MRCCHAKATIKA THE LITTLE CLAY CART by Sudrakah -5

100 ACT THE SIXTH [101.3 s.

Chandanaka. Certainly.

Viraka. On whose authority?

Chandanaka. On Charudatta's.

Viraka. Who is Charudatta, or who is Vasantasena, that the cart

should pass without inspection?

Chandanaka. Don't you know Charudatta, man? nor Vasantasena?

If you don't know Charudatta, nor Vasantasena, then you don't

know the moon in heaven, nor the moonlight.

Who does n't know this moon of goodness, virtue's lotusflower,

This gem of four broad seas, this savior in man's luckless

hour? 13

These two are wholly worshipful, our city's ornaments,

Vasantasena, Charudatta, sea of excellence. 14

Viraka. Well, well, Chandanaka! Charudatta? Vasantasena?

I know them perfectly, as well as I know anything;

But I do not know my father when I 'm serving of my king. 15

Aryaka. [To himself.] In a former existence the one must have

been my enemy, the other my kinsman. For see!

Their business is the same; their ways

Unlike, and their desire:

Like flames that gladden wedding days,

And flames upon the pyre. 16

Chandanaka. You are a most careful captain whom the king

trusts. I am holding the bullocks. Make your inspection.

Viraka. You too are a corporal whom the king trusts. Make the

inspection yourself.

Chandanaka. If I make the inspection, that 's just the same as if

you had made it?

Viraka. If you make the inspection, that 's just the same as if

King Palaka had made it.

p. ni.5] SWAPPING THE BULLOCK-CARTS 101

Chandanaka. Lift the pole, man! [Vardhamftnaka does so.]

Aryaka. [To himself.] Are the policemen about to inspect me?

And I have no sword, worse luck ! But at least,

Bold Bhima's spirit I will show;

My arm shall be my sword.

Better a warrior's death than woe

That ceils and chains afford. 17

But the time to use force has not yet come. [Chandanaka enters

the cart and looks about.] I seek your protection.

Chandanaka. [Speaking in Sanskrit.] He who seeks protection

shall be safe.

Aryaka. Whene'er he fight, that man will suffer hurts,

Will be abandoned of his friends and kin,

Becomes a mock forever, who deserts

One seeking aid; 't is an unpardoned sin. 18

Chandanaka. What! the herdsman Aryaka? Like a bird that flees

from a hawk, he has fallen into the hand of the fowler. [Reflecting.]

He is no sinner, this man who seeks my protection and sits

in Charudatta's cart. Besides, he is the friend of good Sharvilaka,

who saved my life. On the other hand, there are the king's orders.

What is a man to do in a case like this ? Well, what must be, must

be. I promised him my protection just now.

He who gives aid to frightened men,

And joys his neighbor's ills to cure,

If he must die, he dies ; but then,

His reputation is secure. 19

[He gets down uneasily.] I saw the gentleman [correcting himself]

I mean, the lady Vasantasena, and she says

" Is it proper, is

it gentlemanly, when I am going to visit Charudatta, to insult me

on the highway?"

Virdka. Chandanaka, I have my suspicions.

Chandanaka. Suspicions? How so?

102 ACT THE SIXTH [103.2 s.

Vlr. You gurgled in your craven throat; it seems a trifle shady.

You said "I saw the gentleman," and then "I saw the lady."

That 's why I 'm not satisfied.

Chandanaka. What 's the matter with you, man? We southerners

don't speak plain. We know a thousand dialects of the barbarians

the Khashas, the Khattis, the Kadas, the Kadatthobilas, the

Karnatas, the Karnas, the Pravaranas, the Dravidas, the Cholas,

the Chinas, the Barbaras, the Kheras, the Khanas, the Mukhas, the

Madhughatas, and all the rest of 'em, and it all depends on the way

we feel whether we say "he" or "she," "gentleman" or "lady."

Tlraka. Can't I have a look, too? It's the king's orders. And the

king trusts me.

Chandanaka. I suppose the king doesn't trust me!

Vlraka. Is n't it His Majesty's command ?

Chandanaka. {Aside^\ If people knew that the good herdsman escaped

in Charudatta's cart, then the king would make Charudatta

suffer for it. What 's to be done? {Reflecting.'} I '11 stir up a quarrel

the way they do down in the Carnatic. [Aloud.] Well, Vlraka, I

made one inspection myself my name is Chandanaka and you

want to do it over again. Who are you ?

Vlraka. Confound it! Who are you, anyway?

Chandanaka. An honorable and highly respectable person, and you

don't remember your own family.

Vlraka. [Angrily,,] Confound you! What is my family?

Chandanaka. Who speaks of such things?

Viraka. Speak!

Chandanaka. I think I 'd better not.

I know your family, but I won't say ;

'T would not be modest, such things to betray;

What good 's a rotten apple anyway? 21

Vlraka. Speak, speak ! {Chandanaka makes a significant gesture.]

Confound you! What does that mean?

P. i75.i] SWAPPING THE BULLOCK-CARTS 103

Chand. A broken whetstone in one hand a thing

That looks like scissors in the other wing

To trim the scrubby beards that curl and cling,

And you why, you 're a captain of the king! 22

Vlraka. Well, Chandanaka, you highly respectable person, you

don't remember your own family either.

Chandanaka. Tell me. What is the family I belong to, I, Chandanaka,

pure as the moon?

Vlraka. Who speaks of such things?

Chandanaka. Speak, speak! [Vlraka makes a significant gesture.]

Confound you ! What does that mean ?

Vlraka. Listen.

Your house is pure ; your father is a drum,

Your mother is a kettledrum, you scum!

Your brother is a tambourine turn, turn!

And you why, you 're a captain of the king! 23

Chandanaka. [ Wrathfully.'] I, Chandanaka, a tanner ! You can look

at the cart.

Vlraka. You! driver! turn the cart around. I want to look in.

[Vardhamtinaka does so. Vlraka starts to climb in. Chandanaka

seizes him violently by the hair, throws him down, and kicks him.']

Vlraka. [Rising. Wrathfully.'} Confound you ! I was peaceably going

about the king's business, when you seized me violently by the

hair and kicked me. So listen! If I don't have you drawn and

quartered in the middle of the court-room, my name 's not Vlraka.

Chandanaka. All right. Go to court or to a hall of justice. What

do I care for a puppy like you ?

Vlraka. I will, [Exit.

Chandanaka. [Looks about him.] Go on, driver, go on! If anybody

asks you, just say "The cart has been inspected by Chandanaka

and Vlraka." Mistress Vasantasena, let me give you a passport.

[He hands Aryaka a sword.]

104 ACT THE SIXTH [105.11 s.

Aryaka. {Takes it. Joyfully to himself.']

A sword, a sword! My right eye twitches fast.1

Now all is well, and I am safe at last. 24

Chandanaka. Madam,

As I have given you a passage free,

So may I live within your memory.

To utter this, no selfish thoughts could move;

Ah no, I speak in plenitude of love. 25

Aryaka. Chandanaka is rich in virtues pure;

My friend is he Fate willed it true and tried.

I '11 not forget Chandanaka, be sure,

What time the oracle is justified. 26

Chand. May Shiva, Vishnu, Brahma, Three in One,

Protect thee, and the Moon, and blessed Sun;

Slay all thy foes, as mighty ParvatI

Slew Shumbha and Nishumbha fearfully. 27

\Eodt Vardhamanaka, with the bullock-cart. Chandanaka looks toward

the back of the stage. ~\ Aha! As he goes away, my good friend

Sharvilaka is following him. Well, I Ve made an enemy of Viraka,

the chief constable and the king's favorite ; so I think I too had

better be following him, with all my sons and brothers.

{Exit.

1 A good omen, in the case of a man.

ACT THE SEVENTH

ARYAKA'S ESCAPE

^ ., [Enter Charudatta and Maitreya.']

HOW beautiful the old garden Pushpakaranda is.

Charudatta. You are quite right, my friend. For see!

The trees, like merchants, show their wares;

Each several tree his blossoms bears,

While bees, like officers, are flitting,

To take from each what toll is fitting. 1

Maitreya. This simple stone is very attractive. Pray be seated.

