Part 11

Who slays the Five Men, and the Female Bane, By whom protection to the Town is given, By whom the Outcaste impotent is slain, He cannot fail to enter into heaven. (2)

After all, what have I to do with heaven, before I have paid my debt to Vasantasena, my sister in Buddha? She bought my freedom for ten gold-pieces from the gamblers, and since that day I regard myself as her property. [_He looks about._] What was that? a sigh that arose from the leaves? It cannot be.

The heated breezes heat the leaves, The wetted garment wets the leaves, And so, I guess, the scattered leaves Curl up like any other leaves. 46

[_Vasantasena begins to recover consciousness, and stretches out her hand._]

P. 222.12]

_Monk._ Ah, there appears a woman's hand, adorned with beautiful gems. What! a second hand? [_He examines it with the greatest care._] It seems to me, I recognize this hand. Yes, there is no doubt about it. Surely, this is the hand that saved me. But I must see for myself. [_He uncovers the body, looks at it, and recognizes it._] It _is_ my sister in Buddha. [_Vasantasena pants for water._] Ah, she seeks water, and the pond is far away. What shall I do? An idea! I will hold this robe over her and let it drip upon her. [_He does so. Vasantasena recovers consciousness, and raises herself. The monk fans her with his garment._]

_Vasantasena._ Who are you, sir?

_Monk._ Has my sister in Buddha forgotten him whose freedom she bought for ten gold-pieces?

_Vasantasena._ I seem to remember, but not just as you say. It were better that I had slept never to waken.

_Monk._ What happened here, sister in Buddha?

_Vasantasena._ [_Despairingly._] Nothing but what is fitting--for a courtezan.

_Monk._ Sister in Buddha, support yourself by this creeper[82] that clings to the tree, and rise to your feet [_He bends down the creeper. Vasantasena takes it in her hand, and rises._]

_Monk._ In yonder monastery dwells one who is my sister in the faith. There shall my sister in Buddha be restored before she returns home. You must walk very slowly, sister. [_He walks about and looks around him._] Make way, good people, make way! This is a young lady, and I am a monk, yet my conduct is above reproach.

The man whose hands, whose lips are free from greed, Who curbs his senses, he is man indeed. He little recks, if kingdoms fall or stand; For heaven is in the hollow of his hand. 47

[_Exeunt._

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 72: An allusion to the practice by which the Buddhists induced a state of religious ecstasy.]

[Footnote 73: The five senses.]

[Footnote 74: Ignorance.]

[Footnote 75: The body.]

[Footnote 76: The conceit of individuality.]

[Footnote 77: Used as an appetiser.]

[Footnote 78: The elaborate puns of this passage can hardly be reproduced in a translation.]

[Footnote 79: See page 13.]

[Footnote 80: The four cardinal points, the four intermediate points, the zenith, and the nadir.]

[Footnote 81: The region of Yama, god of death.]

[Footnote 82: A monk may not touch a woman.]

ACT THE NINTH

THE TRIAL

[_Enter a beadle._]

_Beadle._

The magistrates said to me "Come, beadle, go to the court-room, and make ready the seats." So now I am on my way to set the court-room in order. [_He walks about and looks around him._] Here is the court-room, I will enter. [_He enters, sweeps, and puts a seat in its place._] There! I have tidied up the court-room and put the seats in readiness, and now I will go and tell the magistrates. [_He walks about and looks around him._] But see! Here comes that arrant knave, the king's brother-in-law. I will go away without attracting his attention. [_He stands apart. Enter Sansthanaka, in gorgeous raiment._]

_Sansth._

I bathed where water runs and flows and purls; I shat within a garden, park, and grove With women, and with females, and with girls, Whose lovely limbs with grace angelic move. 1

My hair is shometimes done up tight, you shee; In locks, or curls, it hangs my forehead o'er; Shometimes 't is matted, shometimes hanging free; And then again, I wear a pompadour. I am a wonder, I'm a wondrous thing. And the husband of my shishter is the king. 2

And beshides, I 've found a big hole, like a worm that has crawled into the knot of a lotush-root, and is looking for a hole to creep out at. Now who was I going to accuse of thish wicked deed? [_He recalls something._] Oh, yesh! I remember. I was going to accuse poor Charudatta of thish wicked deed. Beshides, he's poor. They 'll believe anything about him. Good! I 'll go to the court-room and lodge a public complaint against Charudatta, how he shtrangled Vasantasena and murdered her. Sho now I 'm on my way to the court-room. [_He walks about and looks around him._] Here is the court-room. I 'll go in. [_He enters and looks about._] Well, here are the sheats, all arranged. While I 'm waiting for the magishtrates, I 'll jusht sit down a minute on the grass. [_He does so._]

P. 226.10]

_Beadle._ [_Walks about in another direction, and looks before him._] Here come the magistrates. I will go to them. [_He does so._]

[_Enter the judge, accompanied by a gild-warden, a clerk, and others._]

_Judge._ Gild-warden and clerk!

