The Little Clay Cart Part 49

_Sansthanaka._ [_Dancing about gleefully. Aside._] Fine! The s.h.i.+n that I did falls on another man's head. Sho I 'll sit where Charudatta was. [_He does so._] Look at me, Charudatta, and confessh that you murdered her.

_Charudatta._ Magistrates!

A mean and jealous creature, pa.s.sion-blind, Sets all his soul, some fatal means to find To slay the man he envies; shall his lies, By evil nature prompted, win the prize?

No! he is unregarded by the wise. (27)

[_Sighing. Aside._]

My friend Maitreya! Oh, this cruel blow!

My wife, thou issue of a spotless strain!

My Rohasena! Here am I, laid low By sternest fate; and thou, thou dost not know That all thy childish games are played in vain.

Thou playest, heedless of another's pain! 29

But Maitreya I sent to Vasantasena, that he might bring me tidings of her, and might restore the jewels which she gave my child, to buy him a toy cart. Why then does he linger?

[_Enter Maitreya with the gems._]

P. 246.19]

_Maitreya._ Charudatta bade me go to Vasantasena, to return her jewels, and he said to me: "Maitreya, Vasantasena adorned my dear Rohasena with her own jewels, and sent him thus to his mother. It was fitting that she should give him the jewels, but not that we should receive them.

Therefore restore them to her." So now I will go to Vasantasena's house.

[_He walks about and looks around, then speaks to a person behind the scenes._] Ah, it is Master Rebhila. Oh, Master Rebhila, why do you seem so exceedingly troubled? [_He listens._] What! do you mean to say that my dear friend Charudatta has been summoned to court? That can hardly be an insignificant matter. [_He reflects._] I will go to Vasantasena's house later, but now I will go to the court-room. [_He walks about and looks around._] Here is the court-room. I will go in at once. [_He enters._] May happiness be the lot of the magistrates. Where is my friend?

_Judge._ Here.

_Maitreya._ My friend, I wish you happiness.

_Charudatta._ It will be mine.

_Maitreya._ And peace.

_Charudatta._ That too will be mine.

_Maitreya._ My friend, why do you seem so exceedingly troubled?

And why were you summoned?

_Charudatta._ My friend,

A scoundrel I, who bear the blame, Nor seek in heaven to be blest; A maid--or G.o.ddess--'t is the same-- But _he_ will say the rest. 30

_Maitreya._ What? what?

_Charudatta._ [_Whispers._] That is it.

_Maitreya._ Who says that?

_Charudatta._ [_Indicating Sansthanaka._] This poor fellow is the instrument that fate uses to accuse me.

[131.12. S.

_Maitreya._ [_Aside to Charudatta._] Why don't you simply say that she went home?

_Charudatta._ Though I say it, it is not believed, so unfortunate is my condition.

_Maitreya._ But gentlemen! He adorned the city of Ujjayini with mansions, cloisters, parks, temples, pools, and fountains, and he should be mad enough to commit such a crime--and for a mere trifle? [_Wrathfully._] You offspring of a loose wench, you brother-in-law of the king, Sansthanaka, you libertine, you slanderer, you buffoon, you gilded monkey, say it before me! This friend of mine does n't even draw a flowering jasmine creeper to himself, to gather the blossoms, for fear that a twig might perhaps be injured.

How should he commit a crime like this, which heaven and earth call accursed? Just wait, you son of a bawd! Wait till I split your head into a hundred pieces with this staff of mine, as crooked as your heart.

_Sansthanaka._ [_Angrily._] Lishten to that, gentlemen! I have a quarrel, or a lawshuit, with Charudatta. What right has a man with a pate that looks like a caret, to shplit my head into a hundred pieces? Not much! You confounded rashcal! [_Maitreya raises his staff and repeats his words. Sansthanaka rises angrily and strikes him. Maitreya strikes back. During the scuffle the jewels fall from Maitreya's girdle._]

_Sansthanaka._ [_Picks up the jewels and examines them. Excitedly._]

Look, gentlemen, look! These are the poor girl's jewels! [_Pointing to Charudatta._] For a trifle like thish he murdered her, and killed her too. [_The magistrates all bow their heads._]

_Charudatta._ [_Aside to Maitreya._]

'T is thus my fate would vent its gall, That at this moment they should fall, These gems--and with them, I. 31

_Maitreya._ But why don't you simply tell the truth?

P. 250.1]

_Charudatta._ My friend,

The king perceives with blinded eye, Nor on the truth that eye will bend; Though telling all, I cannot fly A wretched and inglorious end. 32

_Judge._ Alas! Alas!

With Mars strives Jupiter, and dies; Beside them both there seems to rise A comet-planet[84] in the skies. 33

_Gild-warden and Clerk._ [_Looking at the casket. To Vasantasena's mother._] Madam, pray examine this golden casket attentively, to see whether it be the same or not.

_Mother._ [_Examining the casket._] It is similar, but not the same.

_Sansthanaka._ Oh, you old bawd! You confessh it with your eyes, and deny it with your lips.

_Mother._ Away, you scoundrel!

_Gild-warden and Clerk._ Speak carefully. Is it the same or not?

_Mother._ Sir, the craftsman's skill captivates the eye. But it is not the same.

_Judge._ My good woman, do you know these jewels?

_Mother._ No, I said. No! I don't recognize them; but perhaps they were made by the same craftsman.

_Judge._ Gild-warden, see!

Gems often seem alike in many ways, When the artist's mind on form and beauty plays; For craftsmen imitate what they have seen, And skilful hands remake what once has been. 34