + + ROBERT BAGSHAW, OF DOVERCOURT, + + These Tales, + That Will Remind Him Of A Land Which + He Knows So Well, + Are Affectionately Inscribed. +</pre> + <p> + <a name="link2H_INTR" id="link2H_INTR"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + INTRODUCTION + </h2> + <p> + The sage Bhavabhuti—Eastern teller of these tales—after making + his initiatory and propitiatory conge to Ganesha, Lord of Incepts, informs + the reader that this book is a string of fine pearls to be hung round the + neck of human intelligence; a fragrant flower to be borne on the turband + of mental wisdom; a jewel of pure gold, which becomes the brow of all + supreme minds; and a handful of powdered rubies, whose tonic effects will + appear palpably upon the mental digestion of every patient. Finally, that + by aid of the lessons inculcated in the following pages, man will pass + happily through this world into the state of absorption, where fables will + be no longer required. + </p> + <p> + He then teaches us how Vikramaditya the Brave became King of Ujjayani. + </p> + <p> + Some nineteen centuries ago, the renowned city of Ujjayani witnessed the + birth of a prince to whom was given the gigantic name Vikramaditya. Even + the Sanskrit-speaking people, who are not usually pressed for time, + shortened it to “Vikram”, and a little further West it would infallibly + have been docked down to “Vik”. + </p> + <p> + Vikram was the second son of an old king Gandharba-Sena, concerning whom + little favourable has reached posterity, except that he became an ass, + married four queens, and had by them six sons, each of whom was more + learned and powerful than the other. It so happened that in course of time + the father died. Thereupon his eldest heir, who was known as Shank, + succeeded to the carpet of Rajaship, and was instantly murdered by Vikram, + his “scorpion”, the hero of the following pages.<a href="#linknote-15" + name="linknoteref-15" id="linknoteref-15">[15]</a> + </p> + <p> + By this act of vigour and manly decision, which all younger-brother + princes should devoutly imitate, Vikram having obtained the title of Bir, + or the Brave, made himself Raja. He began to rule well, and the gods so + favoured him that day by day his dominions increased. At length he became + lord of all India, and having firmly established his government, he + instituted an era—an uncommon feat for a mere monarch, especially + when hereditary. + </p> + <p> + The steps,<a href="#linknote-16" name="linknoteref-16" id="linknoteref-16">[16]</a> + says the historian, which he took to arrive at that pinnacle of grandeur, + were these: + </p> + <p> + The old King calling his two grandsons Bhartari-hari and Vikramaditya, + gave them good counsel respecting their future learning. They were told to + master everything, a certain way not to succeed in anything. They were + diligently to learn grammar, the Scriptures, and all the religious + sciences. They were to become familiar with military tactics, + international law, and music, the riding of horses and elephants—especially + the latter—the driving of chariots, and the use of the broadsword, + the bow, and the mogdars or Indian clubs. They were ordered to be skilful + in all kinds of games, in leaping and running, in besieging forts, in + forming and breaking bodies of troops; they were to endeavour to excel in + every princely quality, to be cunning in ascertaining the power of an + enemy, how to make war, to perform journeys, to sit in the presence of the + nobles, to separate the different sides of a question, to form alliances, + to distinguish between the innocent and the guilty, to assign proper + punishments to the wicked, to exercise authority with perfect justice, and + to be liberal. The boys were then sent to school, and were placed under + the care of excellent teachers, where they became truly famous. Whilst + under pupilage, the eldest was allowed all the power necessary to obtain a + knowledge of royal affairs, and he was not invested with the regal office + till in these preparatory steps he had given full satisfaction to his + subjects, who expressed high approval of his conduct. + </p> + <p> + The two brothers often conversed on the duties of kings, when the great + Vikramaditya gave the great Bhartari-hari the following valuable advice<a + href="#linknote-17" name="linknoteref-17" id="linknoteref-17">[17]</a>: + </p> + <p> + “As Indra, during the four rainy months, fills the earth with water, so a + king should replenish his treasury with money. As Surya the sun, in + warming the earth eight months, does not scorch it, so a king, in drawing + revenues from his people, ought not to oppress them. As Vayu, the wind, + surrounds and fills everything, so the king by his officers and spies + should become acquainted with the affairs and circumstances of his whole + people. As Yama judges men without partiality or prejudice, and punishes + the guilty, so should a king chastise, without favour, all offenders. As + Varuna, the regent of water, binds with his pasha or divine noose his + enemies, so let a king bind every malefactor safely in prison. As Chandra,<a + href="#linknote-18" name="linknoteref-18" id="linknoteref-18">[18]</a> the + moon, by his cheering light gives pleasure to all, thus should a king, by + gifts and generosity, make his people happy. And as Prithwi, the earth, + sustains all alike, so should a king feel an equal affection and + forbearance towards every one.” + </p> + <p> + Become a monarch, Vikram meditated deeply upon what is said of monarchs:—“A + king is fire and air; he is both sun and moon; he is the god of criminal + justice; he is the genius of wealth; he is the regent of water; he is the + lord of the firmament; he is a powerful divinity who appears in human + shape.” He reflected with some satisfaction that the scriptures had made + him absolute, had left the lives and properties of all his subjects to his + arbitrary will, had pronounced him to be an incarnate deity, and had + threatened to punish with death even ideas derogatory to his honour. + </p> + <p> + He punctually observed all the ordinances laid down by the author of the + Niti, or institutes of government. His night and day were divided into + sixteen pahars or portions, each one hour and a half, and they were + disposed of as follows:— + </p> + <p> + Before dawn Vikram was awakened by a servant appointed to this special + duty. He swallowed—a thing allowed only to a khshatriya or warrior—Mithridatic + every morning on the saliva<a href="#linknote-19" name="linknoteref-19" + id="linknoteref-19">[19]</a>, and he made the cooks taste every dish + before he ate of it. As soon as he had risen, the pages in waiting + repeated his splendid qualities, and as he left his sleeping-room in full + dress, several Brahmans rehearsed the praises of the gods. Presently he + bathed, worshipped his guardian deity, again heard hymns, drank a little + water, and saw alms distributed to the poor. He ended this watch by + auditing his accounts. + </p> + <p> + Next entering his court, he placed himself amidst the assembly. He was + always armed when he received strangers, and he caused even women to be + searched for concealed weapons. He was surrounded by so many spies and so + artful, that of a thousand, no two ever told the same tale. At the levee, + on his right sat his relations, the Brahmans, and men of distinguished + birth. The other castes were on the left, and close to him stood the + ministers and those whom he delighted to consult. Afar in front gathered + the bards chanting the praises of the gods and of the king; also the + charioteers, elephanteers, horsemen, and soldiers of valour. Amongst the + learned men in those assemblies there were ever some who were well + instructed in all the scriptures, and others who had studied in one + particular school of philosophy, and were acquainted only with the works + on divine wisdom, or with those on justice, civil and criminal, on the + arts, mineralogy or the practice of physic; also persons cunning in all + kinds of customs; riding-masters, dancing-masters, teachers of good + behaviour, examiners, tasters, mimics, mountebanks, and others, who all + attended the court and awaited the king’s commands. He here pronounced + judgment in suits of appeal. His poets wrote about him: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + The lord of lone splendour an instant suspends + His course at mid-noon, ere he westward descends; + And brief are the moments our young monarch knows, + Devoted to pleasure or paid to repose! +</pre> + <p> + Before the second sandhya,<a href="#linknote-20" name="linknoteref-20" + id="linknoteref-20">[20]</a> or noon, about the beginning of the third + watch, he recited the names of the gods, bathed, and broke his fast in his + private room; then rising from food, he was amused by singers and dancing + girls. The labours of the day now became lighter. After eating he retired, + repeating the name of his guardian deity, visited the temples, saluted the + gods conversed with the priests, and proceeded to receive and to + distribute presents. Fifthly, he discussed political questions with his + ministers and councillors. + </p> + <p> + On the announcement of the herald that it was the sixth watch—about + 2 or 3 P.M.—Vikram allowed himself to follow his own inclinations, + to regulate his family, and to transact business of a private and personal + nature. + </p> + <p> + After gaining strength by rest, he proceeded to review his troops, + examining the men, saluting the officers, and holding military councils. + At sunset he bathed a third time and performed the five sacraments of + listening to a prelection of the Veda; making oblations to the manes; + sacrificing to Fire in honour of the deities; giving rice to dumb + creatures; and receiving guests with due ceremonies. He spent the evening + amidst a select company of wise, learned, and pious men, conversing on + different subjects, and reviewing the business of the day. + </p> + <p> + The night was distributed with equal care. During the first portion Vikram + received the reports which his spies and envoys, dressed in every + disguise, brought to him about his enemies. Against the latter he ceased + not to use the five arts, namely—dividing the kingdom, bribes, + mischief-making, negotiations, and brute-force—especially preferring + the first two and the last. His forethought and prudence taught him to + regard all his nearest neighbours and their allies as hostile. The powers + beyond those natural enemies he considered friendly because they were the + foes of his foes. And all the remoter nations he looked upon as neutrals, + in a transitional or provisional state as it were, till they became either + his neighbours’ neighbours, or his own neighbours, that is to say, his + friends or his foes. + </p> + <p> + This important duty finished he supped, and at the end of the third watch + he retired to sleep, which was not allowed to last beyond three hours. In + the sixth watch he arose and purified himself. The seventh was devoted to + holding private consultations with his ministers, and to furnishing the + officers of government with requisite instructions. The eighth or last + watch was spent with the Purohita or priest, and with Brahmans, hailing + the dawn with its appropriate rites; he then bathed, made the customary + offerings, and prayed in some unfrequented place near pure water. + </p> + <p> + And throughout these occupations he bore in mind the duty of kings, namely—to + pursue every object till it be accomplished; to succour all dependents, + and hospitably to receive guests, however numerous. He was generous to his + subjects respecting taxes, and kind of speech; yet he was inexorable as + death in the punishment of offenses. He rarely hunted, and he visited his + pleasure gardens only on stated days. He acted in his own dominions with + justice; he chastised foreign foes with rigour; he behaved generously to + Brahmans, and he avoided favouritism amongst his friends. In war he never + slew a suppliant, a spectator, a person asleep or undressed, or anyone + that showed fear. Whatever country he conquered, offerings were presented + to its gods, and effects and money were given to the reverends. But what + benefited him most was his attention to the creature comforts of the nine + Gems of Science: those eminent men ate and drank themselves into fits of + enthusiasm, and ended by immortalizing their patron’s name. + </p> + <p> + Become Vikram the Great he established his court at a delightful and + beautiful location rich in the best of water. The country was difficult of + access, and artificially made incapable of supporting a host of invaders, + but four great roads met near the city. The capital was surrounded with + durable ramparts, having gates of defence, and near it was a mountain + fortress, under the especial charge of a great captain. + </p> + <p> + The metropolis was well garrisoned and provisioned, and it surrounded the + royal palace, a noble building without as well as within. Grandeur seemed + embodied there, and Prosperity had made it her own. The nearer ground, + viewed from the terraces and pleasure pavilions, was a lovely mingling of + rock and mountain, plain and valley, field and fallow, crystal lake and + glittering stream. The banks of the winding Lavana were fringed with meads + whose herbage, pearly with morning dew, afforded choicest grazing for the + sacred cow, and were dotted with perfumed clumps of Bo-trees, tamarinds, + and holy figs: in one place Vikram planted 100,000 in a single orchard and + gave them to his spiritual advisers. The river valley separated the stream + from a belt of forest growth which extended to a hill range, dark with + impervious jungle, and cleared here and there for the cultivator’s + village. Behind it, rose another sub-range, wooded with a lower bush and + already blue with air, whilst in the background towered range upon range, + here rising abruptly into points and peaks, there ramp-shaped or + wall-formed, with sheer descents, and all of light azure hue adorned with + glories of silver and gold. + </p> + <p> + After reigning for some years, Vikram the Brave found himself at the age + of thirty, a staid and sober middle-aged man, He had several sons—daughters + are naught in India—by his several wives, and he had some paternal + affection for nearly all—except of course, for his eldest son, a + youth who seemed to conduct himself as though he had a claim to the + succession. In fact, the king seemed to have taken up his abode for life + at Ujjayani, when suddenly he bethought himself, “I must visit those + countries of whose names I am ever hearing.” The fact is, he had + determined to spy out in disguise the lands of all his foes, and to find + the best means of bringing against them his formidable army. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <p> + We now learn how Bhartari Raja becomes Regent of Ujjayani. + </p> + <p> + Having thus resolved, Vikram the Brave gave the government into the charge + of a younger brother, Bhartari Raja, and in the garb of a religious + mendicant, accompanied by Dharma Dhwaj, his second son, a youth bordering + on the age of puberty, he began to travel from city to city, and from + forest to forest. + </p> + <p> + The Regent was of a settled melancholic turn of mind, having lost in early + youth a very peculiar wife. One day, whilst out hunting, he happened to + pass a funeral pyre, upon which a Brahman’s widow had just become Sati (a + holy woman) with the greatest fortitude. On his return home he related the + adventure to Sita Rani, his spouse, and she at once made reply that + virtuous women die with their husbands, killed by the fire of grief, not + by the flames of the pile. To prove her truth the prince, after an + affectionate farewell, rode forth to the chase, and presently sent back + the suite with his robes torn and stained, to report his accidental death. + Sita perished upon the spot, and the widower remained inconsolable—for + a time. + </p> + <p> + He led the dullest of lives, and took to himself sundry spouses, all + equally distinguished for birth, beauty, and modesty. Like his brother, he + performed all the proper devoirs of a Raja, rising before the day to + finish his ablutions, to worship the gods, and to do due obeisance to the + Brahmans. He then ascended the throne, to judge his people according to + the Shastra, carefully keeping in subjection lust, anger, avarice, folly, + drunkenness, and pride; preserving himself from being seduced by the love + of gaming and of the chase; restraining his desire for dancing, singing, + and playing on musical instruments, and refraining from sleep during + daytime, from wine, from molesting men of worth, from dice, from putting + human beings to death by artful means, from useless travelling, and from + holding any one guilty without the commission of a crime. His levees were + in a hall decently splendid, and he was distinguished only by an umbrella + of peacock’s feathers; he received all complainants, petitioners, and + presenters of offenses with kind looks and soft words. He united to + himself the seven or eight wise councillors, and the sober and virtuous + secretary that formed the high cabinet of his royal brother, and they met + in some secret lonely spot, as a mountain, a terrace, a bower or a forest, + whence women, parrots, and other talkative birds were carefully excluded. + </p> + <p> + And at the end of this useful and somewhat laborious day, he retired to + his private apartments, and, after listening to spiritual songs and to + soft music, he fell asleep. Sometimes he would summon his brother’s “Nine + Gems of Science,” and give ear to their learned discourses. But it was + observed that the viceroy reserved this exercise for nights when he was + troubled with insomnia—the words of wisdom being to him an + infallible remedy for that disorder. + </p> + <p> + Thus passed onwards his youth, doing nothing that it could desire, + forbidden all pleasures because they were unprincely, and working in the + palace harder than in the pauper’s hut. Having, however, fortunately for + himself, few predilections and no imagination, he began to pride himself + upon being a philosopher. Much business from an early age had dulled his + wits, which were never of the most brilliant; and in the steadily + increasing torpidity of his spirit, he traced the germs of that quietude + which forms the highest happiness of man in this storm of matter called + the world. He therefore allowed himself but one friend of his soul. He + retained, I have said, his brother’s seven or eight ministers; he was + constant in attendance upon the Brahman priests who officiated at the + palace, and who kept the impious from touching sacred property; and he was + courteous to the commander-in-chief who directed his warriors, to the + officers of justice who inflicted punishment upon offenders, and to the + lords of towns, varying in number from one to a thousand. But he placed an + intimate of his own in the high position of confidential councillor, the + ambassador to regulate war and peace. + </p> + <p> + Mahi-pala was a person of noble birth, endowed with shining abilities, + popular, dexterous in business, acquainted with foreign parts, famed for + eloquence and intrepidity, and as Menu the Lawgiver advises, remarkably + handsome. + </p> + <p> + Bhartari Raja, as I have said, became a quietist and a philosopher. But + Kama,<a href="#linknote-21" name="linknoteref-21" id="linknoteref-21">[21]</a> + the bright god who exerts his sway over the three worlds, heaven and earth + and grewsome Hades,<a href="#linknote-22" name="linknoteref-22" + id="linknoteref-22">[22]</a> had marked out the prince once more as the + victim of his blossom-tipped shafts and his flowery bow. How, indeed, + could he hope to escape the doom which has fallen equally upon Brahma the + Creator, Vishnu the Preserver, and dreadful Shiva the Three-eyed Destroyer<a + href="#linknote-23" name="linknoteref-23" id="linknoteref-23">[23]</a>? + </p> + <p> + By reason of her exceeding beauty, her face was a full moon shining in the + clearest sky; her hair was the purple cloud of autumn when, gravid with + rain, it hangs low over earth; and her complexion mocked the pale waxen + hue of the large-flowered jasmine. Her eyes were those of the timid + antelope; her lips were as red as those of the pomegranate’s bud, and when + they opened, from them distilled a fountain of ambrosia. Her neck was like + a pigeon’s; her hand the pink lining of the conch-shell; her waist a + leopard’s; her feet the softest lotuses. In a word, a model of grace and + loveliness was Dangalah Rani, Raja Bhartari’s last and youngest wife. + </p> + <p> + The warrior laid down his arms before her; the politician spoke out every + secret in her presence. The religious prince would have slaughtered a cow—that + sole unforgivable sin—to save one of her eyelashes: the absolute + king would not drink a cup of water without her permission; the staid + philosopher, the sober quietist, to win from her the shadow of a smile, + would have danced before her like a singing-girl. So desperately enamoured + became Bhartari Raja. + </p> + <p> + It is written, however, that love, alas! breeds not love; and so it + happened to the Regent. The warmth of his affection, instead of animating + his wife, annoyed her; his protestations wearied her; his vows gave her + the headache; and his caresses were a colic that made her blood run cold. + Of course, the prince perceived nothing, being lost in wonder and + admiration of the beauty’s coyness and coquetry. And as women must give + away their hearts, whether asked or not, so the lovely Dangalah Rani lost + no time in lavishing all the passion of her idle soul upon Mahi-pala, the + handsome ambassador of peace and war. By this means the three were happy + and were contented; their felicity, however, being built on a rotten + foundation, could not long endure. It soon ended in the following + extraordinary way. + </p> + <p> + In the city of Ujjayani,<a href="#linknote-24" name="linknoteref-24" + id="linknoteref-24">[24]</a> within sight of the palace, dwelt a Brahman + and his wife, who, being old and poor, and having nothing else to do, had + applied themselves to the practice of austere devotion.<a + href="#linknote-25" name="linknoteref-25" id="linknoteref-25">[25]</a> + They fasted and refrained from drink, they stood on their heads and held + their arms for weeks in the air; they prayed till their knees were like + pads; they disciplined themselves with scourges of wire; and they walked + about unclad in the cold season, and in summer they sat within a circle of + flaming wood, till they became the envy and admiration of all the plebeian + gods that inhabit the lower heavens. In fine, as a reward for their + exceeding piety, the venerable pair received at the hands of a celestial + messenger an apple of the tree Kalpavriksha—a fruit which has the + virtue of conferring eternal life upon him that tastes it. + </p> + <p> + Scarcely had the god disappeared, when the Brahman, opening his toothless + mouth, prepared to eat the fruit of immortality. Then his wife addressed + him in these words, shedding copious tears the while: + </p> + <p> + “To die, O man, is a passing pain; to be poor is an interminable anguish. + Surely our present lot is the penalty of some great crime committed by us + in a past state of being.<a href="#linknote-26" name="linknoteref-26" + id="linknoteref-26">[26]</a> Callest thou this state life? Better we die + at once, and so escape the woes of the world!” + </p> + <p> + Hearing these words, the Brahman sat undecided, with open jaws and eyes + fixed upon the apple. Presently he found tongue: “I have accepted the + fruit, and have brought it here; but having heard thy speech, my intellect + hath wasted away; now I will do whatever thou pointest out.” + </p> + <p> + The wife resumed her discourse, which had been interrupted by a more than + usually copious flow of tears. “Moreover, O husband, we are old, and what + are the enjoyments of the stricken in years? Truly quoth the poet— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Die loved in youth, not hated in age. +</pre> + <p> + If that fruit could have restored thy dimmed eyes, and deaf ears, and + blunted taste, and warmth of love, I had not spoken to thee thus.” + </p> + <p> + After which the Brahman threw away the apple, to the great joy of his + wife, who felt a natural indignation at the prospect of seeing her goodman + become immortal, whilst she still remained subject to the laws of death; + but she concealed this motive in the depths of her thought, enlarging, as + women are apt to do, upon everything but the truth. And she spoke with + such success, that the priest was about to toss in his rage the heavenly + fruit into the fire, reproaching the gods as if by sending it they had + done him an injury. Then the wife snatched it out of his hand, and telling + him it was too precious to be wasted, bade him arise and gird his loins + and wend him to the Regent’s palace, and offer him the fruit—as King + Vikram was absent—with a right reverend brahmanical benediction. She + concluded with impressing upon her unworldly husband the necessity of + requiring a large sum of money as a return for his inestimable gift. “By + this means,” she said, “thou mayst promote thy present and future welfare.<a + href="#linknote-27" name="linknoteref-27" id="linknoteref-27">[27]</a>” + </p> + <p> + Then the Brahman went forth, and standing in the presence of the Raja, + told him all things touching the fruit, concluding with “O, mighty prince! + vouchsafe to accept this tribute, and bestow wealth upon me. I shall be + happy in your living long!” + </p> + <p> + Bhartari Raja led the supplicant into an inner strongroom, where stood + heaps of the finest gold-dust, and bade him carry away all that he could; + this the priest did, not forgetting to fill even his eloquent and + toothless mouth with the precious metal. Having dismissed the devotee + groaning under the burden, the Regent entered the apartments of his wives, + and having summoned the beautiful Queen Dangalah Rani, gave her the fruit, + and said, “Eat this, light of my eyes! This fruit—joy of my heart!—will + make thee everlastingly young and beautiful.” + </p> + <p> + The pretty queen, placing both hands upon her husband’s bosom, kissed his + eyes and lips, and sweetly smiling on his face—for great is the + guile of women—whispered, “Eat it thyself, dear one, or at least + share it with me; for what is life and what is youth without the presence + of those we love?” But the Raja, whose heart was melted by these unusual + words, put her away tenderly, and, having explained that the fruit would + serve for only one person, departed. + </p> + <p> + Whereupon the pretty queen, sweetly smiling as before, slipped the + precious present into her pocket. When the Regent was transacting business + in the hall of audience she sent for the ambassador who regulated war and + peace, and presented him with the apple in a manner at least as tender as + that with which it had been offered to her. + </p> + <p> + Then the ambassador, after slipping the fruit into his pocket also, + retired from the presence of the pretty queen, and meeting Lakha, one of + the maids of honour, explained to her its wonderful power, and gave it to + her as a token of his love. But the maid of honour, being an ambitious + girl, determined that the fruit was a fit present to set before the Regent + in the absence of the King. Bhartari Raja accepted it, bestowed on her + great wealth, and dismissed her with many thanks. + </p> + <p> + He then took up the apple and looked at it with eyes brimful of tears, for + he knew the whole extent of his misfortune. His heart ached, he felt a + loathing for the world, and he said with sighs and groans<a + href="#linknote-28" name="linknoteref-28" id="linknoteref-28">[28]</a>: + </p> + <p> + “Of what value are these delusions of wealth and affection, whose + sweetness endures for a moment and becomes eternal bitterness? Love is + like the drunkard’s cup: delicious is the first drink, palling are the + draughts that succeed it, and most distasteful are the dregs. What is life + but a restless vision of imaginary pleasures and of real pains, from which + the only waking is the terrible day of death? The affection of this world + is of no use, since, in consequence of it, we fall at last into hell. For + which reason it is best to practice the austerities of religion, that the + Deity may bestow upon us hereafter that happiness which he refuses to us + here!” + </p> + <p> + Thus did Bhartari Raja determine to abandon the world. But before setting + out for the forest, he could not refrain from seeing the queen once more, + so hot was the flame which Kama had kindled in his heart. He therefore + went to the apartments of his women, and having caused Dangalah Rani to be + summoned, he asked her what had become of the fruit which he had given to + her. She answered that, according to his command, she had eaten it. Upon + which the Regent showed her the apple, and she beholding it stood aghast, + unable to make any reply. The Raja gave careful orders for her beheading; + he then went out, and having had the fruit washed, ate it. He quitted the + throne to be a jogi, or religious mendicant, and without communicating + with any one departed into the jungle. There he became such a devotee that + death had no power over him, and he is wandering still. But some say that + he was duly absorbed into the essence of the Deity. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <p> + We are next told how the valiant Vikram returned to his own country. + </p> + <p> + Thus Vikram’s throne remained empty. When the news reached King Indra, + Regent of the Lower Firmament and Protector of Earthly Monarchs, he sent + Prithwi Pala, a fierce giant,<a href="#linknote-29" name="linknoteref-29" + id="linknoteref-29">[29]</a> to defend the city of Ujjayani till such time + as its lawful master might reappear, and the guardian used to keep watch + and ward night and day over his trust. + </p> + <p> + In less than a year the valorous Raja Vikram became thoroughly tired of + wandering about the woods half dressed: now suffering from famine, then + exposed to the attacks of wild beasts, and at all times very ill at ease. + He reflected also that he was not doing his duty to his wives and + children; that the heir-apparent would probably make the worst use of the + parental absence; and finally, that his subjects, deprived of his fatherly + care, had been left in the hands of a man who, for ought he could say, was + not worthy of the high trust. He had also spied out all the weak points of + friend and foe. Whilst these and other equally weighty considerations were + hanging about the Raja’s mind, he heard a rumour of the state of things + spread abroad; that Bhartari, the regent, having abdicated his throne, had + gone away into the forest. Then quoth Vikram to his son, “We have ended + our wayfarings, now let us turn our steps homewards!” + </p> + <p> + The gong was striking the mysterious hour of midnight as the king and the + young prince approached the principal gate. And they were pushing through + it when a monstrous figure rose up before them and called out with a + fearful voice, “Who are ye, and where are ye going? Stand and deliver your + names!” + </p> + <p> + “I am Raja Vikram,” rejoined the king, half choked with rage, “and I am + come to mine own city. Who art thou that darest to stop or stay me?” + </p> + <p> + “That question is easily answered,” cried Prithwi Pala the giant, in his + roaring voice; “the gods have sent me to protect Ujjayani. If thou be + really Raja Vikram, prove thyself a man: first fight with me, and then + return to thine own.” + </p> + <p> + The warrior king cried “Sadhu!” wanting nothing better. He girt his girdle + tight round his loins, summoned his opponent into the empty space beyond + the gate, told him to stand on guard, and presently began to devise some + means of closing with or running in upon him. The giant’s fists were large + as watermelons, and his knotted arms whistled through the air like falling + trees, threatening fatal blows. Besides which the Raja’s head scarcely + reached the giant’s stomach, and the latter, each time he struck out, + whooped so abominably loud, that no human nerves could remain unshaken. + </p> + <p> + At last Vikram’s good luck prevailed. The giant’s left foot slipped, and + the hero, seizing his antagonist’s other leg, began to trip him up. At the + same moment the young prince, hastening to his parent’s assistance, jumped + viciously upon the enemy’s naked toes. By their united exertions they + brought him to the ground, when the son sat down upon his stomach, making + himself as weighty as he well could, whilst the father, climbing up to the + monster’s throat, placed himself astride upon it, and pressing both thumbs + upon his eyes, threatened to blind him if he would not yield. + </p> + <p> + Then the giant, modifying the bellow of his voice, cried out— + </p> + <p> + “O Raja, thou hast overthrown me, and I grant thee thy life.” + </p> + <p> + “Surely thou art mad, monster,” replied the king, in jeering tone, half + laughing, half angry. “To whom grantest thou life? If I desire it I can + kill thee; how, then, cost thou talk about granting me my life?” + </p> + <p> + “Vikram of Ujjayani,” said the giant, “be not too proud! I will save thee + from a nearly impending death. Only hearken to the tale which I have to + tell thee, and use thy judgment, and act upon it. So shalt thou rule the + world free from care, and live without danger, and die happily.” + </p> + <p> + “Proceed,” quoth the Raja, after a moment’s thought, dismounting from the + giant’s throat, and beginning to listen with all his ears. + </p> + <p> + The giant raised himself from the ground, and when in a sitting posture, + began in solemn tones to speak as follows: + </p> + <p> + “In short, the history of the matter is, that three men were born in this + same city of Ujjayani, in the same lunar mansion, in the same division of + the great circle described upon the ecliptic, and in the same period of + time. You, the first, were born in the house of a king. The second was an + oilman’s son, who was slain by the third, a jogi, or anchorite, who kills + all he can, wafting the sweet scent of human sacrifice to the nostrils of + Durga, goddess of destruction. Moreover, the holy man, after compassing + the death of the oilman’s son, has suspended him head downwards from a + mimosa tree in a cemetery. He is now anxiously plotting thy destruction. + He hath murdered his own child—” + </p> + <p> + “And how came an anchorite to have a child?” asked Raja Vikram, + incredulously. + </p> + <p> + “That is what I am about to tell thee,” replied the giant. “In the good + days of thy generous father, Gandharba-Sena, as the court was taking its + pleasure in the forest, they saw a devotee, or rather a devotee’s head, + protruding from a hole in the ground. The white ants had surrounded his + body with a case of earth, and had made their home upon his skin. All + kinds of insects and small animals crawled up and down the face, yet not a + muscle moved. Wasps had hung their nests to its temples, and scorpions + wandered in and out of the matted and clotted hair; yet the hermit felt + them not. He spoke to no one; he received no gifts; and had it not been + for the opening of his nostrils, as he continually inhaled the pungent + smoke of a thorn fire, man would have deemed him dead. Such were his + religious austerities. + </p> + <p> + “Thy father marvelled much at the sight, and rode home in profound + thought. That evening, as he sat in the hall of audience, he could speak + of nothing but the devotee; and his curiosity soon rose to such a pitch, + that he proclaimed about the city a reward of one hundred gold pieces to + any one that could bring to court this anchorite of his own free will. + </p> + <p> + “Shortly afterwards, Vasantasena, a singing and dancing girl more + celebrated for wit and beauty than for sagesse or discretion, appeared + before thy sire, and offered for the petty inducement of a gold bangle to + bring the anchorite into the palace, carrying a baby on his shoulder. + </p> + <p> + “The king hearing her speak was astonished, gave her a betel leaf in token + that he held her to her promise, and permitted her to depart, which she + did with a laugh of triumph. + </p> + <p> + “Vasantasena went directly to the jungle, where she found the pious man + faint with thirst, shriveled with hunger, and half dead with heat and + cold. She cautiously put out the fire. Then, having prepared a confection, + she approached from behind and rubbed upon his lips a little of the + sweetmeat, which he licked up with great relish. Thereupon she made more + and gave it to him. After two days of this generous diet he gained some + strength, and on the third, as he felt a finger upon his mouth, he opened + his eyes and said, ‘Why hast thou come here?’ + </p> + <p> + “The girl, who had her story in readiness, replied: “I am the daughter of + a deity, and have practiced religious observances in the heavenly regions. + I have now come into this forest!” And the devotee, who began to think how + much more pleasant is such society than solitude, asked her where her hut + was, and requested to be led there. + </p> + <p> + “Then Vasantasena, having unearthed the holy man and compelled him to + purify himself, led him to the abode which she had caused to be built for + herself in the wood. She explained its luxuries by the nature of her vow, + which bound her to indulge in costly apparel, in food with six flavours, + and in every kind of indulgence.<a href="#linknote-30" + name="linknoteref-30" id="linknoteref-30">[30]</a> In course of time the + hermit learned to follow her example; he gave up inhaling smoke, and he + began to eat and drink as a daily occupation. + </p> + <p> + “At length Kama began to trouble him. Briefly the saint and saintess were + made man and wife, by the simple form of matrimony called the + Gandharba-vivaha,<a href="#linknote-31" name="linknoteref-31" + id="linknoteref-31">[31]</a> and about ten months afterwards a son was + born to them. Thus the anchorite came to have a child. + </p> + <p> + “Remained Vasantasena’s last feat. Some months passed: then she said to + the devotee her husband, ‘Oh saint! let us now, having finished our + devotions, perform a pilgrimage to some sacred place, that all the sins of + our bodies may be washed away, after which we will die and depart into + everlasting happiness.’ Cajoled by these speeches, the hermit mounted his + child upon his shoulder and followed her where she went—directly + into Raja Gandharba-Sena’s palace. + </p> + <p> + “When the king and the ministers and the officers and the courtiers saw + Vasantasena, and her spouse carrying the baby, they recognized her from + afar. The Raja exclaimed, ‘Lo! this is the very singing girl who went + forth to bring back the devotee. ‘And all replied: ‘O great monarch! thou + speakest truly; this is the very same woman. And be pleased to observe + that whatever things she, having asked leave to undertake, went forth to + do, all these she hath done!’ Then gathering around her they asked her all + manner of questions, as if the whole matter had been the lightest and the + most laughable thing in the world. + </p> + <p> + “But the anchorite, having heard the speeches of the king and his + courtiers, thought to himself, ‘They have done this for the purpose of + taking away the fruits of my penance.’ Cursing them all with terrible + curses, and taking up his child, he left the hall. Thence he went to the + forest, slaughtered the innocent, and began to practice austerities with a + view to revenge that hour, and having slain his child, he will attempt thy + life. His prayers have been heard. In the first place they deprived thee + of thy father. Secondly, they cast enmity between thee and thy brother, + thus dooming him to an untimely end. Thirdly, they are now working thy + ruin. The anchorite’s design is to offer up a king and a king’s son to his + patroness Durga, and by virtue of such devotional act he will obtain the + sovereignty of the whole world! + </p> + <p> + “But I have promised, O Vikram, to save thee, if such be the will of + Fortune, from impending destruction. Therefore hearken well unto my words. + Distrust them that dwell amongst the dead, and remember that it is lawful + and right to strike off his head that would slay thee. So shalt thou rule + the universal earth, and leave behind thee an immortal name!” + </p> + <p> + Suddenly Prithwi Pala, the giant, ceased speaking, and disappeared. Vikram + and his son then passed through the city gates, feeling their limbs to be + certain that no bones were broken, and thinking over the scene that had + occurred. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <p> + We now are informed how the valiant King Vikram met with the Vampire. + </p> + <p> + It was the spring season when the Raja returned, and the Holi festival<a + href="#linknote-32" name="linknoteref-32" id="linknoteref-32">[32]</a> + caused dancing and singing in every house. Ujjayani was extraordinarily + happy and joyful at the return of her ruler, who joined in her gladness + with all his kingly heart. The faces and dresses of the public were red + and yellow with gulal and abir,—perfumed powders,<a + href="#linknote-33" name="linknoteref-33" id="linknoteref-33">[33]</a>—which + were sprinkled upon one another in token of merriment. Musicians deafened + the citizens’ ears, dancing girls performed till ready to faint with + fatigue, the manufacturers of comfits made their fortunes, and the Nine + Gems of Science celebrated the auspicious day with the most long-winded + odes. The royal hero, decked in regal attire, and attended by many + thousands of state palanquins glittering with their various ornaments, and + escorted by a suite of a hundred kingly personages, with their martial + array of the four hosts, of cavalry, elephants, chariots, and infantry, + and accompanied by Amazon girls, lovely as the suite of the gods, himself + a personification of majesty, bearing the white parasol of dominion, with + a golden staff and tassels, began once more to reign. + </p> + <p> + After the first pleasures of return, the king applied himself + unremittingly to good government and to eradicating the abuses which had + crept into the administration during the period of his wanderings. + </p> + <p> + Mindful of the wise saying, “if the Rajadid not punish the guilty, the + stronger would roast the weaker like a fish on the spit,” he began the + work of reform with an iron hand. He confiscated the property of a + councillor who had the reputation of taking bribes; he branded the + forehead of a sudra or servile man whose breath smelt of ardent spirits, + and a goldsmith having been detected in fraud he ordered him to be cut in + shreds with razors as the law in its mercy directs. In the case of a + notorious evil-speaker he opened the back of his head and had his tongue + drawn through the wound. A few murderers he burned alive on iron beds, + praying the while that Vishnu might have mercy upon their souls. His spies + were ordered, as the shastra called “The Prince” advises, to mix with + robbers and thieves with a view of leading them into situations where they + might most easily be entrapped, and once or twice when the fellows were + too wary, he seized them and their relations and impaled them all, thereby + conclusively proving, without any mistake, that he was king of earth. + </p> + <p> + With the sex feminine he was equally severe. A woman convicted of having + poisoned an elderly husband in order to marry a younger man was thrown to + the dogs, which speedily devoured her. He punished simple infidelity by + cutting off the offender’s nose—an admirable practice, which is not + only a severe penalty to the culprit, but also a standing warning to + others, and an efficient preventative to any recurrence of the fault. + Faithlessness combined with bad example or brazen-facedness was further + treated by being led in solemn procession through the bazar mounted on a + diminutive and crop-eared donkey, with the face turned towards the + crupper. After a few such examples the women of Ujjayani became almost + modest; it is the fault of man when they are not tolerably well behaved in + one point at least. + </p> + <p> + Every day as Vikram sat upon the judgment-seat, trying causes and + punishing offenses, he narrowly observed the speech, the gestures, and the + countenances of the various criminals and litigants and their witnesses. + Ever suspecting women, as I have said, and holding them to be the root of + all evil, he never failed when some sin or crime more horrible than usual + came before him, to ask the accused, “Who is she?” and the suddenness of + the question often elicited the truth by accident. For there can be + nothing thoroughly and entirely bad unless a woman is at the bottom of it; + and, knowing this, Raja Vikram made certain notable hits under the most + improbable circumstances, which had almost given him a reputation for + omniscience. But this is easily explained: a man intent upon squaring the + circle will see squares in circles wherever he looks, and sometimes he + will find them. + </p> + <p> + In disputed cases of money claims, the king adhered strictly to + established practice, and consulted persons learned in the law. He seldom + decided a cause on his own judgment, and he showed great temper and + patience in bearing with rough language from irritated plaintiffs and + defendants, from the infirm, and from old men beyond eighty. That humble + petitioners might not be baulked in having access to the “fountain of + justice,” he caused an iron box to be suspended by a chain from the + windows of his sleeping apartment. Every morning he ordered the box to be + opened before him, and listened to all the placets at full length. Even in + this simple process he displayed abundant cautiousness. For, having + forgotten what little of the humanities he had mastered in his youth, he + would hand the paper to a secretary whose business it was to read it out + before him; after which operation the man of letters was sent into an + inner room, and the petition was placed in the hands of a second scribe. + Once it so happened by the bungling of the deceitful kayasths(clerks) that + an important difference was found to occur in the same sheet. So upon + strict inquiry one secretary lost his ears and the other his right hand. + After this petitions were rarely if ever falsified. + </p> + <p> + The Raja Vikram also lost no time in attacking the cities and towns and + villages of his enemies, but the people rose to a man against him, and + hewing his army to pieces with their weapons, vanquished him. This took + place so often that he despaired of bringing all the earth under the + shadow of his umbrella. + </p> + <p> + At length on one occasion when near a village he listened to a + conversation of the inhabitants. A woman having baked some cakes was + giving them to her child, who leaving the edges would eat only the middle. + On his asking for another cake, she cried, “This boy’s way is like + Vikram’s in his attempt to conquer the world!” On his inquiring “Mother, + why, what am I doing; and what has Vikram done?” + </p> + <p> + “Thou, my boy,” she replied, “throwing away the outside of the cake eatest + the middle only. Vikram also in his ambition, without subduing the + frontiers before attacking the towns, invades the heart of the country and + lays it waste. On that account, both the townspeople and others rising, + close upon him from the frontiers to the centre, and destroy his army. + That is his folly.” + </p> + <p> + Vikram took notice of the woman’s words. He strengthened his army and + resumed his attack on the provinces and cities, beginning with the + frontiers, reducing the outer towns and stationing troops in the + intervals. Thus he proceeded regularly with his invasions. After a + respite, adopting the same system and marshalling huge armies, he reduced + in regular course each kingdom and province till he became monarch of the + whole world. + </p> + <p> + It so happened that one day as Vikram the Brave sat upon the + judgment-seat, a young merchant, by name Mal Deo, who had lately arrived + at Ujjayani with loaded camels and elephants, and with the reputation of + immense wealth, entered the palace court. Having been received with + extreme condescension, he gave into the king’s hand a fruit which he had + brought in his own, and then spreading a prayer carpet on the floor he sat + down. Presently, after a quarter of an hour, he arose and went away. When + he had gone the king reflected in his mind: “Under this disguise, perhaps, + is the very man of whom the giant spoke.” Suspecting this, he did not eat + the fruit, but calling the master of the household he gave the present to + him, ordering him to keep it in a very careful manner. The young merchant, + however, continued every day to court the honour of an interview, each + time presenting a similar gift. + </p> + <p> + By chance one morning Raja Vikram went, attended by his ministers, to see + his stables. At this time the young merchant also arrived there, and in + the usual manner placed a fruit in the royal hand. As the king was + thoughtfully tossing it in the air, it accidentally fell from his fingers + to the ground. Then the monkey, who was tethered amongst the horses to + draw calamities from their heads,<a href="#linknote-34" + name="linknoteref-34" id="linknoteref-34">[34]</a> snatched it up and tore + it to pieces. Whereupon a ruby of such size and water came forth that the + king and his ministers, beholding its brilliancy, gave vent to expressions + of wonder. + </p> + <p> + Quoth Vikram to the young merchant severely—for his suspicions were + now thoroughly roused—“Why hast thou given to us all this wealth?” + </p> + <p> + “O great king,” replied Mal Deo, demurely, “it is written in the + scriptures (shastra) ‘Of Ceremony’ that ‘we must not go empty-handed into + the presence of the following persons, namely, Rajas, spiritual teachers, + judges, young maidens, and old women whose daughters we would marry.’ But + why, O Vikram, cost thou speak of one ruby only, since in each of the + fruits which I have laid at thy feet there is a similar jewel?” Having + heard this speech, the king said to the master of his household, “Bring + all the fruits which I have entrusted to thee.” The treasurer, on + receiving the royal command, immediately brought them, and having split + them, there was found in each one a ruby, one and all equally perfect in + size and water. Raja Vikram beholding such treasures was excessively + pleased. Having sent for a lapidary, he ordered him to examine the rubies, + saying, “We cannot take anything with us out of this world. Virtue is a + noble quality to possess here below—so tell justly what is the value + of each of these gems.<a href="#linknote-35" name="linknoteref-35" + id="linknoteref-35">[35]</a>” + </p> + <p> + To so moral a speech the lapidary replied, “Maha-Raja<a href="#linknote-36" + name="linknoteref-36" id="linknoteref-36">[36]</a>! thou hast said truly; + whoever possesses virtue, possesses everything; virtue indeed accompanies + us always, and is of advantage in both worlds. Hear, O great king! each + gem is perfect in colour, quality and beauty. If I were to say that the + value of each was ten million millions of suvarnas (gold pieces), even + then thou couldst not understand its real worth. In fact, each ruby would + buy one of the seven regions into which the earth is divided.” + </p> + <p> + The king on hearing this was delighted, although his suspicions were not + satisfied; and, having bestowed a robe of honour upon the lapidary, + dismissed him. Thereon, taking the young merchant’s hand, he led him into + the palace, seated him upon his own carpet in presence of the court, and + began to say, “My entire kingdom is not worth one of these rubies: tell me + how it is that thou who buyest and sellest hast given me such and so many + pearls?” + </p> + <p> + Mal Deo replied: “O great king, the speaking of matters like the following + in public is not right; these things—prayers, spells, drugs, good + qualities, household affairs, the eating of forbidden food, and the evil + we may have heard of our neighbour—should not be discussed in full + assembly. Privately I will disclose to thee my wishes. This is the way of + the world; when an affair comes to six ears, it does not remain secret; if + a matter is confided to four ears it may escape further hearing; and if to + two ears even Brahma the Creator does not know it; how then can any rumour + of it come to man?” + </p> + <p> + Having heard this speech, Raja Vikram took Mal Deo aside, and began to ask + him, saying, “O generous man! you have given me so many rubies, and even + for a single day you have not eaten food with me; I am exceedingly + ashamed, tell me what you desire.” + </p> + <p> + “Raja,” said the young merchant, “I am not Mal Deo, but Shanta-Shil,<a + href="#linknote-37" name="linknoteref-37" id="linknoteref-37">[37]</a> a + devotee. I am about to perform spells, incantations and magical rites on + the banks of the river Godavari, in a large smashana, a cemetery where + bodies are burned. By this means the Eight Powers of Nature will all + become mine. This thing I ask of you as alms, that you and the young + prince Dharma Dhwaj will pass one night with me, doing my bidding. By you + remaining near me my incantations will be successful.” + </p> + <p> + The valiant Vikram nearly started from his seat at the word cemetery, but, + like a ruler of men, he restrained his face from expressing his feelings, + and he presently replied, “Good, we will come, tell us on what day!” + </p> + <p> + “You are to come to me,” said the devotee, “armed, but without followers, + on the Monday evening the 14th of the dark half of the month Bhadra.<a + href="#linknote-38" name="linknoteref-38" id="linknoteref-38">[38]</a>” + The Raja said: “Do you go your ways, we will certainly come.” In this + manner, having received a promise from the king, and having taken leave, + the devotee returned to his house: thence he repaired to the temple, and + having made preparations, and taken all the necessary things, he went back + into the cemetery and sat down to his ceremonies. + </p> + <p> + The valiant Vikram, on the other hand, retired into an inner apartment, to + consult his own judgment about an adventure with which, for fear of + ridicule, he was unwilling to acquaint even the most trustworthy of his + ministers. + </p> + <p> + In due time came the evening moon’s day, the 14th of the dark half of the + month Bhadra. As the short twilight fell gloomily on earth, the warrior + king accompanied by his son, with turband-ends tied under their chins, and + with trusty blades tucked under their arms ready for foes, human, bestial, + or devilish, slipped out unseen through the palace wicket, and took the + road leading to the cemetery on the river bank. + </p> + <p> + Dark and drear was the night. Urged by the furious blast of the lingering + winter-rains, masses of bistre-coloured cloud, like the forms of unwieldy + beasts, rolled heavily over the firmament plain. Whenever the crescent of + the young moon, rising from an horizon sable as the sad Tamala’s hue,<a + href="#linknote-39" name="linknoteref-39" id="linknoteref-39">[39]</a> + glanced upon the wayfarers, it was no brighter than the fine tip of an + elephant’s tusk protruding from the muddy wave. A heavy storm was + impending; big drops fell in showers from the forest trees as they groaned + under the blast, and beneath the gloomy avenue the clayey ground gleamed + ghastly white. As the Raja and his son advanced, a faint ray of light, + like the line of pure gold streaking the dark surface of the touchstone, + caught their eyes, and directed their footsteps towards the cemetery. + </p> + <p> + When Vikram came upon the open space on the riverbank where corpses were + burned, he hesitated for a moment to tread its impure ground. But seeing + his son undismayed, he advanced boldly, trampling upon remnants of bones, + and only covering his mouth with his turband-end. + </p> + <p> + Presently, at the further extremity of the smashana, or burning ground, + appeared a group. By the lurid flames that flared and flickered round the + half-extinguished funeral pyres, with remnants of their dreadful loads, + Raja Vikram and Dharma Dhwaj could note the several features of the + ill-omened spot. There was an outer circle of hideous bestial forms; + tigers were roaring, and elephants were trumpeting; wolves, whose foul + hairy coats blazed with sparks of bluish phosphoric light, were devouring + the remnants of human bodies; foxes, jackals, and hyenas were disputing + over their prey; whilst bears were chewing the livers of children. The + space within was peopled by a multitude of fiends. There were the subtle + bodies of men that had escaped their grosser frames prowling about the + charnel ground, where their corpses had been reduced to ashes, or hovering + in the air, waiting till the new bodies which they were to animate were + made ready for their reception. The spirits of those that had been foully + slain wandered about with gashed limbs; and skeletons, whose mouldy bones + were held together by bits of blackened sinew, followed them as the + murderer does his victim. Malignant witches with shriveled skins, horrid + eyes and distorted forms, crawled and crouched over the earth; whilst + spectres and goblins now stood motionless, and tall as lofty palm trees; + then, as if in fits, leaped, danced, and tumbled before their evocator. + The air was filled with shrill and strident cries, with the fitful moaning + of the storm-wind, with the hooting of the owl, with the jackal’s long + wild cry, and with the hoarse gurgling of the swollen river, from whose + banks the earth-slip thundered in its fall. + </p> + <p> + In the midst of all, close to the fire which lit up his evil countenance, + sat Shanta-Shil, the jogi, with the banner that denoted his calling and + his magic staff planted in the ground behind him. He was clad in the + ochre-coloured loin-wrap of his class; from his head streamed long tangled + locks of hair like horsehair; his black body was striped with lines of + chalk, and a girdle of thighbones encircled his waist. His face was + smeared with ashes from a funeral pyre, and his eyes, fixed as those of a + statue, gleamed from this mask with an infernal light of hate. His cheeks + were shaven, and he had not forgotten to draw the horizontal sectarian + mark. But this was of blood; and Vikram, as he drew near saw that he was + playing upon a human skull with two shank bones, making music for the + horrid revelry. + </p> + <p> + Now Raja Vikram, as has been shown by his encounter with Indra’s watchman, + was a bold prince, and he was cautious as he was brave. The sight of a + human being in the midst of these terrors raised his mettle; he determined + to prove himself a hero, and feeling that the critical moment was now + come, he hoped to rid himself and his house forever of the family curse + that hovered over them. + </p> + <p> + For a moment he thought of the giant’s words, “And remember that it is + lawful and right to strike off his head that would slay thee.” A stroke + with his good sword might at once and effectually put an end to the + danger. But then he remembered that he had passed his royal word to do the + devotee’s bidding that night. Besides, he felt assured that the hour for + action had not yet sounded. + </p> + <p> + These reflections having passed through his mind with the rapid course of + a star that has lost its honours,<a href="#linknote-40" + name="linknoteref-40" id="linknoteref-40">[40]</a> Vikram courteously + saluted Shanta-Shil. The jogi briefly replied, “Come sit down, both of + ye.” The father and son took their places, by no means surprised or + frightened by the devil dances before and around them. Presently the + valiant Raja reminded the devotee that he was come to perform his promise, + and lastly asked, “What commands are there for us?” + </p> + <p> + The jogi replied, “O king, since you have come, just perform one piece of + business. About two kos<a href="#linknote-41" name="linknoteref-41" + id="linknoteref-41">[41]</a> hence, in a southerly direction, there is + another place where dead bodies are burned; and in that place is a mimosa + tree, on which a body is hanging. Bring it to me immediately.” + </p> + <p> + Raja Vikram took his son’s hand, unwilling to leave him in such company; + and, catching up a fire-brand, went rapidly away in the proper direction. + He was now certain that Shanta-Shil was the anchorite who, enraged by his + father, had resolved his destruction; and his uppermost thought was a firm + resolve “to breakfast upon his enemy, ere his enemy could dine upon him.” + He muttered this old saying as he went, whilst the tom-toming of the + anchorite upon the skull resounded in his ears, and the devil-crowd, which + had held its peace during his meeting with Shanta-Shil, broke out again in + an infernal din of whoops and screams, yells and laughter. + </p> + <p> + The darkness of the night was frightful, the gloom deepened till it was + hardly possible to walk. The clouds opened their fountains, raining so + that you would say they could never rain again. Lightning blazed forth + with more than the light of day, and the roar of the thunder caused the + earth to shake. Baleful gleams tipped the black cones of the trees and + fitfully scampered like fireflies over the waste. Unclean goblins dogged + the travellers and threw themselves upon the ground in their path and + obstructed them in a thousand different ways. Huge snakes, whose mouths + distilled blood and black venom, kept clinging around their legs in the + roughest part of the road, till they were persuaded to loose their hold + either by the sword or by reciting a spell. In fact, there were so many + horrors and such a tumult and noise that even a brave man would have + faltered, yet the king kept on his way. + </p> + <p> + At length having passed over, somehow or other, a very difficult road, the + Raja arrived at the smashana, or burning place pointed out by the jogi. + Suddenly he sighted the tree where from root to top every branch and leaf + was in a blaze of crimson flame. And when he, still dauntless, advanced + towards it, a clamour continued to be raised, and voices kept crying, + “Kill them! kill them! seize them! seize them! take care that they do not + get away! let them scorch themselves to cinders! let them suffer the pains + of Patala.<a href="#linknote-42" name="linknoteref-42" id="linknoteref-42">[42]</a>” + </p> + <p> + Far from being terrified by this state of things the valiant Raja + increased in boldness, seeing a prospect of an end to his adventure. + Approaching the tree he felt that the fire did not burn him, and so he sat + there for a while to observe the body, which hung, head downwards, from a + branch a little above him. + </p> + <p> + Its eyes, which were wide open, were of a greenish-brown, and never + twinkled; its hair also was brown,<a href="#linknote-43" + name="linknoteref-43" id="linknoteref-43">[43]</a> and brown was its face—three + several shades which, notwithstanding, approached one another in an + unpleasant way, as in an over-dried cocoa-nut. Its body was thin and + ribbed like a skeleton or a bamboo framework, and as it held on to a + bough, like a flying fox,<a href="#linknote-44" name="linknoteref-44" + id="linknoteref-44">[44]</a> by the toe-tips, its drawn muscles stood out + as if they were ropes of coin. Blood it appeared to have none, or there + would have been a decided determination of that curious juice to the head; + and as the Raja handled its skin it felt icy cold and clammy as might a + snake. The only sign of life was the whisking of a ragged little tail much + resembling a goat’s. + </p> + <p> + Judging from these signs the brave king at once determined the creature to + be a Baital—a Vampire. For a short time he was puzzled to reconcile + the appearance with the words of the giant, who informed him that the + anchorite had hung the oilman’s son to a tree. But soon he explained to + himself the difficulty, remembering the exceeding cunning of jogis and + other reverend men, and determining that his enemy, the better to deceive + him, had doubtless altered the shape and form of the young oilman’s body. + </p> + <p> + With this idea, Vikram was pleased, saying, “My trouble has been + productive of fruit.” Remained the task of carrying the Vampire to + Shanta-Shil the devotee. Having taken his sword, the Raja fearlessly + climbed the tree, and ordering his son to stand away from below, clutched + the Vampire’s hair with one hand, and with the other struck such a blow of + the sword, that the bough was cut and the thing fell heavily upon the + ground. Immediately on falling it gnashed its teeth and began to utter a + loud wailing cry like the screams of an infant in pain. Vikram having + heard the sound of its lamentations, was pleased, and began to say to + himself, “This devil must be alive.” Then nimbly sliding down the trunk, + he made a captive of the body, and asked “Who art thou?” + </p> + <p> + Scarcely, however, had the words passed the royal lips, when the Vampire + slipped through the fingers like a worm, and uttering a loud shout of + laughter, rose in the air with its legs uppermost, and as before suspended + itself by its toes to another bough. And there it swung to and fro, moved + by the violence of its cachinnation. + </p> + <p> + “Decidedly this is the young oilman!” exclaimed the Raja, after he had + stood for a minute or two with mouth open, gazing upwards and wondering + what he should do next. Presently he directed Dharma Dhwaj not to lose an + instant in laying hands upon the thing when it next might touch the + ground, and then he again swarmed up the tree. Having reached his former + position, he once more seized the Baital’s hair, and with all the force of + his arms—for he was beginning to feel really angry—he tore it + from its hold and dashed it to the ground, saying, “O wretch, tell me who + thou art?” + </p> + <p> + Then, as before, the Raja slid deftly down the trunk, and hurried to the + aid of his son, who in obedience to orders, had fixed his grasp upon the + Vampire’s neck. Then, too, as before, the Vampire, laughing aloud, slipped + through their fingers and returned to its dangling-place. + </p> + <p> + To fail twice was too much for Raja Vikram’s temper, which was right + kingly and somewhat hot. This time he bade his son strike the Baital’s + head with his sword. Then, more like a wounded bear of Himalaya than a + prince who had established an era, he hurried up the tree, and directed a + furious blow with his sabre at the Vampire’s lean and calfless legs. The + violence of the stroke made its toes loose their hold of the bough, and + when it touched the ground, Dharma Dhwaj’s blade fell heavily upon its + matted brown hair. But the blows appeared to have lighted on iron-wood—to + judge at least from the behaviour of the Baital, who no sooner heard the + question, “O wretch, who art thou?” than it returned in loud glee and + merriment to its old position. + </p> + <p> + Five mortal times did Raja Vikram repeat this profitless labour. But so + far from losing heart, he quite entered into the spirit of the adventure. + Indeed he would have continued climbing up that tree and taking that + corpse under his arm—he found his sword useless—and bringing + it down, and asking it who it was, and seeing it slip through his fingers, + six times sixty times, or till the end of the fourth and present age,<a + href="#linknote-45" name="linknoteref-45" id="linknoteref-45">[45]</a> had + such extreme resolution been required. + </p> + <p> + However, it was not necessary. On the seventh time of falling, the Baital, + instead of eluding its capturer’s grasp, allowed itself to be seized, + merely remarking that “even the gods cannot resist a thoroughly obstinate + man."<a href="#linknote-46" name="linknoteref-46" id="linknoteref-46">[46]</a> + And seeing that the stranger, for the better protection of his prize, had + stripped off his waistcloth and was making it into a bag, the Vampire + thought proper to seek the most favourable conditions for himself, and + asked his conqueror who he was, and what he was about to do? + </p> + <p> + “Vile wretch,” replied the breathless hero, “know me to be Vikram the + Great, Raja of Ujjayani, and I bear thee to a man who is amusing himself + by drumming to devils on a skull.” + </p> + <p> + “Remember the old saying, mighty Vikram!” said the Baital, with a sneer, + “that many a tongue has cut many a throat. I have yielded to thy + resolution and I am about to accompany thee, bound to thy back like a + beggar’s wallet. But hearken to my words, ere we set out upon the way. I + am of a loquacious disposition, and it is well nigh an hour’s walk between + this tree and the place where thy friend sits, favouring his friends with + the peculiar music which they love. Therefore, I shall try to distract my + thoughts, which otherwise might not be of the most pleasing nature, by + means of sprightly tales and profitable reflections. Sages and men of + sense spend their days in the delights of light and heavy literature, + whereas dolts and fools waste time in sleep and idleness. And I purpose to + ask thee a number of questions, concerning which we will, if it seems fit + to thee, make this covenant: + </p> + <p> + “Whenever thou answerest me, either compelled by Fate or entrapped by my + cunning into so doing, or thereby gratifying thy vanity and conceit, I + leave thee and return to my favourite place and position in the + siras-tree, but when thou shalt remain silent, confused, and at a loss to + reply, either through humility or thereby confessing thine ignorance, and + impotence, and want of comprehension, then will I allow thee, of mine own + free will, to place me before thine employer. Perhaps I should not say so; + it may sound like bribing thee, but—take my counsel, and mortify thy + pride, and assumption, and arrogance, and haughtiness, as soon as + possible. So shalt thou derive from me a benefit which none but myself can + bestow.” + </p> + <p> + Raja Vikram hearing these rough words, so strange to his royal ear, + winced; then he rejoiced that his heir apparent was not near; then he + looked round at his son Dharma Dhwaj, to see if he was impertinent enough + to be amused by the Baital. But the first glance showed him the young + prince busily employed in pinching and screwing the monster’s legs, so as + to make it fit better into the cloth. Vikram then seized the ends of the + waistcloth, twisted them into a convenient form for handling, stooped, + raised the bundle with a jerk, tossed it over his shoulder, and bidding + his son not to lag behind, set off at a round pace towards the western end + of the cemetery. + </p> + <p> + The shower had ceased, and, as they gained ground, the weather greatly + improved. + </p> + <p> + The Vampire asked a few indifferent questions about the wind and the rain + and the mud. When he received no answer, he began to feel uncomfortable, + and he broke out with these words: “O King Vikram, listen to the true + story which I am about to tell thee.” + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <a name="link2H_4_0008" id="link2H_4_0008"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h1> + VIKRAM AND THE VAMPIRE + </h1> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0009" id="link2H_4_0009"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE VAMPIRE’S FIRST STORY — In which a man deceives a woman. + </h2> + <p> + In Benares once reigned a mighty prince, by name Pratapamukut, to whose + eighth son Vajramukut happened the strangest adventure. + </p> + <p> + One morning, the young man, accompanied by the son of his father’s pradhan + or prime minister, rode out hunting, and went far into the jungle. At last + the twain unexpectedly came upon a beautiful “tank <a href="#linknote-47" + name="linknoteref-47" id="linknoteref-47">[47]</a>” of a prodigious size. + It was surrounded by short thick walls of fine baked brick; and flights + and ramps of cut-stone steps, half the length of each face, and adorned + with turrets, pendants, and finials, led down to the water. The + substantial plaster work and the masonry had fallen into disrepair, and + from the crevices sprang huge trees, under whose thick shade the breeze + blew freshly, and on whose balmy branches the birds sang sweetly; the grey + squirrels <a href="#linknote-48" name="linknoteref-48" id="linknoteref-48">[48]</a> + chirruped joyously as they coursed one another up the gnarled trunks, and + from the pendent llianas the longtailed monkeys were swinging sportively. + The bountiful hand of Sravana <a href="#linknote-49" name="linknoteref-49" + id="linknoteref-49">[49]</a> had spread the earthen rampart with a carpet + of the softest grass and many-hued wild flowers, in which were buzzing + swarms of bees and myriads of bright winged insects; and flocks of water + fowl, wild geese, Brahmini ducks, bitterns, herons, and cranes, male and + female, were feeding on the narrow strip of brilliant green that belted + the long deep pool, amongst the broad-leaved lotuses with the lovely + blossoms, splashing through the pellucid waves, and basking happily in the + genial sun. + </p> + <p> + The prince and his friend wondered when they saw the beautiful tank in the + midst of a wild forest, and made many vain conjectures about it. They + dismounted, tethered their horses, and threw their weapons upon the + ground; then, having washed their hands and faces, they entered a shrine + dedicated to Mahadeva, and there began to worship the presiding deity. + </p> + <p> + Whilst they were making their offerings, a bevy of maidens, accompanied by + a crowd of female slaves, descended the opposite flight of steps. They + stood there for a time, talking and laughing and looking about them to see + if any alligators infested the waters. When convinced that the tank was + safe, they disrobed themselves in order to bathe. It was truly a splendid + spectacle. + </p> + <p> + “Concerning which the less said the better,” interrupted Raja Vikram in an + offended tone.<a href="#linknote-50" name="linknoteref-50" + id="linknoteref-50">[50]</a> + </p> + <p> + —but did not last long. The Raja’s daughter—for the principal + maiden was a princess—soon left her companions, who were scooping up + water with their palms and dashing it over one another’s heads, and + proceeded to perform the rites of purification, meditation, and worship. + Then she began strolling with a friend under the shade of a small mango + grove. + </p> + <p> + The prince also left his companion sitting in prayer, and walked forth + into the forest. Suddenly the eyes of the Raja’s son and the Raja’s + daughter met. She started back with a little scream. He was fascinated by + her beauty, and began to say to himself, “O thou vile Karma,<a + href="#linknote-51" name="linknoteref-51" id="linknoteref-51">[51]</a> why + worriest thou me?” + </p> + <p> + Hearing this, the maiden smiled encouragement, but the poor youth, between + palpitation of the heart and hesitation about what to say, was so confused + that his tongue crave to his teeth. She raised her eyebrows a little. + There is nothing which women despise in a man more than modesty, <a + href="#linknote-52" name="linknoteref-52" id="linknoteref-52">[52]</a> for + mo-des-ty— + </p> + <p> + A violent shaking of the bag which hung behind Vikram’s royal back broke + off the end of this offensive sentence. And the warrior king did not cease + that discipline till the Baital promised him to preserve more decorum in + his observations. + </p> + <p> + Still the prince stood before her with downcast eyes and suffused cheeks: + even the spur of contempt failed to arouse his energies. Then the maiden + called to her friend, who was picking jasmine flowers so as not to witness + the scene, and angrily asked why that strange man was allowed to stand and + stare at her? The friend, in hot wrath, threatened to call the slave, and + throw Vajramukut into the pond unless he instantly went away with his + impudence. But as the prince was rooted to the spot, and really had not + heard a word of what had been said to him, the two women were obliged to + make the first move. + </p> + <p> + As they almost reached the tank, the beautiful maiden turned her head to + see what the poor modest youth was doing. + </p> + <p> + Vajramukut was formed in every way to catch a woman’s eye. The Raja’s + daughter therefore half forgave him his offence of mod——. + Again she sweetly smiled, disclosing two rows of little opals. Then + descending to the water’s edge, she stooped down and plucked a lotus. This + she worshipped; next she placed it in her hair, then she put it in her + ear, then she bit it with her teeth, then she trod upon it with her foot, + then she raised it up again, and lastly she stuck it in her bosom. After + which she mounted her conveyance and went home to her friends; whilst the + prince, having become thoroughly desponding and drowned in grief at + separation from her, returned to the minister’s son. + </p> + <p> + “Females!” ejaculated the minister’s son, speaking to himself in a + careless tone, when, his prayer finished, he left the temple, and sat down + upon the tank steps to enjoy the breeze. He presently drew a roll of paper + from under his waist-belt, and in a short time was engrossed with his + study. The women seeing this conduct, exerted themselves in every possible + way of wile to attract his attention and to distract his soul. They + succeeded only so far as to make him roll his head with a smile, and to + remember that such is always the custom of man’s bane; after which he + turned over a fresh page of manuscript. And although he presently began to + wonder what had become of the prince his master, he did not look up even + once from his study. + </p> + <p> + He was a philosopher, that young man. But after all, Raja Vikram, what is + mortal philosophy? Nothing but another name for indifference! Who was ever + philosophical about a thing truly loved or really hated?—no one! + Philosophy, says Shankharacharya, is either a gift of nature or the reward + of study. But I, the Baital, the devil, ask you, what is a born + philosopher, save a man of cold desires? And what is a bred philosopher + but a man who has survived his desires? A young philosopher?—a + cold-blooded youth! An elderly philosopher?—a leuco-phlegmatic old + man! Much nonsense, of a verity, ye hear in praise of nothing from your + Rajaship’s Nine Gems of Science, and from sundry other such wise fools. + </p> + <p> + Then the prince began to relate the state of his case, saying, “O friend, + I have seen a damsel, but whether she be a musician from Indra’s heaven, a + maiden of the sea, a daughter of the serpent kings, or the child of an + earthly Raja, I cannot say.” + </p> + <p> + “Describe her,” said the statesman in embryo. + </p> + <p> + “Her face,” quoth the prince, “was that of the full moon, her hair like a + swarm of bees hanging from the blossoms of the acacia, the corners of her + eyes touched her ears, her lips were sweet with lunar ambrosia, her waist + was that of a lion, and her walk the walk of a king goose. <a + href="#linknote-53" name="linknoteref-53" id="linknoteref-53">[53]</a> As + a garment, she was white; as a season, the spring; as a flower, the + jasmine; as a speaker, the kokila bird; as a perfume, musk; as a beauty, + Kamadeva; and as a being, Love. And if she does not come into my + possession I will not live; this I have certainly determined upon.” + </p> + <p> + The young minister, who had heard his prince say the same thing more than + once before, did not attach great importance to these awful words. He + merely remarked that, unless they mounted at once, night would surprise + them in the forest. Then the two young men returned to their horses, + untethered them, drew on their bridles, saddled them, and catching up + their weapons, rode slowly towards the Raja’s palace. During the three + hours of return hardly a word passed between the pair. Vajramukut not only + avoided speaking; he never once replied till addressed thrice in the + loudest voice. + </p> + <p> + The young minister put no more questions, “for,” quoth he to himself, + “when the prince wants my counsel, he will apply for it.” In this point he + had borrowed wisdom from his father, who held in peculiar horror the + giving of unasked-for advice. So, when he saw that conversation was + irksome to his master, he held his peace and meditated upon what he called + his “day-thought.” It was his practice to choose every morning some tough + food for reflection, and to chew the cud of it in his mind at times when, + without such employment, his wits would have gone wool-gathering. You may + imagine, Raja Vikram, that with a few years of this head work, the + minister’s son became a very crafty young person. + </p> + <p> + After the second day the Prince Vajramukut, being restless from grief at + separation, fretted himself into a fever. Having given up writing, + reading, drinking, sleeping, the affairs entrusted to him by his father, + and everything else, he sat down, as he said, to die. He used constantly + to paint the portrait of the beautiful lotus gatherer, and to lie gazing + upon it with tearful eyes; then he would start up and tear it to pieces + and beat his forehead, and begin another picture of a yet more beautiful + face. + </p> + <p> + At last, as the pradhan’s son had foreseen, he was summoned by the young + Raja, whom he found upon his bed, looking yellow and complaining bitterly + of headache. Frequent discussions upon the subject of the tender passion + had passed between the two youths, and one of them had ever spoken of it + so very disrespectfully that the other felt ashamed to introduce it. But + when his friend, with a view to provoke communicativeness, advised a + course of boiled and bitter herbs and great attention to diet, quoting the + hemistich attributed to the learned physician Charndatta, + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + A fever starve, but feed a cold, +</pre> + <p> + the unhappy Vajramukut’s fortitude abandoned him; he burst into tears, and + exclaimed, “Whosoever enters upon the path of love cannot survive it; and + if (by chance) he should live, what is life to him but a prolongation of + his misery?” + </p> + <p> + “Yea,” replied the minister’s son, “the sage hath said— + </p> + <p> + “The road of love is that which hath no beginning nor end; Take thou heed + of thyself, man I ere thou place foot upon it. + </p> + <p> + “And the wise, knowing that there are three things whose effect upon + himself no man can foretell—namely, desire of woman, the dice-box, + and the drinking of ardent spirits—find total abstinence from them + the best of rules. Yet, after all, if there is no cow, we must milk the + bull.” + </p> + <p> + The advice was, of course, excellent, but the hapless lover could not help + thinking that on this occasion it came a little too late. However, after a + pause he returned to the subject and said, “I have ventured to tread that + dangerous way, be its end pain or pleasure, happiness or destruction.” He + then hung down his head and sighed from the bottom of his heart. + </p> + <p> + “She is the person who appeared to us at the tank?” asked the pradhan’s + son, moved to compassion by the state of his master. + </p> + <p> + The prince assented. + </p> + <p> + “O great king,” resumed the minister’s son, “at the time of going away had + she said anything to you? or had you said anything to her?” + </p> + <p> + “Nothing!” replied the other laconically, when he found his friend + beginning to take an interest in the affair. + </p> + <p> + “Then,” said the minister’s son, “it will be exceedingly difficult to get + possession of her.” + </p> + <p> + “Then,” repeated the Raja’s son, “I am doomed to death; to an early and + melancholy death!” + </p> + <p> + “Humph!” ejaculated the young statesman rather impatiently, “did she make + any sign, or give any hint? Let me know all that happened: half + confidences are worse than none.” + </p> + <p> + Upon which the prince related everything that took place by the side of + the tank, bewailing the false shame which had made him dumb, and + concluding with her pantomime. + </p> + <p> + The pradhan’s son took thought for a while. He thereupon seized the + opportunity of representing to his master all the evil effects of + bashfulness when women are concerned, and advised him, as he would be a + happy lover, to brazen his countenance for the next interview. + </p> + <p> + Which the young Raja faithfully promised to do. + </p> + <p> + “And, now,” said the other, “be comforted, O my master! I know her name + and her dwelling-place. When she suddenly plucked the lotus flower and + worshipped it, she thanked the gods for having blessed her with a sight of + your beauty.” + </p> + <p> + Vajramukut smiled, the first time for the last month. + </p> + <p> + “When she applied it to her ear, it was as if she would have explained to + thee, ‘I am a daughter of the Carnatic: <a href="#linknote-54" + name="linknoteref-54" id="linknoteref-54">[54]</a> and when she bit it + with her teeth, she meant to say that ‘My father is Raja Dantawat, <a + href="#linknote-55" name="linknoteref-55" id="linknoteref-55">[55]</a>’ + who, by-the-bye, has been, is, and ever will be, a mortal foe to thy + father.” + </p> + <p> + Vajramukut shuddered. + </p> + <p> + “When she put it under her foot it meant, ‘My name is Padmavati. <a + href="#linknote-56" name="linknoteref-56" id="linknoteref-56">[56]</a>’” + </p> + <p> + Vajramukut uttered a cry of joy. + </p> + <p> + “And when she placed it in her bosom, ‘You are truly dwelling in my heart’ + was meant to be understood.” + </p> + <p> + At these words the young Raja started up full of new life, and after + praising with enthusiasm the wondrous sagacity of his dear friend, begged + him by some contrivance to obtain the permission of his parents, and to + conduct him to her city. The minister’s son easily got leave for + Vajramukut to travel, under pretext that his body required change of + water, and his mind change of scene. They both dressed and armed + themselves for the journey, and having taken some jewels, mounted their + horses and followed the road in that direction in which the princess had + gone. + </p> + <p> + Arrived after some days at the capital of the Carnatic, the minister’s son + having disguised his master and himself in the garb of travelling traders, + alighted and pitched his little tent upon a clear bit of ground in one of + the suburbs. He then proceeded to inquire for a wise woman, wanting, he + said, to have his fortune told. When the prince asked him what this meant, + he replied that elderly dames who professionally predict the future are + never above ministering to the present, and therefore that, in such + circumstances, they are the properest persons to be consulted. + </p> + <p> + “Is this a treatise upon the subject of immorality, devil?” demanded the + King Vikram ferociously. The Baital declared that it was not, but that he + must tell his story. + </p> + <p> + The person addressed pointed to an old woman who, seated before the door + of her hut, was spinning at her wheel. Then the young men went up to her + with polite salutations and said, “Mother, we are travelling traders, and + our stock is coming after us; we have come on in advance for the purpose + of finding a place to live in. If you will give us a house, we will remain + there and pay you highly.” + </p> + <p> + The old woman, who was a physiognomist as well as a fortune-teller, looked + at the faces of the young men and liked them, because their brows were + wide, and their mouths denoted generosity. Having listened to their words, + she took pity upon them and said kindly, “This hovel is yours, my masters, + remain here as long as you please.” Then she led them into an inner room, + again welcomed them, lamented the poorness of her abode, and begged them + to lie down and rest themselves. + </p> + <p> + After some interval of time the old woman came to them once more, and + sitting down began to gossip. The minister’s son upon this asked her, “How + is it with thy family, thy relatives, and connections; and what are thy + means of subsistence?” She replied, “My son is a favourite servant in the + household of our great king Dantawat, and your slave is the wet-nurse of + the Princess Padmavati, his eldest child. From the coming on of old age,” + she added, “I dwell in this house, but the king provides for my eating and + drinking. I go once a day to see the girl, who is a miracle of beauty and + goodness, wit and accomplishments, and returning thence, I bear my own + griefs at home. <a href="#linknote-57" name="linknoteref-57" + id="linknoteref-57">[57]</a>” + </p> + <p> + In a few days the young Vajramukut had, by his liberality, soft speech, + and good looks, made such progress in nurse Lakshmi’s affections that, by + the advice of his companion, he ventured to broach the subject ever + nearest his heart. He begged his hostess, when she went on the morrow to + visit the charming Padmavati, that she would be kind enough to slip a bit + of paper into the princess’s hand. + </p> + <p> + “Son,” she replied, delighted with the proposal—and what old woman + would not be?—“there is no need for putting off so urgent an affair + till the morrow. Get your paper ready, and I will immediately give it.” + </p> + <p> + Trembling with pleasure, the prince ran to find his friend, who was seated + in the garden reading, as usual, and told him what the old nurse had + engaged to do. He then began to debate about how he should write his + letter, to cull sentences and to weigh phrases; whether “light of my eyes” + was not too trite, and “blood of my liver” rather too forcible. At this + the minister’s son smiled, and bade the prince not trouble his head with + composition. He then drew his inkstand from his waist shawl, nibbed a reed + pen, and choosing a piece of pink and flowered paper, he wrote upon it a + few lines. He then folded it, gummed it, sketched a lotus flower upon the + outside, and handing it to the young prince, told him to give it to their + hostess, and that all would be well. + </p> + <p> + The old woman took her staff in her hand and hobbled straight to the + palace. Arrived there, she found the Raja’s daughter sitting alone in her + apartment. The maiden, seeing her nurse, immediately arose, and making a + respectful bow, led her to a seat and began the most affectionate + inquiries. After giving her blessing and sitting for some time and + chatting about indifferent matters, the nurse said, “O daughter! in + infancy I reared and nourished thee, now the Bhagwan (Deity) has rewarded + me by giving thee stature, beauty, health, and goodness. My heart only + longs to see the happiness of thy womanhood, <a href="#linknote-58" + name="linknoteref-58" id="linknoteref-58">[58]</a> after which I shall + depart in peace. I implore thee read this paper, given to me by the + handsomest and the properest young man that my eyes have ever seen.” + </p> + <p> + The princess, glancing at the lotus on the outside of the note, slowly + unfolded it and perused its contents, which were as follows: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + 1. + + She was to me the pearl that clings + To sands all hid from mortal sight + Yet fit for diadems of kings, + The pure and lovely light. + + 2. + + She was to me the gleam of sun + That breaks the gloom of wintry day + One moment shone my soul upon, + Then passed—how soon!—away. + + 3. + + She was to me the dreams of bliss + That float the dying eyes before, + For one short hour shed happiness, + And fly to bless no more. + + 4. + + O light, again upon me shine; + O pearl, again delight my eyes; + O dreams of bliss, again be mine!— + No! earth may not be Paradise. +</pre> + <p> + I must not forget to remark, parenthetically, that the minister’s son, in + order to make these lines generally useful, had provided them with a last + stanza in triplicate. “For lovers,” he said sagely, “are either in the + optative mood, the desperative, or the exultative.” This time he had used + the optative. For the desperative he would substitute: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + 4. + + The joys of life lie dead, lie dead, + The light of day is quenched in gloom + The spark of hope my heart hath fled + What now witholds me from the tomb +</pre> + <p> + And this was the termination exultative, as he called it: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + 4. + + O joy I the pearl is mine again, + Once more the day is bright and clear + And now ‘tis real, then ‘twas vain, + My dream of bliss—O heaven is here! +</pre> + <p> + The Princess Padmavati having perused this doggrel with a contemptuous + look, tore off the first word of the last line, and said to the nurse, + angrily, “Get thee gone, O mother of Yama, <a href="#linknote-59" + name="linknoteref-59" id="linknoteref-59">[59]</a> O unfortunate creature, + and take back this answer”—giving her the scrap of paper—“to + the fool who writes such bad verses. I wonder where he studied the + humanities. Begone, and never do such an action again!” + </p> + <p> + The old nurse, distressed at being so treated, rose up and returned home. + Vajramukut was too agitated to await her arrival, so he went to meet her + on the way. Imagine his disappointment when she gave him the fatal word + and repeated to him exactly what happened, not forgetting to describe a + single look! He felt tempted to plunge his sword into his bosom; but + Fortune interfered, and sent him to consult his confidant. + </p> + <p> + “Be not so hasty and desperate, my prince,” said the pradhan’s son, seeing + his wild grief; “you have not understood her meaning. Later in life you + will be aware of the fact that, in nine cases out of ten, a woman’s ‘no’ + is a distinct ‘yes.’ This morning’s work has been good; the maiden asked + where you learnt the humanities, which being interpreted signifies ‘Who + are you?”’ + </p> + <p> + On the next day the prince disclosed his rank to old Lakshmi, who + naturally declared that she had always known it. The trust they reposed in + her made her ready to address Padmavati once more on the forbidden + subject. So she again went to the palace, and having lovingly greeted her + nursling, said to her, “The Raja’s son, whose heart thou didst fascinate + on the brim of the tank, on the fifth day of the moon, in the light half + of the month Yeth, has come to my house, and sends this message to thee: + ‘Perform what you promised;’ we have now come; and I also tell thee that + this prince is worthy of thee: just as thou art beautiful, so is he + endowed with all good qualities of mind and body.” + </p> + <p> + When Padmavati heard this speech she showed great anger, and, rubbing + sandal on her beautiful hands, she slapped the old woman’s cheeks, and + cried, “Wretch, Daina (witch)! get out of my house; did I not forbid thee + to talk such folly in my presence?” + </p> + <p> + The lover and the nurse were equally distressed at having taken the advice + of the young minister, till he explained what the crafty damsel meant. + “When she smeared the sandal on her ten fingers,” he explained, “and + struck the old woman on the face, she signified that when the remaining + ten moonlight nights shall have passed away she will meet you in the + dark.” At the same time he warned his master that to all appearances the + lady Padmavati was far too clever to make a comfortable wife. The + minister’s son especially hated talented, intellectual, and strong-minded + women; he had been heard to describe the torments of Naglok <a + href="#linknote-60" name="linknoteref-60" id="linknoteref-60">[60]</a> as + the compulsory companionship of a polemical divine and a learned + authoress, well stricken in years and of forbidding aspect, as such + persons mostly are. Amongst womankind he admired—theoretically, as + became a philosopher—the small, plump, laughing, chattering, + unintellectual, and material-minded. And therefore—excuse the + digression, Raja Vikram—he married an old maid, tall, thin, yellow, + strictly proper, cold-mannered, a conversationist, and who prided herself + upon spirituality. But more wonderful still, after he did marry her, he + actually loved her—what an incomprehensible being is man in these + matters! + </p> + <p> + To return, however. The pradhan’s son, who detected certain symptoms of + strong-mindedness in the Princess Padmavati, advised his lord to be wise + whilst wisdom availed him. This sage counsel was, as might be guessed, + most ungraciously rejected by him for whose benefit it was intended. Then + the sensible young statesman rated himself soundly for having broken his + father’s rule touching advice, and atoned for it by blindly forwarding the + views of his master. + </p> + <p> + After the ten nights of moonlight had passed, the old nurse was again sent + to the palace with the usual message. This time Padmavati put saffron on + three of her fingers, and again left their marks on the nurse’s cheek. The + minister’s son explained that this was to crave delay for three days, and + that on the fourth the lover would have access to her. + </p> + <p> + When the time had passed the old woman again went and inquired after her + health and well-being. The princess was as usual very wroth, and having + personally taken her nurse to the western gate, she called her “Mother of + the elephant’s trunk, <a href="#linknote-61" name="linknoteref-61" + id="linknoteref-61">[61]</a>” and drove her out with threats of the + bastinado if she ever came back. This was reported to the young statesman, + who, after a few minutes’ consideration, said, “The explanation of this + matter is, that she has invited you to-morrow, at nighttime, to meet her + at this very gate. + </p> + <p> + “When brown shadows fell upon the face of earth, and here and there a star + spangled the pale heavens, the minister’s son called Vajramukut, who had + been engaged in adorning himself at least half that day. He had carefully + shaved his cheeks and chin; his mustachio was trimmed and curled; he had + arched his eyebrows by plucking out with tweezers the fine hairs around + them; he had trained his curly musk-coloured love-locks to hang gracefully + down his face; he had drawn broad lines of antimony along his eyelids, a + most brilliant sectarian mark was affixed to his forehead, the colour of + his lips had been heightened by chewing betel-nut— + </p> + <p> + “One would imagine that you are talking of a silly girl, not of a prince, + fiend!” interrupted Vikram, who did not wish his son to hear what he + called these fopperies and frivolities. + </p> + <p> + —and whitened his neck by having it shaved (continued the Baital, + speaking quickly, as if determined not to be interrupted), and reddened + the tips of his ears by squeezing them, and made his teeth shine by + rubbing copper powder into the roots, and set off the delicacy of his + fingers by staining the tips with henna. He had not been less careful with + his dress: he wore a well-arranged turband, which had taken him at least + two hours to bind, and a rich suit of brown stuff chosen for the adventure + he was about to attempt, and he hung about his person a number of various + weapons, so as to appear a hero—which young damsels admire. + </p> + <p> + Vajramukut asked his friend how he looked, and smiled happily when the + other replied “Admirable!” His happiness was so great that he feared it + might not last, and he asked the minister’s son how best to conduct + himself? + </p> + <p> + “As a conqueror, my prince!” answered that astute young man, “if it so be + that you would be one. When you wish to win a woman, always impose upon + her. Tell her that you are her master, and she will forthwith believe + herself to be your servant. Inform her that she loves you, and forthwith + she will adore you. Show her that you care nothing for her, and she will + think of nothing but you. Prove to her by your demeanour that you consider + her a slave, and she will become your pariah. But above all things—excuse + me if I repeat myself too often—beware of the fatal virtue which men + call modesty and women sheepishness. Recollect the trouble it has given + us, and the danger which we have incurred: all this might have been + managed at a tank within fifteen miles of your royal father’s palace. And + allow me to say that you may still thank your stars: in love a lost + opportunity is seldom if ever recovered. The time to woo a woman is the + moment you meet her, before she has had time to think; allow her the use + of reflection and she may escape the net. And after avoiding the rock of + Modesty, fall not, I conjure you, into the gulf of Security. I fear the + lady Padmavati, she is too clever and too prudent. When damsels of her age + draw the sword of Love, they throw away the scabbard of Precaution. But + you yawn—I weary you—it is time for us to move.” + </p> + <p> + Two watches of the night had passed, and there was profound stillness on + earth. The young men then walked quietly through the shadows, till they + reached the western gate of the palace, and found the wicket ajar. The + minister’s son peeped in and saw the porter dozing, stately as a Brahman + deep in the Vedas, and behind him stood a veiled woman seemingly waiting + for somebody. He then returned on tiptoe to the place where he had left + his master, and with a parting caution against modesty and security, bade + him fearlessly glide through the wicket. Then having stayed a short time + at the gate listening with anxious ear, he went back to the old woman’s + house. + </p> + <p> + Vajramukut penetrating to the staircase, felt his hand grasped by the + veiled figure, who motioning him to tread lightly, led him quickly + forwards. They passed under several arches, through dim passages and dark + doorways, till at last running up a flight of stone steps they reached the + apartments of the princess. + </p> + <p> + Vajramukut was nearly fainting as the flood of splendour broke upon him. + Recovering himself he gazed around the rooms, and presently a tumult of + delight invaded his soul, and his body bristled with joy. <a + href="#linknote-62" name="linknoteref-62" id="linknoteref-62">[62]</a> The + scene was that of fairyland. Golden censers exhaled the most costly + perfumes, and gemmed vases bore the most beautiful flowers; silver lamps + containing fragrant oil illuminated doors whose panels were wonderfully + decorated, and walls adorned with pictures in which such figures were + formed that on seeing them the beholder was enchanted. On one side of the + room stood a bed of flowers and a couch covered with brocade of gold, and + strewed with freshly-culled jasmine flowers. On the other side, arranged + in proper order, were attar holders, betel-boxes, rose-water bottles, + trays, and silver cases with four partitions for essences compounded of + rose leaves, sugar, and spices, prepared sandal wood, saffron, and pods of + musk. Scattered about a stuccoed floor white as crystal, were coloured + caddies of exquisite confections, and in others sweetmeats of various + kinds.<a href="#linknote-63" name="linknoteref-63" id="linknoteref-63">[63]</a> + Female attendants clothed in dresses of various colours were standing each + according to her rank, with hands respectfully joined. Some were reading + plays and beautiful poems, others danced and others performed with + glittering fingers and flashing arms on various instruments—the + ivory lute, the ebony pipe and the silver kettledrum. In short, all the + means and appliances of pleasure and enjoyment were there; and any + description of the appearance of the apartments, which were the wonder of + the age, is impossible. + </p> + <p> + Then another veiled figure, the beautiful Princess Padmavati, came up and + disclosed herself, and dazzled the eyes of her delighted Vajramukut. She + led him into an alcove, made him sit down, rubbed sandal powder upon his + body, hung a garland of jasmine flowers round his neck, sprinkled + rose-water over his dress, and began to wave over his head a fan of + peacock feathers with a golden handle. + </p> + <p> + Said the prince, who despite all efforts could not entirely shake off his + unhappy habit of being modest, “Those very delicate hands of yours are not + fit to ply the pankha.<a href="#linknote-64" name="linknoteref-64" + id="linknoteref-64">[64]</a> Why do you take so much trouble? I am cool + and refreshed by the sight of you. Do give the fan to me and sit down.” + </p> + <p> + “Nay, great king!” replied Padmavati, with the most fascinating of smiles, + “you have taken so much trouble for my sake in coming here, it is right + that I perform service for you.” + </p> + <p> + Upon which her favourite slave, taking the pankha from the hand of the + princess, exclaimed, “This is my duty. I will perform the service; do you + two enjoy yourselves!” + </p> + <p> + The lovers then began to chew betel, which, by the bye, they disposed of + in little agate boxes which they drew from their pockets, and they were + soon engaged in the tenderest conversation. + </p> + <p> + Here the Baital paused for a while, probably to take breath. Then he + resumed his tale as follows: + </p> + <p> + In the meantime, it became dawn; the princess concealed him; and when + night returned they again engaged in the same innocent pleasures. Thus day + after day sped rapidly by. Imagine, if you can, the youth’s felicity; he + was of an ardent temperament, deeply enamoured, barely a score of years + old, and he had been strictly brought up by serious parents. He therefore + resigned himself entirely to the siren for whom he willingly forgot the + world, and he wondered at his good fortune, which had thrown in his way a + conquest richer than all the mines of Meru.<a href="#linknote-65" + name="linknoteref-65" id="linknoteref-65">[65]</a> He could not + sufficiently admire his Padmavati’s grace, beauty, bright wit, and + numberless accomplishments. Every morning, for vanity’s sake, he learned + from her a little useless knowledge in verse as well as prose, for + instance, the saying of the poet— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Enjoy the present hour, ‘tis thine; be this, O man, thy law; + Who e’er resew the yester? Who the morrow e’er foresaw? +</pre> + <p> + And this highly philosophical axiom— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Eat, drink, and love—the rest’s not worth a fillip. +</pre> + <p> + “By means of which he hoped, Raja Vikram!” said the demon, not heeding his + royal carrier’s “ughs” and “poohs,” “to become in course of time almost as + clever as his mistress.” + </p> + <p> + Padmavati, being, as you have seen, a maiden of superior mind, was + naturally more smitten by her lover’s dulness than by any other of his + qualities; she adored it, it was such a contrast to herself.<a + href="#linknote-66" name="linknoteref-66" id="linknoteref-66">[66]</a> At + first she did what many clever women do—she invested him with the + brightness of her own imagination. Still water, she pondered, runs deep; + certainly under this disguise must lurk a brilliant fancy, a penetrating + but a mature and ready judgment—are they not written by nature’s + hand on that broad high brow? With such lovely mustachios can he be aught + but generous, noble-minded, magnanimous? Can such eyes belong to any but a + hero? And she fed the delusion. She would smile upon him with intense + fondness, when, after wasting hours over a few lines of poetry, he would + misplace all the adjectives and barbarously entreat the metre. She laughed + with gratification, when, excited by the bright sayings that fell from her + lips, the youth put forth some platitude, dim as the lamp in the expiring + fire-fly. When he slipped in grammar she saw malice under it, when he + retailed a borrowed jest she called it a good one, and when he used—as + princes sometimes will—bad language, she discovered in it a charming + simplicity. + </p> + <p> + At first she suspected that the stratagems which had won her heart were + the results of a deep-laid plot proceeding from her lover. But clever + women are apt to be rarely sharp-sighted in every matter which concerns + themselves. She frequently determined that a third was in the secret. She + therefore made no allusion to it. Before long the enamoured Vajramukut had + told her everything, beginning with the diatribe against love pronounced + by the minister’s son, and ending with the solemn warning that she, the + pretty princess, would some day or other play her husband a foul trick. + </p> + <p> + “If I do not revenge myself upon him,” thought the beautiful Padmavati, + smiling like an angel as she listened to the youth’s confidence, “may I + become a gardener’s ass in the next birth!” + </p> + <p> + Having thus registered a vow, she broke silence, and praised to the skies + the young pradhan’s wisdom and sagacity; professed herself ready from + gratitude to become his slave, and only hoped that one day or other she + might meet that true friend by whose skill her soul had been gratified in + its dearest desire. “Only,” she concluded, “I am convinced that now my + Vajramukut knows every corner of his little Padmavati’s heart, he will + never expect her to do anything but love, admire, adore and kiss him!” + Then suiting the action to the word, she convinced him that the young + minister had for once been too crabbed and cynic in his philosophy. + </p> + <p> + But after the lapse of a month Vajramukut, who had eaten and drunk and + slept a great deal too much, and who had not once hunted, became bilious + in body and in mind melancholic. His face turned yellow, and so did the + whites of his eyes; he yawned, as liver patients generally do, complained + occasionally of sick headaches, and lost his appetite: he became restless + and anxious, and once when alone at night he thus thought aloud: “I have + given up country, throne, home, and everything else, but the friend by + means of whom this happiness was obtained I have not seen for the long + length of thirty days. What will he say to himself, and how can I know + what has happened to him?” + </p> + <p> + In this state of things he was sitting, and in the meantime the beautiful + princess arrived. She saw through the matter, and lost not a moment in + entering upon it. She began by expressing her astonishment at her lover’s + fickleness and fondness for change, and when he was ready to wax wroth, + and quoted the words of the sage, “A barren wife may be superseded by + another in the eighth year; she whose children all die, in the tenth; she + who brings forth only daughters, in the eleventh; she who scolds, without + delay,” thinking that she alluded to his love, she smoothed his temper by + explaining that she referred to his forgetting his friend. “How is it + possible, O my soul,” she asked with the softest of voices, that thou + canst happiness here whilst thy heart is wandering there? Why didst thou + conceal this from me, O astute one? Was it for fear of distressing me? + Think better of thy wife than to suppose that she would ever separate thee + from one to whom we both owe so much! + </p> + <p> + After this Padmavati advised, nay ordered, her lover to go forth that + night, and not to return till his mind was quite at ease, and she begged + him to take a few sweetmeats and other trifles as a little token of her + admiration and regard for the clever young man of whom she had heard so + much. + </p> + <p> + Vajramukut embraced her with a transport of gratitude, which so inflamed + her anger, that fearing lest the cloak of concealment might fall from her + countenance, she went away hurriedly to find the greatest delicacies which + her comfit boxes contained. Presently she returned, carrying a bag of + sweetmeats of every kind for her lover, and as he rose up to depart, she + put into his hand a little parcel of sugar-plums especially intended for + the friend; they were made up with her own delicate fingers, and they + would please, she flattered herself, even his discriminating palate. + </p> + <p> + The young prince, after enduring a number of farewell embraces and hopings + for a speedy return, and last words ever beginning again, passed safely + through the palace gate, and with a relieved aspect walked briskly to the + house of the old nurse. Although it was midnight his friend was still + sitting on his mat. + </p> + <p> + The two young men fell upon one another’s bosoms and embraced + affectionately. They then began to talk of matters nearest their hearts. + The Raja’s son wondered at seeing the jaded and haggard looks of his + companion, who did not disguise that they were caused by his anxiety as to + what might have happened to his friend at the hand of so talented and so + superior a princess. Upon which Vajramukut, who now thought Padmavati an + angel, and his late abode a heaven, remarked with formality—and two + blunders to one quotation—that abilities properly directed win for a + man the happiness of both worlds. + </p> + <p> + The pradhan’s son rolled his head. + </p> + <p> + “Again on your hobby-horse, nagging at talent whenever you find it in + others!” cried the young prince with a pun, which would have delighted + Padmavati. “Surely you are jealous of her!” he resumed, anything but + pleased with the dead silence that had received his joke; “jealous of her + cleverness, and of her love for me. She is the very best creature in the + world. Even you, woman-hater as you are, would own it if you only knew all + the kind messages she sent, and the little pleasant surprise that she has + prepared for you. There! take and eat; they are made by her own dear + hands!” cried the young Raja, producing the sweetmeats. “As she herself + taught me to say— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Thank God I am a man, + Not a philosopher!” + </pre> + <p> + “The kind messages she sent me! The pleasant surprise she has prepared for + me!” repeated the minister’s son in a hard, dry tone. “My lord will be + pleased to tell me how she heard of my name?” + </p> + <p> + “I was sitting one night,” replied the prince, “in anxious thought about + you, when at that moment the princess coming in and seeing my condition, + asked, ‘Why are you thus sad? Explain the cause to me.’ I then gave her an + account of your cleverness, and when she heard it she gave me permission + to go and see you, and sent these sweetmeats for you: eat them and I shall + be pleased.” + </p> + <p> + “Great king!” rejoined the young statesman, “one thing vouchsafe to hear + from me. You have not done well in that you have told my name. You should + never let a woman think that your left hand knows the secret which she + confided to your right, much less that you have shared it to a third + person. Secondly, you did evil in allowing her to see the affection with + which you honour your unworthy servant—a woman ever hates her + lover’s or husband’s friend.” + </p> + <p> + “What could I do?” rejoined the young Raja, in a querulous tone of voice. + “When I love a woman I like to tell her everything—to have no + secrets from her—to consider her another self——” + </p> + <p> + “Which habit,” interrupted the pradhan’s son, “you will lose when you are + a little older, when you recognize the fact that love is nothing but a + bout, a game of skill between two individuals of opposite sexes: the one + seeking to gain as much, and the other striving to lose as little as + possible; and that the sharper of the twain thus met on the chessboard + must, in the long run, win. And reticence is but a habit. Practise it for + a year, and you will find it harder to betray than to conceal your + thoughts. It hath its joy also. Is there no pleasure, think you, when + suppressing an outbreak of tender but fatal confidence in saying to + yourself, ‘O, if she only knew this?’ ‘O, if she did but suspect that?’ + Returning, however, to the sugar-plums, my life to a pariah’s that they + are poisoned!” + </p> + <p> + “Impossible!” exclaimed the prince, horror-struck at the thought; “what + you say, surely no one ever could do. If a mortal fears not his + fellow-mortal, at least he dreads the Deity.” + </p> + <p> + “I never yet knew,” rejoined the other, “what a woman in love does fear. + However, prince, the trial is easy. Come here, Muti!” cried he to the old + woman’s dog, “and off with thee to that three-headed kinsman of thine, + that attends upon his amiable-looking master.<a href="#linknote-67" + name="linknoteref-67" id="linknoteref-67">[67]</a>” + </p> + <p> + Having said this, he threw one of the sweetmeats to the dog; the animal + ate it, and presently writhing and falling down, died. + </p> + <p> + “The wretch! O the wretch!” cried Vajramukut, transported with wonder and + anger. “And I loved her! But now it is all over. I dare not associate with + such a calamity!” + </p> + <p> + “What has happened, my lord, has happened!” quoth the minister’s son + calmly. “I was prepared for something of this kind from so talented a + princess. None commit such mistakes, such blunders, such follies as your + clever women; they cannot even turn out a crime decently executed. O give + me dulness with one idea, one aim, one desire. O thrice blessed dulness + that combines with happiness, power.” + </p> + <p> + This time Vajramukut did not defend talent. + </p> + <p> + “And your slave did his best to warn you against perfidy. But now my heart + is at rest. I have tried her strength. She has attempted and failed; the + defeat will prevent her attempting again—just yet. But let me ask + you to put to yourself one question. Can you be happy without her?” + </p> + <p> + “Brother!” replied the prince, after a pause, “I cannot”; and he blushed + as he made the avowal. + </p> + <p> + “Well,” replied the other, “better confess then conceal that fact; we must + now meet her on the battle-field, and beat her at her own weapons—cunning. + I do not willingly begin treachery with women, because, in the first + place, I don’t like it; and secondly, I know that they will certainly + commence practicing it upon me, after which I hold myself justified in + deceiving them. And probably this will be a good wife; remember that she + intended to poison me, not you. During the last month my fear has been + lest my prince had run into the tiger’s brake. Tell me, my lord, when does + the princess expect you to return to her?” + </p> + <p> + “She bade me,” said the young Raja, “not to return till my mind was quite + at ease upon the subject of my talented friend.” + </p> + <p> + “This means that she expects you back to-morrow night, as you cannot enter + the palace before. And now I will retire to my cot, as it is there that I + am wont to ponder over my plans. Before dawn my thought shall mature one + which must place the beautiful Padmavati in your power.” + </p> + <p> + “A word before parting,” exclaimed the prince “you know my father has + already chosen a spouse for me; what will he say if I bring home a + second?” + </p> + <p> + “In my humble opinion,” said the minister’s son rising to retire, “woman + is a monogamous, man a polygamous, creature, a fact scarcely established + in physiological theory, but very observable in every-day practice. For + what said the poet?— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Divorce, friend! Re-wed thee! The spring draweth near,<a + href="#linknote-68" name="linknoteref-68" id="linknoteref-68">[68]</a> + And a wife’s but an almanac—good for the year. +</pre> + <p> + If your royal father say anything to you, refer him to what he himself + does.” + </p> + <p> + Reassured by these words, Vajramukut bade his friend a cordial good-night + and sought his cot, where he slept soundly, despite the emotions of the + last few hours. The next day passed somewhat slowly. In the evening, when + accompanying his master to the palace, the minister’s son gave him the + following directions. + </p> + <p> + “Our object, dear my lord, is how to obtain possession of the princess. + Take, then, this trident, and hide it carefully when you see her show the + greatest love and affection. Conceal what has happened, and when she, + wondering at your calmness, asks about me, tell her that last night I was + weary and out of health, that illness prevented my eating her sweetmeats, + but that I shall eat them for supper to-night. When she goes to sleep, + then, taking off her jewels and striking her left leg with the trident, + instantly come away to me. But should she lie awake, rub upon your thumb a + little of this—do not fear, it is only a powder of grubs fed on + verdigris—and apply it to her nostrils. It would make an elephant + senseless, so be careful how you approach it to your own face.” + </p> + <p> + Vajramukut embraced his friend, and passed safely through the palace gate. + He found Padmavati awaiting him; she fell upon his bosom and looked into + his eyes, and deceived herself, as clever women will do. Overpowered by + her joy and satisfaction, she now felt certain that her lover was hers + eternally, and that her treachery had not been discovered; so the + beautiful princess fell into a deep sleep. + </p> + <p> + Then Vajramukut lost no time in doing as the minister’s son had advised, + and slipped out of the room, carrying off Padmavati’s jewels and + ornaments. His counsellor having inspected them, took up a sack and made + signs to his master to follow him. Leaving the horses and baggage at the + nurse’s house, they walked to a burning-place outside the city. The + minister’s son there buried his dress, together with that of the prince, + and drew from the sack the costume of a religious ascetic: he assumed this + himself, and gave to his companion that of a disciple. Then quoth the guru + (spiritual preceptor) to his chela (pupil), “Go, youth, to the bazar, and + sell these jewels, remembering to let half the jewellers in the place see + the things, and if any one lay hold of thee, bring him to me.” + </p> + <p> + Upon which, as day had dawned, Vajramukut carried the princess’s ornaments + to the market, and entering the nearest goldsmith’s shop, offered to sell + them, and asked what they were worth. As your majesty well knows, + gardeners, tailors, and goldsmiths are proverbially dishonest, and this + man was no exception to the rule. He looked at the pupil’s face and + wondered, because he had brought articles whose value he did not appear to + know. A thought struck him that he might make a bargain which would fill + his coffers, so he offered about a thousandth part of the price. This the + pupil rejected, because he wished the affair to go further. Then the + goldsmith, seeing him about to depart, sprang up and stood in the door + way, threatening to call the officers of justice if the young man refused + to give up the valuables which he said had lately been stolen from his + shop. As the pupil only laughed at this, the goldsmith thought seriously + of executing his threat, hesitating only because he knew that the officers + of justice would gain more than he could by that proceeding. As he was + still in doubt a shadow darkened his shop, and in entered the chief + jeweller of the city. The moment the ornaments were shown to him he + recognized them, and said, “These jewels belong to Raja Dantawat’s + daughter; I know them well, as I set them only a few months ago!” Then he + turned to the disciple, who still held the valuables in his hand, and + cried, “Tell me truly whence you received them?” + </p> + <p> + While they were thus talking, a crowd of ten or twenty persons had + collected, and at length the report reached the superintendent of the + archers. He sent a soldier to bring before him the pupil, the goldsmith, + and the chief jeweller, together with the ornaments. And when all were in + the hall of justice, he looked at the jewels and said to the young man, + “Tell me truly, whence have you obtained these?” + </p> + <p> + “My spiritual preceptor,” said Vajramukut, pretending great fear, “who is + now worshipping in the cemetery outside the town, gave me these white + stones, with an order to sell them. How know I whence he obtained them? + Dismiss me, my lord, for I am an innocent man.” + </p> + <p> + “Let the ascetic be sent for,” commanded the kotwal.<a href="#linknote-69" + name="linknoteref-69" id="linknoteref-69">[69]</a> Then, having taken both + of them, along with the jewels, into the presence of King Dantawat, he + related the whole circumstances. + </p> + <p> + “Master,” said the king on hearing the statement, “whence have you + obtained these jewels?” + </p> + <p> + The spiritual preceptor, before deigning an answer, pulled from under his + arm the hide of a black antelope, which he spread out and smoothed + deliberately before using it as an asan.<a href="#linknote-70" + name="linknoteref-70" id="linknoteref-70">[70]</a> He then began to finger + a rosary of beads each as large as an egg, and after spending nearly an + hour in mutterings and in rollings of the head, he looked fixedly at the + Raja, and repined: + </p> + <p> + “By Shiva! great king, they are mine own. On the fourteenth of the dark + half of the moon at night, I had gone into a place where dead bodies are + burned, for the purpose of accomplishing a witch’s incantation. After long + and toilsome labour she appeared, but her demeanour was so unruly that I + was forced to chastise her. I struck her with this, my trident, on the + left leg, if memory serves me. As she continued to be refractory, in order + to punish her I took off all her jewels and clothes, and told her to go + where she pleased. Even this had little effect upon her—never have I + looked upon so perverse a witch. In this way the jewels came into my + possession.” + </p> + <p> + Raja Dantawat was stunned by these words. He begged the ascetic not to + leave the palace for a while, and forthwith walked into the private + apartments of the women. Happening first to meet the queen dowager, he + said to her, “Go, without losing a minute, O my mother, and look at + Padmavati’s left leg, and see if there is a mark or not, and what sort of + a mark!” Presently she returned, and coming to the king said, “Son, I find + thy daughter lying upon her bed, and complaining that she has met with an + accident; and indeed Padmavati must be in great pain. I found that some + sharp instrument with three points had wounded her. The girl says that a + nail hurt her, but I never yet heard of a nail making three holes. + However, we must all hasten, or there will be erysipelas, tumefaction, + gangrene, mortification, amputation, and perhaps death in the house,” + concluded the old queen, hurrying away in the pleasing anticipation of + these ghastly consequences. + </p> + <p> + For a moment King Dantawat’s heart was ready to break. But he was + accustomed to master his feelings; he speedily applied the reins of + reflection to the wild steed of passion. He thought to himself, “the + affairs of one’s household, the intentions of one’s heart, and whatever + one’s losses may be, should not be disclosed to any one. Since Padmavati + is a witch, she is no longer my daughter. I will verily go forth and + consult the spiritual preceptor.” + </p> + <p> + With these words the king went outside, where the guru was still sitting + upon his black hide, making marks with his trident on the floor. Having + requested that the pupil might be sent away, and having cleared the room, + he said to the jogi, “O holy man! what punishment for the heinous crime of + witchcraft is awarded to a woman in the Dharma-Shastra <a + href="#linknote-71" name="linknoteref-71" id="linknoteref-71">[71]</a>?” + </p> + <p> + “Great king!” replied the devotee, “in the Dharma Shastra it is thus + written: ‘If a Brahman, a cow, a woman, a child, or any other person + whatsoever who may be dependent on us, should be guilty of a perfidious + act, their punishment is that they be banished the country.’ However much + they may deserve death, we must not spill their blood, as Lakshmi<a + href="#linknote-72" name="linknoteref-72" id="linknoteref-72">[72]</a> + flies in horror from the deed.” + </p> + <p> + Hearing these words the Raja dismissed the guru with many thanks and large + presents. He waited till nightfall and then ordered a band of trusty men + to seize Padmavati without alarming the household, and to carry her into a + distant jungle full of fiends, tigers, and bears, and there to abandon + her. + </p> + <p> + In the meantime, the ascetic and his pupil hurrying to the cemetery + resumed their proper dresses; they then went to the old nurse’s house, + rewarded her hospitality till she wept bitterly, girt on their weapons, + and mounting their horses, followed the party which issued from the gate + of King Dantawat’s palace. And it may easily be believed that they found + little difficulty in persuading the poor girl to exchange her chance in + the wild jungle for the prospect of becoming Vajramukut’s wife—lawfully + wedded at Benares. She did not even ask if she was to have a rival in the + house,—a question which women, you know, never neglect to put under + usual circumstances. After some days the two pilgrims of one love arrived + at the house of their fathers, and to all, both great and small, excess in + joy came. + </p> + <p> + “Now, Raja Vikram!” said the Baital, “you have not spoken much; doubtless + you are engrossed by the interest of a story wherein a man beats a woman + at her own weapon—deceit. But I warn you that you will assuredly + fall into Narak (the infernal regions) if you do not make up your mind + upon and explain this matter. Who was the most to blame amongst these + four? the lover<a href="#linknote-73" name="linknoteref-73" + id="linknoteref-73">[73]</a> the lover’s friend, the girl, or the father?” + </p> + <p> + “For my part I think Padmavati was the worst, she being at the bottom of + all their troubles,” cried Dharma Dhwaj. The king said something about + young people and the two senses of seeing and hearing, but his son’s + sentiment was so sympathetic that he at once pardoned the interruption. At + length, determined to do justice despite himself, Vikram said, “Raja + Dantawat is the person most at fault.” + </p> + <p> + “In what way was he at fault?” asked the Baital curiously. + </p> + <p> + King Vikram gave him this reply: “The Prince Vajramukut being tempted of + the love-god was insane, and therefore not responsible for his actions. + The minister’s son performed his master’s business obediently, without + considering causes or asking questions—a very excellent quality in a + dependent who is merely required to do as he is bid. With respect to the + young woman, I have only to say that she was a young woman, and thereby of + necessity a possible murderess. But the Raja, a prince, a man of a certain + age and experience, a father of eight! He ought never to have been + deceived by so shallow a trick, nor should he, without reflection, have + banished his daughter from the country.” + </p> + <p> + “Gramercy to you!” cried the Vampire, bursting into a discordant shout of + laughter, “I now return to my tree. By my tail! I never yet heard a Raja + so readily condemn a Raja.” With these words he slipped out of the cloth, + leaving it to hang empty over the great king’s shoulder. + </p> + <p> + Vikram stood for a moment, fixed to the spot with blank dismay. Presently, + recovering himself, he retraced his steps, followed by his son, ascended + the sires-tree, tore down the Baital, packed him up as before, and again + set out upon his way. + </p> + <p> + Soon afterwards a voice sounded behind the warrior king’s back, and began + to tell another true story. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0010" id="link2H_4_0010"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE VAMPIRE’S SECOND STORY — Of the Relative Villany of Men and + Women. + </h2> + <p> + In the great city of Bhogavati dwelt, once upon a time, a young prince, + concerning whom I may say that he strikingly resembled this amiable son of + your majesty. + </p> + <p> + Raja Vikram was silent, nor did he acknowledge the Baital’s indirect + compliment. He hated flattery, but he liked, when flattered, to be + flattered in his own person; a feature in their royal patron’s character + which the Nine Gems of Science had turned to their own account. + </p> + <p> + Now the young prince Raja Ram (continued the tale teller) had an old + father, concerning whom I may say that he was exceedingly unlike your + Rajaship, both as a man and as a parent. He was fond of hunting, dicing, + sleeping by day, drinking at night, and eating perpetual tonics, while he + delighted in the idleness of watching nautch girls, and the vanity of + falling in love. But he was adored by his children because he took the + trouble to win their hearts. He did not lay it down as a law of heaven + that his offspring would assuredly go to Patala if they neglected the duty + of bestowing upon him without cause all their affections, as your moral, + virtuous, and highly respectable fathers are only too apt——. + Aie! Aie! + </p> + <p> + These sounds issued from the Vampire’s lips as the warrior king, + speechless with wrath, passed his hand behind his back, and viciously + twisted up a piece of the speaker’s skin. This caused the Vampire to cry + aloud, more however, it would appear, in derision than in real suffering, + for he presently proceeded with the same subject. + </p> + <p> + Fathers, great king, may be divided into three kinds; and be it said + aside, that mothers are the same. Firstly, we have the parent of many + ideas, amusing, pleasant, of course poor, and the idol of his children. + Secondly, there is the parent with one idea and a half. This sort of man + would, in your place, say to himself, “That demon fellow speaks a manner + of truth. I am not above learning from him, despite his position in life. + I will carry out his theory, just to see how far it goes”; and so saying, + he wends his way home, and treats his young ones with prodigious kindness + for a time, but it is not lasting. Thirdly, there is the real one-idea’d + type of parent-yourself, O warrior king Vikram, an admirable example. You + learn in youth what you are taught: for instance, the blessed precept that + the green stick is of the trees of Paradise; and in age you practice what + you have learned. You cannot teach yourselves anything before your beards + sprout, and when they grow stiff you cannot be taught by others. If any + one attempt to change your opinions you cry, + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + What is new is not true, + What is true is not new. +</pre> + <p> + and you rudely pull his hand from the subject. Yet have you your uses like + other things of earth. In life you are good working camels for the + mill-track, and when you die your ashes are not worse compost than those + of the wise. + </p> + <p> + Your Rajaship will observe (continued the Vampire, as Vikram began to show + symptoms of ungovernable anger) that I have been concise in treating this + digression. Had I not been so, it would have led me far indeed from my + tale. Now to return. + </p> + <p> + When the old king became air mixed with air, the young king, though he + found hardly ten pieces of silver in the paternal treasury and legacies + for thousands of golden ounces, yet mourned his loss with the deepest + grief. He easily explained to himself the reckless emptiness of the royal + coffers as a proof of his dear kind parent’s goodness, because he loved + him. + </p> + <p> + But the old man had left behind him, as he could not carry it off with + him, a treasure more valuable than gold and silver: one Churaman, a + parrot, who knew the world, and who besides discoursed in the most correct + Sanscrit. By sage counsel and wise guidance this admirable bird soon + repaired his young master’s shattered fortunes. + </p> + <p> + One day the prince said, “Parrot, thou knowest everything: tell me where + there is a mate fit for me. The shastras inform us, respecting the choice + of a wife, ‘She who is not descended from his paternal or maternal + ancestors within the sixth degree is eligible by a high caste man for + nuptials. In taking a wife let him studiously avoid the following + families, be they ever so great, or ever so rich in kine, goats, sheep, + gold, or grain: the family which has omitted prescribed acts of devotion; + that which has produced no male children; that in which the Veda + (scripture) has not been read; that which has thick hair on the body; and + that in which members have been subject to hereditary disease. Let a + person choose for his wife a girl whose person has no defect; who has an + agreeable name; who walks gracefully, like a young elephant; whose hair + and teeth are moderate in quantity and in size; and whose body is of + exquisite softness.’” + </p> + <p> + “Great king,” responded the parrot Churaman, “there is in the country of + Magadh a Raja, Magadheshwar by name, and he has a daughter called + Chandravati. You will marry her; she is very learned, and, what is better + far, very fait. She is of yellow colour, with a nose like the flower of + the sesamum; her legs are taper, like the plantain-tree; her eyes are + large, like the principal leaf of the lotus; her eye-brows stretch towards + her ears; her lips are red, like the young leaves of the mango-tree; her + face is like the full moon; her voice is like the sound of the cuckoo; her + arms reach to her knees; her throat is like the pigeon’s; her flanks are + thin, like those of the lion; her hair hangs in curls only down to her + waist; her teeth are like the seeds of the pomegranate; and her gait is + that of the drunken elephant or the goose.” + </p> + <p> + On hearing the parrot’s speech, the king sent for an astrologer, and asked + him, “Whom shall I marry?” The wise man, having consulted his art, + replied, “Chandravati is the name of the maiden, and your marriage with + her will certainly take place.” Thereupon the young Raja, though he had + never seen his future queen, became incontinently enamoured of her. He + summoned a Brahman, and sent him to King Magadheshwar, saying, “If you + arrange satisfactorily this affair of our marriage we will reward you + amply“—a promise which lent wings to the priest. + </p> + <p> + Now it so happened that this talented and beautiful princess had a jay,<a + href="#linknote-74" name="linknoteref-74" id="linknoteref-74">[74]</a> + whose name was Madan-manjari or Love-garland. She also possessed + encyclopaedic knowledge after her degree, and, like the parrot, she spoke + excellent Sanscrit. + </p> + <p> + Be it briefly said, O warrior king-for you think that I am talking fables—that + in the days of old, men had the art of making birds discourse in human + language. The invention is attributed to a great philosopher, who split + their tongues, and after many generations produced a selected race born + with those members split. He altered the shapes of their skulls by fixing + ligatures behind the occiput, which caused the sinciput to protrude, their + eyes to become prominent, and their brains to master the art of expressing + thoughts in words. + </p> + <p> + But this wonderful discovery, like those of great philosophers generally, + had in it a terrible practical flaw The birds beginning to speak, spoke + wisely and so well, they told the truth so persistently, they rebuked + their brethren of the featherless skins so openly, they flattered them so + little and they counselled them so much, that mankind presently grew tired + of hearing them discourse. Thus the art gradually fell into desuetude, and + now it is numbered with the things that were. + </p> + <p> + One day the charming Princess Chandravati was sitting in confidential + conversation with her jay. The dialogue was not remarkable, for maidens in + all ages seldom consult their confidantes or speculate upon the secrets of + futurity, or ask to have dreams interpreted, except upon one subject. At + last the princess said, for perhaps the hundredth time that month, “Where, + O jay, is there a husband worthy of me?” + </p> + <p> + “Princess,” replied Madan-manjari, “I am happy at length to be able as + willing to satisfy your just curiosity. For just it is, though the + delicacy of our sex—” + </p> + <p> + “Now, no preaching!” said the maiden; “or thou shalt have salt instead of + sugar for supper.” + </p> + <p> + Jays, your Rajaship, are fond of sugar. So the confidante retained a + quantity of good advice which she was about to produce, and replied, + </p> + <p> + “I now see clearly the ways of Fortune. Raja Ram, king of Bhogavati, is to + be thy husband. He shall be happy in thee and thou in him, for he is young + and handsome, rich and generous, good-tempered, not too clever, and + without a chance of being an invalid.” + </p> + <p> + Thereupon the princess, although she had never seen her future husband, at + once began to love him. In fact, though neither had set eyes upon the + other, both were mutually in love. + </p> + <p> + “How can that be, sire?” asked the young Dharma Dhwaj of his father. “I + always thought that—” + </p> + <p> + The great Vikram interrupted his son, and bade him not to ask silly + questions. Thus he expected to neutralize the evil effects of the Baital’s + doctrine touching the amiability of parents unlike himself. + </p> + <p> + Now, as both these young people (resumed the Baital) were of princely + family and well to do in the world, the course of their love was unusually + smooth. When the Brahman sent by Raja Ram had reached Magadh, and had + delivered his King’s homage to the Raja Magadheshwar, the latter received + him with distinction, and agreed to his proposal. The beautiful princess’s + father sent for a Brahman of his own, and charging him with nuptial gifts + and the customary presents, sent him back to Bhogavati in company with the + other envoy, and gave him this order, “Greet Raja Ram, on my behalf, and + after placing the tilak or mark upon his forehead, return here with all + speed. When you come back I will get all things ready for the marriage.” + </p> + <p> + Raja Ram, on receiving the deputation, was greatly pleased, and after + generously rewarding the Brahmans and making all the necessary + preparations, he set out in state for the land of Magadha, to claim his + betrothed. + </p> + <p> + In due season the ceremony took place with feasting and bands of music, + fireworks and illuminations, rehearsals of scripture, songs, + entertainments, processions, and abundant noise. And hardly had the + turmeric disappeared from the beautiful hands and feet of the bride, when + the bridegroom took an affectionate leave of his new parents—he had + not lived long in the house—and receiving the dowry and the bridal + gifts, set out for his own country. + </p> + <p> + Chandravati was dejected by leaving her mother, and therefore she was + allowed to carry with her the jay, Madanmanian. She soon told her husband + the wonderful way in which she had first heard his name, and he related to + her the advantage which he had derived from confabulation with Churaman, + his parrot. + </p> + <p> + “Then why do we not put these precious creatures into one cage, after + marrying them according to the rites of the angelic marriage + (Gandharva-lagana)?” said the charming queen. Like most brides, she was + highly pleased to find an opportunity of making a match. + </p> + <p> + “Ay! why not, love? Surely they cannot live happy in what the world calls + single blessedness,” replied the young king. As bridegrooms sometimes are + for a short time, he was very warm upon the subject of matrimony. + </p> + <p> + Thereupon, without consulting the parties chiefly concerned in their + scheme, the master and mistress, after being comfortably settled at the + end of their journey, caused a large cage to be brought, and put into it + both their favourites. + </p> + <p> + Upon which Churaman the parrot leaned his head on one side and directed a + peculiar look at the jay. But Madan-manjari raised her beak high in the + air, puffed through it once or twice, and turned away her face in extreme + disdain. + </p> + <p> + “Perhaps,” quoth the parrot, at length breaking silence, “you will tell me + that you have no desire to be married?” + </p> + <p> + “Probably,” replied the jay. + </p> + <p> + “And why?” asked the male bird. + </p> + <p> + “Because I don’t choose,” replied the female. + </p> + <p> + “Truly a feminine form of resolution this,” ejaculated the parrot. “I will + borrow my master’s words and call it a woman’s reason, that is to say, no + reason at all. Have you any objection to be more explicit?” + </p> + <p> + “None whatever,” retorted the jay, provoked by the rude innuendo into + telling more plainly than politely exactly what she thought; “none + whatever, sir parrot. You he-things are all of you sinful, treacherous, + deceitful, selfish, devoid of conscience, and accustomed to sacrifice us, + the weaker sex, to your smallest desire or convenience.” + </p> + <p> + “Of a truth, fair lady,” quoth the young Raja Ram to his bride, “this pet + of thine is sufficiently impudent.” + </p> + <p> + “Let her words be as wind in thine ear, master,” interrupted the parrot. + “And pray, Mistress Jay, what are you she-things but treacherous, false, + ignorant, and avaricious beings, whose only wish in this world is to + prevent life being as pleasant as it might be?” + </p> + <p> + “Verily, my love,” said the beautiful Chandravati to her bridegroom, “this + thy bird has a habit of expressing his opinions in a very free and easy + way.” + </p> + <p> + “I can prove what I assert,” whispered the jay in the ear of the princess. + </p> + <p> + “We can confound their feminine minds by an anecdote,” whispered the + parrot in the ear of the prince. + </p> + <p> + Briefly, King Vikram, it was settled between the twain that each should + establish the truth of what it had advanced by an illustration in the form + of a story. + </p> + <p> + Chandravati claimed, and soon obtained, precedence for the jay. Then the + wonderful bird, Madan-manjari, began to speak as follows:— + </p> + <p> + I have often told thee, O queen, that before coming to thy feet, my + mistress was Ratnawati, the daughter of a rich trader, the dearest, the + sweetest, the—— + </p> + <p> + Here the jay burst into tears, and the mistress was sympathetically + affected. Presently the speaker resumed—— + </p> + <p> + However, I anticipate. In the city of Ilapur there was a wealthy merchant, + who was without offspring; on this account he was continually fasting and + going on pilgrimage, and when at home he was ever engaged in reading the + Puranas and in giving alms to the Brahmans. + </p> + <p> + At length, by favour of the Deity, a son was born to this merchant, who + celebrated his birth with great pomp and rejoicing, and gave large gifts + to Brahmans and to bards, and distributed largely to the hungry, the + thirsty, and the poor. When the boy was five years old he had him taught + to read, and when older he was sent to a guru, who had formerly himself + been a student, and who was celebrated as teacher and lecturer. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> +In the course of time the merchant’s son grew up. Praise be to Brahma! +what a wonderful youth it was, with a face like a monkey’s, legs like a +stork’s, and a back like a camel’s. You know the old proverb:— + + Expect thirty-two villanies from the limping, and eighty +from the one-eyed man, + But when the hunchback comes, say “Lord defend us!” + </pre> + <p> + Instead of going to study, he went to gamble with other ne’er-do-weels, to + whom he talked loosely, and whom he taught to be bad-hearted as himself. + He made love to every woman, and despite his ugliness, he was not + unsuccessful. For they are equally fortunate who are very handsome or very + ugly, in so far as they are both remarkable and remarked. But the latter + bear away the palm. Beautiful men begin well with women, who do all they + can to attract them, love them as the apples of their eyes, discover them + to be fools, hold them to be their equals, deceive them, and speedily + despise them. It is otherwise with the ugly man, who, in consequence of + his homeliness, must work his wits and take pains with himself, and become + as pleasing as he is capable of being, till women forget his ape’s face, + bird’s legs, and bunchy back. + </p> + <p> + The hunchback, moreover, became a Tantri, so as to complete his villanies. + He was duly initiated by an apostate Brahman, made a declaration that he + renounced all the ceremonies of his old religion, and was delivered from + their yoke, and proceeded to perform in token of joy an abominable rite. + In company with eight men and eight women-a Brahman female, a dancing + girl, a weaver’s daughter, a woman of ill fame, a washerwoman, a barber’s + wife, a milkmaid, and the daughter of a land-owner—choosing the + darkest time of night and the most secret part of the house, he drank with + them, was sprinkled and anointed, and went through many ignoble + ceremonies, such as sitting nude upon a dead body. The teacher informed + him that he was not to indulge shame, or aversion to anything, nor to + prefer one thing to another, nor to regard caste, ceremonial cleanness or + uncleanness, but freely to enjoy all the pleasures of sense-that is, of + course, wine and us, since we are the representatives of the wife of + Cupid, and wine prevents the senses from going astray. And whereas holy + men, holding that the subjugation or annihilation of the passions is + essential to final beatitude, accomplish this object by bodily + austerities, and by avoiding temptation, he proceeded to blunt the edge of + the passions with excessive indulgence. And he jeered at the pious, + reminding them that their ascetics are safe only in forests, and while + keeping a perpetual fast; but that he could subdue his passions in the + very presence of what they most desired. + </p> + <p> + Presently this excellent youth’s father died, leaving him immense wealth. + He blunted his passions so piously and so vigorously, that in very few + years his fortune was dissipated. Then he turned towards his neighbour’s + goods and prospered for a time, till being discovered robbing, he narrowly + escaped the stake. At length he exclaimed, “Let the gods perish! the + rascals send me nothing but ill luck!” and so saying he arose and fled + from his own country. + </p> + <p> + Chance led that villain hunchback to the city of Chandrapur, where, + hearing the name of my master Hemgupt, he recollected that one of his + father’s wealthiest correspondents was so called. Thereupon, with his + usual audacity, he presented himself at the house, walked in, and although + he was clothed in tatters, introduced himself, told his father’s name and + circumstances, and wept bitterly. + </p> + <p> + The good man was much astonished, and not less grieved, to see the son of + his old friend in such woful plight. He rose up, however, embraced the + youth, and asked the reason of his coming. + </p> + <p> + “I freighted a vessel,” said the false hunchback, “for the purpose of + trading to a certain land. Having gone there, I disposed of my + merchandise, and, taking another cargo, I was on my voyage home. Suddenly + a great storm arose, and the vessel was wrecked, and I escaped on a plank, + and after a time arrived here. But I am ashamed, since I have lost all my + wealth, and I cannot show my face in this plight in my own city. My + excellent father would have consoled me with his pity. But now that I have + carried him and my mother to Ganges,<a href="#linknote-75" + name="linknoteref-75" id="linknoteref-75">[75]</a> every one will turn + against me; they will rejoice in my misfortunes, they will accuse me of + folly and recklessness—alas! alas! I am truly miserable.” + </p> + <p> + My dear master was deceived by the cunning of the wretch. He offered him + hospitality, which was readily enough accepted, and he entertained him for + some time as a guest. Then, having reason to be satisfied with his + conduct, Hemgupt admitted him to his secrets, and finally made him a + partner in his business. Briefly, the villain played his cards so well, + that at last the merchant said to himself: + </p> + <p> + “I have had for years an anxiety and a calamity in my house. My neighbours + whisper things to my disadvantage, and those who are bolder speak out with + astonishment amongst themselves, saying, ‘At seven or eight, people marry + their daughters, and this indeed is the appointment of the law: that + period is long since gone; she is now thirteen or fourteen years old, and + she is very tall and lusty, resembling a married woman of thirty. How can + her father eat his rice with comfort and sleep with satisfaction, whilst + such a disreputable thing exists in his house? At present he is exposed to + shame, and his deceased friends are suffering through his retaining a girl + from marriage beyond the period which nature has prescribed.’ And now, + while I am sitting quietly at home, the Bhagwan (Deity) removes all my + uneasiness: by his favour such an opportunity occurs. It is not right to + delay. It is best that I shall give my daughter in marriage to him. + Whatever can be done to-day is best; who knows what may happen to-morrow?” + </p> + <p> + Thus thinking, the old man went to his wife and said to her, “Birth, + marriage, and death are all under the direction of the gods; can anyone + say when they will be ours? We want for our daughter a young man who is of + good birth, rich and handsome, clever and honourable. But we do not find + him. If the bridegroom be faulty, thou sayest, all will go wrong. I cannot + put a string round the neck of our daughter and throw her into the ditch. + If, however, thou think well of the merchant’s son, now my partner, we + will celebrate Ratnawati’s marriage with him.” + </p> + <p> + The wife, who had been won over by the hunchback’s hypocrisy, was also + pleased, and replied, “My lord! when the Deity so plainly indicates his + wish, we should do it; since, though we have sat quietly at home, the + desire of our hearts is accomplished. It is best that no delay be made: + and, having quickly summoned the family priest, and having fixed upon a + propitious planetary conjunction, that the marriage be celebrated.” + </p> + <p> + Then they called their daughter—ah, me! what a beautiful being she + was, and worthy the love of a Gandharva (demigod). Her long hair, purple + with the light of youth, was glossy as the bramra’s<a href="#linknote-76" + name="linknoteref-76" id="linknoteref-76">[76]</a> wing; her brow was pure + and clear as the agate; the ocean-coral looked pale beside her lips, and + her teeth were as two chaplets of pearls. Everything in her was formed to + be loved. Who could look into her eyes without wishing to do it again? Who + could hear her voice without hoping that such music would sound once more? + And she was good as she was fair. Her father adored her; her mother, + though a middle-aged woman, was not envious or jealous of her; her + relatives doted on her, and her friends could find no fault with her. I + should never end were I to tell her precious qualities. Alas, alas! my + poor Ratnawati! + </p> + <p> + So saying, the jay wept abundant tears; then she resumed: + </p> + <p> + When her parents informed my mistress of their resolution, she replied, + “Sadhu-it is well!” She was not like most young women, who hate nothing so + much as a man whom their seniors order them to love. She bowed her head + and promised obedience, although, as she afterwards told her mother, she + could hardly look at her intended, on account of his prodigious ugliness. + But presently the hunchback’s wit surmounted her disgust. She was grateful + to him for his attention to her father and mother; she esteemed him for + his moral and religious conduct; she pitied him for his misfortunes, and + she finished with forgetting his face, legs, and back in her admiration of + what she supposed to be his mind. + </p> + <p> + She had vowed before marriage faithfully to perform all the duties of a + wife, however distasteful to her they might be; but after the nuptials, + which were not long deferred, she was not surprised to find that she loved + her husband. Not only did she omit to think of his features and figure; I + verily believe that she loved him the more for his repulsiveness. Ugly, + very ugly men prevail over women for two reasons. Firstly, we begin with + repugnance, which in the course of nature turns to affection; and we all + like the most that which, when unaccustomed to it, we most disliked. Hence + the poet says, with as much truth as is in the male: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Never despair, O man! when woman’s spite + Detests thy name and sickens at thy sight: + Sometime her heart shall learn to love thee more + For the wild hatred which it felt before, &c. +</pre> + <p> + Secondly, the very ugly man appears, deceitfully enough, to think little + of his appearance, and he will give himself the trouble to pursue a heart + because he knows that the heart will not follow after him. Moreover, we + women (said the jay) are by nature pitiful, and this our enemies term a + “strange perversity.” A widow is generally disconsolate if she loses a + little, wizen-faced, shrunken shanked, ugly, spiteful, distempered thing + that scolded her and quarrelled with her, and beat her and made her hours + bitter; whereas she will follow her husband to Ganges with exemplary + fortitude if he was brave, handsome, generous—— + </p> + <p> + “Either hold your tongue or go on with your story,” cried the warrior + king, in whose mind these remarks awakened disagreeable family + reflections. + </p> + <p> + “Hi! hi! hi!” laughed the demon; “I will obey your majesty, and make + Madan-manjari, the misanthropical jay, proceed.” + </p> + <p> + Yes, she loved the hunchback; and how wonderful is our love! quoth the + jay. A light from heaven which rains happiness on this dull, dark earth! A + spell falling upon the spirit, which reminds us of a higher existence! A + memory of bliss! A present delight! An earnest of future felicity! It + makes hideousness beautiful and stupidity clever, old age young and + wickedness good, moroseness amiable, and low-mindedness magnanimous, + perversity pretty and vulgarity piquant. Truly it is sovereign alchemy and + excellent flux for blending contradictions is our love, exclaimed the jay. + </p> + <p> + And so saying, she cast a triumphant look at the parrot, who only remarked + that he could have desired a little more originality in her remarks. + </p> + <p> + For some months (resumed Madan-manjari), the bride and the bridegroom + lived happily together in Hemgupt’s house. But it is said: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Never yet did the tiger become a lamb; +</pre> + <p> + and the hunchback felt that the edge of his passions again wanted + blunting. He reflected, “Wisdom is exemption from attachment, and + affection for children, wife, and home.” Then he thus addressed my poor + young mistress: + </p> + <p> + “I have been now in thy country some years, and I have heard no tidings of + my own family, hence my mind is sad, I have told thee everything about + myself; thou must now ask thy mother leave for me to go to my own city, + and, if thou wishest, thou mayest go with me.” + </p> + <p> + Ratnawati lost no time in saying to her mother, “My husband wishes to + visit his own country; will you so arrange that he may not be pained about + this matter?” + </p> + <p> + The mother went to her husband, and said, “Your son-in-law desires leave + to go to his own country.” + </p> + <p> + Hemgupt replied, “Very well; we will grant him leave. One has no power + over another man’s son. We will do what he wishes.” + </p> + <p> + The parents then called their daughter, and asked her to tell them her + real desire-whether she would go to her father-in-law’s house, or would + remain in her mother’s home. She was abashed at this question, and could + not answer; but she went back to her husband, and said, “As my father and + mother have declared that you should do as you like, do not leave me + behind.” + </p> + <p> + Presently the merchant summoned his son-in-law, and having bestowed great + wealth upon him, allowed him to depart. He also bade his daughter + farewell, after giving her a palanquin and a female slave. And the parents + took leave of them with wailing and bitter tears; their hearts were like + to break. And so was mine. + </p> + <p> + For some days the hunchback travelled quietly along with his wife, in deep + thought. He could not take her to his city, where she would find out his + evil life, and the fraud which he had passed upon her father. Besides + which, although he wanted her money, he by no means wanted her company for + life. After turning on many projects in his evil-begotten mind, he hit + upon the following: + </p> + <p> + He dismissed the palanquin-bearers when halting at a little shed in the + thick jungle through which they were travelling, and said to his wife, + “This is a place of danger; give me thy jewels, and I will hide them in my + waist-shawl. When thou reachest the city thou canst wear them again.” She + then gave up to him all her ornaments, which were of great value. + Thereupon he inveigled the slave girl into the depths of the forest, where + he murdered her, and left her body to be devoured by wild beasts. Lastly, + returning to my poor mistress, he induced her to leave the hut with him, + and pushed her by force into a dry well, after which exploit he set out + alone with his ill-gotten wealth, walking towards his own city. + </p> + <p> + In the meantime, a wayfaring man, who was passing through that jungle, + hearing the sound of weeping, stood still, and began to say to himself, + “How came to my ears the voice of a mortal’s grief in this wild wood?” + then followed the direction of the noise, which led him a pit, and peeping + over the side, he saw a woman crying at the bottom. The traveller at once + loosened his gird cloth, knotted it to his turband, and letting down the + line pulled out the poor bride. He asked her who she was and how she came + to fall into that well. She replied, “I am the daughter of Hemgupt, the + wealthiest merchant in the city of Chandrapur; and I was journeying with + my husband to his own country, when robbers set upon us and surrounded us. + They slew my slave girl, the threw me into a well, and having bound my + husband they took him away, together with my jewels. I have no tidings of + him, nor he of me.” And so saying, she burst into tears and lamentations. + </p> + <p> + The wayfaring man believed her tale, and conducted her to her home, where + she gave the same account of the accident which had befallen her, ending + with, “beyond this, I know not if they have killed my husband, or have let + him go.” The father thus soothed her grief “Daughter! have no anxiety; thy + husband is alive, and by the will of the Deity he will come to thee in a + few days. Thieves take men’s money, not their lives.” Then the parents + presented her with ornaments more precious than those which she had lost; + and summoning their relations and friends, they comforted her to the best + of their power. + </p> + <p> + And so did I. The wicked hunchback had, meanwhile, returned to his own + city, where he was excellently well received, because he brought much + wealth with him. His old associates flocked around him rejoicing; and he + fell into the same courses which had beggared him before. Gambling and + debauchery soon blunted his passions, and emptied his purse. Again his + boon companions, finding him without a broken cowrie, drove him from their + doors, he stole and was flogged for theft; and lastly, half famished, he + fled the city. Then he said to himself, “I must go to my father-in-law, + and make the excuse that a grandson has been born to him, and that I have + come to offer him congratulations on the event.” + </p> + <p> + Imagine, however, his fears and astonishment, when, as he entered the + house, his wife stood before him. At first he thought it was a ghost, and + turned to run away, but she went out to him and said, “Husband, be not + troubled! I have told my father that thieves came upon us, and killed the + slave girl and robbed me and threw me into a well, and bound thee and + carried thee off. Tell the same story, and put away all anxious feelings. + Come up and change thy tattered garments-alas! some misfortune hath + befallen thee. But console thyself; all is now well, since thou art + returned to me, and fear not, for the house is thine, and I am thy slave.” + </p> + <p> + The wretch, with all his hardness of heart, could scarcely refrain from + tears. He followed his wife to her room, where she washed his feet, caused + him to bathe, dressed him in new clothes, and placed food before him. When + her parents returned, she presented him to their embrace, saying in a glad + way, “Rejoice with me, O my father and mother! the robbers have at length + allowed him to come back to us.” Of course the parents were deceived, they + are mostly a purblind race; and Hemgupt, showing great favour to his + worthless son-in-law, exclaimed, “Remain with us, my son, and be happy!” + </p> + <p> + For two or three months the hunchback lived quietly with his wife, + treating her kindly and even affectionately. But this did not last long. + He made acquaintance with a band of thieves, and arranged his plans with + them. + </p> + <p> + After a time, his wife one night came to sleep by his side, having put on + all her jewels. At midnight, when he saw that she was fast asleep, he + struck her with a knife so that she died. Then he admitted his + accomplices, who savagely murdered Hemgupt and his wife; and with their + assistance he carried off any valuable article upon which he could lay his + hands. The ferocious wretch! As he passed my cage he looked at it, and + thought whether he had time to wring my neck. The barking of a dog saved + my life; but my mistress, my poor Ratnawati-ah, me! ah, me!— + </p> + <p> + “Queen,” said the jay, in deepest grief, “all this have I seen with mine + own eyes, and have heard with mine own ears. It affected me in early life, + and gave me a dislike for the society of the other sex. With due respect + to you, I have resolved to remain an old maid. Let your majesty reflect, + what crime had my poor mistress committed? A male is of the same + disposition as a highway robber; and she who forms friendship with such an + one, cradles upon her bosom a black and venomous snake.” + </p> + <p> + “Sir Parrot,” said the jay, turning to her wooer, “I have spoken. I have + nothing more to say, but that you he-things are all a treacherous, + selfish, wicked race, created for the express purpose of working our + worldly woe, and—” + </p> + <p> + “When a female, O my king, asserts that she has nothing more to say, but,” + broke in Churaman, the parrot with a loud dogmatical voice, “I know that + what she has said merely whets her tongue for what she is about to say. + This person has surely spoken long enough and drearily enough.” + </p> + <p> + “Tell me, then, O parrot,” said the king, “what faults there may be in the + other sex.” + </p> + <p> + “I will relate,” quoth Churaman, “an occurrence which in my early youth + determined me to live and to die an old bachelor.” + </p> + <p> + When quite a young bird, and before my schooling began, I was caught in + the land of Malaya, and was sold to a very rich merchant called Sagardati, + a widower with one daughter, the lady Jayashri. As her father spent all + his days and half his nights in his counting-house, conning his ledgers + and scolding his writers, that young woman had more liberty than is + generally allowed to those of her age, and a mighty bad use she made of + it. + </p> + <p> + O king! men commit two capital mistakes in rearing the “domestic + calamity,” and these are over-vigilance and under-vigilance. Some parents + never lose sight of their daughters, suspect them of all evil intentions, + and are silly enough to show their suspicions, which is an incentive to + evil-doing. For the weak-minded things do naturally say, “I will be wicked + at once. What do I now but suffer all the pains and penalties of badness, + without enjoying its pleasures?” And so they are guilty of many evil + actions; for, however vigilant fathers and mothers may be, the daughter + can always blind their eyes. + </p> + <p> + On the other hand, many parents take no trouble whatever with their + charges: they allow them to sit in idleness, the origin of badness; they + permit them to communicate with the wicked, and they give them liberty + which breeds opportunity. Thus they also, falling into the snares of the + unrighteous, who are ever a more painstaking race than the righteous, are + guilty of many evil actions. + </p> + <p> + What, then, must wise parents do? The wise will study the characters of + their children, and modify their treatment accordingly. If a daughter be + naturally good, she will be treated with a prudent confidence. If she be + vicious, an apparent trust will be reposed in her; but her father and + mother will secretly ever be upon their guard. The one-idea’d— + </p> + <p> + “All this parrot-prate, I suppose, is only intended to vex me,” cried the + warrior king, who always considered himself, and very naturally, a person + of such consequence as ever to be uppermost in the thoughts and minds of + others. “If thou must tell a tale, then tell one, Vampire! or else be + silent, as I am sick to the death of thy psychics.” + </p> + <p> + “It is well, O warrior king,” resumed the Baital. + </p> + <p> + After that Churaman the parrot had given the young Raja Ram a golden mine + full of good advice about the management of daughters, he proceeded to + describe Jayashri. + </p> + <p> + She was tall, stout, and well made, of lymphatic temperament, and yet + strong passions. Her fine large eyes had heavy and rather full eyelids, + which are to be avoided. Her hands were symmetrical without being small, + and the palms were ever warm and damp. Though her lips were good, her + mouth was somewhat underhung; and her voice was so deep, that at times it + sounded like that of a man. Her hair was smooth as the kokila’s plume, and + her complexion was that of the young jasmine; and these were the points at + which most persons looked. Altogether, she was neither handsome nor ugly, + which is an excellent thing in woman. Sita the goddess<a + href="#linknote-77" name="linknoteref-77" id="linknoteref-77">[77]</a> was + lovely to excess; therefore she was carried away by a demon. Raja Bali was + exceedingly generous, and he emptied his treasury. In this way, + exaggeration, even of good, is exceedingly bad. + </p> + <p> + Yet must I confess, continued the parrot, that, as a rule, the beautiful + woman is more virtuous than the ugly. The former is often tempted, but her + vanity and conceit enable her to resist, by the self-promise that she + shall be tempted again and again. On the other hand, the ugly woman must + tempt instead of being tempted, and she must yield, because her vanity and + conceit are gratified by yielding, not by resisting. + </p> + <p> + “Ho, there!” broke in the jay contemptuously. “What woman cannot win the + hearts of the silly things called men? Is it not said that a pig-faced + female who dwells in Landanpur has a lover?” + </p> + <p> + I was about to remark, my king! said the parrot, somewhat nettled, if the + aged virgin had not interrupted me, that as ugly women are more vicious + than handsome women, so they are most successful. “We love the pretty, we + adore the plain,” is a true saying amongst the worldly wise. And why do we + adore the plain? Because they seem to think less of themselves than of + us-a vital condition of adoration. + </p> + <p> + Jayashri made some conquests by the portion of good looks which she + possessed, more by her impudence, and most by her father’s reputation for + riches. She was truly shameless, and never allowed herself fewer than half + a dozen admirers at the time. Her chief amusement was to appoint + interviews with them successively, at intervals so short that she was + obliged to hurry away one in order to make room for another. And when a + lover happened to be jealous, or ventured in any way to criticize her + arrangements, she replied at once by showing him the door. Answer + unanswerable! + </p> + <p> + When Jayashri had reached the ripe age of thirteen, the son of a merchant, + who was her father’s gossip and neighbour, returned home after a long + sojourn in far lands, whither he had travelled in the search of wealth. + The poor wretch, whose name, by-the-bye, was Shridat (Gift of Fortune), + had loved her in her childhood; and he came back, as men are apt to do + after absence from familiar scenes, painfully full of affection for house + and home and all belonging to it. From his cross, stingy old uncle to the + snarling superannuated beast of a watchdog, he viewed all with eyes of + love and melting heart. He could not see that his idol was greatly + changed, and nowise for the better; that her nose was broader and more + club-like, her eyelids fatter and thicker, her under lip more prominent, + her voice harsher, and her manner coarser. He did not notice that she was + an adept in judging of men’s dress, and that she looked with admiration + upon all swordsmen, especially upon those who fought upon horses and + elephants. The charm of memory, the curious faculty of making past time + present caused all he viewed to be enchanting to him. + </p> + <p> + Having obtained her father’s permission, Shridat applied for betrothal to + Jayashri, who with peculiar boldness, had resolved that no suitor should + come to her through her parent. And she, after leading him on by all the + coquetries of which she was a mistress, refused to marry him, saying that + she liked him as a friend, but would hate him as a husband. + </p> + <p> + You see, my king! there are three several states of feeling with which + women regard their masters, and these are love, hate, and indifference. Of + all, love is the weakest and the most transient, because the essentially + unstable creatures naturally fall out of it as readily as they fall into + it. Hate being a sister excitement will easily become, if a man has wit + enough to effect the change, love; and hate-love may perhaps last a little + longer than love-love. Also, man has the occupation, the excitement, and + the pleasure of bringing about the change. As regards the neutral state, + that poet was not happy in his ideas who sang— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Whene’er indifference appears, or scorn, + Then, man, despair! then, hapless lover, mourn! +</pre> + <p> + For a man versed in the Lila Shastra<a href="#linknote-78" + name="linknoteref-78" id="linknoteref-78">[78]</a> can soon turn a woman’s + indifference into hate, which I have shown is as easily permuted to love. + In which predicament it is the old thing over again, and it ends in the + pure Asat<a href="#linknote-79" name="linknoteref-79" id="linknoteref-79">[79]</a> + or nonentity. + </p> + <p> + “Which of these two birds, the jay or the parrot, had dipped deeper into + human nature, mighty King Vikram?” asked the demon in a wheedling tone of + voice. + </p> + <p> + The trap was this time set too openly, even for the royal personage, to + fall into it. He hurried on, calling to his son, and not answering a word. + The Vampire therefore resumed the thread of his story at the place where + he had broken it off. + </p> + <p> + Shridat was in despair when he heard the resolve of his idol. He thought + of drowning himself, of throwing himself down from the summit of Mount + Girnar,<a href="#linknote-80" name="linknoteref-80" id="linknoteref-80">[80]</a> + of becoming a religious beggar; in short, of a multitude of follies. But + he refrained from all such heroic remedies for despair, having rightly + judged, when he became somewhat calmer, that they would not be likely to + further his suit. He discovered that patience is a virtue, and he resolved + impatiently enough to practice it. And by perseverance he succeeded. The + worse for him! How vain are men to wish! How wise is the Deity, who is + deaf to their wishes! + </p> + <p> + Jayashri, for potent reasons best known to herself, was married to Shridat + six months after his return home. He was in raptures. He called himself + the happiest man in existence. He thanked and sacrificed to the Bhagwan + for listening to his prayers. He recalled to mind with thrilling heart the + long years which he had spent in hopeless exile from all that was dear to + him, his sadness and anxiety, his hopes and joys, his toils and troubles + his loyal love and his vows to Heaven for the happiness of his idol, and + for the furtherance of his fondest desires. + </p> + <p> + For truly he loved her, continued the parrot, and there is something holy + in such love. It becomes not only a faith, but the best of faiths-an + abnegation of self which emancipates the spirit from its straightest and + earthliest bondage, the “I”; the first step in the regions of heaven; a + homage rendered through the creature to the Creator; a devotion solid, + practical, ardent, not as worship mostly is, a cold and lifeless + abstraction; a merging of human nature into one far nobler and higher the + spiritual existence of the supernal world. For perfect love is perfect + happiness, and the only perfection of man; and what is a demon but a being + without love? And what makes man’s love truly divine, is the fact that it + is bestowed upon such a thing as woman. + </p> + <p> + “And now, Raja Vikram,” said the Vampire, speaking in his proper person, + “I have given you Madanmanjari the jay’s and Churaman the parrot’s + definitions of the tender passion, or rather their descriptions of its + effects. Kindly observe that I am far from accepting either one or the + other. Love is, according to me, somewhat akin to mania, a temporary + condition of selfishness, a transient confusion of identity. It enables + man to predicate of others who are his other selves, that which he is + ashamed to say about his real self. I will suppose the beloved object to + be ugly, stupid, vicious, perverse, selfish, low minded, or the reverse; + man finds it charming by the same rule that makes his faults and foibles + dearer to him than all the virtues and good qualities of his neighbours. + Ye call love a spell, an alchemy, a deity. Why? Because it deifies self by + gratifying all man’s pride, man’s vanity, and man’s conceit, under the + mask of complete unegotism. Who is not in heaven when he is talking of + himself? and, prithee, of what else consists all the talk of lovers?” + </p> + <p> + It is astonishing that the warrior king allowed this speech to last as + long as it did. He hated nothing so fiercely, now that he was in + middle-age, as any long mention of the “handsome god.