Charudatta. [Seats himself.] HowVardhamanaka lingers,myfriend !

Maitreya. I told Vardhamanaka to bring Vasantasena and come

as quickly as he could.

Charudatta. Why then does he linger?

Is he delayed by some slow-moving load?

Has he returned with broken wheel or traces ?

Obstructions bid him seek another road ?

His bullocks, or himself, choose these slow paces? 2

[Enter Vardhamanaka with the bullock-cart, in which Aryaka lies

hidden.]

Vardhamanaka. Get up, bullocks, get up!

Aryaka. [Aside.]

And still I fear the spies that serve the king;

Escape is even yet a doubtful thing,

While to my foot these curs&d fetters cling.

Some good man 'tis, within whose cart I lie,

Like cuckoo chicks, whose heartless mothers fly,

And crows must rear the fledglings, or they die. 3

I have come a long distance from the city. Shall I get out of the

106 ACT THE SEVENTH

cart and seek a hiding-place in the grove? or shall I wait to see

the owner of the cart? On second thoughts, I will not hide myself

in the grove ; for men say that the noble Charudatta is ever

helpful to them that seek his protection. I will not go until I have

seen him face to face.

'T will bring contentment to that good man's heart

To see me rescued from misfortune's sea.

This body, in its suffering, pain, and smart,

Is saved through his sweet magnanimity. 4

Vardhamanaka. Here is the garden. I '11 drive in. [He does so.]

Maitreya!

Maitreya. Good news, my friend. It is Vardhamanaka's voice.

Vasantasena must have come.

Charudatta. Good news, indeed.

Maitreya. You son of a slave, what makes you so late ?

Vardhamanaka. Don't get angry, good Maitreya. I remembered

that I had forgotten the cushion, and I had to go back for it, and

that is why I am late.

Charudatta. Turn the cart around, Vardhamanaka. Maitreya, my

friend, help Vasantasena to get out.

Maitreya. Has she got fetters on her feet, so that she can't get

out by herself? [He rises and lifts the curtain of the cart.] Why,

this isn't mistress Vasantasena this is Mister Vasantasena.

Charudatta. A truce to your jests, my friend. Love cannot wait.

I will help her to get out myself. [He rises.]

Aryaka. [Discovers him.] Ah, the owner of the bullock-cart! He

is attractive not only to the ears of men, but also to their eyes.

Thank heaven! I am safe.

Charudatta. [Enters the bullock-cart and discovers AryakaJ] Who

then is this?

As trunk of elephant his arms are long,

His chest is full, his shoulders broad and strong,

P. 180.H] ARYAKA'S ESCAPE 107

His great eyes restless-red;

1

Why should this man be thus enforced to fight

So noble he with such ignoble plight,

His foot to fetters wed ? 5

Who are you, sir?

Aryaka. I am one who seeks your protection, Aryaka, by birth a

herdsman.

Charudatta. Are you he whom King Palaka took from the hamlet

where he lived and thrust into prison?

Aryaka. The same.

Charudatta. Tis fate that brings you to my sight;

May I be reft of heaven's light,

Ere I desert you in your hapless plight. 6

[Aryaka manifests hisjoy.]

Ch&rudatta. Vardhamanaka, remove the fetters from his foot.

Vardhamanaka. Yes, sir. [He does so.'] Master, the fetters are removed.

Aryaka. But you have bound me with yet stronger fetters of love.

Maitreya. Now you may put on the fetters yourself. He is free

anyway. And it 's time for us to be going.

Charudatta. Peace! For shame!

Aryaka. Charudatta, my friend, I entered your cart somewhat

unceremoniously. I beg your pardon.

Charudatta. I feel honored that you should use no ceremony with

me.

Aryaka. If you permit it, I now desire to go.

Charudatta. Go in peace.

Aryaka. Thank you. I will alight from the cart.

Charudatta. No, my friend. The fetters have but this moment

been removed, and you will find walking difficult. In this spot

1 Lalladikshita says that these are signs of royalty.

108 ACT THE SEVENTH

where men seek pleasure, a bullock-cart will excite no suspicion.

Continue your journey then in the cart.

Aryaka. I thank you, sir.

Ch&rud. Seek now thy kinsmen. Happiness be thine!

Aryaka. Ah, I have found thee, blessed kinsman mine!

Ch&rud. Remember me, when thou hast cause to speak.

Aryaka. Thy name, and not mine own, my words shall seek.

Ch&rud. May the immortal gods protect thy ways !

Aryaka. Thou didst protect me, in most perilous days.

Charud. Nay, it was fate that sweet protection lent.

Aryaka. But thou wast chosen as fate's instrument. 7

Ch&rudatta. King Palaka is aroused, and protection will prove

difficult. You must depart at once.

Aryaka. Until we meet again, farewell. [Exit.

Charud. From royal wrath I now have much to fear;

It were unwise for me to linger here.

Then throw the fetters in the well; for spies

Serve to their king as keen, far-seeing eyes. 8

[His left eye twitches.'] Maitreya, my friend, I long to see Vasantasena.

For now, because

I have not seen whom I love best,

My left eye twitches ; and my breast

Is causeless-anxious and distressed. 9

Come, let us go. [He walks about.] See! a Buddhist monk approaches,

and the sight bodes ill. [Reflecting.'] Let him enter by

that path, while we depart by this. {Exit.

ACT THE EIGHTH

THE STRANGLING OF VASANTASENA

[Enter a monk, with a wet garment in his hand.]

Monk.

YE ignorant, lay by a store of virtue !

Restrain the belly; watch eternally,

Heeding the beat of contemplation's

1 drum.

For else the senses fearful thieves they be

Will steal away all virtue's hoarded sum. 1

And further : I have seen that all things are transitory, so that now

I am become the abode of virtues alone.

Who slays the Five Men,2 and the Female Bane,3

By whom protection to the Town 4

is given,

By whom the Outcaste5

impotent is slain,

He cannot fail to enter into heaven. 2

Though head be shorn and face be shorn,

The heart unshorn, why should man shave him?

But he whose inmost heart is shorn

Needs not the shaven head to save him. 3

I have dyed this robe of mine yellow. And now I will go into the

garden of the king's brother-in-law, wash it in the pond, and go

away as soon as I can. [He walks about and washes the robe.]

A voice behind the scenes. Shtop, you confounded monk, shtop!

Monk. [Discovers the speaker. Fearfully.*] Heaven help me ! Here

is the king's brother-in-law, Sansthanaka. Just because one monk

committed an offense, now, wherever he sees a monk, whether it

is the same one or not, he bores a hole in his nose and drives him

around like a bullock. Where shall a defenseless man find a defender?

But after all, the blessed Lord Buddha is my defender.

1 An allusion to the practice by which the Buddhists induced a state of religious ecstasy.

2 The five senses. 3 Ignorance. 4 The body. 5 The conceit of individuality.

110 ACT THE EIGHTH [112.208.

[Enter the courtier, carrying a sword, and Sansthanaka.]

Sansthanaka. Shtop, you confounded monk, shtop ! I '11 pound

your head like a red radish 1 at a drinking party. [He strikes him.]

Courtier. You jackass, you should not strike a monk who wears

the yellow robes of renunciation. Why heed him? Look rather

upon this garden, which offers itself to pleasure.

To creatures else forlorn, the forest trees

Do works of mercy, granting joy and ease ;

Like a sinner's heart, the park unguarded lies,

Like some new-founded realm, an easy prize. 4

Monk. Heaven bless you! Be merciful, servant of the Blessed

One!

Sansthanaka. Did you hear that, shir? He 's inshulting me.

Courtier. What does he say?

Sansthanaka. Shays I'm a shervant. What do you take me for?

a barber?

Courtier. A servant of the Blessed One he calls you, and this is

praise.

Sansthanaka. Praise me shome more, monk!

Monk. You are virtuous! You are a brick!

Sansthanaka. Shee? He shays I 'm virtuous. He shays I 'm a brick.

What do you think I am? a materialistic philosopher? or a watering-

trough? or a pot-maker?

2

Courtier. You jackass, he praises you when he says that you are

virtuous, that you are a brick.

Sansthanaka. Well, shir, what did he come here for?

Monk. To wash this robe.

