{"collection":"Hinduism","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/hin/lcc/lcc15.htm","path":"hin/lcc/lcc15.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/hin/lcc/lcc15.htm","text":"[Enter a beadle.]\nBeadle.\nTHE magistrates said to me \"Come, beadle, go to the courtroom, and make ready the seats.\" So now I am on my way to set the court-room in order. [He walks about and looks around him.] Here is the court-room. I will enter. [He enters, sweeps, and puts a seat in its place.] There! I have tidied up the court-room and put the seats in readiness, and now I will go and tell the magistrates. [He walks about and looks around him.] But see! Here comes that arrant knave, the king's brother-in-law. I will go away without attracting his attention. [He stands apart. Enter Sansth\u0101naka, in gorgeous raiment.]\nSansth. I bathed where water runs and flows and purls;\nMy hair is shometimes done up tight, you shee;\n In locks, or curls, it hangs my forehead o\u2019er;\n Shometimes \u2019tis matted, shometimes hanging free;\nAnd then again, I wear a pompadour.\n I am a wonder, I'm a wondrous thing,\n And the husband of my shishter is the king.2\nAnd beshides, I've found a big hole, like a worm that has crawled into the knot of a lotush-root, and is looking for a hole to creep out at. Now who was I going to accuse of thish wicked deed? [He recalls something.] Oh, yesh! I remember. I was going to accuse poor Ch\u0101rudatta of thish wicked deed. Beshides, he's poor. They'll believe anything about him. Good! I'll go to the court-room and lodge a public complaint against Ch\u0101rudatta, how he shtrangled\nVasantasen\u0101 and murdered her. Sho now I'm on my way to the court-room. [He walks about and looks around him.] Here is the court-room. I'll go in. [He enters and looks about.] Well, here are the sheats, all arranged. While I'm waiting for the magishtrates, I'll jusht sit down a minute on the grass. [He does so.]\nBeadle. [Walks about in another direction, and looks before him.] Here come the magistrates. I will go to them. [He does so.]\n[Enter the judge, accompanied by a gild-warden, a clerk, and others.]\nJudge. Gild-warden and clerk!\nGild-warden and Clerk. We await your bidding.\nJudge. A trial depends to such an extent upon others that the task of the magistrates\u2014the reading of another's thoughts\u2014is most difficult.\nAnd again:\nFor the judge must be\nGild-warden and Clerk. And do men speak of defects in your virtue? If so, then they speak of darkness in the moonlight.\nJudge. My good beadle, conduct me to the court-room.\nBeadle. Follow me, Your Honor. [They walk about.] Here is the court-room. May the magistrates be pleased to enter. [All enter.] Judge. My good beadle, do you go outside and learn who desires to present a case.\nBeadle. Yes, sir. [He goes out.] Gentlemen, the magistrates ask if there is any here who desires to present a case.\nSansth\u0101naka. [Gleefully.] The magishtrates are here. [He struts about.] I desire to present a cashe, I, an arishtocrat, a man, a V\u0101sudeva, the royal brother-in-law, the brother-in-law of the king.\nBeadle. [In alarm.] Goodness! The king's brother-in-law is the first who desires to present a case. Well! Wait a moment, sir. I will inform the magistrates at once. [He approaches the magistrates.] Gentlemen, here is the king's brother-in-law who has come to court, desiring to present a case.\nJudge. What! the king's brother-in-law is the first who desires to present a case? Like an eclipse at sunrise, this betokens the ruin of some great man. Beadle, the court will doubtless be very busy to-day. Go forth, my good man, and say \"Leave us for to-day. Your suit cannot be considered.\"\nBeadle. Yes, Your Honor. [He goes out, and approaches Sansth\u0101naka.] Sir, the magistrates send word that you are to leave them for to-day; that your suit cannot be considered.