How to explain this answer from above I
know not: perhaps the youth who was fortunate in discovering the flower,
is also the youth of the princess's choice.
"Even so," replied the princess, in a soft, melodious voice, "and
therefore is my father's will obeyed."
"Where, then, is the fortunate youth?" said the chief Brahmin; "let him
appear."
Babe-bi-bobu, who, as well as others, had in vain looked round for
Acota, was astonished at his not making his appearance, and still more
so when he did, as they thought, appear, led in by the four black mutes,
with his face enveloped in a shawl.
"This, then," said the chief Brahmin, "is the favoured youth, Acota.
Remove the shawl, and lead him to the princess."
The mutes obeyed, and to the horror of Babe-bi-bobu, there stood Acota,
as she thought, with a face so scarred and burnt, that his features were
not distinguishable. She started from her throne, uttered one wild
shriek, which was said to have been heard by the whole ten square miles
of population, and fainted in the arms of her attendants.
"We know his dress, most noble grandees," continued the chief Brahmin,
"but how can we recognise in that object, the youth without scar or
blemish? It is the will of Heaven," continued the chief Brahmin, piously
and reverently bending low. And all the other grandees replied in the
same pious manner, "It is the will of Heaven." "I say," continued the
chief Brahmin, "that this must have been occasioned by the princess not
having chosen as ordained by the will of her father, but having
impiously left to chance what was to have been decided by free will.
Pages:
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
321
322
323
324
325
326
327
328
329
330
331
332
333
334
335
336
337
338