Sansthanaka. Confound the monk ! My shishter's husband gave me

the finesht garden there is, the garden Pushpakaranda. Dogs and

jackals drink the water in thish pond. Now I 'm an arishtocrat, I 'm

1 Used as an appetizer.

2 The elaborate puns of this passage can hardly be reproduced in a translation.

P.187.T] STRANGLING OF VASANTASENA 111

a man, and I don't even take a bath. And here you bring your

shtinking clothes, all shtained with shtale bean-porridge, and wash

'ein! I think one good shtroke will finish you,

Courtier. You jackass, I am sure he has not long been a monk.

Sansthanaka. How can you tell, shir?

Courtier. It does n't take much to tell that. See !

His hair is newly shorn; the brow still white;

The rough cloak has not yet the shoulder scarred ;

He wears it awkwardly; it clings not tight;

And here above, the fit is sadly marred. 5

Monk. True, servant of the Blessed One. I have been a monk but

a short time.

Sansthanaka. Then why haven't you been one all your life? [He

beats him]

Monk. Buddha be praised!

Courtier. Stop beating the poor fellow. Leave him alone. Let him

go.

Sansthcinaka. Jusht wait a minute, while I take counshel.

Courtier. With whom?

Sansthanaka. With my own heart.

Courtier. Poor fellow! Why didn't he escape?

Sansthanaka. Blessh6d little heart, my little shon and mashter, shall

the monk go, or shall the monk shtay? [To himself.] Neither go,

nor shtay. [Aloud.] Well, shir, I took counshel with my heart, and

my heart shays

Courtier. Says what?

Sansthanaka. He shall neither go, nor shtay. He shall neither

breathe up, nor breathe down. He shall fall down right here and

die, before you can shay "boo."

Monk. Buddha be praised! I throw myself upon your protection.

Courtier. Let him go.

112 ACT THE EIGHTH [114.24 s.

Sansthftnaka. Well, on one condition.

Courtier. And what is that?

Sansthanaka. He musht shling mud in, without making the water

dirty. Or better yet, he musht make the water into a ball, and

shling it into the mud.

Courtier. What incredible folly!

The patient earth is burdened by

So many a fool, so many a drone,

Whose thoughts and deeds are all awry

These trees of flesh, these forms of stone. 6

[The monk makesfaces at SansthanakaJ]

Sansthanaka. What does he mean?

Courtier. He praises you.

Sansthanaka. Praise me shome more ! Praise me again! [The monk

does so, then exit.']

Courtier. See how beautiful the garden is, you jackass.

See yonder trees, adorned with fruit and flowers,

O'er which the clinging creepers interlace;

The watchmen guard them with the royal powers;

They seem like men whom loving wives embrace. 7

Sansthanaka. A good deshcription, shir.

The ground is mottled with a lot of flowers ;

The blosshom freight bends down the lofty trees;

And, hanging from the leafy tree-top bowers,

The monkeys bob, like breadfruit in the breeze. 8

Courtier. Will you be seated on this stone bench, you jackass?

Sansthanaka. I am sheated. [ They seat themselves.] Do you know,

shir, I remember that Vasantasena even yet. She is like an inshult.

I can't get her out of my mind.

Courtier. [Aside.] He remembers her even after such a repulse.

For indeed,

P. 190.16] STRANGLING OF VASANTASENA 113

The mean man, whom a woman spurns,

But loves the more ;

The wise man's passion gentler burns,

Or passes o'er, 9

Sansthanaka. Shome time has passhed, shir, shince I told my shervant

Sthavaraka to take the bullock-cart and come as quick as

he could. And even yet he is not here. I Ve been hungry a long

time, and at noon a man can't go a-foot. For shee !

The shun is in the middle of the shky,

And hard to look at as an angry ape;

Like Gandhari, whose hundred shons did die,

The earth is hard dishtresshed and can't eshcape. 10

Courtier. True.

The cattle all their cuds let fall

Lie drowsing in the shade ;

In heated pool their lips to cool,

Deer throng the woodland glade ;

A prey to heat, the city street

Makes wanderers afraid ;

The cart must shun the midday sun,

And thus has been delayed. 11

Sansthanaka. Yesshir,

Fasht to my head the heated shun-beam clings;

Birds, flying creatures, alsho winged things

Resht in the branches of the trees, while men,

People, and pershons shigh and shigh again;

At home they tarry, in their houses shtay,

To bear the heat and burden of the day. 12

Well, shir, that shervant is n't here yet. I 'm going to shing shomething

to passh the time. {He sings.] There, shir, did you hear

what I shang?

Courtier. What shall I say? Ah, how melodious!

114 ACT THE EIGHTH [ii.s.

Sansthanaka. Why should rit it be malodorous?

Of nut-grass and cumin I make up a pickle,

Of devil's-dung, ginger, and orris, and treacle;

That's the mixture of perfumes I eagerly eat:

Why should n't my voice be remarkably shweet? 13

Well, shir, I 'm jusht going to shing again. [He does soJ] There,

shir, did you hear what I shang?

Courtier. What shall I say? Ah, how melodious!

Sansthanaka. Why shouldn't it be malodorous?

Of the flesh of the cuckoo I make up a chowder,

With devil's-dung added, and black pepper powder;

With oil and with butter I shprinkle the meat:

Why should n't my voice be remarkably shweet? 14

But shir, the shervant is n't here yet.

Courtier. Be easy in your mind. He will be here presently.

[Enter Vasantasenn in the bullock-cart, and Sthavaraka]

Sthavaraka. I 'm frightened. It is already noon. I hope Sansthanaka,

the king's brother-in-law, will not be angry. I must drive

faster. Get up, bullocks, get upl

Vasantasena. Alas ! That is not Vardhamanaka's voice. What does

it mean? I wonder if Charudatta was afraid that the bullocks

might become weary, and so sent another man with another cart.

My right eye twitches. My heart is all a-tremble. There is no one

in sight. Everything seems to dance before my eyes.

Sansthanaka. [Hearing the sound of wheels.] The cart is here, shir.

Courtier. How do you know?

Sansthanaka. Can't you shee? It shqueaks like an old hog.

Courtier. [Perceives the cart] Quite true. It is here.

Sansthanaka. Sthavaraka, my little shon, my shlave, are you here?

Sthavaraka. Yes, sir.

Sansthanaka. Is the cart here?

P. 194.9] STRANGLING OF VASANTASENA 115

Sthavaraka. Yes, sir.

Sansthanaka. Are the bullocks here?

Sthavaraka. Yes, sir.

Sansthanaka. And are you here ?

Sthavaraka. [Laughing."] Yes, master, I am here too.

Sansthanaka. Then drive the cart in.

Sthavaraka. By which road ?

Sansthanaka. Right here, where the wall is tumbling down.

Sthavaraka. Oh, master, the bullocks will be killed. The cart will

go to pieces. And I, your servant, shall be killed.

Sansthanaka. I 'm the king's brother-in-law, man. If the bullocks

are killed, 1 11 buy shome more. If the cart goes to pieces, I '11

have another one made. If you are killed, there will be another

driver.

Sthavaraka. Everything will be replaced except me.

Sansthanaka. Let the whole thing go to pieces. Drive in over the

wall.

Sthavaraka. Then break, cart, break with your driver. There will

be another cart. I must go and present myself to my master. [He

drives in.~] What! not broken? Master, here is your cart.

Sansthanaka. The bullocks not shplit in two? and the ropes not

killed? and you too not killed?

Sthavaraka. No, sir.

Sansthanaka. Come, shir. Let's look at the cart. You are my

teacher, shir, my very besht teacher. You are a man I reshpect,

my intimate friend, a man I delight to honor. Do you enter the

cart firsht.

Courtier. Very well. [He starts to do so."\

Sansthanaka. Not much ! Shtop 1 Is thish your father's cart, that

you should enter it firsht? I own thish cart. I '11 enter it firsht.

Courtier. I only did what you said.

116 ACT THE EIGHTH [iw.es.

Sansthanaka. Even if I do shay sho, you ought to be polite enough

to shay "After you, mashter."

Courtier. After you, then*

Sansthanaka. Now I'll enter. Sthavaraka, my little shon, my

shlave, turn the cart around.