_Gild-warden and Clerk._ We await your bidding.

_Judge._ A trial depends to such an extent upon others that the task of the magistrates--the reading of another's thoughts--is most difficult.

Men often speak of deeds that no man saw, Matters beyond the province of the law; Passion so rules the parties that their lies, Hide their offenses from judicial eyes; This side and that exaggerate a thing, Until at last it implicates the king; To sum it up: false blame is easy won, A true judge little praised, or praised by none. 3

And again:

Men often point to sins that no man saw, And in their anger scorn the patient law; In court-rooms even the righteous with their lies Hide their offenses from judicial eyes; And those who did the deed are lost to view, Who sinned with plaintiff and defendant too; To sum it up: false blame is easy won, A true judge little praised, or praised by none. 4

For the judge must be

Learned, and skilled in tracing fraud's sly path, And eloquent, insensible to wrath; To friend, foe, kinsman showing equal grace, Reserving judgment till he know the case; Untouched by avarice, in virtue sound. The weak he must defend, the knave confound; An open door to truth, his heart must cling To others' interests, yet shun each thing That might awake the anger of the king. 5

[137.94. S.

_Gild-warden and Clerk._ And do men speak of defects in your virtue? If so, then they speak of darkness in the moonlight.

_Judge._ My good beadle, conduct me to the court-room.

_Beadle._ Follow me, Your Honor. [_They walk about._] Here is the court-room. May the magistrates be pleased to enter. [_All enter._]

_Judge._ My good beadle, do you go outside and learn who desires to present a case.

_Beadle._ Yes, sir. [_He goes out._] Gentlemen, the magistrates ask if there is any here who desires to present a case.

_Sansthanaka._ [_Gleefully._] The magishtrates are here. [_He struts about._] I desire to present a cashe, I, an arishtocrat, a man, a Vasudeva, the royal brother-in-law, the brother-in-law of the king.

_Beadle._ [_In alarm._] Goodness! The king's brother-in-law is the first who desires to present a case. Well! Wait a moment, sir. I will inform the magistrates at once. [_He approaches the magistrates._] Gentlemen, here is the king's brother-in-law who has come to court, desiring to present a case.

_Judge._ What! the king's brother-in-law is the first who desires to present a case? Like an eclipse at sunrise, this betokens the ruin of some great man. Beadle, the court will doubtless be very busy to-day. Go forth, my good man, and say "Leave us for to-day. Your suit cannot be considered."

_Beadle._ Yes, Your Honor. [_He goes out, and approaches Sansthanaka._] Sir, the magistrates send word that you are to leave them for to-day; that your suit cannot be considered.

P. 229.13]

_Sansthanaka._ [_Wrathfully._] Confound it! Why can't my shuit be conshidered? If it is n't conshidered, then I 'll tell my brother-in-law, King Palaka, my shishter's husband, and I 'll tell my shishter and my mother too, and I 'll have thish judge removed, and another judge appointed. [_He starts to go away._]

_Beadle._ Oh, sir! Brother-in-law of the king! Wait a moment. I will inform the magistrates at once. [_He returns to the Judge._] The brother-in-law of the king is angry, and says--[_He repeats Sansthanaka's words._]

_Judge._ This fool might do anything. My good man, tell him to come hither, that his suit will be considered.

_Beadle._ [_Approaching Sansthanaka._] Sir, the magistrates send word that you are to come in, that your suit will be considered. Pray enter, sir.

_Sansthanaka._ Firsht they shay it won't be conshidered, then they shay it will be conshidered. The magishtrates are shcared. Whatever I shay, I 'll make 'em believe it. Good! I 'll enter. [_He enters and approaches the magistrates._] I am feeling very well, thank you. Whether you feel well or not--that depends on me.

_Judge._ [_Aside._] Well, well! We seem to have a highly cultivated plaintiff. [_Aloud._] Pray be seated.

_Sansthanaka._ Well! Thish floor belongs to me. I 'll sit down wherever I like. [_To the gild-warden._] I'll sit here. [_To the beadle._] Why should n't I sit here? [_He lays his hand on the Judge's head._] I 'll sit here. [_He sits down on the floor._]

_Judge._ You desire to present a case?

_Sansthanaka._ Of courshe.

