The ocean of story, being C.H. Tawney's translation of Somadeva's ...

122 THE OCEAN OF STORY
them. However, my curse is at an end, owing
to the favour
of your son, so I give him my daughter, Suratamanjari.
And now I will go to my own dwelling-place among the
Vidyadharas, in order to pay my respects to the Emperor
Naravahanadatta." When Matangadeva had said this, he
solemnly gave the prince his daughter, and, flying up into
the air with his wife, repaired, King, to thy feet.
And King Palaka, having thus ascertained the truth,
celebrated with great delight the marriage of Suratamanjari
and his son. And his son, Avantivardhana, having obtained
that Vidyadhari for a wife, felt himself fortunate in having
gained more than he had ever hoped for.
Now, one day, that prince went to sleep on the top of the
palace with her, and at the end of the night he woke up, and
suddenly discovered that his beloved was nowhere to be seen.
He looked for her, but could not find her anywhere, and
then he lamented, and was so much afflicted that his father,
the king, came, and was exceedingly discomposed. We all,
"
This city is
being assembled there at that time, said :
well guarded, no stranger could enter it during the night ;
doubt she must have been carried off by some evilly disposed
wanderer of the air." And even while we were saying that,
your servant, the Vidyadhara Dhumasikha, descended from
the sky. He brought here this Prince Avantivardhana, and
King Palaka also was asked to part with me, in order that I
might state the facts of the case. Here too is Suratamanjari
with her father, and the facts concerning her are such as I have
said : your Majesty is the best judge of what ought to be
done now.
[M] When Bharataroha, the minister of Palaka, had told
this tale, he stopped speaking ; and the assessors put this
question to Matangadeva in the presence
"
Tell us, to whom did you give this daughter of yours,
Suratamanjari ? " "
He answered : I gave her to Avanti-
"
vardhana." Then they put this question to : Ityaka Now
do you tell us why you
no
of Naravahanadatta ;
carried her off." He answered :