The Little Clay Cart

by King Shudraka

  Maitreya. [Rising.] What do you mean, wench? "A hole in the wall has cut a thief and has escaped"?

  Radanikā. Poor fool! Stop your joking. Don't you see it?

  Maitreya. What do you mean, wench? "It looks as if a second door had been thrown open"? Get up, friend Chārudatta, get up! A thief has made a hole in the wall of our house and has escaped.

  Chārudatta. Yes, yes! A truce to your jests!

  Maitreya. But it isn't a jest. Look!

  Chārudatta. Where?

  Maitreya. Why, here.

  Chārudatta. [Gazing.] What a very remarkable hole!

  The bricks are drawn away below, above;

  The top is narrow, but the center wide;

  As if the great house-heart had burst with pride,

  Fearing lest the unworthy share its love.22

  To think that science should be expended on a task like this!

  Maitreya. My friend, this hole must have been made by one of two men; either by a stranger, or else for practice by a student of the science of robbery. For what man here in Ujjayinī does not know how much wealth there is in our house?

  Chārud.

  Stranger he must have been who made the breach,

  His customed harvest in my house to reap;

  He has not learned that vanished riches teach

  A calm, untroubled sleep.

  He saw the sometime greatness of my home

  And forced an entrance; for his heart did leap

  With short-lived hope; now he must elsewhere roam,

  And over broken hopes must sorely weep.23

  Just think of the poor fellow telling his friends: "I entered the house of a merchant's son, and found—nothing."

  [53]

  P. 92.4]

  Maitreya. Do you mean to say that you pity the rascally robber? Thinks he—"Here's a great house. Here's the place to carry off a jewel-casket or a gold-casket." [He remembers the casket. Despondently. Aside.] Where is that golden casket? [He remembers the events of the night. Aloud.] Look, man! You are always saying "Maitreya is a fool, Maitreya is no scholar." But I certainly acted wisely in handing over that golden casket to you. If I hadn't, the son of a slave would have carried it off.

  Chārudatta. A truce to your jests!

  Maitreya. Just because I'm a fool, do you suppose I don't even know the place and time for a jest?

  Chārudatta. But when did this happen?

  Maitreya. Why, when I told you that your fingers were cold.

  Chārudatta. It might have been. [He searches about. Joyfully.] My friend, I have something pleasant to tell you.

  Maitreya. What? Wasn't it stolen?

  Chārudatta. Yes.

  Maitreya. What is the pleasant news, then?

  Chārudatta. The fact that he did not go away disappointed.

  Maitreya. But it was only entrusted to our care.

  Chārudatta. What! entrusted to our care? [He swoons.]

  Maitreya. Come to yourself, man. Is the fact that a thief stole what was entrusted to you, any reason why you should swoon?

  [54]

  53.5. S.]

  Chārudatta. [Coming to himself.] Ah, my friend,

  Who will believe the truth?

  Suspicion now is sure.

  This world will show no ruth

  To the inglorious poor.24

  Alas!If envious fate before

  Has wooed my wealth alone.

  Why should she seek my store

  Of virtue as her own?25

  Maitreya. I intend to deny the whole thing. Who gave anybody anything? who received anything from anybody? who was a witness?

  Chārudatta. And shall I tell a falsehood now?

  No! I will beg until I earn

  The wherewithal my debt to pay.

  Ignoble falsehood I will spurn.

  That steals the character away.26

  Radanikā. I will go and tell his good wife. [She goes out, returning with Chārudatta's wife.]

  Wife. [Anxiously.] Oh! Is it true that my lord is uninjured, and Maitreya too?

  Radanikā. It is true, mistress. But the gems which belong to the courtezan have been stolen. [Chārudatta's wife swoons.] O my good mistress! Come to yourself!

