Thereafter, the Carpenter's son having gone, at the time when he
was coming back [after] taking the stone, the Cobra came after him,
crying and crying out. The Prince, taking [the stone] and having
waited, cut it down. Instantly, both of them having mounted on the
back of the horse, began to run off.
Having gone very far, after they halted they looked at the stone. On
the stone was written, "There is a well in this jungle. When one has
held the stone to the well, the water will dry up. Having descended
into the well, when one has looked there will be a palace; there will
also be a Princess in the palace. If there should be a person who
has obtained this stone, it is he himself whom this Princess will
marry." [This] was written upon the stone.
Thereafter, after it became light, these two persons began to seek the
well. At the time when they were seeking and looking for it they met
with the well. When they held the stone to the well the water dried
up. Both of them having descended into the well, when they looked
about, they met with the palace also; the Princess, too, was there.
Thereupon the royal Prince said to the Carpenter's son, "Owing to your
good luck we met with this gem-treasure [10] and the Princess. Because
of that, let the Princess be for you."
The Carpenter's son said to the Prince, "You, Sir, are a great
fool. You are my royal Prince; it is not right to say this word to me."
Thereafter, having married the Princess to the Prince, and united
the two persons, and set that Naga gem in a ring, and put it on
the Prince's finger, he said, "On the Princess's asking for this
ring on any day whatever, [11] don't give it. Women are never to
be trusted." Having taught the Prince [this], having said, "In any
difficulty whatever, remember me," the Carpenter's son, plunging
into the water, came to the surface of the ground, and went [back]
to their city.
While this Prince and Princess were [there], one day she begged
and got the ring that was on the Prince's hand, in order to look at
it. When she begged and looked at it, this Princess saw that these
matters were written in Nagara letters.
On the following day, begging the ring from the Prince, and having
gone noiselessly, when she held it out to the well the water dried
up. Thereupon, the Princess, having mounted upon the well mouth, and
stayed looking about, came again to the palace. In that manner, several
times begging for the ring she stayed on the well mouth, and came back.
One day, at the time when the Vaedda who goes hunting for the King
of that city was going walking [in the forest], the Vaedda, having
heard that this Princess sitting on the mouth of the well is singing,
went and peeped, and remained looking at her. Thereafter he went and
told the King of that city, "In such and such a jungle there is a
well. Sitting on the well mouth, a Princess was singing and singing
songs. Having stayed there, she jumped into the well. When I went
and looked there is only water. The beauty of her figure is indeed
like the sun and moon. In this city there is not a woman of that kind."
Thereupon the King having become much pleased, on the following day
the Vaedda, and the King, and the Minister, the whole three persons,
went to look at the Princess. Having gone, at the time when they were
hidden the Princess came that day also, and sitting on the well-mouth
sang songs. Thereupon the King, taking the sword, went running to
seize the Princess. As soon as the Princess saw them she jumped into
the well. The King having gone near the well, when he looked there
is only water. The Princess was not to be seen.
Thereafter, the King, having been astonished, came to the city. Having
come, he gave public notice by beat of tom-toms that if there should
be a person who brought and gave him the Princess who is in the
well in such and such a jungle, he will give him goods [amounting]
to a tusk-elephant's load, and a half share from the kingdom. [This]
he made public by the notification tom-toms.
At the time when they were going in the street beating the notification
tom-toms, a widow woman stopped the notification tom-toms, and asked,
"What is it?"
The notification tom-tom beater said, "The King said that to a person
who brought and gave him the Princess who is in the well in such and
such a jungle, he will give these goods, and a share from the kingdom."
Thereupon the widow woman said [to the King], "I can. [12] Having
constructed a watch-hut near the well in that jungle, you must give
it to me," she said. The King very speedily sent men, and built a
watch-hut, and gave it.
This old woman went [there], and at the time when she was in the
watch-hut, the Princess came, and sitting down upon the well mouth,
sang songs.
Thereupon the widow woman, drawing together the folds of her rags,
breaking [loose] her hair and letting it hang down, placing her hand
to her head, weeping and weeping, crying and crying out, came to the
place where the Princess is.