Bhartrihari, a philosopher of the fifth century, is popularly thought to be a king who retired to the forest upon discovering his queens infidelity. Bilhana, a poet of the 11th century, is reputed to have been a traveling courtier who became secretly involved with a kings young daughter and who was condemned to death when the love affair was discovered. "The Hermit" and "The Love Thief" bring together the verses of these two legendary figures.