登陆注册
4718900000017

第17章

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: and when she bit it with her teeth, she meant to say that 'My father is Raja Dantawat, ' 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.

'"

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. ''

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.

同类推荐
  • Bunyan Characters

    Bunyan Characters

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 山中道士

    山中道士

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 华严经明法品内立三宝章

    华严经明法品内立三宝章

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • A Lady of Quality

    A Lady of Quality

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 颅囟经

    颅囟经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 海伦·凯勒

    海伦·凯勒

    这是海伦·凯勒原汁原味的英文著作,真实直白地记录了20世纪美国10大偶像之一的传奇人生,从无光、无声、无语的苦闷彷徨走向积极、多姿多彩的世界,再现了生活在黑暗中却又给人类带来光明的女性的努力、奋斗、不屈之路。海伦·凯勒不仅成功地走出聋哑盲人的失落,更是以惊人的毅力进入哈佛大学深造,成为世界著名的作家和教育家,创造了人类史上的奇迹!
  • 尘土

    尘土

    李静、宋石男、东东枪等盛赞推荐!张立宪在《读库》1604中首篇推荐的作者,新浪好书榜2016年度十大好书、《中华读书报》2016年度文学类好书!许久未见的文字高手,来者不善,如“单刀入阵,寸铁杀人”,轻盈迅捷、利落优雅,又新鲜如洗、细致如丝。隐于市井的冷眼热肠,为盛世灯火里黑掉了的一小块、萎于尘土的一切招魂。一颗老灵魂,执着于记录凡常人事的风神与根系,笔下是萧红、萧军、端木蕻良们没有写到的东北故乡和故乡的人。这是贾行家(博客名“阿莱夫”)的第一本散文集,三十余篇,化作“人”“世”“游”。以哈尔滨等东北城市为背景,描画其祖辈、父母、亲友、邻居等各种人的运命,和这人世的污浊、美好、哀伤,记录下生命的无奈和庄严,卑微与贵重,为那些被剥夺被轻贱被凌辱被无视的人们、生活、城市招魂。无论尊卑贵贱,我们皆走在一段尘土中的路程,直到归于尘土。
  • 北国之森

    北国之森

    少年纯美暗恋暖伤系写手顾苏,用最温暖的细节致最偏执心动他内心是一座孤城,她用炽爱烧了它亲爱的,我们都一样,即便错了,也会为了那个人,和全世界作对。后来我梦见我成了一棵树,你们也都长在我身侧。我们一起迎接北国的风霜雨雪,还有阳光。对盛夏来说,青春是肆意轻狂,是友情岁月,是惊鸿一瞥后狂热喜欢上的那个少年沈青柏。她以为,他们这群人,会是一辈子不离不弃的好朋友。她以为,她跟沈青柏会永远相爱幸福在一起。只是,盛夏怎么也不会想到,为了她丢掉保送资格的沈青柏,竟会劈腿自己的死党。她也不肯相信,她另外两个好朋友,一个竟将另一个陷害进了监狱。
  • 穿越从养龙开始

    穿越从养龙开始

    (每周六爆发)觉醒武魂之前,龙浩得到神秘空间,能够在里面养龙族,而且所养的龙族,还能够强化他的武魂,从此,火龙,三头雷龙,冰霜之龙,真龙九子……甚至是五爪金龙,都从他的手上孵化出来。凭借驭龙空间,龙浩踩遍天下妖孽,武绝苍穹,许多年后,这片武魂大陆上流传着一个个关于他的传说,而这片大陆的人都对他极为尊崇,于是他被冠上了很多称号,驭龙武帝,驭龙大仙,超越龙神的男人……(已有三百万创意老书《点这开宝箱》,欢迎试读!)
  • 太上灵宝首入净明四规明鉴经

    太上灵宝首入净明四规明鉴经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 龙虎中丹诀

    龙虎中丹诀

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 唐鍾馗平鬼傳

    唐鍾馗平鬼傳

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 雪落无垠之谁偷渡了幸福

    雪落无垠之谁偷渡了幸福

    类似幸福和幸福的距离到底有多远。一个风雨兼程赶路的人是会累的,一个半进半退的人是容易放弃的,到底我们要用什么样的方式去完成这份跨越呢,到底我们要怎样付出付出多少才能让彼此感知到幸福的所在呢?
  • 美男,我来也:小小皇妃

    美男,我来也:小小皇妃

    她是东方的族长魔女,狡诈,腹黑,邪恶。一朝穿越到了古代谭竹国,成为了某人的皇后。看到了某人不屑的眼神后。她也不由气的直磨牙,心中恨恨道:不就是娶我当皇后嘛?老娘我还不乐意呢!不过,以后皇宫少了一只猫;少了一只狗;嘿咻中,榻上多了一条蛇。虽然这些都是我做的,但我是不会承认的……【天十更】虫子信誉,有保障,请放心包养!【本故事纯属虚构】
  • 蜜糖娇妻:厌食总裁撩过来

    蜜糖娇妻:厌食总裁撩过来

    离婚后重生,她却再也记不起他。被抓到庄园,他霸道狂妄:“我们的第一个孩子没了,那就再生第二个……她逃避无门……她爱上他,却忆起前世,原来不过是一场虚情假意……他厌食难搞,她做的菜却成了他活命的药引……一场利益,一场厌食总裁的霸道虐爱……