that when he returned, he would take her to his father's kingdom with his other wives.
Let us now return to Madhumala, whom we left sleeping on Madan's couch. The next morming, her maids, as usual, came into her room, and finding it disordered, asked her the reason. She answered nothing in reply, merely exclaiming again and again, "O Prince Madan." At this they feared that she had lost her reason, and ran to the king and queen with the report. They instantly hurried to their daughter's chamber, with the best physicians available in the kingdom. They were all at a loss to conjecture what was the matter with the princess, and leaving her undisturbed, they withdrew to hold a consultation, which, however, ended in nothing. Day after day passed and the king in despair gave orders to put his capital in mourning. His own palace of gold he had demolished, saying it was no longer of use to him until his daughter got Prince Madan back. He sent a written message throughout the habitable world, to the effect that there was a bride named Madhumala, with a kingdom, awaiting the prince Madankumar, but the messengers returned without finding the prince. The king, no longer able to bear the sight of his daughter's sufferings, resolved to make away with his life. But happily good fortune dawned upon him at last. One night the sentinels on duty saw a brilliant light, as of innumerable torches high up in the air, and as they gazed at it a splendid looking youth astride a golden peacock alighted. It was thus that Madankumar came to find his beloved Madhumala.
On alighting, the prince saw that the palace was in a ruined condition, and attributing it to some terrible calamity feared for the safety of his love. His anguish was intolerable, and he broke forth into bitter lamentations, saying, "Tell me, O skies and seas, what has caused these ruins, and who has robbed me of my beloved, beautiful as the full moon. O ye gods, bring my life, my Madhumala, back to me." His voice was heard by her whose ears had waited so long for it,