\nSansth\u0101naka. [Wrathfully.] Confound it! Why can't my shuit be conshidered? If it isn't conshidered, then I'll tell my brother-in-law, King P\u0101laka, my shishter's husband, and I'll tell my shishter and my mother too, and I'll have thish judge removed, and another judge appointed. [He starts to go away.]\nBeadle. Oh, sir! Brother-in-law of the king! Wait a moment. I will inform the magistrates at once. [He returns to the judge.] The brother-in-law of the king is angry, and says\u2014[He repeats Sansth\u0101naka's words.]\nJudge. This fool might do anything. My good man, tell him to come hither, that his suit will be considered.\nBeadle. [Approaching Sansth\u0101naka.] Sir, the magistrates send word that you are to come in, that your suit will be considered. Pray enter, sir.\nSansth\u0101naka. Firsht they shay it won't be conshidered, then they shay it will be conshidered. The magishtrates are sheared. Whatever I shay, I'll make \u2019em believe it. Good! I'll enter. [He enters and approaches the magistrates.] I am feeling very well, thank you. Whether you feel well or not\u2014that depends on me.\nJudge. [Aside.] Well, well! We seem to have a highly cultivated plaintiff. [Aloud.] Pray be seated.\nSansth\u0101naka. Well! Thish floor belongs to me. I'll sit down wherever I like. [To the gild-warden.] I'll sit here. [To the beadle.] Why shouldn't I sit here? [He lays his hand on the judge's head.] I'll sit here. [He sits down on the floor.]\nJudge. You desire to present a case?\nSansth\u0101naka. Of courshe.\nJudge. Then state the case.\nSansth\u0101naka. I'll whishper it. I was born in the great family of a man as glorioush as a wine-glass.\nJudge. All this we know.\nState your case.\nSansth\u0101naka. I will, but even if I was guilty, he wouldn't do anything to me. Well, my shishter's husband liked me, and gave me the besht garden there is, the old garden Pushpakaranda, to play in and look after. And there I go every day to look at it, to keep it dry, to keep it clean, to keep it blosshoming, to keep it trimmed. But fate decreed that I shaw\u2014or rather, I didn't shee \u2014the proshtrate body of a woman.\nJudge. Do you know who the unfortunate woman was?\nSansth\u0101naka. Hello, magishtrates! Why shouldn't I know? A woman like that! the pearl of the city! adorned with a hundred golden ornaments! Shombody's unworthy shon enticed her into the old garden Pushpakaranda when it was empty, and for a mere trifle\u2014for her money!\u2014shtrangled Vasantasen\u0101 and killed her. But I didn't\u2014[He breaks off, and puts his hand over his mouth.]\nJudge. What carelessness on the part of the city police! Gild-warden and clerk, write down the words \"I didn't,\" as the first article in the case.\nClerk. Yes, sir. [He does so.] Sir, it is written.\nSansth\u0101naka. [Aside.] Goodnessh! Now I've ruined myshelf, like a man that shwallows a cake of rice and milk in a hurry. Well, I'll get out of it thish way. [Aloud.] Well, well, magishtrates! I was jusht remarking that I didn't shee it happen. What are you making thish hullabaloo about? [He wipes out the written words with his foot.]\nJudge. How do you know that she was strangled\u2014and for her money?\nSansth\u0101naka. Hello! Why shouldn't I think sho, when her neck was shwollen and bare, and the places where you wear jewels didn't have any gold on them?\nGild-warden and Clerk. That seems plausible.\nSansth\u0101naka. [Aside.] Thank heaven! I breathe again. Hooray!\nGild-warden and Clerk. Upon whom does the conduct of this case depend?\nJudge. The case has a twofold aspect.\nGild-warden and Clerk. How so?\nJudge. We have to consider the allegations, then the facts. Now the investigation of the allegations depends upon plaintiff and defendant. But the investigation of the facts must be carried out by the wisdom of the judge.\nGild-warden and Clerk. Then the conduct of the case depends upon the presence of Vasantasen\u0101's mother?