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had been heaped up for those ladies. He made a sign to the people from a distance to cease their tumult, and going up quickly, he said to Rúpavatí, who was worshipping the fire; " Noble lady; desist from this rashness; that husband of yours Keśața is alive; he is my friend; know that I am Kandarpa." When he had said this, be told her all Keśața's adventures, beginning with the circumstance of the old Bráhman's treacherously making him embark on the boat. Then Rúpavatí believed him, as his story tallied so completely with what she knew, and she joyfully entered her father's house with those two friends. And her father kindly welcomed Kandarpa and took good care of him; and so he remained there, to please him.
In the meanwhile it happened that, as Keśața was roaming about, he reached Ratnapura and found there the house of Kandarpa, in which his two wives were. And as he was wandering about near the house, Sumanas, the wife of Kandarpa, saw him from the top of the house and said delighted to her father-in-law and mother-in-law, and the other people in the house, " Here now is Keśața my husband's friend arrived; we may bear news of my husband from him; quickly invite him in." Then they went and on some pretext or other brought in Keśața as she advised, and when he saw Sumanas come towards him, he was delighted. And after he had rested she questioned him, and he immediately told her his own and Kandarpa's adventures, after the scare produced by the wild elephants.
He remained there some days, hospitably entertained, and then a messenger came from Kandarpa with a letter. The messenger said, " Kandarpa and Rúpavatí are in the town where Kandarpa's friend Keśața married Rúpavatí; " and the contents of the letter were to the same effect; and Keśața communicated the tidings with tears to the father of Kandarpa.
And the next day Kandarpa's father sent in high glee a messenger to bring his son, and dismissed Keśața, that he might join his beloved. And Keśața went with that messenger, who brought the letter, to that country where Rúpavatí was living in her father's house. There, after a long absence, be greeted and refreshed the delighted Rúpavatí, as the cloud does the chátakí. He met Kandarpa once more, and he married at the instance of Rúpavatí her two before-mentioned friends, Anurágavatí and Śŗingáravatí. And then Keśața went with Rúpavatí and them to his own land, after taking leave of Kandarpa. And Kandarpa returned to Ratnapura with the messenger, and was once more united to Sumanas and Anangavatí and his relations. So Kandarpa regained his beloved Sumanas, and Keśața his beloved Rúpavatí, and they lived enjoying the good things of this life, each in his own country.
Thus men of firm resolution, though separated by adverse destiny,
