ess, covered only by a thin
silken petticoat, half sunk into a soft white feather-bed, like
lightning on an autumn cloud.

Fast asleep, as if wearied by much play, she lay in a very graceful
attitude, with her delicate ancles crossed, her knees slightly drawn
up; one lovely hand laid loosely on her side, the other beneath her
head; her full bosom, slowly heaved by gentle breathing, illuminated
by the ruby necklace strung on burnished gold; the top-knot of her
loosened hair hanging down like some graceful flower; her lips so
bright that the opening of the mouth could hardly be distinguished;
her features in calm repose, shaded by her lovely ringlets.

I had entered so softly that no one was disturbed; and I stood gazing
for some time lost in admiration of her beauty, quite forgetting the
purpose for which I had come.

I thought, she is, after all, the lady of my heart. If I do not obtain
her, Kama will not suffer me to live; but how can I make known my love
to her? Were I now to wake her, she would start up with a cry of
alarm, and I should probably lose my life. I must think of some other
way of letting her know my love.

Then, looking round, I saw laid on a shelf a thin board prepared for
painting, and a box of paints and brushes. With these I made a hasty
sketch of the princess as she lay, and of myself kneeling at her feet,
and underneath it I wrote this verse:--

"Of thee thy slave in humble attitude thus prays:
Sleep on, not worn like me by pervading love."

I then painted on the wall near her a pair of chakravakas in loving
attitude, gently took off her ring, replacing it with mine, and
slipped out without disturbing any of the sleepers.

There was at that time among the prisoners a man named Sinhaghosha,
formerly a chief officer of police, but now imprisoned through a
false accusation made by Kantaka.

With this man I had already made acquaintance, and I now went to him
and told him how I had killed Kantaka. With his consent I went forth
from the prison, and walked away with Sringalika. We had not gone far
when we fell in with a patrol. I thought to myself I could easily run
away from them; but what would become of the poor old woman? she would
certainly be caught. Hastily determining, therefore, on what was best
to be done, I walked right up to them with unsteady gait and idiotic
look, and said: "Sirs, if I am a thief kill me, but you have no right
to touch this old woman."

She, perceiving my i