\nJudge. Precisely. My good beadle, summon Vasantasen\u0101's mother, without, however, giving her cause for anxiety.\nBeadle. Yes, Your Honor. [He goes out, and returns with the mother of the courtezan.] Follow me, madam.\nMother. My daughter went to the house of a friend to enjoy her youth. But now comes this gentleman\u2014long life to him!\u2014and says \"Come! The judge summons you.\" I find myself quite bewildered. My heart is palpitating. Sir, will you conduct me to the court-room?\nBeadle. Follow me, madam. [They walk about.] Here is the courtroom. Pray enter, madam. [They enter.]\nMother. [Approaching.] Happiness be yours, most worthy gentlemen.\nJudge. My good woman, you are very welcome. Pray be seated.\nMother. Thank you. [She seats herself.]\nSansth\u0101naka. [Abusively.] You're here, are you, you old bawd?\nJudge. Tell me. Are you Vasantasen\u0101's mother?\nMother. I am.\nJudge. Whither has Vasantasen\u0101 gone at this moment?\nMother. To the house of a friend.\nJudge. What is the name of her friend?\nMother. [Aside.] Dear me! Really, this is very embarrassing. [Aloud.] Any one else might ask me this, but not a judge.\nJudge. Pray do not be embarrassed. The conduct of the case puts the question.\nGild-warden and Clerk. The conduct of the case puts the question. You incur no fault. Speak.\nMother. What! the conduct of the case? If that is so, then listen, worthy gentlemen. There lives in the merchants\u2019 quarter the grandson of the merchant Vinayadatta, the son of S\u0101garadatta, a man whose name is a good omen in itself\u2014that name is Ch\u0101rudatta. In his house my daughter enjoys her youth.\nSansth\u0101naka. Did you hear that? Write those words down. My contention is with Ch\u0101rudatta.\nGild-warden and Clerk. It is no sin for Ch\u0101rudatta to be her friend.\nJudge. The conduct of this case demands the presence of Ch\u0101rudatta.\nGild-warden and Clerk. Exactly.\nJudge. Dhanadatta, write as the first article in the case \"Vasantasen\u0101 went to the house of Ch\u0101rudatta.\" But must we summon the worthy Ch\u0101rudatta also? No, the conduct of the case summons him. Go, my good beadle, summon Ch\u0101rudatta,\u2014but gently, without haste, without giving him cause for anxiety, respectfully, as it were incidentally,\u2014with the words \"The judge wishes to see you.\"\nBeadle. Yes, Your Honor. [He goes out, then returns with Ch\u0101rudatta.] Follow me, sir.\nCh\u0101rudatta. [Thoughtfully.]\n[Reflectively. Aside.]\nBut why consider thus? I must go to the court-room. My good beadle, conduct me to the court.\nBeadle. Follow me, sir. [They walk about.]\nCh\u0101rudatta. [Apprehensively.] And what means this?\nBeadle. Follow me, sir, gently and without haste.\nCh\u0101rudatta. [Walks about and looks before him.]\n[He looks in another direction.] But see! a snake!\nAnd more than this:\nSurely, the gods will grant that all may yet be well.\nBeadle. Follow me, sir. Here is the court-room. Pray enter.\nCh\u0101rudatta. [Enters and looks about.] How wonderfully splendid is the court-room. For it seems an ocean,\nCome! [As he enters, he strikes his head against the door. Reflectively.] Alas! This also?\nBut I must enter. [He does so.]\nJudge. This is Ch\u0101rudatta.\nCh\u0101rudatta. My greetings to the officers of justice. Officials, I salute you.\nJudge. [Betraying his agitation.] You are very welcome, sir. My good beadle, give the gentleman a seat.\nBeadle. [Brings a seat.] Here is a seat. Pray be seated, sir. [Ch\u0101rudatta seats himself.]\nSansth\u0101naka. [Angrily.] You're here, are you, you woman-murderer? Well! Thish is a fine trial, thish is a jusht trial, where they give a sheat to thish woman-murderer. [Haughtily.] But it's all right. They can give it to him.\nJudge. Ch\u0101rudatta, have you any attachment, or affection, or friendship, with this lady's daughter?\nCh\u0101rudatta. What lady?\nJudge. This lady. [He indicates Vasantasen\u0101's mother.]\nCh\u0101rudatta. [Rising.] Madam, I salute you.