Sthavaraka. [Does so.~] Enter, master.

Sansthanaka. [Enters and looks about, then hastily gets out in terror,

andfalls on the courtier's neck.] Oh, oh, oh! You're a dead

man! There's a witch, or a thief, that's sitting and living in my

bullock-cart. If it 's a witch, we 11 both be robbed. If it 's a thief,

we '11 both be eaten alive.

Courtier. Don't be frightened. How could a witch travel in a

bullock-cart? I hope that the -heat of the midday sun has not

blinded you, so that you became the victim of an hallucination

when you saw the shadow of Sthavaraka with the smock on it.

Sansthanaka. Sthavaraka, my little shon, my shlave, are you

alive?

Sthavaraka. Yes, sir.

Sansthanaka. But shir, there 's a woman sitting and living in the

bullock-cart. Look and shee!

Courtier. A woman?

Then let us bow our heads at once and go,

Like steers whose eyes the falling fraindrops daze ;

In public spots my dignity I show ;

On high-born dames I hesitate to gaze. 15

Vasantasenft* [In amazement. AsideJ] Oh, oh ! It is that thorn in

my eye, the king's brother-in-law. Alas! the danger is great. Poor

woman! My coming hither proves as fruitless as the sowing of a

handful of seeds on salty soil. What shall I do now ?

Sansthanaka. Thish old shervant is afraid and he won't look into

the cart. Will you look into the cart, shir?

Courtier. I see no harm in that. Yes, I will do it.

p. 198.19] STRANGLING OF VASANTASENA 117

SansthUnaka. Are those things jackals that I shee flying into the

air, and are those things crows that walk on all fours? While the

witch is chewing him with her eyes, and looking at him with her

teeth, 1 11 make my eshcape.

Courtier. [Perceives Vasantasend,. Sadly to himself.] Is it possible?

The gazelle follows the tiger. Alas!

Her mate is lovely as the autumn moon,

Who waits for her upon the sandy dune ;

And yet the swan will leave him ? and will go

To dance attendance on a common crow? 16

[Aside to VasantasenU,."] Ah, Vasantasena! This is neither right,

nor worthy of you.

Your pride rejected him before,

Yet now for gold, and for your mother's will

Vasantasenfii. No! [She shakes her head.]

Courtier.

Your nature knows your pride no more;

You honor him, a common woman still. 17

Did I not tell 1 you to "serve the man you love, and him you

hate"?

Vasantasena. I made a mistake in the cart, and thus I came

hither. I throw myself upon your protection.

Courtier. Do not fear. Come, I must deceive him. [He returns to

Sansthanaka.] Jackass, there is indeed a witch who makes her

home in the cart.

Sansthanaka. But shir, if a witch is living there, why are n't you

robbed? And if it's a thief, why aren't you eaten alive?

Courtier. Why try to determine that? But if we should go back

on foot through the gardens until we came to the city, to UjjayinI,

what harm would that do?

Sansthftnaka. And if we did, what then?

1 See page 13.

118 ACT THE EIGHTH [121.7 s.

Courtier. Then we should have some exercise, and should avoid

tiring the bullocks.

Sansthanaka. All right. Sthavaraka, my shlave, drive on. But no!

Shtop, shtop! I go on foot before gods and Brahmans? Not much!

I '11 go in my cart, sho that people shall shee me a long way off,

and shay

" There he goes, our mashter, the king's brother-in-law."

Courtier. [Aside.] It is hard to convert poison into medicine. So

be it, then. [Aloud.] Jackass, this is Vasantasena, come to visit

you.

Vasantasenn. Heaven forbid !

Sansthanaka. {Gleefully.} Oh, oh! To visit me, an arishtocrat, a

man, a regular Vasudeva ?

Courtier. Yes.

Sansthanaka. This is an unheard-of piece of luck. That other time

I made her angry, sho now 1 11 fall at her feet and beg her pardon.

Courtier. Capital!

Sansthanaka. I '11 fall at her feet myshelf. [He approaches VasantasenG,.]

Little mother, mamma dear, lishten to my prayer.

I fold my hands and fall before thy feet

Thine eyes are large, thy teeth are clean and neat,

Thy finger-nails are ten forgive thy shlave

What, love-tormented, he offended, shweet. 18

Vasantasena. [Angrily.] Leave me ! Your words are an insult! [She

spurns him with her foot.]

Sansthanaka. [Wrathfully.]

Thish head that mother and that mamma kissed,

That never bent to worship god, I wist,

Upon thish head she dared to plant her feet,

Like jackals on the carrion they meet. 19

Sthavaraka, you shlave, where did you pick her up?

Sthavaraka. Master, the highway was blocked by villagers' wagons.

So I stopped my cart near Charudatta's orchard, and got out. And

P. 201.H] STRANGLING OF VASANTASENA 119

while I was helping a villager with his wagon, I suppose she mistook

this cart for another, and climbed in.

Sansth&naka. Oho! she mishtook my cart for another? and didn't

come to shee me? Get out of my cart, get out! You 're going to

visit your poor merchant's shon, are you ? Those are my bullocks

you Ye driving. Get out, get out, you shlave! Get out, get out!

f^asantasena. Truly, you honor me when you say that I came to

see Charudatta. Now what must be, must be.

Sansth&naka. These hands of mine, ten-finger-naily,

These hands sho lotush-leafy,

Are itching-anxious, girl, to dally

With you ; and in a jiffy

I '11 drag Your Shweetness by the hair

From the cart wherein you ride,

As did Jatayu Bali's fair,

The monkey Bali's bride. 20

Courtier. So virtuous ladies may not be

Insulted thus despitefully;

Nor garden creepers may not be

Robbed of their leaves so cruelly. 21

Stand up, man. I will help her to alight. Come, Vasantasena! \Vasantasenft

alights and stands apart.'}

Sansth&naka. [Aside.] The flame of wrath was kindled when she

despised my proposition, and now it blazes up because she kicked

me. Sho now I '11 murder her. Good! Thish way. [Aloud.] Well,

shir, what do you want?

A cloak with fringes hanging down and all,

Tied with a hundred shtrings? or good ragout,

To make you shmack your greedy lips and call

"Chuhoo, chuhoo, chukku, chuhoo, chuhooo"? 22

Courtier. Well?

Sansthanaka. Do me a favor.

120 ACT THE EIGHTH [123.11 s.

Courtier. Certainly. Anything, unless it be a sin.

Sansthanaka. There 's not a shmell of a shin in it, shir. Not a perfume!

Courtier. Speak, then.

Sansthanaka. Murder Vasantasena.

Courtier. [Stopping his ears.']

A tender lady, gem of this our city,

A courtezan whose love was stainless ever

If I should kill her, sinless, without pity,

What boat would bear me on the gloomy river? 23

Sansthanaka. 1 11 give you a boat. And beshides, in thish deserted

garden, who'll shee you murdering her?

Courtier. The regions ten,1 the forest gods, the sky,

The wind, the moon, the sun whose rays are light,

Virtue, my conscience these I cannot fly,

Nor earth, that witnesses to wrong and right. 24

Sansthanaka. Well then, put your cloak over her and murder her.

Courtier. You fool ! You scoundrel !

Sansthanaka. The old hog is afraid of a shin. Never mind. I '11 pershuade

Sthavaraka, my shlave. Sthavaraka, my little shon, my

shlave, I '11 give you golden bracelets.

Sthavaraka. And I '11 wear them.

Sansthanaka. I '11 have a golden sheat made for you.

Sthavaraka. And I '11 sit on it.

Sansthanaka. 1 11 give you all my leavings.

Sthavaraka. And 1 11 eat them.

Sansthanaka. 1 11 make you the chief of all my shervants.

Sthavaraka. Master, 1 11 be the chief.

Sansthanaka. You only have to attend to what I shay.

Sthavaraka. Master, I will do anything, unless it be a sin.

\ The four cardinal points, the four intermediate points, the zenith, and the nadir.

p. 205.12] STRANGLING OF VASANTASENA 121

Sansthtlnaka. There 's not a shmell of a shin in it.

Sth&varaka. Then speak, master.

Sansth&naka. Murder Vasantasena.

