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68
TPE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[MARCH, 1899.
attentively and understood what the lovers had said. He was astoanded,' and, hastily leaving the palace, went home; at day break he went to the minister and said as follows :- "Oh my Jord, take good care of your beloved son this day; if you doubt me and let your son go out to-day the king will surely have your head, and not only yours but the beads of many innocent persons." Minister:- "What is your reason for saying this?" Fisherman: - “ Your slave will explain fully when the day is done."
The minister was perplexed, and, calling his son, said to him :- "Oh my son, go to my room, open my box, and bring to me my ring." No sooner had the son entered the room bat his father shut the door. Badaru'l-Munir was surprised by what his father had done ; he was stricken with grief.
Hassana'l-Jamâl made all arrangements for departure, taking with her all her jewels and beautiful clothes, also a laced coat and silken garments for Badaru 'l-Munir, and a beautiful horse finely caparisoned. Thus she awaited her beloved at midnight, - she, unfortunate lady, not having the slighest suspicion of the misfortune which had orertaken liim. The wicked fisherman appeared in disguise at the spot at the appointed hoor. The princess said : "Let us go." In a low voice the fisherman said :- “Yes." They mounted the horse and were soon out of the town with the speed of the wind. Before daybreak they had crossed hills, forests, plains, and left many miles of country behind them, and during all this time they neither looked at each other nor exchanged a single word. At last they halted on an open plain, and turning back to see her lover seated behind her, she was astounded to see instead of him — the fisherman! "Oh! where is my most beloved Badaru'l-Manir?" she cried and fell senseless from the horse. The fisherman trembled with fear, and, folding his hands, stood at a respectful distance. Soon she recovered her senses, and began to beat her breast with her hands and to roll in the dust as she wailed :- "Oh God! what misery has befallen me! How have I been deceived! I have left my home and all its pleasures pursuing a shadow. When shall I forget this separation from my beloved ? What shall I do to get out of this pit of misfortune? Oh God! what further dangers are in store for me? So long as I live I will not return to my father's palace. What misfortune has overtaken my beloved Badaru'l-Munir, and prevented him meeting me as we arranged? He would never have failed me but that some great danger has come over bim." So saying she wept bitterly. Suddenly her features changed, her eyes became bloodshot; drawing her sword she leapt like a lioness towards the fisherman. * Miserable fisherman ! answer me truly or I will cut off your head this instant. Have you killed my beloved friend?" "Oh princess!" said the fisherman, "do not be angry. Protect me! I will tell you the whole truth and nothing else. Last night I went out to fish, but canglit none. As I was going home I saw a big horse and a woman stand by. As I came near, the woman said :-. Let us go.' I said :-*Yes.' Then yon mounted the horse and told me also to get up. This is all. I knew nothing beforehand. The sword in your hand terrifies me. Do what you please ; I will not prevent you. It is in your power to protect or destroy." Having said this the fisherman began to weep. The princess believed and was pacified. Again she mounted, the horse and told the fisherman to mount also. So they travelled for a month, and passed out of the dominions of her father.
As soon as they had crossed the boundary, she pitched her tent under a tree, and, looking round saw a palace and a fort and a town in which were upstair buildings. She understood at once that it was the residence of a king ; bo giving two gold coins to the fisherman she told him to go and bay provisions. The fisherman obeyed. She told him, if people asked who she was, to say she was his wife. The fisherman asked respectfully what was the good — to him - of so saying? The princess changed colour and with the fury of a tigress addressed him thus :"Senseless fisherman! Do you love your life?" The fisherman trembled, and, falling at her feet, cried for mercy. Then she opened the box in which she had brought clothes for Badaru'l. Munir, and took out of it a cloth, a coat and a pair of sandals. She examined carefully all the jewels she had brought. She took up the sandals, placed them on her head, and kissed them.
