"The sight, though oft repeated, never wearies. I must tear myself from
this, lest some one should discover me." She then withdraws a little,
hears a bard sing a ballad in praise of the king, perceives her mistake
and asks herself, "Is this Udayana, to whom my father destined me a
bride?" She becomes enamoured of the king. The king and the queen now
rise to return to the palace.
Sagarika thinks, "They come! I must fly hence. Ah me, unhappy! no longer
to behold him, whom I could gaze upon for ever."
The king addresses his queen thus:--"Come, love, thou puttest the night
to shame. The beauty of the moon is eclipsed by the loveliness of thy
countenance, and the lotus sinks humbled into shade; the sweet songs of
thy attendant damsels discredit the murmurs of the bees, and mortified
they hasten to hide their disgrace within the flowery blossom." The king
and the queen return to the palace.
Sagarika enters a plantain bower with a brush and pallet in order to
paint a picture and soliloquises thus: "Be still, my foolish heart, nor
idly throb for one so high above thy hopes. Why thus anxious to behold
that form, one only view of which has inspired such painful agitation?
Ungrateful, too, as weak, to fly the breast that has been familiar to
thee through life, and seek another, and as yet but once beheld, asylum.
Alas! Why do I blame thee! the terror of _Ananga's_ shaft has rendered
thee a fugitive;--let me implore his pity. Lord of the flowery bow,
victor of demons and of gods! dost thou not blush to waste thy might
upon a weak defenceless maiden, or art thou truly without form and
sense? Ah me, I fear my death impends, and this the fatal cause." She
looks at the picture and goes on, "No one approaches; I will try and
finish the likeness I am here attempting to portray. My heart beats
high, my hand trembles, yet I must try, and whilst occasion favours me,
attempt to complete these lineaments, as the only means to retain them
in my sight." She draws the picture, raising her head beholds her friend
Susangata with a _Sarika_ or talking bird in a cage, and hides the
picture. Susangata sits down, puts her hand upon the picture and asks,
"who is this you have delineated?"
Sagarika answers, "The deity of the festival, _Ananga_." Susangata
observes, "It is cleverly done, but there wants a figure to complete
it. Let me have it, and I will give the god his bride." She takes the
paper and draws the likeness of Sagarika. Sagarika expresses anger. Her
friend remarks, "Do not be offended without cause. I have given your
_Kamadeva_ my _Rati_, that is all. But come, away with disguise, and
confess the truth." Seeing that her friend has discovered her secret,
Sagarika is overcome with shame and entreats her to promise that no body
else shall be made acquainted with her weakness. Her friend replies,
"why should you be ashamed? Attachment to exalted worth becomes your
native excellence. But be assured I will not betray you; it is more
likely this prattling bird will repeat our conversation." The friend
brings some leaves and fibres of the lotus, and binds the former with
the latter upon Sagarika's bosom. She exclaims, "Enough, enough, my
friend, take away these leaves and fibres,--it is vain to offer relief.
I have fixed my heart where I dare not raise my hopes. I am overcome
with shame--I am enslaved by passion--my love is without return--death,
my only refuge." She faints and recovers after a short while. A noise
behind proclaims that a monkey has escaped from the stable, and,
rattling the ends of his broken chain of gold, he clatters along. Afraid
of the advent of the monkey, they both rush to hide in the shade of a
_tamala_ grove, leaving the drawing behind. The ape breaks the cage to
get at the curds and rice and lets the _Sarika_ fly.
Vasantaka now notices that the jasmine has been covered with countless
buds, as if smiling disdainfully upon the queen's favourite _Madhavi_.
He is surprised at the most marvellous power of the venerable
Sri-Khanda-Dasa, a great sage come to court from _Sri-Parvata_, by whose
simple will the strange event has happened. He thinks of going to the
king to inform his Majesty when the king appears. He congratulates his
Majesty, on his propitious fortune. The king observes, "Inconceivable is
the virtue of drugs, and charms, and gems. Lead the way, and let these
eyes this day obtain by the sight the fruit of their formation."
Vasantaka advances, stops to listen and turns back in alarm for he
fancies a goblin in yonder _Bakula_ tree. The goblin turns out a
starling. The courtier remarks, "she says, give the Brahman something to
eat." The king observes, "something to eat is ever the burden of the
glutton's song. Come, say truly, what does she utter. The friend listens
and repeats, "Who is this you have delineated? Do not be offended
without cause; I have given your _Kamadeva_ my _Rati_. Why should you be
ashamed? Attachment to exalted worth becomes your native excellence.