Sthavaraka. Oh, master, be merciful! Unworthy as I am, I brought

this worthy lady hither, because she mistook this bullock-cart for

another.

Sansth&naka. You shlave, ain't I your mashter?

Sthavaraka. Master of my body, not of my character. Be merciful,

master, be merciful 1 I am afraid.

Sansthftnaka. You 're my shlave. Who are you afraid of?

Sthavaraka. Of the other world, master.

Sansthanaka. Who is thish "other world"?

Sthavaraka. Master, it is a rewarder of righteousness and sin.

Sansthanaka. What is the reward of righteoushness ?

Sthavaraka. To be like my master, with plenty of golden ornaments.

Sansthanaka. What is the reward of shin ?

Sthavaraka. To be like me, eating another man's bread. That is

why I will do no sin.

Sansthanaka. Sho you won't murder her? [He beats him with all

his might.]

Sthavaraka. You may beat me, master. You may kill me, master.

I will do no sin.

A luckless, lifelong slave am I,

A slave I live, a slave I die;

But further woe I will not buy,

I will not, will not sin. 25

Vasantasena. Sir, I throw myself upon your protection.

Courtier. Pardon him, jackass! Well done, Sthavaraka!

Does this poor, miserable slave

Seek virtue's meed beyond the grave?

122 ACT THE EIGHTH

And is his lord indifferent?

Then why are not such creatures sent

To instant hell, whose sinful store

Grows great, who know not virtue more? 26

And again:

Ah, cruel, cruel is our fate,

And enters through the straitest gate ;

Since he is slave, and you are lord,

Since he does not enjoy your hoard,

Since you do not obey his word. 27

Sansthanaka. [Aside.] The old jackal is afraid of a shin, and the

"lifelong shlave" is afraid of the other world. Who am I afraid of,

I, the king's brother-in-law, an arishtocrat, a man? [Aloud.] Well,

shervant, you "lifelong shlave," you can go. Go to your room and

resht and keep out of my way.

Sthavaraka. Yes, master. [To Vasantasena.'] Madam, I have no

further power. [Exit.

Sansthanaka. [Girds up his loins.] Wait a minute, Vasantasena,

wait a minute. I want to murder you.

Courtier. You will kill her before my eyes ? [He seizes him by the

throat]

Sansthanaka. [Falls to the ground.] Shir, you 're murdering your

mashter. [He loses consciousness, but recovers.]

I always fed him fat with meat,

And gave him butter too, to eat;

Now for the friend in need I search ;

Why does he leave me in the lurch? 28

[After reflection.] Good ! I have an idea. The old jackal gave her

a hint by shaking his head at her. Sho I '11 shend him away, and

then I '11 murder Vasantasena. That 's the idea. [Aloud.] Shir, I

was born in a noble family as great as a wine-glass. How could I

do that shin I shpoke about? I jusht shaid it to make her love me.

p. ms] STRANGLING OF VASANTASENA 123

Courtier. Why should you boast of this your noble birth?

'T is character that makes the man of worth ;

But thorns and weeds grow rank in fertile earth. 29

Sansthftnaka. She 's ashamed to confessh her love when you 're here.

Please go. My shervant Sthavaraka has gone too after getting a

beating. He may be running away. Catch him, shir, and come back

with him.

Courtier. [Aside.]

Vasantasena is too proud to own,

While I am near, her love for one so crude;

So now I leave her here with him alone;

Love's confidences long for solitude. 30

[Aloud.] Very well. I go.

Vasantasena. [Seizing the hem of his garment.] Did I not throw

myself upon your protection ?

Courtier. Do not fear, Vasantasena. Jackass, Vasantasena is a

pledge, committed to your hand.

Sansthanaka. All right. Jusht let her be committed to my hand.

It 's a pledge that 1 11 execute.

Courtier. Are you honest?

Sansthftnaka. Honesht.

Courtier. [Takes afew steps.] No! If I go, the wretch might kill

her. I will conceal myself for a moment, and see what he intends

to do. [He stands apart]

Sansthanaka. Good! 1 11 murder her. But no! Perhaps thish tricky

trickshter, thish Brahman, thish old jackal, has gone and hidden

himshelf; he might raise a howl like the jackal he is. 1 11 jusht do

thish to deceive him. [He gathers flowers and adorm himself*.]

Vasantasena, my love, my love! Come!

Courtier. Yes, he has turned lover. Good! I am content. I will

go. [Exit.

124 ACT THE EIGHTH

Sansthanaka. 1 11 give you gold, I '11 call you shweet ;

My turbaned head adores your feet.

Why not love me, my clean-toothed girl ?

Why worship such a pauper churl? 31

Vasantasena. How can you ask ? [She bows her head and recites

thefollowing verses.]

O base and vile! O wretch! What more ?

Why tempt me now with gold and power?

The honey-loving bees adore

The pure and stainless lotus flower. 32

Though poverty may strike a good man low,

Peculiar honor waits upon his woe;

And 't is the glory of a courtezan

To set her love upon an honest man. 33

And I, who have loved the mango-tree, I cannot cling to the

locust-tree.

Sansthanaka. Wench, you make that poor little Charudatta into

a mango-tree, and me you call a locusht-tree, not even an acacia !

That 's the way you abuse me, and even yet you remember Charudatta.

Vasantasend,. Why should I not remember him who dwells in my

heart?

Sansthanaka. Thish very minute I'm going to shtrangle "him

who dwells in your heart," and you too. Shtand shtill, you poormerchant-

man's lover!

Vasantasena. Oh speak, oh speak again these words that do me

honor!

Sansthanaka. Jusht let poor Charudatta the shon of a shlave

reshcue you now!

Vasantasena. He would rescue me, if he saw me.

Sansthanaka. Is he the king of gods? the royal ape?

Shon of a nymph? or wears a demon's shape?

P. mn] STRANGLING OF VASANTASENA 125

The kingly deity of wind and rain?

The offshpring of the Pandu-princes' bane?

A prophet ? or a vulture known afar ?

A shtatesman? or a beetle? or a shtar? 34

But even if he was, he could n't reshcue you.

As Sita in the Bharata

Was killed by good old Chanakya,

Sho I intend to throttle thee,

As did JatSyu Draupadi. 35

[He raises his arm to strike her.']

Vasantasenft. Mother! where are you? Oh, Charudatta! my heart's

longing is unfulfilled, and now I die ! I will scream for help. No !

It would bring shame on Vasantasena, should she scream for help.

Heaven bless Charudatta!

Sansthanaka. Does the wench shpeak that rashcal's name even

yet? [He seizes her by the throat.'] Remember him, wench, remember

him !

Vasantasena. Heaven bless Charudatta!

Sansth&naka. Die, wench ! [He strangles her. Vasantasena loses consciousness,

andfalls motionless.]

Sansthtinaka. [Gleefully.]

Thish bashketful of shin, thish wench,

Thish foul abode of impudence

She came to love, she shtayed to blench,

For Death's embrace took every sense.

But why boasht I of valorous arms and shtout?

She shimply died because her breath gave out.

Like SitS in the Bharata, she lies.

Ah, mother mine! how prettily she dies. 36

She would not love me, though I loved the wench ;

I shaw the empty garden, set the shnare,

126 ACT THE EIGHTH [i*us.

And frightened her, and made the poor girl blench.

My brother! Oh, my father! Thish is where

You misshed the shight of heroism shtout ;

Your brother and your shon here blosshomed out

Into a man ; like Mother Draupadl,

You were not there, my bravery to shee. 37

Good! The old jackal will be here in a minute. 1 11 shtep ashide

and wait. [He does so.] [Enter the courtier, with Sthavaraka.]

Courtier. I have persuaded the servant Sthavaraka to come back,

and now I will look for the jackass. [He walks about and looks

around him.'] But see ! A tree has fallen by the roadside, and killed

a woman in its fall. O cruel! How couldst thou do this deed of

shame? And when I see that a woman was slain by thy fatal fall,

I too am felled to the earth. Truly, my heart's fear for Vasantasena

was an evil omen. Oh, heaven grant that all may yet be well !

[He approaches Sansthanaka.] Jackass, I have persuaded your servant

Sthavaraka to return.

Sansthanafca. How do you do, shir? Sthavaraka, my little shon,

my shlave, how do you do ?