<a href="#linknote-81" + name="linknoteref-81" id="linknoteref-81">[81]</a>” Having vainly + endeavoured to stop by angry mutterings the course of the Baital’s + eloquence, he stepped out so vigorously and so rudely shook that + inveterate talker, that the latter once or twice nearly bit off the tip of + his tongue. Then the Vampire became silent, and Vikram relapsed into a + walk which allowed the tale to be resumed. + </p> + <p> + Jayashri immediately conceived a strong dislike for her husband, and + simultaneously a fierce affection for a reprobate who before had been + indifferent to her. The more lovingly Shridat behaved to her, the more + vexed end annoyed she was. When her friends talked to her, she turned up + her nose, raising her eyebrows (in token of displeasure), and remained + silent. When her husband spoke words of affection to her, she found them + disagreeable, and turning away her face, reclined on the bed. Then he + brought dresses and ornaments of various kinds and presented them to her, + saying, “Wear these.” Whereupon she would become more angry, knit her + brows, turn her face away, and in an audible whisper call him “fool.” All + day she stayed out of the house, saying to her companions, “Sisters, my + youth is passing away, and I have not, up to the present time, tasted any + of this world’s pleasures.” Then she would ascend to the balcony, peep + through the lattice, and seeing the reprobate going along, she would cry + to her friend, “Bring that person to me.” All night she tossed and turned + from side to side, reflecting in her heart, “I am puzzled in my mind what + I shall say, and whither I shall go. I have forgotten sleep, hunger, and + thirst; neither heat nor cold is refreshing to me.” + </p> + <p> + At last, unable any longer to support the separation from her reprobate + paramour, whom she adored, she resolved to fly with him. On one occasion, + when she thought that her husband was fast asleep, she rose up quietly, + and leaving him, made her way fearlessly in the dark night to her lover’s + abode. A footpad, who saw her on the way, thought to himself, “Where can + this woman, clothed in jewels, be going alone at midnight?” And thus he + followed her unseen, and watched her. + </p> + <p> + When Jayashri reached the intended place, she went into the house, and + found her lover lying at the door. He was dead, having been stabbed by the + footpad; but she, thinking that he had, according to custom, drunk + intoxicating hemp, sat upon the floor, and raising his head, placed it + tenderly in her lap. Then, burning with the fire of separation from him, + she began to kiss his cheeks, and to fondle and caress him with the utmost + freedom and affection. + </p> + <p> + By chance a Pisach (evil spirit) was seated in a large fig-tree<a + href="#linknote-82" name="linknoteref-82" id="linknoteref-82">[82]</a> + opposite the house, and it occurred to him, when beholding this scene, + that he might amuse himself in a characteristic way. He therefore hopped + down from his branch, vivified the body, and began to return the woman’s + caresses. But as Jayashri bent down to kiss his lips, he caught the end of + her nose in his teeth, and bit it clean off. He then issued from the + corpse, and returned to the branch where he had been sitting. + </p> + <p> + Jayashri was in despair. She did not, however, lose her presence of mind, + but sat down and proceeded to take thought; and when she had matured her + plan she arose, dripping with blood, and walked straight home to her + husband’s house. On entering his room she clapped her hand to her nose, + and began to gnash her teeth, and to shriek so violently, that all the + members of the family were alarmed. The neighbours also collected in + numbers at the door, and, as it was bolted inside, they broke it open and + rushed in, carrying lights. There they saw the wife sitting upon the + ground with her face mutilated, and the husband standing over her, + apparently trying to appease her. + </p> + <p> + “O ignorant, criminal, shameless, pitiless wretch!” cried the people, + especially the women; “why hast thou cut off her nose, she not having + offended in any way?” + </p> + <p> + Poor Shridat, seeing at once the trick which had been played upon him, + thought to himself: “One should put no confidence in a changeful mind, a + black serpent, or an armed enemy, and one should dread a woman’s doings. + What cannot a poet describe? What is there that a saint (jogi) does not + know? What nonsense will not a drunken man talk? What limit is there to a + woman’s guile? True it is that the gods know nothing of the defects of a + horse, of the thundering of clouds, of a woman’s deeds, or of a man’s + future fortunes. How then can we know?” He could do nothing but weep, and + swear by the herb basil, by his cattle, by his grain, by a piece of gold, + and by all that is holy, that he had not committed the crime. + </p> + <p> + In the meanwhile, the old merchant, Jayashri’s father, ran off, and laid a + complaint before the kotwal, and the footmen of the police magistrate were + immediately sent to apprehend the husband, and to carry him bound before + the judge. The latter, after due examination, laid the affair before the + king. An example happening to be necessary at the time, the king resolved + to punish the offence with severity, and he summoned the husband and wife + to the court. + </p> + <p> + When the merchant’s daughter was asked to give an account of what had + happened, she pointed out the state of her nose, and said, “Maharaj! why + inquire of me concerning what is so manifest?” The king then turned to the + husband, and bade him state his defence. He said, “I know nothing of it,” + and in the face of the strongest evidence he persisted in denying his + guilt. + </p> + <p> + Thereupon the king, who had vainly threatened to cut off Shridat’s right + hand, infuriated by his refusing to confess and to beg for mercy, + exclaimed, “How must I punish such a wretch as thou art?” The unfortunate + man answered, “Whatever your majesty may consider just, that be pleased to + do.” Thereupon the king cried, “Away with him, and impale him”; and the + people, hearing the command, prepared to obey it. + </p> + <p> + Before Shridat had left the court, the footpad, who had been looking on, + and who saw that an innocent man was about to be unjustly punished, raised + a cry for justice and, pushing through the crowd, resolved to make himself + heard. He thus addressed the throne: “Great king, the cherishing of the + good, and the punishment of the bad, is the invariable duty of kings.” The + ruler having caused him to approach, asked him who he was, and he replied + boldly, “Maharaj! I am a thief, and this man is innocent and his blood is + about to be shed unjustly. Your majesty has not done what is right in this + affair.” Thereupon the king charged him to tell the truth according to his + religion; and the thief related explicitly the whole circumstances, + omitting of course, the murder. + </p> + <p> + “Go ye,” said the king to his messengers, “and look in the mouth of the + woman’s lover who has fallen dead. If the nose be there found, then has + this thief-witness told the truth, and the husband is a guiltless man.” + </p> + <p> + The nose was presently produced in court, and Shridat escaped the stake. + The king caused the wicked Jayashri’s face to be smeared with oily soot, + and her head and eyebrows to be shaved; thus blackened and disfigured, she + was mounted upon a little ragged-limbed ass and was led around the market + and the streets, after which she was banished for ever from the city. The + husband and the thief were then dismissed with betel and other gifts, + together with much sage advice which neither of them wanted. + </p> + <p> + “My king,” resumed the misogyne parrot, “of such excellencies as these are + women composed. It is said that ‘wet cloth will extinguish fire and bad + food will destroy strength; a degenerate son ruins a family, and when a + friend is in wrath he takes away life. But a woman is an inflicter of + grief in love and in hate, whatever she does turns out to be for our ill. + Truly the Deity has created woman a strange being in this world.’ And + again, ‘The beauty of the nightingale is its song, science is the beauty + of an ugly man, forgiveness is the beauty of a devotee, and the beauty of + a woman is virtue-but where shall we find it?’ And again, ‘Among the + sages, Narudu; among the beasts, the jackal; among the birds, the crow; + among men, the barber; and in this world woman-is the most crafty.’ + </p> + <p> + “What I have told thee, my king, I have seen with mine own eyes, and I + have heard with mine own ears. At the time I was young, but the event so + affected me that I have ever since held female kind to be a walking pest, + a two-legged plague, whose mission on earth, like flies and other vermin, + is only to prevent our being too happy. O, why do not children and young + parrots sprout in crops from the ground-from budding trees or vinestocks?” + </p> + <p> + “I was thinking, sire,” said the young Dharma Dhwaj to the warrior king + his father, “what women would say of us if they could compose Sanskrit + verses!” + </p> + <p> + “Then keep your thoughts to yourself,” replied the Raja, nettled at his + son daring to say a word in favour of the sex. “You always take the part + of wickedness and depravity—-” + </p> + <p> + “Permit me, your majesty,” interrupted the Baital, “to conclude my tale.” + </p> + <p> + When Madan-manjari, the jay, and Churaman, the parrot, had given these + illustrations of their belief, they began to wrangle, and words ran high. + The former insisted that females are the salt of the earth, speaking, I + presume, figuratively. The latter went so far as to assert that the + opposite sex have no souls, and that their brains are in a rudimental and + inchoate state of development. Thereupon he was tartly taken to task by + his master’s bride, the beautiful Chandravati, who told him that those + only have a bad opinion of women who have associated with none but the + vicious and the low, and that he should be ashamed to abuse feminine + parrots, because his mother had been one. + </p> + <p> + This was truly logical. + </p> + <p> + On the other hand, the jay was sternly reproved for her mutinous and + treasonable assertions by the husband of her mistress, Raja Ram, who, + although still a bridegroom, had not forgotten the gallant rule of his + syntax— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + The masculine is more worthy than the feminine; +</pre> + <p> + till Madan-manjari burst into tears and declared that her life was not + worth having. And Raja Ram looked at her as if he could have wrung her + neck. + </p> + <p> + In short, Raja Vikram, all the four lost their tempers, and with them what + little wits they had. Two of them were but birds, and the others seem not + to have been much better, being young, ignorant, inexperienced, and lately + married. How then could they decide so difficult a question as that of the + relative wickedness and villany of men and women? Had your majesty been + there, the knot of uncertainty would soon have been undone by the + trenchant edge of your wit and wisdom, your knowledge and experience. You + have, of course, long since made up your mind upon the subject? + </p> + <p> + Dharma Dhwaj would have prevented his father’s reply. But the youth had + been twice reprehended in the course of this tale, and he thought it + wisest to let things take their own way. + </p> + <p> + “Women,” quoth the Raja, oracularly, “are worse than we are; a man, + however depraved he may be, ever retains some notion of right and wrong, + but a woman does not. She has no such regard whatever.” + </p> + <p> + “The beautiful Bangalah Rani for instance?” said the Baital, with a + demonaic sneer. + </p> + <p> + At the mention of a word, the uttering of which was punishable by + extirpation of the tongue, Raja Vikram’s brain whirled with rage. He + staggered in the violence of his passion, and putting forth both hands to + break his fall, he dropped the bundle from his back. Then the Baital, + disentangling himself and laughing lustily, ran off towards the tree as + fast as his thin brown legs would carry him. But his activity availed him + little. + </p> + <p> + The king, puffing with fury, followed him at the top of his speed, and + caught him by his tail before he reached the siras-tree, hurled him + backwards with force, put foot upon his chest, and after shaking out the + cloth, rolled him up in it with extreme violence, bumped his back half a + dozen times against the stony ground, and finally, with a jerk, threw him + on his shoulder, as he had done before. + </p> + <p> + The young prince, afraid to accompany his father whilst he was pursuing + the fiend, followed slowly in the rear, and did not join him for some + minutes. + </p> + <p> + But when matters were in their normal state, the Vampire, who had endured + with exemplary patience the penalty of his impudence, began in honeyed + accents, + </p> + <p> + “Listen, O warrior king, whilst thy servant recounts unto thee another + true tale.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0011" id="link2H_4_0011"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE VAMPIRE’S THIRD STORY — Of a High-minded Family. + </h2> + <p> + In the venerable city of Bardwan, O warrior king! (quoth the Vampire) + during the reign of the mighty Rupsen, flourished one Rajeshwar, a Rajput + warrior of distinguished fame. By his valour and conduct he had risen from + the lowest ranks of the army to command it as its captain. And arrived at + that dignity, he did not put a stop to all improvements, like other + chiefs, who rejoice to rest and return thanks. On the contrary, he became + such a reformer that, to some extent, he remodelled the art of war. + </p> + <p> + Instead of attending to rules and regulations, drawn up in their studies + by pandits and Brahmans, he consulted chiefly his own experience and + judgment. He threw aside the systematic plans of campaigns laid down in + the Shastras or books of the ancients, and he acted upon the spur of the + moment. He displayed a skill in the choice of ground, in the use of light + troops, and in securing his own supplies whilst he cut off those of the + enemy, which Kartikaya himself, God of War, might have envied. Finding + that the bows of his troops were clumsy and slow to use, he had them all + changed before compelled so to do by defeat; he also gave his attention to + the sword handles, which cramped the men’s grasp but which having been + used for eighteen hundred years were considered perfect weapons. And + having organized a special corps of warriors using fire arrows, he soon + brought it to such perfection that, by using it against the elephants of + his enemies, he gained many a campaign. + </p> + <p> + One instance of his superior judgment I am about to quote to thee, O + Vikram, after which I return to my tale; for thou art truly a warrior + king, very likely to imitate the innovations of the great general + Rajeshwar. + </p> + <p> + (A grunt from the monarch was the result of the Vampire’s sneer.) + </p> + <p> + He found his master’s armies recruited from Northern Hindustan, and + officered by Kshatriya warriors, who grew great only because they grew old + and—fat. Thus the energy and talent of the younger men were wasted + in troubles and disorders; whilst the seniors were often so ancient that + they could not mount their chargers unaided, nor, when they were mounted, + could they see anything a dozen yards before them. But they had served in + a certain obsolete campaign, and until Rajeshwar gave them pensions and + dismissals, they claimed a right to take first part in all campaigns + present and future. The commander-in-chief refused to use any captain who + could not stand steady on his legs, or endure the sun for a whole day. + When a soldier distinguished himself in action, he raised him to the + powers and privileges of the warrior caste. And whereas it had been the + habit to lavish circles and bars of silver and other metals upon all those + who had joined in the war, whether they had sat behind a heap of sand or + had been foremost to attack the foe, he broke through the pernicious + custom, and he rendered the honour valuable by conferring it only upon the + deserving. I need hardly say that, in an inordinately short space of time, + his army beat every king and general that opposed it. + </p> + <p> + One day the great commander-in-chief was seated in a certain room near the + threshold of his gate, when the voices of a number of people outside were + heard. Rajeshwar asked, “Who is at the door, and what is the meaning of + the noise I hear?” The porter replied, “It is a fine thing your honour has + asked. Many persons come sitting at the door of the rich for the purpose + of obtaining a livelihood and wealth. When they meet together they talk of + various things: it is these very people who are now making this noise.” + </p> + <p> + Rajeshwar, on hearing this, remained silent. + </p> + <p> + In the meantime a traveller, a Rajput, Birbal by name, hoping to obtain + employment, came from the southern quarter to the palace of the chief. The + porter having listened to his story, made the circumstance known to his + master, saying, “O chief! an armed man has arrived here, hoping to obtain + employment, and is standing at the door. If I receive a command he shall + be brought into your honour’s presence.” + </p> + <p> + “Bring him in,” cried the commander-in-chief. + </p> + <p> + The porter brought him in, and Rajeshwar inquired, “O Rajput, who and what + art thou?” + </p> + <p> + Birbal submitted that he was a person of distinguished fame for the use of + weapons, and that his name for fidelity and valour had gone forth to the + utmost ends of Bharat-Kandha.<a href="#linknote-83" name="linknoteref-83" + id="linknoteref-83">[83]</a> + </p> + <p> + The chief was well accustomed to this style of self introduction, and its + only effect upon his mind was a wish to shame the man by showing him that + he had not the least knowledge of weapons. He therefore bade him bare his + blade and perform some feat. + </p> + <p> + Birbal at once drew his good sword. Guessing the thoughts which were + hovering about the chief’s mind, he put forth his left hand, extending the + forefinger upwards, waved his blade like the arm of a demon round his + head, and, with a dexterous stroke, so shaved off a bit of nail that it + fell to the ground, and not a drop of blood appeared upon the finger-tip. + </p> + <p> + “Live for ever!” exclaimed Rajeshwar in admiration. He then addressed to + the recruit a few questions concerning the art of war, or rather + concerning his peculiar views of it. To all of which Birbal answered with + a spirit and a judgment which convinced the hearer that he was no common + sworder. + </p> + <p> + Whereupon Rajeshwar bore off the new man at arms to the palace of the king + Rupsen, and recommended that he should be engaged without delay. + </p> + <p> + The king, being a man of few words and many ideas, after hearing his + commander-in-chief, asked, “O Rajput, what shall I give thee for thy daily + expenditure?” + </p> + <p> + “Give me a thousand ounces of gold daily,” said Birbal, “and then I shall + have wherewithal to live on.” + </p> + <p> + “Hast thou an army with thee?” exclaimed the king in the greatest + astonishment. + </p> + <p> + “I have not,” responded the Rajput somewhat stiffly. “I have first, a + wife; second, a son; third, a daughter; fourth, myself; there is no fifth + person with me.” + </p> + <p> + All the people of the court on hearing this turned aside their heads to + laugh, and even the women, who were peeping at the scene, covered their + mouths with their veils. The Rajput was then dismissed the presence. + </p> + <p> + It is, however, noticeable amongst you humans, that the world often takes + you at your own valuation. Set a high price upon yourselves, and each man + shall say to his neighbour, “In this man there must be something.” Tell + everyone that you are brave, clever, generous, or even handsome, and after + a time they will begin to believe you. And when thus you have attained + success, it will be harder to unconvince them than it was to convince + them. Thus—- + </p> + <p> + “Listen not to him, sirrah,” cried Raja Vikram to Dharma Dhwaj, the young + prince, who had fallen a little way behind, and was giving ear attentively + to the Vampire’s ethics. “Listen to him not. And tell me, villain, with + these ignoble principles of thine, what will become of modesty, humility, + self-sacrifice, and a host of other Guna or good qualities which—which + are good qualities?” + </p> + <p> + “I know not,” rejoined the Baital, “neither do I care. But my habitually + inspiriting a succession of human bodies has taught me one fact. The wise + man knows himself, and is, therefore, neither unduly humble nor elated, + because he had no more to do with making himself than with the cut of his + cloak, or with the fitness of his loin-cloth. But the fool either loses + his head by comparing himself with still greater fools, or is prostrated + when he finds himself inferior to other and lesser fools. This shyness he + calls modesty, humility, and so forth. Now, whenever entering a corpse, + whether it be of man, woman, or child, I feel peculiarly modest; I know + that my tenement lately belonged to some conceited ass. And—” + </p> + <p> + “Wouldst thou have me bump thy back against the ground?” asked Raja Vikram + angrily. + </p> + <p> + (The Baital muttered some reply scarcely intelligible about his having + this time stumbled upon a metaphysical thread of ideas, and then continued + his story.) + </p> + <p> + Now Rupsen, the king, began by inquiring of himself why the Rajput had + rated his services so highly. Then he reflected that if this recruit had + asked so much money, it must have been for some reason which would + afterwards become apparent. Next, he hoped that if he gave him so much, + his generosity might some day turn out to his own advantage. Finally, with + this idea in his mind, he summoned Birbal and the steward of his + household, and said to the latter, “Give this Rajput a thousand ounces of + gold daily from our treasury.” + </p> + <p> + It is related that Birbal made the best possible use of his wealth. He + used every morning to divide it into two portions, one of which was + distributed to Brahmans and Parohitas.<a href="#linknote-84" + name="linknoteref-84" id="linknoteref-84">[84]</a> Of the remaining + moiety, having made two parts, he gave one as alms to pilgrims, to + Bairagis or Vishnu’s mendicants, and to Sanyasis or worshippers of Shiva, + whose bodies, smeared with ashes, were hardly covered with a narrow cotton + cloth and a rope about their loins, and whose heads of artificial hair, + clotted like a rope, besieged his gate. With the remaining fourth, having + caused food to be prepared, he regaled the poor, while he himself and his + family ate what was left. Every evening, arming himself with sword and + buckler, he took up his position as guard at the royal bedside, and walked + round it all night sword in hand. If the king chanced to wake and asked + who was present, Birbal immediately gave reply that “Birbal is here; + whatever command you give, that he will obey.” And oftentimes Rupsen gave + him unusual commands, for it is said, “To try thy servant, bid him do + things in season and out of season: if he obey thee willingly, know him to + be useful; if he reply, dismiss him at once. Thus is a servant tried, even + as a wife by the poverty of her husband, and brethren and friends by + asking their aid.” + </p> + <p> + In such manner, through desire of money, Birbal remained on guard all + night; and whether eating, drinking, sleeping, sitting, going or wandering + about, during the twenty-four hours, he held his master in watchful + remembrance. This, indeed, is the custom; if a man sell another the latter + is sold, but a servant by doing service sells himself, and when a man has + become dependent, how can he be happy? Certain it is that however + intelligent, clever, or learned a man may be, yet, while he is in his + master’s presence, he remains silent as a dumb man, and struck with dread. + Only while he is away from his lord can he be at ease. Hence, learned men + say that to do service aright is harder than any religious study. + </p> + <p> + On one occasion it is related that there happened to be heard at + night-time the wailing of a woman in a neighbouring cemetery. The king on + hearing it called out, “Who is in waiting?” + </p> + <p> + “I am here,” replied Birbal; “what command is there?” + </p> + <p> + “Go,” spoke the king, “to the place whence proceeds this sound of woman’s + wail, and having inquired the cause of her grief, return quickly.” + </p> + <p> + On receiving this order the Rajput went to obey it; and the king, unseen + by him, and attired in a black dress, followed for the purpose of + observing his courage. + </p> + <p> + Presently Birbal arrived at the cemetery. And what sees he there? A + beautiful woman of a light yellow colour, loaded with jewels from head to + foot, holding a horn in her right and a necklace in her left hand. + Sometimes she danced, sometimes she jumped, and sometimes she ran about. + There was not a tear in her eye, but beating her head and making + lamentable cries, she kept dashing herself on the ground. + </p> + <p> + Seeing her condition, and not recognizing the goddess born of sea foam, + and whom all the host of heaven loved,<a href="#linknote-85" + name="linknoteref-85" id="linknoteref-85">[85]</a> Birbal inquired, “Why + art thou thus beating thyself and crying out? Who art thou? And what grief + is upon thee?” + </p> + <p> + “I am the Royal-Luck,” she replied. + </p> + <p> + “For what reason,” asked Birbal, “art thou weeping?” + </p> + <p> + The goddess then began to relate her position to the Rajput. She said, + with tears, “In the king’s palace Shudra (or low caste acts) are done, and + hence misfortune will certainly fall upon it, and I shall forsake it. + After a month has passed, the king, having endured excessive affliction, + will die. In grief for this, I weep. I have brought much happiness to the + king’s house, and hence I am full of regret that this my prediction cannot + in any way prove untrue.” + </p> + <p> + “Is there,” asked Birbal, “any remedy for this trouble, so that the king + may be preserved and live a hundred years?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” said the goddess, “there is. About eight miles to the east thou + wilt find a temple dedicated to my terrible sister Devi. Offer to her thy + son’s head, cut off with thine own hand, and the reign of thy king shall + endure for an age.” So saying Raj-Lakshmi disappeared. + </p> + <p> + Birbal answered not a word, but with hurried steps he turned towards his + home. The king, still in black so as not to be seen, followed him closely, + and observed and listened to everything he did. + </p> + <p> + The Rajput went straight to his wife, awakened her, and related to her + everything that had happened. The wise have said, “she alone deserves the + name of wife who always receives her husband with affectionate and + submissive words.” When she heard the circumstances, she at once aroused + her son, and her daughter also awoke. Then Birbal told them all that they + must follow him to the temple of Devi in the wood. + </p> + <p> + On the way the Rajput said to his wife, “If thou wilt give up thy son + willingly, I will sacrifice him for our master’s sake to Devi the + Destroyer.” + </p> + <p> + She replied, “Father and mother, son and daughter, brother and relative, + have I now none. You are everything to me. It is written in the scripture + that a wife is not made pure by gifts to priests, nor by performing + religious rites; her virtue consists in waiting upon her husband, in + obeying him and in loving him—yea! though he be lame, maimed in the + hands, dumb, deaf, blind, one eyed, leprous, or humpbacked. It is a true + saying that ‘a son under one’s authority, a body free from sickness, a + desire to acquire knowledge, an intelligent friend, and an obedient wife; + whoever holds these five will find them bestowers of happiness and + dispellers of affliction. An unwilling servant, a parsimonious king, an + insincere friend, and a wife not under control; such things are disturbers + of ease and givers of trouble.’” + </p> + <p> + Then the good wife turned to her son and said “Child by the gift of thy + head, the king’s life may be spared, and the kingdom remain unshaken.” + </p> + <p> + “Mother,” replied that excellent youth, “in my opinion we should hasten + this matter. Firstly, I must obey your command; secondly, I must promote + the interests of my master; thirdly, if this body be of any use to a + goddess, nothing better can be done with it in this world.” + </p> + <p> + (“Excuse me, Raja Vikram,” said the Baital, interrupting himself, “if I + repeat these fair discourses at full length; it is interesting to hear a + young person, whose throat is about to be cut, talk so like a doctor of + laws.”) + </p> + <p> + Then the youth thus addressed his sire: “Father, whoever can be of use to + his master, the life of that man in this world has been lived to good + purpose, and by reason of his usefulness he will be rewarded in other + worlds.” + </p> + <p> + His sister, however, exclaimed, “If a mother should give poison to her + daughter, and a father sell his son, and a king seize the entire property + of his subjects, where then could one look for protection?” But they + heeded her not, and continued talking as they journeyed towards the temple + of Devi—the king all the while secretly following them. + </p> + <p> + Presently they reached the temple, a single room, surrounded by a spacious + paved area; in front was an immense building capable of seating hundreds + of people. Before the image there were pools of blood, where victims had + lately been slaughtered. In the sanctum was Devi, a large black figure + with ten arms. With a spear in one of her right hands she pierced the + giant Mahisha; and with one of her left hands she held the tail of a + serpent, and the hair of the giant, whose breast the serpent was biting. + Her other arms were all raised above her head, and were filled with + different instruments of war; against her right leg leaned a lion. + </p> + <p> + Then Birbal joined his hands in prayer, and with Hindu mildness thus + addressed the awful goddess: “O mother, let the king’s life be prolonged + for a thousand years by the sacrifice of my son. O Devi, mother! destroy, + destroy his enemies! Kill! kill! Reduce them to ashes! Drive them away! + Devour them! devour them! Cut them in two! Drink! drink their blood! + Destroy them root and branch! With thy thunderbolt, spear, scymitar, + discus, or rope, annihilate them! Spheng! Spheng!” + </p> + <p> + The Rajput, having caused his son to kneel before the goddess, struck him + so violent a blow that his head rolled upon the ground. He then threw the + sword down, when his daughter, frantic with grief, snatched it up and + struck her neck with such force that her head, separated from her body, + fell. In her turn the mother, unable to survive the loss of her children, + seized the weapon and succeeded in decapitating herself. Birbal, beholding + all this slaughter, thus reflected: “My children are dead why, now, should + I remain in servitude, and upon whom shall I bestow the gold I receive + from the king?” He then gave himself so deep a wound in the neck, that his + head also separated from his body. + </p> + <p> + Rupsen, the king, seeing these four heads on the ground, said in his + heart, “For my sake has the family of Birbal been destroyed. Kingly power, + for the purpose of upholding which the destruction of a whole household is + necessary, is a mere curse, and to carry on government in this manner is + not just.” He then took up the sword and was about to slay himself, when + the Destroying Goddess, probably satisfied with bloodshed, stayed his + hand, bidding him at the same time ask any boon he pleased. + </p> + <p> + The generous monarch begged, thereupon, that his faithful servant might be + restored to life, together with all his high-minded family; and the + goddess Devi in the twinkling of an eye fetched from Patala, the regions + below the earth, a vase full of Amrita, the water of immortality, + sprinkled it upon the dead, and raised them all as before. After which the + whole party walked leisurely home, and in due time the king divided his + throne with his friend Birbal. + </p> + <p> + Having stopped for a moment, the Baital proceeded to remark, in a + sententious tone, “Happy the servant who grudges not his own life to save + that of his master! And happy, thrice happy the master who can annihilate + all greedy longing for existence and worldly prosperity. Raja, I have to + ask thee one searching question—Of these five, who was the greatest + fool?” + </p> + <p> + “Demon!” exclaimed the great Vikram, all whose cherished feelings about + fidelity and family affection, obedience, and high-mindedness, were + outraged by this Vampire view of the question; “if thou meanest by the + greatest fool the noblest mind, I reply without hesitating Rupsen, the + king.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, prithee?” asked the Baital. + </p> + <p> + “Because, dull demon,” said the king, “Birbal was bound to offer up his + life for a master who treated him so generously; the son could not disobey + his father, and the women naturally and instinctively killed themselves, + because the example was set to them. But Rupsen the king gave up his + throne for the sake of his retainer, and valued not a straw his life and + his high inducements to live. For this reason I think him the most + meritorious.” + </p> + <p> + “Surely, mighty Vikram,” laughed the Vampire, “you will be tired of ever + clambering up yon tall tree, even had you the legs and arms of Hanuman<a + href="#linknote-86" name="linknoteref-86" id="linknoteref-86">[86]</a> + himself.” + </p> + <p> + And so saying he disappeared from the cloth, although it had been placed + upon the ground. + </p> + <p> + But the poor Baital had little reason to congratulate himself on the + success of his escape. In a short time he was again bundled into the cloth + with the usual want of ceremony, and he revenged himself by telling + another true story. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0012" id="link2H_4_0012"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE VAMPIRE’S FOURTH STORY — Of A Woman Who Told The Truth. + </h2> + <p> + “Listen, great king!” again began the Baital. + </p> + <p> + An unimportant Baniya<a href="#linknote-87" name="linknoteref-87" + id="linknoteref-87">[87]</a> (trader), Hiranyadatt, had a daughter, whose + name was Madansena Sundari, the beautiful army of Cupid. Her face was like + the moon; her hair like the clouds; her eyes like those of a muskrat; her + eyebrows like a bent bow; her nose like a parrot’s bill; her neck like + that of a dove; her teeth like pomegranate grains; the red colour of her + lips like that of a gourd; her waist lithe and bending like the pards: her + hands and feet like softest blossoms; her complexion like the jasmine-in + fact, day by day the splendour of her youth increased. + </p> + <p> + When she had arrived at maturity, her father and mother began often to + resolve in their minds the subject of her marriage. And the people of all + that country side ruled by Birbar king of Madanpur bruited it abroad that + in the house of Hiranyadatt had been born a daughter by whose beauty gods, + men, and munis (sages) were fascinated. + </p> + <p> + Thereupon many, causing their portraits to be painted, sent them by + messengers to Hiranyadatt the Baniya, who showed them all to his daughter. + But she was capricious, as beauties sometimes are, and when her father + said, “Make choice of a husband thyself,” she told him that none pleased + her, and moreover she begged of him to find her a husband who possessed + good looks, good qualities, and good sense. + </p> + <p> + At length, when some days had passed, four suitors came from four + different countries. The father told them that he must have from each some + indication that he possessed the required qualities; that he was pleased + with their looks, but that they must satisfy him about their knowledge. + </p> + <p> + “I have,” the first said, “a perfect acquaintance with the Shastras (or + Scriptures); in science there is none to rival me. As for my handsome + mien, it may plainly be seen by you.” + </p> + <p> + The second exclaimed, “My attainments are unique in the knowledge of + archery. I am acquainted with the art of discharging arrows and killing + anything which though not seen is heard, and my fine proportions are + plainly visible to you.” + </p> + <p> + The third continued, “I understand the language of land and water animals, + of birds and of beasts, and I have no equal in strength. Of my comeliness + you yourself may judge.” + </p> + <p> + “I have the knowledge,” quoth the fourth, “how to make a certain cloth + which can be sold for five rubies: having sold it I give the proceeds of + one ruby to a Brahman, of the second I make an offering to a deity, a + third I wear on my own person, a fourth I keep for my wife; and, having + sold the fifth, I spend it in giving feasts. This is my knowledge, and + none other is acquainted with it. My good looks are apparent.” + </p> + <p> + The father hearing these speeches began to reflect, “It is said that + excess in anything is not good. Sita<a href="#linknote-88" + name="linknoteref-88" id="linknoteref-88">[88]</a> was very lovely, but + the demon Ravana carried her away; and Bali king of Mahabahpur gave much + alms, but at length he became poor.<a href="#linknote-89" + name="linknoteref-89" id="linknoteref-89">[89]</a> My daughter is too fair + to remain a maiden; to which of these shall I give her?” + </p> + <p> + So saying, Hiranyadatt went to his daughter, explained the qualities of + the four suitors, and asked, “To which shall I give thee?” On hearing + these words she was abashed; and, hanging down her head, knew not what to + reply. + </p> + <p> + Then the Baniya, having reflected, said to himself, “He who is acquainted + with the Shastras is a Brahman, he who could shoot an arrow at the sound + was a Kshatriya or warrior, and he who made the cloth was a Shudra or + servile. But the youth who understands the language of birds is of our own + caste. To him, therefore, will I marry her.” And accordingly he proceeded + with the betrothal of his daughter. + </p> + <p> + Meanwhile Madansena went one day, during the spring season into the garden + for a stroll. It happened, just before she came out, that Somdatt, the son + of the merchant Dharmdatt, had gone for pleasure into the forest, and was + returning through the same garden to his home. + </p> + <p> + He was fascinated at the sight of the maiden, and said to his friend, + “Brother, if I can obtain her my life will be prosperous, and if I do not + obtain her my living in the world will be in vain.” + </p> + <p> + Having thus spoken, and becoming restless from the fear of separation, he + involuntarily drew near to her, and seizing her hand, said—“If thou + wilt not form an affection for me, I will throw away my life on thy + account.” + </p> + <p> + “Be pleased not to do this,” she replied; “it will be sinful, and it will + involve me in the guilt and punishment of shedding blood; hence I shall be + miserable in this world and in that to be.” + </p> + <p> + “Thy blandishments,” he replied, “have pierced my heart, and the consuming + thought of parting from thee has burnt up my body, and memory and + understanding have been destroyed by this pain; and from excess of love I + have no sense of right or wrong. But if thou wilt make me a promise, I + will live again.” + </p> + <p> + She replied, “Truly the Kali Yug (iron age) has commenced, since which + time falsehood has increased in the world and truth has diminished; people + talk smoothly with their tongues, but nourish deceit in their hearts; + religion is destroyed, crime has increased, and the earth has begun to + give little fruit. Kings levy fines, Brahmans have waxed covetous, the son + obeys not his sire’s commands, brother distrusts brother; friendship has + departed from amongst friends; sincerity has left masters; servants have + given up service; man has abandoned manliness; and woman has abandoned + modesty. Five days hence, my marriage is to be; but if thou slay not + thyself, I will visit thee first, and after that I will remain with my + husband.” + </p> + <p> + Having given this promise, and having sworn by the Ganges, she returned + home. The merchant’s son also went his way. + </p> + <p> + Presently the marriage ceremonies came on, and Hiranyadatt the Baniya + expended a lakh of rupees in feasts and presents to the bridegroom. The + bodies of the twain were anointed with turmeric, the bride was made to + hold in her hand the iron box for eye paint, and the youth a pair of betel + scissors. During the night before the wedding there was loud and shrill + music, the heads and limbs of the young couple were rubbed with an + ointment of oil, and the bridegroom’s head was duly shaved. The wedding + procession was very grand. The streets were a blaze of flambeaux and + torches carried in the hand, fireworks by the ton were discharged as the + people passed; elephants, camels, and horses richly caparisoned, were + placed in convenient situations; and before the procession had reached the + house of the bride half a dozen wicked boys and bad young men were killed + or wounded.<a href="#linknote-90" name="linknoteref-90" id="linknoteref-90">[90]</a> + After the marriage formulas were repeated, the Baniya gave a feast or + supper, and the food was so excellent that all sat down quietly, no one + uttered a complaint, or brought dishonour on the bride’s family, or cut + with scissors the garments of his neighbour. + </p> + <p> + The ceremony thus happily concluded, the husband brought Madansena home to + his own house. After some days the wife of her husband’s youngest brother, + and also the wife of his eldest brother, led her at night by force to her + bridegroom, and seated her on a bed ornamented with flowers. + </p> + <p> + As her husband proceeded to take her hand, she jerked it away, and at once + openly told him all that she had promised to Somdatt on condition of his + not killing himself. + </p> + <p> + “All things,” rejoined the bridegroom, hearing her words, “have their + sense ascertained by speech; in speech they have their basis, and from + speech they proceed; consequently a falsifier of speech falsifies + everything. If truly you are desirous of going to him, go! + </p> + <p> + “Receiving her husband’s permission, she arose and went off to the young + merchant’s house in full dress. Upon the road a thief saw her, and in high + good humour came up and asked— + </p> + <p> + “Whither goest thou at midnight in such darkness, having put on all these + fine clothes and ornaments?” + </p> + <p> + She replied that she was going to the house of her beloved. + </p> + <p> + “And who here,” said the thief, “is thy protector?” + </p> + <p> + “Kama Deva,” she replied, “the beautiful youth who by his fiery arrows + wounds with love the hearts of the inhabitants of the three worlds, + Ratipati, the husband of Rati,<a href="#linknote-91" name="linknoteref-91" + id="linknoteref-91">[91]</a> accompanied by the kokila bird,<a + href="#linknote-92" name="linknoteref-92" id="linknoteref-92">[92]</a> the + humming bee and gentle breezes.” She then told to the thief the whole + story, adding— + </p> + <p> + “Destroy not my jewels: I give thee a promise before I go, that on my + return thou shalt have all these ornaments.” + </p> + <p> + Hearing this the thief thought to himself that it would be useless now to + destroy her jewels, when she had promised to give them to him presently of + her own good will. He therefore let her go, and sat down and thus + soliloquized: + </p> + <p> + “To me it is astonishing that he who sustained me in my mother’s womb + should take no care of me now that I have been born and am able to enjoy + the good things of this world. I know not whether he is asleep or dead. + And I would rather swallow poison than ask man for money or favour. For + these six things tend to lower a man:—friendship with the + perfidious; causeless laughter; altercation with women; serving an + unworthy master; riding an ass, and speaking any language but Sanskrit. + And these five things the deity writes on our fate at the hour of birth:—first, + age; secondly, action; thirdly, wealth; fourthly, science; fifthly, fame. + I have now done a good deed, and as long as a man’s virtue is in the + ascendant, all people becoming his servants obey him. But when virtuous + deeds diminish, even his friends become inimical to him.” + </p> + <p> + Meanwhile Madansena had reached the place where Somdatt the young trader + had fallen asleep. + </p> + <p> + She awoke him suddenly, and he springing up in alarm quickly asked her, + “Art thou the daughter of a deity? or of a saint? or of a serpent? Tell me + truly, who art thou? And whence hast thou come?” + </p> + <p> + She replied, “I am human—Madansena, the daughter of the Baniya + Hiranyadatt. Dost thou not remember taking my hand in that grove, and + declaring that thou wouldst slay thyself if I did not swear to visit thee + first and after that remain with my husband?” + </p> + <p> + “Hast thou,” he inquired, “told all this to thy husband or not?” + </p> + <p> + She replied, “I have told him everything; and he, thoroughly understanding + the whole affair, gave me permission.” + </p> + <p> + “This matter,” exclaimed Somdatt in a melancholy voice, “is like pearls + without a suitable dress, or food without clarified butter,<a + href="#linknote-93" name="linknoteref-93" id="linknoteref-93">[93]</a> or + singing without melody; they are all alike unnatural. In the same way, + unclean clothes will mar beauty, bad food will undermine strength, a + wicked wife will worry her husband to death, a disreputable son will ruin + his family, an enraged demon will kill, and a woman, whether she love or + hate, will be a source of pain. For there are few things which a woman + will not do. She never brings to her tongue what is in her heart, she + never speaks out what is on her tongue, and she never tells what she is + doing. Truly the Deity has created woman a strange creature in this + world.” He concluded with these words: “Return thou home with another + man’s wife I have no concern.” + </p> + <p> + Madansena rose and departed. On her way she met the thief, who, hearing + her tale, gave her great praise, and let her go unplundered.<a + href="#linknote-94" name="linknoteref-94" id="linknoteref-94">[94]</a> + </p> + <p> + She then went to her husband, and related the whole matter to him. But he + had ceased to love her, and he said, “Neither a king nor a minister, nor a + wife, nor a person’s hair nor his nails, look well out of their places. + And the beauty of the kokila is its note, of an ugly man knowledge, of a + devotee forgiveness, and of a woman her chastity.” + </p> + <p> + The Vampire having narrated thus far, suddenly asked the king, “Of these + three, whose virtue was the greatest?” + </p> + <p> + Vikram, who had been greatly edified by the tale, forgot himself, and + ejaculated, “The Thief’s.” + </p> + <p> + “And pray why?” asked the Baital. + </p> + <p> + “Because,” the hero explained, “when her husband saw that she loved + another man, however purely, he ceased to feel affection for her. Somdatt + let her go unharmed, for fear of being punished by the king. But there was + no reason why the thief should fear the law and dismiss her; therefore he + was the best.” + </p> + <p> + “Hi! hi! hi!” laughed the demon, spitefully. “Here, then, ends my story.” + </p> + <p> + Upon which, escaping as before from the cloth in which he was slung behind + the Raja’s back, the Baital disappeared through the darkness of the night, + leaving father and son looking at each other in dismay. + </p> + <p> + “Son Dharma Dhwaj,” quoth the great Vikram, “the next time when that + villain Vampire asks me a question, I allow thee to take the liberty of + pinching my arm even before I have had time to answer his questions. In + this way we shall never, of a truth, end our task.” + </p> + <p> + “Your words be upon my head, sire,” replied the young prince. But he + expected no good from his father’s new plan, as, arrived under the + sires-tree, he heard the Baital laughing with all his might. + </p> + <p> + “Surely he is laughing at our beards, sire,” said the beardless prince, + who hated to be laughed at like a young person. + </p> + <p> + “Let them laugh that win,” fiercely cried Raja Vikram, who hated to be + laughed at like an elderly person. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * * * * * * * +</pre> + <p> + The Vampire lost no time in opening a fresh story. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0013" id="link2H_4_0013"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE VAMPIRE’S FIFTH STORY — Of the Thief Who Laughed and Wept. + </h2> + <p> + Your majesty (quoth the demon, with unusual politeness), there is a + country called Malaya, on the western coast of the land of Bharat—you + see that I am particular in specifying the place—and in it was a + city known as Chandrodaya, whose king was named Randhir. + </p> + <p> + This Raja, like most others of his semi-deified order, had been in youth + what is called a Sarva-rasi<a href="#linknote-95" name="linknoteref-95" + id="linknoteref-95">[95]</a>; that is, he ate and drank and listened to + music, and looked at dancers and made love much more than he studied, + reflected, prayed, or conversed with the wise. After the age of thirty he + began to reform, and he brought such zeal to the good cause, that in an + incredibly short space of time he came to be accounted and quoted as the + paragon of correct Rajas. This was very praiseworthy. Many of Brahma’s + viceregents on earth, be it observed, have loved food and drink, and music + and dancing, and the worship of Kama, to the end of their days. + </p> + <p> + Amongst his officers was Gunshankar, a magistrate of police, who, curious + to say, was as honest as he was just. He administered equity with as much + care before as after dinner; he took no bribes even in the matter of + advancing his family; he was rather merciful than otherwise to the poor, + and he never punished the rich ostentatiously, in order to display his and + his law’s disrespect for persons. Besides which, when sitting on the + carpet of justice, he did not, as some Kotwals do, use rough or angry + language to those who cannot reply; nor did he take offence when none was + intended. + </p> + <p> + All the people of the city Chandrodaya, in the province of Malaya, on the + western coast of Bharatland, loved and esteemed this excellent magistrate; + which did not, however, prevent thefts being committed so frequently and + so regularly, that no one felt his property secure. At last the merchants + who had suffered most from these depredations went in a body before + Gunshankar, and said to him: + </p> + <p> + “O flower of the law! robbers have exercised great tyranny upon us, so + great indeed that we can no longer stay in this city.” + </p> + <p> + Then the magistrate replied, “What has happened, has happened. But in + future you shall be free from annoyance. I will make due preparation for + these thieves.” + </p> + <p> + Thus saying Gunshankar called together his various delegates, and directed + them to increase the number of their people. He pointed out to them how + they should keep watch by night; besides which he ordered them to open + registers of all arrivals and departures, to make themselves acquainted by + means of spies with the movements of every suspected person in the city, + and to raise a body of paggis (trackers), who could follow the footprints + of thieves even when they wore thieving shoes,<a href="#linknote-96" + name="linknoteref-96" id="linknoteref-96">[96]</a> till they came up with + and arrested them. And lastly, he gave the patrols full power, whenever + they might catch a robber in the act, to slay him without asking + questions. + </p> + <p> + People in numbers began to mount guard throughout the city every night, + but, notwithstanding this, robberies continued to be committed. After a + time all the merchants having again met together went before the + magistrate, and said, “O incarnation of justice! you have changed your + officers, you have hired watchmen, and you have established patrols: + nevertheless the thieves have not diminished, and plundering is ever + taking place.” + </p> + <p> + Thereupon Gunshankar carried them to the palace, and made them lay their + petition at the feet of the king Randhir. That Raja, having consoled them, + sent them home, saying, “Be ye of good cheer. I will to-night adopt a new + plan, which, with the blessing of the Bhagwan, shall free ye from further + anxiety.” + </p> + <p> + Observe, O Vikram, that Randhir was one of those concerning whom the poet + sang— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + The unwise run from one end to the other. +</pre> + <p> + Not content with becoming highly respectable, correct, and even + unimpeachable in point of character, he reformed even his reformation, and + he did much more than he was required to do. + </p> + <p> + When Canopus began to sparkle gaily in the southern skies, the king arose + and prepared for a night’s work. He disguised his face by smearing it with + a certain paint, by twirling his moustachios up to his eyes, by parting + his beard upon his chin, and conducting the two ends towards his ears, and + by tightly tying a hair from a horse’s tail over his nose, so as quite to + change its shape. He then wrapped himself in a coarse outer garment, girt + his loins, buckled on his sword, drew his shield upon his arm, and without + saying a word to those within the palace, he went out into the streets + alone, and on foot. + </p> + <p> + It was dark, and Raja Randhir walked through the silent city for nearly an + hour without meeting anyone. As, however, he passed through a back street + in the merchants’ quarter, he saw what appeared to be a homeless dog, + lying at the foot of a house-wall. He approached it, and up leaped a human + figure, whilst a loud voice cried, “Who art thou?” + </p> + <p> + Randhir replied, “I am a thief; who art thou?” + </p> + <p> + “And I also am a thief,” rejoined the other, much pleased at hearing this; + “come, then, and let us make together. But what art thou, a high-loper or + a lully-prigger<a href="#linknote-97" name="linknoteref-97" + id="linknoteref-97">[97]</a>?” + </p> + <p> + “A little more ceremony between coves in the lorst,<a href="#linknote-98" + name="linknoteref-98" id="linknoteref-98">[98]</a>” whispered the king, + speaking as a flash man, “were not out of place. But, look sharp, mind old + Oliver,<a href="#linknote-99" name="linknoteref-99" id="linknoteref-99">[99]</a> + or the lamb-skin man<a href="#linknote-100" name="linknoteref-100" + id="linknoteref-100">[100]</a> will have the pull of us, and as sure as + eggs is eggs we shall be scragged as soon as lagged.<a href="#linknote-101" + name="linknoteref-101" id="linknoteref-101">[101]</a>” + </p> + <p> + “Well, keep your red rag<a href="#linknote-102" name="linknoteref-102" + id="linknoteref-102">[102]</a> quiet,” grumbled the other, “and let us be + working.” + </p> + <p> + Then the pair, king and thief, began work in right earnest. The gang + seemed to swarm in the street. They were drinking spirits, slaying + victims, rubbing their bodies with oil, daubing their eyes with + lamp-black, and repeating incantations to enable them to see in the + darkness; others were practicing the lessons of the god with the golden + spear,<a href="#linknote-103" name="linknoteref-103" id="linknoteref-103">[103]</a> + and carrying out the four modes of breaching a house: 1. Picking out burnt + bricks. 2. Cutting through unbaked ones when old, when softened by recent + damp, by exposure to the sun, or by saline exudations. 3. Throwing water + on a mud wall; and 4. Boring through one of wood. The sons of Skanda were + making breaches in the shape of lotus blossoms, the sun, the new moon, the + lake, and the water jar, and they seemed to be anointed with magic + unguents, so that no eye could behold, no weapon harm them. + </p> + <p> + At length having filled his bag with costly plunder, the thief said to the + king, “Now, my rummy cove, we’ll be off to the flash ken, where the lads + and the morts are waiting to wet their whistles.” + </p> + <p> + Randhir, who as a king was perfectly familiar with “thieves’ Latin,” took + heart, and resolved to hunt out the secrets of the den. On the way, his + companion, perfectly satisfied with the importance which the new cove had + attached to a rat-hole,<a href="#linknote-104" name="linknoteref-104" + id="linknoteref-104">[104]</a> and convinced that he was a true robber, + taught him the whistle, the word, and the sign peculiar to the gang, and + promised him that he should smack the lit<a href="#linknote-105" + name="linknoteref-105" id="linknoteref-105">[105]</a> that night before + “turning in.” + </p> + <p> + So saying the thief rapped twice at the city gate, which was at once + opened to him, and preceding his accomplice led the way to a rock about + two kos (four miles) distant from the walls. Before entering the dark + forest at the foot of the eminence, the robber stood still for a moment + and whistled twice through his fingers with a shrill scream that rang + through the silent glades. After a few minutes the signal was answered by + the hooting of an owl, which the robber acknowledged by shrieking like a + jackal. Thereupon half a dozen armed men arose from their crouching places + in the grass, and one advanced towards the new comers to receive the sign. + It was given, and they both passed on, whilst the guard sank, as it were, + into the bowels of the earth. All these things Randhir carefully remarked: + besides which he neglected not to take note of all the distinguishable + objects that lay on the road, and, when he entered the wood, he scratched + with his dagger all the tree trunks within reach. + </p> + <p> + After a sharp walk the pair reached a high perpendicular sheet of rock, + rising abruptly from a clear space in the jungle, and profusely printed + over with vermilion hands. The thief, having walked up to it, and made his + obeisance, stooped to the ground, and removed a bunch of grass. The two + then raised by their united efforts a heavy trap door, through which + poured a stream of light, whilst a confused hubbub of voices was heard + below. + </p> + <p> + “This is the ken,” said the robber, preparing to descend a thin ladder of + bamboo, “follow me!” And he disappeared with his bag of valuables. + </p> + <p> + The king did as he was bid, and the pair entered together a large hall, or + rather a cave, which presented a singular spectacle. It was lighted up by + links fixed to the sombre walls, which threw a smoky glare over the place, + and the contrast after the deep darkness reminded Randhir of his mother’s + descriptions of Patal-puri, the infernal city. Carpets of every kind, from + the choicest tapestry to the coarsest rug, were spread upon the ground, + and were strewed with bags, wallets, weapons, heaps of booty, drinking + cups, and all the materials of debauchery. + </p> + <p> + Passing through this cave the thief led Randhir into another, which was + full of thieves, preparing for the pleasures of the night. Some were + changing garments, ragged and dirtied by creeping through gaps in the + houses: others were washing the blood from their hands and feet; these + combed out their long dishevelled, dusty hair: those anointed their skins + with perfumed cocoa-nut oil. There were all manner of murderers present, a + villanous collection of Kartikeya’s and Bhawani’s<a href="#linknote-106" + name="linknoteref-106" id="linknoteref-106">[106]</a> crew. There were + stabbers with their poniards hung to lanyards lashed round their naked + waists, Dhaturiya-poisoners<a href="#linknote-107" name="linknoteref-107" + id="linknoteref-107">[107]</a> distinguished by the little bag slung under + the left arm, and Phansigars<a href="#linknote-108" name="linknoteref-108" + id="linknoteref-108">[108]</a> wearing their fatal kerchiefs round their + necks. And Randhir had reason to thank the good deed in the last life that + had sent him there in such strict disguise, for amongst the robbers he + found, as might be expected, a number of his own people, spies and + watchmen, guards and patrols. + </p> + <p> + The thief, whose importance of manner now showed him to be the chief of + the gang, was greeted with applause as he entered the robing room, and he + bade all make salam to the new companion. A number of questions concerning + the success of the night’s work was quickly put and answered: then the + company, having got ready for the revel, flocked into the first cave. + There they sat down each in his own place, and began to eat and drink and + make merry. + </p> + <p> + After some hours the flaring torches began to burn out, and drowsiness to + overpower the strongest heads. Most of the robbers rolled themselves up in + the rugs, and covering their heads, went to sleep. A few still sat with + their backs to the wall, nodding drowsily or leaning on one side, and too + stupefied with opium and hemp to make any exertion. + </p> + <p> + At that moment a servant woman, whom the king saw for the first time, came + into the cave, and looking at him exclaimed, “O Raja! how came you with + these wicked men? Do you run away as fast as you can, or they will surely + kill you when they awake.” + </p> + <p> + “I do not know the way; in which direction am I to go?” asked Randhir. + </p> + <p> + The woman then showed him the road. He threaded the confused mass of + snorers, treading with the foot of a tiger-cat, found the ladder, raised + the trap-door by exerting all his strength, and breathed once more the + open air of heaven. And before plunging into the depths of the wood he + again marked the place where the entrance lay and carefully replaced the + bunch of grass. + </p> + <p> + Hardly had Raja Randhir returned to the palace, and removed the traces of + his night’s occupation, when he received a second deputation of the + merchants, complaining bitterly and with the longest faces about their + fresh misfortunes. + </p> + <p> + “O pearl of equity!” said the men of money, “but yesterday you consoled us + with the promise of some contrivance by the blessing of which our houses + and coffers would be safe from theft; whereas our goods have never yet + suffered so severely as during the last twelve hours.” + </p> + <p> + Again Randhir dismissed them, swearing that this time he would either die + or destroy the wretches who had been guilty of such violence. + </p> + <p> + Then having mentally prepared his measures, the Raja warned a company of + archers to hold themselves in readiness for secret service, and as each + one of his own people returned from the robbers’ cave he had him privily + arrested and put to death—because the deceased, it is said, do not, + like Baitals, tell tales. About nightfall, when he thought that the + thieves, having finished their work of plunder, would meet together as + usual for wassail and debauchery, he armed himself, marched out his men, + and led them to the rock in the jungle. + </p> + <p> + But the robbers, aroused by the disappearance of the new companion, had + made enquiries and had gained intelligence of the impending danger. They + feared to flee during the daytime, lest being tracked they should be + discovered and destroyed in detail. When night came they hesitated to + disperse, from the certainty that they would be captured in the morning. + Then their captain, who throughout had been of one opinion, proposed to + them that they should resist, and promised them success if they would hear + his words. The gang respected him, for he was known to be brave: they all + listened to his advice, and they promised to be obedient. + </p> + <p> + As young night began to cast transparent shade upon the jungle ground, the + chief of the thieves mustered his men, inspected their bows and arrows, + gave them encouraging words, and led them forth from the cave. Having + placed them in ambush he climbed the rock to espy the movements of the + enemy, whilst others applied their noses and ears to the level ground. + Presently the moon shone full upon Randhir and his band of archers, who + were advancing quickly and carelessly, for they expected to catch the + robbers in their cave. The captain allowed them to march nearly through + the line of ambush. Then he gave the signal, and at that moment the + thieves, rising suddenly from the bush fell upon the royal troops and + drove them back in confusion. + </p> + <p> + The king also fled, when the chief of the robbers shouted out, “Hola! thou + a Rajput and running away from combat?” Randhir hearing this halted, and + the two, confronting each other, bared their blades and began to do battle + with prodigious fury. + </p> + <p> + The king was cunning of fence, and so was the thief. They opened the duel, + as skilful swordsmen should, by bending almost double, skipping in a + circle, each keeping his eye well fixed upon the other, with frowning + brows and contemptuous lips; at the same time executing divers gambados + and measured leaps, springing forward like frogs and backward like + monkeys, and beating time with their sabres upon their shields, which + rattled like drums. + </p> + <p> + Then Randhir suddenly facing his antagonist, cut at his legs with a loud + cry, but the thief sprang in the air, and the blade whistled harmlessly + under him. Next moment the robber chief’s sword, thrice whirled round his + head, descended like lightning in a slanting direction towards the king’s + left shoulder: the latter, however, received it upon his target and + escaped all hurt, though he staggered with the violence of the blow. + </p> + <p> + And thus they continued attacking each other, parrying and replying, till + their breath failed them and their hands and wrists were numbed and + cramped with fatigue. They were so well matched in courage, strength, and + address, that neither obtained the least advantage, till the robber’s + right foot catching a stone slid from under him, and thus he fell to the + ground at the mercy of his enemy. The thieves fled, and the Raja, himself + on his prize, tied his hands behind him, and brought him back to the city + at the point of his good sword. + </p> + <p> + The next morning Randhir visited his prisoner, whom he caused to be + bathed, and washed, and covered with fine clothes. He then had him mounted + on a camel and sent him on a circuit of the city, accompanied by a crier + proclaiming aloud: “Who hears! who hears! who hears! the king commands! + This is the thief who has robbed and plundered the city of Chandrodaya. + Let all men therefore assemble themselves together this evening in the + open space outside the gate leading towards the sea. And let them behold + the penalty of evil deeds, and learn to be wise.” + </p> + <p> + Randhir had condemned the thief to be crucified,<a href="#linknote-109" + name="linknoteref-109" id="linknoteref-109">[109]</a> nailed and tied with + his hands and feet stretched out at full length, in an erect posture until + death; everything he wished to eat was ordered to him in order to prolong + life and misery. And when death should draw near, melted gold was to be + poured down his throat till it should burst from his neck and other parts + of his body. + </p> + <p> + In the evening the thief was led out for execution, and by chance the + procession passed close to the house of a wealthy landowner. He had a + favourite daughter named Shobhani, who was in the flower of her youth and + very lovely; every day she improved, and every moment added to her grace + and beauty. The girl had been carefully kept out of sight of mankind, + never being allowed outside the high walls of the garden, because her + nurse, a wise woman much trusted in the neighbourhood, had at the hour of + death given a solemn warning to her parents. The prediction was that the + maiden should be the admiration of the city, and should die a Sati-widow<a + href="#linknote-110" name="linknoteref-110" id="linknoteref-110">[110]</a> + before becoming a wife. From that hour Shobhani was kept as a pearl in its + casket by her father, who had vowed never to survive her, and had even + fixed upon the place and style of his suicide. + </p> + <p> + But the shaft of Fate<a href="#linknote-111" name="linknoteref-111" + id="linknoteref-111">[111]</a> strikes down the vulture sailing above the + clouds, and follows the worm into the bowels of the earth, and pierces the + fish at the bottom of the ocean—how then can mortal man expect to + escape it? As the robber chief, mounted upon the camel, was passing to the + cross under the old householder’s windows, a fire breaking out in the + women’s apartments, drove the inmates into the rooms looking upon the + street. + </p> + <p> + The hum of many voices arose from the solid pavement of heads: “This is + the thief who has been robbing the whole city; let him tremble now, for + Randhir will surely crucify him!” + </p> + <p> + In beauty and bravery of bearing, as in strength and courage, no man in + Chandrodaya surpassed the robber, who, being magnificently dressed, + looked, despite his disgraceful cavalcade, like the son of a king. He sat + with an unmoved countenance, hardly hearing in his pride the scoffs of the + mob; calm and steady when the whole city was frenzied with anxiety because + of him. But as he heard the word “tremble” his lips quivered, his eyes + flashed fire, and deep lines gathered between his eyebrows. + </p> + <p> + Shobhani started with a scream from the casement behind which she had hid + herself, gazing with an intense womanly curiosity into the thoroughfare. + The robber’s face was upon a level with, and not half a dozen feet from, + her pale cheeks. She marked his handsome features, and his look of wrath + made her quiver as if it had been a flash of lightning. Then she broke + away from the fascination of his youth and beauty, and ran breathless to + her father, saying: + </p> + <p> + “Go this moment and get that thief released!” + </p> + <p> + The old housekeeper replied: “That thief has been pilfering and plundering + the whole city, and by his means the king’s archers were defeated; why, + then, at my request, should our most gracious Raja Randhir release him?” + </p> + <p> + Shobhani, almost beside herself, exclaimed: “If by giving up your whole + property, you can induce the Raja to release him, then instantly so do; if + he does not come to me, I must give up my life!” + </p> + <p> + The maiden then covered her head with her veil, and sat down in the + deepest despair, whilst her father, hearing her words, burst into a cry of + grief, and hastened to present himself before the Raja. He cried out: + </p> + <p> + “O great king, be pleased to receive four lakhs of rupees, and to release + this thief.” + </p> + <p> + But the king replied: “He has been robbing the whole city, and by reason + of him my guards have been destroyed. I cannot by any means release him.” + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> +Then the old householder finding, as he had expected the Raja +inexorable, and not to be moved, either by tears or bribes, or by +the cruel fate of the girl, returned home with fire in his heart, and +addressed her: + + “Daughter, I have said and done all that is possible but it avails +me nought with the king. Now, then, we die.” + </pre> + <p> + In the mean time, the guards having led the thief all round the city, took + him outside the gates, and made him stand near the cross. Then the + messengers of death arrived from the palace, and the executioners began to + nail his limbs. He bore the agony with the fortitude of the brave; but + when he heard what had been done by the old householder’s daughter, he + raised his voice and wept bitterly, as though his heart had been bursting, + and almost with the same breath he laughed heartily as at a feast. All + were startled by his merriment; coming as it did at a time when the iron + was piercing his flesh, no man could see any reason for it. + </p> + <p> + When he died, Shobhani, who was married to him in the spirit, recited to + herself these sayings: + </p> + <p> + “There are thirty-five millions of hairs on the human body. The woman who + ascends the pile with her husband will remain so many years in heaven. As + the snake-catcher draws the serpent from his hole, so she, rescuing her + husband from hell, rejoices with him; aye, though he may have sunk to a + region of torment, be restrained in dreadful bonds, have reached the place + of anguish, be exhausted of strength, and afflicted and tortured for his + crimes. No other effectual duty is known for virtuous women at any time + after the death of their lords, except casting themselves into the same + fire. As long as a woman in her successive transmigrations, shall decline + burning herself, like a faithful wife, in the same fire with her deceased + lord, so long shall she not be exempted from springing again to life in + the body of some female animal.” + </p> + <p> + Therefore the beautiful Shobhani, virgin and wife, resolved to burn + herself, and to make the next life of the thief certain. She showed her + courage by thrusting her finger into a torch flame till it became a + cinder, and she solemnly bathed in the nearest stream. + </p> + <p> + A hole was dug in the ground, and upon a bed of green tree-trunks were + heaped hemp, pitch, faggots, and clarified butter, to form the funeral + pyre. The dead body, anointed, bathed, and dressed in new clothes, was + then laid upon the heap, which was some two feet high. Shobhani prayed + that as long as fourteen Indras reign, or as many years as there are hairs + in her head, she might abide in heaven with her husband, and be waited + upon by the heavenly dancers. She then presented her ornaments and little + gifts of corn to her friends, tied some cotton round both wrists, put two + new combs in her hair, painted her forehead, and tied up in the end of her + body-cloth clean parched rice<a href="#linknote-112" name="linknoteref-112" + id="linknoteref-112">[112]</a> and cowrie-shells. These she gave to the + bystanders, as she walked seven times round the funeral pyre, upon which + lay the body. She then ascended the heap of wood, sat down upon it, and + taking the thief’s head in her lap, without cords or levers or upper layer + or faggots, she ordered the pile to be lighted. The crowd standing around + set fire to it in several places, drummed their drums, blew their conchs, + and raised a loud cry of “Hari bol! Hari bol! <a href="#linknote-113" + name="linknoteref-113" id="linknoteref-113">[113]</a>” Straw was thrown + on, and pitch and clarified butter were freely poured out. But Shobhani’s + was a Sahamaran, a blessed easy death: no part of her body was seen to + move after the pyre was lighted—in fact, she seemed to die before + the flame touched her. + </p> + <p> + By the blessing of his daughter’s decease, the old householder beheaded + himself.<a href="#linknote-114" name="linknoteref-114" id="linknoteref-114">[114]</a> + He caused an instrument to be made in the shape of a half-moon with an + edge like a razor, and fitting the back of his neck. At both ends of it, + as at the beam of a balance, chains were fastened. He sat down with eyes + closed; he was rubbed with the purifying clay of the holy river, Vaiturani<a + href="#linknote-115" name="linknoteref-115" id="linknoteref-115">[115]</a>; + and he repeated the proper incantations. Then placing his feet upon the + extremities of the chains, he suddenly jerked up his neck, and his severed + head rolled from his body upon the ground. What a happy death was this! + </p> + <p> + The Baital was silent, as if meditating on the fortunate transmigration + which the old householder had thus secured. + </p> + <p> + “But what could the thief have been laughing at, sire?” asked the young + prince Dharma Dhwaj of his father. + </p> + <p> + “At the prodigious folly of the girl, my son,” replied the warrior king, + thoughtlessly. + </p> + <p> + “I am indebted once more to your majesty,” burst out the Baital, “for + releasing me from this unpleasant position, but the Raja’s penetration is + again at fault. Not to leave your royal son and heir labouring under a + false impression, before going I will explain why the brave thief burst + into tears, and why he laughed at such a moment.” + </p> + <p> + He wept when he reflected that he could not requite her kindness in being + willing to give up everything she had in the world to save his life; and + this thought deeply grieved him. + </p> + <p> + Then it struck him as being passing strange that she had begun to love him + when the last sand of his life was well nigh run out; that wondrous are + the ways of the revolving heavens which bestow wealth upon the niggard + that cannot use it, wisdom upon the bad man who will misuse it, a + beautiful wife upon the fool who cannot protect her, and fertilizing + showers upon the stony hills. And thinking over these things, the gallant + and beautiful thief laughed aloud. + </p> + <p> + “Before returning to my sires-tree,” continued the Vampire, “as I am about + to do in virtue of your majesty’s unintelligent reply, I may remark that + men may laugh and cry, or may cry and laugh, about everything in this + world, from their neighbours’ deaths, which, as a general rule, in no wise + concern them, to their own latter ends, which do concern them exceedingly. + For my part, I am in the habit of laughing at everything, because it + animates the brain, stimulates the lungs, beautifies the countenance, and—for + the moment, good-bye, Raja Vikram!” + </p> + <p> + The warrior king, being forewarned this time, shifted the bundle + containing the Baital from his back to under his arm, where he pressed it + with all his might. + </p> + <p> + This proceeding, however, did not prevent the Vampire from slipping back + to his tree, and leaving an empty cloth with the Raja. + </p> + <p> + Presently the demon was trussed up as usual; a voice sounded behind + Vikram, and the loquacious thing again began to talk. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0014" id="link2H_4_0014"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE VAMPIRE’S SIXTH STORY — In Which Three Men Dispute about a + Woman. + </h2> + <p> + On the lovely banks of Jumna’s stream there was a city known as + Dharmasthal—the Place of Duty; and therein dwelt a certain Brahman + called Keshav. He was a very pious man, in the constant habit of + performing penance and worship upon the river Sidi. He modelled his own + clay images instead of buying them from others; he painted holy stones red + at the top, and made to them offerings of flowers, fruit, water, + sweetmeats, and fried peas. He had become a learned man somewhat late in + life, having, until twenty years old, neglected his reading, and addicted + himself to worshipping the beautiful youth Kama-Deva<a href="#linknote-116" + name="linknoteref-116" id="linknoteref-116">[116]</a> and Rati his wife, + accompanied by the cuckoo, the humming-bee, and sweet breezes. + </p> + <p> + One day his parents having rebuked him sharply for his ungovernable + conduct, Keshav wandered to a neighbouring hamlet, and hid himself in the + tall fig-tree which shadowed a celebrated image of Panchanan.<a + href="#linknote-117" name="linknoteref-117" id="linknoteref-117">[117]</a> + Presently an evil thought arose in his head: he defiled the god, and threw + him into the nearest tank. + </p> + <p> + The next morning, when the person arrived whose livelihood depended on the + image, he discovered that his god was gone. He returned into the village + distracted, and all was soon in an uproar about the lost deity. + </p> + <p> + In the midst of this confusion the parents of Keshav arrived, seeking for + their son; and a man in the crowd declared that he had seen a young man + sitting in Panchanan’s tree, but what had become of the god he knew not. + </p> + <p> + The runaway at length appeared, and the suspicions of the villagers fell + upon him as the stealer of Panchanan. He confessed the fact, pointed out + the place where he had thrown the stone, and added that he had polluted + the god. All hands and eyes were raised in amazement at this atrocious + crime, and every one present declared that Panchanan would certainly + punish the daring insult by immediate death. Keshav was dreadfully + frightened; he began to obey his parents from that very hour, and applied + to his studies so sedulously that he soon became the most learned man of + his country. + </p> + <p> + Now Keshav the Brahman had a daughter whose name was the Madhumalati or + Sweet Jasmine. She was very beautiful. Whence did the gods procure the + materials to form so exquisite a face? They took a portion of the most + excellent part of the moon to form that beautiful face? Does any one seek + a proof of this? Let him look at the empty places left in the moon. Her + eyes resembled the full-blown blue nymphaea; her arms the charming stalk + of the lotus; her flowing tresses the thick darkness of night. + </p> + <p> + When this lovely person arrived at a marriageable age, her mother, father, + and brother, all three became very anxious about her. For the wise have + said, “A daughter nubile but without a husband is ever a calamity hanging + over a house.” And, “Kings, women, and climbing plants love those who are + near them.” Also, “Who is there that has not suffered from the sex? for a + woman cannot be kept in due subjection, either by gifts or kindness, or + correct conduct, or the greatest services, or the laws of morality, or by + the terror of punishment, for she cannot discriminate between good and + evil.” + </p> + <p> + It so happened that one day Keshav the Brahman went to the marriage of a + certain customer of his,<a href="#linknote-118" name="linknoteref-118" + id="linknoteref-118">[118]</a> and his son repaired to the house of a + spiritual preceptor in order to read. During their absence, a young man + came to the house, when the Sweet Jasmine’s mother, inferring his good + qualities from his good looks, said to him, “I will give to thee my + daughter in marriage.” The father also had promised his daughter to a + Brahman youth whom he had met at the house of his employer; and the + brother likewise had betrothed his sister to a fellow student at the place + where he had gone to read. + </p> + <p> + After some days father and son came home, accompanied by these two + suitors, and in the house a third was already seated. The name of the + first was Tribikram, of the second Baman, and of the third Madhusadan. The + three were equal in mind and body, in knowledge, and in age. + </p> + <p> + Then the father, looking upon them, said to himself, “Ho! there is one + bride and three bridegrooms; to whom shall I give, and to whom shall I not + give? We three have pledged our word to these three. A strange + circumstance has occurred; what must we do?” + </p> + <p> + He then proposed to them a trial of wisdom, and made them agree that he + who should quote the most excellent saying of the wise should become his + daughter’s husband. + </p> + <p> + Quoth Tribikram: “Courage is tried in war; integrity in the payment of + debt and interest; friendship in distress; and the faithfulness of a wife + in the day of poverty.” + </p> + <p> + Baman proceeded: “That woman is destitute of virtue who in her father’s + house is not in subjection, who wanders to feasts and amusements, who + throws off her veil in the presence of men, who remains as a guest in the + houses of strangers, who is much devoted to sleep, who drinks inebriating + beverages, and who delights in distance from her husband.” + </p> + <p> + “Let none,” pursued Madhusadan, “confide in the sea, nor in whatever has + claws or horns, or who carries deadly weapons; neither in a woman, nor in + a king.” + </p> + <p> + Whilst the Brahman was doubting which to prefer, and rather inclining to + the latter sentiment, a serpent bit the beautiful girl, and in a few hours + she died. + </p> + <p> + Stunned by this awful sudden death, the father and the three suitors sat + for a time motionless. They then arose, used great exertions, and brought + all kinds of sorcerers, wise men and women who charm away poisons by + incantations. These having seen the girl said, “She cannot return to + life.” The first declared, “A person always dies who has been bitten by a + snake on the fifth, sixth, eighth, ninth, and fourteenth days of the lunar + month.” The second asserted, “One who has been bitten on a Saturday or a + Tuesday does not survive.” The third opined, “Poison infused during + certain six lunar mansions cannot be got under.” Quoth the fourth, “One + who has been bitten in any organ of sense, the lower lip, the cheek, the + neck, or the stomach, cannot escape death.” The fifth said, “In this case + even Brahma, the Creator, could not restore life—of what account, + then, are we? Do you perform the funeral rites; we will depart.” + </p> + <p> + Thus saying, the sorcerers went their way. The mourning father took up his + daughter’s corpse and caused it to be burnt, in the place where dead + bodies are usually burnt, and returned to his house. + </p> + <p> + After that the three young men said to one another, “We must now seek + happiness elsewhere. And what better can we do than obey the words of + Indra, the God of Air, who spake thus?— + </p> + <p> + “‘For a man who does not travel about there is no felicity, and a good man + who stays at home is a bad man. Indra is the friend of him who travels. + Travel! + </p> + <p> + “‘A traveller’s legs are like blossoming branches, and he himself grows + and gathers the fruit. All his wrongs vanish, destroyed by his exertion on + the roadside. Travel! + </p> + <p> + “‘The fortune of a man who sits, sits also; it rises when he rises; it + sleeps when he sleeps; it moves well when he moves. Travel! + </p> + <p> + “‘A man who sleeps is like the Iron Age. A man who awakes is like the + Bronze Age. A man who rises up is like the Silver Age. A man who travels + is like the Golden Age. Travel! + </p> + <p> + “‘A traveller finds honey; a traveller finds sweet figs. Look at the + happiness of the sun, who travailing never tires. Travel!”’ + </p> + <p> + Before parting they divided the relics of the beloved one, and then they + went their way. + </p> + <p> + Tribikram, having separated and tied up the burnt bones, became one of the + Vaisheshikas, in those days a powerful sect. He solemnly forswore the + eight great crimes, namely: feeding at night; slaying any animal; eating + the fruit of trees that give milk, or pumpkins or young bamboos: tasting + honey or flesh; plundering the wealth of others; taking by force a married + woman; eating flowers, butter, or cheese; and worshipping the gods of + other religions. He learned that the highest act of virtue is to abstain + from doing injury to sentient creatures; that crime does not justify the + destruction of life; and that kings, as the administrators of criminal + justice, are the greatest of sinners. He professed the five vows of total + abstinence from falsehood, eating flesh or fish, theft, drinking spirits, + and marriage. He bound himself to possess nothing beyond a white + loin-cloth, a towel to wipe the mouth, a beggar’s dish, and a brush of + woollen threads to sweep the ground for fear of treading on insects. And + he was ordered to fear secular affairs; the miseries of a future state; + the receiving from others more than the food of a day at once; all + accidents; provisions, if connected with the destruction of animal life; + death and disgrace; also to please all, and to obtain compassion from all. + </p> + <p> + He attempted to banish his love. He said to himself, “Surely it was owing + only to my pride and selfishness that I ever looked upon a woman as + capable of affording happiness; and I thought, ‘Ah! ah! thine eyes roll + about like the tail of the water-wagtail, thy lips resemble the ripe + fruit, thy bosom is like the lotus bud, thy form is resplendent as gold + melted in a crucible, the moon wanes through desire to imitate the shadow + of thy face, thou resemblest the pleasure-house of Cupid; the happiness of + all time is concentrated in thee; a touch from thee would surely give life + to a dead image; at thy approach a living admirer would be changed by joy + into a lifeless stone; obtaining thee I can face all the horrors of war; + and were I pierced by showers of arrows, one glance of thee would heal all + my wounds.’ + </p> + <p> + “My mind is now averted from the world. Seeing her I say, ‘Is this the + form by which men are bewitched? This is a basket covered with skin; it + contains bones, flesh, blood, and impurities. The stupid creature who is + captivated by this—is there a cannibal feeding in Currim a greater + cannibal than he? These persons call a thing made up of impure matter a + face, and drink its charms as a drunkard swallows the inebriating liquor + from his cup. The blind, infatuated beings! Why should I be pleased or + displeased with this body, composed of flesh and blood? It is my duty to + seek Him who is the Lord of this body, and to disregard everything which + gives rise either to pleasure or to pain.’” + </p> + <p> + Baman, the second suitor, tied up a bundle of his beloved one’s ashes, and + followed—somewhat prematurely—the precepts of the great + lawgiver Manu. “When the father of a family perceives his muscles becoming + flaccid, and his hair grey, and sees the child of his child, let him then + take refuge in a forest. Let him take up his consecrated fire and all his + domestic implements for making oblations to it, and, departing from the + town to the lonely wood, let him dwell in it with complete power over his + organs of sense and of action. With many sorts of pure food, such as holy + sages used to eat, with green herbs, roots, and fruit, let him perform the + five great sacraments, introducing them with due ceremonies. Let him wear + a black antelope-hide, or a vesture of bark; let him bathe evening and + morning; let him suffer the hair of his head, his beard and his nails to + grow continually. Let him slide backwards and forwards on the ground; or + let him stand a whole day on tiptoe; or let him continue in motion, rising + and sitting alternately; but at sunrise, at noon, and at sunset, let him + go to the waters and bathe. In the hot season let him sit exposed to five + fires, four blazing around him, with the sun above; in the rains let him + stand uncovered, without even a mantle, where the clouds pour the heaviest + showers; in the cold season let him wear damp clothes, and let him + increase by degrees the austerity of his devotions. Then, having reposited + his holy fires, as the law directs, in his mind, let him live without + external fire, without a mansion, wholly silent, feeding on roots and + fruit.” + </p> + <p> + Meanwhile Madhusadan the third, having taken a wallet and neckband, became + a Jogi, and began to wander far and wide, living on nothing but chaff, and + practicing his devotions. In order to see Brahma he attended to the + following duties; 1. Hearing; 2. Meditation; 3. Fixing the Mind; 4. + Absorbing the Mind. He combated the three evils, restlessness, + injuriousness, voluptuousness by settling the Deity in his spirit, by + subjecting his senses, and by destroying desire. Thus he would do away + with the illusion (Maya) which conceals all true knowledge. He repeated + the name of the Deity till it appeared to him in the form of a Dry Light + or glory. Though connected with the affairs of life, that is, with affairs + belonging to a body containing blood, bones, and impurities; to organs + which are blind, palsied, and full of weakness and error; to a mind filled + with thirst, hunger, sorrow, infatuation; to confirmed habits, and to the + fruits of former births: still he strove not to view these things as + realities. He made a companion of a dog, honouring it with his own food, + so as the better to think on spirit. He practiced all the five operations + connected with the vital air, or air collected in the body. He attended + much to Pranayama, or the gradual suppression of breathing, and he secured + fixedness of mind as follows. By placing his sight and thoughts on the tip + of his nose he perceived smell; on the tip of his tongue he realized + taste, on the root of his tongue he knew sound, and so forth. He practiced + the eighty-four Asana or postures, raising his hand to the wonders of the + heavens, till he felt no longer the inconveniences of heat or cold, hunger + or thirst. He particularly preferred the Padma or lotus-posture, which + consists of bringing the feet to the sides, holding the right in the left + hand and the left in the right. In the work of suppressing his breath he + permitted its respiration to reach at furthest twelve fingers’ breadth, + and gradually diminished the distance from his nostrils till he could + confine it to the length of twelve fingers from his nose, and even after + restraining it for some time he would draw it from no greater distance + than from his heart. As respects time, he began by retaining inspiration + for twenty-six seconds, and he enlarged this period gradually till he + became perfect. He sat cross-legged, closing with his fingers all the + avenues of inspiration, and he practiced Prityahara, or the power of + restraining the members of the body and mind, with meditation and + concentration, to which there are four enemies, viz., a sleepy heart, + human passions, a confused mind, and attachment to anything but the one + Brahma. He also cultivated Yama, that is, inoffensiveness, truth, honesty, + the forsaking of all evil in the world, and the refusal of gifts except + for sacrifice, and Nihama, i.e., purity relative to the use of water after + defilement, pleasure in everything whether in prosperity or adversity, + renouncing food when hungry, and keeping down the body. Thus delivered + from these four enemies of the flesh, he resembled the unruffled flame of + the lamp, and by Brahmagnana, or meditating on the Deity, placing his mind + on the sun, moon, fire, or any other luminous body, or within his heart, + or at the bottom of his throat, or in the centre of his skull, he was + enabled to ascend from gross images of omnipotence to the works and the + divine wisdom of the glorious original. + </p> + <p> + One day Madhusadan, the Jogi, went to a certain house for food, and the + householder having seen him began to say, “Be so good as to take your food + here this day!” The visitor sat down, and when the victuals were ready, + the host caused his feet and hands to be washed, and leading him to the + Chauka, or square place upon which meals are served, seated him and sat by + him. And he quoted the scripture: “No guest must be dismissed in the + evening by a housekeeper: he is sent by the returning sun, and whether he + come in fit season or unseasonably, he must not sojourn in the house + without entertainment: let me not eat any delicate food, without asking my + guest to partake of it: the satisfaction of a guest will assuredly bring + the housekeeper wealth, reputation, long life, and a place in heaven.” + </p> + <p> + The householder’s wife then came to serve up the food, rice and split + peas, oil, and spices, all cooked in a new earthen pot with pure firewood. + Part of the meal was served and the rest remained to be served, when the + woman’s little child began to cry aloud and to catch hold of its mother’s + dress. She endeavoured to release herself, but the boy would not let go, + and the more she coaxed the more he cried, and was obstinate. On this the + mother became angry, took up the boy and threw him upon the fire, which + instantly burnt him to ashes. + </p> + <p> + Madhusadan, the Jogi, seeing this, rose up without eating. The master of + the house said to him, “Why eatest thou not?” He replied, “I am ‘Atithi,’ + that is to say, to be entertained at your house, but how can one eat under + the roof of a person who has committed such a Rakshasa-like (devilish) + deed? Is it not said, ‘He who does not govern his passions, lives in + vain’? ‘A foolish king, a person puffed up with riches, and a weak child, + desire that which cannot be procured’? Also, ‘A king destroys his enemies, + even when flying; and the touch of an elephant, as well as the breath of a + serpent, are fatal; but the wicked destroy even while laughing’?” + </p> + <p> + Hearing this, the householder smiled; presently he arose and went to + another part of the tenement, and brought back with him a book, treating + on Sanjivnividya, or the science of restoring the dead to life. This he + had taken from its hidden place, two beams almost touching one another + with the ends in the opposite wall. The precious volume was in single + leaves, some six inches broad by treble that length, and the paper was + stained with yellow orpiment and the juice of tamarind seeds to keep away + insects. + </p> + <p> + The householder opened the cloth containing the book, untied the flat + boards at the top and bottom, and took out from it a charm. Having + repeated this Mantra, with many ceremonies, he at once restored the child + to life, saying, “Of all precious things, knowledge is the most valuable; + other riches may be stolen, or diminished by expenditure, but knowledge is + immortal, and the greater the expenditure the greater the increase; it can + be shared with none, and it defies the power of the thief.” + </p> + <p> + The Jogi, seeing this marvel, took thought in his heart, “If I could + obtain that book, I would restore my beloved to life, and give up this + course of uncomfortable postures and difficulty of breathing.” With this + resolution he sat down to his food, and remained in the house. + </p> + <p> + At length night came, and after a time, all, having eaten supper, and gone + to their sleeping-places, lay down. The Jogi also went to rest in one part + of the house, but did not allow sleep to close his eyes. When he thought + that a fourth part of the hours of darkness had sped, and that all were + deep in slumber, then he got up very quietly, and going into the room of + the master of the house, he took down the book from the beam-ends and went + his ways. + </p> + <p> + Madhusadan, the Jogi, went straight to the place where the beautiful Sweet + Jasmine had been burned. There he found his two rivals sitting talking + together and comparing experiences. They recognized him at once, and cried + aloud to him, “Brother! thou also hast been wandering over the world; tell + us this—hast thou learned anything which can profit us?” He replied, + “I have learned the science of restoring the dead to life”; upon which + they both exclaimed, “If thou hast really learned such knowledge, restore + our beloved to life.” + </p> + <p> + Madhusadan proceeded to make his incantations, despite terrible sights in + the air, the cries of jackals, owls, crows, cats, asses, vultures, dogs, + and lizards, and the wrath of innumerable invisible beings, such as + messengers of Yama (Pluto), ghosts, devils, demons, imps, fiends, devas, + succubi, and others. All the three lovers drawing blood from their own + bodies, offered it to the goddess Chandi, repeating the following + incantation, “Hail! supreme delusion! Hail! goddess of the universe! Hail! + thou who fulfillest the desires of all. May I presume to offer thee the + blood of my body; and wilt thou deign to accept it, and be propitious + towards me!” + </p> + <p> + They then made a burnt-offering of their flesh, and each one prayed, + “Grant me, O goddess! to see the maiden alive again, in proportion to the + fervency with which I present thee with mine own flesh, invoking thee to + be propitious to me. Salutation to thee again and again, under the + mysterious syllables any! any!” + </p> + <p> + Then they made a heap of the bones and the ashes, which had been carefully + kept by Tribikram and Baman. As the Jogi Madhusadan proceeded with his + incantation, a white vapour arose from the ground, and, gradually + condensing, assumed a perispiritual form—the fluid envelope of the + soul. The three spectators felt their blood freeze as the bones and the + ashes were gradually absorbed into the before shadowy shape, and they were + restored to themselves only when the maiden Madhuvati begged to be taken + home to her mother. + </p> + <p> + Then Kama, God of Love, blinded them, and they began fiercely to quarrel + about who should have the beautiful maid. Each wanted to be her sole + master. Tribikram declared the bones to be the great fact of the + incantation; Baman swore by the ashes; and Madhusadan laughed them both to + scorn. No one could decide the dispute; the wisest doctors were all + nonplussed; and as for the Raja—well! we do not go for wit or wisdom + to kings. I wonder if the great Raja Vikram could decide which person the + woman belonged to? + </p> + <p> + “To Baman, the man who kept her ashes, fellow!” exclaimed the hero, not a + little offended by the free remarks of the fiend. + </p> + <p> + “Yet,” rejoined the Baital impudently, “if Tribikram had not preserved her + bones how could she have been restored to life? And if Madhusadan had not + learned the science of restoring the dead to life how could she have been + revivified? At least, so it seems to me. But perhaps your royal wisdom may + explain.” + </p> + <p> + “Devil!” said the king angrily, “Tribikram, who preserved her bones, by + that act placed himself in the position of her son; therefore he could not + marry her. Madhusadan, who, restoring her to life, gave her life, was + evidently a father to her; he could not, then, become her husband. + Therefore she was the wife of Baman, who had collected her ashes.” + </p> + <p> + “I am happy to see, O king,” exclaimed the Vampire, “that in spite of my + presentiments, we are not to part company just yet. These little trips I + hold to be, like lovers’ quarrels, the prelude to closer union. With your + leave we will still practice a little suspension.” + </p> + <p> + And so saying, the Baital again ascended the tree, and was suspended + there. + </p> + <p> + “Would it not be better,” thought the monarch, after recapturing and + shouldering the fugitive, “for me to sit down this time and listen to the + fellow’s story? Perhaps the double exercise of walking and thinking + confuses me.” + </p> + <p> + With this idea Vikram placed his bundle upon the ground, well tied up with + turband and waistband; then he seated himself cross-legged before it, and + bade his son do the same. + </p> + <p> + The Vampire strongly objected to this measure, as it was contrary, he + asserted, to the covenant between him and the Raja. Vikram replied by + citing the very words of the agreement, proving that there was no allusion + to walking or sitting. + </p> + <p> + Then the Baital became sulky, and swore that he would not utter another + word. But he, too, was bound by the chain of destiny. Presently he opened + his lips, with the normal prelude that he was about to tell a true tale. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0015" id="link2H_4_0015"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE VAMPIRE’S SEVENTH STORY — Showing the Exceeding Folly of Many + Wise Fools. + </h2> + <p> + The Baital resumed. + </p> + <p> + Of all the learned Brahmans in the learnedest university of Gaur (Bengal) + none was so celebrated as Vishnu Swami. He could write verse as well as + prose in dead languages, not very correctly, but still, better than all + his fellows—which constituted him a distinguished writer. He had + history, theosophy, and the four Vedas of Scriptures at his fingers’ ends, + he was skilled in the argute science of Nyasa or Disputation, his mind was + a mine of Pauranic or cosmogonico-traditional lore, handed down from the + ancient fathers to the modern fathers: and he had written bulky + commentaries, exhausting all that tongue of man has to say, upon the + obscure text of some old philosopher whose works upon ethics, poetry, and + rhetoric were supposed by the sages of Gaur to contain the germs of + everything knowable. His fame went over all the country; yea, from country + to country. He was a sea of excellent qualities, the father and mother of + Brahmans, cows, and women, and the horror of loose persons, cut-throats, + courtiers, and courtesans. As a benefactor he was equal to Karna, most + liberal of heroes. In regard to truth he was equal to the veracious king + Yudhishtira. + </p> + <p> + True, he was sometimes at a loss to spell a common word in his mother + tongue, and whilst he knew to a fingerbreadth how many palms and paces the + sun, the moon, and all the stars are distant from the earth, he would have + been puzzled to tell you where the region called Yavana<a + href="#linknote-119" name="linknoteref-119" id="linknoteref-119">[119]</a> + lies. Whilst he could enumerate, in strict chronological succession, every + important event that happened five or six million years before he was + born, he was profoundly ignorant of those that occurred in his own day. + And once he asked a friend seriously, if a cat let loose in the jungle + would not in time become a tiger. + </p> + <p> + Yet did all the members of alma mater Kasi, Pandits<a href="#linknote-120" + name="linknoteref-120" id="linknoteref-120">[120]</a> as well as students, + look with awe upon Vishnu Swami’s livid cheeks, and lack-lustre eyes, + grimed hands and soiled cottons. + </p> + <p> + Now it so happened that this wise and pious Brahmanic peer had four sons, + whom he brought up in the strictest and most serious way. They were taught + to repeat their prayers long before they understood a word of them, and + when they reached the age of four<a href="#linknote-121" + name="linknoteref-121" id="linknoteref-121">[121]</a> they had read a + variety of hymns and spiritual songs. Then they were set to learn by heart + precepts that inculcate sacred duties, and arguments relating to theology, + abstract and concrete. + </p> + <p> + Their father, who was also their tutor, sedulously cultivated, as all the + best works upon education advise, their implicit obedience, humble + respect, warm attachment, and the virtues and sentiments generally. He + praised them secretly and reprehended them openly, to exercise their + humility. He derided their looks, and dressed them coarsely, to preserve + them from vanity and conceit. Whenever they anticipated a “treat,” he + punctually disappointed them, to teach them self-denial. Often when he had + promised them a present, he would revoke, not break his word, in order + that discipline might have a name and habitat in his household. And + knowing by experience how much stronger than love is fear, he frequently + threatened, browbeat, and overawed them with the rod and the tongue, with + the terrors of this world, and with the horrors of the next, that they + might be kept in the right way by dread of falling into the bottomless + pits that bound it on both sides. + </p> + <p> + At the age of six they were transferred to the Chatushpati<a + href="#linknote-122" name="linknoteref-122" id="linknoteref-122">[122]</a> + or school. Every morning the teacher and his pupils assembled in the hut + where the different classes were called up by turns. They laboured till + noon, and were allowed only two hours, a moiety of the usual time, for + bathing, eating, sleep, and worship, which took up half the period. At 3 + P.M. they resumed their labours, repeating to the tutor what they had + learned by heart, and listening to the meaning of it: this lasted till + twilight. They then worshipped, ate and drank for an hour: after which + came a return of study, repeating the day’s lessons, till 10 P.M. + </p> + <p> + In their rare days of ease—for the learned priest, mindful of the + words of the wise, did not wish to dull them by everlasting work—they + were enjoined to disport themselves with the gravity and the decorum that + befit young Samditats, not to engage in night frolics, not to use free + jests or light expressions, not to draw pictures on the walls, not to eat + honey, flesh, and sweet substances turned acid, not to talk to little + girls at the well-side, on no account to wear sandals, carry an umbrella, + or handle a die even for love, and by no means to steal their neighbours’ + mangoes. + </p> + <p> + As they advanced in years their attention during work time was + unremittingly directed to the Vedas. Wordly studies were almost excluded, + or to speak more correctly, whenever wordly studies were brought upon the + carpet, they were so evil entreated, that they well nigh lost all form and + feature. History became “The Annals of India on Brahminical Principles,” + opposed to the Buddhistical; geography “The Lands of the Vedas,” none + other being deemed worthy of notice; and law, “The Institutes of Manu,” + then almost obsolete, despite their exceeding sanctity. + </p> + <p> + But Jatu-harini<a href="#linknote-123" name="linknoteref-123" + id="linknoteref-123">[123]</a> had evidently changed these children before + they were born; and Shani<a href="#linknote-124" name="linknoteref-124" + id="linknoteref-124">[124]</a> must have been in the ninth mansion when + they came to light. + </p> + <p> + Each youth as he attained the mature age of twelve was formally entered at + the University of Kasi, where, without loss of time, the first became a + gambler, the second a confirmed libertine, the third a thief, and the + fourth a high Buddhist, or in other words an utter atheist. + </p> + <p> + Here King Vikram frowned at his son, a hint that he had better not behave + himself as the children of highly moral and religious parents usually do. + The young prince understood him, and briefly remarking that such things + were common in distinguished Brahman families, asked the Baital what he + meant by the word “Atheist.” + </p> + <p> + Of a truth (answered the Vampire) it is most difficult to explain. The + sages assign to it three or four several meanings: first, one who denies + that the gods exist secondly, one who owns that the gods exist but denies + that they busy themselves with human affairs; and thirdly, one who + believes in the gods and in their providence, but also believes that they + are easily to be set aside. Similarly some atheists derive all things from + dead and unintelligent matter; others from matter living and energetic but + without sense or will: others from matter with forms and qualities + generable and conceptible; and others from a plastic and methodical + nature. Thus the Vishnu Swamis of the world have invested the subject with + some confusion. The simple, that is to say, the mass of mortality, have + confounded that confusion by reproachfully applying the word atheist to + those whose opinions differ materially from their own. + </p> + <p> + But I being at present, perhaps happily for myself, a Vampire, and having, + just now, none of these human or inhuman ideas, meant simply to say that + the pious priest’s fourth son being great at second and small in the + matter of first causes, adopted to their fullest extent the doctrines of + the philosophical Buddhas.<a href="#linknote-125" name="linknoteref-125" + id="linknoteref-125">[125]</a> Nothing according to him exists but the + five elements, earth, water, fire, air (or wind), and vacuum, and from the + last proceeded the penultimate, and so forth. With the sage Patanjali, he + held the universe to have the power of perpetual progression.<a + href="#linknote-126" name="linknoteref-126" id="linknoteref-126">[126]</a> + He called that Matra (matter), which is an eternal and infinite principle, + beginningless and endless. Organization, intelligence, and design, he + opined, are inherent in matter as growth is in a tree. He did not believe + in soul or spirit, because it could not be detected in the body, and + because it was a departure from physiological analogy. The idea “I am,” + according to him, was not the identification of spirit with matter, but a + product of the mutation of matter in this cloud-like, error-formed world. + He believed in Substance (Sat) and scoffed at Unsubstance (Asat). He + asserted the subtlety and globularity of atoms which are uncreate. He made + mind and intellect a mere secretion of the brain, or rather words + expressing not a thing, but a state of things. Reason was to him developed + instinct, and life an element of the atmosphere affecting certain + organisms. He held good and evil to be merely geographical and + chronological expressions, and he opined that what is called Evil is + mostly an active and transitive form of Good. Law was his great Creator of + all things, but he refused a creator of law, because such a creator would + require another creator, and so on in a quasi-interminable series up to + absurdity. This reduced his law to a manner of haphazard. To those who, + arguing against it, asked him their favourite question, How often might a + man after he had jumbled a set of letters in a bag fling them out upon the + ground before they would fall into an exact poem? he replied that the + calculation was beyond his arithmetic, but that the man had only to jumble + and fling long enough inevitably to arrive at that end. He rejected the + necessity as well as the existence of revelation, and he did not credit + the miracles of Krishna, because, according to him, nature never suspends + her laws, and, moreover, he had never seen aught supernatural. He + ridiculed the idea of Mahapralaya, or the great destruction, for as the + world had no beginning, so it will have no end. He objected to absorption, + facetiously observing with the sage Jamadagni, that it was pleasant to eat + sweetmeats, but that for his part he did not wish to become the sweetmeat + itself. He would not believe that Vishnu had formed the universe out of + the wax in his ears. He positively asserted that trees are not bodies in + which the consequences of merit and demerit are received. Nor would he + conclude that to men were attached rewards and punishments from all + eternity. He made light of the Sanskara, or sacrament. He admitted Satwa, + Raja, and Tama,<a href="#linknote-127" name="linknoteref-127" + id="linknoteref-127">[127]</a> but only as properties of matter. He + acknowledged gross matter (Sthulasharir), and atomic matter + (Shukshma-sharir), but not Linga-sharir, or the archetype of bodies. To + doubt all things was the foundation of his theory, and to scoff at all who + would not doubt was the corner-stone of his practice. In debate he + preferred logical and mathematical grounds, requiring a categorical + “because” in answer to his “why?” He was full of morality and natural + religion, which some say is no religion at all. He gained the name of + atheist by declaring with Gotama that there are innumerable worlds, that + the earth has nothing beneath it but the circumambient air, and that the + core of the globe is incandescent. And he was called a practical atheist—a + worse form apparently—for supporting the following dogma: “that + though creation may attest that a creator has been, it supplies no + evidence to prove that a creator still exists.” On which occasion, + Shiromani, a nonplussed theologian, asked him, “By whom and for what + purpose werst thou sent on earth?” The youth scoffed at the word “sent,” + and replied, “Not being thy Supreme Intelligence, or Infinite Nihility, I + am unable to explain the phenomenon.” Upon which he quoted— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + How sunk in darkness Gaur must be + Whose guide is blind Shiromani! +</pre> + <p> + At length it so happened that the four young men, having frequently been + surprised in flagrant delict, were summoned to the dread presence of the + university Gurus,<a href="#linknote-128" name="linknoteref-128" + id="linknoteref-128">[128]</a> who addressed them as follows:— + </p> + <p> + “There are four different characters in the world: he who perfectly obeys + the commands; he who practices the commands, but follows evil; he who does + neither good nor evil; and he who does nothing but evil. The third + character, it is observed, is also an offender, for he neglects that which + he ought to observe. But ye all belong to the fourth category.” + </p> + <p> + Then turning to the elder they said: + </p> + <p> + “In works written upon the subject of government it is advised, ‘Cut off + the gambler’s nose and ears, hold up his name to public contempt, and + drive him out of the country, that he may thus become an example to + others. For they who play must more often lose than win; and losing, they + must either pay or not pay. In the latter case they forfeit caste, in the + former they utterly reduce themselves. And though a gambler’s wife and + children are in the house, do not consider them to be so, since it is not + known when they will be lost.<a href="#linknote-129" name="linknoteref-129" + id="linknoteref-129">[129]</a> Thus he is left in a state of perfect + not-twoness (solitude), and he will be reborn in hell.’ O young man! thou + hast set a bad example to others, therefore shalt thou immediately + exchange this university for a country life.” + </p> + <p> + Then they spoke to the second offender thus:—— + </p> + <p> + “The wise shun woman, who can fascinate a man in the twinkling of an eye; + but the foolish, conceiving an affection for her, forfeit in the pursuit + of pleasure their truthfulness, reputation, and good disposition, their + way of life and mode of thought, their vows and their religion. And to + such the advice of their spiritual teachers comes amiss, whilst they make + others as bad as themselves. For it is said, ‘He who has lost all sense of + shame, fears not to disgrace another; ‘and there is the proverb, ‘A wild + cat that devours its own young is not likely to let a rat escape;’ + therefore must thou too, O young man! quit this seat of learning with all + possible expedition.” + </p> + <p> + The young man proceeded to justify himself by quotations from the + Lila-shastra, his text-book, by citing such lines as— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Fortune favours folly and force, +</pre> + <p> + and by advising the elderly professors to improve their skill in the peace + and war of love. But they drove him out with execrations. + </p> + <p> + As sagely and as solemnly did the Pandits and the Gurus reprove the thief + and the atheist, but they did not dispense the words of wisdom in equal + proportions. They warned the former that petty larceny is punishable with + fine, theft on a larger scale with mutilation of the hand, and robbery, + when detected in the act, with loss of life<a href="#linknote-130" + name="linknoteref-130" id="linknoteref-130">[130]</a>; that for cutting + purses, or for snatching them out of a man’s waistcloth,<a + href="#linknote-131" name="linknoteref-131" id="linknoteref-131">[131]</a> + ‘the first penalty is chopping off the fingers, the second is the loss of + the hand, and the third is death. Then they call him a dishonour to the + college, and they said, “Thou art as a woman, the greatest of plunderers; + other robbers purloin property which is worthless, thou stealest the best; + they plunder in the night, thou in the day,” and so forth. They told him + that he was a fellow who had read his Chauriya Vidya to more purpose then + his ritual.<a href="#linknote-132" name="linknoteref-132" + id="linknoteref-132">[132]</a> And they drove him from the door as he in + his shamelessness began to quote texts about the four approved ways of + housebreaking, namely, picking out burnt bricks, cutting through unbaked + bricks, throwing water on a mud wall, and boring one of wood with a + centre-bit. + </p> + <p> + But they spent six mortal hours in convicting the atheist, whose + abominations they refuted by every possible argumentation: by inference, + by comparison, and by sounds, by Sruti and Smriti, i.e., revelational and + traditional, rational and evidential, physical and metaphysical, + analytical and synthetical, philosophical and philological, historical, + and so forth. But they found all their endeavours vain. “For,” it is said, + “a man who has lost all shame, who can talk without sense, and who tries + to cheat his opponent, will never get tired, and will never be put down.” + He declared that a non-ad was far more probable than a monad (the active + principle), or the duad (the passive principle or matter.) He compared + their faith with a bubble in the water, of which we can never predicate + that it does exist or it does not. It is, he said, unreal, as when the + thirsty mistakes the meadow mist for a pool of water. He proved the + eternity of sound.<a href="#linknote-133" name="linknoteref-133" + id="linknoteref-133">[133]</a> He impudently recounted and justified all + the villanies of the Vamachari or left-handed sects. He told them that + they had taken up an ass’s load of religion, and had better apply to + honest industry. He fell foul of the gods; accused Yama of kicking his own + mother, Indra of tempting the wife of his spiritual guide, and Shiva of + associating with low women. Thus, he said, no one can respect them. Do not + we say when it thunders awfully, “the rascally gods are dying!” And when + it is too wet, “these villain gods are sending too much rain”? Briefly, + the young Brahman replied to and harangued them all so impertinently, if + not pertinently, that they, waxing angry, fell upon him with their staves, + and drove him out of assembly. + </p> + <p> + Then the four thriftless youths returned home to their father, who in his + just indignation had urged their disgrace upon the Pandits and Gurus, + otherwise these dignitaries would never have resorted to such extreme + measures with so distinguished a house. He took the opportunity of turning + them out upon the world, until such time as they might be able to show + substantial signs of reform. “For,” he said, “those who have read science + in their boyhood, and who in youth, agitated by evil passions, have + remained in the insolence of ignorance, feel regret in their old age, and + are consumed by the fire of avarice.” In order to supply them with a + motive for the task proposed, he stopped their monthly allowance But he + added, if they would repair to the neighbouring university of Jayasthal, + and there show themselves something better than a disgrace to their + family, he would direct their maternal uncle to supply them with all the + necessaries of food and raiment. + </p> + <p> + In vain the youths attempted, with sighs and tears and threats of suicide, + to soften the paternal heart. He was inexorable, for two reasons. In the + first place, after wondering away the wonder with which he regarded his + own failure, he felt that a stigma now attached to the name of the pious + and learned Vishnu Swami, whose lectures upon “Management during Teens,” + and whose “Brahman Young Man’s Own Book,” had become standard works. + Secondly, from a sense of duty, he determined to omit nothing that might + tend to reclaim the reprobates. As regards the monthly allowance being + stopped, the reverend man had become every year a little fonder of his + purse; he had hoped that his sons would have qualified themselves to take + pupils, and thus achieve for themselves, as he phrased it, “A genteel + independence”; whilst they openly derided the career, calling it “an + admirable provision for the more indigent members of the middle classes.” + For which reason he referred them to their maternal uncle, a man of known + and remarkable penuriousness. + </p> + <p> + The four ne’er-do-weals, foreseeing what awaited them at Jayasthal, + deferred it as a last resource; determining first to see a little life, + and to push their way in the world, before condemning themselves to the + tribulations of reform. + </p> + <p> + They tried to live without a monthly allowance, and notably they failed; + it was squeezing, as men say, oil from sand. The gambler, having no + capital, and, worse still, no credit, lost two or three suvernas<a + href="#linknote-134" name="linknoteref-134" id="linknoteref-134">[134]</a> + at play, and could not pay them; in consequence of which he was soundly + beaten with iron-shod staves, and was nearly compelled by the keeper of + the hell to sell himself into slavery. Thus he became disgusted; and + telling his brethren that they would find him at Jayasthal, he departed, + with the intention of studying wisdom. + </p> + <p> + A month afterwards came the libertine’s turn to be disappointed. He could + no longer afford fine new clothes; even a well-washed coat was beyond his + means. He had reckoned upon his handsome face, and he had matured a plan + for laying various elderly conquests under contribution. Judge, therefore, + his disgust when all the women—high and low, rich and poor, old and + young, ugly and beautiful—seeing the end of his waistcloth thrown + empty over his shoulder, passed him in the streets without even deigning a + look. The very shopkeepers’ wives, who once had adored his mustachio and + had never ceased talking of his “elegant” gait, despised him; and the + wealthy old person who formerly supplied his small feet with the choicest + slippers, left him to starve. Upon which he also in a state of repentance, + followed his brother to acquire knowledge. + </p> + <p> + “Am I not,” quoth the thief to himself, “a cat in climbing, a deer in + running, a snake in twisting, a hawk in pouncing, a dog in scenting?—keen + as a hare, tenacious as a wolf, strong as a lion?—a lamp in the + night, a horse on a plain, a mule on a stony path, a boat in the water, a + rock on land<a href="#linknote-135" name="linknoteref-135" + id="linknoteref-135">[135]</a>?” The reply to his own questions was of + course affirmative. But despite all these fine qualities, and + notwithstanding his scrupulous strictness in invocating the house-breaking + tool and in devoting a due portion of his gains to the gods of plunder,<a + href="#linknote-136" name="linknoteref-136" id="linknoteref-136">[136]</a> + he was caught in a store-room by the proprietor, who inexorably handed him + over to justice. As he belonged to the priestly caste,<a + href="#linknote-137" name="linknoteref-137" id="linknoteref-137">[137]</a> + the fine imposed upon him was heavy. He could not pay it, and therefore he + was thrown into a dungeon, where he remained for some time. But at last he + escaped from jail, when he made his parting bow to Kartikeya,<a + href="#linknote-138" name="linknoteref-138" id="linknoteref-138">[138]</a> + stole a blanket from one of the guards, and set out for Jayasthal, cursing + his old profession. + </p> + <p> + The atheist also found himself in a position that deprived him of all his + pleasures. He delighted in afterdinner controversies, and in bringing the + light troops of his wit to bear upon the unwieldy masses of lore and logic + opposed to him by polemical Brahmans who, out of respect for his father, + did not lay an action against him for overpowering them in theological + disputation.<a href="#linknote-139" name="linknoteref-139" + id="linknoteref-139">[139]</a> In the strange city to which he had removed + no one knew the son of Vishnu Swami, and no one cared to invite him to the + house. Once he attempted his usual trick upon a knot of sages who, sitting + round a tank, were recreating themselves with quoting mystical Sanskrit + shlokas<a href="#linknote-140" name="linknoteref-140" id="linknoteref-140">[140]</a> + of abominable long-windedness. The result was his being obliged to ply his + heels vigorously in flight from the justly incensed literati, to whom he + had said “tush” and “pish,” at least a dozen times in as many minutes. He + therefore also followed the example of his brethren, and started for + Jayasthal with all possible expedition. + </p> + <p> + Arrived at the house of their maternal uncle, the young men, as by one + assent, began to attempt the unloosening of his purse-strings. Signally + failing in this and in other notable schemes, they determined to lay in + that stock of facts and useful knowledge which might reconcile them with + their father, and restore them to that happy life at Gaur which they then + despised, and which now brought tears into their eyes. + </p> + <p> + Then they debated with one another what they should study + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * * * * * * * +</pre> + <p> + That branch of the preternatural, popularly called “white magic,” found + with them favour. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * * * * * * * +</pre> + <p> + They chose a Guru or teacher strictly according to the orders of their + faith, a wise man of honourable family and affable demeanour, who was not + a glutton nor leprous, nor blind of one eye, nor blind of both eyes, nor + very short, nor suffering from whitlows,<a href="#linknote-141" + name="linknoteref-141" id="linknoteref-141">[141]</a> asthma, or other + disease, nor noisy and talkative, nor with any defect about the fingers + and toes, nor subject to his wife. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * * * * * * * +</pre> + <p> + A grand discovery had been lately made by a certain + physiologico-philosophico-psychologico-materialist, a Jayasthalian. In + investigating the vestiges of creation, the cause of causes, the effect of + effects, and the original origin of that Matra (matter) which some regard + as an entity, others as a non-entity, others self-existent, others merely + specious and therefore unexistent, he became convinced that the + fundamental form of organic being is a globule having another globule + within itself After inhabiting a garret and diving into the depths of his + self-consciousness for a few score years, he was able to produce such + complex globule in triturated and roasted flint by means of—I will + not say what. Happily for creation in general, the discovery died a + natural death some centuries ago. An edifying spectacle, indeed, for the + world to see; a cross old man sitting amongst his gallipots and crucibles, + creating animalculae, providing the corpses of birds, beasts, and fishes + with what is vulgarly called life, and supplying to epigenesis all the + latest improvements! + </p> + <p> + In those days the invention, being a novelty, engrossed the thoughts of + the universal learned, who were in a fever of excitement about it. Some + believed in it so implicity that they saw in every experiment a hundred + things which they did not see. Others were so sceptical and contradictory + that they would not preceive what they did see. Those blended with each + fact their own deductions, whilst these span round every reality the web + of their own prejudices. Curious to say, the Jayasthalians, amongst whom + the luminous science arose, hailed it with delight, whilst the Gaurians + derided its claim to be considered an important addition to human + knowledge. + </p> + <p> + Let me try to remember a few of their words. + </p> + <p> + “Unfortunate human nature,” wrote the wise of Gaur against the wise of + Jayasthal, “wanted no crowning indignity but this! You had already proved + that the body is made of the basest element—earth. You had argued + away the immovability, the ubiquity, the permanency, the eternity, and the + divinity of the soul, for is not your favourite axiom, ‘It is the nature + of limbs which thinketh in man’? The immortal mind is, according to you, + an ignoble viscus; the god-like gift of reason is the instinct of a dog + somewhat highly developed. Still you left us something to hope. Still you + allowed us one boast. Still life was a thread connecting us with the Giver + of Life. But now, with an impious hand, in blasphemous rage ye have rent + asunder that last frail tie.” And so forth. + </p> + <p> + “Welcome! thrice welcome! this latest and most admirable development of + human wisdom,” wrote the sage Jayasthalians against the sage Gaurians, + “which has assigned to man his proper state and status and station in the + magnificent scale of being. We have not created the facts which we have + investigated, and which we now proudly publish. We have proved materialism + to be nature’s own system. But our philosophy of matter cannot overturn + any truth, because, if erroneous, it will necessarily sink into oblivion; + if real, it will tend only to instruct and to enlighten the world. Wise + are ye in your generation, O ye sages of Gaur, yet withal wondrous + illogical.” And much of this kind. + </p> + <p> + Concerning all which, mighty king! I, as a Vampire, have only to remark + that those two learned bodies, like your Rajaship’s Nine Gems of Science, + were in the habit of talking most about what they least understood. + </p> + <p> + The four young men applied the whole force of their talents to mastering + the difficulties of the life-giving process; and in due time, their + industry obtained its reward. + </p> + <p> + Then they determined to return home. As with beating hearts they + approached the old city, their birthplace, and gazed with moistened eyes + upon its tall spires and grim pagodas, its verdant meads and venerable + groves, they saw a Kanjar,<a href="#linknote-142" name="linknoteref-142" + id="linknoteref-142">[142]</a> who, having tied up in a bundle the skin + and bones of a tiger which he had found dead, was about to go on his way. + Then said the thief to the gambler, “Take we these remains with us, and by + means of them prove the truth of our science before the people of Gaur, to + the offence of their noses.<a href="#linknote-143" name="linknoteref-143" + id="linknoteref-143">[143]</a>” Being now possessed of knowledge, they + resolved to apply it to its proper purpose, namely, power over the + property of others. Accordingly, the wencher, the gambler, and the atheist + kept the Kanjar in conversation whilst the thief vivified a shank bone; + and the bone thereupon stood upright, and hopped about in so grotesque and + wonderful a way that the man, being frightened, fled as if I had been + close behind him. + </p> + <p> + Vishnu Swami had lately written a very learned commentary on the mystical + words of Lokakshi: + </p> + <p> + “The Scriptures are at variance—the tradition is at variance. He who + gives a meaning of his own, quoting the Vedas, is no philosopher. + </p> + <p> + “True philosophy, through ignorance, is concealed as in the fissures of a + rock. + </p> + <p> + “But the way of the Great One—that is to be followed.” + </p> + <p> + And the success of his book had quite effaced from the Brahman mind the + holy man’s failure in bringing up his children. He followed up this by + adding to his essay on education a twentieth tome, containing recipes for + the “Reformation of Prodigals.” + </p> + <p> + The learned and reverend father received his sons with open arms. He had + heard from his brother-in-law that the youths were qualified to support + themselves, and when informed that they wished to make a public experiment + of their science, he exerted himself, despite his disbelief in it, to + forward their views. + </p> + <p> + The Pandits and Gurus were long before they would consent to attend what + they considered dealings with Yama (the Devil). In consequence, however, + of Vishnu Swami’s name and importunity, at length, on a certain day, all + the pious, learned, and reverend tutors, teachers, professors, + prolocutors, pastors, spiritual fathers, poets, philosophers, + mathematicians, schoolmasters, pedagogues, bear-leaders, institutors, + gerund-grinders, preceptors, dominies, brushers, coryphaei, dry-nurses, + coaches, mentors, monitors, lecturers, prelectors, fellows, and heads of + houses at the university at Gaur, met together in a large garden, where + they usually diverted themselves out of hours with ball-tossing, + pigeon-tumbling, and kite-flying. + </p> + <p> + Presently the four young men, carrying their bundle of bones and the other + requisites, stepped forward, walking slowly with eyes downcast, like + shrinking cattle: for it is said, the Brahman must not run, even when it + rains. + </p> + <p> + After pronouncing an impromptu speech, composed for them by their father, + and so stuffed with erudition that even the writer hardly understood it, + they announced their wish to prove, by ocular demonstration, the truth of + a science upon which their short-sighted rivals of Jayasthal had cast cold + water, but which, they remarked in the eloquent peroration of their + discourse, the sages of Gaur had welcomed with that wise and catholic + spirit of inquiry which had ever characterized their distinguished body. + </p> + <p> + Huge words, involved sentences, and the high-flown compliment, exceedingly + undeserved, obscured, I suppose, the bright wits of the intellectual + convocation, which really began to think that their liberality of opinion + deserved all praise. + </p> + <p> + None objected to what was being prepared, except one of the heads of + houses; his appeal was generally scouted, because his Sanskrit style was + vulgarly intelligible, and he had the bad name of being a practical man. + The metaphysician Rashik Lall sneered to Vaiswata the poet, who passed on + the look to the theo-philosopher Vardhaman. Haridatt the antiquarian + whispered the metaphysician Vasudeva, who burst into a loud laugh; whilst + Narayan, Jagasharma, and Devaswami, all very learned in the Vedas, opened + their eyes and stared at him with well-simulated astonishment. So he, + being offended, said nothing more, but arose and walked home. + </p> + <p> + A great crowd gathered round the four young men and their father, as + opening the bundle that contained the tiger’s remains, they prepared for + their task. + </p> + <p> + One of the operators spread the bones upon the ground and fixed each one + into its proper socket, not forgetting even the teeth and tusks. + </p> + <p> + The second connected, by means of a marvellous unguent, the skeleton with + the muscles and heart of an elephant, which he had procured for the + purpose. + </p> + <p> + The third drew from his pouch the brain and eyes of a large tom-cat, which + he carefully fitted into the animal’s skull, and then covered the body + with the hide of a young rhinoceros. + </p> + <p> + Then the fourth—the atheist—who had been directing the + operation, produced a globule having another globule within itself. And as + the crowd pressed on them, craning their necks, breathless with anxiety, + he placed the Principle of Organic Life in the tiger’s body with such + effect that the monster immediately heaved its chest, breathed, agitated + its limbs, opened its eyes, jumped to its feet, shook itself, glared + around, and began to gnash its teeth and lick its chops, lashing the while + its ribs with its tail. + </p> + <p> + The sages sprang back, and the beast sprang forward. With a roar like + thunder during Elephanta-time,<a href="#linknote-144" + name="linknoteref-144" id="linknoteref-144">[144]</a> it flew at the + nearest of the spectators, flung Vishnu Swami to the ground and clawed his + four sons. Then, not even stopping to drink their blood, it hurried after + the flying herd of wise men. Jostling and tumbling, stumbling and catching + at one another’s long robes, they rushed in hottest haste towards the + garden gate. But the beast, having the muscles of an elephant as well as + the bones of a tiger, made a few bounds of eighty or ninety feet each, + easily distanced them, and took away all chance of escape. To be brief: as + the monster was frightfully hungry after its long fast, and as the + imprudent young men had furnished it with admirable implements of + destruction, it did not cease its work till one hundred and twenty-one + learned and highly distinguished Pandits and Gurus lay upon the ground + chawed, clawed, sucked dry, and in most cases stone-dead. Amongst them, I + need hardly say, were the sage Vishnu Swami and his four sons. + </p> + <p> + Having told this story the Vampire hung silent for a time. Presently he + resumed— + </p> + <p> + “Now, heed my words, Raja Vikram! I am about to ask thee, Which of all + those learned men was the most finished fool? The answer is easily found, + yet it must be distasteful to thee. Therefore mortify thy vanity, as soon + as possible, or I shall be talking, and thou wilt be walking through this + livelong night, to scanty purpose. Remember! science without understanding + is of little use; indeed, understanding is superior to science, and those + devoid of understanding perish as did the persons who revivified the + tiger. Before this, I warned thee to beware of thyself, and of thine own + conceit. Here, then, is an opportunity for self-discipline—which of + all those learned men was the greatest fool?” + </p> + <p> + The warrior king mistook the kind of mortification imposed upon him, and + pondered over the uncomfortable nature of the reply—in the presence + of his son. + </p> + <p> + Again the Baital taunted him. + </p> + <p> + “The greatest fool of all,” at last said Vikram, in slow and by no means + willing accents, “was the father. Is it not said, ‘There is no fool like + an old fool’?” + </p> + <p> + “Gramercy!” cried the Vampire, bursting out into a discordant laugh, “I + now return to my tree. By this head! I never before heard a father so + readily condemn a father.” With these words he disappeared, slipping out + of the bundle. + </p> + <p> + The Raja scolded his son a little for want of obedience, and said that he + had always thought more highly of his acuteness—never could have + believed that he would have been taken in by so shallow a trick. Dharma + Dhwaj answered not a word to this, but promised to be wiser another time. + </p> + <p> + Then they returned to the tree, and did what they had so often done + before. + </p> + <p> + And, as before, the Baital held his tongue for a time. Presently he began + as follows. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0016" id="link2H_4_0016"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE VAMPIRE’S EIGHTH STORY — Of the Use and Misuse of Magic Pills. + </h2> + <p> + The lady Chandraprabha, daughter of the Raja Subichar, was a particularly + beautiful girl, and marriage-able withal. One day as Vasanta, the Spring, + began to assert its reign over the world, animate and inanimate, she went + accompanied by her young friends and companions to stroll about her + father’s pleasure-garden. + </p> + <p> + The fair troop wandered through sombre groves, where the dark tamale-tree + entwined its branches with the pale green foliage of the nim, and the + pippal’s domes of quivering leaves contrasted with the columnar aisles of + the banyan fig. They admired the old monarchs of the forest, bearded to + the waist with hangings of moss, the flowing creepers delicately climbing + from the lower branches to the topmost shoots, and the cordage of llianas + stretching from trunk to trunk like bridges for the monkeys to pass over. + Then they issued into a clear space dotted with asokas bearing rich + crimson flowers, cliterias of azure blue, madhavis exhibiting petals + virgin white as the snows on Himalaya, and jasmines raining showers of + perfumed blossoms upon the grateful earth. They could not sufficiently + praise the tall and graceful stem of the arrowy areca, contrasting with + the solid pyramid of the cypress, and the more masculine stature of the + palm. Now they lingered in the trellised walks closely covered over with + vines and creepers; then they stopped to gather the golden bloom weighing + down the mango boughs, and to smell the highly-scented flowers that hung + from the green fretwork of the chambela. + </p> + <p> + It was spring, I have said. The air was still except when broken by the + hum of the large black bramra bee, as he plied his task amidst the red and + orange flowers of the dak, and by the gushings of many waters that made + music as they coursed down their stuccoed channels between borders of many + coloured poppies and beds of various flowers. From time to time the dulcet + note of the kokila bird, and the hoarse plaint of the turtle-dove deep hid + in her leafy bower, attracted every ear and thrilled every heart. The + south wind—“breeze of the south,<a href="#linknote-145" + name="linknoteref-145" id="linknoteref-145">[145]</a> the friend of love + and spring” blew with a voluptuous warmth, for rain clouds canopied the + earth, and the breath of the narcissus, the rose, and the citron, teemed + with a languid fragrance. + </p> + <p> + The charms of the season affected all the damsels. They amused themselves + in their privacy with pelting blossoms at one another, running races down + the smooth broad alleys, mounting the silken swings that hung between the + orange trees, embracing one another, and at times trying to push the butt + of the party into the fishpond. Perhaps the liveliest of all was the lady + Chandraprabha, who on account of her rank could pelt and push all the + others, without fear of being pelted and pushed in return. + </p> + <p> + It so happened, before the attendants had had time to secure privacy for + the princess and her women, that Manaswi, a very handsome youth, a + Brahman’s son, had wandered without malicious intention into the garden. + Fatigued with walking, and finding a cool shady place beneath a tree, he + had lain down there, and had gone to sleep, and had not been observed by + any of the king’s people. He was still sleeping when the princess and her + companions were playing together. + </p> + <p> + Presently Chandraprabha, weary of sport, left her friends, and singing a + lively air, tripped up the stairs leading to the summer-house. Aroused by + the sound of her advancing footsteps, Manaswi sat up; and the princess, + seeing a strange man, started. But their eyes had met, and both were + subdued by love—love vulgarly called “love at first sight.” + </p> + <p> + “Nonsense!” exclaimed the warrior king, testily, “I can never believe in + that freak of Kama Deva.” He spoke feelingly, for the thing had happened + to himself more than once, and on no occasion had it turned out well. + </p> + <p> + “But there is such a thing, O Raja, as love at first sight,” objected the + Baital, speaking dogmatically. + </p> + <p> + “Then perhaps thou canst account for it, dead one,” growled the monarch + surlily. + </p> + <p> + “I have no reason to do so, O Vikram,” retorted the Vampire, “when you men + have already done it. Listen, then, to the words of the wise. In the olden + time, one of your great philosophers invented a fluid pervading all + matter, strongly self-repulsive like the steam of a brass pot, and widely + spreading like the breath of scandal. The repulsiveness, however, + according to that wise man, is greatly modified by its second property, + namely, an energetic attraction or adhesion to all material bodies. Thus + every substance contains a part, more or less, of this fluid, pervading it + throughout, and strongly bound to each component atom. He called it + ‘Ambericity,’ for the best of reasons, as it has no connection with amber, + and he described it as an imponderable, which, meaning that it could not + be weighed, gives a very accurate and satisfactory idea of its nature. + </p> + <p> + “Now, said that philosopher, whenever two bodies containing that + unweighable substance in unequal proportions happen to meet, a current of + imponderable passes from one to the other, producing a kind of attraction, + and tending to adhere. The operation takes place instantaneously when the + force is strong and much condensed. Thus the vulgar who call things after + their effects and not from their causes, term the action of this + imponderable love at first sight; the wise define it to be a phenomenon of + ambericity. As regards my own opinion about the matter, I have long ago + told it to you, O Vikram! Silliness—” + </p> + <p> + “Either hold your tongue, fellow, or go on with your story,” cried the + Raja, wearied out by so many words that had no manner of sense. + </p> + <p> + Well! the effect of the first glance was that Manaswi, the Brahman’s son, + fell back in a swoon and remained senseless upon the ground where he had + been sitting; and the Raja’s daughter began to tremble upon her feet, and + presently dropped unconscious upon the floor of the summer-house. Shortly + after this she was found by her companions and attendants, who, quickly + taking her up in their arms and supporting her into a litter, conveyed her + home. + </p> + <p> + Manaswi, the Brahman’s son, was so completely overcome, that he lay there + dead to everything. Just then the learned, deeply read, and purblind + Pandits Muldev and Shashi by name, strayed into the garden, and stumbled + upon the body. + </p> + <p> + “Friend,” said Muldev, “how came this youth thus to fall senseless on the + ground?” + </p> + <p> + “Man,” replied Shashi, “doubtless some damsel has shot forth the arrows of + her glances from the bow of her eyebrows, and thence he has become + insensible!” + </p> + <p> + “We must lift him up then,” said Muldev the benevolent. + </p> + <p> + “What need is there to raise him?” asked Shashi the misanthrope by way of + reply. + </p> + <p> + Muldev, however, would not listen to these words. He ran to the pond hard + by, soaked the end of his waistcloth in water, sprinkled it over the young + Brahman, raised him from the ground, and placed him sitting against the + wall. And perceiving, when he came to himself, that his sickness was + rather of the soul than of the body, the old men asked him how he came to + be in that plight. + </p> + <p> + “We should tell our griefs,” answered Manaswi, “only to those who will + relieve us! What is the use of communicating them to those who, when they + have heard, cannot help us? What is to be gained by the empty pity or by + the useless condolence of men in general?” + </p> + <p> + The Pandits, however, by friendly looks and words, presently persuaded him + to break silence, when he said, “A certain princess entered this + summer-house, and from the sight of her I have fallen into this state. If + I can obtain her, I shall live; if not, I must die.” + </p> + <p> + “Come with me, young man!” said Muldev the benevolent: “I will use every + endeavour to obtain her, and if I do not succeed I will make thee wealthy + and independent of the world.” + </p> + <p> + Manaswi rejoined: “The Deity in his beneficence has created many jewels in + this world, but the pearl, woman, is chiefest of all; and for her sake + only does man desire wealth. What are riches to one who has abandoned his + wife? What are they who do not possess beautiful wives? they are but + beings inferior to the beasts! wealth is the fruit of virtue; ease, of + wealth; a wife, of ease. And where no wife is, how can there be + happiness?” And the enamoured youth rambled on in this way, curious to us, + Raja Vikram, but perhaps natural enough in a Brahman’s son suffering under + that endemic malady—determination to marry. + </p> + <p> + “Whatever thou mayest desire,” said Muldev, “shall by the blessing of + heaven be given to thee.” + </p> + <p> + Manaswi implored him, saying most pathetically, “O Pandit, bestow then + that damsel upon me!” + </p> + <p> + Muldev promised to do so, and having comforted the youth, led him to his + own house. Then he welcomed him politely, seated him upon the carpet, and + left him for a few minutes, promising him to return. When he reappeared, + he held in his hand two little balls or pills, and showing them to + Manaswi, he explained their virtues as follows: + </p> + <p> + “There is in our house an hereditary secret, by means of which I try to + promote the weal of humanity. But in all cases my success depends mainly + upon the purity and the heartwholeness of those that seek my aid. If thou + place this in thy mouth, thou shalt be changed into a damsel twelve years + old, and when thou withdrawest it again, thou shalt again recover thine + original form. Beware, however, that thou use the power for none but a + good purpose; otherwise some great calamity will befall thee. Therefore, + take counsel of thyself before undertaking this trial!” + </p> + <p> + What lover, O warrior king Vikram, would have hesitated, under such + circumstances, to assure the Pandit that he was the most innocent, + earnest, and well-intentioned being in the Three Worlds? + </p> + <p> + The Brahman’s son, at least, lost no time in so doing. Hence the + simple-minded philosopher put one of the pills into the young man’s mouth, + warning him on no account to swallow it, and took the other into his own + mouth. Upon which Manaswi became a sprightly young maid, and Muldev was + changed to a reverend and decrepid senior, not fewer than eighty years + old. + </p> + <p> + Thus transformed, the twain walked up to the palace of the Raja Subichar, + and stood for a while to admire the gate. Then passing through seven + courts, beautiful as the Paradise of Indra, they entered, unannounced, as + became the priestly dignity, a hall where, surrounded by his courtiers, + sat the ruler. The latter, seeing the Holy Brahman under his roof, rose + up, made the customary humble salutation, and taking their right hands, + led what appeared to be the father and daughter to appropriate seats. Upon + which Muldev, having recited a verse, bestowed upon the Raja a blessing + whose beauty has been diffused over all creation. + </p> + <p> + “May that Deity<a href="#linknote-146" name="linknoteref-146" + id="linknoteref-146">[146]</a> who as a mannikin deceived the great king + Bali; who as a hero, with a monkey-host, bridged the Salt Sea; who as a + shepherd lifted up the mountain Gobarddhan in the palm of his hand, and by + it saved the cowherds and cowherdesses from the thunders of heaven—may + that Deity be thy protector!” + </p> + <p> + Having heard and marvelled at this display of eloquence, the Raja + inquired, “Whence hath your holiness come?” + </p> + <p> + “My country,” replied Muldev, “is on the northern side of the great mother + Ganges, and there too my dwelling is. I travelled to a distant land, and + having found in this maiden a worthy wife for my son, I straightway + returned homewards. Meanwhile a famine had laid waste our village, and my + wife and my son have fled I know not where. Encumbered with this damsel, + how can I wander about seeking them? Hearing the name of a pious and + generous ruler, I said to myself, ‘I will leave her under his charge until + my return.’ Be pleased to take great care of her.” + </p> + <p> + For a minute the Raja sat thoughtful and silent. He was highly pleased + with the Brahman’s perfect compliment. But he could not hide from himself + that he was placed between two difficulties: one, the charge of a + beautiful young girl, with pouting lips, soft speech, and roguish eyes; + the other, a priestly curse upon himself and his kingdom. He thought, + however, refusal the more dangerous; so he raised his face and exclaimed, + “O produce of Brahma’s head,<a href="#linknote-147" name="linknoteref-147" + id="linknoteref-147">[147]</a> I will do what your highness has desired of + me.” + </p> + <p> + Upon which the Brahman, after delivering a benediction of adieu almost as + beautiful and spirit-stirring as that with which he had presented himself, + took the betel<a href="#linknote-148" name="linknoteref-148" + id="linknoteref-148">[148]</a> and went his ways. + </p> + <p> + Then the Raja sent for his daughter Chandraprabha and said to her, “This + is the affianced bride of a young Brahman, and she has been trusted to my + protection for a time by her father-in-law. Take her therefore into the + inner rooms, treat her with the utmost regard, and never allow her to be + separated from thee, day or night, asleep or awake, eating or drinking, at + home or abroad.” + </p> + <p> + Chandraprabha took the hand of Sita—as Manaswi had pleased to call + himself—and led the way to her own apartment. Once the seat of joy + and pleasure, the rooms now wore a desolate and melancholy look. The + windows were darkened, the attendants moved noiselessly over the carpets, + as if their footsteps would cause headache, and there was a faint scent of + some drug much used in cases of deliquium. The apartments were handsome, + but the only ornament in the room where they sat was a large bunch of + withered flowers in an arched recess, and these, though possibly + interesting to some one, were not likely to find favour as a decoration in + the eyes of everybody. + </p> + <p> + The Raja’s daughter paid the greatest attention and talked with unusual + vivacity to the Brahman’s daughter-in-law, either because she had roguish + eyes, or from some presentiment of what was to occur, whichever you + please, Raja Vikram, and it is no matter which. Still Sita could not help + perceiving that there was a shade of sorrow upon the forehead of her fair + new friend, and so when they retired to rest she asked the cause of it. + </p> + <p> + Then Chandraprabha related to her the sad tale: “One day in the spring + season, as I was strolling in the garden along with my companions, I + beheld a very handsome Brahman, and our eyes having met, he became + unconscious, and I also was insensible. My companions seeing my condition, + brought me home, and therefore I know neither his name nor his abode. His + beautiful form is impressed upon my memory. I have now no desire to eat or + to drink, and from this distress my colour has become pale and my body is + thus emaciated.” And the beautiful princess sighed a sigh that was musical + and melancholy, and concluded by predicting for herself—as persons + similarly placed often do—a sudden and untimely end about the + beginning of the next month. + </p> + <p> + “What wilt thou give me,” asked the Brahman’s daughter-in-law demurely, + “if I show thee thy beloved at this very moment?” + </p> + <p> + The Raja’s daughter answered, “I will ever be the lowest of thy slaves, + standing before thee with joined hands.” + </p> + <p> + Upon which Sita removed the pill from her mouth, and instantly having + become Manaswi, put it carefully away in a little bag hung round his neck. + At this sight Chandraprabha felt abashed, and hung down her head in + beautiful confusion. To describe— + </p> + <p> + “I will have no descriptions, Vampire!” cried the great Vikram, jerking + the bag up and down as if he were sweating gold in it. “The fewer of thy + descriptions the better for us all.” + </p> + <p> + Briefly (resumed the demon), Manaswi reflected upon the eight forms of + marriage—viz., Bramhalagan, when a girl is given to a Brahman, or + man of superior caste, without reward; Daiva, when she is presented as a + gift or fee to the officiating priest at the close of a sacrifice; Arsha, + when two cows are received by the girl’s father in exchange for the bride<a + href="#linknote-149" name="linknoteref-149" id="linknoteref-149">[149]</a>; + Prajapatya, when the girl is given at the request of a Brahman, and the + father says to his daughter and her to betrothed, “Go, fulfil the duties + of religion”; Asura, when money is received by the father in exchange for + the bride; Rakshasha, when she is captured in war, or when her bridegroom + overcomes his rival; Paisacha, when the girl is taken away from her + father’s house by craft; and eighthly, Gandharva-lagan, or the marriage + that takes place by mutual consent.