He shall not know he
hath not seen the beauty he would befoul."
After consultation, no better way could be found; but the heart
of the great Lady was heavy with foreboding.
(A hi! that Beauty should wander a pilgrim in the ways of
sorrow!)
To Allah-u-Din therefore did the King dispatch this letter by
swift riders on mares of Mewar.
After salutations - "Now whereas thou hast said thou wouldest
look upon the beauty of the Treasure of Chitor, know it is not
the custom of the Rajputs that any eye should light upon their
treasure. Yet assuredly, when requests arise between friends,
there cannot fail to follow distress of mind and division of soul
if these are ungranted. So, under promises that follow, I bid
thee to a feast at my poor house of Chitor, and thou shalt see
that beauty reflected in a mirror, and so seeing, depart in peace
from the house of a friend."
This being writ by the Twice-Born, the Brahman, did the Rana sign
with bitter rage in his heart. And the days passed.
III
On a certain day found fortunate by the astrologers - a day of
early winter, when the dawns were pure gold and the nights
radiant with a cool moon - did a mighty troop of Moslems set
their camp on the plain of Chitor.
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