Page:History of Bengali Language and Literature.djvu/635

 V.] BENGALI LANGUAGE & LITERATURE. 595 She said ““My name is Dhara; my husband is the ascetic Brahmin who comes to your shop to purchase food every day.” £ You mean to say that you are the wife of Dronathat poor pious Brahmin. I never saw you before, nor knew that you were so beautiful.’ Dhara said “I have guests at my house. If you kindly help me by giving me grain on credit, with ghee and fuel, my husband will pay the bill. 1 have no money.” ‘QO yes, you have much with you to pay me. I hope you will not deprive me of what you have,’—said the grocer in a low tone. Dhara—a sincere soul—who knew no sin wonder- ingly said, ‘ What have I got to repay you with ?” ‘Promise that you will pay me what you have,’-added the man in a soft tone: In her eagerness to serve her guests, the innocent and pure-hearted Dhara gave the promise. The shop- keeper dismissed his other customers and gave a sufficient quantity of food-grains, ghee and fuel for the three guests and put them into a basket. He said, ‘“ Now is your time to pay before J you leave.” Dhara rejoined that she did not know what she had to pay and wonderingly asked him to tell it. The wicked man said, “I want only a touch +, Phara stood silent for: 2 of your rising breasts.’ moment, thinking of the promise she had given, which was inviolable. All of a sudden she seized a sharp knife that lay in a corner and with that cut her breasts off and bleeding profusely present- ed them to the shopkeeper, who swooned at the sight. She now lifted the basket of food on her head bleeding all. the way and came to her hut. Visnau came out and was horror-struck at the sight. The disguised deities all hastened to the. door, and The promise inviolable.