\nMother. Long life to you, my son! [Aside.] So this is Ch\u0101rudatta. My daughter's youth is in good hands.\nJudge. Sir, is the courtezan your friend? [Ch\u0101rudatta betrays his embarrassment.]\nSansth\u0101naka. He tries to hide the deed he did;\nGild-warden and Clerk. Speak, Ch\u0101rudatta. Do not be ashamed. This is a lawsuit.\nCh\u0101rudatta. [In embarrassment.] Officials, how can I testify that a courtezan is my friend? But at worst, it is youth that bears the blame, not character.\nJudge. The case is hard; then banish shame,\nDo not be embarrassed. The conduct of the case puts the question.\nCh\u0101rudatta. Officer, with whom have I a lawsuit?\nSansth\u0101naka. [Arrogantly.] With me!\nCh\u0101rudatta. A lawsuit with you is unendurable!\nSansth\u0101naka. Well, well, woman-murderer! You murder a woman like Vasantasen\u0101 who used to wear a hundred gems, and now you try deceitful deceivings to hide it!\nCh\u0101rudatta. You are a fool.\nJudge. Enough of him, good Ch\u0101rudatta. Speak the truth. Is the courtezan your friend?\nCh\u0101rudatta. She is.\nJudge. Sir, where is Vasantasen\u0101?\nCh\u0101rudatta. She has gone home.\nGild-warden and Clerk. How did she go? When did she go? Who accompanied her?\nCh\u0101rudatta. [Aside.] Shall I say that she went unobserved?\nGild-warden and Clerk. Speak, sir.\nCh\u0101rudatta. She went home. What more shall I say?\nSansth\u0101naka. She was enticed into my old garden Pushpakaranda, and was shtrangled for her money. Now will you shay that she went home?\nCh\u0101rudatta. Man, you are crazy.\nJudge. [Aside.]\n[Aloud.] This is the noble Ch\u0101rudatta. How could he commit this crime? [He repeats the verse \"A countenance like his:\" page 141.]\nSansth\u0101naka. Why thish partiality in a lawshuit?\nJudge. Away, you fool!\nHow could the noble Ch\u0101rudatta commit a crime?\nMother. You scoundrel! When the golden casket that was left\nwith him as a pledge was stolen by thieves at night, he gave in place of it a pearl necklace that was the pride of the four seas. And he should now, for a mere trifle\u2014for her money!\u2014do this sin? Oh, my child, come back to me, my daughter! [She weeps.]\nJudge. Noble Ch\u0101rudatta, did she go on foot, or in a bullock-cart?\nCh\u0101rudatta. I did not see her when she went. Therefore I do not know whether she went on foot, or in a bullock-cart.\n[Enter V\u012braka, in anger.]\nV\u012braka. My anger was so prodded to the quick\nSo now I will go to the court-room. [He enters.] May happiness be the lot of these honorable gentlemen.\nJudge. Ah, it is V\u012braka, the captain of the guard. V\u012braka, what is the purpose of your coming?\nV\u012braka. Well! I was looking for Aryaka, in all the excitement about his escape from prison. I had my suspicions about a covered bullock-cart that was coming, and wanted to look in. \"You've made one inspection, man, I must make another,\" said I, and then I was kicked by the highly respectable Chandanaka. You have heard the matter, gentlemen. The rest is your affair.\nJudge. My good man, do you know to whom the bullock-cart belonged?\nV\u012braka. To this gentleman here, Ch\u0101rudatta. And the driver said that Vasantasen\u0101 was in it, and was on her way to have a good time in the old garden Pushpakaranda.\nSansth\u0101naka. Lishten to that, too!\nJudge. This moon, alas, though spotless-bright,\nV\u012braka, we will investigate your case here later. Mount the horse that stands before the court-room door, go to the garden Pushpakaranda, and see whether a woman has perished there or not.\nV\u012braka. Yes, sir. [He goes out, then returns.] I have been there. And I saw the body of a woman, torn by wild beasts.\nGild-warden and Clerk. How do you know that it was the body of a woman?\nV\u012braka. That I perceived from the traces of hair and arms and hands and feet.\nJudge. Alas for the difficulties which are caused by the actions of men!