Sthavaraka. Well, thank you.

Courtier. Give me my pledge.

Sansthanafca. What pledge?

Courtier. Vasantasena.

Sansthanaka. She 's gone.

Courtier. Where?

Sansthanaka. Right after you.

Courtier. [Doubtfully.] No, she did not go in that direction.

Sansthanafca. In what direction did you go?

Courtier. Toward the east.

Sansthanafca. Well, she went shouth.1

Courtier. So did I.

1 The region of Yama, god of death.

P. 216.2] STRANGLING OF VASANTASENA 127

Sansthanaka. She went north.

Courtier. This is nonsense. My heart is not satisfied. Speak the

truth.

Sansthftnaka. I shwear by your head, shir, and my own feet. You

may be easy in your heart. I murdered her.

Courtier. [Despairingly.'] You really killed her?

Sansthanaka. If you don't believe my words, then shee the firsht

heroic deed of Sansthanaka, the king's brother-in-law. [He points

out the body.]

Courtier. Alas! Ah, woe is me! [Hefalls in a swoon.']

Sansthanaka. Hee, hee! The gentleman is calm enough now!

Sthavaraka. Oh, sir! Come to yourself! I am the first murderer,

for I brought the bullock-cart hither without looking into it.

Courtier. [Comes to himself. Mournfully.'] Alas, Vasantasena!

The stream of courtesy is dried away,

And happiness to her own land doth flee.

Sweet gem of gems, that knew love's gentle play,

Love's mart and beauty's! Joy of men like me!

Thy mirth-shored stream, that kind and healing river

Alas! is perished, lost, and gone forever! 38

[Tearfully.] Ah, woe is me!

What sin is yet to come, or woe,

Now thou hast done this deed of hate ?

Like sin's foul self, hast thou laid low

The sinless goddess of our state. 39

[Aside.] Ah! Perhaps the wretch means to lay this sin to my

charge. I must go hence. [He walks about. Sansthanaka approaches

and holds him back] Scoundrel! Touch me not. I have done with

you. I go.

Sansthanaka. Aha! Firsht you murder Vasantasena, then you

abuse me, and now where will you run to? And sho a man like me

has n't anybody to protect him.

128 ACT THE EIGHTH [ISLSS.

Courtier. You are an accursed scoundrel !

Sansth. I '11 give you countless wealth, a piece of gold,

A copper, and a cap, to have and hold.

And sho the fame of thish great deed shall be

A common property, and shan't touch me. 40

Courtier. A curse upon you ! Yours, and yours only, be the deed.

Sthavaraka. Heaven avert the omen! [Sansthanaka bursts out

laughing.']

Courtier. Be enmity between us ! Cease your mirth 1

Damned be a friendship that so shames my worth !

Never may I set eyes on one so low !

I fling you off, an unstrung, broken bow. 41

Sansthanaka. Don't be angry. Come, let 's go and play in the pond.

Courtier. Unstained my life, and yet it seems to me

Your friendship stains, and mocks my sinlessness.

You woman-murderer! How could I be

A friend to one whom women ever see

With eyes half-closed in apprehension's stress ? 42

[Mournfully.] VasantasenS,

When thou, sweet maid, art born again,

Be not a courtezan reborn,

But in a house which sinless men,

And virtuous, and good, adorn. 43

Sansthanaka. Firsht you murder Vasantasena in my old garden

Pushpakaranda, and now where will you run to? Come, defend

yourshelf in court before my shishter's husband! [He holds him

back.]

Courtier. Enough, you accursed scoundrel! [He draws his sword.]

Sansthanaka. [Recoiling in terror.] Sheared, are you? Go along,

then.

Courtier. [Aside.] It would be folly to remain here. Well, I will

go and join myself to Sharvilaka, Chandanaka, and the rest. [Exit.

P. 219.5] STRANGLING OF VASANTASENA 129

Sansthanaka. Go to hell. Well, my little shon Sthavaraka, what

kind of a thing is thish that I Ve done?

Sthavaraka. Master, you have committed a terrible crime.

Sansthanaka. Shlave ! What do you mean by talking about a crime ?

Well, 1 11 do it thish way. [He takes various ornamentsfrom his

person.'] Take these gems. I give em to you. Whenever I want to

wear them, I '11 take them back again, but the resht of the time

they are yours.

Sthavaraka. They should be worn only by my master. What have

I to do with such things?

Sansthanaka. Go along! Take these bullocks, and wait in the tower

of my palace until I come.

Sthavaraka. Yes, master. [Exit.

Sansthanaka. The gentleman has made himshelf invisible. He

wanted to save himshelf. And the shlave I '11 put in irons in the palace

tower, and keep him there. And sho the shecret will be shafe.

I '11 go along, but firsht I '11 take a look at her. Is she dead, or shall

I murder her again ? [He looks at Vasantasena.} Dead as a doornail

! Good ! 1 11 cover her with thish cloak. No, it has my name

on it. Shome honesht man might recognize it. Well, here are shome

dry leaves that the wind has blown into a heap. 1 11 cover her

with them. [He does so, then pauses to reflect.] Good! I '11 do it

thish way. 1 11 go to court at once, and there 1 11 lodge a complaint.

1 11 shay that the merchant Charudatta enticed Vasantasena into

my old garden Pushpakaranda, and killed her for her money.

Yesh, Charudatta musht be shlaughtered now,

And 1 11 invent the plan, forgetting pity;

The shacrificing of a sinless cow

Is cruel in the kindesht-hearted city. 44

Now I 'm ready to go. [He starts to go away, but perceives something

that frightens himJ] Goodnessh gracioush me! Wherever I

go, thish damned monk comes with his yellow robes. I bored a hole

130 ACT THE EIGHTH [isass.

in his nose once and drove him around, and he hates me. Perhaps

he 11 shee me, and will tell people that I murdered her. How shall

I eshcape? [He looks about.'] Aha! 1 11 jump over the wall where

it is half fallen down, and eshcape that way.

I run, I run, I go,

In heaven, on earth below,

In hell, and in Ceylon,

Hanumat's peaks upon

Like Indra's self, I go. [Exit.] 45

[Enter hurriedly the Buddhist monk, ex-shampooer]

Monk. I Ve washed these rags of mine. Shall I let them dry on a

branch? no, the monkeys would steal them. On the ground? the

dust would make them dirty again. Well then, where shall I spread

them out to dry? [He looks about.] Ah, here is a pile of dry leaves

which the wind has blown into a heap. 1 11 spread them out on

that. [He does so] Buddha be praised ! [He sits down] Now I will

repeat a hymn of the faith.

Who slays the Five Men, and the Female Bane,

By whom protection to the Town is given,

By whom the Outcaste impotent is slain,

He cannot fail to enter into heaven. (2)

After all, what have I to do with heaven, before I have paid my

debt to Vasantasena, my sister in Buddha? She bought my freedom

for ten gold-pieces from the gamblers, and since that day I

regard myself as her property. [He looks about] What was that?

a sigh that arose from the leaves ? It cannot be.

The heated breezes heat the leaves,

The wetted garment wets the leaves,

And so, I guess, the scattered leaves

Curl up like any other leaves. 46

[Vasantasena begins to recover consciousness, and stretches out her

hand]

p.mw] STRANGLING OF VASANTASENA 131

Monk. Ah, there appears a woman's hand, adorned with beautiful

gems. What! a second hand? [He examines it with the greatest

care.] It seems to me, I recognize this hand. Yes, there is no doubt

about it. Surely, this is the hand that saved me. But I must see for

myself. [He uncovers the body, looks at it, and recognizes it.] It is

my sister in Buddha. [Vasantasena pantsfor water.] Ah, she seeks

water, and the pond is far away. What shall I do ? An idea ! I will

hold this robe over her and let it drip upon her. [He does so. Vasantasena

recovers consciousness, and raises herself. The monkfans

her with his garment.]

Vasantasena. Who are you, sir?

Monk. Has my sister in Buddha forgotten him whose freedom

she bought for ten gold-pieces ?

Vasantasena. I seem to remember, but not just as you say. It

were better that I had slept never to waken.

Monk. What happened here, sister in Buddha?

