Would that I were dead!" Thus spoke
The king. Meanwhile the Br??hman hastily
Entered the grove wherein his dwelling stood,
And vanished with his slaves. Then met the king
The Br??hman Vi??v??mitra. "Prince!" he said,
Pay me the offering!" Hari??chandra gave
The money gain??d by the shameful sale
Of wife and child. And when the priest beheld
The money, overcome with wrath, he said:
"How canst thou mock me with this paltry sum!
Base Kshatriya! And thinkest thou that this
Suffices for a sacrificial gift
Such as I would accept? But if thy mind
Thus far misleads thee, thou shalt feel my power--
Power transcendant, gained by penances,
And scripture meditation. Yes! the power
Of my pure Br??hmanhood shall show itself
On thee." "More will I give thee," said the king,
"But wait, most noble saint! Nought have I left!
Even my wife and child are sold." Replied
The Br??hman: "Hold! be silent! Further time
Than the remaining fourth part of to-day
I grant thee not." Enraged, he turned away,
Departing with the money. And the king,
Immersed in grief and fear, with face cast down,
Cried out: "If there be any one of you
Who wants a slave, let him make haste and speak
While day remains.
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