Page:Katha sarit sagara, vol2.djvu/620

 he said, " Noble sir, if what you say is possible, I must certainly do it; let the benefit be conferred on you."

When the Bráhman heard that, he said, " Listen, my good young man; I have a son, who is the prince of ugly, as you are of good-looking, men. He has projecting teeth, a flat nose, a black colour, squinting eyes, a big belly, crooked feet, and ears like winnowing baskets, Though he is such, I, out of my love for him, described him as handsome, and asked a, Bráhman, named Ratnadatta, to give him his daughter, named Rúpavatí, and he has agreed to do it. The girl is as beautiful as her name expresses, and to-day they are to be married. For this reason we have come, but I know that, when that purposed connexion of mine sees my son, he will refuse to give him his daughter, and this attempt will be fruitless. And while thinking how I could find some way oat of the difficulty, I have met you here, courteous sir; so quickly perform for me my desire, as you have pledged your word to do. Come with us, and marry that maiden, and hand her over to my son to-day, for you are as good-looking as the bride." When Keśața heard this, he said, " Agreed," and so the old Bráhman took Keśața with him, and they crossed the Narmada in boats and landed on the opposite bank. And so he reached the city, and rested outside it with his followers, and at that time the sun also, the traveller of the sky, went to his rest on the mountain of setting. Then the darkness began to diffuse itself abroad, and Keśața, having gone to rinse his mouth, saw a terrible Rákshasa rise up near the water; and the Rákshasa said, " Where will you go from me,* Keśața? I am about to devour you." Thereupon Keśața said to the Rákshasa, " Do not devour me now; I will certainly come back to you presently, when I have done the Bráhman the service I promised." When the Rákshasa heard this, he made Keśața take an oath to this effect, and then let him go; and he returned to the company of the bridegroom's friends. Then the old Bráhman brought Keśața adorned with the ornaments of a bridegroom, and entered that city with all the bridegroom's party. And then he made him enter the house of Ratnadatta, in which an altar- platform was ready prepared, and which was made to resound with the music of various instruments. And Keśața married there with all due ceremonies that fair-faced maiden Rúpavatí, to whom her father gave great wealth. And the women there rejoiced, seeing that the bride and bridegroom were well-matched ; and not only Rúpavatí, when she saw that such a bridegroom had arrived, but her friends also, fell in love with him. But Keśața at that time was overpowered with despondency and astonishment.