45$ On Egypt and the Nile 



tened, and, though nearly famifhed, permitted the antelope to depart, 

 having flrft exacted an oath, that he would perform his engagement. A 

 female antelope, one of his conforts, came in the fecond watch to drink at 

 the fpring; who was in like manner allowed to efcape, on her folemn pro- 

 mife, that me would return, when flie had committed her helplefs young 

 to the care of a filler; and thus, in the third and fourth watches, two 

 other females were releafed for a time on pretences nearly (imilar, and on 

 fimilar promifes. So many a£ls of tender benevolence in fo trying a fitu- 

 ation, and the rites to M aha'de'va, which accompanied them from watch 

 to watch, though with a different intention, were pleafing to the God, 

 who enlightened the mind of Lubdhaca, and raifed in him ferious 

 thoughts on the cruelty of flaying the innocent for the gratification of his 

 appetite : at early dawn he returned to his manfion, and, having told his 

 family the adventure of the night, afked Whether, if he mould kill the 

 antelopes, they would participate his guilt, but they difclaimed any fhare 

 in it, and infifted, that, although it was his duty to provide them with 

 fuflenance, the punifhment of fin muft fall on him folely. The faithful 

 and amiable beaft at that moment approached him, with his three conforts 

 and all his little ones, dcfiring to be the firftviclim ; but Lubdhaca ex- 

 claimed, that he would never hurt his friend and his guide to the path of 

 happinefs, applauded them for their ftrict observance of their promifes, 

 and bade them return to the woods, into which he intimated a defign of 

 following them as a hermit: his words; were fo fooner uttered, than acelef- 

 tial car defcended with a mefTengerfrom Siva, by whole order the royal 

 convert and the whole family of antelopes were foon wafted, with radiant 

 and incorruptible bodies, to the fhxry regions, fanned by heavenly nymphs, 

 as they rofe, and fnaded by genii, who held umbrellas, while a chorus of 

 ethereal fongfters chanted the praifes of tendernefs to living creatures and 



