ening came, the king and the _wazir_ mounted,
and went to the _wazir's_ house, and they made over to me the _wazir's_
daughter according to their rites and ceremonies; they gave a great
dowry and presents with her, and expressed themselves highly obliged,
saying, that according to the commands of the great idol, they had
given her to me. They settled us both in one house; when I saw that
beauty, then [I perceived that] in truth her beauty was equal to
that of a fairy, perfect from top to toe. All the beauties we have
heard of, as peculiar to _Padmini_ [353] females, were centred in
her. I cohabited with her without ceremony, and experienced great
delight. In the morning, after having bathed, I waited on the king;
he bestowed on me the _khil'at_ of marriage, and ordered that I should
always attend his levee; at last, after some days, I became one of
his majesty's counsellors.

"'The king used to be much pleased with my society, and often gave
me presents and rich _khil'ats_, although I was rich in worldly
treasures, for my wife possessed so much gold property and precious
stones, that they exceeded all bounds and limits. Two years passed in
extreme delight and ease. It happened that [my wife] the _wazir's_
daughter, became pregnant; when the seventh and eighth months had
passed, and she entered her full time, the pains came on; the nurse
and midwife came, and a dead child was brought forth; its poison
infected the mother, and she also died. I became frantic with grief,
and exclaimed, what a dreadful calamity has burst upon me! I was
seated at the head of the bed, and weeping; all at once the noise
of lamentations spread through the whole house, and women began to
pour in [upon me] from all sides. Each as she entered, struck one
or two blows with her hands on my head, and stood before my face,
and began to weep. So many women were assembled [round me], that I
was perfectly hidden among them, and nearly expiring.

"'In the mean time, some one from behind seized me by the collar,
and dragged me along; I looked up, and saw it was the same man of
Persia who had married me [to the _wazir's_ daughter]. He exclaimed,
"O blockhead! for what art thou weeping?" I replied, "O cruel! what
a question thou askest! I have lost my empire, and the repose of my
house is utterly gone, and thou demandest why I weep!" He said, with
a smile, "Now weep on account of thy own death; I told thee at first,
that perhaps thine evil fate had led t