--- title: A Sleep and a Dream., part 2 — The descent of the sun: A cycle of birth · full text with trees · page 2 description: A Sleep and a Dream., part 2, «The descent of the sun: A cycle of birth» by Unknown: the whole chapter, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics. It begins: III. --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg68641/4/page/2/) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [tales](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/) / [The descent of the sun: A cycle of birth](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg68641/) / A Sleep and a Dream., part 2 # A Sleep and a Dream., part 2 · page 2 [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg68641/4/) **2** But when the King heard the news, he wept for joy.[53](../../53/ "tree and pragmatics") And Umra-Singh seemed in his eyes like a draught of nectar, and like the fulfilment of all his desires in bodily form.[54](../../54/ "tree and pragmatics") And he said to him: O thou unspeakably delightful son-in-law that shall be, hast thou really set eyes on that accursed Land of the Lotus of the Sun?[55](../../55/ "tree and pragmatics") And Umra-Singh said boldly: Yes, I have seen it, and I know it well.[56](../../56/ "tree and pragmatics") Then immediately the King in his impatience ran himself to his daughter's apartments, and exclaimed: The bridegroom is found, by the favour of the Lord of Obstacles.[57](../../57/ "tree and pragmatics") Here is a Rajpoot who has seen the Land of the Lotus of the Sun. So prepare for the marriage without delay.[58](../../58/ "tree and pragmatics") Then said Shrí: Dear father, there is no hurry in this matter.[59](../../59/ "tree and pragmatics") And how do you know that this man is speaking the truth, or is not, rather, some impostor, who only wishes to secure me and half your kingdom, by falsely asserting that he has seen, what in fact he never has seen.[60](../../60/ "tree and pragmatics") For the world is full of such crafty rogues, who go about, like cranes, fishing in the wealth of Kings, like pools.[61](../../61/ "tree and pragmatics") Bring him therefore first to me, to examine him; and thereafter we shall see, whether it is time to prepare the marriage ceremonies, or not.[62](../../62/ "tree and pragmatics") So the King said: Be it so.[63](../../63/ "tree and pragmatics") And he sent for Umra-Singh, and brought him into the presence of Shrí.[64](../../64/ "tree and pragmatics") And Shrí looked and saw him standing, sword in hand, tall, and lean in the waist like a hungry lion, with shoulders like those of a bull, and long arms, and all the royal marks of a King.[65](../../65/ "tree and pragmatics") And she would have despised him, for his rags and his nakedness, and yet for all that she would, she could not, but felt herself drawn towards him against her will.[66](../../66/ "tree and pragmatics") For her heart was stirred within her at the sight of him, and dim suggestions of that former birth, which she had forgotten, struggled in her soul, and strove to rise up out of its depths.[67](../../67/ "tree and pragmatics") And she stood, gazing at him in silence, with eyes that looked at him but did not see him, like those of one that listens to the tones of a long-forgotten voice, sounding in the hall of memory, and awakening longing and fond regret.[68](../../68/ "tree and pragmatics") And as she gazed, she poured over him a flood of blue colour out of her wondrous doubtful eyes.[69](../../69/ "tree and pragmatics") And Umra-Singh looked at her, and the whole world vanished from his sight in a mass of blue.[70](../../70/ "tree and pragmatics") And he reeled under the blow of her glances, which struck him mercilessly like a club, and time and space fled from his soul, which was filled with colour, and tears, and laughter and pain, and he gasped for breath.[71](../../71/ "tree and pragmatics") For the sight of her half-remembered eyes clutched his heart, and stopped its beating like an iron band.[72](../../72/ "tree and pragmatics") And in that moment there rose before him the dream-woman of the lotus pool, and he knew that it was Shrí.[73](../../73/ "tree and pragmatics") So they two stood there, like pictures painted on a wall, gazing at each other, and groping in vain for recollection in the darkness of oblivion\[6\], like shadows in a dream.