_Judge._ Then state the case.

_Sansthanaka._ I 'll whishper it. I was born in the great family of a man as glorioush as a wine-glass.

My father's father of the king--in law; The king, he is my daddy's son-in-law; And I am brother to the king--in law; And the husband of my shishter is the king. 6

[140.1. S.

_Judge._ All this we know.

Why should you boast of this your noble birth? 'T is character that makes the man of worth; But thorns and weeds grow rank in fertile earth. 7

State your case.

_Sansthanaka._ I will, but even if I was guilty, he wouldn't do anything to me. Well, my shishter's husband liked me, and gave me the besht garden there is, the old garden Pushpakaranda, to play in and look after. And there I go every day to look at it, to keep it dry, to keep it clean, to keep it blosshoming, to keep it trimmed. But fate decreed that I shaw--or rather, I didn't _shee_--the proshtrate body of a woman.

_Judge._ Do you know who the unfortunate woman was?

_Sansthanaka._ Hello, magishtrates! Why shouldn't I know? A woman like that! the pearl of the city! adorned with a hundred golden ornaments! Shomebody's unworthy shon enticed her into the old garden Pushpakaranda when it was empty, and for a mere trifle--for her money!--shtrangled Vasantasena and killed her. But _I_ didn't--[_He breaks off, and puts his hand over his mouth._]

_Judge._ What carelessness on the part of the city police! Gild-warden and clerk, write down the words "I didn't," as the first article in the case.

_Clerk._ Yes, sir. [_He does so._] Sir, it is written.

_Sansthanaka._ [_Aside._] Goodnessh! Now I've ruined myshelf, like a man that shwallows a cake of rice and milk in a hurry. Well, I'll get out of it thish way. [_Aloud._] Well, well, magishtrates! I was jusht remarking that I didn't shee it happen. What are you making thish hullabaloo about? [_He wipes out the written words with his foot._]

P. 233.3]

_Judge._ How do you know that she was strangled--and for her money?

_Sansthanaka._ Hello! Why shouldn't I think sho, when her neck was shwollen and bare, and the places where you wear jewels did n't have any gold on them?

_Gild-warden and Clerk._ That seems plausible.

_Sansthanaka._ [_Aside._] Thank heaven! I breathe again. Hooray!

_Gild-warden and Clerk._ Upon whom does the conduct of this case depend?

_Judge._ The case has a twofold aspect.

_Gild-warden and Clerk._ How so?

_Judge._ We have to consider the allegations, then the facts. Now the investigation of the allegations depends upon plaintiff and defendant. But the investigation of the facts must be carried out by the wisdom of the judge.

_Gild-warden and Clerk._ Then the conduct of the case depends upon the presence of Vasantasena's mother?

_Judge._ Precisely. My good beadle, summon Vasantasena's mother, without, however, giving her cause for anxiety.

_Beadle._ Yes, Your Honor. [_He goes out, and returns with the mother of the courtezan._] Follow me, madam.

_Mother._ My daughter went to the house of a friend to enjoy her youth. But now comes this gentleman--long life to him!--and says "Come! The judge summons you." I find myself quite bewildered. My heart is palpitating. Sir, will you conduct me to the court-room?

_Beadle._ Follow me, madam. [_They walk about._] Here is the court-room. Pray enter, madam. [_They enter._]

_Mother._ [_Approaching._] Happiness be yours, most worthy gentlemen.

_Judge._ My good woman, you are very welcome. Pray be seated.

[141.24. S.

_Mother._ Thank you. [_She seats herself._]

_Sansthanaka._ [_Abusively._] You 're here, are you, you old bawd?

_Judge._ Tell me. Are you Vasantasena's mother?

_Mother._ I am.

_Judge._ Whither has Vasantasena gone at this moment?

_Mother._ To the house of a friend.

_Judge._ What is the name of her friend?

_Mother._ [_Aside._] Dear me! Really, this is very embarrassing. [_Aloud._] Any one else might ask me this, but not a judge.

_Judge._ Pray do not be embarrassed. The conduct of the case puts the question.

_Gild-warden and Clerk._ The conduct of the case puts the question. You incur no fault. Speak.

_Mother._ What! the conduct of the case? If that is so, then listen, worthy gentlemen. There lives in the merchants' quarter the grandson of the merchant Vinayadatta, the son of Sagaradatta, a man whose name is a good omen in itself--that name is Charudatta. In his house my daughter enjoys her youth.

_Sansthanaka._ Did you hear that? Write those words down. My contention is with Charudatta.

_Gild-warden and Clerk._ It is no sin for Charudatta to be her friend.

