as great even as that which a dutiful wife could have done.
"As to the third question, my false friends there are dogs in human form. They ate at my expense, even the morsels that I rejected were seized by them voraciously, and just as a dog licks the feet of its master, but, when rabid, bites him to death, so have these men flattered me, and when maddened by greed of money, and a desire to enjoy the uninterrupted companionship of the vile woman whom I made my wife, have rushed at me to bite me to death.
"And as to whether a donkey can possibly rule a kingdom, I pray your Majesty to look at yourself. You are an Emperor, but have you not proved yourself a donkey, in sentencing me to death before thorough investigation?"
The Emperor looked utterly abashed, and remained speechless. At length he invited Golami into the palace, entertained him for several days, and then sent him away with rich presents. But these were nothing in comparison with what Prithu gave him after his return. He bestowed upon him the half of his kingdom, and the hand of his daughter, though the bridegroom was a Mahomedan, and she a Hindu. Caste restrictions were not so strong then as in later times, and so it was not difficult for the Raja to reward his deliverer in this signal manner.
Our story ends here, for Bhabaghuray has not told us what afterwards befell the several actors in this drama.