<a href="#linknote-150" + name="linknoteref-150" id="linknoteref-150">[150]</a> + </p> + <p> + Manaswi preferred the latter, especially as by her rank and age the + princess was entitled to call upon her father for the Lakshmi Swayambara + wedding, in which she would have chosen her own husband. And thus it is + that Rama, Arjuna, Krishna, Nala, and others, were proposed to by the + princesses whom they married. + </p> + <p> + For five months after these nuptials, Manaswi never stirred out of the + palace, but remained there by day a woman, and a man by night. The + consequence was that he—I call him “he,” for whether Manaswi or + Sita, his mind ever remained masculine—presently found himself in a + fair way to become a father. + </p> + <p> + Now, one would imagine that a change of sex every twenty-four hours would + be variety enough to satisfy even a man. Manaswi, however, was not + contented. He began to pine for more liberty, and to find fault with his + wife for not taking him out into the world. And you might have supposed + that a young person who, from love at first sight, had fallen senseless + upon the steps of a summer-house, and who had devoted herself to a sudden + and untimely end because she was separated from her lover, would have + repressed her yawns and little irritable words even for a year after + having converted him into a husband. But no! Chandraprabha soon felt as + tired of seeing Manaswi and nothing but Manaswi, as Manaswi was weary of + seeing Chandraprabha and nothing but Chandraprabha. Often she had been on + the point of proposing visits and out-of-door excursions. But when at last + the idea was first suggested by her husband, she at once became an injured + woman. She hinted how foolish it was for married people to imprison + themselves and to quarrel all day. When Manaswi remonstrated, saying that + he wanted nothing better than to appear before the world with her as his + wife, but that he really did not know what her father might do to him, she + threw out a cutting sarcasm upon his effeminate appearance during the + hours of light. She then told him of an unfortunate young woman in an old + nursery tale who had unconsciously married a fiend that became a fine + handsome man at night when no eye could see him, and utter ugliness by day + when good looks show to advantage. And lastly, when inveighing against the + changeableness, fickleness, and infidelity of mankind, she quoted the + words of the poet— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Out upon change! it tires the heart + And weighs the noble spirit down; + A vain, vain world indeed thou art + That can such vile condition own + The veil hath fallen from my eyes, + I cannot love where I despise.... +</pre> + <p> + You can easily, O King Vikram, continue for yourself and conclude this + lecture, which I leave unfinished on account of its length. + </p> + <p> + Chandraprabha and Sita, who called each other the Zodiacal Twins and + Laughter Light,<a href="#linknote-151" name="linknoteref-151" + id="linknoteref-151">[151]</a> and All-consenters, easily persuaded the + old Raja that their health would be further improved by air, exercise, and + distractions. Subichar, being delighted with the change that had taken + place in a daughter whom he loved, and whom he had feared to lose, told + them to do as they pleased. They began a new life, in which short trips + and visits, baths and dances, music parties, drives in bullock chariots, + and water excursions succeeded one another. + </p> + <p> + It so happened that one day the Raja went with his whole family to a + wedding feast in the house of his grand treasurer, where the latter’s son + saw Manaswi in the beautiful shape of Sita. This was a third case of love + at first sight, for the young man immediately said to a particular friend, + “If I obtain that girl, I shall live; if not, I shall abandon life.” + </p> + <p> + In the meantime the king, having enjoyed the feast, came back to his + palace with his whole family. The condition of the treasurer’s son, + however, became very distressing; and through separation from his beloved, + he gave up eating and drinking. The particular friend had kept the secret + for some days, though burning to tell it. At length he found an excuse for + himself in the sad state of his friend, and he immediately went and + divulged all that he knew to the treasurer. After this he felt relieved. + </p> + <p> + The minister repaired to the court, and laid his case before the king, + saying, “Great Raja! through the love of that Brahman’s daughter-in-law, + my son’s state is very bad; he has given up eating and drinking; in fact + he is consumed by the fire of separation. If now your majesty could show + compassion, and bestow the girl upon him, his life would be saved. If not——” + </p> + <p> + “Fool!” cried the Raja, who, hearing these words, had waxed very wroth; + “it is not right for kings to do injustice. Listen! when a person puts any + one in charge of a protector, how can the latter give away his trust + without consulting the person that trusted him? And yet this is what you + wish me to do.” + </p> + <p> + The treasurer knew that the Raja could not govern his realm without him, + and he was well acquainted with his master’s character. He said to + himself, “This will not last long;” but he remained dumb, simulating + hopelessness, and hanging down his head, whilst Subichar alternately + scolded and coaxed, abused and flattered him, in order to open his lips. + Then, with tears in his eyes, he muttered a request to take leave; and as + he passed through the palace gates, he said aloud, with a resolute air, + “It will cost me but ten days of fasting!” + </p> + <p> + The treasurer, having returned home, collected all his attendants, and + went straightway to his son’s room. Seeing the youth still stretched upon + his sleeping-mat, and very yellow for the want of food, he took his hand, + and said in a whisper, meant to be audible, “Alas! poor son, I can do + nothing but perish with thee.” + </p> + <p> + The servants, hearing this threat, slipped one by one out of the room, and + each went to tell his friend that the grand treasurer had resolved to live + no longer. After which, they went back to the house to see if their master + intended to keep his word, and curious to know, if he did intend to die, + how, where, and when it was to be. And they were not disappointed: I do + not mean that the wished their lord to die, as he was a good master to + them but still there was an excitement in the thing—— + </p> + <p> + (Raja Vikram could not refrain from showing his anger at the insult thus + cast by the Baital upon human nature; the wretch, however, pretending not + to notice it, went on without interrupting himself) + </p> + <p> + ——which somehow or other pleased them. + </p> + <p> + When the treasurer had spent three days without touching bread or water, + all the cabinet council met and determined to retire from business unless + the Raja yielded to their solicitations. The treasurer was their working + man. “Besides which,” said the cabinet council, “if a certain person gets + into the habit of refusing us, what is to be the end of it, and what is + the use of being cabinet councillors any longer?” + </p> + <p> + Early on the next morning, the ministers went in a body before the Raja, + and humbly represented that “the treasurer’s son is at the point of death, + the effect of a full heart and an empty stomach. Should he die, the + father, who has not eaten or drunk during the last three days” (the Raja + trembled to hear the intelligence, though he knew it), “his father, we + say, cannot be saved. If the father dies the affairs of the kingdom come + to ruin,—is he not the grand treasurer? It is already said that half + the accounts have been gnawed by white ants, and that some pernicious + substance in the ink has eaten jagged holes through the paper, so that the + other half of the accounts is illegible. It were best, sire, that you + agree to what we represent.” + </p> + <p> + The white ants and corrosive ink were too strong for the Raja’s + determination. Still, wishing to save appearances, he replied, with much + firmness, that he knew the value of the treasurer and his son, that he + would do much to save them, but that he had passed his royal word, and had + undertaken a trust. That he would rather die a dozen deaths than break his + promise, or not discharge his duty faithfully. That man’s condition in + this world is to depart from it, none remaining in it; that one comes and + that one goes, none knowing when or where; but that eternity is eternity + for happiness or misery. And much of the same nature, not very novel, and + not perhaps quite to the purpose, but edifying to those who knew what lay + behind the speaker’s words. + </p> + <p> + The ministers did not know their lord’s character so well as the grand + treasurer, and they were more impressed by his firm demeanour and the + number of his words than he wished them to be. After allowing his speech + to settle in their minds, he did away with a great part of its effect by + declaring that such were the sentiments and the principles—when a + man talks of his principles, O Vikram! ask thyself the reason why—instilled + into his youthful mind by the most honourable of fathers and the most + virtuous of mothers. At the same time that he was by no means obstinate or + proof against conviction. In token whereof he graciously permitted the + councillors to convince him that it was his royal duty to break his word + and betray his trust, and to give away another man’s wife. + </p> + <p> + Pray do not lose your temper, O warrior king! Subichar, although a Raja, + was a weak man; and you know, or you ought to know, that the wicked may be + wise in their generation, but the weak never can. + </p> + <p> + Well, the ministers hearing their lord’s last words, took courage, and + proceeded to work upon his mind by the figure of speech popularly called + “rigmarole.” They said: “Great king! that old Brahman has been gone many + days, and has not returned; he is probably dead and burnt. It is therefore + right that by giving to the grand treasurer’s son his daughter-in-law, who + is only affianced, not fairly married, you should establish your + government firmly. And even if he should return, bestow villages and + wealth upon him; and if he be not then content, provide another and a more + beautiful wife for his son, and dismiss him. A person should be sacrificed + for the sake of a family, a family for a city, a city for a country, and a + country for a king!” + </p> + <p> + Subichar having heard them, dismissed them with the remark that as so much + was to be said on both sides, he must employ the night in thinking over + the matter, and that he would on the next day favour them with his + decision. The cabinet councillors knew by this that he meant that he would + go and consult his wives. They retired contented, convinced that every + voice would be in favour of a wedding, and that the young girl, with so + good an offer, would not sacrifice the present to the future. + </p> + <p> + That evening the treasurer and his son supped together. + </p> + <p> + The first words uttered by Raja Subichar, when he entered his daughter’s + apartment, were an order addressed to Sita: “Go thou at once to the house + of my treasurer’s son.” + </p> + <p> + Now, as Chandraprabha and Manaswi were generally scolding each other, + Chandraprabha and Sita were hardly on speaking terms. When they heard the + Raja’s order for their separation they were— + </p> + <p> + —“Delighted?” cried Dharma Dhwaj, who for some reason took the + greatest interest in the narrative. + </p> + <p> + “Overwhelmed with grief, thou most guileless Yuva Raja (young prince)!” + ejaculated the Vampire. + </p> + <p> + Raja Vikram reproved his son for talking about thing of which he knew + nothing, and the Baital resumed. + </p> + <p> + They turned pale and wept, and they wrung their hands, and they begged and + argued and refused obedience. In fact they did everything to make the king + revoke his order. + </p> + <p> + “The virtue of a woman,” quoth Sita, “is destroyed through too much + beauty; the religion of a Brahman is impaired by serving kings; a cow is + spoiled by distant pasturage, wealth is lost by committing injustice, and + prosperity departs from the house where promises are not kept.” + </p> + <p> + The Raja highly applauded the sentiment, but was firm as a rock upon the + subject of Sita marrying the treasurer’s son. + </p> + <p> + Chandraprabha observed that her royal father, usually so conscientious, + must now be acting from interested motives, and that when selfishness + sways a man, right becomes left and left becomes right, as in the + reflection of a mirror. + </p> + <p> + Subichar approved of the comparison; he was not quite so resolved, but he + showed no symptoms of changing his mind. + </p> + <p> + Then the Brahman’s daughter-in-law, with the view of gaining time—a + famous stratagem amongst feminines—said to the Raja: “Great king, if + you are determined upon giving me to the grand treasurer’s son, exact from + him the promise that he will do what I bid him. Only on this condition + will I ever enter his house!” + </p> + <p> + “Speak, then,” asked the king; “what will he have to do?” + </p> + <p> + She replied, “I am of the Brahman or priestly caste, he is the son of a + Kshatriya or warrior: the law directs that before we twain can wed, he + should perform Yatra (pilgrimage) to all the holy places.” + </p> + <p> + “Thou hast spoken Veda-truth, girl,” answered the Raja, not sorry to have + found so good a pretext for temporizing, and at the same time to preserve + his character for firmness, resolution, determination. + </p> + <p> + That night Manaswi and Chandraprabha, instead of scolding each other, + congratulated themselves upon having escaped an imminent danger—which + they did not escape. + </p> + <p> + In the morning Subichar sent for his ministers, including his grand + treasurer and his love-sick son, and told them how well and wisely the + Brahman’s daughter-in-law had spoken upon the subject of the marriage. All + of them approved of the condition; but the young man ventured to suggest, + that while he was a-pilgrimaging the maiden should reside under his + father’s roof. As he and his father showed a disposition to continue their + fasts in case of the small favour not being granted, the Raja, though very + loath to separate his beloved daughter and her dear friend, was driven to + do it. And Sita was carried off, weeping bitterly, to the treasurer’s + palace. That dignitary solemnly committed her to the charge of his third + and youngest wife, the lady Subhagya-Sundari, who was about her own age, + and said, “You must both live together, without any kind of wrangling or + contention, and do not go into other people’s houses.” And the grand + treasurer’s son went off to perform his pilgrimages. + </p> + <p> + It is no less sad than true, Raja Vikram, that in less than six days the + disconsolate Sita waxed weary of being Sita, took the ball out of her + mouth, and became Manaswi. Alas for the infidelity of mankind! But it is + gratifying to reflect that he met with the punishment with which the + Pandit Muldev had threatened him. One night the magic pill slipped down + his throat. When morning dawned, being unable to change himself into Sita, + Manaswi was obliged to escape through a window from the lady + Subhagya-Sundari’s room. He sprained his ankle with the leap, and he lay + for a time upon the ground—where I leave him whilst convenient to + me. + </p> + <p> + When Muldev quitted the presence of Subichar, he resumed his old shape, + and returning to his brother Pandit Shashi, told him what he had done. + Whereupon Shashi, the misanthrope, looked black, and used hard words and + told his friend that good nature and soft-heartedness had caused him to + commit a very bad action—a grievous sin. Incensed at this charge, + the philanthropic Muldev became angry, and said, “I have warned the youth + about his purity; what harm can come of it?” + </p> + <p> + “Thou hast,” retorted Shashi, with irritating coolness, “placed a sharp + weapon in a fool’s hand.” + </p> + <p> + “I have not,” cried Muldev, indignantly. + </p> + <p> + “Therefore,” drawled the malevolent, “you are answerable for all the + mischief he does with it, and mischief assuredly he will do.” + </p> + <p> + “He will not, by Brahma!” exclaimed Muldev. + </p> + <p> + “He will, by Vishnu!” said Shashi, with an amiability produced by having + completely upset his friend’s temper; “and if within the coming six months + he does not disgrace himself, thou shalt have the whole of my book-case; + but if he does, the philanthropic Muldev will use all his skill and + ingenuity in procuring the daughter of Raja Subichar as a wife for his + faithful friend Shashi.” + </p> + <p> + Having made this covenant, they both agreed not to speak of the matter + till the autumn. + </p> + <p> + The appointed time drawing near, the Pandits began to make inquiries about + the effect of the magic pills. Presently they found out that Sita, alias + Manaswi, had one night mysteriously disappeared from the grand treasurer’s + house, and had not been heard of since that time. This, together with + certain other things that transpired presently, convinced Muldev, who had + cooled down in six months, that his friend had won the wager. He prepared + to make honourable payment by handing a pill to old Shashi, who at once + became a stout, handsome young Brahman, some twenty years old. Next + putting a pill into his own mouth, he resumed the shape and form under + which he had first appeared before Raja Subichar; and, leaning upon his + staff, he led the way to the palace. + </p> + <p> + The king, in great confusion, at once recognized the old priest, and + guessed the errand upon which he and the youth were come. However, he + saluted them, and offered them seats, and receiving their blessings, he + began to make inquiries about their health and welfare. At last he + mustered courage to ask the old Brahman where he had been living for so + long a time. + </p> + <p> + “Great king,” replied the priest, “I went to seek after my son, and having + found him, I bring him to your majesty. Give him his wife, and I will take + them both home with me.” + </p> + <p> + Raja Subichar prevaricated not a little; but presently, being hard pushed, + he related everything that had happened. + </p> + <p> + “What is this that you have done?” cried Muldev, simulating excessive + anger and astonishment. “Why have you given my son’s wife in marriage to + another man? You have done what you wished, and now, therefore, receive my + Shrap (curse)!” + </p> + <p> + The poor Raja, in great trepidation, said, “O Vivinity! be not thus angry! + I will do whatever you bid me.” + </p> + <p> + Said Muldev, “If through dread of my excommunication you will freely give + whatever I demand of you, then marry your daughter, Chandraprabha, to this + my son. On this condition I forgive you. To me, now a necklace of pearls + and a venomous krishna (cobra capella); the most powerful enemy and the + kindest friend, the most precious gem and a clod of earth; the softest bed + and the hardest stone; a blade of grass and the loveliest woman—are + precisely the same. All I desire is that in some holy place, repeating the + name of God, I may soon end my days.” + </p> + <p> + Subichar, terrified by this additional show of sanctity, at once summoned + an astrologer, and fixed upon the auspicious moment and lunar influence. + He did not consult the princess, and had he done so she would not have + resisted his wishes. Chandraprabha had heard of Sita’s escape from the + treasurer’s house, and she had on the subject her own suspicions. Besides + which she looked forward to a certain event, and she was by no means sure + that her royal father approved of the Gandharba form of marriage—at + least for his daughter. Thus the Brahman’s son receiving in due time the + princess and her dowry, took leave of the king and returned to his own + village. + </p> + <p> + Hardly, however, had Chandraprabha been married to Shashi the Pandit, when + Manaswi went to him, and began to wrangle, and said, “Give me my wife!” He + had recovered from the effects of his fall, and having lost her he + therefore loved her—very dearly. + </p> + <p> + But Shashi proved by reference to the astrologers, priests, and ten + persons as witnesses, that he had duly wedded her, and brought her to his + home; “therefore,” said he, “she is my spouse.” + </p> + <p> + Manaswi swore by all holy things that he had been legally married to her, + and that he was the father of her child that was about to be. “How then,” + continued he, “can she be thy spouse?” He would have summoned Muldev as a + witness, but that worthy, after remonstrating with him, disappeared. He + called upon Chandraprabha to confirm his statement, but she put on an + innocent face, and indignantly denied ever having seen the man. + </p> + <p> + Still, continued the Baital, many people believed Manaswi’s story, as it + was marvellous and incredible. Even to the present day, there are many who + decidedly think him legally married to the daughter of Raja Subichar. + </p> + <p> + “Then they are pestilent fellows!” cried the warrior king Vikram, who + hated nothing more than clandestine and runaway matches. “No one knew that + the villain, Manaswi, was the father of her child; whereas, the Pandit + Shashi married her lawfully, before witnesses, and with all the + ceremonies.<a href="#linknote-152" name="linknoteref-152" + id="linknoteref-152">[152]</a> She therefore remains his wife, and the + child will perform the funeral obsequies for him, and offer water to the + manes of his pitris (ancestors). At least, so say law and justice.” + </p> + <p> + “Which justice is often unjust enough!” cried the Vampire; “and ply thy + legs, mighty Raja; let me see if thou canst reach the sires-tree before I + do.” + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + “The next story, O Raja Vikram, is remarkably interesting.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0017" id="link2H_4_0017"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE VAMPIRE’S NINTH STORY — Showing That a Man’s Wife Belongs Not to + His Body but to His Head. + </h2> + <p> + Far and wide through the lovely land overrun by the Arya from the Western + Highlands spread the fame of Unmadini, the beautiful daughter of Haridas + the Brahman. In the numberless odes, sonnets, and acrostics addressed to + her by a hundred Pandits and poets her charms were sung with prodigious + triteness. Her presence was compared to light shining in a dark house; her + face to the full moon; her complexion to the yellow champaka flower; her + curls to female snakes; her eyes to those of the deer; her eyebrows to + bent bows; her teeth to strings of little opals; her feet to rubies and + red gems,<a href="#linknote-153" name="linknoteref-153" + id="linknoteref-153">[153]</a> and her gait to that of the wild goose. And + none forgot to say that her voice affected the author like the song of the + kokila bird, sounding from the shadowy brake, when the breeze blows + coolly, or that the fairy beings of Indra’s heaven would have shrunk away + abashed at her loveliness. + </p> + <p> + But, Raja Vikram! all the poets failed to win the fair Unmadini’s love. To + praise the beauty of a beauty is not to praise her. Extol her wit and + talents, which has the zest of novelty, then you may succeed. For the same + reason, read inversely, the plainer and cleverer is the bosom you would + fire, the more personal you must be upon the subject of its grace and + loveliness. Flattery you know, is ever the match which kindles the Flame + of love. True it is that some by roughness of demeanour and bluntness in + speech, contrasting with those whom they call the “herd,” have the art to + succeed in the service of the bodyless god.<a href="#linknote-154" + name="linknoteref-154" id="linknoteref-154">[154]</a> But even they must— + </p> + <p> + The young prince Dharma Dhwaj could not help laughing at the thought of + how this must sound in his father’s ear. And the Raja hearing the + ill-timed merriment, sternly ordered the Baital to cease his immoralities + and to continue his story. + </p> + <p> + Thus the lovely Unmadini, conceiving an extreme contempt for poets and + literati, one day told her father who greatly loved her, that her husband + must be a fine young man who never wrote verses. Withal she insisted + strongly on mental qualities and science, being a person of moderate mind + and an adorer of talent—when not perverted to poetry. + </p> + <p> + As you may imagine, Raja Vikram, all the beauty’s bosom friends, seeing + her refuse so many good offers, confidently predicted that she would pass + through the jungle and content herself with a bad stick, or that she would + lead ring-tailed apes in Patala. + </p> + <p> + At length when some time had elapsed, four suitors appeared from four + different countries, all of them claiming equal excellence in youth and + beauty, strength and understanding. And after paying their respects to + Haridas, and telling him their wishes, they were directed to come early on + the next morning and to enter upon the first ordeal—an intellectual + conversation. + </p> + <p> + This they did. + </p> + <p> + “Foolish the man,” quoth the young Mahasani, “that seeks permanence in + this world—frail as the stem of the plantain-tree, transient as the + ocean foam. + </p> + <p> + “All that is high shall presently fall; all that is low must finally + perish. + </p> + <p> + “Unwillingly do the manes of the dead taste the tears shed by their + kinsmen: then wail not, but perform the funeral obsequies with diligence.” + </p> + <p> + “What ill-omened fellow is this?” quoth the fair Unmadini, who was sitting + behind her curtain; “besides, he has dared to quote poetry!” There was + little chance of success for that suitor. + </p> + <p> + “She is called a good woman, and a woman of pure descent,” quoth the + second suitor, “who serves him to whom her father and mother have given + her; and it is written in the scriptures that a woman who in the lifetime + of her husband, becoming a devotee, engages in fasting, and in austere + devotion, shortens his days, and hereafter falls into the fire. For it is + said— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “A woman’s bliss is found not in the smile + Of father, mother, friend, nor in herself; + Her husband is her only portion here, + Her heaven hereafter.” + </pre> + <p> + The word “serve,” which might mean “obey,” was peculiarly disagreeable to + the fair one’s ears, and she did not admire the check so soon placed upon + her devotion, or the decided language and manner of the youth. She + therefore mentally resolved never again to see that person, whom she + determined to be stupid as an elephant. + </p> + <p> + “A mother,” said Gunakar, the third candidate, “protects her son in + babyhood, and a father when his offspring is growing up. But the man of + warrior descent defends his brethren at all times. Such is the custom of + the world, and such is my state. I dwell on the heads of the strong!” + </p> + <p> + Therefore those assembled together looked with great respect upon the man + of valour. + </p> + <p> + Devasharma, the fourth suitor, contented himself with listening to the + others, who fancied that he was overawed by their cleverness. And when it + came to his turn he simply remarked, “Silence is better than speech.” + Being further pressed, he said, “A wise man will not proclaim his age, nor + a deception practiced upon himself, nor his riches, nor the loss of + riches, nor family faults, nor incantations, nor conjugal love, nor + medicinal prescriptions, nor religious duties, nor gifts, nor reproach, + nor the infidelity of his wife.” + </p> + <p> + Thus ended the first trial. The master of the house dismissed the two + former speakers, with many polite expressions and some trifling presents. + Then having given betel to them, scented their garments with attar, and + sprinkled rose-water over their heads, he accompanied them to the door, + showing much regret. The two latter speakers he begged to come on the next + day. + </p> + <p> + Gunakar and Devasharma did not fail. When they entered the assembly-room + and took the seats pointed out to them, the father said, “Be ye pleased to + explain and make manifest the effects of your mental qualities. So shall I + judge of them.” + </p> + <p> + “I have made,” said Gunakar, “a four-wheeled carriage, in which the power + resides to carry you in a moment wherever you may purpose to go.” + </p> + <p> + “I have such power over the angel of death,” said Devasharma, “that I can + at all times raise a corpse, and enable my friends to do the same.” + </p> + <p> + Now tell me by thy brains, O warrior King Vikram, which of these two + youths was the fitter husband for the maid? + </p> + <p> + Either the Raja could not answer the question, or perhaps he would not, + being determined to break the spell which had already kept him walking to + and fro for so many hours. Then the Baital, who had paused to let his + royal carrier commit himself, seeing that the attempt had failed, + proceeded without making any further comment. + </p> + <p> + The beautiful Unmadini was brought out, but she hung down her head and + made no reply. Yet she took care to move both her eyes in the direction of + Devasharma. Whereupon Haridas, quoting the proverb that “pearls string + with pearls,” formally betrothed to him his daughter. The soldier suitor + twisted the ends of his mustachios into his eyes, which were red with + wrath, and fumbled with his fingers about the hilt of his sword. But he + was a man of noble birth, and presently his anger passed away. + </p> + <p> + Mahasani the poet, however, being a shameless person—and when can we + be safe from such?—forced himself into the assembly and began to + rage and to storm, and to quote proverbs in a loud tone of voice. He + remarked that in this world women are a mine of grief, a poisonous root, + the abode of solicitude, the destroyers of resolution, the occasioners of + fascination, and the plunderers of all virtuous qualities. From the + daughter he passed to the father, and after saying hard things of him as a + “Maha-Brahman,"<a href="#linknote-155" name="linknoteref-155" + id="linknoteref-155">[155]</a> who took cows and gold and worshipped a + monkey, he fell with a sweeping censure upon all priests and sons of + priests, more especially Devasharma. As the bystanders remonstrated with + him, he became more violent, and when Haridas, who was a weak man, + appeared terrified by his voice, look, and gesture, he swore a solemn oath + that despite all the betrothals in the world, unless Unmadini became his + wife he would commit suicide, and as a demon haunt the house and injure + the inmates. + </p> + <p> + Gunakar the soldier exhorted this shameless poet to slay himself at once, + and to go where he pleased. But as Haridas reproved the warrior for + inhumanity, Mahasani nerved by spite, love, rage, and perversity to an + heroic death, drew a noose from his bosom, rushed out of the house, and + suspended himself to the nearest tree. + </p> + <p> + And, true enough, as the midnight gong struck, he appeared in the form of + a gigantic and malignant Rakshasa (fiend), dreadfully frightened the + household of Haridas, and carried off the lovely Unmadini, leaving word + that she was to be found on the topmost peak of Himalaya. + </p> + <p> + The unhappy father hastened to the house where Devasharma lived. There, + weeping bitterly and wringing his hands in despair, he told the terrible + tale, and besought his intended son-in-law to be up and doing. + </p> + <p> + The young Brahman at once sought his late rival, and asked his aid. This + the soldier granted at once, although he had been nettled at being + conquered in love by a priestling. + </p> + <p> + The carriage was at once made ready, and the suitors set out, bidding the + father be of good cheer, and that before sunset he should embrace his + daughter. They then entered the vehicle; Gunakar with cabalistic words + caused it to rise high in the air, and Devasharma put to flight the demon + by reciting the sacred verse,<a href="#linknote-156" name="linknoteref-156" + id="linknoteref-156">[156]</a> “Let us meditate on the supreme splendour + (or adorable light) of that Divine Ruler (the sun) who may illuminate our + understandings. Venerable men, guided by the intelligence, salute the + divine sun (Sarvitri) with oblations and praise. Om!” + </p> + <p> + Then they returned with the girl to the house, and Haridas blessed them, + praising the sun aloud in the joy of his heart. Lest other accidents might + happen, he chose an auspicious planetary conjunction, and at a fortunate + moment rubbed turmeric upon his daughter’s hands. + </p> + <p> + The wedding was splendid, and broke the hearts of twenty-four rivals. In + due time Devasharma asked leave from his father-in-law to revisit his + home, and to carry with him his bride. This request being granted, he set + out accompanied by Gunakar the soldier, who swore not to leave the couple + before seeing them safe under their own roof-tree. + </p> + <p> + It so happened that their road lay over the summits of the wild Vindhya + hills, where dangers of all kinds are as thick as shells upon the shore of + the deep. Here were rocks and jagged precipices making the traveller’s + brain whirl when he looked into them. There impetuous torrents roared and + flashed down their beds of black stone, threatening destruction to those + who would cross them. Now the path was lost in the matted thorny underwood + and the pitchy shades of the jungle, deep and dark as the valley of death. + Then the thunder-cloud licked the earth with its fiery tongue, and its + voice shook the crags and filled their hollow caves. At times, the sun was + so hot, that wild birds fell dead from the air. And at every moment the + wayfarers heard the trumpeting of giant elephants, the fierce howling of + the tiger, the grisly laugh of the foul hyaena, and the whimpering of the + wild dogs as they coursed by on the tracks of their prey. + </p> + <p> + Yet, sustained by the five-armed god<a href="#linknote-157" + name="linknoteref-157" id="linknoteref-157">[157]</a> the little party + passed safely through all these dangers. They had almost emerged from the + damp glooms of the forest into the open plains which skirt the southern + base of the hills, when one night the fair Unmadini saw a terrible vision. + </p> + <p> + She beheld herself wading through a sluggish pool of muddy water, which + rippled, curdling as she stepped into it, and which, as she advanced, + darkened with the slime raised by her feet. She was bearing in her arms + the semblance of a sick child, which struggled convulsively and filled the + air with dismal wails. These cries seemed to be answered by a multitude of + other children, some bloated like toads, others mere skeletons lying upon + the bank, or floating upon the thick brown waters of the pond. And all + seemed to address their cries to her, as if she were the cause of their + weeping; nor could all her efforts quiet or console them for a moment. + </p> + <p> + When the bride awoke, she related all the particulars of her ill-omened + vision to her husband; and the latter, after a short pause, informed her + and his friend that a terrible calamity was about to befall them. He then + drew from his travelling wallet a skein of thread. This he divided into + three parts, one for each, and told his companions that in case of + grievous bodily injury, the bit of thread wound round the wounded part + would instantly make it whole. After which he taught them the Mantra,<a + href="#linknote-158" name="linknoteref-158" id="linknoteref-158">[158]</a> + or mystical word by which the lives of men are restored to their bodies, + even when they have taken their allotted places amongst the stars, and + which for evident reasons I do not want to repeat. It concluded, however, + with the three Vyahritis, or sacred syllables—Bhuh, Bhuvah, Svar! + </p> + <p> + Raja Vikram was perhaps a little disappointed by this declaration. He made + no remark, however, and the Baital thus pursued: + </p> + <p> + As Devasharma foretold, an accident of a terrible nature did occur. On the + evening of that day, as they emerged upon the plain, they were attacked by + the Kiratas, or savage tribes of the mountain.<a href="#linknote-159" + name="linknoteref-159" id="linknoteref-159">[159]</a> A small, black, wiry + figure, armed with a bow and little cane arrows, stood in their way, + signifying by gestures that they must halt and lay down their arms. As + they continued to advance, he began to speak with a shrill chattering, + like the note of an affrighted bird, his restless red eyes glared with + rage, and he waved his weapon furiously round his head. Then from the + rocks and thickets on both sides of the path poured a shower of shafts + upon the three strangers. + </p> + <p> + The unequal combat did not last long. Gunakar, the soldier, wielded his + strong right arm with fatal effect and struck down some threescore of the + foes. But new swarms came on like angry hornets buzzing round the + destroyer of their nests. And when he fell, Devasharma, who had left him + for a moment to hide his beautiful wife in the hollow of a tree, returned, + and stood fighting over the body of his friend till he also, overpowered + by numbers, was thrown to the ground. Then the wild men, drawing their + knives, cut off the heads of their helpless enemies, stripped their bodies + of all their ornaments, and departed, leaving the woman unharmed for good + luck. + </p> + <p> + When Unmadini, who had been more dead than alive during the affray, found + silence succeed to the horrid din of shrieks and shouts, she ventured to + creep out of her refuge in the hollow tree. And what does she behold? her + husband and his friend are lying upon the ground, with their heads at a + short distance from their bodies. She sat down and wept bitterly. + </p> + <p> + Presently, remembering the lesson which she had learned that very morning, + she drew forth from her bosom the bit of thread and proceeded to use it. + She approached the heads to the bodies, and tied some of the magic string + round each neck. But the shades of evening were fast deepening, and in her + agitation, confusion and terror, she made a curious mistake by applying + the heads to the wrong trunks. After which, she again sat down, and having + recited her prayers, she pronounced, as her husband had taught her, the + life-giving incantation. + </p> + <p> + In a moment the dead men were made alive. They opened their eyes, shook + themselves, sat up and handled their limbs as if to feel that all was + right. But something or other appeared to them all wrong. They placed + their palms upon their foreheads, and looked downwards, and started to + their feet and began to stare at their hands and legs. Upon which they + scrutinized the very scanty articles of dress which the wild men had left + upon them, and lastly one began to eye the other with curious puzzled + looks. + </p> + <p> + The wife, attributing their gestures to the confusion which one might + expect to find in the brains of men who have just undergone so great a + trial as amputation of the head must be, stood before them for a moment or + two. She then with a cry of gladness flew to the bosom of the individual + who was, as she supposed, her husband. He repulsed her, telling her that + she was mistaken. Then, blushing deeply in spite of her other emotions, + she threw both her beautiful arms round the neck of the person who must + be, she naturally concluded, the right man. To her utter confusion, he + also shrank back from her embrace. + </p> + <p> + Then a horrid thought flashed across her mind: she perceived her fatal + mistake, and her heart almost ceased to beat. + </p> + <p> + “This is thy wife!” cried the Brahman’s head that had been fastened to the + soldier’s body. + </p> + <p> + “No; she is thy wife!” replied the soldier’s head which had been placed + upon the Brahman’s body. + </p> + <p> + “Then she is my wife!” rejoined the first compound creature. + </p> + <p> + “By no means! she is my wife,” cried the second. + </p> + <p> + “What then am I?” asked Devasharma-Gunakar. + </p> + <p> + “What do you think I am?” answered Gunakar-Devasharma, with another + question. + </p> + <p> + “Unmadini shall be mine,” quoth the head. + </p> + <p> + “You lie, she shall be mine,” shouted the body. + </p> + <p> + “Holy Yama,<a href="#linknote-160" name="linknoteref-160" + id="linknoteref-160">[160]</a> hear the villain,” exclaimed both of them + at the same moment. + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + In short, having thus begun, they continued to quarrel violently, each one + declaring that the beautiful Unmadini belonged to him, and to him only. + How to settle their dispute Brahma the Lord of creatures only knows. I do + not, except by cutting off their heads once more, and by putting them in + their proper places. And I am quite sure, O Raja Vikram! that thy wits are + quite unfit to answer the question, To which of these two is the beautiful + Unmadini wife? It is even said—amongst us Baitals—that when + this pair of half-husbands appeared in the presence of the Just King, a + terrible confusion arose, each head declaiming all the sins and + peccadilloes which its body had committed, and that Yama the holy ruler + himself hit his forefinger with vexation.<a href="#linknote-161" + name="linknoteref-161" id="linknoteref-161">[161]</a> + </p> + <p> + Here the young prince Dharma Dhwaj burst out laughing at the ridiculous + idea of the wrong heads. And the warrior king, who, like single-minded + fathers in general, was ever in the idea that his son had a velleity for + deriding and otherwise vexing him, began a severe course of reproof. He + reminded the prince of the common saying that merriment without cause + degrades a man in the opinion of his fellows, and indulged him with a + quotation extensively used by grave fathers, namely, that the loud laugh + bespeaks a vacant mind. After which he proceeded with much pompousness to + pronounce the following opinion: + </p> + <p> + “It is said in the Shastras——” + </p> + <p> + “Your majesty need hardly display so much erudition! Doubtless it comes + from the lips of Jayudeva or some other one of your Nine Gems of Science, + who know much more about their songs and their stanzas than they do about + their scriptures,” insolently interrupted the Baital, who never lost an + opportunity of carping at those reverend men. + </p> + <p> + “It is said in the Shastras,” continued Raja Vikram sternly, after + hesitating whether he should or should not administer a corporeal + correction to the Vampire, “that Mother Ganga<a href="#linknote-162" + name="linknoteref-162" id="linknoteref-162">[162]</a> is the queen amongst + rivers, and the mountain Sumeru<a href="#linknote-163" + name="linknoteref-163" id="linknoteref-163">[163]</a> is the monarch among + mountains, and the tree Kalpavriksha<a href="#linknote-164" + name="linknoteref-164" id="linknoteref-164">[164]</a> is the king of all + trees, and the head of man is the best and most excellent of limbs. And + thus, according to this reason, the wife belonged to him whose noblest + position claimed her.” + </p> + <p> + “The next thing your majesty will do, I suppose,” continued the Baital, + with a sneer, “is to support the opinions of the Digambara, who maintains + that the soul is exceedingly rarefied, confined to one place, and of equal + dimensions with the body, or the fancies of that worthy philosopher + Jaimani, who, conceiving soul and mind and matter to be things purely + synonymous, asserts outwardly and writes in his books that the brain is + the organ of the mind which is acted upon by the immortal soul, but who + inwardly and verily believes that the brain is the mind, and consequently + that the brain is the soul or spirit or whatever you please to call it; in + fact, that soul is a natural faculty of the body. A pretty doctrine, + indeed, for a Brahman to hold. You might as well agree with me at once + that the soul of man resides, when at home, either in a vein in the + breast, or in the pit of his stomach, or that half of it is in a man’s + brain and the other or reasoning half is in his heart, an organ of his + body.” + </p> + <p> + “What has all this string of words to do with the matter, Vampire?” asked + Raja Vikram angrily. + </p> + <p> + “Only,” said the demon laughing, “that in my opinion, as opposed to the + Shastras and to Raja Vikram, that the beautiful Unmadini belonged, not to + the head part but to the body part. Because the latter has an immortal + soul in the pit of its stomach, whereas the former is a box of bone, more + or less thick, and contains brains which are of much the same consistence + as those of a calf.” + </p> + <p> + “Villain!” exclaimed the Raja, “does not the soul or conscious life enter + the body through the sagittal suture and lodge in the brain, thence to + contemplate, through the same opening, the divine perfections?” + </p> + <p> + “I must, however, bid you farewell for the moment, O warrior king, + Sakadhipati-Vikramadityal<a href="#linknote-165" name="linknoteref-165" + id="linknoteref-165">[165]</a>! I feel a sudden and ardent desire to + change this cramped position for one more natural to me.” + </p> + <p> + The warrior monarch had so far committed himself that he could not prevent + the Vampire from flitting. But he lost no more time in following him than + a grain of mustard, in its fall, stays on a cow’s horn. And when he had + thrown him over his shoulder, the king desired him of his own accord to + begin a new tale. + </p> + <p> + “O my left eyelid flutters,” exclaimed the Baital in despair, “my heart + throbs, my sight is dim: surely now beginneth the end. It is as Vidhata + hath written on my forehead—how can it be otherwise<a + href="#linknote-166" name="linknoteref-166" id="linknoteref-166">[166]</a>? + Still listen, O mighty Raja, whilst I recount to you a true story, and + Saraswati<a href="#linknote-167" name="linknoteref-167" + id="linknoteref-167">[167]</a> sit on my tongue.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0018" id="link2H_4_0018"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE VAMPIRE’S TENTH STORY <a href="#linknote-168" name="linknoteref-168" + id="linknoteref-168">[168]</a> — Of the Marvellous Delicacy of Three + Queens. + </h2> + <p> + The Baital said, O king, in the Gaur country, Vardhman by name, there is a + city, and one called Gunshekhar was the Raja of that land. His minister + was one Abhaichand, a Jain, by whose teachings the king also came into the + Jain faith. + </p> + <p> + The worship of Shiva and of Vishnu, gifts of cows, gifts of lands, gifts + of rice balls, gaming and spirit-drinking, all these he prohibited. In the + city no man could get leave to do them, and as for bones, into the Ganges + no man was allowed to throw them, and in these matters the minister, + having taken orders from the king, caused a proclamation to be made about + the city, saying, “Whoever these acts shall do, the Raja having + confiscated, will punish him and banish him from the city.” + </p> + <p> + Now one day the Diwan<a href="#linknote-169" name="linknoteref-169" + id="linknoteref-169">[169]</a> began to say to the Raja, “O great king, to + the decisions of the Faith be pleased to give ear. Whosoever takes the + life of another, his life also in the future birth is taken: this very sin + causes him to be born again and again upon earth and to die And thus he + ever continues to be born again and to die. Hence for one who has found + entrance into this world to cultivate religion is right and proper. Be + pleased to behold! By love, by wrath, by pain, by desire, and by + fascination overpowered, the gods Brahma, Vishnu, and Mahadeva (Shiva) in + various ways upon the earth are ever becoming incarnate. Far better than + they is the Cow, who is free from passion, enmity, drunkenness, anger, + covetousness, and inordinate affection, who supports mankind, and whose + progeny in many ways give ease and solace to the creatures of the world + These deities and sages (munis) believe in the Cow.<a href="#linknote-170" + name="linknoteref-170" id="linknoteref-170">[170]</a> + </p> + <p> + “For such reason to believe in the gods is not good. Upon this earth be + pleased to believe in the Cow. It is our duty to protect the life of + everyone, beginning from the elephant, through ants, beasts, and birds, up + to man. In the world righteousness equal to that there is none. Those who, + eating the flesh of other creatures, increase their own flesh, shall in + the fulness of time assuredly obtain the fruition of Narak<a + href="#linknote-171" name="linknoteref-171" id="linknoteref-171">[171]</a>; + hence for a man it is proper to attend to the conversation of life. They + who understand not the pain of other creatures, and who continue to slay + and to devour them, last but few days in the land, and return to mundane + existence, maimed, limping, one-eyed, blind, dwarfed, hunchbacked, and + imperfect in such wise. Just as they consume the bodies of beasts and of + birds, even so they end by spoiling their own bodies. From drinking + spirits also the great sin arises, hence the consuming of spirits and + flesh is not advisable.” + </p> + <p> + The minister having in this manner explained to the king the sentiments of + his own mind, so brought him over to the Jain faith, that whatever he + said, so the king did. Thus in Brahmans, in Jogis, in Janganis, in Sevras, + in Sannyasis,<a href="#linknote-172" name="linknoteref-172" + id="linknoteref-172">[172]</a> and in religious mendicants, no man + believed, and according to this creed the rule was carried on. + </p> + <p> + Now one day, being in the power of Death, Raja Gunshekhar died. Then his + son Dharmadhwaj sat upon the carpet (throne), and began to rule. Presently + he caused the minister Abhaichand to be seized, had his head shaved all + but seven locks of hair, ordered his face to be blackened, and mounting + him on an ass, with drums beaten, had him led all about the city, and + drove him from the kingdom. From that time he carried on his rule free + from all anxiety. + </p> + <p> + It so happened that in the season of spring, the king Dharmadhwaj, taking + his queens with him, went for a stroll in the garden, where there was a + large tank with lotuses blooming within it. The Raja admiring its beauty, + took off his clothes and went down to bathe. + </p> + <p> + After plucking a flower and coming to the bank, he was going to give it + into the hands of one of his queens, when it slipped from his fingers, + fell upon her foot, and broke it with the blow. Then the Raja being + alarmed, at once came out of the tank, and began to apply remedies to her. + </p> + <p> + Hereupon night came on, and the moon shone brightly: the falling of its + rays on the body of the second queen formed blisters And suddenly from a + distance the sound of a wooden pestle came out of a householder’s + dwelling, when the third queen fainted away with a severe pain in the + head. + </p> + <p> + Having spoken thus much the Baital said “O my king! of these three which + is the most delicate?” The Raja answered, “She indeed is the most delicate + who fainted in consequence of the headache.” The Baital hearing this + speech, went and hung himself from the very same tree, and the Raja, + having gone there and taken him down and fastened him in the bundle and + placed him on his shoulder, carried him away. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0019" id="link2H_4_0019"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE VAMPIRE’S ELEVENTH STORY — Which Puzzles Raja Vikram. + </h2> + <p> + There is a queer time coming, O Raja Vikram!—a queer time coming + (said the Vampire), a queer time coming. Elderly people like you talk + abundantly about the good old days that were, and about the degeneracy of + the days that are. I wonder what you would say if you could but look + forward a few hundred years. + </p> + <p> + Brahmans shall disgrace themselves by becoming soldiers and being killed, + and Serviles (Shudras) shall dishonour themselves by wearing the thread of + the twice-born, and by refusing to be slaves; in fact, society shall be + all “mouth” and mixed castes.<a href="#linknote-173" name="linknoteref-173" + id="linknoteref-173">[173]</a> The courts of justice shall be disused; the + great works of peace shall no longer be undertaken; wars shall last six + weeks, and their causes shall be clean forgotten; the useful arts and + great sciences shall die starved; there shall be no Gems of Science; there + shall be a hospital for destitute kings, those, at least, who do not lose + their heads, and no Vikrama—— + </p> + <p> + A severe shaking stayed for a moment the Vampire’s tongue. + </p> + <p> + He presently resumed. Briefly, building tanks feeding Brahmans; lying when + one ought to lie; suicide, the burning of widows, and the burying of live + children, shall become utterly unfashionable. + </p> + <p> + The consequence of this singular degeneracy, O mighty Vikram, will be that + strangers shall dwell beneath the roof tree in Bharat Khanda (India), and + impure barbarians shall call the land their own. They come from a + wonderful country, and I am most surprised that they bear it. The sky + which ought to be gold and blue is there grey, a kind of dark white; the + sun looks deadly pale, and the moon as if he were dead.<a + href="#linknote-174" name="linknoteref-174" id="linknoteref-174">[174]</a> + The sea, when not dirty green, glistens with yellowish foam, and as you + approach the shore, tall ghastly cliffs, like the skeletons of giants, + stand up to receive or ready to repel. During the greater part of the + sun’s Dakhshanayan (southern declination) the country is covered with a + sort of cold white stuff which dazzles the eyes; and at such times the air + is obscured with what appears to be a shower of white feathers or flocks + of cotton. At other seasons there is a pale glare produced by the mist + clouds which spread themselves over the lower firmament. Even the faces of + the people are white; the men are white when not painted blue; the women + are whiter, and the children are whitest: these indeed often have white + hair. + </p> + <p> + “Truly,” exclaimed Dharma Dhwaj, “says the proverb, ‘Whoso seeth the world + telleth many a lie.’” + </p> + <p> + At present (resumed the Vampire, not heeding the interruption), they run + about naked in the woods, being merely Hindu outcastes. Presently they + will change—the wonderful white Pariahs! They will eat all food + indifferently, domestic fowls, onions, hogs fed in the street, donkeys, + horses, hares, and (most horrible!) the flesh of the sacred cow. They will + imbibe what resembles meat of colocynth, mixed with water, producing a + curious frothy liquid, and a fiery stuff which burns the mouth, for their + milk will be mostly chalk and pulp of brains; they will ignore the sweet + juices of fruits and sugar-cane, and as for the pure element they will + drink it, but only as medicine, They will shave their beards instead of + their heads, and stand upright when they should sit down, and squat upon a + wooden frame instead of a carpet, and appear in red and black like the + children of Yama.<a href="#linknote-175" name="linknoteref-175" + id="linknoteref-175">[175]</a> They will never offer sacrifices to the + manes of ancestors, leaving them after their death to fry in the hottest + of places. Yet will they perpetually quarrel and fight about their faith; + for their tempers are fierce, and they would burst if they could not harm + one another. Even now the children, who amuse themselves with making + puddings on the shore, that is to say, heaping up the sand, always end + their little games with “punching,” which means shutting the hand and + striking one another’s heads, and it is soon found that the children are + the fathers of the men. + </p> + <p> + These wonderful white outcastes will often be ruled by female chiefs, and + it is likely that the habit of prostrating themselves before a woman who + has not the power of cutting off a single head, may account for their + unusual degeneracy and uncleanness. They will consider no occupation so + noble as running after a jackal; they will dance for themselves, holding + on to strange women, and they will take a pride in playing upon + instruments, like young music girls. + </p> + <p> + The women, of course, relying upon the aid of the female chieftains, will + soon emancipate themselves from the rules of modesty. They will eat with + their husbands and with other men, and yawn and sit carelessly before them + showing the backs of their heads. They will impudently quote the words, + “By confinement at home, even under affectionate and observant guardians, + women are not secure, but those are really safe who are guarded by their + own inclinations “; as the poet sang— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Woman obeys one only word, her heart. +</pre> + <p> + They will not allow their husbands to have more than one wife, and even + the single wife will not be his slave when he needs her services, busying + herself in the collection of wealth, in ceremonial purification, and + feminine duty; in the preparation of daily food and in the superintendence + of household utensils. What said Rama of Sita his wife? “If I chanced to + be angry, she bore my impatience like the patient earth without a murmur; + in the hour of necessity she cherished me as a mother does her child; in + the moments of repose she was a lover to me; in times of gladness she was + to me as a friend.” And it is said, “a religious wife assists her husband + in his worship with a spirit as devout as his own. She gives her whole + mind to make him happy; she is as faithful to him as a shadow to the body, + and she esteems him, whether poor or rich, good or bad, handsome or + deformed. In his absence or his sickness she renounces every + gratification; at his death she dies with him, and he enjoys heaven as the + fruit of her virtuous deeds. Whereas if she be guilty of many wicked + actions and he should die first, he must suffer much for the demerits of + his wife.” + </p> + <p> + But these women will talk aloud, and scold as the braying ass, and make + the house a scene of variance, like the snake with the ichneumon, the owl + with the crow, for they have no fear of losing their noses or parting with + their ears. They will (O my mother!) converse with strange men and take + their hands; they will receive presents from them, and, worst of all, they + will show their white faces openly without the least sense of shame; they + will ride publicly in chariots and mount horses, whose points they pride + themselves upon knowing, and eat and drink in crowded places—their + husbands looking on the while, and perhaps even leading them through the + streets. And she will be deemed the pinnacle of the pagoda of perfection, + that most excels in wit and shamelessness, and who can turn to water the + livers of most men. They will dance and sing instead of minding their + children, and when these grow up they will send them out of the house to + shift for themselves, and care little if they never see them again.<a + href="#linknote-176" name="linknoteref-176" id="linknoteref-176">[176]</a> + But the greatest sin of all will be this: when widowed they will ever be + on the look-out for a second husband, and instances will be known of women + fearlessly marrying three, four, and five times.<a href="#linknote-177" + name="linknoteref-177" id="linknoteref-177">[177]</a> You would think that + all this licence satisfies them. But no! The more they have the more their + weak minds covet. The men have admitted them to an equality, they will aim + at an absolute superiority, and claim respect and homage; they will + eternally raise tempests about their rights, and if anyone should venture + to chastise them as they deserve, they would call him a coward and run off + to the judge. + </p> + <p> + The men will, I say, be as wonderful about their women as about all other + matters. The sage of Bharat Khanda guards the frail sex strictly, knowing + its frailty, and avoids teaching it to read and write, which it will + assuredly use for a bad purpose. For women are ever subject to the god<a + href="#linknote-178" name="linknoteref-178" id="linknoteref-178">[178]</a> + with the sugar-cane bow and string of bees, and arrows tipped with heating + blossoms, and to him they will ever surrender man, dhan, tan—mind, + wealth, and body. When, by exceeding cunning, all human precautions have + been made vain, the wise man bows to Fate, and he forgets, or he tries to + forget, the past. Whereas this race of white Pariahs will purposely lead + their women into every kind of temptation, and, when an accident occurs, + they will rage at and accuse them, killing ten thousand with a word, and + cause an uproar, and talk scandal and be scandalized, and go before the + magistrate, and make all the evil as public as possible. One would think + they had in every way done their duty to their women! + </p> + <p> + And when all this change shall have come over them, they will feel + restless and take flight, and fall like locusts upon the Aryavartta (land + of India). Starving in their own country, they will find enough to eat + here, and to carry away also. They will be mischievous as the saw with + which ornament-makers trim their shells, and cut ascending as well as + descending. To cultivate their friendship will be like making a gap in the + water, and their partisans will ever fare worse than their foes. They will + be selfish as crows, which, though they eat every kind of flesh, will not + permit other birds to devour that of the crow. + </p> + <p> + In the beginning they will hire a shop near the mouth of mother Ganges, + and they will sell lead and bullion, fine and coarse woollen cloths, and + all the materials for intoxication. Then they will begin to send for + soldiers beyond the sea, and to enlist warriors in Zambudwipa (India). + They will from shopkeepers become soldiers: they will beat and be beaten; + they will win and lose; but the power of their star and the enchantments + of their Queen Kompani, a daina or witch who can draw the blood out of a + man and slay him with a look, will turn everything to their good. + Presently the noise of their armies shall be as the roaring of the sea; + the dazzling of their arms shall blind the eyes like lightning; their + battle-fields shall be as the dissolution of the world; and the + slaughter-ground shall resemble a garden of plantain trees after a storm. + At length they shall spread like the march of a host of ants over the land + They will swear, “Dehar Ganga<a href="#linknote-179" name="linknoteref-179" + id="linknoteref-179">[179]</a>!” and they hate nothing so much as being + compelled to destroy an army, to take and loot a city, or to add a rich + slip of territory to their rule. And yet they will go on killing and + capturing and adding region to region, till the Abode of Snow (Himalaya) + confines them to the north, the Sindhu-naddi (Incus) to the west, and + elsewhere the sea. Even in this, too, they will demean themselves as lords + and masters, scarcely allowing poor Samudradevta<a href="#linknote-180" + name="linknoteref-180" id="linknoteref-180">[180]</a> to rule his own + waves. + </p> + <p> + Raja Vikram was in a silent mood, otherwise he would not have allowed such + ill-omened discourse to pass uninterrupted. Then the Baital, who in vain + had often paused to give the royal carrier a chance of asking him a + curious question, continued his recital in a dissonant and dissatisfied + tone of voice. + </p> + <p> + By my feet and your head,<a href="#linknote-181" name="linknoteref-181" + id="linknoteref-181">[181]</a> O warrior king! it will fare badly in those + days for the Rajas of Hindustan, when the red-coated men of Shaka<a + href="#linknote-182" name="linknoteref-182" id="linknoteref-182">[182]</a> + shall come amongst them. Listen to my words. + </p> + <p> + In the Vindhya Mountain there will be a city named Dharmapur, whose king + will be called Mahabul. He will be a mighty warrior, well-skilled in the + dhanur-veda (art of war)<a href="#linknote-183" name="linknoteref-183" + id="linknoteref-183">[183]</a>, and will always lead his own armies to the + field. He will duly regard all the omens, such as a storm at the beginning + of the march, an earthquake, the implements of war dropping from the hands + of the soldiery, screaming vultures passing over or walking near the army, + the clouds and the sun’s rays waxing red, thunder in a clear sky, the moon + appearing small as a star, the dropping of blood from the clouds, the + falling of lightning bolts, darkness filling the four quarters of the + heavens, a corpse or a pan of water being carried to the right of the + army, the sight of a female beggar with dishevelled hair, dressed in red, + and preceding the vanguard, the starting of the flesh over the left ribs + of the commander-in-chief, and the weeping or turning back of the horses + when urged forward. + </p> + <p> + He will encourage his men to single combats, and will carefully train them + to gymnastics. Many of the wrestlers and boxers will be so strong that + they will often beat all the extremities of the antagonist into his body, + or break his back, or rend him into two pieces. He will promise heaven to + those who shall die in the front of battle and he will have them taught + certain dreadful expressions of abuse to be interchanged with the enemy + when commencing the contest. Honours will be conferred on those who never + turn their backs in an engagement, who manifest a contempt of death, who + despise fatigue, as well as the most formidable enemies, who shall be + found invincible in every combat, and who display a courage which + increases before danger, like the glory of the sun advancing to his + meridian splendour. + </p> + <p> + But King Mahabul will be attacked by the white Pariahs, who, as usual, + will employ against him gold, fire, and steel. With gold they will win + over his best men, and persuade them openly to desert when the army is + drawn out for battle. They will use the terrible “fire weapon,<a + href="#linknote-184" name="linknoteref-184" id="linknoteref-184">[184]</a>” + large and small tubes, which discharge flame and smoke, and bullets as big + as those hurled by the bow of Bharata.<a href="#linknote-185" + name="linknoteref-185" id="linknoteref-185">[185]</a> And instead of using + swords and shields, they will fix daggers to the end of their tubes, and + thrust with them like lances. + </p> + <p> + Mahabul, distinguished by valour and military skill, will march out of his + city to meet the white foe. In front will be the ensigns, bells, + cows’-tails, and flags, the latter painted with the bird Garura,<a + href="#linknote-186" name="linknoteref-186" id="linknoteref-186">[186]</a> + the bull of Shiva, the Bauhinia tree, the monkey-god Hanuman, the lion and + the tiger, the fish, an alms-dish, and seven palm-trees. Then will come + the footmen armed with fire-tubes, swords and shields, spears and daggers, + clubs, and bludgeons. They will be followed by fighting men on horses and + oxen, on camels and elephants. The musicians, the water-carriers, and + lastly the stores on carriages, will bring up the rear. + </p> + <p> + The white outcastes will come forward in a long thin red thread, and + vomiting fire like the Jwalamukhi.<a href="#linknote-187" + name="linknoteref-187" id="linknoteref-187">[187]</a> King Mahabul will + receive them with his troops formed in a circle; another division will be + in the shape of a halfmoon; a third like a cloud, whilst others shall + represent a lion, a tiger, a carriage, a lily, a giant, and a bull. But as + the elephants will all turn round when they feel the fire, and trample + upon their own men, and as the cavalry defiling in front of the host will + openly gallop away; Mahabul, being thus without resource, will enter his + palanquin, and accompanied by his queen and their only daughter, will + escape at night-time into the forest. + </p> + <p> + The unfortunate three will be deserted by their small party, and live for + a time on jungle food, fruits and roots; they will even be compelled to + eat game. After some days they will come in sight of a village, which + Mahabul will enter to obtain victuals. There the wild Bhils, famous for + long years, will come up, and surrounding the party, will bid the Raja + throw down his arms. Thereupon Mahabul, skilful in aiming, twanging and + wielding the bow on all sides, so as to keep off the bolts of the enemy, + will discharge his bolts so rapidly, that one will drive forward another, + and none of the barbarians will be able to approach. But he will have + failed to bring his quiver containing an inexhaustible store of arms, some + of which, pointed with diamonds, shall have the faculty of returning again + to their case after they have done their duty. The conflict will continue + three hours, and many of the Bhils will be slain: at length a shaft will + cleave the king’s skull, he will fall dead, and one of the wild men will + come up and cut off his head. + </p> + <p> + When the queen and the princess shall have seen that Mahabul fell dead, + they will return to the forest weeping and beating their bosoms. They will + thus escape the Bhils, and after journeying on for four miles, at length + they will sit down wearied, and revolve many thoughts in their minds. + </p> + <p> + They are very lovely (continued the Vampire), as I see them with the eye + of clear-seeing. What beautiful hair! it hangs down like the tail of the + cow of Tartary, or like the thatch of a house; it is shining as oil, dark + as the clouds, black as blackness itself. What charming faces! likest to + water-lilies, with eyes as the stones in unripe mangos, noses resembling + the beaks of parrots, teeth like pearls set in corals, ears like those of + the redthroated vulture, and mouths like the water of life. What excellent + forms! breasts like boxes containing essences, the unopened fruit of + plantains or a couple of crabs; loins the width of a span, like the middle + of the viol; legs like the trunk of an elephant, and feet like the yellow + lotus. + </p> + <p> + And a fearful place is that jungle, a dense dark mass of thorny shrubs, + and ropy creepers, and tall canes, and tangled brake, and gigantic gnarled + trees, which groan wildly in the night wind’s embrace. But a wilder horror + urges the unhappy women on; they fear the polluting touch of the Bhils; + once more they rise and plunge deeper into its gloomy depths. + </p> + <p> + The day dawns. The white Pariahs have done their usual work, They have cut + off the hands of some, the feet and heads of others, whilst many they have + crushed into shapeless masses, or scattered in pieces upon the ground. The + field is strewed with corpses, the river runs red, so that the dogs and + jackals swim in blood; the birds of prey sitting on the branches, drink + man’s life from the stream, and enjoy the sickening smell of burnt flesh. + </p> + <p> + Such will be the scenes acted in the fair land of Bharat. + </p> + <p> + Perchance two white outcastes, father and son, who with a party of men are + scouring the forest and slaying everything, fall upon the path which the + women have taken shortly before. Their attention is attracted by + footprints leading towards a place full of tigers, leopards, bears, + wolves, and wild dogs. And they are utterly confounded when, after + inspection, they discover the sex of the wanderers. + </p> + <p> + “How is it,” shall say the father, “that the footprints of mortals are + seen in this part of the forest?” + </p> + <p> + The son shall reply, “Sir, these are the marks of women’s feet: a man’s + foot would not be so small.” + </p> + <p> + “It is passing strange,” shall rejoin the elder white Pariah, “but thou + speakest truth. Certainly such a soft and delicate foot cannot belong to + anyone but a woman.” + </p> + <p> + “They have only just left the track,” shall continue the son, “and look! + this is the step of a married woman. See how she treads on the inside of + her sole, because of the bending of her ankles.” And the younger white + outcaste shall point to the queen’s footprints. + </p> + <p> + “Come, let us search the forest for them,” shall cry the father, “what an + opportunity of finding wives fortune has thrown in our hands. But no! thou + art in error,” he shall continue, after examining the track pointed out by + his son, “in supposing this to be the sign of a matron. Look at the other, + it is much longer; the toes have scarcely touched the ground, whereas the + marks of the heels are deep. Of a truth this must be the married woman.” + And the elder white outcaste shall point to the footprints of the + princess. + </p> + <p> + “Then,” shall reply the son, who admires the shorter foot, “let us first + seek them, and when we find them, give to me her who has the short feet, + and take the other to wife thyself.” + </p> + <p> + Having made this agreement they shall proceed on their way, and presently + they shall find the women lying on the earth, half dead with fatigue and + fear. Their legs and feet are scratched and torn by brambles, their + ornaments have fallen off, and their garments are in strips. The two white + outcastes find little difficulty, the first surprise over, in persuading + the unhappy women to follow them home, and with great delight, conformably + to their arrangement, each takes up his prize on his horse and rides back + to the tents. The son takes the queen, and the father the princess. + </p> + <p> + In due time two marriages come to pass; the father, according to + agreement, espouses the long foot, and the son takes to wife the short + foot. And after the usual interval, the elder white outcaste, who had + married the daughter, rejoices at the birth of a boy, and the younger + white outcaste, who had married the mother, is gladdened by the sight of a + girl. + </p> + <p> + Now then, by my feet and your head, O warrior king Vikram, answer me one + question. What relationship will there be between the children of the two + white Pariahs? + </p> + <p> + Vikram’s brow waxed black as a charcoal-burner’s, when he again heard the + most irreverent oath ever proposed to mortal king. The question presently + attracted his attention, and he turned over the Baital’s words in his + head, confusing the ties of filiality, brotherhood, and relationship, and + connection in general. + </p> + <p> + “Hem!” said the warrior king, at last perplexed, and remembering, in his + perplexity, that he had better hold his tongue—“ahem!” + </p> + <p> + “I think your majesty spoke?” asked the Vampire, in an inquisitive and + insinuating tone of voice. + </p> + <p> + “Hem!” ejaculated the monarch. + </p> + <p> + The Baital held his peace for a few minutes, coughing once or twice + impatiently. He suspected that the extraordinary nature of this last tale, + combined with the use of the future tense, had given rise to a taciturnity + so unexpected in the warrior king. He therefore asked if Vikram the Brave + would not like to hear another little anecdote. + </p> + <p> + This time the king did not even say “hem!” Having walked at an unusually + rapid pace, he distinguished at a distance the fire kindled by the + devotee, and he hurried towards it with an effort which left him no breath + wherewith to speak, even had he been so inclined. + </p> + <p> + “Since your majesty is so completely dumbfoundered by it, perhaps this + acute young prince may be able to answer my question?” insinuated the + Baital, after a few minutes of anxious suspense. + </p> + <p> + But Dharma Dhwaj answered not a syllable. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + CONCLUSION. +</pre> + <p> + At Raja Vikram’s silence the Baital was greatly surprised, and he praised + the royal courage and resolution to the skies. Still he did not give up + the contest at once. + </p> + <p> + “Allow me, great king,” pursued the Demon, in a dry tone of voice, “to + wish you joy. After so many failures you have at length succeeded in + repressing your loquacity. I will not stop to enquire whether it was + humility and self-restraint which prevented your answering my last + question, or whether Rajait was mere ignorance and inability. Of course I + suspect the latter, but to say the truth your condescension in at last + taking a Vampire’s advice, flatters me so much, that I will not look too + narrowly into cause or motive.” + </p> + <p> + Raja Vikram winced, but maintained a stubborn silence, squeezing his lips + lest they should open involuntarily. + </p> + <p> + “Now, however, your majesty has mortified, we will suppose, a somewhat + exacting vanity, I also will in my turn forego the pleasure which I had + anticipated in seeing you a corpse and in entering your royal body for a + short time, just to know how queer it must feel to be a king. And what is + more, I will now perform my original promise, and you shall derive from me + a benefit which none but myself can bestow. First, however, allow me to + ask you, will you let me have a little more air?” + </p> + <p> + Dharma Dhwaj pulled his father’s sleeve, but this time Raja Vikram + required no reminder: wild horses or the executioner’s saw, beginning at + the shoulder, would not have drawn a word from him. Observing his + obstinate silence, the Baital, with an ominous smile, continued: + </p> + <p> + “Now give ear, O warrior king, to what I am about to tell thee, and bear + in mind the giant’s saying, ‘A man is justified in killing one who has a + design to kill him.’ The young merchant Mal Deo, who placed such + magnificent presents at your royal feet, and Shanta-Shil the devotee + saint, who works his spells, incantations, and magical rites in a cemetery + on the banks of the Godaveri river, are, as thou knowest, one person—the + terrible Jogi, whose wrath your father aroused in his folly, and whose + revenge your blood alone can satisfy. With regard to myself, the oilman’s + son, the same Jogi, fearing lest I might interfere with his projects of + universal dominion, slew me by the power of his penance, and has kept me + suspended, a trap for you, head downwards from the sires-tree. + </p> + <p> + “That Jogi it was, you now know, who sent you to fetch me back to him on + your back. And when you cast me at his feet he will return thanks to you + and praise your valour, perseverance and resolution to the skies. I warn + you to beware. He will lead you to the shrine of Durga, and when he has + finished his adoration he will say to you, ‘O great king, salute my deity + with the eight-limbed reverence.’” + </p> + <p> + Here the Vampire whispered for a time and in a low tone, lest some + listening goblin might carry his words if spoken out loud to the ears of + the devotee Shanta-Shil. + </p> + <p> + At the end of the monologue a rustling sound was heard. It proceeded from + the Baital, who was disengaging himself from the dead body in the bundle, + and the burden became sensibly lighter upon the monarch’s back. + </p> + <p> + The departing Baital, however, did not forget to bid farewell to the + warrior king and to his son. He complimented the former for the last time, + in his own way, upon the royal humility and the prodigious + self-mortification which he had displayed—qualities, he remarked, + which never failed to ensure the proprietor’s success in all the worlds. + </p> + <p> + Raja Vikram stepped out joyfully, and soon reached the burning ground. + There he found the Jogi, dressed in his usual habit, a deerskin thrown + over his back, and twisted reeds instead of a garment hanging round his + loins. The hair had fallen from his limbs and his skin was bleached + ghastly white by exposure to the elements. A fire seemed to proceed from + his mouth, and the matted locks dropping from his head to the ground were + changed by the rays of the sun to the colour of gold or saffron. He had + the beard of a goat and the ornaments of a king; his shoulders were high + and his arms long, reaching to his knees: his nails grew to such a length + as to curl round the ends of his fingers, and his feet resembled those of + a tiger. He was drumming upon a skull, and incessantly exclaiming, “Ho, + Kali! ho, Durga! ho, Devi!” + </p> + <p> + As before, strange beings were holding their carnival in the Jogi’s + presence. Monstrous Asuras, giant goblins, stood grimly gazing upon the + scene with fixed eyes and motionless features. Rakshasas and messengers of + Yama, fierce and hideous, assumed at pleasure the shapes of foul and + ferocious beasts. Nagas and Bhutas, partly human and partly bestial, + disported themselves in throngs about the upper air, and were dimly seen + in the faint light of the dawn. Mighty Daityas, Bramba-daityas, and + Pretas, the size of a man’s thumb, or dried up like leaves, and Pisachas + of terrible power guarded the place. There were enormous goats, vivified + by the spirits of those who had slain Brahmans; things with the bodies of + men and the faces of horses, camels and monkeys; hideous worms containing + the souls of those priests who had drunk spirituous liquors; men with one + leg and one ear, and mischievous blood-sucking demons, who in life had + stolen church property. There were vultures, wretches that had violated + the beds of their spiritual fathers, restless ghosts that had loved + low-caste women, shades for whom funeral rites had not been performed, and + who could not cross the dread Vaitarani stream,<a href="#linknote-188" + name="linknoteref-188" id="linknoteref-188">[188]</a> and vital souls + fresh from the horrors of Tamisra, or utter darkness, and the Usipatra + Vana, or the sword-leaved forest. Pale spirits, Alayas, Gumas, Baitals, + and Yakshas,<a href="#linknote-189" name="linknoteref-189" + id="linknoteref-189">[189]</a> beings of a base and vulgar order, glided + over the ground, amongst corpses and skeletons animated by female fiends, + Dakinis, Yoginis, Hakinis, and Shankinis, which were dancing in frightful + revelry. The air was filled with supernatural sights and sounds, cries of + owls and jackals, cats and crows, dogs, asses, and vultures, high above + which rose the clashing of the bones with which the Jogi sat drumming upon + the skull before him, and tending a huge cauldron of oil whose smoke was + of blue fire. But as he raised his long lank arm, silver-white with ashes, + the demons fled, and a momentary silence succeeded to their uproar. The + tigers ceased to roar and the elephants to scream; the bears raised their + snouts from their foul banquets, and the wolves dropped from their jaws + the remnants of human flesh. And when they disappeared, the hooting of the + owl, and ghastly “ha! ha!” of the curlew, and the howling of the jackal + died away in the far distance, leaving a silence still more oppressive. + </p> + <p> + As Raja Vikram entered the burning-ground, the hollow sound of solitude + alone met his ear. Sadly wailed the wet autumnal blast. The tall gaunt + trees groaned aloud, and bowed and trembled like slaves bending before + their masters. Huge purple clouds and patches and lines of glaring white + mist coursed furiously across the black expanse of firmament, discharging + threads and chains and lozenges and balls of white and blue, purple and + pink lightning, followed by the deafening crash and roll of thunder, the + dreadful roaring of the mighty wind, and the torrents of plashing rain. At + times was heard in the distance the dull gurgling of the swollen river, + interrupted by explosions, as slips of earth-bank fell headlong into the + stream. But once more the Jogi raised his arm and all was still: nature + lay breathless, as if awaiting the effect of his tremendous spells. + </p> + <p> + The warrior king drew near the terrible man, unstrung his bundle from his + back, untwisted the portion which he held, threw open the cloth, and + exposed to Shanta-Shil’s glittering eyes the corpse, which had now + recovered its proper form—that of a young child. Seeing it, the + devotee was highly pleased, and thanked Vikram the Brave, extolling his + courage and daring above any monarch that had yet lived. After which he + repeated certain charms facing towards the south, awakened the dead body, + and placed it in a sitting position. He then in its presence sacrificed to + his goddess, the White One,<a href="#linknote-190" name="linknoteref-190" + id="linknoteref-190">[190]</a> all that he had ready by his side—betel + leaf and flowers, sandal wood and unbroken rice, fruits, perfumes, and the + flesh of man untouched by steel. Lastly, he half filled his skull with + burning embers, blew upon them till they shot forth tongues of crimson + light, serving as a lamp, and motioning the Raja and his son to follow + him, led the way to a little fane of the Destroying Deity erected in a + dark clump of wood, outside and close to the burning ground. + </p> + <p> + They passed through the quadrangular outer court of the temple whose + piazza was hung with deep shade.<a href="#linknote-191" + name="linknoteref-191" id="linknoteref-191">[191]</a> In silence they + circumambulated the small central shrine, and whenever Shanta-Shil + directed, Raja Vikram entered the Sabha, or vestibule, and struck three + times upon the gong, which gave forth a loud and warning sound. + </p> + <p> + They then passed over the threshold, and looked into the gloomy inner + depths. There stood Smashana-Kali,<a href="#linknote-192" + name="linknoteref-192" id="linknoteref-192">[192]</a> the goddess, in her + most horrid form. She was a naked and very black woman, with half-severed + head, partly cut and partly painted, resting on her shoulder; and her + tongue lolled out from her wide yawning mouth<a href="#linknote-193" + name="linknoteref-193" id="linknoteref-193">[193]</a>; her eyes were red + like those of a drunkard; and her eyebrows were of the same colour: her + thick coarse hair hung like a mantle to her heels. She was robed in an + elephant’s hide, dried and withered, confined at the waist with a belt + composed of the hands of the giants whom she had slain in war: two dead + bodies formed her earrings, and her necklace was of bleached skulls. Her + four arms supported a scimitar, a noose, a trident, and a ponderous mace. + She stood with one leg on the breast of her husband, Shiva, and she rested + the other on his thigh. Before the idol lay the utensils of worship, + namely, dishes for the offerings, lamps, jugs, incense, copper cups, + conches and gongs; and all of them smelt of blood. + </p> + <p> + As Raja Vikram and his son stood gazing upon the hideous spectacle, the + devotee stooped down to place his skull-lamp upon the ground, and drew + from out his ochre-coloured cloth a sharp sword which he hid behind his + back. + </p> + <p> + “Prosperity to thine and thy son’s for ever and ever, O mighty Vikram!” + exclaimed Shanta-Shil, after he had muttered a prayer before the image. + “Verily thou hast right royally redeemed thy pledge, and by the virtue of + thy presence all my wishes shall presently be accomplished. Behold! the + Sun is about to drive his car over the eastern hills, and our task now + ends. Do thou reverence before this my deity, worshipping the earth + through thy nose, and so prostrating thyself that thy eight limbs may + touch the ground.<a href="#linknote-194" name="linknoteref-194" + id="linknoteref-194">[194]</a> Thus shall thy glory and splendour be + great; the Eight Powers<a href="#linknote-195" name="linknoteref-195" + id="linknoteref-195">[195]</a> and the Nine Treasures shall be thine, and + prosperity shall ever remain under thy roof-tree.” + </p> + <p> + Raja Vikram, hearing these words, recalled suddenly to mind all that the + Vampire had whispered to him. He brought his joined hands open up to his + forehead, caused his two thumbs to touch his brow several times, and + replied with the greatest humility, + </p> + <p> + “O pious person! I am a king ignorant of the way to do such obeisance. + Thou art a spiritual preceptor: be pleased to teach me and I will do even + as thou desirest.” + </p> + <p> + Then the Jogi, being a cunning man, fell into his own net. As he bent him + down to salute the goddess, Vikram, drawing his sword, struck him upon the + neck so violent a blow, that his head rolled from his body upon the + ground. At the same moment Dharma Dhwaj, seizing his father’s arm, pulled + him out of the way in time to escape being crushed by the image, which + fell with the sound of thunder upon the floor of the temple. + </p> + <p> + A small thin voice in the upper air was heard to cry, “A man is justified + in killing one who has the desire to kill him.” Then glad shouts of + triumph and victory were heard in all directions. They proceeded from the + celestial choristers, the heavenly dancers, the mistresses of the gods, + and the nymphs of Indra’s Paradise, who left their beds of gold and + precious stones, their seats glorious as the meridian sun, their canals of + crystal water, their perfumed groves, and their gardens where the wind + ever blows in softest breezes, to applaud the valour and good fortune of + the warrior king. + </p> + <p> + At last the brilliant god, Indra himself, with the thousand eyes, rising + from the shade of the Parigat tree, the fragrance of whose flowers fills + the heavens, appeared in his car drawn by yellow steeds and cleaving the + thick vapours which surround the earth—whilst his attendants sounded + the heavenly drums and rained a shower of blossoms and perfumes—bade + the Vikramajit the Brave ask a boon. + </p> + <p> + The Raja joined his hands and respectfully replied, + </p> + <p> + “O mighty ruler of the lower firmament, let this my history become famous + throughout the world!” + </p> + <p> + “It is well,” rejoined the god. “As long as the sun and moon endure, and + the sky looks down upon the ground, so long shall this thy adventure be + remembered over all the earth. Meanwhile rule thou mankind.” + </p> + <p> + Thus saying, Indra retired to the delicious Amrawati<a href="#linknote-196" + name="linknoteref-196" id="linknoteref-196">[196]</a> Vikram took up the + corpses and threw them into the cauldron which Shanta-Shil had been + tending. At once two heroes started into life, and Vikram said to them, + “When I call you, come!” + </p> + <p> + With these mysterious words the king, followed by his son, returned to the + palace unmolested. As the Vampire had predicted, everything was prosperous + to him, and he presently obtained the remarkable titles, Sakaro, or foe of + the Sakas, and Sakadhipati-Vikramaditya. + </p> + <p> + And when, after a long and happy life spent in bringing the world under + the shadow of one umbrella, and in ruling it free from care, the warrior + king Vikram entered the gloomy realms of Yama, from whom for mortals there + is no escape, he left behind him a name that endured amongst men like the + odour of the flower whose memory remains long after its form has mingled + with the dust.<a href="#linknote-197" name="linknoteref-197" + id="linknoteref-197">[197]</a> + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_FOOT" id="link2H_FOOT"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + FOOTNOTES + </h2> + <p> + <a name="linknote-1" id="linknote-1"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 1 (<a href="#linknoteref-1">return</a>)<br /> [ Metamorphoseon, seu de + Asino Aureo, libri Xl. The well known and beautiful episode is in the + fourth, the fifth, and the sixth books.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-2" id="linknote-2"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 2 (<a href="#linknoteref-2">return</a>)<br /> [ This ceremony will be + explained in a future page.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-3" id="linknote-3"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 3 (<a href="#linknoteref-3">return</a>)<br /> [ A common exclamation of + sorrow, surprise, fear, and other emotions. It is especially used by + women.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-4" id="linknote-4"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 4 (<a href="#linknoteref-4">return</a>)<br /> [ Quoted from view of the + Hindoos, by William Ward, of Serampore (vol. i. p. 25).] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-5" id="linknote-5"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 5 (<a href="#linknoteref-5">return</a>)<br /> [ In Sanskrit, + Vetala-pancha-Vinshati. “Baital” is the modern form of “Vetala”.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-6" id="linknote-6"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 6 (<a href="#linknoteref-6">return</a>)<br /> [ In Arabic, Badpai el + Hakim.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-7" id="linknote-7"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 7 (<a href="#linknoteref-7">return</a>)<br /> [ Dictionnaire philosophique + sub v. “Apocryphes.”] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-8" id="linknote-8"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 8 (<a href="#linknoteref-8">return</a>)<br /> [ I do not mean that rhymes + were not known before the days of Al-Islam, but that the Arabs popularized + assonance and consonance in Southern Europe.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-9" id="linknote-9"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 9 (<a href="#linknoteref-9">return</a>)<br /> [ “Vikrama” means “valour” or + “prowess.”] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-10" id="linknote-10"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 10 (<a href="#linknoteref-10">return</a>)<br /> [ Mr. Ward of Serampore is + unable to quote the names of more than nine out of the eighteen, namely: + Sanskrit, Prakrit, Naga, Paisacha, Gandharba, Rakshasa, Ardhamagadi, Apa, + and Guhyaka—most of them being the languages of different orders of + fabulous beings. He tells us, however, that an account of these dialects + may be found in the work called Pingala.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-11" id="linknote-11"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 11 (<a href="#linknoteref-11">return</a>)<br /> [ Translated by Sir Wm. + Jones, 1789; and by Professor Williams, 1856.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-12" id="linknote-12"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 12 (<a href="#linknoteref-12">return</a>)<br /> [ Translated by Professor + H. H. Wilson.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-13" id="linknote-13"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 13 (<a href="#linknoteref-13">return</a>)<br /> [ The time was propitious + to savans. Whilst Vikramaditya lived, Magha, another king, caused to be + written a poem called after his name For each verse he is said to have + paid to learned men a gold piece, which amounted to a total of 5,280l.—a + large sum in those days, which preceded those of Paradise Lost. About the + same period Karnata, a third king, was famed for patronizing the learned + men who rose to honour at Vikram’s court. Dhavaka, a poet of nearly the + same period, received from King Shriharsha the magnificent present of + 10,000l. for a poem called the Ratna-Mala.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-14" id="linknote-14"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 14 (<a href="#linknoteref-14">return</a>)<br /> [ Lieut. Wilford supports + the theory that there were eight Vikramadityas, the last of whom + established the era. For further particulars, the curious reader will + consult Lassen’s Anthologia, and Professor H. H. Wilson’s Essay on Vikram + (New), As. Red.. ix. 117.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-15" id="linknote-15"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 15 (<a href="#linknoteref-15">return</a>)<br /> [ History tells us another + tale. The god Indra and the King of Dhara gave the kingdom to + Bhartari-hari, another son of Gandhar-ba-Sena, by a handmaiden. For some + time, the brothers lived together; but presently they quarrelled. Vikram + being dismissed from court, wandered from place to place in abject + poverty, and at one time hired himself as a servant to a merchant living + in Guzerat. At length, Bhartari-hari, disgusted with the world on account + of the infidelity of his wife, to whom he was ardently attached, became a + religious devotee, and left the kingdom to its fate. In the course of his + travels, Vikram came to Ujjayani, and finding it without a head, assumed + the sovereignty. He reigned with great splendour, conquering by his arms + Utkala, Vanga, Kuch-bahar, Guzerat, Somnat, Delhi, and other places; + until, in his turn, he was conquered, and slain by Shalivahan.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-16" id="linknote-16"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 16 (<a href="#linknoteref-16">return</a>)<br /> [ The words are found, says + Mr. Ward, in the Hindu History compiled by Mrityungaya.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-17" id="linknote-17"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 17 (<a href="#linknoteref-17">return</a>)<br /> [ These duties of kings are + thus laid down in the Rajtarangini. It is evident, as Professor H. H. + Wilson says, that the royal status was by no means a sinecure. But the + rules are evidently the closet work of some pedantic, dogmatic Brahman, + teaching kingcraft to kings. He directs his instructions, not to + subordinate judges, but to the Raja as the chief magistrate, and through + him to all appointed for the administration of his justice.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-18" id="linknote-18"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 18 (<a href="#linknoteref-18">return</a>)<br /> [ Lunus, not Luna.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-19" id="linknote-19"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 19 (<a href="#linknoteref-19">return</a>)<br /> [ That is to say, “upon an + empty stomach.”] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-20" id="linknote-20"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 20 (<a href="#linknoteref-20">return</a>)<br /> [ There are three sandhyas + amongst the Hindus—morning, mid-day, and sunset; and all three are + times for prayer.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-21" id="linknote-21"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 21 (<a href="#linknoteref-21">return</a>)<br /> [ The Hindu Cupid.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-22" id="linknote-22"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 22 (<a href="#linknoteref-22">return</a>)<br /> [ Patali, the regions + beneath the earth.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-23" id="linknote-23"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 23 (<a href="#linknoteref-23">return</a>)<br /> [ The Hindu Triad.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-24" id="linknote-24"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 24 (<a href="#linknoteref-24">return</a>)<br /> [ Or Avanti, also called + Padmavati. It is the first meridian of the Hindus, who found their + longitude by observation of lunar eclipses, calculated for it and Lanka, + or Ceylon. The clepsydra was used for taking time.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-25" id="linknote-25"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 25 (<a href="#linknoteref-25">return</a>)<br /> [ In the original only the + husband “practiced austere devotion.” For the benefit of those amongst + whom the “pious wife” is an institution, I have extended the privilege.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-26" id="linknote-26"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 26 (<a href="#linknoteref-26">return</a>)<br /> [ A Moslem would say, “This + is our fate.” A Hindu refers at once to metempsychosis, as naturally as a + modern Swedenborgian to spiritism.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-27" id="linknote-27"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 27 (<a href="#linknoteref-27">return</a>)<br /> [ In Europe, money buys + this world, and delivers you from the pains of purgatory; amongst the + Hindus, it furthermore opens the gate of heaven.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-28" id="linknote-28"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 28 (<a href="#linknoteref-28">return</a>)<br /> [ This part of the + introduction will remind the reader of the two royal brothers and their + false wives in the introduction to the Arabian Nights. The fate of + Bhartari Raja, however, is historical.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-29" id="linknote-29"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 29 (<a href="#linknoteref-29">return</a>)<br /> [ In the original, “Div”—a + supernatural being god, or demon. This part of the plot is variously told. + According to some, Raja Vikram was surprised, when entering the city to + see a grand procession at the house of a potter and a boy being carried + off on an elephant to the violent grief of his parents The King inquired + the reason of their sorrow, and was told that the wicked Div that guarded + the city was in the habit of eating a citizen per diem. Whereupon the + valorous Raja caused the boy to dismount; took his place; entered the + palace; and, when presented as food for the demon, displayed his + pugilistic powers in a way to excite the monsters admiration.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-30" id="linknote-30"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 30 (<a href="#linknoteref-30">return</a>)<br /> [ In India, there is still + a monastic order the pleasant duty of whose members is to enjoy themselves + as much as possible. It has been much the same in Europe. + “Representez-vous le convent de l’Escurial ou du Mont Cassin, ou les + cenobites ont toutes sortes de commodities, necessaires, utiles, + delectables, superflues, surabondantes, puisqu’ils ont les cent cinquante + mille, les quatre cent mille, les cinq cent mille ecus de rente; et jugez + si monsieur l’abbe a de quoi laisser dormir la meridienne a ceux qui + voudront.”—Saint Augustin, de l’Ouvrage des Moines, by Le Camus, + Bishop of Belley, quoted by Voltaire, Dict. Phil., sub v. “Apocalypse.”] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-31" id="linknote-31"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 31 (<a href="#linknoteref-31">return</a>)<br /> [ This form of matrimony + was recognized by the ancient Hindus, and is frequent in books. It is a + kind of Scotch wedding—ultra-Caledonian—taking place by mutual + consent, without any form or ceremony. The Gandharbas are heavenly + minstrels of Indra’s court, who are supposed to be witnesses.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-32" id="linknote-32"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 32 (<a href="#linknoteref-32">return</a>)<br /> [ The Hindu Saturnalia.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-33" id="linknote-33"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 33 (<a href="#linknoteref-33">return</a>)<br /> [ The powders are of + wheaten flour, mixed with wild ginger-root, sappan-wood, and other + ingredients. Sometimes the stuff is thrown in syringes.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-34" id="linknote-34"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 34 (<a href="#linknoteref-34">return</a>)<br /> [ The Persian proverb is—“Bala + e tavilah bar sat i maimun”: “The woes of the stable be on the monkey’s + head!” In some Moslem countries a hog acts prophylactic. Hence probably + Mungo Park’s troublesome pig at Ludamar.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-35" id="linknote-35"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 35 (<a href="#linknoteref-35">return</a>)<br /> [ So the moribund father of + the “babes in the wood” lectures his wicked brother, their guardian: “To + God and you I recommend My children deare this day: But little while, be + sure, we have Within this world to stay.” But, to appeal to the moral + sense of a goldsmith!] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-36" id="linknote-36"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 36 (<a href="#linknoteref-36">return</a>)<br /> [ Maha (great) raja (king): + common address even to those who are not royal.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-37" id="linknote-37"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 37 (<a href="#linknoteref-37">return</a>)<br /> [ The name means. + “Quietistic Disposition.”] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-38" id="linknote-38"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 38 (<a href="#linknoteref-38">return</a>)<br /> [ August. In the + solar-lunar year of the Hindu the months are divided into fortnights—light + and dark.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-39" id="linknote-39"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 39 (<a href="#linknoteref-39">return</a>)<br /> [ A flower, whose name + frequently occurs in Sanskrit poetry.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-40" id="linknote-40"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 40 (<a href="#linknoteref-40">return</a>)<br /> [ The stars being men’s + souls raised to the sky for a time pro portioned to their virtuous deeds + on earth.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-41" id="linknote-41"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 41 (<a href="#linknoteref-41">return</a>)<br /> [ A measure of length, each + two miles.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-42" id="linknote-42"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 42 (<a href="#linknoteref-42">return</a>)<br /> [ The warm region below.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-43" id="linknote-43"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 43 (<a href="#linknoteref-43">return</a>)<br /> [ Hindus admire only glossy + black hair; the “bonny brown hair” loved by our ballads is assigned by + them to low-caste men, witches, and fiends.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-44" id="linknote-44"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 44 (<a href="#linknoteref-44">return</a>)<br /> [ A large kind of bat; a + popular and silly Anglo-Indian name. It almost justified the irate + Scotchman in calling “prodigious leears” those who told him in India that + foxes flew and tress were tapped for toddy.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-45" id="linknote-45"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 45 (<a href="#linknoteref-45">return</a>)<br /> [ The Hindus, like the + European classics and other ancient peoples, reckon four ages:—The + Satya Yug, or Golden Age, numbered 1,728,000 years: the second, or Treta + Yug, comprised 1,296,000; the Dwapar Yug had 864,000 and the present, the + Kali Yug, has shrunk to 832,000 years.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-46" id="linknote-46"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 46 (<a href="#linknoteref-46">return</a>)<br /> [ Especially alluding to + prayer. On this point, Southey justly remarks (Preface to Curse of + Kehama): “In the religion of the Hindoos there is one remarkable + peculiarity. Prayers, penances, and sacrifices are supposed to possess an + inherent and actual value, in one degree depending upon the disposition or + motive of the person who performs them. They are drafts upon heaven for + which the gods cannot refuse payment. The worst men, bent upon the worst + designs, have in this manner obtained power which has made them formidable + to the supreme deities themselves.” Moreover, the Hindu gods hear the + prayers of those who desire the evil of others. Hence when a rich man + becomes poor, his friends say, “See how sharp are men’s teeth!” and, “He + is ruined because others could not bear to see his happiness!”] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-47" id="linknote-47"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 47 (<a href="#linknoteref-47">return</a>)<br /> [ A pond, natural or + artificial; in the latter case often covering an extent of ten to twelve + acres.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-48" id="linknote-48"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 48 (<a href="#linknoteref-48">return</a>)<br /> [ The Hindustani “gilahri,” + or little grey squirrel, whose twittering cry is often mistaken for a + bird’s.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-49" id="linknote-49"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 49 (<a href="#linknoteref-49">return</a>)<br /> [ The autumn or rather the + rainy season personified—a hackneyed Hindu prosopopoeia.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-50" id="linknote-50"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 50 (<a href="#linknoteref-50">return</a>)<br /> [ Light conversation upon + the subject of women is a persona offence to serious-minded Hindus.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-51" id="linknote-51"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 51 (<a href="#linknoteref-51">return</a>)<br /> [ Cupid in his two forms, + Eros and Anteros.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-52" id="linknote-52"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 52 (<a href="#linknoteref-52">return</a>)<br /> [ This is true to life in + the East, women make the first advances, and men do the begueules.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-53" id="linknote-53"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 53 (<a href="#linknoteref-53">return</a>)<br /> [ Raja-hans, a large grey + goose, the Hindu equivalent for our swan.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-54" id="linknote-54"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 54 (<a href="#linknoteref-54">return</a>)<br /> [ Properly Karnatak; karna + in Sanskrit means an ear.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-55" id="linknote-55"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 55 (<a href="#linknoteref-55">return</a>)<br /> [ Danta in Sanskrit is a + tooth.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-56" id="linknote-56"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 56 (<a href="#linknoteref-56">return</a>)<br /> [ Padma means a foot.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-57" id="linknote-57"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 57 (<a href="#linknoteref-57">return</a>)<br /> [ A common Hindu phrase + equivalent to our “I manage to get on.”] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-58" id="linknote-58"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 58 (<a href="#linknoteref-58">return</a>)<br /> [ Meaning marriage + maternity, and so forth.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-59" id="linknote-59"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 59 (<a href="#linknoteref-59">return</a>)<br /> [ Yama is Pluto; ‘mother of + Yama’ is generally applied to an old scold.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-60" id="linknote-60"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 60 (<a href="#linknoteref-60">return</a>)<br /> [ Snake-land: the infernal + region.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-61" id="linknote-61"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 61 (<a href="#linknoteref-61">return</a>)<br /> [ A form of abuse given to + Durga, who was the mother of Ganesha (Janus); the latter had an elephant’s + head.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-62" id="linknote-62"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 62 (<a href="#linknoteref-62">return</a>)<br /> [ Unexpected pleasure, + according to the Hindus, gives a bristly elevation to the down of the + body.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-63" id="linknote-63"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 63 (<a href="#linknoteref-63">return</a>)<br /> [ The Hindus banish + “flasks,” et hoc genus omne, from these scenes, and perhaps they are + right.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-64" id="linknote-64"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 64 (<a href="#linknoteref-64">return</a>)<br /> [ The Pankha, or large + common fan, is a leaf of the Corypha umbraculifera, with the petiole cut + to the length of about five feet, pared round the edges and painted to + look pretty. It is waved by the servant standing behind a chair.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-65" id="linknote-65"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 65 (<a href="#linknoteref-65">return</a>)<br /> [ The fabulous mass of + precious stones forming the sacred mountain of Hindu mythology.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-66" id="linknote-66"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 66 (<a href="#linknoteref-66">return</a>)<br /> [ “I love my love with an + ‘S,’ because he is stupid and not pyschological.”] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-67" id="linknote-67"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 67 (<a href="#linknoteref-67">return</a>)<br /> [ Hindu mythology has also + its Cerberus, Trisisa, the “three headed” hound that attends dreadful Yama + (Pluto)] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-68" id="linknote-68"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 68 (<a href="#linknoteref-68">return</a>)<br /> [ Parceque c’est la saison + des amours.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-69" id="linknote-69"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 69 (<a href="#linknoteref-69">return</a>)<br /> [ The police magistrate, + the Catual of Camoens.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-70" id="linknote-70"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 70 (<a href="#linknoteref-70">return</a>)<br /> [ The seat of a Hindu + ascetic.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-71" id="linknote-71"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 71 (<a href="#linknoteref-71">return</a>)<br /> [ The Hindu scriptures.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-72" id="linknote-72"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 72 (<a href="#linknoteref-72">return</a>)<br /> [ The Goddess of + Prosperity.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-73" id="linknote-73"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 73 (<a href="#linknoteref-73">return</a>)<br /> [ In the original the lover + is not blamed; this would be the Hindu view of the matter; we might be + tempted to think of the old injunction not to seethe a kid in the mother’s + milk.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-74" id="linknote-74"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 74 (<a href="#linknoteref-74">return</a>)<br /> [ In the original a “maina + “-the Gracula religiosa.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-75" id="linknote-75"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 75 (<a href="#linknoteref-75">return</a>)<br /> [ As we should say, buried + them.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-76" id="linknote-76"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 76 (<a href="#linknoteref-76">return</a>)<br /> [ A large kind of black + bee, common in India.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-77" id="linknote-77"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 77 (<a href="#linknoteref-77">return</a>)<br /> [ The beautiful wife of the + demigod Rama Chandra.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-78" id="linknote-78"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 78 (<a href="#linknoteref-78">return</a>)<br /> [ The Hindu Ars Amoris.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-79" id="linknote-79"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 79 (<a href="#linknoteref-79">return</a>)<br /> [ The old philosophers, + believing in a “Sat” (xx xx), postulated an Asat (xx xx xx) and made the + latter the root of the former.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-80" id="linknote-80"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 80 (<a href="#linknoteref-80">return</a>)<br /> [ In Western India, a place + celebrated for suicides.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-81" id="linknote-81"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 81 (<a href="#linknoteref-81">return</a>)<br /> [ Kama Deva. “Out on thee, + foul fiend, talk’st thou of nothing but ladies?”] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-82" id="linknote-82"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 82 (<a href="#linknoteref-82">return</a>)<br /> [ The pipal or Ficus + religiosa, a favourite roosting-place for fiends.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-83" id="linknote-83"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 83 (<a href="#linknoteref-83">return</a>)<br /> [ India.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-84" id="linknote-84"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 84 (<a href="#linknoteref-84">return</a>)<br /> [ The ancient name of a + priest by profession, meaning “praepositus” or praeses. He was the friend + and counsellor of a chief, the minister of a king, and his companion in + peace and war. (M. Muller’s Ancient Sanskrit Literature, p. 485).] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-85" id="linknote-85"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 85 (<a href="#linknoteref-85">return</a>)<br /> [ Lakshmi, the Goddess of + Prosperity. Raj-Lakshmi would mean the King’s Fortune, which we should + call tutelary genius. Lakshichara is our “luckless,” forming, as Mr. Ward + says, an extraordinary coincidence of sound and meaning in languages so + different. But the derivations are very distinct.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-86" id="linknote-86"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 86 (<a href="#linknoteref-86">return</a>)<br /> [ The Monkey God.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-87" id="linknote-87"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 87 (<a href="#linknoteref-87">return</a>)<br /> [ Generally written + “Banyan.”] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-88" id="linknote-88"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 88 (<a href="#linknoteref-88">return</a>)<br /> [ The daughter of Raja + Janaka, married to Ramachandra. The latter placed his wife under the + charge of his brother Lakshmana, and went into the forest to worship, when + the demon Ravana disguised himself as a beggar, and carried off the + prize.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-89" id="linknote-89"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 89 (<a href="#linknoteref-89">return</a>)<br /> [ This great king was + tricked by the god Vishnu out of the sway of heaven and earth, but from + his exceeding piety he was appointed to reign in Patala, or Hades.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-90" id="linknote-90"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 90 (<a href="#linknoteref-90">return</a>)<br /> [ The procession is fair + game, and is often attacked in the dark with sticks and stones, causing + serious disputes. At the supper the guests confer the obligation by their + presence, and are exceedingly exacting.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-91" id="linknote-91"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 91 (<a href="#linknoteref-91">return</a>)<br /> [ Rati is the wife of Kama, + the God of Desire; and we explain the word by “Spring personified.”] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-92" id="linknote-92"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 92 (<a href="#linknoteref-92">return</a>)<br /> [ The Indian Cuckoo + (Cucuius Indicus). It is supposed to lay its eggs in the nest of the + crow.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-93" id="linknote-93"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 93 (<a href="#linknoteref-93">return</a>)<br /> [ This is the well-known + Ghi or Ghee, the one sauce of India which is as badly off in that matter + as England.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-94" id="linknote-94"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 94 (<a href="#linknoteref-94">return</a>)<br /> [ The European reader will + observe that it is her purity which carries the heroine through all these + perils. Moreover, that her virtue is its own reward, as it loses to her + the world.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-95" id="linknote-95"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 95 (<a href="#linknoteref-95">return</a>)<br /> [ Literally, “one of all + tastes”—a wild or gay man, we should say.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-96" id="linknote-96"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 96 (<a href="#linknoteref-96">return</a>)<br /> [ These shoes are generally + made of rags and bits of leather; they have often toes behind the foot, + with other similar contrivances, yet they scarcely ever deceive an + experienced man.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-97" id="linknote-97"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 97 (<a href="#linknoteref-97">return</a>)<br /> [ The high-toper is a + swell-thief, the other is a low dog.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-98" id="linknote-98"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 98 (<a href="#linknoteref-98">return</a>)<br /> [ Engaged in shoplifting.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-99" id="linknote-99"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 99 (<a href="#linknoteref-99">return</a>)<br /> [ The moon.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-100" id="linknote-100"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 100 (<a href="#linknoteref-100">return</a>)<br /> [ The judge.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-101" id="linknote-101"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 101 (<a href="#linknoteref-101">return</a>)<br /> [ To be lagged is to be + taken; scragging is hanging.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-102" id="linknote-102"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 102 (<a href="#linknoteref-102">return</a>)<br /> [ The tongue.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-103" id="linknote-103"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 103 (<a href="#linknoteref-103">return</a>)<br /> [ This is the god + Kartikeya, a mixture of Mars and Mercury, who revealed to a certain + Yugacharya the scriptures known as “Chauriya-Vidya”—Anglice, + “Thieves’ Manual.” The classical robbers of the Hindu drama always perform + according to its precepts. There is another work respected by thieves and + called the “Chora-Panchashila,” because consisting of fifty lines.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-104" id="linknote-104"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 104 (<a href="#linknoteref-104">return</a>)<br /> [ Supposed to be a good + omen.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-105" id="linknote-105"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 105 (<a href="#linknoteref-105">return</a>)<br /> [ Share the booty.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-106" id="linknote-106"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 106 (<a href="#linknoteref-106">return</a>)<br /> [ Bhawani is one of the + many forms of the destroying goddess, the wife of Shiva.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-107" id="linknote-107"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 107 (<a href="#linknoteref-107">return</a>)<br /> [ Wretches who kill with + the narcotic seed of the stramonium.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-108" id="linknote-108"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 108 (<a href="#linknoteref-108">return</a>)<br /> [ Better know as “Thugs,” + which in India means simply “rascals.”] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-109" id="linknote-109"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 109 (<a href="#linknoteref-109">return</a>)<br /> [ Crucifixion, until late + years, was common amongst the Buddhists of the Burmese empire. According + to an eye-witness, Mr. F. Carey, the punishment was inflicted in two ways. + Sometimes criminals were crucified by their hands and feet being nailed to + a scaffold; others were merely tied up, and fed. In these cases the legs + and feet of the patient began to swell and mortify at the expiration of + three or four days; men are said to have lived in this state for a + fortnight, and at last they expired from fatigue and mortification. The + sufferings from cramp also must be very severe. In India generally + impalement was more common than crucifixion.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-110" id="linknote-110"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 110 (<a href="#linknoteref-110">return</a>)<br /> [ Our Suttee. There is an + admirable Hindu proverb, which says, “No one knows the ways of woman; she + kill her husband and becomes a Sati.”] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-111" id="linknote-111"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 111 (<a href="#linknoteref-111">return</a>)<br /> [ Fate and Destiny are + rather Moslem than Hindu fancies.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-112" id="linknote-112"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 112 (<a href="#linknoteref-112">return</a>)<br /> [ Properly speaking, the + husbandman should plough with not fewer than four bullocks; but few can + afford this. If he plough with a cow or a bullock, and not with a bull, + the rice produced by his ground is unclean, and may not be used in any + religious ceremony.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-113" id="linknote-113"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 113 (<a href="#linknoteref-113">return</a>)<br /> [ A shout of triumph, + like our “Huzza” or “Hurrah!” of late degraded into “Hooray.” “Hari bol” + is of course religious, meaning “Call upon Hari!” i.e. Krishna, i.e. + Vishnu.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-114" id="linknote-114"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 114 (<a href="#linknoteref-114">return</a>)<br /> [ This form of suicide is + one of those recognized in India. So in Europe we read of fanatics who, + with a suicidal ingenuity, have succeeded in crucifying themselves.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-115" id="linknote-115"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 115 (<a href="#linknoteref-115">return</a>)<br /> [ The river of Jaganath + in Orissa; it shares the honours of sanctity with some twenty-nine others, + and in the lower regions it represents the classical Styx.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-116" id="linknote-116"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 116 (<a href="#linknoteref-116">return</a>)<br /> [ Cupid. His wife Rati is + the spring personified. The Hindu poets always unite love and spring, and + perhaps physiologically they are correct.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-117" id="linknote-117"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 117 (<a href="#linknoteref-117">return</a>)<br /> [ An incarnation of the + third person of the Hindu Triad, or Triumvirate, Shiva the God of + Destruction, the Indian Bacchus. The image has five faces, and each face + has three eyes. In Bengal it is found in many villages, and the women warn + their children not to touch it on pain of being killed.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-118" id="linknote-118"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 118 (<a href="#linknoteref-118">return</a>)<br /> [ A village Brahman on + stated occasions receives fees from all the villagers.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-119" id="linknote-119"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 119 (<a href="#linknoteref-119">return</a>)<br /> [ The land of Greece.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-120" id="linknote-120"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 120 (<a href="#linknoteref-120">return</a>)<br /> [ Savans, professors. So + in the old saying, “Hanta, Pandit Sansara “—Alas! the world is + learned! This a little antedates the well-known schoolmaster.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-121" id="linknote-121"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 121 (<a href="#linknoteref-121">return</a>)<br /> [ Children are commonly + sent to school at the age of five. Girls are not taught to read, under the + common idea that they will become widows if they do.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-122" id="linknote-122"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 122 (<a href="#linknoteref-122">return</a>)<br /> [ Meaning the place of + reading the four Shastras.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-123" id="linknote-123"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 123 (<a href="#linknoteref-123">return</a>)<br /> [ A certain goddess who + plays tricks with mankind. If a son when grown up act differently from + what his parents did, people say that he has been changed in the womb.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-124" id="linknote-124"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 124 (<a href="#linknoteref-124">return</a>)<br /> [ Shani is the planet + Saturn, which has an exceedingly baleful influence in India as elsewhere.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-125" id="linknote-125"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 125 (<a href="#linknoteref-125">return</a>)<br /> [ The Eleatic or + Materialistic school of Hindu philosophy, which agrees to explode an + intelligent separate First Cause.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-126" id="linknote-126"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 126 (<a href="#linknoteref-126">return</a>)<br /> [ The writings of this + school give an excellent view of the “progressive system,” which has + popularly been asserted to be a modern idea. But Hindu philosophy seems to + have exhausted every fancy that can spring from the brain of man.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-127" id="linknote-127"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 127 (<a href="#linknoteref-127">return</a>)<br /> [ Tama is the natural + state of matter, Raja is passion acting upon nature, and Satwa is + excellence These are the three gunas or qualities of matter.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-128" id="linknote-128"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 128 (<a href="#linknoteref-128">return</a>)<br /> [ Spiritual preceptors + and learned men.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-129" id="linknote-129"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 129 (<a href="#linknoteref-129">return</a>)<br /> [ Under certain + limitations, gambling is allowed by Hindu law and the winner has power + over the person and property of the loser. No “debts of honour” in + Hindustan!] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-130" id="linknote-130"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 130 (<a href="#linknoteref-130">return</a>)<br /> [ Quotations from + standard works on Hindu criminal law, which in some points at least is + almost as absurd as our civilized codes.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-131" id="linknote-131"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 131 (<a href="#linknoteref-131">return</a>)<br /> [ Hindus carry their + money tied up in a kind of sheet which is wound round the waist and thrown + over the shoulder.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-132" id="linknote-132"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 132 (<a href="#linknoteref-132">return</a>)<br /> [ A thieves’ manual in + the Sanskrit tongue; it aspires to the dignity of a “Scripture.”] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-133" id="linknote-133"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 133 (<a href="#linknoteref-133">return</a>)<br /> [ All sounds, say the + Hindus, are of similar origin, and they do not die; if they did, they + could not be remembered.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-134" id="linknote-134"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 134 (<a href="#linknoteref-134">return</a>)<br /> [ Gold pieces.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-135" id="linknote-135"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 135 (<a href="#linknoteref-135">return</a>)<br /> [ These are the + qualifications specified by Hindu classical authorities as necessary to + make a distinguished thief.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-136" id="linknote-136"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 136 (<a href="#linknoteref-136">return</a>)<br /> [ Every Hindu is in a + manner born to a certain line of life, virtuous or vicious, honest or + dishonest and his Dharma, or religious duty, consists in conforming to the + practice and the worship of his profession. The “Thug,” for instance, + worships Bhawani, who enables him to murder successfully; and his remorse + would arise from neglecting to murder.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-137" id="linknote-137"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 137 (<a href="#linknoteref-137">return</a>)<br /> [ Hindu law sensibly + punishes, in theory at least, for the same offence the priest more + severely than the layman—a hint for him to practice what he + preaches.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-138" id="linknote-138"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 138 (<a href="#linknoteref-138">return</a>)<br /> [ The Hindu Mercury, god + of rascals.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-139" id="linknote-139"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 139 (<a href="#linknoteref-139">return</a>)<br /> [ A penal offence in + India. How is it that we English have omitted to codify it? The laws of + Manu also punish severely all disdainful expressions, such as “tush” or + “pish,” addressed during argument to a priest.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-140" id="linknote-140"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 140 (<a href="#linknoteref-140">return</a>)<br /> [ Stanzas, generally + speaking, on serious subjects.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-141" id="linknote-141"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 141 (<a href="#linknoteref-141">return</a>)<br /> [ Whitlows on the nails + show that the sufferer, in the last life, stole gold from a Brahman.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-142" id="linknote-142"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 142 (<a href="#linknoteref-142">return</a>)<br /> [ A low caste Hindu, who + catches and exhibits snakes and performs other such mean offices.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-143" id="linknote-143"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 143 (<a href="#linknoteref-143">return</a>)<br /> [ Meaning, in spite of + themselves.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-144" id="linknote-144"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 144 (<a href="#linknoteref-144">return</a>)<br /> [ When the moon is in a + certain lunar mansion, at the conclusion of the wet season.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-145" id="linknote-145"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 145 (<a href="#linknoteref-145">return</a>)<br /> [ In Hindustan, it is the + prevailing wind of the hot weather.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-146" id="linknote-146"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 146 (<a href="#linknoteref-146">return</a>)<br /> [ Vishnu, as a dwarf, + sank down into and secured in the lower regions the Raja Bali, who by his + piety and prayerfulness was subverting the reign of the lesser gods; as + Ramachandra he built a bridge between Lanka (Ceylon) and the main land; + and as Krishna he defended, by holding up a hill as an umbrella for them, + his friends the shepherds and shepherdesses from the thunders of Indra, + whose worship they had neglected.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-147" id="linknote-147"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 147 (<a href="#linknoteref-147">return</a>)<br /> [ The priestly caste + sprang, as has been said, from the noblest part of the Demiurgus; the + three others from lower members.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-148" id="linknote-148"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 148 (<a href="#linknoteref-148">return</a>)<br /> [ A chew of betel leaf + and spices is offered by the master of the house when dismissing a + visitor.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-149" id="linknote-149"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 149 (<a href="#linknoteref-149">return</a>)<br /> [ Respectable Hindus say + that receiving a fee for a daughter is like selling flesh.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-150" id="linknote-150"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 150 (<a href="#linknoteref-150">return</a>)<br /> [ A modern custom amongst + the low caste is for the bride and bridegroom, in the presence of friends, + to place a flower garland on each other’s necks, and thus declare + themselves man and wife. The old classical Gandharva-lagan has been before + explained.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-151" id="linknote-151"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 151 (<a href="#linknoteref-151">return</a>)<br /> [ Meaning that the sight + of each other will cause a smile, and that what one purposes the other + will consent to.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-152" id="linknote-152"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 152 (<a href="#linknoteref-152">return</a>)<br /> [ This would be the + verdict of a Hindu jury.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-153" id="linknote-153"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 153 (<a href="#linknoteref-153">return</a>)<br /> [ Because stained with + the powder of Mhendi, or the Lawsonia inermis shrub.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-154" id="linknote-154"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 154 (<a href="#linknoteref-154">return</a>)<br /> [ Kansa’s son: so called + because the god Shiva, when struck by his shafts, destroyed him with a + fiery glance.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-155" id="linknote-155"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 155 (<a href="#linknoteref-155">return</a>)<br /> [ “Great Brahman”; used + contemptuously to priests who officiate for servile men. Brahmans lose + their honour by the following things: By becoming servants to the king; by + pursuing any secular business; by acting priests to Shudras (serviles); by + officiating as priests for a whole village; and by neglecting any part of + the three daily services. Many violate these rules; yet to kill a Brahman + is still one of the five great Hindu sins. In the present age of the + world, the Brahman may not accept a gift of cows or of gold; of course he + despises the law. As regards monkey worship, a certain Rajah of Nadiya is + said to have expended 10,000L in marrying two monkeys with all the parade + and splendour of the Hindu rite.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-156" id="linknote-156"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 156 (<a href="#linknoteref-156">return</a>)<br /> [ The celebrated Gayatri, + the Moslem Kalmah.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-157" id="linknote-157"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 157 (<a href="#linknoteref-157">return</a>)<br /> [ Kama again.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-158" id="linknote-158"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 158 (<a href="#linknoteref-158">return</a>)<br /> [ From “Man,” to think; + primarily meaning, what makes man think.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-159" id="linknote-159"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 159 (<a href="#linknoteref-159">return</a>)<br /> [ The Cirrhadae of + classical writers.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-160" id="linknote-160"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 160 (<a href="#linknoteref-160">return</a>)<br /> [ The Hindu Pluto; also + called the Just King.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-161" id="linknote-161"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 161 (<a href="#linknoteref-161">return</a>)<br /> [ Yama judges the dead, + whose souls go to him in four hours and forty minutes; therefore a corpse + cannot be burned till after that time. His residence is Yamalaya, and it + is on the south side of the earth; down South, as we say. (I, Sam. xxv. 1, + and xxx. 15). The Hebrews, like the Hindus, held the northern parts of the + world to be higher than the southern. Hindus often joke a man who is seen + walking in that direction, and ask him where he is going.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-162" id="linknote-162"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 162 (<a href="#linknoteref-162">return</a>)<br /> [ The “Ganges,” in heaven + called Mandakini. I have no idea why we still adhere to our venerable + corruption of the word.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-163" id="linknote-163"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 163 (<a href="#linknoteref-163">return</a>)<br /> [ The fabulous mountain + supposed by Hindu geographers to occupy the centre of the universe.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-164" id="linknote-164"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 164 (<a href="#linknoteref-164">return</a>)<br /> [ The all-bestowing tree + in Indra’s Paradise which grants everything asked of it. It is the Tuba of + Al-Islam and is not unknown to the Apocryphal New Testament.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-165" id="linknote-165"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 165 (<a href="#linknoteref-165">return</a>)<br /> [ “Vikramaditya, Lord of + the Saka.” This is prevoyance on the part of the Vampire; the king had not + acquired the title.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-166" id="linknote-166"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 166 (<a href="#linknoteref-166">return</a>)<br /> [ On the sixth day after + the child’s birth, the god Vidhata writes all its fate upon its forehead. + The Moslems have a similar idea, and probably it passed to the Hindus.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-167" id="linknote-167"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 167 (<a href="#linknoteref-167">return</a>)<br /> [ Goddess of eloquence. + “The waters of the Saraswati” is the classical Hindu phrase for the + mirage.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-168" id="linknote-168"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 168 (<a href="#linknoteref-168">return</a>)<br /> [ This story is perhaps + the least interesting in the collection. I have translated it literally, + in order to give an idea of the original. The reader will remark in it the + source of our own nursery tale about the princess who was so high born and + delicately bred, that she could discover the three peas laid beneath a + straw mattress and four feather beds. The Hindus, however, believe that + Sybaritism can be carried so far; I remember my Pandit asserting the truth + of the story.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-169" id="linknote-169"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 169 (<a href="#linknoteref-169">return</a>)<br /> [ A minister. The word, + as is the case with many in this collection, is quite modern Moslem, and + anachronistic.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-170" id="linknote-170"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 170 (<a href="#linknoteref-170">return</a>)<br /> [ The cow is called the + mother of the gods, and is declared by Brahma, the first person of the + triad, Vishnu and Shiva being the second and the third, to be a proper + object of worship. “If a European speak to the Hindu about eating the + flesh of cows,” says an old missionary, “they immediately raise their + hands to their ears; yet milkmen, carmen, and farmers beat the cow as + unmercifully as a carrier of coals beats his ass in England.” The Jains or + Jainas (from ji, to conquer; as subduing the passions) are one of the + atheistical sects with whom the Brahmans have of old carried on the + fiercest religious controversies, ending in many a sanguinary fight. Their + tenets are consequently exaggerated and ridiculed, as in the text. They + believe that there is no such God as the common notions on the subject + point out, and they hold that the highest act of virtue is to abstain from + injuring sentient creatures. Man does not possess an immortal spirit: + death is the same to Brahma and to a fly. Therefore there is no heaven or + hell separate from present pleasure or pain. Hindu Epicureans!—“Epicuri + de grege porci.”] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-171" id="linknote-171"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 171 (<a href="#linknoteref-171">return</a>)<br /> [ Narak is one of the + multitudinous places of Hindu punishment, said to adjoin the residence of + Ajarna. The less cultivated Jains believe in a region of torment. The + illuminati, however, have a sovereign contempt for the Creator, for a + future state, and for all religious ceremonies. As Hindus, however, they + believe in future births of mankind, somewhat influenced by present + actions. The “next birth” in the mouth of a Hindu, we are told, is the + same as “to-morrow” in the mouth of a Christian. The metempsychosis is on + an extensive scale: according to some, a person who loses human birth must + pass through eight millions of successive incarnations—fish, + insects, worms, birds, and beasts—before he can reappear as a man.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-172" id="linknote-172"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 172 (<a href="#linknoteref-172">return</a>)<br /> [ Jogi, or Yogi, properly + applies to followers of the Yoga or Patanjala school, who by ascetic + practices acquire power over the elements. Vulgarly, it is a general term + for mountebank vagrants, worshippers of Shiva. The Janganis adore the same + deity, and carry about a Linga. The Sevras are Jain beggars, who regard + their chiefs as superior to the gods of other sects. The Sannyasis are + mendicant followers of Shiva; they never touch metals or fire, and, in + religious parlance, they take up the staff They are opposed to the + Viragis, worshippers of Vishnu, who contend as strongly against the + worshippers of gods who receive bloody offerings, as a Christian could do + against idolatry.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-173" id="linknote-173"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 173 (<a href="#linknoteref-173">return</a>)<br /> [ The Brahman, or priest, + is supposed to proceed from the mouth of Brahma, the creating person of + the Triad; the Khshatriyas (soldiers) from his arms; the Vaishyas + (enterers into business) from his thighs; and the Shudras, “who take + refuge in the Brahmans,” from his feet. Only high caste men should assume + the thread at the age of puberty.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-174" id="linknote-174"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 174 (<a href="#linknoteref-174">return</a>)<br /> [ Soma, the moon, I have + said, is masculine in India.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-175" id="linknote-175"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 175 (<a href="#linknoteref-175">return</a>)<br /> [ Pluto.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-176" id="linknote-176"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 176 (<a href="#linknoteref-176">return</a>)<br /> [ Nothing astonishes + Hindus so much as the apparent want of affection between the European + parent and child.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-177" id="linknote-177"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 177 (<a href="#linknoteref-177">return</a>)<br /> [ A third marriage is + held improper and baneful to a Hindu woman. Hence, before the nuptials + they betroth the man to a tree, upon which the evil expends itself, and + the tree dies.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-178" id="linknote-178"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 178 (<a href="#linknoteref-178">return</a>)<br /> [ Kama] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-179" id="linknote-179"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 179 (<a href="#linknoteref-179">return</a>)<br /> [ An oath, meaning, “From + such a falsehood preserve me, Ganges!”] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-180" id="linknote-180"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 180 (<a href="#linknoteref-180">return</a>)<br /> [ The Indian Neptune.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-181" id="linknote-181"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 181 (<a href="#linknoteref-181">return</a>)<br /> [ A highly insulting form + of adjuration.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-182" id="linknote-182"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 182 (<a href="#linknoteref-182">return</a>)<br /> [ The British Islands—according + to Wilford.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-183" id="linknote-183"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 183 (<a href="#linknoteref-183">return</a>)<br /> [ Literally the science + (veda) of the bow (dhanush). This weapon, as everything amongst the + Hindus, had a divine origin: it was of three kinds—the common bow, + the pellet or stone bow, and the crossbow or catapult.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-184" id="linknote-184"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 184 (<a href="#linknoteref-184">return</a>)<br /> [ It is a disputed point + whether the ancient Hindus did or did not know the use of gunpowder.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-185" id="linknote-185"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 185 (<a href="#linknoteref-185">return</a>)<br /> [ It is said to have + discharged balls, each 6,400 pounds in weight.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-186" id="linknote-186"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 186 (<a href="#linknoteref-186">return</a>)<br /> [ A kind of Mercury, a + god with the head and wings of a bird, who is the Vahan or vehicle of the + second person of the Triad, Vishnu.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-187" id="linknote-187"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 187 (<a href="#linknoteref-187">return</a>)<br /> [ The celebrated burning + springs of Baku, near the Caspian, are so called. There are many other + “fire mouths.”] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-188" id="linknote-188"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 188 (<a href="#linknoteref-188">return</a>)<br /> [ The Hindu Styx.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-189" id="linknote-189"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 189 (<a href="#linknoteref-189">return</a>)<br /> [ From Yaksha, to eat; as + Rakshasas are from Raksha, to preserve.—See Hardy’s Manual of + Buddhism, p. 57.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-190" id="linknote-190"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 190 (<a href="#linknoteref-190">return</a>)<br /> [ Shiva is always painted + white, no one knows why. His wife Gauri has also a European complexion. + Hence it is generally said that the sect popularly called “Thugs,” who + were worshippers of these murderous gods, spared Englishmen, the latter + being supposed to have some rapport with their deities.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-191" id="linknote-191"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 191 (<a href="#linknoteref-191">return</a>)<br /> [ The Hindu shrine is + mostly a small building, with two inner compartments, the vestibule and + the Garbagriha, or adytum, in which stands the image.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-192" id="linknote-192"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 192 (<a href="#linknoteref-192">return</a>)<br /> [ Meaning Kali of the + cemetery (Smashana); another form of Durga.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-193" id="linknote-193"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 193 (<a href="#linknoteref-193">return</a>)<br /> [ Not being able to find + victims, this pleasant deity, to satisfy her thirst for the curious juice, + cut her own throat that the blood might spout up into her mouth. She once + found herself dancing on her husband, and was so shocked that in surprise + she put out her tongue to a great length, and remained motionless. She is + often represented in this form.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-194" id="linknote-194"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 194 (<a href="#linknoteref-194">return</a>)<br /> [ This ashtanga, the most + ceremonious of the five forms of Hindu salutation, consists of prostrating + and of making the eight parts of the body—namely, the temples, nose + and chin, knees and hands—touch the ground.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-195" id="linknote-195"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 195 (<a href="#linknoteref-195">return</a>)<br /> [ “Sidhis,” the + personified Powers of Nature. At least, so we explain them: but people do + not worship abstract powers.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-196" id="linknote-196"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 196 (<a href="#linknoteref-196">return</a>)<br /> [ The residence of Indra, + king of heaven, built by Wishwa-Karma, the architect of the gods.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-197" id="linknote-197"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 197 (<a href="#linknoteref-197">return</a>)<br /> [ In other words, to the + present day, whenever a Hindu novelist, romancer, or tale writer seeks a + peg upon which to suspend the texture of his story, he invariably pitches + upon the glorious, pious, and immortal memory of that Eastern King Arthur, + Vikramaditya, shortly called Vikram.] + </p> + <div style="height: 6em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg’s Vikram and the Vampire, by Richard F. 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Burton + +Release Date: November, 2000 [EBook #2400] +Last Updated: July 26, 2012 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK VIKRAM AND THE VAMPIRE *** + + + + +Produced by Sara Vazirian + + + + + + +VIKRAM AND THE VAMPIRE + +By Sir Richard F. Burton + +Classic Hindu Tales of Adventure, Magic, and Romance + +Edited by his Wife Isabel Burton + + "Les fables, loin de grandir les hommes, la Nature et Dieu, + rapetssent tout." + Lamartine (Milton) + + "One who had eyes saw it; the blind will not understand it. + A poet, who is a boy, he has perceived it; he who understands it + will be + his sire's sire."--Rig-Veda (I.164.16). + + + +Preface + +Preface to the First (1870) Edition + +Introduction + +THE VAMPIRE'S FIRST STORY. In which a Man deceives a Woman + +THE VAMPIRE'S SECOND STORY. Of the Relative Villany of Men and Woman + +THE VAMPIRE'S THIRD STORY. Of a High-minded Family + +THE VAMPIRE'S FOURTH STORY. Of a Woman who told the Truth + +THE VAMPIRE'S FIFTH STORY. Of the Thief who Laughed and Wept + +THE VAMPIRE'S SIXTH STORY. In which Three Men dispute about a Woman + +THE VAMPIRE'S SEVENTH STORY. Showing the exceeding Folly of many wise +Fools + +THE VAMPIRE'S EIGHTH STORY. Of the Use and Misuse of Magic Pills + +THE VAMPIRE'S NINTH STORY. Showing that a Man's Wife belongs not to his +body but to his Head + +THE VAMPIRE'S TENTH STORY. Of the Marvellous Delicacy of Three Queens + +THE VAMPIRE'S ELEVENTH STORY. Which puzzles Raja Vikram + +Conclusion + + + + +PREFACE + +The Baital-Pachisi, or Twenty-five Tales of a Baital is the history of +a huge Bat, Vampire, or Evil Spirit which inhabited and animated dead +bodies. It is an old, and thoroughly Hindu, Legend composed in Sanskrit, +and is the germ which culminated in the Arabian Nights, and which +inspired the "Golden Ass" of Apuleius, Boccacio's "Decamerone," the +"Pentamerone," and all that class of facetious fictitious literature. + +The story turns chiefly on a great king named Vikram, the King Arthur of +the East, who in pursuance of his promise to a Jogi or Magician, brings +to him the Baital (Vampire), who is hanging on a tree. The difficulties +King Vikram and his son have in bringing the Vampire into the presence +of the Jogi are truly laughable; and on this thread is strung a series +of Hindu fairy stories, which contain much interesting information on +Indian customs and manners. It also alludes to that state, which induces +Hindu devotees to allow themselves to be buried alive, and to appear +dead for weeks or months, and then to return to life again; a curious +state of mesmeric catalepsy, into which they work themselves by +concentrating the mind and abstaining from food--a specimen of which I +have given a practical illustration in the Life of Sir Richard Burton. + +The following translation is rendered peculiarly; valuable and +interesting by Sir Richard Burton's intimate knowledge of the language. +To all who understand the ways of the East, it is as witty, and as full +of what is popularly called "chaff" as it is possible to be. There is +not a dull page in it, and it will especially please those who delight +in the weird and supernatural, the grotesque, and the wild life. + +My husband only gives eleven of the best tales, as it was thought the +translation would prove more interesting in its abbreviated form. + +ISABEL BURTON. + +August 18th, 1893. + + + + +PREFACE TO THE FIRST (1870) EDITION. + +"THE genius of Eastern nations," says an established and respectable +authority, "was, from the earliest times, much turned towards invention +and the love of fiction. The Indians, the Persians, and the Arabians, +were all famous for their fables. Amongst the ancient Greeks we hear +of the Ionian and Milesian tales, but they have now perished, and, +from every account we hear of them, appear to have been loose and +indelicate." Similarly, the classical dictionaries define "Milesiae +fabulae" to be "licentious themes," "stories of an amatory or mirthful +nature," or "ludicrous and indecent plays." M. Deriege seems indeed +to confound them with the "Moeurs du Temps" illustrated with artistic +gouaches, when he says, "une de ces fables milesiennes, rehaussees de +peintures, que la corruption romaine recherchait alors avec une folle +ardeur." + +My friend, Mr. Richard Charnock, F.A.S.L., more correctly defines +Milesian fables to have been originally "certain tales or novels, +composed by Aristides of Miletus "; gay in matter and graceful in +manner. "They were translated into Latin by the historian Sisenna, the +friend of Atticus, and they had a great success at Rome. Plutarch, in +his life of Crassus, tells us that after the defeat of Carhes (Carrhae?) +some Milesiacs were found in the baggage of the Roman prisoners. The +Greek text; and the Latin translation have long been lost. The only +surviving fable is the tale of Cupid and Psyche,[1] which Apuleius calls +'Milesius sermo,' and it makes us deeply regret the disappearance of the +others." Besides this there are the remains of Apollodorus and +Conon, and a few traces to be found in Pausanias, Athenaeus, and the +scholiasts. + +I do not, therefore, agree with Blair, with the dictionaries, or with M. +Deriege. Miletus, the great maritime city of Asiatic Ionia, was of old +the meeting-place of the East and the West. Here the Phoenician trader +from the Baltic would meet the Hindu wandering to Intra, from Extra, +Gangem; and the Hyperborean would step on shore side by side with the +Nubian and the Aethiop. Here was produced and published for the use of +the then civilized world, the genuine Oriental apologue, myth and tale +combined, which, by amusing narrative and romantic adventure, insinuates +a lesson in morals or in humanity, of which we often in our days must +fail to perceive the drift. The book of Apuleius, before quoted, is +subject to as many discoveries of recondite meaning as is Rabelais. +As regards the licentiousness of the Milesian fables, this sign of +semi-civilization is still inherent in most Eastern books of the +description which we call "light literature," and the ancestral +tale-teller never collects a larger purse of coppers than when he +relates the worst of his "aurei." But this looseness, resulting from +the separation of the sexes, is accidental, not necessary. The following +collection will show that it can be dispensed with, and that there is +such a thing as comparative purity in Hindu literature. The author, +indeed, almost always takes the trouble to marry his hero and his +heroine, and if he cannot find a priest, he generally adopts +an exceedingly left-hand and Caledonian but legal rite called +"gandharbavivaha.[2]" + +The work of Apuleius, as ample internal evidence shows, is borrowed from +the East. The groundwork of the tale is the metamorphosis of Lucius +of Corinth into an ass, and the strange accidents which precede his +recovering the human form. + +Another old Hindu story-book relates, in the popular fairy-book +style, the wondrous adventures of the hero and demigod, the great +Gandharba-Sena. That son of Indra, who was also the father of +Vikramajit, the subject of this and another collection, offended the +ruler of the firmament by his fondness for a certain nymph, and was +doomed to wander over earth under the form of a donkey. Through the +interposition of the gods, however, he was permitted to become a man +during the hours of darkness, thus comparing with the English legend-- + + Amundeville is lord by day, + But the monk is lord by night. + +Whilst labouring under this curse, Gandharba-Sena persuaded the King +of Dhara to give him a daughter in marriage, but it unfortunately so +happened that at the wedding hour he was unable to show himself in any +but asinine shape. After bathing, however, he proceeded to the assembly, +and, hearing songs and music, he resolved to give them a specimen of his +voice. + +The guests were filled with sorrow that so beautiful a virgin should be +married to a donkey. They were afraid to express their feelings to the +king, but they could not refrain from smiling, covering their mouths +with their garments. At length some one interrupted the general silence +and said: + +"O king, is this the son of Indra? You have found a fine bridegroom; you +are indeed happy; don't delay the marriage; delay is improper in doing +good; we never saw so glorious a wedding! It is true that we once heard +of a camel being married to a jenny-ass; when the ass, looking up to the +camel, said, 'Bless me, what a bridegroom!' and the camel, hearing the +voice of the ass, exclaimed, 'Bless me, what a musical voice!' In that +wedding, however, the bride and the bridegroom were equal; but in this +marriage, that such a bride should have such a bridegroom is truly +wonderful." + +Other Brahmans then present said: + +"O king, at the marriage hour, in sign of joy the sacred shell is blown, +but thou hast no need of that" (alluding to the donkey's braying). + +The women all cried out: + +"O my mother![3] what is this? at the time of marriage to have an ass! +What a miserable thing! What! will he give that angelic girl in wedlock +to a donkey?" + +At length Gandharba-Sena, addressing the king in Sanskrit, urged him to +perform his promise. He reminded his future father-in-law that there is +no act more meritorious than speaking truth; that the mortal frame is +a mere dress, and that wise men never estimate the value of a person by +his clothes. He added that he was in that shape from the curse of his +sire, and that during the night he had the body of a man. Of his being +the son of Indra there could be no doubt. + +Hearing the donkey thus speak Sanskrit, for it was never known that an +ass could discourse in that classical tongue, the minds of the people +were changed, and they confessed that, although he had an asinine form +he was unquestionably the son of Indra. The king, therefore, gave him +his daughter in marriage.[4] The metamorphosis brings with it many +misfortunes and strange occurrences, and it lasts till Fate in the +author's hand restores the hero to his former shape and honours. + +Gandharba-Sena is a quasi-historical personage, who lived in the century +preceding the Christian era. The story had, therefore, ample time to +reach the ears of the learned African Apuleius, who was born A.D. 130. + +The Baital-Pachisi, or Twenty-five (tales of a) Baital[5]--a Vampire or +evil spirit which animates dead bodies--is an old and thoroughly Hindu +repertory. It is the rude beginning of that fictitious history which +ripened to the Arabian Nights' Entertainments, and which, fostered by +the genius of Boccaccio, produced the romance of the chivalrous days, +and its last development, the novel--that prose-epic of modern Europe. + +Composed in Sanskrit, "the language of the gods," alias the Latin of +India, it has been translated into all the Prakrit or vernacular and +modern dialects of the great peninsula. The reason why it has not found +favour with the Moslems is doubtless the highly polytheistic spirit +which pervades it; moreover, the Faithful had already a specimen of that +style of composition. This was the Hitopadesa, or Advice of a Friend, +which, as a line in its introduction informs us, was borrowed from an +older book, the Panchatantra, or Five Chapters. It is a collection of +apologues recited by a learned Brahman, Vishnu Sharma by name, for the +edification of his pupils, the sons of an Indian Raja. They have been +adapted to or translated into a number of languages, notably into Pehlvi +and Persian, Syriac and Turkish, Greek and Latin, Hebrew and Arabic. And +as the Fables of Pilpay,[6] are generally known, by name at least, to +European litterateurs.. Voltaire remarks,[7] "Quand on fait reflexion +que presque toute la terre a ete infatuee de pareils comes, et qu'ils +ont fait l'education du genre humain, on trouve les fables de Pilpay, +Lokman, d'Esope bien raisonnables." These tales, detached, but strung +together by artificial means--pearls with a thread drawn through +them--are manifest precursors of the Decamerone, or Ten Days. A modern +Italian critic describes the now classical fiction as a collection of +one hundred of those novels which Boccaccio is believed to have read out +at the court of Queen Joanna of Naples, and which later in life were by +him assorted together by a most simple and ingenious contrivance. But +the great Florentine invented neither his stories nor his "plot," if +we may so call it. He wrote in the middle of the fourteenth century +(1344-8) when the West had borrowed many things from the East, rhymes[8] +and romance, lutes and drums, alchemy and knight-errantry. Many of the +"Novelle" are, as Orientalists well know, to this day sung and recited +almost textually by the wandering tale-tellers, bards, and rhapsodists +of Persia and Central Asia. + +The great kshatriya,(soldier) king Vikramaditya,[9] or Vikramarka, +meaning the "Sun of Heroism," plays in India the part of King Arthur, +and of Harun al-Rashid further West. He is a semi-historical personage. +The son of Gandharba-Sena the donkey and the daughter of the King of +Dhara, he was promised by his father the strength of a thousand male +elephants. When his sire died, his grandfather, the deity Indra, +resolved that the babe should not be born, upon which his mother stabbed +herself. But the tragic event duly happening during the ninth month, +Vikram came into the world by himself, and was carried to Indra, who +pitied and adopted him, and gave him a good education. + +The circumstances of his accession to the throne, as will presently +appear, are differently told. Once, however, made King of Malaya, the +modern Malwa, a province of Western Upper India, he so distinguished +himself that the Hindu fabulists, with their usual brave kind of +speaking, have made him "bring the whole earth under the shadow of one +umbrella." + +The last ruler of the race of Mayura, which reigned 318 years, was +Raja-pal. He reigned 25 years, but giving himself up to effeminacy, his +country was invaded by Shakaditya, a king from the highlands of Kumaon. +Vikramaditya, in the fourteenth year of his reign, pretended to espouse +the cause of Raja-pal, attacked and destroyed Shakaditya, and ascended +the throne of Delhi. His capital was Avanti, or Ujjayani, the modern +Ujjain. It was 13 kos (26 miles) long by 18 miles wide, an area of 468 +square miles, but a trifle in Indian History. He obtained the title of +Shakari, "foe of the Shakas," the Sacae or Scythians, by his victories +over that redoubtable race. In the Kali Yug, or Iron Age, he stands +highest amongst the Hindu kings as the patron of learning. Nine persons +under his patronage, popularly known as the "Nine Gems of Science," hold +in India the honourable position of the Seven Wise Men of Greece. + +These learned persons wrote works in the eighteen original dialects +from which, say the Hindus, all the languages of the earth have been +derived.[10] Dhanwantari enlightened the world upon the subjects of +medicine and of incantations. Kshapanaka treated the primary elements. +Amara-Singha compiled a Sanskrit dictionary and a philosophical +treatise. Shankubetalabhatta composed comments, and Ghatakarpara a +poetical work of no great merit. The books of Mihira are not mentioned. +Varaha produced two works on astrology and one on arithmetic. And +Bararuchi introduced certain improvements in grammar, commented upon the +incantations, and wrote a poem in praise of King Madhava. + +But the most celebrated of all the patronized ones was Kalidasa. His two +dramas, Sakuntala,[11] and Vikram and Urvasi,[12] have descended to +our day; besides which he produced a poem on the seasons, a work on +astronomy, a poetical history of the gods, and many other books.[13] + +Vikramaditya established the Sambat era, dating from A.C. 56. After +a long, happy, and glorious reign, he lost his life in a war with +Shalivahana, King of Pratisthana. That monarch also left behind him an +era called the "Shaka," beginning with A.D. 78. It is employed, even +now, by the Hindus in recording their births, marriages, and similar +occasions. + +King Vikramaditya was succeeded by his infant son Vikrama-Sena, and +father and son reigned over a period of 93 years. At last the latter was +supplanted by a devotee named Samudra-pala, who entered into his body +by miraculous means. The usurper reigned 24 years and 2 months, and the +throne of Delhi continued in the hands of his sixteen successors, who +reigned 641 years and 3 months. Vikrama-pala, the last, was slain in +battle by Tilaka-chandra, King of Vaharannah[14]. + +It is not pretended that the words of these Hindu tales are preserved +to the letter. The question about the metamorphosis of cats into tigers, +for instance, proceeded from a Gem of Learning in a university much +nearer home than Gaur. Similarly the learned and still living Mgr. Gaume +(Traite du Saint-Esprit, p.. 81) joins Camerarius in the belief that +serpents bite women rather than men. And he quotes (p.. 192) Cornelius a +Lapide, who informs us that the leopard is the produce of a lioness with +a hyena or a bard.. + +The merit of the old stories lies in their suggestiveness and in their +general applicability. I have ventured to remedy the conciseness of +their language, and to clothe the skeleton with flesh and blood. + + To My Uncle, + + ROBERT BAGSHAW, OF DOVERCOURT, + + These Tales, + That Will Remind Him Of A Land Which + He Knows So Well, + Are Affectionately Inscribed. + + + + +INTRODUCTION + +The sage Bhavabhuti--Eastern teller of these tales--after making his +initiatory and propitiatory conge to Ganesha, Lord of Incepts, informs +the reader that this book is a string of fine pearls to be hung round +the neck of human intelligence; a fragrant flower to be borne on the +turband of mental wisdom; a jewel of pure gold, which becomes the brow +of all supreme minds; and a handful of powdered rubies, whose tonic +effects will appear palpably upon the mental digestion of every patient. +Finally, that by aid of the lessons inculcated in the following pages, +man will pass happily through this world into the state of absorption, +where fables will be no longer required. + +He then teaches us how Vikramaditya the Brave became King of Ujjayani. + +Some nineteen centuries ago, the renowned city of Ujjayani witnessed the +birth of a prince to whom was given the gigantic name Vikramaditya. +Even the Sanskrit-speaking people, who are not usually pressed for time, +shortened it to "Vikram", and a little further West it would infallibly +have been docked down to "Vik". + +Vikram was the second son of an old king Gandharba-Sena, concerning whom +little favourable has reached posterity, except that he became an ass, +married four queens, and had by them six sons, each of whom was more +learned and powerful than the other. It so happened that in course of +time the father died. Thereupon his eldest heir, who was known as Shank, +succeeded to the carpet of Rajaship, and was instantly murdered by +Vikram, his "scorpion", the hero of the following pages.[15] + +By this act of vigour and manly decision, which all younger-brother +princes should devoutly imitate, Vikram having obtained the title of +Bir, or the Brave, made himself Raja. He began to rule well, and the +gods so favoured him that day by day his dominions increased. At +length he became lord of all India, and having firmly established his +government, he instituted an era--an uncommon feat for a mere monarch, +especially when hereditary. + +The steps,[16] says the historian, which he took to arrive at that +pinnacle of grandeur, were these: + +The old King calling his two grandsons Bhartari-hari and Vikramaditya, +gave them good counsel respecting their future learning. They were told +to master everything, a certain way not to succeed in anything. They +were diligently to learn grammar, the Scriptures, and all the +religious sciences. They were to become familiar with military +tactics, international law, and music, the riding of horses and +elephants--especially the latter--the driving of chariots, and the use +of the broadsword, the bow, and the mogdars or Indian clubs. They were +ordered to be skilful in all kinds of games, in leaping and running, in +besieging forts, in forming and breaking bodies of troops; they were +to endeavour to excel in every princely quality, to be cunning in +ascertaining the power of an enemy, how to make war, to perform +journeys, to sit in the presence of the nobles, to separate the +different sides of a question, to form alliances, to distinguish between +the innocent and the guilty, to assign proper punishments to the wicked, +to exercise authority with perfect justice, and to be liberal. The boys +were then sent to school, and were placed under the care of excellent +teachers, where they became truly famous. Whilst under pupilage, the +eldest was allowed all the power necessary to obtain a knowledge of +royal affairs, and he was not invested with the regal office till in +these preparatory steps he had given full satisfaction to his subjects, +who expressed high approval of his conduct. + +The two brothers often conversed on the duties of kings, when the +great Vikramaditya gave the great Bhartari-hari the following valuable +advice[17]: + +"As Indra, during the four rainy months, fills the earth with water, so +a king should replenish his treasury with money. As Surya the sun, +in warming the earth eight months, does not scorch it, so a king, in +drawing revenues from his people, ought not to oppress them. As Vayu, +the wind, surrounds and fills everything, so the king by his officers +and spies should become acquainted with the affairs and circumstances +of his whole people. As Yama judges men without partiality or prejudice, +and punishes the guilty, so should a king chastise, without favour, +all offenders. As Varuna, the regent of water, binds with his pasha or +divine noose his enemies, so let a king bind every malefactor safely in +prison. As Chandra,[18] the moon, by his cheering light gives pleasure +to all, thus should a king, by gifts and generosity, make his people +happy. And as Prithwi, the earth, sustains all alike, so should a king +feel an equal affection and forbearance towards every one." + +Become a monarch, Vikram meditated deeply upon what is said of +monarchs:--"A king is fire and air; he is both sun and moon; he is the +god of criminal justice; he is the genius of wealth; he is the regent +of water; he is the lord of the firmament; he is a powerful divinity who +appears in human shape." He reflected with some satisfaction that the +scriptures had made him absolute, had left the lives and properties +of all his subjects to his arbitrary will, had pronounced him to be +an incarnate deity, and had threatened to punish with death even ideas +derogatory to his honour. + +He punctually observed all the ordinances laid down by the author of the +Niti, or institutes of government. His night and day were divided into +sixteen pahars or portions, each one hour and a half, and they were +disposed of as follows:-- + +Before dawn Vikram was awakened by a servant appointed to this +special duty. He swallowed--a thing allowed only to a khshatriya or +warrior--Mithridatic every morning on the saliva[19], and he made the +cooks taste every dish before he ate of it. As soon as he had risen, +the pages in waiting repeated his splendid qualities, and as he left his +sleeping-room in full dress, several Brahmans rehearsed the praises +of the gods. Presently he bathed, worshipped his guardian deity, again +heard hymns, drank a little water, and saw alms distributed to the poor. +He ended this watch by auditing his accounts. + +Next entering his court, he placed himself amidst the assembly. He was +always armed when he received strangers, and he caused even women to be +searched for concealed weapons. He was surrounded by so many spies and +so artful, that of a thousand, no two ever told the same tale. At +the levee, on his right sat his relations, the Brahmans, and men of +distinguished birth. The other castes were on the left, and close to +him stood the ministers and those whom he delighted to consult. Afar +in front gathered the bards chanting the praises of the gods and of +the king; also the charioteers, elephanteers, horsemen, and soldiers of +valour. Amongst the learned men in those assemblies there were ever +some who were well instructed in all the scriptures, and others who had +studied in one particular school of philosophy, and were acquainted only +with the works on divine wisdom, or with those on justice, civil and +criminal, on the arts, mineralogy or the practice of physic; +also persons cunning in all kinds of customs; riding-masters, +dancing-masters, teachers of good behaviour, examiners, tasters, mimics, +mountebanks, and others, who all attended the court and awaited the +king's commands. He here pronounced judgment in suits of appeal. His +poets wrote about him: + + The lord of lone splendour an instant suspends + His course at mid-noon, ere he westward descends; + And brief are the moments our young monarch knows, + Devoted to pleasure or paid to repose! + +Before the second sandhya,[20] or noon, about the beginning of the third +watch, he recited the names of the gods, bathed, and broke his fast in +his private room; then rising from food, he was amused by singers and +dancing girls. The labours of the day now became lighter. After eating +he retired, repeating the name of his guardian deity, visited the +temples, saluted the gods conversed with the priests, and proceeded +to receive and to distribute presents. Fifthly, he discussed political +questions with his ministers and councillors. + +On the announcement of the herald that it was the sixth watch--about +2 or 3 P.M.