SECOND CITIZEN. I heard that every one was punished except Kanchi, whom the judge placed on his right on the throne of justice, putting a crown on his head.
THIRD CITIZEN. This beats all mystery hollow.
SECOND CITIZEN. This sort of justice, to speak frankly, strikes us as fantastic and capricious.
FIRST CITIZEN. Just so. The greatest offender is certainly the King of Kanchi; as for the others, greed of gain now pressed them to advance, now they drew back in fear.
THIRD CITIZEN. What kind of justice is this, I ask? It is as if the tiger got scot-free, while his tail got cut off.
SECOND CITIZEN. If I were the judge, do you think Kanchi would be whole and sound at this hour? There would be nothing left of him altogether.
THIRD CITIZEN. They are great, high justices, my friends; their brains are of a different stamp from ours.
FIRST CITIZEN. Have they got any brains at all, I wonder? They simply indulge their sweet whims as there are none to say anything to them from above.
SECOND CITIZEN. Whatever you may say, if we had the governing power in our hands we should certainly have carried on the government much better than this.
THIRD CITIZEN. Can there be any real doubts about that? That of course goes without saying.
GRANDFATHER. What, Prince of Kanchi, you here!
KANCHI. Your King has sent me on the road.
GRANDFATHER. That is a settled habit with him.
KANCHI. And now, no one can get a glimpse of him.
GRANDFATHER. That too is one of his amusements.
KANCHI. But how long more will he elude me like this? When nothing could make me acknowledge him as my King, he came all of a sudden like a terrific tempest—God knows from where—and scattered my men and horses and banners in one wild tumult: but now, when I am seeking the ends of the earth to pay him my humble homage, he is nowhere to be seen.
GRANDFATHER. But however big an Emperor he may be, he has to submit to him that yields. But why have you come out at night, Prince?
KANCHI. I still cannot get rid of the feeling of a secret dread of being laughed at by people when they see me meekly doing my homage to your King, acknowledging my defeat.
GRANDFATHER. Such indeed is the people. What would move others to tears only serves to move their empty laughter.