  Wife. [Recovering.] Girl, how can you say that my lord is uninjured? Better that he were injured in body than in character. For now the people of Ujjayinī will say that my lord committed this crime because of his poverty. [She looks up and sighs.] Ah, mighty Fate! The destinies of the poor, uncertain as the water-drops which fall upon a lotus-leaf, seem to thee but playthings. There remains to me this one necklace, which I brought with me from my mother's house. But my lord would be too proud to accept it. Girl, call Maitreya hither.[55]

  P. 95.7]

  Radanikā. Yes, mistress. [She approaches Maitreya.] Maitreya, my lady summons you.

  Maitreya. Where is she?

  Radanikā. Here. Come!

  Maitreya. [Approaching.] Heaven bless you!

  Wife. I salute you, sir. Sir, will you look straight in front of you?

  Maitreya. Madam, here stands a man who looks straight in front of him.

  Wife. Sir, you must accept this.

  Maitreya. Why?

  Wife. I have observed the Ceremony of the Gems. And on this occasion one must make as great a present as one may to a Brahman. This I have not done, therefore pray accept this necklace.

  Maitreya. [Receiving the necklace.] Heaven bless you! I will go and tell my friend.

  Wife. You must not do it in such a way as to make me blush, Maitreya.[Exit.

  Maitreya. [In astonishment.] What generosity!

  * * *

  Chārudatta. How Maitreya lingers! I trust his grief is not leading him to do what he ought not. Maitreya, Maitreya!

  Maitreya. [Approaching.] Here I am. Take that. [He displays the necklace.]

  Chārudatta. What is this?

  Maitreya. Why, that is the reward you get for marrying such a wife.

  Chārudatta. What! my wife takes pity on me? Alas, now am I poor indeed!

  When fate so robs him of his all,

  That on her pity he must call,

  The man to woman's state doth fall,

  The woman is the man.27

  [56]

  But no, I am not poor. For I have a wife

  Whose love outlasts my wealthy day;

  In thee a friend through good and ill;

  And truth that naught could take away:

  Ah! this the poor man lacketh still.28

  [55.9. S.

  Maitreya, take the necklace and go to Vasantasenā. Tell her in my name that we have gambled away the golden casket, forgetting that it was not our own, that we trust she will accept this necklace in its place.

  Maitreya. But you must not give away this necklace, the pride of the four seas, for that cheap thing that was stolen before we had a bite or a drink out of it.

  Chārudatta. Not so, my friend.

  She showed her trust in leaving us her treasure;

  The price of confidence has no less measure.29

  Friend, I conjure you by this gesture, not to return until you have delivered it into her hands. Vardhamānaka, do you speedily

  Fill up the opening with the selfsame bricks;

  Thus will I thwart the process of the law,

  For the blemish of so great a scandal sticks.30

  And, friend Maitreya, you must show your pride by not speaking too despondently.

  Maitreya. How can a poor man help speaking despondently?

  Chārudatta. Poor I am not, my friend. For I have a wife

  Whose love outlasts my wealthy day;

  In thee a friend through good and ill;

  And truth that naught could take away:

  Ah, this the poor man lacketh still.(28)

  Go then, and after performing rites of purification, I will offer my morning prayer.

  [Exeunt omnes.

  FOOTNOTES:

  [44] This refers to Chārudatta's generosity, which conti
nues after his wealth has vanished.

  [45] The following scene satirises the Hindu love of system and classification.

  [46] The patron saint of thieves.

  [47] An epithet of Skanda.

  [48] The sacrificial cord, which passes over the left shoulder and under the right arm, is worn constantly by members of the three upper castes.

  [49] Sacred creatures.

  * * *

  [57]

  ACT THE FOURTH

  MADANIKA AND SHARVILAKA

  [Enter a maid.]

  Maid.

  I am entrusted with a message for my mistress by her mother. Here is my mistress. She is gazing at a picture and is talking with Madanikā. I will go to her. [She walks about. Then enter Vasantasenā as described, and Madanikā.]

  Vasantasenā. Madanikā girl, is this portrait really like Chārudatta?

  Madanikā. Very like.

  Vasantasenā. How do you know?