--Vikram allowed himself to follow his own inclinations, to +regulate his family, and to transact business of a private and personal +nature. + +After gaining strength by rest, he proceeded to review his troops, +examining the men, saluting the officers, and holding military councils. +At sunset he bathed a third time and performed the five sacraments of +listening to a prelection of the Veda; making oblations to the manes; +sacrificing to Fire in honour of the deities; giving rice to dumb +creatures; and receiving guests with due ceremonies. He spent the +evening amidst a select company of wise, learned, and pious men, +conversing on different subjects, and reviewing the business of the day. + +The night was distributed with equal care. During the first portion +Vikram received the reports which his spies and envoys, dressed in every +disguise, brought to him about his enemies. Against the latter he +ceased not to use the five arts, namely--dividing the kingdom, bribes, +mischief-making, negotiations, and brute-force--especially preferring +the first two and the last. His forethought and prudence taught him +to regard all his nearest neighbours and their allies as hostile. The +powers beyond those natural enemies he considered friendly because they +were the foes of his foes. And all the remoter nations he looked upon as +neutrals, in a transitional or provisional state as it were, till they +became either his neighbours' neighbours, or his own neighbours, that is +to say, his friends or his foes. + +This important duty finished he supped, and at the end of the third +watch he retired to sleep, which was not allowed to last beyond three +hours. In the sixth watch he arose and purified himself. The seventh +was devoted to holding private consultations with his ministers, and to +furnishing the officers of government with requisite instructions. The +eighth or last watch was spent with the Purohita or priest, and with +Brahmans, hailing the dawn with its appropriate rites; he then bathed, +made the customary offerings, and prayed in some unfrequented place near +pure water. + +And throughout these occupations he bore in mind the duty of kings, +namely--to pursue every object till it be accomplished; to succour all +dependents, and hospitably to receive guests, however numerous. He was +generous to his subjects respecting taxes, and kind of speech; yet he +was inexorable as death in the punishment of offenses. He rarely hunted, +and he visited his pleasure gardens only on stated days. He acted in his +own dominions with justice; he chastised foreign foes with rigour; he +behaved generously to Brahmans, and he avoided favouritism amongst his +friends. In war he never slew a suppliant, a spectator, a person asleep +or undressed, or anyone that showed fear. Whatever country he conquered, +offerings were presented to its gods, and effects and money were given +to the reverends. But what benefited him most was his attention to the +creature comforts of the nine Gems of Science: those eminent men ate +and drank themselves into fits of enthusiasm, and ended by immortalizing +their patron's name. + +Become Vikram the Great he established his court at a delightful and +beautiful location rich in the best of water. The country was difficult +of access, and artificially made incapable of supporting a host of +invaders, but four great roads met near the city. The capital was +surrounded with durable ramparts, having gates of defence, and near it +was a mountain fortress, under the especial charge of a great captain. + +The metropolis was well garrisoned and provisioned, and it surrounded +the royal palace, a noble building without as well as within. Grandeur +seemed embodied there, and Prosperity had made it her own. The nearer +ground, viewed from the terraces and pleasure pavilions, was a lovely +mingling of rock and mountain, plain and valley, field and fallow, +crystal lake and glittering stream. The banks of the winding Lavana +were fringed with meads whose herbage, pearly with morning dew, afforded +choicest grazing for the sacred cow, and were dotted with perfumed +clumps of Bo-trees, tamarinds, and holy figs: in one place Vikram +planted 100,000 in a single orchard and gave them to his spiritual +advisers. The river valley separated the stream from a belt of forest +growth which extended to a hill range, dark with impervious jungle, and +cleared here and there for the cultivator's village. Behind it, rose +another sub-range, wooded with a lower bush and already blue with air, +whilst in the background towered range upon range, here rising abruptly +into points and peaks, there ramp-shaped or wall-formed, with sheer +descents, and all of light azure hue adorned with glories of silver and +gold. + +After reigning for some years, Vikram the Brave found himself at the +age of thirty, a staid and sober middle-aged man, He had several +sons--daughters are naught in India--by his several wives, and he had +some paternal affection for nearly all--except of course, for his eldest +son, a youth who seemed to conduct himself as though he had a claim to +the succession. In fact, the king seemed to have taken up his abode +for life at Ujjayani, when suddenly he bethought himself, "I must visit +those countries of whose names I am ever hearing." The fact is, he had +determined to spy out in disguise the lands of all his foes, and to find +the best means of bringing against them his formidable army. + + * * * * * * + +We now learn how Bhartari Raja becomes Regent of Ujjayani. + +Having thus resolved, Vikram the Brave gave the government into the +charge of a younger brother, Bhartari Raja, and in the garb of a +religious mendicant, accompanied by Dharma Dhwaj, his second son, a +youth bordering on the age of puberty, he began to travel from city to +city, and from forest to forest. + +The Regent was of a settled melancholic turn of mind, having lost +in early youth a very peculiar wife. One day, whilst out hunting, he +happened to pass a funeral pyre, upon which a Brahman's widow had just +become Sati (a holy woman) with the greatest fortitude. On his return +home he related the adventure to Sita Rani, his spouse, and she at once +made reply that virtuous women die with their husbands, killed by the +fire of grief, not by the flames of the pile. To prove her truth the +prince, after an affectionate farewell, rode forth to the chase, and +presently sent back the suite with his robes torn and stained, to report +his accidental death. Sita perished upon the spot, and the widower +remained inconsolable--for a time. + +He led the dullest of lives, and took to himself sundry spouses, all +equally distinguished for birth, beauty, and modesty. Like his brother, +he performed all the proper devoirs of a Raja, rising before the day to +finish his ablutions, to worship the gods, and to do due obeisance to +the Brahmans. He then ascended the throne, to judge his people according +to the Shastra, carefully keeping in subjection lust, anger, avarice, +folly, drunkenness, and pride; preserving himself from being seduced by +the love of gaming and of the chase; restraining his desire for dancing, +singing, and playing on musical instruments, and refraining from sleep +during daytime, from wine, from molesting men of worth, from dice, from +putting human beings to death by artful means, from useless travelling, +and from holding any one guilty without the commission of a crime. His +levees were in a hall decently splendid, and he was distinguished only +by an umbrella of peacock's feathers; he received all complainants, +petitioners, and presenters of offenses with kind looks and soft words. +He united to himself the seven or eight wise councillors, and the +sober and virtuous secretary that formed the high cabinet of his royal +brother, and they met in some secret lonely spot, as a mountain, a +terrace, a bower or a forest, whence women, parrots, and other talkative +birds were carefully excluded. + +And at the end of this useful and somewhat laborious day, he retired to +his private apartments, and, after listening to spiritual songs and +to soft music, he fell asleep. Sometimes he would summon his brother's +"Nine Gems of Science," and give ear to their learned discourses. But it +was observed that the viceroy reserved this exercise for nights when +he was troubled with insomnia--the words of wisdom being to him an +infallible remedy for that disorder. + +Thus passed onwards his youth, doing nothing that it could desire, +forbidden all pleasures because they were unprincely, and working in the +palace harder than in the pauper's hut. Having, however, fortunately for +himself, few predilections and no imagination, he began to pride himself +upon being a philosopher. Much business from an early age had dulled +his wits, which were never of the most brilliant; and in the steadily +increasing torpidity of his spirit, he traced the germs of that quietude +which forms the highest happiness of man in this storm of matter called +the world. He therefore allowed himself but one friend of his soul. He +retained, I have said, his brother's seven or eight ministers; he was +constant in attendance upon the Brahman priests who officiated at the +palace, and who kept the impious from touching sacred property; and he +was courteous to the commander-in-chief who directed his warriors, to +the officers of justice who inflicted punishment upon offenders, and +to the lords of towns, varying in number from one to a thousand. But +he placed an intimate of his own in the high position of confidential +councillor, the ambassador to regulate war and peace. + +Mahi-pala was a person of noble birth, endowed with shining abilities, +popular, dexterous in business, acquainted with foreign parts, famed for +eloquence and intrepidity, and as Menu the Lawgiver advises, remarkably +handsome. + +Bhartari Raja, as I have said, became a quietist and a philosopher. +But Kama,[21] the bright god who exerts his sway over the three worlds, +heaven and earth and grewsome Hades,[22] had marked out the prince once +more as the victim of his blossom-tipped shafts and his flowery bow. +How, indeed, could he hope to escape the doom which has fallen equally +upon Brahma the Creator, Vishnu the Preserver, and dreadful Shiva the +Three-eyed Destroyer[23]? + +By reason of her exceeding beauty, her face was a full moon shining in +the clearest sky; her hair was the purple cloud of autumn when, gravid +with rain, it hangs low over earth; and her complexion mocked the pale +waxen hue of the large-flowered jasmine. Her eyes were those of the +timid antelope; her lips were as red as those of the pomegranate's bud, +and when they opened, from them distilled a fountain of ambrosia. Her +neck was like a pigeon's; her hand the pink lining of the conch-shell; +her waist a leopard's; her feet the softest lotuses. In a word, a model +of grace and loveliness was Dangalah Rani, Raja Bhartari's last and +youngest wife. + +The warrior laid down his arms before her; the politician spoke +out every secret in her presence. The religious prince would have +slaughtered a cow--that sole unforgivable sin--to save one of her +eyelashes: the absolute king would not drink a cup of water without her +permission; the staid philosopher, the sober quietist, to win from her +the shadow of a smile, would have danced before her like a singing-girl. +So desperately enamoured became Bhartari Raja. + +It is written, however, that love, alas! breeds not love; and so +it happened to the Regent. The warmth of his affection, instead of +animating his wife, annoyed her; his protestations wearied her; his vows +gave her the headache; and his caresses were a colic that made her blood +run cold. Of course, the prince perceived nothing, being lost in wonder +and admiration of the beauty's coyness and coquetry. And as women must +give away their hearts, whether asked or not, so the lovely Dangalah +Rani lost no time in lavishing all the passion of her idle soul upon +Mahi-pala, the handsome ambassador of peace and war. By this means the +three were happy and were contented; their felicity, however, being +built on a rotten foundation, could not long endure. It soon ended in +the following extraordinary way. + +In the city of Ujjayani,[24] within sight of the palace, dwelt a Brahman +and his wife, who, being old and poor, and having nothing else to do, +had applied themselves to the practice of austere devotion.[25] They +fasted and refrained from drink, they stood on their heads and held +their arms for weeks in the air; they prayed till their knees were like +pads; they disciplined themselves with scourges of wire; and they walked +about unclad in the cold season, and in summer they sat within a circle +of flaming wood, till they became the envy and admiration of all the +plebeian gods that inhabit the lower heavens. In fine, as a reward for +their exceeding piety, the venerable pair received at the hands of a +celestial messenger an apple of the tree Kalpavriksha--a fruit which has +the virtue of conferring eternal life upon him that tastes it. + +Scarcely had the god disappeared, when the Brahman, opening his +toothless mouth, prepared to eat the fruit of immortality. Then his wife +addressed him in these words, shedding copious tears the while: + +"To die, O man, is a passing pain; to be poor is an interminable +anguish. Surely our present lot is the penalty of some great crime +committed by us in a past state of being.[26] Callest thou this state +life? Better we die at once, and so escape the woes of the world!" + +Hearing these words, the Brahman sat undecided, with open jaws and eyes +fixed upon the apple. Presently he found tongue: "I have accepted +the fruit, and have brought it here; but having heard thy speech, my +intellect hath wasted away; now I will do whatever thou pointest out." + +The wife resumed her discourse, which had been interrupted by a more +than usually copious flow of tears. "Moreover, O husband, we are old, +and what are the enjoyments of the stricken in years? Truly quoth the +poet-- + + Die loved in youth, not hated in age. + +If that fruit could have restored thy dimmed eyes, and deaf ears, and +blunted taste, and warmth of love, I had not spoken to thee thus." + +After which the Brahman threw away the apple, to the great joy of his +wife, who felt a natural indignation at the prospect of seeing her +goodman become immortal, whilst she still remained subject to the laws +of death; but she concealed this motive in the depths of her thought, +enlarging, as women are apt to do, upon everything but the truth. And +she spoke with such success, that the priest was about to toss in his +rage the heavenly fruit into the fire, reproaching the gods as if by +sending it they had done him an injury. Then the wife snatched it out +of his hand, and telling him it was too precious to be wasted, bade him +arise and gird his loins and wend him to the Regent's palace, and +offer him the fruit--as King Vikram was absent--with a right reverend +brahmanical benediction. She concluded with impressing upon her +unworldly husband the necessity of requiring a large sum of money as a +return for his inestimable gift. "By this means," she said, "thou mayst +promote thy present and future welfare.[27]" + +Then the Brahman went forth, and standing in the presence of the Raja, +told him all things touching the fruit, concluding with "O, mighty +prince! vouchsafe to accept this tribute, and bestow wealth upon me. I +shall be happy in your living long!" + +Bhartari Raja led the supplicant into an inner strongroom, where stood +heaps of the finest gold-dust, and bade him carry away all that he +could; this the priest did, not forgetting to fill even his eloquent and +toothless mouth with the precious metal. Having dismissed the devotee +groaning under the burden, the Regent entered the apartments of his +wives, and having summoned the beautiful Queen Dangalah Rani, gave her +the fruit, and said, "Eat this, light of my eyes! This fruit--joy of my +heart!--will make thee everlastingly young and beautiful." + +The pretty queen, placing both hands upon her husband's bosom, kissed +his eyes and lips, and sweetly smiling on his face--for great is the +guile of women--whispered, "Eat it thyself, dear one, or at least share +it with me; for what is life and what is youth without the presence of +those we love?" But the Raja, whose heart was melted by these unusual +words, put her away tenderly, and, having explained that the fruit would +serve for only one person, departed. + +Whereupon the pretty queen, sweetly smiling as before, slipped the +precious present into her pocket. When the Regent was transacting +business in the hall of audience she sent for the ambassador who +regulated war and peace, and presented him with the apple in a manner at +least as tender as that with which it had been offered to her. + +Then the ambassador, after slipping the fruit into his pocket also, +retired from the presence of the pretty queen, and meeting Lakha, one of +the maids of honour, explained to her its wonderful power, and gave +it to her as a token of his love. But the maid of honour, being an +ambitious girl, determined that the fruit was a fit present to set +before the Regent in the absence of the King. Bhartari Raja accepted it, +bestowed on her great wealth, and dismissed her with many thanks. + +He then took up the apple and looked at it with eyes brimful of tears, +for he knew the whole extent of his misfortune. His heart ached, he felt +a loathing for the world, and he said with sighs and groans[28]: + +"Of what value are these delusions of wealth and affection, whose +sweetness endures for a moment and becomes eternal bitterness? Love is +like the drunkard's cup: delicious is the first drink, palling are the +draughts that succeed it, and most distasteful are the dregs. What is +life but a restless vision of imaginary pleasures and of real pains, +from which the only waking is the terrible day of death? The affection +of this world is of no use, since, in consequence of it, we fall at last +into hell. For which reason it is best to practice the austerities of +religion, that the Deity may bestow upon us hereafter that happiness +which he refuses to us here!" + +Thus did Bhartari Raja determine to abandon the world. But before +setting out for the forest, he could not refrain from seeing the queen +once more, so hot was the flame which Kama had kindled in his heart. +He therefore went to the apartments of his women, and having caused +Dangalah Rani to be summoned, he asked her what had become of the fruit +which he had given to her. She answered that, according to his command, +she had eaten it. Upon which the Regent showed her the apple, and she +beholding it stood aghast, unable to make any reply. The Raja gave +careful orders for her beheading; he then went out, and having had the +fruit washed, ate it. He quitted the throne to be a jogi, or religious +mendicant, and without communicating with any one departed into the +jungle. There he became such a devotee that death had no power over him, +and he is wandering still. But some say that he was duly absorbed into +the essence of the Deity. + + * * * * * * + +We are next told how the valiant Vikram returned to his own country. + +Thus Vikram's throne remained empty. When the news reached King Indra, +Regent of the Lower Firmament and Protector of Earthly Monarchs, he sent +Prithwi Pala, a fierce giant,[29] to defend the city of Ujjayani till +such time as its lawful master might reappear, and the guardian used to +keep watch and ward night and day over his trust. + +In less than a year the valorous Raja Vikram became thoroughly tired of +wandering about the woods half dressed: now suffering from famine, then +exposed to the attacks of wild beasts, and at all times very ill at +ease. He reflected also that he was not doing his duty to his wives and +children; that the heir-apparent would probably make the worst use of +the parental absence; and finally, that his subjects, deprived of his +fatherly care, had been left in the hands of a man who, for ought he +could say, was not worthy of the high trust. He had also spied out +all the weak points of friend and foe. Whilst these and other equally +weighty considerations were hanging about the Raja's mind, he heard a +rumour of the state of things spread abroad; that Bhartari, the regent, +having abdicated his throne, had gone away into the forest. Then quoth +Vikram to his son, "We have ended our wayfarings, now let us turn our +steps homewards!" + +The gong was striking the mysterious hour of midnight as the king and +the young prince approached the principal gate. And they were pushing +through it when a monstrous figure rose up before them and called out +with a fearful voice, "Who are ye, and where are ye going? Stand and +deliver your names!" + +"I am Raja Vikram," rejoined the king, half choked with rage, "and I am +come to mine own city. Who art thou that darest to stop or stay me?" + +"That question is easily answered," cried Prithwi Pala the giant, in his +roaring voice; "the gods have sent me to protect Ujjayani. If thou be +really Raja Vikram, prove thyself a man: first fight with me, and then +return to thine own." + +The warrior king cried "Sadhu!" wanting nothing better. He girt his +girdle tight round his loins, summoned his opponent into the empty space +beyond the gate, told him to stand on guard, and presently began to +devise some means of closing with or running in upon him. The giant's +fists were large as watermelons, and his knotted arms whistled through +the air like falling trees, threatening fatal blows. Besides which the +Raja's head scarcely reached the giant's stomach, and the latter, each +time he struck out, whooped so abominably loud, that no human nerves +could remain unshaken. + +At last Vikram's good luck prevailed. The giant's left foot slipped, and +the hero, seizing his antagonist's other leg, began to trip him up. At +the same moment the young prince, hastening to his parent's assistance, +jumped viciously upon the enemy's naked toes. By their united exertions +they brought him to the ground, when the son sat down upon his stomach, +making himself as weighty as he well could, whilst the father, climbing +up to the monster's throat, placed himself astride upon it, and pressing +both thumbs upon his eyes, threatened to blind him if he would not +yield. + +Then the giant, modifying the bellow of his voice, cried out-- + +"O Raja, thou hast overthrown me, and I grant thee thy life." + +"Surely thou art mad, monster," replied the king, in jeering tone, half +laughing, half angry. "To whom grantest thou life? If I desire it I can +kill thee; how, then, cost thou talk about granting me my life?" + +"Vikram of Ujjayani," said the giant, "be not too proud! I will save +thee from a nearly impending death. Only hearken to the tale which I +have to tell thee, and use thy judgment, and act upon it. So shalt +thou rule the world free from care, and live without danger, and die +happily." + +"Proceed," quoth the Raja, after a moment's thought, dismounting from +the giant's throat, and beginning to listen with all his ears. + +The giant raised himself from the ground, and when in a sitting posture, +began in solemn tones to speak as follows: + +"In short, the history of the matter is, that three men were born in +this same city of Ujjayani, in the same lunar mansion, in the same +division of the great circle described upon the ecliptic, and in the +same period of time. You, the first, were born in the house of a king. +The second was an oilman's son, who was slain by the third, a jogi, +or anchorite, who kills all he can, wafting the sweet scent of human +sacrifice to the nostrils of Durga, goddess of destruction. Moreover, +the holy man, after compassing the death of the oilman's son, has +suspended him head downwards from a mimosa tree in a cemetery. He is now +anxiously plotting thy destruction. He hath murdered his own child--" + +"And how came an anchorite to have a child?" asked Raja Vikram, +incredulously. + +"That is what I am about to tell thee," replied the giant. "In the good +days of thy generous father, Gandharba-Sena, as the court was taking its +pleasure in the forest, they saw a devotee, or rather a devotee's head, +protruding from a hole in the ground. The white ants had surrounded his +body with a case of earth, and had made their home upon his skin. All +kinds of insects and small animals crawled up and down the face, yet not +a muscle moved. Wasps had hung their nests to its temples, and scorpions +wandered in and out of the matted and clotted hair; yet the hermit felt +them not. He spoke to no one; he received no gifts; and had it not been +for the opening of his nostrils, as he continually inhaled the pungent +smoke of a thorn fire, man would have deemed him dead. Such were his +religious austerities. + +"Thy father marvelled much at the sight, and rode home in profound +thought. That evening, as he sat in the hall of audience, he could speak +of nothing but the devotee; and his curiosity soon rose to such a pitch, +that he proclaimed about the city a reward of one hundred gold pieces to +any one that could bring to court this anchorite of his own free will. + +"Shortly afterwards, Vasantasena, a singing and dancing girl more +celebrated for wit and beauty than for sagesse or discretion, appeared +before thy sire, and offered for the petty inducement of a gold bangle +to bring the anchorite into the palace, carrying a baby on his shoulder. + +"The king hearing her speak was astonished, gave her a betel leaf in +token that he held her to her promise, and permitted her to depart, +which she did with a laugh of triumph. + +"Vasantasena went directly to the jungle, where she found the pious man +faint with thirst, shriveled with hunger, and half dead with heat +and cold. She cautiously put out the fire. Then, having prepared a +confection, she approached from behind and rubbed upon his lips a little +of the sweetmeat, which he licked up with great relish. Thereupon she +made more and gave it to him. After two days of this generous diet he +gained some strength, and on the third, as he felt a finger upon his +mouth, he opened his eyes and said, 'Why hast thou come here?' + +"The girl, who had her story in readiness, replied: "I am the daughter +of a deity, and have practiced religious observances in the heavenly +regions. I have now come into this forest!" And the devotee, who began +to think how much more pleasant is such society than solitude, asked her +where her hut was, and requested to be led there. + +"Then Vasantasena, having unearthed the holy man and compelled him to +purify himself, led him to the abode which she had caused to be built +for herself in the wood. She explained its luxuries by the nature of +her vow, which bound her to indulge in costly apparel, in food with six +flavours, and in every kind of indulgence.[30] In course of time the +hermit learned to follow her example; he gave up inhaling smoke, and he +began to eat and drink as a daily occupation. + +"At length Kama began to trouble him. Briefly the saint and saintess +were made man and wife, by the simple form of matrimony called the +Gandharba-vivaha,[31] and about ten months afterwards a son was born to +them. Thus the anchorite came to have a child. + +"Remained Vasantasena's last feat. Some months passed: then she said +to the devotee her husband, 'Oh saint! let us now, having finished our +devotions, perform a pilgrimage to some sacred place, that all the sins +of our bodies may be washed away, after which we will die and depart +into everlasting happiness.' Cajoled by these speeches, the hermit +mounted his child upon his shoulder and followed her where she +went--directly into Raja Gandharba-Sena's palace. + +"When the king and the ministers and the officers and the courtiers saw +Vasantasena, and her spouse carrying the baby, they recognized her from +afar. The Raja exclaimed, 'Lo! this is the very singing girl who went +forth to bring back the devotee. 'And all replied: 'O great monarch! +thou speakest truly; this is the very same woman. And be pleased to +observe that whatever things she, having asked leave to undertake, went +forth to do, all these she hath done!' Then gathering around her they +asked her all manner of questions, as if the whole matter had been the +lightest and the most laughable thing in the world. + +"But the anchorite, having heard the speeches of the king and his +courtiers, thought to himself, 'They have done this for the purpose of +taking away the fruits of my penance.' Cursing them all with terrible +curses, and taking up his child, he left the hall. Thence he went to the +forest, slaughtered the innocent, and began to practice austerities with +a view to revenge that hour, and having slain his child, he will attempt +thy life. His prayers have been heard. In the first place they deprived +thee of thy father. Secondly, they cast enmity between thee and thy +brother, thus dooming him to an untimely end. Thirdly, they are now +working thy ruin. The anchorite's design is to offer up a king and a +king's son to his patroness Durga, and by virtue of such devotional act +he will obtain the sovereignty of the whole world! + +"But I have promised, O Vikram, to save thee, if such be the will of +Fortune, from impending destruction. Therefore hearken well unto my +words. Distrust them that dwell amongst the dead, and remember that +it is lawful and right to strike off his head that would slay thee. So +shalt thou rule the universal earth, and leave behind thee an immortal +name!" + +Suddenly Prithwi Pala, the giant, ceased speaking, and disappeared. +Vikram and his son then passed through the city gates, feeling their +limbs to be certain that no bones were broken, and thinking over the +scene that had occurred. + + * * * * * * + +We now are informed how the valiant King Vikram met with the Vampire. + +It was the spring season when the Raja returned, and the Holi +festival[32] caused dancing and singing in every house. Ujjayani was +extraordinarily happy and joyful at the return of her ruler, who joined +in her gladness with all his kingly heart. The faces and dresses of +the public were red and yellow with gulal and abir,--perfumed +powders,[33]--which were sprinkled upon one another in token of +merriment. Musicians deafened the citizens' ears, dancing girls +performed till ready to faint with fatigue, the manufacturers of +comfits made their fortunes, and the Nine Gems of Science celebrated the +auspicious day with the most long-winded odes. The royal hero, decked +in regal attire, and attended by many thousands of state palanquins +glittering with their various ornaments, and escorted by a suite of a +hundred kingly personages, with their martial array of the four hosts, +of cavalry, elephants, chariots, and infantry, and accompanied by Amazon +girls, lovely as the suite of the gods, himself a personification of +majesty, bearing the white parasol of dominion, with a golden staff and +tassels, began once more to reign. + +After the first pleasures of return, the king applied himself +unremittingly to good government and to eradicating the abuses which had +crept into the administration during the period of his wanderings. + +Mindful of the wise saying, "if the Rajadid not punish the guilty, the +stronger would roast the weaker like a fish on the spit," he began +the work of reform with an iron hand. He confiscated the property of +a councillor who had the reputation of taking bribes; he branded the +forehead of a sudra or servile man whose breath smelt of ardent spirits, +and a goldsmith having been detected in fraud he ordered him to be cut +in shreds with razors as the law in its mercy directs. In the case of a +notorious evil-speaker he opened the back of his head and had his tongue +drawn through the wound. A few murderers he burned alive on iron beds, +praying the while that Vishnu might have mercy upon their souls. His +spies were ordered, as the shastra called "The Prince" advises, to mix +with robbers and thieves with a view of leading them into situations +where they might most easily be entrapped, and once or twice when the +fellows were too wary, he seized them and their relations and impaled +them all, thereby conclusively proving, without any mistake, that he was +king of earth. + +With the sex feminine he was equally severe. A woman convicted of having +poisoned an elderly husband in order to marry a younger man was thrown +to the dogs, which speedily devoured her. He punished simple infidelity +by cutting off the offender's nose--an admirable practice, which is not +only a severe penalty to the culprit, but also a standing warning to +others, and an efficient preventative to any recurrence of the fault. +Faithlessness combined with bad example or brazen-facedness was further +treated by being led in solemn procession through the bazar mounted on +a diminutive and crop-eared donkey, with the face turned towards the +crupper. After a few such examples the women of Ujjayani became almost +modest; it is the fault of man when they are not tolerably well behaved +in one point at least. + +Every day as Vikram sat upon the judgment-seat, trying causes and +punishing offenses, he narrowly observed the speech, the gestures, +and the countenances of the various criminals and litigants and their +witnesses. Ever suspecting women, as I have said, and holding them to +be the root of all evil, he never failed when some sin or crime more +horrible than usual came before him, to ask the accused, "Who is she?" +and the suddenness of the question often elicited the truth by accident. +For there can be nothing thoroughly and entirely bad unless a woman is +at the bottom of it; and, knowing this, Raja Vikram made certain notable +hits under the most improbable circumstances, which had almost given him +a reputation for omniscience. But this is easily explained: a man intent +upon squaring the circle will see squares in circles wherever he looks, +and sometimes he will find them. + +In disputed cases of money claims, the king adhered strictly to +established practice, and consulted persons learned in the law. He +seldom decided a cause on his own judgment, and he showed great temper +and patience in bearing with rough language from irritated plaintiffs +and defendants, from the infirm, and from old men beyond eighty. +That humble petitioners might not be baulked in having access to the +"fountain of justice," he caused an iron box to be suspended by a chain +from the windows of his sleeping apartment. Every morning he ordered +the box to be opened before him, and listened to all the placets at full +length. Even in this simple process he displayed abundant cautiousness. +For, having forgotten what little of the humanities he had mastered in +his youth, he would hand the paper to a secretary whose business it was +to read it out before him; after which operation the man of letters was +sent into an inner room, and the petition was placed in the hands of +a second scribe. Once it so happened by the bungling of the deceitful +kayasths(clerks) that an important difference was found to occur in the +same sheet. So upon strict inquiry one secretary lost his ears and +the other his right hand. After this petitions were rarely if ever +falsified. + +The Raja Vikram also lost no time in attacking the cities and towns and +villages of his enemies, but the people rose to a man against him, and +hewing his army to pieces with their weapons, vanquished him. This took +place so often that he despaired of bringing all the earth under the +shadow of his umbrella. + +At length on one occasion when near a village he listened to a +conversation of the inhabitants. A woman having baked some cakes was +giving them to her child, who leaving the edges would eat only the +middle. On his asking for another cake, she cried, "This boy's way is +like Vikram's in his attempt to conquer the world!" On his inquiring +"Mother, why, what am I doing; and what has Vikram done?" + +"Thou, my boy," she replied, "throwing away the outside of the cake +eatest the middle only. Vikram also in his ambition, without subduing +the frontiers before attacking the towns, invades the heart of the +country and lays it waste. On that account, both the townspeople and +others rising, close upon him from the frontiers to the centre, and +destroy his army. That is his folly." + +Vikram took notice of the woman's words. He strengthened his army and +resumed his attack on the provinces and cities, beginning with the +frontiers, reducing the outer towns and stationing troops in the +intervals. Thus he proceeded regularly with his invasions. After a +respite, adopting the same system and marshalling huge armies, he +reduced in regular course each kingdom and province till he became +monarch of the whole world. + +It so happened that one day as Vikram the Brave sat upon the +judgment-seat, a young merchant, by name Mal Deo, who had lately arrived +at Ujjayani with loaded camels and elephants, and with the reputation +of immense wealth, entered the palace court. Having been received with +extreme condescension, he gave into the king's hand a fruit which he had +brought in his own, and then spreading a prayer carpet on the floor he +sat down. Presently, after a quarter of an hour, he arose and went away. +When he had gone the king reflected in his mind: "Under this disguise, +perhaps, is the very man of whom the giant spoke." Suspecting this, he +did not eat the fruit, but calling the master of the household he gave +the present to him, ordering him to keep it in a very careful manner. +The young merchant, however, continued every day to court the honour of +an interview, each time presenting a similar gift. + +By chance one morning Raja Vikram went, attended by his ministers, to +see his stables. At this time the young merchant also arrived there, and +in the usual manner placed a fruit in the royal hand. As the king +was thoughtfully tossing it in the air, it accidentally fell from his +fingers to the ground. Then the monkey, who was tethered amongst the +horses to draw calamities from their heads,[34] snatched it up and tore +it to pieces. Whereupon a ruby of such size and water came forth that +the king and his ministers, beholding its brilliancy, gave vent to +expressions of wonder. + +Quoth Vikram to the young merchant severely--for his suspicions were now +thoroughly roused--"Why hast thou given to us all this wealth?" + +"O great king," replied Mal Deo, demurely, "it is written in the +scriptures (shastra) 'Of Ceremony' that 'we must not go empty-handed +into the presence of the following persons, namely, Rajas, spiritual +teachers, judges, young maidens, and old women whose daughters we would +marry.' But why, O Vikram, cost thou speak of one ruby only, since in +each of the fruits which I have laid at thy feet there is a similar +jewel?" Having heard this speech, the king said to the master of his +household, "Bring all the fruits which I have entrusted to thee." The +treasurer, on receiving the royal command, immediately brought them, +and having split them, there was found in each one a ruby, one and all +equally perfect in size and water. Raja Vikram beholding such treasures +was excessively pleased. Having sent for a lapidary, he ordered him to +examine the rubies, saying, "We cannot take anything with us out of this +world. Virtue is a noble quality to possess here below--so tell justly +what is the value of each of these gems.[35]" + +To so moral a speech the lapidary replied, "Maha-Raja[36]! thou hast +said truly; whoever possesses virtue, possesses everything; virtue +indeed accompanies us always, and is of advantage in both worlds. Hear, +O great king! each gem is perfect in colour, quality and beauty. If I +were to say that the value of each was ten million millions of suvarnas +(gold pieces), even then thou couldst not understand its real worth. In +fact, each ruby would buy one of the seven regions into which the earth +is divided." + +The king on hearing this was delighted, although his suspicions were +not satisfied; and, having bestowed a robe of honour upon the lapidary, +dismissed him. Thereon, taking the young merchant's hand, he led him +into the palace, seated him upon his own carpet in presence of the +court, and began to say, "My entire kingdom is not worth one of these +rubies: tell me how it is that thou who buyest and sellest hast given me +such and so many pearls?" + +Mal Deo replied: "O great king, the speaking of matters like the +following in public is not right; these things--prayers, spells, drugs, +good qualities, household affairs, the eating of forbidden food, and the +evil we may have heard of our neighbour--should not be discussed in full +assembly. Privately I will disclose to thee my wishes. This is the +way of the world; when an affair comes to six ears, it does not remain +secret; if a matter is confided to four ears it may escape further +hearing; and if to two ears even Brahma the Creator does not know it; +how then can any rumour of it come to man?" + +Having heard this speech, Raja Vikram took Mal Deo aside, and began to +ask him, saying, "O generous man! you have given me so many rubies, and +even for a single day you have not eaten food with me; I am exceedingly +ashamed, tell me what you desire." + +"Raja," said the young merchant, "I am not Mal Deo, but Shanta-Shil,[37] +a devotee. I am about to perform spells, incantations and magical rites +on the banks of the river Godavari, in a large smashana, a cemetery +where bodies are burned. By this means the Eight Powers of Nature will +all become mine. This thing I ask of you as alms, that you and the young +prince Dharma Dhwaj will pass one night with me, doing my bidding. By +you remaining near me my incantations will be successful." + +The valiant Vikram nearly started from his seat at the word cemetery, +but, like a ruler of men, he restrained his face from expressing his +feelings, and he presently replied, "Good, we will come, tell us on what +day!" + +"You are to come to me," said the devotee, "armed, but without +followers, on the Monday evening the 14th of the dark half of the month +Bhadra.[38]" The Raja said: "Do you go your ways, we will certainly +come." In this manner, having received a promise from the king, and +having taken leave, the devotee returned to his house: thence he +repaired to the temple, and having made preparations, and taken all the +necessary things, he went back into the cemetery and sat down to his +ceremonies. + +The valiant Vikram, on the other hand, retired into an inner apartment, +to consult his own judgment about an adventure with which, for fear of +ridicule, he was unwilling to acquaint even the most trustworthy of his +ministers. + +In due time came the evening moon's day, the 14th of the dark half of +the month Bhadra. As the short twilight fell gloomily on earth, the +warrior king accompanied by his son, with turband-ends tied under their +chins, and with trusty blades tucked under their arms ready for foes, +human, bestial, or devilish, slipped out unseen through the palace +wicket, and took the road leading to the cemetery on the river bank. + +Dark and drear was the night. Urged by the furious blast of the +lingering winter-rains, masses of bistre-coloured cloud, like the forms +of unwieldy beasts, rolled heavily over the firmament plain. Whenever +the crescent of the young moon, rising from an horizon sable as the sad +Tamala's hue,[39] glanced upon the wayfarers, it was no brighter than +the fine tip of an elephant's tusk protruding from the muddy wave. A +heavy storm was impending; big drops fell in showers from the forest +trees as they groaned under the blast, and beneath the gloomy avenue the +clayey ground gleamed ghastly white. As the Raja and his son advanced, +a faint ray of light, like the line of pure gold streaking the dark +surface of the touchstone, caught their eyes, and directed their +footsteps towards the cemetery. + +When Vikram came upon the open space on the riverbank where corpses were +burned, he hesitated for a moment to tread its impure ground. But seeing +his son undismayed, he advanced boldly, trampling upon remnants of +bones, and only covering his mouth with his turband-end. + +Presently, at the further extremity of the smashana, or burning ground, +appeared a group. By the lurid flames that flared and flickered round +the half-extinguished funeral pyres, with remnants of their dreadful +loads, Raja Vikram and Dharma Dhwaj could note the several features of +the ill-omened spot. There was an outer circle of hideous bestial forms; +tigers were roaring, and elephants were trumpeting; wolves, whose +foul hairy coats blazed with sparks of bluish phosphoric light, were +devouring the remnants of human bodies; foxes, jackals, and hyenas +were disputing over their prey; whilst bears were chewing the livers of +children. The space within was peopled by a multitude of fiends. There +were the subtle bodies of men that had escaped their grosser frames +prowling about the charnel ground, where their corpses had been reduced +to ashes, or hovering in the air, waiting till the new bodies which +they were to animate were made ready for their reception. The spirits of +those that had been foully slain wandered about with gashed limbs; and +skeletons, whose mouldy bones were held together by bits of blackened +sinew, followed them as the murderer does his victim. Malignant witches +with shriveled skins, horrid eyes and distorted forms, crawled +and crouched over the earth; whilst spectres and goblins now stood +motionless, and tall as lofty palm trees; then, as if in fits, leaped, +danced, and tumbled before their evocator. The air was filled with +shrill and strident cries, with the fitful moaning of the storm-wind, +with the hooting of the owl, with the jackal's long wild cry, and +with the hoarse gurgling of the swollen river, from whose banks the +earth-slip thundered in its fall. + +In the midst of all, close to the fire which lit up his evil +countenance, sat Shanta-Shil, the jogi, with the banner that denoted +his calling and his magic staff planted in the ground behind him. He +was clad in the ochre-coloured loin-wrap of his class; from his head +streamed long tangled locks of hair like horsehair; his black body was +striped with lines of chalk, and a girdle of thighbones encircled his +waist. His face was smeared with ashes from a funeral pyre, and his +eyes, fixed as those of a statue, gleamed from this mask with an +infernal light of hate. His cheeks were shaven, and he had not forgotten +to draw the horizontal sectarian mark. But this was of blood; and +Vikram, as he drew near saw that he was playing upon a human skull with +two shank bones, making music for the horrid revelry. + +Now Raja Vikram, as has been shown by his encounter with Indra's +watchman, was a bold prince, and he was cautious as he was brave. The +sight of a human being in the midst of these terrors raised his mettle; +he determined to prove himself a hero, and feeling that the critical +moment was now come, he hoped to rid himself and his house forever of +the family curse that hovered over them. + +For a moment he thought of the giant's words, "And remember that it is +lawful and right to strike off his head that would slay thee." A stroke +with his good sword might at once and effectually put an end to the +danger. But then he remembered that he had passed his royal word to do +the devotee's bidding that night. Besides, he felt assured that the hour +for action had not yet sounded. + +These reflections having passed through his mind with the rapid course +of a star that has lost its honours,[40] Vikram courteously saluted +Shanta-Shil. The jogi briefly replied, "Come sit down, both of ye." The +father and son took their places, by no means surprised or frightened +by the devil dances before and around them. Presently the valiant Raja +reminded the devotee that he was come to perform his promise, and lastly +asked, "What commands are there for us?" + +The jogi replied, "O king, since you have come, just perform one piece +of business. About two kos[41] hence, in a southerly direction, there +is another place where dead bodies are burned; and in that place is a +mimosa tree, on which a body is hanging. Bring it to me immediately." + +Raja Vikram took his son's hand, unwilling to leave him in such +company; and, catching up a fire-brand, went rapidly away in the proper +direction. He was now certain that Shanta-Shil was the anchorite who, +enraged by his father, had resolved his destruction; and his uppermost +thought was a firm resolve "to breakfast upon his enemy, ere his enemy +could dine upon him." He muttered this old saying as he went, whilst the +tom-toming of the anchorite upon the skull resounded in his ears, +and the devil-crowd, which had held its peace during his meeting with +Shanta-Shil, broke out again in an infernal din of whoops and screams, +yells and laughter. + +The darkness of the night was frightful, the gloom deepened till it was +hardly possible to walk. The clouds opened their fountains, raining so +that you would say they could never rain again. Lightning blazed forth +with more than the light of day, and the roar of the thunder caused the +earth to shake. Baleful gleams tipped the black cones of the trees and +fitfully scampered like fireflies over the waste. Unclean goblins dogged +the travellers and threw themselves upon the ground in their path and +obstructed them in a thousand different ways. Huge snakes, whose mouths +distilled blood and black venom, kept clinging around their legs in the +roughest part of the road, till they were persuaded to loose their hold +either by the sword or by reciting a spell. In fact, there were so many +horrors and such a tumult and noise that even a brave man would have +faltered, yet the king kept on his way. + +At length having passed over, somehow or other, a very difficult road, +the Raja arrived at the smashana, or burning place pointed out by the +jogi. Suddenly he sighted the tree where from root to top every branch +and leaf was in a blaze of crimson flame. And when he, still dauntless, +advanced towards it, a clamour continued to be raised, and voices kept +crying, "Kill them! kill them! seize them! seize them! take care that +they do not get away! let them scorch themselves to cinders! let them +suffer the pains of Patala.[42]" + +Far from being terrified by this state of things the valiant Raja +increased in boldness, seeing a prospect of an end to his adventure. +Approaching the tree he felt that the fire did not burn him, and so he +sat there for a while to observe the body, which hung, head downwards, +from a branch a little above him. + +Its eyes, which were wide open, were of a greenish-brown, and never +twinkled; its hair also was brown,[43] and brown was its face--three +several shades which, notwithstanding, approached one another in an +unpleasant way, as in an over-dried cocoa-nut. Its body was thin and +ribbed like a skeleton or a bamboo framework, and as it held on to a +bough, like a flying fox,[44] by the toe-tips, its drawn muscles stood +out as if they were ropes of coin. Blood it appeared to have none, or +there would have been a decided determination of that curious juice to +the head; and as the Raja handled its skin it felt icy cold and clammy +as might a snake. The only sign of life was the whisking of a ragged +little tail much resembling a goat's. + +Judging from these signs the brave king at once determined the creature +to be a Baital--a Vampire. For a short time he was puzzled to reconcile +the appearance with the words of the giant, who informed him that the +anchorite had hung the oilman's son to a tree. But soon he explained to +himself the difficulty, remembering the exceeding cunning of jogis +and other reverend men, and determining that his enemy, the better +to deceive him, had doubtless altered the shape and form of the young +oilman's body. + +With this idea, Vikram was pleased, saying, "My trouble has been +productive of fruit." Remained the task of carrying the Vampire to +Shanta-Shil the devotee. Having taken his sword, the Raja fearlessly +climbed the tree, and ordering his son to stand away from below, +clutched the Vampire's hair with one hand, and with the other struck +such a blow of the sword, that the bough was cut and the thing fell +heavily upon the ground. Immediately on falling it gnashed its teeth and +began to utter a loud wailing cry like the screams of an infant in pain. +Vikram having heard the sound of its lamentations, was pleased, and +began to say to himself, "This devil must be alive." Then nimbly sliding +down the trunk, he made a captive of the body, and asked "Who art thou?" + +Scarcely, however, had the words passed the royal lips, when the Vampire +slipped through the fingers like a worm, and uttering a loud shout +of laughter, rose in the air with its legs uppermost, and as before +suspended itself by its toes to another bough. And there it swung to and +fro, moved by the violence of its cachinnation. + +"Decidedly this is the young oilman!" exclaimed the Raja, after he had +stood for a minute or two with mouth open, gazing upwards and wondering +what he should do next. Presently he directed Dharma Dhwaj not to lose +an instant in laying hands upon the thing when it next might touch the +ground, and then he again swarmed up the tree. Having reached his former +position, he once more seized the Baital's hair, and with all the force +of his arms--for he was beginning to feel really angry--he tore it from +its hold and dashed it to the ground, saying, "O wretch, tell me who +thou art?" + +Then, as before, the Raja slid deftly down the trunk, and hurried to the +aid of his son, who in obedience to orders, had fixed his grasp upon +the Vampire's neck. Then, too, as before, the Vampire, laughing aloud, +slipped through their fingers and returned to its dangling-place. + +To fail twice was too much for Raja Vikram's temper, which was right +kingly and somewhat hot. This time he bade his son strike the Baital's +head with his sword. Then, more like a wounded bear of Himalaya than a +prince who had established an era, he hurried up the tree, and directed +a furious blow with his sabre at the Vampire's lean and calfless legs. +The violence of the stroke made its toes loose their hold of the bough, +and when it touched the ground, Dharma Dhwaj's blade fell heavily +upon its matted brown hair. But the blows appeared to have lighted on +iron-wood--to judge at least from the behaviour of the Baital, who no +sooner heard the question, "O wretch, who art thou?" than it returned in +loud glee and merriment to its old position. + +Five mortal times did Raja Vikram repeat this profitless labour. But +so far from losing heart, he quite entered into the spirit of the +adventure. Indeed he would have continued climbing up that tree and +taking that corpse under his arm--he found his sword useless--and +bringing it down, and asking it who it was, and seeing it slip through +his fingers, six times sixty times, or till the end of the fourth and +present age,[45] had such extreme resolution been required. + +However, it was not necessary. On the seventh time of falling, the +Baital, instead of eluding its capturer's grasp, allowed itself to be +seized, merely remarking that "even the gods cannot resist a thoroughly +obstinate man."[46] And seeing that the stranger, for the better +protection of his prize, had stripped off his waistcloth and was making +it into a bag, the Vampire thought proper to seek the most favourable +conditions for himself, and asked his conqueror who he was, and what he +was about to do? + +"Vile wretch," replied the breathless hero, "know me to be Vikram the +Great, Raja of Ujjayani, and I bear thee to a man who is amusing himself +by drumming to devils on a skull." + +"Remember the old saying, mighty Vikram!" said the Baital, with a +sneer, "that many a tongue has cut many a throat. I have yielded to thy +resolution and I am about to accompany thee, bound to thy back like a +beggar's wallet. But hearken to my words, ere we set out upon the way. +I am of a loquacious disposition, and it is well nigh an hour's walk +between this tree and the place where thy friend sits, favouring his +friends with the peculiar music which they love. Therefore, I shall +try to distract my thoughts, which otherwise might not be of the most +pleasing nature, by means of sprightly tales and profitable reflections. +Sages and men of sense spend their days in the delights of light and +heavy literature, whereas dolts and fools waste time in sleep and +idleness. And I purpose to ask thee a number of questions, concerning +which we will, if it seems fit to thee, make this covenant: + +"Whenever thou answerest me, either compelled by Fate or entrapped by my +cunning into so doing, or thereby gratifying thy vanity and conceit, +I leave thee and return to my favourite place and position in the +siras-tree, but when thou shalt remain silent, confused, and at a loss +to reply, either through humility or thereby confessing thine ignorance, +and impotence, and want of comprehension, then will I allow thee, of +mine own free will, to place me before thine employer. Perhaps I should +not say so; it may sound like bribing thee, but--take my counsel, and +mortify thy pride, and assumption, and arrogance, and haughtiness, as +soon as possible. So shalt thou derive from me a benefit which none but +myself can bestow." + +Raja Vikram hearing these rough words, so strange to his royal ear, +winced; then he rejoiced that his heir apparent was not near; then +he looked round at his son Dharma Dhwaj, to see if he was impertinent +enough to be amused by the Baital. But the first glance showed him the +young prince busily employed in pinching and screwing the monster's +legs, so as to make it fit better into the cloth. Vikram then seized +the ends of the waistcloth, twisted them into a convenient form for +handling, stooped, raised the bundle with a jerk, tossed it over his +shoulder, and bidding his son not to lag behind, set off at a round pace +towards the western end of the cemetery. + +The shower had ceased, and, as they gained ground, the weather greatly +improved. + +The Vampire asked a few indifferent questions about the wind and +the rain and the mud. When he received no answer, he began to feel +uncomfortable, and he broke out with these words: "O King Vikram, listen +to the true story which I am about to tell thee." + + + + +VIKRAM AND THE VAMPIRE + + + + +THE VAMPIRE'S FIRST STORY -- In which a man deceives a woman. + +In Benares once reigned a mighty prince, by name Pratapamukut, to whose +eighth son Vajramukut happened the strangest adventure. + +One morning, the young man, accompanied by the son of his father's +pradhan or prime minister, rode out hunting, and went far into the +jungle. At last the twain unexpectedly came upon a beautiful "tank [47]" +of a prodigious size. It was surrounded by short thick walls of fine +baked brick; and flights and ramps of cut-stone steps, half the length +of each face, and adorned with turrets, pendants, and finials, led down +to the water. The substantial plaster work and the masonry had fallen +into disrepair, and from the crevices sprang huge trees, under whose +thick shade the breeze blew freshly, and on whose balmy branches the +birds sang sweetly; the grey squirrels [48] chirruped joyously as they +coursed one another up the gnarled trunks, and from the pendent llianas +the longtailed monkeys were swinging sportively. The bountiful hand of +Sravana [49] had spread the earthen rampart with a carpet of the softest +grass and many-hued wild flowers, in which were buzzing swarms of bees +and myriads of bright winged insects; and flocks of water fowl, wild +geese, Brahmini ducks, bitterns, herons, and cranes, male and female, +were feeding on the narrow strip of brilliant green that belted the long +deep pool, amongst the broad-leaved lotuses with the lovely blossoms, +splashing through the pellucid waves, and basking happily in the genial +sun. + +The prince and his friend wondered when they saw the beautiful tank in +the midst of a wild forest, and made many vain conjectures about it. +They dismounted, tethered their horses, and threw their weapons upon the +ground; then, having washed their hands and faces, they entered a shrine +dedicated to Mahadeva, and there began to worship the presiding deity. + +Whilst they were making their offerings, a bevy of maidens, accompanied +by a crowd of female slaves, descended the opposite flight of steps. +They stood there for a time, talking and laughing and looking about them +to see if any alligators infested the waters. When convinced that the +tank was safe, they disrobed themselves in order to bathe. It was truly +a splendid spectacle. + +"Concerning which the less said the better," interrupted Raja Vikram in +an offended tone.[50] + +--but did not last long. The Raja's daughter--for the principal maiden +was a princess--soon left her companions, who were scooping up water +with their palms and dashing it over one another's heads, and proceeded +to perform the rites of purification, meditation, and worship. Then she +began strolling with a friend under the shade of a small mango grove. + +The prince also left his companion sitting in prayer, and walked forth +into the forest. Suddenly the eyes of the Raja's son and the Raja's +daughter met. She started back with a little scream. He was fascinated +by her beauty, and began to say to himself, "O thou vile Karma,[51] why +worriest thou me?" + +Hearing this, the maiden smiled encouragement, but the poor youth, +between palpitation of the heart and hesitation about what to say, was +so confused that his tongue crave to his teeth. She raised her eyebrows +a little. There is nothing which women despise in a man more than +modesty, [52] for mo-des-ty-- + +A violent shaking of the bag which hung behind Vikram's royal back broke +off the end of this offensive sentence. And the warrior king did not +cease that discipline till the Baital promised him to preserve more +decorum in his observations. + +Still the prince stood before her with downcast eyes and suffused +cheeks: even the spur of contempt failed to arouse his energies. Then +the maiden called to her friend, who was picking jasmine flowers so as +not to witness the scene, and angrily asked why that strange man was +allowed to stand and stare at her? The friend, in hot wrath, threatened +to call the slave, and throw Vajramukut into the pond unless he +instantly went away with his impudence. But as the prince was rooted to +the spot, and really had not heard a word of what had been said to him, +the two women were obliged to make the first move. + +As they almost reached the tank, the beautiful maiden turned her head to +see what the poor modest youth was doing. + +Vajramukut was formed in every way to catch a woman's eye. The Raja's +daughter therefore half forgave him his offence of mod----. Again she +sweetly smiled, disclosing two rows of little opals. Then descending +to the water's edge, she stooped down and plucked a lotus. This she +worshipped; next she placed it in her hair, then she put it in her ear, +then she bit it with her teeth, then she trod upon it with her foot, +then she raised it up again, and lastly she stuck it in her bosom. After +which she mounted her conveyance and went home to her friends; whilst +the prince, having become thoroughly desponding and drowned in grief at +separation from her, returned to the minister's son. + +"Females!" ejaculated the minister's son, speaking to himself in a +careless tone, when, his prayer finished, he left the temple, and sat +down upon the tank steps to enjoy the breeze. He presently drew a roll +of paper from under his waist-belt, and in a short time was engrossed +with his study. The women seeing this conduct, exerted themselves in +every possible way of wile to attract his attention and to distract his +soul. They succeeded only so far as to make him roll his head with a +smile, and to remember that such is always the custom of man's bane; +after which he turned over a fresh page of manuscript. And although he +presently began to wonder what had become of the prince his master, he +did not look up even once from his study. + +He was a philosopher, that young man. But after all, Raja Vikram, what +is mortal philosophy? Nothing but another name for indifference! Who was +ever philosophical about a thing truly loved or really hated?--no one! +Philosophy, says Shankharacharya, is either a gift of nature or the +reward of study. But I, the Baital, the devil, ask you, what is a born +philosopher, save a man of cold desires? And what is a bred philosopher +but a man who has survived his desires? A young philosopher?--a +cold-blooded youth! An elderly philosopher?--a leuco-phlegmatic old +man! Much nonsense, of a verity, ye hear in praise of nothing from your +Rajaship's Nine Gems of Science, and from sundry other such wise fools. + +Then the prince began to relate the state of his case, saying, "O +friend, I have seen a damsel, but whether she be a musician from Indra's +heaven, a maiden of the sea, a daughter of the serpent kings, or the +child of an earthly Raja, I cannot say." + +"Describe her," said the statesman in embryo. + +"Her face," quoth the prince, "was that of the full moon, her hair like +a swarm of bees hanging from the blossoms of the acacia, the corners of +her eyes touched her ears, her lips were sweet with lunar ambrosia, her +waist was that of a lion, and her walk the walk of a king goose. [53] +As a garment, she was white; as a season, the spring; as a flower, the +jasmine; as a speaker, the kokila bird; as a perfume, musk; as a +beauty, Kamadeva; and as a being, Love. And if she does not come into my +possession I will not live; this I have certainly determined upon." + +The young minister, who had heard his prince say the same thing more +than once before, did not attach great importance to these awful words. +He merely remarked that, unless they mounted at once, night would +surprise them in the forest. Then the two young men returned to their +horses, untethered them, drew on their bridles, saddled them, and +catching up their weapons, rode slowly towards the Raja's palace. +During the three hours of return hardly a word passed between the +pair. Vajramukut not only avoided speaking; he never once replied till +addressed thrice in the loudest voice. + +The young minister put no more questions, "for," quoth he to himself, +"when the prince wants my counsel, he will apply for it." In this point +he had borrowed wisdom from his father, who held in peculiar horror the +giving of unasked-for advice. So, when he saw that conversation was +irksome to his master, he held his peace and meditated upon what he +called his "day-thought." It was his practice to choose every morning +some tough food for reflection, and to chew the cud of it in his mind +at times when, without such employment, his wits would have gone +wool-gathering. You may imagine, Raja Vikram, that with a few years of +this head work, the minister's son became a very crafty young person. + +After the second day the Prince Vajramukut, being restless from grief +at separation, fretted himself into a fever. Having given up writing, +reading, drinking, sleeping, the affairs entrusted to him by his father, +and everything else, he sat down, as he said, to die. He used constantly +to paint the portrait of the beautiful lotus gatherer, and to lie gazing +upon it with tearful eyes; then he would start up and tear it to pieces +and beat his forehead, and begin another picture of a yet more beautiful +face. + +At last, as the pradhan's son had foreseen, he was summoned by the +young Raja, whom he found upon his bed, looking yellow and complaining +bitterly of headache. Frequent discussions upon the subject of the +tender passion had passed between the two youths, and one of them had +ever spoken of it so very disrespectfully that the other felt ashamed +to introduce it. But when his friend, with a view to provoke +communicativeness, advised a course of boiled and bitter herbs and +great attention to diet, quoting the hemistich attributed to the learned +physician Charndatta, + + A fever starve, but feed a cold, + +the unhappy Vajramukut's fortitude abandoned him; he burst into tears, +and exclaimed, "Whosoever enters upon the path of love cannot survive +it; and if (by chance) he should live, what is life to him but a +prolongation of his misery?" + +"Yea," replied the minister's son, "the sage hath said-- + +"The road of love is that which hath no beginning nor end; Take thou heed +of thyself, man I ere thou place foot upon it. + +"And the wise, knowing that there are three things whose effect upon +himself no man can foretell--namely, desire of woman, the dice-box, and +the drinking of ardent spirits--find total abstinence from them the best +of rules. Yet, after all, if there is no cow, we must milk the bull." + +The advice was, of course, excellent, but the hapless lover could not +help thinking that on this occasion it came a little too late. However, +after a pause he returned to the subject and said, "I have ventured +to tread that dangerous way, be its end pain or pleasure, happiness or +destruction." He then hung down his head and sighed from the bottom of +his heart. + +"She is the person who appeared to us at the tank?" asked the pradhan's +son, moved to compassion by the state of his master. + +The prince assented. + +"O great king," resumed the minister's son, "at the time of going away +had she said anything to you? or had you said anything to her?" + +"Nothing!" replied the other laconically, when he found his friend +beginning to take an interest in the affair. + +"Then," said the minister's son, "it will be exceedingly difficult to +get possession of her." + +"Then," repeated the Raja's son, "I am doomed to death; to an early and +melancholy death!" + +"Humph!" ejaculated the young statesman rather impatiently, "did she +make any sign, or give any hint? Let me know all that happened: half +confidences are worse than none." + +Upon which the prince related everything that took place by the side +of the tank, bewailing the false shame which had made him dumb, and +concluding with her pantomime. + +The pradhan's son took thought for a while. He thereupon seized the +opportunity of representing to his master all the evil effects of +bashfulness when women are concerned, and advised him, as he would be a +happy lover, to brazen his countenance for the next interview. + +Which the young Raja faithfully promised to do. + +"And, now," said the other, "be comforted, O my master! I know her name +and her dwelling-place. When she suddenly plucked the lotus flower and +worshipped it, she thanked the gods for having blessed her with a sight +of your beauty." + +Vajramukut smiled, the first time for the last month. + +"When she applied it to her ear, it was as if she would have explained +to thee, 'I am a daughter of the Carnatic: [54] and when she bit it with +her teeth, she meant to say that 'My father is Raja Dantawat, [55]' who, +by-the-bye, has been, is, and ever will be, a mortal foe to thy father." + +Vajramukut shuddered. + +"When she put it under her foot it meant, 'My name is Padmavati. [56]'" + +Vajramukut uttered a cry of joy. + +"And when she placed it in her bosom, 'You are truly dwelling in my +heart' was meant to be understood." + +At these words the young Raja started up full of new life, and after +praising with enthusiasm the wondrous sagacity of his dear friend, +begged him by some contrivance to obtain the permission of his parents, +and to conduct him to her city. The minister's son easily got leave for +Vajramukut to travel, under pretext that his body required change +of water, and his mind change of scene. They both dressed and armed +themselves for the journey, and having taken some jewels, mounted their +horses and followed the road in that direction in which the princess had +gone. + +Arrived after some days at the capital of the Carnatic, the minister's +son having disguised his master and himself in the garb of travelling +traders, alighted and pitched his little tent upon a clear bit of ground +in one of the suburbs. He then proceeded to inquire for a wise woman, +wanting, he said, to have his fortune told. When the prince asked +him what this meant, he replied that elderly dames who professionally +predict the future are never above ministering to the present, and +therefore that, in such circumstances, they are the properest persons to +be consulted. + +"Is this a treatise upon the subject of immorality, devil?" demanded the +King Vikram ferociously. The Baital declared that it was not, but that +he must tell his story. + +The person addressed pointed to an old woman who, seated before the door +of her hut, was spinning at her wheel. Then the young men went up to her +with polite salutations and said, "Mother, we are travelling traders, +and our stock is coming after us; we have come on in advance for the +purpose of finding a place to live in. If you will give us a house, we +will remain there and pay you highly." + +The old woman, who was a physiognomist as well as a fortune-teller, +looked at the faces of the young men and liked them, because their brows +were wide, and their mouths denoted generosity. Having listened to their +words, she took pity upon them and said kindly, "This hovel is yours, my +masters, remain here as long as you please." Then she led them into an +inner room, again welcomed them, lamented the poorness of her abode, and +begged them to lie down and rest themselves. + +After some interval of time the old woman came to them once more, and +sitting down began to gossip. The minister's son upon this asked her, +"How is it with thy family, thy relatives, and connections; and what are +thy means of subsistence?" She replied, "My son is a favourite servant +in the household of our great king Dantawat, and your slave is the +wet-nurse of the Princess Padmavati, his eldest child. From the coming +on of old age," she added, "I dwell in this house, but the king provides +for my eating and drinking. I go once a day to see the girl, who is a +miracle of beauty and goodness, wit and accomplishments, and returning +thence, I bear my own griefs at home. [57]" + +In a few days the young Vajramukut had, by his liberality, soft speech, +and good looks, made such progress in nurse Lakshmi's affections that, +by the advice of his companion, he ventured to broach the subject ever +nearest his heart. He begged his hostess, when she went on the morrow +to visit the charming Padmavati, that she would be kind enough to slip a +bit of paper into the princess's hand. + +"Son," she replied, delighted with the proposal--and what old woman +would not be?--"there is no need for putting off so urgent an affair +till the morrow. Get your paper ready, and I will immediately give it." + +Trembling with pleasure, the prince ran to find his friend, who was +seated in the garden reading, as usual, and told him what the old nurse +had engaged to do. He then began to debate about how he should write +his letter, to cull sentences and to weigh phrases; whether "light of my +eyes" was not too trite, and "blood of my liver" rather too forcible. At +this the minister's son smiled, and bade the prince not trouble his head +with composition. He then drew his inkstand from his waist shawl, nibbed +a reed pen, and choosing a piece of pink and flowered paper, he wrote +upon it a few lines. He then folded it, gummed it, sketched a lotus +flower upon the outside, and handing it to the young prince, told him to +give it to their hostess, and that all would be well. + +The old woman took her staff in her hand and hobbled straight to the +palace. Arrived there, she found the Raja's daughter sitting alone in +her apartment. The maiden, seeing her nurse, immediately arose, +and making a respectful bow, led her to a seat and began the most +affectionate inquiries. After giving her blessing and sitting for +some time and chatting about indifferent matters, the nurse said, +"O daughter! in infancy I reared and nourished thee, now the Bhagwan +(Deity) has rewarded me by giving thee stature, beauty, health, and +goodness. My heart only longs to see the happiness of thy womanhood, +[58] after which I shall depart in peace. I implore thee read this +paper, given to me by the handsomest and the properest young man that my +eyes have ever seen." + +The princess, glancing at the lotus on the outside of the note, slowly +unfolded it and perused its contents, which were as follows: + + 1. + + She was to me the pearl that clings + To sands all hid from mortal sight + Yet fit for diadems of kings, + The pure and lovely light. + + 2. + + She was to me the gleam of sun + That breaks the gloom of wintry day + One moment shone my soul upon, + Then passed--how soon!--away. + + 3. + + She was to me the dreams of bliss + That float the dying eyes before, + For one short hour shed happiness, + And fly to bless no more. + + 4. + + O light, again upon me shine; + O pearl, again delight my eyes; + O dreams of bliss, again be mine!-- + No! earth may not be Paradise. + +I must not forget to remark, parenthetically, that the minister's son, +in order to make these lines generally useful, had provided them with a +last stanza in triplicate. "For lovers," he said sagely, "are either in +the optative mood, the desperative, or the exultative." This time he had +used the optative. For the desperative he would substitute: + + 4. + + The joys of life lie dead, lie dead, + The light of day is quenched in gloom + The spark of hope my heart hath fled + What now witholds me from the tomb + + +And this was the termination exultative, as he called it: + + 4. + + O joy I the pearl is mine again, + Once more the day is bright and clear + And now 'tis real, then 'twas vain, + My dream of bliss--O heaven is here! + + +The Princess Padmavati having perused this doggrel with a contemptuous +look, tore off the first word of the last line, and said to the nurse, +angrily, "Get thee gone, O mother of Yama, [59] O unfortunate creature, +and take back this answer"--giving her the scrap of paper--"to the fool +who writes such bad verses. I wonder where he studied the humanities. +Begone, and never do such an action again!" + +The old nurse, distressed at being so treated, rose up and returned +home. Vajramukut was too agitated to await her arrival, so he went to +meet her on the way. Imagine his disappointment when she gave him the +fatal word and repeated to him exactly what happened, not forgetting +to describe a single look! He felt tempted to plunge his sword into his +bosom; but Fortune interfered, and sent him to consult his confidant. + +"Be not so hasty and desperate, my prince," said the pradhan's son, +seeing his wild grief; "you have not understood her meaning. Later in +life you will be aware of the fact that, in nine cases out of ten, a +woman's 'no' is a distinct 'yes.' This morning's work has been good; the +maiden asked where you learnt the humanities, which being interpreted +signifies 'Who are you?"' + +On the next day the prince disclosed his rank to old Lakshmi, who +naturally declared that she had always known it. The trust they reposed +in her made her ready to address Padmavati once more on the forbidden +subject. So she again went to the palace, and having lovingly greeted +her nursling, said to her, "The Raja's son, whose heart thou didst +fascinate on the brim of the tank, on the fifth day of the moon, in +the light half of the month Yeth, has come to my house, and sends this +message to thee: 'Perform what you promised;' we have now come; and +I also tell thee that this prince is worthy of thee: just as thou art +beautiful, so is he endowed with all good qualities of mind and body." + +When Padmavati heard this speech she showed great anger, and, rubbing +sandal on her beautiful hands, she slapped the old woman's cheeks, and +cried, "Wretch, Daina (witch)! get out of my house; did I not forbid +thee to talk such folly in my presence?" + +The lover and the nurse were equally distressed at having taken the +advice of the young minister, till he explained what the crafty damsel +meant. "When she smeared the sandal on her ten fingers," he explained, +"and struck the old woman on the face, she signified that when the +remaining ten moonlight nights shall have passed away she will meet +you in the dark." At the same time he warned his master that to all +appearances the lady Padmavati was far too clever to make a comfortable +wife. The minister's son especially hated talented, intellectual, and +strong-minded women; he had been heard to describe the torments of +Naglok [60] as the compulsory companionship of a polemical divine and a +learned authoress, well stricken in years and of forbidding aspect, as +such persons mostly are. Amongst womankind he admired--theoretically, +as became a philosopher--the small, plump, laughing, chattering, +unintellectual, and material-minded. And therefore--excuse the +digression, Raja Vikram--he married an old maid, tall, thin, yellow, +strictly proper, cold-mannered, a conversationist, and who prided +herself upon spirituality. But more wonderful still, after he did marry +her, he actually loved her--what an incomprehensible being is man in +these matters! + +To return, however. The pradhan's son, who detected certain symptoms of +strong-mindedness in the Princess Padmavati, advised his lord to be wise +whilst wisdom availed him. This sage counsel was, as might be guessed, +most ungraciously rejected by him for whose benefit it was intended. +Then the sensible young statesman rated himself soundly for having +broken his father's rule touching advice, and atoned for it by blindly +forwarding the views of his master. + +After the ten nights of moonlight had passed, the old nurse was again +sent to the palace with the usual message. This time Padmavati put +saffron on three of her fingers, and again left their marks on the +nurse's cheek. The minister's son explained that this was to crave delay +for three days, and that on the fourth the lover would have access to +her. + +When the time had passed the old woman again went and inquired after her +health and well-being. The princess was as usual very wroth, and having +personally taken her nurse to the western gate, she called her "Mother +of the elephant's trunk, [61]" and drove her out with threats of +the bastinado if she ever came back. This was reported to the young +statesman, who, after a few minutes' consideration, said, "The +explanation of this matter is, that she has invited you to-morrow, at +nighttime, to meet her at this very gate. + +"When brown shadows fell upon the face of earth, and here and there a +star spangled the pale heavens, the minister's son called Vajramukut, +who had been engaged in adorning himself at least half that day. He +had carefully shaved his cheeks and chin; his mustachio was trimmed and +curled; he had arched his eyebrows by plucking out with tweezers +the fine hairs around them; he had trained his curly musk-coloured +love-locks to hang gracefully down his face; he had drawn broad lines of +antimony along his eyelids, a most brilliant sectarian mark was affixed +to his forehead, the colour of his lips had been heightened by chewing +betel-nut-- + +"One would imagine that you are talking of a silly girl, not of a +prince, fiend!" interrupted Vikram, who did not wish his son to hear +what he called these fopperies and frivolities. + +--and whitened his neck by having it shaved (continued the Baital, +speaking quickly, as if determined not to be interrupted), and reddened +the tips of his ears by squeezing them, and made his teeth shine by +rubbing copper powder into the roots, and set off the delicacy of his +fingers by staining the tips with henna. He had not been less careful +with his dress: he wore a well-arranged turband, which had taken him at +least two hours to bind, and a rich suit of brown stuff chosen for the +adventure he was about to attempt, and he hung about his person a number +of various weapons, so as to appear a hero--which young damsels admire. + +Vajramukut asked his friend how he looked, and smiled happily when the +other replied "Admirable!" His happiness was so great that he feared +it might not last, and he asked the minister's son how best to conduct +himself? + +"As a conqueror, my prince!" answered that astute young man, "if it so +be that you would be one. When you wish to win a woman, always impose +upon her. Tell her that you are her master, and she will forthwith +believe herself to be your servant. Inform her that she loves you, and +forthwith she will adore you. Show her that you care nothing for her, +and she will think of nothing but you. Prove to her by your demeanour +that you consider her a slave, and she will become your pariah. But +above all things--excuse me if I repeat myself too often--beware of the +fatal virtue which men call modesty and women sheepishness. Recollect +the trouble it has given us, and the danger which we have incurred: +all this might have been managed at a tank within fifteen miles of your +royal father's palace. And allow me to say that you may still thank your +stars: in love a lost opportunity is seldom if ever recovered. The time +to woo a woman is the moment you meet her, before she has had time to +think; allow her the use of reflection and she may escape the net. And +after avoiding the rock of Modesty, fall not, I conjure you, into the +gulf of Security. I fear the lady Padmavati, she is too clever and too +prudent. When damsels of her age draw the sword of Love, they throw away +the scabbard of Precaution. But you yawn--I weary you--it is time for us +to move." + +Two watches of the night had passed, and there was profound stillness on +earth. The young men then walked quietly through the shadows, till they +reached the western gate of the palace, and found the wicket ajar. The +minister's son peeped in and saw the porter dozing, stately as a Brahman +deep in the Vedas, and behind him stood a veiled woman seemingly waiting +for somebody. He then returned on tiptoe to the place where he had left +his master, and with a parting caution against modesty and security, +bade him fearlessly glide through the wicket. Then having stayed a short +time at the gate listening with anxious ear, he went back to the old +woman's house. + +Vajramukut penetrating to the staircase, felt his hand grasped by the +veiled figure, who motioning him to tread lightly, led him quickly +forwards. They passed under several arches, through dim passages and +dark doorways, till at last running up a flight of stone steps they +reached the apartments of the princess. + +Vajramukut was nearly fainting as the flood of splendour broke upon him. +Recovering himself he gazed around the rooms, and presently a tumult of +delight invaded his soul, and his body bristled with joy. [62] The scene +was that of fairyland. Golden censers exhaled the most costly perfumes, +and gemmed vases bore the most beautiful flowers; silver lamps +containing fragrant oil illuminated doors whose panels were wonderfully +decorated, and walls adorned with pictures in which such figures were +formed that on seeing them the beholder was enchanted. On one side of +the room stood a bed of flowers and a couch covered with brocade of +gold, and strewed with freshly-culled jasmine flowers. On the other +side, arranged in proper order, were attar holders, betel-boxes, +rose-water bottles, trays, and silver cases with four partitions for +essences compounded of rose leaves, sugar, and spices, prepared sandal +wood, saffron, and pods of musk. Scattered about a stuccoed floor white +as crystal, were coloured caddies of exquisite confections, and in +others sweetmeats of various kinds.[63] Female attendants clothed in +dresses of various colours were standing each according to her rank, +with hands respectfully joined. Some were reading plays and beautiful +poems, others danced and others performed with glittering fingers and +flashing arms on various instruments--the ivory lute, the ebony pipe +and the silver kettledrum. In short, all the means and appliances of +pleasure and enjoyment were there; and any description of the appearance +of the apartments, which were the wonder of the age, is impossible. + +Then another veiled figure, the beautiful Princess Padmavati, came up +and disclosed herself, and dazzled the eyes of her delighted Vajramukut. +She led him into an alcove, made him sit down, rubbed sandal powder upon +his body, hung a garland of jasmine flowers round his neck, sprinkled +rose-water over his dress, and began to wave over his head a fan of +peacock feathers with a golden handle. + +Said the prince, who despite all efforts could not entirely shake off +his unhappy habit of being modest, "Those very delicate hands of yours +are not fit to ply the pankha.[64] Why do you take so much trouble? I +am cool and refreshed by the sight of you. Do give the fan to me and sit +down." + +"Nay, great king!" replied Padmavati, with the most fascinating of +smiles, "you have taken so much trouble for my sake in coming here, it +is right that I perform service for you." + +Upon which her favourite slave, taking the pankha from the hand of the +princess, exclaimed, "This is my duty. I will perform the service; do +you two enjoy yourselves!" + +The lovers then began to chew betel, which, by the bye, they disposed of +in little agate boxes which they drew from their pockets, and they were +soon engaged in the tenderest conversation. + +Here the Baital paused for a while, probably to take breath. Then he +resumed his tale as follows: + +In the meantime, it became dawn; the princess concealed him; and when +night returned they again engaged in the same innocent pleasures. +Thus day after day sped rapidly by. Imagine, if you can, the youth's +felicity; he was of an ardent temperament, deeply enamoured, barely +a score of years old, and he had been strictly brought up by serious +parents. He therefore resigned himself entirely to the siren for whom he +willingly forgot the world, and he wondered at his good fortune, which +had thrown in his way a conquest richer than all the mines of Meru.[65] +He could not sufficiently admire his Padmavati's grace, beauty, bright +wit, and numberless accomplishments. Every morning, for vanity's sake, +he learned from her a little useless knowledge in verse as well as +prose, for instance, the saying of the poet-- + + Enjoy the present hour, 'tis thine; be this, O man, thy law; + Who e'er resew the yester? Who the morrow e'er foresaw? + +And this highly philosophical axiom-- + + Eat, drink, and love--the rest's not worth a fillip. + +"By means of which he hoped, Raja Vikram!" said the demon, not heeding +his royal carrier's "ughs" and "poohs," "to become in course of time +almost as clever as his mistress." + +Padmavati, being, as you have seen, a maiden of superior mind, was +naturally more smitten by her lover's dulness than by any other of his +qualities; she adored it, it was such a contrast to herself.[66] At +first she did what many clever women do--she invested him with the +brightness of her own imagination. Still water, she pondered, runs deep; +certainly under this disguise must lurk a brilliant fancy, a penetrating +but a mature and ready judgment--are they not written by nature's hand +on that broad high brow? With such lovely mustachios can he be aught but +generous, noble-minded, magnanimous? Can such eyes belong to any but a +hero? And she fed the delusion. She would smile upon him with intense +fondness, when, after wasting hours over a few lines of poetry, he +would misplace all the adjectives and barbarously entreat the metre. +She laughed with gratification, when, excited by the bright sayings that +fell from her lips, the youth put forth some platitude, dim as the lamp +in the expiring fire-fly. When he slipped in grammar she saw malice +under it, when he retailed a borrowed jest she called it a good one, and +when he used--as princes sometimes will--bad language, she discovered in +it a charming simplicity. + +At first she suspected that the stratagems which had won her heart were +the results of a deep-laid plot proceeding from her lover. But clever +women are apt to be rarely sharp-sighted in every matter which concerns +themselves. She frequently determined that a third was in the secret. +She therefore made no allusion to it. Before long the enamoured +Vajramukut had told her everything, beginning with the diatribe against +love pronounced by the minister's son, and ending with the solemn +warning that she, the pretty princess, would some day or other play her +husband a foul trick. + +"If I do not revenge myself upon him," thought the beautiful Padmavati, +smiling like an angel as she listened to the youth's confidence, "may I +become a gardener's ass in the next birth!" + +Having thus registered a vow, she broke silence, and praised to the +skies the young pradhan's wisdom and sagacity; professed herself ready +from gratitude to become his slave, and only hoped that one day or +other she might meet that true friend by whose skill her soul had been +gratified in its dearest desire. "Only," she concluded, "I am convinced +that now my Vajramukut knows every corner of his little Padmavati's +heart, he will never expect her to do anything but love, admire, adore +and kiss him!" Then suiting the action to the word, she convinced him +that the young minister had for once been too crabbed and cynic in his +philosophy. + +But after the lapse of a month Vajramukut, who had eaten and drunk and +slept a great deal too much, and who had not once hunted, became bilious +in body and in mind melancholic. His face turned yellow, and so did +the whites of his eyes; he yawned, as liver patients generally do, +complained occasionally of sick headaches, and lost his appetite: +he became restless and anxious, and once when alone at night he thus +thought aloud: "I have given up country, throne, home, and everything +else, but the friend by means of whom this happiness was obtained I +have not seen for the long length of thirty days. What will he say to +himself, and how can I know what has happened to him?" + +In this state of things he was sitting, and in the meantime the +beautiful princess arrived. She saw through the matter, and lost not a +moment in entering upon it. She began by expressing her astonishment at +her lover's fickleness and fondness for change, and when he was ready +to wax wroth, and quoted the words of the sage, "A barren wife may be +superseded by another in the eighth year; she whose children all die, in +the tenth; she who brings forth only daughters, in the eleventh; she +who scolds, without delay," thinking that she alluded to his love, she +smoothed his temper by explaining that she referred to his forgetting +his friend. "How is it possible, O my soul," she asked with the softest +of voices, that thou canst happiness here whilst thy heart is wandering +there? Why didst thou conceal this from me, O astute one? Was it for +fear of distressing me? Think better of thy wife than to suppose that +she would ever separate thee from one to whom we both owe so much! + +After this Padmavati advised, nay ordered, her lover to go forth that +night, and not to return till his mind was quite at ease, and she begged +him to take a few sweetmeats and other trifles as a little token of her +admiration and regard for the clever young man of whom she had heard so +much. + +Vajramukut embraced her with a transport of gratitude, which so inflamed +her anger, that fearing lest the cloak of concealment might fall from +her countenance, she went away hurriedly to find the greatest delicacies +which her comfit boxes contained. Presently she returned, carrying a bag +of sweetmeats of every kind for her lover, and as he rose up to depart, +she put into his hand a little parcel of sugar-plums especially intended +for the friend; they were made up with her own delicate fingers, and +they would please, she flattered herself, even his discriminating +palate. + +The young prince, after enduring a number of farewell embraces and +hopings for a speedy return, and last words ever beginning again, +passed safely through the palace gate, and with a relieved aspect walked +briskly to the house of the old nurse. Although it was midnight his +friend was still sitting on his mat. + +The two young men fell upon one another's bosoms and embraced +affectionately. They then began to talk of matters nearest their hearts. +The Raja's son wondered at seeing the jaded and haggard looks of his +companion, who did not disguise that they were caused by his anxiety as +to what might have happened to his friend at the hand of so talented and +so superior a princess. Upon which Vajramukut, who now thought Padmavati +an angel, and his late abode a heaven, remarked with formality--and two +blunders to one quotation--that abilities properly directed win for a +man the happiness of both worlds. + +The pradhan's son rolled his head. + +"Again on your hobby-horse, nagging at talent whenever you find it in +others!" cried the young prince with a pun, which would have delighted +Padmavati. "Surely you are jealous of her!" he resumed, anything but +pleased with the dead silence that had received his joke; "jealous of +her cleverness, and of her love for me. She is the very best creature +in the world. Even you, woman-hater as you are, would own it if you only +knew all the kind messages she sent, and the little pleasant surprise +that she has prepared for you. There! take and eat; they are made by her +own dear hands!" cried the young Raja, producing the sweetmeats. "As she +herself taught me to say-- + + Thank God I am a man, + Not a philosopher!" + +"The kind messages she sent me! The pleasant surprise she has prepared +for me!" repeated the minister's son in a hard, dry tone. "My lord will +be pleased to tell me how she heard of my name?" + +"I was sitting one night," replied the prince, "in anxious thought about +you, when at that moment the princess coming in and seeing my condition, +asked, 'Why are you thus sad? Explain the cause to me.' I then gave +her an account of your cleverness, and when she heard it she gave me +permission to go and see you, and sent these sweetmeats for you: eat +them and I shall be pleased." + +"Great king!" rejoined the young statesman, "one thing vouchsafe to +hear from me. You have not done well in that you have told my name. +You should never let a woman think that your left hand knows the secret +which she confided to your right, much less that you have shared it to +a third person. Secondly, you did evil in allowing her to see the +affection with which you honour your unworthy servant--a woman ever +hates her lover's or husband's friend." + +"What could I do?" rejoined the young Raja, in a querulous tone of +voice. "When I love a woman I like to tell her everything--to have no +secrets from her--to consider her another self----" + +"Which habit," interrupted the pradhan's son, "you will lose when you +are a little older, when you recognize the fact that love is nothing but +a bout, a game of skill between two individuals of opposite sexes: the +one seeking to gain as much, and the other striving to lose as little as +possible; and that the sharper of the twain thus met on the chessboard +must, in the long run, win. And reticence is but a habit. Practise it +for a year, and you will find it harder to betray than to conceal your +thoughts. It hath its joy also. Is there no pleasure, think you, when +suppressing an outbreak of tender but fatal confidence in saying to +yourself, 'O, if she only knew this?' 'O, if she did but suspect that?' +Returning, however, to the sugar-plums, my life to a pariah's that they +are poisoned!" + +"Impossible!" exclaimed the prince, horror-struck at the thought; +"what you say, surely no one ever could do. If a mortal fears not his +fellow-mortal, at least he dreads the Deity." + +"I never yet knew," rejoined the other, "what a woman in love does fear. +However, prince, the trial is easy. Come here, Muti!" cried he to the +old woman's dog, "and off with thee to that three-headed kinsman of +thine, that attends upon his amiable-looking master.[67]" + +Having said this, he threw one of the sweetmeats to the dog; the animal +ate it, and presently writhing and falling down, died. + +"The wretch! O the wretch!" cried Vajramukut, transported with wonder +and anger. "And I loved her! But now it is all over. I dare not +associate with such a calamity!" + +"What has happened, my lord, has happened!" quoth the minister's son +calmly. "I was prepared for something of this kind from so talented a +princess. None commit such mistakes, such blunders, such follies as your +clever women; they cannot even turn out a crime decently executed. O +give me dulness with one idea, one aim, one desire. O thrice blessed +dulness that combines with happiness, power." + +This time Vajramukut did not defend talent. + +"And your slave did his best to warn you against perfidy. But now my +heart is at rest. I have tried her strength. She has attempted and +failed; the defeat will prevent her attempting again--just yet. But let +me ask you to put to yourself one question. Can you be happy without +her?" + +"Brother!" replied the prince, after a pause, "I cannot"; and he blushed +as he made the avowal. + +"Well," replied the other, "better confess then conceal that fact; +we must now meet her on the battle-field, and beat her at her own +weapons--cunning. I do not willingly begin treachery with women, +because, in the first place, I don't like it; and secondly, I know that +they will certainly commence practicing it upon me, after which I hold +myself justified in deceiving them. And probably this will be a good +wife; remember that she intended to poison me, not you. During the last +month my fear has been lest my prince had run into the tiger's brake. +Tell me, my lord, when does the princess expect you to return to her?" + +"She bade me," said the young Raja, "not to return till my mind was +quite at ease upon the subject of my talented friend." + +"This means that she expects you back to-morrow night, as you cannot +enter the palace before. And now I will retire to my cot, as it is there +that I am wont to ponder over my plans. Before dawn my thought shall +mature one which must place the beautiful Padmavati in your power." + +"A word before parting," exclaimed the prince "you know my father has +already chosen a spouse for me; what will he say if I bring home a +second?" + +"In my humble opinion," said the minister's son rising to retire, "woman +is a monogamous, man a polygamous, creature, a fact scarcely established +in physiological theory, but very observable in every-day practice. For +what said the poet?-- + + Divorce, friend! Re-wed thee! The spring draweth near,[68] + And a wife's but an almanac--good for the year. + +If your royal father say anything to you, refer him to what he himself +does." + +Reassured by these words, Vajramukut bade his friend a cordial +good-night and sought his cot, where he slept soundly, despite the +emotions of the last few hours. The next day passed somewhat slowly. In +the evening, when accompanying his master to the palace, the minister's +son gave him the following directions. + +"Our object, dear my lord, is how to obtain possession of the princess. +Take, then, this trident, and hide it carefully when you see her show +the greatest love and affection. Conceal what has happened, and when +she, wondering at your calmness, asks about me, tell her that last night +I was weary and out of health, that illness prevented my eating her +sweetmeats, but that I shall eat them for supper to-night. When she goes +to sleep, then, taking off her jewels and striking her left leg with the +trident, instantly come away to me. But should she lie awake, rub upon +your thumb a little of this--do not fear, it is only a powder of +grubs fed on verdigris--and apply it to her nostrils. It would make an +elephant senseless, so be careful how you approach it to your own face." + +Vajramukut embraced his friend, and passed safely through the palace +gate. He found Padmavati awaiting him; she fell upon his bosom and +looked into his eyes, and deceived herself, as clever women will do. +Overpowered by her joy and satisfaction, she now felt certain that +her lover was hers eternally, and that her treachery had not been +discovered; so the beautiful princess fell into a deep sleep. + +Then Vajramukut lost no time in doing as the minister's son had advised, +and slipped out of the room, carrying off Padmavati's jewels and +ornaments. His counsellor having inspected them, took up a sack and made +signs to his master to follow him. Leaving the horses and baggage at +the nurse's house, they walked to a burning-place outside the city. The +minister's son there buried his dress, together with that of the prince, +and drew from the sack the costume of a religious ascetic: he assumed +this himself, and gave to his companion that of a disciple. Then quoth +the guru (spiritual preceptor) to his chela (pupil), "Go, youth, to the +bazar, and sell these jewels, remembering to let half the jewellers in +the place see the things, and if any one lay hold of thee, bring him to +me." + +Upon which, as day had dawned, Vajramukut carried the princess's +ornaments to the market, and entering the nearest goldsmith's shop, +offered to sell them, and asked what they were worth. As your majesty +well knows, gardeners, tailors, and goldsmiths are proverbially +dishonest, and this man was no exception to the rule. He looked at the +pupil's face and wondered, because he had brought articles whose value +he did not appear to know. A thought struck him that he might make a +bargain which would fill his coffers, so he offered about a thousandth +part of the price. This the pupil rejected, because he wished the affair +to go further. Then the goldsmith, seeing him about to depart, sprang up +and stood in the door way, threatening to call the officers of justice +if the young man refused to give up the valuables which he said had +lately been stolen from his shop. As the pupil only laughed at this, +the goldsmith thought seriously of executing his threat, hesitating only +because he knew that the officers of justice would gain more than he +could by that proceeding. As he was still in doubt a shadow darkened +his shop, and in entered the chief jeweller of the city. The moment the +ornaments were shown to him he recognized them, and said, "These jewels +belong to Raja Dantawat's daughter; I know them well, as I set them only +a few months ago!" Then he turned to the disciple, who still held the +valuables in his hand, and cried, "Tell me truly whence you received +them?" + +While they were thus talking, a crowd of ten or twenty persons had +collected, and at length the report reached the superintendent of the +archers. He sent a soldier to bring before him the pupil, the goldsmith, +and the chief jeweller, together with the ornaments. And when all were +in the hall of justice, he looked at the jewels and said to the young +man, "Tell me truly, whence have you obtained these?" + +"My spiritual preceptor," said Vajramukut, pretending great fear, "who +is now worshipping in the cemetery outside the town, gave me these white +stones, with an order to sell them. How know I whence he obtained them? +Dismiss me, my lord, for I am an innocent man." + +"Let the ascetic be sent for," commanded the kotwal.[69] Then, having +taken both of them, along with the jewels, into the presence of King +Dantawat, he related the whole circumstances. + +"Master," said the king on hearing the statement, "whence have you +obtained these jewels?" + +The spiritual preceptor, before deigning an answer, pulled from under +his arm the hide of a black antelope, which he spread out and smoothed +deliberately before using it as an asan.[70] He then began to finger a +rosary of beads each as large as an egg, and after spending nearly an +hour in mutterings and in rollings of the head, he looked fixedly at the +Raja, and repined: + +"By Shiva! great king, they are mine own. On the fourteenth of the dark +half of the moon at night, I had gone into a place where dead bodies are +burned, for the purpose of accomplishing a witch's incantation. After +long and toilsome labour she appeared, but her demeanour was so unruly +that I was forced to chastise her. I struck her with this, my trident, +on the left leg, if memory serves me. As she continued to be refractory, +in order to punish her I took off all her jewels and clothes, and told +her to go where she pleased. Even this had little effect upon her--never +have I looked upon so perverse a witch. In this way the jewels came into +my possession." + +Raja Dantawat was stunned by these words. He begged the ascetic not +to leave the palace for a while, and forthwith walked into the private +apartments of the women. Happening first to meet the queen dowager, +he said to her, "Go, without losing a minute, O my mother, and look at +Padmavati's left leg, and see if there is a mark or not, and what sort +of a mark!" Presently she returned, and coming to the king said, "Son, +I find thy daughter lying upon her bed, and complaining that she has met +with an accident; and indeed Padmavati must be in great pain. I found +that some sharp instrument with three points had wounded her. The girl +says that a nail hurt her, but I never yet heard of a nail making +three holes. However, we must all hasten, or there will be erysipelas, +tumefaction, gangrene, mortification, amputation, and perhaps death +in the house," concluded the old queen, hurrying away in the pleasing +anticipation of these ghastly consequences. + +For a moment King Dantawat's heart was ready to break. But he was +accustomed to master his feelings; he speedily applied the reins of +reflection to the wild steed of passion. He thought to himself, "the +affairs of one's household, the intentions of one's heart, and whatever +one's losses may be, should not be disclosed to any one. Since Padmavati +is a witch, she is no longer my daughter. I will verily go forth and +consult the spiritual preceptor." + +With these words the king went outside, where the guru was still sitting +upon his black hide, making marks with his trident on the floor. Having +requested that the pupil might be sent away, and having cleared the +room, he said to the jogi, "O holy man! what punishment for the heinous +crime of witchcraft is awarded to a woman in the Dharma-Shastra [71]?" + +"Great king!" replied the devotee, "in the Dharma Shastra it is thus +written: 'If a Brahman, a cow, a woman, a child, or any other person +whatsoever who may be dependent on us, should be guilty of a perfidious +act, their punishment is that they be banished the country.' However +much they may deserve death, we must not spill their blood, as +Lakshmi[72] flies in horror from the deed." + +Hearing these words the Raja dismissed the guru with many thanks and +large presents. He waited till nightfall and then ordered a band of +trusty men to seize Padmavati without alarming the household, and to +carry her into a distant jungle full of fiends, tigers, and bears, and +there to abandon her. + +In the meantime, the ascetic and his pupil hurrying to the cemetery +resumed their proper dresses; they then went to the old nurse's house, +rewarded her hospitality till she wept bitterly, girt on their weapons, +and mounting their horses, followed the party which issued from the gate +of King Dantawat's palace. And it may easily be believed that they found +little difficulty in persuading the poor girl to exchange her chance in +the wild jungle for the prospect of becoming Vajramukut's wife--lawfully +wedded at Benares. She did not even ask if she was to have a rival in +the house,--a question which women, you know, never neglect to put +under usual circumstances. After some days the two pilgrims of one love +arrived at the house of their fathers, and to all, both great and small, +excess in joy came. + +"Now, Raja Vikram!" said the Baital, "you have not spoken much; +doubtless you are engrossed by the interest of a story wherein a man +beats a woman at her own weapon--deceit. But I warn you that you will +assuredly fall into Narak (the infernal regions) if you do not make +up your mind upon and explain this matter. Who was the most to blame +amongst these four? the lover[73] the lover's friend, the girl, or the +father?" + +"For my part I think Padmavati was the worst, she being at the bottom of +all their troubles," cried Dharma Dhwaj. The king said something about +young people and the two senses of seeing and hearing, but his son's +sentiment was so sympathetic that he at once pardoned the interruption. +At length, determined to do justice despite himself, Vikram said, "Raja +Dantawat is the person most at fault." + +"In what way was he at fault?" asked the Baital curiously. + +King Vikram gave him this reply: "The Prince Vajramukut being tempted of +the love-god was insane, and therefore not responsible for his actions. +The minister's son performed his master's business obediently, without +considering causes or asking questions--a very excellent quality in a +dependent who is merely required to do as he is bid. With respect to the +young woman, I have only to say that she was a young woman, and thereby +of necessity a possible murderess. But the Raja, a prince, a man of a +certain age and experience, a father of eight! He ought never to have +been deceived by so shallow a trick, nor should he, without reflection, +have banished his daughter from the country." + +"Gramercy to you!" cried the Vampire, bursting into a discordant shout +of laughter, "I now return to my tree. By my tail! I never yet heard a +Raja so readily condemn a Raja." With these words he slipped out of the +cloth, leaving it to hang empty over the great king's shoulder. + +Vikram stood for a moment, fixed to the spot with blank dismay. +Presently, recovering himself, he retraced his steps, followed by his +son, ascended the sires-tree, tore down the Baital, packed him up as +before, and again set out upon his way. + +Soon afterwards a voice sounded behind the warrior king's back, and +began to tell another true story. + + + + +THE VAMPIRE'S SECOND STORY -- Of the Relative Villany of Men and Women. + +In the great city of Bhogavati dwelt, once upon a time, a young prince, +concerning whom I may say that he strikingly resembled this amiable son +of your majesty. + +Raja Vikram was silent, nor did he acknowledge the Baital's indirect +compliment. He hated flattery, but he liked, when flattered, to be +flattered in his own person; a feature in their royal patron's character +which the Nine Gems of Science had turned to their own account. + +Now the young prince Raja Ram (continued the tale teller) had an old +father, concerning whom I may say that he was exceedingly unlike your +Rajaship, both as a man and as a parent. He was fond of hunting, dicing, +sleeping by day, drinking at night, and eating perpetual tonics, while +he delighted in the idleness of watching nautch girls, and the vanity of +falling in love. But he was adored by his children because he took the +trouble to win their hearts. He did not lay it down as a law of heaven +that his offspring would assuredly go to Patala if they neglected the +duty of bestowing upon him without cause all their affections, as your +moral, virtuous, and highly respectable fathers are only too apt----. +Aie! Aie! + +These sounds issued from the Vampire's lips as the warrior king, +speechless with wrath, passed his hand behind his back, and viciously +twisted up a piece of the speaker's skin. This caused the Vampire to +cry aloud, more however, it would appear, in derision than in real +suffering, for he presently proceeded with the same subject. + +Fathers, great king, may be divided into three kinds; and be it said +aside, that mothers are the same. Firstly, we have the parent of many +ideas, amusing, pleasant, of course poor, and the idol of his children. +Secondly, there is the parent with one idea and a half. This sort of man +would, in your place, say to himself, "That demon fellow speaks a manner +of truth. I am not above learning from him, despite his position in +life. I will carry out his theory, just to see how far it goes"; and so +saying, he wends his way home, and treats his young ones with prodigious +kindness for a time, but it is not lasting. Thirdly, there is the real +one-idea'd type of parent-yourself, O warrior king Vikram, an admirable +example. You learn in youth what you are taught: for instance, the +blessed precept that the green stick is of the trees of Paradise; and +in age you practice what you have learned. You cannot teach yourselves +anything before your beards sprout, and when they grow stiff you cannot +be taught by others. If any one attempt to change your opinions you cry, + + What is new is not true, + What is true is not new. + +and you rudely pull his hand from the subject. Yet have you your uses +like other things of earth. In life you are good working camels for the +mill-track, and when you die your ashes are not worse compost than those +of the wise. + +Your Rajaship will observe (continued the Vampire, as Vikram began +to show symptoms of ungovernable anger) that I have been concise in +treating this digression. Had I not been so, it would have led me far +indeed from my tale. Now to return. + +When the old king became air mixed with air, the young king, though he +found hardly ten pieces of silver in the paternal treasury and legacies +for thousands of golden ounces, yet mourned his loss with the deepest +grief. He easily explained to himself the reckless emptiness of the +royal coffers as a proof of his dear kind parent's goodness, because he +loved him. + +But the old man had left behind him, as he could not carry it off with +him, a treasure more valuable than gold and silver: one Churaman, a +parrot, who knew the world, and who besides discoursed in the most +correct Sanscrit. By sage counsel and wise guidance this admirable bird +soon repaired his young master's shattered fortunes. + +One day the prince said, "Parrot, thou knowest everything: tell me +where there is a mate fit for me. The shastras inform us, respecting +the choice of a wife, 'She who is not descended from his paternal or +maternal ancestors within the sixth degree is eligible by a high +caste man for nuptials. In taking a wife let him studiously avoid the +following families, be they ever so great, or ever so rich in kine, +goats, sheep, gold, or grain: the family which has omitted prescribed +acts of devotion; that which has produced no male children; that in +which the Veda (scripture) has not been read; that which has thick hair +on the body; and that in which members have been subject to hereditary +disease. Let a person choose for his wife a girl whose person has no +defect; who has an agreeable name; who walks gracefully, like a young +elephant; whose hair and teeth are moderate in quantity and in size; and +whose body is of exquisite softness.'" + +"Great king," responded the parrot Churaman, "there is in the country +of Magadh a Raja, Magadheshwar by name, and he has a daughter called +Chandravati. You will marry her; she is very learned, and, what is +better far, very fait. She is of yellow colour, with a nose like the +flower of the sesamum; her legs are taper, like the plantain-tree; her +eyes are large, like the principal leaf of the lotus; her eye-brows +stretch towards her ears; her lips are red, like the young leaves of the +mango-tree; her face is like the full moon; her voice is like the sound +of the cuckoo; her arms reach to her knees; her throat is like the +pigeon's; her flanks are thin, like those of the lion; her hair hangs +in curls only down to her waist; her teeth are like the seeds of the +pomegranate; and her gait is that of the drunken elephant or the goose." + +On hearing the parrot's speech, the king sent for an astrologer, and +asked him, "Whom shall I marry?" The wise man, having consulted his art, +replied, "Chandravati is the name of the maiden, and your marriage with +her will certainly take place." Thereupon the young Raja, though he had +never seen his future queen, became incontinently enamoured of her. He +summoned a Brahman, and sent him to King Magadheshwar, saying, "If you +arrange satisfactorily this affair of our marriage we will reward you +amply"-a promise which lent wings to the priest. + +Now it so happened that this talented and beautiful princess had +a jay,[74] whose name was Madan-manjari or Love-garland. She also +possessed encyclopaedic knowledge after her degree, and, like the +parrot, she spoke excellent Sanscrit. + +Be it briefly said, O warrior king-for you think that I am talking +fables--that in the days of old, men had the art of making birds +discourse in human language. The invention is attributed to a great +philosopher, who split their tongues, and after many generations +produced a selected race born with those members split. He altered the +shapes of their skulls by fixing ligatures behind the occiput, which +caused the sinciput to protrude, their eyes to become prominent, and +their brains to master the art of expressing thoughts in words. + +But this wonderful discovery, like those of great philosophers +generally, had in it a terrible practical flaw The birds beginning to +speak, spoke wisely and so well, they told the truth so persistently, +they rebuked their brethren of the featherless skins so openly, they +flattered them so little and they counselled them so much, that mankind +presently grew tired of hearing them discourse. Thus the art gradually +fell into desuetude, and now it is numbered with the things that were. + +One day the charming Princess Chandravati was sitting in confidential +conversation with her jay. The dialogue was not remarkable, for maidens +in all ages seldom consult their confidantes or speculate upon the +secrets of futurity, or ask to have dreams interpreted, except upon one +subject. At last the princess said, for perhaps the hundredth time that +month, "Where, O jay, is there a husband worthy of me?" + +"Princess," replied Madan-manjari, "I am happy at length to be able +as willing to satisfy your just curiosity. For just it is, though the +delicacy of our sex--" + +"Now, no preaching!" said the maiden; "or thou shalt have salt instead +of sugar for supper." + +Jays, your Rajaship, are fond of sugar. So the confidante retained a +quantity of good advice which she was about to produce, and replied, + +"I now see clearly the ways of Fortune. Raja Ram, king of Bhogavati, is +to be thy husband. He shall be happy in thee and thou in him, for he is +young and handsome, rich and generous, good-tempered, not too clever, +and without a chance of being an invalid." + +Thereupon the princess, although she had never seen her future husband, +at once began to love him. In fact, though neither had set eyes upon the +other, both were mutually in love. + +"How can that be, sire?" asked the young Dharma Dhwaj of his father. "I +always thought that--" + +The great Vikram interrupted his son, and bade him not to ask silly +questions. Thus he expected to neutralize the evil effects of the +Baital's doctrine touching the amiability of parents unlike himself. + +Now, as both these young people (resumed the Baital) were of princely +family and well to do in the world, the course of their love was +unusually smooth. When the Brahman sent by Raja Ram had reached Magadh, +and had delivered his King's homage to the Raja Magadheshwar, the latter +received him with distinction, and agreed to his proposal. The beautiful +princess's father sent for a Brahman of his own, and charging him with +nuptial gifts and the customary presents, sent him back to Bhogavati in +company with the other envoy, and gave him this order, "Greet Raja Ram, +on my behalf, and after placing the tilak or mark upon his forehead, +return here with all speed. When you come back I will get all things +ready for the marriage." + +Raja Ram, on receiving the deputation, was greatly pleased, and +after generously rewarding the Brahmans and making all the necessary +preparations, he set out in state for the land of Magadha, to claim his +betrothed. + +In due season the ceremony took place with feasting and bands of +music, fireworks and illuminations, rehearsals of scripture, songs, +entertainments, processions, and abundant noise. And hardly had the +turmeric disappeared from the beautiful hands and feet of the bride, +when the bridegroom took an affectionate leave of his new parents--he +had not lived long in the house--and receiving the dowry and the bridal +gifts, set out for his own country. + +Chandravati was dejected by leaving her mother, and therefore she +was allowed to carry with her the jay, Madanmanian. She soon told her +husband the wonderful way in which she had first heard his name, and +he related to her the advantage which he had derived from confabulation +with Churaman, his parrot. + +"Then why do we not put these precious creatures into one cage, +after marrying them according to the rites of the angelic marriage +(Gandharva-lagana)?" said the charming queen. Like most brides, she was +highly pleased to find an opportunity of making a match. + +"Ay! why not, love? Surely they cannot live happy in what the world +calls single blessedness," replied the young king. As bridegrooms +sometimes are for a short time, he was very warm upon the subject of +matrimony. + +Thereupon, without consulting the parties chiefly concerned in their +scheme, the master and mistress, after being comfortably settled at the +end of their journey, caused a large cage to be brought, and put into it +both their favourites. + +Upon which Churaman the parrot leaned his head on one side and directed +a peculiar look at the jay. But Madan-manjari raised her beak high in +the air, puffed through it once or twice, and turned away her face in +extreme disdain. + +"Perhaps," quoth the parrot, at length breaking silence, "you will tell +me that you have no desire to be married?" + +"Probably," replied the jay. + +"And why?" asked the male bird. + +"Because I don't choose," replied the female. + +"Truly a feminine form of resolution this," ejaculated the parrot. "I +will borrow my master's words and call it a woman's reason, that is to +say, no reason at all. Have you any objection to be more explicit?" + +"None whatever," retorted the jay, provoked by the rude innuendo into +telling more plainly than politely exactly what she thought; "none +whatever, sir parrot. You he-things are all of you sinful, treacherous, +deceitful, selfish, devoid of conscience, and accustomed to sacrifice +us, the weaker sex, to your smallest desire or convenience." + +"Of a truth, fair lady," quoth the young Raja Ram to his bride, "this +pet of thine is sufficiently impudent." + +"Let her words be as wind in thine ear, master," interrupted the parrot. +"And pray, Mistress Jay, what are you she-things but treacherous, false, +ignorant, and avaricious beings, whose only wish in this world is to +prevent life being as pleasant as it might be?" + +"Verily, my love," said the beautiful Chandravati to her bridegroom, +"this thy bird has a habit of expressing his opinions in a very free and +easy way." + +"I can prove what I assert," whispered the jay in the ear of the +princess. + +"We can confound their feminine minds by an anecdote," whispered the +parrot in the ear of the prince. + +Briefly, King Vikram, it was settled between the twain that each should +establish the truth of what it had advanced by an illustration in the +form of a story. + +Chandravati claimed, and soon obtained, precedence for the jay. Then the +wonderful bird, Madan-manjari, began to speak as follows:-- + +I have often told thee, O queen, that before coming to thy feet, my +mistress was Ratnawati, the daughter of a rich trader, the dearest, the +sweetest, the---- + +Here the jay burst into tears, and the mistress was sympathetically +affected. Presently the speaker resumed---- + +However, I anticipate. In the city of Ilapur there was a wealthy +merchant, who was without offspring; on this account he was continually +fasting and going on pilgrimage, and when at home he was ever engaged in +reading the Puranas and in giving alms to the Brahmans. + +At length, by favour of the Deity, a son was born to this merchant, who +celebrated his birth with great pomp and rejoicing, and gave large gifts +to Brahmans and to bards, and distributed largely to the hungry, the +thirsty, and the poor. When the boy was five years old he had him taught +to read, and when older he was sent to a guru, who had formerly himself +been a student, and who was celebrated as teacher and lecturer. + +In the course of time the merchant's son grew up. Praise be to Brahma! +what a wonderful youth it was, with a face like a monkey's, legs like a +stork's, and a back like a camel's. You know the old proverb:-- + + Expect thirty-two villanies from the limping, and eighty +from the one-eyed man, + But when the hunchback comes, say "Lord defend us!" + +Instead of going to study, he went to gamble with other ne'er-do-weels, +to whom he talked loosely, and whom he taught to be bad-hearted as +himself. He made love to every woman, and despite his ugliness, he was +not unsuccessful. For they are equally fortunate who are very handsome +or very ugly, in so far as they are both remarkable and remarked. But +the latter bear away the palm. Beautiful men begin well with women, who +do all they can to attract them, love them as the apples of their eyes, +discover them to be fools, hold them to be their equals, deceive them, +and speedily despise them. It is otherwise with the ugly man, who, in +consequence of his homeliness, must work his wits and take pains with +himself, and become as pleasing as he is capable of being, till women +forget his ape's face, bird's legs, and bunchy back. + +The hunchback, moreover, became a Tantri, so as to complete his +villanies. He was duly initiated by an apostate Brahman, made a +declaration that he renounced all the ceremonies of his old religion, +and was delivered from their yoke, and proceeded to perform in token +of joy an abominable rite. In company with eight men and eight women-a +Brahman female, a dancing girl, a weaver's daughter, a woman of ill +fame, a washerwoman, a barber's wife, a milkmaid, and the daughter of a +land-owner--choosing the darkest time of night and the most secret part +of the house, he drank with them, was sprinkled and anointed, and went +through many ignoble ceremonies, such as sitting nude upon a dead body. +The teacher informed him that he was not to indulge shame, or aversion +to anything, nor to prefer one thing to another, nor to regard caste, +ceremonial cleanness or uncleanness, but freely to enjoy all the +pleasures of sense-that is, of course, wine and us, since we are the +representatives of the wife of Cupid, and wine prevents the senses from +going astray. And whereas holy men, holding that the subjugation or +annihilation of the passions is essential to final beatitude, accomplish +this object by bodily austerities, and by avoiding temptation, he +proceeded to blunt the edge of the passions with excessive indulgence. +And he jeered at the pious, reminding them that their ascetics are safe +only in forests, and while keeping a perpetual fast; but that he could +subdue his passions in the very presence of what they most desired. + +Presently this excellent youth's father died, leaving him immense +wealth. He blunted his passions so piously and so vigorously, that in +very few years his fortune was dissipated. Then he turned towards +his neighbour's goods and prospered for a time, till being discovered +robbing, he narrowly escaped the stake. At length he exclaimed, "Let the +gods perish! the rascals send me nothing but ill luck!" and so saying he +arose and fled from his own country. + +Chance led that villain hunchback to the city of Chandrapur, where, +hearing the name of my master Hemgupt, he recollected that one of his +father's wealthiest correspondents was so called. Thereupon, with +his usual audacity, he presented himself at the house, walked in, +and although he was clothed in tatters, introduced himself, told his +father's name and circumstances, and wept bitterly. + +The good man was much astonished, and not less grieved, to see the son +of his old friend in such woful plight. He rose up, however, embraced +the youth, and asked the reason of his coming. + +"I freighted a vessel," said the false hunchback, "for the purpose +of trading to a certain land. Having gone there, I disposed of my +merchandise, and, taking another cargo, I was on my voyage home. +Suddenly a great storm arose, and the vessel was wrecked, and I escaped +on a plank, and after a time arrived here. But I am ashamed, since I +have lost all my wealth, and I cannot show my face in this plight in my +own city. My excellent father would have consoled me with his pity. But +now that I have carried him and my mother to Ganges,[75] every one will +turn against me; they will rejoice in my misfortunes, they will accuse +me of folly and recklessness--alas! alas! I am truly miserable." + +My dear master was deceived by the cunning of the wretch. He offered him +hospitality, which was readily enough accepted, and he entertained him +for some time as a guest. Then, having reason to be satisfied with his +conduct, Hemgupt admitted him to his secrets, and finally made him a +partner in his business. Briefly, the villain played his cards so well, +that at last the merchant said to himself: + +"I have had for years an anxiety and a calamity in my house. My +neighbours whisper things to my disadvantage, and those who are bolder +speak out with astonishment amongst themselves, saying, 'At seven or +eight, people marry their daughters, and this indeed is the appointment +of the law: that period is long since gone; she is now thirteen or +fourteen years old, and she is very tall and lusty, resembling a married +woman of thirty. How can her father eat his rice with comfort and sleep +with satisfaction, whilst such a disreputable thing exists in his +house? At present he is exposed to shame, and his deceased friends are +suffering through his retaining a girl from marriage beyond the period +which nature has prescribed.' And now, while I am sitting quietly at +home, the Bhagwan (Deity) removes all my uneasiness: by his favour such +an opportunity occurs. It is not right to delay. It is best that I shall +give my daughter in marriage to him. Whatever can be done to-day is +best; who knows what may happen to-morrow?" + +Thus thinking, the old man went to his wife and said to her, "Birth, +marriage, and death are all under the direction of the gods; can anyone +say when they will be ours? We want for our daughter a young man who is +of good birth, rich and handsome, clever and honourable. But we do not +find him. If the bridegroom be faulty, thou sayest, all will go wrong. +I cannot put a string round the neck of our daughter and throw her into +the ditch. If, however, thou think well of the merchant's son, now my +partner, we will celebrate Ratnawati's marriage with him." + +The wife, who had been won over by the hunchback's hypocrisy, was also +pleased, and replied, "My lord! when the Deity so plainly indicates his +wish, we should do it; since, though we have sat quietly at home, the +desire of our hearts is accomplished. It is best that no delay be made: +and, having quickly summoned the family priest, and having fixed upon a +propitious planetary conjunction, that the marriage be celebrated." + +Then they called their daughter--ah, me! what a beautiful being she was, +and worthy the love of a Gandharva (demigod). Her long hair, purple with +the light of youth, was glossy as the bramra's[76] wing; her brow was +pure and clear as the agate; the ocean-coral looked pale beside her +lips, and her teeth were as two chaplets of pearls. Everything in her +was formed to be loved. Who could look into her eyes without wishing +to do it again? Who could hear her voice without hoping that such music +would sound once more? And she was good as she was fair. Her father +adored her; her mother, though a middle-aged woman, was not envious or +jealous of her; her relatives doted on her, and her friends could +find no fault with her. I should never end were I to tell her precious +qualities. Alas, alas! my poor Ratnawati! + +So saying, the jay wept abundant tears; then she resumed: + +When her parents informed my mistress of their resolution, she replied, +"Sadhu-it is well!" She was not like most young women, who hate nothing +so much as a man whom their seniors order them to love. She bowed +her head and promised obedience, although, as she afterwards told +her mother, she could hardly look at her intended, on account of his +prodigious ugliness. But presently the hunchback's wit surmounted her +disgust. She was grateful to him for his attention to her father and +mother; she esteemed him for his moral and religious conduct; she pitied +him for his misfortunes, and she finished with forgetting his face, +legs, and back in her admiration of what she supposed to be his mind. + +She had vowed before marriage faithfully to perform all the duties of a +wife, however distasteful to her they might be; but after the nuptials, +which were not long deferred, she was not surprised to find that she +loved her husband. Not only did she omit to think of his features +and figure; I verily believe that she loved him the more for his +repulsiveness. Ugly, very ugly men prevail over women for two reasons. +Firstly, we begin with repugnance, which in the course of nature turns +to affection; and we all like the most that which, when unaccustomed to +it, we most disliked. Hence the poet says, with as much truth as is in +the male: + + Never despair, O man! when woman's spite + Detests thy name and sickens at thy sight: + Sometime her heart shall learn to love thee more + For the wild hatred which it felt before, &c. + +Secondly, the very ugly man appears, deceitfully enough, to think little +of his appearance, and he will give himself the trouble to pursue +a heart because he knows that the heart will not follow after him. +Moreover, we women (said the jay) are by nature pitiful, and this our +enemies term a "strange perversity." A widow is generally disconsolate +if she loses a little, wizen-faced, shrunken shanked, ugly, spiteful, +distempered thing that scolded her and quarrelled with her, and beat her +and made her hours bitter; whereas she will follow her husband to Ganges +with exemplary fortitude if he was brave, handsome, generous---- + +"Either hold your tongue or go on with your story," cried the warrior +king, in whose mind these remarks awakened disagreeable family +reflections. + +"Hi! hi! hi!" laughed the demon; "I will obey your majesty, and make +Madan-manjari, the misanthropical jay, proceed." + +Yes, she loved the hunchback; and how wonderful is our love! quoth the +jay. A light from heaven which rains happiness on this dull, dark earth! +A spell falling upon the spirit, which reminds us of a higher existence! +A memory of bliss! A present delight! An earnest of future felicity! +It makes hideousness beautiful and stupidity clever, old age young and +wickedness good, moroseness amiable, and low-mindedness magnanimous, +perversity pretty and vulgarity piquant. Truly it is sovereign alchemy +and excellent flux for blending contradictions is our love, exclaimed +the jay. + +And so saying, she cast a triumphant look at the parrot, who only +remarked that he could have desired a little more originality in her +remarks. + +For some months (resumed Madan-manjari), the bride and the bridegroom +lived happily together in Hemgupt's house. But it is said: + + Never yet did the tiger become a lamb; + +and the hunchback felt that the edge of his passions again wanted +blunting. He reflected, "Wisdom is exemption from attachment, and +affection for children, wife, and home." Then he thus addressed my poor +young mistress: + +"I have been now in thy country some years, and I have heard no tidings +of my own family, hence my mind is sad, I have told thee everything +about myself; thou must now ask thy mother leave for me to go to my own +city, and, if thou wishest, thou mayest go with me." + +Ratnawati lost no time in saying to her mother, "My husband wishes to +visit his own country; will you so arrange that he may not be pained +about this matter?" + +The mother went to her husband, and said, "Your son-in-law desires leave +to go to his own country." + +Hemgupt replied, "Very well; we will grant him leave. One has no power +over another man's son. We will do what he wishes." + +The parents then called their daughter, and asked her to tell them her +real desire-whether she would go to her father-in-law's house, or would +remain in her mother's home. She was abashed at this question, and could +not answer; but she went back to her husband, and said, "As my father +and mother have declared that you should do as you like, do not leave me +behind." + +Presently the merchant summoned his son-in-law, and having bestowed +great wealth upon him, allowed him to depart. He also bade his daughter +farewell, after giving her a palanquin and a female slave. And the +parents took leave of them with wailing and bitter tears; their hearts +were like to break. And so was mine. + +For some days the hunchback travelled quietly along with his wife, in +deep thought. He could not take her to his city, where she would find +out his evil life, and the fraud which he had passed upon her father. +Besides which, although he wanted her money, he by no means wanted her +company for life. After turning on many projects in his evil-begotten +mind, he hit upon the following: + +He dismissed the palanquin-bearers when halting at a little shed in the +thick jungle through which they were travelling, and said to his wife, +"This is a place of danger; give me thy jewels, and I will hide them in +my waist-shawl. When thou reachest the city thou canst wear them again." +She then gave up to him all her ornaments, which were of great value. +Thereupon he inveigled the slave girl into the depths of the forest, +where he murdered her, and left her body to be devoured by wild beasts. +Lastly, returning to my poor mistress, he induced her to leave the hut +with him, and pushed her by force into a dry well, after which exploit +he set out alone with his ill-gotten wealth, walking towards his own +city. + +In the meantime, a wayfaring man, who was passing through that jungle, +hearing the sound of weeping, stood still, and began to say to himself, +"How came to my ears the voice of a mortal's grief in this wild wood?" +then followed the direction of the noise, which led him a pit, and +peeping over the side, he saw a woman crying at the bottom. The +traveller at once loosened his gird cloth, knotted it to his turband, +and letting down the line pulled out the poor bride. He asked her who +she was and how she came to fall into that well. She replied, "I am the +daughter of Hemgupt, the wealthiest merchant in the city of Chandrapur; +and I was journeying with my husband to his own country, when robbers +set upon us and surrounded us. They slew my slave girl, the threw me +into a well, and having bound my husband they took him away, together +with my jewels. I have no tidings of him, nor he of me." And so saying, +she burst into tears and lamentations. + +The wayfaring man believed her tale, and conducted her to her home, +where she gave the same account of the accident which had befallen her, +ending with, "beyond this, I know not if they have killed my husband, or +have let him go." The father thus soothed her grief "Daughter! have no +anxiety; thy husband is alive, and by the will of the Deity he will come +to thee in a few days. Thieves take men's money, not their lives." Then +the parents presented her with ornaments more precious than those which +she had lost; and summoning their relations and friends, they comforted +her to the best of their power. + +And so did I. The wicked hunchback had, meanwhile, returned to his own +city, where he was excellently well received, because he brought much +wealth with him. His old associates flocked around him rejoicing; and he +fell into the same courses which had beggared him before. Gambling and +debauchery soon blunted his passions, and emptied his purse. Again his +boon companions, finding him without a broken cowrie, drove him from +their doors, he stole and was flogged for theft; and lastly, half +famished, he fled the city. Then he said to himself, "I must go to my +father-in-law, and make the excuse that a grandson has been born to him, +and that I have come to offer him congratulations on the event." + +Imagine, however, his fears and astonishment, when, as he entered the +house, his wife stood before him. At first he thought it was a ghost, +and turned to run away, but she went out to him and said, "Husband, +be not troubled! I have told my father that thieves came upon us, and +killed the slave girl and robbed me and threw me into a well, and bound +thee and carried thee off. Tell the same story, and put away all anxious +feelings. Come up and change thy tattered garments-alas! some misfortune +hath befallen thee. But console thyself; all is now well, since thou +art returned to me, and fear not, for the house is thine, and I am thy +slave." + +The wretch, with all his hardness of heart, could scarcely refrain from +tears. He followed his wife to her room, where she washed his feet, +caused him to bathe, dressed him in new clothes, and placed food before +him. When her parents returned, she presented him to their embrace, +saying in a glad way, "Rejoice with me, O my father and mother! the +robbers have at length allowed him to come back to us." Of course the +parents were deceived, they are mostly a purblind race; and Hemgupt, +showing great favour to his worthless son-in-law, exclaimed, "Remain +with us, my son, and be happy!" + +For two or three months the hunchback lived quietly with his wife, +treating her kindly and even affectionately. But this did not last long. +He made acquaintance with a band of thieves, and arranged his plans with +them. + +After a time, his wife one night came to sleep by his side, having put +on all her jewels. At midnight, when he saw that she was fast asleep, +he struck her with a knife so that she died. Then he admitted his +accomplices, who savagely murdered Hemgupt and his wife; and with their +assistance he carried off any valuable article upon which he could lay +his hands. The ferocious wretch! As he passed my cage he looked at it, +and thought whether he had time to wring my neck. The barking of a dog +saved my life; but my mistress, my poor Ratnawati-ah, me! ah, me!-- + +"Queen," said the jay, in deepest grief, "all this have I seen with mine +own eyes, and have heard with mine own ears. It affected me in early +life, and gave me a dislike for the society of the other sex. With due +respect to you, I have resolved to remain an old maid. Let your majesty +reflect, what crime had my poor mistress committed? A male is of the +same disposition as a highway robber; and she who forms friendship with +such an one, cradles upon her bosom a black and venomous snake." + +"Sir Parrot," said the jay, turning to her wooer, "I have spoken. I +have nothing more to say, but that you he-things are all a treacherous, +selfish, wicked race, created for the express purpose of working our +worldly woe, and--" + +"When a female, O my king, asserts that she has nothing more to say, +but," broke in Churaman, the parrot with a loud dogmatical voice, "I +know that what she has said merely whets her tongue for what she is +about to say. This person has surely spoken long enough and drearily +enough." + +"Tell me, then, O parrot," said the king, "what faults there may be in +the other sex." + +"I will relate," quoth Churaman, "an occurrence which in my early youth +determined me to live and to die an old bachelor." + +When quite a young bird, and before my schooling began, I was caught +in the land of Malaya, and was sold to a very rich merchant called +Sagardati, a widower with one daughter, the lady Jayashri. As her father +spent all his days and half his nights in his counting-house, conning +his ledgers and scolding his writers, that young woman had more liberty +than is generally allowed to those of her age, and a mighty bad use she +made of it. + +O king! men commit two capital mistakes in rearing the "domestic +calamity," and these are over-vigilance and under-vigilance. Some +parents never lose sight of their daughters, suspect them of all evil +intentions, and are silly enough to show their suspicions, which is an +incentive to evil-doing. For the weak-minded things do naturally say, +"I will be wicked at once. What do I now but suffer all the pains and +penalties of badness, without enjoying its pleasures?" And so they are +guilty of many evil actions; for, however vigilant fathers and mothers +may be, the daughter can always blind their eyes. + +On the other hand, many parents take no trouble whatever with their +charges: they allow them to sit in idleness, the origin of badness; they +permit them to communicate with the wicked, and they give them liberty +which breeds opportunity. Thus they also, falling into the snares of the +unrighteous, who are ever a more painstaking race than the righteous, +are guilty of many evil actions. + +What, then, must wise parents do? The wise will study the characters of +their children, and modify their treatment accordingly. If a daughter be +naturally good, she will be treated with a prudent confidence. If she +be vicious, an apparent trust will be reposed in her; but her father and +mother will secretly ever be upon their guard. The one-idea'd-- + +"All this parrot-prate, I suppose, is only intended to vex me," cried +the warrior king, who always considered himself, and very naturally, a +person of such consequence as ever to be uppermost in the thoughts and +minds of others. "If thou must tell a tale, then tell one, Vampire! or +else be silent, as I am sick to the death of thy psychics." + +"It is well, O warrior king," resumed the Baital. + +After that Churaman the parrot had given the young Raja Ram a golden +mine full of good advice about the management of daughters, he proceeded +to describe Jayashri. + +She was tall, stout, and well made, of lymphatic temperament, and yet +strong passions. Her fine large eyes had heavy and rather full eyelids, +which are to be avoided. Her hands were symmetrical without being small, +and the palms were ever warm and damp. Though her lips were good, her +mouth was somewhat underhung; and her voice was so deep, that at times +it sounded like that of a man. Her hair was smooth as the kokila's +plume, and her complexion was that of the young jasmine; and these were +the points at which most persons looked. Altogether, she was neither +handsome nor ugly, which is an excellent thing in woman. Sita the +goddess[77] was lovely to excess; therefore she was carried away by a +demon. Raja Bali was exceedingly generous, and he emptied his treasury. +In this way, exaggeration, even of good, is exceedingly bad. + +Yet must I confess, continued the parrot, that, as a rule, the beautiful +woman is more virtuous than the ugly. The former is often tempted, but +her vanity and conceit enable her to resist, by the self-promise that +she shall be tempted again and again. On the other hand, the ugly woman +must tempt instead of being tempted, and she must yield, because her +vanity and conceit are gratified by yielding, not by resisting. + +"Ho, there!" broke in the jay contemptuously. "What woman cannot win the +hearts of the silly things called men? Is it not said that a pig-faced +female who dwells in Landanpur has a lover?" + +I was about to remark, my king! said the parrot, somewhat nettled, if +the aged virgin had not interrupted me, that as ugly women are more +vicious than handsome women, so they are most successful. "We love the +pretty, we adore the plain," is a true saying amongst the worldly +wise. And why do we adore the plain? Because they seem to think less of +themselves than of us-a vital condition of adoration. + +Jayashri made some conquests by the portion of good looks which she +possessed, more by her impudence, and most by her father's reputation +for riches. She was truly shameless, and never allowed herself fewer +than half a dozen admirers at the time. Her chief amusement was to +appoint interviews with them successively, at intervals so short that +she was obliged to hurry away one in order to make room for another. And +when a lover happened to be jealous, or ventured in any way to criticize +her arrangements, she replied at once by showing him the door. Answer +unanswerable! + +When Jayashri had reached the ripe age of thirteen, the son of a +merchant, who was her father's gossip and neighbour, returned home after +a long sojourn in far lands, whither he had travelled in the search of +wealth. The poor wretch, whose name, by-the-bye, was Shridat (Gift of +Fortune), had loved her in her childhood; and he came back, as men +are apt to do after absence from familiar scenes, painfully full of +affection for house and home and all belonging to it. From his cross, +stingy old uncle to the snarling superannuated beast of a watchdog, he +viewed all with eyes of love and melting heart. He could not see that +his idol was greatly changed, and nowise for the better; that her nose +was broader and more club-like, her eyelids fatter and thicker, her +under lip more prominent, her voice harsher, and her manner coarser. He +did not notice that she was an adept in judging of men's dress, and that +she looked with admiration upon all swordsmen, especially upon those +who fought upon horses and elephants. The charm of memory, the +curious faculty of making past time present caused all he viewed to be +enchanting to him. + +Having obtained her father's permission, Shridat applied for betrothal +to Jayashri, who with peculiar boldness, had resolved that no suitor +should come to her through her parent. And she, after leading him on by +all the coquetries of which she was a mistress, refused to marry him, +saying that she liked him as a friend, but would hate him as a husband. + +You see, my king! there are three several states of feeling with which +women regard their masters, and these are love, hate, and indifference. +Of all, love is the weakest and the most transient, because the +essentially unstable creatures naturally fall out of it as readily as +they fall into it. Hate being a sister excitement will easily become, +if a man has wit enough to effect the change, love; and hate-love +may perhaps last a little longer than love-love. Also, man has the +occupation, the excitement, and the pleasure of bringing about the +change. As regards the neutral state, that poet was not happy in his +ideas who sang-- + + Whene'er indifference appears, or scorn, + Then, man, despair! then, hapless lover, mourn! + +For a man versed in the Lila Shastra[78] can soon turn a woman's +indifference into hate, which I have shown is as easily permuted to +love. In which predicament it is the old thing over again, and it ends +in the pure Asat[79] or nonentity. + +"Which of these two birds, the jay or the parrot, had dipped deeper into +human nature, mighty King Vikram?" asked the demon in a wheedling tone +of voice. + +The trap was this time set too openly, even for the royal personage, +to fall into it. He hurried on, calling to his son, and not answering a +word. The Vampire therefore resumed the thread of his story at the place +where he had broken it off. + +Shridat was in despair when he heard the resolve of his idol. He thought +of drowning himself, of throwing himself down from the summit of Mount +Girnar,[80] of becoming a religious beggar; in short, of a multitude +of follies. But he refrained from all such heroic remedies for despair, +having rightly judged, when he became somewhat calmer, that they would +not be likely to further his suit. He discovered that patience is +a virtue, and he resolved impatiently enough to practice it. And by +perseverance he succeeded. The worse for him! How vain are men to wish! +How wise is the Deity, who is deaf to their wishes! + +Jayashri, for potent reasons best known to herself, was married to +Shridat six months after his return home. He was in raptures. He called +himself the happiest man in existence. He thanked and sacrificed to the +Bhagwan for listening to his prayers. He recalled to mind with thrilling +heart the long years which he had spent in hopeless exile from all that +was dear to him, his sadness and anxiety, his hopes and joys, his toils +and troubles his loyal love and his vows to Heaven for the happiness of +his idol, and for the furtherance of his fondest desires. + +For truly he loved her, continued the parrot, and there is something +holy in such love. It becomes not only a faith, but the best of +faiths-an abnegation of self which emancipates the spirit from its +straightest and earthliest bondage, the "I"; the first step in the +regions of heaven; a homage rendered through the creature to the +Creator; a devotion solid, practical, ardent, not as worship mostly is, +a cold and lifeless abstraction; a merging of human nature into one far +nobler and higher the spiritual existence of the supernal world. For +perfect love is perfect happiness, and the only perfection of man; and +what is a demon but a being without love? And what makes man's love +truly divine, is the fact that it is bestowed upon such a thing as +woman. + +"And now, Raja Vikram," said the Vampire, speaking in his proper person, +"I have given you Madanmanjari the jay's and Churaman the parrot's +definitions of the tender passion, or rather their descriptions of its +effects. Kindly observe that I am far from accepting either one or the +other. Love is, according to me, somewhat akin to mania, a temporary +condition of selfishness, a transient confusion of identity. It enables +man to predicate of others who are his other selves, that which he is +ashamed to say about his real self. I will suppose the beloved object to +be ugly, stupid, vicious, perverse, selfish, low minded, or the reverse; +man finds it charming by the same rule that makes his faults and foibles +dearer to him than all the virtues and good qualities of his neighbours. +Ye call love a spell, an alchemy, a deity. Why? Because it deifies self +by gratifying all man's pride, man's vanity, and man's conceit, under +the mask of complete unegotism. Who is not in heaven when he is talking +of himself? and, prithee, of what else consists all the talk of lovers?" + +It is astonishing that the warrior king allowed this speech to last +as long as it did. He hated nothing so fiercely, now that he was in +middle-age, as any long mention of the "handsome god.[81]" Having vainly +endeavoured to stop by angry mutterings the course of the Baital's +eloquence, he stepped out so vigorously and so rudely shook that +inveterate talker, that the latter once or twice nearly bit off the tip +of his tongue. Then the Vampire became silent, and Vikram relapsed into +a walk which allowed the tale to be resumed. + +Jayashri immediately conceived a strong dislike for her husband, and +simultaneously a fierce affection for a reprobate who before had been +indifferent to her. The more lovingly Shridat behaved to her, the more +vexed end annoyed she was. When her friends talked to her, she turned up +her nose, raising her eyebrows (in token of displeasure), and remained +silent. When her husband spoke words of affection to her, she found them +disagreeable, and turning away her face, reclined on the bed. Then he +brought dresses and ornaments of various kinds and presented them to +her, saying, "Wear these." Whereupon she would become more angry, +knit her brows, turn her face away, and in an audible whisper call him +"fool." All day she stayed out of the house, saying to her companions, +"Sisters, my youth is passing away, and I have not, up to the present +time, tasted any of this world's pleasures." Then she would ascend to +the balcony, peep through the lattice, and seeing the reprobate going +along, she would cry to her friend, "Bring that person to me." All night +she tossed and turned from side to side, reflecting in her heart, "I +am puzzled in my mind what I shall say, and whither I shall go. I have +forgotten sleep, hunger, and thirst; neither heat nor cold is refreshing +to me." + +At last, unable any longer to support the separation from her reprobate +paramour, whom she adored, she resolved to fly with him. On one +occasion, when she thought that her husband was fast asleep, she rose up +quietly, and leaving him, made her way fearlessly in the dark night +to her lover's abode. A footpad, who saw her on the way, thought to +himself, "Where can this woman, clothed in jewels, be going alone at +midnight?" And thus he followed her unseen, and watched her. + +When Jayashri reached the intended place, she went into the house, and +found her lover lying at the door. He was dead, having been stabbed by +the footpad; but she, thinking that he had, according to custom, drunk +intoxicating hemp, sat upon the floor, and raising his head, placed it +tenderly in her lap. Then, burning with the fire of separation from +him, she began to kiss his cheeks, and to fondle and caress him with the +utmost freedom and affection. + +By chance a Pisach (evil spirit) was seated in a large fig-tree[82] +opposite the house, and it occurred to him, when beholding this scene, +that he might amuse himself in a characteristic way. He therefore hopped +down from his branch, vivified the body, and began to return the woman's +caresses. But as Jayashri bent down to kiss his lips, he caught the end +of her nose in his teeth, and bit it clean off. He then issued from the +corpse, and returned to the branch where he had been sitting. + +Jayashri was in despair. She did not, however, lose her presence of +mind, but sat down and proceeded to take thought; and when she had +matured her plan she arose, dripping with blood, and walked straight +home to her husband's house. On entering his room she clapped her hand +to her nose, and began to gnash her teeth, and to shriek so violently, +that all the members of the family were alarmed. The neighbours also +collected in numbers at the door, and, as it was bolted inside, they +broke it open and rushed in, carrying lights. There they saw the +wife sitting upon the ground with her face mutilated, and the husband +standing over her, apparently trying to appease her. + +"O ignorant, criminal, shameless, pitiless wretch!" cried the people, +especially the women; "why hast thou cut off her nose, she not having +offended in any way?" + +Poor Shridat, seeing at once the trick which had been played upon him, +thought to himself: "One should put no confidence in a changeful mind, a +black serpent, or an armed enemy, and one should dread a woman's doings. +What cannot a poet describe? What is there that a saint (jogi) does not +know? What nonsense will not a drunken man talk? What limit is there to +a woman's guile? True it is that the gods know nothing of the defects of +a horse, of the thundering of clouds, of a woman's deeds, or of a man's +future fortunes. How then can we know?" He could do nothing but weep, +and swear by the herb basil, by his cattle, by his grain, by a piece of +gold, and by all that is holy, that he had not committed the crime. + +In the meanwhile, the old merchant, Jayashri's father, ran off, and laid +a complaint before the kotwal, and the footmen of the police magistrate +were immediately sent to apprehend the husband, and to carry him bound +before the judge. The latter, after due examination, laid the affair +before the king. An example happening to be necessary at the time, the +king resolved to punish the offence with severity, and he summoned the +husband and wife to the court. + +When the merchant's daughter was asked to give an account of what had +happened, she pointed out the state of her nose, and said, "Maharaj! why +inquire of me concerning what is so manifest?" The king then turned to +the husband, and bade him state his defence. He said, "I know nothing of +it," and in the face of the strongest evidence he persisted in denying +his guilt. + +Thereupon the king, who had vainly threatened to cut off Shridat's +right hand, infuriated by his refusing to confess and to beg for +mercy, exclaimed, "How must I punish such a wretch as thou art?" The +unfortunate man answered, "Whatever your majesty may consider just, that +be pleased to do." Thereupon the king cried, "Away with him, and impale +him"; and the people, hearing the command, prepared to obey it. + +Before Shridat had left the court, the footpad, who had been looking +on, and who saw that an innocent man was about to be unjustly punished, +raised a cry for justice and, pushing through the crowd, resolved to +make himself heard. He thus addressed the throne: "Great king, the +cherishing of the good, and the punishment of the bad, is the invariable +duty of kings." The ruler having caused him to approach, asked him who +he was, and he replied boldly, "Maharaj! I am a thief, and this man is +innocent and his blood is about to be shed unjustly. Your majesty has +not done what is right in this affair." Thereupon the king charged +him to tell the truth according to his religion; and the thief related +explicitly the whole circumstances, omitting of course, the murder. + +"Go ye," said the king to his messengers, "and look in the mouth of the +woman's lover who has fallen dead. If the nose be there found, then has +this thief-witness told the truth, and the husband is a guiltless man." + +The nose was presently produced in court, and Shridat escaped the stake. +The king caused the wicked Jayashri's face to be smeared with oily soot, +and her head and eyebrows to be shaved; thus blackened and disfigured, +she was mounted upon a little ragged-limbed ass and was led around the +market and the streets, after which she was banished for ever from the +city. The husband and the thief were then dismissed with betel and other +gifts, together with much sage advice which neither of them wanted. + +"My king," resumed the misogyne parrot, "of such excellencies as these +are women composed. It is said that 'wet cloth will extinguish fire and +bad food will destroy strength; a degenerate son ruins a family, +and when a friend is in wrath he takes away life. But a woman is an +inflicter of grief in love and in hate, whatever she does turns out to +be for our ill. Truly the Deity has created woman a strange being in +this world.' And again, 'The beauty of the nightingale is its song, +science is the beauty of an ugly man, forgiveness is the beauty of a +devotee, and the beauty of a woman is virtue-but where shall we find +it?' And again, 'Among the sages, Narudu; among the beasts, the jackal; +among the birds, the crow; among men, the barber; and in this world +woman-is the most crafty.' + +"What I have told thee, my king, I have seen with mine own eyes, and I +have heard with mine own ears. At the time I was young, but the event +so affected me that I have ever since held female kind to be a walking +pest, a two-legged plague, whose mission on earth, like flies and other +vermin, is only to prevent our being too happy. O, why do not children +and young parrots sprout in crops from the ground-from budding trees or +vinestocks?" + +"I was thinking, sire," said the young Dharma Dhwaj to the warrior king +his father, "what women would say of us if they could compose Sanskrit +verses!" + +"Then keep your thoughts to yourself," replied the Raja, nettled at his +son daring to say a word in favour of the sex. "You always take the part +of wickedness and depravity---" + +"Permit me, your majesty," interrupted the Baital, "to conclude my +tale." + +When Madan-manjari, the jay, and Churaman, the parrot, had given these +illustrations of their belief, they began to wrangle, and words ran +high. The former insisted that females are the salt of the earth, +speaking, I presume, figuratively. The latter went so far as to assert +that the opposite sex have no souls, and that their brains are in a +rudimental and inchoate state of development. Thereupon he was tartly +taken to task by his master's bride, the beautiful Chandravati, who told +him that those only have a bad opinion of women who have associated with +none but the vicious and the low, and that he should be ashamed to abuse +feminine parrots, because his mother had been one. + +This was truly logical. + +On the other hand, the jay was sternly reproved for her mutinous and +treasonable assertions by the husband of her mistress, Raja Ram, who, +although still a bridegroom, had not forgotten the gallant rule of his +syntax-- + + The masculine is more worthy than the feminine; + +till Madan-manjari burst into tears and declared that her life was not +worth having. And Raja Ram looked at her as if he could have wrung her +neck. + +In short, Raja Vikram, all the four lost their tempers, and with them +what little wits they had. Two of them were but birds, and the others +seem not to have been much better, being young, ignorant, inexperienced, +and lately married. How then could they decide so difficult a question +as that of the relative wickedness and villany of men and women? Had +your majesty been there, the knot of uncertainty would soon have been +undone by the trenchant edge of your wit and wisdom, your knowledge and +experience. You have, of course, long since made up your mind upon the +subject? + +Dharma Dhwaj would have prevented his father's reply. But the youth had +been twice reprehended in the course of this tale, and he thought it +wisest to let things take their own way. + +"Women," quoth the Raja, oracularly, "are worse than we are; a man, +however depraved he may be, ever retains some notion of right and wrong, +but a woman does not. She has no such regard whatever." + +"The beautiful Bangalah Rani for instance?" said the Baital, with a +demonaic sneer. + +At the mention of a word, the uttering of which was punishable by +extirpation of the tongue, Raja Vikram's brain whirled with rage. He +staggered in the violence of his passion, and putting forth both hands +to break his fall, he dropped the bundle from his back. Then the Baital, +disentangling himself and laughing lustily, ran off towards the tree as +fast as his thin brown legs would carry him. But his activity availed +him little. + +The king, puffing with fury, followed him at the top of his speed, and +caught him by his tail before he reached the siras-tree, hurled him +backwards with force, put foot upon his chest, and after shaking out the +cloth, rolled him up in it with extreme violence, bumped his back half +a dozen times against the stony ground, and finally, with a jerk, threw +him on his shoulder, as he had done before. + +The young prince, afraid to accompany his father whilst he was pursuing +the fiend, followed slowly in the rear, and did not join him for some +minutes. + +But when matters were in their normal state, the Vampire, who had +endured with exemplary patience the penalty of his impudence, began in +honeyed accents, + +"Listen, O warrior king, whilst thy servant recounts unto thee another +true tale." + + + + +THE VAMPIRE'S THIRD STORY -- Of a High-minded Family. + +In the venerable city of Bardwan, O warrior king! (quoth the Vampire) +during the reign of the mighty Rupsen, flourished one Rajeshwar, a +Rajput warrior of distinguished fame. By his valour and conduct he had +risen from the lowest ranks of the army to command it as its captain. +And arrived at that dignity, he did not put a stop to all improvements, +like other chiefs, who rejoice to rest and return thanks. On the +contrary, he became such a reformer that, to some extent, he remodelled +the art of war. + +Instead of attending to rules and regulations, drawn up in their studies +by pandits and Brahmans, he consulted chiefly his own experience and +judgment. He threw aside the systematic plans of campaigns laid down in +the Shastras or books of the ancients, and he acted upon the spur of +the moment. He displayed a skill in the choice of ground, in the use of +light troops, and in securing his own supplies whilst he cut off those +of the enemy, which Kartikaya himself, God of War, might have envied. +Finding that the bows of his troops were clumsy and slow to use, he had +them all changed before compelled so to do by defeat; he also gave his +attention to the sword handles, which cramped the men's grasp but which +having been used for eighteen hundred years were considered perfect +weapons. And having organized a special corps of warriors using fire +arrows, he soon brought it to such perfection that, by using it against +the elephants of his enemies, he gained many a campaign. + +One instance of his superior judgment I am about to quote to thee, O +Vikram, after which I return to my tale; for thou art truly a warrior +king, very likely to imitate the innovations of the great general +Rajeshwar. + +(A grunt from the monarch was the result of the Vampire's sneer.) + +He found his master's armies recruited from Northern Hindustan, and +officered by Kshatriya warriors, who grew great only because they grew +old and--fat. Thus the energy and talent of the younger men were wasted +in troubles and disorders; whilst the seniors were often so ancient +that they could not mount their chargers unaided, nor, when they were +mounted, could they see anything a dozen yards before them. But they +had served in a certain obsolete campaign, and until Rajeshwar gave them +pensions and dismissals, they claimed a right to take first part in all +campaigns present and future. The commander-in-chief refused to use any +captain who could not stand steady on his legs, or endure the sun for a +whole day. When a soldier distinguished himself in action, he raised him +to the powers and privileges of the warrior caste. And whereas it had +been the habit to lavish circles and bars of silver and other metals +upon all those who had joined in the war, whether they had sat behind +a heap of sand or had been foremost to attack the foe, he broke through +the pernicious custom, and he rendered the honour valuable by conferring +it only upon the deserving. I need hardly say that, in an inordinately +short space of time, his army beat every king and general that opposed +it. + +One day the great commander-in-chief was seated in a certain room near +the threshold of his gate, when the voices of a number of people outside +were heard. Rajeshwar asked, "Who is at the door, and what is the +meaning of the noise I hear?" The porter replied, "It is a fine thing +your honour has asked. Many persons come sitting at the door of the rich +for the purpose of obtaining a livelihood and wealth. When they meet +together they talk of various things: it is these very people who are +now making this noise." + +Rajeshwar, on hearing this, remained silent. + +In the meantime a traveller, a Rajput, Birbal by name, hoping to obtain +employment, came from the southern quarter to the palace of the chief. +The porter having listened to his story, made the circumstance known to +his master, saying, "O chief! an armed man has arrived here, hoping to +obtain employment, and is standing at the door. If I receive a command +he shall be brought into your honour's presence." + +"Bring him in," cried the commander-in-chief. + +The porter brought him in, and Rajeshwar inquired, "O Rajput, who and +what art thou?" + +Birbal submitted that he was a person of distinguished fame for the use +of weapons, and that his name for fidelity and valour had gone forth to +the utmost ends of Bharat-Kandha.[83] + +The chief was well accustomed to this style of self introduction, and +its only effect upon his mind was a wish to shame the man by showing him +that he had not the least knowledge of weapons. He therefore bade him +bare his blade and perform some feat. + +Birbal at once drew his good sword. Guessing the thoughts which were +hovering about the chief's mind, he put forth his left hand, extending +the forefinger upwards, waved his blade like the arm of a demon round +his head, and, with a dexterous stroke, so shaved off a bit of nail +that it fell to the ground, and not a drop of blood appeared upon the +finger-tip. + +"Live for ever!" exclaimed Rajeshwar in admiration. He then addressed +to the recruit a few questions concerning the art of war, or rather +concerning his peculiar views of it. To all of which Birbal answered +with a spirit and a judgment which convinced the hearer that he was no +common sworder. + +Whereupon Rajeshwar bore off the new man at arms to the palace of the +king Rupsen, and recommended that he should be engaged without delay. + +The king, being a man of few words and many ideas, after hearing his +commander-in-chief, asked, "O Rajput, what shall I give thee for thy +daily expenditure?" + +"Give me a thousand ounces of gold daily," said Birbal, "and then I +shall have wherewithal to live on." + +"Hast thou an army with thee?" exclaimed the king in the greatest +astonishment. + +"I have not," responded the Rajput somewhat stiffly. "I have first, +a wife; second, a son; third, a daughter; fourth, myself; there is no +fifth person with me." + +All the people of the court on hearing this turned aside their heads to +laugh, and even the women, who were peeping at the scene, covered their +mouths with their veils. The Rajput was then dismissed the presence. + +It is, however, noticeable amongst you humans, that the world often +takes you at your own valuation. Set a high price upon yourselves, +and each man shall say to his neighbour, "In this man there must be +something." Tell everyone that you are brave, clever, generous, or even +handsome, and after a time they will begin to believe you. And when thus +you have attained success, it will be harder to unconvince them than it +was to convince them. Thus--- + +"Listen not to him, sirrah," cried Raja Vikram to Dharma Dhwaj, the +young prince, who had fallen a little way behind, and was giving ear +attentively to the Vampire's ethics. "Listen to him not. And tell me, +villain, with these ignoble principles of thine, what will become of +modesty, humility, self-sacrifice, and a host of other Guna or good +qualities which--which are good qualities?" + +"I know not," rejoined the Baital, "neither do I care. But my habitually +inspiriting a succession of human bodies has taught me one fact. The +wise man knows himself, and is, therefore, neither unduly humble nor +elated, because he had no more to do with making himself than with the +cut of his cloak, or with the fitness of his loin-cloth. But the fool +either loses his head by comparing himself with still greater fools, or +is prostrated when he finds himself inferior to other and lesser fools. +This shyness he calls modesty, humility, and so forth. Now, whenever +entering a corpse, whether it be of man, woman, or child, I feel +peculiarly modest; I know that my tenement lately belonged to some +conceited ass. And--" + +"Wouldst thou have me bump thy back against the ground?" asked Raja +Vikram angrily. + +(The Baital muttered some reply scarcely intelligible about his having +this time stumbled upon a metaphysical thread of ideas, and then +continued his story.) + +Now Rupsen, the king, began by inquiring of himself why the Rajput had +rated his services so highly. Then he reflected that if this recruit +had asked so much money, it must have been for some reason which would +afterwards become apparent. Next, he hoped that if he gave him so much, +his generosity might some day turn out to his own advantage. Finally, +with this idea in his mind, he summoned Birbal and the steward of his +household, and said to the latter, "Give this Rajput a thousand ounces +of gold daily from our treasury." + +It is related that Birbal made the best possible use of his wealth. +He used every morning to divide it into two portions, one of which was +distributed to Brahmans and Parohitas.[84] Of the remaining moiety, +having made two parts, he gave one as alms to pilgrims, to Bairagis +or Vishnu's mendicants, and to Sanyasis or worshippers of Shiva, whose +bodies, smeared with ashes, were hardly covered with a narrow cotton +cloth and a rope about their loins, and whose heads of artificial hair, +clotted like a rope, besieged his gate. With the remaining fourth, +having caused food to be prepared, he regaled the poor, while he himself +and his family ate what was left. Every evening, arming himself with +sword and buckler, he took up his position as guard at the royal +bedside, and walked round it all night sword in hand. If the king +chanced to wake and asked who was present, Birbal immediately gave reply +that "Birbal is here; whatever command you give, that he will obey." And +oftentimes Rupsen gave him unusual commands, for it is said, "To try thy +servant, bid him do things in season and out of season: if he obey thee +willingly, know him to be useful; if he reply, dismiss him at once. Thus +is a servant tried, even as a wife by the poverty of her husband, and +brethren and friends by asking their aid." + +In such manner, through desire of money, Birbal remained on guard +all night; and whether eating, drinking, sleeping, sitting, going or +wandering about, during the twenty-four hours, he held his master in +watchful remembrance. This, indeed, is the custom; if a man sell another +the latter is sold, but a servant by doing service sells himself, and +when a man has become dependent, how can he be happy? Certain it is that +however intelligent, clever, or learned a man may be, yet, while he is +in his master's presence, he remains silent as a dumb man, and struck +with dread. Only while he is away from his lord can he be at ease. +Hence, learned men say that to do service aright is harder than any +religious study. + +On one occasion it is related that there happened to be heard at +night-time the wailing of a woman in a neighbouring cemetery. The king +on hearing it called out, "Who is in waiting?" + +"I am here," replied Birbal; "what command is there?" + +"Go," spoke the king, "to the place whence proceeds this sound of +woman's wail, and having inquired the cause of her grief, return +quickly." + +On receiving this order the Rajput went to obey it; and the king, +unseen by him, and attired in a black dress, followed for the purpose of +observing his courage. + +Presently Birbal arrived at the cemetery. And what sees he there? A +beautiful woman of a light yellow colour, loaded with jewels from head +to foot, holding a horn in her right and a necklace in her left hand. +Sometimes she danced, sometimes she jumped, and sometimes she ran +about. There was not a tear in her eye, but beating her head and making +lamentable cries, she kept dashing herself on the ground. + +Seeing her condition, and not recognizing the goddess born of sea foam, +and whom all the host of heaven loved,[85] Birbal inquired, "Why art +thou thus beating thyself and crying out? Who art thou? And what grief +is upon thee?" + +"I am the Royal-Luck," she replied. + +"For what reason," asked Birbal, "art thou weeping?" + +The goddess then began to relate her position to the Rajput. She said, +with tears, "In the king's palace Shudra (or low caste acts) are done, +and hence misfortune will certainly fall upon it, and I shall forsake +it. After a month has passed, the king, having endured excessive +affliction, will die. In grief for this, I weep. I have brought much +happiness to the king's house, and hence I am full of regret that this +my prediction cannot in any way prove untrue." + +"Is there," asked Birbal, "any remedy for this trouble, so that the king +may be preserved and live a hundred years?" + +"Yes," said the goddess, "there is. About eight miles to the east thou +wilt find a temple dedicated to my terrible sister Devi. Offer to her +thy son's head, cut off with thine own hand, and the reign of thy king +shall endure for an age." So saying Raj-Lakshmi disappeared. + +Birbal answered not a word, but with hurried steps he turned towards +his home. The king, still in black so as not to be seen, followed him +closely, and observed and listened to everything he did. + +The Rajput went straight to his wife, awakened her, and related to her +everything that had happened. The wise have said, "she alone deserves +the name of wife who always receives her husband with affectionate and +submissive words." When she heard the circumstances, she at once aroused +her son, and her daughter also awoke. Then Birbal told them all that +they must follow him to the temple of Devi in the wood. + +On the way the Rajput said to his wife, "If thou wilt give up thy +son willingly, I will sacrifice him for our master's sake to Devi the +Destroyer." + +She replied, "Father and mother, son and daughter, brother and relative, +have I now none. You are everything to me. It is written in the +scripture that a wife is not made pure by gifts to priests, nor by +performing religious rites; her virtue consists in waiting upon her +husband, in obeying him and in loving him--yea! though he be lame, +maimed in the hands, dumb, deaf, blind, one eyed, leprous, or +humpbacked. It is a true saying that 'a son under one's authority, a +body free from sickness, a desire to acquire knowledge, an intelligent +friend, and an obedient wife; whoever holds these five will find them +bestowers of happiness and dispellers of affliction. An unwilling +servant, a parsimonious king, an insincere friend, and a wife not under +control; such things are disturbers of ease and givers of trouble.'" + +Then the good wife turned to her son and said "Child by the gift of thy +head, the king's life may be spared, and the kingdom remain unshaken." + +"Mother," replied that excellent youth, "in my opinion we should hasten +this matter. Firstly, I must obey your command; secondly, I must promote +the interests of my master; thirdly, if this body be of any use to a +goddess, nothing better can be done with it in this world." + +("Excuse me, Raja Vikram," said the Baital, interrupting himself, "if I +repeat these fair discourses at full length; it is interesting to hear a +young person, whose throat is about to be cut, talk so like a doctor of +laws.") + +Then the youth thus addressed his sire: "Father, whoever can be of use +to his master, the life of that man in this world has been lived to good +purpose, and by reason of his usefulness he will be rewarded in other +worlds." + +His sister, however, exclaimed, "If a mother should give poison to +her daughter, and a father sell his son, and a king seize the entire +property of his subjects, where then could one look for protection?" But +they heeded her not, and continued talking as they journeyed towards the +temple of Devi--the king all the while secretly following them. + +Presently they reached the temple, a single room, surrounded by a +spacious paved area; in front was an immense building capable of seating +hundreds of people. Before the image there were pools of blood, where +victims had lately been slaughtered. In the sanctum was Devi, a large +black figure with ten arms. With a spear in one of her right hands she +pierced the giant Mahisha; and with one of her left hands she held the +tail of a serpent, and the hair of the giant, whose breast the serpent +was biting. Her other arms were all raised above her head, and were +filled with different instruments of war; against her right leg leaned a +lion. + +Then Birbal joined his hands in prayer, and with Hindu mildness thus +addressed the awful goddess: "O mother, let the king's life be prolonged +for a thousand years by the sacrifice of my son. O Devi, mother! +destroy, destroy his enemies! Kill! kill! Reduce them to ashes! Drive +them away! Devour them! devour them! Cut them in two! Drink! drink +their blood! Destroy them root and branch! With thy thunderbolt, spear, +scymitar, discus, or rope, annihilate them! Spheng! Spheng!" + +The Rajput, having caused his son to kneel before the goddess, struck +him so violent a blow that his head rolled upon the ground. He then +threw the sword down, when his daughter, frantic with grief, snatched it +up and struck her neck with such force that her head, separated from her +body, fell. In her turn the mother, unable to survive the loss of her +children, seized the weapon and succeeded in decapitating herself. +Birbal, beholding all this slaughter, thus reflected: "My children +are dead why, now, should I remain in servitude, and upon whom shall I +bestow the gold I receive from the king?" He then gave himself so deep a +wound in the neck, that his head also separated from his body. + +Rupsen, the king, seeing these four heads on the ground, said in his +heart, "For my sake has the family of Birbal been destroyed. Kingly +power, for the purpose of upholding which the destruction of a whole +household is necessary, is a mere curse, and to carry on government in +this manner is not just." He then took up the sword and was about to +slay himself, when the Destroying Goddess, probably satisfied with +bloodshed, stayed his hand, bidding him at the same time ask any boon he +pleased. + +The generous monarch begged, thereupon, that his faithful servant might +be restored to life, together with all his high-minded family; and the +goddess Devi in the twinkling of an eye fetched from Patala, the regions +below the earth, a vase full of Amrita, the water of immortality, +sprinkled it upon the dead, and raised them all as before. After which +the whole party walked leisurely home, and in due time the king divided +his throne with his friend Birbal. + +Having stopped for a moment, the Baital proceeded to remark, in a +sententious tone, "Happy the servant who grudges not his own life to +save that of his master! And happy, thrice happy the master who can +annihilate all greedy longing for existence and worldly prosperity. +Raja, I have to ask thee one searching question--Of these five, who was +the greatest fool?" + +"Demon!" exclaimed the great Vikram, all whose cherished feelings about +fidelity and family affection, obedience, and high-mindedness, were +outraged by this Vampire view of the question; "if thou meanest by the +greatest fool the noblest mind, I reply without hesitating Rupsen, the +king." + +"Why, prithee?" asked the Baital. + +"Because, dull demon," said the king, "Birbal was bound to offer up +his life for a master who treated him so generously; the son could not +disobey his father, and the women naturally and instinctively killed +themselves, because the example was set to them. But Rupsen the king +gave up his throne for the sake of his retainer, and valued not a straw +his life and his high inducements to live. For this reason I think him +the most meritorious." + +"Surely, mighty Vikram," laughed the Vampire, "you will be tired of +ever clambering up yon tall tree, even had you the legs and arms of +Hanuman[86] himself." + +And so saying he disappeared from the cloth, although it had been placed +upon the ground. + +But the poor Baital had little reason to congratulate himself on the +success of his escape. In a short time he was again bundled into the +cloth with the usual want of ceremony, and he revenged himself by +telling another true story. + + + + +THE VAMPIRE'S FOURTH STORY -- Of A Woman Who Told The Truth. + + +"Listen, great king!" again began the Baital. + +An unimportant Baniya[87] (trader), Hiranyadatt, had a daughter, whose +name was Madansena Sundari, the beautiful army of Cupid. Her face +was like the moon; her hair like the clouds; her eyes like those of a +muskrat; her eyebrows like a bent bow; her nose like a parrot's bill; +her neck like that of a dove; her teeth like pomegranate grains; the +red colour of her lips like that of a gourd; her waist lithe and bending +like the pards: her hands and feet like softest blossoms; her complexion +like the jasmine-in fact, day by day the splendour of her youth +increased. + +When she had arrived at maturity, her father and mother began often to +resolve in their minds the subject of her marriage. And the people of +all that country side ruled by Birbar king of Madanpur bruited it abroad +that in the house of Hiranyadatt had been born a daughter by whose +beauty gods, men, and munis (sages) were fascinated. + +Thereupon many, causing their portraits to be painted, sent them +by messengers to Hiranyadatt the Baniya, who showed them all to his +daughter. But she was capricious, as beauties sometimes are, and when +her father said, "Make choice of a husband thyself," she told him that +none pleased her, and moreover she begged of him to find her a husband +who possessed good looks, good qualities, and good sense. + +At length, when some days had passed, four suitors came from four +different countries. The father told them that he must have from each +some indication that he possessed the required qualities; that he was +pleased with their looks, but that they must satisfy him about their +knowledge. + +"I have," the first said, "a perfect acquaintance with the Shastras (or +Scriptures); in science there is none to rival me. As for my handsome +mien, it may plainly be seen by you." + +The second exclaimed, "My attainments are unique in the knowledge of +archery. I am acquainted with the art of discharging arrows and killing +anything which though not seen is heard, and my fine proportions are +plainly visible to you." + +The third continued, "I understand the language of land and water +animals, of birds and of beasts, and I have no equal in strength. Of my +comeliness you yourself may judge." + +"I have the knowledge," quoth the fourth, "how to make a certain cloth +which can be sold for five rubies: having sold it I give the proceeds +of one ruby to a Brahman, of the second I make an offering to a deity, a +third I wear on my own person, a fourth I keep for my wife; and, having +sold the fifth, I spend it in giving feasts. This is my knowledge, and +none other is acquainted with it. My good looks are apparent." + +The father hearing these speeches began to reflect, "It is said that +excess in anything is not good. Sita[88] was very lovely, but the demon +Ravana carried her away; and Bali king of Mahabahpur gave much alms, +but at length he became poor.[89] My daughter is too fair to remain a +maiden; to which of these shall I give her?" + +So saying, Hiranyadatt went to his daughter, explained the qualities of +the four suitors, and asked, "To which shall I give thee?" On hearing +these words she was abashed; and, hanging down her head, knew not what +to reply. + +Then the Baniya, having reflected, said to himself, "He who is +acquainted with the Shastras is a Brahman, he who could shoot an arrow +at the sound was a Kshatriya or warrior, and he who made the cloth was +a Shudra or servile. But the youth who understands the language of +birds is of our own caste. To him, therefore, will I marry her." And +accordingly he proceeded with the betrothal of his daughter. + +Meanwhile Madansena went one day, during the spring season into the +garden for a stroll. It happened, just before she came out, that +Somdatt, the son of the merchant Dharmdatt, had gone for pleasure into +the forest, and was returning through the same garden to his home. + +He was fascinated at the sight of the maiden, and said to his friend, +"Brother, if I can obtain her my life will be prosperous, and if I do +not obtain her my living in the world will be in vain." + +Having thus spoken, and becoming restless from the fear of separation, +he involuntarily drew near to her, and seizing her hand, said--"If thou +wilt not form an affection for me, I will throw away my life on thy +account." + +"Be pleased not to do this," she replied; "it will be sinful, and it +will involve me in the guilt and punishment of shedding blood; hence I +shall be miserable in this world and in that to be." + +"Thy blandishments," he replied, "have pierced my heart, and the +consuming thought of parting from thee has burnt up my body, and memory +and understanding have been destroyed by this pain; and from excess +of love I have no sense of right or wrong. But if thou wilt make me a +promise, I will live again." + +She replied, "Truly the Kali Yug (iron age) has commenced, since which +time falsehood has increased in the world and truth has diminished; +people talk smoothly with their tongues, but nourish deceit in their +hearts; religion is destroyed, crime has increased, and the earth +has begun to give little fruit. Kings levy fines, Brahmans have waxed +covetous, the son obeys not his sire's commands, brother distrusts +brother; friendship has departed from amongst friends; sincerity +has left masters; servants have given up service; man has abandoned +manliness; and woman has abandoned modesty. Five days hence, my marriage +is to be; but if thou slay not thyself, I will visit thee first, and +after that I will remain with my husband." + +Having given this promise, and having sworn by the Ganges, she returned +home. The merchant's son also went his way. + +Presently the marriage ceremonies came on, and Hiranyadatt the Baniya +expended a lakh of rupees in feasts and presents to the bridegroom. The +bodies of the twain were anointed with turmeric, the bride was made to +hold in her hand the iron box for eye paint, and the youth a pair of +betel scissors. During the night before the wedding there was loud and +shrill music, the heads and limbs of the young couple were rubbed with +an ointment of oil, and the bridegroom's head was duly shaved. The +wedding procession was very grand. The streets were a blaze of flambeaux +and torches carried in the hand, fireworks by the ton were discharged +as the people passed; elephants, camels, and horses richly caparisoned, +were placed in convenient situations; and before the procession had +reached the house of the bride half a dozen wicked boys and bad young +men were killed or wounded.[90] After the marriage formulas were +repeated, the Baniya gave a feast or supper, and the food was so +excellent that all sat down quietly, no one uttered a complaint, or +brought dishonour on the bride's family, or cut with scissors the +garments of his neighbour. + +The ceremony thus happily concluded, the husband brought Madansena home +to his own house. After some days the wife of her husband's youngest +brother, and also the wife of his eldest brother, led her at night +by force to her bridegroom, and seated her on a bed ornamented with +flowers. + +As her husband proceeded to take her hand, she jerked it away, and at +once openly told him all that she had promised to Somdatt on condition +of his not killing himself. + +"All things," rejoined the bridegroom, hearing her words, "have their +sense ascertained by speech; in speech they have their basis, and +from speech they proceed; consequently a falsifier of speech falsifies +everything. If truly you are desirous of going to him, go! + +"Receiving her husband's permission, she arose and went off to the young +merchant's house in full dress. Upon the road a thief saw her, and in +high good humour came up and asked-- + +"Whither goest thou at midnight in such darkness, having put on all +these fine clothes and ornaments?" + +She replied that she was going to the house of her beloved. + +"And who here," said the thief, "is thy protector?" + +"Kama Deva," she replied, "the beautiful youth who by his fiery arrows +wounds with love the hearts of the inhabitants of the three worlds, +Ratipati, the husband of Rati,[91] accompanied by the kokila bird,[92] +the humming bee and gentle breezes." She then told to the thief the +whole story, adding-- + +"Destroy not my jewels: I give thee a promise before I go, that on my +return thou shalt have all these ornaments." + +Hearing this the thief thought to himself that it would be useless +now to destroy her jewels, when she had promised to give them to him +presently of her own good will. He therefore let her go, and sat down +and thus soliloquized: + +"To me it is astonishing that he who sustained me in my mother's womb +should take no care of me now that I have been born and am able to enjoy +the good things of this world. I know not whether he is asleep or dead. +And I would rather swallow poison than ask man for money or favour. For +these six things tend to lower a man:--friendship with the perfidious; +causeless laughter; altercation with women; serving an unworthy master; +riding an ass, and speaking any language but Sanskrit. And these five +things the deity writes on our fate at the hour of birth:--first, age; +secondly, action; thirdly, wealth; fourthly, science; fifthly, fame. +I have now done a good deed, and as long as a man's virtue is in the +ascendant, all people becoming his servants obey him. But when virtuous +deeds diminish, even his friends become inimical to him." + +Meanwhile Madansena had reached the place where Somdatt the young trader +had fallen asleep. + +She awoke him suddenly, and he springing up in alarm quickly asked her, +"Art thou the daughter of a deity? or of a saint? or of a serpent? Tell +me truly, who art thou? And whence hast thou come?" + +She replied, "I am human--Madansena, the daughter of the Baniya +Hiranyadatt. Dost thou not remember taking my hand in that grove, and +declaring that thou wouldst slay thyself if I did not swear to visit +thee first and after that remain with my husband?" + +"Hast thou," he inquired, "told all this to thy husband or not?" + +She replied, "I have told him everything; and he, thoroughly +understanding the whole affair, gave me permission." + +"This matter," exclaimed Somdatt in a melancholy voice, "is like pearls +without a suitable dress, or food without clarified butter,[93] or +singing without melody; they are all alike unnatural. In the same way, +unclean clothes will mar beauty, bad food will undermine strength, a +wicked wife will worry her husband to death, a disreputable son will +ruin his family, an enraged demon will kill, and a woman, whether she +love or hate, will be a source of pain. For there are few things which a +woman will not do. She never brings to her tongue what is in her heart, +she never speaks out what is on her tongue, and she never tells what she +is doing. Truly the Deity has created woman a strange creature in this +world." He concluded with these words: "Return thou home with another +man's wife I have no concern." + +Madansena rose and departed. On her way she met the thief, who, hearing +her tale, gave her great praise, and let her go unplundered.[94] + +She then went to her husband, and related the whole matter to him. But +he had ceased to love her, and he said, "Neither a king nor a minister, +nor a wife, nor a person's hair nor his nails, look well out of their +places. And the beauty of the kokila is its note, of an ugly man +knowledge, of a devotee forgiveness, and of a woman her chastity." + +The Vampire having narrated thus far, suddenly asked the king, "Of these +three, whose virtue was the greatest?" + +Vikram, who had been greatly edified by the tale, forgot himself, and +ejaculated, "The Thief's." + +"And pray why?" asked the Baital. + +"Because," the hero explained, "when her husband saw that she loved +another man, however purely, he ceased to feel affection for her. +Somdatt let her go unharmed, for fear of being punished by the king. But +there was no reason why the thief should fear the law and dismiss her; +therefore he was the best." + +"Hi! hi! hi!" laughed the demon, spitefully. "Here, then, ends my +story." + +Upon which, escaping as before from the cloth in which he was slung +behind the Raja's back, the Baital disappeared through the darkness of +the night, leaving father and son looking at each other in dismay. + +"Son Dharma Dhwaj," quoth the great Vikram, "the next time when that +villain Vampire asks me a question, I allow thee to take the liberty of +pinching my arm even before I have had time to answer his questions. In +this way we shall never, of a truth, end our task." + +"Your words be upon my head, sire," replied the young prince. But he +expected no good from his father's new plan, as, arrived under the +sires-tree, he heard the Baital laughing with all his might. + +"Surely he is laughing at our beards, sire," said the beardless prince, +who hated to be laughed at like a young person. + +"Let them laugh that win," fiercely cried Raja Vikram, who hated to be +laughed at like an elderly person. + + * * * * * * * + +The Vampire lost no time in opening a fresh story. + + + + +THE VAMPIRE'S FIFTH STORY -- Of the Thief Who Laughed and Wept. + +Your majesty (quoth the demon, with unusual politeness), there is a +country called Malaya, on the western coast of the land of Bharat--you +see that I am particular in specifying the place--and in it was a city +known as Chandrodaya, whose king was named Randhir. + +This Raja, like most others of his semi-deified order, had been in youth +what is called a Sarva-rasi[95]; that is, he ate and drank and listened +to music, and looked at dancers and made love much more than he studied, +reflected, prayed, or conversed with the wise. After the age of thirty +he began to reform, and he brought such zeal to the good cause, that in +an incredibly short space of time he came to be accounted and quoted +as the paragon of correct Rajas. This was very praiseworthy. Many of +Brahma's viceregents on earth, be it observed, have loved food and +drink, and music and dancing, and the worship of Kama, to the end of +their days. + +Amongst his officers was Gunshankar, a magistrate of police, who, +curious to say, was as honest as he was just. He administered equity +with as much care before as after dinner; he took no bribes even in the +matter of advancing his family; he was rather merciful than otherwise +to the poor, and he never punished the rich ostentatiously, in order to +display his and his law's disrespect for persons. Besides which, when +sitting on the carpet of justice, he did not, as some Kotwals do, use +rough or angry language to those who cannot reply; nor did he take +offence when none was intended. + +All the people of the city Chandrodaya, in the province of Malaya, +on the western coast of Bharatland, loved and esteemed this excellent +magistrate; which did not, however, prevent thefts being committed so +frequently and so regularly, that no one felt his property secure. At +last the merchants who had suffered most from these depredations went in +a body before Gunshankar, and said to him: + +"O flower of the law! robbers have exercised great tyranny upon us, so +great indeed that we can no longer stay in this city." + +Then the magistrate replied, "What has happened, has happened. But in +future you shall be free from annoyance. I will make due preparation for +these thieves." + +Thus saying Gunshankar called together his various delegates, and +directed them to increase the number of their people. He pointed out to +them how they should keep watch by night; besides which he ordered them +to open registers of all arrivals and departures, to make themselves +acquainted by means of spies with the movements of every suspected +person in the city, and to raise a body of paggis (trackers), who could +follow the footprints of thieves even when they wore thieving shoes,[96] +till they came up with and arrested them. And lastly, he gave the +patrols full power, whenever they might catch a robber in the act, to +slay him without asking questions. + +People in numbers began to mount guard throughout the city every night, +but, notwithstanding this, robberies continued to be committed. After +a time all the merchants having again met together went before the +magistrate, and said, "O incarnation of justice! you have changed your +officers, you have hired watchmen, and you have established patrols: +nevertheless the thieves have not diminished, and plundering is ever +taking place." + +Thereupon Gunshankar carried them to the palace, and made them lay their +petition at the feet of the king Randhir. That Raja, having consoled +them, sent them home, saying, "Be ye of good cheer. I will to-night +adopt a new plan, which, with the blessing of the Bhagwan, shall free ye +from further anxiety." + +Observe, O Vikram, that Randhir was one of those concerning whom the +poet sang-- + + The unwise run from one end to the other. + +Not content with becoming highly respectable, correct, and even +unimpeachable in point of character, he reformed even his reformation, +and he did much more than he was required to do. + +When Canopus began to sparkle gaily in the southern skies, the king +arose and prepared for a night's work. He disguised his face by smearing +it with a certain paint, by twirling his moustachios up to his eyes, by +parting his beard upon his chin, and conducting the two ends towards his +ears, and by tightly tying a hair from a horse's tail over his nose, so +as quite to change its shape. He then wrapped himself in a coarse outer +garment, girt his loins, buckled on his sword, drew his shield upon his +arm, and without saying a word to those within the palace, he went out +into the streets alone, and on foot. + +It was dark, and Raja Randhir walked through the silent city for nearly +an hour without meeting anyone. As, however, he passed through a back +street in the merchants' quarter, he saw what appeared to be a homeless +dog, lying at the foot of a house-wall. He approached it, and up leaped +a human figure, whilst a loud voice cried, "Who art thou?" + +Randhir replied, "I am a thief; who art thou?" + +"And I also am a thief," rejoined the other, much pleased at hearing +this; "come, then, and let us make together. But what art thou, a +high-loper or a lully-prigger[97]?" + +"A little more ceremony between coves in the lorst,[98]" whispered the +king, speaking as a flash man, "were not out of place. But, look sharp, +mind old Oliver,[99] or the lamb-skin man[100] will have the pull of +us, and as sure as eggs is eggs we shall be scragged as soon as +lagged.[101]" + +"Well, keep your red rag[102] quiet," grumbled the other, "and let us be +working." + +Then the pair, king and thief, began work in right earnest. The gang +seemed to swarm in the street. They were drinking spirits, slaying +victims, rubbing their bodies with oil, daubing their eyes with +lamp-black, and repeating incantations to enable them to see in the +darkness; others were practicing the lessons of the god with the golden +spear,[103] and carrying out the four modes of breaching a house: 1. +Picking out burnt bricks. 2. Cutting through unbaked ones when old, +when softened by recent damp, by exposure to the sun, or by saline +exudations. 3. Throwing water on a mud wall; and 4. Boring through one +of wood. The sons of Skanda were making breaches in the shape of lotus +blossoms, the sun, the new moon, the lake, and the water jar, and they +seemed to be anointed with magic unguents, so that no eye could behold, +no weapon harm them. + +At length having filled his bag with costly plunder, the thief said to +the king, "Now, my rummy cove, we'll be off to the flash ken, where the +lads and the morts are waiting to wet their whistles." + +Randhir, who as a king was perfectly familiar with "thieves' Latin," +took heart, and resolved to hunt out the secrets of the den. On the way, +his companion, perfectly satisfied with the importance which the new +cove had attached to a rat-hole,[104] and convinced that he was a true +robber, taught him the whistle, the word, and the sign peculiar to the +gang, and promised him that he should smack the lit[105] that night +before "turning in." + +So saying the thief rapped twice at the city gate, which was at once +opened to him, and preceding his accomplice led the way to a rock about +two kos (four miles) distant from the walls. Before entering the dark +forest at the foot of the eminence, the robber stood still for a moment +and whistled twice through his fingers with a shrill scream that rang +through the silent glades. After a few minutes the signal was answered +by the hooting of an owl, which the robber acknowledged by shrieking +like a jackal. Thereupon half a dozen armed men arose from their +crouching places in the grass, and one advanced towards the new comers +to receive the sign. It was given, and they both passed on, whilst the +guard sank, as it were, into the bowels of the earth. All these things +Randhir carefully remarked: besides which he neglected not to take note +of all the distinguishable objects that lay on the road, and, when +he entered the wood, he scratched with his dagger all the tree trunks +within reach. + +After a sharp walk the pair reached a high perpendicular sheet of rock, +rising abruptly from a clear space in the jungle, and profusely printed +over with vermilion hands. The thief, having walked up to it, and made +his obeisance, stooped to the ground, and removed a bunch of grass. The +two then raised by their united efforts a heavy trap door, through which +poured a stream of light, whilst a confused hubbub of voices was heard +below. + +"This is the ken," said the robber, preparing to descend a thin ladder +of bamboo, "follow me!" And he disappeared with his bag of valuables. + +The king did as he was bid, and the pair entered together a large hall, +or rather a cave, which presented a singular spectacle. It was lighted +up by links fixed to the sombre walls, which threw a smoky glare over +the place, and the contrast after the deep darkness reminded Randhir of +his mother's descriptions of Patal-puri, the infernal city. Carpets of +every kind, from the choicest tapestry to the coarsest rug, were spread +upon the ground, and were strewed with bags, wallets, weapons, heaps of +booty, drinking cups, and all the materials of debauchery. + +Passing through this cave the thief led Randhir into another, which was +full of thieves, preparing for the pleasures of the night. Some were +changing garments, ragged and dirtied by creeping through gaps in the +houses: others were washing the blood from their hands and feet; these +combed out their long dishevelled, dusty hair: those anointed their +skins with perfumed cocoa-nut oil. There were all manner of murderers +present, a villanous collection of Kartikeya's and Bhawani's[106] crew. +There were stabbers with their poniards hung to lanyards lashed round +their naked waists, Dhaturiya-poisoners[107] distinguished by the +little bag slung under the left arm, and Phansigars[108] wearing their +fatal kerchiefs round their necks. And Randhir had reason to thank +the good deed in the last life that had sent him there in such strict +disguise, for amongst the robbers he found, as might be expected, a +number of his own people, spies and watchmen, guards and patrols. + +The thief, whose importance of manner now showed him to be the chief of +the gang, was greeted with applause as he entered the robing room, +and he bade all make salam to the new companion. A number of questions +concerning the success of the night's work was quickly put and answered: +then the company, having got ready for the revel, flocked into the first +cave. There they sat down each in his own place, and began to eat and +drink and make merry. + +After some hours the flaring torches began to burn out, and drowsiness +to overpower the strongest heads. Most of the robbers rolled themselves +up in the rugs, and covering their heads, went to sleep. A few still sat +with their backs to the wall, nodding drowsily or leaning on one side, +and too stupefied with opium and hemp to make any exertion. + +At that moment a servant woman, whom the king saw for the first time, +came into the cave, and looking at him exclaimed, "O Raja! how came you +with these wicked men? Do you run away as fast as you can, or they will +surely kill you when they awake." + +"I do not know the way; in which direction am I to go?" asked Randhir. + +The woman then showed him the road. He threaded the confused mass of +snorers, treading with the foot of a tiger-cat, found the ladder, raised +the trap-door by exerting all his strength, and breathed once more the +open air of heaven. And before plunging into the depths of the wood he +again marked the place where the entrance lay and carefully replaced the +bunch of grass. + +Hardly had Raja Randhir returned to the palace, and removed the traces +of his night's occupation, when he received a second deputation of the +merchants, complaining bitterly and with the longest faces about their +fresh misfortunes. + +"O pearl of equity!" said the men of money, "but yesterday you consoled +us with the promise of some contrivance by the blessing of which our +houses and coffers would be safe from theft; whereas our goods have +never yet suffered so severely as during the last twelve hours." + +Again Randhir dismissed them, swearing that this time he would either +die or destroy the wretches who had been guilty of such violence. + +Then having mentally prepared his measures, the Raja warned a company of +archers to hold themselves in readiness for secret service, and as each +one of his own people returned from the robbers' cave he had him privily +arrested and put to death--because the deceased, it is said, do not, +like Baitals, tell tales. About nightfall, when he thought that the +thieves, having finished their work of plunder, would meet together as +usual for wassail and debauchery, he armed himself, marched out his men, +and led them to the rock in the jungle. + +But the robbers, aroused by the disappearance of the new companion, had +made enquiries and had gained intelligence of the impending danger. They +feared to flee during the daytime, lest being tracked they should be +discovered and destroyed in detail. When night came they hesitated to +disperse, from the certainty that they would be captured in the morning. +Then their captain, who throughout had been of one opinion, proposed to +them that they should resist, and promised them success if they would +hear his words. The gang respected him, for he was known to be brave: +they all listened to his advice, and they promised to be obedient. + +As young night began to cast transparent shade upon the jungle ground, +the chief of the thieves mustered his men, inspected their bows and +arrows, gave them encouraging words, and led them forth from the cave. +Having placed them in ambush he climbed the rock to espy the movements +of the enemy, whilst others applied their noses and ears to the level +ground. Presently the moon shone full upon Randhir and his band of +archers, who were advancing quickly and carelessly, for they expected +to catch the robbers in their cave. The captain allowed them to march +nearly through the line of ambush. Then he gave the signal, and at that +moment the thieves, rising suddenly from the bush fell upon the royal +troops and drove them back in confusion. + +The king also fled, when the chief of the robbers shouted out, "Hola! +thou a Rajput and running away from combat?" Randhir hearing this +halted, and the two, confronting each other, bared their blades and +began to do battle with prodigious fury. + +The king was cunning of fence, and so was the thief. They opened the +duel, as skilful swordsmen should, by bending almost double, skipping in +a circle, each keeping his eye well fixed upon the other, with frowning +brows and contemptuous lips; at the same time executing divers gambados +and measured leaps, springing forward like frogs and backward like +monkeys, and beating time with their sabres upon their shields, which +rattled like drums. + +Then Randhir suddenly facing his antagonist, cut at his legs with a loud +cry, but the thief sprang in the air, and the blade whistled harmlessly +under him. Next moment the robber chief's sword, thrice whirled round +his head, descended like lightning in a slanting direction towards the +king's left shoulder: the latter, however, received it upon his target +and escaped all hurt, though he staggered with the violence of the blow. + +And thus they continued attacking each other, parrying and replying, +till their breath failed them and their hands and wrists were numbed and +cramped with fatigue. They were so well matched in courage, strength, +and address, that neither obtained the least advantage, till the +robber's right foot catching a stone slid from under him, and thus he +fell to the ground at the mercy of his enemy. The thieves fled, and the +Raja, himself on his prize, tied his hands behind him, and brought him +back to the city at the point of his good sword. + +The next morning Randhir visited his prisoner, whom he caused to be +bathed, and washed, and covered with fine clothes. He then had him +mounted on a camel and sent him on a circuit of the city, accompanied +by a crier proclaiming aloud: "Who hears! who hears! who hears! the king +commands! This is the thief who has robbed and plundered the city of +Chandrodaya. Let all men therefore assemble themselves together this +evening in the open space outside the gate leading towards the sea. And +let them behold the penalty of evil deeds, and learn to be wise." + +Randhir had condemned the thief to be crucified,[109] nailed and tied +with his hands and feet stretched out at full length, in an erect +posture until death; everything he wished to eat was ordered to him +in order to prolong life and misery. And when death should draw near, +melted gold was to be poured down his throat till it should burst from +his neck and other parts of his body. + +In the evening the thief was led out for execution, and by chance the +procession passed close to the house of a wealthy landowner. He had a +favourite daughter named Shobhani, who was in the flower of her youth +and very lovely; every day she improved, and every moment added to +her grace and beauty. The girl had been carefully kept out of sight +of mankind, never being allowed outside the high walls of the garden, +because her nurse, a wise woman much trusted in the neighbourhood, +had at the hour of death given a solemn warning to her parents. The +prediction was that the maiden should be the admiration of the city, +and should die a Sati-widow[110] before becoming a wife. From that hour +Shobhani was kept as a pearl in its casket by her father, who had vowed +never to survive her, and had even fixed upon the place and style of his +suicide. + +But the shaft of Fate[111] strikes down the vulture sailing above the +clouds, and follows the worm into the bowels of the earth, and pierces +the fish at the bottom of the ocean--how then can mortal man expect to +escape it? As the robber chief, mounted upon the camel, was passing to +the cross under the old householder's windows, a fire breaking out in +the women's apartments, drove the inmates into the rooms looking upon +the street. + +The hum of many voices arose from the solid pavement of heads: "This is +the thief who has been robbing the whole city; let him tremble now, for +Randhir will surely crucify him!" + +In beauty and bravery of bearing, as in strength and courage, no man +in Chandrodaya surpassed the robber, who, being magnificently dressed, +looked, despite his disgraceful cavalcade, like the son of a king. He +sat with an unmoved countenance, hardly hearing in his pride the scoffs +of the mob; calm and steady when the whole city was frenzied with +anxiety because of him. But as he heard the word "tremble" his lips +quivered, his eyes flashed fire, and deep lines gathered between his +eyebrows. + +Shobhani started with a scream from the casement behind which she +had hid herself, gazing with an intense womanly curiosity into the +thoroughfare. The robber's face was upon a level with, and not half a +dozen feet from, her pale cheeks. She marked his handsome features, +and his look of wrath made her quiver as if it had been a flash of +lightning. Then she broke away from the fascination of his youth and +beauty, and ran breathless to her father, saying: + +"Go this moment and get that thief released!" + +The old housekeeper replied: "That thief has been pilfering and +plundering the whole city, and by his means the king's archers were +defeated; why, then, at my request, should our most gracious Raja +Randhir release him?" + +Shobhani, almost beside herself, exclaimed: "If by giving up your whole +property, you can induce the Raja to release him, then instantly so do; +if he does not come to me, I must give up my life!" + +The maiden then covered her head with her veil, and sat down in the +deepest despair, whilst her father, hearing her words, burst into a cry +of grief, and hastened to present himself before the Raja. He cried out: + +"O great king, be pleased to receive four lakhs of rupees, and to +release this thief." + +But the king replied: "He has been robbing the whole city, and by reason +of him my guards have been destroyed. I cannot by any means release +him." + +Then the old householder finding, as he had expected the Raja +inexorable, and not to be moved, either by tears or bribes, or by +the cruel fate of the girl, returned home with fire in his heart, and +addressed her: + + "Daughter, I have said and done all that is possible but it avails +me nought with the king. Now, then, we die." + +In the mean time, the guards having led the thief all round the city, +took him outside the gates, and made him stand near the cross. Then the +messengers of death arrived from the palace, and the executioners began +to nail his limbs. He bore the agony with the fortitude of the brave; +but when he heard what had been done by the old householder's daughter, +he raised his voice and wept bitterly, as though his heart had been +bursting, and almost with the same breath he laughed heartily as at a +feast. All were startled by his merriment; coming as it did at a time +when the iron was piercing his flesh, no man could see any reason for +it. + +When he died, Shobhani, who was married to him in the spirit, recited to +herself these sayings: + +"There are thirty-five millions of hairs on the human body. The woman +who ascends the pile with her husband will remain so many years in +heaven. As the snake-catcher draws the serpent from his hole, so she, +rescuing her husband from hell, rejoices with him; aye, though he may +have sunk to a region of torment, be restrained in dreadful bonds, have +reached the place of anguish, be exhausted of strength, and afflicted +and tortured for his crimes. No other effectual duty is known for +virtuous women at any time after the death of their lords, except +casting themselves into the same fire. As long as a woman in her +successive transmigrations, shall decline burning herself, like a +faithful wife, in the same fire with her deceased lord, so long shall +she not be exempted from springing again to life in the body of some +female animal." + +Therefore the beautiful Shobhani, virgin and wife, resolved to burn +herself, and to make the next life of the thief certain. She showed +her courage by thrusting her finger into a torch flame till it became a +cinder, and she solemnly bathed in the nearest stream. + +A hole was dug in the ground, and upon a bed of green tree-trunks were +heaped hemp, pitch, faggots, and clarified butter, to form the funeral +pyre. The dead body, anointed, bathed, and dressed in new clothes, was +then laid upon the heap, which was some two feet high. Shobhani prayed +that as long as fourteen Indras reign, or as many years as there are +hairs in her head, she might abide in heaven with her husband, and be +waited upon by the heavenly dancers. She then presented her ornaments +and little gifts of corn to her friends, tied some cotton round both +wrists, put two new combs in her hair, painted her forehead, and tied up +in the end of her body-cloth clean parched rice[112] and cowrie-shells. +These she gave to the bystanders, as she walked seven times round the +funeral pyre, upon which lay the body. She then ascended the heap of +wood, sat down upon it, and taking the thief's head in her lap, without +cords or levers or upper layer or faggots, she ordered the pile to be +lighted. The crowd standing around set fire to it in several places, +drummed their drums, blew their conchs, and raised a loud cry of "Hari +bol! Hari bol! [113]" Straw was thrown on, and pitch and clarified +butter were freely poured out. But Shobhani's was a Sahamaran, a blessed +easy death: no part of her body was seen to move after the pyre was +lighted--in fact, she seemed to die before the flame touched her. + +By the blessing of his daughter's decease, the old householder beheaded +himself.[114] He caused an instrument to be made in the shape of a +half-moon with an edge like a razor, and fitting the back of his neck. +At both ends of it, as at the beam of a balance, chains were fastened. +He sat down with eyes closed; he was rubbed with the purifying clay of +the holy river, Vaiturani[115]; and he repeated the proper incantations. +Then placing his feet upon the extremities of the chains, he suddenly +jerked up his neck, and his severed head rolled from his body upon the +ground. What a happy death was this! + +The Baital was silent, as if meditating on the fortunate transmigration +which the old householder had thus secured. + +"But what could the thief have been laughing at, sire?" asked the young +prince Dharma Dhwaj of his father. + +"At the prodigious folly of the girl, my son," replied the warrior king, +thoughtlessly. + +"I am indebted once more to your majesty," burst out the Baital, "for +releasing me from this unpleasant position, but the Raja's penetration +is again at fault. Not to leave your royal son and heir labouring under +a false impression, before going I will explain why the brave thief +burst into tears, and why he laughed at such a moment." + +He wept when he reflected that he could not requite her kindness in +being willing to give up everything she had in the world to save his +life; and this thought deeply grieved him. + +Then it struck him as being passing strange that she had begun to love +him when the last sand of his life was well nigh run out; that wondrous +are the ways of the revolving heavens which bestow wealth upon the +niggard that cannot use it, wisdom upon the bad man who will misuse it, +a beautiful wife upon the fool who cannot protect her, and fertilizing +showers upon the stony hills. And thinking over these things, the +gallant and beautiful thief laughed aloud. + +"Before returning to my sires-tree," continued the Vampire, "as I am +about to do in virtue of your majesty's unintelligent reply, I +may remark that men may laugh and cry, or may cry and laugh, about +everything in this world, from their neighbours' deaths, which, as a +general rule, in no wise concern them, to their own latter ends, which +do concern them exceedingly. For my part, I am in the habit of laughing +at everything, because it animates the brain, stimulates the lungs, +beautifies the countenance, and--for the moment, good-bye, Raja Vikram!" + +The warrior king, being forewarned this time, shifted the bundle +containing the Baital from his back to under his arm, where he pressed +it with all his might. + +This proceeding, however, did not prevent the Vampire from slipping back +to his tree, and leaving an empty cloth with the Raja. + +Presently the demon was trussed up as usual; a voice sounded behind +Vikram, and the loquacious thing again began to talk. + + + + +THE VAMPIRE'S SIXTH STORY -- In Which Three Men Dispute about a Woman. + + +On the lovely banks of Jumna's stream there was a city known as +Dharmasthal--the Place of Duty; and therein dwelt a certain Brahman +called Keshav. He was a very pious man, in the constant habit of +performing penance and worship upon the river Sidi. He modelled his own +clay images instead of buying them from others; he painted holy stones +red at the top, and made to them offerings of flowers, fruit, water, +sweetmeats, and fried peas. He had become a learned man somewhat late +in life, having, until twenty years old, neglected his reading, and +addicted himself to worshipping the beautiful youth Kama-Deva[116] and +Rati his wife, accompanied by the cuckoo, the humming-bee, and sweet +breezes. + +One day his parents having rebuked him sharply for his ungovernable +conduct, Keshav wandered to a neighbouring hamlet, and hid himself in +the tall fig-tree which shadowed a celebrated image of Panchanan.[117] +Presently an evil thought arose in his head: he defiled the god, and +threw him into the nearest tank. + +The next morning, when the person arrived whose livelihood depended on +the image, he discovered that his god was gone. He returned into the +village distracted, and all was soon in an uproar about the lost deity. + +In the midst of this confusion the parents of Keshav arrived, seeking +for their son; and a man in the crowd declared that he had seen a young +man sitting in Panchanan's tree, but what had become of the god he knew +not. + +The runaway at length appeared, and the suspicions of the villagers fell +upon him as the stealer of Panchanan. He confessed the fact, pointed out +the place where he had thrown the stone, and added that he had polluted +the god. All hands and eyes were raised in amazement at this atrocious +crime, and every one present declared that Panchanan would certainly +punish the daring insult by immediate death. Keshav was dreadfully +frightened; he began to obey his parents from that very hour, and +applied to his studies so sedulously that he soon became the most +learned man of his country. + +Now Keshav the Brahman had a daughter whose name was the Madhumalati or +Sweet Jasmine. She was very beautiful. Whence did the gods procure the +materials to form so exquisite a face? They took a portion of the most +excellent part of the moon to form that beautiful face? Does any one +seek a proof of this? Let him look at the empty places left in the moon. +Her eyes resembled the full-blown blue nymphaea; her arms the charming +stalk of the lotus; her flowing tresses the thick darkness of night. + +When this lovely person arrived at a marriageable age, her mother, +father, and brother, all three became very anxious about her. For the +wise have said, "A daughter nubile but without a husband is ever a +calamity hanging over a house." And, "Kings, women, and climbing plants +love those who are near them." Also, "Who is there that has not suffered +from the sex? for a woman cannot be kept in due subjection, either by +gifts or kindness, or correct conduct, or the greatest services, or +the laws of morality, or by the terror of punishment, for she cannot +discriminate between good and evil." + +It so happened that one day Keshav the Brahman went to the marriage of +a certain customer of his,[118] and his son repaired to the house of a +spiritual preceptor in order to read. During their absence, a young man +came to the house, when the Sweet Jasmine's mother, inferring his good +qualities from his good looks, said to him, "I will give to thee my +daughter in marriage." The father also had promised his daughter to +a Brahman youth whom he had met at the house of his employer; and the +brother likewise had betrothed his sister to a fellow student at the +place where he had gone to read. + +After some days father and son came home, accompanied by these two +suitors, and in the house a third was already seated. The name of the +first was Tribikram, of the second Baman, and of the third Madhusadan. +The three were equal in mind and body, in knowledge, and in age. + +Then the father, looking upon them, said to himself, "Ho! there is one +bride and three bridegrooms; to whom shall I give, and to whom shall +I not give? We three have pledged our word to these three. A strange +circumstance has occurred; what must we do?" + +He then proposed to them a trial of wisdom, and made them agree that he +who should quote the most excellent saying of the wise should become his +daughter's husband. + +Quoth Tribikram: "Courage is tried in war; integrity in the payment of +debt and interest; friendship in distress; and the faithfulness of a +wife in the day of poverty." + +Baman proceeded: "That woman is destitute of virtue who in her father's +house is not in subjection, who wanders to feasts and amusements, who +throws off her veil in the presence of men, who remains as a guest +in the houses of strangers, who is much devoted to sleep, who drinks +inebriating beverages, and who delights in distance from her husband." + +"Let none," pursued Madhusadan, "confide in the sea, nor in whatever has +claws or horns, or who carries deadly weapons; neither in a woman, nor +in a king." + +Whilst the Brahman was doubting which to prefer, and rather inclining +to the latter sentiment, a serpent bit the beautiful girl, and in a few +hours she died. + +Stunned by this awful sudden death, the father and the three suitors +sat for a time motionless. They then arose, used great exertions, +and brought all kinds of sorcerers, wise men and women who charm away +poisons by incantations. These having seen the girl said, "She cannot +return to life." The first declared, "A person always dies who has been +bitten by a snake on the fifth, sixth, eighth, ninth, and fourteenth +days of the lunar month." The second asserted, "One who has been bitten +on a Saturday or a Tuesday does not survive." The third opined, "Poison +infused during certain six lunar mansions cannot be got under." Quoth +the fourth, "One who has been bitten in any organ of sense, the lower +lip, the cheek, the neck, or the stomach, cannot escape death." The +fifth said, "In this case even Brahma, the Creator, could not restore +life--of what account, then, are we? Do you perform the funeral rites; +we will depart." + +Thus saying, the sorcerers went their way. The mourning father took up +his daughter's corpse and caused it to be burnt, in the place where dead +bodies are usually burnt, and returned to his house. + +After that the three young men said to one another, "We must now seek +happiness elsewhere. And what better can we do than obey the words of +Indra, the God of Air, who spake thus?-- + +"'For a man who does not travel about there is no felicity, and a good +man who stays at home is a bad man. Indra is the friend of him who +travels. Travel! + +"'A traveller's legs are like blossoming branches, and he himself grows +and gathers the fruit. All his wrongs vanish, destroyed by his exertion +on the roadside. Travel! + +"'The fortune of a man who sits, sits also; it rises when he rises; it +sleeps when he sleeps; it moves well when he moves. Travel! + +"'A man who sleeps is like the Iron Age. A man who awakes is like the +Bronze Age. A man who rises up is like the Silver Age. A man who travels +is like the Golden Age. Travel! + +"'A traveller finds honey; a traveller finds sweet figs. Look at the +happiness of the sun, who travailing never tires. Travel!"' + +Before parting they divided the relics of the beloved one, and then they +went their way. + +Tribikram, having separated and tied up the burnt bones, became one of +the Vaisheshikas, in those days a powerful sect. He solemnly forswore +the eight great crimes, namely: feeding at night; slaying any animal; +eating the fruit of trees that give milk, or pumpkins or young bamboos: +tasting honey or flesh; plundering the wealth of others; taking by force +a married woman; eating flowers, butter, or cheese; and worshipping the +gods of other religions. He learned that the highest act of virtue is +to abstain from doing injury to sentient creatures; that crime does not +justify the destruction of life; and that kings, as the administrators +of criminal justice, are the greatest of sinners. He professed the five +vows of total abstinence from falsehood, eating flesh or fish, theft, +drinking spirits, and marriage. He bound himself to possess nothing +beyond a white loin-cloth, a towel to wipe the mouth, a beggar's dish, +and a brush of woollen threads to sweep the ground for fear of treading +on insects. And he was ordered to fear secular affairs; the miseries of +a future state; the receiving from others more than the food of a day +at once; all accidents; provisions, if connected with the destruction +of animal life; death and disgrace; also to please all, and to obtain +compassion from all. + +He attempted to banish his love. He said to himself, "Surely it was +owing only to my pride and selfishness that I ever looked upon a woman +as capable of affording happiness; and I thought, 'Ah! ah! thine eyes +roll about like the tail of the water-wagtail, thy lips resemble the +ripe fruit, thy bosom is like the lotus bud, thy form is resplendent as +gold melted in a crucible, the moon wanes through desire to imitate the +shadow of thy face, thou resemblest the pleasure-house of Cupid; the +happiness of all time is concentrated in thee; a touch from thee would +surely give life to a dead image; at thy approach a living admirer would +be changed by joy into a lifeless stone; obtaining thee I can face all +the horrors of war; and were I pierced by showers of arrows, one glance +of thee would heal all my wounds.' + +"My mind is now averted from the world. Seeing her I say, 'Is this the +form by which men are bewitched? This is a basket covered with skin; it +contains bones, flesh, blood, and impurities. The stupid creature who +is captivated by this--is there a cannibal feeding in Currim a greater +cannibal than he? These persons call a thing made up of impure matter a +face, and drink its charms as a drunkard swallows the inebriating liquor +from his cup. The blind, infatuated beings! Why should I be pleased or +displeased with this body, composed of flesh and blood? It is my duty to +seek Him who is the Lord of this body, and to disregard everything which +gives rise either to pleasure or to pain.'" + +Baman, the second suitor, tied up a bundle of his beloved one's ashes, +and followed--somewhat prematurely--the precepts of the great lawgiver +Manu. "When the father of a family perceives his muscles becoming +flaccid, and his hair grey, and sees the child of his child, let him +then take refuge in a forest. Let him take up his consecrated fire and +all his domestic implements for making oblations to it, and, departing +from the town to the lonely wood, let him dwell in it with complete +power over his organs of sense and of action. With many sorts of pure +food, such as holy sages used to eat, with green herbs, roots, and +fruit, let him perform the five great sacraments, introducing them with +due ceremonies. Let him wear a black antelope-hide, or a vesture of +bark; let him bathe evening and morning; let him suffer the hair of +his head, his beard and his nails to grow continually. Let him slide +backwards and forwards on the ground; or let him stand a whole day on +tiptoe; or let him continue in motion, rising and sitting alternately; +but at sunrise, at noon, and at sunset, let him go to the waters and +bathe. In the hot season let him sit exposed to five fires, four blazing +around him, with the sun above; in the rains let him stand uncovered, +without even a mantle, where the clouds pour the heaviest showers; +in the cold season let him wear damp clothes, and let him increase by +degrees the austerity of his devotions. Then, having reposited his holy +fires, as the law directs, in his mind, let him live without external +fire, without a mansion, wholly silent, feeding on roots and fruit." + +Meanwhile Madhusadan the third, having taken a wallet and neckband, +became a Jogi, and began to wander far and wide, living on nothing but +chaff, and practicing his devotions. In order to see Brahma he attended +to the following duties; 1. Hearing; 2. Meditation; 3. Fixing the +Mind; 4. Absorbing the Mind. He combated the three evils, restlessness, +injuriousness, voluptuousness by settling the Deity in his spirit, by +subjecting his senses, and by destroying desire. Thus he would do away +with the illusion (Maya) which conceals all true knowledge. He repeated +the name of the Deity till it appeared to him in the form of a Dry +Light or glory. Though connected with the affairs of life, that is, with +affairs belonging to a body containing blood, bones, and impurities; to +organs which are blind, palsied, and full of weakness and error; to +a mind filled with thirst, hunger, sorrow, infatuation; to confirmed +habits, and to the fruits of former births: still he strove not to view +these things as realities. He made a companion of a dog, honouring it +with his own food, so as the better to think on spirit. He practiced all +the five operations connected with the vital air, or air collected in +the body. He attended much to Pranayama, or the gradual suppression of +breathing, and he secured fixedness of mind as follows. By placing his +sight and thoughts on the tip of his nose he perceived smell; on the +tip of his tongue he realized taste, on the root of his tongue he knew +sound, and so forth. He practiced the eighty-four Asana or postures, +raising his hand to the wonders of the heavens, till he felt no longer +the inconveniences of heat or cold, hunger or thirst. He particularly +preferred the Padma or lotus-posture, which consists of bringing the +feet to the sides, holding the right in the left hand and the left +in the right. In the work of suppressing his breath he permitted its +respiration to reach at furthest twelve fingers' breadth, and gradually +diminished the distance from his nostrils till he could confine it to +the length of twelve fingers from his nose, and even after restraining +it for some time he would draw it from no greater distance than from +his heart. As respects time, he began by retaining inspiration for +twenty-six seconds, and he enlarged this period gradually till he became +perfect. He sat cross-legged, closing with his fingers all the avenues +of inspiration, and he practiced Prityahara, or the power of restraining +the members of the body and mind, with meditation and concentration, to +which there are four enemies, viz., a sleepy heart, human passions, a +confused mind, and attachment to anything but the one Brahma. He also +cultivated Yama, that is, inoffensiveness, truth, honesty, the forsaking +of all evil in the world, and the refusal of gifts except for sacrifice, +and Nihama, i.e., purity relative to the use of water after defilement, +pleasure in everything whether in prosperity or adversity, renouncing +food when hungry, and keeping down the body. Thus delivered from these +four enemies of the flesh, he resembled the unruffled flame of the lamp, +and by Brahmagnana, or meditating on the Deity, placing his mind on the +sun, moon, fire, or any other luminous body, or within his heart, or at +the bottom of his throat, or in the centre of his skull, he was enabled +to ascend from gross images of omnipotence to the works and the divine +wisdom of the glorious original. + +One day Madhusadan, the Jogi, went to a certain house for food, and the +householder having seen him began to say, "Be so good as to take your +food here this day!" The visitor sat down, and when the victuals were +ready, the host caused his feet and hands to be washed, and leading him +to the Chauka, or square place upon which meals are served, seated him +and sat by him. And he quoted the scripture: "No guest must be dismissed +in the evening by a housekeeper: he is sent by the returning sun, and +whether he come in fit season or unseasonably, he must not sojourn +in the house without entertainment: let me not eat any delicate food, +without asking my guest to partake of it: the satisfaction of a guest +will assuredly bring the housekeeper wealth, reputation, long life, and +a place in heaven." + +The householder's wife then came to serve up the food, rice and split +peas, oil, and spices, all cooked in a new earthen pot with pure +firewood. Part of the meal was served and the rest remained to be +served, when the woman's little child began to cry aloud and to catch +hold of its mother's dress. She endeavoured to release herself, but the +boy would not let go, and the more she coaxed the more he cried, and was +obstinate. On this the mother became angry, took up the boy and threw +him upon the fire, which instantly burnt him to ashes. + +Madhusadan, the Jogi, seeing this, rose up without eating. The master +of the house said to him, "Why eatest thou not?" He replied, "I am +'Atithi,' that is to say, to be entertained at your house, but how +can one eat under the roof of a person who has committed such a +Rakshasa-like (devilish) deed? Is it not said, 'He who does not govern +his passions, lives in vain'? 'A foolish king, a person puffed up with +riches, and a weak child, desire that which cannot be procured'? Also, +'A king destroys his enemies, even when flying; and the touch of an +elephant, as well as the breath of a serpent, are fatal; but the wicked +destroy even while laughing'?" + +Hearing this, the householder smiled; presently he arose and went to +another part of the tenement, and brought back with him a book, treating +on Sanjivnividya, or the science of restoring the dead to life. This he +had taken from its hidden place, two beams almost touching one another +with the ends in the opposite wall. The precious volume was in single +leaves, some six inches broad by treble that length, and the paper was +stained with yellow orpiment and the juice of tamarind seeds to keep +away insects. + +The householder opened the cloth containing the book, untied the flat +boards at the top and bottom, and took out from it a charm. Having +repeated this Mantra, with many ceremonies, he at once restored the +child to life, saying, "Of all precious things, knowledge is the most +valuable; other riches may be stolen, or diminished by expenditure, but +knowledge is immortal, and the greater the expenditure the greater the +increase; it can be shared with none, and it defies the power of the +thief." + +The Jogi, seeing this marvel, took thought in his heart, "If I could +obtain that book, I would restore my beloved to life, and give up this +course of uncomfortable postures and difficulty of breathing." With this +resolution he sat down to his food, and remained in the house. + +At length night came, and after a time, all, having eaten supper, and +gone to their sleeping-places, lay down. The Jogi also went to rest in +one part of the house, but did not allow sleep to close his eyes. When +he thought that a fourth part of the hours of darkness had sped, and +that all were deep in slumber, then he got up very quietly, and going +into the room of the master of the house, he took down the book from the +beam-ends and went his ways. + +Madhusadan, the Jogi, went straight to the place where the beautiful +Sweet Jasmine had been burned. There he found his two rivals sitting +talking together and comparing experiences. They recognized him at once, +and cried aloud to him, "Brother! thou also hast been wandering over the +world; tell us this--hast thou learned anything which can profit us?" +He replied, "I have learned the science of restoring the dead to life"; +upon which they both exclaimed, "If thou hast really learned such +knowledge, restore our beloved to life." + +Madhusadan proceeded to make his incantations, despite terrible sights +in the air, the cries of jackals, owls, crows, cats, asses, vultures, +dogs, and lizards, and the wrath of innumerable invisible beings, such +as messengers of Yama (Pluto), ghosts, devils, demons, imps, fiends, +devas, succubi, and others. All the three lovers drawing blood from +their own bodies, offered it to the goddess Chandi, repeating the +following incantation, "Hail! supreme delusion! Hail! goddess of the +universe! Hail! thou who fulfillest the desires of all. May I presume to +offer thee the blood of my body; and wilt thou deign to accept it, and +be propitious towards me!" + +They then made a burnt-offering of their flesh, and each one prayed, +"Grant me, O goddess! to see the maiden alive again, in proportion to +the fervency with which I present thee with mine own flesh, invoking +thee to be propitious to me. Salutation to thee again and again, under +the mysterious syllables any! any!" + +Then they made a heap of the bones and the ashes, which had been +carefully kept by Tribikram and Baman. As the Jogi Madhusadan proceeded +with his incantation, a white vapour arose from the ground, and, +gradually condensing, assumed a perispiritual form--the fluid envelope +of the soul. The three spectators felt their blood freeze as the bones +and the ashes were gradually absorbed into the before shadowy shape, and +they were restored to themselves only when the maiden Madhuvati begged +to be taken home to her mother. + +Then Kama, God of Love, blinded them, and they began fiercely to quarrel +about who should have the beautiful maid. Each wanted to be her sole +master. Tribikram declared the bones to be the great fact of the +incantation; Baman swore by the ashes; and Madhusadan laughed them both +to scorn. No one could decide the dispute; the wisest doctors were all +nonplussed; and as for the Raja--well! we do not go for wit or wisdom to +kings. I wonder if the great Raja Vikram could decide which person the +woman belonged to? + +"To Baman, the man who kept her ashes, fellow!" exclaimed the hero, not +a little offended by the free remarks of the fiend. + +"Yet," rejoined the Baital impudently, "if Tribikram had not preserved +her bones how could she have been restored to life? And if Madhusadan +had not learned the science of restoring the dead to life how could +she have been revivified? At least, so it seems to me. But perhaps your +royal wisdom may explain." + +"Devil!" said the king angrily, "Tribikram, who preserved her bones, by +that act placed himself in the position of her son; therefore he could +not marry her. Madhusadan, who, restoring her to life, gave her life, +was evidently a father to her; he could not, then, become her husband. +Therefore she was the wife of Baman, who had collected her ashes." + +"I am happy to see, O king," exclaimed the Vampire, "that in spite of my +presentiments, we are not to part company just yet. These little trips +I hold to be, like lovers' quarrels, the prelude to closer union. With +your leave we will still practice a little suspension." + +And so saying, the Baital again ascended the tree, and was suspended +there. + +"Would it not be better," thought the monarch, after recapturing and +shouldering the fugitive, "for me to sit down this time and listen to +the fellow's story? Perhaps the double exercise of walking and thinking +confuses me." + +With this idea Vikram placed his bundle upon the ground, well tied up +with turband and waistband; then he seated himself cross-legged before +it, and bade his son do the same. + +The Vampire strongly objected to this measure, as it was contrary, he +asserted, to the covenant between him and the Raja. Vikram replied +by citing the very words of the agreement, proving that there was no +allusion to walking or sitting. + +Then the Baital became sulky, and swore that he would not utter another +word. But he, too, was bound by the chain of destiny. Presently he +opened his lips, with the normal prelude that he was about to tell a +true tale. + + + + +THE VAMPIRE'S SEVENTH STORY -- Showing the Exceeding Folly of Many Wise Fools. + + +The Baital resumed. + +Of all the learned Brahmans in the learnedest university of Gaur +(Bengal) none was so celebrated as Vishnu Swami. He could write verse as +well as prose in dead languages, not very correctly, but still, better +than all his fellows--which constituted him a distinguished writer. He +had history, theosophy, and the four Vedas of Scriptures at his fingers' +ends, he was skilled in the argute science of Nyasa or Disputation, his +mind was a mine of Pauranic or cosmogonico-traditional lore, handed down +from the ancient fathers to the modern fathers: and he had written bulky +commentaries, exhausting all that tongue of man has to say, upon the +obscure text of some old philosopher whose works upon ethics, poetry, +and rhetoric were supposed by the sages of Gaur to contain the germs +of everything knowable. His fame went over all the country; yea, from +country to country. He was a sea of excellent qualities, the father and +mother of Brahmans, cows, and women, and the horror of loose persons, +cut-throats, courtiers, and courtesans. As a benefactor he was equal to +Karna, most liberal of heroes. In regard to truth he was equal to the +veracious king Yudhishtira. + +True, he was sometimes at a loss to spell a common word in his mother +tongue, and whilst he knew to a fingerbreadth how many palms and paces +the sun, the moon, and all the stars are distant from the earth, he +would have been puzzled to tell you where the region called Yavana[119] +lies. Whilst he could enumerate, in strict chronological succession, +every important event that happened five or six million years before he +was born, he was profoundly ignorant of those that occurred in his own +day. And once he asked a friend seriously, if a cat let loose in the +jungle would not in time become a tiger. + +Yet did all the members of alma mater Kasi, Pandits[120] as well +as students, look with awe upon Vishnu Swami's livid cheeks, and +lack-lustre eyes, grimed hands and soiled cottons. + +Now it so happened that this wise and pious Brahmanic peer had four +sons, whom he brought up in the strictest and most serious way. They +were taught to repeat their prayers long before they understood a word +of them, and when they reached the age of four[121] they had read a +variety of hymns and spiritual songs. Then they were set to learn by +heart precepts that inculcate sacred duties, and arguments relating to +theology, abstract and concrete. + +Their father, who was also their tutor, sedulously cultivated, as all +the best works upon education advise, their implicit obedience, humble +respect, warm attachment, and the virtues and sentiments generally. He +praised them secretly and reprehended them openly, to exercise their +humility. He derided their looks, and dressed them coarsely, to preserve +them from vanity and conceit. Whenever they anticipated a "treat," he +punctually disappointed them, to teach them self-denial. Often when he +had promised them a present, he would revoke, not break his word, in +order that discipline might have a name and habitat in his household. +And knowing by experience how much stronger than love is fear, he +frequently threatened, browbeat, and overawed them with the rod and +the tongue, with the terrors of this world, and with the horrors of the +next, that they might be kept in the right way by dread of falling into +the bottomless pits that bound it on both sides. + +At the age of six they were transferred to the Chatushpati[122] or +school. Every morning the teacher and his pupils assembled in the hut +where the different classes were called up by turns. They laboured till +noon, and were allowed only two hours, a moiety of the usual time, for +bathing, eating, sleep, and worship, which took up half the period. At +3 P.M. they resumed their labours, repeating to the tutor what they had +learned by heart, and listening to the meaning of it: this lasted till +twilight. They then worshipped, ate and drank for an hour: after which +came a return of study, repeating the day's lessons, till 10 P.M. + +In their rare days of ease--for the learned priest, mindful of the words +of the wise, did not wish to dull them by everlasting work--they were +enjoined to disport themselves with the gravity and the decorum that +befit young Samditats, not to engage in night frolics, not to use free +jests or light expressions, not to draw pictures on the walls, not +to eat honey, flesh, and sweet substances turned acid, not to talk to +little girls at the well-side, on no account to wear sandals, carry an +umbrella, or handle a die even for love, and by no means to steal their +neighbours' mangoes. + +As they advanced in years their attention during work time was +unremittingly directed to the Vedas. Wordly studies were almost +excluded, or to speak more correctly, whenever wordly studies were +brought upon the carpet, they were so evil entreated, that they well +nigh lost all form and feature. History became "The Annals of India on +Brahminical Principles," opposed to the Buddhistical; geography "The +Lands of the Vedas," none other being deemed worthy of notice; and law, +"The Institutes of Manu," then almost obsolete, despite their exceeding +sanctity. + +But Jatu-harini[123] had evidently changed these children before they +were born; and Shani[124] must have been in the ninth mansion when they +came to light. + +Each youth as he attained the mature age of twelve was formally entered +at the University of Kasi, where, without loss of time, the first became +a gambler, the second a confirmed libertine, the third a thief, and the +fourth a high Buddhist, or in other words an utter atheist. + +Here King Vikram frowned at his son, a hint that he had better not +behave himself as the children of highly moral and religious parents +usually do. The young prince understood him, and briefly remarking that +such things were common in distinguished Brahman families, asked the +Baital what he meant by the word "Atheist." + +Of a truth (answered the Vampire) it is most difficult to explain. The +sages assign to it three or four several meanings: first, one who denies +that the gods exist secondly, one who owns that the gods exist but +denies that they busy themselves with human affairs; and thirdly, one +who believes in the gods and in their providence, but also believes +that they are easily to be set aside. Similarly some atheists derive all +things from dead and unintelligent matter; others from matter living and +energetic but without sense or will: others from matter with forms +and qualities generable and conceptible; and others from a plastic and +methodical nature. Thus the Vishnu Swamis of the world have invested +the subject with some confusion. The simple, that is to say, the mass of +mortality, have confounded that confusion by reproachfully applying the +word atheist to those whose opinions differ materially from their own. + +But I being at present, perhaps happily for myself, a Vampire, and +having, just now, none of these human or inhuman ideas, meant simply to +say that the pious priest's fourth son being great at second and small +in the matter of first causes, adopted to their fullest extent the +doctrines of the philosophical Buddhas.[125] Nothing according to him +exists but the five elements, earth, water, fire, air (or wind), and +vacuum, and from the last proceeded the penultimate, and so forth. With +the sage Patanjali, he held the universe to have the power of perpetual +progression.[126] He called that Matra (matter), which is an eternal +and infinite principle, beginningless and endless. Organization, +intelligence, and design, he opined, are inherent in matter as growth is +in a tree. He did not believe in soul or spirit, because it could not be +detected in the body, and because it was a departure from physiological +analogy. The idea "I am," according to him, was not the identification +of spirit with matter, but a product of the mutation of matter in this +cloud-like, error-formed world. He believed in Substance (Sat) and +scoffed at Unsubstance (Asat). He asserted the subtlety and globularity +of atoms which are uncreate. He made mind and intellect a mere secretion +of the brain, or rather words expressing not a thing, but a state of +things. Reason was to him developed instinct, and life an element of +the atmosphere affecting certain organisms. He held good and evil to be +merely geographical and chronological expressions, and he opined that +what is called Evil is mostly an active and transitive form of Good. Law +was his great Creator of all things, but he refused a creator of law, +because such a creator would require another creator, and so on in a +quasi-interminable series up to absurdity. This reduced his law to a +manner of haphazard. To those who, arguing against it, asked him their +favourite question, How often might a man after he had jumbled a set of +letters in a bag fling them out upon the ground before they would fall +into an exact poem? he replied that the calculation was beyond his +arithmetic, but that the man had only to jumble and fling long enough +inevitably to arrive at that end. He rejected the necessity as well +as the existence of revelation, and he did not credit the miracles of +Krishna, because, according to him, nature never suspends her laws, and, +moreover, he had never seen aught supernatural. He ridiculed the idea +of Mahapralaya, or the great destruction, for as the world had +no beginning, so it will have no end. He objected to absorption, +facetiously observing with the sage Jamadagni, that it was pleasant +to eat sweetmeats, but that for his part he did not wish to become +the sweetmeat itself. He would not believe that Vishnu had formed the +universe out of the wax in his ears. He positively asserted that trees +are not bodies in which the consequences of merit and demerit are +received. Nor would he conclude that to men were attached rewards +and punishments from all eternity. He made light of the Sanskara, +or sacrament. He admitted Satwa, Raja, and Tama,[127] but only as +properties of matter. He acknowledged gross matter (Sthulasharir), and +atomic matter (Shukshma-sharir), but not Linga-sharir, or the archetype +of bodies. To doubt all things was the foundation of his theory, and to +scoff at all who would not doubt was the corner-stone of his practice. +In debate he preferred logical and mathematical grounds, requiring a +categorical "because" in answer to his "why?" He was full of morality +and natural religion, which some say is no religion at all. He gained +the name of atheist by declaring with Gotama that there are innumerable +worlds, that the earth has nothing beneath it but the circumambient +air, and that the core of the globe is incandescent. And he was called a +practical atheist--a worse form apparently--for supporting the following +dogma: "that though creation may attest that a creator has been, it +supplies no evidence to prove that a creator still exists." On which +occasion, Shiromani, a nonplussed theologian, asked him, "By whom and +for what purpose werst thou sent on earth?" The youth scoffed at the +word "sent," and replied, "Not being thy Supreme Intelligence, or +Infinite Nihility, I am unable to explain the phenomenon." Upon which he +quoted-- + + How sunk in darkness Gaur must be + Whose guide is blind Shiromani! + +At length it so happened that the four young men, having frequently been +surprised in flagrant delict, were summoned to the dread presence of the +university Gurus,[128] who addressed them as follows:-- + +"There are four different characters in the world: he who perfectly +obeys the commands; he who practices the commands, but follows evil; he +who does neither good nor evil; and he who does nothing but evil. The +third character, it is observed, is also an offender, for he neglects +that which he ought to observe. But ye all belong to the fourth +category." + +Then turning to the elder they said: + +"In works written upon the subject of government it is advised, 'Cut off +the gambler's nose and ears, hold up his name to public contempt, and +drive him out of the country, that he may thus become an example to +others. For they who play must more often lose than win; and losing, +they must either pay or not pay. In the latter case they forfeit caste, +in the former they utterly reduce themselves. And though a gambler's +wife and children are in the house, do not consider them to be so, since +it is not known when they will be lost.[129] Thus he is left in a state +of perfect not-twoness (solitude), and he will be reborn in hell.' O +young man! thou hast set a bad example to others, therefore shalt thou +immediately exchange this university for a country life." + +Then they spoke to the second offender thus:---- + +"The wise shun woman, who can fascinate a man in the twinkling of an +eye; but the foolish, conceiving an affection for her, forfeit in +the pursuit of pleasure their truthfulness, reputation, and good +disposition, their way of life and mode of thought, their vows and +their religion. And to such the advice of their spiritual teachers comes +amiss, whilst they make others as bad as themselves. For it is said, +'He who has lost all sense of shame, fears not to disgrace another; +'and there is the proverb, 'A wild cat that devours its own young is not +likely to let a rat escape;' therefore must thou too, O young man! quit +this seat of learning with all possible expedition." + +The young man proceeded to justify himself by quotations from the +Lila-shastra, his text-book, by citing such lines as-- + + Fortune favours folly and force, + +and by advising the elderly professors to improve their skill in the +peace and war of love. But they drove him out with execrations. + +As sagely and as solemnly did the Pandits and the Gurus reprove the +thief and the atheist, but they did not dispense the words of wisdom +in equal proportions. They warned the former that petty larceny is +punishable with fine, theft on a larger scale with mutilation of the +hand, and robbery, when detected in the act, with loss of life[130]; +that for cutting purses, or for snatching them out of a man's +waistcloth,[131] 'the first penalty is chopping off the fingers, the +second is the loss of the hand, and the third is death. Then they call +him a dishonour to the college, and they said, "Thou art as a woman, +the greatest of plunderers; other robbers purloin property which is +worthless, thou stealest the best; they plunder in the night, thou in +the day," and so forth. They told him that he was a fellow who had read +his Chauriya Vidya to more purpose then his ritual.[132] And they drove +him from the door as he in his shamelessness began to quote texts about +the four approved ways of housebreaking, namely, picking out burnt +bricks, cutting through unbaked bricks, throwing water on a mud wall, +and boring one of wood with a centre-bit. + +But they spent six mortal hours in convicting the atheist, whose +abominations they refuted by every possible argumentation: by inference, +by comparison, and by sounds, by Sruti and Smriti, i.e., revelational +and traditional, rational and evidential, physical and metaphysical, +analytical and synthetical, philosophical and philological, historical, +and so forth. But they found all their endeavours vain. "For," it is +said, "a man who has lost all shame, who can talk without sense, and who +tries to cheat his opponent, will never get tired, and will never be put +down." He declared that a non-ad was far more probable than a monad (the +active principle), or the duad (the passive principle or matter.) He +compared their faith with a bubble in the water, of which we can never +predicate that it does exist or it does not. It is, he said, unreal, as +when the thirsty mistakes the meadow mist for a pool of water. He proved +the eternity of sound.[133] He impudently recounted and justified all +the villanies of the Vamachari or left-handed sects. He told them that +they had taken up an ass's load of religion, and had better apply to +honest industry. He fell foul of the gods; accused Yama of kicking his +own mother, Indra of tempting the wife of his spiritual guide, and Shiva +of associating with low women. Thus, he said, no one can respect them. +Do not we say when it thunders awfully, "the rascally gods are dying!" +And when it is too wet, "these villain gods are sending too much +rain"? Briefly, the young Brahman replied to and harangued them all so +impertinently, if not pertinently, that they, waxing angry, fell upon +him with their staves, and drove him out of assembly. + +Then the four thriftless youths returned home to their father, who +in his just indignation had urged their disgrace upon the Pandits and +Gurus, otherwise these dignitaries would never have resorted to such +extreme measures with so distinguished a house. He took the opportunity +of turning them out upon the world, until such time as they might be +able to show substantial signs of reform. "For," he said, "those who +have read science in their boyhood, and who in youth, agitated by evil +passions, have remained in the insolence of ignorance, feel regret in +their old age, and are consumed by the fire of avarice." In order +to supply them with a motive for the task proposed, he stopped their +monthly allowance But he added, if they would repair to the neighbouring +university of Jayasthal, and there show themselves something better +than a disgrace to their family, he would direct their maternal uncle to +supply them with all the necessaries of food and raiment. + +In vain the youths attempted, with sighs and tears and threats of +suicide, to soften the paternal heart. He was inexorable, for two +reasons. In the first place, after wondering away the wonder with which +he regarded his own failure, he felt that a stigma now attached to +the name of the pious and learned Vishnu Swami, whose lectures upon +"Management during Teens," and whose "Brahman Young Man's Own Book," +had become standard works. Secondly, from a sense of duty, he determined +to omit nothing that might tend to reclaim the reprobates. As regards +the monthly allowance being stopped, the reverend man had become every +year a little fonder of his purse; he had hoped that his sons would have +qualified themselves to take pupils, and thus achieve for themselves, as +he phrased it, "A genteel independence"; whilst they openly derided the +career, calling it "an admirable provision for the more indigent members +of the middle classes." For which reason he referred them to their +maternal uncle, a man of known and remarkable penuriousness. + +The four ne'er-do-weals, foreseeing what awaited them at Jayasthal, +deferred it as a last resource; determining first to see a little life, +and to push their way in the world, before condemning themselves to the +tribulations of reform. + +They tried to live without a monthly allowance, and notably they failed; +it was squeezing, as men say, oil from sand. The gambler, having no +capital, and, worse still, no credit, lost two or three suvernas[134] +at play, and could not pay them; in consequence of which he was soundly +beaten with iron-shod staves, and was nearly compelled by the keeper +of the hell to sell himself into slavery. Thus he became disgusted; and +telling his brethren that they would find him at Jayasthal, he departed, +with the intention of studying wisdom. + +A month afterwards came the libertine's turn to be disappointed. He +could no longer afford fine new clothes; even a well-washed coat was +beyond his means. He had reckoned upon his handsome face, and he had +matured a plan for laying various elderly conquests under contribution. +Judge, therefore, his disgust when all the women--high and low, rich +and poor, old and young, ugly and beautiful--seeing the end of his +waistcloth thrown empty over his shoulder, passed him in the streets +without even deigning a look. The very shopkeepers' wives, who once had +adored his mustachio and had never ceased talking of his "elegant" gait, +despised him; and the wealthy old person who formerly supplied his small +feet with the choicest slippers, left him to starve. Upon which he also +in a state of repentance, followed his brother to acquire knowledge. + +"Am I not," quoth the thief to himself, "a cat in climbing, a deer +in running, a snake in twisting, a hawk in pouncing, a dog in +scenting?--keen as a hare, tenacious as a wolf, strong as a lion?--a +lamp in the night, a horse on a plain, a mule on a stony path, a boat in +the water, a rock on land[135]?" The reply to his own questions was +of course affirmative. But despite all these fine qualities, +and notwithstanding his scrupulous strictness in invocating the +house-breaking tool and in devoting a due portion of his gains to the +gods of plunder,[136] he was caught in a store-room by the proprietor, +who inexorably handed him over to justice. As he belonged to the +priestly caste,[137] the fine imposed upon him was heavy. He could not +pay it, and therefore he was thrown into a dungeon, where he remained +for some time. But at last he escaped from jail, when he made his +parting bow to Kartikeya,[138] stole a blanket from one of the guards, +and set out for Jayasthal, cursing his old profession. + +The atheist also found himself in a position that deprived him of +all his pleasures. He delighted in afterdinner controversies, and in +bringing the light troops of his wit to bear upon the unwieldy masses of +lore and logic opposed to him by polemical Brahmans who, out of respect +for his father, did not lay an action against him for overpowering them +in theological disputation.[139] In the strange city to which he had +removed no one knew the son of Vishnu Swami, and no one cared to invite +him to the house. Once he attempted his usual trick upon a knot of +sages who, sitting round a tank, were recreating themselves with quoting +mystical Sanskrit shlokas[140] of abominable long-windedness. The result +was his being obliged to ply his heels vigorously in flight from the +justly incensed literati, to whom he had said "tush" and "pish," at +least a dozen times in as many minutes. He therefore also followed the +example of his brethren, and started for Jayasthal with all possible +expedition. + +Arrived at the house of their maternal uncle, the young men, as by one +assent, began to attempt the unloosening of his purse-strings. Signally +failing in this and in other notable schemes, they determined to lay in +that stock of facts and useful knowledge which might reconcile them with +their father, and restore them to that happy life at Gaur which they +then despised, and which now brought tears into their eyes. + +Then they debated with one another what they should study + + * * * * * * * + +That branch of the preternatural, popularly called "white magic," found +with them favour. + + * * * * * * * + +They chose a Guru or teacher strictly according to the orders of their +faith, a wise man of honourable family and affable demeanour, who was +not a glutton nor leprous, nor blind of one eye, nor blind of both +eyes, nor very short, nor suffering from whitlows,[141] asthma, or other +disease, nor noisy and talkative, nor with any defect about the fingers +and toes, nor subject to his wife. + + * * * * * * * + +A grand discovery had been lately made by a certain +physiologico-philosophico-psychologico-materialist, a Jayasthalian. In +investigating the vestiges of creation, the cause of causes, the effect +of effects, and the original origin of that Matra (matter) which some +regard as an entity, others as a non-entity, others self-existent, +others merely specious and therefore unexistent, he became convinced +that the fundamental form of organic being is a globule having another +globule within itself After inhabiting a garret and diving into the +depths of his self-consciousness for a few score years, he was able to +produce such complex globule in triturated and roasted flint by means +of--I will not say what. Happily for creation in general, the discovery +died a natural death some centuries ago. An edifying spectacle, indeed, +for the world to see; a cross old man sitting amongst his gallipots and +crucibles, creating animalculae, providing the corpses of birds, +beasts, and fishes with what is vulgarly called life, and supplying to +epigenesis all the latest improvements! + +In those days the invention, being a novelty, engrossed the thoughts of +the universal learned, who were in a fever of excitement about it. Some +believed in it so implicity that they saw in every experiment a +hundred things which they did not see. Others were so sceptical and +contradictory that they would not preceive what they did see. Those +blended with each fact their own deductions, whilst these span round +every reality the web of their own prejudices. Curious to say, the +Jayasthalians, amongst whom the luminous science arose, hailed it with +delight, whilst the Gaurians derided its claim to be considered an +important addition to human knowledge. + +Let me try to remember a few of their words. + +"Unfortunate human nature," wrote the wise of Gaur against the wise +of Jayasthal, "wanted no crowning indignity but this! You had already +proved that the body is made of the basest element--earth. You had +argued away the immovability, the ubiquity, the permanency, the +eternity, and the divinity of the soul, for is not your favourite axiom, +'It is the nature of limbs which thinketh in man'? The immortal mind is, +according to you, an ignoble viscus; the god-like gift of reason is the +instinct of a dog somewhat highly developed. Still you left us something +to hope. Still you allowed us one boast. Still life was a thread +connecting us with the Giver of Life. But now, with an impious hand, +in blasphemous rage ye have rent asunder that last frail tie." And so +forth. + +"Welcome! thrice welcome! this latest and most admirable development of +human wisdom," wrote the sage Jayasthalians against the sage Gaurians, +"which has assigned to man his proper state and status and station in +the magnificent scale of being. We have not created the facts which +we have investigated, and which we now proudly publish. We have proved +materialism to be nature's own system. But our philosophy of matter +cannot overturn any truth, because, if erroneous, it will necessarily +sink into oblivion; if real, it will tend only to instruct and to +enlighten the world. Wise are ye in your generation, O ye sages of Gaur, +yet withal wondrous illogical." And much of this kind. + +Concerning all which, mighty king! I, as a Vampire, have only to +remark that those two learned bodies, like your Rajaship's Nine Gems +of Science, were in the habit of talking most about what they least +understood. + +The four young men applied the whole force of their talents to mastering +the difficulties of the life-giving process; and in due time, their +industry obtained its reward. + +Then they determined to return home. As with beating hearts they +approached the old city, their birthplace, and gazed with moistened eyes +upon its tall spires and grim pagodas, its verdant meads and venerable +groves, they saw a Kanjar,[142] who, having tied up in a bundle the skin +and bones of a tiger which he had found dead, was about to go on his +way. Then said the thief to the gambler, "Take we these remains with us, +and by means of them prove the truth of our science before the people +of Gaur, to the offence of their noses.[143]" Being now possessed of +knowledge, they resolved to apply it to its proper purpose, namely, +power over the property of others. Accordingly, the wencher, the +gambler, and the atheist kept the Kanjar in conversation whilst the +thief vivified a shank bone; and the bone thereupon stood upright, and +hopped about in so grotesque and wonderful a way that the man, being +frightened, fled as if I had been close behind him. + +Vishnu Swami had lately written a very learned commentary on the +mystical words of Lokakshi: + +"The Scriptures are at variance--the tradition is at variance. He who +gives a meaning of his own, quoting the Vedas, is no philosopher. + +"True philosophy, through ignorance, is concealed as in the fissures of +a rock. + +"But the way of the Great One--that is to be followed." + +And the success of his book had quite effaced from the Brahman mind the +holy man's failure in bringing up his children. He followed up this by +adding to his essay on education a twentieth tome, containing recipes +for the "Reformation of Prodigals." + +The learned and reverend father received his sons with open arms. He had +heard from his brother-in-law that the youths were qualified to +support themselves, and when informed that they wished to make a public +experiment of their science, he exerted himself, despite his disbelief +in it, to forward their views. + +The Pandits and Gurus were long before they would consent to attend what +they considered dealings with Yama (the Devil). In consequence, however, +of Vishnu Swami's name and importunity, at length, on a certain day, +all the pious, learned, and reverend tutors, teachers, professors, +prolocutors, pastors, spiritual fathers, poets, philosophers, +mathematicians, schoolmasters, pedagogues, bear-leaders, institutors, +gerund-grinders, preceptors, dominies, brushers, coryphaei, dry-nurses, +coaches, mentors, monitors, lecturers, prelectors, fellows, and heads of +houses at the university at Gaur, met together in a large garden, +where they usually diverted themselves out of hours with ball-tossing, +pigeon-tumbling, and kite-flying. + +Presently the four young men, carrying their bundle of bones and the +other requisites, stepped forward, walking slowly with eyes downcast, +like shrinking cattle: for it is said, the Brahman must not run, even +when it rains. + +After pronouncing an impromptu speech, composed for them by their +father, and so stuffed with erudition that even the writer hardly +understood it, they announced their wish to prove, by ocular +demonstration, the truth of a science upon which their short-sighted +rivals of Jayasthal had cast cold water, but which, they remarked in the +eloquent peroration of their discourse, the sages of Gaur had +welcomed with that wise and catholic spirit of inquiry which had ever +characterized their distinguished body. + +Huge words, involved sentences, and the high-flown compliment, +exceedingly undeserved, obscured, I suppose, the bright wits of the +intellectual convocation, which really began to think that their +liberality of opinion deserved all praise. + +None objected to what was being prepared, except one of the heads of +houses; his appeal was generally scouted, because his Sanskrit style was +vulgarly intelligible, and he had the bad name of being a practical man. +The metaphysician Rashik Lall sneered to Vaiswata the poet, who passed +on the look to the theo-philosopher Vardhaman. Haridatt the antiquarian +whispered the metaphysician Vasudeva, who burst into a loud laugh; +whilst Narayan, Jagasharma, and Devaswami, all very learned in +the Vedas, opened their eyes and stared at him with well-simulated +astonishment. So he, being offended, said nothing more, but arose and +walked home. + +A great crowd gathered round the four young men and their father, as +opening the bundle that contained the tiger's remains, they prepared for +their task. + +One of the operators spread the bones upon the ground and fixed each one +into its proper socket, not forgetting even the teeth and tusks. + +The second connected, by means of a marvellous unguent, the skeleton +with the muscles and heart of an elephant, which he had procured for the +purpose. + +The third drew from his pouch the brain and eyes of a large tom-cat, +which he carefully fitted into the animal's skull, and then covered the +body with the hide of a young rhinoceros. + +Then the fourth--the atheist--who had been directing the operation, +produced a globule having another globule within itself. And as the +crowd pressed on them, craning their necks, breathless with anxiety, +he placed the Principle of Organic Life in the tiger's body with such +effect that the monster immediately heaved its chest, breathed, agitated +its limbs, opened its eyes, jumped to its feet, shook itself, glared +around, and began to gnash its teeth and lick its chops, lashing the +while its ribs with its tail. + +The sages sprang back, and the beast sprang forward. With a roar like +thunder during Elephanta-time,[144] it flew at the nearest of the +spectators, flung Vishnu Swami to the ground and clawed his four sons. +Then, not even stopping to drink their blood, it hurried after the +flying herd of wise men. Jostling and tumbling, stumbling and catching +at one another's long robes, they rushed in hottest haste towards the +garden gate. But the beast, having the muscles of an elephant as well as +the bones of a tiger, made a few bounds of eighty or ninety feet each, +easily distanced them, and took away all chance of escape. To be brief: +as the monster was frightfully hungry after its long fast, and as +the imprudent young men had furnished it with admirable implements of +destruction, it did not cease its work till one hundred and twenty-one +learned and highly distinguished Pandits and Gurus lay upon the ground +chawed, clawed, sucked dry, and in most cases stone-dead. Amongst them, +I need hardly say, were the sage Vishnu Swami and his four sons. + +Having told this story the Vampire hung silent for a time. Presently he +resumed-- + +"Now, heed my words, Raja Vikram! I am about to ask thee, Which of +all those learned men was the most finished fool? The answer is easily +found, yet it must be distasteful to thee. Therefore mortify thy vanity, +as soon as possible, or I shall be talking, and thou wilt be walking +through this livelong night, to scanty purpose. Remember! science +without understanding is of little use; indeed, understanding is +superior to science, and those devoid of understanding perish as did the +persons who revivified the tiger. Before this, I warned thee to beware +of thyself, and of thine own conceit. Here, then, is an opportunity for +self-discipline--which of all those learned men was the greatest fool?" + +The warrior king mistook the kind of mortification imposed upon him, and +pondered over the uncomfortable nature of the reply--in the presence of +his son. + +Again the Baital taunted him. + +"The greatest fool of all," at last said Vikram, in slow and by no means +willing accents, "was the father. Is it not said, 'There is no fool like +an old fool'?" + +"Gramercy!" cried the Vampire, bursting out into a discordant laugh, "I +now return to my tree. By this head! I never before heard a father so +readily condemn a father." With these words he disappeared, slipping out +of the bundle. + +The Raja scolded his son a little for want of obedience, and said that +he had always thought more highly of his acuteness--never could have +believed that he would have been taken in by so shallow a trick. Dharma +Dhwaj answered not a word to this, but promised to be wiser another +time. + +Then they returned to the tree, and did what they had so often done +before. + +And, as before, the Baital held his tongue for a time. Presently he +began as follows. + + + + +THE VAMPIRE'S EIGHTH STORY -- Of the Use and Misuse of Magic Pills. + + +The lady Chandraprabha, daughter of the Raja Subichar, was a +particularly beautiful girl, and marriage-able withal. One day as +Vasanta, the Spring, began to assert its reign over the world, animate +and inanimate, she went accompanied by her young friends and companions +to stroll about her father's pleasure-garden. + +The fair troop wandered through sombre groves, where the dark +tamale-tree entwined its branches with the pale green foliage of the +nim, and the pippal's domes of quivering leaves contrasted with the +columnar aisles of the banyan fig. They admired the old monarchs of the +forest, bearded to the waist with hangings of moss, the flowing creepers +delicately climbing from the lower branches to the topmost shoots, and +the cordage of llianas stretching from trunk to trunk like bridges for +the monkeys to pass over. Then they issued into a clear space dotted +with asokas bearing rich crimson flowers, cliterias of azure blue, +madhavis exhibiting petals virgin white as the snows on Himalaya, and +jasmines raining showers of perfumed blossoms upon the grateful earth. +They could not sufficiently praise the tall and graceful stem of the +arrowy areca, contrasting with the solid pyramid of the cypress, and the +more masculine stature of the palm. Now they lingered in the trellised +walks closely covered over with vines and creepers; then they stopped to +gather the golden bloom weighing down the mango boughs, and to smell +the highly-scented flowers that hung from the green fretwork of the +chambela. + +It was spring, I have said. The air was still except when broken by the +hum of the large black bramra bee, as he plied his task amidst the red +and orange flowers of the dak, and by the gushings of many waters that +made music as they coursed down their stuccoed channels between borders +of many coloured poppies and beds of various flowers. From time to +time the dulcet note of the kokila bird, and the hoarse plaint of +the turtle-dove deep hid in her leafy bower, attracted every ear and +thrilled every heart. The south wind--"breeze of the south,[145] the +friend of love and spring" blew with a voluptuous warmth, for rain +clouds canopied the earth, and the breath of the narcissus, the rose, +and the citron, teemed with a languid fragrance. + +The charms of the season affected all the damsels. They amused +themselves in their privacy with pelting blossoms at one another, +running races down the smooth broad alleys, mounting the silken swings +that hung between the orange trees, embracing one another, and at times +trying to push the butt of the party into the fishpond. Perhaps the +liveliest of all was the lady Chandraprabha, who on account of her rank +could pelt and push all the others, without fear of being pelted and +pushed in return. + +It so happened, before the attendants had had time to secure privacy +for the princess and her women, that Manaswi, a very handsome youth, a +Brahman's son, had wandered without malicious intention into the garden. +Fatigued with walking, and finding a cool shady place beneath a tree, he +had lain down there, and had gone to sleep, and had not been observed +by any of the king's people. He was still sleeping when the princess and +her companions were playing together. + +Presently Chandraprabha, weary of sport, left her friends, and singing +a lively air, tripped up the stairs leading to the summer-house. +Aroused by the sound of her advancing footsteps, Manaswi sat up; and +the princess, seeing a strange man, started. But their eyes had met, and +both were subdued by love--love vulgarly called "love at first sight." + +"Nonsense!" exclaimed the warrior king, testily, "I can never believe in +that freak of Kama Deva." He spoke feelingly, for the thing had happened +to himself more than once, and on no occasion had it turned out well. + +"But there is such a thing, O Raja, as love at first sight," objected +the Baital, speaking dogmatically. + +"Then perhaps thou canst account for it, dead one," growled the monarch +surlily. + +"I have no reason to do so, O Vikram," retorted the Vampire, "when you +men have already done it. Listen, then, to the words of the wise. In the +olden time, one of your great philosophers invented a fluid pervading +all matter, strongly self-repulsive like the steam of a brass pot, and +widely spreading like the breath of scandal. The repulsiveness, however, +according to that wise man, is greatly modified by its second property, +namely, an energetic attraction or adhesion to all material bodies. Thus +every substance contains a part, more or less, of this fluid, pervading +it throughout, and strongly bound to each component atom. He called +it 'Ambericity,' for the best of reasons, as it has no connection with +amber, and he described it as an imponderable, which, meaning that it +could not be weighed, gives a very accurate and satisfactory idea of its +nature. + +"Now, said that philosopher, whenever two bodies containing that +unweighable substance in unequal proportions happen to meet, a current +of imponderable passes from one to the other, producing a kind +of attraction, and tending to adhere. The operation takes place +instantaneously when the force is strong and much condensed. Thus the +vulgar who call things after their effects and not from their causes, +term the action of this imponderable love at first sight; the wise +define it to be a phenomenon of ambericity. As regards my own opinion +about the matter, I have long ago told it to you, O Vikram! Silliness--" + +"Either hold your tongue, fellow, or go on with your story," cried the +Raja, wearied out by so many words that had no manner of sense. + +Well! the effect of the first glance was that Manaswi, the Brahman's +son, fell back in a swoon and remained senseless upon the ground where +he had been sitting; and the Raja's daughter began to tremble upon +her feet, and presently dropped unconscious upon the floor of the +summer-house. Shortly after this she was found by her companions and +attendants, who, quickly taking her up in their arms and supporting her +into a litter, conveyed her home. + +Manaswi, the Brahman's son, was so completely overcome, that he lay +there dead to everything. Just then the learned, deeply read, and +purblind Pandits Muldev and Shashi by name, strayed into the garden, and +stumbled upon the body. + +"Friend," said Muldev, "how came this youth thus to fall senseless on +the ground?" + +"Man," replied Shashi, "doubtless some damsel has shot forth the arrows +of her glances from the bow of her eyebrows, and thence he has become +insensible!" + +"We must lift him up then," said Muldev the benevolent. + +"What need is there to raise him?" asked Shashi the misanthrope by way +of reply. + +Muldev, however, would not listen to these words. He ran to the pond +hard by, soaked the end of his waistcloth in water, sprinkled it over +the young Brahman, raised him from the ground, and placed him sitting +against the wall. And perceiving, when he came to himself, that his +sickness was rather of the soul than of the body, the old men asked him +how he came to be in that plight. + +"We should tell our griefs," answered Manaswi, "only to those who will +relieve us! What is the use of communicating them to those who, when +they have heard, cannot help us? What is to be gained by the empty pity +or by the useless condolence of men in general?" + +The Pandits, however, by friendly looks and words, presently persuaded +him to break silence, when he said, "A certain princess entered this +summer-house, and from the sight of her I have fallen into this state. +If I can obtain her, I shall live; if not, I must die." + +"Come with me, young man!" said Muldev the benevolent: "I will use +every endeavour to obtain her, and if I do not succeed I will make thee +wealthy and independent of the world." + +Manaswi rejoined: "The Deity in his beneficence has created many jewels +in this world, but the pearl, woman, is chiefest of all; and for +her sake only does man desire wealth. What are riches to one who has +abandoned his wife? What are they who do not possess beautiful wives? +they are but beings inferior to the beasts! wealth is the fruit of +virtue; ease, of wealth; a wife, of ease. And where no wife is, how can +there be happiness?" And the enamoured youth rambled on in this way, +curious to us, Raja Vikram, but perhaps natural enough in a Brahman's +son suffering under that endemic malady--determination to marry. + +"Whatever thou mayest desire," said Muldev, "shall by the blessing of +heaven be given to thee." + +Manaswi implored him, saying most pathetically, "O Pandit, bestow then +that damsel upon me!" + +Muldev promised to do so, and having comforted the youth, led him to his +own house. Then he welcomed him politely, seated him upon the carpet, +and left him for a few minutes, promising him to return. When he +reappeared, he held in his hand two little balls or pills, and showing +them to Manaswi, he explained their virtues as follows: + +"There is in our house an hereditary secret, by means of which I try to +promote the weal of humanity. But in all cases my success depends mainly +upon the purity and the heartwholeness of those that seek my aid. If +thou place this in thy mouth, thou shalt be changed into a damsel twelve +years old, and when thou withdrawest it again, thou shalt again recover +thine original form. Beware, however, that thou use the power for none +but a good purpose; otherwise some great calamity will befall thee. +Therefore, take counsel of thyself before undertaking this trial!" + +What lover, O warrior king Vikram, would have hesitated, under such +circumstances, to assure the Pandit that he was the most innocent, +earnest, and well-intentioned being in the Three Worlds? + +The Brahman's son, at least, lost no time in so doing. Hence the +simple-minded philosopher put one of the pills into the young man's +mouth, warning him on no account to swallow it, and took the other into +his own mouth. Upon which Manaswi became a sprightly young maid, and +Muldev was changed to a reverend and decrepid senior, not fewer than +eighty years old. + +Thus transformed, the twain walked up to the palace of the Raja +Subichar, and stood for a while to admire the gate. Then passing +through seven courts, beautiful as the Paradise of Indra, they entered, +unannounced, as became the priestly dignity, a hall where, surrounded by +his courtiers, sat the ruler. The latter, seeing the Holy Brahman under +his roof, rose up, made the customary humble salutation, and taking +their right hands, led what appeared to be the father and daughter to +appropriate seats. Upon which Muldev, having recited a verse, bestowed +upon the Raja a blessing whose beauty has been diffused over all +creation. + +"May that Deity[146] who as a mannikin deceived the great king Bali; who +as a hero, with a monkey-host, bridged the Salt Sea; who as a shepherd +lifted up the mountain Gobarddhan in the palm of his hand, and by it +saved the cowherds and cowherdesses from the thunders of heaven--may +that Deity be thy protector!" + +Having heard and marvelled at this display of eloquence, the Raja +inquired, "Whence hath your holiness come?" + +"My country," replied Muldev, "is on the northern side of the great +mother Ganges, and there too my dwelling is. I travelled to a distant +land, and having found in this maiden a worthy wife for my son, I +straightway returned homewards. Meanwhile a famine had laid waste our +village, and my wife and my son have fled I know not where. Encumbered +with this damsel, how can I wander about seeking them? Hearing the name +of a pious and generous ruler, I said to myself, 'I will leave her under +his charge until my return.' Be pleased to take great care of her." + +For a minute the Raja sat thoughtful and silent. He was highly pleased +with the Brahman's perfect compliment. But he could not hide from +himself that he was placed between two difficulties: one, the charge +of a beautiful young girl, with pouting lips, soft speech, and roguish +eyes; the other, a priestly curse upon himself and his kingdom. He +thought, however, refusal the more dangerous; so he raised his face +and exclaimed, "O produce of Brahma's head,[147] I will do what your +highness has desired of me." + +Upon which the Brahman, after delivering a benediction of adieu almost +as beautiful and spirit-stirring as that with which he had presented +himself, took the betel[148] and went his ways. + +Then the Raja sent for his daughter Chandraprabha and said to her, "This +is the affianced bride of a young Brahman, and she has been trusted to +my protection for a time by her father-in-law. Take her therefore into +the inner rooms, treat her with the utmost regard, and never allow her +to be separated from thee, day or night, asleep or awake, eating or +drinking, at home or abroad." + +Chandraprabha took the hand of Sita--as Manaswi had pleased to call +himself--and led the way to her own apartment. Once the seat of joy and +pleasure, the rooms now wore a desolate and melancholy look. The windows +were darkened, the attendants moved noiselessly over the carpets, as +if their footsteps would cause headache, and there was a faint scent of +some drug much used in cases of deliquium. The apartments were handsome, +but the only ornament in the room where they sat was a large bunch +of withered flowers in an arched recess, and these, though possibly +interesting to some one, were not likely to find favour as a decoration +in the eyes of everybody. + +The Raja's daughter paid the greatest attention and talked with unusual +vivacity to the Brahman's daughter-in-law, either because she had +roguish eyes, or from some presentiment of what was to occur, whichever +you please, Raja Vikram, and it is no matter which. Still Sita could not +help perceiving that there was a shade of sorrow upon the forehead of +her fair new friend, and so when they retired to rest she asked the +cause of it. + +Then Chandraprabha related to her the sad tale: "One day in the spring +season, as I was strolling in the garden along with my companions, +I beheld a very handsome Brahman, and our eyes having met, he became +unconscious, and I also was insensible. My companions seeing my +condition, brought me home, and therefore I know neither his name nor +his abode. His beautiful form is impressed upon my memory. I have now no +desire to eat or to drink, and from this distress my colour has become +pale and my body is thus emaciated." And the beautiful princess sighed +a sigh that was musical and melancholy, and concluded by predicting for +herself--as persons similarly placed often do--a sudden and untimely end +about the beginning of the next month. + +"What wilt thou give me," asked the Brahman's daughter-in-law demurely, +"if I show thee thy beloved at this very moment?" + +The Raja's daughter answered, "I will ever be the lowest of thy slaves, +standing before thee with joined hands." + +Upon which Sita removed the pill from her mouth, and instantly having +become Manaswi, put it carefully away in a little bag hung round his +neck. At this sight Chandraprabha felt abashed, and hung down her head +in beautiful confusion. To describe-- + +"I will have no descriptions, Vampire!" cried the great Vikram, jerking +the bag up and down as if he were sweating gold in it. "The fewer of thy +descriptions the better for us all." + +Briefly (resumed the demon), Manaswi reflected upon the eight forms of +marriage--viz., Bramhalagan, when a girl is given to a Brahman, or man +of superior caste, without reward; Daiva, when she is presented as +a gift or fee to the officiating priest at the close of a sacrifice; +Arsha, when two cows are received by the girl's father in exchange for +the bride[149]; Prajapatya, when the girl is given at the request of a +Brahman, and the father says to his daughter and her to betrothed, "Go, +fulfil the duties of religion"; Asura, when money is received by the +father in exchange for the bride; Rakshasha, when she is captured in +war, or when her bridegroom overcomes his rival; Paisacha, when the +girl is taken away from her father's house by craft; and eighthly, +Gandharva-lagan, or the marriage that takes place by mutual +consent.[150] + +Manaswi preferred the latter, especially as by her rank and age the +princess was entitled to call upon her father for the Lakshmi Swayambara +wedding, in which she would have chosen her own husband. And thus it is +that Rama, Arjuna, Krishna, Nala, and others, were proposed to by the +princesses whom they married. + +For five months after these nuptials, Manaswi never stirred out of +the palace, but remained there by day a woman, and a man by night. The +consequence was that he--I call him "he," for whether Manaswi or Sita, +his mind ever remained masculine--presently found himself in a fair way +to become a father. + +Now, one would imagine that a change of sex every twenty-four hours +would be variety enough to satisfy even a man. Manaswi, however, was not +contented. He began to pine for more liberty, and to find fault with his +wife for not taking him out into the world. And you might have supposed +that a young person who, from love at first sight, had fallen senseless +upon the steps of a summer-house, and who had devoted herself to a +sudden and untimely end because she was separated from her lover, would +have repressed her yawns and little irritable words even for a year +after having converted him into a husband. But no! Chandraprabha soon +felt as tired of seeing Manaswi and nothing but Manaswi, as Manaswi was +weary of seeing Chandraprabha and nothing but Chandraprabha. Often she +had been on the point of proposing visits and out-of-door excursions. +But when at last the idea was first suggested by her husband, she at +once became an injured woman. She hinted how foolish it was for married +people to imprison themselves and to quarrel all day. When Manaswi +remonstrated, saying that he wanted nothing better than to appear before +the world with her as his wife, but that he really did not know what +her father might do to him, she threw out a cutting sarcasm upon his +effeminate appearance during the hours of light. She then told him of +an unfortunate young woman in an old nursery tale who had unconsciously +married a fiend that became a fine handsome man at night when no +eye could see him, and utter ugliness by day when good looks show to +advantage. And lastly, when inveighing against the changeableness, +fickleness, and infidelity of mankind, she quoted the words of the +poet-- + + Out upon change! it tires the heart + And weighs the noble spirit down; + A vain, vain world indeed thou art + That can such vile condition own + The veil hath fallen from my eyes, + I cannot love where I despise.... + +You can easily, O King Vikram, continue for yourself and conclude this +lecture, which I leave unfinished on account of its length. + +Chandraprabha and Sita, who called each other the Zodiacal Twins and +Laughter Light,[151] and All-consenters, easily persuaded the old +Raja that their health would be further improved by air, exercise, and +distractions. Subichar, being delighted with the change that had taken +place in a daughter whom he loved, and whom he had feared to lose, told +them to do as they pleased. They began a new life, in which short trips +and visits, baths and dances, music parties, drives in bullock chariots, +and water excursions succeeded one another. + +It so happened that one day the Raja went with his whole family to a +wedding feast in the house of his grand treasurer, where the latter's +son saw Manaswi in the beautiful shape of Sita. This was a third case of +love at first sight, for the young man immediately said to a particular +friend, "If I obtain that girl, I shall live; if not, I shall abandon +life." + +In the meantime the king, having enjoyed the feast, came back to his +palace with his whole family. The condition of the treasurer's son, +however, became very distressing; and through separation from his +beloved, he gave up eating and drinking. The particular friend had kept +the secret for some days, though burning to tell it. At length he found +an excuse for himself in the sad state of his friend, and he immediately +went and divulged all that he knew to the treasurer. After this he felt +relieved. + +The minister repaired to the court, and laid his case before the king, +saying, "Great Raja! through the love of that Brahman's daughter-in-law, +my son's state is very bad; he has given up eating and drinking; in fact +he is consumed by the fire of separation. If now your majesty could show +compassion, and bestow the girl upon him, his life would be saved. If +not----" + +"Fool!" cried the Raja, who, hearing these words, had waxed very wroth; +"it is not right for kings to do injustice. Listen! when a person puts +any one in charge of a protector, how can the latter give away his trust +without consulting the person that trusted him? And yet this is what you +wish me to do." + +The treasurer knew that the Raja could not govern his realm without +him, and he was well acquainted with his master's character. He said +to himself, "This will not last long;" but he remained dumb, simulating +hopelessness, and hanging down his head, whilst Subichar alternately +scolded and coaxed, abused and flattered him, in order to open his lips. +Then, with tears in his eyes, he muttered a request to take leave; and +as he passed through the palace gates, he said aloud, with a resolute +air, "It will cost me but ten days of fasting!" + +The treasurer, having returned home, collected all his attendants, and +went straightway to his son's room. Seeing the youth still stretched +upon his sleeping-mat, and very yellow for the want of food, he took his +hand, and said in a whisper, meant to be audible, "Alas! poor son, I can +do nothing but perish with thee." + +The servants, hearing this threat, slipped one by one out of the room, +and each went to tell his friend that the grand treasurer had resolved +to live no longer. After which, they went back to the house to see if +their master intended to keep his word, and curious to know, if he did +intend to die, how, where, and when it was to be. And they were not +disappointed: I do not mean that the wished their lord to die, as he was +a good master to them but still there was an excitement in the thing---- + +(Raja Vikram could not refrain from showing his anger at the insult thus +cast by the Baital upon human nature; the wretch, however, pretending +not to notice it, went on without interrupting himself) + +----which somehow or other pleased them. + +When the treasurer had spent three days without touching bread or water, +all the cabinet council met and determined to retire from business +unless the Raja yielded to their solicitations. The treasurer was their +working man. "Besides which," said the cabinet council, "if a certain +person gets into the habit of refusing us, what is to be the end of it, +and what is the use of being cabinet councillors any longer?" + +Early on the next morning, the ministers went in a body before the Raja, +and humbly represented that "the treasurer's son is at the point of +death, the effect of a full heart and an empty stomach. Should he die, +the father, who has not eaten or drunk during the last three days" (the +Raja trembled to hear the intelligence, though he knew it), "his father, +we say, cannot be saved. If the father dies the affairs of the kingdom +come to ruin,--is he not the grand treasurer? It is already said +that half the accounts have been gnawed by white ants, and that some +pernicious substance in the ink has eaten jagged holes through the +paper, so that the other half of the accounts is illegible. It were +best, sire, that you agree to what we represent." + +The white ants and corrosive ink were too strong for the Raja's +determination. Still, wishing to save appearances, he replied, with much +firmness, that he knew the value of the treasurer and his son, that he +would do much to save them, but that he had passed his royal word, and +had undertaken a trust. That he would rather die a dozen deaths than +break his promise, or not discharge his duty faithfully. That man's +condition in this world is to depart from it, none remaining in it; +that one comes and that one goes, none knowing when or where; but that +eternity is eternity for happiness or misery. And much of the same +nature, not very novel, and not perhaps quite to the purpose, but +edifying to those who knew what lay behind the speaker's words. + +The ministers did not know their lord's character so well as the grand +treasurer, and they were more impressed by his firm demeanour and the +number of his words than he wished them to be. After allowing his speech +to settle in their minds, he did away with a great part of its effect by +declaring that such were the sentiments and the principles--when a man +talks of his principles, O Vikram! ask thyself the reason why--instilled +into his youthful mind by the most honourable of fathers and the most +virtuous of mothers. At the same time that he was by no means obstinate +or proof against conviction. In token whereof he graciously permitted +the councillors to convince him that it was his royal duty to break his +word and betray his trust, and to give away another man's wife. + +Pray do not lose your temper, O warrior king! Subichar, although a Raja, +was a weak man; and you know, or you ought to know, that the wicked may +be wise in their generation, but the weak never can. + +Well, the ministers hearing their lord's last words, took courage, and +proceeded to work upon his mind by the figure of speech popularly called +"rigmarole." They said: "Great king! that old Brahman has been gone +many days, and has not returned; he is probably dead and burnt. It +is therefore right that by giving to the grand treasurer's son his +daughter-in-law, who is only affianced, not fairly married, you should +establish your government firmly. And even if he should return, bestow +villages and wealth upon him; and if he be not then content, provide +another and a more beautiful wife for his son, and dismiss him. A person +should be sacrificed for the sake of a family, a family for a city, a +city for a country, and a country for a king!" + +Subichar having heard them, dismissed them with the remark that as so +much was to be said on both sides, he must employ the night in thinking +over the matter, and that he would on the next day favour them with his +decision. The cabinet councillors knew by this that he meant that he +would go and consult his wives. They retired contented, convinced that +every voice would be in favour of a wedding, and that the young girl, +with so good an offer, would not sacrifice the present to the future. + +That evening the treasurer and his son supped together. + +The first words uttered by Raja Subichar, when he entered his daughter's +apartment, were an order addressed to Sita: "Go thou at once to the +house of my treasurer's son." + +Now, as Chandraprabha and Manaswi were generally scolding each other, +Chandraprabha and Sita were hardly on speaking terms. When they heard +the Raja's order for their separation they were-- + +--"Delighted?" cried Dharma Dhwaj, who for some reason took the greatest +interest in the narrative. + +"Overwhelmed with grief, thou most guileless Yuva Raja (young prince)!" +ejaculated the Vampire. + +Raja Vikram reproved his son for talking about thing of which he knew +nothing, and the Baital resumed. + +They turned pale and wept, and they wrung their hands, and they begged +and argued and refused obedience. In fact they did everything to make +the king revoke his order. + +"The virtue of a woman," quoth Sita, "is destroyed through too much +beauty; the religion of a Brahman is impaired by serving kings; a cow +is spoiled by distant pasturage, wealth is lost by committing injustice, +and prosperity departs from the house where promises are not kept." + +The Raja highly applauded the sentiment, but was firm as a rock upon the +subject of Sita marrying the treasurer's son. + +Chandraprabha observed that her royal father, usually so conscientious, +must now be acting from interested motives, and that when selfishness +sways a man, right becomes left and left becomes right, as in the +reflection of a mirror. + +Subichar approved of the comparison; he was not quite so resolved, but +he showed no symptoms of changing his mind. + +Then the Brahman's daughter-in-law, with the view of gaining time--a +famous stratagem amongst feminines--said to the Raja: "Great king, if +you are determined upon giving me to the grand treasurer's son, exact +from him the promise that he will do what I bid him. Only on this +condition will I ever enter his house!" + +"Speak, then," asked the king; "what will he have to do?" + +She replied, "I am of the Brahman or priestly caste, he is the son of a +Kshatriya or warrior: the law directs that before we twain can wed, he +should perform Yatra (pilgrimage) to all the holy places." + +"Thou hast spoken Veda-truth, girl," answered the Raja, not sorry to +have found so good a pretext for temporizing, and at the same time to +preserve his character for firmness, resolution, determination. + +That night Manaswi and Chandraprabha, instead of scolding each other, +congratulated themselves upon having escaped an imminent danger--which +they did not escape. + +In the morning Subichar sent for his ministers, including his grand +treasurer and his love-sick son, and told them how well and wisely the +Brahman's daughter-in-law had spoken upon the subject of the marriage. +All of them approved of the condition; but the young man ventured to +suggest, that while he was a-pilgrimaging the maiden should reside under +his father's roof. As he and his father showed a disposition to continue +their fasts in case of the small favour not being granted, the Raja, +though very loath to separate his beloved daughter and her dear friend, +was driven to do it. And Sita was carried off, weeping bitterly, to the +treasurer's palace. That dignitary solemnly committed her to the charge +of his third and youngest wife, the lady Subhagya-Sundari, who was about +her own age, and said, "You must both live together, without any kind of +wrangling or contention, and do not go into other people's houses." And +the grand treasurer's son went off to perform his pilgrimages. + +It is no less sad than true, Raja Vikram, that in less than six days the +disconsolate Sita waxed weary of being Sita, took the ball out of her +mouth, and became Manaswi. Alas for the infidelity of mankind! But it +is gratifying to reflect that he met with the punishment with which the +Pandit Muldev had threatened him. One night the magic pill slipped down +his throat. When morning dawned, being unable to change himself into +Sita, Manaswi was obliged to escape through a window from the lady +Subhagya-Sundari's room. He sprained his ankle with the leap, and he lay +for a time upon the ground--where I leave him whilst convenient to me. + +When Muldev quitted the presence of Subichar, he resumed his old shape, +and returning to his brother Pandit Shashi, told him what he had done. +Whereupon Shashi, the misanthrope, looked black, and used hard words and +told his friend that good nature and soft-heartedness had caused him to +commit a very bad action--a grievous sin. Incensed at this charge, the +philanthropic Muldev became angry, and said, "I have warned the youth +about his purity; what harm can come of it?" + +"Thou hast," retorted Shashi, with irritating coolness, "placed a sharp +weapon in a fool's hand." + +"I have not," cried Muldev, indignantly. + +"Therefore," drawled the malevolent, "you are answerable for all the +mischief he does with it, and mischief assuredly he will do." + +"He will not, by Brahma!" exclaimed Muldev. + +"He will, by Vishnu!" said Shashi, with an amiability produced by having +completely upset his friend's temper; "and if within the coming six +months he does not disgrace himself, thou shalt have the whole of my +book-case; but if he does, the philanthropic Muldev will use all his +skill and ingenuity in procuring the daughter of Raja Subichar as a wife +for his faithful friend Shashi." + +Having made this covenant, they both agreed not to speak of the matter +till the autumn. + +The appointed time drawing near, the Pandits began to make inquiries +about the effect of the magic pills. Presently they found out that Sita, +alias Manaswi, had one night mysteriously disappeared from the grand +treasurer's house, and had not been heard of since that time. This, +together with certain other things that transpired presently, convinced +Muldev, who had cooled down in six months, that his friend had won the +wager. He prepared to make honourable payment by handing a pill to old +Shashi, who at once became a stout, handsome young Brahman, some twenty +years old. Next putting a pill into his own mouth, he resumed the shape +and form under which he had first appeared before Raja Subichar; and, +leaning upon his staff, he led the way to the palace. + +The king, in great confusion, at once recognized the old priest, and +guessed the errand upon which he and the youth were come. However, he +saluted them, and offered them seats, and receiving their blessings, +he began to make inquiries about their health and welfare. At last he +mustered courage to ask the old Brahman where he had been living for so +long a time. + +"Great king," replied the priest, "I went to seek after my son, and +having found him, I bring him to your majesty. Give him his wife, and I +will take them both home with me." + +Raja Subichar prevaricated not a little; but presently, being hard +pushed, he related everything that had happened. + +"What is this that you have done?" cried Muldev, simulating excessive +anger and astonishment. "Why have you given my son's wife in marriage to +another man? You have done what you wished, and now, therefore, receive +my Shrap (curse)!" + +The poor Raja, in great trepidation, said, "O Vivinity! be not thus +angry! I will do whatever you bid me." + +Said Muldev, "If through dread of my excommunication you will freely +give whatever I demand of you, then marry your daughter, Chandraprabha, +to this my son. On this condition I forgive you. To me, now a necklace +of pearls and a venomous krishna (cobra capella); the most powerful +enemy and the kindest friend, the most precious gem and a clod of +earth; the softest bed and the hardest stone; a blade of grass and the +loveliest woman--are precisely the same. All I desire is that in some +holy place, repeating the name of God, I may soon end my days." + +Subichar, terrified by this additional show of sanctity, at once +summoned an astrologer, and fixed upon the auspicious moment and lunar +influence. He did not consult the princess, and had he done so she would +not have resisted his wishes. Chandraprabha had heard of Sita's +escape from the treasurer's house, and she had on the subject her own +suspicions. Besides which she looked forward to a certain event, and +she was by no means sure that her royal father approved of the Gandharba +form of marriage--at least for his daughter. Thus the Brahman's son +receiving in due time the princess and her dowry, took leave of the king +and returned to his own village. + +Hardly, however, had Chandraprabha been married to Shashi the Pandit, +when Manaswi went to him, and began to wrangle, and said, "Give me my +wife!" He had recovered from the effects of his fall, and having lost +her he therefore loved her--very dearly. + +But Shashi proved by reference to the astrologers, priests, and ten +persons as witnesses, that he had duly wedded her, and brought her to +his home; "therefore," said he, "she is my spouse." + +Manaswi swore by all holy things that he had been legally married to +her, and that he was the father of her child that was about to be. "How +then," continued he, "can she be thy spouse?" He would have summoned +Muldev as a witness, but that worthy, after remonstrating with him, +disappeared. He called upon Chandraprabha to confirm his statement, but +she put on an innocent face, and indignantly denied ever having seen the +man. + +Still, continued the Baital, many people believed Manaswi's story, as it +was marvellous and incredible. Even to the present day, there are +many who decidedly think him legally married to the daughter of Raja +Subichar. + +"Then they are pestilent fellows!" cried the warrior king Vikram, who +hated nothing more than clandestine and runaway matches. "No one knew +that the villain, Manaswi, was the father of her child; whereas, the +Pandit Shashi married her lawfully, before witnesses, and with all the +ceremonies.[152] She therefore remains his wife, and the child will +perform the funeral obsequies for him, and offer water to the manes of +his pitris (ancestors). At least, so say law and justice." + +"Which justice is often unjust enough!" cried the Vampire; "and ply thy +legs, mighty Raja; let me see if thou canst reach the sires-tree before +I do." + + * * * * * + +"The next story, O Raja Vikram, is remarkably interesting." + + + + +THE VAMPIRE'S NINTH STORY -- Showing That a Man's Wife Belongs Not to His Body but to His Head. + + +Far and wide through the lovely land overrun by the Arya from the +Western Highlands spread the fame of Unmadini, the beautiful daughter +of Haridas the Brahman. In the numberless odes, sonnets, and acrostics +addressed to her by a hundred Pandits and poets her charms were sung +with prodigious triteness. Her presence was compared to light shining +in a dark house; her face to the full moon; her complexion to the yellow +champaka flower; her curls to female snakes; her eyes to those of the +deer; her eyebrows to bent bows; her teeth to strings of little opals; +her feet to rubies and red gems,[153] and her gait to that of the wild +goose. And none forgot to say that her voice affected the author like +the song of the kokila bird, sounding from the shadowy brake, when the +breeze blows coolly, or that the fairy beings of Indra's heaven would +have shrunk away abashed at her loveliness. + +But, Raja Vikram! all the poets failed to win the fair Unmadini's love. +To praise the beauty of a beauty is not to praise her. Extol her wit and +talents, which has the zest of novelty, then you may succeed. For the +same reason, read inversely, the plainer and cleverer is the bosom you +would fire, the more personal you must be upon the subject of its grace +and loveliness. Flattery you know, is ever the match which kindles +the Flame of love. True it is that some by roughness of demeanour and +bluntness in speech, contrasting with those whom they call the "herd," +have the art to succeed in the service of the bodyless god.[154] But +even they must-- + +The young prince Dharma Dhwaj could not help laughing at the thought +of how this must sound in his father's ear. And the Raja hearing +the ill-timed merriment, sternly ordered the Baital to cease his +immoralities and to continue his story. + +Thus the lovely Unmadini, conceiving an extreme contempt for poets +and literati, one day told her father who greatly loved her, that her +husband must be a fine young man who never wrote verses. Withal she +insisted strongly on mental qualities and science, being a person of +moderate mind and an adorer of talent--when not perverted to poetry. + +As you may imagine, Raja Vikram, all the beauty's bosom friends, seeing +her refuse so many good offers, confidently predicted that she would +pass through the jungle and content herself with a bad stick, or that +she would lead ring-tailed apes in Patala. + +At length when some time had elapsed, four suitors appeared from four +different countries, all of them claiming equal excellence in youth and +beauty, strength and understanding. And after paying their respects to +Haridas, and telling him their wishes, they were directed to come early +on the next morning and to enter upon the first ordeal--an intellectual +conversation. + +This they did. + +"Foolish the man," quoth the young Mahasani, "that seeks permanence in +this world--frail as the stem of the plantain-tree, transient as the +ocean foam. + +"All that is high shall presently fall; all that is low must finally +perish. + +"Unwillingly do the manes of the dead taste the tears shed by their +kinsmen: then wail not, but perform the funeral obsequies with +diligence." + +"What ill-omened fellow is this?" quoth the fair Unmadini, who was +sitting behind her curtain; "besides, he has dared to quote poetry!" +There was little chance of success for that suitor. + +"She is called a good woman, and a woman of pure descent," quoth the +second suitor, "who serves him to whom her father and mother have +given her; and it is written in the scriptures that a woman who in the +lifetime of her husband, becoming a devotee, engages in fasting, and in +austere devotion, shortens his days, and hereafter falls into the fire. +For it is said-- + + "A woman's bliss is found not in the smile + Of father, mother, friend, nor in herself; + Her husband is her only portion here, + Her heaven hereafter." + +The word "serve," which might mean "obey," was peculiarly disagreeable +to the fair one's ears, and she did not admire the check so soon placed +upon her devotion, or the decided language and manner of the youth. She +therefore mentally resolved never again to see that person, whom she +determined to be stupid as an elephant. + +"A mother," said Gunakar, the third candidate, "protects her son in +babyhood, and a father when his offspring is growing up. But the man of +warrior descent defends his brethren at all times. Such is the custom of +the world, and such is my state. I dwell on the heads of the strong!" + +Therefore those assembled together looked with great respect upon the +man of valour. + +Devasharma, the fourth suitor, contented himself with listening to the +others, who fancied that he was overawed by their cleverness. And when +it came to his turn he simply remarked, "Silence is better than speech." +Being further pressed, he said, "A wise man will not proclaim his age, +nor a deception practiced upon himself, nor his riches, nor the loss +of riches, nor family faults, nor incantations, nor conjugal love, nor +medicinal prescriptions, nor religious duties, nor gifts, nor reproach, +nor the infidelity of his wife." + +Thus ended the first trial. The master of the house dismissed the +two former speakers, with many polite expressions and some trifling +presents. Then having given betel to them, scented their garments with +attar, and sprinkled rose-water over their heads, he accompanied them to +the door, showing much regret. The two latter speakers he begged to come +on the next day. + +Gunakar and Devasharma did not fail. When they entered the assembly-room +and took the seats pointed out to them, the father said, "Be ye pleased +to explain and make manifest the effects of your mental qualities. So +shall I judge of them." + +"I have made," said Gunakar, "a four-wheeled carriage, in which the +power resides to carry you in a moment wherever you may purpose to go." + +"I have such power over the angel of death," said Devasharma, "that I +can at all times raise a corpse, and enable my friends to do the same." + +Now tell me by thy brains, O warrior King Vikram, which of these two +youths was the fitter husband for the maid? + +Either the Raja could not answer the question, or perhaps he would not, +being determined to break the spell which had already kept him walking +to and fro for so many hours. Then the Baital, who had paused to let +his royal carrier commit himself, seeing that the attempt had failed, +proceeded without making any further comment. + +The beautiful Unmadini was brought out, but she hung down her head and +made no reply. Yet she took care to move both her eyes in the direction +of Devasharma. Whereupon Haridas, quoting the proverb that "pearls +string with pearls," formally betrothed to him his daughter. The soldier +suitor twisted the ends of his mustachios into his eyes, which were red +with wrath, and fumbled with his fingers about the hilt of his sword. +But he was a man of noble birth, and presently his anger passed away. + +Mahasani the poet, however, being a shameless person--and when can we be +safe from such?--forced himself into the assembly and began to rage and +to storm, and to quote proverbs in a loud tone of voice. He remarked +that in this world women are a mine of grief, a poisonous root, the +abode of solicitude, the destroyers of resolution, the occasioners of +fascination, and the plunderers of all virtuous qualities. From the +daughter he passed to the father, and after saying hard things of him as +a "Maha-Brahman,"[155] who took cows and gold and worshipped a monkey, +he fell with a sweeping censure upon all priests and sons of priests, +more especially Devasharma. As the bystanders remonstrated with him, +he became more violent, and when Haridas, who was a weak man, appeared +terrified by his voice, look, and gesture, he swore a solemn oath that +despite all the betrothals in the world, unless Unmadini became his wife +he would commit suicide, and as a demon haunt the house and injure the +inmates. + +Gunakar the soldier exhorted this shameless poet to slay himself at +once, and to go where he pleased. But as Haridas reproved the warrior +for inhumanity, Mahasani nerved by spite, love, rage, and perversity to +an heroic death, drew a noose from his bosom, rushed out of the house, +and suspended himself to the nearest tree. + +And, true enough, as the midnight gong struck, he appeared in the form +of a gigantic and malignant Rakshasa (fiend), dreadfully frightened the +household of Haridas, and carried off the lovely Unmadini, leaving word +that she was to be found on the topmost peak of Himalaya. + +The unhappy father hastened to the house where Devasharma lived. There, +weeping bitterly and wringing his hands in despair, he told the terrible +tale, and besought his intended son-in-law to be up and doing. + +The young Brahman at once sought his late rival, and asked his aid. +This the soldier granted at once, although he had been nettled at being +conquered in love by a priestling. + +The carriage was at once made ready, and the suitors set out, bidding +the father be of good cheer, and that before sunset he should embrace +his daughter. They then entered the vehicle; Gunakar with cabalistic +words caused it to rise high in the air, and Devasharma put to flight +the demon by reciting the sacred verse,[156] "Let us meditate on the +supreme splendour (or adorable light) of that Divine Ruler (the sun) +who may illuminate our understandings. Venerable men, guided by the +intelligence, salute the divine sun (Sarvitri) with oblations and +praise. Om!" + +Then they returned with the girl to the house, and Haridas blessed them, +praising the sun aloud in the joy of his heart. Lest other accidents +might happen, he chose an auspicious planetary conjunction, and at a +fortunate moment rubbed turmeric upon his daughter's hands. + +The wedding was splendid, and broke the hearts of twenty-four rivals. +In due time Devasharma asked leave from his father-in-law to revisit his +home, and to carry with him his bride. This request being granted, he +set out accompanied by Gunakar the soldier, who swore not to leave the +couple before seeing them safe under their own roof-tree. + +It so happened that their road lay over the summits of the wild Vindhya +hills, where dangers of all kinds are as thick as shells upon the +shore of the deep. Here were rocks and jagged precipices making the +traveller's brain whirl when he looked into them. There impetuous +torrents roared and flashed down their beds of black stone, threatening +destruction to those who would cross them. Now the path was lost in the +matted thorny underwood and the pitchy shades of the jungle, deep and +dark as the valley of death. Then the thunder-cloud licked the earth +with its fiery tongue, and its voice shook the crags and filled their +hollow caves. At times, the sun was so hot, that wild birds fell dead +from the air. And at every moment the wayfarers heard the trumpeting of +giant elephants, the fierce howling of the tiger, the grisly laugh of +the foul hyaena, and the whimpering of the wild dogs as they coursed by +on the tracks of their prey. + +Yet, sustained by the five-armed god[157] the little party passed safely +through all these dangers. They had almost emerged from the damp glooms +of the forest into the open plains which skirt the southern base of the +hills, when one night the fair Unmadini saw a terrible vision. + +She beheld herself wading through a sluggish pool of muddy water, which +rippled, curdling as she stepped into it, and which, as she advanced, +darkened with the slime raised by her feet. She was bearing in her arms +the semblance of a sick child, which struggled convulsively and filled +the air with dismal wails. These cries seemed to be answered by a +multitude of other children, some bloated like toads, others mere +skeletons lying upon the bank, or floating upon the thick brown waters +of the pond. And all seemed to address their cries to her, as if she +were the cause of their weeping; nor could all her efforts quiet or +console them for a moment. + +When the bride awoke, she related all the particulars of her ill-omened +vision to her husband; and the latter, after a short pause, informed +her and his friend that a terrible calamity was about to befall them. He +then drew from his travelling wallet a skein of thread. This he divided +into three parts, one for each, and told his companions that in case of +grievous bodily injury, the bit of thread wound round the wounded +part would instantly make it whole. After which he taught them the +Mantra,[158] or mystical word by which the lives of men are restored to +their bodies, even when they have taken their allotted places amongst +the stars, and which for evident reasons I do not want to repeat. It +concluded, however, with the three Vyahritis, or sacred syllables--Bhuh, +Bhuvah, Svar! + +Raja Vikram was perhaps a little disappointed by this declaration. He +made no remark, however, and the Baital thus pursued: + +As Devasharma foretold, an accident of a terrible nature did occur. +On the evening of that day, as they emerged upon the plain, they were +attacked by the Kiratas, or savage tribes of the mountain.[159] A small, +black, wiry figure, armed with a bow and little cane arrows, stood in +their way, signifying by gestures that they must halt and lay down their +arms. As they continued to advance, he began to speak with a shrill +chattering, like the note of an affrighted bird, his restless red eyes +glared with rage, and he waved his weapon furiously round his head. Then +from the rocks and thickets on both sides of the path poured a shower of +shafts upon the three strangers. + +The unequal combat did not last long. Gunakar, the soldier, wielded his +strong right arm with fatal effect and struck down some threescore of +the foes. But new swarms came on like angry hornets buzzing round the +destroyer of their nests. And when he fell, Devasharma, who had left +him for a moment to hide his beautiful wife in the hollow of a tree, +returned, and stood fighting over the body of his friend till he also, +overpowered by numbers, was thrown to the ground. Then the wild men, +drawing their knives, cut off the heads of their helpless enemies, +stripped their bodies of all their ornaments, and departed, leaving the +woman unharmed for good luck. + +When Unmadini, who had been more dead than alive during the affray, +found silence succeed to the horrid din of shrieks and shouts, she +ventured to creep out of her refuge in the hollow tree. And what does +she behold? her husband and his friend are lying upon the ground, with +their heads at a short distance from their bodies. She sat down and wept +bitterly. + +Presently, remembering the lesson which she had learned that very +morning, she drew forth from her bosom the bit of thread and proceeded +to use it. She approached the heads to the bodies, and tied some of +the magic string round each neck. But the shades of evening were fast +deepening, and in her agitation, confusion and terror, she made a +curious mistake by applying the heads to the wrong trunks. After which, +she again sat down, and having recited her prayers, she pronounced, as +her husband had taught her, the life-giving incantation. + +In a moment the dead men were made alive. They opened their eyes, shook +themselves, sat up and handled their limbs as if to feel that all was +right. But something or other appeared to them all wrong. They placed +their palms upon their foreheads, and looked downwards, and started to +their feet and began to stare at their hands and legs. Upon which they +scrutinized the very scanty articles of dress which the wild men had +left upon them, and lastly one began to eye the other with curious +puzzled looks. + +The wife, attributing their gestures to the confusion which one might +expect to find in the brains of men who have just undergone so great a +trial as amputation of the head must be, stood before them for a +moment or two. She then with a cry of gladness flew to the bosom of +the individual who was, as she supposed, her husband. He repulsed her, +telling her that she was mistaken. Then, blushing deeply in spite of her +other emotions, she threw both her beautiful arms round the neck of the +person who must be, she naturally concluded, the right man. To her utter +confusion, he also shrank back from her embrace. + +Then a horrid thought flashed across her mind: she perceived her fatal +mistake, and her heart almost ceased to beat. + +"This is thy wife!" cried the Brahman's head that had been fastened to +the soldier's body. + +"No; she is thy wife!" replied the soldier's head which had been placed +upon the Brahman's body. + +"Then she is my wife!" rejoined the first compound creature. + +"By no means! she is my wife," cried the second. + +"What then am I?" asked Devasharma-Gunakar. + +"What do you think I am?" answered Gunakar-Devasharma, with another +question. + +"Unmadini shall be mine," quoth the head. + +"You lie, she shall be mine," shouted the body. + +"Holy Yama,[160] hear the villain," exclaimed both of them at the same +moment. + + * * * * * + +In short, having thus begun, they continued to quarrel violently, each +one declaring that the beautiful Unmadini belonged to him, and to him +only. How to settle their dispute Brahma the Lord of creatures only +knows. I do not, except by cutting off their heads once more, and by +putting them in their proper places. And I am quite sure, O Raja Vikram! +that thy wits are quite unfit to answer the question, To which of +these two is the beautiful Unmadini wife? It is even said--amongst us +Baitals--that when this pair of half-husbands appeared in the presence +of the Just King, a terrible confusion arose, each head declaiming all +the sins and peccadilloes which its body had committed, and that Yama +the holy ruler himself hit his forefinger with vexation.[161] + +Here the young prince Dharma Dhwaj burst out laughing at the ridiculous +idea of the wrong heads. And the warrior king, who, like single-minded +fathers in general, was ever in the idea that his son had a velleity for +deriding and otherwise vexing him, began a severe course of reproof. He +reminded the prince of the common saying that merriment without cause +degrades a man in the opinion of his fellows, and indulged him with a +quotation extensively used by grave fathers, namely, that the loud laugh +bespeaks a vacant mind. After which he proceeded with much pompousness +to pronounce the following opinion: + +"It is said in the Shastras----" + +"Your majesty need hardly display so much erudition! Doubtless it +comes from the lips of Jayudeva or some other one of your Nine Gems of +Science, who know much more about their songs and their stanzas than +they do about their scriptures," insolently interrupted the Baital, who +never lost an opportunity of carping at those reverend men. + +"It is said in the Shastras," continued Raja Vikram sternly, after +hesitating whether he should or should not administer a corporeal +correction to the Vampire, "that Mother Ganga[162] is the queen amongst +rivers, and the mountain Sumeru[163] is the monarch among mountains, and +the tree Kalpavriksha[164] is the king of all trees, and the head of +man is the best and most excellent of limbs. And thus, according to this +reason, the wife belonged to him whose noblest position claimed her." + +"The next thing your majesty will do, I suppose," continued the +Baital, with a sneer, "is to support the opinions of the Digambara, who +maintains that the soul is exceedingly rarefied, confined to one place, +and of equal dimensions with the body, or the fancies of that worthy +philosopher Jaimani, who, conceiving soul and mind and matter to be +things purely synonymous, asserts outwardly and writes in his books that +the brain is the organ of the mind which is acted upon by the immortal +soul, but who inwardly and verily believes that the brain is the mind, +and consequently that the brain is the soul or spirit or whatever you +please to call it; in fact, that soul is a natural faculty of the body. +A pretty doctrine, indeed, for a Brahman to hold. You might as well +agree with me at once that the soul of man resides, when at home, either +in a vein in the breast, or in the pit of his stomach, or that half of +it is in a man's brain and the other or reasoning half is in his heart, +an organ of his body." + +"What has all this string of words to do with the matter, Vampire?" +asked Raja Vikram angrily. + +"Only," said the demon laughing, "that in my opinion, as opposed to the +Shastras and to Raja Vikram, that the beautiful Unmadini belonged, +not to the head part but to the body part. Because the latter has an +immortal soul in the pit of its stomach, whereas the former is a box of +bone, more or less thick, and contains brains which are of much the same +consistence as those of a calf." + +"Villain!" exclaimed the Raja, "does not the soul or conscious life +enter the body through the sagittal suture and lodge in the +brain, thence to contemplate, through the same opening, the divine +perfections?" + +"I must, however, bid you farewell for the moment, O warrior king, +Sakadhipati-Vikramadityal[165]! I feel a sudden and ardent desire to +change this cramped position for one more natural to me." + +The warrior monarch had so far committed himself that he could not +prevent the Vampire from flitting. But he lost no more time in following +him than a grain of mustard, in its fall, stays on a cow's horn. And +when he had thrown him over his shoulder, the king desired him of his +own accord to begin a new tale. + +"O my left eyelid flutters," exclaimed the Baital in despair, "my heart +throbs, my sight is dim: surely now beginneth the end. It is as Vidhata +hath written on my forehead--how can it be otherwise[166]? Still listen, +O mighty Raja, whilst I recount to you a true story, and Saraswati[167] +sit on my tongue." + + + + +THE VAMPIRE'S TENTH STORY [168] -- Of the Marvellous Delicacy of Three Queens. + + +The Baital said, O king, in the Gaur country, Vardhman by name, there +is a city, and one called Gunshekhar was the Raja of that land. His +minister was one Abhaichand, a Jain, by whose teachings the king also +came into the Jain faith. + +The worship of Shiva and of Vishnu, gifts of cows, gifts of lands, gifts +of rice balls, gaming and spirit-drinking, all these he prohibited. In +the city no man could get leave to do them, and as for bones, into +the Ganges no man was allowed to throw them, and in these matters the +minister, having taken orders from the king, caused a proclamation to +be made about the city, saying, "Whoever these acts shall do, the Raja +having confiscated, will punish him and banish him from the city." + +Now one day the Diwan[169] began to say to the Raja, "O great king, to +the decisions of the Faith be pleased to give ear. Whosoever takes the +life of another, his life also in the future birth is taken: this very +sin causes him to be born again and again upon earth and to die And thus +he ever continues to be born again and to die. Hence for one who has +found entrance into this world to cultivate religion is right and +proper. Be pleased to behold! By love, by wrath, by pain, by desire, +and by fascination overpowered, the gods Brahma, Vishnu, and Mahadeva +(Shiva) in various ways upon the earth are ever becoming incarnate. +Far better than they is the Cow, who is free from passion, enmity, +drunkenness, anger, covetousness, and inordinate affection, who supports +mankind, and whose progeny in many ways give ease and solace to the +creatures of the world These deities and sages (munis) believe in the +Cow.