_Sansthanaka._ You shlave, get out of the way! What have you got to shay about him?
_Judge._ Go, madam. Guardsmen, conduct her forth.
_Mother._ Oh, my child, my son! [_Exit weeping._
_Sansthanaka._ [_Aside._] I 've done shomething worthy of myshelf. Now I 'll go. [_Exit._
_Judge._ Noble Charudatta, the decision lies with us, but the rest depends on the king. And yet, beadle, let King Palaka be reminded of this:
The Brahman who has sinned, our laws declare, May not be slain, but banished from the realm, And with his wealth entire abroad may fare. 39
_Beadle._ Yes, Your Honor. [_He goes out, then reënters in tears._] Oh, sirs, I was with the king. And King Palaka says: "Inasmuch as he killed Vasantasena for such a trifle, these same jewels shall be hung about his neck, the drum shall be beaten, he shall be conducted to the southern burying-ground, and there impaled." And whoever else shall commit such a crime, shall be punished with the like dreadful doom.
_Charudatta._ Oh, how wanton is this act of King Palaka! Nevertheless,
Although his counsellors may plunge a king Into injustice' dangers great, Yet he will reap the woe and suffering; And 't is a righteous fate. 40
They who pervert the king's true bent, The white crow's part who play, Have slain their thousands innocent, And slay, and slay, and slay. 41
My friend Maitreya, go, greet the mother of my son in my name for the last time. And keep my son Rohasena free from harm.
_Maitreya._ When the root is cut away, how can the tree be saved?
When man departs to worlds above, In living son yet liveth he; Bestow on Rohasena love No less than that thou gavest me. 42
_Maitreya._ Oh, my friend! I will prove myself your friend by continuing the life that you leave unfinished.
_Charudatta._ And let me see Rohasena for a single moment.
_Judge._ My good beadle, remove this man. [_The beadle does so._] Who is there? Let the headsmen receive their orders. [_The guardsmen loose their hold on Charudatta, and all of them go out._]
_Charudatta._ [_Mournfully repeats the verse, page 146, beginning_ "My friend Maitreya!" _Then, as if speaking to one not present._]
If you had proved my conduct by the fire, By water, poison, scales, and thus had known That I deserved that saws should bite my bone, My Brahman's frame, more could I not desire. You trust a foeman, slay me thus? 'T is well. With sons, and sons' sons, now you plunge to hell! 43