Prince. "There are dangers in the way."
Bimala. "Then I will go to Maharaja Man Singha."
"Why so?" enquired the Prince.
Bimala. "Why? I have a suit to bring forward to him. The General he has appointed is unable to remove the fears of our way; he is incapable of destroying his enemies."
"The General will reply," said the Prince laughing, "that the destruction of foes even the gods are not equal to;—what is man? Witness, that enemy whom Mahadeva had reduced to ashes in the Grove of austerities,—'tis only a fortnight since the same Manmatha[1] has created strange disturbance in this his very temple. Such prowess!"
"At whom was the disturbance aimed, I pray?" asked Bimala, with a smile.
"At the General himself," replied the Prince.
"Why," said Bimala "will the Maharaja believe in so impossible a thing?"
Prince. "I have a witness."
Bimala. "And who is such a witness, Sir?"
Prince. "You, good-natured—"
Bimala interposed by saying,
"Your humble servant is very ill-natured; call me Bimala, if you please."
"Bimala is my witness."
Bimala. "No, Bimala will never give such evidence."
Prince. "Indeed, most probable. She that can in no more
- ↑ The God of love was reduced to ashes by Siva, for his having audaciously disturbed the devotions of the latter. He was, however, again restored to life.
