a F IV. ] BENGALI LANGUAGE & LITERATURE. — 269 was placed on it, and it was floated on the river Gangoor. At this moment, to the wonder of all there assembled, Behula herself stepped on the raft and sat down besidethe corpse, expressing her intention to accompany her husband’s body over the waters and not to leave it until it should be restored to life. They called her a mad woman who had lost her Her unshaken senses under the great shock received immediately ০ after her marriage, and entreated her to return home. The maidens, who had so bitterly reproached her, were now sorry for her misfortune and tenderly said how very foolish it would be for a woman of her youth to set out for unknown regions with a corpse. Where was it ever heard that a dead body was restored to life! But she sat like a fairy or an angel watching over the dead prince with eyes full of infinite affection and infinite sorrow. The queen maddened with grief lamented bitterly and begged the beautiful girl to desist from her foolish inten- tion. Behula only said, ‘‘ Adored mother, you will find the rice I prepared in the golden plate in the steel- house on mount Santali. There the lamp is still burning. Go mother, cease weeping, and close the door of that room. So long as that rice remains fresh and that lamp burns, knowthat my hopes of restoring my husband to life will not be abandoned.” The people of Champaknagar, who had all assembled there, shed tears and cried, “Oh honoured lady, adopt not this mad course!” Behulg only said, “ Nay, bless me, sirs, that | may have my husband restored to me once more !” The raft passed swifty down the stream and Champaknagar soon vanished out of sight. The news reached her father’s house, and her five
