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18
THE ENCHANTED PARROT


and Râjaśekhara's wife was called Saśiprabhâ. Now a certain Dhanasena came across her, and fell violently in love with her. He was absolutely consumed with the flame of his passion, and at last his mother,Yaśodevî, asked him what was the matter. With many sighs and tears he told her. He must have the prince's wife. She was very difficult to get hold of, but he could not live without her. On hearing this, Yaśodevî bid him be of good cheer, and said she would see what could be done. So she abstained from all food, and putting on her best clothes went to Saśiprabhâ, taking with her a bitch. She assumed an appearance of grief, and taking Saśiprabhâ aside, said to her: ' You see this bitch; well, you and I and this bitch were sisters in a former existence. As for me, I had no compunction in accepting the advances of my lovers; you received their addresses, but with some hesitation. But this was not the case with our sister. She would not have anything to do with men at any price; she kept them at a distance, and now you see to what a condition she is reduced. She has to live as a bitch, all the time recollecting what she was. You, through your reluctance, may or may not remember your former state; but as far as I am concerned, I have no recollection of it whatever, for I thoroughly enjoyed myself. And so I am