Vasantasena. [Despairingly.] Nothing but what is fitting for a

courtezan.

Monk. Sister in Buddha, support yourself by this creeper

1 that

clings to the tree, and rise to your feet. [He bends down the creeper.

Vasantasena takes it in her hand, and rises.]

Monk. In yonder monastery dwells one who is my sister in the

faith. There shall my sister in Buddha be restored before she returns

home. You must walk very slowly, sister. [He walks about

and looks around him.] Make way, good people, make way 1 This is

a young lady, and I am a monk, yet my conduct is above reproach.

The man whose hands, whose lips are free from greed,

Who curbs his senses, he is man indeed.

He little recks, if kingdoms fall or stand ;

For heaven is in the hollow of his hand. 47

[Exeunt.

1 A monk may not touch a woman.

ACT THE NINTH

THE TRIAL

.~ ,, [Enter a beadle.]

Beadle. L J

THE magistrates said to me "Come, beadle, go to the courtroom,

and make ready the seats." So now I am on my way

to set the court-room in order. [He walks about and looks around

him.] Here is the court-room. I will enter, [He enters, sweeps, and

puts a seat in its place.] There! I have tidied up the court-room

and put the seats in readiness, and now I will go and tell the magistrates.

[He walks about and looks around him.] But see! Here

comes that arrant knave, the king's brother-in-law. I will go away

without attracting his attention. [He stands apart. Enter Sansth&

naka, in gorgeous raiment.'}

Sansth. I bathed where water runs and flows and purls ;

I shat within a garden, park, and grove

With women, and with females, and with girls,

Whose lovely limbs with grace angelic move. 1

My hair is shometimes done up tight, you shee;

In locks, or curls, it hangs my forehead o'er ;

Shometimes 't is matted, shometimes hanging free ;

And then again, I wear a pompadour.

I am a wonder, I 'm a wondrous thing,

And the husband of my shishter is the king. 2

And beshides, I Ve found a big hole, like a worm that has crawled

into the knot of a lotush-root, and is looking for a hole to creep

out at. Now who was I going to accuse of thish wicked deed? [He

recalls something.] Oh, yesh ! I remember. I was going to accuse

poor Charudatta of thish wicked deed. Beshides, he 's poor. They 11

believe anything about him. Good! I '11 go to the court-room and

lodge a public complaint against Charudatta, how he shtrangled

p. 226.10] THE TRIAL 133

Vasantasena and murdered her. Sho now I 'm on my way to the

court-room. [He walks about and looks around him] Here is the

court-room. 1 11 go in. [He enters and looks about.] Well, here are

the sheats, all arranged. While I 'm waiting for the magishtrates,

I '11 jusht sit down a minute on the grass. [He does so.]

Beadle. [Walks about in another direction, and looks before him.']

Here come the magistrates. I will go to them. [He does so]

[Enterthejudge, accompanied by a gild-warden, a clerk, and others]

Judge. Gild-warden and clerk!

Gild-warden and Clerk. We await your bidding.

Judge. A trial depends to such an extent upon others that the task

of the magistrates the reading of another's thoughts is most

difficult.

Men often speak of deeds that no man saw,

Matters beyond the province of the law;

Passion so rules the parties that their lies

Hide their offenses from judicial eyes ;

This side and that exaggerate a thing,

Until at last it implicates the king ;

To sum it up: false blame is easy won,

A true judge little praised, or praised by none. 3

And again:

Men often point to sins that no man saw,

And in their anger scorn the patient law;

In court-rooms even the righteous with their lies

Hide their offenses from judicial eyes;

And those who did the deed are lost to view,

Who sinned with plaintiff and defendant too;

To sum it up : false blame is easy won,

A true judge little praised, or praised by none. 4

For the judge must be

Learned, and skilled in tracing fraud's sly path,

And eloquent, insensible to wrath;

134 ACT THE NINTH [137.24 s.

To friend, foe, kinsman showing equal grace,

Reserving judgment till he know the case;

Untouched by avarice, in virtue sound,

The weak he must defend, the knave confound ;

An open door to truth, his heart must cling

To others' interests, yet shun each thing

That might awake the anger of the king. 5

Gild-warden and Clerk. And do men speak of defects in your

virtue? If so, then they speak of darkness in the moonlight.

Judge. My good beadle, conduct me to the court-room.

Beadle. Follow me, Your Honor. [They walk about.] Here is the

court-room. May the magistrates be pleased to enter. [All enter.]

Judge. My good beadle, do you go outside and learn who desires

to present a case.

Beadle. Yes, sir. [He goes out.] Gentlemen, the magistrates ask if

there is any here who desires to present a case.

Sansthftnaka. [Gleefully.] The magishtrates are here. [He struts

about.] I desire to present a cashe, I, an arishtocrat, a man, a Vasudeva,

the royal brother-in-law, the brother-in-law of the king.

Beadle. [In alarm.] Goodness! The king's brother-in-law is the first

who desires to present a case. Well! Wait a moment, sir. I will inform

the magistrates at once, [He approaches the magistrates.] Gentlemen,

here is the king's brother-in-law who has come to court,

desiring to present a case.

Judge. What! the king's brother-in-law is the first who desires to

present a case? Like an eclipse at sunrise, this betokens the ruin

of some great man. Beadle, the court will doubtless be very busy

to-day. Go forth, my good man, and say

" Leave us for to-day.

Your suit cannot be considered."

Beadle. Yes, Your Honor. [He goes out, and approaches Sansth&

nakaJ] Sir, the magistrates send word that you are to leave

them for to-day; that your suit cannot be considered.

P. 229.15] THE TRIAL 135

Sansthanaka. \Wrathfully'.] Confound it! Why can't my shuit be

conshidered? If it isn't conshidered, then I '11 tell my brother-inlaw,

King Palaka, my shishter's husband, and I '11 tell my shishter

and my mother too, and I '11 have thish judge removed, and another

judge appointed. [He starts to go away.]

Beadle. Oh, sir! Brother-in-law of the king! Wait a moment. I

will inform the magistrates at once. [He returns to thejudge.] The

brother-in-law of the king is angry, and says [He repeats Sansth&

nakas words.]

Judge. This fool might do anything. My good man, tell him to

come hither, that his suit will be considered.

Beadle. [Approaching Sansthanaka^] Sir, the magistrates send

word that you are to come in, that your suit will be considered.

Pray enter, sir.

Sansthanaka. Firsht they shay it won't be conshidered, then they

shay it will be conshidered. The magishtrates are sheared. Whatever

I shay, I '11 make 'em believe it. Good! I '11 enter. [He enters

and approaches the magistrates.] I am feeling very well, thank you.

Whether you feel well or not that depends on me.

Judge. [Aside."] Well, well! We seem to have a highly cultivated

plaintiff. [Aloud.] Pray be seated.

Sansthanaka. Well ! Thish floor belongs to me. I '11 sit down wherever

I like. [To the gild-warden.] I'll sit here. [To the beadle.]

Why should n't I sit here? [He lays his hand on the judges head.]

I '11 sit here. [He sits down on thejloor.]

Judge. You desire to present a case?

Sansthanaka. Of courshe.

Judge. Then state the case.

Sansthanaka. I '11 whishper it. I was born in the great family of

a man as glorioush as a wine-glass.

My father's father of the king in law;

The king, he is my daddy's son-in-law;

136 ACT THE NINTH [140.1 s.

And I am brother to the king in law;

And the husband of my shishter is the king. 6

Judge. All this we know.

Why should you boast of this your noble birth ?

'T is character that makes the man of worth ;

But thorns and weeds grow rank in fertile earth. 7

State your case.

Sansthanaka. I will, but even if I was guilty, he wouldn't do

anything to me. Well, my shishter's husband liked me, and gave

me the besht garden there is, the old garden Pushpakaranda, to

play in and look after. And there I go every day to look at it, to

keep it dry, to keep it clean, to keep it blosshoming, to keep it

trimmed. But fate decreed that I shaw or rather, I didn't shee

the proshtrate body of a woman.

Judge. Do you know who the unfortunate woman was?