[170] + +"For such reason to believe in the gods is not good. Upon this earth +be pleased to believe in the Cow. It is our duty to protect the life of +everyone, beginning from the elephant, through ants, beasts, and birds, +up to man. In the world righteousness equal to that there is none. Those +who, eating the flesh of other creatures, increase their own flesh, +shall in the fulness of time assuredly obtain the fruition of Narak +[17l]; hence for a man it is proper to attend to the conversation of +life. They who understand not the pain of other creatures, and who +continue to slay and to devour them, last but few days in the land, and +return to mundane existence, maimed, limping, one-eyed, blind, dwarfed, +hunchbacked, and imperfect in such wise. Just as they consume the bodies +of beasts and of birds, even so they end by spoiling their own bodies. +From drinking spirits also the great sin arises, hence the consuming of +spirits and flesh is not advisable." + +The minister having in this manner explained to the king the sentiments +of his own mind, so brought him over to the Jain faith, that whatever +he said, so the king did. Thus in Brahmans, in Jogis, in Janganis, in +Sevras, in Sannyasis,[172] and in religious mendicants, no man believed, +and according to this creed the rule was carried on. + +Now one day, being in the power of Death, Raja Gunshekhar died. Then +his son Dharmadhwaj sat upon the carpet (throne), and began to rule. +Presently he caused the minister Abhaichand to be seized, had his head +shaved all but seven locks of hair, ordered his face to be blackened, +and mounting him on an ass, with drums beaten, had him led all about the +city, and drove him from the kingdom. From that time he carried on his +rule free from all anxiety. + +It so happened that in the season of spring, the king Dharmadhwaj, +taking his queens with him, went for a stroll in the garden, where there +was a large tank with lotuses blooming within it. The Raja admiring its +beauty, took off his clothes and went down to bathe. + +After plucking a flower and coming to the bank, he was going to give it +into the hands of one of his queens, when it slipped from his fingers, +fell upon her foot, and broke it with the blow. Then the Raja being +alarmed, at once came out of the tank, and began to apply remedies to +her. + +Hereupon night came on, and the moon shone brightly: the falling of its +rays on the body of the second queen formed blisters And suddenly from +a distance the sound of a wooden pestle came out of a householder's +dwelling, when the third queen fainted away with a severe pain in the +head. + +Having spoken thus much the Baital said "O my king! of these three +which is the most delicate?" The Raja answered, "She indeed is the most +delicate who fainted in consequence of the headache." The Baital hearing +this speech, went and hung himself from the very same tree, and the +Raja, having gone there and taken him down and fastened him in the +bundle and placed him on his shoulder, carried him away. + + + + +THE VAMPIRE'S ELEVENTH STORY -- Which Puzzles Raja Vikram. + + +There is a queer time coming, O Raja Vikram!--a queer time coming +(said the Vampire), a queer time coming. Elderly people like you talk +abundantly about the good old days that were, and about the degeneracy +of the days that are. I wonder what you would say if you could but look +forward a few hundred years. + +Brahmans shall disgrace themselves by becoming soldiers and being +killed, and Serviles (Shudras) shall dishonour themselves by wearing the +thread of the twice-born, and by refusing to be slaves; in fact, society +shall be all "mouth" and mixed castes.[173] The courts of justice shall +be disused; the great works of peace shall no longer be undertaken; wars +shall last six weeks, and their causes shall be clean forgotten; the +useful arts and great sciences shall die starved; there shall be no Gems +of Science; there shall be a hospital for destitute kings, those, at +least, who do not lose their heads, and no Vikrama---- + +A severe shaking stayed for a moment the Vampire's tongue. + +He presently resumed. Briefly, building tanks feeding Brahmans; lying +when one ought to lie; suicide, the burning of widows, and the burying +of live children, shall become utterly unfashionable. + +The consequence of this singular degeneracy, O mighty Vikram, will +be that strangers shall dwell beneath the roof tree in Bharat Khanda +(India), and impure barbarians shall call the land their own. They come +from a wonderful country, and I am most surprised that they bear it. The +sky which ought to be gold and blue is there grey, a kind of dark white; +the sun looks deadly pale, and the moon as if he were dead.[174] The +sea, when not dirty green, glistens with yellowish foam, and as you +approach the shore, tall ghastly cliffs, like the skeletons of giants, +stand up to receive or ready to repel. During the greater part of the +sun's Dakhshanayan (southern declination) the country is covered with a +sort of cold white stuff which dazzles the eyes; and at such times the +air is obscured with what appears to be a shower of white feathers or +flocks of cotton. At other seasons there is a pale glare produced by the +mist clouds which spread themselves over the lower firmament. Even the +faces of the people are white; the men are white when not painted blue; +the women are whiter, and the children are whitest: these indeed often +have white hair. + +"Truly," exclaimed Dharma Dhwaj, "says the proverb, 'Whoso seeth the +world telleth many a lie.'" + +At present (resumed the Vampire, not heeding the interruption), they run +about naked in the woods, being merely Hindu outcastes. Presently +they will change--the wonderful white Pariahs! They will eat all food +indifferently, domestic fowls, onions, hogs fed in the street, donkeys, +horses, hares, and (most horrible!) the flesh of the sacred cow. +They will imbibe what resembles meat of colocynth, mixed with water, +producing a curious frothy liquid, and a fiery stuff which burns the +mouth, for their milk will be mostly chalk and pulp of brains; they will +ignore the sweet juices of fruits and sugar-cane, and as for the pure +element they will drink it, but only as medicine, They will shave their +beards instead of their heads, and stand upright when they should sit +down, and squat upon a wooden frame instead of a carpet, and appear +in red and black like the children of Yama.[175] They will never offer +sacrifices to the manes of ancestors, leaving them after their death +to fry in the hottest of places. Yet will they perpetually quarrel and +fight about their faith; for their tempers are fierce, and they would +burst if they could not harm one another. Even now the children, who +amuse themselves with making puddings on the shore, that is to say, +heaping up the sand, always end their little games with "punching," +which means shutting the hand and striking one another's heads, and it +is soon found that the children are the fathers of the men. + +These wonderful white outcastes will often be ruled by female chiefs, +and it is likely that the habit of prostrating themselves before a woman +who has not the power of cutting off a single head, may account +for their unusual degeneracy and uncleanness. They will consider no +occupation so noble as running after a jackal; they will dance for +themselves, holding on to strange women, and they will take a pride in +playing upon instruments, like young music girls. + +The women, of course, relying upon the aid of the female chieftains, +will soon emancipate themselves from the rules of modesty. They will +eat with their husbands and with other men, and yawn and sit carelessly +before them showing the backs of their heads. They will impudently +quote the words, "By confinement at home, even under affectionate and +observant guardians, women are not secure, but those are really safe who +are guarded by their own inclinations "; as the poet sang-- + + Woman obeys one only word, her heart. + +They will not allow their husbands to have more than one wife, and +even the single wife will not be his slave when he needs her services, +busying herself in the collection of wealth, in ceremonial purification, +and feminine duty; in the preparation of daily food and in the +superintendence of household utensils. What said Rama of Sita his wife? +"If I chanced to be angry, she bore my impatience like the patient earth +without a murmur; in the hour of necessity she cherished me as a mother +does her child; in the moments of repose she was a lover to me; in times +of gladness she was to me as a friend." And it is said, "a religious +wife assists her husband in his worship with a spirit as devout as his +own. She gives her whole mind to make him happy; she is as faithful to +him as a shadow to the body, and she esteems him, whether poor or rich, +good or bad, handsome or deformed. In his absence or his sickness she +renounces every gratification; at his death she dies with him, and he +enjoys heaven as the fruit of her virtuous deeds. Whereas if she be +guilty of many wicked actions and he should die first, he must suffer +much for the demerits of his wife." + +But these women will talk aloud, and scold as the braying ass, and make +the house a scene of variance, like the snake with the ichneumon, +the owl with the crow, for they have no fear of losing their noses or +parting with their ears. They will (O my mother!) converse with strange +men and take their hands; they will receive presents from them, and, +worst of all, they will show their white faces openly without the least +sense of shame; they will ride publicly in chariots and mount horses, +whose points they pride themselves upon knowing, and eat and drink in +crowded places--their husbands looking on the while, and perhaps even +leading them through the streets. And she will be deemed the pinnacle of +the pagoda of perfection, that most excels in wit and shamelessness, and +who can turn to water the livers of most men. They will dance and sing +instead of minding their children, and when these grow up they will send +them out of the house to shift for themselves, and care little if they +never see them again.[176] But the greatest sin of all will be this: +when widowed they will ever be on the look-out for a second husband, and +instances will be known of women fearlessly marrying three, four, and +five times.[177] You would think that all this licence satisfies them. +But no! The more they have the more their weak minds covet. The men have +admitted them to an equality, they will aim at an absolute superiority, +and claim respect and homage; they will eternally raise tempests about +their rights, and if anyone should venture to chastise them as they +deserve, they would call him a coward and run off to the judge. + +The men will, I say, be as wonderful about their women as about all +other matters. The sage of Bharat Khanda guards the frail sex strictly, +knowing its frailty, and avoids teaching it to read and write, which it +will assuredly use for a bad purpose. For women are ever subject to the +god[178] with the sugar-cane bow and string of bees, and arrows tipped +with heating blossoms, and to him they will ever surrender man, dhan, +tan--mind, wealth, and body. When, by exceeding cunning, all human +precautions have been made vain, the wise man bows to Fate, and he +forgets, or he tries to forget, the past. Whereas this race of white +Pariahs will purposely lead their women into every kind of temptation, +and, when an accident occurs, they will rage at and accuse them, killing +ten thousand with a word, and cause an uproar, and talk scandal and +be scandalized, and go before the magistrate, and make all the evil as +public as possible. One would think they had in every way done their +duty to their women! + +And when all this change shall have come over them, they will feel +restless and take flight, and fall like locusts upon the Aryavartta +(land of India). Starving in their own country, they will find enough +to eat here, and to carry away also. They will be mischievous as the saw +with which ornament-makers trim their shells, and cut ascending as well +as descending. To cultivate their friendship will be like making a gap +in the water, and their partisans will ever fare worse than their foes. +They will be selfish as crows, which, though they eat every kind of +flesh, will not permit other birds to devour that of the crow. + +In the beginning they will hire a shop near the mouth of mother Ganges, +and they will sell lead and bullion, fine and coarse woollen cloths, +and all the materials for intoxication. Then they will begin to send for +soldiers beyond the sea, and to enlist warriors in Zambudwipa (India). +They will from shopkeepers become soldiers: they will beat and be +beaten; they will win and lose; but the power of their star and the +enchantments of their Queen Kompani, a daina or witch who can draw the +blood out of a man and slay him with a look, will turn everything to +their good. Presently the noise of their armies shall be as the roaring +of the sea; the dazzling of their arms shall blind the eyes like +lightning; their battle-fields shall be as the dissolution of the world; +and the slaughter-ground shall resemble a garden of plantain trees after +a storm. At length they shall spread like the march of a host of ants +over the land They will swear, "Dehar Ganga[179]!" and they hate nothing +so much as being compelled to destroy an army, to take and loot a city, +or to add a rich slip of territory to their rule. And yet they will go +on killing and capturing and adding region to region, till the Abode of +Snow (Himalaya) confines them to the north, the Sindhu-naddi (Incus) +to the west, and elsewhere the sea. Even in this, too, they will +demean themselves as lords and masters, scarcely allowing poor +Samudradevta[180] to rule his own waves. + +Raja Vikram was in a silent mood, otherwise he would not have allowed +such ill-omened discourse to pass uninterrupted. Then the Baital, who in +vain had often paused to give the royal carrier a chance of asking him a +curious question, continued his recital in a dissonant and dissatisfied +tone of voice. + +By my feet and your head,[181] O warrior king! it will fare badly +in those days for the Rajas of Hindustan, when the red-coated men of +Shaka[182] shall come amongst them. Listen to my words. + +In the Vindhya Mountain there will be a city named Dharmapur, whose king +will be called Mahabul. He will be a mighty warrior, well-skilled in the +dhanur-veda (art of war)[183], and will always lead his own armies to +the field. He will duly regard all the omens, such as a storm at the +beginning of the march, an earthquake, the implements of war dropping +from the hands of the soldiery, screaming vultures passing over or +walking near the army, the clouds and the sun's rays waxing red, thunder +in a clear sky, the moon appearing small as a star, the dropping of +blood from the clouds, the falling of lightning bolts, darkness filling +the four quarters of the heavens, a corpse or a pan of water being +carried to the right of the army, the sight of a female beggar with +dishevelled hair, dressed in red, and preceding the vanguard, the +starting of the flesh over the left ribs of the commander-in-chief, and +the weeping or turning back of the horses when urged forward. + +He will encourage his men to single combats, and will carefully train +them to gymnastics. Many of the wrestlers and boxers will be so strong +that they will often beat all the extremities of the antagonist into his +body, or break his back, or rend him into two pieces. He will promise +heaven to those who shall die in the front of battle and he will have +them taught certain dreadful expressions of abuse to be interchanged +with the enemy when commencing the contest. Honours will be conferred +on those who never turn their backs in an engagement, who manifest a +contempt of death, who despise fatigue, as well as the most formidable +enemies, who shall be found invincible in every combat, and who display +a courage which increases before danger, like the glory of the sun +advancing to his meridian splendour. + +But King Mahabul will be attacked by the white Pariahs, who, as usual, +will employ against him gold, fire, and steel. With gold they will win +over his best men, and persuade them openly to desert when the army is +drawn out for battle. They will use the terrible "fire weapon,[184]" +large and small tubes, which discharge flame and smoke, and bullets as +big as those hurled by the bow of Bharata.[185] And instead of using +swords and shields, they will fix daggers to the end of their tubes, and +thrust with them like lances. + +Mahabul, distinguished by valour and military skill, will march out of +his city to meet the white foe. In front will be the ensigns, bells, +cows'-tails, and flags, the latter painted with the bird Garura,[186] +the bull of Shiva, the Bauhinia tree, the monkey-god Hanuman, the lion +and the tiger, the fish, an alms-dish, and seven palm-trees. Then will +come the footmen armed with fire-tubes, swords and shields, spears and +daggers, clubs, and bludgeons. They will be followed by fighting men +on horses and oxen, on camels and elephants. The musicians, the +water-carriers, and lastly the stores on carriages, will bring up the +rear. + +The white outcastes will come forward in a long thin red thread, and +vomiting fire like the Jwalamukhi.[187] King Mahabul will receive them +with his troops formed in a circle; another division will be in the +shape of a halfmoon; a third like a cloud, whilst others shall represent +a lion, a tiger, a carriage, a lily, a giant, and a bull. But as the +elephants will all turn round when they feel the fire, and trample upon +their own men, and as the cavalry defiling in front of the host will +openly gallop away; Mahabul, being thus without resource, will enter his +palanquin, and accompanied by his queen and their only daughter, will +escape at night-time into the forest. + +The unfortunate three will be deserted by their small party, and live +for a time on jungle food, fruits and roots; they will even be compelled +to eat game. After some days they will come in sight of a village, which +Mahabul will enter to obtain victuals. There the wild Bhils, famous for +long years, will come up, and surrounding the party, will bid the Raja +throw down his arms. Thereupon Mahabul, skilful in aiming, twanging and +wielding the bow on all sides, so as to keep off the bolts of the +enemy, will discharge his bolts so rapidly, that one will drive forward +another, and none of the barbarians will be able to approach. But he +will have failed to bring his quiver containing an inexhaustible store +of arms, some of which, pointed with diamonds, shall have the faculty +of returning again to their case after they have done their duty. The +conflict will continue three hours, and many of the Bhils will be slain: +at length a shaft will cleave the king's skull, he will fall dead, and +one of the wild men will come up and cut off his head. + +When the queen and the princess shall have seen that Mahabul fell dead, +they will return to the forest weeping and beating their bosoms. They +will thus escape the Bhils, and after journeying on for four miles, at +length they will sit down wearied, and revolve many thoughts in their +minds. + +They are very lovely (continued the Vampire), as I see them with the eye +of clear-seeing. What beautiful hair! it hangs down like the tail of +the cow of Tartary, or like the thatch of a house; it is shining as +oil, dark as the clouds, black as blackness itself. What charming faces! +likest to water-lilies, with eyes as the stones in unripe mangos, noses +resembling the beaks of parrots, teeth like pearls set in corals, ears +like those of the redthroated vulture, and mouths like the water of +life. What excellent forms! breasts like boxes containing essences, the +unopened fruit of plantains or a couple of crabs; loins the width of a +span, like the middle of the viol; legs like the trunk of an elephant, +and feet like the yellow lotus. + +And a fearful place is that jungle, a dense dark mass of thorny shrubs, +and ropy creepers, and tall canes, and tangled brake, and gigantic +gnarled trees, which groan wildly in the night wind's embrace. But a +wilder horror urges the unhappy women on; they fear the polluting touch +of the Bhils; once more they rise and plunge deeper into its gloomy +depths. + +The day dawns. The white Pariahs have done their usual work, They have +cut off the hands of some, the feet and heads of others, whilst many +they have crushed into shapeless masses, or scattered in pieces upon the +ground. The field is strewed with corpses, the river runs red, so that +the dogs and jackals swim in blood; the birds of prey sitting on the +branches, drink man's life from the stream, and enjoy the sickening +smell of burnt flesh. + +Such will be the scenes acted in the fair land of Bharat. + +Perchance two white outcastes, father and son, who with a party of men +are scouring the forest and slaying everything, fall upon the path which +the women have taken shortly before. Their attention is attracted by +footprints leading towards a place full of tigers, leopards, bears, +wolves, and wild dogs. And they are utterly confounded when, after +inspection, they discover the sex of the wanderers. + +"How is it," shall say the father, "that the footprints of mortals are +seen in this part of the forest?" + +The son shall reply, "Sir, these are the marks of women's feet: a man's +foot would not be so small." + +"It is passing strange," shall rejoin the elder white Pariah, "but thou +speakest truth. Certainly such a soft and delicate foot cannot belong to +anyone but a woman." + +"They have only just left the track," shall continue the son, "and look! +this is the step of a married woman. See how she treads on the inside of +her sole, because of the bending of her ankles." And the younger white +outcaste shall point to the queen's footprints. + +"Come, let us search the forest for them," shall cry the father, "what +an opportunity of finding wives fortune has thrown in our hands. But no! +thou art in error," he shall continue, after examining the track pointed +out by his son, "in supposing this to be the sign of a matron. Look at +the other, it is much longer; the toes have scarcely touched the ground, +whereas the marks of the heels are deep. Of a truth this must be +the married woman." And the elder white outcaste shall point to the +footprints of the princess. + +"Then," shall reply the son, who admires the shorter foot, "let us first +seek them, and when we find them, give to me her who has the short feet, +and take the other to wife thyself." + +Having made this agreement they shall proceed on their way, and +presently they shall find the women lying on the earth, half dead +with fatigue and fear. Their legs and feet are scratched and torn by +brambles, their ornaments have fallen off, and their garments are +in strips. The two white outcastes find little difficulty, the first +surprise over, in persuading the unhappy women to follow them home, and +with great delight, conformably to their arrangement, each takes up his +prize on his horse and rides back to the tents. The son takes the queen, +and the father the princess. + +In due time two marriages come to pass; the father, according to +agreement, espouses the long foot, and the son takes to wife the short +foot. And after the usual interval, the elder white outcaste, who had +married the daughter, rejoices at the birth of a boy, and the younger +white outcaste, who had married the mother, is gladdened by the sight of +a girl. + +Now then, by my feet and your head, O warrior king Vikram, answer me one +question. What relationship will there be between the children of the +two white Pariahs? + +Vikram's brow waxed black as a charcoal-burner's, when he again heard +the most irreverent oath ever proposed to mortal king. The question +presently attracted his attention, and he turned over the Baital's +words in his head, confusing the ties of filiality, brotherhood, and +relationship, and connection in general. + +"Hem!" said the warrior king, at last perplexed, and remembering, in his +perplexity, that he had better hold his tongue--"ahem!" + +"I think your majesty spoke?" asked the Vampire, in an inquisitive and +insinuating tone of voice. + +"Hem!" ejaculated the monarch. + +The Baital held his peace for a few minutes, coughing once or twice +impatiently. He suspected that the extraordinary nature of this last +tale, combined with the use of the future tense, had given rise to a +taciturnity so unexpected in the warrior king. He therefore asked if +Vikram the Brave would not like to hear another little anecdote. + +This time the king did not even say "hem!" Having walked at an +unusually rapid pace, he distinguished at a distance the fire kindled by +the devotee, and he hurried towards it with an effort which left him no +breath wherewith to speak, even had he been so inclined. + +"Since your majesty is so completely dumbfoundered by it, perhaps this +acute young prince may be able to answer my question?" insinuated the +Baital, after a few minutes of anxious suspense. + +But Dharma Dhwaj answered not a syllable. + + + CONCLUSION. + +At Raja Vikram's silence the Baital was greatly surprised, and he +praised the royal courage and resolution to the skies. Still he did not +give up the contest at once. + +"Allow me, great king," pursued the Demon, in a dry tone of voice, "to +wish you joy. After so many failures you have at length succeeded in +repressing your loquacity. I will not stop to enquire whether it was +humility and self-restraint which prevented your answering my last +question, or whether Rajait was mere ignorance and inability. Of course +I suspect the latter, but to say the truth your condescension in at last +taking a Vampire's advice, flatters me so much, that I will not look too +narrowly into cause or motive." + +Raja Vikram winced, but maintained a stubborn silence, squeezing his +lips lest they should open involuntarily. + +"Now, however, your majesty has mortified, we will suppose, a somewhat +exacting vanity, I also will in my turn forego the pleasure which I had +anticipated in seeing you a corpse and in entering your royal body for +a short time, just to know how queer it must feel to be a king. And what +is more, I will now perform my original promise, and you shall derive +from me a benefit which none but myself can bestow. First, however, +allow me to ask you, will you let me have a little more air?" + +Dharma Dhwaj pulled his father's sleeve, but this time Raja Vikram +required no reminder: wild horses or the executioner's saw, beginning +at the shoulder, would not have drawn a word from him. Observing his +obstinate silence, the Baital, with an ominous smile, continued: + +"Now give ear, O warrior king, to what I am about to tell thee, and bear +in mind the giant's saying, 'A man is justified in killing one who has +a design to kill him.' The young merchant Mal Deo, who placed such +magnificent presents at your royal feet, and Shanta-Shil the devotee +saint, who works his spells, incantations, and magical rites in a +cemetery on the banks of the Godaveri river, are, as thou knowest, one +person--the terrible Jogi, whose wrath your father aroused in his folly, +and whose revenge your blood alone can satisfy. With regard to myself, +the oilman's son, the same Jogi, fearing lest I might interfere with his +projects of universal dominion, slew me by the power of his penance, +and has kept me suspended, a trap for you, head downwards from the +sires-tree. + +"That Jogi it was, you now know, who sent you to fetch me back to him on +your back. And when you cast me at his feet he will return thanks to you +and praise your valour, perseverance and resolution to the skies. I warn +you to beware. He will lead you to the shrine of Durga, and when he +has finished his adoration he will say to you, 'O great king, salute my +deity with the eight-limbed reverence.'" + +Here the Vampire whispered for a time and in a low tone, lest some +listening goblin might carry his words if spoken out loud to the ears of +the devotee Shanta-Shil. + +At the end of the monologue a rustling sound was heard. It proceeded +from the Baital, who was disengaging himself from the dead body in the +bundle, and the burden became sensibly lighter upon the monarch's back. + +The departing Baital, however, did not forget to bid farewell to the +warrior king and to his son. He complimented the former for the last +time, in his own way, upon the royal humility and the prodigious +self-mortification which he had displayed--qualities, he remarked, which +never failed to ensure the proprietor's success in all the worlds. + +Raja Vikram stepped out joyfully, and soon reached the burning ground. +There he found the Jogi, dressed in his usual habit, a deerskin thrown +over his back, and twisted reeds instead of a garment hanging round +his loins. The hair had fallen from his limbs and his skin was bleached +ghastly white by exposure to the elements. A fire seemed to proceed from +his mouth, and the matted locks dropping from his head to the ground +were changed by the rays of the sun to the colour of gold or saffron. He +had the beard of a goat and the ornaments of a king; his shoulders were +high and his arms long, reaching to his knees: his nails grew to such a +length as to curl round the ends of his fingers, and his feet resembled +those of a tiger. He was drumming upon a skull, and incessantly +exclaiming, "Ho, Kali! ho, Durga! ho, Devi!" + +As before, strange beings were holding their carnival in the Jogi's +presence. Monstrous Asuras, giant goblins, stood grimly gazing upon the +scene with fixed eyes and motionless features. Rakshasas and messengers +of Yama, fierce and hideous, assumed at pleasure the shapes of foul and +ferocious beasts. Nagas and Bhutas, partly human and partly bestial, +disported themselves in throngs about the upper air, and were dimly +seen in the faint light of the dawn. Mighty Daityas, Bramba-daityas, and +Pretas, the size of a man's thumb, or dried up like leaves, and Pisachas +of terrible power guarded the place. There were enormous goats, vivified +by the spirits of those who had slain Brahmans; things with the bodies +of men and the faces of horses, camels and monkeys; hideous worms +containing the souls of those priests who had drunk spirituous liquors; +men with one leg and one ear, and mischievous blood-sucking demons, who +in life had stolen church property. There were vultures, wretches that +had violated the beds of their spiritual fathers, restless ghosts that +had loved low-caste women, shades for whom funeral rites had not been +performed, and who could not cross the dread Vaitarani stream,[188] and +vital souls fresh from the horrors of Tamisra, or utter darkness, and +the Usipatra Vana, or the sword-leaved forest. Pale spirits, Alayas, +Gumas, Baitals, and Yakshas,[189] beings of a base and vulgar order, +glided over the ground, amongst corpses and skeletons animated by female +fiends, Dakinis, Yoginis, Hakinis, and Shankinis, which were dancing +in frightful revelry. The air was filled with supernatural sights and +sounds, cries of owls and jackals, cats and crows, dogs, asses, and +vultures, high above which rose the clashing of the bones with which the +Jogi sat drumming upon the skull before him, and tending a huge cauldron +of oil whose smoke was of blue fire. But as he raised his long lank +arm, silver-white with ashes, the demons fled, and a momentary silence +succeeded to their uproar. The tigers ceased to roar and the elephants +to scream; the bears raised their snouts from their foul banquets, and +the wolves dropped from their jaws the remnants of human flesh. And when +they disappeared, the hooting of the owl, and ghastly "ha! ha!" of the +curlew, and the howling of the jackal died away in the far distance, +leaving a silence still more oppressive. + +As Raja Vikram entered the burning-ground, the hollow sound of solitude +alone met his ear. Sadly wailed the wet autumnal blast. The tall gaunt +trees groaned aloud, and bowed and trembled like slaves bending before +their masters. Huge purple clouds and patches and lines of glaring +white mist coursed furiously across the black expanse of firmament, +discharging threads and chains and lozenges and balls of white and blue, +purple and pink lightning, followed by the deafening crash and roll of +thunder, the dreadful roaring of the mighty wind, and the torrents of +plashing rain. At times was heard in the distance the dull gurgling of +the swollen river, interrupted by explosions, as slips of earth-bank +fell headlong into the stream. But once more the Jogi raised his arm and +all was still: nature lay breathless, as if awaiting the effect of his +tremendous spells. + +The warrior king drew near the terrible man, unstrung his bundle from +his back, untwisted the portion which he held, threw open the cloth, +and exposed to Shanta-Shil's glittering eyes the corpse, which had now +recovered its proper form--that of a young child. Seeing it, the devotee +was highly pleased, and thanked Vikram the Brave, extolling his courage +and daring above any monarch that had yet lived. After which he repeated +certain charms facing towards the south, awakened the dead body, and +placed it in a sitting position. He then in its presence sacrificed +to his goddess, the White One,[190] all that he had ready by his +side--betel leaf and flowers, sandal wood and unbroken rice, fruits, +perfumes, and the flesh of man untouched by steel. Lastly, he half +filled his skull with burning embers, blew upon them till they shot +forth tongues of crimson light, serving as a lamp, and motioning the +Raja and his son to follow him, led the way to a little fane of the +Destroying Deity erected in a dark clump of wood, outside and close to +the burning ground. + +They passed through the quadrangular outer court of the temple whose +piazza was hung with deep shade.[191] In silence they circumambulated +the small central shrine, and whenever Shanta-Shil directed, Raja Vikram +entered the Sabha, or vestibule, and struck three times upon the gong, +which gave forth a loud and warning sound. + +They then passed over the threshold, and looked into the gloomy inner +depths. There stood Smashana-Kali,[192] the goddess, in her most horrid +form. She was a naked and very black woman, with half-severed head, +partly cut and partly painted, resting on her shoulder; and her tongue +lolled out from her wide yawning mouth[193]; her eyes were red like +those of a drunkard; and her eyebrows were of the same colour: her +thick coarse hair hung like a mantle to her heels. She was robed in an +elephant's hide, dried and withered, confined at the waist with a belt +composed of the hands of the giants whom she had slain in war: two dead +bodies formed her earrings, and her necklace was of bleached skulls. +Her four arms supported a scimitar, a noose, a trident, and a ponderous +mace. She stood with one leg on the breast of her husband, Shiva, and +she rested the other on his thigh. Before the idol lay the utensils of +worship, namely, dishes for the offerings, lamps, jugs, incense, copper +cups, conches and gongs; and all of them smelt of blood. + +As Raja Vikram and his son stood gazing upon the hideous spectacle, the +devotee stooped down to place his skull-lamp upon the ground, and drew +from out his ochre-coloured cloth a sharp sword which he hid behind his +back. + +"Prosperity to thine and thy son's for ever and ever, O mighty Vikram!" +exclaimed Shanta-Shil, after he had muttered a prayer before the image. +"Verily thou hast right royally redeemed thy pledge, and by the virtue +of thy presence all my wishes shall presently be accomplished. Behold! +the Sun is about to drive his car over the eastern hills, and our task +now ends. Do thou reverence before this my deity, worshipping the earth +through thy nose, and so prostrating thyself that thy eight limbs may +touch the ground.[194] Thus shall thy glory and splendour be great; the +Eight Powers[195] and the Nine Treasures shall be thine, and prosperity +shall ever remain under thy roof-tree." + +Raja Vikram, hearing these words, recalled suddenly to mind all that the +Vampire had whispered to him. He brought his joined hands open up to +his forehead, caused his two thumbs to touch his brow several times, and +replied with the greatest humility, + +"O pious person! I am a king ignorant of the way to do such obeisance. +Thou art a spiritual preceptor: be pleased to teach me and I will do +even as thou desirest." + +Then the Jogi, being a cunning man, fell into his own net. As he bent +him down to salute the goddess, Vikram, drawing his sword, struck him +upon the neck so violent a blow, that his head rolled from his body upon +the ground. At the same moment Dharma Dhwaj, seizing his father's arm, +pulled him out of the way in time to escape being crushed by the image, +which fell with the sound of thunder upon the floor of the temple. + +A small thin voice in the upper air was heard to cry, "A man is +justified in killing one who has the desire to kill him." Then glad +shouts of triumph and victory were heard in all directions. They +proceeded from the celestial choristers, the heavenly dancers, the +mistresses of the gods, and the nymphs of Indra's Paradise, who left +their beds of gold and precious stones, their seats glorious as the +meridian sun, their canals of crystal water, their perfumed groves, and +their gardens where the wind ever blows in softest breezes, to applaud +the valour and good fortune of the warrior king. + +At last the brilliant god, Indra himself, with the thousand eyes, rising +from the shade of the Parigat tree, the fragrance of whose flowers fills +the heavens, appeared in his car drawn by yellow steeds and cleaving the +thick vapours which surround the earth--whilst his attendants sounded +the heavenly drums and rained a shower of blossoms and perfumes--bade +the Vikramajit the Brave ask a boon. + +The Raja joined his hands and respectfully replied, + +"O mighty ruler of the lower firmament, let this my history become +famous throughout the world!" + +"It is well," rejoined the god. "As long as the sun and moon endure, and +the sky looks down upon the ground, so long shall this thy adventure be +remembered over all the earth. Meanwhile rule thou mankind." + +Thus saying, Indra retired to the delicious Amrawati[196] Vikram took up +the corpses and threw them into the cauldron which Shanta-Shil had been +tending. At once two heroes started into life, and Vikram said to them, +"When I call you, come!" + +With these mysterious words the king, followed by his son, returned +to the palace unmolested. As the Vampire had predicted, everything was +prosperous to him, and he presently obtained the remarkable titles, +Sakaro, or foe of the Sakas, and Sakadhipati-Vikramaditya. + +And when, after a long and happy life spent in bringing the world under +the shadow of one umbrella, and in ruling it free from care, the warrior +king Vikram entered the gloomy realms of Yama, from whom for mortals +there is no escape, he left behind him a name that endured amongst men +like the odour of the flower whose memory remains long after its form +has mingled with the dust.[197] + + + + +FOOTNOTES + + +[Footnote 1: Metamorphoseon, seu de Asino Aureo, libri Xl. The well known and +beautiful episode is in the fourth, the fifth, and the sixth books.] + +[Footnote 2: This ceremony will be explained in a future page.] + +[Footnote 3: A common exclamation of sorrow, surprise, fear, and other emotions. +It is especially used by women.] + +[Footnote 4: Quoted from view of the Hindoos, by William Ward, of Serampore (vol. +i. p. 25).] + +[Footnote 5: In Sanskrit, Vetala-pancha-Vinshati. "Baital" is the modern form of +"Vetala".] + +[Footnote 6: In Arabic, Badpai el Hakim.] + +[Footnote 7: Dictionnaire philosophique sub v. "Apocryphes."] + +[Footnote 8: I do not mean that rhymes were not known before the days of +Al-Islam, but that the Arabs popularized assonance and consonance in +Southern Europe.] + +[Footnote 9: "Vikrama" means "valour" or "prowess."] + +[Footnote 10: Mr. Ward of Serampore is unable to quote the names of more than +nine out of the eighteen, namely: Sanskrit, Prakrit, Naga, Paisacha, +Gandharba, Rakshasa, Ardhamagadi, Apa, and Guhyaka--most of them being +the languages of different orders of fabulous beings. He tells us, +however, that an account of these dialects may be found in the work +called Pingala.] + +[Footnote 11: Translated by Sir Wm. Jones, 1789; and by Professor Williams, 1856.] + +[Footnote 12: Translated by Professor H. H. Wilson.] + +[Footnote 13: The time was propitious to savans. Whilst Vikramaditya lived, +Magha, another king, caused to be written a poem called after his name +For each verse he is said to have paid to learned men a gold piece, +which amounted to a total of 5,280l.--a large sum in those days, which +preceded those of Paradise Lost. About the same period Karnata, a third +king, was famed for patronizing the learned men who rose to honour at +Vikram's court. Dhavaka, a poet of nearly the same period, received from +King Shriharsha the magnificent present of 10,000l. for a poem called +the Ratna-Mala.] + +[Footnote 14: Lieut. Wilford supports the theory that there were eight +Vikramadityas, the last of whom established the era. For further +particulars, the curious reader will consult Lassen's Anthologia, and +Professor H. H. Wilson's Essay on Vikram (New), As. Red.. ix. 117.] + +[Footnote 15: History tells us another tale. The god Indra and the King of Dhara +gave the kingdom to Bhartari-hari, another son of Gandhar-ba-Sena, by +a handmaiden. For some time, the brothers lived together; but presently +they quarrelled. Vikram being dismissed from court, wandered from place +to place in abject poverty, and at one time hired himself as a servant +to a merchant living in Guzerat. At length, Bhartari-hari, disgusted +with the world on account of the infidelity of his wife, to whom he was +ardently attached, became a religious devotee, and left the kingdom to +its fate. In the course of his travels, Vikram came to Ujjayani, and +finding it without a head, assumed the sovereignty. He reigned with +great splendour, conquering by his arms Utkala, Vanga, Kuch-bahar, +Guzerat, Somnat, Delhi, and other places; until, in his turn, he was +conquered, and slain by Shalivahan.] + +[Footnote 16: The words are found, says Mr. Ward, in the Hindu History compiled +by Mrityungaya.] + +[Footnote 17: These duties of kings are thus laid down in the Rajtarangini. It is +evident, as Professor H. H. Wilson says, that the royal status was by +no means a sinecure. But the rules are evidently the closet work of some +pedantic, dogmatic Brahman, teaching kingcraft to kings. He directs his +instructions, not to subordinate judges, but to the Raja as the chief +magistrate, and through him to all appointed for the administration of +his justice.] + +[Footnote 18: Lunus, not Luna.] + +[Footnote 19: That is to say, "upon an empty stomach."] + +[Footnote 20: There are three sandhyas amongst the Hindus--morning, mid-day, and +sunset; and all three are times for prayer.] + +[Footnote 21: The Hindu Cupid.] + +[Footnote 22: Patali, the regions beneath the earth.] + +[Footnote 23: The Hindu Triad.] + +[Footnote 24: Or Avanti, also called Padmavati. It is the first meridian of the +Hindus, who found their longitude by observation of lunar eclipses, +calculated for it and Lanka, or Ceylon. The clepsydra was used for +taking time.] + +[Footnote 25: In the original only the husband "practiced austere devotion." For +the benefit of those amongst whom the "pious wife" is an institution, I +have extended the privilege.] + +[Footnote 26: A Moslem would say, "This is our fate." A Hindu refers at once to +metempsychosis, as naturally as a modern Swedenborgian to spiritism.] + +[Footnote 27: In Europe, money buys this world, and delivers you from the pains +of purgatory; amongst the Hindus, it furthermore opens the gate of +heaven.] + +[Footnote 28: This part of the introduction will remind the reader of the two +royal brothers and their false wives in the introduction to the Arabian +Nights. The fate of Bhartari Raja, however, is historical.] + +[Footnote 29: In the original, "Div"--a supernatural being god, or demon. This +part of the plot is variously told. According to some, Raja Vikram was +surprised, when entering the city to see a grand procession at the house +of a potter and a boy being carried off on an elephant to the violent +grief of his parents The King inquired the reason of their sorrow, and +was told that the wicked Div that guarded the city was in the habit of +eating a citizen per diem. Whereupon the valorous Raja caused the boy +to dismount; took his place; entered the palace; and, when presented as +food for the demon, displayed his pugilistic powers in a way to excite +the monsters admiration.] + +[Footnote 30: In India, there is still a monastic order the pleasant duty of +whose members is to enjoy themselves as much as possible. It has been +much the same in Europe. "Representez-vous le convent de l'Escurial +ou du Mont Cassin, ou les cenobites ont toutes sortes de commodities, +necessaires, utiles, delectables, superflues, surabondantes, puisqu'ils +ont les cent cinquante mille, les quatre cent mille, les cinq cent mille +ecus de rente; et jugez si monsieur l'abbe a de quoi laisser dormir +la meridienne a ceux qui voudront."--Saint Augustin, de l'Ouvrage des +Moines, by Le Camus, Bishop of Belley, quoted by Voltaire, Dict. Phil., +sub v. "Apocalypse."] + +[Footnote 31: This form of matrimony was recognized by the ancient Hindus, and +is frequent in books. It is a kind of Scotch +wedding--ultra-Caledonian--taking place by mutual consent, without +any form or ceremony. The Gandharbas are heavenly minstrels of Indra's +court, who are supposed to be witnesses.] + +[Footnote 32: The Hindu Saturnalia.] + +[Footnote 33: The powders are of wheaten flour, mixed with wild ginger-root, +sappan-wood, and other ingredients. Sometimes the stuff is thrown in +syringes.] + +[Footnote 34: The Persian proverb is--"Bala e tavilah bar sat i maimun": "The +woes of the stable be on the monkey's head!" In some Moslem countries +a hog acts prophylactic. Hence probably Mungo Park's troublesome pig at +Ludamar.] + +[Footnote 35: So the moribund father of the "babes in the wood" lectures his +wicked brother, their guardian: "To God and you I recommend + My children deare this day: + But little while, be sure, we have + Within this world to stay." + But, to appeal to the moral sense of a goldsmith!] + +[Footnote 36: Maha (great) raja (king): common address even to those who are not +royal.] + +[Footnote 37: The name means. "Quietistic Disposition."] + +[Footnote 38: August. In the solar-lunar year of the Hindu the months are divided +into fortnights--light and dark.] + +[Footnote 39: A flower, whose name frequently occurs in Sanskrit poetry.] + +[Footnote 40: The stars being men's souls raised to the sky for a time pro +portioned to their virtuous deeds on earth.] + +[Footnote 41: A measure of length, each two miles.] + +[Footnote 42: The warm region below.] + +[Footnote 43: Hindus admire only glossy black hair; the "bonny brown hair" +loved by our ballads is assigned by them to low-caste men, witches, and +fiends.] + +[Footnote 44: A large kind of bat; a popular and silly Anglo-Indian name. It +almost justified the irate Scotchman in calling "prodigious leears" +those who told him in India that foxes flew and tress were tapped for +toddy.] + +[Footnote 45: The Hindus, like the European classics and other ancient peoples, +reckon four ages:--The Satya Yug, or Golden Age, numbered 1,728,000 +years: the second, or Treta Yug, comprised 1,296,000; the Dwapar Yug had +864,000 and the present, the Kali Yug, has shrunk to 832,000 years.] + +[Footnote 46: Especially alluding to prayer. On this point, Southey justly +remarks (Preface to Curse of Kehama): "In the religion of the Hindoos +there is one remarkable peculiarity. Prayers, penances, and sacrifices +are supposed to possess an inherent and actual value, in one degree +depending upon the disposition or motive of the person who performs +them. They are drafts upon heaven for which the gods cannot refuse +payment. The worst men, bent upon the worst designs, have in this manner +obtained power which has made them formidable to the supreme deities +themselves." Moreover, the Hindu gods hear the prayers of those who +desire the evil of others. Hence when a rich man becomes poor, his +friends say, "See how sharp are men's teeth!" and, "He is ruined because +others could not bear to see his happiness!"] + +[Footnote 47: A pond, natural or artificial; in the latter case often covering an +extent of ten to twelve acres.] + +[Footnote 48: The Hindustani "gilahri," or little grey squirrel, whose twittering +cry is often mistaken for a bird's.] + +[Footnote 49: The autumn or rather the rainy season personified--a hackneyed +Hindu prosopopoeia.] + +[Footnote 50: Light conversation upon the subject of women is a persona offence +to serious-minded Hindus.] + +[Footnote 51: Cupid in his two forms, Eros and Anteros.] + +[Footnote 52: This is true to life in the East, women make the first advances, +and men do the begueules.] + +[Footnote 53: Raja-hans, a large grey goose, the Hindu equivalent for our swan.] + +[Footnote 54: Properly Karnatak; karna in Sanskrit means an ear.] + +[Footnote 55: Danta in Sanskrit is a tooth.] + +[Footnote 56: Padma means a foot.] + +[Footnote 57: A common Hindu phrase equivalent to our "I manage to get on."] + +[Footnote 58: Meaning marriage maternity, and so forth.] + +[Footnote 59: Yama is Pluto; 'mother of Yama' is generally applied to an old +scold.] + +[Footnote 60: Snake-land: the infernal region.] + +[Footnote 61: A form of abuse given to Durga, who was the mother of Ganesha +(Janus); the latter had an elephant's head.] + +[Footnote 62: Unexpected pleasure, according to the Hindus, gives a bristly +elevation to the down of the body.] + +[Footnote 63: The Hindus banish "flasks," et hoc genus omne, from these scenes, +and perhaps they are right.] + +[Footnote 64: The Pankha, or large common fan, is a leaf of the Corypha +umbraculifera, with the petiole cut to the length of about five feet, +pared round the edges and painted to look pretty. It is waved by the +servant standing behind a chair.] + +[Footnote 65: The fabulous mass of precious stones forming the sacred mountain of +Hindu mythology.] + +[Footnote 66: "I love my love with an 'S,' because he is stupid and not +pyschological."] + +[Footnote 67: Hindu mythology has also its Cerberus, Trisisa, the "three headed" +hound that attends dreadful Yama (Pluto)] + +[Footnote 68: Parceque c'est la saison des amours.] + +[Footnote 69: The police magistrate, the Catual of Camoens.] + +[Footnote 70: The seat of a Hindu ascetic.] + +[Footnote 71: The Hindu scriptures.] + +[Footnote 72: The Goddess of Prosperity.] + +[Footnote 73: In the original the lover is not blamed; this would be the Hindu +view of the matter; we might be tempted to think of the old injunction +not to seethe a kid in the mother's milk.] + +[Footnote 74: In the original a "maina "-the Gracula religiosa.] + +[Footnote 75: As we should say, buried them.] + +[Footnote 76: A large kind of black bee, common in India.] + +[Footnote 77: The beautiful wife of the demigod Rama Chandra.] + +[Footnote 78: The Hindu Ars Amoris.] + +[Footnote 79: The old philosophers, believing in a "Sat" (xx xx), postulated an +Asat (xx xx xx) and made the latter the root of the former.] + +[Footnote 80: In Western India, a place celebrated for suicides.] + +[Footnote 81: Kama Deva. "Out on thee, foul fiend, talk'st thou of nothing but +ladies?"] + +[Footnote 82: The pipal or Ficus religiosa, a favourite roosting-place for +fiends.] + +[Footnote 83: India.] + +[Footnote 84: The ancient name of a priest by profession, meaning "praepositus" +or praeses. He was the friend and counsellor of a chief, the minister +of a king, and his companion in peace and war. (M. Muller's Ancient +Sanskrit Literature, p. 485).] + +[Footnote 85: Lakshmi, the Goddess of Prosperity. Raj-Lakshmi would mean the +King's Fortune, which we should call tutelary genius. Lakshichara is our +"luckless," forming, as Mr. Ward says, an extraordinary coincidence of +sound and meaning in languages so different. But the derivations are +very distinct.] + +[Footnote 86: The Monkey God.] + +[Footnote 87: Generally written "Banyan."] + +[Footnote 88: The daughter of Raja Janaka, married to Ramachandra. The latter +placed his wife under the charge of his brother Lakshmana, and went +into the forest to worship, when the demon Ravana disguised himself as a +beggar, and carried off the prize.] + +[Footnote 89: This great king was tricked by the god Vishnu out of the sway of +heaven and earth, but from his exceeding piety he was appointed to reign +in Patala, or Hades.] + +[Footnote 90: The procession is fair game, and is often attacked in the dark with +sticks and stones, causing serious disputes. At the supper the guests +confer the obligation by their presence, and are exceedingly exacting.] + +[Footnote 91: Rati is the wife of Kama, the God of Desire; and we explain the +word by "Spring personified."] + +[Footnote 92: The Indian Cuckoo (Cucuius Indicus). It is supposed to lay its eggs +in the nest of the crow.] + +[Footnote 93: This is the well-known Ghi or Ghee, the one sauce of India which is +as badly off in that matter as England.] + +[Footnote 94: The European reader will observe that it is her purity which +carries the heroine through all these perils. Moreover, that her virtue +is its own reward, as it loses to her the world.] + +[Footnote 95: Literally, "one of all tastes"--a wild or gay man, we should say.] + +[Footnote 96: These shoes are generally made of rags and bits of leather; they +have often toes behind the foot, with other similar contrivances, yet +they scarcely ever deceive an experienced man.] + +[Footnote 97: The high-toper is a swell-thief, the other is a low dog.] + +[Footnote 98: Engaged in shoplifting.] + +[Footnote 99: The moon.] + +[Footnote 100: The judge.] + +[Footnote 101: To be lagged is to be taken; scragging is hanging.] + +[Footnote 102: The tongue.] + +[Footnote 103: This is the god Kartikeya, a mixture of Mars and Mercury, +who revealed to a certain Yugacharya the scriptures known as +"Chauriya-Vidya"--Anglice, "Thieves' Manual." The classical robbers +of the Hindu drama always perform according to its precepts. There is +another work respected by thieves and called the "Chora-Panchashila," +because consisting of fifty lines.] + +[Footnote 104: Supposed to be a good omen.] + +[Footnote 105: Share the booty.] + +[Footnote 106: Bhawani is one of the many forms of the destroying goddess, the +wife of Shiva.] + +[Footnote 107: Wretches who kill with the narcotic seed of the stramonium.] + +[Footnote 108: Better know as "Thugs," which in India means simply "rascals."] + +[Footnote 109: Crucifixion, until late years, was common amongst the Buddhists +of the Burmese empire. According to an eye-witness, Mr. F. Carey, the +punishment was inflicted in two ways. Sometimes criminals were crucified +by their hands and feet being nailed to a scaffold; others were merely +tied up, and fed. In these cases the legs and feet of the patient began +to swell and mortify at the expiration of three or four days; men are +said to have lived in this state for a fortnight, and at last they +expired from fatigue and mortification. The sufferings from cramp also +must be very severe. In India generally impalement was more common than +crucifixion.] + +[Footnote 110: Our Suttee. There is an admirable Hindu proverb, which says, "No +one knows the ways of woman; she kill her husband and becomes a Sati."] + +[Footnote 111: Fate and Destiny are rather Moslem than Hindu fancies.] + +[Footnote 112: Properly speaking, the husbandman should plough with not fewer +than four bullocks; but few can afford this. If he plough with a cow +or a bullock, and not with a bull, the rice produced by his ground is +unclean, and may not be used in any religious ceremony.] + +[Footnote 113: A shout of triumph, like our "Huzza" or "Hurrah!" of late degraded +into "Hooray." "Hari bol" is of course religious, meaning "Call upon +Hari!" i.e. Krishna, i.e. Vishnu.] + +[Footnote 114: This form of suicide is one of those recognized in India. So +in Europe we read of fanatics who, with a suicidal ingenuity, have +succeeded in crucifying themselves.] + +[Footnote 115: The river of Jaganath in Orissa; it shares the honours of sanctity +with some twenty-nine others, and in the lower regions it represents the +classical Styx.] + +[Footnote 116: Cupid. His wife Rati is the spring personified. The Hindu poets +always unite love and spring, and perhaps physiologically they are +correct.] + +[Footnote 117: An incarnation of the third person of the Hindu Triad, or +Triumvirate, Shiva the God of Destruction, the Indian Bacchus. The image +has five faces, and each face has three eyes. In Bengal it is found in +many villages, and the women warn their children not to touch it on pain +of being killed.] + +[Footnote 118: A village Brahman on stated occasions receives fees from all the +villagers.] + +[Footnote 119: The land of Greece.] + +[Footnote 120: Savans, professors. So in the old saying, "Hanta, Pandit Sansara +"--Alas! the world is learned! This a little antedates the well-known +schoolmaster.] + +[Footnote 121: Children are commonly sent to school at the age of five. Girls are +not taught to read, under the common idea that they will become widows +if they do.] + +[Footnote 122: Meaning the place of reading the four Shastras.] + +[Footnote 123: A certain goddess who plays tricks with mankind. If a son when +grown up act differently from what his parents did, people say that he +has been changed in the womb.] + +[Footnote 124: Shani is the planet Saturn, which has an exceedingly baleful +influence in India as elsewhere.] + +[Footnote 125: The Eleatic or Materialistic school of Hindu philosophy, which +agrees to explode an intelligent separate First Cause.] + +[Footnote 126: The writings of this school give an excellent view of the +"progressive system," which has popularly been asserted to be a modern +idea. But Hindu philosophy seems to have exhausted every fancy that can +spring from the brain of man.] + +[Footnote 127: Tama is the natural state of matter, Raja is passion acting upon +nature, and Satwa is excellence These are the three gunas or qualities +of matter.] + +[Footnote 128: Spiritual preceptors and learned men.] + +[Footnote 129: Under certain limitations, gambling is allowed by Hindu law and +the winner has power over the person and property of the loser. No +"debts of honour" in Hindustan!] + +[Footnote 130: Quotations from standard works on Hindu criminal law, which in +some points at least is almost as absurd as our civilized codes.] + +[Footnote 131: Hindus carry their money tied up in a kind of sheet which is wound +round the waist and thrown over the shoulder.] + +[Footnote 132: A thieves' manual in the Sanskrit tongue; it aspires to the +dignity of a "Scripture."] + +[Footnote 133: All sounds, say the Hindus, are of similar origin, and they do not +die; if they did, they could not be remembered.] + +[Footnote 134: Gold pieces.] + +[Footnote 135: These are the qualifications specified by Hindu classical +authorities as necessary to make a distinguished thief.] + +[Footnote 136: Every Hindu is in a manner born to a certain line of life, +virtuous or vicious, honest or dishonest and his Dharma, or religious +duty, consists in conforming to the practice and the worship of his +profession. The "Thug," for instance, worships Bhawani, who enables him +to murder successfully; and his remorse would arise from neglecting to +murder.] + +[Footnote 137: Hindu law sensibly punishes, in theory at least, for the same +offence the priest more severely than the layman--a hint for him to +practice what he preaches.] + +[Footnote 138: The Hindu Mercury, god of rascals.] + +[Footnote 139: A penal offence in India. How is it that we English have omitted +to codify it? The laws of Manu also punish severely all disdainful +expressions, such as "tush" or "pish," addressed during argument to a +priest.] + +[Footnote 140: Stanzas, generally speaking, on serious subjects.] + +[Footnote 141: Whitlows on the nails show that the sufferer, in the last life, +stole gold from a Brahman.] + +[Footnote 142: A low caste Hindu, who catches and exhibits snakes and performs +other such mean offices.] + +[Footnote 143: Meaning, in spite of themselves.] + +[Footnote 144: When the moon is in a certain lunar mansion, at the conclusion of +the wet season.] + +[Footnote 145: In Hindustan, it is the prevailing wind of the hot weather.] + +[Footnote 146: Vishnu, as a dwarf, sank down into and secured in the lower +regions the Raja Bali, who by his piety and prayerfulness was subverting +the reign of the lesser gods; as Ramachandra he built a bridge between +Lanka (Ceylon) and the main land; and as Krishna he defended, by +holding up a hill as an umbrella for them, his friends the shepherds +and shepherdesses from the thunders of Indra, whose worship they had +neglected.] + +[Footnote 147: The priestly caste sprang, as has been said, from the noblest part +of the Demiurgus; the three others from lower members.] + +[Footnote 148: A chew of betel leaf and spices is offered by the master of the +house when dismissing a visitor.] + +[Footnote 149: Respectable Hindus say that receiving a fee for a daughter is like +selling flesh.] + +[Footnote 150: A modern custom amongst the low caste is for the bride and +bridegroom, in the presence of friends, to place a flower garland on +each other's necks, and thus declare themselves man and wife. The old +classical Gandharva-lagan has been before explained.] + +[Footnote 151: Meaning that the sight of each other will cause a smile, and that +what one purposes the other will consent to.] + +[Footnote 152: This would be the verdict of a Hindu jury.] + +[Footnote 153: Because stained with the powder of Mhendi, or the Lawsonia inermis +shrub.] + +[Footnote 154: Kansa's son: so called because the god Shiva, when struck by his +shafts, destroyed him with a fiery glance.] + +[Footnote 155: "Great Brahman"; used contemptuously to priests who officiate +for servile men. Brahmans lose their honour by the following things: +By becoming servants to the king; by pursuing any secular business; by +acting priests to Shudras (serviles); by officiating as priests for a +whole village; and by neglecting any part of the three daily services. +Many violate these rules; yet to kill a Brahman is still one of the five +great Hindu sins. In the present age of the world, the Brahman may not +accept a gift of cows or of gold; of course he despises the law. As +regards monkey worship, a certain Rajah of Nadiya is said to have +expended 10,000L in marrying two monkeys with all the parade and +splendour of the Hindu rite.] + +[Footnote 156: The celebrated Gayatri, the Moslem Kalmah.] + +[Footnote 157: Kama again.] + +[Footnote 158: From "Man," to think; primarily meaning, what makes man think.] + +[Footnote 159: The Cirrhadae of classical writers.] + +[Footnote 160: The Hindu Pluto; also called the Just King.] + +[Footnote 161: Yama judges the dead, whose souls go to him in four hours and +forty minutes; therefore a corpse cannot be burned till after that time. +His residence is Yamalaya, and it is on the south side of the earth; +down South, as we say. (I, Sam. xxv. 1, and xxx. 15). The Hebrews, like +the Hindus, held the northern parts of the world to be higher than the +southern. Hindus often joke a man who is seen walking in that direction, +and ask him where he is going.] + +[Footnote 162: The "Ganges," in heaven called Mandakini. I have no idea why we +still adhere to our venerable corruption of the word.] + +[Footnote 163: The fabulous mountain supposed by Hindu geographers to occupy the +centre of the universe.] + +[Footnote 164: The all-bestowing tree in Indra's Paradise which grants everything +asked of it. It is the Tuba of Al-Islam and is not unknown to the +Apocryphal New Testament.] + +[Footnote 165: "Vikramaditya, Lord of the Saka." This is prevoyance on the part +of the Vampire; the king had not acquired the title.] + +[Footnote 166: On the sixth day after the child's birth, the god Vidhata writes +all its fate upon its forehead. The Moslems have a similar idea, and +probably it passed to the Hindus.] + +[Footnote 167: Goddess of eloquence. "The waters of the Saraswati" is the +classical Hindu phrase for the mirage.] + +[Footnote 168: This story is perhaps the least interesting in the collection. I +have translated it literally, in order to give an idea of the original. +The reader will remark in it the source of our own nursery tale about +the princess who was so high born and delicately bred, that she could +discover the three peas laid beneath a straw mattress and four feather +beds. The Hindus, however, believe that Sybaritism can be carried so +far; I remember my Pandit asserting the truth of the story.] + +[Footnote 169: A minister. The word, as is the case with many in this collection, +is quite modern Moslem, and anachronistic.] + +[Footnote 170: The cow is called the mother of the gods, and is declared by +Brahma, the first person of the triad, Vishnu and Shiva being the second +and the third, to be a proper object of worship. "If a European speak to +the Hindu about eating the flesh of cows," says an old missionary, "they +immediately raise their hands to their ears; yet milkmen, carmen, and +farmers beat the cow as unmercifully as a carrier of coals beats his ass +in England." The Jains or Jainas (from ji, to conquer; as subduing the +passions) are one of the atheistical sects with whom the Brahmans have +of old carried on the fiercest religious controversies, ending in many +a sanguinary fight. Their tenets are consequently exaggerated and +ridiculed, as in the text. They believe that there is no such God as the +common notions on the subject point out, and they hold that the highest +act of virtue is to abstain from injuring sentient creatures. Man does +not possess an immortal spirit: death is the same to Brahma and to a +fly. Therefore there is no heaven or hell separate from present pleasure +or pain. Hindu Epicureans!--"Epicuri de grege porci."] + +[Footnote 171: Narak is one of the multitudinous places of Hindu punishment, said +to adjoin the residence of Ajarna. The less cultivated Jains believe in +a region of torment. The illuminati, however, have a sovereign contempt +for the Creator, for a future state, and for all religious ceremonies. +As Hindus, however, they believe in future births of mankind, somewhat +influenced by present actions. The "next birth" in the mouth of a Hindu, +we are told, is the same as "to-morrow" in the mouth of a Christian. The +metempsychosis is on an extensive scale: according to some, a person +who loses human birth must pass through eight millions of successive +incarnations--fish, insects, worms, birds, and beasts--before he can +reappear as a man.] + +[Footnote 172: Jogi, or Yogi, properly applies to followers of the Yoga or +Patanjala school, who by ascetic practices acquire power over the +elements. Vulgarly, it is a general term for mountebank vagrants, +worshippers of Shiva. The Janganis adore the same deity, and carry +about a Linga. The Sevras are Jain beggars, who regard their chiefs +as superior to the gods of other sects. The Sannyasis are mendicant +followers of Shiva; they never touch metals or fire, and, in religious +parlance, they take up the staff They are opposed to the Viragis, +worshippers of Vishnu, who contend as strongly against the worshippers +of gods who receive bloody offerings, as a Christian could do against +idolatry.] + +[Footnote 173: The Brahman, or priest, is supposed to proceed from the mouth of +Brahma, the creating person of the Triad; the Khshatriyas (soldiers) +from his arms; the Vaishyas (enterers into business) from his thighs; +and the Shudras, "who take refuge in the Brahmans," from his feet. Only +high caste men should assume the thread at the age of puberty.] + +[Footnote 174: Soma, the moon, I have said, is masculine in India.] + +[Footnote 175: Pluto.] + +[Footnote 176: Nothing astonishes Hindus so much as the apparent want of +affection between the European parent and child.] + +[Footnote 177: A third marriage is held improper and baneful to a Hindu woman. +Hence, before the nuptials they betroth the man to a tree, upon which +the evil expends itself, and the tree dies.] + +[Footnote 178: Kama] + +[Footnote 179: An oath, meaning, "From such a falsehood preserve me, Ganges!"] + +[Footnote 180: The Indian Neptune.] + +[Footnote 181: A highly insulting form of adjuration.] + +[Footnote 182: The British Islands--according to Wilford.] + +[Footnote 183: Literally the science (veda) of the bow (dhanush). This weapon, +as everything amongst the Hindus, had a divine origin: it was of three +kinds--the common bow, the pellet or stone bow, and the crossbow or +catapult.] + +[Footnote 184: It is a disputed point whether the ancient Hindus did or did not +know the use of gunpowder.] + +[Footnote 185: It is said to have discharged balls, each 6,400 pounds in weight.] + +[Footnote 186: A kind of Mercury, a god with the head and wings of a bird, who is +the Vahan or vehicle of the second person of the Triad, Vishnu.] + +[Footnote 187: The celebrated burning springs of Baku, near the Caspian, are so +called. There are many other "fire mouths."] + +[Footnote 188: The Hindu Styx.] + +[Footnote 189: From Yaksha, to eat; as Rakshasas are from Raksha, to +preserve.--See Hardy's Manual of Buddhism, p. 57.] + +[Footnote 190: Shiva is always painted white, no one knows why. His wife Gauri +has also a European complexion. Hence it is generally said that the sect +popularly called "Thugs," who were worshippers of these murderous gods, +spared Englishmen, the latter being supposed to have some rapport with +their deities.] + +[Footnote 191: The Hindu shrine is mostly a small building, with two inner +compartments, the vestibule and the Garbagriha, or adytum, in which +stands the image.] + +[Footnote 192: Meaning Kali of the cemetery (Smashana); another form of Durga.] + +[Footnote 193: Not being able to find victims, this pleasant deity, to satisfy +her thirst for the curious juice, cut her own throat that the blood +might spout up into her mouth. She once found herself dancing on her +husband, and was so shocked that in surprise she put out her tongue to a +great length, and remained motionless. She is often represented in this +form.] + +[Footnote 194: This ashtanga, the most ceremonious of the five forms of Hindu +salutation, consists of prostrating and of making the eight parts of +the body--namely, the temples, nose and chin, knees and hands--touch the +ground.] + +[Footnote 195: "Sidhis," the personified Powers of Nature. At least, so we +explain them: but people do not worship abstract powers.] + +[Footnote 196: The residence of Indra, king of heaven, built by Wishwa-Karma, the +architect of the gods.] + +[Footnote 197: In other words, to the present day, whenever a Hindu novelist, +romancer, or tale writer seeks a peg upon which to suspend the texture +of his story, he invariably pitches upon the glorious, pious, and +immortal memory of that Eastern King Arthur, Vikramaditya, shortly +called Vikram.] + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Vikram and the Vampire, by Richard F. 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Burton's + + Vikram and The Vampire + + Classic Hindu Tales of + Adventure, Magic, and Romance + + Edited by his Wife + Isabel Burton + +"Les fables, loin de grandir les hommes, la Nature et Dieu, + rapetssent tout." + Lamartine (Milton) + +"One who had eyes saw it; the blind will not understand it. +A poet, who is a boy, he has perceived it; he who understands it + will be + his sire's sire." - Rig-Veda (I.164.16). + + +Contents + +Preface +Preface to the First (1870) Edition +Introduction + +THE VAMPIRE'S FIRST STORY. +In which a Man deceives a Woman + +THE VAMPIRE'S SECOND STORY. +Of the Relative Villany of Men and Woman + +THE VAMPIRE'S THIRD STORY. +Of a High-minded Family + +THE VAMPIRE'S FOURTH STORY. +Of a Woman who told the Truth + +THE VAMPIRE'S FIFTH STORY. +Of the Thief who Laughed and Wept + +THE VAMPIRE'S SIXTH STORY. +In which Three Men dispute about a Woman + +THE VAMPIRE'S SEVENTH STORY. +Showng the exceeding Folly of many wise Fools + +THE VAMPIRE'S EIGHTH STORY. +Of the Use and Misuse of Magic Pills + +THE VAMPIRE'S NINTH STORY. +Showing that a Man's Wife belongs not to his body but to his +Head + +THE VAMPIRE'S TENTH STORY. +Of the Marvellous Delicacy of Three Queens + +THE VAMPIRE'S ELEVENTH STORY. +Which puzzles Raja Vikram + +Conclusion + +PREFACE + +The Baital-Pachisi, or Twenty-five Tales of a Baital is the history +of a huge Bat, Vampire, or Evil Spirit which inhabited and +animated dead bodies. It is an old, and thoroughly Hindu, Legend +composed in Sanskrit, and is the germ which culminated in the +Arabian Nights, and which inspired the "Golden Ass" of Apuleius, +Boccacio's "Decamerone," the "Pentamerone," and all that class of +facetious fictitious literature. + +The story turns chiefly on a great king named Vikram, the King +Arthur of the East, who in pursuance of his promise to a Jogi or +Magician, brings to him the Baital (Vampire), who is hanging on a +tree. The difficulties King Vikram and his son have in bringing the +Vampire into the presence of the Jogi are truly laughable; and on +this thread is strung a series of Hindu fairy stories, which contain +much interesting information on Indian customs and manners. It +also alludes to that state, which induces Hindu devotees to allow +themselves to be buried alive, and to appear dead for weeks or +months, and then to return to life again; a curious state of +mesmeric catalepsy, into which they work themselves by +concentrating the mind and abstaining from food - a specimen of +which I have given a practical illustration in the Life of Sir Richard +Burton. + +The following translation is rendered peculiarly; valuable and +interesting by Sir Richard Burton's intimate knowledge of the +language. To all who understand the ways of the East, it is as +witty, and as full of what is popularly called "chaff" as it is +possible to be. There is not a dull page in it, and it will especially +please those who delight in the weird and supernatural, the +grotesque, and the wild life. + +My husband only gives eleven of the best tales, as it was thought +the translation would prove more interesting in its abbreviated +form. + +ISABEL BURTON. + +August 18th, 1893. + + +PREFACE TO THE FIRST (1870) EDITION. + +"THE genius of Eastern nations," says an established and +respectable authority, "was, from the earliest times, much turned +towards invention and the love of fiction. The Indians, the +Persians, and the Arabians, were all famous for their fables. +Amongst the ancient Greeks we hear of the Ionian and Milesian +tales, but they have now perished, and, from every account we hear +of them, appear to have been loose and indelicate." Similarly, the +classical dictionaries define "Milesiae fabulae" to be "licentious +themes," "stories of an amatory or mirthful nature," or "ludicrous +and indecent plays." M. Deriege seems indeed to confound them +with the "Moeurs du Temps" illustrated with artistic gouaches, +when he says, "une de ces fables milesiennes, rehaussees de +peintures, que la corruption romaine recherchait alors avec une +folle ardeur." + +My friend, Mr. Richard Charnock, F.A.S.L., more correctly +defines Milesian fables to have been originally " certain tales or +novels, composed by Aristides of Miletus "; gay in matter and +graceful in manner. "They were translated into Latin by the +historian Sisenna, the friend of Atticus, and they had a great +success at Rome. Plutarch, in his life of Crassus, tells us that after +the defeat of Carhes (Carrhae?) some Milesiacs were found in the +baggage of the Roman prisoners. The Greek text; and the Latin +translation have long been lost. The only surviving fable is the tale +of Cupid and Psyche,[FN#1] which Apuleius calls 'Milesius +sermo,' and it makes us deeply regret the disappearance of the +others." Besides this there are the remains of Apollodorus and +Conon, and a few traces to be found in Pausanias, Athenaeus, and +the scholiasts. + +I do not, therefore, agree with Blair, with the dictionaries, or with +M. Deriege. Miletus, the great maritime city of Asiatic Ionia, was +of old the meeting-place of the East and the West. Here the +Phoenician trader from the Baltic would meet the Hindu +wandering to Intra, from Extra, Gangem; and the Hyperborean +would step on shore side by side with the Nubian and the Aethiop. +Here was produced and published for the use of the then civilized +world, the genuine Oriental apologue, myth and tale combined, +which, by amusing narrative and romantic adventure, insinuates a +lesson in morals or in humanity, of which we often in our days +must fail to perceive the drift. The book of Apuleius, before +quoted, is subject to as many discoveries of recondite meaning as +is Rabelais. As regards the licentiousness of the Milesian fables, +this sign of semi-civilization is still inherent in most Eastern books +of the description which we call "light literature," and the ancestral +tale-teller never collects a larger purse of coppers than when he +relates the worst of his "aurei." But this looseness, resulting from +the separation of the sexes, is accidental, not necessary. The +following collection will show that it can be dispensed with, and +that there is such a thing as comparative purity in Hindu literature. +The author, indeed, almost always takes the trouble to marry his +hero and his heroine, and if he cannot find a priest, he generally +adopts an exceedingly left-hand and Caledonian but legal rite +called "gandharbavivaha.[FN#2]" + +The work of Apuleius, as ample internal evidence shows, is +borrowed from the East. The groundwork of the tale is the +metamorphosis of Lucius of Corinth into an ass, and the strange +accidents which precede his recovering the human form. + +Another old Hindu story-book relates, in the popular fairy-book +style, the wondrous adventures of the hero and demigod, the great +Gandharba-Sena. That son of Indra, who was also the father of +Vikramajit, the subject of this and another collection, offended the +ruler of the firmament by his fondness for a certain nymph, and +was doomed to wander over earth under the form of a donkey. +Through the interposition of the gods, however, he was permitted +to become a man during the hours of darkness, thus comparing +with the English legend - + + Amundeville is lord by day, + But the monk is lord by night. + +Whilst labouring under this curse, Gandharba-Sena persuaded the +King of Dhara to give him a daughter in marriage, but it +unfortunately so happened that at the wedding hour he was unable +to show himself in any but asinine shape. After bathing, however, +he proceeded to the assembly, and, hearing songs and music, he +resolved to give them a specimen of his voice. + +The guests were filled with sorrow that so beautiful a virgin should +be married to a donkey. They were afraid to express their feelings +to the king, but they could not refrain from smiling, covering their +mouths with their garments. At length some one interrupted the +general silence and said: + +"O king, is this the son of Indra? You have found a fine +bridegroom; you are indeed happy; don't delay the marriage; delay +is improper in doing good; we never saw so glorious a wedding! It +is true that we once heard of a camel being married to a jenny-ass; +when the ass, looking up to the camel, said, 'Bless me, what a +bridegroom!' and the camel, hearing the voice of the ass, +exclaimed, 'Bless me, what a musical voice!' In that wedding, +however, the bride and the bridegroom were equal; but in this +marriage, that such a bride should have such a bridegroom is truly +wonderful." + +Other Brahmans then present said: + +"O king, at the marriage hour, in sign of joy the sacred shell is +blown, but thou hast no need of that" (alluding to the donkey's +braying). + +The women all cried out: + +"O my mother![FN#3] what is this? at the time of marriage to have +an ass! What a miserable thing! What! will he give that angelic girl +in wedlock to a donkey?" + +At length Gandharba-Sena, addressing the king in Sanskrit, urged +him to perform his promise. He reminded his future father-in-law +that there is no act more meritorious than speaking truth; that the +mortal frame is a mere dress, and that wise men never estimate the +value of a person by his clothes. He added that he was in that +shape from the curse of his sire, and that during the night he had +the body of a man. Of his being the son of Indra there could be no +doubt. + +Hearing the donkey thus speak Sanskrit, for it was never known +that an ass could discourse in that classical tongue, the minds of +the people were changed, and they confessed that, although he had +an asinine form he was unquestionably the son of Indra. The king, +therefore, gave him his daughter in marriage.[FN#4] The +metamorphosis brings with it many misfortunes and strange +occurrences, and it lasts till Fate in the author's hand restores the +hero to his former shape and honours. + +Gandharba-Sena is a quasi-historical personage, who lived in the +century preceding the Christian era. The story had, therefore, +ample time to reach the ears of the learned African Apuleius, who +was born A.D. 130. + +The Baital-Pachisi, or Twenty-five (tales of a) Baital[FN#5] - a +Vampire or evil spirit which animates dead bodies - is an old and +thoroughly Hindu repertory. It is the rude beginning of that +fictitious history which ripened to the Arabian Nights' +Entertainments, and which, fostered by the genius of Boccaccio, +produced the romance of the chivalrous days, and its last +development, the novel - that prose-epic of modern Europe. + +Composed in Sanskrit, "the language of the gods," alias the Latin +of India, it has been translated into all the Prakrit or vernacular and +modern dialects of the great peninsula. The reason why it has not +found favour with the Moslems is doubtless the highly polytheistic +spirit which pervades it; moreover, the Faithful had already a +specimen of that style of composition. This was the Hitopadesa, or +Advice of a Friend, which, as a line in its introduction informs us, +was borrowed from an older book, the Panchatantra, or Five +Chapters. It is a collection of apologues recited by a learned +Brahman, Vishnu Sharma by name, for the edification of his +pupils, the sons of an Indian Raja. They have been adapted to or +translated into a number of languages, notably into Pehlvi and +Persian, Syriac and Turkish, Greek and Latin, Hebrew and Arabic. +And as the Fables of Pilpay,[FN#6] are generally known, by name +at least, to European litterateurs. . Voltaire remarks,[FN#7] +"Quand on fait reflexion que presque toute la terre a ete infatuee de +pareils comes, et qu'ils ont fait l'education du genre humain, on +trouve les fables de Pilpay, Lokman, d'Esope bien raisonnables." +These tales, detached, but strung together by artificial means - +pearls with a thread drawn through them - are manifest precursors +of the Decamerone, or Ten Days. A modern Italian critic describes +the now classical fiction as a collection of one hundred of those +novels which Boccaccio is believed to have read out at the court of +Queen Joanna of Naples, and which later in life were by him +assorted together by a most simple and ingenious contrivance. But +the great Florentine invented neither his stories nor his " plot," if +we may so call it. He wrote in the middle of the fourteenth century +(1344-8) when the West had borrowed many things from the East, +rhymes[FN#8] and romance, lutes and drums, alchemy and +knight-errantry. Many of the "Novelle" are, as Orientalists well +know, to this day sung and recited almost textually by the +wandering tale-tellers, bards, and rhapsodists of Persia and Central +Asia. + +The great kshatriya,(soldier) king Vikramaditya,[FN#9] or +Vikramarka, meaning the "Sun of Heroism," plays in India the part +of King Arthur, and of Harun al-Rashid further West. He is a +semi-historical personage. The son of Gandharba-Sena the donkey +and the daughter of the King of Dhara, he was promised by his +father the strength of a thousand male elephants. When his sire +died, his grandfather, the deity Indra, resolved that the babe should +not be born, upon which his mother stabbed herself. But the tragic +event duly happening during the ninth month, Vikram came into +the world by himself, and was carried to Indra, who pitied and +adopted him, and gave him a good education. + +The circumstances of his accession to the throne, as will presently +appear, are differently told. Once, however, made King of Malaya, +the modern Malwa, a province of Western Upper India, he so +distinguished himself that the Hindu fabulists, with their usual +brave kind of speaking, have made him "bring the whole earth +under the shadow of one umbrella," + +The last ruler of the race of Mayura, which reigned 318 years, was +Raja-pal. He reigned 25 years, but giving himself up to +effeminacy, his country was invaded by Shakaditya, a king from +the highlands of Kumaon. Vikramaditya, in the fourteenth year of +his reign, pretended to espouse the cause of Raja-pal, attacked and +destroyed Shakaditya, and ascended the throne of Delhi. His +capital was Avanti, or Ujjayani, the modern Ujjain. It was 13 kos +(26 miles) long by 18 miles wide, an area of 468 square miles, but +a trifle in Indian History. He obtained the title of Shakari, "foe of +the Shakas," the Sacae or Scythians, by his victories over that +redoubtable race. In the Kali Yug, or Iron Age, he stands highest +amongst the Hindu kings as the patron of learning. Nine persons +under his patronage, popularly known as the "Nine Gems of +Science," hold in India the honourable position of the Seven Wise +Men of Greece. + +These learned persons wrote works in the eighteen original dialects +from which, say the Hindus, all the languages of the earth have +been derived.[FN#10] Dhanwantari enlightened the world upon the +subjects of medicine and of incantations. Kshapanaka treated the +primary elements. Amara-Singha compiled a Sanskrit dictionary +and a philosophical treatise. Shankubetalabhatta composed +comments, and Ghatakarpara a poetical work of no great merit. +The books of Mihira are not mentioned. Varaha produced two +works on astrology and one on arithmetic. And Bararuchi +introduced certain improvements in grammar, commented upon +the incantations, and wrote a poem in praise of King Madhava. + +But the most celebrated of all the patronized ones was Kalidasa. +His two dramas, Sakuntala,[FN#11] and Vikram and +Urvasi,[FN#12] have descended to our day; besides which he +produced a poem on the seasons, a work on astronomy, a poetical +history of the gods, and many other books.[FN#13] + +Vikramaditya established the Sambat era, dating from A.C. 56. +After a long, happy, and glorious reign, he lost his life in a war +with Shalivahana, King of Pratisthana. That monarch also left +behind him an era called the " Shaka," beginning with A.D. 78. It +is employed, even now, by the Hindus in recording their births, +marriages, and similar occasions. + +King Vikramaditya was succeeded by his infant son +Vikrama-Sena, and father and son reigned over a period of 93 +years. At last the latter was supplanted by a devotee named +Samudra-pala, who entered into his body by miraculous means. +The usurper reigned 24 years and 2 months, and the throne of +Delhi continued in the hands of his sixteen successors, who +reigned 641 years and 3 months. Vikrama-pala, the last, was slain +in battle by Tilaka-chandra, King of Vaharannah[FN#14]. + +It is not pretended that the words of these Hindu tales are +preserved to the letter. The question about the metamorphosis of +cats into tigers, for instance, proceeded from a Gem of Learning in +a university much nearer home than Gaur. Similarly the learned +and still living Mgr. Gaume (Traite du Saint-Esprit, p.. 81) joins +Camerarius in the belief that serpents bite women rather than men. +And he quotes (p.. 192) Cornelius a Lapide, who informs us that +the leopard is the produce of a lioness with a hyena or a bard.. + +The merit of the old stories lies in their suggestiveness and in their +general applicability. I have ventured to remedy the conciseness of +their language, and to clothe the skeleton with flesh and blood. + + To My Uncle, + + ROBERT BAGSHAW, OF DOVERCOURT, + + These Tales, + That Will Remind Him Of A Land Which + He Knows So Well, + Are Affectionately Inscribed. + + + VIKRAM AND THE VAMPIRE. + + INTRODUCTION + +The sage Bhavabhuti -- Eastern teller of these tales -- after making +his initiatory and propitiatory conge to Ganesha, Lord of Incepts, +informs the reader that this book is a string of fine pearls to be +hung round the neck of human intelligence; a fragrant flower to be +borne on the turband of mental wisdom; a jewel of pure gold, +which becomes the brow of all supreme minds; and a handful of +powdered rubies, whose tonic effects will appear palpably upon +the mental digestion of every patient. Finally, that by aid of the +lessons inculcated in the following pages, man will pass happily +through this world into the state of absorption, where fables will be +no longer required. + +He then teaches us how Vikramaditya the Brave became King of +Ujjayani. + +Some nineteen centuries ago, the renowned city of Ujjayani +witnessed the birth of a prince to whom was given the gigantic +name Vikramaditya. Even the Sanskrit-speaking people, who are +not usually pressed for time, shortened it to "Vikram", and a little +further West it would infallibly have been docked down to "Vik". + +Vikram was the second son of an old king Gandharba-Sena, +concerning whom little favourable has reached posterity, except +that he became an ass, married four queens, and had by them six +sons, each of whom was more learned and powerful than the other. +It so happened that in course of time the father died. Thereupon his +eldest heir, who was known as Shank, succeeded to the carpet of +Rajaship, and was instantly murdered by Vikram, his "scorpion", +the hero of the following pages.[FN#15] + +By this act of vigour and manly decision, which all younger- +brother princes should devoutly imitate, Vikram having obtained +the title of Bir, or the Brave, made himself Raja. He began to rule +well, and the gods so favoured him that day by day his dominions +increased. At length he became lord of all India, and having firmly +established his government, he instituted an era--an uncommon +feat for a mere monarch, especially when hereditary. + +The steps,[FN#16] says the historian, which he took to arrive at +that pinnacle of grandeur, were these: + +The old King calling his two grandsons Bhartari-hari and +Vikramaditya, gave them good counsel respecting their future +learning. They were told to master everything, a certain way not to +succeed in anything. They were diligently to learn grammar, the +Scriptures, and all the religious sciences. They were to become +familiar with military tactics, international law, and music, the +riding of horses and elephants-- especially the latter--the driving of +chariots, and the use of the broadsword, the bow, and the mogdars +or Indian clubs. They were ordered to be skilful in all kinds of +games, in leaping and running, in besieging forts, in forming and +breaking bodies of troops; they were to endeavour to excel in +every princely quality, to be cunning in ascertaining the power of +an enemy, how to make war, to perform journeys, to sit in the +presence of the nobles, to separate the different sides of a question, +to form alliances, to distinguish between the innocent and the +guilty, to assign proper punishments to the wicked, to exercise +authority with perfect justice, and to be liberal. The boys were then +sent to school, and were placed under the care of excellent +teachers, where they became truly famous. Whilst under pupilage, +the eldest was allowed all the power necessary to obtain a +knowledge of royal affairs, and he was not invested with the regal +office till in these preparatory steps he had given full satisfaction +to his subjects, who expressed high approval of his conduct. + +The two brothers often conversed on the duties of kings, when the +great Vikramaditya gave the great Bhartari-hari the following +valuable advice[FN#17]: + +"As Indra, during the four rainy months, fills the earth with water, +so a king should replenish his treasury with money. As Surya the +sun, in warming the earth eight months, does not scorch it, so a +king, in drawing revenues from his people, ought not to oppress +them. As Vayu, the wind, surrounds and fills everything, so the +king by his officers and spies should become acquainted with the +affairs and circumstances of his whole people. As Yama judges +men without partiality or prejudice, and punishes the guilty, so +should a king chastise, without favour, all offenders. As Varuna, +the regent of water, binds with his pasha or divine noose his +enemies, so let a king bind every malefactor safely in prison. As +Chandra,[FN#18] the moon, by his cheering light gives pleasure to +all, thus should a king, by gifts and generosity, make his people +happy. And as Prithwi, the earth, sustains all alike, so should a +king feel an equal affection and forbearance towards every one." + +Become a monarch, Vikram meditated deeply upon what is said of +monarchs:--"A king is fire and air; he is both sun and moon; he is +the god of criminal justice; he is the genius of wealth; he is the +regent of water; he is the lord of the firmament; he is a powerful +divinity who appears in human shape." He reflected with some +satisfaction that the scriptures had made him absolute, had left the +lives and properties of all his subjects to his arbitrary will, had +pronounced him to be an incarnate deity, and had threatened to +punish with death even ideas derogatory to his honour. + +He punctually observed all the ordinances laid down by the author +of the Niti, or institutes of government. His night and day were +divided into sixteen pahars or portions, each one hour and a half, +and they were disposed of as follows:-- + +Before dawn Vikram was awakened by a servant appointed to this +special duty. He swallowed-- a thing allowed only to a khshatriya +or warrior-- Mithridatic every morning on the saliva[FN#19], and +he made the cooks taste every dish before he ate of it. As soon as +he had risen, the pages in waiting repeated his splendid qualities, +and as he left his sleeping-room in full dress, several Brahmans +rehearsed the praises of the gods. Presently he bathed, worshipped +his guardian deity, again heard hymns, drank a little water, and +saw alms distributed to the poor. He ended this watch by auditing +his accounts. + +Next entering his court, he placed himself amidst the assembly. He +was always armed when he received strangers, and he caused even +women to be searched for concealed weapons. He was surrounded +by so many spies and so artful, that of a thousand, no two ever told +the same tale. At the levee, on his right sat his relations, the +Brahmans, and men of distinguished birth. The other castes were +on the left, and close to him stood the ministers and those whom he +delighted to consult. Afar in front gathered the bards chanting the +praises of the gods and of the king; also the charioteers, +elephanteers, horsemen, and soldiers of valour. Amongst the +learned men in those assemblies there were ever some who were +well instructed in all the scriptures, and others who had studied in +one particular school of philosophy, and were acquainted only with +the works on divine wisdom, or with those on justice, civil and +criminal, on the arts, mineralogy or the practice of physic; also +persons cunning in all kinds of customs; riding-masters, dancing- +masters, teachers of good behaviour, examiners, tasters, mimics, +mountebanks, and others, who all attended the court and awaited +the king's commands. He here pronounced judgment in suits of +appeal. His poets wrote about him: + + The lord of lone splendour an instant suspends + His course at mid~noon, ere he westward descends; + And brief are the moments our young monarch knows, + Devoted to pleasure or paid to repose! + +Before the second sandhya,[FN#20] or noon, about the beginning +of the third watch, he recited the names of the gods, bathed, and +broke his fast in his private room; then rising from food, he was +amused by singers and dancing girls. The labours of the day now +became lighter. After eating he retired, repeating the name of his +guardian deity, visited the temples, saluted the gods conversed +with the priests, and proceeded to receive and to distribute +presents. Fifthly, he discussed political questions with his +ministers and councillors. + +On the announcement of the herald that it was the sixth watch-- +about 2 or 3 P.M.--Vikram allowed himself to follow his own +inclinations, to regulate his family, and to transact business of a +private and personal nature. + +After gaining strength by rest, he proceeded to review his troops, +examining the men, saluting the officers, and holding military +councils. At sunset he bathed a third time and performed the five +sacraments of listening to a prelection of the Veda; making +oblations to the manes; sacrificing to Fire in honour of the deities; +giving rice to dumb creatures; and receiving guests with due +ceremonies. He spent the evening amidst a select company of wise, +learned, and pious men, conversing on different subjects, and +reviewing the business of the day. + +The night was distributed with equal care. During the first portion +Vikram received the reports which his spies and envoys, dressed in +every disguise, brought to him about his enemies. Against the +latter he ceased not to use the five arts, namely--dividing the +kingdom, bribes, mischief-making, negotiations, and brute-force-- +especially preferring the first two and the last. His forethought and +prudence taught him to regard all his nearest neighbours and their +allies as hostile. The powers beyond those natural enemies he +considered friendly because they were the foes of his foes. And all +the remoter nations he looked upon as neutrals, in a transitional or +provisional state as it were, till they became either his neighbours' +neighbours, or his own neighbours, that is to say, his friends or his +foes. + +This important duty finished he supped, and at the end of the third +watch he retired to sleep, which was not allowed to last beyond +three hours. In the sixth watch he arose and purified himself. The +seventh was devoted to holding private consultations with his +ministers, and to furnishing the officers of government with +requisite instructions. The eighth or last watch was spent with the +Purohita or priest, and with Brahmans, hailing the dawn with its +appropriate rites; he then bathed, made the customary offerings, +and prayed in some unfrequented place near pure water. + +And throughout these occupations he bore in mind the duty of +kings, namely--to pursue every object till it be accomplished; to +succour all dependents, and hospitably to receive guests, however +numerous. He was generous to his subjects respecting taxes, and +kind of speech; yet he was inexorable as death in the punishment +of offenses. He rarely hunted, and he visited his pleasure gardens +only on stated days. He acted in his own dominions with justice; +he chastised foreign foes with rigour; he behaved generously to +Brahmans, and he avoided favouritism amongst his friends. In war +he never slew a suppliant, a spectator, a person asleep or +undressed, or anyone that showed fear. Whatever country he +conquered, offerings were presented to its gods, and effects and +money were given to the reverends. But what benefited him most +was his attention to the creature comforts of the nine Gems of +Science: those eminent men ate and drank themselves into fits of +enthusiasm, and ended by immortalizing their patron's name. + +Become Vikram the Great he established his court at a delightful +and beautiful location rich in the best of water. The country was +difficult of access, and artificially made incapable of supporting a +host of invaders, but four great roads met near the city. The capital +was surrounded with durable ramparts, having gates of defence, +and near it was a mountain fortress, under the especial charge of a +great captain. + +The metropolis was well garrisoned and provisioned, and it +surrounded the royal palace, a noble building without as well as +within. Grandeur seemed embodied there, and Prosperity had made +it her own. The nearer ground, viewed from the terraces and +pleasure pavilions, was a lovely mingling of rock and mountain, +plain and valley, field and fallow, crystal lake and glittering +stream. The banks of the winding Lavana were fringed with meads +whose herbage, pearly with morning dew, afforded choicest +grazing for the sacred cow, and were dotted with perfumed clumps +of Bo-trees, tamarinds, and holy figs: in one place Vikram planted +100,000 in a single orchard and gave them to his spiritual advisers. +The river valley separated the stream from a belt of forest growth +which extended to a hill range, dark with impervious jungle, and +cleared here and there for the cultivator's village. Behind it, rose +another sub-range, wooded with a lower bush and already blue +with air, whilst in the background towered range upon range, here +rising abruptly into points and peaks, there ramp-shaped or wall- +formed, with sheer descents, and all of light azure hue adorned +with glories of silver and gold. + +After reigning for some years, Vikram the Brave found himself at +the age of thirty, a staid and sober middle-aged man, He had +several sons--daughters are naught in India--by his several wives, +and he had some paternal affection for nearly all--except of course, +for his eldest son, a youth who seemed to conduct himself as +though he had a claim to the succession. In fact, the king seemed +to have taken up his abode for life at Ujjayani, when suddenly he +bethought himself, "I must visit those countries of whose names I +am ever hearing." The fact is, he had determined to spy out in +disguise the lands of all his foes, and to find the best means of +bringing against them his formidable army. + + * * * * * * + +We now learn how Bhartari Raja becomes Regent of Ujjayani. + +Having thus resolved, Vikram the Brave gave the government into +the charge of a younger brother, Bhartari Raja, and in the garb of a +religious mendicant, accompanied by Dharma Dhwaj, his second +son, a youth bordering on the age of puberty, he began to travel +from city to city, and from forest to forest. + +The Regent was of a settled melancholic turn of mind, having lost +in early youth a very peculiar wife. One day, whilst out hunting, he +happened to pass a funeral pyre, upon which a Brahman's widow +had just become Sati (a holy woman) with the greatest fortitude. +On his return home he related the adventure to Sita Rani, his +spouse, and she at once made reply that virtuous women die with +their husbands, killed by the fire of grief, not by the flames of the +pile. To prove her truth the prince, after an affectionate farewell, +rode forth to the chase, and presently sent back the suite with his +robes torn and stained, to report his accidental death. Sita perished +upon the spot, and the widower remained inconsolable--for a time. + +He led the dullest of lives, and took to himself sundry spouses, all +equally distinguished for birth, beauty, and modesty. Like his +brother, he performed all the proper devoirs of a Raja, rising +before the day to finish his ablutions, to worship the gods, and to +do due obeisance to the Brahmans. He then ascended the throne, to +judge his people according to the Shastra, carefully keeping in +subjection lust, anger, avarice, folly, drunkenness, and pride; +preserving himself from being seduced by the love of gaming and +of the chase; restraining his desire for dancing, singing, and +playing on musical instruments, and refraining from sleep during +daytime, from wine, from molesting men of worth, from dice, from +putting human beings to death by artful means, from useless +travelling, and from holding any one guilty without the +commission of a crime. His levees were in a hall decently +splendid, and he was distinguished only by an umbrella of +peacock's feathers; he received all complainants, petitioners, and +presenters of offenses with kind looks and soft words. He united to +himself the seven or eight wise councillors, and the sober and +virtuous secretary that formed the high cabinet of his royal brother, +and they met in some secret lonely spot, as a mountain, a terrace, a +bower or a forest, whence women, parrots, and other talkative +birds were carefully excluded. + +And at the end of this useful and somewhat laborious day, he +retired to his private apartments, and, after listening to spiritual +songs and to soft music, he fell asleep. Sometimes he would +summon his brother's "Nine Gems of Science," and give ear to +their learned discourses. But it was observed that the viceroy +reserved this exercise for nights when he was troubled with +insomnia--the words of wisdom being to him an infallible remedy +for that disorder. + +Thus passed onwards his youth, doing nothing that it could desire, +forbidden all pleasures because they were unprincely, and working +in the palace harder than in the pauper's hut. Having, however, +fortunately for himself, few predilections and no imagination, he +began to pride himself upon being a philosopher. Much business +from an early age had dulled his wits, which were never of the +most brilliant; and in the steadily increasing torpidity of his spirit, +he traced the germs of that quietude which forms the highest +happiness of man in this storm of matter called the world. He +therefore allowed himself but one friend of his soul. He retained, I +have said, his brother's seven or eight ministers; he was constant in +attendance upon the Brahman priests who officiated at the palace, +and who kept the impious from touching sacred property; and he +was courteous to the commander-in-chief who directed his +warriors, to the officers of justice who inflicted punishment upon +offenders, and to the lords of towns, varying in number from one +to a thousand. But he placed an intimate of his own in the high +position of confidential councillor, the ambassador to regulate war +and peace. + +Mahi-pala was a person of noble birth, endowed with shining +abilities, popular, dexterous in business, acquainted with foreign +parts, famed for eloquence and intrepidity, and as Menu the +Lawgiver advises, remarkably handsome. + +Bhartari Raja, as I have said, became a quietist and a philosopher. +But Kama,[FN#21] the bright god who exerts his sway over the +three worlds, heaven and earth and grewsome Hades,[FN#22] had +marked out the prince once more as the victim of his blossom- +tipped shafts and his flowery bow. How, indeed, could he hope to +escape the doom which has fallen equally upon Brahma the +Creator, Vishnu the Preserver, and dreadful Shiva the Three-eyed +Destroyer[FN#23]? + +By reason of her exceeding beauty, her face was a full moon +shining in the clearest sky; her hair was the purple cloud of autumn +when, gravid with rain, it hangs low over earth; and her +complexion mocked the pale waxen hue of the large-flowered +jasmine. Her eyes were those of the timid antelope; her lips were +as red as those of the pomegranate's bud, and when they opened, +from them distilled a fountain of ambrosia. Her neck was like a +pigeon's; her hand the pink lining of the conch-shell; her waist a +leopard's; her feet the softest lotuses. In a word, a model of grace +and loveliness was Dangalah Rani, Raja Bhartari's last and +youngest wife. + +The warrior laid down his arms before her; the politician spoke out +every secret in her presence. The religious prince would have +slaughtered a cow--that sole unforgivable sin--to save one of her +eyelashes: the absolute king would not drink a cup of water +without her permission; the staid philosopher, the sober quietist, to +win from her the shadow of a smile, would have danced before her +like a singing-girl. So desperately enamoured became Bhartari +Raja. + +It is written, however, that love, alas! breeds not love; and so it +happened to the Regent. The warmth of his affection, instead of +animating his wife, annoyed her; his protestations wearied her; his +vows gave her the headache; and his caresses were a colic that +made her blood run cold. Of course, the prince perceived nothing, +being lost in wonder and admiration of the beauty's coyness and +coquetry. And as women must give away their hearts, whether +asked or not, so the lovely Dangalah Rani lost no time in lavishing +all the passion of her idle soul upon Mahi-pala, the handsome +ambassador of peace and war. By this means the three were happy +and were contented; their felicity, however, being built on a rotten +foundation, could not long endure. It soon ended in the following +extraordinary way. + +In the city of Ujjayani,[FN#24] within sight of the palace, dwelt a +Brahman and his wife, who, being old and poor, and having +nothing else to do, had applied themselves to the practice of +austere devotion.[FN#25] They fasted and refrained from drink, +they stood on their heads and held their arms for weeks in the air; +they prayed till their knees were like pads; they disciplined +themselves with scourges of wire; and they walked about unclad in +the cold season, and in summer they sat within a circle of flaming +wood, till they became the envy and admiration of all the plebeian +gods that inhabit the lower heavens. In fine, as a reward for their +exceeding piety, the venerable pair received at the hands of a +celestial messenger an apple of the tree Kalpavriksha-- a fruit +which has the virtue of conferring eternal life upon him that tastes +it. + +Scarcely had the god disappeared, when the Brahman, opening his +toothless mouth, prepared to eat the fruit of immortality. Then his +wife addressed him in these words, shedding copious tears the +while: + +"To die, O man, is a passing pain; to be poor is an interminable +anguish. Surely our present lot is the penalty of some great crime +committed by us in a past state of being.[FN#26] Callest thou this +state life? Better we die at once, and so escape the woes of the +world!" + +Hearing these words, the Brahman sat undecided, with open jaws +and eyes fixed upon the apple. Presently he found tongue: "I have +accepted the fruit, and have brought it here; but having heard thy +speech, my intellect hath wasted away; now I will do whatever +thou pointest out." + +The wife resumed her discourse, which had been interrupted by a +more than usually copious flow of tears. "Moreover, O husband, +we are old, and what are the enjoyments of the stricken in years? +Truly quoth the poet-- + + Die loved in youth, not hated in age. + +If that fruit could have restored thy dimmed eyes, and deaf ears, +and blunted taste, and warmth of love, I had not spoken to thee +thus." + +After which the Brahman threw away the apple, to the great joy of +his wife, who felt a natural indignation at the prospect of seeing +her goodman become immortal, whilst she still remained subject to +the laws of death; but she concealed this motive in the depths of +her thought, enlarging, as women are apt to do, upon everything +but the truth. And she spoke with such success, that the priest was +about to toss in his rage the heavenly fruit into the fire, +reproaching the gods as if by sending it they had done him an +injury. Then the wife snatched it out of his hand, and telling him it +was too precious to be wasted, bade him arise and gird his loins +and wend him to the Regent's palace, and offer him the fruit--as +King Vikram was absent--with a right reverend brahmanical +benediction. She concluded with impressing upon her unworldly +husband the necessity of requiring a large sum of money as a +return for his inestimable gift. "By this means, "she said, "thou +mayst promote thy present and future welfare.[FN#27]" + +Then the Brahman went forth, and standing in the presence of the +Raja, told him all things touching the fruit, concluding with "O, +mighty prince! vouchsafe to accept this tribute, and bestow wealth +upon me. I shall be happy in your living long!" + +Bhartari Raja led the supplicant into an inner strongroom, where +stood heaps of the finest gold-dust, and bade him carry away all +that he could; this the priest did, not forgetting to fill even his +eloquent and toothless mouth with the precious metal. Having +dismissed the devotee groaning under the burden, the Regent +entered the apartments of his wives, and having summoned the +beautiful Queen Dangalah Rani, gave her the fruit, and said, "Eat +this, light of my eyes! This fruit--joy of my heart!--will make thee +everlastingly young and beautiful." + +The pretty queen, placing both hands upon her husband's bosom, +kissed his eyes and lips, and sweetly smiling on his face--for great +is the guile of women--whispered, "Eat it thyself, dear one, or at +least share it with me; for what is life and what is youth without +the presence of those we love?" But the Raja, whose heart was +melted by these unusual words, put her away tenderly, and, having +explained that the fruit would serve for only one person, departed. + +Whereupon the pretty queen, sweetly smiling as before, slipped the +precious present into her pocket. When the Regent was transacting +business in the hall of audience she sent for the ambassador who +regulated war and peace, and presented him with the apple in a +manner at least as tender as that with which it had been offered to +her. + +Then the ambassador, after slipping the fruit into his pocket also, +retired from the presence of the pretty queen, and meeting Lakha, +one of the maids of honour, explained to her its wonderful power, +and gave it to her as a token of his love. But the maid of honour, +being an ambitious girl, determined that the fruit was a fit present +to set before the Regent in the absence of the King. Bhartari Raja +accepted it, bestowed on her great wealth, and dismissed her with +many thanks. + +He then took up the apple and looked at it with eyes brimful of +tears, for he knew the whole extent of his misfortune. His heart +ached, he felt a loathing for the world, and he said with sighs and +groans[FN#28]: + +"Of what value are these delusions of wealth and affection, whose +sweetness endures for a moment and becomes eternal bitterness? +Love is like the drunkard's cup: delicious is the first drink, palling +are the draughts that succeed it, and most distasteful are the dregs. +What is life but a restless vision of imaginary pleasures and of real +pains, from which the only waking is the terrible day of death? The +affection of this world is of no use, since, in consequence of it, we +fall at last into hell. For which reason it is best to practice the +austerities of religion, that the Deity may bestow upon us hereafter +that happiness which he refuses to us here!" + +Thus did Bhartari Raja determine to abandon the world. But before +setting out for the forest, he could not refrain from seeing the +queen once more, so hot was the flame which Kama had kindled in +his heart. He therefore went to the apartments of his women, and +having caused Dangalah Rani to be summoned, he asked her what +had become of the fruit which he had given to her. She answered +that, according to his command, she had eaten it. Upon which the +Regent showed her the apple, and she beholding it stood aghast, +unable to make any reply. The Raja gave careful orders for her +beheading; he then went out, and having had the fruit washed, ate +it. He quitted the throne to be a jogi, or religious mendicant, and +without communicating with any one departed into the jungle. +There he became such a devotee that death had no power over him, +and he is wandering still. But some say that he was duly absorbed +into the essence of the Deity. + + * * * * * * + +We are next told how the valiant Vikram returned to his own +country. + +Thus Vikram's throne remained empty. When the news reached +King Indra, Regent of the Lower Firmament and Protector of +Earthly Monarchs, he sent Prithwi Pala, a fierce giant,[FN#29] to +defend the city of Ujjayani till such time as its lawful master might +reappear, and the guardian used to keep watch and ward night and +day over his trust. + +In less than a year the valorous Raja Vikram became thoroughly +tired of wandering about the woods half dressed: now suffering +from famine, then exposed to the attacks of wild beasts, and at all +times very ill at ease. He reflected also that he was not doing his +duty to his wives and children; that the heir-apparent would +probably make the worst use of the parental absence; and finally, +that his subjects, deprived of his fatherly care, had been left in the +hands of a man who, for ought he could say, was not worthy of the +high trust. He had also spied out all the weak points of friend and +foe. Whilst these and other equally weighty considerations were +hanging about the Raja's mind, he heard a rumour of the state of +things spread abroad; that Bhartari, the regent, having abdicated +his throne, had gone away into the forest. Then quoth Vikram to +his son,"We have ended our wayfarings, now let us turn our steps +homewards!" + +The gong was striking the mysterious hour of midnight as the king +and the young prince approached the principal gate. And they were +pushing through it when a monstrous figure rose up before them +and called out with a fearful voice, "Who are ye, and where are ye +going ? Stand and deliver your names!" + +"I am Raja Vikram," rejoined the king, half choked with rage, "and +I am come to mine own city. Who art thou that darest to stop or +stay me?" + +"That question is easily answered," cried Prithwi Pala the giant, in +his roaring voice; "the gods have sent me to protect Ujjayani. If +thou be really Raja Vikram, prove thyself a man: first fight with +me, and then return to thine own." + +The warrior king cried "Sadhu!" wanting nothing better. He girt his +girdle tight round his loins, summoned his opponent into the empty +space beyond the gate, told him to stand on guard, and presently +began to devise some means of closing with or running in upon +him. The giant's fists were large as watermelons, and his knotted +arms whistled through the air like falling trees, threatening fatal +blows. Besides which the Raja's head scarcely reached the giant's +stomach, and the latter, each time he struck out, whooped so +abominably loud, that no human nerves could remain unshaken. + +At last Vikram's good luck prevailed. The giant's left foot slipped, +and the hero, seizing his antagonist's other leg, began to trip him +up. At the same moment the young prince, hastening to his parent's +assistance, jumped viciously upon the enemy's naked toes. By their +united exertions they brought him to the ground, when the son sat +down upon his stomach, making himself as weighty as he well +could, whilst the father, climbing up to the monster's throat, placed +himself astride upon it, and pressing both thumbs upon his eyes, +threatened to blind him if he would not yield. + +Then the giant, modifying the bellow of his voice, cried out-- + +"O Raja, thou hast overthrown me, and I grant thee thy life." + +"Surely thou art mad, monster," replied the king, in jeering tone, +half laughing, half angry. "To whom grantest thou life? If I desire +it I can kill thee; how, then, cost thou talk about granting me my +life?" + +"Vikram of Ujjayani," said the giant, "be not too proud! I will save +thee from a nearly impending death. Only hearken to the tale +which I have to tell thee, and use thy judgment, and act upon it. So +shalt thou rule the world free from care, and live without danger, +and die happily." + +"Proceed," quoth the Raja, after a moment's thought, dismounting +from the giant's throat, and beginning to listen with all his ears. + +The giant raised himself from the ground, and when in a sitting +posture, began in solemn tones to speak as follows: + +"In short, the history of the matter is, that three men were born in +this same city of Ujjayani, in the same lunar mansion, in the same +division of the great circle described upon the ecliptic, and in the +same period of time. You, the first, were born in the house of a +king. The second was an oilman's son, who was slain by the third, +a jogi, or anchorite, who kills all he can, wafting the sweet scent of +human sacrifice to the nostrils of Durga, goddess of destruction. +Moreover, the holy man, after compassing the death of the +oilman's son, has suspended him head downwards from a mimosa +tree in a cemetery. He is now anxiously plotting thy destruction. +He hath murdered his own child-- " + +"And how came an anchorite to have a child?" asked Raja Vikram, +incredulously. + +"That is what I am about to tell thee," replied the giant. "In the +good days of thy generous father, Gandharba-Sena, as the court +was taking its pleasure in the forest, they saw a devotee, or rather a +devotee's head, protruding from a hole in the ground. The white +ants had surrounded his body with a case of earth, and had made +their home upon his skin. All kinds of insects and small animals +crawled up and down the face, yet not a muscle moved. Wasps had +hung their nests to its temples, and scorpions wandered in and out +of the matted and clotted hair; yet the hermit felt them not. He +spoke to no one; he received no gifts; and had it not been for the +opening of his nostrils, as he continually inhaled the pungent +smoke of a thorn fire, man would have deemed him dead. Such +were his religious austerities. + +"Thy father marvelled much at the sight, and rode home in +profound thought. That evening, as he sat in the hall of audience, +he could speak of nothing but the devotee; and his curiosity soon +rose to such a pitch, that he proclaimed about the city a reward of +one hundred gold pieces to any one that could bring to court this +anchorite of his own free will. + +"Shortly afterwards, Vasantasena, a singing and dancing girl more +celebrated for wit and beauty than for sagesse or discretion, +appeared before thy sire, and offered for the petty inducement of a +gold bangle to bring the anchorite into the palace, carrying a baby +on his shoulder. + +"The king hearing her speak was astonished, gave her a betel leaf +in token that he held her to her promise, and permitted her to +depart, which she did with a laugh of triumph. + +"Vasantasena went directly to the jungle, where she found the +pious man faint with thirst, shriveled with hunger, and half dead +with heat and cold. She cautiously put out the fire. Then, having +prepared a confection, she approached from behind and rubbed +upon his lips a little of the sweetmeat, which he licked up with +great relish. Thereupon she made more and gave it to him. After +two days of this generous diet he gained some strength, and on the +third, as he felt a finger upon his mouth, he opened his eyes and +said, "Why hast thou come here?" + +"The girl, who had her story in readiness, replied: "I am the +daughter of a deity, and have practiced religious observances in the +heavenly regions. I have now come into this forest!" And the +devotee, who began to think how much more pleasant is such +society than solitude, asked her where her hut was, and requested +to be led there. + +"Then Vasantasena, having unearthed the holy man and compelled +him to purify himself, led him to the abode which she had caused +to be built for herself in the wood. She explained its luxuries by the +nature of her vow, which bound her to indulge in costly apparel, in +food with six flavours, and in every kind of indulgence.[FN#30] In +course of time the hermit learned to follow her example; he gave +up inhaling smoke, and he began to eat and drink as a daily +occupation. + +"At length Kama began to trouble him. Briefly the saint and +saintess were made man and wife, by the simple form of +matrimony called the Gandharba-vivaha,[FN#31] and about ten +months afterwards a son was born to them. Thus the anchorite +came to have a child. + +"Remained Vasantasena's last feat. Some months passed: then she +said to the devotee her husband, 'Oh saint! let us now, having +finished our devotions, perform a pilgrimage to some sacred place, +that all the sins of our bodies may be washed away, after which we +will die and depart into everlasting happiness.' Cajoled by these +speeches, the hermit mounted his child upon his shoulder and +followed her where she went--directly into Raja Gandharba-Sena's +palace. + +"When the king and the ministers and the officers and the courtiers +saw Vasantasena, and her spouse carrying the baby, they +recognized her from afar. The Raja exclaimed, 'Lo! this is the very +singing girl who went forth to bring back the devotee. 'And all +replied: 'O great monarch! thou speakest truly; this is the very +same woman. And be pleased to observe that whatever things she, +having asked leave to undertake, went forth to do, all these she +hath done!' Then gathering around her they asked her all manner of +questions, as if the whole matter had been the lightest and the most +laughable thing in the world. + +"But the anchorite, having heard the speeches of the king and his +courtiers, thought to himself, 'They have done this for the purpose +of taking away the fruits of my penance.' Cursing them all with +terrible curses, and taking up his child, he left the hall. Thence he +went to the forest, slaughtered the innocent, and began to practice +austerities with a view to revenge that hour, and having slain his +child, he will attempt thy life. His prayers have been heard. In the +first place they deprived thee of thy father. Secondly, they cast +enmity between thee and thy brother, thus dooming him to an +untimely end. Thirdly, they are now working thy ruin. The +anchorite's design is to offer up a king and a king's son to his +patroness Durga, and by virtue of such devotional act he will +obtain the sovereignty of the whole world! + +"But I have promised, O Vikram, to save thee, if such be the will +of Fortune, from impending destruction. Therefore hearken well +unto my words. Distrust them that dwell amongst the dead, and +remember that it is lawful and right to strike off his head that +would slay thee. So shalt thou rule the universal earth, and leave +behind thee an immortal name!" + +Suddenly Prithwi Pala, the giant, ceased speaking, and +disappeared. Vikram and his son then passed through the city +gates, feeling their limbs to be certain that no bones were broken, +and thinking over the scene that had occurred. + + * * * * * * + +We now are informed how the valiant King Vikram met with the +Vampire. + +It was the spring season when the Raja returned, and the Holi +festival[FN#32] caused dancing and singing in every house. +Ujjayani was extraordinarily happy and joyful at the return of her +ruler, who joined in her gladness with all his kingly heart. The +faces and dresses of the public were red and yellow with gulal and +abir,--perfumed powders,[FN#33]--which were sprinkled upon one +another in token of merriment. Musicians deafened the citizens' +ears, dancing girls performed till ready to faint with fatigue, the +manufacturers of comfits made their fortunes, and the Nine Gems +of Science celebrated the auspicious day with the most long- +winded odes. The royal hero, decked in regal attire, and attended +by many thousands of state palanquins glittering with their various +ornaments, and escorted by a suite of a hundred kingly personages, +with their martial array of the four hosts, of cavalry, elephants, +chariots, and infantry, and accompanied by Amazon girls, lovely +as the suite of the gods, himself a personification of majesty, +bearing the white parasol of dominion, with a golden staff and +tassels, began once more to reign. + +After the first pleasures of return, the king applied himself +unremittingly to good government and to eradicating the abuses +which had crept into the administration during the period of his +wanderings. + +Mindful of the wise saying, "if the Rajadid not punish the guilty, +the stronger would roast the weaker like a fish on the spit," he +began the work of reform with an iron hand. He confiscated the +property of a councillor who had the reputation of taking bribes; he +branded the forehead of a sudra or servile man whose breath smelt +of ardent spirits, and a goldsmith having been detected in fraud he +ordered him to be cut in shreds with razors as the law in its mercy +directs. In the case of a notorious evil-speaker he opened the back +of his head and had his tongue drawn through the wound. A few +murderers he burned alive on iron beds, praying the while that +Vishnu might have mercy upon their souls. His spies were ordered, +as the shastra called "The Prince" advises, to mix with robbers and +thieves with a view of leading them into situations where they +might most easily be entrapped, and once or twice when the +fellows were too wary, he seized them and their relations and +impaled them all, thereby conclusively proving, without any +mistake, that he was king of earth. + +With the sex feminine he was equally severe. A woman convicted +of having poisoned an elderly husband in order to marry a younger +man was thrown to the dogs, which speedily devoured her. He +punished simple infidelity by cutting off the offender's nose--an +admirable practice, which is not only a severe penalty to the +culprit, but also a standing warning to others, and an efficient +preventative to any recurrence of the fault. Faithlessness combined +with bad example or brazen-facedness was further treated by being +led in solemn procession through the bazar mounted on a +diminutive and crop-eared donkey, with the face turned towards +the crupper. After a few such examples the women of Ujjayani +became almost modest; it is the fault of man when they are not +tolerably well behaved in one point at least. + +Every day as Vikram sat upon the judgment-seat, trying causes and +punishing offenses, he narrowly observed the speech, the gestures, +and the countenances of the various criminals and litigants and +their witnesses. Ever suspecting women, as I have said, and +holding them to be the root of all evil, he never failed when some +sin or crime more horrible than usual came before him, to ask the +accused, "Who is she?" and the suddenness of the question often +elicited the truth by accident. For there can be nothing thoroughly +and entirely bad unless a woman is at the bottom of it; and, +knowing this, Raja Vikram made certain notable hits under the +most improbable circumstances, which had almost given him a +reputation for omniscience. But this is easily explained: a man +intent upon squaring the circle will see squares in circles wherever +he looks, and sometimes he will find them. + +In disputed cases of money claims, the king adhered strictly to +established practice, and consulted persons learned in the law. He +seldom decided a cause on his own judgment, and he showed great +temper and patience in bearing with rough language from irritated +plaintiffs and defendants, from the infirm, and from old men +beyond eighty. That humble petitioners might not be baulked in +having access to the "fountain of justice," he caused an iron box to +be suspended by a chain from the windows of his sleeping +apartment. Every morning he ordered the box to be opened before +him, and listened to all the placets at full length. Even in this +simple process he displayed abundant cautiousness. For, having +forgotten what little of the humanities he had mastered in his +youth, he would hand the paper to a secretary whose business it +was to read it out before him; after which operation the man of +letters was sent into an inner room, and the petition was placed in +the hands of a second scribe. Once it so happened by the bungling +of the deceitful kayasths(clerks) that an important difference was +found to occur in the same sheet. So upon strict inquiry one +secretary lost his ears and the other his right hand. After this +petitions were rarely if ever falsified. + +The Raja Vikram also lost no time in attacking the cities and towns +and villages of his enemies, but the people rose to a man against +him, and hewing his army to pieces with their weapons, +vanquished him. This took place so often that he despaired of +bringing all the earth under the shadow of his umbrella. + +At length on one occasion when near a village he listened to a +conversation of the inhabitants. A woman having baked some +cakes was giving them to her child, who leaving the edges would +eat only the middle. On his asking for another cake, she cried, +"This boy's way is like Vikram's in his attempt to conquer the +world!" On his inquiring "Mother, why, what am I doing; and what +has Vikram done?" " Thou, my boy," she replied, "throwing away +the outside of the cake eatest the middle only. Vikram also in his +ambition, without subduing the frontiers before attacking the +towns, invades the heart of the country and lays it waste. On that +account, both the townspeople and others rising, close upon him +from the frontiers to the centre, and destroy his army. That is his +folly." + +Vikram took notice of the woman's words. He strengthened his +army and resumed his attack on the provinces and cities, beginning +with the frontiers, reducing the outer towns and stationing troops +in the intervals. Thus he proceeded regularly with his invasions. +After a respite, adopting the same system and marshalling huge +armies, he reduced in regular course each kingdom and province +till he became monarch of the whole world. + +It so happened that one day as Vikram the Brave sat upon the +judgment-seat, a young merchant, by name Mal Deo, who had +lately arrived at Ujjayani with loaded camels and elephants, and +with the reputation of immense wealth, entered the palace court. +Having been received with extreme condescension, he gave into +the king's hand a fruit which he had brought in his own, and then +spreading a prayer carpet on the floor he sat down. Presently, after +a quarter of an hour, he arose and went away. When he had gone +the king reflected in his mind: "Under this disguise, perhaps, is the +very man of whom the giant spoke." Suspecting this, he did not eat +the fruit, but calling the master of the household he gave the +present to him, ordering him to keep it in a very careful manner. +The young merchant, however, continued every day to court the +honour of an interview, each time presenting a similar gift. + +By chance one morning Raja Vikram went, attended by his +ministers, to see his stables. At this time the young merchant also +arrived there, and in the usual manner placed a fruit in the royal +hand. As the king was thoughtfully tossing it in the air, it +accidentally fell from his fingers to the ground. Then the monkey, +who was tethered amongst the horses to draw calamities from their +heads,[FN#34] snatched it up and tore it to pieces. Whereupon a +ruby of such size and water came forth that the king and his +ministers, beholding its brilliancy, gave vent to expressions of +wonder. + +Quoth Vikram to the young merchant severely--for his suspicions +were now thoroughly roused--"Why hast thou given to us all this +wealth?" + +"O great king," replied Mal Deo, demurely, "it is written in the +scriptures (shastra) 'Of Ceremony' that 'we must not go empty- +handed into the presence of the following persons, namely, Rajas, +spiritual teachers, judges, young maidens, and old women whose +daughters we would marry.' But why, O Vikram, cost thou speak +of one ruby only, since in each of the fruits which I have laid at thy +feet there is a similar jewel?" Having heard this speech, the king +said to the master of his household, "Bring all the fruits which I +have entrusted to thee." The treasurer, on receiving the royal +command, immediately brought them, and having split them, there +was found in each one a ruby, one and all equally perfect in size +and water. Raja Vikram beholding such treasures was excessively +pleased. Having sent for a lapidary, he ordered him to examine the +rubies, saying, "We cannot take anything with us out of this world. +Virtue is a noble quality to possess here below--so tell justly what +is the value of each of these gems.[FN#35]" + +To so moral a speech the lapidary replied, " Maha-Raja[FN#36]! +thou hast said truly; whoever possesses virtue, possesses +everything; virtue indeed accompanies us always, and is of +advantage in both worlds. Hear, O great king! each gem is perfect +in colour, quality and beauty. If I were to say that the value of each +was ten million millions of suvarnas (gold pieces), even then thou +couldst not understand its real worth. In fact, each ruby would buy +one of the seven regions into which the earth is divided." + +The king on hearing this was delighted, although his suspicions +were not satisfied; and, having bestowed a robe of honour upon the +lapidary, dismissed him. Thereon, taking the young merchant's +hand, he led him into the palace, seated him upon his own carpet in +presence of the court, and began to say, "My entire kingdom is not +worth one of these rubies: tell me how it is that thou who buyest +and sellest hast given me such and so many pearls?" + +Mal Deo replied: "O great king, the speaking of matters like the +following in public is not right; these things--prayers, spells, drugs, +good qualities, household affairs, the eating of forbidden food, and +the evil we may have heard of our neighbour--should not be +discussed in full assembly. Privately I will disclose to thee my +wishes. This is the way of the world; when an affair comes to six +ears, it does not remain secret; if a matter is confided to four ears it +may escape further hearing; and if to two ears even Brahma the +Creator does not know it; how then can any rumour of it come to +man?" + +Having heard this speech, Raja Vikram took Mal Deo aside, and +began to ask him, saying, "O generous man! you have given me so +many rubies, and even for a single day you have not eaten food +with me; I am exceedingly ashamed, tell me what you desire." + +"Raja," said the young merchant, "I am not Mal Deo, but Shanta- +Shil,[FN#37] a devotee. I am about to perform spells, incantations +and magical rites on the banks of the river Godavari, in a large +smashana, a cemetery where bodies are burned. By this means the +Eight Powers of Nature will all become mine. This thing I ask of +you as alms, that you and the young prince Dharma Dhwaj will +pass one night with me, doing my bidding. By you remaining near +me my incantations will be successful." + +The valiant Vikram nearly started from his seat at the word +cemetery, but, like a ruler of men, he restrained his face from +expressing his feelings, and he presently replied, "Good, we will +come, tell us on what day!" + +"You are to come to me," said the devotee, "armed, but without +followers, on the Monday evening the 14th of the dark half of the +month Bhadra.[FN#38]" The Raja said: "Do you go your ways, we +will certainly come." In this manner, having received a promise +from the king, and having taken leave, the devotee returned to his +house: thence he repaired to the temple, and having made +preparations, and taken all the necessary things, he went back into +the cemetery and sat down to his ceremonies. + +The valiant Vikram, on the other hand, retired into an inner +apartment, to consult his own judgment about an adventure with +which, for fear of ridicule, he was unwilling to acquaint even the +most trustworthy of his ministers. + +In due time came the evening moon's day, the 14th of the dark half +of the month Bhadra. As the short twilight fell gloomily on earth, +the warrior king accompanied by his son, with turband-ends tied +under their chins, and with trusty blades tucked under their arms +ready for foes, human, bestial, or devilish, slipped out unseen +through the palace wicket, and took the road leading to the +cemetery on the river bank. + +Dark and drear was the night. Urged by the furious blast of the +lingering winter-rains, masses of bistre-coloured cloud, like the +forms of unwieldy beasts, rolled heavily over the firmament plain. +Whenever the crescent of the young moon, rising from an horizon +sable as the sad Tamala's hue,[FN#39] glanced upon the wayfarers, +it was no brighter than the fine tip of an elephant's tusk protruding +from the muddy wave. A heavy storm was impending; big drops +fell in showers from the forest trees as they groaned under the +blast, and beneath the gloomy avenue the clayey ground gleamed +ghastly white. As the Raja and his son advanced, a faint ray of +light, like the line of pure gold streaking the dark surface of the +touchstone, caught their eyes, and directed their footsteps towards +the cemetery. + +When Vikram came upon the open space on the riverbank where +corpses were burned, he hesitated for a moment to tread its impure +ground. But seeing his son undismayed, he advanced boldly, +trampling upon remnants of bones, and only covering his mouth +with his turband-end. + +Presently, at the further extremity of the smashana, or burning +ground, appeared a group. By the lurid flames that flared and +flickered round the half-extinguished funeral pyres, with remnants +of their dreadful loads, Raja Vikram and Dharma Dhwaj could +note the several features of the ill-omened spot. There was an outer +circle of hideous bestial forms; tigers were roaring, and elephants +were trumpeting; wolves, whose foul hairy coats blazed with +sparks of bluish phosphoric light, were devouring the remnants of +human bodies; foxes, jackals, and hyenas were disputing over their +prey; whilst bears were chewing the livers of children. The space +within was peopled by a multitude of fiends. There were the subtle +bodies of men that had escaped their grosser frames prowling +about the charnel ground, where their corpses had been reduced to +ashes, or hovering in the air, waiting till the new bodies which they +were to animate were made ready for their reception. The spirits of +those that had been foully slain wandered about with gashed limbs; +and skeletons, whose mouldy bones were held together by bits of +blackened sinew, followed them as the murderer does his victim. +Malignant witches with shriveled skins, horrid eyes and distorted +forms, crawled and crouched over the earth; whilst spectres and +goblins now stood motionless, and tall as lofty palm trees; then, as +if in fits, leaped, danced, and tumbled before their evocator. The +air was filled with shrill and strident cries, with the fitful moaning +of the storm-wind, with the hooting of the owl, with the jackal's +long wild cry, and with the hoarse gurgling of the swollen river, +from whose banks the earth-slip thundered in its fall. + +In the midst of all, close to the fire which lit up his evil +countenance, sat Shanta-Shil, the jogi, with the banner that denoted +his calling and his magic staff planted in the ground behind him. +He was clad in the ochre-coloured loin-wrap of his class; from his +head streamed long tangled locks of hair like horsehair; his black +body was striped with lines of chalk, and a girdle of thighbones +encircled his waist. His face was smeared with ashes from a +funeral pyre, and his eyes, fixed as those of a statue, gleamed from +this mask with an infernal light of hate. His cheeks were shaven, +and he had not forgotten to draw the horizontal sectarian mark. But +this was of blood; and Vikram, as he drew near saw that he was +playing upon a human skull with two shank bones, making music +for the horrid revelry. + +Now Raja Vikram, as has been shown by his encounter with +Indra's watchman, was a bold prince, and he was cautious as he +was brave. The sight of a human being in the midst of these terrors +raised his mettle; he determined to prove himself a hero, and +feeling that the critical moment was now come, he hoped to rid +himself and his house forever of the family curse that hovered over +them. + +For a moment he thought of the giant's words, "And remember that +it is lawful and right to strike off his head that would slay thee." A +stroke with his good sword might at once and effectually put an +end to the danger. But then he remembered that he had passed his +royal word to do the devotee's bidding that night. Besides, he felt +assured that the hour for action had not yet sounded. + +These reflections having passed through his mind with the rapid +course of a star that has lost its honours,[FN#40] Vikram +courteously saluted Shanta-Shil. The jogi briefly replied, "Come +sit down, both of ye." The father and son took their places, by no +means surprised or frightened by the devil dances before and +around them. Presently the valiant Raja reminded the devotee that +he was come to perform his promise, and lastly asked, "What +commands are there for us?" + +The jogi replied, "O king, since you have come, just perform one +piece of business. About two kos[FN#41] hence, in a southerly +direction, there is another place where dead bodies are burned; and +in that place is a mimosa tree, on which a body is hanging. Bring it +to me immediately." + +Raja Vikram took his son's hand, unwilling to leave him in such +company; and, catching up a fire-brand, went rapidly away in the +proper direction. He was now certain that Shanta-Shil was the +anchorite who, enraged by his father, had resolved his destruction; +and his uppermost thought was a firm resolve "to breakfast upon +his enemy, ere his enemy could dine upon him." He muttered this +old saying as he went, whilst the tom-toming of the anchorite upon +the skull resounded in his ears, and the devil-crowd, which had +held its peace during his meeting with Shanta-Shil, broke out again +in an infernal din of whoops and screams, yells and laughter. + +The darkness of the night was frightful, the gloom deepened till it +was hardly possible to walk. The clouds opened their fountains, +raining so that you would say they could never rain again. +Lightning blazed forth with more than the light of day, and the roar +of the thunder caused the earth to shake. Baleful gleams tipped the +black cones of the trees and fitfully scampered like fireflies over +the waste. Unclean goblins dogged the travellers and threw +themselves upon the ground in their path and obstructed them in a +thousand different ways. Huge snakes, whose mouths distilled +blood and black venom, kept clinging around their legs in the +roughest part of the road, till they were persuaded to loose their +hold either by the sword or by reciting a spell. In fact, there were +so many horrors and such a tumult and noise that even a brave man +would have faltered, yet the king kept on his way. + +At length having passed over, somehow or other, a very difficult +road, the Raja arrived at the smashana, or burning place pointed +out by the jogi. Suddenly he sighted the tree where from root to top +every branch and leaf was in a blaze of crimson flame. And when +he, still dauntless, advanced towards it, a clamour continued to be +raised, and voices kept crying, "Kill them! kill them! seize them! +seize them! take care that they do not get away! let them scorch +themselves to cinders! let them suffer the pains of Patala.[FN#42]" + +Far from being terrified by this state of things the valiant Raja +increased in boldness, seeing a prospect of an end to his adventure. +Approaching the tree he felt that the fire did not burn him, and so +he sat there for a while to observe the body, which hung, head +downwards, from a branch a little above him. + +Its eyes, which were wide open, were of a greenish-brown, and +never twinkled; its hair also was brown,[FN#43] and brown was its +face--three several shades which, notwithstanding, approached one +another in an unpleasant way, as in an over-dried cocoa-nut. Its +body was thin and ribbed like a skeleton or a bamboo framework, +and as it held on to a bough, like a flying fox,[FN#44] by the toe- +tips, its drawn muscles stood out as if they were ropes of coin. +Blood it appeared to have none, or there would have been a +decided determination of that curious juice to the head; and as the +Raja handled its skin it felt icy cold and clammy as might a snake. +The only sign of life was the whisking of a ragged little tail much +resembling a goat's. + +Judging from these signs the brave king at once determined the +creature to be a Baital--a Vampire. For a short time he was puzzled +to reconcile the appearance with the words of the giant, who +informed him that the anchorite had hung the oilman's son to a +tree. But soon he explained to himself the difficulty, remembering +the exceeding cunning of jogis and other reverend men, and +determining that his enemy, the better to deceive him, had +doubtless altered the shape and form of the young oilman's body. + +With this idea, Vikram was pleased, saying, "My trouble has been +productive of fruit." Remained the task of carrying the Vampire to +Shanta-Shil the devotee. Having taken his sword, the Raja +fearlessly climbed the tree, and ordering his son to stand away +from below, clutched the Vampire's hair with one hand, and with +the other struck such a blow of the sword, that the bough was cut +and the thing fell heavily upon the ground. Immediately on falling +it gnashed its teeth and began to utter a loud wailing cry like the +screams of an infant in pain. Vikram having heard the sound of its +lamentations, was pleased, and began to say to himself, "This devil +must be alive." Then nimbly sliding down the trunk, he made a +captive of the body, and asked " Who art thou?" + +Scarcely, however, had the words passed the royal lips, when the +Vampire slipped through the fingers like a worm, and uttering a +loud shout of laughter, rose in the air with its legs uppermost, and +as before suspended itself by its toes to another bough. And there it +swung to and fro, moved by the violence of its cachinnation. + +"Decidedly this is the young oilman!" exclaimed the Raja, after he +had stood for a minute or two with mouth open, gazing upwards +and wondering what he should do next. Presently he directed +Dharma Dhwaj not to lose an instant in laying hands upon the +thing when it next might touch the ground, and then he again +swarmed up the tree. Having reached his former position, he once +more seized the Baital's hair, and with all the force of his arms--for +he was beginning to feel really angry--he tore it from its hold and +dashed it to the ground, saying, "O wretch, tell me who thou art?" + +Then, as before, the Raja slid deftly down the trunk, and hurried to +the aid of his son, who in obedience to orders, had fixed his grasp +upon the Vampire's neck. Then, too, as before, the Vampire, +laughing aloud, slipped through their fingers and returned to its +dangling-place. + +To fail twice was too much for Raja Vikram's temper, which was +right kingly and somewhat hot. This time he bade his son strike the +Baital's head with his sword. Then, more like a wounded bear of +Himalaya than a prince who had established an era, he hurried up +the tree, and directed a furious blow with his sabre at the +Vampire's lean and calfless legs. The violence of the stroke made +its toes loose their hold of the bough, and when it touched the +ground, Dharma Dhwaj's blade fell heavily upon its matted brown +hair. But the blows appeared to have lighted on iron-wood--to +judge at least from the behaviour of the Baital, who no sooner +heard the question, "O wretch, who art thou?" than it returned in +loud glee and merriment to its old position. + +Five mortal times did Raja Vikram repeat this profitless labour. +But so far from losing heart, he quite entered into the spirit of the +adventure. Indeed he would have continued climbing up that tree +and taking that corpse under his arm--he found his sword useless-- +and bringing it down, and asking it who it was, and seeing it slip +through his fingers, six times sixty times, or till the end of the +fourth and present age,[FN#45] had such extreme resolution been +required. + +However, it was not necessary. On the seventh time of falling, the +Baital, instead of eluding its capturer's grasp, allowed itself to be +seized, merely remarking that "even the gods cannot resist a +thoroughly obstinate man."[FN#46] And seeing that the stranger, +for the better protection of his prize, had stripped off his waistcloth +and was making it into a bag, the Vampire thought proper to seek +the most favourable conditions for himself, and asked his +conqueror who he was, and what he was about to do? + +"Vile wretch," replied the breathless hero, "know me to be Vikram +the Great, Raja of Ujjayani, and I bear thee to a man who is +amusing himself by drumming to devils on a skull." + +"Remember the old saying, mighty Vikram!" said the Baital, with +a sneer, "that many a tongue has cut many a throat. I have yielded +to thy resolution and I am about to accompany thee, bound to thy +back like a beggar's wallet. But hearken to my words, ere we set +out upon the way. I am of a loquacious disposition, and it is well +nigh an hour's walk between this tree and the place where thy +friend sits, favouring his friends with the peculiar music which +they love. Therefore, I shall try to distract my thoughts, which +otherwise might not be of the most pleasing nature, by means of +sprightly tales and profitable reflections. Sages and men of sense +spend their days in the delights of light and heavy literature, +whereas dolts and fools waste time in sleep and idleness. And I +purpose to ask thee a number of questions, concerning which we +will, if it seems fit to thee, make this covenant: + +"Whenever thou answerest me, either compelled by Fate or +entrapped by my cunning into so doing, or thereby gratifying thy +vanity and conceit, I leave thee and return to my favourite place +and position in the siras-tree, but when thou shalt remain silent, +confused, and at a loss to reply, either through humility or thereby +confessing thine ignorance, and impotence, and want of +comprehension, then will I allow thee, of mine own free will, to +place me before thine employer. Perhaps I should not say so; it +may sound like bribing thee, but--take my counsel, and mortify thy +pride, and assumption, and arrogance, and haughtiness, as soon as +possible. So shalt thou derive from me a benefit which none but +myself can bestow." + +Raja Vikram hearing these rough words, so strange to his royal +ear, winced; then he rejoiced that his heir apparent was not near; +then he looked round at his son Dharma Dhwaj, to see if he was +impertinent enough to be amused by the Baital. But the first glance +showed him the young prince busily employed in pinching and +screwing the monster's legs, so as to make it fit better into the +cloth. Vikram then seized the ends of the waistcloth, twisted them +into a convenient form for handling, stooped, raised the bundle +with a jerk, tossed it over his shoulder, and bidding his son not to +lag behind, set off at a round pace towards the western end of the +cemetery. + +The shower had ceased, and, as they gained ground, the weather +greatly improved. + +The Vampire asked a few indifferent questions about the wind and +the rain and the mud. When he received no answer, he began to +feel uncomfortable, and he broke out with these words: "O King +Vikram, listen to the true story which I am about to tell thee." + + + THE VAMPIRE'S FIRST STORY. + + In which a man deceives a woman. + +In Benares once reigned a mighty prince, by name Pratapamukut, +to whose eighth son Vajramukut happened the strangest adventure. + +One morning, the young man, accompanied by the son of his +father's pradhan or prime minister, rode out hunting, and went far +into the jungle. At last the twain unexpectedly came upon a +beautiful "tank [FN#47]" of a prodigious size. It was surrounded +by short thick walls of fine baked brick; and flights and ramps of +cut-stone steps, half the length of each face, and adorned with +turrets, pendants, and finials, led down to the water. The +substantial plaster work and the masonry had fallen into disrepair, +and from the crevices sprang huge trees, under whose thick shade +the breeze blew freshly, and on whose balmy branches the birds +sang sweetly; the grey squirrels [FN#48] chirruped joyously as +they coursed one another up the gnarled trunks, and from the +pendent llianas the longtailed monkeys were swinging sportively. +The bountiful hand of Sravana [FN#49] had spread the earthen +rampart with a carpet of the softest grass and many-hued wild +flowers, in which were buzzing swarms of bees and myriads of +bright winged insects; and flocks of water fowl, wild geese, +Brahmini ducks, bitterns, herons, and cranes, male and female, +were feeding on the narrow strip of brilliant green that belted the +long deep pool, amongst the broad-leaved lotuses with the lovely +blossoms, splashing through the pellucid waves, and basking +happily in the genial sun. + +The prince and his friend wondered when they saw the beautiful +tank in the midst of a wild forest, and made many vain conjectures +about it. They dismounted, tethered their horses, and threw their +weapons upon the ground; then, having washed their hands and +faces, they entered a shrine dedicated to Mahadeva, and there +began to worship the presiding deity. + +Whilst they were making their offerings, a bevy of maidens, +accompanied by a crowd of female slaves, descended the opposite +flight of steps. They stood there for a time, talking and laughing +and looking about them to see if any alligators infested the waters. +When convinced that the tank was safe, they disrobed themselves +in order to bathe. It was truly a splendid spectacle + +"Concerning which the less said the better," interrupted +Raja Vikram in an offended tone.[FN#50] + +--but did not last long. The Raja's daughter -- for the principal +maiden was a princess -- soon left her companions, who were +scooping up water with their palms and dashing it over one +another's heads, and proceeded to perform the rites of purification, +meditation, and worship. Then she began strolling with a friend +under the shade of a small mango grove. + +The prince also left his companion sitting in prayer, and walked +forth into the forest. Suddenly the eyes of the Raja's son and the +Raja's daughter met. She started back with a little scream. He was +fascinated by her beauty, and began to say to himself, " O thou vile +Karma,[FN#51] why worriest thou me?" + +Hearing this, the maiden smiled encouragement, but the poor +youth, between palpitation of the heart and hesitation about what +to say, was so confused that his tongue crave to his teeth. She +raised her eyebrows a little. There is nothing which women despise +in a man more than modesty, [FN#52] for mo-des-ty -- + +A violent shaking of the bag which hung behind Vikram's royal +back broke off the end of this offensive sentence. And the warrior +king did not cease that discipline till the Baital promised him to +preserve more decorum in his observations. + +Still the prince stood before her with downcast eyes and suffused +cheeks: even the spur of contempt failed to arouse his energies. +Then the maiden called to her friend, who was picking jasmine +flowers so as not to witness the scene, and angrily asked why that +strange man was allowed to stand and stare at her? The friend, in +hot wrath, threatened to call the slave, and throw Vajramukut into +the pond unless he instantly went away with his impudence. But as +the prince was rooted to the spot, and really had not heard a word +of what had been said to him, the two women were obliged to +make the first move. + +As they almost reached the tank, the beautiful maiden turned her +head to see what the poor modest youth was doing. + +Vajramukut was formed in every way to catch a woman's eye. The +Raja's daughter therefore half forgave him his offence of mod ----. +Again she sweetly smiled, disclosing two rows of little opals. Then +descending to the water's edge, she stooped down and plucked a +lotus. This she worshipped; next she placed it in her hair, then she +put it in her ear, then she bit it with her teeth, then she trod upon it +with her foot, then she raised it up again, and lastly she stuck it in +her bosom. After which she mounted her conveyance and went +home to her friends; whilst the prince, having become thoroughly +desponding and drowned in grief at separation from her, returned +to the minister's son. + +"Females!" ejaculated the minister's son, speaking to himself in a +careless tone, when, his prayer finished, he left the temple, and sat +down upon the tank steps to enjoy the breeze. He presently drew a +roll of paper from under his waist-belt, and in a short time was +engrossed with his study. The women seeing this conduct, exerted +themselves in every possible way of wile to attract his attention +and to distract his soul. They succeeded only so far as to make him +roll his head with a smile, and to remember that such is always the +custom of man's bane; after which he turned over a fresh page of +manuscript. And although he presently began to wonder what had +become of the prince his master, he did not look up even once +from his study. + +He was a philosopher, that young man. But after all, Raja Vikram, +what is mortal philosophy? Nothing but another name for +indifference! Who was ever philosophical about a thing truly loved +or really hated? -- no one! Philosophy, says Shankharacharya, is +either a gift of nature or the reward of study. But I, the Baital, the +devil, ask you, what is a born philosopher, save a man of cold +desires? And what is a bred philosopher but a man who has +survived his desires? A young philosopher? - a cold-blooded +youth! An elderly philosopher? --a leuco-phlegmatic old man! +Much nonsense, of a verity, ye hear in praise of nothing from your +Rajaship's Nine Gems of Science, and from sundry other such wise +fools. + +Then the prince began to relate the state of his case, saying, " O +friend, I have seen a damsel, but whether she be a musician from +Indra's heaven, a maiden of the sea, a daughter of the serpent +kings, or the child of an earthly Raja, I cannot say." + +"Describe her," said the statesman in embryo. + +"Her face," quoth the prince, "was that of the full moon, her hair +like a swarm of bees hanging from the blossoms of the acacia, the +corners of her eyes touched her ears, her lips were sweet with lunar +ambrosia, her waist was that of a lion, and her walk the walk of a +king goose. [FN#53] As a garment, she was white; as a season, the +spring; as a flower, the jasmine; as a speaker, the kokila bird; as a +perfume, musk; as a beauty, Kamadeva; and as a being, Love. And +if she does not come into my possession I will not live; this I have +certainly determined upon." + +The young minister, who had heard his prince say the same thing +more than once before, did not attach great importance to these +awful words. He merely remarked that, unless they mounted at +once, night would surprise them in the forest. Then the two young +men returned to their horses, untethered them, drew on their +bridles, saddled them, and catching up their weapons, rode slowly +towards the Raja's palace. During the three hours of return hardly a +word passed between the pair. Vajramukut not only avoided +speaking; he never once replied till addressed thrice in the loudest +voice. + +The young minister put no more questions, "for," quoth he to +himself, "when the prince wants my counsel, he will apply for it." +In this point he had borrowed wisdom from his father, who held in +peculiar horror the giving of unasked- for advice. So, when he saw +that conversation was irksome to his master, he held his peace and +meditated upon what he called his "day-thought." It was his +practice to choose every morning some tough food for reflection, +and to chew the cud of it in his mind at times when, without such +employment, his wits would have gone wool-gathering. You may +imagine, Raja Vikram, that with a few years of this head work, the +minister's son became a very crafty young person. + +After the second day the Prince Vajramukut, being restless from +grief at separation, fretted himself into a fever. Having given up +writing, reading, drinking, sleeping, the affairs entrusted to him by +his father, and everything else, he sat down, as he said, to die. He +used constantly to paint the portrait of the beautiful lotus gatherer, +and to lie gazing upon it with tearful eyes; then he would start up +and tear it to pieces and beat his forehead, and begin another +picture of a yet more beautiful face. + +At last, as the pradhan's son had foreseen, he was summoned by +the young Raja, whom he found upon his bed, looking yellow and +complaining bitterly of headache. Frequent discussions upon the +subject of the tender passion had passed between the two youths, +and one of them had ever spoken of it so very disrespectfully that +the other felt ashamed to introduce it. But when his friend, with a +view to provoke communicativeness, advised a course of boiled +and bitter herbs and great attention to diet, quoting the hemistich +attributed to the learned physician Charndatta + + A fever starve, but feed a cold, + +the unhappy Vajramukut's fortitude abandoned him; he burst into +tears, and exclaimed," Whosoever enters upon the path of love +cannot survive it; and if (by chance) he should live, what is life to +him but a prolongation of his misery?" + +"Yea," replied the minister's son, "the sage hath said -- + +The road of love is that which hath no beginning nor end; +Take thou heed of thyself, man I ere thou place foot upon it. + +And the wise, knowing that there are three things whose effect +upon himself no man can foretell --namely, desire of woman, the +dice-box, and the drinking of ardent spirits - find total abstinence +from them the best of rules. Yet, after all, if there is no cow, we +must milk the bull." + +The advice was, of course, excellent, but the hapless lover could +not help thinking that on this occasion it came a little too late. +However, after a pause he returned to the subject and said, "I have +ventured to tread that dangerous way, be its end pain or pleasure, +happiness or destruction." He then hung down his head and sighed +from the bottom of his heart. + +"She is the person who appeared to us at the tank?" asked the +pradhan's son, moved to compassion by the state of his master. + +The prince assented. + +"O great king," resumed the minister's son, "at the time of going +away had she said anything to you? or had you said anything to +her?" + +"Nothing!" replied the other laconically, when he found his friend +beginning to take an interest in the affair. + +"Then," said the minister's son, "it will be exceedingly difficult to +get possession of her." + +"Then," repeated the Raja's son, "I am doomed to death; to an early +and melancholy death!" + +"Humph!" ejaculated the young statesman rather impatiently, "did +she make any sign, or give any hint? Let me know all that +happened: half confidences are worse than none." + +Upon which the prince related everything that took place by the +side of the tank, bewailing the false shame which had made him +dumb, and concluding with her pantomime. + +The pradhan's son took thought for a while. He thereupon seized +the opportunity of representing to his master all the evil effects of +bashfulness when women are concerned, and advised him, as he +would be a happy lover, to brazen his countenance for the next +interview. + +Which the young Raja faithfully promised to do. + +"And, now," said the other, "be comforted, O my master! I know +her name and her dwelling-place. When she suddenly plucked the +lotus flower and worshipped it, she thanked the gods for having +blessed her with a sight of your beauty." + +Vajramukut smiled, the first time for the last month. + +"When she applied it to her ear, it was as if she would have +explained to thee, 'I am a daughter of the Carnatic: [FN#54] and +when she bit it with her teeth, she meant to say that 'My father is +Raja Dantawat, [FN#55]' who, by-the-bye, has been, is, and ever +will be, a mortal foe to thy father." + +Vajramukut shuddered. + +"When she put it under her foot it meant, 'My name is Padmavati. +[FN#56]'" + +Vajramukut uttered a cry of joy. + +"And when she placed it in her bosom, 'You are truly dwelling in +my heart' was meant to be understood." + +At these words the young Raja started up full of new life, and after +praising with enthusiasm the wondrous sagacity of his dear friend, +begged him by some contrivance to obtain the permission of his +parents, and to conduct him to her city. The minister's son easily +got leave for Vajramukut to travel, under pretext that his body +required change of water, and his mind change of scene. They both +dressed and armed themselves for the journey, and having taken +some jewels, mounted their horses and followed the road in that +direction in which the princess had gone. + +Arrived after some days at the capital of the Carnatic, the +minister's son having disguised his master and himself in the garb +of travelling traders, alighted and pitched his little tent upon a clear +bit of ground in one of the suburbs. He then proceeded to inquire +for a wise woman, wanting, he said, to have his fortune told. When +the prince asked him what this meant, he replied that elderly dames +who professionally predict the future are never above ministering +to the present, and therefore that, in such circumstances, they are +the properest persons to be consulted. + +"Is this a treatise upon the subject of immorality, devil?" +demanded the King Vikram ferociously. The Baital declared that it +was not, but that he must tell his story. + +The person addressed pointed to an old woman who, seated before +the door of her hut, was spinning at her wheel. Then the young +men went up to her with polite salutations and said, "Mother, we +are travelling traders, and our stock is coming after us; we have +come on in advance for the purpose of finding a place to live in. If +you will give us a house, we will remain there and pay you +highly." + +The old woman, who was a physiognomist as well as a +fortune-teller, looked at the faces of the young men and liked +them, because their brows were wide, and their mouths denoted +generosity. Having listened to their words, she took pity upon them +and said kindly, "This hovel is yours, my masters, remain here as +long as you please." Then she led them into an inner room, again +welcomed them, lamented the poorness of her abode, and begged +them to lie down and rest themselves. + +After some interval of time the old woman came to them once +more, and sitting down began to gossip. The minister's son upon +this asked her, "How is it with thy family, thy relatives, and +connections; and what are thy means of subsistence?" She replied, +``My son is a favourite servant in the household of our great king +Dantawat, and your slave is the wet-nurse of the Princess +Padmavati, his eldest child. From the coming on of old age," she +added, "I dwell in this house, but the king provides for my eating +and drinking. I go once a day to see the girl, who is a miracle of +beauty and goodness, wit and accomplishments, and returning +thence, I bear my own griefs at home. [FN#57]'' + +In a few days the young Vajramukut had, by his liberality, soft +speech, and good looks, made such progress in nurse Lakshmi's +affections that, by the advice of his companion, he ventured to +broach the subject ever nearest his heart. He begged his hostess, +when she went on the morrow to visit the charming Padmavati, +that she would be kind enough to slip a bit of paper into the +princess's hand. + +"Son," she replied, delighted with the proposal -- and what old +woman would not be? --"there is no need for putting off so urgent +an affair till the morrow. Get your paper ready, and I will +immediately give it." + +Trembling with pleasure, the prince ran to find his friend, who was +seated in the garden reading, as usual, and told him what the old +nurse had engaged to do. He then began to debate about how he +should write his letter, to cull sentences and to weigh phrases; +whether "light of my eyes" was not too trite, and "blood of my +liver" rather too forcible. At this the minister's son smiled, and +bade the prince not trouble his head with composition. He then +drew his inkstand from his waist shawl, nibbed a reed pen, and +choosing a piece of pink and flowered paper, he wrote upon it a +few lines. He then folded it, gummed it, sketched a lotus flower +upon the outside, and handing it to the young prince, told him to +give it to their hostess, and that all would be well. + +The old woman took her staff in her hand and hobbled straight to +the palace. Arrived there, she found the Raja's daughter sitting +alone in her apartment. The maiden, seeing her nurse, immediately +arose, and making a respectful bow, led her to a seat and began the +most affectionate inquiries. After giving her blessing and sitting +for some time and chatting about indifferent matters, the nurse +said, " O daughter! in infancy I reared and nourished thee, now the +Bhagwan (Deity) has rewarded me by giving thee stature, beauty, +health, and goodness. My heart only longs to see the happiness of +thy womanhood, [FN#58] after which I shall depart in peace. I +implore thee read this paper, given to me by the handsomest and +the properest young man that my eyes have ever seen." + +The princess, glancing at the lotus on the outside of the note, +slowly unfolded it and perused its contents, which were as follows: + + 1. + + She was to me the pearl that clings + To sands all hid from mortal +sight, + Yet fit for diadems of kings, + The pure and lovely light. + + 2. + + She was to me the gleam of sun + That breaks the gloom of wintry +day; + One moment shone my soul upon, + Then passed --how soon! - away. + + 3. + + She was to me the dreams of bliss + That float the dying eyes before, + For one short hour shed happiness, + And fly to bless no more. + + 4. + + O light, again upon me shine; + O pearl, again delight my eyes; + O dreams of bliss, again be mine! -- + No! earth may not be Paradise. + +I must not forget to remark, parenthetically, that the minister's son, +in order to make these lines generally useful, had provided them +with a last stanza in triplicate. "For lovers," he said sagely," are +either in the optative mood, the desperative, or the exultative." +This time he had used the optative. For the desperative he would +substitute: + + 4. + + The joys of life lie dead, lie dead, + The light of day is quenched in +gloom + The spark of hope my heart hath fled +-- + What now witholds me from the +tomb? + +And this was the termination exultative, as he called it: + + 4. + + O joy I the pearl is mine again, + Once more the day is bright and +clear, + And now 'tis real, then 'twas vain, + My dream of bliss - O heaven is +here! + +The Princess Padmavati having perused this doggrel with a +contemptuous look, tore off the first word of the last line, and said +to the nurse, angrily, "Get thee gone, O mother of Yama, [FN#59] +O unfortunate creature, and take back this answer" --giving her the +scrap of paper -- "to the fool who writes such bad verses. I wonder +where he studied the humanities. Begone, and never do such an +action again!" + +The old nurse, distressed at being so treated, rose up and returned +home. Vajramukut was too agitated to await her arrival, so he went +to meet her on the way. Imagine his disappointment when she gave +him the fatal word and repeated to him exactly what happened, not +forgetting to describe a single look! He felt tempted to plunge his +sword into his bosom; but Fortune interfered, and sent him to +consult his confidant. + +"Be not so hasty and desperate, my prince," said the pradhan's son, +seeing his wild grief; "you have not understood her meaning. Later +in life you will be aware of the fact that, in nine cases out of ten, a +woman's 'no' is a distinct 'yes.' This morning's work has been good; +the maiden asked where you learnt the humanities, which being +interpreted signifies 'Who are you?"' + +On the next day the prince disclosed his rank to old Lakshmi, who +naturally declared that she had always known it. The trust they +reposed in her made her ready to address Padmavati once more on +the forbidden subject. So she again went to the palace, and having +lovingly greeted her nursling, said to her, "The Raja's son, whose +heart thou didst fascinate on the brim of the tank, on the fifth day +of the moon, in the light half of the month Yeth, has come to my +house, and sends this message to thee: "Perform what you +promised; we have now come"; and I also tell thee that this prince +is worthy of thee: just as thou art beautiful, so is he endowed with +all good qualities of mind and body." + +When Padmavati heard this speech she showed great anger, and, +rubbing sandal on her beautiful hands, she slapped the old +woman's cheeks, and cried, "Wretch, Daina (witch)! get out of my +house; did I not forbid thee to talk such folly in my presence?" + +The lover and the nurse were equally distressed at having taken the +advice of the young minister, till he explained what the crafty +damsel meant. "When she smeared the sandal on her ten fingers," +he explained, "and struck the old woman on the face, she signified +that when the remaining ten moonlight nights shall have passed +away she will meet you in the dark." At the same time he warned +his master that to all appearances the lady Padmavati was far too +clever to make a comfortable wife. The minister's son especially +hated talented, intellectual, and strong-minded women; he had been +heard to describe the torments of Naglok [FN#60] as the +compulsory companionship of a polemical divine and a learned +authoress, well stricken in years and of forbidding aspect, as such +persons mostly are. Amongst womankind he admired -- +theoretically, as became a philosopher --the small, plump, +laughing, chattering, unintellectual, and material-minded. And +therefore --excuse the digression, Raja Vikram --he married an old +maid, tall, thin, yellow, strictly proper, cold-mannered, a +conversationist, and who prided herself upon spirituality. But more +wonderful still, after he did marry her, he actually loved her --what +an incomprehensible being is man in these matters! + +To return, however. The pradhan's son, who detected certain +symptoms of strong-mindedness in the Princess Padmavati, +advised his lord to be wise whilst wisdom availed him. This sage +counsel was, as might be guessed, most ungraciously rejected by +him for whose benefit it was intended. Then the sensible young +statesman rated himself soundly for having broken his father's rule +touching advice, and atoned for it by blindly forwarding the views +of his master. + +After the ten nights of moonlight had passed, the old nurse was +again sent to the palace with the usual message. This time +Padmavati put saffron on three of her fingers, and again left their +marks on the nurse's cheek. The minister's son explained that this +was to crave delay for three days, and that on the fourth the lover +would have access to her. + +When the time had passed the old woman again went and inquired +after her health and well-being. The princess was as usual very +wroth, and having personally taken her nurse to the western gate, +she called her "Mother of the elephant's trunk, [FN#61]'' and drove +her out with threats of the bastinado if she ever came back. This +was reported to the young statesman, who, after a few minutes' +consideration, said, "The explanation of this matter is, that she has +invited you to-morrow, at nighttime, to meet her at this very gate. + +"When brown shadows fell upon the face of earth, and here and +there a star spangled the pale heavens, the minister's son called +Vajramukut, who had been engaged in adorning himself at least +half that day. He had carefully shaved his cheeks and chin; his +mustachio was trimmed and curled; he had arched his eyebrows by +plucking out with tweezers the fine hairs around them; he had +trained his curly musk-coloured love-locks to hang gracefully +down his face; he had drawn broad lines of antimony along his +eyelids, a most brilliant sectarian mark was affixed to his forehead, +the colour of his lips had been heightened by chewing betel-nut -- + +"One would imagine that you are talking of a silly girl, not of a +prince, fiend!" interrupted Vikram, who did not wish his son to +hear what he called these fopperies and frivolities. + +-- and whitened his neck by having it shaved (continued the Baital, +speaking quickly, as if determined not to be interrupted), and +reddened the tips of his ears by squeezing them, and made his teeth +shine by rubbing copper powder into the roots, and set off the +delicacy of his fingers by staining the tips with henna. He had not +been less careful with his dress: he wore a well-arranged turband, +which had taken him at least two hours to bind, and a rich suit of +brown stuff chosen for the adventure he was about to attempt, and +he hung about his person a number of various weapons, so as to +appear a hero -- which young damsels admire. + +Vajramukut asked his friend how he looked, and smiled happily +when the other replied "Admirable!" His happiness was so great +that he feared it might not last, and he asked the minister's son how +best to conduct himself? + +"As a conqueror, my prince!" answered that astute young man, "if +it so be that you would be one. When you wish to win a woman, +always impose upon her. Tell her that you are her master, and she +will forthwith believe herself to be your servant. Inform her that +she loves you, and forthwith she will adore you. Show her that you +care nothing for her, and she will think of nothing but you. Prove +to her by your demeanour that you consider her a slave, and she +will become your pariah. But above all things --excuse me if I +repeat myself too often --beware of the fatal virtue which men call +modesty and women sheepishness. Recollect the trouble it has +given us, and the danger which we have incurred: all this might +have been managed at a tank within fifteen miles of your royal +father's palace. And allow me to say that you may still thank your +stars: in love a lost opportunity is seldom if ever recovered. The +time to woo a woman is the moment you meet her, before she has +had time to think; allow her the use of reflection and she may +escape the net. And after avoiding the rock of Modesty, fall not, I +conjure you, into the gulf of Security. I fear the lady Padmavati, +she is too clever and too prudent. When damsels of her age draw +the sword of Love, they throw away the scabbard of Precaution. +But you yawn --I weary you --it is time for us to move." + +Two watches of the night had passed, and there was profound +stillness on earth. The young men then walked quietly through the +shadows, till they reached the western gate of the palace, and +found the wicket ajar. The minister's son peeped in and saw the +porter dozing, stately as a Brahman deep in the Vedas, and behind +him stood a veiled woman seemingly waiting for somebody. He +then returned on tiptoe to the place where he had left his master, +and with a parting caution against modesty and security, bade him +fearlessly glide through the wicket. Then having stayed a short +time at the gate listening with anxious ear, he went back to the old +woman's house. + +Vajramukut penetrating to the staircase, felt his hand grasped by +the veiled figure, who motioning him to tread lightly, led him +quickly forwards. They passed under several arches, through dim +passages and dark doorways, till at last running up a flight of stone +steps they reached the apartments of the princess. + +Vajramukut was nearly fainting as the flood of splendour broke +upon him. Recovering himself he gazed around the rooms, and +presently a tumult of delight invaded his soul, and his body bristled +with joy. [FN#62] The scene was that of fairyland. Golden censers +exhaled the most costly perfumes, and gemmed vases bore the +most beautiful flowers; silver lamps containing fragrant oil +illuminated doors whose panels were wonderfully decorated, and +walls adorned with pictures in which such figures were formed that +on seeing them the beholder was enchanted. On one side of the +room stood a bed of flowers and a couch covered with brocade of +gold, and strewed with freshly-culled jasmine flowers. On the +other side, arranged in proper order, were attar holders, +betel-boxes, rose-water bottles, trays, and silver cases with four +partitions for essences compounded of rose leaves, sugar, and +spices, prepared sandal wood, saffron, and pods of musk. Scattered +about a stuccoed floor white as crystal, were coloured caddies of +exquisite confections, and in others sweetmeats of various +kinds.[FN#63] Female attendants clothed in dresses of various +colours were standing each according to her rank, with hands +respectfully joined. Some were reading plays and beautiful poems, +others danced and others performed with glittering fingers and +flashing arms on various instruments --the ivory lute, the ebony +pipe and the silver kettledrum. In short, all the means and +appliances of pleasure and enjoyment were there; and any +description of the appearance of the apartments, which were the +wonder of the age, is impossible. + +Then another veiled figure, the beautiful Princess Padmavati, came +up and disclosed herself, and dazzled the eyes of her delighted +Vajramukut. She led him into an alcove, made him sit down, +rubbed sandal powder upon his body, hung a garland of jasmine +flowers round his neck, sprinkled rose-water over his dress, and +began to wave over his head a fan of peacock feathers with a +golden handle. + +Said the prince, who despite all efforts could not entirely shake off +his unhappy habit of being modest, "Those very delicate hands of +yours are not fit to ply the pankha.[FN#64] Why do you take so +much trouble? I am cool and refreshed by the sight of you. Do give +the fan to me and sit down." + +"Nay, great king!" replied Padmavati, with the most fascinating of +smiles, "you have taken so much trouble for my sake in coming +here, it is right that I perform service for you." + +Upon which her favourite slave, taking the pankha from the hand +of the princess, exclaimed, "This is my duty. I will perform the +service; do you two enjoy yourselves!" + +The lovers then began to chew betel, which, by the bye, they +disposed of in little agate boxes which they drew from their +pockets, and they were soon engaged in the tenderest conversation. + +Here the Baital paused for a while, probably to take breath. Then +he resumed his tale as follows: + +In the meantime, it became dawn; the princess concealed him; and +when night returned they again engaged in the same innocent +pleasures. Thus day after day sped rapidly by. Imagine, if you can, +the youth's felicity; he was of an ardent temperament, deeply +enamoured, barely a score of years old, and he had been strictly +brought up by serious parents. He therefore resigned himself +entirely to the siren for whom he willingly forgot the world, and he +wondered at his good fortune, which had thrown in his way a +conquest richer than all the mines of Meru.[FN#65] He could not +sufficiently admire his Padmavati's grace, beauty, bright wit, and +numberless accomplishments. Every morning, for vanity's sake, he +learned from her a little useless knowledge in verse as well as +prose, for instance, the saying of the poet -- + + Enjoy the present hour, 'tis thine; be this, O man, thy law; + Who e'er resew the yester? Who the morrow e'er foresaw? + +And this highly philosophical axiom -- + + Eat, drink, and love --the rest's not worth a fillip. + +"By means of which he hoped, Raja Vikram!" said the demon, not +heeding his royal carrier's "ughs" and "poohs," "to become in +course of time almost as clever as his mistress." + +Padmavati, being, as you have seen, a maiden of superior mind, +was naturally more smitten by her lover's dulness than by any +other of his qualities; she adored it, it was such a contrast to +herself.[FN#66] At first she did what many clever women do --she +invested him with the brightness of her own imagination. Still +water, she pondered, runs deep; certainly under this disguise must +lurk a brilliant fancy, a penetrating but a mature and ready +judgment --are they not written by nature's hand on that broad high +brow? With such lovely mustachios can he be aught but generous, +noble-minded, magnanimous? Can such eyes belong to any but a +hero? And she fed the delusion. She would smile upon him with +intense fondness, when, after wasting hours over a few lines of +poetry, he would misplace all the adjectives and barbarously +entreat the metre. She laughed with gratification, when, excited by +the bright sayings that fell from her lips, the youth put forth some +platitude, dim as the lamp in the expiring fire-fly. When he slipped +in grammar she saw malice under it, when he retailed a borrowed +jest she called it a good one, and when he used --as princes +sometimes will --bad language, she discovered in it a charming +simplicity. + +At first she suspected that the stratagems which had won her heart +were the results of a deep-laid plot proceeding from her lover. But +clever women are apt to be rarely sharp-sighted in every matter +which concerns themselves. She frequently determined that a third +was in the secret. She therefore made no allusion to it. Before long +the enamoured Vajramukut had told her everything, beginning +with the diatribe against love pronounced by the minister's son, +and ending with the solemn warning that she, the pretty princess, +would some day or other play her husband a foul trick. + +"If I do not revenge myself upon him," thought the beautiful +Padmavati, smiling like an angel as she listened to the youth's +confidence, "may I become a gardener's ass in the next birth!" + +Having thus registered a vow, she broke silence, and praised to the +skies the young pradhan's wisdom and sagacity; professed herself +ready from gratitude to become his slave, and only hoped that one +day or other she might meet that true friend by whose skill her soul +had been gratified in its dearest desire. "Only," she concluded, "I +am convinced that now my Vajramukut knows every corner of his +little Padmavati's heart, he will never expect her to do anything but +love, admire, adore and kiss him!'' Then suiting the action to the +word, she convinced him that the young minister had for once been +too crabbed and cynic in his philosophy. + +But after the lapse of a month Vajramukut, who had eaten and +drunk and slept a great deal too much, and who had not once +hunted, became bilious in body and in mind melancholic. His face +turned yellow, and so did the whites of his eyes; he yawned, as +liver patients generally do, complained occasionally of sick +headaches, and lost his appetite: he became restless and anxious, +and once when alone at night he thus thought aloud: "I have given +up country, throne, home, and everything else, but the friend by +means of whom this happiness was obtained I have not seen for the +long length of thirty days. What will he say to himself, and how +can I know what has happened to him?" + +In this state of things he was sitting, and in the meantime the +beautiful princess arrived. She saw through the matter, and lost not +a moment in entering upon it. She began by expressing her +astonishment at her lover's fickleness and fondness for change, and +when he was ready to wax wroth, and quoted the words of the +sage, "A barren wife may be superseded by another in the eighth +year; she whose children all die, in the tenth; she who brings forth +only daughters, in the eleventh; she who scolds, without delay," +thinking that she alluded to his love, she smoothed his temper by +explaining that she referred to his forgetting his friend. "How is it +possible, O my soul," she asked with the softest of voices, that +thou canst happiness here whilst thy heart is wandering there? +Why didst thou conceal this from me, O astute one? Was it for fear +of distressing me? Think better of thy wife than to suppose that she +would ever separate thee from one to whom we both owe so much! + +"After this Padmavati advised, nay ordered, her lover to go forth +that night, and not to return till his mind was quite at ease, and she +begged him to take a few sweetmeats and other trifles as a little +token of her admiration and regard for the clever young man of +whom she had heard so much. + +Vajramukut embraced her with a transport of gratitude, which so +inflamed her anger, that fearing lest the cloak of concealment +might fall from her countenance, she went away hurriedly to find +the greatest delicacies which her comfit boxes contained. Presently +she returned, carrying a bag of sweetmeats of every kind for her +lover, and as he rose up to depart, she put into his hand a little +parcel of sugar-plums especially intended for the friend; they were +made up with her own delicate fingers, and they would please, she +flattered herself, even his discriminating palate. + +The young prince, after enduring a number of farewell embraces +and hopings for a speedy return, and last words ever beginning +again, passed safely through the palace gate, and with a relieved +aspect walked briskly to the house of the old nurse. Although it +was midnight his friend was still sitting on his mat. + +The two young men fell upon one another's bosoms and embraced +affectionately. They then began to talk of matters nearest their +hearts. The Raja's son wondered at seeing the jaded and haggard +looks of his companion, who did not disguise that they were +caused by his anxiety as to what might have happened to his friend +at the hand of so talented and so superior a princess. Upon which +Vajramukut, who now thought Padmavati an angel, and his late +abode a heaven, remarked with formality -- and two blunders to +one quotation --that abilities properly directed win for a man the +happiness of both worlds. + +The pradhan's son rolled his head. + +"Again on your hobby-horse, nagging at talent whenever you find +it in others! " cried the young prince with a pun, which would have +delighted Padmavati. "Surely you are jealous of her!" he resumed, +anything but pleased with the dead silence that had received his +joke; "jealous of her cleverness, and of her love for me. She is the +very best creature in the world. Even you, woman-hater as you are, +would own it if you only knew all the kind messages she sent, and +the little pleasant surprise that she has prepared for you. There! +take and eat; they are made by her own dear hands!" cried the +young Raja, producing the sweetmeats. "As she herself taught me +to say - + + Thank God I am a man, + Not a philosopher!" + +"The kind messages she sent me! The pleasant surprise she has +prepared for me!" repeated the minister's son in a hard, dry tone. +"My lord will be pleased to tell me how she heard of my name?" + +"I was sitting one night," replied the prince, "in anxious thought +about you, when at that moment the princess coming in and seeing +my condition, asked, 'Why are you thus sad? Explain the cause to +me.' I then gave her an account of your cleverness, and when she +heard it she gave me permission to go and see you, and sent these +sweetmeats for you: eat them and I shall be pleased." + +"Great king!" rejoined the young statesman, "one thing vouchsafe +to hear from me. You have not done well in that you have told my +name. You should never let a woman think that your left hand +knows the secret which she confided to your right, much less that +you have shared it to a third person. Secondly, you did evil in +allowing her to see the affection with which you honour your +unworthy servant --a woman ever hates her lover's or husband's +friend." + +"What could I do?" rejoined the young Raja, in a querulous tone of +voice. "When I love a woman I like to tell her everything --to have +no secrets from her --to consider her another self ----" + +"Which habit," interrupted the pradhan's son, "you will lose when +you are a little older, when you recognize the fact that love is +nothing but a bout, a game of skill between two individuals of +opposite sexes: the one seeking to gain as much, and the other +striving to lose as little as possible; and that the sharper of the +twain thus met on the chessboard must, in the long run, win. And +reticence is but a habit. Practise it for a year, and you will find it +harder to betray than to conceal your thoughts. It hath its joy also. +Is there no pleasure, think you, when suppressing an outbreak of +tender but fatal confidence in saying to yourself, 'O, if she only +knew this?' 'O, if she did but suspect that?' Returning, however, to +the sugar-plums, my life to a pariah's that they are poisoned!" + +"Impossible!" exclaimed the prince, horror-struck at the thought; +"what you say, surely no one ever could do. If a mortal fears not +his fellow-mortal, at least he dreads the Deity." + +"I never yet knew," rejoined the other, "what a woman in love does +fear. However, prince, the trial is easy. Come here, Muti!" cried he +to the old woman's dog, "and off with thee to that three-headed +kinsman of thine, that attends upon his amiable-looking +master.[FN#67]" + +Having said this, he threw one of the sweetmeats to the dog; the +animal ate it, and presently writhing and falling down, died. + +"The wretch! O the wretch!" cried Vajramukut, transported with +wonder and anger. " And I loved her! But now it is all over. I dare +not associate with such a calamity!" + +"What has happened, my lord, has happened!" quoth the minister's +son calmly. "I was prepared for something of this kind from so +talented a princess. None commit such mistakes, such blunders, +such follies as your clever women; they cannot even turn out a +crime decently executed. O give me dulness with one idea, one +aim, one desire. O thrice blessed dulness that combines with +happiness, power." + +This time Vajramukut did not defend talent. + +"And your slave did his best to warn you against perfidy. But now +my heart is at rest. I have tried her strength. She has attempted and +failed; the defeat will prevent her attempting again --just yet. But +let me ask you to put to yourself one question. Can you be happy +without her?" + +"Brother!" replied the prince, after a pause, "I cannot"; and he +blushed as he made the avowal. + +"Well," replied the other, "better confess then conceal that fact; we +must now meet her on the battle-field, and beat her at her own +weapons --cunning. I do not willingly begin treachery with +women, because, in the first place, I don't like it; and secondly, I +know that they will certainly commence practicing it upon me, +after which I hold myself justified in deceiving them. And +probably this will be a good wife; remember that she intended to +poison me, not you. During the last month my fear has been lest +my prince had run into the tiger's brake. Tell me, my lord, when +does the princess expect you to return to her?" + +"She bade me," said the young Raja, "not to return till my mind +was quite at ease upon the subject of my talented friend." + +"This means that she expects you back to-morrow night, as you +cannot enter the palace before. And now I will retire to my cot, as +it is there that I am wont to ponder over my plans. Before dawn my +thought shall mature one which must place the beautiful Padmavati +in your power." + +"A word before parting," exclaimed the prince "you know my +father has already chosen a spouse for me; what will he say if I +bring home a second? " + +"In my humble opinion," said the minister's son rising to retire, +"woman is a monogamous, man a polygamous, creature, a fact +scarcely established in physio- logical theory, but very observable +in every-day practice For what said the poet? -- + Divorce, friend! Re-wed thee! The spring draweth +near,[FN#68] + And a wife's but an almanac --good for the year. + +If your royal father say anything to you, refer him to what he +himself does." + +Reassured by these words, Vajramukut bade his friend a cordial +good-night and sought his cot, where he slept soundly, despite the +emotions of the last few hours. The next day passed somewhat +slowly. In the evening, when accompanying his master to the +palace, the minister's son gave him the following directions. + +"Our object, dear my lord, is how to obtain possession of the +princess. Take, then, this trident, and hide it carefully when you +see her show the greatest love and affection. Conceal what has +happened, and when she, wondering at your calmness, asks about +me, tell her that last night I was weary and out of health, that +illness prevented my eating her sweetmeats, but that I shall eat +them for supper to-night. When she goes to sleep, then, taking off +her jewels and striking her left leg with the trident, instantly come +away to me. But should she lie awake, rub upon your thumb a little +of this --do not fear, it is only a powder of grubs fed on verdigris -- +and apply it to her nostrils. It would make an elephant senseless, so +be careful how you approach it to your own face." + +Vajramukut embraced his friend, and passed safely through the +palace gate. He found Padmavati awaiting him; she fell upon his +bosom and looked into his eyes, and deceived herself, as clever +women will do. Overpowered by her joy and satisfaction, she now +felt certain that her lover was hers eternally, and that her treachery +had not been discovered; so the beautiful princess fell into a deep +sleep. + +Then Vajramukut lost no time in doing as the minister's son had +advised, and slipped out of the room, carrying off Padmavati's +jewels and ornaments. His counsellor having inspected them, took +up a sack and made signs to his master to follow him. Leaving the +horses and baggage at the nurse's house, they walked to a +burning-place outside the city. The minister's son there buried his +dress, together with that of the prince, and drew from the sack the +costume of a religious ascetic: he assumed this himself, and gave +to his companion that of a disciple. Then quoth the guru (spiritual +preceptor) to his chela (pupil), "Go, youth, to the bazar, and sell +these jewels, remembering to let half the jewellers in the place see +the things, and if any one lay hold of thee, bring him to me." + +Upon which, as day had dawned, Vajramukut carried the princess's +ornaments to the market, and entering the nearest goldsmith's shop, +offered to sell them, and asked what they were worth. As your +majesty well knows, gardeners, tailors, and goldsmiths are +proverbially dishonest, and this man was no exception to the rule. +He looked at the pupil's face and wondered, because he had +brought articles whose value he did not appear to know. A thought +struck him that he might make a bargain which would fill his +coffers, so he offered about a thousandth part of the price. This the +pupil rejected, because he wished the affair to go further. Then the +goldsmith, seeing him about to depart, sprang up and stood in the +door way, threatening to call the officers of justice if the young +man refused to give up the valuables which he said had lately been +stolen from his shop. As the pupil only laughed at this, the +goldsmith thought seriously of executing his threat, hesitating only +because he knew that the officers of justice would gain more than +he could by that proceeding. As he was still in doubt a shadow +darkened his shop, and in entered the chief jeweller of the city. The +moment the ornaments were shown to him he recognized them, +and said, "These jewels belong to Raja Dantawat's daughter; I +know them well, as I set them only a few months ago!" Then he +turned to the disciple, who still held the valuables in his hand, and +cried, "Tell me truly whence you received them?" + +While they were thus talking, a crowd of ten or twenty persons had +collected, and at length the report reached the superintendent of the +archers. He sent a soldier to bring before him the pupil, the +goldsmith, and the chief jeweller, together with the ornaments. +And when all were in the hall of justice, he looked at the jewels +and said to the young man, "Tell me truly, whence have you +obtained these?" + +"My spiritual preceptor," said Vajramukut, pretending great fear, +"who is now worshipping in the cemetery outside the town, gave +me these white stones, with an order to sell them. How know I +whence he obtained them? Dismiss me, my lord, for I am an +innocent man." + +"Let the ascetic be sent for," commanded the kotwal.[FN#69] +Then, having taken both of them, along with the jewels, into the +presence of King Dantawat, he related the whole circumstances. + +"Master," said the king on hearing the statement, "whence have +you obtained these jewels?" + +The spiritual preceptor, before deigning an answer, pulled from +under his arm the hide of a black antelope, which he spread out +and smoothed deliberately before using it as an asan.[FN#70] He +then began to finger a rosary of beads each as large as an egg, and +after spending nearly an hour in mutterings and in rollings of the +head, he looked fixedly at the Raja, and repined: + +"By Shiva! great king, they are mine own. On the fourteenth of the +dark half of the moon at night, I had gone into a place where dead +bodies are burned, for the purpose of accomplishing a witch's +incantation. After long and toilsome labour she appeared, but her +demeanour was so unruly that I was forced to chastise her. I struck +her with this, my trident, on the left leg, if memory serves me. As +she continued to be refractory, in order to punish her I took off all +her jewels and clothes, and told her to go where she pleased. Even +this had little effect upon her --never have I looked upon so +perverse a witch. In this way the jewels came into my possession." + +Raja Dantawat was stunned by these words. He begged the ascetic +not to leave the palace for a while, and forthwith walked into the +private apartments of the women. Happening first to meet the +queen dowager, he said to her, "Go, without losing a minute, O my +mother, and look at Padmavati's left leg, and see if there is a mark +or not, and what sort of a mark!" Presently she returned, and +coming to the king said, "Son, I find thy daughter lying upon her +bed, and complaining that she has met with an accident; and +indeed Padmavati must be in great pain. I found that some sharp +instrument with three points had wounded her. The girl says that a +nail hurt her, but I never yet heard of a nail making three holes. +However, we must all hasten, or there will be erysipelas, +tumefaction, gangrene, mortification, amputation, and perhaps +death in the house," concluded the old queen, hurrying away in the +pleasing anticipation of these ghastly consequences. + +For a moment King Dantawat's heart was ready to break. But he +was accustomed to master his feelings; he speedily applied the +reins of reflection to the wild steed of passion. He thought to +himself, "the affairs of one's household, the intentions of one's +heart, and whatever one's losses may be, should not be disclosed to +any one. Since Padmavati is a witch, she is no longer my daughter. +I will verily go forth and consult the spiritual preceptor." + +With these words the king went outside, where the guru was still +sitting upon his black hide, making marks with his trident on the +floor. Having requested that the pupil might be sent away, and +having cleared the room, he said to the jogi, "O holy man! what +punishment for the heinous crime of witchcraft is awarded to a +woman in the Dharma- Shastra [FN#71]?" + +"Great king!" replied the devotee, "in the Dharma Shastra it is thus +written: 'If a Brahman, a cow, a woman, a child, or any other +person whatsoever who may be dependent on us, should be guilty +of a perfidious act, their punishment is that they be banished the +country.' However much they may deserve death, we must not spill +their blood, as Lakshmi[FN#72] flies in horror from the deed." + +Hearing these words the Raja dismissed the guru with many thanks +and large presents. He waited till nightfall and then ordered a band +of trusty men to seize Padmavati without alarming the household, +and to carry her into a distant jungle full of fiends, tigers, and +bears, and there to abandon her. + +In the meantime, the ascetic and his pupil hurrying to the cemetery +resumed their proper dresses; they then went to the old nurse's +house, rewarded her hospitality till she wept bitterly, girt on their +weapons, and mounting their horses, followed the party which +issued from the gate of King Dantawat's palace. And it may easily +be believed that they found little difficulty in persuading the poor +girl to exchange her chance in the wild jungle for the prospect of +becoming Vajramukut's wife --lawfully wedded at Benares. She +did not even ask if she was to have a rival in the house, --a +question which women, you know, never neglect to put under +usual circumstances. After some days the two pilgrims of one love +arrived at the house of their fathers, and to all, both great and +small, excess in joy came. + +"Now, Raja Vikram!" said the Baital, "you have not spoken much; +doubtless you are engrossed by the interest of a story wherein a +man beats a woman at her own weapon --deceit. But I warn you +that you will assuredly fall into Narak (the infernal regions) if you +do not make up your mind upon and explain this matter. Who was +the most to blame amongst these four? the lover[FN#73] the +lover's friend, the girl, or the father?" + +"For my part I think Padmavati was the worst, she being at the +bottom of all their troubles," cried Dharma Dhwaj. The king said +something about young people and the two senses of seeing and +hearing, but his son's sentiment was so sympathetic that he at once +pardoned the interruption. At length, determined to do justice +despite himself, Vikram said, "Raja Dantawat is the person most at +fault." + +"In what way was he at fault? " asked the Baital curiously. + +King Vikram gave him this reply: "The Prince Vajramukut being +tempted of the love-god was insane, and therefore not responsible +for his actions. The minister's son performed his master's business +obediently, without considering causes or asking questions --a very +excellent quality in a dependent who is merely required to do as he +is bid. With respect to the young woman, I have only to say that +she was a young woman, and thereby of necessity a possible +murderess. But the Raja, a prince, a man of a certain age and +experience, a father of eight! He ought never to have been +deceived by so shallow a trick, nor should he, without reflection, +have banished his daughter from the country." + +"Gramercy to you!" cried the Vampire, bursting into a discordant +shout of laughter, "I now return to my tree. By my tail! I never yet +heard a Raja so readily condemn a Raja." With these words he +slipped out of the cloth, leaving it to hang empty over the great +king's shoulder. + +Vikram stood for a moment, fixed to the spot with blank dismay. +Presently, recovering himself, he retraced his steps, followed by +his son, ascended the sires-tree, tore down the Baital, packed him +up as before, and again set out upon his way. + +Soon afterwards a voice sounded behind the warrior king's back, +and began to tell another true story. + + + THE VAMPIRE'S SECOND STORY. + + Of the Relative Villany of Men and Women. + +In the great city of Bhogavati dwelt, once upon a time, a young +prince, concerning whom I may say that he strikingly resembled +this amiable son of your majesty. + +Raja Vikram was silent, nor did he acknowledge the Baital's +indirect compliment. He hated flattery, but he liked, when +flattered, to be flattered in his own person; a feature in their royal +patron's character which the Nine Gems of Science had turned to +their own account. + +Now the young prince Raja Ram (continued the tale teller) had an +old father, concerning whom I may say that he was exceedingly +unlike your Rajaship, both as a man and as a parent. He was fond +of hunting, dicing, sleeping by day, drinking at night, and eating +perpetual tonics, while he delighted in the idleness of watching +nautch girls, and the vanity of falling in love. But he was adored +by his children because he took the trouble to win their hearts. He +did not lay it down as a law of heaven that his offspring would +assuredly go to Patala if they neglected the duty of bestowing upon +him without cause all their affections, as your moral, virtuous, and +highly respectable fathers are only too apt ----. Aie! Aie! + +These sounds issued from the Vampire's lips as the warrior king, +speechless with wrath, passed his hand behind his back, and +viciously twisted up a piece of the speaker's skin. This caused the +Vampire to cry aloud, more however, it would appear, in derision +than in real suffering, for he presently proceeded with the same +subject. + +Fathers, great king, may be divided into three kinds; and be it said +aside, that mothers are the same. Firstly, we have the parent of +many ideas, amusing, pleasant, of course poor, and the idol of his +children. Secondly, there is the parent with one idea and a half. +This sort of man would, in your place, say to himself, "That demon +fellow speaks a manner of truth. I am not above learning from him, +despite his position in life. I will carry out his theory, just to see +how far it goes"; and so saying, he wends his way home, and treats +his young ones with prodigious kindness for a time, but it is not +lasting. Thirdly, there is the real one-idea'd type of parent-yourself, +O warrior king Vikram, an admirable example. You learn in youth +what you are taught: for instance, the blessed precept that the green +stick is of the trees of Paradise; and in age you practice what you +have learned. You cannot teach yourselves anything before your +beards sprout, and when they grow stiff you cannot be taught by +others. If any one attempt to change your opinions you cry, + + What is new is not true, + What is true is not new. + +and you rudely pull his hand from the subject. Yet have you your +uses like other things of earth. In life you are good working camels +for the mill-track, and when you die your ashes are not worse +compost than those of the wise. + +Your Rajaship will observe (continued the Vampire, as Vikram +began to show symptoms of ungovernable anger) that I have been +concise in treating this digression. Had I not been so, it would have +led me far indeed from my tale. Now to return. + +When the old king became air mixed with air, the young king, +though he found hardly ten pieces of silver in the paternal treasury +and legacies for thousands of golden ounces, yet mourned his loss +with the deepest grief. He easily explained to himself the reckless +emptiness of the royal coffers as a proof of his dear kind parent's +goodness, because he loved him. + +But the old man had left behind him, as he could not carry it off +with him, a treasure more valuable than gold and silver: one +Churaman, a parrot, who knew the world, and who besides +discoursed in the most correct Sanscrit. By sage counsel and wise +guidance this admirable bird soon repaired his young master's +shattered fortunes. + +One day the prince said, "Parrot, thou knowest everything: tell me +where there is a mate fit for me. The shastras inform us, respecting +the choice of a wife, 'She who is not descended from his paternal +or maternal ancestors within the sixth degree is eligible by a high +caste man for nuptials. In taking a wife let him studiously avoid +the following families, be they ever so great, or ever so rich in +kine, goats, sheep, gold, or grain: the family which has omitted +prescribed acts of devotion; that which has produced no male +children; that in which the Veda (scripture) has not been read; that +which has thick hair on the body; and that in which members have +been subject to hereditary disease. Let a person choose for his wife +a girl whose person has no defect; who has an agreeable name; +who walks gracefully, like a young elephant; whose hair and teeth +are moderate in quantity and in size; and whose body is of +exquisite softness.'" + +"Great king," responded the parrot Churaman, "there is in the +country of Magadh a Raja, Magadheshwar by name, and he has a +daughter called Chandravati. You will marry her; she is very +learned, and, what is better far, very fait. She is of yellow colour, +with a nose like the flower of the sesamum; her legs are taper, like +the plantain-tree; her eyes are large, like the principal leaf of the +lotus; her eye-brows stretch towards her ears; her lips are red, like +the young leaves of the mango-tree; her face is like the full moon; +her voice is like the sound of the cuckoo; her arms reach to her +knees; her throat is like the pigeon's; her flanks are thin, like those +of the lion; her hair hangs in curls only down to her waist; her teeth +are like the seeds of the pomegranate; and her gait is that of the +drunken elephant or the goose." + +On hearing the parrot's speech, the king sent for an astrologer, and +asked him, "Whom shall I marry?" The wise man, having +consulted his art, replied, "Chandravati is the name of the maiden, +and your marriage with her will certainly take place." Thereupon +the young Raja, though he had never seen his future queen, became +incontinently enamoured of her. He summoned a Brahman, and +sent him to King Magadheshwar, saying, "If you arrange +satisfactorily this affair of our marriage we will reward you +amply"-a promise which lent wings to the priest. + +Now it so happened that this talented and beautiful princess had a +jay,[FN#74] whose name was Madan-manjari or Love-garland. +She also possessed encyclopaedic knowledge after her degree, and, +like the parrot, she spoke excellent Sanscrit. + +Be it briefly said, O warrior king-for you think that I am talking +fables--that in the days of old, men had the art of making birds +discourse in human language. The invention is attributed to a great +philosopher, who split their tongues, and after many generations +produced a selected race born with those members split. He altered +the shapes of their skulls by fixing ligatures behind the occiput, +which caused the sinciput to protrude, their eyes to become +prominent, and their brains to master the art of expressing thoughts +in words. + +But this wonderful discovery, like those of great philosophers +generally, had in it a terrible practical flaw The birds beginning to +speak, spoke wisely and so well, they told the truth so persistently, +they rebuked their brethren of the featherless skins so openly, they +flattered them so little and they counselled them so much, that +mankind presently grew tired of hearing them discourse. Thus the +art gradually fell into desuetude, and now it is numbered with the +things that were. + +One day the charming Princess Chandravati was sitting in +confidential conversation with her jay. The dialogue was not +remarkable, for maidens in all ages seldom consult their +confidantes or speculate upon the secrets of futurity, or ask to have +dreams interpreted, except upon one subject. At last the princess +said, for perhaps the hundredth time that month, "Where, O jay, is +there a husband worthy of me?" + +"Princess," replied Madan-manjari, "I am happy at length to be +able as willing to satisfy your just curiosity. For just it is, though +the delicacy of our sex --" + +"Now, no preaching!" said the maiden; "or thou shalt have salt +instead of sugar for supper." + +Jays, your Rajaship, are fond of sugar. So the confidante retained a +quantity of good advice which she was about to produce, and +replied, + +"I now see clearly the ways of Fortune. Raja Ram, king of +Bhogavati, is to be thy husband. He shall be happy in thee and thou +in him, for he is young and handsome, rich and generous, +good-tempered, not too clever, and without a chance of being an +invalid." + +Thereupon the princess, although she had never seen her future +husband, at once began to love him. In fact, though neither had set +eyes upon the other, both were mutually in love. + +"How can that be, sire?" asked the young Dharma Dhwaj of his +father. " I always thought that --" + +The great Vikram interrupted his son, and bade him not to ask silly +questions. Thus he expected to neutralize the evil effects of the +Baital's doctrine touching the amiability of parents unlike himself. + +Now, as both these young people (resumed the Baital) were of +princely family and well to do in the world, the course of their love +was unusually smooth. When the Brahman sent by Raja Ram had +reached Magadh, and had delivered his King's homage to the Raja +Magadheshwar, the latter received him with distinction, and agreed +to his proposal. The beautiful princess's father sent for a Brahman +of his own, and charging him with nuptial gifts and the customary +presents, sent him back to Bhogavati in company with the other +envoy, and gave him this order, "Greet Raja Ram, on my behalf, +and after placing the tilak or mark upon his forehead, return here +with all speed. When you come back I will get all things ready for +the marriage." + +Raja Ram, on receiving the deputation, was greatly pleased, and +after generously rewarding the Brahmans and making all the +necessary preparations, he set out in state for the land of Magadha, +to claim his betrothed. + +In due season the ceremony took place with feasting and bands of +music, fireworks and illuminations, rehearsals of scripture, songs, +entertainments, processions, and abundant noise. And hardly had +the turmeric disappeared from the beautiful hands and feet of the +bride, when the bridegroom took an affectionate leave of his new +parents - he had not lived long in the house - and receiving the +dowry and the bridal gifts, set out for his own country. + +Chandravati was dejected by leaving her mother, and therefore she +was allowed to carry with her the jay, Madanmanian. She soon +told her husband the wonderful way in which she had first heard +his name, and he related to her the advantage which he had derived +from confabulation with Churaman, his parrot. + +"Then why do we not put these precious creatures into one cage, +after marrying them according to the rites of the angelic marriage +(Gandharva-lagana)?" said the charming queen. Like most brides, +she was highly pleased to find an opportunity of making a match. + +"Ay! why not, love ? Surely they cannot live happy in what the +world calls single blessedness," replied the young king. As +bridegrooms sometimes are for a short time, he was very warm +upon the subject of matrimony. + +Thereupon, without consulting the parties chiefly concerned in +their scheme, the master and mistress, after being comfortably +settled at the end of their journey, caused a large cage to be +brought, and put into it both their favourites. + +Upon which Churaman the parrot leaned his head on one side and +directed a peculiar look at the jay. But Madan- manjari raised her +beak high in the air, puffed through it once or twice, and turned +away her face in extreme disdain. + +"Perhaps," quoth the parrot, at length breaking silence, "you will +tell me that you have no desire to be married?" + +"Probably," replied the jay. + +"And why?" asked the male bird. + +"Because I don't choose," replied the female. + +"Truly a feminine form of resolution this," ejaculated the parrot. "I +will borrow my master's words and call it a woman's reason, that is +to say, no reason at all. Have you any objection to be more +explicit?" + +"None whatever," retorted the jay, provoked by the rude innuendo +into telling more plainly than politely exactly what she thought; +"none whatever, sir parrot. You he-things are all of you sinful, +treacherous, deceitful, selfish, devoid of conscience, and +accustomed to sacrifice us, the weaker sex, to your smallest desire +or convenience." + +"Of a truth, fair lady," quoth the young Raja Ram to his bride, "this +pet of thine is sufficiently impudent." + +"Let her words be as wind in thine ear, master," interrupted the +parrot. "And pray, Mistress Jay, what are you she-things but +treacherous, false, ignorant, and avaricious beings, whose only +wish in this world is to prevent life being as pleasant as it might +be?" + +"Verily, my love," said the beautiful Chandravati to her +bridegroom, "this thy bird has a habit of expressing his opinions in +a very free and easy way." + +"I can prove what I assert," whispered the jay in the ear of the +princess. + +"We can confound their feminine minds by an anecdote," +whispered the parrot in the ear of the prince. + +Briefly, King Vikram, it was settled between the twain that each +should establish the truth of what it had advanced by an illustration +in the form of a story. + +Chandravati claimed, and soon obtained, precedence for the jay. +Then the wonderful bird, Madan-manjari, began to speak as +follows:- + +I have often told thee, O queen, that before coming to thy feet, my +mistress was Ratnawati, the daughter of a rich trader, the dearest, +the sweetest, the --- + +Here the jay burst into tears, and the mistress was sympathetically +affected. Presently the speaker resumed--- + +However, I anticipate. In the city of Ilapur there was a wealthy +merchant, who was without offspring; on this account he was +continually fasting and going on pilgrimage, and when at home he +was ever engaged in reading the Puranas and in giving alms to the +Brahmans. + +At length, by favour of the Deity, a son was born to this merchant, +who celebrated his birth with great pomp and rejoicing, and gave +large gifts to Brahmans and to bards, and distributed largely to the +hungry, the thirsty, and the poor. When the boy was five years old +he had him taught to read, and when older he was sent to a guru, +who had formerly himself been a student, and who was celebrated +as teacher and lecturer. + +In the course of time the merchant's son grew up. Praise be to +Brahma! what a wonderful youth it was, with a face like a +monkey's, legs like a stork's, and a back like a camel's. You know +the old proverb:-- + + Expect thirty-two villanies from the limping, and eighty +from the one-eyed man, + But when the hunchback comes, say "Lord defend us!" + +Instead of going to study, he went to gamble with other +ne'er-do-weels, to whom he talked loosely, and whom he taught to +be bad-hearted as himself. He made love to every woman, and +despite his ugliness, he was not unsuccessful. For they are equally +fortunate who are very handsome or very ugly, in so far as they are +both remarkable and remarked. But the latter bear away the palm. +Beautiful men begin well with women, who do all they can to +attract them, love them as the apples of their eyes, discover them to +be fools, hold them to be their equals, deceive them, and speedily +despise them. It is otherwise with the ugly man, who, in +consequence of his homeliness, must work his wits and take pains +with himself, and become as pleasing as he is capable of being, till +women forget his ape's face, bird's legs, and bunchy back. + +The hunchback, moreover, became a Tantri, so as to complete his +villanies. He was duly initiated by an apostate Brahman, made a +declaration that he renounced all the ceremonies of his old +religion, and was delivered from their yoke, and proceeded to +perform in token of joy an abominable rite. In company with eight +men and eight women-a Brahman female, a dancing girl, a +weaver's daughter, a woman of ill fame, a washerwoman, a +barber's wife, a milkmaid, and the daughter of a land-owner- +choosing the darkest time of night and the most secret part of the +house, he drank with them, was sprinkled and anointed, and went +through many ignoble ceremonies, such as sitting nude upon a +dead body. The teacher informed him that he was not to indulge +shame, or aversion to anything, nor to prefer one thing to another, +nor to regard caste, ceremonial cleanness or uncleanness, but +freely to enjoy all the pleasures of sense-that is, of course, wine +and us, since we are the representatives of the wife of Cupid, and +wine prevents the senses from going astray. And whereas holy +men, holding that the subjugation or annihilation of the passions is +essential to final beatitude, accomplish this object by bodily +austerities, and by avoiding temptation, he proceeded to blunt the +edge of the passions with excessive indulgence. And he jeered at +the pious, reminding them that their ascetics are safe only in +forests, and while keeping a perpetual fast; but that he could +subdue his passions in the very presence of what they most +desired. + +Presently this excellent youth's father died, leaving him immense +wealth. He blunted his passions so piously and so vigorously, that +in very few years his fortune was dissipated. Then he turned +towards his neighbour's goods and prospered for a time, till being +discovered robbing, he narrowly escaped the stake. At length he +exclaimed, "Let the gods perish! the rascals send me nothing but ill +luck!" and so saying he arose and fled from his own country. + +Chance led that villain hunchback to the city of Chandrapur, +where, hearing the name of my master Hemgupt, he recollected +that one of his father's wealthiest correspondents was so called. +Thereupon, with his usual audacity, he presented himself at the +house, walked in, and although he was clothed in tatters, +introduced himself, told his father's name and circumstances, and +wept bitterly. + +The good man was much astonished, and not less grieved, to see +the son of his old friend in such woful plight. He rose up, however, +embraced the youth, and asked the reason of his coming. + +"I freighted a vessel," said the false hunchback, "for the purpose of +trading to a certain land. Having gone there, I disposed of my +merchandise, and, taking another cargo, I was on my voyage +home. Suddenly a great storm arose, and the vessel was wrecked, +and I escaped on a plank, and after a time arrived here. But I am +ashamed, since I have lost all my wealth, and I cannot show my +face in this plight in my own city. My excellent father would have +consoled me with his pity. But now that I have carried him and my +mother to Ganges,[FN#75] every one will turn against me; they +will rejoice in my misfortunes, they will accuse me of folly and +recklessness - alas! alas! I am truly miserable." + +My dear master was deceived by the cunning of the wretch. He +offered him hospitality, which was readily enough accepted, and +he entertained him for some time as a guest. Then, having reason +to be satisfied with his conduct, Hemgupt admitted him to his +secrets, and finally made him a partner in his business. Briefly, the +villain played his cards so well, that at last the merchant said to +himself: + +"I have had for years an anxiety and a calamity in my house. My +neighbours whisper things to my disadvantage, and those who are +bolder speak out with astonishment amongst themselves, saying, +'At seven or eight, people marry their daughters, and this indeed is +the appointment of the law: that period is long since gone; she is +now thirteen or fourteen years old, and she is very tall and lusty, +resembling a married woman of thirty. How can her father eat his +rice with comfort and sleep with satisfaction, whilst such a +disreputable thing exists in his house? At present he is exposed to +shame, and his deceased friends are suffering through his retaining +a girl from marriage beyond the period which nature has +prescribed.' And now, while I am sitting quietly at home, the +Bhagwan (Deity) removes all my uneasiness: by his favour such an +opportunity occurs. It is not right to delay. It is best that I shall +give my daughter in marriage to him. Whatever can be done to-day +is best; who knows what may happen to-morrow? + +"Thus thinking, the old man went to his wife and said to her, +"Birth, marriage, and death are all under the direction of the gods; +can anyone say when they will be ours? We want for our daughter +a young man who is of good birth, rich and handsome, clever and +honourable. But we do not find him. If the bridegroom be faulty, +thou sayest, all will go wrong. I cannot put a string round the neck +of our daughter and throw her into the ditch. If, however, thou +think well of the merchant's son, now my partner, we will celebrate +Ratnawati's marriage with him." + +The wife, who had been won over by the hunchback's hypocrisy, +was also pleased, and replied, "My lord! when the Deity so plainly +indicates his wish, we should do it; since, though we have sat +quietly at home, the desire of our hearts is accomplished. It is best +that no delay be made: and, having quickly summoned the family +priest, and having fixed upon a propitious planetary conjunction, +that the marriage be celebrated." + +Then they called their daughter -- ah, me! what a beautiful being +she was, and worthy the love of a Gandharva (demigod). Her long +hair, purple with the light of youth, was glossy as the +bramra's[FN#76] wing; her brow was pure and clear as the agate; +the ocean-coral looked pale beside her lips, and her teeth were as +two chaplets of pearls. Everything in her was formed to be loved. +Who could look into her eyes without wishing to do it again? Who +could hear her voice without hoping that such music would sound +once more? And she was good as she was fair. Her father adored +her; her mother, though a middle-aged woman, was not envious or +jealous of her; her relatives doted on her, and her friends could +find no fault with her. I should never end were I to tell her precious +qualities. Alas, alas ! my poor Ratnawati! + +So saying, the jay wept abundant tears; then she resumed: + +When her parents informed my mistress of their resolution, she +replied, "Sadhu-it is well!" She was not like most young women, +who hate nothing so much as a man whom their seniors order them +to love. She bowed her head and promised obedience, although, as +she afterwards told her mother, she could hardly look at her +intended, on account of his prodigious ugliness. But presently the +hunchback's wit surmounted her disgust. She was grateful to him +for his attention to her father and mother; she esteemed him for his +moral and religious conduct; she pitied him for his misfortunes, +and she finished with forgetting his face, legs, and back in her +admiration of what she supposed to be his mind. + +She had vowed before marriage faithfully to perform all the duties +of a wife, however distasteful to her they might be; but after the +nuptials, which were not long deferred, she was not surprised to +find that she loved her husband. Not only did she omit to think of +his features and figure; I verily believe that she loved him the more +for his repulsiveness. Ugly, very ugly men prevail over women for +two reasons. Firstly, we begin with repugnance, which in the +course of nature turns to affection; and we all like the most that +which, when unaccustomed to it, we most disliked. Hence the poet +says, with as much truth as is in the male: + + Never despair, O man! when woman's spite + Detests thy name and sickens at thy sight: + Sometime her heart shall learn to love thee more + For the wild hatred which it felt before, &c. + +Secondly, the very ugly man appears, deceitfully enough, to think +little of his appearance, and he will give himself the trouble to +pursue a heart because he knows that the heart will not follow after +him. Moreover, we women (said the jay) are by nature pitiful, and +this our enemies term a "strange perversity." A widow is generally +disconsolate if she loses a little, wizen-faced, shrunken shanked, +ugly, spiteful, distempered thing that scolded her and quarrelled +with her, and beat her and made her hours bitter; whereas she will +follow her husband to Ganges with exemplary fortitude if he was +brave, handsome, generous --- + +"Either hold your tongue or go on with your story," cried the +warrior king, in whose mind these remarks awakened disagreeable +family reflections. + +"Hi! hi! hi!" laughed the demon; "I will obey your majesty, and +make Madan-manjari, the misanthropical jay, proceed." + +Yes, she loved the hunchback; and how wonderful is our love! +quoth the jay. A light from heaven which rains happiness on this +dull, dark earth! A spell falling upon the spirit, which reminds us +of a higher existence! A memory of bliss! A present delight! An +earnest of future felicity! It makes hideousness beautiful and +stupidity clever, old age young and wickedness good, moroseness +amiable, and low-mindedness magnanimous, perversity pretty and +vulgarity piquant. Truly it is sovereign alchemy and excellent flux +for blending contradictions is our love, exclaimed the jay. + +And so saying, she cast a triumphant look at the parrot, who only +remarked that he could have desired a little more originality in her +remarks. + +For some months (resumed Madan-manjari), the bride and the +bridegroom lived happily together in Hemgupt's house. But it is +said: + + Never yet did the tiger become a lamb; + +and the hunchback felt that the edge of his passions again wanted +blunting. He reflected, "Wisdom is exemption from attachment, +and affection for children, wife, and home." Then he thus +addressed my poor young mistress: + +"I have been now in thy country some years, and I have heard no +tidings of my own family, hence my mind is sad, I have told thee +everything about myself; thou must now ask thy mother leave for +me to go to my own city, and, if thou wishest, thou mayest go with +me." + +Ratnawati lost no time in saying to her mother, "My husband +wishes to visit his own country; will you so arrange that he may +not be pained about this matter?" + +The mother went to her husband, and said, "Your son-in-law +desires leave to go to his own country." + +Hemgupt replied, " Very well; we will grant him leave. One has no +power over another man's son. We will do what he wishes." + +The parents then called their daughter, and asked her to tell them +her real desire-whether she would go to her father-in-law's house, +or would remain in her mother's home. She was abashed at this +question, and could not answer; but she went back to her husband, +and said, "As my father and mother have declared that you should +do as you like, do not leave me behind." + +Presently the merchant summoned his son-in-law, and having +bestowed great wealth upon him, allowed him to depart. He also +bade his daughter farewell, after giving her a palanquin and a +female slave. And the parents took leave of them with wailing and +bitter tears; their hearts were like to break. And so was mine. + +For some days the hunchback travelled quietly along with his wife, +in deep thought. He could not take her to his city, where she would +find out his evil life, and the fraud which he had passed upon her +father. Besides which, although he wanted her money, he by no +means wanted her company for life. After turning on many +projects in his evil-begotten mind, he hit upon the following: + +He dismissed the palanquin-bearers when halting at a little shed in +the thick jungle through which they were travelling, and said to his +wife, "This is a place of danger; give me thy jewels, and I will hide +them in my waist-shawl. When thou reachest the city thou canst +wear them again." She then gave up to him all her ornaments, +which were of great value. Thereupon he inveigled the slave girl +into the depths of the forest, where he murdered her, and left her +body to be devoured by wild beasts. Lastly, returning to my poor +mistress, he induced her to leave the hut with him, and pushed her +by force into a dry well, after which exploit he set out alone with +his ill-gotten wealth, walking towards his own city. + +In the meantime, a wayfaring man, who was passing through that +jungle, hearing the sound of weeping, stood still, and began to say +to himself, "How came to my ears the voice of a mortal's grief in +this wild wood?" then followed the direction of the noise, which +led him a pit, and peeping over the side, he saw a woman crying at +the bottom. The traveller at once loosened his gird cloth, knotted it +to his turband, and letting down the line pulled out the poor bride. +He asked her who she was and how she came to fall into that well. +She replied, "I am the daughter of Hemgupt, the wealthiest +merchant in the city of Chandrapur; and I was journeying with my +husband to his own country, when robbers set upon us and +surrounded us. They slew my slave girl, the threw me into a well, +and having bound my husband they took him away, together with +my jewels. I have no tidings of him, nor he of me." And so saying, +she burst into tears and lamentations. + +The wayfaring man believed her tale, and conducted her to her +home, where she gave the same account of the accident which had +befallen her, ending with, "beyond this, I know not if they have +killed my husband, or have let him go." The father thus soothed +her grief "Daughter! have no anxiety; thy husband is alive, and by +the will of the Deity he will come to thee in a few days. Thieves +take men's money, not their lives." Then the parents presented her +with ornaments more precious than those which she had lost; and +summoning their relations and friends, they comforted her to the +best of their power. + +And so did I. The wicked hunchback had, meanwhile, returned to +his own city, where he was excellently well received, because he +brought much wealth with him. His old associates flocked around +him rejoicing; and he fell into the same courses which had +beggared him before. Gambling and debauchery soon blunted his +passions, and emptied his purse. Again his boon companions, +finding him without a broken cowrie, drove him from their doors, +he stole and was flogged for theft; and lastly, half famished, he +fled the city. Then he said to himself, "I must go to my +father-in-law, and make the excuse that a grandson has been born +to him, and that I have come to offer him congratulations on the +event." + +Imagine, however, his fears and astonishment, when, as he entered +the house, his wife stood before him. At first he thought it was a +ghost, and turned to run away, but she went out to him and said, +"Husband, be not troubled ! I have told my father that thieves came +upon us, and killed the slave girl and robbed me and threw me into +a well, and bound thee and carried thee off. Tell the same story, +and put away all anxious feelings. Come up and change thy +tattered garments-alas! some misfortune hath befallen thee. But +console thyself; all is now well, since thou art returned to me, and +fear not, for the house is thine, and I am thy slave." + +The wretch, with all his hardness of heart, could scarcely refrain +from tears. He followed his wife to her room, where she washed +his feet, caused him to bathe, dressed him in new clothes, and +placed food before him. When her parents returned, she presented +him to their embrace, saying in a glad way, "Rejoice with me, O +my father and mother! the robbers have at length allowed him to +come back to us." Of course the parents were deceived, they are +mostly a purblind race; and Hemgupt, showing great favour to his +worthless son-in-law, exclaimed, "Remain with us, my son, and be +happy!" + +For two or three months the hunchback lived quietly with his wife, +treating her kindly and even affectionately. But this did not last +long. He made acquaintance with a band of thieves, and arranged +his plans with them. + +After a time, his wife one night came to sleep by his side, having +put on all her jewels. At midnight, when he saw that she was fast +asleep, he struck her with a knife so that she died. Then he +admitted his accomplices, who savagely murdered Hemgupt and +his wife; and with their assistance he carried off any valuable +article upon which he could lay his hands. The ferocious wretch! +As he passed my cage he looked at it, and thought whether he had +time to wring my neck. The barking of a dog saved my life; but my +mistress, my poor Ratnawati-ah, me! ah, me!-- + +"Queen," said the jay, in deepest grief, "all this have I seen with +mine own eyes, and have heard with mine own ears. It affected me +in early life, and gave me a dislike for the society of the other sex. +With due respect to you, I have resolved to remain an old maid. +Let your majesty reflect, what crime had my poor mistress +committed? A male is of the same disposition as a highway robber; +and she who forms friendship with such an one, cradles upon her +bosom a black and venomous snake." + +"Sir Parrot," said the jay, turning to her wooer, "I have spoken. I +have nothing more to say, but that you he-things are all a +treacherous, selfish, wicked race, created for the express purpose +of working our worldly woe, and--" + +"When a female, O my king, asserts that she has nothing more to +say, but," broke in Churaman, the parrot with a loud dogmatical +voice, "I know that what she has said merely whets her tongue for +what she is about to say. This person has surely spoken long +enough and drearily enough." + +"Tell me, then, O parrot," said the king, "what faults there may be +in the other sex." + +"I will relate," quoth Churaman, "an occurrence which in my early +youth determined me to live and to die an old bachelor." + +When quite a young bird, and before my schooling began, I was +caught in the land of Malaya, and was sold to a very rich merchant +called Sagardati, a widower with one daughter, the lady Jayashri. +As her father spent all his days and half his nights in his +counting-house, conning his ledgers and scolding his writers, that +young woman had more liberty than is generally allowed to those +of her age, and a mighty bad use she made of it. + +O king! men commit two capital mistakes in rearing the "domestic +calamity," and these are over-vigilance and under-vigilance. Some +parents never lose sight of their daughters, suspect them of all evil +intentions, and are silly enough to show their suspicions, which is +an incentive to evil-doing. For the weak-minded things do +naturally say, "I will be wicked at once. What do I now but suffer +all the pains and penalties of badness, without enjoying its +pleasures?" And so they are guilty of many evil actions; for, +however vigilant fathers and mothers may be, the daughter can +always blind their eyes. + +On the other hand, many parents take no trouble whatever with +their charges: they allow them to sit in idleness, the origin of +badness; they permit them to communicate with the wicked, and +they give them liberty which breeds opportunity. Thus they also, +falling into the snares of the unrighteous, who are ever a more +painstaking race than the righteous, are guilty of many evil actions. + +What, then, must wise parents do? The wise will study the +characters of their children, and modify their treatment +accordingly. If a daughter be naturally good, she will be treated +with a prudent confidence. If she be vicious, an apparent trust will +be reposed in her; but her father and mother will secretly ever be +upon their guard. The one-idea'd -- + +"All this parrot-prate, I suppose, is only intended to vex me," cried +the warrior king, who always considered himself, and very +naturally, a person of such consequence as ever to be uppermost in +the thoughts and minds of others. "If thou must tell a tale, then tell +one, Vampire! or else be silent, as I am sick to the death of thy +psychics." + +"It is well, O warrior king," resumed the Baital. + +After that Churaman the parrot had given the young Raja Ram a +golden mine full of good advice about the management of +daughters, he proceeded to describe Jayashri. + +She was tall, stout, and well made, of lymphatic temperament, and +yet strong passions. Her fine large eyes had heavy and rather full +eyelids, which are to be avoided. Her hands were symmetrical +without being small, and the palms were ever warm and damp. +Though her lips were good, her mouth was somewhat underhung; +and her voice was so deep, that at times it sounded like that of a +man. Her hair was smooth as the kokila's plume, and her +complexion was that of the young jasmine; and these were the +points at which most persons looked. Altogether, she was neither +handsome nor ugly, which is an excellent thing in woman. Sita the +goddess[FN#77] was lovely to excess; therefore she was carried +away by a demon. Raja Bali was exceedingly generous, and he +emptied his treasury. In this way, exaggeration, even of good, is +exceedingly bad. + +Yet must I confess, continued the parrot, that, as a rule, the +beautiful woman is more virtuous than the ugly. The former is +often tempted, but her vanity and conceit enable her to resist, by +the self-promise that she shall be tempted again and again. On the +other hand, the ugly woman must tempt instead of being tempted, +and she must yield, because her vanity and conceit are gratified by +yielding, not by resisting. + +"Ho, there!" broke in the jay contemptuously. "What woman +cannot win the hearts of the silly things called men? Is it not said +that a pig-faced female who dwells in Landanpur has a lover?" + +I was about to remark, my king! said the parrot, somewhat nettled, +if the aged virgin had not interrupted me, that as ugly women are +more vicious than handsome women, so they are most successful. +"We love the pretty, we adore the plain," is a true saying amongst +the worldly wise. And why do we adore the plain? Because they +seem to think less of themselves than of us-a vital condition of +adoration. + +Jayashri made some conquests by the portion of good looks which +she possessed, more by her impudence, and most by her father's +reputation for riches. She was truly shameless, and never allowed +herself fewer than half a dozen admirers at the time. Her chief +amusement was to appoint interviews with them successively, at +intervals so short that she was obliged to hurry away one in order +to make room for another. And when a lover happened to be +jealous, or ventured in any way to criticize her arrangements, she +replied at once by showing him the door. Answer unanswerable! + +When Jayashri had reached the ripe age of thirteen, the son of a +merchant, who was her father's gossip and neighbour, returned +home after a long sojourn in far lands, whither he had travelled in +the search of wealth. The poor wretch, whose name, by-the-bye, +was Shridat (Gift of Fortune), had loved her in her childhood; and +he came back, as men are apt to do after absence from familiar +scenes, painfully full of affection for house and home and all +belonging to it. From his cross, stingy old uncle to the snarling +superannuated beast of a watchdog, he viewed all with eyes of love +and melting heart. He could not see that his idol was greatly +changed, and nowise for the better; that her nose was broader and +more club-like, her eyelids fatter and thicker, her under lip more +prominent, her voice harsher, and her manner coarser. He did not +notice that she was an adept in judging of men's dress, and that she +looked with admiration upon all swordsmen, especially upon those +who fought upon horses and elephants. The charm of memory, the +curious faculty of making past time present caused all he viewed to +be enchanting to him. + +Having obtained her father's permission, Shridat applied for +betrothal to Jayashri, who with peculiar boldness, had resolved that +no suitor should come to her through her parent. And she, after +leading him on by all the coquetries of which she was a mistress, +refused to marry him, saying that she liked him as a friend, but +would hate him as a husband. + +You see, my king! there are three several states of feeling with +which women regard their masters, and these are love, hate, and +indifference. Of all, love is the weakest and the most transient, +because the essentially unstable creatures naturally fall out of it as +readily as they fall into it. Hate being a sister excitement will +easily become, if a man has wit enough to effect the change, love; +and hate-love may perhaps last a little longer than love-love. Also, +man has the occupation, the excitement, and the pleasure of +bringing about the change. As regards the neutral state, that poet +was not happy in his ideas who sang -- + + Whene'er indifference appears, or scorn, + Then, man, despair! then, hapless lover, mourn! + +For a man versed in the Lila Shastra[FN#78] can soon turn a +woman's indifference into hate, which I have shown is as easily +permuted to love. In which predicament it is the old thing over +again, and it ends in the pure Asat[FN#79] or nonentity. + +"Which of these two birds, the jay or the parrot, had dipped deeper +into human nature, mighty King Vikram?" asked the demon in a +wheedling tone of voice. + +The trap was this time set too openly, even for the royal personage, +to fall into it. He hurried on, calling to his son, and not answering a +word. The Vampire therefore resumed the thread of his story at the +place where he had broken it off. + +Shridat was in despair when he heard the resolve of his idol. He +thought of drowning himself, of throwing himself down from the +summit of Mount Girnar,[FN#80] of becoming a religious beggar; +in short, of a multitude of follies. But he refrained from all such +heroic remedies for despair, having rightly judged, when he +became somewhat calmer, that they would not be likely to further +his suit. He discovered that patience is a virtue, and he resolved +impatiently enough to practice it. And by perseverance he +succeeded. The worse for him! How vain are men to wish! How +wise is the Deity, who is deaf to their wishes! + +Jayashri, for potent reasons best known to herself, was married to +Shridat six months after his return home. He was in raptures. He +called himself the happiest man in existence. He thanked and +sacrificed to the Bhagwan for listening to his prayers. He recalled +to mind with thrilling heart the long years which he had spent in +hopeless exile from all that was dear to him, his sadness and +anxiety, his hopes and joys, his toils and troubles his loyal love and +his vows to Heaven for the happiness of his idol, and for the +furtherance of his fondest desires. + +For truly he loved her, continued the parrot, and there is something +holy in such love. It becomes not only a faith, but the best of +faiths-an abnegation of self which emancipates the spirit from its +straightest and earthliest bondage, the "I"; the first step in the +regions of heaven; a homage rendered through the creature to the +Creator; a devotion solid, practical, ardent, not as worship mostly +is, a cold and lifeless abstraction; a merging of human nature into +one far nobler and higher the spiritual existence of the supernal +world. For perfect love is perfect happiness, and the only +perfection of man; and what is a demon but a being without love? +And what makes man's love truly divine, is the fact that it is +bestowed upon such a thing as woman. + +"And now, Raja Vikram," said the Vampire, speaking in his proper +person, "I have given you Madanmanjari the jay's and Churaman +the parrot's definitions of the tender passion, or rather their +descriptions of its effects. Kindly observe that I am far from +accepting either one or the other. Love is, according to me, +somewhat akin to mania, a temporary condition of selfishness, a +transient confusion of identity. It enables man to predicate of +others who are his other selves, that which he is ashamed to say +about his real self. I will suppose the beloved object to be ugly, +stupid, vicious, perverse, selfish, low minded, or the reverse; man +finds it charming by the same rule that makes his faults and foibles +dearer to him than all the virtues and good qualities of his +neighbours. Ye call love a spell, an alchemy, a deity. Why? +Because it deifies self by gratifying all man's pride, man's vanity, +and man's conceit, under the mask of complete unegotism. Who is +not in heaven when he is talking of himself? and, prithee, of what +else consists all the talk of lovers?" + +It is astonishing that the warrior king allowed this speech to last as +long as it did. He hated nothing so fiercely, now that he was in +middle-age, as any long mention of the "handsome god.[FN#81]" +Having vainly endeavoured to stop by angry mutterings the course +of the Baital's eloquence, he stepped out so vigorously and so +rudely shook that inveterate talker, that the latter once or twice +nearly bit off the tip of his tongue. Then the Vampire became +silent, and Vikram relapsed into a walk which allowed the tale to +be resumed. + +Jayashri immediately conceived a strong dislike for her husband, +and simultaneously a fierce affection for a reprobate who before +had been indifferent to her. The more lovingly Shridat behaved to +her, the more vexed end annoyed she was. When her friends talked +to her, she turned up her nose, raising her eyebrows (in token of +displeasure), and remained silent. When her husband spoke words +of affection to her, she found them disagreeable, and turning away +her face, reclined on the bed. Then he brought dresses and +ornaments of various kinds and presented them to her, saying, +"Wear these." Whereupon she would become more angry, knit her +brows, turn her face away, and in an audible whisper call him +"fool." All day she stayed out of the house, saying to her +companions, "Sisters, my youth is passing away, and I have not, up +to the present time, tasted any of this world's pleasures." Then she +would ascend to the balcony, peep through the lattice, and seeing +the reprobate going along, she would cry to her friend, "Bring that +person to me." All night she tossed and turned from side to side, +reflecting in her heart, "I am puzzled in my mind what I shall say, +and whither I shall go. I have forgotten sleep, hunger, and thirst; +neither heat nor cold is refreshing to me." + +At last, unable any longer to support the separation from her +reprobate paramour, whom she adored, she resolved to fly with +him. On one occasion, when she thought that her husband was fast +asleep, she rose up quietly, and leaving him, made her way +fearlessly in the dark night to her lover's abode. A footpad, who +saw her on the way, thought to himself, "Where can this woman, +clothed in jewels, be going alone at midnight?" And thus he +followed her unseen, and watched her. + +When Jayashri reached the intended place, she went into the house, +and found her lover lying at the door. He was dead, having been +stabbed by the footpad; but she, thinking that he had, according to +custom, drunk intoxicating hemp, sat upon the floor, and raising +his head, placed it tenderly in her lap. Then, burning with the fire +of separation from him, she began to kiss his cheeks, and to fondle +and caress him with the utmost freedom and affection. + +By chance a Pisach (evil spirit) was seated in a large +fig-tree[FN#82] opposite the house, and it occurred to him, when +beholding this scene, that he might amuse himself in a +characteristic way. He therefore hopped down from his branch, +vivified the body, and began to return the woman's caresses. But as +Jayashri bent down to kiss his lips, he caught the end of her nose in +his teeth, and bit it clean off. He then issued from the corpse, and +returned to the branch where he had been sitting. + +Jayashri was in despair. She did not, however, lose her presence of +mind, but sat down and proceeded to take thought; and when she +had matured her plan she arose, dripping with blood, and walked +straight home to her husband's house. On entering his room she +clapped her hand to her nose, and began to gnash her teeth, and to +shriek so violently, that all the members of the family were +alarmed. The neighbours also collected in numbers at the door, +and, as it was bolted inside, they broke it open and rushed in, +carrying lights. There they saw the wife sitting upon the ground +with her face mutilated, and the husband standing over her, +apparently trying to appease her. + +"O ignorant, criminal, shameless, pitiless wretch!" cried the +people, especially the women; "why hast thou cut off her nose, she +not having offended in any way?" + +Poor Shridat, seeing at once the trick which had been played upon +him, thought to himself: "One should put no confidence in a +changeful mind, a black serpent, or an armed enemy, and one +should dread a woman's doings. What cannot a poet describe? +What is there that a saint (jogi) does not know? What nonsense +will not a drunken man talk? What limit is there to a woman's +guile? True it is that the gods know nothing of the defects of a +horse, of the thundering of clouds, of a woman's deeds, or of a +man's future fortunes. How then can we know?" He could do +nothing but weep, and swear by the herb basil, by his cattle, by his +grain, by a piece of gold, and by all that is holy, that he had not +committed the crime. + +In the meanwhile, the old merchant, Jayashri's father, ran off, and +laid a complaint before the kotwal, and the footmen of the police +magistrate were immediately sent to apprehend the husband, and to +carry him bound before the judge. The latter, after due +examination, laid the affair before the king. An example happening +to be necessary at the time, the king resolved to punish the offence +with severity, and he summoned the husband and wife to the court. + +When the merchant's daughter was asked to give an account of +what had happened, she pointed out the state of her nose, and said, +"Maharaj! why inquire of me concerning what is so manifest?" +The king then turned to the husband, and bade him state his +defence. He said, "I know nothing of it," and in the face of the +strongest evidence he persisted in denying his guilt. + +Thereupon the king, who had vainly threatened to cut off Shridat's +right hand, infuriated by his refusing to confess and to beg for +mercy, exclaimed, "How must I punish such a wretch as thou art?" +The unfortunate man answered, "Whatever your majesty may +consider just, that be pleased to do." Thereupon the king cried, +"Away with him, and impale him"; and the people, hearing the +command, prepared to obey it. + +Before Shridat had left the court, the footpad, who had been +looking on, and who saw that an innocent man was about to be +unjustly punished, raised a cry for justice and, pushing through the +crowd, resolved to make himself heard. He thus addressed the +throne: "Great king, the cherishing of the good, and the +punishment of the bad, is the invariable duty of kings." The ruler +having caused him to approach, asked him who he was, and he +replied boldly, " Maharaj! I am a thief, and this man is innocent +and his blood is about to be shed unjustly. Your majesty has not +done what is right in this affair." Thereupon the king charged him +to tell the truth according to his religion; and the thief related +explicitly the whole circumstances, omitting of course, the murder. + +"Go ye," said the king to his messengers, "and look in the mouth of +the woman's lover who has fallen dead. If the nose be there found, +then has this thief-witness told the truth, and the husband is a +guiltless man." + +The nose was presently produced in court, and Shridat escaped the +stake. The king caused the wicked Jayashri's face to be smeared +with oily soot, and her head and eyebrows to be shaved; thus +blackened and disfigured, she was mounted upon a little +ragged-limbed ass and was led around the market and the streets, +after which she was banished for ever from the city. The husband +and the thief were then dismissed with betel and other gifts, +together with much sage advice which neither of them wanted. + +"My king," resumed the misogyne parrot, "of such excellencies as +these are women composed. It is said that 'wet cloth will +extinguish fire and bad food will destroy strength; a degenerate son +ruins a family, and when a friend is in wrath he takes away life. +But a woman is an inflicter of grief in love and in hate, whatever +she does turns out to be for our ill. Truly the Deity has created +woman a strange being in this world.' And again, 'The beauty of +the nightingale is its song, science is the beauty of an ugly man, +forgiveness is the beauty of a devotee, and the beauty of a woman +is virtue-but where shall we find it?' And again, 'Among the sages, +Narudu; among the beasts, the jackal; among the birds, the crow; +among men, the barber; and in this world woman-is the most +crafty.' + +"What I have told thee, my king, I have seen with mine own eyes, +and I have heard with mine own ears. At the time I was young, but +the event so affected me that I have ever since held female kind to +be a walking pest, a two-legged plague, whose mission on earth, +like flies and other vermin, is only to prevent our being too happy. +O, why do not children and young parrots sprout in crops from the +ground-from budding trees or vinestocks?" + +"I was thinking, sire," said the young Dharma Dhwaj to the warrior +king his father, "what women would say of us if they could +compose Sanskrit verses!" + +"Then keep your thoughts to yourself," replied the Raja, nettled at +his son daring to say a word in favour of the sex. "You always take +the part of wickedness and depravity--- " + +"Permit me, your majesty," interrupted the Baital, "to conclude my +tale." + +When Madan-manjari, the jay, and Churaman, the parrot, had +given these illustrations of their belief, they began to wrangle, and +words ran high. The former insisted that females are the salt of the +earth, speaking, I presume, figuratively. The latter went so far as to +assert that the opposite sex have no souls, and that their brains are +in a rudimental and inchoate state of development. Thereupon he +was tartly taken to task by his master's bride, the beautiful +Chandravati, who told him that those only have a bad opinion of +women who have associated with none but the vicious and the low, +and that he should be ashamed to abuse feminine parrots, because +his mother had been one. + +This was truly logical. + +On the other hand, the jay was sternly reproved for her mutinous +and treasonable assertions by the husband of her mistress, Raja +Ram, who, although still a bridegroom, had not forgotten the +gallant rule of his syntax-- + + The masculine is more worthy than the feminine; + +till Madan-manjari burst into tears and declared that her life was +not worth having. And Raja Ram looked at her as if he could have +wrung her neck. + +In short, Raja Vikram, all the four lost their tempers, and with +them what little wits they had. Two of them were but birds, and the +others seem not to have been much better, being young, ignorant, +inexperienced, and lately married. How then could they decide so +difficult a question as that of the relative wickedness and villany of +men and women? Had your majesty been there, the knot of +uncertainty would soon have been undone by the trenchant edge of +your wit and wisdom, your knowledge and experience. You have, +of course, long since made up your mind upon the subject? + +Dharma Dhwaj would have prevented his father's reply. But the +youth had been twice reprehended in the course of this tale, and he +thought it wisest to let things take their own way. + +"Women," quoth the Raja, oracularly, "are worse than we are; a +man, however depraved he may be, ever retains some notion of +right and wrong, but a woman does not. She has no such regard +whatever." + +"The beautiful Bangalah Rani for instance?" said the Baital, with a +demonaic sneer. + +At the mention of a word, the uttering of which was punishable by +extirpation of the tongue, Raja Vikram's brain whirled with rage. +He staggered in the violence of his passion, and putting forth both +hands to break his fall, he dropped the bundle from his back. Then +the Baital, disentangling himself and laughing lustily, ran off +towards the tree as fast as his thin brown legs would carry him. But +his activity availed him little. + +The king, puffing with fury, followed him at the top of his speed, +and caught him by his tail before he reached the siras-tree, hurled +him backwards with force, put foot upon his chest, and after +shaking out the cloth, rolled him up in it with extreme violence, +bumped his back half a dozen times against the stony ground, and +finally, with a jerk, threw him on his shoulder, as he had done +before. + +The young prince, afraid to accompany his father whilst he was +pursuing the fiend, followed slowly in the rear, and did not join +him for some minutes. + +But when matters were in their normal state, the Vampire, who had +endured with exemplary patience the penalty of his impudence, +began in honeyed accents, + +"Listen, O warrior king, whilst thy servant recounts unto thee +another true tale." + + + THE VAMPIRE'S THIRD STORY. + + Of a High-minded Family. + +In the venerable city of Bardwan, O warrior king! (quoth the +Vampire) during the reign of the mighty Rupsen, flourished one +Rajeshwar, a Rajput warrior of distinguished fame. By his valour +and conduct he had risen from the lowest ranks of the army to +command it as its captain. And arrived at that dignity, he did not +put a stop to all improvements, like other chiefs, who rejoice to +rest and return thanks. On the contrary, he became such a reformer +that, to some extent, he remodelled the art of war. + +Instead of attending to rules and regulations, drawn up in their +studies by pandits and Brahmans, he consulted chiefly his own +experience and judgment. He threw aside the systematic plans of +campaigns laid down in the Shastras or books of the ancients, and +he acted upon the spur of the moment. He displayed a skill in the +choice of ground, in the use of light troops, and in securing his +own supplies whilst he cut off those of the enemy, which +Kartikaya himself, God of War, might have envied. Finding that +the bows of his troops were clumsy and slow to use, he had them +all changed before compelled so to do by defeat; he also gave his +attention to the sword handles, which cramped the men's grasp but +which having been used for eighteen hundred years were +considered perfect weapons. And having organized a special corps +of warriors using fire arrows, he soon brought it to such perfection +that, by using it against the elephants of his enemies, he gained +many a campaign. + +One instance of his superior judgment I am about to quote to thee, +O Vikram, after which I return to my tale; for thou art truly a +warrior king, very likely to imitate the innovations of the great +general Rajeshwar. + +(A grunt from the monarch was the result of the Vampire's sneer.) + +He found his master's armies recruited from Northern Hindustan, +and officered by Kshatriya warriors, who grew great only because +they grew old and - fat. Thus the energy and talent of the younger +men were wasted in troubles and disorders; whilst the seniors were +often so ancient that they could not mount their chargers unaided, +nor, when they were mounted, could they see anything a dozen +yards before them. But they had served in a certain obsolete +campaign, and until Rajeshwar gave them pensions and dismissals, +they claimed a right to take first part in all campaigns present and +future. The commander-in-chief refused to use any captain who +could not stand steady on his legs, or endure the sun for a whole +day. When a soldier distinguished himself in action, he raised him +to the powers and privileges of the warrior caste. And whereas it +had been the habit to lavish circles and bars of silver and other +metals upon all those who had joined in the war, whether they had +sat behind a heap of sand or had been foremost to attack the foe, he +broke through the pernicious custom, and he rendered the honour +valuable by conferring it only upon the deserving. I need hardly +say that, in an inordinately short space of time, his army beat every +king and general that opposed it. + +One day the great commander-in-chief was seated in a certain +room near the threshold of his gate, when the voices of a number +of people outside were heard. Rajeshwar asked, "Who is at the +door, and what is the meaning of the noise I hear?" The porter +replied, "It is a fine thing your honour has asked. Many persons +come sitting at the door of the rich for the purpose of obtaining a +livelihood and wealth. When they meet together they talk of +various things: it is these very people who are now making this +noise." + +Rajeshwar, on hearing this, remained silent. + +In the meantime a traveller, a Rajput, Birbal by name, hoping to +obtain employment, came from the southern quarter to the palace +of the chief. The porter having listened to his story, made the +circumstance known to his master, saying, "O chief! an armed man +has arrived here, hoping to obtain employment, and is standing at +the door. If I receive a command he shall be brought into your +honour's presence." + +"Bring him in," cried the commander-in-chief. + +The porter brought him in, and Rajeshwar inquired, "O Rajput, +who and what art thou?" + +Birbal submitted that he was a person of distinguished fame for the +use of weapons, and that his name for fidelity and valour had gone +forth to the utmost ends of Bharat-Kandha.[FN#83] + +The chief was well accustomed to this style of self introduction, +and its only effect upon his mind was a wish to shame the man by +showing him that he had not the least knowledge of weapons. He +therefore bade him bare his blade and perform some feat. + +Birbal at once drew his good sword. Guessing the thoughts which +were hovering about the chief's mind, he put forth his left hand, +extending the forefinger upwards, waved his blade like the arm of +a demon round his head, and, with a dexterous stroke, so shaved +off a bit of nail that it fell to the ground, and not a drop of blood +appeared upon the finger-tip. + +"Live for ever!" exclaimed Rajeshwar in admiration. He then +addressed to the recruit a few questions concerning the art of war, +or rather concerning his peculiar views of it. To all of which Birbal +answered with a spirit and a judgment which convinced the hearer +that he was no common sworder. + +Whereupon Rajeshwar bore off the new man at arms to the palace +of the king Rupsen, and recommended that he should be engaged +without delay. + +The king, being a man of few words and many ideas, after hearing +his commander-in-chief, asked, "O Rajput, what shall I give thee +for thy daily expenditure?" + +"Give me a thousand ounces of gold daily," said Birbal, "and then I +shall have wherewithal to live on." + +"Hast thou an army with thee?" exclaimed the king in the greatest +astonishment. + +"I have not," responded the Rajput somewhat stiffly. "I have first, a +wife; second, a son; third, a daughter; fourth, myself; there is no +fifth person with me." + +All the people of the court on hearing this turned aside their heads +to laugh, and even the women, who were peeping at the scene, +covered their mouths with their veils. The Rajput was then +dismissed the presence. + +It is, however, noticeable amongst you humans, that the world +often takes you at your own valuation. Set a high price upon +yourselves, and each man shall say to his neighbour, "In this man +there must be something." Tell everyone that you are brave, clever, +generous, or even handsome, and after a time they will begin to +believe you. And when thus you have attained success, it will be +harder to unconvince them than it was to convince them. Thus - - + +"Listen not to him, sirrah," cried Raja Vikram to Dharma Dhwaj, +the young prince, who had fallen a little way behind, and was +giving ear attentively to the Vampire's ethics. "Listen to him not. +And tell me, villain, with these ignoble principles of thine, what +will become of modesty, humility, self-sacrifice, and a host of +other Guna or good qualities which - which are good qualities?" + +"I know not," rejoined the Baital, "neither do I care. But my +habitually inspiriting a succession of human bodies has taught me +one fact. The wise man knows himself, and is, therefore, neither +unduly humble nor elated, because he had no more to do with +making himself than with the cut of his cloak, or with the fitness of +his loin-cloth. But the fool either loses his head by comparing +himself with still greater fools, or is prostrated when he finds +himself inferior to other and lesser fools. This shyness he calls +modesty, humility, and so forth. Now, whenever entering a corpse, +whether it be of man, woman, or child, I feel peculiarly modest; I +know that my tenement lately belonged to some conceited ass. +And --" + +"Wouldst thou have me bump thy back against the ground?" asked +Raja Vikram angrily. + +(The Baital muttered some reply scarcely intelligible about his +having this time stumbled upon a metaphysical thread of ideas, and +then continued his story.) + +Now Rupsen, the king, began by inquiring of himself why the +Rajput had rated his services so highly. Then he reflected that if +this recruit had asked so much money, it must have been for some +reason which would afterwards become apparent. Next, he hoped +that if he gave him so much, his generosity might some day turn +out to his own advantage. Finally, with this idea in his mind, he +summoned Birbal and the steward of his household, and said to the +latter, "Give this Rajput a thousand ounces of gold daily from our +treasury." + +It is related that Birbal made the best possible use of his wealth. He +used every morning to divide it into two portions, one of which +was distributed to Brahmans and Parohitas.[FN#84] Of the +remaining moiety, having made two parts, he gave one as alms to +pilgrims, to Bairagis or Vishnu's mendicants, and to Sanyasis or +worshippers of Shiva, whose bodies, smeared with ashes, were +hardly covered with a narrow cotton cloth and a rope about their +loins, and whose heads of artificial hair, clotted like a rope, +besieged his gate. With the remaining fourth, having caused food +to be prepared, he regaled the poor, while he himself and his +family ate what was left. Every evening, arming himself with +sword and buckler, he took up his position as guard at the royal +bedside, and walked round it all night sword in hand. If the king +chanced to wake and asked who was present, Birbal immediately +gave reply that "Birbal is here; whatever command you give, that +he will obey." And oftentimes Rupsen gave him unusual +commands, for it is said, "To try thy servant, bid him do things in +season and out of season: if he obey thee willingly, know him to be +useful; if he reply, dismiss him at once. Thus is a servant tried, +even as a wife by the poverty of her husband, and brethren and +friends by asking their aid." + +In such manner, through desire of money, Birbal remained on +guard all night; and whether eating, drinking, sleeping, sitting, +going or wandering about, during the twenty-four hours, he held +his master in watchful remembrance. This, indeed, is the custom; if +a man sell another the latter is sold, but a servant by doing service +sells himself, and when a man has become dependent, how can he +be happy? Certain it is that however intelligent, clever, or learned a +man may be, yet, while he is in his master's presence, he remains +silent as a dumb man, and struck with dread. Only while he is +away from his lord can he be at ease. Hence, learned men say that +to do service aright is harder than any religious study. + +On one occasion it is related that there happened to be heard at +night-time the wailing of a woman in a neighbouring cemetery. +The king on hearing it called out, "Who is in waiting?" + +"I am here," replied Birbal; "what command is there?" + +"Go," spoke the king, "to the place whence proceeds this sound of +woman's wail, and having inquired the cause of her grief, return +quickly." + +On receiving this order the Rajput went to obey it; and the king, +unseen by him, and attired in a black dress, followed for the +purpose of observing his courage. + +Presently Birbal arrived at the cemetery. And what sees he there? +A beautiful woman of a light yellow colour, loaded with jewels +from head to foot, holding a horn in her right and a necklace in her +left hand. Sometimes she danced, sometimes she jumped, and +sometimes she ran about. There was not a tear in her eye, but +beating her head and making lamentable cries, she kept dashing +herself on the ground. + +Seeing her condition, and not recognizing the goddess born of sea +foam, and whom all the host of heaven loved,[FN#85] Birbal +inquired, "Why art thou thus beating thyself and crying out? Who +art thou? And what grief is upon thee?" + +"I am the Royal-Luck," she replied. + +"For what reason," asked Birbal, "art thou weeping?" + +The goddess then began to relate her position to the Rajput. She +said, with tears, "In the king's palace Shudra (or low caste acts) are +done, and hence misfortune will certainly fall upon it, and I shall +forsake it. After a month has passed, the king, having endured +excessive affliction, will die. In grief for this, I weep. I have +brought much happiness to the king's house, and hence I am full of +regret that this my prediction cannot in any way prove untrue." + +"Is there," asked Birbal, "any remedy for this trouble, so that the +king may be preserved and live a hundred years?" + +"Yes," said the goddess, "there is. About eight miles to the east +thou wilt find a temple dedicated to my terrible sister Devi. Offer +to her thy son's head, cut off with thine own hand, and the reign of +thy king shall endure for an age." So saying Raj-Lakshmi +disappeared. + +Birbal answered not a word, but with hurried steps he turned +towards his home. The king, still in black so as not to be seen, +followed him closely, and observed and listened to everything he +did. + +The Rajput went straight to his wife, awakened her, and related to +her everything that had happened. The wise have said, "she alone +deserves the name of wife who always receives her husband with +affectionate and submissive words." When she heard the +circumstances, she at once aroused her son, and her daughter also +awoke. Then Birbal told them all that they must follow him to the +temple of Devi in the wood. + +On the way the Rajput said to his wife, "If thou wilt give up thy +son willingly, I will sacrifice him for our master's sake to Devi the +Destroyer." + +She replied, "Father and mother, son and daughter, brother and +relative, have I now none. You are everything to me. It is written +in the scripture that a wife is not made pure by gifts to priests, nor +by performing religious rites; her virtue consists in waiting upon +her husband, in obeying him and in loving him - yea! though he be +lame, maimed in the hands, dumb, deaf, blind, one eyed, leprous, +or humpbacked. It is a true saying that 'a son under one's authority, +a body free from sickness, a desire to acquire knowledge, an +intelligent friend, and an obedient wife; whoever holds these five +will find them bestowers of happiness and dispellers of affliction. +An unwilling servant, a parsimonious king, an insincere friend, and +a wife not under control; such things are disturbers of ease and +givers of trouble.'" + +Then the good wife turned to her son and said "Child by the gift of +thy head, the king's life may be spared, and the kingdom remain +unshaken." + +"Mother," replied that excellent youth, "in my opinion we should +hasten this matter. Firstly, I must obey your command; secondly, I +must promote the interests of my master; thirdly, if this body be of +any use to a goddess, nothing better can be done with it in this +world." + +("Excuse me, Raja Vikram," said the Baital, interrupting himself, +"if I repeat these fair discourses at full length; it is interesting to +hear a young person, whose throat is about to be cut, talk so like a +doctor of laws.") + +Then the youth thus addressed his sire: "Father, whoever can be of +use to his master, the life of that man in this world has been lived +to good purpose, and by reason of his usefulness he will be +rewarded in other worlds." + +His sister, however, exclaimed, "If a mother should give poison to +her daughter, and a father sell his son, and a king seize the entire +property of his subjects, where then could one look for +protection?" But they heeded her not, and continued talking as they +journeyed towards the temple of Devi - the king all the while +secretly following them. + +Presently they reached the temple, a single room, surrounded by a +spacious paved area; in front was an immense building capable of +seating hundreds of people. Before the image there were pools of +blood, where victims had lately been slaughtered. In the sanctum +was Devi, a large black figure with ten arms. With a spear in one +of her right hands she pierced the giant Mahisha; and with one of +her left hands she held the tail of a serpent, and the hair of the +giant, whose breast the serpent was biting. Her other arms were all +raised above her head, and were filled with different instruments of +war; against her right leg leaned a lion. + +Then Birbal joined his hands in prayer, and with Hindu mildness +thus addressed the awful goddess: "O mother, let the king's life be +prolonged for a thousand years by the sacrifice of my son. O Devi, +mother! destroy, destroy his enemies! Kill! kill! Reduce them to +ashes! Drive them away! Devour them! devour them! Cut them in +two! Drink! drink their blood! Destroy them root and branch! With +thy thunderbolt, spear, scymitar, discus, or rope, annihilate them! +Spheng! Spheng!" + +The Rajput, having caused his son to kneel before the goddess, +struck him so violent a blow that his head rolled upon the ground. +He then threw the sword down, when his daughter, frantic with +grief, snatched it up and struck her neck with such force that her +head, separated from her body, fell. In her turn the mother, unable +to survive the loss of her children, seized the weapon and +succeeded in decapitating herself. Birbal, beholding all this +slaughter, thus reflected: "My children are dead why, now, should +I remain in servitude, and upon whom shall I bestow the gold I +receive from the king?" He then gave himself so deep a wound in +the neck, that his head also separated from his body. + +Rupsen, the king, seeing these four heads on the ground, said in his +heart, "For my sake has the family of Birbal been destroyed. +Kingly power, for the purpose of upholding which the destruction +of a whole household is necessary, is a mere curse, and to carry on +government in this manner is not just." He then took up the sword +and was about to slay himself, when the Destroying Goddess, +probably satisfied with bloodshed, stayed his hand, bidding him at +the same time ask any boon he pleased. + +The generous monarch begged, thereupon, that his faithful servant +might be restored to life, together with all his high-minded family; +and the goddess Devi in the twinkling of an eye fetched from +Patala, the regions below the earth, a vase full of Amrita, the water +of immortality, sprinkled it upon the dead, and raised them all as +before. After which the whole party walked leisurely home, and in +due time the king divided his throne with his friend Birbal. + +Having stopped for a moment, the Baital proceeded to remark, in a +sententious tone, "Happy the servant who grudges not his own life +to save that of his master! And happy, thrice happy the master who +can annihilate all greedy longing for existence and worldly +prosperity. Raja, I have to ask thee one searching question - Of +these five, who was the greatest fool?" + +"Demon!" exclaimed the great Vikram, all whose cherished +feelings about fidelity and family affection, obedience, and +high-mindedness, were outraged by this Vampire view of the +question; "if thou meanest by the greatest fool the noblest mind, I +reply without hesitating Rupsen, the king." + +"Why, prithee?" asked the Baital. + +"Because, dull demon," said the king, "Birbal was bound to offer +up his life for a master who treated him so generously; the son +could not disobey his father, and the women naturally and +instinctively killed themselves, because the example was set to +them. But Rupsen the king gave up his throne for the sake of his +retainer, and valued not a straw his life and his high inducements +to live. For this reason I think him the most meritorious." + +"Surely, mighty Vikram," laughed the Vampire, "you will be tired +of ever clambering up yon tall tree, even had you the legs and arms +of Hanuman[FN#86] himself." + +And so saying he disappeared from the cloth, although it had been +placed upon the ground. + +But the poor Baital had little reason to congratulate himself on the +success of his escape. In a short time he was again bundled into the +cloth with the usual want of ceremony, and he revenged himself by +telling another true story. + + + THE VAMPIRE'S FOURTH STORY. + + Of A Woman Who Told The Truth. + +"Listen, great king!" again began the Baital. + +An unimportant Baniya[FN#87] (trader), Hiranyadatt, had a +daughter, whose name was Madansena Sundari, the beautiful army +of Cupid. Her face was like the moon; her hair like the clouds; her +eyes like those of a muskrat; her eyebrows like a bent bow; her +nose like a parrot's bill; her neck like that of a dove; her teeth like +pomegranate grains; the red colour of her lips like that of a gourd; +her waist lithe and bending like the pards: her hands and feet like +softest blossoms; her complexion like the jasmine-in fact, day by +day the splendour of her youth increased. + +When she had arrived at maturity, her father and mother began +often to resolve in their minds the subject of her marriage. And the +people of all that country side ruled by Birbar king of Madanpur +bruited it abroad that in the house of Hiranyadatt had been born a +daughter by whose beauty gods, men, and munis (sages) were +fascinated. + +Thereupon many, causing their portraits to be painted, sent them +by messengers to Hiranyadatt the Baniya, who showed them all to +his daughter. But she was capricious, as beauties sometimes are, +and when her father said, "Make choice of a husband thyself," she +told him that none pleased her, and moreover she begged of him to +find her a husband who possessed good looks, good qualities, and +good sense. + +At length, when some days had passed, four suitors came from +four different countries. The father told them that he must have +from each some indication that he possessed the required qualities; +that he was pleased with their looks, but that they must satisfy him +about their knowledge. + +"I have," the first said, "a perfect acquaintance with the Shastras +(or Scriptures); in science there is none to rival me. As for my +handsome mien, it may plainly be seen by you." + +The second exclaimed, "My attainments are unique in the +knowledge of archery. I am acquainted with the art of discharging +arrows and killing anything which though not seen is heard, and +my fine proportions are plainly visible to you." + +The third continued, "I understand the language of land and water +animals, of birds and of beasts, and I have no equal in strength. Of +my comeliness you yourself may judge." + +"I have the knowledge," quoth the fourth, "how to make a certain +cloth which can be sold for five rubies: having sold it I give the +proceeds of one ruby to a Brahman, of the second I make an +offering to a deity, a third I wear on my own person, a fourth I +keep for my wife; and, having sold the fifth, I spend it in giving +feasts. This is my knowledge, and none other is acquainted with it. +My good looks are apparent." + +The father hearing these speeches began to reflect, "It is said that +excess in anything is not good. Sita[FN#88] was very lovely, but +the demon Ravana carried her away; and Bali king of Mahabahpur +gave much alms, but at length he became poor.[FN#89] My +daughter is too fair to remain a maiden; to which of these shall I +give her?" + +So saying, Hiranyadatt went to his daughter, explained the +qualities of the four suitors, and asked, "To which shall I give +thee?" On hearing these words she was abashed; and, hanging +down her head, knew not what to reply. + +Then the Baniya, having reflected, said to himself, "He who is +acquainted with the Shastras is a Brahman, he who could shoot an +arrow at the sound was a Kshatriya or warrior, and he who made +the cloth was a Shudra or servile. But the youth who understands +the language of birds is of our own caste. To him, therefore, will I +marry her." And accordingly he proceeded with the betrothal of his +daughter. + +Meanwhile Madansena went one day, during the spring season into +the garden for a stroll. It happened, just before she came out, that +Somdatt, the son of the merchant Dharmdatt, had gone for pleasure +into the forest, and was returning through the same garden to his +home. + +He was fascinated at the sight of the maiden, and said to his friend, +"Brother, if I can obtain her my life will be prosperous, and if I do +not obtain her my living in the world will be in vain." + +Having thus spoken, and becoming restless from the fear of +separation, he involuntarily drew near to her, and seizing her hand, +said - "If thou wilt not form an affection for me, I will throw away +my life on thy account." + +"Be pleased not to do this," she replied; "it will be sinful, and it +will involve me in the guilt and punishment of shedding blood; +hence I shall be miserable in this world and in that to be." + +"Thy blandishments," he replied, "have pierced my heart, and the +consuming thought of parting from thee has burnt up my body, and +memory and understanding have been destroyed by this pain; and +from excess of love I have no sense of right or wrong. But if thou +wilt make me a promise, I will live again." + +She replied, "Truly the Kali Yug (iron age) has commenced, since +which time falsehood has increased in the world and truth has +diminished; people talk smoothly with their tongues, but nourish +deceit in their hearts; religion is destroyed, crime has increased, +and the earth has begun to give little fruit. Kings levy fines, +Brahmans have waxed covetous, the son obeys not his sire's +commands, brother distrusts brother; friendship has departed from +amongst friends; sincerity has left masters; servants have given up +service; man has abandoned manliness; and woman has abandoned +modesty. Five days hence, my marriage is to be; but if thou slay +not thyself, I will visit thee first, and after that I will remain with +my husband." + +Having given this promise, and having sworn by the Ganges, she +returned home. The merchant's son also went his way. + +Presently the marriage ceremonies came on, and Hiranyadatt the +Baniya expended a lakh of rupees in feasts and presents to the +bridegroom. The bodies of the twain were anointed with turmeric, +the bride was made to hold in her hand the iron box for eye paint, +and the youth a pair of betel scissors. During the night before the +wedding there was loud and shrill music, the heads and limbs of +the young couple were rubbed with an ointment of oil, and the +bridegroom's head was duly shaved. The wedding procession was +very grand. The streets were a blaze of flambeaux and torches +carried in the hand, fireworks by the ton were discharged as the +people passed; elephants, camels, and horses richly caparisoned, +were placed in convenient situations; and before the procession +had reached the house of the bride half a dozen wicked boys and +bad young men were killed or wounded.[FN#90] After the +marriage formulas were repeated, the Baniya gave a feast or +supper, and the food was so excellent that all sat down quietly, no +one uttered a complaint, or brought dishonour on the bride's +family, or cut with scissors the garments of his neighbour. + +The ceremony thus happily concluded, the husband brought +Madansena home to his own house. After some days the wife of +her husband's youngest brother, and also the wife of his eldest +brother, led her at night by force to her bridegroom, and seated her +on a bed ornamented with flowers. + +As her husband proceeded to take her hand, she jerked it away, and +at once openly told him all that she had promised to Somdatt on +condition of his not killing himself. + +"All things," rejoined the bridegroom, hearing her words, "have +their sense ascertained by speech; in speech they have their basis, +and from speech they proceed; consequently a falsifier of speech +falsifies everything. If truly you are desirous of going to him, go! + +"Receiving her husband's permission, she arose and went off to the +young merchant's house in full dress. Upon the road a thief saw +her, and in high good humour came up and asked - + +"Whither goest thou at midnight in such darkness, having put on +all these fine clothes and ornaments?" + +She replied that she was going to the house of her beloved. + +"And who here," said the thief, "is thy protector?" + +"Kama Deva," she replied, "the beautiful youth who by his fiery +arrows wounds with love the hearts of the inhabitants of the three +worlds, Ratipati, the husband of Rati,[FN#91] accompanied by the +kokila bird,[FN#92] the humming bee and gentle breezes." She +then told to the thief the whole story, adding - + +"Destroy not my jewels: I give thee a promise before I go, that on +my return thou shalt have all these ornaments." + +Hearing this the thief thought to himself that it would be useless +now to destroy her jewels, when she had promised to give them to +him presently of her own good will. He therefore let her go, and +sat down and thus soliloquized: + +"To me it is astonishing that he who sustained me in my mother's +womb should take no care of me now that I have been born and am +able to enjoy the good things of this world. I know not whether he +is asleep or dead. And I would rather swallow poison than ask man +for money or favour. For these six things tend to lower a man: -- +friendship with the perfidious; causeless laughter; altercation with +women; serving an unworthy master; riding an ass, and speaking +any language but Sanskrit. And these five things the deity writes +on our fate at the hour of birth:-- first, age; secondly, action; +thirdly, wealth; fourthly, science; fifthly, fame. I have now done a +good deed, and as long as a man's virtue is in the ascendant, all +people becoming his servants obey him. But when virtuous deeds +diminish, even his friends become inimical to him." + +Meanwhile Madansena had reached the place where Somdatt the +young trader had fallen asleep. + +She awoke him suddenly, and he springing up in alarm quickly +asked her, "Art thou the daughter of a deity? or of a saint? or of a +serpent? Tell me truly, who art thou? And whence hast thou +come?" + +She replied, "I am human-- Madansena, the daughter of the Baniya +Hiranyadatt. Dost thou not remember taking my hand in that +grove, and declaring that thou wouldst slay thyself if I did not +swear to visit thee first and after that remain with my husband?" + +"Hast thou," he inquired, "told all this to thy husband or not?" + +She replied, "I have told him everything; and he, thoroughly +understanding the whole affair, gave me permission." + +"This matter," exclaimed Somdatt in a melancholy voice, "is like +pearls without a suitable dress, or food without clarified +butter,[FN#93] or singing without melody; they are all alike +unnatural. In the same way, unclean clothes will mar beauty, bad +food will undermine strength, a wicked wife will worry her +husband to death, a disreputable son will ruin his family, an +enraged demon will kill, and a woman, whether she love or hate, +will be a source of pain. For there are few things which a woman +will not do. She never brings to her tongue what is in her heart, she +never speaks out what is on her tongue, and she never tells what +she is doing. Truly the Deity has created woman a strange creature +in this world." He concluded with these words: "Return thou home +with another man's wife I have no concern." + +Madansena rose and departed. On her way she met the thief, who, +hearing her tale, gave her great praise, and let her go +unplundered.[FN#94] + +She then went to her husband, and related the whole matter to him. +But he had ceased to love her, and he said, "Neither a king nor a +minister, nor a wife, nor a person's hair nor his nails, look well out +of their places. And the beauty of the kokila is its note, of an ugly +man knowledge, of a devotee forgiveness, and of a woman her +chastity." + +The Vampire having narrated thus far, suddenly asked the king, +"Of these three, whose virtue was the greatest?" + +Vikram, who had been greatly edified by the tale, forgot himself, +and ejaculated, "The Thief's." + +"And pray why?" asked the Baital. + +"Because," the hero explained, "when her husband saw that she +loved another man, however purely, he ceased to feel affection for +her. Somdatt let her go unharmed, for fear of being punished by +the king. But there was no reason why the thief should fear the law +and dismiss her; therefore he was the best." + +"Hi! hi! hi!" laughed the demon, spitefully. "Here, then, ends my +story." + +Upon which, escaping as before from the cloth in which he was +slung behind the Raja's back, the Baital disappeared through the +darkness of the night, leaving father and son looking at each other +in dismay. + +"Son Dharma Dhwaj," quoth the great Vikram, "the next time +when that villain Vampire asks me a question, I allow thee to take +the liberty of pinching my arm even before I have had time to +answer his questions. In this way we shall never, of a truth, end our +task." + +"Your words be upon my head, sire," replied the young prince. But +he expected no good from his father's new plan, as, arrived under +the sires-tree, he heard the Baital laughing with all his might." + +Surely he is laughing at our beards, sire," said the beardless prince, +who hated to be laughed at like a young person. + +"Let them laugh that win," fiercely cried Raja Vikram, who hated +to be laughed at like an elderly person. + + * * * * * * * + +The Vampire lost no time in opening a fresh story. + + + THE VAMPIRE'S FIFTH STORY. + + Of the Thief Who Laughed and Wept. + +Your majesty (quoth the demon, with unusual politeness), there is +a country called Malaya, on the western coast of the land of +Bharat--you see that I am particular in specifying the place--and in +it was a city known as Chandrodaya, whose king was named +Randhir. + +This Raja, like most others of his semi-deified order, had been in +youth what is called a Sarva-rasi[FN#95]; that is, he ate and drank +and listened to music, and looked at dancers and made love much +more than he studied, reflected, prayed, or conversed with the +wise. After the age of thirty he began to reform, and he brought +such zeal to the good cause, that in an incredibly short space of +time he came to be accounted and quoted as the paragon of correct +Rajas. This was very praiseworthy. Many of Brahma's viceregents +on earth, be it observed, have loved food and drink, and music and +dancing, and the worship of Kama, to the end of their days. + +Amongst his officers was Gunshankar, a magistrate of police, who, +curious to say, was as honest as he was just. He administered +equity with as much care before as after dinner; he took no bribes +even in the matter of advancing his family; he was rather merciful +than otherwise to the poor, and he never punished the rich +ostentatiously, in order to display his and his law's disrespect for +persons. Besides which, when sitting on the carpet of justice, he +did not, as some Kotwals do, use rough or angry language to those +who cannot reply; nor did he take offence when none was +intended. + +All the people of the city Chandrodaya, in the province of Malaya, +on the western coast of Bharatland, loved and esteemed this +excellent magistrate; which did not, however, prevent thefts being +committed so frequently and so regularly, that no one felt his +property secure. At last the merchants who had suffered most from +these depredations went in a body before Gunshankar, and said to +him: + +"O flower of the law! robbers have exercised great tyranny upon +us, so great indeed that we can no longer stay in this city." + +Then the magistrate replied, "What has happened, has happened. +But in future you shall be free from annoyance. I will make due +preparation for these thieves." + +Thus saying Gunshankar called together his various delegates, and +directed them to increase the number of their people. He pointed +out to them how they should keep watch by night; besides which +he ordered them to open registers of all arrivals and departures, to +make themselves acquainted by means of spies with the +movements of every suspected person in the city, and to raise a +body of paggis (trackers), who could follow the footprints of +thieves even when they wore thieving shoes,[FN#96] till they +came up with and arrested them. And lastly, he gave the patrols +full power, whenever they might catch a robber in the act, to slay +him without asking questions. + +People in numbers began to mount guard throughout the city every +night, but, notwithstanding this, robberies continued to be +committed. After a time all the merchants having again met +together went before the magistrate, and said, "O incarnation of +justice! you have changed your officers, you have hired watchmen, +and you have established patrols: nevertheless the thieves have not +diminished, and plundering is ever taking place." + +Thereupon Gunshankar carried them to the palace, and made them +lay their petition at the feet of the king Randhir. That Raja, having +consoled them, sent them home, saying, "Be ye of good cheer. I +will to-night adopt a new plan, which, with the blessing of the +Bhagwan, shall free ye from further anxiety." + +Observe, O Vikram, that Randhir was one of those concerning +whom the poet sang-- + + The unwise run from one end to the other. + +Not content with becoming highly respectable, correct, and even +unimpeachable in point of character, he reformed even his +reformation, and he did much more than he was required to do. + +When Canopus began to sparkle gaily in the southern skies, the +king arose and prepared for a night's work. He disguised his face +by smearing it with a certain paint, by twirling his moustachios up +to his eyes, by parting his beard upon his chin, and conducting the +two ends towards his ears, and by tightly tying a hair from a +horse's tail over his nose, so as quite to change its shape. He then +wrapped himself in a coarse outer garment, girt his loins, buckled +on his sword, drew his shield upon his arm, and without saying a +word to those within the palace, he went out into the streets alone, +and on foot. + +It was dark, and Raja Randhir walked through the silent city for +nearly an hour without meeting anyone. As, however, he passed +through a back street in the merchants' quarter, he saw what +appeared to be a homeless dog, lying at the foot of a house-wall. +He approached it, and up leaped a human figure, whilst a loud +voice cried, "Who art thou?" + +Randhir replied, "I am a thief; who art thou?" + +"And I also am a thief," rejoined the other, much pleased at +hearing this; "come, then, and let us make together. But what art +thou, a high-loper or a lully-prigger[FN#97]?" + +"A little more ceremony between coves in the lorst,[FN#98]" +whispered the king, speaking as a flash man, "were not out of +place. But, look sharp, mind old Oliver,[FN#99] or the lamb-skin +man[FN#100] will have the pull of us, and as sure as eggs is eggs +we shall be scragged as soon as lagged.[FN#101]" + +"Well, keep your red rag[FN#102] quiet," grumbled the other, "and +let us be working." + +Then the pair, king and thief, began work in right earnest. The +gang seemed to swarm in the street. They were drinking spirits, +slaying victims, rubbing their bodies with oil, daubing their eyes +with lamp-black, and repeating incantations to enable them to see +in the darkness; others were practicing the lessons of the god with +the golden spear,[FN#103] and carrying out the four modes of +breaching a house: 1. Picking out burnt bricks. 2.Cutting through +unbaked ones when old, when softened by recent damp, by +exposure to the sun, or by saline exudations. 3. Throwing water on +a mud wall; and 4. Boring through one of wood. The sons of +Skanda were making breaches in the shape of lotus blossoms, the +sun, the new moon, the lake, and the water jar, and they seemed to +be anointed with magic unguents, so that no eye could behold, no +weapon harm them. + +At length having filled his bag with costly plunder, the thief said to +the king, "Now, my rummy cove, we'll be off to the flash ken, +where the lads and the morts are waiting to wet their whistles." + +Randhir, who as a king was perfectly familiar with "thieves' +Latin," took heart, and resolved to hunt out the secrets of the den. +On the way, his companion, perfectly satisfied with the importance +which the new cove had attached to a rat-hole,[FN#104] and +convinced that he was a true robber, taught him the whistle, the +word, and the sign peculiar to the gang, and promised him that he +should smack the lit[FN#105] that night before "turning in." + +So saying the thief rapped twice at the city gate, which was at once +opened to him, and preceding his accomplice led the way to a rock +about two kos (four miles) distant from the walls. Before entering +the dark forest at the foot of the eminence, the robber stood still for +a moment and whistled twice through his fingers with a shrill +scream that rang through the silent glades. After a few minutes the +signal was answered by the hooting of an owl, which the robber +acknowledged by shrieking like a jackal. Thereupon half a dozen +armed men arose from their crouching places in the grass, and one +advanced towards the new comers to receive the sign. It was given, +and they both passed on, whilst the guard sank, as it were, into the +bowels of the earth. All these things Randhir carefully remarked: +besides which he neglected not to take note of all the +distinguishable objects that lay on the road, and, when he entered +the wood, he scratched with his dagger all the tree trunks within +reach. + +After a sharp walk the pair reached a high perpendicular sheet of +rock, rising abruptly from a clear space in the jungle, and profusely +printed over with vermilion hands. The thief, having walked up to +it, and made his obeisance, stooped to the ground, and removed a +bunch of grass. The two then raised by their united efforts a heavy +trap door, through which poured a stream of light, whilst a +confused hubbub of voices was heard below. + +"This is the ken," said the robber, preparing to descend a thin +ladder of bamboo, "follow me!" And he disappeared with his bag +of valuables. + +The king did as he was bid, and the pair entered together a large +hall, or rather a cave, which presented a singular spectacle. It was +lighted up by links fixed to the sombre walls, which threw a smoky +glare over the place, and the contrast after the deep darkness +reminded Randhir of his mother's descriptions of Patal-puri, the +infernal city. Carpets of every kind, from the choicest tapestry to +the coarsest rug, were spread upon the ground, and were strewed +with bags, wallets, weapons, heaps of booty, drinking cups, and all +the materials of debauchery. + +Passing through this cave the thief led Randhir into another, which +was full of thieves, preparing for the pleasures of the night. Some +were changing garments, ragged and dirtied by creeping through +gaps in the houses: others were washing the blood from their hands +and feet; these combed out their long dishevelled, dusty hair: those +anointed their skins with perfumed cocoa-nut oil. There were all +manner of murderers present, a villanous collection of Kartikeya's +and Bhawani's[FN#106] crew. There were stabbers with their +poniards hung to lanyards lashed round their naked waists, +Dhaturiya- poisoners[FN#107] distinguished by the little bag slung +under the left arm, and Phansigars[FN#108] wearing their fatal +kerchiefs round their necks. And Randhir had reason to thank the +good deed in the last life that had sent him there in such strict +disguise, for amongst the robbers he found, as might be expected, a +number of his own people, spies and watchmen, guards and +patrols. + +The thief, whose importance of manner now showed him to be the +chief of the gang, was greeted with applause as he entered the +robing room, and he bade all make salam to the new companion. A +number of questions concerning the success of the night's work +was quickly put and answered: then the company, having got +ready for the revel, flocked into the first cave. There they sat down +each in his own place, and began to eat and drink and make merry. + +After some hours the flaring torches began to burn out, and +drowsiness to overpower the strongest heads. Most of the robbers +rolled themselves up in the rugs, and covering their heads, went to +sleep. A few still sat with their backs to the wall, nodding drowsily +or leaning on one side, and too stupefied with opium and hemp to +make any exertion. + +At that moment a servant woman, whom the king saw for the first +time, came into the cave, and looking at him exclaimed, "O Raja! +how came you with these wicked men? Do you run away as fast as +you can, or they will surely kill you when they awake." + +"I do not know the way; in which direction am I to go?" asked +Randhir. + +The woman then showed him the road. He threaded the confused +mass of snorers, treading with the foot of a tiger-cat, found the +ladder, raised the trap-door by exerting all his strength, and +breathed once more the open air of heaven. And before plunging +into the depths of the wood he again marked the place where the +entrance lay and carefully replaced the bunch of grass. + +Hardly had Raja Randhir returned to the palace, and removed the +traces of his night's occupation, when he received a second +deputation of the merchants, complaining bitterly and with the +longest faces about their fresh misfortunes. + +"O pearl of equity!" said the men of money, "but yesterday you +consoled us with the promise of some contrivance by the blessing +of which our houses and coffers would be safe from theft; whereas +our goods have never yet suffered so severely as during the last +twelve hours." + +Again Randhir dismissed them, swearing that this time he would +either die or destroy the wretches who had been guilty of such +violence. + +Then having mentally prepared his measures, the Raja warned a +company of archers to hold themselves in readiness for secret +service, and as each one of his own people returned from the +robbers' cave he had him privily arrested and put to death--because +the deceased, it is said, do not, like Baitals, tell tales. About +nightfall, when he thought that the thieves, having finished their +work of plunder, would meet together as usual for wassail and +debauchery, he armed himself, marched out his men, and led them +to the rock in the jungle. + +But the robbers, aroused by the disappearance of the new +companion, had made enquiries and had gained intelligence of the +impending danger. They feared to flee during the daytime, lest +being tracked they should be discovered and destroyed in detail. +When night came they hesitated to disperse, from the certainty that +they would be captured in the morning. Then their captain, who +throughout had been of one opinion, proposed to them that they +should resist, and promised them success if they would hear his +words. The gang respected him, for he was known to be brave: +they all listened to his advice, and they promised to be obedient. + +As young night began to cast transparent shade upon the jungle +ground, the chief of the thieves mustered his men, inspected their +bows and arrows, gave them encouraging words, and led them +forth from the cave. Having placed them in ambush he climbed the +rock to espy the movements of the enemy, whilst others applied +their noses and ears to the level ground. Presently the moon shone +full upon Randhir and his band of archers, who were advancing +quickly and carelessly, for they expected to catch the robbers in +their cave. The captain allowed them to march nearly through the +line of ambush. Then he gave the signal, and at that moment the +thieves, rising suddenly from the bush fell upon the royal troops +and drove them back in confusion. + +The king also fled, when the chief of the robbers shouted out, +"Hola! thou a Rajput and running away from combat?" Randhir +hearing this halted, and the two, confronting each other, bared their +blades and began to do battle with prodigious fury. + +The king was cunning of fence, and so was the thief. They opened +the duel, as skilful swordsmen should, by bending almost double, +skipping in a circle, each keeping his eye well fixed upon the +other, with frowning brows and contemptuous lips; at the same +time executing divers gambados and measured leaps, springing +forward like frogs and backward like monkeys, and beating time +with their sabres upon their shields, which rattled like drums. + +Then Randhir suddenly facing his antagonist, cut at his legs with a +loud cry, but the thief sprang in the air, and the blade whistled +harmlessly under him. Next moment the robber chief's sword, +thrice whirled round his head, descended like lightning in a +slanting direction towards the king's left shoulder: the latter, +however, received it upon his target and escaped all hurt, though +he staggered with the violence of the blow. + +And thus they continued attacking each other, parrying and +replying, till their breath failed them and their hands and wrists +were numbed and cramped with fatigue. They were so well +matched in courage, strength, and address, that neither obtained the +least advantage, till the robber's right foot catching a stone slid +from under him, and thus he fell to the ground at the mercy of his +enemy. The thieves fled, and the Raja, himself on his prize, tied his +hands behind him, and brought him back to the city at the point of +his good sword. + +The next morning Randhir visited his prisoner, whom he caused to +be bathed, and washed, and covered with fine clothes. He then had +him mounted on a camel and sent him on a circuit of the city, +accompanied by a crier proclaiming aloud: "Who hears! who +hears! who hears! the king commands! This is the thief who has +robbed and plundered the city of Chandrodaya. Let all men +therefore assemble themselves together this evening in the open +space outside the gate leading towards the sea. And let them +behold the penalty of evil deeds, and learn to be wise." + +Randhir had condemned the thief to be crucified,[FN#109] nailed +and tied with his hands and feet stretched out at full length, in an +erect posture until death; everything he wished to eat was ordered +to him in order to prolong life and misery. And when death should +draw near, melted gold was to be poured down his throat till it +should burst from his neck and other parts of his body. + +In the evening the thief was led out for execution, and by chance +the procession passed close to the house of a wealthy landowner. +He had a favourite daughter named Shobhani, who was in the +flower of her youth and very lovely; every day she improved, and +every moment added to her grace and beauty. The girl had been +carefully kept out of sight of mankind, never being allowed outside +the high walls of the garden, because her nurse, a wise woman +much trusted in the neighbourhood, had at the hour of death given +a solemn warning to her parents. The prediction was that the +maiden should be the admiration of the city, and should die a Sati- +widow[FN#110] before becoming a wife. From that hour Shobhani +was kept as a pearl in its casket by her father, who had vowed +never to survive her, and had even fixed upon the place and style +of his suicide. + +But the shaft of Fate[FN#111] strikes down the vulture sailing +above the clouds, and follows the worm into the bowels of the +earth, and pierces the fish at the bottom of the ocean--how then can +mortal man expect to escape it? As the robber chief, mounted upon +the camel, was passing to the cross under the old householder's +windows, a fire breaking out in the women's apartments, drove the +inmates into the rooms looking upon the street. + +The hum of many voices arose from the solid pavement of heads: +"This is the thief who has been robbing the whole city; let him +tremble now, for Randhir will surely crucify him!" + +In beauty and bravery of bearing, as in strength and courage, no +man in Chandrodaya surpassed the robber, who, being +magnificently dressed, looked, despite his disgraceful cavalcade, +like the son of a king. He sat with an unmoved countenance, hardly +hearing in his pride the scoffs of the mob; calm and steady when +the whole city was frenzied with anxiety because of him. But as he +heard the word "tremble" his lips quivered, his eyes flashed fire, +and deep lines gathered between his eyebrows. + +Shobhani started with a scream from the casement behind which +she had hid herself, gazing with an intense womanly curiosity into +the thoroughfare. The robber's face was upon a level with, and not +half a dozen feet from, her pale cheeks. She marked his handsome +features, and his look of wrath made her quiver as if it had been a +flash of lightning. Then she broke away from the fascination of his +youth and beauty, and ran breathless to her father, saying: + +"Go this moment and get that thief released! + +"The old housekeeper replied: "That thief has been pilfering and +plundering the whole city, and by his means the king's archers +were defeated; why, then, at my request, should our most gracious +Raja Randhir release him?" + +Shobhani, almost beside herself, exclaimed: "If by giving up your +whole property, you can induce the Raja to release him, then +instantly so do; if he does not come to me, I must give up my life!" + +The maiden then covered her head with her veil, and sat down in +the deepest despair, whilst her father, hearing her words, burst into +a cry of grief, and hastened to present himself before the Raja. He +cried out: + +"O great king, be pleased to receive four lakhs of rupees, and to +release this thief." + +But the king replied: "He has been robbing the whole city, and by +reason of him my guards have been destroyed. I cannot by any +means release him." + +Then the old householder finding, as he had expected the Raja +inexorable, and not to be moved, either by tears or bribes, or by the +cruel fate of the girl, returned home with fire in his heart, and +addressed her: + + "Daughter, I have said and done all that is possible but it avails +me nought with the king. Now, then, we die." + +In the mean time, the guards having led the thief all round the city, +took him outside the gates, and made him stand near the cross. +Then the messengers of death arrived from the palace, and the +executioners began to nail his limbs. He bore the agony with the +fortitude of the brave; but when he heard what had been done by +the old householder's daughter, he raised his voice and wept +bitterly, as though his heart had been bursting, and almost with the +same breath he laughed heartily as at a feast. All were startled by +his merriment; coming as it did at a time when the iron was +piercing his flesh, no man could see any reason for it. + +When he died, Shobhani, who was married to him in the spirit, +recited to herself these sayings: + +"There are thirty-five millions of hairs on the human body. The +woman who ascends the pile with her husband will remain so +many years in heaven. As the snake-catcher draws the serpent +from his hole, so she, rescuing her husband from hell, rejoices with +him; aye, though he may have sunk to a region of torment, be +restrained in dreadful bonds, have reached the place of anguish, be +exhausted of strength, and afflicted and tortured for his crimes. No +other effectual duty is known for virtuous women at any time after +the death of their lords, except casting themselves into the same +fire. As long as a woman in her successive transmigrations, shall +decline burning herself, like a faithful wife, in the same fire with +her deceased lord, so long shall she not be exempted from +springing again to life in the body of some female animal." + +Therefore the beautiful Shobhani, virgin and wife, resolved to burn +herself, and to make the next life of the thief certain. She showed +her courage by thrusting her finger into a torch flame till it became +a cinder, and she solemnly bathed in the nearest stream. + +A hole was dug in the ground, and upon a bed of green tree-trunks +were heaped hemp, pitch, faggots, and clarified butter, to form the +funeral pyre. The dead body, anointed, bathed, and dressed in new +clothes, was then laid upon the heap, which was some two feet +high. Shobhani prayed that as long as fourteen Indras reign, or as +many years as there are hairs in her head, she might abide in +heaven with her husband, and be waited upon by the heavenly +dancers. She then presented her ornaments and little gifts of corn +to her friends, tied some cotton round both wrists, put two new +combs in her hair, painted her forehead, and tied up in the end of +her body-cloth clean parched rice[FN#112] and cowrie-shells. +These she gave to the bystanders, as she walked seven times round +the funeral pyre, upon which lay the body. She then ascended the +heap of wood, sat down upon it, and taking the thief's head in her +lap, without cords or levers or upper layer or faggots, she ordered +the pile to be lighted. The crowd standing around set fire to it in +several places, drummed their drums, blew their conchs, and raised +a loud cry of "Hari bol! Hari bol! [FN#113]" Straw was thrown on, +and pitch and clarified butter were freely poured out. But +Shobhani's was a Sahamaran, a blessed easy death: no part of her +body was seen to move after the pyre was lighted--in fact, she +seemed to die before the flame touched her. + +By the blessing of his daughter's decease, the old householder +beheaded himself.[FN#114] He caused an instrument to be made +in the shape of a half-moon with an edge like a razor, and fitting +the back of his neck. At both ends of it, as at the beam of a +balance, chains were fastened. He sat down with eyes closed; he +was rubbed with the purifying clay of the holy river, +Vaiturani[FN#115]; and he repeated the proper incantations. Then +placing his feet upon the extremities of the chains, he suddenly +jerked up his neck, and his severed head rolled from his body upon +the ground. What a happy death was this! + +The Baital was silent, as if meditating on the fortunate +transmigration which the old householder had thus secured. + +"But what could the thief have been laughing at, sire?" asked the +young prince Dharma Dhwaj of his father. + +"At the prodigious folly of the girl, my son," replied the warrior +king, thoughtlessly. + +"I am indebted once more to your majesty," burst out the Baital, +"for releasing me from this unpleasant position, but the Raja's +penetration is again at fault. Not to leave your royal son and heir +labouring under a false impression, before going I will explain +why the brave thief burst into tears, and why he laughed at such a +moment. + +"He wept when he reflected that he could not requite her kindness +in being willing to give up everything she had in the world to save +his life; and this thought deeply grieved him. + +Then it struck him as being passing strange that she had begun to +love him when the last sand of his life was well nigh run out; that +wondrous are the ways of the revolving heavens which bestow +wealth upon the niggard that cannot use it, wisdom upon the bad +man who will misuse it, a beautiful wife upon the fool who cannot +protect her, and fertilizing showers upon the stony hills. And +thinking over these things, the gallant and beautiful thief laughed +aloud. + +"Before returning to my sires-tree," continued the Vampire, "as I +am about to do in virtue of your majesty's unintelligent reply, I +may remark that men may laugh and cry, or may cry and laugh, +about everything in this world, from their neighbours' deaths, +which, as a general rule, in no wise concern them, to their own +latter ends, which do concern them exceedingly. For my part, I am +in the habit of laughing at everything, because it animates the +brain, stimulates the lungs, beautifies the countenance, and--for the +moment, good-bye, Raja Vikram! + +The warrior king, being forewarned this time, shifted the bundle +containing the Baital from his back to under his arm, where he +pressed it with all his might. + +This proceeding, however, did not prevent the Vampire from +slipping back to his tree, and leaving an empty cloth with the Raja. + +Presently the demon was trussed up as usual; a voice sounded +behind Vikram, and the loquacious thing again began to talk. + + + THE VAMPIRE'S SIXTH STORY. + + In Which Three Men Dispute about a Woman. + +On the lovely banks of Jumna's stream there was a city known as +Dharmasthal--the Place of Duty; and therein dwelt a certain +Brahman called Keshav. He was a very pious man, in the constant +habit of performing penance and worship upon the river Sidi. He +modelled his own clay images instead of buying them from others; +he painted holy stones red at the top, and made to them offerings +of flowers, fruit, water, sweetmeats, and fried peas. He had +become a learned man somewhat late in life, having, until twenty +years old, neglected his reading, and addicted himself to +worshipping the beautiful youth Kama-Deva[FN#116] and Rati his +wife, accompanied by the cuckoo, the humming-bee, and sweet +breezes. + +One day his parents having rebuked him sharply for his +ungovernable conduct, Keshav wandered to a neighbouring +hamlet, and hid himself in the tall fig-tree which shadowed a +celebrated image of Panchanan.[FN#117] Presently an evil thought +arose in his head: he defiled the god, and threw him into the +nearest tank. + +The next morning, when the person arrived whose livelihood +depended on the image, he discovered that his god was gone. He +returned into the village distracted, and all was soon in an uproar +about the lost deity. + +In the midst of this confusion the parents of Keshav arrived, +seeking for their son; and a man in the crowd declared that he had +seen a young man sitting in Panchanan's tree, but what had become +of the god he knew not. + +The runaway at length appeared, and the suspicions of the villagers +fell upon him as the stealer of Panchanan. He confessed the fact, +pointed out the place where he had thrown the stone, and added +that he had polluted the god. All hands and eyes were raised in +amazement at this atrocious crime, and every one present declared +that Panchanan would certainly punish the daring insult by +immediate death. Keshav was dreadfully frightened; he began to +obey his parents from that very hour, and applied to his studies so +sedulously that he soon became the most learned man of his +country. + +Now Keshav the Brahman had a daughter whose name was the +Madhumalati or Sweet Jasmine. She was very beautiful. Whence +did the gods procure the materials to form so exquisite a face? +They took a portion of the most excellent part of the moon to form +that beautiful face? Does any one seek a proof of this? Let him +look at the empty places left in the moon. Her eyes resembled the +full-blown blue nymphaea; her arms the charming stalk of the +lotus; her flowing tresses the thick darkness of night. + +When this lovely person arrived at a marriageable age, her mother, +father, and brother, all three became very anxious about her. For +the wise have said, "A daughter nubile but without a husband is +ever a calamity hanging over a house." And, "Kings, women, and +climbing plants love those who are near them." Also, "Who is +there that has not suffered from the sex? for a woman cannot be +kept in due subjection, either by gifts or kindness, or correct +conduct, or the greatest services, or the laws of morality, or by the +terror of punishment, for she cannot discriminate between good +and evil." + +It so happened that one day Keshav the Brahman went to the +marriage of a certain customer of his,[FN#118] and his son +repaired to the house of a spiritual preceptor in order to read. +During their absence, a young man came to the house, when the +Sweet Jasmine's mother, inferring his good qualities from his good +looks, said to him, "I will give to thee my daughter in marriage." +The father also had promised his daughter to a Brahman youth +whom he had met at the house of his employer; and the brother +likewise had betrothed his sister to a fellow student at the place +where he had gone to read. + +After some days father and son came home, accompanied by these +two suitors, and in the house a third was already seated. The name +of the first was Tribikram, of the second Baman, and of the third +Madhusadan. The three were equal in mind and body, in +knowledge, and in age. + +Then the father, looking upon them, said to himself, "Ho! there is +one bride and three bridegrooms; to whom shall I give, and to +whom shall I not give? We three have pledged our word to these +three. A strange circumstance has occurred; what must we do?" + +He then proposed to them a trial of wisdom, and made them agree +that he who should quote the most excellent saying of the wise +should become his daughter's husband. + +Quoth Tribikram: "Courage is tried in war; integrity in the +payment of debt and interest; friendship in distress; and the +faithfulness of a wife in the day of poverty." + +Baman proceeded: "That woman is destitute of virtue who in her +father's house is not in subjection, who wanders to feasts and +amusements, who throws off her veil in the presence of men, who +remains as a guest in the houses of strangers, who is much devoted +to sleep, who drinks inebriating beverages, and who delights in +distance from her husband." + +"Let none," pursued Madhusadan, "confide in the sea, nor in +whatever has claws or horns, or who carries deadly weapons; +neither in a woman, nor in a king." + +Whilst the Brahman was doubting which to prefer, and rather +inclining to the latter sentiment, a serpent bit the beautiful girl, and +in a few hours she died. + +Stunned by this awful sudden death, the father and the three suitors +sat for a time motionless. They then arose, used great exertions, +and brought all kinds of sorcerers, wise men and women who +charm away poisons by incantations. These having seen the girl +said, "She cannot return to life." The first declared, "A person +always dies who has been bitten by a snake on the fifth, sixth, +eighth, ninth, and fourteenth days of the lunar month.'' The second +asserted, "One who has been bitten on a Saturday or a Tuesday +does not survive." The third opined, "Poison infused during certain +six lunar mansions cannot be got under." Quoth the fourth, "One +who has been bitten in any organ of sense, the lower lip, the cheek, +the neck, or the stomach, cannot escape death." The fifth said, "In +this case even Brahma, the Creator, could not restore life--of what +account, then, are we? Do you perform the funeral rites; we will +depart." + +Thus saying, the sorcerers went their way. The mourning father +took up his daughter's corpse and caused it to be burnt, in the place +where dead bodies are usually burnt, and returned to his house. + +After that the three young men said to one another, "We must now +seek happiness elsewhere. And what better can we do than obey +the words of Indra, the God of Air, who spake thus ?-- + +"'For a man who does not travel about there is no felicity, and a +good man who stays at home is a bad man. Indra is the friend of +him who travels. Travel! + +"'A traveller's legs are like blossoming branches, and he himself +grows and gathers the fruit. All his wrongs vanish, destroyed by +his exertion on the roadside. Travel! + +"'The fortune of a man who sits, sits also; it rises when he rises; it +sleeps when he sleeps; it moves well when he moves. Travel! + +"'A man who sleeps is like the Iron Age. A man who awakes is like +the Bronze Age. A man who rises up is like the Silver Age. A man +who travels is like the Golden Age. Travel! + +"'A traveller finds honey; a traveller finds sweet figs. Look at the +happiness of the sun, who travailing never tires. Travel!"' + +Before parting they divided the relics of the beloved one, and then +they went their way. + +Tribikram, having separated and tied up the burnt bones, became +one of the Vaisheshikas, in those days a powerful sect. He +solemnly forswore the eight great crimes, namely: feeding at night; +slaying any animal; eating the fruit of trees that give milk, or +pumpkins or young bamboos: tasting honey or flesh; plundering +the wealth of others; taking by force a married woman; eating +flowers, butter, or cheese; and worshipping the gods of other +religions. He learned that the highest act of virtue is to abstain +from doing injury to sentient creatures; that crime does not justify +the destruction of life; and that kings, as the administrators of +criminal justice, are the greatest of sinners. He professed the five +vows of total abstinence from falsehood, eating flesh or fish, theft, +drinking spirits, and marriage. He bound himself to possess +nothing beyond a white loin-cloth, a towel to wipe the mouth, a +beggar's dish, and a brush of woollen threads to sweep the ground +for fear of treading on insects. And he was ordered to fear secular +affairs; the miseries of a future state; the receiving from others +more than the food of a day at once; all accidents; provisions, if +connected with the destruction of animal life; death and disgrace; +also to please all, and to obtain compassion from all. + +He attempted to banish his love. He said to himself, "Surely it was +owing only to my pride and selfishness that I ever looked upon a +woman as capable of affording happiness; and I thought, 'Ah! ah! +thine eyes roll about like the tail of the water-wagtail, thy lips +resemble the ripe fruit, thy bosom is like the lotus bud, thy form is +resplendent as gold melted in a crucible, the moon wanes through +desire to imitate the shadow of thy face, thou resemblest the +pleasure-house of Cupid; the happiness of all time is concentrated +in thee; a touch from thee would surely give life to a dead image; +at thy approach a living admirer would be changed by joy into a +lifeless stone; obtaining thee I can face all the horrors of war; and +were I pierced by showers of arrows, one glance of thee would +heal all my wounds.' + +"My mind is now averted from the world. Seeing her I say, 'Is this +the form by which men are bewitched? This is a basket covered +with skin; it contains bones, flesh, blood, and impurities. The +stupid creature who is captivated by this--is there a cannibal +feeding in Currim a greater cannibal than he? These persons call a +thing made up of impure matter a face, and drink its charms as a +drunkard swallows the inebriating liquor from his cup. The blind, +infatuated beings! Why should I be pleased or displeased with this +body, composed of flesh and blood? It is my duty to seek Him who +is the Lord of this body, and to disregard everything which gives +rise either to pleasure or to pain.'" + +Baman, the second suitor, tied up a bundle of his beloved one's +ashes, and followed--somewhat prematurely--the precepts of the +great lawgiver Manu. "When the father of a family perceives his +muscles becoming flaccid, and his hair grey, and sees the child of +his child, let him then take refuge in a forest. Let him take up his +consecrated fire and all his domestic implements for making +oblations to it, and, departing from the town to the lonely wood, let +him dwell in it with complete power over his organs of sense and +of action. With many sorts of pure food, such as holy sages used to +eat, with green herbs, roots, and fruit, let him perform the five +great sacraments, introducing them with due ceremonies. Let him +wear a black antelope-hide, or a vesture of bark; let him bathe +evening and morning; let him suffer the hair of his head, his beard +and his nails to grow continually. Let him slide backwards and +forwards on the ground; or let him stand a whole day on tiptoe; or +let him continue in motion, rising and sitting alternately; but at +sunrise, at noon, and at sunset, let him go to the waters and bathe. +In the hot season let him sit exposed to five fires, four blazing +around him, with the sun above; in the rains let him stand +uncovered, without even a mantle, where the clouds pour the +heaviest showers; in the cold season let him wear damp clothes, +and let him increase by degrees the austerity of his devotions. +Then, having reposited his holy fires, as the law directs, in his +mind, let him live without external fire, without a mansion, wholly +silent, feeding on roots and fruit." + +Meanwhile Madhusadan the third, having taken a wallet and +neckband, became a Jogi, and began to wander far and wide, living +on nothing but chaff, and practicing his devotions. In order to see +Brahma he attended to the following duties; 1. Hearing; 2. +Meditation; 3. Fixing the Mind; 4. Absorbing the Mind. He +combated the three evils, restlessness, injuriousness, +voluptuousness by settling the Deity in his spirit, by subjecting his +senses, and by destroying desire. Thus he would do away with the +illusion (Maya) which conceals all true knowledge. He repeated +the name of the Deity till it appeared to him in the form of a Dry +Light or glory. Though connected with the affairs of life, that is, +with affairs belonging to a body containing blood, bones, and +impurities; to organs which are blind, palsied, and full of weakness +and error; to a mind filled with thirst, hunger, sorrow, infatuation; +to confirmed habits, and to the fruits of former births: still he +strove not to view these things as realities. He made a companion +of a dog, honouring it with his own food, so as the better to think +on spirit. He practiced all the five operations connected with the +vital air, or air collected in the body. He attended much to +Pranayama, or the gradual suppression of breathing, and he +secured fixedness of mind as follows. By placing his sight and +thoughts on the tip of his nose he perceived smell; on the tip of his +tongue he realized taste, on the root of his tongue he knew sound, +and so forth. He practiced the eighty-four Asana or postures, +raising his hand to the wonders of the heavens, till he felt no longer +the inconveniences of heat or cold, hunger or thirst. He particularly +preferred the Padma or lotus-posture, which consists of bringing +the feet to the sides, holding the right in the left hand and the left in +the right. In the work of suppressing his breath he permitted its +respiration to reach at furthest twelve fingers' breadth, and +gradually diminished the distance from his nostrils till he could +confine it to the length of twelve fingers from his nose, and even +after restraining it for some time he would draw it from no greater +distance than from his heart. As respects time, he began by +retaining inspiration for twenty-six seconds, and he enlarged this +period gradually till he became perfect. He sat cross-legged, +closing with his fingers all the avenues of inspiration, and he +practiced Prityahara, or the power of restraining the members of +the body and mind, with meditation and concentration, to which +there are four enemies, viz., a sleepy heart, human passions, a +confused mind, and attachment to anything but the one Brahma. +He also cultivated Yama, that is, inoffensiveness, truth, honesty, +the forsaking of all evil in the world, and the refusal of gifts except +for sacrifice, and Nihama, i.e., purity relative to the use of water +after defilement, pleasure in everything whether in prosperity or +adversity, renouncing food when hungry, and keeping down the +body. Thus delivered from these four enemies of the flesh, he +resembled the unruffled flame of the lamp, and by Brahmagnana, +or meditating on the Deity, placing his mind on the sun, moon, +fire, or any other luminous body, or within his heart, or at the +bottom of his throat, or in the centre of his skull, he was enabled to +ascend from gross images of omnipotence to the works and the +divine wisdom of the glorious original. + +One day Madhusadan, the Jogi, went to a certain house for food, +and the householder having seen him began to say, "Be so good as +to take your food here this day!" The visitor sat down, and when +the victuals were ready, the host caused his feet and hands to be +washed, and leading him to the Chauka, or square place upon +which meals are served, seated him and sat by him. And he quoted +the scripture: "No guest must be dismissed in the evening by a +housekeeper: he is sent by the returning sun, and whether he come +in fit season or unseasonably, he must not sojourn in the house +without entertainment: let me not eat any delicate food, without +asking my guest to partake of it: the satisfaction of a guest will +assuredly bring the housekeeper wealth, reputation, long life, and a +place in heaven." + +The householder's wife then came to serve up the food, rice and +split peas, oil, and spices, all cooked in a new earthen pot with +pure firewood. Part of the meal was served and the rest remained +to be served, when the woman's little child began to cry aloud and +to catch hold of its mother's dress. She endeavoured to release +herself, but the boy would not let go, and the more she coaxed the +more he cried, and was obstinate. On this the mother became +angry, took up the boy and threw him upon the fire, which +instantly burnt him to ashes. + +Madhusadan, the Jogi, seeing this, rose up without eating. The +master of the house said to him, "Why eatest thou not?" He +replied, "I am ' Atithi,' that is to say, to be entertained at your +house, but how can one eat under the roof of a person who has +committed such a Rakshasa-like (devilish) deed? Is it not said, 'He +who does not govern his passions, lives in vain'? 