Take away these lotus leaves and fibres--it is in vain you strive to
offer me relief. I have fixed my heart where I dare not raise my
hopes;--I am overcome with shame and despair, and death is my only
refuge." The king interprets thus:--"Oh, I suppose some female has been
drawing her lover's portrait, and passing it off on her companion as the
picture of the god of love: her friend has found her out; and
ingeniously exposed her evasion, by delineating her in the character of
_Kama-deva's_ bride. The lady that is pictured is very handsome. Some
young female may be supposed to have spoken, indifferent to life,
because uncertain of her affection being returned. The delicate maid
entrusts her companion with the sorrows of her breast: the tattling
parrot or imitative starling repeats her words, and they find an
hospitable welcome in the ears of the fortunate. The companion, laughing
loudly, observes, "You may as well drop these evasive interpretations;
why not say at once, "the damsel doubts my returning her passion." Who
but yourself could have been delineated as the god of the flowery bow?".
The friend claps his hands and laughs. His obstreperous mirth frightens
the bird away. She perches on the plantain bower. They follow her there.
Vasantaka finds a picture and shows it to the king, who gives him a
golden bracelet. Looking at it, the king dwells upon the beauties of the
damsel.
Susangata and Sagarika hide themselves behind the plantain trees and
overhear the conversation between the king and his companion. Susangata
remarks, "You are in luck, girl; your lover is dwelling upon your
praises. The bird, as I told you, has repeated our conversation."
Sagarika thinks to herself, "What will he reply? I hang between life and
death." The king remarks farther to his companion, "My sight insatiate
rests upon her graceful limbs and slender waist. I cannot deny that she
has flatteringly delineated my likeness, nor doubt her sentiments--for
observe the traces of the tear that has fallen upon her work, like the
moist dew that starts from every pore of my frame." Sagarika says to
herself, "Heart, be of good cheer! your passion is directed to a
corresponding object." Susangata now comes forward, so as to be seen by
Vasantaka. At this the king, on the advice of his companion, covers the
picture with his mantle. Susangata says, "I am acquainted with the
secret of the picture and some other matters of which I shall apprise
her Majesty." The king takes off his bracelet and other ornaments and
offers them to her with the object of bribing her to be silent. She
replies, "Your Majesty is bountiful. You need not fear me. I was but in
jest, and do not want these jewels. The truth is, my dear friend,
Sagarika is very angry with me for drawing her picture, and I shall be
much obliged to your Majesty to intercede for me and appease her
resentment." The king springs up and exclaims, "Where is she? Lead me to
her."
Then all advance to Sagarika. She thinks, "He is here--I tremble at his
sight. I can neither stand nor move--what shall I do?" Vasantaka, seeing
her, exclaims, "A most surprising damsel, truly; such another is not to
be found in this world. I am confident that when she was created,
_Brahma_ was astonished at his own performance." The king is struck with
her and observes, "such are my impressions. The four mouths of _Brahma_
must at once have exclaimed in concert, bravo, bravo! when the deity
beheld these eyes more beauteous than the leaves of his own lotus; and
his head must have shaken with wonder, as he contemplated her
loveliness, the ornament of all the world." Sagarika prepares to go away
when the king addresses her thus, "You turn your eyes upon your friend
in anger, lovely maid; yet such is their native tenderness that they
cannot assume a harsh expression. Look thus, but do not leave us, for
your departure hence will alone give me pain." Susangata now advises the
king to take Sagarika by the hand and pacify her. The king approves the
advice and acts up to it. Vasantaka congratulates the king on his
unprecedented fortune.
The king replies, "You say rightly--she is the very deity Lakshmi
herself. Her hand is the new shoot of the _Parijata_ tree, else whence
distil these dewdrops of ambrosia?" Susangata remarks, "It is not
possible, my dear friend, you can remain inexorable whilst honoured thus
with his Majesty's hand."
Sagarika frowns on her friend and asks her to forbear. At this time,
Vasantaka, in testiness of temper, raises a false alarm by proclaiming
that the queen is approaching. The king lets go Sagarika's hand in
alarm. Sagarika and her companion go off hastily behind the _tamala_
tree.
After a short time, the queen approaches the king. By order of the king,
Vasantaka hides the picture quickly under his arm. The king proposes to
visit, in the company of the queen, the Jasmine budded. The queen
declines. Vasantaka takes it as an acknowledgment of defeat on her part
and cries out Huzza! He waves his hand and dances; the picture falls.
Kanchanmala, an attendant of the queen, picks up the picture and shows
it to her mistress. The queen, whose jealousy is excited by the
discovery of the picture, demands an explanation from the king.
Vasantaka volunteers to offer the explanation thus:--"I was observing,
madam, that it would be very difficult to hit my friend's likeness, on
which his Majesty was pleased to give me this specimen of his skill."
The king confirms the explanation. The queen observes, "And the female
standing near you--I suppose this is a specimen of Vasantaka's skill."
