Page:True Tales of Indian Life - Dwijendra Nath Neogi.pdf/21

Rh them on the water. When we remember the surpassing merit of Raghunàth's Didhiti, we can faintly realise the excellence of Nimài's book and the sacrifice which he made on the altar of friendship. is told of the two young princes Protap and Sakta, of Mewar, who were both hot-headed and hasty-tempered, that on one occasion when out hunting they had become separated from their retinue and found themselves in the depth of a wood with no one but their family priest in attendance. They had not been there long when some trifling incident occurred which set the two youths aflame. Words ran high, until at length swords were drawn and they prepared for a mortal combat. Horrified at what he saw, the old priest implored them to desist, and used every entreaty and argument at his command that they might refrain from their purpose. With tears in his eyes he prayed them to remember what was due to their rank and position, and reminded them of the disaster which would befall their country if either of them met his death. But, notwithstanding the sanctity of his calling and the influence which at other times he was wont to wield, the words of the old priest fell upon deaf ears, and seeing no other way in which to save his beloved country from a calamity which he dared not contemplate, he drew his dagger and, rushing in between the two combatants, stabbed himself to the heart