The Little Clay Cart Part 42

_Sansthanaka._ All right. Jusht let her be committed to my hand.

It 's a pledge that I 'll execute.

_Courtier._ Are you honest?

_Sansthanaka._ Honesht.

_Courtier._ [_Takes a few 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! I 'll 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. I 'll jusht do thish to deceive him. [_He gathers flowers and adorns himself._]

Vasantasena, my love, my love! Come!

_Courtier._ Yes, he has turned lover. Good! I am content. I will go. [_Exit._

[127.12. S.

_Sansthanaka._

I 'll give you gold, I 'll call you shweet; My turbaned head adores your feet.

Why not love me, my clean-toothed girl?

Why wors.h.i.+p such a pauper churl? 31

_Vasantasena._ How can you ask? [_She bows her head and recites the following 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.

_Vasantasena._ 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 poor-merchant-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 G.o.ds? the royal ape?

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

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

P. 212.11]

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 Jatayu Draupadi. 35

[_He raises his arm to strike her._]

_Vasantasena._ 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!

_Sansthanaka._ Die, wench! [_He strangles her. Vasantasena loses consciousness, and falls motionless._]

_Sansthanaka._ [_Gleefully._]

Thish bashketful of s.h.i.+n, 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 s.h.i.+mply died because her breath gave out.

Like Sita in the Bharata, she lies.

Ah, mother mine! how prettily she dies. 36

[129.4. S.

She would not love me, though I loved the wench; I shaw the empty garden, set the shnare, And frightened her, and made the poor girl blench.

My brother! Oh, my father! Thish is where You misshed the s.h.i.+ght of heroism shtout; Your brother and your shon here blosshomed out Into a man; like Mother Draupadi, You were not there, my bravery to shee. 37

Good! The old jackal will be here in a minute. I 'll shtep as.h.i.+de 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 jacka.s.s. [_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._] Jacka.s.s, I have persuaded your servant Sthavaraka to return.

_Sansthanaka._ How do you do, s.h.i.+r? Sthavaraka, my little shon, my shlave, how do you do?

_Sthavaraka._ Well, thank you.

_Courtier._ Give me my pledge.

_Sansthanaka._ What pledge?

_Courtier._ Vasantasena.