24. The ministers were then employed in the public affairs pending before them; and the dextrous officers were engaged in relating the reports of the country to the king. 25. There were the learned pandits reciting the holy legends from their books, and the courteous panegyrists chaunting their sacred eulogies on one side. 26. There appeared at this time a magician in his fantastic attire, and with his blustering vauntings before the Court; in the manner of a roaring cloud, threatening to deluge the earth with his showers of rain. 27. He bowed down to the ruler of the earth, and lowly bent his capped head and neck before the court; as a tree hangs down its loads of fruits, at the foot of a mountain. 28. He approached before the king, as a monkey advances to a shady and lofty tree, loaded with fruits and flowers. (The artful sorcerer is compared with the cunning monkey prying into a fruitful arbour). 29. The flippant brat then conveyed the fragrance of his sense, with the breath of his mouth; and addressed the lofty headed king with his sweet voice, as the humble bee hums to the lotus. 30. Reign O lord! that sittest on the earthly throne like the moon enthroned on high, to mark one wonderful feat of my art, known as the trick of Kharolikiká. 31. Saying so, he began to twirl about his magic staff set with peacocks’ feathers, which began to display many wonders like the wonderful works of creation. 32. The king beheld it describing a bright circlet, emitting the particles of its rays around; and viewed in the manner, that the god Indra views his variegated rainbow sparkling afar in the sky. 33. As this time a chieftain of Sinde (who was the master of horse,) entered the court, as a cloud appears in the starry heaven. 34. He was followed by his swift and beautiful courser, as the _Uchcha Sravá_ horse of Indra follows his master in the celestial regions. (This is the Pegasus of the Hindus). 35. The chieftain brought the horse before the king and said this horse my lord! is a match for the _Uchcha Sravá_, who was produced from the milky ocean, and flies with the swiftness of the mind. 36. This horse of mine, O king of the earth! is the best of his kind, and a compeer of Uchcha Sravás; he is a personification of the wind in the swiftness of his flight. 37. My master has made a present of this horse to you, my lord; because the best of things is a suitable present to the best of men. (Great gifts are for the great; or, a donum worthy of the donor and donee). 38. After he had ended his speech the magician spoke in a voice, as sweet as that of the swallow, after the roaring of the cloud is hushed to silence. 39. Do you my lord ride upon this horse, and wander at your pleasure with full lustre on earth; as the sun shines forth in splendour by his revolving round the heavens. 40. Hearing this the king looked at the horse, and ordered him to be brought before him, in a voice like that of the peacock answering the roaring cloud.