[_Aside._] And yet I know not what to do with life, so I be robbed of Vasantasenā. [_Aloud._] Ah, why waste words? A scoundrel I, who bear the blame, Nor think of earth, nor heaven blest; That sweetest maid, in passion's flame-- But _he_ will say the rest. 38 _Sansthānaka._ Killed her! Come, you shay it too. "I killed her." _Chārudatta._ You have said it. _Sansthānaka._ Lishten, my mashters, lishten! He murdered her! No one but him! Doubt is over. Let punishment be inflicted on the body of thish poor Chārudatta. 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! [_Exit weeping._ _Sansthānaka._ [_Aside._] I 've done shomething worthy of myshelf. Now I 'll go. [_Exit._ _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. 39 _Beadle._ Yes, Your Honor. [_He goes out, then reënters 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 't is a righteous fate. 40 [155.10. S. And more than this: They who pervert the king's true bent, The white crow's part who play, Have slain their thousands innocent, And slay, and slay, and slay. 41 My friend Maitreya, go, greet the mother of my son in my name for the last time. And keep my son Rohasena free from harm. _Maitreya._ When the root is cut away, how can the tree be saved? _Chārudatta._ No, not so. When man departs to worlds above, In living son yet liveth he; Bestow on Rohasena love No less than that thou gavest me. 42