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and said: “Noble sir, do not act thus rashly"; and with these words he cut the noose. He took Vasantadeva under a Kinkilli-tree, and both of them sat down. The man said: “Noble sir, why have you attempted an act reprobated by all excellent people ?” Then Vasantadeva told his story. Then the man said: “Granted that things are as you say, nevertheless a discerning man like you ought not to act thus. In this case some artifice should be employed. If even by an artifice the object cannot be attained, death is our refuge in the last resort. Thus I, too, in the very same circumstances live, though afflicted. A living man sees hundreds of good chances ; if the worst come to the worst, death is a refuge.” When Vasantadeva heard this, he said: “Noble sir, who are you, and how are you unhappy ?" He said: “I am the son of a merchant; I live in the city of Kártika, and my name is Kámala. Once on a time I started to visit foreign countries. As I was roaming about, I came in course of time to Çankhapura. It happened one day that all the people of that town assembled in a garden outside it to attend a festival in honour of the Yaksha Çankha, and I went there also. There I saw a maiden in a grove of fragrant mango-trees, and she also saw me, and imme. diately we fell desperately in love with one another. Then she offered me betel with her own hand. I thought in my heart: What shall I do? Shall I take it or not ?' While I was thus reflecting, a mad elephant, that was roaming about at will, came there. Through fear of that elephant the girl's attendants ran away, but she did not run away herself. While the elephant was preparing to seize that girl, as she stood trembling in every limb, I struck the elephant with a stick behind. It left the girl and went away. Then the girl's attendants reassembled and praised me. At this moment the whole herd of elephants came up, and made the people fly in all directions, and I could not see what became of that girl. After I had roamed about for some days in that city, without getting tidings of that girl, I came here with an
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