_Judge._ The conduct of this case demands the presence of Charudatta.

_Gild-warden and Clerk._ Exactly.

_Judge._ Dhanadatta, write as the first article in the case "Vasantasena went to the house of Charudatta." But must we summon the worthy Charudatta also? No, the conduct of the case summons him. Go, my good beadle, summon Charudatta,--but gently, without haste, without giving him cause for anxiety, respectfully, as it were incidentally,--with the words "The judge wishes to see you."

P. 236.11]

_Beadle._ Yes, Your Honor. [_He goes out, then returns with Charudatta._] Follow me, sir.

_Charudatta._ [_Thoughtfully._]

My character and kin are known Unto the king who rules our state; And in this summons there is shown A doubt begotten of my wretched fate. 8

[_Reflectively. Aside._]

Ah! Were there those, the man to recognize Who met me on the road, from bondage freed? Or did the king, who sees through cunning spies, Learn that my cart was lent him in his need? Why should I else be forced to tread the street, Like one accused of crime, my judge to meet? 9

But why consider thus? I must go to the court-room. My good beadle, conduct me to the court.

_Beadle._ Follow me, sir. [_They walk about._]

_Charudatta._ [_Apprehensively._] And what means this?

Hear how the gloomy raven hoarsely croaks; The slaves of justice summon me again; My left eye twitches; these repeated strokes Of threatened evil frighten me and pain. 10

_Beadle._ Follow me, sir, gently and without haste.

_Charudatta._ [_Walks about and looks before him._]

Upon the withered tree, a crow Turns to the sun; His left eye falls on me. Ah, woe! My doubt is done. 11

[_He looks in another direction._] But see! a snake!

His eye is fixed upon me; and his back Flashes like antimony's lustrous black; His long tongue quivers; four white fangs appear; His belly swells and coils. He slumbered here, This prince of serpents, till I crossed his path, And now he darts upon me in his wrath. 12

[143.21. S.

And more than this:

I slip, although the ground has felt no rain; My left eye, and my left arm throb again; Another bird is screaming overhead; All bodes a cruel death, and hope is fled. 13

Surely, the gods will grant that all may yet be well.

_Beadle._ Follow me, sir. Here is the court-room. Pray enter.

_Charudatta._ [_Enters and looks about._] How wonderfully splendid is the court-room. For it seems an ocean,

Whose waters are the king's advisers, deep In thought; as waves and shells it seems to keep The attorneys; and as sharks and crocodiles It has its spies that stand in waiting files; Its elephants and horses[83] represent The cruel ocean-fish on murder bent; As if with herons of the sea, it shines With screaming pettifoggers' numerous lines; While in the guise of serpents, scribes are creeping Upon its statecraft-trodden shore: the court The likeness of an ocean still is keeping, To which all harmful-cruel beasts resort. 14

Come! [_As he enters, he strikes his head against the door. Reflectively._] Alas! This also?

My left eye throbs; a raven cries; A serpent coils athwart my path. My safety now with heaven lies. 15

But I must enter. [_He does so._]

P. 238.16]

_Judge._ This is Charudatta.

A countenance like his, with clear-cut nose, Whose great, wide-opened eye frank candor shows, Is not the home of wantonness; With elephants, with horses, and with kine, The outer form is inner habit's sign; With men no less. 16

_Charudatta._ My greetings to the officers of justice. Officials, I salute you.

_Judge._ [_Betraying his agitation._] You are very welcome, sir. My good beadle, give the gentleman a seat.

_Beadle._ [_Brings a seat._] Here is a seat. Pray be seated, sir. [_Charudatta seats himself._]

_Sansthanaka._ [_Angrily._] You're here, are you, you woman-murderer? Well! Thish is a fine trial, thish is a jusht trial, where they give a sheat to thish woman-murderer. [_Haughtily._] But it's all right. They can give it to him.

_Judge._ Charudatta, have you any attachment, or affection, or friendship, with this lady's daughter?

_Charudatta._ What lady?

_Judge._ This lady. [_He indicates Vasantasena's mother._]

_Charudatta._ [_Rising._] Madam, I salute you.

_Mother._ Long life to you, my son! [_Aside._] So this is Charudatta. My daughter's youth is in good hands.

_Judge._ Sir, is the courtezan your friend? [_Charudatta betrays his embarrassment._]

_Sansthanaka._

He tries to hide the deed he did; He lies, from shame or fear; He murdered her, of her got rid For gold, and thinks the deed is hid; Not sho his mashter here. 17

[145.18. S.

_Gild-warden and Clerk._ Speak, Charudatta. Do not be ashamed. This is a lawsuit.

