Page:The Dravidian Nights Entertainments.djvu/44

man giving the marriage badges to the minister's son, wanted him to tie them round the brides' necks; and as the minister's son had quite a different plan in his mind, as we all know about the marriage affair, he directed saying that that was the custom of his country, to have the marriage badge tied, as ordered by Paramêsvara, by the hands of Bhâmanî's. With this single exception, all the ceremonies pertaining to the marriage were regularly conducted.

The busy day was drawing to its close. The minister's son as soon as the sun set in the western mountains had his supper, and entering the bed room pretended to be sound asleep. The eldest of the princesses bathed in the evening and adorning herself with all ornaments, and repleting with all sorts of sweet odours and taking in her hand, a platter containing sweet fruits and betel-leaves and nuts as well as a lovely violin entered the bed chamber. Seeing her lord asleep, instead of awakening him herself, she played for some time on her violin. Finding that her music was not able to do its intended work, and much enraged at finding so retired a husband who would go to sleep on the very first day instead of waiting for an affectionate wife, determined to do away with him by one stroke of her sword, if he did not rise at the tap of her fingers on his back. Buddhichâturya who was only pretending sleep slyly watched all the