Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 2 1884.djvu/381

 FOLK-TALES OF INDIA. 373

Now the robber-chief thought to himself, " This woman has mur- dered the husband to wliom she was given with all due ceremony by her family; perhaps she may see another she prefers to me and serve me exactly the same, so I must get rid of her at once."

As he was going along ho saw, in the course of his journey, a little shallow stream, which at that moment happened to be full of water. " There's a savage crocodile in this river," said he. " What had we better do ? " " Master," she replied, " make a bundle of my ornaments with my upper garment; take it across the stream, leave it there, and then come and fetch me." " All right ! " said he. Taking the bundle containing the ornaments he went across the stream, as if to return, but when he gained the further bank he proceeded on his way and left the woman behind. On perceiving this she exclaimed: " Master, you are going away as if you meant to abandon me. Why do you do so ? Come take me and then depart." While thus talking with him she uttered the following verse : —

The stream you have crossed all safely, I ween; Oh I quickly return, I pray thee, at once And take me from here, far away o'er the stream."
 * ' My jewels of gold, brahman, you've got,

On hearing this the robber, standing on the opposite bank, spake the following gdtha : —

" A man unknown I am, yet me you chose, And off did cast your spouse, long known and tried ; The substance you have left, the shadow seized, I trust you not, again you may do wrong, And me exchange, perhaps, for some one else. Far hence I'll go and ne'er return again.

Moreover the robber said: " I'll go very far away from this place, but do you remain where you are."

And e'en while she was crying he took and made ofif with her articles of jewelry and the rest. To such grief did this poor fool come through outrageous lust. Forlorn and destitute she drew near to an E/agala bush not far off, and there she sat weeping bitterly.

At that moment Indra, who was looking round the world, beheld that woman, afflicted with excessive lust, who had lost both husband