The Little Clay Cart Part 13

_Shampooer._ How can I pay? [_He falls down. Mathura drags him about._] Good gentlemen, save me, save me! [_Enter Darduraka._]

P. 61.5]

_Darduraka._ Yes, gambling is a kingdom without a throne.

You do not mind defeat at all; Great are the sums you spend and win; While kingly revenues roll in, Rich men, like slaves, before you fall. 7

And again:

You earn your coin by gambling, Your friends and wife by gambling, Your gifts and food by gambling; Your last cent goes by gambling. 8

And again:

My cash was taken by the trey; The deuce then took my health away; The ace then set me on the street; The four completed my defeat. 9

[_He looks before him._] Here comes Mathura, our sometime gambling-master. Well, as I can't escape, I think I'll put on my veil.

[_He makes any number of gestures with his cloak, then examines it._]

This cloth is sadly indigent in thread; This lovely cloth lets in a lot of light; This cloth's protective power is nearly fled; This cloth is pretty when it's rolled up tight. 10

Yet after all, what more could a poor saint do? For you see,

One foot I've planted in the sky, The other on the ground must lie.[41]

The elevation's rather high, But the sun stands it. Why can't I? 11

_Mathura._ Pay, pay!

_Shampooer._ How can I pay? [_Mathura drags him about._]

_Darduraka._ Well, well, what is this I see? [_He addresses a bystander._]

What did you say, sir? "This shampooer is being maltreated by the gambling-master, and no one will save him"? I'll save him myself. [_He presses forward._] Stand back, stand back!

[33.25. S.

[_He takes a look._] Well, if this isn't that swindler Mathura. And here is the poor saintly shampooer; a saint to be sure,

Who does not hang with bended head Rigid till set of sun, Who does not rub his back with sand Till boils begin to run, Whose s.h.i.+ns dogs may not browse upon, As they pa.s.s him in their rambling.[42]

Why should this tall and dainty man Be so in love with gambling? 12

Well, I must pacify Mathura. [_He approaches._] How do you do, Mathura? [_Mathura returns the greeting._]

_Darduraka._ What does this mean?

_Mathura._ He owes me ten gold-pieces.

_Darduraka._ A mere bagatelle!

_Mathura._ [_Pulling the rolled-up cloak from under Darduraka's arm._] Look, gentlemen, look! The man in the ragged cloak calls ten gold-pieces a mere bagatelle.

_Darduraka._ My good fool, don't I risk ten gold-pieces on a cast of the dice? Suppose a man has money--is that any reason why he should put it in his bosom and show it? But you,

You'll lose your caste, you'll lose your soul, For ten gold-pieces that he stole, To kill a man that's sound and whole, With five good senses in him. 13

_Mathura._ Ten gold-pieces may be a mere bagatelle to you, sir. To me they are a fortune.

_Darduraka._ Well then, listen to me. Just give him ten more, and let him go to gambling again.

_Mathura._ And what then?

_Darduraka._ If he wins, he will pay you.

P. 63.12]

_Mathura._ And if he doesn't win?

_Darduraka._ Then he won't pay you.

_Mathura._ This is no time for nonsense. If you say that, you can give him the money yourself. My name is Mathura. I'm a swindler and I play a crooked game, and I'm not afraid of anybody. You are an immoral scoundrel.

_Darduraka._ Who did you say was immoral?

_Mathura._ You're immoral.

_Darduraka._ Your father is immoral. [_He gives the shampooer a sign to escape._]

_Mathura._ You cur! That is just the way that you gamble.

_Darduraka._ That is the way I gamble?

_Mathura._ Come, shampooer, pay me my ten gold-pieces.

_Shampooer._ I'll pay you this very day. I'll pay at once. [_Mathura drags him about._]

_Darduraka._ Fool! You may maltreat him when I am away, but not before my eyes.

[_Mathura seizes the shampooer and hits him on the nose. The shampooer bleeds, faints, and falls flat. Darduraka approaches and interferes.

Mathura strikes Darduraka, and Darduraka strikes back._]

_Mathura._ Oh, oh, you accursed hound! But I'll pay you for this.

_Darduraka._ My good fool, I was walking peaceably along the street, and you struck me. If you strike me to-morrow in court, then you will open your eyes.

_Mathura._ Yes, I'll open my eyes.

_Darduraka._ How will you open your eyes?

_Mathura._ [_Opening his eyes wide._] This is the way I'll open my eyes.

[_Darduraka throws dust in Mathura's eyes, and gives the shampooer a sign to escape. Mathura shuts his eyes and falls down. The shampooer escapes._]