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pupil. Then, as she approached the private rooms of Devasmitá, a bitch, that was fastened there with a chain, would not let her come near, but opposed her entrance in the most determined way. Then Devasmitá seeing her, of her own accord sent a maid, and had her brought in, thinking to herself, " What can this person be come for?" After she had entered, the wicked ascetic gave Devasmitá her blessing, and, treating the virtuous woman with affected respect, said to her— " I have always had a desire to see you, but to-day I saw you in a dream, therefore I have come to visit you with impatient eagerness; and my mind is afflicted at beholding you separated from your hushand, for beauty and youth are wasted when one is deprived of the society of one's beloved." With this and many other speeches of the same kind she tried to gain the confidence of the virtuous woman in a short interview, and then taking leave of her she returned to her own house. On the second day she took with her a piece of meat full of pepper dust, and went again to the house of Devasmitá, and there she gave that piece of meat to the bitch at the door, and the bitch gobbled it up, pepper and all. Then owing to the pepper dust, the tears flowed in profusion from the animal's eyes, and her nose began to run. And the cunning ascetic immediately went into the apartment of Devasmitá, who received her hospitably, and began to cry. When Devasmitá asked her why she shed tears, she said with affected reluctance: " My friend, look at this bitch weeping out- side here. This creature recognized me to-day as having been its companion in a former birth, and began to weep; for that reason my tears gushed through pity." When she heard that, and saw that bitch outside apparently weeping, Devasmitá thought for a moment to herself, " What can be the meaning of this wonderful sight?" Then the ascetic said to her, " My daughter, in a former birth, I and that bitch were the two wives of a certain Brahman. And our husband frequently went about to other countries on embassies by order of the king. Now while he was away from Lome, I lived with other men at my pleasure, and so did not cheat the elements, of which I was composed, and my senses, of their lawful enjoyment. For considerate treatment of the elements and senses is held to be the highest duty. Therefore I have been born in this birth with a recollection of my former existence. But she, in her former life, through ignorance, confined all her attention to the preservation of her character, therefore she has been degraded and born again a one of the canine race, however, she too remembers her former birth." The wise Devasmitá said to herself, " This is a novel conception of duty; no doubt this woman has laid a treacherous snare for me"; and so she said to her, " Reverend lady, for this long time I have been ignorant of this duty, so procure me an interview with some charming man."— Then the ascetic said— "There are residing here some young merchants that have come from another country,
