Meanwhile Madansena went one day， during the spring season into the garden for a stroll. It happened， just before she came out， that Somdatt， the son of the merchant Dharmdatt， had gone for pleasure into the forest， and was returning through the same garden to his home.
He was fascinated at the sight of the maiden， and said to his friend， "Brother， if I can obtain her my life will be prosperous， and if I do not obtain her my living in the world will be in vain."
Having thus spoken， and becoming restless from the fear of separation， he involuntarily drew near to her， and seizing her hand， said - "If thou wilt not form an affection for me， I will throw away my life on thy account."
"Be pleased not to do this，" she replied； "it will be sinful， and it will involve me in the guilt and punishment of shedding blood； hence I shall be miserable in this world and in that to be."
"Thy blandishments，" he replied， "have pierced my heart， and the consuming thought of parting from thee has burnt up my body， and memory and understanding have been destroyed by this pain； and from excess of love I have no sense of right or wrong. But if thou wilt make me a promise， I will live again."
She replied， "Truly the Kali Yug （iron age） has commenced， since which time falsehood has increased in the world and truth has diminished； people talk smoothly with their tongues， but nourish deceit in their hearts； religion is destroyed， crime has increased， and the earth has begun to give little fruit. Kings levy fines， Brahmans have waxed covetous， the son obeys not his sire's commands， brother distrusts brother； friendship has departed from amongst friends； sincerity has left masters； servants have given up service； man has abandoned manliness； and woman has abandoned modesty. Five days hence， my marriage is to be； but if thou slay not thyself， I will visit thee first， and after that I will remain with my husband."
Having given this promise， and having sworn by the Ganges， she returned home. The merchant's son also went his way.
Presently the marriage ceremonies came on， and Hiranyadatt the Baniya expended a lakh of rupees in feasts and presents to the bridegroom. The bodies of the twain were anointed with turmeric， the bride was made to hold in her hand the iron box for eye paint， and the youth a pair of betel scissors. During the night before the wedding there was loud and shrill music， the heads and limbs of the young couple were rubbed with an ointment of oil， and the bridegroom's head was duly shaved. The wedding procession was very grand. The streets were a blaze of flambeaux and torches carried in the hand， fireworks by the ton were discharged as the people passed； elephants， camels， and horses richly caparisoned， were placed in convenient situations； and before the procession had reached the house of the bride half a dozen wicked boys and bad young men were killed or wounded.[FN#90] After the marriage formulas were repeated， the Baniya gave a feast or supper， and the food was so excellent that all sat down quietly， no one uttered a complaint， or brought dishonour on the bride's family， or cut with scissors the garments of his neighbour.
[FN#90] The procession is fair game， and is often attacked in the dark with sticks and stones， causing serious disputes. At the supper the guests confer the obligation by their presence， and are exceedingly exacting.
The ceremony thus happily concluded， the husband brought Madansena home to his own house. After some days the wife of her husband's youngest brother， and also the wife of his eldest brother， led her at night by force to her bridegroom， and seated her on a bed ornamented with flowers.
As her husband proceeded to take her hand， she jerked it away， and at once openly told him all that she had promised to Somdatt on condition of his not killing himself.
"All things，" rejoined the bridegroom， hearing her words， "have their sense ascertained by speech； in speech they have their basis， and from speech they proceed； consequently a falsifier of speech falsifies everything. If truly you are desirous of going to him， go！
