On hearing his words she said, "One cannot shame him. What is it to me whether he runs away or not?" and shutting the door she refused to show herself. And he took up his load and went down. From that day he could not set eyes on her and he got heartily sick of his cook's work. [297] After breakfast he cut firewood, washed dishes and fetched water on his carrying-pole, and then lying down he rested on a heap of grain. Rising early he cooked rice gruel and the like, then took and served the food and suffered all this mortification by reason of his passionate love for Pabhavati. One day he saw the humpback passing by the kitchen door and hailed her. For fear of Pabhavati she did not venture to come near him, but passed on pretending to be in a great hurry. So he hastily ran up to her crying, "Crook-back." She turned and stopped, saying, "Who is here? I cannot listen to what you have to say." Then he said, "Both you and your mistress are very obstinate. Though living near you ever so long, we cannot so much as get a report of her health." She said, "Will you give me a present?" He replied, "Supposing I do so, will you be able to soften Pabhavati and bring me into her presence?" On her agreeing to do so, he said, "If you can do this, I will put right your humpback, and give you an ornament for your neck," and tempting her, he spoke five stanzas:

Necklace of gold I'll give to thee,
On coming to Kusavati,
If slender-limbed Pabhavati
Should only deign to look on me.

Necklace of gold I'll give to thee,
On coming to Kusavati,
If slender-limbed Pabhavati
Should only deign to speak to me.

Necklace of gold I'll give to thee,
On coming to Kusavati,
If slender-limbed Pabhavati
Should only deign to smile on me.

Necklace of gold I'll give to thee,
On coming to Kusavati,
If slender-limbed Pabhavati
Should laugh with joy at sight of me.

Necklace of gold I'll give to thee,
On coming to Kusavati,
If slender-limbed Pabhavati
Should lay a loving hand on me.

[298] On hearing his words she said, "Get you gone, my lord: in a very few days I will put her in your power. You shall see how energetic I can be." So saying she decided on her course of action, and going to Pabhavati she made as if she would clean her room and not leaving a bit