  Madanikā. Because my mistress' eyes are fastened so lovingly upon it.

  Vasantasenā. Madanikā girl, do you say this because courtezan courtesy demands it?

  Madanikā. But mistress, is the courtesy of a girl who lives in a courtezan's house, necessarily false?

  Vasantasenā. Girl, courtezans meet so many kinds of men that they do learn a false courtesy.

  Madanikā. But when the eyes of my mistress find such delight in a thing, and her heart too, what need is there to ask the reason?

  Vasantasenā. But I should not like to have my friends laugh at me.

  Madanikā. You need not be afraid. Women understand women.

  Maid. [Approaching.] Mistress, your mother sends word that a covered cart is waiting at the side-door, and that you are to take a drive.

  Vasantasenā. Tell me, is it Chārudatta who invites me?

  Maid. Mistress, the man who sent ornaments worth ten thousand gold-pieces with the cart[58]—

  [58.6. S.

  Vasantasenā. Is who?

  Maid. Is the king's brother-in-law, Sansthānaka.

  Vasantasenā. [Indignantly.] Go! and never come again on such an errand.

  Maid. Do not be angry, mistress. I was only sent with the message.

  Vasantasenā. But it is the message which makes me angry.

  Maid. But what shall I tell your mother?

  Vasantasenā. Tell my mother never to send me another such message, unless she wishes to kill me.

  Maid. As you will. [Exit.][Enter Sharvilaka.]

  Sharv.

  Blame for my sin I laid upon the night;

  I conquered sleep and watchmen of the king;

  But darkness wanes, and in the sun's clear light

  My light is like the moon's—a faded thing.1

  And again:

  Whoever cast at me a passing look,

  Or neared me, anxious, as they quickly ran,

  All such my laden soul for foes mistook;

  For sin it was wherein man's fear began.2

  Well, it was for Madanikā's sake that I did the deed of sin.

  I paid no heed to any one who talked with serving-men;

  The houses ruled by women-folk—these I avoided most;

  And when policemen seemed to have me almost in their ken,

  I stood stock-still and acted just exactly like a post.

  A hundred such manoeuvres did I constantly essay,

  And by such means succeeded in turning night to day.3

  [He walks about.]

  Vasantasenā. Girl, lay this picture on my sofa and come back at once with a fan.

  Madanikā. Yes, mistress.[Exit with the picture.

  Sharvilaka. This is Vasantasenā's house. I will enter. [He does so.][59]

  P. 101.11]

  I wonder where I can find Madanikā. [Enter Madanikā with the fan. Sharvilaka discovers her.] Ah, it is Madanikā

  Surpassing Madana[50] himself in charm,

  She seems the bride of Love, in human guise;

  Even while my heart the flames of passion harm,

  She brings a sandal[51] coolness to my eyes.4

  Madanikā!

  Madanikā. [Discovers Sharvilaka.] Oh, oh, oh, Sharvilaka! I am so glad, Sharvilaka. Where have you been?

  Sharvilaka. I will tell you. [They gaze at each other passionately.]

  Vasantasenā. How Madanikā lingers! I wonder where she is. [She looks through a bull's-eye window.] Why, there she stands, talking with a man. Her loving glance does not waver, and she gazes as if she would drink him in. I imagine he must be the man who wishes to make her free. Well, let her stay, let her stay. Never interrupt anybody's happiness. I will not call her.

  Madanikā. Tell me, Sharvilaka. [Sharvilaka looks about him uneasily.] What is it, Sharvilaka? You seem uneasy.

  Sharvilaka. I will tell you a secret. Are we alone?

  Madanikā. Of course we are.

  Vasantasenā. What! a deep secret? I will not listen.

  Sharvilaka. Tell me, Madanikā. Will Vasantasenā take a price for your freedom?

  Vasantasenā. The conversation has to do with me? Then I will hide behind this window and listen.