[74](../../74/ "tree and pragmatics") And then, after a while, Shrí came to herself.[75](../../75/ "tree and pragmatics") And she said slowly: So thou hast seen the Land of the Lotus of the Sun?[76](../../76/ "tree and pragmatics") Then mention its peculiarities, and tell me how thou didst arrive at it.[77](../../77/ "tree and pragmatics") But Umra-Singh stammered and hesitated.[78](../../78/ "tree and pragmatics") For her eyes had deprived him of his reason, and he could think of nothing else.[79](../../79/ "tree and pragmatics") And all his audacity had vanished, and become timidity, and he faltered, and spoke, not knowing what he said, with a voice that refused its office, and sounded in his ears like that of another man.[80](../../80/ "tree and pragmatics") And he said: Lady, I went I know not how, and wandered I know not how long, among wastes and deserts and mountains I know not how high, till I came to a land I know not where, called the Land of the Lotus of the Sun, I know not why\[7\].[81](../../81/ "tree and pragmatics") But as he spoke, the spell was broken, and Shrí woke as it were from a dream.[82](../../82/ "tree and pragmatics") And she saw before her only a ragged Rajpoot, stumbling in his tale, and abashed before her, and unable to support his knavery even by a clever lie.[83](../../83/ "tree and pragmatics") And she was ashamed, and angry with herself, and as she listened, she was suddenly seized with a fit of laughter.[84](../../84/ "tree and pragmatics") And she exclaimed: Hark! hark! to this high-caste hero; listen to his lay of a Lotus Land\![85](../../85/ "tree and pragmatics") He went he knew not where, and did he knew not what, and began at the beginning, and ended at the end.[86](../../86/ "tree and pragmatics") So she laughed and mocked him, while he stood before her as it were in a swoon, hearing only the music of her voice, and quailing like a coward before the fire in her scornful eyes.[87](../../87/ "tree and pragmatics") Then suddenly Shrí clapped her hands in his face, and exclaimed: Dost thou hear, or art thou deaf as well as dumb?[88](../../88/ "tree and pragmatics") Art thou a Rajpoot, and yet could'st thou not find courage enough to carry out thy imposition to the end?[89](../../89/ "tree and pragmatics") Strange! that such a body could be chosen by the Creator as the receptacle of such a soul.[90](../../90/ "tree and pragmatics") And she turned to the King, and said: Dear Father, it is as I said, and as you see, this fellow is but a rogue.[91](../../91/ "tree and pragmatics") Put him out, therefore; and yet, do him no harm.[92](../../92/ "tree and pragmatics") For though he is a knave, yet he is a handsome knave, and deserves rather contempt and laughter, than punishment and blows.[93](../../93/ "tree and pragmatics") Then the King said to his guards: Take this impostor, and thrust him out into the street.[94](../../94/ "tree and pragmatics") So the guards seized Umra-Singh, who offered no resistance, and threw him out into the street, raining upon him as he went a shower of kicks and blows.[95](../../95/ "tree and pragmatics") And immediately the criers went round the city as before, beating drums and crying aloud: \_Whatsoever high-caste man has been to the Land of the Lotus of the Sun, let him come to the King: he shall share the King's kingdom, and marry the King's daughter\_.[96](../../96/ "tree and pragmatics") \[1\] The name is \_Amarasinha\_.[97](../../97/ "tree and pragmatics") But this is so certain to be a stumbling-block in an English mouth, that I have spelt it as it would be pronounced by a Hindoo.[98](../../98/ "tree and pragmatics") (\_Um\_ as in \_drum\_.)[99](../../99/ "tree and pragmatics") It means '\_lion-god\_' or '\_god-lion\_,' a name suited to a king of the line of the Sun.[100](../../100/ "tree and pragmatics") \[2\] The War-god.[101](../../101/ "tree and pragmatics") \[3\] Because, though Shiwa drank the \_kálakuta\_ or deadly sea-poison, with impunity, still it left its mark on his throat, and dyed it blue.[102](../../102/ "tree and pragmatics") [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg68641/4/) **2** - ← previous: [page 1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg68641/4/) - next →: [A Sleep and a Dream., part 3](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg68641/5/) - ↑ back to [The descent of the sun: A cycle of birth](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg68641/)