1842.
Liản Chai ľ′ Chi.
209
pain, and the malignant influence of demons. You will," she said, "never be happy as long as you mingle in our society; my loss is irreparable, but bear it as well as you can, and never come again to this place." Having uttered these words, he saw her extended a corpse, and thenceforward never intruded again on the forbidden ground.
A mother bore a child, which from the day it came into the world could speak, and she nourished it with dog's milk. When the boy grew up, he was very expert in classical lore, and the doating mother flattered him with the prospect of marrying a princess, who was the only proper partner for such a genius. But years elapsed, and no princess made her appearance, and as the lad grew up to manhood, he was rather anxious to seek a partner in life, aud extremely dissa- tisfied with his mother's ambitious views. Whilst he was in this fretful mood, there came a splendid cavalcade, and a nymph-like virgin stood forward to inform him, that she was the princess, destined by her relations to become his consort. The youth was overjoyed, and wished to show his affection to the beautiful bride, when the latter warned him off, remarking, that they must previously proceed to business; and first of all she said, this house does not suit your fu- ture companion in life, and therefore take this sum of money and put it in proper order. The youth looked at the cash so unexpectedly put at his disposal, when the whole apparition suddenly disappeared. His mother immediately concluded, that it was merely a company of hobgoblins, that wished to play a trick on her beloved, and therefore forgot the whole matter, whilst her son, who could never chase from his mind the beautiful form of the princess, considered the whole a reality. The money, however, remaining in his possession, he inade a very good use of it, and most generously spent it amongst his friends. Being accustomed to play a game of chess with some of his boon companions till late at night, he came home after midnight, and there found to his great astonishment, that the thieves had plun- dered his house and left him not a single article. His mother could not survive the loss, and died of fright, whilst he himself went into a jungle. Here he was suddenly attacked by a tiger, which fairly carried him away in his mouth, and then threw him down before the gate of a palace. What was therefore his astonishment when the identical princess came to salute him, and after having condoled with him on account of the death of his mother, requested him to resume all the rights of a husband. After some time, however, she disap- peared, and he had long to wait for a second interview. By degrees
VOL AL
IV
+9
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.