The princess hearing this, stood for a moment irresolute, with her head bent down, her eyes half closed, her eyebrows quivering, her bosom agitated by hurried breathing and wetted by tears of joy, restlessly moving one foot, as if scratching the ground, and betraying the struggle between bashfulness and love by alternate blushes and paleness.  Then, in a low sweet gentle voice, she uttered these words:  “O gracious sir, why do you, having just delivered me from a terrible death, now overwhelm me in a sea of love whose waves are the agitations of anxiety driven by the wind of passion?  My life, saved by you, is entirely at your disposal.  Take pity on me; regard me as your own.  Let me be your servant, your slave; I would endure anything rather than separation from you.  Come with me to my father’s palace; you need not fear discovery; all my friends and attendants are faithful and devoted to me; they will carefully keep the secret.”

Pierced to the heart by the arrows of Kama, tied and bound by her looks and words as if with chains of iron, I had no power to refuse, and turning to the two Rakshas, I said:  “I have no choice here.  Whatever this fair lady commands must be done.  Take us both, therefore, to the place from which you brought her.”

Bowing down in submission, they lifted us from the ground, carried us through the air, and placed us while it was yet night in the apartments of the princess.  There she introduced me to her attendants, assigned me a room in the upper story where I might most easily escape detection, and appointed them to keep watch so that no one might enter her apartments without notice.  I had thus abundant opportunities of being with the princess; but though my love daily increased, I made no further advances to her.

One day some of her women came with tears in their eyes, and bowing down to my feet, said, with whispering timid voice, “O gracious sir, our lady is doubly yours, since she was gained by your own valour when you rescued her from death, and is assigned to you by the all-powerful God of Love.  Do not let her languish in vain.  Make her your wife without delay.”  With this request I could not refuse to comply, and taking the hand of the princess, I declared our solemn union.

For a time we enjoyed the greatest happiness.  It was destined, however, to be of no long duration; our separation was at hand, for now was the time of spring, when the trees were covered with blossoms bent down by the eager bees, and the song of birds was resounding among their branches waved by the soft south wind, bearing perfume from the sandal groves of Malaya; at which season the king was accustomed to go with all his court to the sea-shore, and there, in tents under the shade of lofty trees, to enjoy the cool sea breezes.

My bride of course went with the rest; and as there was no possibility of concealing me in such a place, I was obliged, though reluctantly, to let her depart alone, consoling myself by looking forward to her return.