The king replies, "What should you suspect? That is a mere fancy
portrait, the original was never seen before." Vasantaka supports the
king thus, "I will swear to this, by my Brahmanical thread, that the
original was never seen before by either of us." Not satisfied with the
explanation, the queen remarks, "My lord, excuse me. Looking at the
picture has given me a slight headache. I leave you to your amusements."
The king observes, "What can I say to you, dearest? I really am at a
loss. If I ask you to forgive me, that is unnecessary, if you are not
offended; and how can I promise to do so no more, when I have committed
no fault, although you will not believe my assertions?" The queen,
detaching herself gently and with politeness, takes leave and goes away
with her attendant. Vasantaka remarks, "Your Majesty has had a lucky
escape. The queen's anger has dispersed like summer clouds." The king
observes. "Away, blockhead, we have no occasion to rejoice; could you
not discover the queen's anger through her unsuccessful attempts to
disguise it? Her face was clouded with a passing frown. As she hung down
her head, she looked on me with an affected smile. She gave utterance to
no angry words, it is true, and the swelling eye glowed not with
rage--but a starting tear was with difficulty repressed; and although
she treated me with politeness, struggling indignation lurked in every
gesture. We must endeavour to pacify her."
To insure the vigilance of Kanchanmala, the queen gives her some of her
own clothes and ornaments. With these it is plotted to equip Sagarika as
the queen. A stolen interview between the king and Sagarika, thus
disguised, is arranged to take place at the _Madhava_ bower about
sunset. The queen gets scent of the matter and forestalls Sagarika by
meeting the king at the appointed time and place. The king, mistaking
her for Sagarika, thus speaks his honest self! "My beloved Sagarika, thy
countenance is radiant as the moon, thy eyes are two lotus buds, thy
hand is the full blown flower, and thy arms, its graceful filaments.
Come thou, whose form is the shrine of ecstasy, come to my arms."
The queen throws off her veil and says:--"Believe me still Sagarika, my
good lord; your heart is so fascinated by her, you fancy you behold
Sagarika in everything." The king replies, "forgive me, dearest." The
queen remarks, "Address not this to me, my lord--the epithet is
another's property." The king falls at her feet. The queen observes,
"Rise, my lord, rise! that wife must be unreasonable indeed, who, with
such evidence of her lord's affection, can presume to be offended. Be
happy, I take my leave." She now goes away.
Sagarika, dressed as the queen, goes some way to meet the king when she
thinks of putting an end at once to her sufferings and her life and
fastens the noose round her neck with the fibres of the _Madhavi_. The
king, who is seeking for the queen in hopes to pacify her anger,
discovers Sagarika on the way and mistakes her for the queen. He rushes
to her and tears off the tendril. He soon discovers his mistake,
embraces her and observes, "When the bosom of my queen swells with
sighs, I express concern; when she is sullen, I soothe her; when her
brows are bent, and her face is distorted with anger, I fall prostrate
at her feet. These marks of respect are due to her exalted position; but
the regard that springs from vehement affection, that is yours alone."
At this time, the queen, who has overheard the speech, comes forward and
says, "I believe you, my lord, I believe you." The king explains his
conduct thus:--"Why, then, you need not be offended. Cannot you perceive
that I have been attracted hither, and misled by the resemblance of your
dress and person? Be composed, I beg you." He falls at her feet. She
observes, "Rise, rise, let not my exalted station put you to such
unnecessary inconvenience."
Vasantaka takes up the noose, shows it to the queen and explains his
conduct thus, "It is very true, madam, I assure you, that, deceived by
the belief that you were attempting to destroy yourself, I brought my
friend to this spot, to preserve, as I thought, your life." By order of
the queen, Kanchanmala puts the noose over his neck, beats him and
carries him off an unfortunate captive. The king thinks, "What an
unlucky business this is! What is to be done? How shall I dissipate the
rage that clouds the smiling countenance of the queen! How rescue
Sagarika from the dread of her resentment, or liberate my friend
Basantaka? I am quite bewildered with these events, and can no longer
command my ideas. I will go in, and endeavour to pacify the queen." The
queen regales Vasantaka with cakes from her own fair hands, presents him
with a dress and restores him to liberty. Susangata prays him to accept
a diamond necklace which Sagarika has left with her for presentation to
him. He declines the offer. Looking at it attentively he wonders where
she could have procured such a valuable necklace. They both go to the
king who has gone from the queen's apartments to the crystal alcove and
is lamenting thus:--"Deceitful vows, tender speeches, plausible excuses
and prostrate supplications had less effect upon the queen's anger than
her own teaks; like water upon the fire they quenched the blaze of her
indignation. I am now only anxious for Sagarika. Her form, as delicate
as the petal of the lotus, dissolving in the breath of inexperienced
passion, has found a passage through the channels by which love
penetrates, and is lodged deep in my heart. The friend to whom I could
confide my secret sorrows is the prisoner of the queen." Vasantaka now
informs the king that he has been restored to liberty. Asked about
Sagarika he hangs down his head and declares that he cannot utter such
unpleasant tidings. The king infers that Sagarika is no more and faints.