\nCh\u0101rudatta. [Aside.]\nJudge. Noble Ch\u0101rudatta, speak truth!\nCh\u0101rudatta. A mean and jealous creature, passion-blind,\nSansth\u0101naka. Hello, magishtrates! How can you inveshtigate the cashe with such partiality? Why, even now you let thish shcoundrel Ch\u0101rudatta shtay on his sheat.\nJudge. My good beadle, so be it. [The beadle follows Sansth\u0101naka's suggestion.]\nCh\u0101rudatta. Consider, magistrates, consider what you are doing! [He leaves his seat, and sits on the floor.]\nSansth\u0101naka. [Dancing about gleefully. Aside.] Fine! The shin that I did falls on another man's head. Sho I'll sit where Ch\u0101rudatta was. [He does so.] Look at me, Ch\u0101rudatta, and confessh that you murdered her.\nCh\u0101rudatta. Magistrates!\n[Sighing. Aside.]\nBut Maitreya I sent to Vasantasen\u0101, that he might bring me tidings of her, and might restore the jewels which she gave my child, to buy him a toy cart. Why then does he linger?\n[Enter Maitreya with the gems.]\nMaitreya. Ch\u0101rudatta bade me go to Vasantasen\u0101, to return her\njewels, and he said to me: \"Maitreya, Vasantasen\u0101 adorned my dear Rohasena with her own jewels, and sent him thus to his mother. It was fitting that she should give him the jewels, but not that we should receive them. Therefore restore them to her.\" So now I will go to Vasantasen\u0101's house. [He walks about and looks around, then speaks to a person behind the scenes.] Ah, it is Master Rebhila. Oh, Master Rebhila, why do you seem so exceedingly troubled? [He listens.] What! do you mean to say that my dear friend Ch\u0101rudatta has been summoned to court? That can hardly be an insignificant matter. [He reflects.] I will go to Vasantasen\u0101's house later, but now I will go to the court-room. [He walks about and looks around.] Here is the court-room. I will go in at once. [He enters.] May happiness be the lot of the magistrates. Where is my friend?\nJudge. Here.\nMaitreya. My friend, I wish you happiness.\nCh\u0101rudatta. It will be mine.\nMaitreya. And peace.\nCh\u0101rudatta. That too will be mine.\nMaitreya. My friend, why do you seem so exceedingly troubled? And why were you summoned?\nCh\u0101rudatta. My friend,\nMaitreya. What? what?\nCh\u0101rudatta. [Whispers.] That is it.\nMaitreya. Who says that?\nCh\u0101rudatta. [Indicating Sansth\u0101naka.] This poor fellow is the instrument that fate uses to accuse me.\nMaitreya. [Aside to Ch\u0101rudatta.] Why don't you simply say that she went home?\nCh\u0101rudatta. Though I say it, it is not believed, so unfortunate is my condition.\nMaitreya. But gentlemen! He adorned the city of Ujjayin\u012b with mansions, cloisters, parks, temples, pools, and fountains, and he should be mad enough to commit such a crime\u2014and for a mere trifle? [Wrathfully.] You offspring of a loose wench, you brother-in-law of the king, Sansth\u0101naka, you libertine, you slanderer, you buffoon, you gilded monkey, say it before me! This friend of mine doesn't even draw a flowering jasmine creeper to himself, to gather the blossoms, for fear that a twig might perhaps be injured. How should he commit a crime like this, which heaven and earth call accurs\u00e8d? Just wait, you son of a bawd! Wait till I split your head into a hundred pieces with this staff of mine, as crooked as your heart.\nSansth\u0101naka. [Angrily.] Lishten to that, gentlemen! I have a quarrel, or a lawshuit, with Ch\u0101rudatta. What right has a man with a pate that looks like a caret, to shplit my head into a hundred pieces? Not much! You confounded rashcal! [Maitreya raises his staff repeats his words. Sansth\u0101naka rises angrily and strikes him. Maitreya strikes back. During the scuffle the jewels fall from Maitreya's girdle.]\nSansth\u0101naka. [Picks up the jewels and examines them. Excitedly.] Look, gentlemen, look! These are the poor girl's jewels! [Pointing to Ch\u0101rudatta.] For a trifle like thish he murdered her, and killed her too. [The magistrates all bow their heads.]