Then the counsellor's son said: "Did you not see all that she hinted
with her signs? When she put the lotus on her ear, she meant that she
lived in the kingdom of a king named Ear-lotus. And when she made the
row of teeth, she meant that she was the daughter of a man named Bite
there. And when she laid the lily on her head, she meant that her name
was Lily. And when she placed her hand on her heart, she meant that she
loved you. And there is a king named Ear-lotus in the Kalinga country.
There is a very rich man there whom the king likes. His real name is
Battler, but they call him Bite. He has a pearl of a girl whom he loves
more than his life, and her name is Lily. This is true, because people
told me. So I understood her signs about her country and the other
things." When the counsellor's son had said this, the prince was
delighted to find him so clever, and pleased because he knew what to do.
Then he formed a plan with the counsellor's son, and started for the
lake again, pretending that he was going to hunt, but really to find
the girl that he loved. On the way he rode like the wind away from his
soldiers, and started for the Kalinga country with the counsellor's son.
When they reached the city of King Ear-lotus, they looked about and
found the house of the man called Bite, and they went to a house near
by to live with an old woman. And the counsellor's son said to the old
woman: "Old woman, do you know anybody named Bite in this city?"
Then the old woman answered him respectfully: "My son, I know him well.
I was his nurse. And I am a servant of his daughter Lily. But I do not
go there now because my dress is stolen. My naughty son is a gambler
and steals my clothes."
Then the counsellor's son was pleased and satisfied her with his own
cloak and other presents. And he said: "Mother, you must do very
secretly what we tell you. Go to Bite's daughter Lily, and tell her
that the prince whom she saw on the bank of the lake is here, and sent
you with a love-message to her."
The old woman was pleased with the gifts and went to Lily at once. And
when she got a chance, she said: "My child, the prince and the
counsellor's son have come to take you. Tell me what to do now." But
the girl scolded her and struck her cheeks with both hands smeared with
camphor.
The old woman was hurt by this treatment, and came home weeping, and
said to the two men: "My sons, see how she left the marks of her
fingers on my face."
And the prince was hopeless and sad, but the very clever counsellor's
son took him aside and said, "My friend, do not be sad. She was only
keeping the secret when she scolded the old woman, and put ten fingers
white with camphor on her face. She meant that you must wait before
seeing her, for the next ten nights are bright with moonlight."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account