And as he thought of her, he burned over the flame of love, and
wasted away day and night. And though from shame he tried to
conceal it, he finally told the reason of his anguish to responsible
people who asked him.

They said: "Do not suffer. Why do you not seize her?" But the
virtuous king would not do it.

Then General Force heard the story. He came and bowed at the
feet of the king and said: "Your Majesty, she is the wife of your
slave, therefore she is your slave. I give her to you of my own
accord. Pray take my wife. Or better yet, I will leave her here in
the palace. Then you cannot be blamed if you marry her." And the
general begged and insisted.

But the king became angry and said: "I am a king. How can I do
such a wicked thing? If I should transgress, who would be
virtuous? You are devoted to me. Why do you urge me to a sin
which is pleasant for the moment, but causes great sorrow in the
next world? If you abandon your wedded wife, I shall not pardon
you. How could a man in my position overlook such a
transgression? It is better to die." Thus the king argued against it.
For the truly great throw away life rather than virtue. And when all
the citizens came together and urged him, he was steadfast and
refused.

So he slowly shrivelled away over the fever-flame of love and
died. There was nothing left of King Glorious except his glory.
And the general could not endure the death of his king. He burned