Sansthanaka. Hello, magishtrates ! Why shouldn't I know? A

woman like that! the pearl of the city! adorned with a hundred

golden ornaments! Shomebody's unworthy shon enticed her into

the old garden Pushpakaranda when it was empty, and for a

mere trifle for her money! shtrangled Vasantasena and killed

her. But / did n't [He breaks off] and puts his hand over his

mouth.]

Judge. What carelessness on the part of the city police ! Gildwarden

and clerk, write down the words "I didn't," as the first

article in the case.

Clerk. Yes, sir. [He does so.] Sir, it is written.

Sansthanaka. [Aside.] Goodnessh! Now I Ve ruined myshelf, like

a man that shwallows a cake of rice and milk in a hurry. Well,

I '11 get out of it thish way. [Aloud.] Well, well, magishtrates! I

was jusht remarking that I did n't shee it happen. What are you

making thish hullabaloo about? [He wipes out the written words

with hisfoot.]

P. ms] THE TRIAL 137

Judge. How do you know that she was strangled and for her

money?

Sansthanaka. Hello! Why shouldn't I think sho, when her neck

was shwollen and bare, and the places where you wear jewels

did n't have any gold on them?

Gild-warden and Clerk. That seems plausible.

Samthanaka. [Aside.] Thank heaven! I breathe again. Hooray!

Gild-warden and Clerk. Upon whom does the conduct of this

case depend?

Judge. The case has a twofold aspect.

Gild-warden and Clerk. How so?

Judge. We have to consider the allegations, then the facts. Now

the investigation of the allegations depends upon plaintiff and defendant.

But the investigation of the facts must be carried out by

the wisdom of the judge.

Gild-warden and Clerk. Then the conduct of the case depends

upon the presence of Vasantasena's mother?

Judge. Precisely. My good beadle, summon Vasantasena s mother,

without, however, giving her cause for anxiety.

Beadle. Yes, Your Honor. [He goes out, and returns with the

mother of the courtezan.] Follow me, madam.

Mother. My daughter went to the house of a friend to enjoy her

youth. But now comes this gentleman long life to him! and

says "Come! The judge summons you." I find myself quite bewildered.

My heart is palpitating. Sir, will you conduct me to the

court-room ?

Beadle. Follow me, madam. [They walk about] Here is the courtroom.

Pray enter, madam. [They enter.]

Mother. [Approaching.] Happiness be yours, most worthy gentlemen.

Judge. My good woman, you are very welcome. Pray be seated.

138 ACT THE NINTH [

Mother. Thank you. [She seats herself.]

Sansthanaka. [Abusively.] You're here, are you, you old bawd?

Judge. Tell me. Are you Vasantasenas mother?

Mother. I am.

Judge. Whither has Vasantasena gone at this moment?

Mother. To the house of a friend.

Judge. What is the name of her friend?

Mother. [Aside.] Dear me! Really, this is very embarrassing.

[Aloud.] Any one else might ask me this, but not a judge.

Judge. Pray do not be embarrassed. The conduct of the case puts

the question.

Gild-warden and Clerk. The conduct of the case puts the question.

You incur no fault. Speak.

Mother. What ! the conduct of the case ? If that is so, then listen,

worthy gentlemen. There lives in the merchants' quarter the

grandson of the merchant Vinayadatta, the son of Sagaradatta,

a man whose name is a good omen in itself that name is Charudatta.

In his house my daughter enjoys her youth.

Sansthanaka. Did you hear that ? Write those words down. My

contention is with Charudatta.

Gild-warden and Clerk. It is no sin for Charudatta to be her

friend.

Judge. The conduct of this case demands the presence of Charudatta.

Gild-warden and Clerk. Exactly.

Judge. Dhanadatta, write as the first article in the case "Vasantasena

went to the house of Charudatta." But must we summon the

worthy Charudatta also? No, the conduct of the case summons

him. Go, my good beadle, summon Charudatta, but gently, without

haste, without giving him cause for anxiety, respectfully, as it

were incidentally, with the words "The judge wishes to see you."

P. 236.il] THE TRIAL 139

Beadle. Yes, Your Honor. [He goes out, then returns with Charudatta.]

Follow me, sir.

Charudatta. [Thoughtfully.]

My character and kin are known

Unto the king who rules our state;

And in this summons there is shown

A doubt begotten of my wretched fate. 8

[Reflectively. Aside.]

Ah! Were there those, the man to recognize

Who met me on the road, from bondage freed?

Or did the king, who sees through cunning spies,

Learn that my cart was lent him in his need?

Why should I else be forced to tread the street,

Like one accused of crime, my judge to meet? 9

But why consider thus? I must go to the court-room. My good

beadle, conduct me to the court.

Beadle. Follow me, sir. {They walk aboutJ]

Ch&rudatta. [Apprehensively.] And what means this?

Hear how the gloomy raven hoarsely croaks ;

The slaves of justice summon me again;

My left eye twitches; these repeated strokes

Of threatened evil frighten me and pain. 10

Beadle. Follow me, sir, gently and without haste.

Ch&rudatta. [Walks about and looks before him.']

Upon the withered tree, a crow

Turns to the sun ;

His left eye falls on me. Ah, woe!

My doubt is done. 11

[He looks in another direction.] But see! a snake!

His eye is fixed upon me ; and his back

Flashes like antimony's lustrous black ;

140 ACT THE NINTH [113.91 s.

His long tongue quivers; four white fangs appear;

His belly swells and coils. He slumbered here,

This prince of serpents, till I crossed his path,

And now he darts upon me in his wrath. 12

And more than this:

I slip, although the ground has felt no rain;

My left eye, and my left arm throb again ;

Another bird is screaming overhead ;

All bodes a cruel death, and hope is fled. 13

Surely, the gods will grant that all may yet be well.

Beadk. Follow me, sir. Here is the court-room. Pray enter.

Charudatta. [Enters and looks about.] How wonderfully splendid

is the court-room. For it seems an ocean,

Whose waters are the king's advisers, deep

In thought ; as waves and shells it seems to keep

The attorneys ; and as sharks and crocodiles

It has its spies that stand in waiting files;

Its elephants and horses 1

represent

The cruel ocean-fish on murder bent ;

As if with herons of the sea, it shines

With screaming pettifoggers' numerous lines;

While in the guise of serpents, scribes are creeping

Upon its statecraft-trodden shore: the court

The likeness of an ocean still is keeping,

To which all harmful-cruel beasts resort. 14

Come! [As he enters, he strikes his head against the door. Reflectively.]

Alas! This also?

My left eye throbs; a raven cries;

A serpent coils athwart my path.

My safety now with heaven lies. 15

But I must enter. [He does so.]

1 Elephants were employed as executioners ; and, according to Lalladikshita, the horses served

the same purpose.

p.mia] THE TRIAL 141

Judge. This is Charudatta.

A countenance like his, with clear-cut nose,

Whose great, wide-opened eye frank candor shows,

Is not the home of wantonness ;

With elephants, with horses, and with kine,

The outer form is inner habit's sign;

With men no less. 16

Charudatta. My greetings to the officers of justice. Officials, I salute

you.

Judge. [Betraying his agitation.] You are very welcome, sir. My

good beadle, give the gentleman a seat.

Beadle. [Brings a seat] Here is a seat. Pray be seated, sir. [Charudatta

seats himself]

Sansthanaka. [Angrily] You're here, are you, you woman-murderer?

Well! Thish is a fine trial, thish is a jusht trial, where they

give a sheat to thish woman-murderer. [Haughtily] But it 's all

right. They can give it to him.

Judge. Charudatta, have you any attachment, or affection, or

friendship, with this lady's daughter?

Charudatta. What lady?

Judge. This lady. [He indicates Vasantasenas mother]

Charudatta. [Rising] Madam, I salute you.

Mother. Long life to you, my son! [Aside] So this is Charudatta.

My daughter's youth is in good hands.

Judge. Sir, is the courtezan your friend? [Charudatta betrays his

embarrassment]

Sansthanaka. He tries to hide the deed he did ;

He lies, from shame or fear;

He murdered her, of her got rid

For gold, and thinks the deed is hid ;

Not sho his mashter here. 17

Om Tat Sat

(Continued ..)

(My humble salutations to Brahmasri Sudrakah and  greatfulness to Sreeman William Ryder

 for the collection)