The Little Clay Cart Part 33

Why, the road is blocked with villagers' carts. What am I to do now? [_Haughtily._] Get out of my way, you! Get out of my way!

[_He listens._] What's that? you want to know whose cart this is?

This cart belongs to Sansthanaka, the king's brother-in-law. So get out of my way--and this minute, too! [_He looks about._] Why, here's a man going in the other direction as fast as he can. He is trying to hide like a runaway gambler, and he looks at me as if I were the gambling-master. I wonder who he is. But then, what business is it of mine? I must get there as soon as I can. Get out of my way, you villagers, get out of my way! What's that? you want me to wait a minute and put a shoulder to your wheel? Confound you! A brave man like me, that serves Sansthanaka, the king's brother-in-law, put a shoulder to your wheel? After all, the poor fellow is quite alone. I'll do it. I'll stop my cart at the side-door to Charudatta's orchard. [_He does so._] I'm coming! [_Exit._

_Maid._ Mistress, I think I hear the sound of wheels. The cart must be here.

_Vasantasena._ Come, girl. My heart grows impatient. Go with me to the side-door.

_Maid._ Follow me, mistress.

_Vasantasena._ [_Walks about._] You have earned a rest, girl.

_Maid._ Thank you, mistress. [_Exit._

_Vasantasena._ [_Feels her right eye twitch_[68] _as she enters the cart._] Why should my right eye twitch now? But the sight of Charudatta will smooth away the bad omen. [_Enter Sthavaraka._]

P. 169.8]

_Sthavaraka._ I've cleared the carts out of the way, and now I'll go ahead. [_He mounts and drives away. To himself._] The cart has grown heavy. But I suppose it only seems so, because I got tired helping them with that wheel. Well, I'll go along. Get up, bullocks, get up!

_A voice behind the scenes._ Police! Police! Every man at his post!

The young herdsman has just broken jail, killed the jailer, broken his fetters, escaped, and run away. Catch him! Catch him!

[_Enter, in excited haste, Aryaka, an iron chain on one foot. Covering his face, he walks about._]

_Sthavaraka._ [_To himself._] There is great excitement in the city. I must get out of the way as fast as I possibly can. [_Exit._

_Aryaka._

I leave behind me that accursed sea Of human woe and human misery, The prison of the king.

Like elephants that break their chains and flee, I drag a fettered foot most painfully In flight and wandering. 1

King Palaka was frightened by a prophecy, took me from the hamlet where I lived, fettered me, and thrust me into a solitary cell, there to await my death. But with the help of my good friend Sharvilaka I escaped. [_He sheds tears._]

If such my fate, no sin is mine at least, That he should cage me like a savage beast.

A man may fight with kings, though not with fate-- And yet, can helpless men contend with great? 2

Whither shall I go with my wretchedness? [_He looks about._] Here is the house of some good man who hasn't locked the side-door.

The house is old, the door without a lock, The hinges all awry.

Some man, no doubt, who feels misfortune's shock As cruelly as I. 3

[96.18. S.

I will enter here and wait.

_A voice behind the scenes._ Get up, bullocks, get up!

_Aryaka._ [_Listening._] Ah, a bullock-cart is coming this way.

If this should prove to be a picnic rig, Its occupants not peevishly inclined; Some n.o.ble lady's waiting carriage trig; Or rich man's coach, that leaves the town behind-- And if it empty be, fate proving kind, 'T would seem a G.o.dsend to my anxious mind. 4

[_Enter Vardhamanaka with the bullock-cart._]

_Vardhamanaka._ There, I've got the cus.h.i.+on. Radanika, tell mistress Vasantasena that the cart is ready and waiting for her to get in and drive to the old garden Pushpakaranda.

_Aryaka._ [_Listening._] This is a courtezan's cart, going out of the city. Good, I'll climb in. [_He approaches cautiously._]

_Vardhamanaka._ [_Hears him coming._] Ah, the tinkling of ankle-rings!

The lady is here. Mistress, the nose-rope makes the bullocks skittish. You had better climb in behind. [_Aryaka does so._]

The ankle-rings tinkle only when the feet are moving, and the sound has ceased. Besides, the cart has grown heavy. I am sure the lady must have climbed in by this time. I'll go ahead. Get up, bullocks, get up! [_He drives about. Enter Viraka._]

_Viraka._ Come, come! Jaya, Jayamana, Chandanaka, Mangala, Phullabhadra, and the rest of you!

So calm, when the herdsman, slipping his tether, Breaks jail and the heart of the king together? 5

Here! You stand at the east gate of the main street, you at the west, you at the south, you at the north. I'll climb up the broken wall here with Chandanaka and take a look. Come on, Chandanaka, come on! This way! [_Enter Chandanaka, in excitement._]

P. 166.5]

_Chandanaka._ Come, come! Viraka, Vishalya, Bhimangada, Dandakala, Dandashura, and the rest of you!

Come quick, my reliables! Work! Now begin!

Lest the old king go out, and a new king come in. 6 Search gardens, and dives, and the town, and the street, The market, the hamlet, wherever you meet 7 With what looks suspicious. Now, Viraka, say, Who saved the young herdsman that just broke away? 8 Who was born when the sun in his eighth mansion stood, Or the moon in her fourth, or when Jupiter could Be seen in his sixth, or when Saturn was resting In his ninth, in her sixth house when Venus was nesting, Or Mars in his fifth?[69] Who will dare to be giving The herdsman protection, while I am still living? 9, 10

_Viraka._ Chandanaka, you mercenary!

I swear on your heart, he's been long out of prison, For the herdsman escaped ere the sun was half risen. 11

_Vardhamanaka._ Get up, bullocks, get up!

_Chandanaka._ [_Discovers him._] Look, man, look!

A covered cart is moving in the middle of the road; Investigate it, whose it is, and where it takes its load! 12

_Viraka._ [_Discovers him._] Here, driver, stop your cart! Whose cart is this? who is in it? where is it going?

_Vardhamanaka._ This is Charudatta's cart. Mistress Vasantasena is in it. I am taking her to the old garden Pushpakaranda to meet Charudatta.

_Viraka._ [_Approaches Chandanaka._] The driver says it is Charudatta's cart; that Vasantasena is in it; that he is taking her to the old garden Pushpakaranda.

_Chandanaka._ Then let it pa.s.s.

_Viraka._ Without inspection?

[101.3. S.

_Chandanaka._ Certainly.

_Viraka._ On whose authority?