Indic drama; Sanskrit drama -- Translations into English
_Vasantasenā._ But not so much as I shall be. [_Persuasively._] Here,
girl, take this pearl necklace. You must go and give it to my lady
sister, his good wife. And give her this message: "Worthy Chārudatta's
virtues have won me, made me his slave, and therefore your
slave also. And so I hope that these pearls may adorn your neck."
[94.3. S.
_Maid._ But mistress, Chārudatta will be angry with you.
_Vasantasenā._ Go. He will not be angry.
_Maid._ [_Takes the necklace._] Yes, mistress. [_She goes out, then
returns._] Mistress, his lady wife says that her lord made you a present
of it, and it would not be right for her to accept it. And further, that
you are to know that her lord and husband is her most excellent
adornment.
[_Enter Radanikā, with Chārudatta's little son._]
_Radanikā._ Come, dear, let's play with your little cart.
_Rohasena._ [_Peevishly._] I don't like this little clay cart, Radanikā.
Give me my gold cart.
_Radanikā._ [_Sighing wearily._] How should we have anything to do
with gold now, my child? When your papa is rich again, then you
shall have a gold cart to play with. But I'll amuse him by taking
him to see Vasantasenā. [_She approaches Vasantasenā._] Mistress,
my service to you.
_Vasantasenā._ I am glad to see you, Radanikā. But whose little
boy is this? He wears no ornaments, yet his dear little face makes
my heart happy.
_Radanikā._ This is Chārudatta's son, Rohasena.
_Vasantasenā._ [_Stretches out her arms._] Come, my boy, and put
your little arms around me. [_She takes him on her lap._] He looks
just like his father.
_Radanikā._ More than looks like him, he _is_ like him. At least I
think so. His father is perfectly devoted to him.
_Vasantasenā._ But what is he crying about?
_Radanikā._ He used to play with a gold cart that belongs to the
son of a neighbor. But that was taken away, and when he asked
for it, I made him this little clay cart. But when I gave it to him,
he said "I don't like this little clay cart, Radanikā. Give me my
gold cart."
P. 158.10]
_Vasantasenā._ Oh, dear! To think that this little fellow has to suffer
because others are wealthy. Ah, mighty Fate! the destinies of men,
uncertain as the water-drops which fall upon a lotus-leaf, seem to
thee but playthings! [_Tearfully._] Don't cry, my child. You shall
have a gold cart to play with.
_Rohasena._ Who is she, Radanikā?
_Vasantasenā._ A slave of your father's, won by his virtues.
_Radanikā._ My child, the lady is your mother.
_Rohasena._ That's a lie, Radanikā. If the lady is my mother, why
does she wear those pretty ornaments?
_Vasantasenā._ My child, your innocent lips can say terrible things.
[_She removes her ornaments. Weeping._] Now I am your mother.
You shall take these ornaments and have a gold cart made for you.
_Rohasena._ Go away! I won't take them. You're crying.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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