Page:History of Bengali Language and Literature.djvu/682

 642 BENGALI LANGUAGE & LITERATURE. [Chap. Vidya puts visiting shrines like Benares, Gaya and Prayag ! ০, [এ ৬10৮5 whose mind was full of the handsome prince would not allow the Sannyasin to. approach her, and put off the date for doing so to an indefi- nite time on some pretext or other. Both the prince and the princess were longing for an interview. Hira was taken into their con- fidence, but she was afraid of the guards who would tear her to pieces if they hada scent of her having a share in the business. Prince Sundara felt that life was unbearable without an interview with Vidya. He fasted and Equipped worshipped Kali with true devotion, who granted witha : : : রর him a charmed rod wherewith the prince worked rod. out a subterranean passage from the room in which he lodged, leading through a mazy tunnel to Vidya’s room in the palace. The maids of Vidya were taken into her con- fidence and they all promised secrecy. One night when the starry sky, with its grey linings of clouds looked beautiful, causing sweet emotions to grow in young hearts.—Vidya felt a great longing to meet the prince. The maids attending on her suddenly saw that a deep cavity had been made ae inside the room, through which a turban sparkling meeting. with diamonds rose before their bewildered gaze, and shortly after there appeared a human form, the handsomest that had ever met their eyes— Sundara was smiling in triumph and looking to Vidya assured her that it was all through the grace 7 of Kali that he had at last succeeded in making an underground passage leading to her apartments. The maids felt reassured at this words; but Vidya