Ahalya Baee/Introduction

The observations I have made in my preface to the former legends, apply equally to this of Ahalya Baee. I have added no fictitious circumstances to the story or characters. I have only taken those liberties regarding supposed feeling and description, which a person detailing what he has in a general abridged way, but with no intention of altering the truth, naturally takes; in short, the difference of the story from a bare record, or from the story-teller when the story-teller is warmed and interested by his subject. It may perhaps be thought that, in representing the daughter of Ahalya as so young at the time of her brother’s death, and soothing her mother’s sorrow with so many childish endearments, I have stepped beyond this rule; for we are told in another place that she was already married. But when we consider how very early betrothments take place in that country, her being still as a child with her mother is by no means inconsistent with that fact. That she should be so amiable and affectionate, and that Ahalya should be so strongly attached to her, agrees ​well with what is related of her melancholy end and her mother’s behaviour on that dreadful occasion. In all the descriptive passages regarding her popularity, and the feelings even of the children towards her, I think myself fully entitled to go as far as I have done on Sir John Malcom’s authority, though no direct mention of children may there be found, for their light warm hearts are ever ready for grateful acclamation. It is their play and their privilege and propensity, which Providence has given them for benevolent purposes. As the history of this wise and good sovereign is given in the account of Central India, necessarily intermingled with the quarrels, and expeditions, and wars of all the native princes bordering upon her dominions, it is difficult to give any distinct view of what is immediately belonging to herself; and it is only by descriptions of what must naturally be supposed or taken for granted, that an impressive idea can be given of her extraordinary merits. Had graver historians been more descriptive as to the different states and conditions of the same country under a warlike and under a peaceful sovereign, we should not so frequently hear young people complain of a peaceful reign being so dull, or, as the little boy said to his mother, “the reigns of the wicked kings are so much prettier than the reigns of the good kings.”

That Sir John Malcom was powerfully charmed by the character of Ahalya Baee, is very plain; but ​being jealous of his own partiality, and having therefore strictly examined into the truth of what is said of her, which he from his high official situation had every facility for doing, there cannot be any reasonable cause for distrust, extraordinary and perfect as her character appears.