{"collection":"Hinduism","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/hin/lcc/lcc13.htm","path":"hin/lcc/lcc13.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/hin/lcc/lcc13.htm","text":"[Enter Ch\u0101rudatta and Maitreya.]\nMaitreya.\nHOW beautiful the old garden Pushpakaranda is.\nCh\u0101rudatta. You are quite right, my friend. For see!\nMaitreya. This simple stone is very attractive. Pray be seated.\nCh\u0101rudatta. [Seats himself.] How Vardham\u0101naka lingers, my friend!\nMaitreya. I told Vardham\u0101naka to bring Vasantasen\u0101 and come as quickly as he could.\nCh\u0101rudatta. Why then does he linger?\n[Enter Vardham\u0101naka with the bullock-cart, in which Aryaka lies hidden.]\nVardham\u0101naka. Get up, bullocks, get up!\nAryaka. [Aside.]\nSome good man \u2019tis, within whose cart I lie,\n Like cuckoo chicks, whose heartless mothers fly,\n And crows must rear the fledglings, or they die.3\nI have come a long distance from the city. Shall I get out of the\ncart and seek a hiding-place in the grove? or shall I wait to see the owner of the cart? On second thoughts, I will not hide myself in the grove; for men say that the noble Ch\u0101rudatta is ever helpful to them that seek his protection. I will not go until I have seen him face to face.\nVardham\u0101naka. Here is the garden. I'll drive in. [He does so.] Maitreya!\nMaitreya. Good news, my friend. It is Vardham\u0101naka's voice. Vasantasen\u0101 must have come.\nCh\u0101rudatta. Good news, indeed.\nMaitreya. You son of a slave, what makes you so late?\nVardham\u0101naka. Don't get angry, good Maitreya. I remembered that I had forgotten the cushion, and I had to go back for it, and that is why I am late.\nCh\u0101rudatta. Turn the cart around, Vardham\u0101naka. Maitreya, my friend, help Vasantasen\u0101 to get out.\nMaitreya. Has she got fetters on her feet, so that she can't get out by herself? [He rises and lifts the curtain of the cart.] Why, this isn't mistress Vasantasen\u0101\u2014this is Mister Vasantasena.\nCh\u0101rudatta. A truce to your jests, my friend. Love cannot wait. I will help her to get out myself. [He rises.]\nAryaka. [Discovers him.] Ah, the owner of the bullock-cart! He is attractive not only to the ears of men, but also to their eyes. Thank heaven! I am safe.\nCh\u0101rudatta. [Enters the bullock-cart and discovers Aryaka.] Who then is this?\nWho are you, sir?\nAryaka. I am one who seeks your protection, Aryaka, by birth a herdsman.\nCh\u0101rudatta. Are you he whom King P\u0101laka took from the hamlet where he lived and thrust into prison?\nAryaka. The same.\nCh\u0101rudatta. \u2019Tis fate that brings you to my sight;\n[Aryaka manifests his joy.]\nCh\u0101rudatta. Vardham\u0101naka, remove the fetters from his foot.\nVardham\u0101naka. Yes, sir. [He does so.] Master, the fetters are removed.\nAryaka. But you have bound me with yet stronger fetters of love.\nMaitreya. Now you may put on the fetters yourself. He is free anyway. And it's time for us to be going.\nCh\u0101rudatta. Peace! For shame!\nAryaka. Ch\u0101rudatta, my friend, I entered your cart somewhat unceremoniously. I beg your pardon.\nCh\u0101rudatta. I feel honored that you should use no ceremony with me.\nAryaka. If you permit it, I now desire to go.\nCh\u0101rudatta. Go in peace.\nAryaka. Thank you. I will alight from the cart.\nCh\u0101rudatta. No, my friend. The fetters have but this moment been removed, and you will find walking difficult. In this spot\nwhere men seek pleasure, a bullock-cart will excite no suspicion. Continue your journey then in the cart.\nAryaka. I thank you, sir.\nCh\u0101rud. Seek now thy kinsmen. Happiness be thine!\nAryaka. Ah, I have found thee, bless\u00e8d kinsman mine!\nCh\u0101rud. Remember me, when thou hast cause to speak.\nAryaka. Thy name, and not mine own, my words shall seek.\nCh\u0101rud. May the immortal gods protect thy ways!\nAryaka. Thou didst protect me, in most perilous days.\nCh\u0101rud. Nay, it was fate that sweet protection lent.\nAryaka. But thou wast chosen as fate's instrument.7\nCh\u0101rudatta. King P\u0101laka is aroused, and protection will prove difficult. You must depart at once.\nAryaka. Until we meet again, farewell.\n[Exit.\nCh\u0101rud. From royal wrath I now have much to fear;\n[His left eye twitches.] Maitreya, my friend, I long to see Vasantasen\u0101. For now, because\nCome, let us go. [He walks about.] See! a Buddhist monk approaches, and the sight bodes ill. [Reflecting.] Let him enter by that path, while we depart by this.\n107:1 Lall\u0101d\u012bkshita says that these are signs of royalty.","title":"The Little Clay Cart: Act the Seventh: Aryaka's Escape","type":"page"}