\nCh\u0101rudatta. [Aside to Maitreya.]\nMaitreya. But why don't you simply tell the truth?\nJudge. Alas! Alas!\nGild-warden and Clerk. [Looking at the casket. To Vasantasen\u0101's mother.] Madam, pray examine this golden casket attentively, to see whether it be the same or not.\nMother. [Examining the casket.] It is similar, but not the same.\nSansth\u0101naka. Oh, you old bawd! You confessh it with your eyes, and deny it with your lips.\nMother. Away, you scoundrel!\nGild-warden and Clerk. Speak carefully. Is it the same or not?\nMother. Sir, the craftsman's skill captivates the eye. But it is not the same.\nJudge. My good woman, do you know these jewels?\nMother. No, I said. No! I don't recognize them; but perhaps they were made by the same craftsman.\nJudge. Gild-warden, see!\nGild-warden and Clerk. Do these jewels belong to Ch\u0101rudatta?\nCh\u0101rudatta. Never!\nGild-warden and Clerk. To whom then?\nCh\u0101rudatta. To this lady's daughter.\nGild-warden and Clerk. How did she lose them?\nCh\u0101rudatta. She lost them. Yes, so much is true.\nGild-warden and Clerk. Ch\u0101rudatta, speak the truth in this matter. For you must remember,\nCh\u0101rudatta. The jewels, the jewels! I do not know. But I do know that they were taken from my house.\nSansth\u0101naka. Firsht you take her into the garden and murder her. And now you hide it by tricky trickinessh.\nJudge. Noble Ch\u0101rudatta, speak the truth!\nCh\u0101rudatta. Of sinless sires I boast my birth,\n[Aside.] And yet I know not what to do with life, so I be robbed of Vasantasen\u0101. [Aloud.] Ah, why waste words?\nSansth\u0101naka. Killed her! Come, you shay it too. \"I killed her.\"\nCh\u0101rudatta. You have said it.\nSansth\u0101naka. Lishten, my mashters, lishten! He murdered her! No one but him! Doubt is over. Let punishment be inflicted on the body of thish poor Ch\u0101rudatta.\nJudge. Beadle, we must do as the king's brother-in-law says.\nGuardsmen, lay hold on this Ch\u0101rudatta. [The guardsmen do so.]\nMother. 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\u2014bless him! And besides, a lawsuit is a matter between plaintiff and defendant. I am the real plaintiff. So let him go free!\nSansth\u0101naka. You shlave, get out of the way! What have you got to shay about him?\nJudge. Go, madam. Guardsmen, conduct her forth.\nMother. Oh, my child, my son!\n[Exit weeping.\nSansth\u0101naka. [Aside.] I've done shomething worthy of myshelf. Now I'll go.\n[Exit.\nJudge. Noble Ch\u0101rudatta, the decision lies with us, but the rest depends on the king. And yet, beadle, let King P\u0101laka be reminded of this:\nBeadle. Yes, Your Honor. [He goes out, then reenters in tears.] Oh, sirs, I was with the king. And King P\u0101laka says: \"Inasmuch as he killed Vasantasen\u0101 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.\nCh\u0101rudatta. Oh, how wanton is this act of King P\u0101laka! Nevertheless,\nMy friend Maitreya, go, greet the mother of my son in my name for the last time. And keep my son Rohasena free from harm.\nMaitreya. When the root is cut away, how can the tree be saved?\nCh\u0101rudatta. No, not so.\nMaitreya. Oh, my friend! I will prove myself your friend by continuing the life that you leave unfinished.\nCh\u0101rudatta. And let me see Rohasena for a single moment.\nMaitreya. I will. It is but fitting.\nJudge. 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 Ch\u0101rudatta, and all of them go out.]\nBeadle. Come with me, sir.\nCh\u0101rudatta. [Mournfully repeats the verse, page 146, beginning \"My friend Maitreya!\" Then, as if speaking to one not present.]\nI come! I come!\n[Exeunt omnes.\n140:1 Elephants were employed as executioners; and, according to Lall\u0101d\u012bkshita, the horses served the same purpose.\n149:1 This refers to the fallen jewels.","title":"The Little Clay Cart: Act the Ninth: The Trial","type":"page"}