_Sansthānaka._ [_Picks up the jewels and examines them. Excitedly._] Look, gentlemen, look! These are the poor girl's jewels! [_Pointing to Chārudatta._] For a trifle like thish he murdered her, and killed her too. [_The magistrates all bow their heads._] _Chārudatta._ [_Aside to Maitreya._] 'T is thus my fate would vent its gall, That at this moment they should fall, These gems--and with them, I. 31 _Maitreya._ But why don't you simply tell the truth? P. 250.1] _Chārudatta._ My friend, The king perceives with blinded eye, Nor on the truth that eye will bend; Though telling all, I cannot fly A wretched and inglorious end. 32 _Judge._ Alas! Alas! With Mars strives Jupiter, and dies; Beside them both there seems to rise A comet-planet[84] in the skies. 33 _Gild-warden and Clerk._ [_Looking at the casket. To Vasantasenā's mother._] Madam, pray examine this golden casket attentively, to see whether it be the same or not. _Mother._ [_Examining the casket._] It is similar, but not the same. _Sansthānaka._ Oh, you old bawd! You confessh it with your eyes, and deny it with your lips. _Mother._ Away, you scoundrel! _Gild-warden and Clerk._ Speak carefully. Is it the same or not? _Mother._ Sir, the craftsman's skill captivates the eye. But it is not the same. _Judge._ My good woman, do you know these jewels? _Mother._ No, I said. No! I don't recognize them; but perhaps they were made by the same craftsman. _Judge._ Gild-warden, see! Gems often seem alike in many ways, When the artist's mind on form and beauty plays; For craftsmen imitate what they have seen, And skilful hands remake what once has been. 34 _Gild-warden and Clerk._ Do these jewels belong to Chārudatta? _Chārudatta._ Never! _Gild-warden and Clerk._ To whom then? [153.12. S. _Chārudatta._ To this lady's daughter. _Gild-warden and Clerk._ How did she lose them? _Chārudatta._ She lost them. Yes, so much is true. _Gild-warden and Clerk._ Chārudatta, speak the truth in this matter. For you must remember, Truth brings well-being in its train; Through speaking truth, no evils rise; Truth, precious syllable!--Refrain From hiding truth in lies. 35 _Chārudatta._ The jewels, the jewels! I do not know. But I do know that they were taken from my house. _Sansthānaka._ Firsht you take her into the garden and murder her. And now you hide it by tricky trickinessh. _Judge._ Noble Chārudatta, speak the truth! Merciless lashes wait to smite This moment on thy tender flesh; And we--we can but think it right. 36 _Chārudatta._ Of sinless sires I boast my birth, And sin in me was never found; Yet if suspicion taints my worth, What boots it though my heart be sound? 37