_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 worship 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 shin, 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 shimply 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 shight 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 ashide 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, shir? Sthavaraka, my little shon, my shlave, how do you do?

_Sthavaraka._ Well, thank you.

_Courtier._ Give me my pledge.

_Sansthanaka._ What pledge?

_Courtier._ Vasantasena.