  Madanikā. I asked my mistress about it, Sharvilaka, and she said that if she could have her way, she would free all her servants for nothing. But Sharvilaka, where did you find such a fortune that you can think of buying my freedom from my mistress?

  Sharvilaka.

  A victim to my pauper plight,

  And your sweet love to win,

  For you, my timid maid, last night

  I did the deed of sin.5

  [60]

  [60.16. S.

  Vasantasenā. His face is tranquil. It would be troubled, if he had sinned.

  Madanikā. Oh, Sharvilaka! For a mere nothing—for a woman—you have risked both things!

  Sharvilaka. What things?

  Madanikā. Your life and your character.

  Sharvilaka. My foolish girl, fortune favors the brave.

  Madanikā. Oh, Sharvilaka! Your character was without a stain. You didn't do anything very bad, did you, when for my sake you did the deed of sin?

  Sharv.

  The gems that magnify a woman's charm,

  As flowers the creeping plant, I do not harm.

  I do not rob the Brahman of his pelf,

  Nor seize the sacrificial gold myself.

  I do not steal the baby from the nurse,

  Simply because I need to fill my purse.

  Even as a thief, I strive with main and might

  For just distinction 'twixt the wrong and right.6

  And so you may tell Vasantasenā this:

  These ornaments were made for you to don,

  Or so it seems to me;

  But as you love me, never put them on

  Where other folks may see.7

  Madanikā. But Sharvilaka, ornaments that nobody may see, and a courtezan—the two things do not hang together. Give me the jewels. I want to see them.

  Sharvilaka. Here they are. [He gives them to her with some uneasiness.]

  Madanikā. [Examining the jewels.] It seems to me I have seen these before. Tell me. Where did you get them?[61]

  P. 104.15]

  Sharvilaka. What does that matter to you, Madanikā? Take them.

  Madanikā. [Angrily.] If you can't trust me, why do you wish to buy my freedom?

  Sharvilaka. Well, this morning I heard in the merchants' quarter that the merchant Chārudatta—

  [Vasantasenā and Madanikā swoon.]

  Sharvilaka. Madanikā! Come to yourself! Why is it that now

  Your figure seems to melt in limp despair,

  Your eyes are wildly rolling here and there?

  That when I come, sweet girl, to make you free,

  You fall to trembling, not to pitying me?8

  Madanikā. [Coming to herself.] O you reckless man! When you did what you ought not to have done for my sake, you didn't kill anybody or hurt anybody in that house?

  Sharvilaka. Madanikā, Sharvilaka does not strike a terrifi
ed man or a man asleep. I did not kill anybody nor hurt anybody.

  Madanikā. Really?

  Sharvilaka. Really.

  Vasantasenā. [Recovering consciousness.] Ah, I breathe again.

  Madanikā. Thank heaven!

  Sharvilaka. [Jealously.] What does this "Thank heaven" mean, Madanikā?

  I sinned for you, when love had made me pine,

  Although my house was good since time began;

  Love took my virtue, but my pride is mine.

  You call me friend and love another man?9

  [Meaningly.]

  A noble youth is like a goodly tree;

  His wealth, the fruit so fair;

  The courtezan is like a bird; for she

  Pecks him and leaves him bare.10

  Love is a fire, whose flame is lust,

  Whose fuel is gallantry,

  Wherein our youth and riches must

  Thus sacrificèd be.11

  [62]

  [62.16. S.

  Vasantasenā. [With a smile.] His excitement is a little out of place.

  Sharvilaka. Yes!

  Those men are fools, it seems to me,

  Who trust to women or to gold;

  For gold and girls, 'tis plain to see.

  Are false as virgin snakes and cold.12

  Love not a woman; if you ever do,

  She mocks at you, and plays the gay deceiver:

  Yet if she loves you, you may love her too;

  But if she doesn't, leave her.13

  Too true it is that

  A courtezan will laugh and cry for gold;

  She trusts you not, but waits your trustful hour.

  If virtue and a name are yours, then hold!

  Avoid her as you would a graveyard flower.14