_Charudatta._ [_In embarrassment._] Officials, how can I testify that a courtezan is my friend? But at worst, it is youth that bears the blame, not character.

_Judge._

The case is hard; then banish shame, Though it oppress your heart; Speak truth with fortitude, and aim To set deceit apart. 18

Do not be embarrassed. The conduct of the case puts the question.

_Charudatta._ Officer, with whom have I a lawsuit?

_Sansthanaka._ [_Arrogantly._] With me!

_Charudatta._ A lawsuit with you is unendurable!

_Sansthanaka._ Well, well, woman-murderer! You murder a woman like Vasantasena who used to wear a hundred gems, and now you try deceitful deceivings to hide it!

_Charudatta._ You are a fool.

_Judge._ Enough of him, good Charudatta. Speak the truth. Is the courtezan your friend?

_Charudatta._ She is.

_Judge._ Sir, where is Vasantasena?

_Charudatta._ She has gone home.

_Gild-warden and Clerk._ How did she go? When did she go? Who accompanied her?

_Charudatta._ [_Aside._] Shall I say that she went unobserved?

_Gild-warden and Clerk._ Speak, sir.

_Charudatta._ She went home. What more shall I say?

_Sansthanaka._ She was enticed into my old garden Pushpakaranda, and was shtrangled for her money. Now will you shay that she went home?

_Charudatta._ Man, you are crazy.

The very clouds of heaven wet not you; Your lips are like the blue-jay's wing-tip worn, Yes, full as fickle with their speech untrue, And like the winter lotus lustre-lorn. 19

P. 241.19]

_Judge._ [_Aside._]

Take the Himalayan hills within your hand, And swim from ocean strand to ocean strand, And hold within your grasp the fleeting wind: Then may you think that Charudatta sinned. 20

[_Aloud._] This is the noble Charudatta. How could he commit this crime? [_He repeats the verse_ "A countenance like his:" _page 141._]

_Sansthanaka._ Why thish partiality in a lawshuit?

_Judge._ Away, you fool!

Illiterate, you gloss the Sacred Law, And still your tongue uninjured find? The midday sun with steadfast eye you saw, And are not straightway stricken blind? You thrust your hand into the blazing fire, And draw it forth, unscathed and sound? Drag Charudatta's virtue in the mire, Nor sink beneath this yawning ground? 21

How could the noble Charudatta commit a crime?

Of all the riches of the mighty sea Only the swelling waters now are left, Because, without consideration, he-- For others' good--himself of all has reft. And should this high-souled man, this store-house where All gems of virtue gather and unite, For lucre's sake, so foul a trespass dare That in it even his foe could not delight? 22

_Mother._ You scoundrel! When the golden casket that was left with him as a pledge was stolen by thieves at night, he gave in place of it a pearl necklace that was the pride of the four seas. And he should now, for a mere trifle--for her money!--do this sin? Oh, my child, come back to me, my daughter! [_She weeps._]

[147.16. S.

_Judge._ Noble Charudatta, did she go on foot, or in a bullock-cart?

_Charudatta._ I did not see her when she went. Therefore I do not know whether she went on foot, or in a bullock-cart.

* * * * *

[_Enter Viraka, in anger._]

_Viraka._

My anger was so prodded to the quick, By that dishonoring, insulting kick, And so I brooded, till at last the night Unwilling yielded to the dawning light. 23

So now I will go to the court-room. [_He enters._] May happiness be the lot of these honorable gentlemen.

_Judge._ Ah, it is Viraka, the captain of the guard. Viraka, what is the purpose of your coming?

_Viraka._ Well! I was looking for Aryaka, in all the excitement about his escape from prison. I had my suspicions about a covered bullock-cart that was coming, and wanted to look in. "You 've made one inspection, man, I must make another," said I, and then I was kicked by the highly respectable Chandanaka. You have heard the matter, gentlemen. The rest is your affair.

_Judge._ My good man, do you know to whom the bullock-cart belonged?

_Viraka._ To this gentleman here, Charudatta. And the driver said that Vasantasena was in it, and was on her way to have a good time in the old garden Pushpakaranda.

_Sansthanaka._ Lishten to that, too!

_Judge._

This moon, alas, though spotless-bright, Is now eclipsed, and robbed of light; The bank is fallen; the waves appear Befouled, that once were bright and clear. 24

P. 244.8]

Viraka, we will investigate your case here later. Mount the horse that stands before the court-room door, go to the garden Pushpakaranda, and see whether a woman has perished there or not.

_Viraka._ Yes, sir. [_He goes out, then returns._] I have been there. And I saw the body of a woman, torn by wild beasts.