_Director._ [_Angrily._] Ah, Jūrnavriddha, son of a slave-wench! When, oh, when shall I see King Pālaka angry with you? Then you will be parted, as surely as the scented hair of some young bride. P. 8.10] _Actress._ Don't be angry, sir. It is only that I may have you in the next world that I celebrate this fast. [_She falls at his feet._] _Director._ Stand up, mistress, and tell me who is to officiate at this fast. _Actress._ Some Brahman of our own sort whom we must invite. _Director._ You may go then. And I will invite some Brahman of our own sort. _Actress._ Very well, sir. [_Exit._ _Director._ [_Walking about._] Good heavens! In this rich city of Ujjayinī how am I to find a Brahman of our own sort? [_He looks about him._] Ah, here comes Chārudatta's friend Maitreya. Good! I'll ask him. Maitreya, you must be the first to break bread in our house to-day. _A voice behind the scenes._ You must invite some other Brahman. I am busy. _Director._ But, man, the feast is set and you have it all to yourself. Besides, you shall have a present. _The voice._ I said no once. Why should you keep on urging me? _Director._ He says no. Well, I must invite some other Brahman. [_Exit._ END OF THE PROLOGUE ACT THE FIRST THE GEMS ARE LEFT BEHIND [_Enter, with a cloak in his hand, Maitreya._] _Maitreya._ "You must invite some other Brahman. I am busy." And yet I really ought to be seeking invitations from a stranger. Oh, what a wretched state of affairs! When good Chārudatta was still wealthy, I used to eat my fill of the most deliciously fragrant sweetmeats, prepared day and night with the greatest of care. I would sit at the door of the courtyard, where I was surrounded by hundreds of dishes, and there, like a painter with his paint-boxes, I would simply touch them with my fingers and thrust them aside. I would stand chewing my cud like a bull in the city market. And now he is so poor that I have to run here, there, and everywhere, and come home, like the pigeons, only to roost. Now here is this jasmine-scented cloak, which Chārudatta's good friend Jūrnavriddha has sent him. He bade me give it to Chārudatta, as soon as he had finished his devotions. So now I will look for Chārudatta. [_He walks about and looks around him._] Chārudatta has finished his devotions, and here he comes with an offering for the divinities of the house. [_Enter Chārudatta as described, and Radanikā._] _Chārudatta._ [_Looking up and sighing wearily._] Upon my threshold, where the offering Was straightway seized by swans and flocking cranes, The grass grows now, and these poor seeds I fling Fall where the mouth of worms their sweetness stains. 9 [_He walks about very slowly and seats himself._] _Maitreya_. Chārudatta is here. I must go and speak to him. [_Approaching._] My greetings to you. May happiness be yours. P. 13.1]