Part 18 (2/2)

And again:

Quick as a snake, and steady as a hill; In flight the prince of birds can show no greater skill; In searching on the ground I am as keen as any hare, In strength I am a lion, and a wolf to rend and tear. 21

_Radanika._ [_Entering._] Dear me! Vardhamanaka went to sleep in the outer court, and now he is not there. Well, I will call Maitreya. [_She walks about._]

[51.1. S.

_Sharvilaka._ [_Prepares to strike down Radanika, but first takes a look._] What! a woman? Good! I go. [_Exit._

_Radanika._ [_Recoiling in terror._] Oh, oh, a thief has cut a hole in the wall of our house and is escaping, I must go and wake Maitreya.

[_She approaches Maitreya._] Oh, Maitreya, get up, get up!

A thief has cut a hole in the wall of our house and has escaped.

_Maitreya._ [_Rising._] What do you mean, wench? ”A hole in the wall has cut a thief and has escaped”?

_Radanika._ Poor fool! Stop your joking. Don't you see it?

_Maitreya._ What do you mean, wench? ”It looks as if a second door had been thrown open”? Get up, friend Charudatta, get up!

A thief has made a hole in the wall of our house and has escaped.

_Charudatta._ Yes, yes! A truce to your jests!

_Maitreya._ But it isn't a jest. Look!

_Charudatta._ Where?

_Maitreya._ Why, here.

_Charudatta._ [_Gazing._] What a very remarkable hole!

The bricks are drawn away below, above; The top is narrow, but the center wide; As if the great house-heart had burst with pride, Fearing lest the unworthy share its love. 22

To think that science should be expended on a task like this!

_Maitreya._ My friend, this hole must have been made by one of two men; either by a stranger, or else for practice by a student of the science of robbery. For what man here in Ujjayini does not know how much wealth there is in our house?

_Charud._

Stranger he must have been who made the breach, His customed harvest in my house to reap; He has not learned that vanished riches teach A calm, untroubled sleep.

He saw the sometime greatness of my home And forced an entrance; for his heart did leap With short-lived hope; now he must elsewhere roam, And over broken hopes must sorely weep. 23

Just think of the poor fellow telling his friends: ”I entered the house of a merchant's son, and found--nothing.”

P. 92.4]

_Maitreya._ Do you mean to say that you pity the rascally robber? Thinks he--”Here's a great house. Here's the place to carry off a jewel-casket or a gold-casket.” [_He remembers the casket. Despondently. Aside._]

Where _is_ that golden casket? [_He remembers the events of the night.

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