'A foolish king, a +person puffed up with riches, and a weak child, desire that which +cannot be procured'? Also, 'A king destroys his enemies, even +when flying; and the touch of an elephant, as well as the breath of +a serpent, are fatal; but the wicked destroy even while laughing'?" + +Hearing this, the householder smiled; presently he arose and went +to another part of the tenement, and brought back with him a book, +treating on Sanjivnividya, or the science of restoring the dead to +life. This he had taken from its hidden place, two beams almost +touching one another with the ends in the opposite wall. The +precious volume was in single leaves, some six inches broad by +treble that length, and the paper was stained with yellow orpiment +and the juice of tamarind seeds to keep away insects. + +The householder opened the cloth containing the book, untied the +flat boards at the top and bottom, and took out from it a charm. +Having repeated this Mantra, with many ceremonies, he at once +restored the child to life, saying, "Of all precious things, +knowledge is the most valuable; other riches may be stolen, or +diminished by expenditure, but knowledge is immortal, and the +greater the expenditure the greater the increase; it can be shared +with none, and it defies the power of the thief." + +The Jogi, seeing this marvel, took thought in his heart, "If I could +obtain that book, I would restore my beloved to life, and give up +this course of uncomfortable postures and difficulty of breathing." +With this resolution he sat down to his food, and remained in the +house. + +At length night came, and after a time, all, having eaten supper, +and gone to their sleeping-places, lay down. The Jogi also went to +rest in one part of the house, but did not allow sleep to close his +eyes. When he thought that a fourth part of the hours of darkness +had sped, and that all were deep in slumber, then he got up very +quietly, and going into the room of the master of the house, he +took down the book from the beam-ends and went his ways. + +Madhusadan, the Jogi, went straight to the place where the +beautiful Sweet Jasmine had been burned. There he found his two +rivals sitting talking together and comparing experiences. They +recognized him at once, and cried aloud to him, "Brother! thou +also hast been wandering over the world; tell us this--hast thou +learned anything which can profit us?" He replied, "I have learned +the science of restoring the dead to life"; upon which they both +exclaimed, "If thou hast really learned such knowledge, restore our +beloved to life." + +Madhusadan proceeded to make his incantations, despite terrible +sights in the air, the cries of jackals, owls, crows, cats, asses, +vultures, dogs, and lizards, and the wrath of innumerable invisible +beings, such as messengers of Yama (Pluto), ghosts, devils, +demons, imps, fiends, devas, succubi, and others. All the three +lovers drawing blood from their own bodies, offered it to the +goddess Chandi, repeating the following incantation, "Hail! +supreme delusion! Hail! goddess of the universe! Hail! thou who +fulfillest the desires of all. May I presume to offer thee the blood +of my body; and wilt thou deign to accept it, and be propitious +towards me!" + +They then made a burnt-offering of their flesh, and each one +prayed, "Grant me, O goddess! to see the maiden alive again, in +proportion to the fervency with which I present thee with mine +own flesh, invoking thee to be propitious to me. Salutation to thee +again and again, under the mysterious syllables any! any!" + +Then they made a heap of the bones and the ashes, which had been +carefully kept by Tribikram and Baman. As the Jogi Madhusadan +proceeded with his incantation, a white vapour arose from the +ground, and, gradually condensing, assumed a perispiritual form-- +the fluid envelope of the soul. The three spectators felt their blood +freeze as the bones and the ashes were gradually absorbed into the +before shadowy shape, and they were restored to themselves only +when the maiden Madhuvati begged to be taken home to her +mother. + +Then Kama, God of Love, blinded them, and they began fiercely to +quarrel about who should have the beautiful maid. Each wanted to +be her sole master. Tribikram declared the bones to be the great +fact of the incantation; Baman swore by the ashes; and +Madhusadan laughed them both to scorn. No one could decide the +dispute; the wisest doctors were all nonplussed; and as for the +Raja--well! we do not go for wit or wisdom to kings. I wonder if +the great Raja Vikram could decide which person the woman +belonged to? + +"To Baman, the man who kept her ashes, fellow!" exclaimed the +hero, not a little offended by the free remarks of the fiend. + +"Yet," rejoined the Baital impudently, "if Tribikram had not +preserved her bones how could she have been restored to life? And +if Madhusadan had not learned the science of restoring the dead to +life how could she have been revivified? At least, so it seems to +me. But perhaps your royal wisdom may explain." + +"Devil!" said the king angrily, "Tribikram, who preserved her +bones, by that act placed himself in the position of her son; +therefore he could not marry her. Madhusadan, who, restoring her +to life, gave her life, was evidently a father to her; he could not, +then, become her husband. Therefore she was the wife of Baman, +who had collected her ashes." + +"I am happy to see, O king," exclaimed the Vampire, "that in spite +of my presentiments, we are not to part company just yet. These +little trips I hold to be, like lovers' quarrels, the prelude to closer +union. With your leave we will still practice a little suspension." + +And so saying, the Baital again ascended the tree, and was +suspended there. + +"Would it not be better," thought the monarch, after recapturing +and shouldering the fugitive, "for me to sit down this time and +listen to the fellow's story? Perhaps the double exercise of walking +and thinking confuses me." + +With this idea Vikram placed his bundle upon the ground, well tied +up with turband and waistband; then he seated himself +cross-legged before it, and bade his son do the same. + +The Vampire strongly objected to this measure, as it was contrary, +he asserted, to the covenant between him and the Raja. Vikram +replied by citing the very words of the agreement, proving that +there was no allusion to walking or sitting. + +Then the Baital became sulky, and swore that he would not utter +another word. But he, too, was bound by the chain of destiny. +Presently he opened his lips, with the normal prelude that he was +about to tell a true tale. + + + THE VAMPIRE'S SEVENTH STORY. + +Showing the Exceeding Folly of Many Wise Fools. + +The Baital resumed. + +Of all the learned Brahmans in the learnedest university of Gaur +(Bengal) none was so celebrated as Vishnu Swami. He could write +verse as well as prose in dead languages, not very correctly, but +still, better than all his fellows--which constituted him a +distinguished writer. He had history, theosophy, and the four +Vedas of Scriptures at his fingers' ends, he was skilled in the +argute science of Nyasa or Disputation, his mind was a mine of +Pauranic or cosmogonico-traditional lore, handed down from the +ancient fathers to the modern fathers: and he had written bulky +commentaries, exhausting all that tongue of man has to say, upon +the obscure text of some old philosopher whose works upon ethics, +poetry, and rhetoric were supposed by the sages of Gaur to contain +the germs of everything knowable. His fame went over all the +country; yea, from country to country. He was a sea of excellent +qualities, the father and mother of Brahmans, cows, and women, +and the horror of loose persons, cut-throats, courtiers, and +courtesans. As a benefactor he was equal to Karna, most liberal of +heroes. In regard to truth he was equal to the veracious king +Yudhishtira. + +True, he was sometimes at a loss to spell a common word in his +mother tongue, and whilst he knew to a fingerbreadth how many +palms and paces the sun, the moon, and all the stars are distant +from the earth, he would have been puzzled to tell you where the +region called Yavana[FN#119] lies. Whilst he could enumerate, in +strict chronological succession, every important event that +happened five or six million years before he was born, he was +profoundly ignorant of those that occurred in his own day. And +once he asked a friend seriously, if a cat let loose in the jungle +would not in time become a tiger. + +Yet did all the members of alma mater Kasi, Pandits[FN#120] as +well as students, look with awe upon Vishnu Swami's livid cheeks, +and lack-lustre eyes, grimed hands and soiled cottons. + +Now it so happened that this wise and pious Brahmanic peer had +four sons, whom he brought up in the strictest and most serious +way. They were taught to repeat their prayers long before they +understood a word of them, and when they reached the age of +four[FN#121] they had read a variety of hymns and spiritual +songs. Then they were set to learn by heart precepts that inculcate +sacred duties, and arguments relating to theology, abstract and +concrete. + +Their father, who was also their tutor, sedulously cultivated, as all +the best works upon education advise, their implicit obedience, +humble respect, warm attachment, and the virtues and sentiments +generally. He praised them secretly and reprehended them openly, +to exercise their humility. He derided their looks, and dressed them +coarsely, to preserve them from vanity and conceit. Whenever they +anticipated a "treat," he punctually disappointed them, to teach +them self-denial. Often when he had promised them a present, he +would revoke, not break his word, in order that discipline might +have a name and habitat in his household. And knowing by +experience how much stronger than love is fear, he frequently +threatened, browbeat, and overawed them with the rod and the +tongue, with the terrors of this world, and with the horrors of the +next, that they might be kept in the right way by dread of falling +into the bottomless pits that bound it on both sides. + +At the age of six they were transferred to the Chatushpati[FN#122] +or school. Every morning the teacher and his pupils assembled in +the hut where the different classes were called up by turns. They +laboured till noon, and were allowed only two hours, a moiety of +the usual time, for bathing, eating, sleep, and worship, which took +up half the period. At 3 P.M. they resumed their labours, repeating +to the tutor what they had learned by heart, and listening to the +meaning of it: this lasted till twilight. They then worshipped, ate +and drank for an hour: after which came a return of study, +repeating the day's lessons, till 10 P.M. + +In their rare days of ease--for the learned priest, mindful of the +words of the wise, did not wish to dull them by everlasting work-- +they were enjoined to disport themselves with the gravity and the +decorum that befit young Samditats, not to engage in night frolics, +not to use free jests or light expressions, not to draw pictures on +the walls, not to eat honey, flesh, and sweet substances turned acid, +not to talk to little girls at the well-side, on no account to wear +sandals, carry an umbrella, or handle a die even for love, and by no +means to steal their neighbours' mangoes. + +As they advanced in years their attention during work time was +unremittingly directed to the Vedas. Wordly studies were almost +excluded, or to speak more correctly, whenever wordly studies +were brought upon the carpet, they were so evil entreated, that they +well nigh lost all form and feature. History became "The Annals of +India on Brahminical Principles," opposed to the Buddhistical; +geography "The Lands of the Vedas," none other being deemed +worthy of notice; and law, "The Institutes of Manu," then almost +obsolete, despite their exceeding sanctity. + +But Jatu-harini[FN#123] had evidently changed these children +before they were born; and Shani[FN#124] must have been in the +ninth mansion when they came to light. + +Each youth as he attained the mature age of twelve was formally +entered at the University of Kasi, where, without loss of time, the +first became a gambler, the second a confirmed libertine, the third +a thief, and the fourth a high Buddhist, or in other words an utter +atheist. + +Here King Vikram frowned at his son, a hint that he had better not +behave himself as the children of highly moral and religious +parents usually do. The young prince understood him, and briefly +remarking that such things were common in distinguished +Brahman families, asked the Baital what he meant by the word +"Atheist." + +Of a truth (answered the Vampire) it is most difficult to explain. +The sages assign to it three or four several meanings: first, one +who denies that the gods exist secondly, one who owns that the +gods exist but denies that they busy themselves with human +affairs; and thirdly, one who believes in the gods and in their +providence, but also believes that they are easily to be set aside. +Similarly some atheists derive all things from dead and +unintelligent matter; others from matter living and energetic but +without sense or will: others from matter with forms and qualities +generable and conceptible; and others from a plastic and +methodical nature. Thus the Vishnu Swamis of the world have +invested the subject with some confusion. The simple, that is to +say, the mass of mortality, have confounded that confusion by +reproachfully applying the word atheist to those whose opinions +differ materially from their own. + +But I being at present, perhaps happily for myself, a Vampire, and +having, just now, none of these human or inhuman ideas, meant +simply to say that the pious priest's fourth son being great at +second and small in the matter of first causes, adopted to their +fullest extent the doctrines of the philosophical Buddhas.[FN#125] +Nothing according to him exists but the five elements, earth, water, +fire, air (or wind), and vacuum, and from the last proceeded the +penultimate, and so forth. With the sage Patanjali, he held the +universe to have the power of perpetual progression.[FN#126] He +called that Matra (matter), which is an eternal and infinite +principle, beginningless and endless. Organization, intelligence, +and design, he opined, are inherent in matter as growth is in a tree. +He did not believe in soul or spirit, because it could not be detected +in the body, and because it was a departure from physiological +analogy. The idea "I am," according to him, was not the +identification of spirit with matter, but a product of the mutation of +matter in this cloud-like, error-formed world. He believed in +Substance (Sat) and scoffed at Unsubstance (Asat). He asserted the +subtlety and globularity of atoms which are uncreate. He made +mind and intellect a mere secretion of the brain, or rather words +expressing not a thing, but a state of things. Reason was to him +developed instinct, and life an element of the atmosphere affecting +certain organisms. He held good and evil to be merely +geographical and chronological expressions, and he opined that +what is called Evil is mostly an active and transitive form of Good. +Law was his great Creator of all things, but he refused a creator of +law, because such a creator would require another creator, and so +on in a quasi-interminable series up to absurdity. This reduced his +law to a manner of haphazard. To those who, arguing against it, +asked him their favourite question, How often might a man after he +had jumbled a set of letters in a bag fling them out upon the ground +before they would fall into an exact poem? he replied that the +calculation was beyond his arithmetic, but that the man had only to +jumble and fling long enough inevitably to arrive at that end. He +rejected the necessity as well as the existence of revelation, and he +did not credit the miracles of Krishna, because, according to him, +nature never suspends her laws, and, moreover, he had never seen +aught supernatural. He ridiculed the idea of Mahapralaya, or the +great destruction, for as the world had no beginning, so it will have +no end. He objected to absorption, facetiously observing with the +sage Jamadagni, that it was pleasant to eat sweetmeats, but that for +his part he did not wish to become the sweetmeat itself. He would +not believe that Vishnu had formed the universe out of the wax in +his ears. He positively asserted that trees are not bodies in which +the consequences of merit and demerit are received. Nor would he +conclude that to men were attached rewards and punishments from +all eternity. He made light of the Sanskara, or sacrament. He +admitted Satwa, Raja, and Tama,[FN#127] but only as properties +of matter. He acknowledged gross matter (Sthulasharir), and +atomic matter (Shukshma-sharir), but not Linga-sharir, or the +archetype of bodies. To doubt all things was the foundation of his +theory, and to scoff at all who would not doubt was the +corner-stone of his practice. In debate he preferred logical and +mathematical grounds, requiring a categorical "because" in answer +to his "why?" He was full of morality and natural religion, which +some say is no religion at all. He gained the name of atheist by +declaring with Gotama that there are innumerable worlds, that the +earth has nothing beneath it but the circumambient air, and that the +core of the globe is incandescent. And he was called a practical +atheist--a worse form apparently--for supporting the following +dogma: "that though creation may attest that a creator has been, it +supplies no evidence to prove that a creator still exists." On which +occasion, Shiromani, a nonplussed theologian, asked him, "By +whom and for what purpose werst thou sent on earth?" The youth +scoffed at the word "sent," and replied, "Not being thy Supreme +Intelligence, or Infinite Nihility, I am unable to explain the +phenomenon." Upon which he quoted-- + + How sunk in darkness Gaur must be + Whose guide is blind Shiromani! + +At length it so happened that the four young men, having +frequently been surprised in flagrant delict, were summoned to the +dread presence of the university Gurus,[FN#128] who addressed +them as follows:-- + +"There are four different characters in the world: he who perfectly +obeys the commands; he who practices the commands, but follows +evil; he who does neither good nor evil; and he who does nothing +but evil. The third character, it is observed, is also an offender, for +he neglects that which he ought to observe. But ye all belong to the +fourth category." + +Then turning to the elder they said: + +"In works written upon the subject of government it is advised, +'Cut off the gambler's nose and ears, hold up his name to public +contempt, and drive him out of the country, that he may thus +become an example to others. For they who play must more often +lose than win; and losing, they must either pay or not pay. In the +latter case they forfeit caste, in the former they utterly reduce +themselves. And though a gambler's wife and children are in the +house, do not consider them to be so, since it is not known when +they will be lost.[FN#129] Thus he is left in a state of perfect +not-twoness (solitude), and he will be reborn in hell.' O young +man! thou hast set a bad example to others, therefore shalt thou +immediately exchange this university for a country life." + +Then they spoke to the second offender thus :--- + +"The wise shun woman, who can fascinate a man in the twinkling +of an eye; but the foolish, conceiving an affection for her, forfeit in +the pursuit of pleasure their truthfulness, reputation, and good +disposition, their way of life and mode of thought, their vows and +their religion. And to such the advice of their spiritual teachers +comes amiss, whilst they make others as bad as themselves. For it +is said, 'He who has lost all sense of shame, fears not to disgrace +another; 'and there is the proverb, 'A wild cat that devours its own +young is not likely to let a rat escape; ' therefore must thou too, O +young man! quit this seat of learning with all possible expedition." + +The young man proceeded to justify himself by quotations from +the Lila-shastra, his text-book, by citing such lines as-- + + Fortune favours folly and force, + +and by advising the elderly professors to improve their skill in the +peace and war of love. But they drove him out with execrations. + +As sagely and as solemnly did the Pandits and the Gurus reprove +the thief and the atheist, but they did not dispense the words of +wisdom in equal proportions. They warned the former that petty +larceny is punishable with fine, theft on a larger scale with +mutilation of the hand, and robbery, when detected in the act, with +loss of life[FN#130]; that for cutting purses, or for snatching them +out of a man's waistcloth,[FN#131] 'the first penalty is chopping +off the fingers, the second is the loss of the hand, and the third is +death. Then they call him a dishonour to the college, and they said, +"Thou art as a woman, the greatest of plunderers; other robbers +purloin property which is worthless, thou stealest the best; they +plunder in the night, thou in the day," and so forth. They told him +that he was a fellow who had read his Chauriya Vidya to more +purpose then his ritual.[FN#132] And they drove him from the +door as he in his shamelessness began to quote texts about the four +approved ways of housebreaking, namely, picking out burnt +bricks, cutting through unbaked bricks, throwing water on a mud +wall, and boring one of wood with a centre-bit. + +But they spent six mortal hours in convicting the atheist, whose +abominations they refuted by every possible argumentation: by +inference, by comparison, and by sounds, by Sruti and Smriti, i.e., +revelational and traditional, rational and evidential, physical and +metaphysical, analytical and synthetical, philosophical and +philological, historical, and so forth. But they found all their +endeavours vain. "For," it is said, "a man who has lost all shame, +who can talk without sense, and who tries to cheat his opponent, +will never get tired, and will never be put down." He declared that +a non-ad was far more probable than a monad (the active +principle), or the duad (the passive principle or matter.) He +compared their faith with a bubble in the water, of which we can +never predicate that it does exist or it does not. It is, he said, +unreal, as when the thirsty mistakes the meadow mist for a pool of +water. He proved the eternity of sound.[FN#133] He impudently +recounted and justified all the villanies of the Vamachari or +left-handed sects. He told them that they had taken up an ass's load +of religion, and had better apply to honest industry. He fell foul of +the gods; accused Yama of kicking his own mother, Indra of +tempting the wife of his spiritual guide, and Shiva of associating +with low women. Thus, he said, no one can respect them. Do not +we say when it thunders awfully, "the rascally gods are dying!" +And when it is too wet, "these villain gods are sending too much +rain"? Briefly, the young Brahman replied to and harangued them +all so impertinently, if not pertinently, that they, waxing angry, fell +upon him with their staves, and drove him out of assembly. + +Then the four thriftless youths returned home to their father, who +in his just indignation had urged their disgrace upon the Pandits +and Gurus, otherwise these dignitaries would never have resorted +to such extreme measures with so distinguished a house. He took +the opportunity of turning them out upon the world, until such time +as they might be able to show substantial signs of reform. "For," he +said, "those who have read science in their boyhood, and who in +youth, agitated by evil passions, have remained in the insolence of +ignorance, feel regret in their old age, and are consumed by the fire +of avarice." In order to supply them with a motive for the task +proposed, he stopped their monthly allowance But he added, if +they would repair to the neighbouring university of Jayasthal, and +there show themselves something better than a disgrace to their +family, he would direct their maternal uncle to supply them with +all the necessaries of food and raiment. + +In vain the youths attempted, with sighs and tears and threats of +suicide, to soften the paternal heart. He was inexorable, for two +reasons. In the first place, after wondering away the wonder with +which he regarded his own failure, he felt that a stigma now +attached to the name of the pious and learned Vishnu Swami, +whose lectures upon "Management during Teens," and whose +"Brahman Young Man's Own Book,'' had become standard works. +Secondly, from a sense of duty, he determined to omit nothing that +might tend to reclaim the reprobates. As regards the monthly +allowance being stopped, the reverend man had become every year +a little fonder of his purse; he had hoped that his sons would have +qualified themselves to take pupils, and thus achieve for +themselves, as he phrased it, "A genteel independence"; whilst +they openly derided the career, calling it "an admirable provision +for the more indigent members of the middle classes." For which +reason he referred them to their maternal uncle, a man of known +and remarkable penuriousness. + +The four ne'er-do-weals, foreseeing what awaited them at +Jayasthal, deferred it as a last resource; determining first to see a +little life, and to push their way in the world, before condemning +themselves to the tribulations of reform. + +They tried to live without a monthly allowance, and notably they +failed; it was squeezing, as men say, oil from sand. The gambler, +having no capital, and, worse still, no credit, lost two or three +suvernas[FN#134] at play, and could not pay them; in consequence +of which he was soundly beaten with iron-shod staves, and was +nearly compelled by the keeper of the hell to sell himself into +slavery. Thus he became disgusted; and telling his brethren that +they would find him at Jayasthal, he departed, with the intention of +studying wisdom. + +A month afterwards came the libertine's turn to be disappointed. +He could no longer afford fine new clothes; even a well-washed +coat was beyond his means. He had reckoned upon his handsome +face, and he had matured a plan for laying various elderly +conquests under contribution. Judge, therefore, his disgust when +all the women-- high and low, rich and poor, old and young, ugly +and beautiful--seeing the end of his waistcloth thrown empty over +his shoulder, passed him in the streets without even deigning a +look. The very shopkeepers' wives, who once had adored his +mustachio and had never ceased talking of his "elegant" gait, +despised him; and the wealthy old person who formerly supplied +his small feet with the choicest slippers, left him to starve. Upon +which he also in a state of repentance, followed his brother to +acquire knowledge. + +"Am I not," quoth the thief to himself, "a cat in climbing, a deer in +running, a snake in twisting, a hawk in pouncing, a dog in +scenting?--keen as a hare, tenacious as a wolf, strong as a lion?--a +lamp in the night, a horse on a plain, a mule on a stony path, a boat +in the water, a rock on land[FN#135]?" The reply to his own +questions was of course affirmative. But despite all these fine +qualities, and notwithstanding his scrupulous strictness in +invocating the house-breaking tool and in devoting a due portion +of his gains to the gods of plunder,[FN#136] he was caught in a +store-room by the proprietor, who inexorably handed him over to +justice. As he belonged to the priestly caste,[FN#137] the fine +imposed upon him was heavy. He could not pay it, and therefore +he was thrown into a dungeon, where he remained for some time. +But at last he escaped from jail, when he made his parting bow to +Kartikeya,[FN#138] stole a blanket from one of the guards, and set +out for Jayasthal, cursing his old profession. + +The atheist also found himself in a position that deprived him of all +his pleasures. He delighted in afterdinner controversies, and in +bringing the light troops of his wit to bear upon the unwieldy +masses of lore and logic opposed to him by polemical Brahmans +who, out of respect for his father, did not lay an action against him +for overpowering them in theological disputation.[FN#139] In the +strange city to which he had removed no one knew the son of +Vishnu Swami, and no one cared to invite him to the house. Once +he attempted his usual trick upon a knot of sages who, sitting +round a tank, were recreating themselves with quoting mystical +Sanskrit shlokas[FN#140] of abominable long-windedness. The +result was his being obliged to ply his heels vigorously in flight +from the justly incensed literati, to whom he had said "tush" and +"pish," at least a dozen times in as many minutes. He therefore also +followed the example of his brethren, and started for Jayasthal +with all possible expedition. + +Arrived at the house of their maternal uncle, the young men, as by +one assent, began to attempt the unloosening of his purse-strings. +Signally failing in this and in other notable schemes, they +determined to lay in that stock of facts and useful knowledge +which might reconcile them with their father, and restore them to +that happy life at Gaur which they then despised, and which now +brought tears into their eyes. + +Then they debated with one another what they should study + + * * * * * * * + +That branch of the preternatural, popularly called "white magic," +found with them favour. + + * * * * * * * + +They chose a Guru or teacher strictly according to the orders of +their faith, a wise man of honourable family and affable +demeanour, who was not a glutton nor leprous, nor blind of one +eye, nor blind of both eyes, nor very short, nor suffering from +whitlows,[FN#141] asthma, or other disease, nor noisy and +talkative, nor with any defect about the fingers and toes, nor +subject to his wife. + + * * * * * * * + +A grand discovery had been lately made by a certain +physiologico-philosophico- psychologico-materialist, a +Jayasthalian. In investigating the vestiges of creation, the cause of +causes, the effect of effects, and the original origin of that Matra +(matter) which some regard as an entity, others as a non-entity, +others self-existent, others merely specious and therefore +unexistent, he became convinced that the fundamental form of +organic being is a globule having another globule within itself +After inhabiting a garret and diving into the depths of his self- +consciousness for a few score years, he was able to produce such +complex globule in triturated and roasted flint by means of--I will +not say what. Happily for creation in general, the discovery died a +natural death some centuries ago. An edifying spectacle, indeed, +for the world to see; a cross old man sitting amongst his gallipots +and crucibles, creating animalculae, providing the corpses of birds, +beasts, and fishes with what is vulgarly called life, and supplying +to epigenesis all the latest improvements! + +In those days the invention, being a novelty, engrossed the +thoughts of the universal learned, who were in a fever of +excitement about it. Some believed in it so implicity that they saw +in every experiment a hundred things which they did not see. +Others were so sceptical and contradictory that they would not +preceive what they did see. Those blended with each fact their own +deductions, whilst these span round every reality the web of their +own prejudices. Curious to say, the Jayasthalians, amongst whom +the luminous science arose, hailed it with delight, whilst the +Gaurians derided its claim to be considered an important addition +to human knowledge. + +Let me try to remember a few of their words. + +"Unfortunate human nature," wrote the wise of Gaur against the +wise of Jayasthal, "wanted no crowning indignity but this! You +had already proved that the body is made of the basest element-- +earth. You had argued away the immovability, the ubiquity, the +permanency, the eternity, and the divinity of the soul, for is not +your favourite axiom, ' It is the nature of limbs which thinketh in +man'? The immortal mind is, according to you, an ignoble viscus; +the god-like gift of reason is the instinct of a dog somewhat highly +developed. Still you left us something to hope. Still you allowed us +one boast. Still life was a thread connecting us with the Giver of +Life. But now, with an impious hand, in blasphemous rage ye have +rent asunder that last frail tie." And so forth. + +"Welcome! thrice welcome! this latest and most admirable +development of human wisdom," wrote the sage Jayasthalians +against the sage Gaurians, "which has assigned to man his proper +state and status and station in the magnificent scale of being. We +have not created the facts which we have investigated, and which +we now proudly publish. We have proved materialism to be +nature's own system. But our philosophy of matter cannot overturn +any truth, because, if erroneous, it will necessarily sink into +oblivion; if real, it will tend only to instruct and to enlighten the +world. Wise are ye in your generation, O ye sages of Gaur, yet +withal wondrous illogical." And much of this kind. + +Concerning all which, mighty king! I, as a Vampire, have only to +remark that those two learned bodies, like your Rajaship's Nine +Gems of Science, were in the habit of talking most about what they +least understood. + +The four young men applied the whole force of their talents to +mastering the difficulties of the life-giving process; and in due +time, their industry obtained its reward. + +Then they determined to return home. As with beating hearts they +approached the old city, their birthplace, and gazed with moistened +eyes upon its tall spires and grim pagodas, its verdant meads and +venerable groves, they saw a Kanjar,[FN#142] who, having tied up +in a bundle the skin and bones of a tiger which he had found dead, +was about to go on his way. Then said the thief to the gambler, +"Take we these remains with us, and by means of them prove the +truth of our science before the people of Gaur, to the offence of +their noses.[FN#143]" Being now possessed of knowledge, they +resolved to apply it to its proper purpose, namely, power over the +property of others. Accordingly, the wencher, the gambler, and the +atheist kept the Kanjar in conversation whilst the thief vivified a +shank bone; and the bone thereupon stood upright, and hopped +about in so grotesque and wonderful a way that the man, being +frightened, fled as if I had been close behind him. + +Vishnu Swami had lately written a very learned commentary on +the mystical words of Lokakshi: + +"The Scriptures are at variance--the tradition is at variance. He +who gives a meaning of his own, quoting the Vedas, is no +philosopher. + +"True philosophy, through ignorance, is concealed as in the +fissures of a rock. + +"But the way of the Great One--that is to be followed." + +And the success of his book had quite effaced from the Brahman +mind the holy man's failure in bringing up his children. He +followed up this by adding to his essay on education a twentieth +tome, containing recipes for the "Reformation of Prodigals." + +The learned and reverend father received his sons with open arms. +He had heard from his brother-in-law that the youths were +qualified to support themselves, and when informed that they +wished to make a public experiment of their science, he exerted +himself, despite his disbelief in it, to forward their views. + +The Pandits and Gurus were long before they would consent to +attend what they considered dealings with Yama (the Devil). In +consequence, however, of Vishnu Swami's name and importunity, +at length, on a certain day, all the pious, learned, and reverend +tutors, teachers, professors, prolocutors, pastors, spiritual fathers, +poets, philosophers, mathematicians, schoolmasters, pedagogues, +bear-leaders, institutors, gerund-grinders, preceptors, dominies, +brushers, coryphaei, dry-nurses, coaches, mentors, monitors, +lecturers, prelectors, fellows, and heads of houses at the university +at Gaur, met together in a large garden, where they usually +diverted themselves out of hours with ball-tossing, +pigeon-tumbling, and kite-flying. + +Presently the four young men, carrying their bundle of bones and +the other requisites, stepped forward, walking slowly with eyes +downcast, like shrinking cattle: for it is said, the Brahman must not +run, even when it rains. + +After pronouncing an impromptu speech, composed for them by +their father, and so stuffed with erudition that even the writer +hardly understood it, they announced their wish to prove, by ocular +demonstration, the truth of a science upon which their +short-sighted rivals of Jayasthal had cast cold water, but which, +they remarked in the eloquent peroration of their discourse, the +sages of Gaur had welcomed with that wise and catholic spirit of +inquiry which had ever characterized their distinguished body. + +Huge words, involved sentences, and the high-flown compliment, +exceedingly undeserved, obscured, I suppose, the bright wits of the +intellectual convocation, which really began to think that their +liberality of opinion deserved all praise. + +None objected to what was being prepared, except one of the heads +of houses; his appeal was generally scouted, because his Sanskrit +style was vulgarly intelligible, and he had the bad name of being a +practical man. The metaphysician Rashik Lall sneered to Vaiswata +the poet, who passed on the look to the theo-philosopher +Vardhaman. Haridatt the antiquarian whispered the metaphysician +Vasudeva, who burst into a loud laugh; whilst Narayan, +Jagasharma, and Devaswami, all very learned in the Vedas, opened +their eyes and stared at him with well-simulated astonishment. So +he, being offended, said nothing more, but arose and walked home. + +A great crowd gathered round the four young men and their father, +as opening the bundle that contained the tiger's remains, they +prepared for their task. + +One of the operators spread the bones upon the ground and fixed +each one into its proper socket, not forgetting even the teeth and +tusks. + +The second connected, by means of a marvellous unguent, the +skeleton with the muscles and heart of an elephant, which he had +procured for the purpose. + +The third drew from his pouch the brain and eyes of a large +tom-cat, which he carefully fitted into the animal's skull, and then +covered the body with the hide of a young rhinoceros. + +Then the fourth--the atheist--who had been directing the operation, +produced a globule having another globule within itself. And as +the crowd pressed on them, craning their necks, breathless with +anxiety, he placed the Principle of Organic Life in the tiger's body +with such effect that the monster immediately heaved its chest, +breathed, agitated its limbs, opened its eyes, jumped to its feet, +shook itself, glared around, and began to gnash its teeth and lick its +chops, lashing the while its ribs with its tail. + +The sages sprang back, and the beast sprang forward. With a roar +like thunder during Elephanta-time,[FN#144] it flew at the nearest +of the spectators, flung Vishnu Swami to the ground and clawed +his four sons. Then, not even stopping to drink their blood, it +hurried after the flying herd of wise men. Jostling and tumbling, +stumbling and catching at one another's long robes, they rushed in +hottest haste towards the garden gate. But the beast, having the +muscles of an elephant as well as the bones of a tiger, made a few +bounds of eighty or ninety feet each, easily distanced them, and +took away all chance of escape. To be brief: as the monster was +frightfully hungry after its long fast, and as the imprudent young +men had furnished it with admirable implements of destruction, it +did not cease its work till one hundred and twenty-one learned and +highly distinguished Pandits and Gurus lay upon the ground +chawed, clawed, sucked dry, and in most cases stone-dead. +Amongst them, I need hardly say, were the sage Vishnu Swami +and his four sons. + +Having told this story the Vampire hung silent for a time. Presently +he resumed-- + +"Now, heed my words, Raja Vikram! I am about to ask thee, +Which of all those learned men was the most finished fool? The +answer is easily found, yet it must be distasteful to thee. Therefore +mortify thy vanity, as soon as possible, or I shall be talking, and +thou wilt be walking through this livelong night, to scanty purpose. +Remember! science without understanding is of little use; indeed, +understanding is superior to science, and those devoid of +understanding perish as did the persons who revivified the tiger. +Before this, I warned thee to beware of thyself, and of thine own +conceit. Here, then, is an opportunity for self-discipline--which of +all those learned men was the greatest fool?" + +The warrior king mistook the kind of mortification imposed upon +him, and pondered over the uncomfortable nature of the reply--in +the presence of his son. + +Again the Baital taunted him. + +"The greatest fool of all," at last said Vikram, in slow and by no +means willing accents, "was the father. Is it not said, 'There is no +fool like an old fool'?" + +"Gramercy!" cried the Vampire, bursting out into a discordant +laugh, "I now return to my tree. By this head! I never before heard +a father so readily condemn a father." With these words he +disappeared, slipping out of the bundle. + +The Raja scolded his son a little for want of obedience, and said +that he had always thought more highly of his acuteness--never +could have believed that he would have been taken in by so +shallow a trick. Dharma Dhwaj answered not a word to this, but +promised to be wiser another time. + +Then they returned to the tree, and did what they had so often done +before. + +And, as before, the Baital held his tongue for a time. Presently he +began as follows. + + + THE VAMPIRE'S EIGHTH STORY. + + Of the Use and Misuse of Magic Pills. + +The lady Chandraprabha, daughter of the Raja Subichar, was a +particularly beautiful girl, and marriage-able withal. One day as +Vasanta, the Spring, began to assert its reign over the world, +animate and inanimate, she went accompanied by her young +friends and companions to stroll about her father's pleasure-garden. + +The fair troop wandered through sombre groves, where the dark +tamale-tree entwined its branches with the pale green foliage of the +nim, and the pippal's domes of quivering leaves contrasted with the +columnar aisles of the banyan fig. They admired the old monarchs +of the forest, bearded to the waist with hangings of moss, the +flowing creepers delicately climbing from the lower branches to +the topmost shoots, and the cordage of llianas stretching from +trunk to trunk like bridges for the monkeys to pass over. Then they +issued into a clear space dotted with asokas bearing rich crimson +fiowers, cliterias of azure blue, madhavis exhibiting petals virgin +white as the snows on Himalaya, and jasmines raining showers of +perfumed blossoms upon the grateful earth. They could not +sufficiently praise the tall and graceful stem of the arrowy areca, +contrasting with the solid pyramid of the cypress, and the more +masculine stature of the palm. Now they lingered in the trellised +walks closely covered over with vines and creepers; then they +stopped to gather the golden bloom weighing down the mango +boughs, and to smell the highly-scented flowers that hung from the +green fretwork of the chambela. + +It was spring, I have said. The air was still except when broken by +the hum of the large black bramra bee, as he plied his task amidst +the red and orange flowers of the dak, and by the gushings of many +waters that made music as they coursed down their stuccoed +channels between borders of many coloured poppies and beds of +various flowers. From time to time the dulcet note of the kokila +bird, and the hoarse plaint of the turtle-dove deep hid in her leafy +bower, attracted every ear and thrilled every heart. The south +wind--"breeze of the south,[FN#145] the friend of love and spring" +blew with a voluptuous warmth, for rain clouds canopied the earth, +and the breath of the narcissus, the rose, and the citron, teemed +with a languid fragrance. + +The charms of the season affected all the damsels. They amused +themselves in their privacy with pelting blossoms at one another, +running races down the smooth broad alleys, mounting the silken +swings that hung between the orange trees, embracing one another, +and at times trying to push the butt of the party into the fishpond. +Perhaps the liveliest of all was the lady Chandraprabha, who on +account of her rank could pelt and push all the others, without fear +of being pelted and pushed in return. + +It so happened, before the attendants had had time to secure +privacy for the princess and her women, that Manaswi, a very +handsome youth, a Brahman's son, had wandered without +malicious intention into the garden. Fatigued with walking, and +finding a cool shady place beneath a tree, he had lain down there, +and had gone to sleep, and had not been observed by any of the +king's people. He was still sleeping when the princess and her +companions were playing together. + +Presently Chandraprabha, weary of sport, left her friends, and +singing a lively air, tripped up the stairs leading to the +summer-house. Aroused by the sound of her advancing footsteps, +Manaswi sat up; and the princess, seeing a strange man, started. +But their eyes had met, and both were subdued by love--love +vulgarly called "love at first sight." + +"Nonsense!" exclaimed the warrior king, testily, "I can never +believe in that freak of Kama Deva." He spoke feelingly, for the +thing had happened to himself more than once, and on no occasion +had it turned out well. + +"But there is such a thing, O Raja, as love at first sight," objected +the Baital, speaking dogmatically. + +"Then perhaps thou canst account for it, dead one," growled the +monarch surlily. + +"I have no reason to do so, O Vikram," retorted the Vampire, +"when you men have already done it. Listen, then, to the words of +the wise. In the olden time, one of your great philosophers +invented a fluid pervading all matter, strongly self-repulsive like +the steam of a brass pot, and widely spreading like the breath of +scandal. The repulsiveness, however, according to that wise man, +is greatly modified by its second property, namely, an energetic +attraction or adhesion to all material bodies. Thus every substance +contains a part, more or less, of this fluid, pervading it throughout, +and strongly bound to each component atom. He called it +'Ambericity,' for the best of reasons, as it has no connection with +amber, and he described it as an imponderable, which, meaning +that it could not be weighed, gives a very accurate and satisfactory +idea of its nature. + +"Now, said that philosopher, whenever two bodies containing that +unweighable substance in unequal proportions happen to meet, a +current of imponderable passes from one to the other, producing a +kind of attraction, and tending to adhere. The operation takes place +instantaneously when the force is strong and much condensed. +Thus the vulgar who call things after their effects and not from +their causes, term the action of this imponderable love at first +sight; the wise define it to be a phenomenon of ambericity. As +regards my own opinion about the matter, I have long ago told it to +you, O Vikram! Silliness--" + +"Either hold your tongue, fellow, or go on with your story," cried +the Raja, wearied out by so many words that had no manner of +sense. + +Well! the effect of the first glance was that Manaswi, the +Brahman's son, fell back in a swoon and remained senseless upon +the ground where he had been sitting; and the Raja's daughter +began to tremble upon her feet, and presently dropped unconscious +upon the floor of the summer-house. Shortly after this she was +found by her companions and attendants, who, quickly taking her +up in their arms and supporting her into a litter, conveyed her +home. + +Manaswi, the Brahman's son, was so completely overcome, that he +lay there dead to everything. Just then the learned, deeply read, and +purblind Pandits Muldev and Shashi by name, strayed into the +garden, and stumbled upon the body. + +"Friend," said Muldev, "how came this youth thus to fall senseless +on the ground?" + +"Man," replied Shashi, "doubtless some damsel has shot forth the +arrows of her glances from the bow of her eyebrows, and thence he +has become insensible!" + +"We must lift him up then," said Muldev the benevolent. + +"What need is there to raise him?" asked Shashi the misanthrope +by way of reply. + +Muldev, however, would not listen to these words. He ran to the +pond hard by, soaked the end of his waistcloth in water, sprinkled +it over the young Brahman, raised him from the ground, and +placed him sitting against the wall. And perceiving, when he came +to himself, that his sickness was rather of the soul than of the body, +the old men asked him how he came to be in that plight. + +"We should tell our griefs," answered Manaswi, "only to those +who will relieve us! What is the use of communicating them to +those who, when they have heard, cannot help us? What is to be +gained by the empty pity or by the useless condolence of men in +general?" + +The Pandits, however, by friendly looks and words, presently +persuaded him to break silence, when he said, "A certain princess +entered this summer-house, and from the sight of her I have fallen +into this state. If I can obtain her, I shall live; if not, I must die." + +"Come with me, young man!" said Muldev the benevolent: "I will +use every endeavour to obtain her, and if I do not succeed I will +make thee wealthy and independent of the world." + +Manaswi rejoined: "The Deity in his beneficence has created many +jewels in this world, but the pearl, woman, is chiefest of all; and +for her sake only does man desire wealth. What are riches to one +who has abandoned his wife? What are they who do not possess +beautiful wives? they are but beings inferior to the beasts! wealth +is the fruit of virtue; ease, of wealth; a wife, of ease. And where no +wife is, how can there be happiness?" And the enamoured youth +rambled on in this way, curious to us, Raja Vikram, but perhaps +natural enough in a Brahman's son suffering under that endemic +malady--determination to marry. + +"Whatever thou mayest desire," said Muldev, "shall by the +blessing of heaven be given to thee." + +Manaswi implored him, saying most pathetically, ''O Pandit, +bestow then that damsel upon me!" + +Muldev promised to do so, and having comforted the youth, led +him to his own house. Then he welcomed him politely, seated him +upon the carpet, and left him for a few minutes, promising him to +return. When he reappeared, he held in his hand two little balls or +pills, and showing them to Manaswi, he explained their virtues as +follows: + +"There is in our house an hereditary secret, by means of which I +try to promote the weal of humanity. But in all cases my success +depends mainly upon the purity and the heartwholeness of those +that seek my aid. If thou place this in thy mouth, thou shalt be +changed into a damsel twelve years old, and when thou +withdrawest it again, thou shalt again recover thine original form. +Beware, however, that thou use the power for none but a good +purpose; otherwise some great calamity will befall thee. Therefore, +take counsel of thyself before undertaking this trial!" + +What lover, O warrior king Vikram, would have hesitated, under +such circumstances, to assure the Pandit that he was the most +innocent, earnest, and well-intentioned being in the Three Worlds? + +The Brahman's son, at least, lost no time in so doing. Hence the +simple-minded philosopher put one of the pills into the young +man's mouth, warning him on no account to swallow it, and took +the other into his own mouth. Upon which Manaswi became a +sprightly young maid, and Muldev was changed to a reverend and +decrepid senior, not fewer than eighty years old. + +Thus transformed, the twain walked up to the palace of the Raja +Subichar, and stood for a while to admire the gate. Then passing +through seven courts, beautiful as the Paradise of Indra, they +entered, unannounced, as became the priestly dignity, a hall where, +surrounded by his courtiers, sat the ruler. The latter, seeing the +Holy Brahman under his roof, rose up, made the customary +humble salutation, and taking their right hands, led what appeared +to be the father and daughter to appropriate seats. Upon which +Muldev, having recited a verse, bestowed upon the Raja a blessing +whose beauty has been diffused over all creation. + +"May that Deity[FN#146] who as a mannikin deceived the great +king Bali; who as a hero, with a monkey-host, bridged the Salt +Sea; who as a shepherd lifted up the mountain Gobarddhan in the +palm of his hand, and by it saved the cowherds and cowherdesses +from the thunders of heaven--may that Deity be thy protector!" + +Having heard and marvelled at this display of eloquence, the Raja +inquired, "Whence hath your holiness come?" + +"My country," replied Muldev, "is on the northern side of the great +mother Ganges, and there too my dwelling is. I travelled to a +distant land, and having found in this maiden a worthy wife for my +son, I straightway returned homewards. Meanwhile a famine had +laid waste our village, and my wife and my son have fled I know +not where. Encumbered with this damsel, how can I wander about +seeking them? Hearing the name of a pious and generous ruler, I +said to myself, ' I will leave her under his charge until my return.' +Be pleased to take great care of her." + +For a minute the Raja sat thoughtful and silent. He was highly +pleased with the Brahman's perfect compliment. But he could not +hide from himself that he was placed between two difficulties: one, +the charge of a beautiful young girl, with pouting lips, soft speech, +and roguish eyes; the other, a priestly curse upon himself and his +kingdom. He thought, however, refusal the more dangerous; so he +raised his face and exclaimed, "O produce of Brahma's +head,[FN#147] I will do what your highness has desired of me." + +Upon which the Brahman, after delivering a benediction of adieu +almost as beautiful and spirit-stirring as that with which he had +presented himself, took the betel[FN#148] and went his ways. + +Then the Raja sent for his daughter Chandraprabha and said to her, +"This is the affianced bride of a young Brahman, and she has been +trusted to my protection for a time by her father-in-law. Take her +therefore into the inner rooms, treat her with the utmost regard, +and never allow her to be separated from thee, day or night, asleep +or awake, eating or drinking, at home or abroad." + +Chandraprabha took the hand of Sita--as Manaswi had pleased to +call himself--and led the way to her own apartment. Once the seat +of joy and pleasure, the rooms now wore a desolate and +melancholy look. The windows were darkened, the attendants +moved noiselessly over the carpets, as if their footsteps would +cause headache, and there was a faint scent of some drug much +used in cases of deliquium. The apartments were handsome, but +the only ornament in the room where they sat was a large bunch of +withered flowers in an arched recess, and these, though possibly +interesting to some one, were not likely to find favour as a +decoration in the eyes of everybody. + +The Raja's daughter paid the greatest attention and talked with +unusual vivacity to the Brahman's daughter-in-law, either because +she had roguish eyes, or from some presentiment of what was to +occur, whichever you please, Raja Vikram, and it is no matter +which. Still Sita could not help perceiving that there was a shade +of sorrow upon the forehead of her fair new friend, and so when +they retired to rest she asked the cause of it. + +Then Chandraprabha related to her the sad tale: "One day in the +spring season, as I was strolling in the garden along with my +companions, I beheld a very handsome Brahman, and our eyes +having met, he became unconscious, and I also was insensible. My +companions seeing my condition, brought me home, and therefore +I know neither his name nor his abode. His beautiful form is +impressed upon my memory. I have now no desire to eat or to +drink, and from this distress my colour has become pale and my +body is thus emaciated." And the beautiful princess sighed a sigh +that was musical and melancholy, and concluded by predicting for +herself--as persons similarly placed often do--a sudden and +untimely end about the beginning of the next month. + +"What wilt thou give me," asked the Brahman's daughter-in-law +demurely, "if I show thee thy beloved at this very moment?" + +The Raja's daughter answered, "I will ever be the lowest of thy +slaves, standing before thee with joined hands." + +Upon which Sita removed the pill from her mouth, and instantly +having become Manaswi, put it carefully away in a little bag hung +round his neck. At this sight Chandraprabha felt abashed, and hung +down her head in beautiful confusion. To describe-- + +"I will have no descriptions, Vampire!" cried the great Vikram, +jerking the bag up and down as if he were sweating gold in it. "The +fewer of thy descriptions the better for us all." + +Briefly (resumed the demon), Manaswi reflected upon the eight +forms of marriage--viz., Bramhalagan, when a girl is given to a +Brahman, or man of superior caste, without reward; Daiva, when +she is presented as a gift or fee to the officiating priest at the close +of a sacrifice; Arsha, when two cows are received by the girl's +father in exchange for the bride[FN#149]; Prajapatya, when the +girl is given at the request of a Brahman, and the father says to his +daughter and her to betrothed, "Go, fulfil the duties of religion"; +Asura, when money is received by the father in exchange for the +bride; Rakshasha, when she is captured in war, or when her +bridegroom overcomes his rival; Paisacha, when the girl is taken +away from her father's house by craft; and eighthly, +Gandharva-lagan, or the marriage that takes place by mutual +consent.[FN#150] + +Manaswi preferred the latter, especially as by her rank and age the +princess was entitled to call upon her father for the Lakshmi +Swayambara wedding, in which she would have chosen her own +husband. And thus it is that Rama, Arjuna, Krishna, Nala, and +others, were proposed to by the princesses whom they married. + +For five months after these nuptials, Manaswi never stirred out of +the palace, but remained there by day a woman, and a man by +night. The consequence was that he--I call him "he," for whether +Manaswi or Sita, his mind ever remained masculine--presently +found himself in a fair way to become a father. + +Now, one would imagine that a change of sex every twenty-four +hours would be variety enough to satisfy even a man. Manaswi, +however, was not contented. He began to pine for more liberty, +and to find fault with his wife for not taking him out into the +world. And you might have supposed that a young person who, +from love at first sight, had fallen senseless upon the steps of a +summer-house, and who had devoted herself to a sudden and +untimely end because she was separated from her lover, would +have repressed her yawns and little irritable words even for a year +after having converted him into a husband. But no! Chandraprabha +soon felt as tired of seeing Manaswi and nothing but Manaswi, as +Manaswi was weary of seeing Chandraprabha and nothing but +Chandraprabha. Often she had been on the point of proposing +visits and out-of-door excursions. But when at last the idea was +first suggested by her husband, she at once became an injured +woman. She hinted how foolish it was for married people to +imprison themselves and to quarrel all day. When Manaswi +remonstrated, saying that he wanted nothing better than to appear +before the world with her as his wife, but that he really did not +know what her father might do to him, she threw out a cutting +sarcasm upon his effeminate appearance during the hours of light. +She then told him of an unfortunate young woman in an old +nursery tale who had unconsciously married a fiend that became a +fine handsome man at night when no eye could see him, and utter +ugliness by day when good looks show to advantage. And lastly, +when inveighing against the changeableness, fickleness, and +infidelity of mankind, she quoted the words of the poet-- + + Out upon change! it tires the heart + And weighs the noble spirit down; + A vain, vain world indeed thou art + That can such vile condition own + The veil hath fallen from my eyes, + I cannot love where I despise.... + +You can easily, O King Vikram, continue for yourself and +conclude this lecture, which I leave unfinished on account of its +length. + +Chandraprabha and Sita, who called each other the Zodiacal Twins +and Laughter Light,[FN#151] and All-consenters, easily persuaded +the old Raja that their health would be further improved by air, +exercise, and distractions. Subichar, being delighted with the +change that had taken place in a daughter whom he loved, and +whom he had feared to lose, told them to do as they pleased. They +began a new life, in which short trips and visits, baths and dances, +music parties, drives in bullock chariots, and water excursions +succeeded one another. + +It so happened that one day the Raja went with his whole family to +a wedding feast in the house of his grand treasurer, where the +latter's son saw Manaswi in the beautiful shape of Sita. This was a +third case of love at first sight, for the young man immediately said +to a particular friend, "If I obtain that girl, I shall live; if not, I shall +abandon life." + +In the meantime the king, having enjoyed the feast, came back to +his palace with his whole family. The condition of the treasurer's +son, however, became very distressing; and through separation +from his beloved, he gave up eating and drinking. The particular +friend had kept the secret for some days, though burning to tell it. +At length he found an excuse for himself in the sad state of his +friend, and he immediately went and divulged all that he knew to +the treasurer. After this he felt relieved. + +The minister repaired to the court, and laid his case before the +king, saying, "Great Raja! through the love of that Brahman's +daughter-in-law, my son's state is very bad; he has given up eating +and drinking; in fact he is consumed by the fire of separation. If +now your majesty could show compassion, and bestow the girl +upon him, his life would be saved. If not----" + +"Fool!" cried the Raja, who, hearing these words, had waxed very +wroth; "it is not right for kings to do injustice. Listen! when a +person puts any one in charge of a protector, how can the latter +give away his trust without consulting the person that trusted him? +And yet this is what you wish me to do." + +The treasurer knew that the Raja could not govern his realm +without him, and he was well acquainted with his master's +character. He said to himself, "This will not last long;" but he +remained dumb, simulating hopelessness, and hanging down his +head, whilst Subichar alternately scolded and coaxed, abused and +flattered him, in order to open his lips. Then, with tears in his eyes, +he muttered a request to take leave; and as he passed through the +palace gates, he said aloud, with a resolute air, "It will cost me but +ten days of fasting!" + +The treasurer, having returned home, collected all his attendants, +and went straightway to his son's room. Seeing the youth still +stretched upon his sleeping-mat, and very yellow for the want of +food. he took his hand, and said in a whisper, meant to be audible, +"Alas! poor son, I can do nothing but perish with thee." + +The servants, hearing this threat, slipped one by one out of the +room, and each went to tell his friend that the grand treasurer had +resolved to live no longer. After which, they went back to the +house to see if their master intended to keep his word, and curious +to know, if he did intend to die, how, where, and when it was to be. +And they were not disappointed: I do not mean that the wished +their lord to die, as he was a good master to them but still there +was an excitement in the thing---- + +(Raja Vikram could not refrain from showing his anger at the +insult thus cast by the Baital upon human nature; the wretch, +however, pretending not to notice it, went on without interrupting +himself) + +----which somehow or other pleased them. + +When the treasurer had spent three days without touching bread or +water, all the cabinet council met and determined to retire from +business unless the Raja yielded to their solicitations. The treasurer +was their working man. "Besides which," said the cabinet council, +"if a certain person gets into the habit of refusing us, what is to be +the end of it, and what is the use of being cabinet councillors any +longer?" + +Early on the next morning, the ministers went in a body before the +Raja, and humbly represented that "the treasurer's son is at the +point of death, the effect of a full heart and an empty stomach. +Should he die, the father, who has not eaten or drunk during the +last three days" (the Raja trembled to hear the intelligence, though +he knew it), "his father, we say, cannot be saved. If the father dies +the affairs of the kingdom come to ruin,--is he not the grand +treasurer? It is already said that half the accounts have been +gnawed by white ants, and that some pernicious substance in the +ink has eaten jagged holes through the paper, so that the other half +of the accounts is illegible. It were best, sire, that you agree to +what we represent." + +The white ants and corrosive ink were too strong for the Raja's +determination. Still, wishing to save appearances, he replied, with +much firmness, that he knew the value of the treasurer and his son, +that he would do much to save them, but that he had passed his +royal word, and had undertaken a trust. That he would rather die a +dozen deaths than break his promise, or not discharge his duty +faithfully. That man's condition in this world is to depart from it, +none remaining in it; that one comes and that one goes, none +knowing when or where; but that eternity is eternity for happiness +or misery. And much of the same nature, not very novel, and not +perhaps quite to the purpose, but edifying to those who knew what +lay behind the speaker's words. + +The ministers did not know their lord's character so well as the +grand treasurer, and they were more impressed by his firm +demeanour and the number of his words than he wished them to +be. After allowing his speech to settle in their minds, he did away +with a great part of its effect by declaring that such were the +sentiments and the principles--when a man talks of his principles, +O Vikram! ask thyself the reason why--instilled into his youthful +mind by the most honourable of fathers and the most virtuous of +mothers. At the same time that he was by no means obstinate or +proof against conviction. In token whereof he graciously permitted +the councillors to convince him that it was his royal duty to break +his word and betray his trust, and to give away another man's wife. + +Pray do not lose your temper, O warrior king! Subichar, although a +Raja, was a weak man; and you know, or you ought to know, that +the wicked may be wise in their generation, but the weak never +can. + +Well, the ministers hearing their lord's last words, took courage, +and proceeded to work upon his mind by the figure of speech +popularly called "rigmarole." They said: "Great king! that old +Brahman has been gone many days, and has not returned; he is +probably dead and burnt. It is therefore right that by giving to the +grand treasurer's son his daughter-in-law, who is only affianced, +not fairly married, you should establish your government firmly. +And even if he should return, bestow villages and wealth upon +him; and if he be not then content, provide another and a more +beautiful wife for his son, and dismiss him. A person should be +sacrificed for the sake of a family, a family for a city, a city for a +country, and a country for a king!" + +Subichar having heard them, dismissed them with the remark that +as so much was to be said on both sides, he must employ the night +in thinking over the matter, and that he would on the next day +favour them with his decision. The cabinet councillors knew by +this that he meant that he would go and consult his wives. They +retired contented, convinced that every voice would be in favour of +a wedding, and that the young girl, with so good an offer, would +not sacrifice the present to the future. + +That evening the treasurer and his son supped together. + +The first words uttered by Raja Subichar, when he entered his +daughter's apartment, were an order addressed to Sita: "Go thou at +once to the house of my treasurer's son." + +Now, as Chandraprabha and Manaswi were generally scolding +each other, Chandraprabha and Sita were hardly on speaking +terms. When they heard the Raja's order for their separation they +were-- + +--"Delighted?" cried Dharma Dhwaj, who for some reason took the +greatest interest in the narrative. + +"Overwhelmed with grief, thou most guileless Yuva Raja (young +prince)!" ejaculated the Vampire. + +Raja Vikram reproved his son for talking about thing of which he +knew nothing, and the Baital resumed. + +They turned pale and wept, and they wrung their hands, and they +begged and argued and refused obedience. In fact they did +everything to make the king revoke his order. + +"The virtue of a woman," quoth Sita, "is destroyed through too +much beauty; the religion of a Brahman is impaired by serving +kings; a cow is spoiled by distant pasturage, wealth is lost by +committing injustice, and prosperity departs from the house where +promises are not kept." + +The Raja highly applauded the sentiment, but was firm as a rock +upon the subject of Sita marrying the treasurer's son. + +Chandraprabha observed that her royal father, usually so +conscientious, must now be acting from interested motives, and +that when selfishness sways a man, right becomes left and left +becomes right, as in the reflection of a mirror. + +Subichar approved of the comparison; he was not quite so +resolved, but he showed no symptoms of changing his mind. + +Then the Brahman's daughter-in-law, with the view of gaining +time--a famous stratagem amongst feminines--said to the Raja: +"Great king, if you are determined upon giving me to the grand +treasurer's son, exact from him the promise that he will do what I +bid him. Only on this condition will I ever enter his house!" + +"Speak, then," asked the king; "what will he have to do?" + +She replied, "I am of the Brahman or priestly caste, he is the son of +a Kshatriya or warrior: the law directs that before we twain can +wed, he should perform Yatra (pilgrimage) to all the holy places." + +"Thou hast spoken Veda-truth, girl," answered the Raja, not sorry +to have found so good a pretext for temporizing, and at the same +time to preserve his character for firmness, resolution, +determination. + +That night Manaswi and Chandraprabha, instead of scolding each +other, congratulated themselves upon having escaped an imminent +danger--which they did not escape. + +In the morning Subichar sent for his ministers, including his grand +treasurer and his love-sick son, and told them how well and wisely +the Brahman's daughter-in-law had spoken upon the subject of the +marriage. All of them approved of the condition; but the young +man ventured to suggest, that while he was a-pilgrimaging the +maiden should reside under his father's roof. As he and his father +showed a disposition to continue their fasts in case of the small +favour not being granted, the Raja, though very loath to separate +his beloved daughter and her dear friend, was driven to do it. And +Sita was carried off, weeping bitterly, to the treasurer's palace. +That dignitary solemnly committed her to the charge of his third +and youngest wife, the lady Subhagya-Sundari, who was about her +own age, and said, "You must both live together, without any kind +of wrangling or contention, and do not go into other people's +houses." And the grand treasurer's son went off to perform his +pilgrimages. + +It is no less sad than true, Raja Vikram, that in less than six days +the disconsolate Sita waxed weary of being Sita, took the ball out +of her mouth, and became Manaswi. Alas for the infidelity of +mankind! But it is gratifying to reflect that he met with the +punishment with which the Pandit Muldev had threatened him. +One night the magic pill slipped down his throat. When morning +dawned, being unable to change himself into Sita, Manaswi was +obliged to escape through a window from the lady +Subhagya-Sundari's room. He sprained his ankle with the leap, and +he lay for a time upon the ground--where I leave him whilst +convenient to me. + +When Muldev quitted the presence of Subichar, he resumed his old +shape, and returning to his brother Pandit Shashi, told him what he +had done. Whereupon Shashi, the misanthrope, looked black, and +used hard words and told his friend that good nature and +soft-heartedness had caused him to commit a very bad action--a +grievous sin. Incensed at this charge, the philanthropic Muldev +became angry, and said, "I have warned the youth about his purity; +what harm can come of it?" + +"Thou hast," retorted Shashi, with irritating coolness, "placed a +sharp weapon in a fool's hand." + +"I have not," cried Muldev, indignantly. + +"Therefore," drawled the malevolent, "you are answerable for all +the mischief he does with it, and mischief assuredly he will do." + +"He will not, by Brahma!" exclaimed Muldev. + +"He will, by Vishnu!" said Shashi, with an amiability produced by +having completely upset his friend's temper; "and if within the +coming six months he does not disgrace himself, thou shalt have +the whole of my book-case; but if he does, the philanthropic +Muldev will use all his skill and ingenuity in procuring the +daughter of Raja Subichar as a wife for his faithful friend Shashi." + +Having made this covenant, they both agreed not to speak of the +matter till the autumn. + +The appointed time drawing near, the Pandits began to make +inquiries about the effect of the magic pills. Presently they found +out that Sita, alias Manaswi, had one night mysteriously +disappeared from the grand treasurer's house, and had not been +heard of since that time. This, together with certain other things +that transpired presently, convinced Muldev, who had cooled down +in six months, that his friend had won the wager. He prepared to +make honourable payment by handing a pill to old Shashi, who at +once became a stout, handsome young Brahman, some twenty +years old. Next putting a pill into his own mouth, he resumed the +shape and form under which he had first appeared before Raja +Subichar; and, leaning upon his staff, he led the way to the palace. + +The king, in great confusion, at once recognized the old priest, and +guessed the errand upon which he and the youth were come. +However, he saluted them, and offered them seats, and receiving +their blessings, he began to make inquiries about their health and +welfare. At last he mustered courage to ask the old Brahman where +he had been living for so long a time. + +"Great king," replied the priest, "I went to seek after my son, and +having found him, I bring him to your majesty. Give him his wife, +and I will take them both home with me.'' + +Raja Subichar prevaricated not a little; but presently, being hard +pushed, he related everything that had happened. + +"What is this that you have done?" cried Muldev, simulating +excessive anger and astonishment. "Why have you given my son's +wife in marriage to another man? You have done what you wished, +and now, therefore, receive my Shrap (curse)!" + +The poor Raja, in great trepidation, said, "O Vivinity! be not thus +angry! I will do whatever you bid me." + +Said Muldev, "If through dread of my excommunication you will +freely give whatever I demand of you, then marry your daughter, +Chandraprabha, to this my son. On this condition I forgive you. To +me, now a necklace of pearls and a venomous krishna (cobra +capella); the most powerful enemy and the kindest friend, the most +precious gem and a clod of earth; the softest bed and the hardest +stone; a blade of grass and the loveliest woman--are precisely the +same. All I desire is that in some holy place, repeating the name of +God, I may soon end my days." + +Subichar, terrified by this additional show of sanctity, at once +summoned an astrologer, and fixed upon the auspicious moment +and lunar influence. He did not consult the princess, and had he +done so she would not have resisted his wishes. Chandraprabha +had heard of Sita's escape from the treasurer's house, and she had +on the subject her own suspicions. Besides which she looked +forward to a certain event, and she was by no means sure that her +royal father approved of the Gandharba form of marriage--at least +for his daughter. Thus the Brahman's son receiving in due time the +princess and her dowry, took leave of the king and returned to his +own village. + +Hardly, however, had Chandraprabha been married to Shashi the +Pandit, when Manaswi went to him, and began to wrangle, and +said, "Give me my wife!" He had recovered from the effects of his +fall, and having lost her he therefore loved her--very dearly. + +But Shashi proved by reference to the astrologers, priests, and ten +persons as witnesses, that he had duly wedded her, and brought her +to his home; "therefore," said he, "she is my spouse." + +Manaswi swore by all holy things that he had been legally married +to her, and that he was the father of her child that was about to be. +"How then," continued he, "can she be thy spouse?" He would +have summoned Muldev as a witness, but that worthy, after +remonstrating with him, disappeared. He called upon +Chandraprabha to confirm his statement, but she put on an +innocent face, and indignantly denied ever having seen the man. + +Still, continued the Baital, many people believed Manaswi's story, +as it was marvellous and incredible. Even to the present day, there +are many who decidedly think him legally married to the daughter +of Raja Subichar. + +"Then they are pestilent fellows!" cried the warrior king Vikram, +who hated nothing more than clandestine and runaway matches. +"No one knew that the villain, Manaswi, was the father of her +child; whereas, the Pandit Shashi married her lawfully, before +witnesses, and with all the ceremonies.[FN#152] She therefore +remains his wife, and the child will perform the funeral obsequies +for him, and offer water to the manes of his pitris (ancestors). At +least, so say law and justice." + +"Which justice is often unjust enough!" cried the Vampire; "and +ply thy legs, mighty Raja; let me see if thou canst reach the +sires-tree before I do." + + * * * * * * + +"The next story, O Raja Vikram, is remarkably interesting." + + + THE VAMPIRE'S NINTH STORY. + +Showing That a Man's Wife Belongs Not to His Body but to His + Head. + +Far and wide through the lovely land overrun by the Arya from the +Western Highlands spread the fame of Unmadini, the beautiful +daughter of Haridas the Brahman. In the numberless odes, sonnets, +and acrostics addressed to her by a hundred Pandits and poets her +charms were sung with prodigious triteness. Her presence was +compared to light shining in a dark house; her face to the full +moon; her complexion to the yellow champaka flower; her curls to +female snakes; her eyes to those of the deer; her eyebrows to bent +bows; her teeth to strings of little opals; her feet to rubies and red +gems,[FN#153] and her gait to that of the wild goose. And none +forgot to say that her voice affected the author like the song of the +kokila bird, sounding from the shadowy brake, when the breeze +blows coolly, or that the fairy beings of Indra's heaven would have +shrunk away abashed at her loveliness. + +But, Raja Vikram! all the poets failed to win the fair Unmadini's +love. To praise the beauty of a beauty is not to praise her. Extol her +wit and talents, which has the zest of novelty, then you may +succeed. For the same reason, read inversely, the plainer and +cleverer is the bosom you would fire, the more personal you must +be upon the subject of its grace and loveliness. Flattery you know, +is ever the match which kindles the Flame of love. True it is that +some by roughness of demeanour and bluntness in speech, +contrasting with those whom they call the "herd," have the art to +succeed in the service of the bodyless god.[FN#154] But even they +must-- + +The young prince Dharma Dhwaj could not help laughing at the +thought of how this must sound in his father's ear. And the Raja +hearing the ill-timed merriment, sternly ordered the Baital to cease +his immoralities and to continue his story. + +Thus the lovely Unmadini, conceiving an extreme contempt for +poets and literati, one day told her father who greatly loved her, +that her husband must be a fine young man who never wrote +verses. Withal she insisted strongly on mental qualities and +science, being a person of moderate mind and an adorer of talent-- +when not perverted to poetry. + +As you may imagine, Raja Vikram, all the beauty's bosom friends, +seeing her refuse so many good offers, confidently predicted that +she would pass through the jungle and content herself with a bad +stick, or that she would lead ring-tailed apes in Patala. + +At length when some time had elapsed, four suitors appeared from +four different countries, all of them claiming equal excellence in +youth and beauty, strength and understanding. And after paying +their respects to Haridas, and telling him their wishes, they were +directed to come early on the next morning and to enter upon the +first ordeal--an intellectual conversation. + +This they did. + +"Foolish the man," quoth the young Mahasani, "that seeks +permanence in this world--frail as the stem of the plantain-tree, +transient as the ocean foam. + +"All that is high shall presently fall; all that is low must finally +perish. + +"Unwillingly do the manes of the dead taste the tears shed by their +kinsmen: then wail not, but perform the funeral obsequies with +diligence." + +"What ill-omened fellow is this?" quoth the fair Unmadini, who +was sitting behind her curtain;" besides, he has dared to quote +poetry! "There was little chance of success for that suitor. + +"She is called a good woman, and a woman of pure descent," +quoth the second suitor, "who serves him to whom her father and +mother have given her; and it is written in the scriptures that a +woman who in the lifetime of her husband, becoming a devotee, +engages in fasting, and in austere devotion, shortens his days, and +hereafter falls into the fire. For it is said-- + + "A woman's bliss is found not in the smile + Of father, mother, friend, nor in herself; + Her husband is her only portion here, + Her heaven hereafter." + +The word "serve," which might mean "obey," was peculiarly +disagreeable to the fair one's ears, and she did not admire the check +so soon placed upon her devotion, or the decided language and +manner of the youth. She therefore mentally resolved never again +to see that person, whom she determined to be stupid as an +elephant. + +"A mother," said Gunakar, the third candidate, "protects her son in +babyhood, and a father when his offspring is growing up. But the +man of warrior descent defends his brethren at all times. Such is +the custom of the world, and such is my state. I dwell on the heads +of the strong!" + +Therefore those assembled together looked with great respect upon +the man of valour. + +Devasharma, the fourth suitor, contented himself with listening to +the others, who fancied that he was overawed by their cleverness. +And when it came to his turn he simply remarked, "Silence is +better than speech." Being further pressed, he said, "A wise man +will not proclaim his age, nor a deception practiced upon himself, +nor his riches, nor the loss of riches, nor family faults, nor +incantations, nor conjugal love, nor medicinal prescriptions, nor +religious duties, nor gifts, nor reproach, nor the infidelity of his +wife." + +Thus ended the first trial. The master of the house dismissed the +two former speakers, with many polite expressions and some +trifling presents. Then having given betel to them, scented their +garments with attar, and sprinkled rose-water over their heads, he +accompanied them to the door, showing much regret. The two +latter speakers he begged to come on the next day. + +Gunakar and Devasharma did not fail. When they entered the +assembly-room and took the seats pointed out to them, the father +said, "Be ye pleased to explain and make manifest the effects of +your mental qualities. So shall I judge of them." + +"I have made," said Gunakar, "a four-wheeled carriage, in which +the power resides to carry you in a moment wherever you may +purpose to go." + +"I have such power over the angel of death," said Devasharma, +"that I can at all times raise a corpse, and enable my friends to do +the same." + +Now tell me by thy brains, O warrior King Vikram, which of these +two youths was the fitter husband for the maid? + +Either the Raja could not answer the question, or perhaps he would +not, being determined to break the spell which had already kept +him walking to and fro for so many hours. Then the Baital, who +had paused to let his royal carrier commit himself, seeing that the +attempt had failed, proceeded without making any further +comment. + +The beautiful Unmadini was brought out, but she hung down her +head and made no reply. Yet she took care to move both her eyes +in the direction of Devasharma. Whereupon Haridas, quoting the +proverb that "pearls string with pearls," formally betrothed to him +his daughter. +The soldier suitor twisted the ends of his mustachios into his eyes, +which were red with wrath, and fumbled with his fingers about the +hilt of his sword. But he was a man of noble birth, and presently +his anger passed away. + +Mahasani the poet, however, being a shameless person--and when +can we be safe from such?--forced himself into the assembly and +began to rage and to storm, and to quote proverbs in a loud tone of +voice. He remarked that in this world women are a mine of grief, a +poisonous root, the abode of solicitude, the destroyers of +resolution, the occasioners of fascination, and the plunderers of all +virtuous qualities. From the daughter he passed to the father, and +after saying hard things of him as a "Maha-Brahman,"[FN#155] +who took cows and gold and worshipped a monkey, he fell with a +sweeping censure upon all priests and sons of priests, more +especially Devasharma. As the bystanders remonstrated with him, +he became more violent, and when Haridas, who was a weak man, +appeared terrified by his voice, look, and gesture, he swore a +solemn oath that despite all the betrothals in the world, unless +Unmadini became his wife he would commit suicide, and as a +demon haunt the house and injure the inmates. + +Gunakar the soldier exhorted this shameless poet to slay himself at +once, and to go where he pleased. But as Haridas reproved the +warrior for inhumanity, Mahasani nerved by spite, love, rage, and +perversity to an heroic death, drew a noose from his bosom, rushed +out of the house, and suspended himself to the nearest tree. + +And, true enough, as the midnight gong struck, he appeared in the +form of a gigantic and malignant Rakshasa (fiend), dreadfully +frightened the household of Haridas, and carried off the lovely +Unmadini, leaving word that she was to he found on the topmost +peak of Himalaya. + +The unhappy father hastened to the house where Devasharma +lived. There, weeping bitterly and wringing his hands in despair, +he told the terrible tale, and besought his intended son-in-law to be +up and doing. + +The young Brahman at once sought his late rival, and asked his +aid. This the soldier granted at once, although he had been nettled +at being conquered in love by a priestling. + +The carriage was at once made ready, and the suitors set out, +bidding the father be of good cheer, and that before sunset he +should embrace his daughter. They then entered the vehicle; +Gunakar with cabalistic words caused it to rise high in the air, and +Devasharma put to flight the demon by reciting the sacred +verse,[FN#156] "Let us meditate on the supreme splendour (or +adorable light) of that Divine Ruler (the sun) who may illuminate +our understandings. Venerable men, guided by the intelligence, +salute the divine sun (Sarvitri) with oblations and praise. Om!" + +Then they returned with the girl to the house, and Haridas blessed +them, praising the sun aloud in the joy of his heart. Lest other +accidents might happen, he chose an auspicious planetary +conjunction, and at a fortunate moment rubbed turmeric upon his +daughter's hands. + +The wedding was splendid, and broke the hearts of twenty-four +rivals. In due time Devasharma asked leave from his father-in-law +to revisit his home, and to carry with him his bride. This request +being granted, he set out accompanied by Gunakar the soldier, who +swore not to leave the couple before seeing them safe under their +own roof-tree. + +It so happened that their road lay over the summits of the wild +Vindhya hills, where dangers of all kinds are as thick as shells +upon the shore of the deep. Here were rocks and jagged precipices +making the traveller's brain whirl when he looked into them. There +impetuous torrents roared and flashed down their beds of black +stone, threatening destruction to those who would cross them. Now +the path was lost in the matted thorny underwood and the pitchy +shades of the jungle, deep and dark as the valley of death. Then the +thunder-cloud licked the earth with its fiery tongue, and its voice +shook the crags and filled their hollow caves. At times, the sun was +so hot, that wild birds fell dead from the air. And at every moment +the wayfarers heard the trumpeting of giant elephants, the fierce +howling of the tiger, the grisly laugh of the foul hyaena, and the +whimpering of the wild dogs as they coursed by on the tracks of +their prey. + +Yet, sustained by the five-armed god[FN#157] the little party +passed safely through all these dangers. They had almost emerged +from the damp glooms of the forest into the open plains which +skirt the southern base of the hills, when one night the fair +Unmadini saw a terrible vision. + +She beheld herself wading through a sluggish pool of muddy +water, which rippled, curdling as she stepped into it, and which, as +she advanced, darkened with the slime raised by her feet. She was +bearing in her arms the semblance of a sick child, which struggled +convulsively and filled the air with dismal wails. These cries +seemed to be answered by a multitude of other children, some +bloated like toads, others mere skeletons lying upon the bank, or +floating upon the thick brown waters of the pond. And all seemed +to address their cries to her, as if she were the cause of their +weeping; nor could all her efforts quiet or console them for a +moment. + +When the bride awoke, she related all the particulars of her +ill-omened vision to her husband; and the latter, after a short +pause, informed her and his friend that a terrible calamity was +about to befall them. He then drew from his travelling wallet a +skein of thread. This he divided into three parts, one for each, and +told his companions that in case of grievous bodily injury, the bit +of thread wound round the wounded part would instantly make it +whole. After which he taught them the Mantra,[FN#158] or +mystical word by which the lives of men are restored to their +bodies, even when they have taken their allotted places amongst +the stars, and which for evident reasons I do not want to repeat. It +concluded, however, with the three Vyahritis, or sacred syllables-- +Bhuh, Bhuvah, Svar! + +Raja Vikram was perhaps a little disappointed by this declaration. +He made no remark, however, and the Baital thus pursued: + +As Devasharma foretold, an accident of a terrible nature did occur. +On the evening of that day, as they emerged upon the plain, they +were attacked by the Kiratas, or savage tribes of the +mountain.[FN#159] A small, black, wiry figure, armed with a bow +and little cane arrows, stood in their way, signifying by gestures +that they must halt and lay down their arms. As they continued to +advance, he began to speak with a shrill chattering, like the note of +an affrighted bird, his restless red eyes glared with rage, and he +waved his weapon furiously round his head. Then from the rocks +and thickets on both sides of the path poured a shower of shafts +upon the three strangers. + +The unequal combat did not last long. Gunakar, the soldier, +wielded his strong right arm with fatal effect and struck down +some threescore of the foes. But new swarms came on like angry +hornets buzzing round the destroyer of their nests. And when he +fell, Devasharma, who had left him for a moment to hide his +beautiful wife in the hollow of a tree, returned, and stood fighting +over the body of his friend till he also, overpowered by numbers, +was thrown to the ground. Then the wild men, drawing their +knives, cut off the heads of their helpless enemies, stripped their +bodies of all their ornaments, and departed, leaving the woman +unharmed for good luck. + +When Unmadini, who had been more dead than alive during the +affray, found silence succeed to the horrid din of shrieks and +shouts, she ventured to creep out of her refuge in the hollow tree. +And what does she behold? her husband and his friend are lying +upon the ground, with their heads at a short distance from their +bodies. She sat down and wept bitterly. + +Presently, remembering the lesson which she had learned that very +morning, she drew forth from her bosom the bit of thread and +proceeded to use it. She approached the heads to the bodies, and +tied some of the magic string round each neck. But the shades of +evening were fast deepening, and in her agitation, confusion and +terror, she made a curious mistake by applying the heads to the +wrong trunks. After which, she again sat down, and having recited +her prayers, she pronounced, as her husband had taught her, the +life-giving incantation. + +In a moment the dead men were made alive. They opened their +eyes, shook themselves, sat up and handled their limbs as if to feel +that all was right. But something or other appeared to them all +wrong. They placed their palms upon their foreheads, and looked +downwards, and started to their feet and began to stare at their +hands and legs. Upon which they scrutinized the very scanty +articles of dress which the wild men had left upon them, and lastly +one began to eye the other with curious puzzled looks. + +The wife, attributing their gestures to the confusion which one +might expect to find in the brains of men who have just undergone +so great a trial as amputation of the head must be, stood before +them for a moment or two. She then with a cry of gladness flew to +the bosom of the individual who was, as she supposed, her +husband. He repulsed her, telling her that she was mistaken. Then, +blushing deeply in spite of her other emotions, she threw both her +beautiful arms round the neck of the person who must be, she +naturally concluded, the right man. To her utter confusion, he also +shrank back from her embrace. + +Then a horrid thought flashed across her mind: she perceived her +fatal mistake, and her heart almost ceased to beat. + +"This is thy wife!" cried the Brahman's head that had been fastened +to the soldier's body. + +"No; she is thy wife!" replied the soldier's head which had been +placed upon the Brahman's body. + +"Then she is my wife!" rejoined the first compound creature. + +"By no means! she is my wife," cried the second. + +"What then am I?" asked Devasharma-Gunakar. + +"What do you think I am?" answered GunakarDevasharma, with +another question. + +"Unmadini shall be mine," quoth the head. + +"You lie, she shall be mine," shouted the body. + +"Holy Yama,[FN#160] hear the villain," exclaimed both of them at +the same moment. + + * * * * * + +In short, having thus begun, they continued to quarrel violently, +each one declaring that the beautiful Unmadini belonged to him, +and to him only. How to settle their dispute Brahma the Lord of +creatures only knows. I do not, except by cutting off their heads +once more, and by putting them in their proper places. And I am +quite sure, O Raja Vikram! that thy wits are quite unfit to answer +the question, To which of these two is the beautiful Unmadini +wife? It is even said--amongst us Baitals --that when this pair of +half-husbands appeared in the presence of the Just King, a terrible +confusion arose, each head declaiming all the sins and peccadilloes +which its body had committed, and that Yama the holy ruler +himself hit his forefinger with vexation.[FN#161] + +Here the young prince Dharma Dhwaj burst out laughing at the +ridiculous idea of the wrong heads. And the warrior king, who, like +single-minded fathers in general, was ever in the idea that his son +had a velleity for deriding and otherwise vexing him, began a +severe course of reproof. He reminded the prince of the common +saying that merriment without cause degrades a man in the opinion +of his fellows, and indulged him with a quotation extensively used +by grave fathers, namely, that the loud laugh bespeaks a vacant +mind. After which he proceeded with much pompousness to +pronounce the following opinion: + +"It is said in the Shastras----" + +"Your majesty need hardly display so much erudition! Doubtless it +comes from the lips of Jayudeva or some other one of your Nine +Gems of Science, who know much more about their songs and +their stanzas than they do about their scriptures," insolently +interrupted the Baital, who never lost an opportunity of carping at +those reverend men. + +"It is said in the Shastras," continued Raja Vikram sternly, after +hesitating whether he should or should not administer a corporeal +correction to the Vampire, "that Mother Ganga[FN#162] is the +queen amongst rivers, and the mountain Sumeru[FN#163] is the +monarch among mountains, and the tree Kalpavriksha[FN#164] is +the king of all trees, and the head of man is the best and most +excellent of limbs. And thus, according to this reason, the wife +belonged to him whose noblest position claimed her." + +"The next thing your majesty will do, I suppose," continued the +Baital, with a sneer, "is to support the opinions of the Digambara, +who maintains that the soul is exceedingly rarefied, confined to +one place, and of equal dimensions with the body, or the fancies of +that worthy philosopher Jaimani, who, conceiving soul and mind +and matter to be things purely synonymous, asserts outwardly and +writes in his books that the brain is the organ of the mind which is +acted upon by the immortal soul, but who inwardly and verily +believes that the brain is the mind, and consequently that the brain +is the soul or spirit or whatever you please to call it; in fact, that +soul is a natural faculty of the body. A pretty doctrine, indeed, for +a Brahman to hold. You might as well agree with me at once that +the soul of man resides, when at home, either in a vein in the +breast, or in the pit of his stomach, or that half of it is in a man's +brain and the other or reasoning half is in his heart, an organ of his +body." + +"What has all this string of words to do with the matter, Vampire?" +asked Raja Vikram angrily. + +"Only," said the demon laughing, "that in my opinion, as opposed +to the Shastras and to Raja Vikram, that the beautiful Unmadini +belonged, not to the head part but to the body part. Because the +latter has an immortal soul in the pit of its stomach, whereas the +former is a box of bone, more or less thick, and contains brains +which are of much the same consistence as those of a calf." + +"Villain!" exclaimed the Raja, "does not the soul or conscious life +enter the body through the sagittal suture and lodge in the brain, +thence to contemplate, through the same opening, the divine +perfections?" + +"I must, however, bid you farewell for the moment, O warrior +king, Sakadhipati-Vikramadityal[FN#165]! I feel a sudden and +ardent desire to change this cramped position for one more natural +to me." + +The warrior monarch had so far committed himself that he could +not prevent the Vampire from flitting. But he lost no more time in +following him than a grain of mustard, in its fall, stays on a cow's +horn. And when he had thrown him over his shoulder, the king +desired him of his own accord to begin a new tale. + +"O my left eyelid flutters," exclaimed the Baital in despair, "my +heart throbs, my sight is dim: surely now beginneth the end. It is as +Vidhata hath written on my forehead--how can it be +otherwise[FN#166]? Still listen, O mighty Raja, whilst I recount to +you a true story, and Saraswati[FN#167] sit on my tongue." + + + THE VAMPIRE'S TENTH STORY.[FN#168] + +Of the Marvellous Delicacy of Three Queens. + +The Baital said, O king, in the Gaur country, Vardhman by name, +there is a city, and one called Gunshekhar was the Raja of that +land. His minister was one Abhaichand, a Jain, by whose teachings +the king also came into the Jain faith. + +The worship of Shiva and of Vishnu, gifts of cows, gifts of lands, +gifts of rice balls, gaming and spirit-drinking, all these he +prohibited. In the city no man could get leave to do them, and as +for bones, into the Ganges no man was allowed to throw them, and +in these matters the minister, having taken orders from the king, +caused a proclamation to be made about the city, saying, +"Whoever these acts shall do, the Raja having confiscated, will +punish him and banish him from the city." + +Now one day the Diwan[FN#169] began to say to the Raja, "O +great king, to the decisions of the Faith be pleased to give ear. +Whosoever takes the life of another, his life also in the future birth +is taken: this very sin causes him to be born again and again upon +earth and to die And thus he ever continues to be born again and to +die. Hence for one who has found entrance into this world to +cultivate religion is right and proper. Be pleased to behold! By +love, by wrath, by pain, by desire, and by fascination overpowered, +the gods Brahma, Vishnu, and Mahadeva (Shiva) in various ways +upon the earth are ever becoming incarnate. Far better than they is +the Cow, who is free from passion, enmity, drunkenness, anger, +covetousness, and inordinate affection, who supports mankind, and +whose progeny in many ways give ease and solace to the creatures +of the world These deities and sages (munis) believe in the +Cow.[FN#170] + +"For such reason to believe in the gods is not good. Upon this earth +be pleased to believe in the Cow. It is our duty to protect the life of +everyone, beginning from the elephant, through ants, beasts, and +birds, up to man. In the world righteousness equal to that there is +none. Those who, eating the flesh of other creatures, increase their +own flesh, shall in the fulness of time assuredly obtain the fruition +of Narak [FN#17l]; hence for a man it is proper to attend to the +conversation of life. They who understand not the pain of other +creatures, and who continue to slay and to devour them, last but +few days in the land, and return to mundane existence, maimed, +limping, one-eyed, blind, dwarfed, hunchbacked, and imperfect in +such wise. Just as they consume the bodies of beasts and of birds, +even so they end by spoiling their own bodies. From drinking +spirits also the great sin arises, hence the consuming of spirits and +flesh is not advisable." + +The minister having in this manner explained to the king the +sentiments of his own mind, so brought him over to the Jain faith, +that whatever he said, so the king did. Thus in Brahmans, in Jogis, +in Janganis, in Sevras, in Sannyasis,[FN#172] and in religious +mendicants, no man believed, and according to this creed the rule +was carried on. + +Now one day, being in the power of Death, Raja Gunshekhar died. +Then his son Dharmadhwaj sat upon the carpet (throne), and began +to rule. Presently he caused the minister Abhaichand to be seized, +had his head shaved all but seven locks of hair, ordered his face to +be blackened, and mounting him on an ass, with drums beaten, had +him led all about the city, and drove him from the kingdom. From +that time he carried on his rule free from all anxiety. + +It so happened that in the season of spring, the king Dharmadhwaj, +taking his queens with him, went for a stroll in the garden, where +there was a large tank with lotuses blooming within it. The Raja +admiring its beauty, took off his clothes and went down to bathe. + +After plucking a flower and coming to the bank, he was going to +give it into the hands of one of his queens, when it slipped from his +fingers, fell upon her foot, and broke it with the blow. Then the +Raja being alarmed, at once came out of the tank, and began to +apply remedies to her. + +Hereupon night came on, and the moon shone brightly: the falling +of its rays on the body of the second queen formed blisters And +suddenly from a distance the sound of a wooden pestle came out of +a householder's dwelling, when the third queen fainted away with a +severe pain in the head + +Having spoken thus much the Baital said "O my king! of these +three which is the most delicate?" The Raja answered, "She indeed +is the most delicate who fainted in consequence of the headache." +The Baital hearing this speech, went and hung himself from the +very same tree, and the Raja, having gone there and taken him +down and fastened him in the bundle and placed him on his +shoulder, carried him away. + + + THE VAMPIRE'S ELEVENTH STORY. + + Which Puzzles Raja Vikram. + +There is a queer time coming, O Raja Vikram!--a queer time +coming (said the Vampire), a queer time coming. Elderly people +like you talk abundantly about the good old days that were, and +about the degeneracy of the days that are. I wonder what you +would say if you could but look forward a few hundred years. + +Brahmans shall disgrace themselves by becoming soldiers and +being killed, and Serviles (Shudras) shall dishonour themselves by +wearing the thread of the twiceborn, and by refusing to be slaves; +in fact, society shall be all "mouth" and mixed castes.[FN#173] +The courts of justice shall be disused; the great works of peace +shall no longer be undertaken; wars shall last six weeks, and their +causes shall be clean forgotten; the useful arts and great sciences +shall die starved; there shall be no Gems of Science; there shall be +a hospital for destitute kings, those, at least, who do not lose their +heads, and no Vikrama---- + +A severe shaking stayed for a moment the Vampire's tongue. + +He presently resumed. Briefly, building tanks feeding Brahmans; +lying when one ought to lie; suicide, the burning of widows, and +the burying of live children, shall become utterly unfashionable. + +The consequence of this singular degeneracy, O mighty Vikram, +will be that strangers shall dwell beneath the roof tree in Bharat +Khanda (India), and impure barbarians shall call the land their +own. They come from a wonderful country, and I am most +surprised that they bear it. The sky which ought to be gold and +blue is there grey, a kind of dark white; the sun looks deadly pale, +and the moon as if he were dead.[FN#174] The sea, when not dirty +green, glistens with yellowish foam, and as you approach the +shore, tall ghastly cliffs, like the skeletons of giants, stand up to +receive or ready to repel. During the greater part of the sun's +Dakhshanayan (southern declination) the country is covered with a +sort of cold white stuff which dazzles the eyes; and at such times +the air is obscured with what appears to be a shower of white +feathers or flocks of cotton. At other seasons there is a pale glare +produced by the mist clouds which spread themselves over the +lower firmament. Even the faces of the people are white; the men +are white when not painted blue; the women are whiter, and the +children are whitest: these indeed often have white hair. + +"Truly," exclaimed Dharma Dhwaj, "says the proverb, 'Whoso +seeth the world telleth many a lie.'" + +At present (resumed the Vampire, not heeding the interruption), +they run about naked in the woods, being merely Hindu outcastes. +Presently they will change-- the wonderful white Pariahs! They +will eat all food indifferently, domestic fowls, onions, hogs fed in +the street, donkeys, horses, hares, and (most horrible!) the flesh of +the sacred cow. They will imbibe what resembles meat of +colocynth, mixed with water, producing a curious frothy liquid, +and a fiery stuff which burns the mouth, for their milk will be +mostly chalk and pulp of brains; they will ignore the sweet juices +of fruits and sugar-cane, and as for the pure element they will +drink it, but only as medicine, They will shave their beards instead +of their heads, and stand upright when they should sit down, and +squat upon a wooden frame instead of a carpet, and appear in red +and black like the children of Yama.[FN#175] They will never +offer sacrifices to the manes of ancestors, leaving them after their +death to fry in the hottest of places. Yet will they perpetually +quarrel and fight about their faith; for their tempers are fierce, and +they would burst if they could not harm one another. Even now the +children, who amuse themselves with making puddings on the +shore, that is to say, heaping up the sand, always end their little +games with "punching," which means shutting the hand and +striking one another's heads, and it is soon found that the children +are the fathers of the men. + +These wonderful white outcastes will often be ruled by female +chiefs, and it is likely that the habit of prostrating themselves +before a woman who has not the power of cutting off a single +head, may account for their unusual degeneracy and uncleanness. +They will consider no occupation so noble as running after a +jackal; they will dance for themselves, holding on to strange +women, and they will take a pride in playing upon instruments, +like young music girls. + +The women, of course, relying upon the aid of the female +chieftains, will soon emancipate themselves from the rules of +modesty. They will eat with their husbands and with other men, +and yawn and sit carelessly before them showing the backs of their +heads. They will impudently quote the words, "By confinement at +home, even under affectionate and observant guardians, women +are not secure, but those are really safe who are guarded by their +own inclinations "; as the poet sang-- + + Woman obeys one only word, her heart. + +They will not allow their husbands to have more than one wife, +and even the single wife will not be his slave when he needs her +services, busying herself in the collection of wealth, in ceremonial +purification, and feminine duty; in the preparation of daily food +and in the superintendence of household utensils. What said Rama +of Sita his wife?" If I chanced to be angry, she bore my impatience +like the patient earth without a murmur; in the hour of necessity +she cherished me as a mother does her child; in the moments of +repose she was a lover to me; in times of gladness she was to me +as a friend." And it is said, "a religious wife assists her husband in +his worship with a spirit as devout as his own. She gives her whole +mind to make him happy; she is as faithful to him as a shadow to +the body, and she esteems him, whether poor or rich, good or bad, +handsome or deformed. In his absence or his sickness she +renounces every gratification; at his death she dies with him, and +he enjoys heaven as the fruit of her virtuous deeds. Whereas if she +be guilty of many wicked actions and he should die first, he must +suffer much for the demerits of his wife." + +But these women will talk aloud, and scold as the braying ass, and +make the house a scene of variance, like the snake with the +ichneumon, the owl with the crow, for they have no fear of losing +their noses or parting with their ears. They will (O my mother!) +converse with strange men and take their hands; they will receive +presents from them, and, worst of all, they will show their white +faces openly without the least sense of shame; they will ride +publicly in chariots and mount horses, whose points they pride +themselves upon knowing, and eat and drink in crowded places-- +their husbands looking on the while, and perhaps even leading +them through the streets. And she will be deemed the pinnacle of +the pagoda of perfection, that most excels in wit and +shamelessness, and who can turn to water the livers of most men. +They will dance and sing instead of minding their children, and +when these grow up they will send them out of the house to shift +for themselves, and care little if they never see them +again.[FN#176] But the greatest sin of all will be this: when +widowed they will ever be on the look-out for a second husband, +and instances will be known of women fearlessly marrying three, +four, and five times.[FN#177] You would think that all this licence +satisfies them. But no! The more they have the more their weak +minds covet. The men have admitted them to an equality, they will +aim at an absolute superiority, and claim respect and homage; they +will eternally raise tempests about their rights, and if anyone +should venture to chastise them as they deserve, they would call +him a coward and run off to the judge. + +The men will, I say, be as wonderful about their women as about +all other matters. The sage of Bharat Khanda guards the frail sex +strictly, knowing its frailty, and avoids teaching it to read and +write, which it will assuredly use for a bad purpose. For women +are ever subject to the god[FN#178] with the sugar-cane bow and +string of bees, and arrows tipped with heating blossoms, and to +him they will ever surrender man, dhan, tan--mind, wealth, and +body. When, by exceeding cunning, all human precautions have +been made vain, the wise man bows to Fate, and he forgets, or he +tries to forget, the past. Whereas this race of white Pariahs will +purposely lead their women into every kind of temptation, and, +when an accident occurs, they will rage at and accuse them, killing +ten thousand with a word, and cause an uproar, and talk scandal +and be scandalized, and go before the magistrate, and make all the +evil as public as possible. One would think they had in every way +done their duty to their women! + +And when all this change shall have come over them, they will feel +restless and take flight, and fall like locusts upon the Aryavartta +(land of India). Starving in their own country, they will find +enough to eat here, and to carry away also. They will be +mischievous as the saw with which ornament-makers trim their +shells, and cut ascending as well as descending. To cultivate their +friendship will be like making a gap in the water, and their +partisans will ever fare worse than their foes. They will be selfish +as crows, which, though they eat every kind of flesh, will not +permit other birds to devour that of the crow. + +In the beginning they will hire a shop near the mouth of mother +Ganges, and they will sell lead and bullion, fine and coarse +woollen cloths, and all the materials for intoxication. Then they +will begin to send for soldiers beyond the sea, and to enlist +warriors in Zambudwipa (India). They will from shopkeepers +become soldiers: they will beat and be beaten; they will win and +lose; but the power of their star and the enchantments of their +Queen Kompani, a daina or witch who can draw the blood out of a +man and slay him with a look, will turn everything to their good. +Presently the noise of their armies shall be as the roaring of the +sea; the dazzling of their arms shall blind the eyes like lightning; +their battle-fields shall be as the dissolution of the world; and the +slaughter-ground shall resemble a garden of plantain trees after a +storm. At length they shall spread like the march of a host of ants +over the land They will swear, "Dehar Ganga[FN#179]!" and they +hate nothing so much as being compelled to destroy an army, to +take and loot a city, or to add a rich slip of territory to their rule. +And yet they will go on killing and capturing and adding region to +region, till the Abode of Snow (Himalaya) confines them to the +north, the Sindhu-naddi (Incus) to the west, and elsewhere the sea. +Even in this, too, they will demean themselves as lords and +masters, scarcely allowing poor Samudradevta[FN#180] to rule his +own waves. + +Raja Vikram was in a silent mood, otherwise he would not have +allowed such ill-omened discourse to pass uninterrupted. Then the +Baital, who in vain had often paused to give the royal carrier a +chance of asking him a curious question, continued his recital in a +dissonant and dissatisfied tone of voice. + +By my feet and your head,[FN#181] O warrior king! it will fare +badly in those days for the Rajas of Hindustan, when the +red-coated men of Shaka[FN#182] shall come amongst them. +Listen to my words. + +In the Vindhya Mountain there will be a city named Dharmapur, +whose king will be called Mahabul. He will be a mighty warrior, +well-skilled in the dhanur-veda (art of war)[FN#183], and will +always lead his own armies to the field. He will duly regard all the +omens, such as a storm at the beginning of the march, an +earthquake, the implements of war dropping from the hands of the +soldiery, screaming vultures passing over or walking near the +army, the clouds and the sun's rays waxing red, thunder in a clear +sky, the moon appearing small as a star, the dropping of blood +from the clouds, the falling of lightning bolts, darkness filling the +four quarters of the heavens, a corpse or a pan of water being +carried to the right of the army, the sight of a female beggar with +dishevelled hair, dressed in red, and preceding the vanguard, the +starting of the flesh over the left ribs of the commander-in-chief, +and the weeping or turning back of the horses when urged forward. + +He will encourage his men to single combats, and will carefully +train them to gymnastics. Many of the wrestlers and boxers will be +so strong that they will often beat all the extremities of the +antagonist into his body, or break his back, or rend him into two +pieces. He will promise heaven to those who shall die in the front +of battle and he will have them taught certain dreadful expressions +of abuse to be interchanged with the enemy when commencing the +contest. Honours will be conferred on those who never turn their +backs in an engagement, who manifest a contempt of death, who +despise fatigue, as well as the most formidable enemies, who shall +be found invincible in every combat, and who display a courage +which increases before danger, like the glory of the sun advancing +to his meridian splendour. + +But King Mahabul will be attacked by the white Pariahs, who, as +usual, will employ against him gold, fire, and steel. With gold they +will win over his best men, and persuade them openly to desert +when the army is drawn out for battle. They will use the terrible +"fire weapon,[FN#184]'' large and small tubes, which discharge +flame and smoke, and bullets as big as those hurled by the bow of +Bharata.[FN#185] And instead of using swords and shields, they +will fix daggers to the end of their tubes, and thrust with them like +lances. + +Mahabul, distinguished by valour and military skill, will march out +of his city to meet the white foe. In front will be the ensigns, bells, +cows'-tails, and flags, the latter painted with the bird +Garura,[FN#186] the bull of Shiva, the Bauhinia tree, the +monkey-god Hanuman, the lion and the tiger, the fish, an +alms-dish, and seven palm-trees. Then will come the footmen +armed with fire-tubes, swords and shields, spears and daggers, +clubs, and bludgeons. They will be followed by fighting men on +horses and oxen, on camels and elephants. The musicians, the +water-carriers, and lastly the stores on carriages, will bring up the +rear. + +The white outcastes will come forward in a long thin red thread, +and vomiting fire like the Jwalamukhi.[FN#187] King Mahabul +will receive them with his troops formed in a circle; another +division will be in the shape of a halfmoon; a third like a cloud, +whilst others shall represent a lion, a tiger, a carriage, a lily, a +giant, and a bull. But as the elephants will all turn round when they +feel the fire, and trample upon their own men, and as the cavalry +defiling in front of the host will openly gallop away; Mahabul, +being thus without resource, will enter his palanquin, and +accompanied by his queen and their only daughter, will escape at +night-time into the forest. + +The unfortunate three will be deserted by their small party, and +live for a time on jungle food, fruits and roots; they will even be +compelled to eat game. After some days they will come in sight of +a village, which Mahabul will enter to obtain victuals. There the +wild Bhils, famous for long years, will come up, and surrounding +the party, will bid the Raja throw down his arms. Thereupon +Mahabul, skilful in aiming, twanging and wielding the bow on all +sides, so as to keep off the bolts of the enemy, will discharge his +bolts so rapidly, that one will drive forward another, and none of +the barbarians will be able to approach. But he will have failed to +bring his quiver containing an inexhaustible store of arms, some of +which, pointed with diamonds, shall have the faculty of returning +again to their case after they have done their duty. The conflict will +continue three hours, and many of the Bhils will be slain: at length +a shaft will cleave the king's skull, he will fall dead, and one of the +wild men will come up and cut off his head. + +When the queen and the princess shall have seen that Mahabul fell +dead, they will return to the forest weeping and beating their +bosoms. They will thus escape the Bhils, and after journeying on +for four miles, at length they will sit down wearied, and revolve +many thoughts in their minds. + +They are very lovely (continued the Vampire), as I see them with +the eye of clear-seeing. What beautiful hair! it hangs down like the +tail of the cow of Tartary, or like the thatch of a house; it is shining +as oil, dark as the clouds, black as blackness itself. What charming +faces! likest to water-lilies, with eyes as the stones in unripe +mangos, noses resembling the beaks of parrots, teeth like pearls set +in corals, ears like those of the redthroated vulture, and mouths +like the water of life. What excellent forms! breasts like boxes +containing essences, the unopened fruit of plantains or a couple of +crabs; loins the width of a span, like the middle of the viol; legs +like the trunk of an elephant, and feet like the yellow lotus. + +And a fearful place is that jungle, a dense dark mass of thorny +shrubs, and ropy creepers, and tall canes, and tangled brake, and +gigantic gnarled trees, which groan wildly in the night wind's +embrace. But a wilder horror urges the unhappy women on; they +fear the polluting touch of the Bhils; once more they rise and +plunge deeper into its gloomy depths. + +The day dawns. The white Pariahs have done their usual work, +They have cut off the hands of some, the feet and heads of others, +whilst many they have crushed into shapeless masses, or scattered +in pieces upon the ground. The field is strewed with corpses, the +river runs red, so that the dogs and jackals swim in blood; the birds +of prey sitting on the branches, drink man's life from the stream, +and enjoy the sickening smell of burnt flesh. + +Such will be the scenes acted in the fair land of Bharat. + +Perchance two white outcastes, father and son, who with a party of +men are scouring the forest and slaying everything, fall upon the +path which the women have taken shortly before. Their attention is +attracted by footprints leading towards a place full of tigers, +leopards, bears, wolves, and wild dogs. And they are utterly +confounded when, after inspection, they discover the sex of the +wanderers. + +"How is it," shall say the father, "that the footprints of mortals are +seen in this part of the forest?" + +The son shall reply, "Sir, these are the marks of women's feet: a +man's foot would not be so small." + +"It is passing strange," shall rejoin the elder white Pariah, "but thou +speakest truth. Certainly such a soft and delicate foot cannot +belong to anyone but a woman." + +"They have only just left the track," shall continue the son, "and +look! this is the step of a married woman. See how she treads on +the inside of her sole, because of the bending of her ankles." And +the younger white outcaste shall point to the queen's footprints. + +"Come, let us search the forest for them," shall cry the father, +"what an opportunity of finding wives fortune has thrown in our +hands. But no! thou art in error," he shall continue, after examining +the track pointed out by his son, "in supposing this to be the sign +of a matron. Look at the other, it is much longer; the toes have +scarcely touched the ground, whereas the marks of the heels are +deep. Of a truth this must be the married woman." And the elder +white outcaste shall point to the footprints of the princess. + +"Then," shall reply the son, who admires the shorter foot, "let us +first seek them, and when we find them, give to me her who has +the short feet, and take the other to wife thyself." + +Having made this agreement they shall proceed on their way, and +presently they shall find the women lying on the earth, half dead +with fatigue and fear. Their legs and feet are scratched and torn by +brambles, their ornaments have fallen off, and their garments are in +strips. The two white outcastes find little difficulty, the first +surprise over, in persuading the unhappy women to follow them +home, and with great delight, conformably to their arrangement, +each takes up his prize on his horse and rides back to the tents. The +son takes the queen, and the father the princess. + +In due time two marriages come to pass; the father, according to +agreement, espouses the long foot, and the son takes to wife the +short foot. And after the usual interval, the elder white outcaste, +who had married the daughter, rejoices at the birth of a boy, and +the younger white outcaste, who had married the mother, is +gladdened by the sight of a girl. + +Now then, by my feet and your head, O warrior king Vikram, +answer me one question. What relationship will there be between +the children of the two white Pariahs? + +Vikram's brow waxed black as a charcoal-burner's, when he again +heard the most irreverent oath ever proposed to mortal king. The +question presently attracted his attention, and he turned over the +Baital's words in his head, confusing the ties of filiality, +brotherhood, and relationship, and connection in general. + +"Hem!" said the warrior king, at last perplexed, and remembering, +in his perplexity, that he had better hold his tongue--"ahem!" + +"I think your majesty spoke? " asked the Vampire, in an inquisitive +and insinuating tone of voice. + +"Hem!" ejaculated the monarch. + +The Baital held his peace for a few minutes, coughing once or +twice impatiently. He suspected that the extraordinary nature of +this last tale, combined with the use of the future tense, had given +rise to a taciturnity so unexpected in the warrior king. He therefore +asked if Vikram the Brave would not like to hear another little +anecdote. + +"This time the king did not even say "hem!" Having walked at an +unusually rapid pace, he distinguished at a distance the fire kindled +by the devotee, and he hurried towards it with an effort which left +him no breath wherewith to speak, even had he been so inclined. + +"Since your majesty is so completely dumbfoundered by it, +perhaps this acute young prince may be able to answer my +question?" insinuated the Baital, after a few minutes of anxious +suspense. + +But Dharma Dhwaj answered not a syllable. + + + CONCLUSION. + +At Raja Vikram's silence the Baital was greatly surprised, and he +praised the royal courage and resolution to the skies. Still he did +not give up the contest at once. + +"Allow me, great king," pursued the Demon, in a dry tone of voice, +"to wish you joy. After so many failures you have at length +succeeded in repressing your loquacity. I will not stop to enquire +whether it was humility and self-restraint which prevented your +answering my last question, or whether Rajait was mere ignorance +and inability. Of course I suspect the latter, but to say the truth +your condescension in at last taking a Vampire's advice, flatters me +so much, that I will not look too narrowly into cause or motive." + +Raja Vikram winced, but maintained a stubborn silence, squeezing +his lips lest they should open involuntarily. + +"Now, however, your majesty has mortified, we will suppose, a +somewhat exacting vanity, I also will in my turn forego the +pleasure which I had anticipated in seeing you a corpse and in +entering your royal body for a short time, just to know how queer +it must feel to be a king. And what is more, I will now perform my +original promise, and you shall derive from me a benefit which +none but myself can bestow. First, however, allow me to ask you, +will you let me have a little more air?" + +Dharma Dhwaj pulled his father's sleeve, but this time Raja +Vikram required no reminder: wild horses or the executioner's saw, +beginning at the shoulder, would not have drawn a word from him. +Observing his obstinate silence, the Baital, with an ominous smile, +continued: + +"Now give ear, O warrior king, to what I am about to tell thee, and +bear in mind the giant's saying, 'A man is justified in killing one +who has a design to kill him.' The young merchant Mal Deo, who +placed such magnificent presents at your royal feet, and +Shanta-Shil the devotee saint, who works his spells, incantations, +and magical rites in a cemetery on the banks of the Godaveri river, +are, as thou knowest, one person--the terrible Jogi, whose wrath +your father aroused in his folly, and whose revenge your blood +alone can satisfy. With regard to myself, the oilman's son, the +same Jogi, fearing lest I might interfere with his projects of +universal dominion, slew me by the power of his penance, and has +kept me suspended, a trap for you, head downwards from the +sires-tree. + +"That Jogi it was, you now know, who sent you to fetch me back to +him on your back. And when you cast me at his feet he will return +thanks to you and praise your valour, perseverance and resolution +to the skies. I warn you to beware. He will lead you to the shrine of +Durga, and when he has finished his adoration he will say to you, +'O great king, salute my deity with the eightlimbed reverence.' " + +Here the Vampire whispered for a time and in a low tone, lest +some listening goblin might carry his words if spoken out loud to +the ears of the devotee Shanta-Shil. + +At the end of the monologue a rustling sound was heard. It +proceeded from the Baital, who was disengaging himself from the +dead body in the bundle, and the burden became sensibly lighter +upon the monarch's back. + +The departing Baital, however, did not forget to bid farewell to the +warrior king and to his son. He complimented the former for the +last time, in his own way, upon the royal humility and the +prodigious self-mortification which he had displayed--qualities, he +remarked, which never failed to ensure the proprietor's success in +all the worlds. + +Raja Vikram stepped out joyfully, and soon reached the burning +ground. There he found the Jogi, dressed in his usual habit, a +deerskin thrown over his back, and twisted reeds instead of a +garment hanging round his loins. The hair had fallen from his +limbs and his skin was bleached ghastly white by exposure to the +elements. A fire seemed to proceed from his mouth, and the matted +locks dropping from his head to the ground were changed by the +rays of the sun to the colour of gold or saffron. He had the beard of +a goat and the ornaments of a king; his shoulders were high and his +arms long, reaching to his knees: his nails grew to such a length as +to curl round the ends of his fingers, and his feet resembled those +of a tiger. He was drumming upon a skull, and incessantly +exclaiming, "Ho, Kali! ho, Durga! ho, Devi!" + +As before, strange beings were holding their carnival in the Jogi's +presence. Monstrous Asuras, giant goblins, stood grimly gazing +upon the scene with fixed eyes and motionless features. Rakshasas +and messengers of Yama, fierce and hideous, assumed at pleasure +the shapes of foul and ferocious beasts. Nagas and Bhutas, partly +human and partly bestial, disported themselves in throngs about +the upper air, and were dimly seen in the faint light of the dawn. +Mighty Daityas, Bramba-daityas, and Pretas, the size of a man's +thumb, or dried up like leaves, and Pisachas of terrible power +guarded the place. There were enormous goats, vivified by the +spirits of those who had slain Brahmans; things with the bodies of +men and the faces of horses, camels and monkeys; hideous worms +containing the souls of those priests who had drunk spirituous +liquors; men with one leg and one ear, and mischievous +blood-sucking demons, who in life had stolen church property. +There were vultures, wretches that had violated the beds of their +spiritual fathers, restless ghosts that had loved low-caste women, +shades for whom funeral rites had not been performed, and who +could not cross the dread Vaitarani stream,[FN#188] and vital +souls fresh from the horrors of Tamisra, or utter darkness, and the +Usipatra Vana, or the sword-leaved forest. Pale spirits, Alayas, +Gumas, Baitals, and Yakshas,[FN#189] beings of a base and +vulgar order, glided over the ground, amongst corpses and +skeletons animated by female fiends, Dakinis, Yoginis, Hakinis, +and Shankinis, which were dancing in frightful revelry. The air +was filled with supernatural sights and sounds, cries of owls and +jackals, cats and crows, dogs, asses, and vultures, high above +which rose the clashing of the bones with which the Jogi sat +drumming upon the skull before him, and tending a huge cauldron +of oil whose smoke was of blue fire. But as he raised his long lank +arm, silver-white with ashes, the demons fled, and a momentary +silence succeeded to their uproar. The tigers ceased to roar and the +elephants to scream; the bears raised their snouts from their foul +banquets, and the wolves dropped from their jaws the remnants of +human flesh. And when they disappeared, the hooting of the owl, +and ghastly "ha! ha!" of the curlew, and the howling of the jackal +died away in the far distance, leaving a silence still more +oppressive. + +As Raja Vikram entered the burning-ground, the hollow sound of +solitude alone met his ear. Sadly wailed the wet autumnal blast. +The tall gaunt trees groaned aloud, and bowed and trembled like +slaves bending before their masters. Huge purple clouds and +patches and lines of glaring white mist coursed furiously across the +black expanse of firmament, discharging threads and chains and +lozenges and balls of white and blue, purple and pink lightning, +followed by the deafening crash and roll of thunder, the dreadful +roaring of the mighty wind, and the torrents of plashing rain. At +times was heard in the distance the dull gurgling of the swollen +river, interrupted by explosions, as slips of earth-bank fell +headlong into the stream. But once more the Jogi raised his arm +and all was still: nature lay breathless, as if awaiting the effect of +his tremendous spells. + +The warrior king drew near the terrible man, unstrung his bundle +from his back, untwisted the portion which he held, threw open the +cloth, and exposed to Shanta-Shil's glittering eyes the corpse, +which had now recovered its proper form--that of a young child. +Seeing it, the devotee was highly pleased, and thanked Vikram the +Brave, extolling his courage and daring above any monarch that +had yet lived. After which he repeated certain charms facing +towards the south, awakened the dead body, and placed it in a +sitting position. He then in its presence sacrificed to his goddess, +the White One,[FN#190] all that he had ready by his side--betel +leaf and flowers, sandal wood and unbroken rice, fruits, perfumes, +and the flesh of man untouched by steel. Lastly, he half filled his +skull with burning embers, blew upon them till they shot forth +tongues of crimson light, serving as a lamp, and motioning the +Raja and his son to follow him, led the way to a little fane of the +Destroying Deity erected in a dark clump of wood, outside and +close to the burning ground. + +They passed through the quadrangular outer court of the temple +whose piazza was hung with deep shade.[FN#191] In silence they +circumambulated the small central shrine, and whenever +Shanta-Shil directed, Raja Vikram entered the Sabha, or vestibule, +and struck three times upon the gong, which gave forth a loud and +warning sound. + +They then passed over the threshold, and looked into the gloomy +inner depths. There stood Smashana-Kali,[FN#192] the goddess, in +her most horrid form. She was a naked and very black woman, +with half-severed head, partly cut and partly painted, resting on her +shoulder; and her tongue lolled out from her wide yawning +mouth[FN#193]; her eyes were red like those of a drunkard; and +her eyebrows were of the same colour: her thick coarse hair hung +like a mantle to her heels. She was robed in an elephant's hide, +dried and withered, confined at the waist with a belt composed of +the hands of the giants whom she had slain in war: two dead +bodies formed her earrings, and her necklace was of bleached +skulls. Her four arms supported a scimitar, a noose, a trident, and a +ponderous mace. She stood with one leg on the breast of her +husband, Shiva, and she rested the other on his thigh. Before the +idol lay the utensils of worship, namely, dishes for the offerings, +lamps, jugs, incense, copper cups, conches and gongs; and all of +them smelt of blood. + +As Raja Vikram and his son stood gazing upon the hideous +spectacle, the devotee stooped down to place his skull-lamp upon +the ground, and drew from out his ochre-coloured cloth a sharp +sword which he hid behind his back. + +"Prosperity to thine and thy son's for ever and ever, O mighty +Vikram!" exclaimed Shanta-Shil, after he had muttered a prayer +before the image. "Verily thou hast right royally redeemed thy +pledge, and by the virtue of thy presence all my wishes shall +presently be accomplished. Behold! the Sun is about to drive his +car over the eastern hills, and our task now ends. Do thou +reverence before this my deity, worshipping the earth through thy +nose, and so prostrating thyself that thy eight limbs may touch the +ground.[FN#194] Thus shall thy glory and splendour be great; the +Eight Powers[FN#195] and the Nine Treasures shall be thine, and +prosperity shall ever remain under thy roof-tree." + +Raja Vikram, hearing these words, recalled suddenly to mind all +that the Vampire had whispered to him. He brought his joined +hands open up to his forehead, caused his two thumbs to touch his +brow several times, and replied with the greatest humility, + +"O pious person! I am a king ignorant of the way to do such +obeisance. Thou art a spiritual preceptor: be pleased to teach me +and I will do even as thou desirest." + +Then the Jogi, being a cunning man, fell into his own net. As he +bent him down to salute the goddess, Vikram, drawing his sword, +struck him upon the neck so violent a blow, that his head rolled +from his body upon the ground. At the same moment Dharma +Dhwaj, seizing his father's arm, pulled him out of the way in time +to escape being crushed by the image, which fell with the sound of +thunder upon the floor of the temple. + +A small thin voice in the upper air was heard to cry, "A man is +justified in killing one who has the desire to kill him." Then glad +shouts of triumph and victory were heard in all directions. They +proceeded from the celestial choristers, the heavenly dancers, the +mistresses of the gods, and the nymphs of Indra's Paradise, who +left their beds of gold and precious stones, their seats glorious as +the meridian sun, their canals of crystal water, their perfumed +groves, and their gardens where the wind ever blows in softest +breezes, to applaud the valour and good fortune of the warrior +king. + +At last the brilliant god, Indra himself, with the thousand eyes, +rising from the shade of the Parigat tree, the fragrance of whose +flowers fills the heavens, appeared in his car drawn by yellow +steeds and cleaving the thick vapours which surround the earth-- +whilst his attendants sounded the heavenly drums and rained a +shower of blossoms and perfumes--bade the Vikramajit the Brave +ask a boon. + +The Raja joined his hands and respectfully replied, + +"O mighty ruler of the lower firmament, let this my history +become famous throughout the world!" + +"It is well," rejoined the god. "As long as the sun and moon +endure, and the sky looks down upon the ground, so long shall this +thy adventure be remembered over all the earth. Meanwhile rule +thou mankind." + +Thus saying, Indra retired to the delicious Amrawati[FN#196] +Vikram took up the corpses and threw them into the cauldron +which Shanta-Shil had been tending. At once two heroes started +into life, and Vikram said to them, "When I call you, come!" + +With these mysterious words the king, followed by his son, +returned to the palace unmolested. As the Vampire had predicted, +everything was prosperous to him, and he presently obtained the +remarkable titles, Sakaro, or foe of the Sakas, and +Sakadhipati-Vikramaditya. + +And when, after a long and happy life spent in bringing the world +under the shadow of one umbrella, and in ruling it free from care, +the warrior king Vikram entered the gloomy realms of Yama, from +whom for mortals there is no escape, he left behind him a name +that endured amongst men like the odour of the flower whose +memory remains long after its form has mingled with the +dust.[FN#197] + + FOOTNOTES + +[FN#1] Metamorphoseon, seu de Asino Aureo, libri Xl. The well +known and beautiful episode is in the fourth. the fifth, and the sixth +books. + +[FN#2] This ceremony will be explained in a future page. + +[FN#3] A common exclamation of sorrow, surprise, fear, and +other emotions. It is especially used by women. + +[FN#4] Quoted from view of the Hindoos, by William Ward, of +Serampore (vol. i. p. 25). + +[FN#5] In Sanskrit, Vetala-pancha-Vinshati. "Baital" is the +modern form of " Vetala. + +[FN#6] In Arabic, Badpai el Hakim. + +[FN#7] Dictionnaire philosophique sub v. " Apocryphes." + +[FN#8] I do not mean that rhymes were not known before the days +of Al-Islam, but that the Arabs popularized assonance and +consonance in Southern Europe. + +[FN#9] "Vikrama" means "valour " or " prowess." + +[FN#10] Mr. Ward of Serampore is unable to quote the names of +more than nine out of the eighteen, namely: Sanskrit, Prakrit, +Naga, Paisacha, Gandharba, Rakshasa, Ardhamagadi, Apa, and +Guhyaka - most of them being the languages of different orders of +fabulous beings. He tells us, however, that an account of these +dialects may be found in the work called Pingala. + +[FN#11] Translated by Sir Wm. Jones, 1789; and by Professor +Williams, 1856. + +[FN#12] Translated by Professor H. H. Wilson. + +[FN#13] The time was propitious to savans. Whilst Vikramaditya +lived, Magha, another king, caused to be written a poem called +after his name For each verse he is said to have paid to learned +men a gold piece, which amounted to a total of 5,280l. - a large +sum in those days, which preceded those of Paradise Lost. About +the same period Karnata, a third king, was famed for patronizing +the learned men who rose to honour at Vikram's court. Dhavaka, a +poet of nearly the same period, received from King Shriharsha the +magnificent present of 10,000l. for a poem called the Ratna-Mala. + +[FN#14] Lieut. Wilford supports the theory that there were eight +Vikramadityas, the last of whom established the era. For further +particulars, the curious reader will consult Lassen's Anthologia, +and Professor H. H. Wilson's Essay on Vikram (New), As. Red.. +ix. 117. + +[FN#15] History tells us another tale. The god Indra and the King +of Dhara gave the kingdom to Bhartari-hari, another son of +Gandhar-ba-Sena, by a handmaiden. For some time, the brothers +lived together; but presently they quarrelled. Vikram being +dismissed from court, wandered from place to place in abject +poverty, and at one time hired himself as a servant to a merchant +living in Guzerat. At length, Bhartari-hari, disgusted with the +world on account of the infidelity of his wife, to whom he was +ardently attached, became a religious devotee, and left the +kingdom to its fate. In the course of his travels, Vikram came to +Ujjayani, and finding it without a head, assumed the sovereignty. +He reigned with great splendour, conquering by his arms Utkala, +Vanga, Kuch-bahar, Guzerat, Somnat, Delhi, and other places; +until, in his turn, he was conquered, and slain by Shalivahan. + +[FN#16] The words are found, says Mr. Ward, in the Hindu +History compiled by Mrityungaya. + +[FN#17] These duties of kings are thus laid down in the +Rajtarangini. It is evident, as Professor H. H. Wilson says, that the +royal status was by no means a sinecure. But the rules are +evidently the closet work of some pedantic, dogmatic Brahman, +teaching kingcraft to kings. He directs his instructions, not to +subordinate judges, but to the Raja as the chief magistrate, and +through him to all appointed for the administration of his justice. + +[FN#18] Lunus, not Luna. + +[FN#19] That is to say, "upon an empty stomach." + +[FN#20] There are three sandhyas amongst the Hindus--morning, +mid-day, and sunset; and all three are times for prayer. + +[FN#21] The Hindu Cupid. + +[FN#22] Patali, the regions beneath the earth. + +[FN#23] The Hindu Triad. + +[FN#24] Or Avanti, also called Padmavati. It is the first meridian +of the Hindus, who found their longitude by observation of lunar +eclipses, calculated for it and Lanka, or Ceylon. The clepsydra was +used for taking time. + +[FN#25] In the original only the husband ''practiced austere +devotion." For the benefit of those amongst whom the "pious wife" +is an institution, I have extended the privilege. + +[FN#26] A Moslem would say, "This is our fate." A Hindu refers +at once to metempsychosis, as naturally as a modern +Swedenborgian to spiritism. + +[FN#27] In Europe, money buys this world, and delivers you from +the pains of purgatory; amongst the Hindus, it furthermore opens +the gate of heaven. + +[FN#28] This part of the introduction will remind the reader of the +two royal brothers and their false wives in the introduction to the +Arabian Nights. The fate of Bhartari Raja, however, is historical. + +[FN#29] In the original, "Div"--a supernatural being god, or +demon. This part of the plot is variously told. According to some, +Raja Vikram was surprised, when entering the city to see a grand +procession at the house of a potter and a boy being carried off on +an elephant to the violent grief of his parents The King inquired +the reason of their sorrow, and was told that the wicked Div that +guarded the city was in the habit of eating a citizen per diem. +Whereupon the valorous Raja caused the boy to dismount; took his +place; entered the palace; and, when presented as food for the +demon, displayed his pugilistic powers in a way to excite the +monsters admiration. + +[FN#30] In India, there is still a monastic order the pleasant duty +of whose members is to enjoy themselves as much as possible. It +has been much the same in Europe. "Representez-vous le convent +de l'Escurial ou du Mont Cassin, ou les cenobites ont toutes sortes +de commodities, necessaires, utiles, delectables. superflues, +surabondantes, puisqu'ils ont les cent cinquante mille, les quatre +cent mille, les cinq cent mille ecus de rente; et jugez si monsieur +l'abbe a de quoi laisser dormir la meridienne a ceux qui +voudront."--Saint Augustin, de l'Ouvrage des Moines, by Le +Camus, Bishop of Belley, quoted by Voltaire, Dict. Phil., sub v. +"Apocalypse." + +[FN#31] This form of matrimony was recognized by the ancient +Hindus, and is frequent in books. It is a kind of Scotch wedding-- +ultra-Caledonian--taking place by mutual consent, without any +form or ceremony. The Gandharbas are heavenly minstrels of +Indra's court, who are supposed to be witnesses. + +[FN#32] The Hindu Saturnalia. + +[FN#33] The powders are of wheaten flour, mixed with wild +ginger-root, sappan-wood, and other ingredients. Sometimes the +stuff is thrown in syringes. + +[FN#34] The Persian proverb is-- "Bala e tavilah bar sat i +maimun": "The woes of the stable be on the monkey's head!" In +some Moslem countries a hog acts prophylactic. Hence probably +Mungo Park's troublesome pig at Ludamar. + +[FN#35] So the moribund father of the "babes in the wood" +lectures his wicked brother, their guardian: + "To God and you I recommend + My children deare this day: + But little while, be sure, we have + Within this world to stay." + But, to appeal to the moral sense of a goldsmith! + +[FN#36] Maha (great) raja (king): common address even to those +who are not royal. + +[FN#37] The name means. "Quietistic Disposition." + +[FN#38] August. In the solar-lunar year of the Hindu the months +are divided into fortnights--light and dark. + +[FN#39] A flower, whose name frequently occurs in Sanskrit +poetry. + +[FN#40] The stars being men's souls raised to the sky for a time +pro portioned to their virtuous deeds on earth. + +[FN#41] A measure of length, each two miles. + +[FN#42] The warm region below. + +[FN#43] Hindus admire only glossy black hair; the "bonny brown +hair" loved by our ballads is assigned by them to low-caste men, +witches, and fiends. + +[FN#44] A large kind of bat; a popular and silly Anglo-Indian +name. It almost justified the irate Scotchman in calling "prodigious +leears" those who told him in India that foxes flew and tress were +tapped for toddy. + +[FN#45] The Hindus, like the European classics and other ancient +peoples, reckon four ages:--The Satya Yug, or Golden Age, +numbered 1,728,000 years: the second, or Treta Yug, comprised +1,296,000; the Dwapar Yug had 864,000 and the present, the Kali +Yug, has shrunk to 832,000 years. + +[FN#46] Especially alluding to prayer. On this point, Southey +justly remarks (Preface to Curse of Kehama): "In the religion of +the Hindoos there is one remarkable peculiarity. Prayers, penances, +and sacrifices are supposed to possess an inherent and actual value, +in one degree depending upon the disposition or motive of the +person who performs them. They are drafts upon heaven for which +the gods cannot refuse payment. The worst men, bent upon the +worst designs, have in this manner obtained power which has +made them formidable to the supreme deities themselves." +Moreover, the Hindu gods hear the prayers of those who desire the +evil of others. Hence when a rich man becomes poor, his friends +say, "See how sharp are men's teeth!" and, "He is ruined because +others could not bear to see his happiness!" + +[FN#47] A pond. natural or artificial; in the latter case often +covering an extent of ten to twelve acres. + +[FN#48] The Hindustani "gilahri," or little grey squirrel, whose +twittering cry is often mistaken for a bird's. + +[FN#49] The autumn or rather the rainy season personified - a +hackneyed Hindu prosopopoeia. + +[FN#50] Light conversation upon the subject of women is a +persona offence to serious-minded Hindus. + +[FN#51] Cupid in his two forms, Eros and Anteros. + +[FN#52] This is true to life in the East, women make the first +advances, and men do the begueules. + +[FN#53] Raja-hans, a large grey goose, the Hindu equivalent for +our swan. + +[FN#54] Properly Karnatak; karna in Sanskrit means an ear. + +[FN#55] Danta in Sanskrit is a tooth. + +[FN#56] Padma means a foot. + +[FN#57] A common Hindu phrase equivalent to our " I manage to +get on." + +[FN#58] Meaning marriage maternity, and so forth. + +[FN#59] Yama is Pluto; 'mother of Yama' is generally applied to +an old scold. + +[FN#60] Snake-land: the infernal region. + +[FN#61] A form of abuse given to Durga, who was the mother of +Ganesha (Janus); the latter had an elephant's head. + +[FN#62] Unexpected pleasure, according to the Hindus, gives a +bristly elevation to the down of the body. + +[FN#63] The Hindus banish " flasks,'' et hoc genus omne, from +these scenes, and perhaps they are right. + +[FN#64] The Pankha, or large common fan, is a leaf of the +Corypha umbraculifera, with the petiole cut to the length of about +five feet, pared round the edges and painted to look pretty. It is +waved by the servant standing behind a chair. + +[FN#65] The fabulous mass of precious stones forming the sacred +mountain of Hindu mythology. + +[FN#66] "I love my love with an 'S,' because he is stupid and not +pyschological." + +[FN#67] Hindu mythology has also its Cerberus, Trisisa, the " +three headed " hound that attends dreadful Yama (Pluto) + +[FN#68] Parceque c'est la saison des amours. + +[FN#69] The police magistrate, the Catual of Camoens. + +[FN#70] The seat of a Hindu ascetic. + +[FN#71] The Hindu scriptures. + +[FN#72] The Goddess of Prosperity. + +[FN#73] In the original the lover is not blamed; this would be the +Hindu view of the matter; we might be tempted to think of the old +injunction not to seethe a kid in the mother's milk. + +[FN#74] In the original a "maina "-the Gracula religiosa. + +[FN#75] As we should say, buried them. + +[FN#76] A large kind of black bee, common in India. + +[FN#77] The beautiful wife of the demigod Rama Chandra. + +[FN#78] The Hindu Ars Amoris. + +[FN#79] The old philosophers, believing in a " Sat " (xx xx), +postulated an Asat (xx xx xx) and made the latter the root of the +former. + +[FN#80] In Western India, a place celebrated for suicides. + +[FN#81] Kama Deva. "Out on thee, foul fiend, talk'st thou of +nothing but ladies?" + +[FN#82] The pipal or Ficus religiosa, a favourite roosting-place +for fiends. + +[FN#83] India. + +[FN#84] The ancient name of a priest by profession, meaning " +praepositus " or praeses. He was the friend and counsellor of a +chief, the minister of a king, and his companion in peace and war. +(M. Muller's Ancient Sanskrit Literature, p. 485). + +[FN#85] Lakshmi, the Goddess of Prosperity. Raj-Lakshmi would +mean the King's Fortune, which we should call tutelary genius. +Lakshichara is our " luckless," forming, as Mr. Ward says, an +extraordinary coincidence of sound and meaning in languages so +different. But the derivations are very distinct. + +[FN#86] The Monkey God. + +[FN#87] Generally written "Banyan." + +[FN#88] The daughter of Raja Janaka, married to Ramachandra. +The latter placed his wife under the charge of his brother +Lakshmana, and went into the forest to worship, when the demon +Ravana disguised himself as a beggar, and carried off the prize. + +[FN#89] This great king was tricked by the god Vishnu out of the +sway of heaven and earth, but from his exceeding piety he was +appointed to reign in Patala, or Hades. + +[FN#90] The procession is fair game, and is often attacked in the +dark with sticks and stones, causing serious disputes. At the supper +the guests confer the obligation by their presence, and are +exceedingly exacting. + +[FN#91] Rati is the wife of Kama, the God of Desire; and we +explain the word by "Spring personified." + +[FN#92] The Indian Cuckoo (Cucuius Indicus). It is supposed to +lay its eggs in the nest of the crow. + +[FN#93] This is the well-known Ghi or Ghee, the one sauce of +India which is as badly off in that matter as England. + +[FN#94] The European reader will observe that it is her purity +which carries the heroine through all these perils. Moreover, that +her :virtue is its own reward, as it loses to her the world. + +[FN#95] Literally, "one of all tastes"--a wild or gay man, we +should say. + +[FN#96] These shoes are generally made of rags and bits of +leather; they have often toes behind the foot, with other similar +contrivances, yet they scarcely ever deceive an experienced man. + +[FN#97] The high-toper is a swell-thief, the other is a low dog. + +[FN#98] Engaged in shoplifting. + +[FN#99] The moon. + +[FN#100] The judge. + +[FN#101] To be lagged is to be taken; scragging is hanging. + +[FN#102] The tongue. + +[FN#103] This is the god Kartikeya, a mixture of Mars and +Mercury, who revealed to a certain Yugacharya the scriptures +known as "Chauriya-Vidya"--Anglice, "Thieves' Manual." The +classical robbers of the Hindu drama always perform according to +its precepts. There is another work respected by thieves and called +the "Chora-Panchashila," because consisting of fifty lines. + +[FN#104] Supposed to be a good omen. + +[FN#105] Share the booty. + +[FN#106] Bhawani is one of the many forms of the destroying +goddess, the wife of Shiva. + +[FN#107] Wretches who kill with the narcotic seed of the +stramonium. + +[FN#108] Better know as "Thugs," which in India means simply +"rascals." + +[FN#109] Crucifixion, until late years, was common amongst the +Buddhists of the Burmese empire. According to an eye-witness, +Mr. F. Carey, the puishment was inflicted in two ways. +Sometimes criminals were crucified by their hands and feet being +nailed to a scaffold; others were merely tied up, and fed. In these +cases the legs and feet of the patient began to swell and mortify at +the expiration fo three or four days; men are said to have lived in +this state for a fortnight, and at last they expired from fatigue and +mortification. The sufferings from cramp also must be very +severe. In India generally impalement was more common than +crucifixion. + +[FN#110] Our Suttee. There is an admirable Hindu proverb, +which says, "No one knows the ways of woman; she kill her +husband and becomes a Sati." + +[FN#111] Fate and Destiny are rather Moslem than Hindu fancies. + +[FN#112] Properly speaking, the husbandman should plough with +not fewer than four bullocks; but few can afford this. If he plough +with a cow or a bullock, and not with a bull, the rice produced by +his ground is unclean, and may not be used in any religious +ceremony. + +[FN#113] A shout of triumph, like our "Huzza" or "Hurrah!" of +late degraded into "Hooray." "Hari bol" is of course religious, +meaning "Call upon Hari!" i.e. Krishna, i.e. Vishnu. + +[FN#114] This form of suicide is one of those recognized in India. +So in Europe we read of fanatics who, with a suicidal ingenuity, +have succeeded in crucifying themselves. + +[FN#115] The river of Jaganath in Orissa; it shares the honours of +sanctity with some twenty-nine others, and in the lower regions it +represents the classical Styx. + +[FN#116] Cupid. His wife Rati is the spring personified. The +Hindu poets always unite love and spring, and perhaps +physiologically they are correct. + +[FN#117] An incarnation of the third person of the Hindu Triad, +or Triumvirate, Shiva the God of Destruction, the Indian Bacchus. +The image has five faces, and each face has three eyes. In Bengal +it is found in many villages, and the women warn their children not +to touch it on pain of being killed. + +[FN#118] A village Brahman on stated occasions receives fees +from all the villagers. + +[FN#119] The land of Greece. + +[FN#120] Savans, professors. So in the old saying, "Hanta, Pandit +Sansara "--Alas! the world is learned! This a little antedates the +well-known schoolmaster. + +[FN#121] Children are commonly sent to school at the age of five. +Girls are not taught to read, under the common idea that they will +become widows if they do. + +[FN#122] Meaning the place of reading the four Shastras. + +[FN#123] A certain goddess who plays tricks with mankind. If a +son when grown up act differently from what his parents did, +people say that he has been changed in the womb. + +[FN#124] Shani is the planet Saturn, which has an exceedingly +baleful influence in India as elsewhere. + +[FN#125] The Eleatic or Materialistic school of Hindu +philosophy, which agrees to explode an intelligent soparate First +Cause. + +[FN#126] The writings of this school give an excellent view of the +"progressive system," which has popularly been asserted to be a +modern idea. But Hindu philosophy seems to have exhausted every +fancy that can spring from the brain of man. + +[FN#127] Tama is the natural state of matter, Raja is passion +acting upon nature, and Satwa is excellence These are the three +gunas or qualities of matter. + +[FN#128] Spiritual preceptors and learned men. + +[FN#129] Under certain limitations, gambling is allowed hy Hindu +law and the winner has power over the person and property of the +loser. No "debts of honour" in Hindustan! + +[FN#130] Quotations from standard works on Hindu criminal law, +which in some points at least is almost as absurd as our civilized +codes. + +[FN#131] Hindus carry their money tied up in a kind of sheet. which +is wound round the waist and thrown over the shoulder. + +[FN#132] A thieves' manual in the Sanskrit tongue; it aspires to the +dignity of a "Scripture." + +[FN#133] All sounds, say the Hindus, are of similar origin, and they +do not die; if they did, they could not be remembered. + +[FN#134] Gold pieces. + +[FN#135] These are the qualifications specified by Hindu classical +authorities as necessary to make a distinguished thief. + +[FN#136] Every Hindu is in a manner born to a certain line of life, +virtuous or vicious, honest or dishonest and his Dharma, or religious +duty, consists in conforming to the practice and the worship of his +profession. The "Thug," for instance, worships Bhawani, who enables +him to murder successfully; and his remorse would arise from +neglecting to murder. + +[FN#137] Hindu law sensibly punishes, in theory at least, for the +same offence the priest more severely than the layman--a hint for him +to practice what he preaches. + +[FN#138] The Hindu Mercury, god of rascals. + +[FN#139] A penal offence in India. How is it that we English have +omitted to codify it? The laws of Manu also punish severely all +disdainful expressions, such as "tush" or "pish," addressed during +argument to a priest. + +[FN#140] Stanzas, generally speaking, on serious subjects. + +[FN#141] Whitlows on the nails show that the sufferer, in the last +life, stole gold from a Brahman. + +[FN#142] A low caste Hindu, who catches and exhibits snakes and +performs other such mean offices. + +[FN#143] Meaning, in spite of themselves. + +[FN#144] When the moon is in a certain lunar mansion, at the +conclusion of the wet season. + +[FN#145] In Hindustan, it is the prevailing wind of the hot weather. + +[FN#146] Vishnu, as a dwarf, sank down into and secured in the +lower regions the Raja Bali, who by his piety and prayerfulness was +subverting the reign of the lesser gods; as Ramachandra he built a +bridge between Lanka (Ceylon) and the main land; and as Krishna he +defended, by holding up a hill as an umbrella for them, his friends the +shepherds and shepherdesses from the thunders of Indra, whose +worship they had neglected. + +[FN#147] The priestly caste sprang, as has been said, from the +noblest part of the Demiurgus; the three others from lower members. + +[FN#148] A chew of betel leaf and spices is offered by the master of +the house when dismissing a visitor. + +[FN#149] Respectable Hindus say that receiving a fee for a daughter +is like selling flesh. + +[FN#150] A modern custom amongst the low caste is for the bride +and bridegroom, in the presence of friends, to place a flower garland +on each other's necks, and thus declare themselves man and wife. The +old classical Gandharva-lagan has been before explained. + +[FN#151] Meaning that the sight of each other will cause a smile, +and that what one purposes the other will consent to. + +[FN#152] This would be the verdict of a Hindu jury. + +[FN#153] Because stained with the powder of Mhendi, or the +Lawsonia inermis shrub. + +[FN#154] Kansa's son: so called because the god Shiva, when struck +by his shafts, destroyed him with a fiery glance. + +[FN#155] "Great Brahman"; used contemptuously to priests who +officiate for servile men. Brahmans lose their honour by the +following things: By becoming servants to the king; by pursuing any +secular business; by acting priests to Shudras (serviles); by officiating +as priests for a whole village; and by neglecting any part of the three +daily services. Many violate these rules; yet to kill a Brahman is still +one of the five great Hindu sins. In the present age of the world, the +Brahman may not accept a gift of cows or of gold; of course he +despises the law. As regards monkey worship, a certain Rajah of +Nadiya is said to have expended 10,000L in marrying two monkeys +with all the parade and splendour of the Hindu rite. + +[FN#156] The celebrated Gayatri, the Moslem Kalmah. + +[FN#157] Kama again. + +[FN#158] From "Man," to think; primarily meaning, what makes +man think. + +[FN#159] The Cirrhadae of classical writers. + +[FN#160] The Hindu Pluto; also called the Just King. + +[FN#161] Yama judges the dead. whose souls go to him in four +hours and forty minutes; therefore a corpse cannot be burned till after +that time. His residence is Yamalaya. and it is on the south side of the +earth; down South, as we say. (I, Sam. xxv. 1, and xxx. 15). The +Hebrews, like the Hindus, held the northern parts of the world to be +higher than the southern. Hindus often joke a man who is seen +walking in that direction, and ask him where he is going. + +[FN#162] The "Ganges," in heaven called Mandakini. I have no idea +why we still adhere to our venerable corruption of the word. + +[FN#163] The fabulous mountain supposed by Hindu geographers +to occupy the centre of the universe. + +[FN#164] The all-bestowing tree in Indra's Paradise which grants +everything asked of it. It is the Tuba of Al-Islam and is not unknown +to the Apocryphal New Testament. + +[FN#165] "Vikramaditya, Lord of the Saka." This is prevoyance on +the part of the Vampire; the king had not acquired the title. + +[FN#166] On the sixth day after the child's birth, the god Vidhata +writes all its fate upon its forehead. The Moslems have a similar idea, +and probably it passed to the Hindus. + +[FN#167] Goddess of eloquence. "The waters of the Saraswati " is +the classical Hindu phrase for the mirage. + +[FN#168] This story is perhaps the least interesting in the collection. +I have translated it literally, in order to give an idea of the original. +The reader will remark in it the source of our own nursery tale about +the princess who was so high born and delicately bred, that she could +discover the three peas laid beneath a straw mattress and four feather +beds. The Hindus, however, believe that Sybaritism can be carried so +far; I remember my Pandit asserting the truth of the story. + +[FN#169] A minister. The word, as is the case with many in this +collection, is quite modern Moslem, and anachronistic. + +[FN#170] The cow is called the mother of the gods, and is declared +by Brahma, the first person of the triad, Vishnu and Shiva being the +second and the third, to be a proper object of worship. "If a European +speak to the Hindu about eating the flesh of cows," says an old +missionary, "they immediately raise their hands to their ears; yet +milkmen, carmen, and farmers beat the cow as unmercifully as a +carrier of coals beats his ass in England."The Jains or Jainas (from ji, +to conquer; as subduing the passions) are one of the atheistical sects +with whom the Brahmans have of old carried on the fiercest religious +controversies, ending in many a sanguinary fight. Their tenets are +consequently exaggerated and ridiculed, as in the text. They believe +that there is no such God as the common notions on the subject point +out, and they hold that the highest act of virtue is to abstain from +injuring sentient creatures. Man does not possess an immortal spirit: +death is the same to Brahma and to a fly. Therefore there is no +heaven or hell separate from present pleasure or pain. Hindu +Epicureans!--"Epicuri de grege porci." + +[FN#171] Narak is one of the multitudinous places of Hindu +punishment, said to adjoin the residence of Ajarna. The less +cultivated Jains believe in a region of torment. The illuminati, +however, have a sovereign contempt for the Creator, for a future +state, and for all religious ceremonies. As Hindus, however, they +believe in future births of mankind, somewhat influenced by present +actions. The "next birth" in the mouth of a Hindu, we are told, is the +same as "to-morrow" in the mouth of a Christian. The +metempsychosis is on an extensive scale: according to some, a person +who loses human birth must pass through eight millions of successive +incarnations--fish, insects, worms, birds, and beasts--before he can +reappear as a man. + +[FN#172] Jogi, or Yogi, properly applies to followers of the Yoga or +Patanjala school, who by ascetic practices acquire power over the +elements. Vulgarly, it is a general term for mountebank vagrants, +worshippers of Shiva. The Janganis adore the same deity, and carry +about a Linga. The Sevras are Jain beggars, who regard their chiefs +as superior to the gods of other sects. The Sannyasis are mendicant +followers of Shiva; they never touch metals or fire, and. in religious +parlance, they take up the staff They are opposed to the Viragis, +worshippers of Vishnu, who contend as strongly against the +worshippers of gods who receive bloody offerings. as a Christian +could do against idolatry. + +[FN#173] The Brahman, or priest, is supposed to proceed from the +mouth of Brahma, the creating person of the Triad; the Khshatriyas +(soldiers) from his arms; the Vaishyas (enterers into business) from +his thighs; and the Shudras, "who take refuge in the Brahmans," from +his feet. Only high caste men should assume the thread at the age of +puberty. + +[FN#174] Soma. the moon, I have said, is masculine in India. + +[FN#175] Pluto. + +[FN#176] Nothing astonishes Hindus so much as the apparent want +of affection between the European parent and child. + +[FN#177] A third marriage is held improper and baneful to a Hindu +woman. Hence. before the nuptials they betroth the man to a tree, +upon which the evil expends itself, and the tree dies. + +[FN#178] Kama + +[FN#179] An oath. meaning, "From such a falsehood preserve me, +Ganges!" + +[FN#180] The Indian Neptune. + +[FN#181] A highly insulting form of adjuration. + +[FN#182] The British Islands--according to Wilford. + +[FN#183] Literally the science (veda) of the bow (dhanush). This +weapon, as everything amongst the Hindus, had a divine origin: it +was of three kinds--the common bow, the pellet or stone bow, and the +crossbow or catapult. + +[FN#184] It is a disputed point whether the ancient Hindus did or did +not know the use of gunpowder. + +[FN#185] It is said to have discharged balls, each 6,400 pounds in +weight. + +[FN#186] A kind of Mercury, a god with the head and wings of a +bird, who is the Vahan or vehicle of the second person of the Triad, +Vishnu. + +[FN#187] The celebrated burning springs of Baku, near the Caspian, +are so called. There are many other "fire mouths." + +[FN#188] The Hindu Styx. + +[FN#189] From Yaksha, to eat; as Rakshasas are from Raksha, to +preserve.--See Hardy's Manual of Buddhism, p. 57. + +[FN#190] Shiva is always painted white, no one knows why. His +wife Gauri has also a European complexion. Hence it is generally +said that the sect popularly called "Thugs," who were worshippers of +these murderous gods. spared Englishmen, the latter being supposed +to have some rapport with their deities. + +[FN#191] The Hindu shrine is mostly a small building, with two +inner compartments. the vestibule and the Garbagriha, or adytum, in +which stands the image. + +[FN#192] Meaning Kali of the cemetery (Smashana); another form +of Durga. + +[FN#193] Not being able to find victims, this pleasant deity, to +satisfy her thirst for the curious juice, cut her own throat that the +blood might spout up into her mouth. She once found herself dancing +on her husband, and was so shocked that in surprise she put out her +tongue to a great length, and remained motionless. She is often +represented in this form. + +[FN#194] This ashtanga, the most ceremonious of the five forms of +Hindu salutation, consists of prostrating and of making the eight parts +of the body--namely, the temples, nose and chin, knees and hands-- +touch the ground. + +[FN#195] "Sidhis," the personified Powers of Nature. At least, so we +explain them: but people do not worship abstract powers. + +[FN#196] The residence of Indra, king of heaven, built by Wishwa- +Karma, the architect of the gods. + +[FN#197] In other words, to the present day, whenever a Hindu +novelist, romancer, or tale writer seeks a peg upon which to suspend +the texture of his story, he invariably pitches upon the glorious, pious, +and immortal memory of that Eastern King Arthur, Vikramaditya, +shortly called Vikram. + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's etext, Vikram and the Vampire, by +Sir Richard F. 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