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SEPTEMBER, 1891.)
FOLKLORE IN SOUTHERN INDIA; No. 37.
325
the princess that he was not the minister's son, nor did he give her any information about his parentage. He had, however, in a careless moment, let out that he was bent upon a pilgrimage to Banaras. At the same time the princess never doubted her lord to be any other than the son of the minister. Thus, each trusted the other, and expecting to open their hearts more freely the next time they met, they parted reluctantly in the morning.
The second day's rites must commence soon, and so the princess retired in baste to prepare herself for them, and expected to meet her lord, though not to speak with him, in the midst of an assembly.
Let us now follow our hero in the palanquin. As soon as it was set down, the minister conducted his supposed son Atirûpa into his chamber, the doors of which were closed behind them. Our hero imagined for a moment that after all he was not destined to live to his eighteenth year, as the hand of some assassin could now put an end to his life : but it was not so. The fortune that gave him the princess gave him also his life. The minister was the first to speak :
“Poor wretch ! I meant fo use you for my purpose only; but circumstances have carried yon further than I intended. It is no blame of yours. Get into the same palanquin. I have left in it six bags, each containing 500 mohars. I have posted bearers on the way, and they will conduct you for two days and nights to the boundary of our empire. Take the coins with you, and fly to any country you like. If you turn back and place your feet in our dominions, your head shall be cut off. I have issued orders to this effect. I have a mind to do so now, but the thought that I had placed you for a day at least in the position of my son, softens my temper. Fly."
Atirûpa was not allowed even & minute to reply. He was neither dissatisfied nor murmured. He was glad he was no more a bachelor, and as such had the full privilege of performing all the religious rites, prescribed by the sacred books of his religion, for his parents. There was the money promised for his expenses, and what more did he need ? If he was ever destined to live in the world he was sure that the lady, who had given him her company on the previous night, would still own him as her lord. While these thoughts were passing and repassing through his mind, the Minister suddenly put him into the palanquin and gave the orders. The bearers, who had been previously instructed, started off on their journey. Without moving a muscle Atirapa sat in the palanquin, and continued his journey; but now and then his mind flew back to the princess and her excellent accomplishments in everything.
While our hero was riding in a palanquin instead of walking on foot, the minister -- glad at heart that the occasion, on which he would observe his son seated by the side of the princess, had at last come - conducted him joyfully to the sacred place. The priests had already assembled there, and began their preliminary rites. The princess was seated in a corner of the hall with her lady friends to give her lord her company in the oblations to the sacred fire. The beauty, the learning, the magnanimous conduct in everything of her lord was so prominent in her mind that she was pondering over all the conversation of the previous night.
Just at the fifth ghafikd it was announced that the bridegroom was entering the marriageball. Every eye was turned towards him. Only one person there knew that it was a different person, who was now approaching the hall. The same dress, the same ornaments and decorations, the same stature, the same colour; but one in that hall knew that now her life was hopeless. With more than the curiosity of the rest, she, too, turned her eyes in the direction of her approaching lord, but her eyes failed to catch the intelligent face that had expounded, with such nicety, the intricate Sanskrit verse of the previous night. Her confusion and dismay, were immense. But weakness might bring slame on her whole family; - might, perhaps, even endanger the very life of her real lord ! So she resumed her composure, and, going up to the minister's son, sat beside him, as she had done the previous day by the side of Atirûpa. The rites proceeded, and she freely lent her help. The minister was highly
