Page:Little Clay Cart (Ryder 1905).djvu/187

P. 253.1] Judge. Beadle, we must do as the king's brother-in-law says. Guardsmen, lay hold on this Chārudatta. [The guardsmen do so.]

Mother. Be merciful, good gentlemen, be merciful! [She repeats what she had said before, beginning "When the golden casket:" page 143.] If my daughter is killed, she is killed. Let him live for me—bless him! And besides, a lawsuit is a matter between plaintiff and defendant. I am the real plaintiff. So let him go free!

Sansthānaka. 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!

Sansthānaka. [Aside.] I've done shomething worthy of myshelf. Now I'll go.

Judge. Noble Chārudatta, the decision lies with us, but the rest depends on the king. And yet, beadle, let King Pālaka 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.

Beadle. Yes, Your Honor. [He goes out, then reenters in tears.] Oh, sirs, I was with the king. And King Pālaka says: "Inasmuch as he killed Vasantasenā 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.

Chārudatta. Oh, how wanton is this act of King Pālaka! Nevertheless,

Although his counsellors may plunge a king

Into injustice' dangers great,

Yet he will reap the woe and suffering;

And 'tis a righteous fate.

And more than this: