The Little Clay Cart Part 27

[_Enter k.u.mbhilaka._]

_k.u.mbhilaka._ Listen, good people.

The more it rains in sheets, The more my skin gets wet; The more the cold wind beats, The more I shake and fret. 10

[_He bursts out laughing._]

I make the sweet flute speak from seven holes, I make the loud lute speak on seven strings; In singing, I essay the donkey's roles: No G.o.d can match my music when he sings. 11

My mistress Vasantasena said to me "k.u.mbhilaka, go and tell Charudatta that I am coming." So here I am, on my way to Charudatta's house. [_He walks about, and, as he enters, discovers Charudatta._] Here is Charudatta in the orchard. And here is that wretched jackanapes, too.

Well, I'll go up to them. What! the orchard-gate is shut? Good! I'll give this jackanapes a hint. [_He throws lumps of mud._]

_Maitreya._ Well! Who is this pelting me with mud, as if I were an apple-tree inside of a fence?

_Charudatta._ Doubtless the pigeons that play on the roof of the garden-house.

_Maitreya._ Wait a minute, you confounded pigeon! With this stick I'll bring you down from the roof to the ground, like an over-ripe mango. [_He raises his stick and starts to run._]

P. 136.8]

_Charudatta._ [_Holding him back by the sacred cord._] Sit down, my friend. What do you mean? Leave the poor pigeon alone with his mate.

_k.u.mbhilaka._ What! he sees the pigeon and doesn't see me? Good!

I'll hit him again with another lump of mud. [_He does so._]

_Maitreya._ [_Looks about him._] What! k.u.mbhilaka? I'll be with you in a minute. [_He approaches and opens the gate._] Well, k.u.mbhilaka, come in. I'm glad to see you.

_k.u.mbhilaka._ [_Enters._] I salute you, sir.

_Maitreya._ Where do you come from, man, in this rain and darkness?

_k.u.mbhilaka._ You see, she's here.

_Maitreya._ Who's she? Who's here?

_k.u.mbhilaka._ She. See? She.

_Maitreya._ Look here, you son of a slave! What makes you sigh like a half-starved old beggar in a famine, with your "sh.e.s.h.eshe"?

_k.u.mbhilaka._ And what makes you hoot like an owl with your "whowhowho"?

_Maitreya._ All right. Tell me.

_k.u.mbhilaka._ [_Aside._] Suppose I say it this way. [_Aloud._] I'll give you a riddle, man.

_Maitreya._ And I'll give you the answer with my foot on your bald spot.

_k.u.mbhilaka._ Not till you've guessed it. In what season do the mango-trees blossom?

_Maitreya._ In summer, you jacka.s.s.

_k.u.mbhilaka._ [_Laughing._] Wrong!

_Maitreya._ [_Aside._] What shall I say now? [_Reflecting._] Good! I'll go and ask Charudatta. [_Aloud._] Just wait a moment. [_Approaching Charudatta._] My friend, I just wanted to ask you in what season the mango-trees blossom.

[81.3. S.

_Charudatta._ You fool, in spring, in _vasanta._

_Maitreya._ [_Returns to k.u.mbhilaka._] You fool, in spring, in _vasanta_.

_k.u.mbhilaka._ Now I 'll give you another. Who guards thriving villages?

_Maitreya._ Why, the guard.

_k.u.mbhilaka._ [_Laughing._] Wrong!

_Maitreya._ Well, I'm stuck. [_Reflecting._] Good! I'll ask Charudatta again. [_He returns and puts the question to Charudatta._]

_Charudatta._ The army, my friend, the _sena_.

_Maitreya._ [_Comes back to k.u.mbhilaka._] The army, you jacka.s.s, the _sena_.

_k.u.mbhilaka._ Now put the two together and say 'em fast.

_Maitreya._ Sena-vasanta.

_k.u.mbhilaka._ Say it turned around.

_Maitreya._ [_Turns around._] Sena-vasanta.

_k.u.mbhilaka._ You fool! you jackanapes! Turn the parts of the thing around!

_Maitreya._ [_Turns his feet around._] Sena-vasanta.

_k.u.mbhilaka._ You fool! Turn the parts of the word around!

_Maitreya._ [_After reflection._] Vasanta-sena.

_k.u.mbhilaka._ She's here.

_Maitreya._ Then I must tell Charudatta. [_Approaching._] Well, Charudatta, your creditor is here.

_Charudatta._ How should a creditor come into my family?

_Maitreya._ Not in the family perhaps, but at the door. Vasantasena is here.

_Charudatta._ Why do you deceive me, my friend?