The friend says, "my friend, revive--revive! I was about to tell you,
the queen has sent her to Ougein--this I called unpleasant tidings,
Susangata told me so,--and what is more, she gave me this necklace to
bring to your Majesty." Vasantaka gives the king the necklace which he
applies to his heart to alleviate his despair. By command, the courtier
applies the ornament round the neck of the king. At this time,
Vijayavarman, the nephew of Rumanwat the general of the state, arrives
to announce:--"Glory to your Majesty! your Majesty's fortune is
propitious in the triumphs of Rumanwat. By your Majesty's auspices the
_Kosalas_ are subdued. On receiving your Majesty's commands, my uncle
soon collected a mighty army of foot, and horse, and elephants, and
marching against the king of Kosala, surrounded him in a strong position
in the Vindhya mountains. Impatient of the blockade, the _Kosala_
monarch prepared his troops for an engagement. Issuing from the heights,
the enemy's forces came down upon us in great numbers, and the points of
the horizon were crowded with the array of mighty elephants, like
another chain of mountains: they bore down our infantry beneath their
ponderous masses: those who escaped the shock were transpierced by
innumerable arrows and the enemy flattered himself he had for once
disappointed our commander's hopes. Fires flashed from the blows of
contending heroes, helmets and heads were cloven in twain--the broken
armour and scattered weapons were carried away in torrents of blood, and
the defiance of the king of _Kosala_, in the van of his army, was heard
by our warriors; when our chief alone confronted him, and slew the
monarch on his furious elephant with countless shafts. All honour to our
gallant foe, the king of _Kosala_; for glorious is the warrior's death
when his enemies applaud his prowess. Rumanwat then appointed my elder
brother, Sanjayavarman, to govern the country of _Kosala_, and making
slow marches in consequence of the number of his wounded, returned to
the capital. He is now arrived." The king applauds his general and
commands the distribution of the treasures of his favour.
Samvarasiddhi, a magician from Ougein, now interviews the king. The
magician, waving a bunch of peacock's feathers, observes, "Reverence to
Indra, who lends our art his name. What are your Majesty's commands?
Would you see the moon brought down upon earth, a mountain in mid air, a
fire in the ocean, or night at noon? I will produce them--Command. What
need of many words? By the force of my master's spells, I will place
before your eyes the person whom in your heart you are most anxious to
behold."
The king not wishing to see the performance alone, summons the queen who
arrives soon. The king leads her to a seat, sits beside her and commands
the magician to display his power.
The magician waves his plumes and exhibits most wonderful scenes.
_Brahma_ appears throned upon the lotus; _Sankara_ appears with the
crescent moon, his glittering crest; _Hari_, the destroyer of the demon
race, in whose four hands the bow, the sword, the mace and the shell are
borne, is observable. _Indra_, the king of _Swarga_, is seen mounted on
his stately elephant. Around them countless spirits dance merrily in mid
air, sporting with the lovely nymphs of heaven, whose anklets ring
responsive to the measure. The king and queen look up and rise from
their seats. At this time, a female attendant appears to announce;--"So
please your Majesty, the minister Yaugandharayana begs to inform you,
that Vikrambahu, the king of Ceylon, has sent, along with your own
messenger who returns, the councillor Vasubhuti; be pleased to receive
him as the season is auspicious. The minister will also wait upon you as
soon as he is at leisure." The queen observes, "Suspend this spectacle,
my lord. Vasubhuti is a man of elevated rank; he is also of the family
of my maternal uncle, and should not be suffered to wait; let us first
see him." The king orders the suspension of the show, the magician
retires promising to exhibit yet some sights.
Vasubhuti, after the customary exchange of courtesies, thus relates his
story:--"In consequence of the prophesy of a seer, that whoever should
wed Ratnavali, my master's daughter, should become the emperor in the
world, your Majesty's minister solicited her for your bride; unwilling,
however, to be instrumental in the uneasiness of Vasavadatta, the king
of Simhala declined compliance with his suit. My master, understanding
at last that the queen was deceased, consented to give his daughter to
you. We were deputed to conduct her hither, when alas, our vessel was
wrecked." The envoy, overpowered by sorrows, is unable to continue the
story and weeps. The queen exclaims, "Alas, unhappy that I am! Loved
sister Ratnavali, where art thou? Near me and reply."