The Little Clay Cart Part 19

Aloud._] Look, man! You are always saying "Maitreya is a fool, Maitreya is no scholar." But I certainly acted wisely in handing over that golden casket to you. If I hadn't, the son of a slave would have carried it off.

_Charudatta._ A truce to your jests!

_Maitreya._ Just because I'm a fool, do you suppose I don't even know the place and time for a jest?

_Charudatta._ But when did this happen?

_Maitreya._ Why, when I told you that your fingers were cold.

_Charudatta._ It might have been. [_He searches about. Joyfully._]

My friend, I have something pleasant to tell you.

_Maitreya._ What? Wasn't it stolen?

_Charudatta._ Yes.

_Maitreya._ What is the pleasant news, then?

_Charudatta._ The fact that he did not go away disappointed.

_Maitreya._ But it was only entrusted to our care.

_Charudatta._ What! entrusted to our care? [_He swoons._]

_Maitreya._ Come to yourself, man. Is the fact that a thief stole what was entrusted to you, any reason why you should swoon?

53.5. S.]

_Charudatta._ [_Coming to himself._] Ah, my friend,

Who will believe the truth?

Suspicion now is sure.

This world will show no ruth To the inglorious poor. 24

Alas! If envious fate before Has wooed my wealth alone.

Why should she seek my store Of virtue as her own? 25

_Maitreya._ I intend to deny the whole thing. Who gave anybody anything? who received anything from anybody? who was a witness?

_Charudatta._ And shall I tell a falsehood now?

No! I will beg until I earn The wherewithal my debt to pay.

Ign.o.ble falsehood I will spurn.

That steals the character away. 26

_Radanika._ I will go and tell his good wife. [_She goes out, returning with Charudatta's wife._]

_Wife._ [_Anxiously._] Oh! Is it true that my lord is uninjured, and Maitreya too?

_Radanika._ It is true, mistress. But the gems which belong to the courtezan have been stolen. [_Charudatta's wife swoons._] O my good mistress! Come to yourself!

_Wife._ [_Recovering._] Girl, how can you say that my lord is uninjured?

Better that he were injured in body than in character. For now the people of Ujjayini will say that my lord committed this crime because of his poverty. [_She looks up and sighs._] Ah, mighty Fate! The destinies of the poor, uncertain as the water-drops which fall upon a lotus-leaf, seem to thee but playthings. There remains to me this one necklace, which I brought with me from my mother's house. But my lord would be too proud to accept it. Girl, call Maitreya hither.

P. 95.7]

_Radanika._ Yes, mistress. [_She approaches Maitreya._] Maitreya, my lady summons you.

_Maitreya._ Where is she?

_Radanika._ Here. Come!

_Maitreya._ [_Approaching._] Heaven bless you!

_Wife._ I salute you, sir. Sir, will you look straight in front of you?

_Maitreya._ Madam, here stands a man who looks straight in front of him.

_Wife._ Sir, you must accept this.

_Maitreya._ Why?

_Wife._ I have observed the Ceremony of the Gems. And on this occasion one must make as great a present as one may to a Brahman.

This I have not done, therefore pray accept this necklace.

_Maitreya._ [_Receiving the necklace._] Heaven bless you! I will go and tell my friend.

_Wife._ You must not do it in such a way as to make me blush, Maitreya. [_Exit._

_Maitreya._ [_In astonishment._] What generosity!

_Charudatta._ How Maitreya lingers! I trust his grief is not leading him to do what he ought not. Maitreya, Maitreya!

_Maitreya._ [_Approaching._] Here I am. Take that. [_He displays the necklace._]

_Charudatta._ What is this?

_Maitreya._ Why, that is the reward you get for marrying such a wife.

_Charudatta._ What! my wife takes pity on me? Alas, now am I poor indeed!

When fate so robs him of his all, That on her pity he must call, The man to woman's state doth fall, The woman is the man. 27

But no, I am not poor. For I have a wife

Whose love outlasts my wealthy day; In thee a friend through good and ill; And truth that naught could take away: Ah! this the poor man lacketh still. 28