1878.] G. A. Grierson —The Song of Mdnilc Chandra. 215 
man and a woman, in such plight as thou and I, go along the road ; the 
tiger of the wood seizeth the woman and eateth her. 26S. Whether the 
tiger eat thee or eat thee not, he will assuredly kill thee. Why therefore 
wilt thou kill thyself because thou wouldest follow an ascetic.” 
269. The damsel began to laugh freely. 
The Queen - spake. 
“ Who sayeth these words ? and who believeth them ? 270. What 
tiger slayeth and eateth the woman that goeth with her husband ? These 
words are but to deceive, and a pretext for thy flight. 271. Let the 
tiger of the wood devour me, I fear him not. It is better to die at the 
feet of my husband than to lead a life of perpetual disgrace. 272. Thou 
wilt be my banyan tree, and I will be thy creeper. To thy feet will I 
cling, and then whither wilt thou flee ? 273. When I was in my father’s 
house, 0 pious king, why didst thou not then become a pilgrim ? 274. 
Now I have become a comely woman, and worthy of thee. If thou leavest 
me and becomest an ascetic, I will surely die. 275. Let the stream of 
my youth fall down before thee. When the hairs of my head turn gray, 
then do thou turn pilgrim. 276. The branches of fair jasmines bend 
down to the ground (with age). I am now a full grown woman, and how 
long shall I retain my comeliness ? 277. How long shall I keep my 
youth, e’en though I bind it and tie it down. For continually my heart 
weepeth for my husband.” 
The BURDEN' OE HER SOHGL 
278. “ Thou hast wedded me, and thou art going. I weep for thee. 
Thou hast thy father, and thy brethren ; but I, unhappy one, have none. 
I have left them all for thee, 0 king.” 
279. He had chosen Aduna and Paduna, and had married them. A 
bhatta brahman had named her Aduna. 280. He himself had called her 
Aduna and given her maid-servants. 
The Kinh spake. 
“ How can I break such love in my house P 281. I will take alms 
from one door, and will go to the door of another : easily will I lose my 
Kshetri birth and my Baniya caste. 282. Where’er I shall see a 
woman like thee, my youthful lovely wife, there weeping will I lay me 
down and die. 283. Where’er I shall see a woman like my lovely 
wife. First will I address her as ‘ mother,’ and then will I ask for alms.” 
The Queek spake. 
284. “ Alas, alas, my own husband, thou hast uttered a black word. 
Thou hast married me in my childhood, and thou desertest me in my 
youth.” 
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