17

Accursed Charudatta, you shall not live! [_He takes a few steps._]

P. 107.11]

_Madanika._ [_Seizing the hem of his garment._] O you foolish man!
Your anger is so ridiculous.

_Sharvilaka._ Ridiculous? how so?

_Madanika._ Because these jewels belong to my mistress.

_Sharvilaka._ And what then?

_Madanika._ And she left them with that gentleman.

_Sharvilaka._ What for?

_Madanika._ [_Whispers._] That's why.

_Sharvilaka._ [_Sheepishly._] Confound it!

The sun was hot one summer day;
I sought the shadow, there to stay:
Poor fool! the kindly branch to pay,
I stole its sheltering leaves away. 18

_Vasantasena._ How sorry he seems. Surely, he did this thing in
ignorance.

_Sharvilaka._ What is to be done now, Madanika?

_Madanika._ Your own wit should tell you that.

_Sharvilaka._ No. For you must remember,

Nature herself gives women wit;
Men learn from books a little bit. 19

_Madanika._ Sharvilaka, if you will take my advice, restore the
jewels to that righteous man.

_Sharvilaka._ But Madanika, what if he should prosecute me?

_Madanika._ No cruel heat comes from the moon.

_Vasantasena._ Good, Madanika, good!

_Sharvilaka._ Madanika,

For what I did, I feel no grief nor fear:
Why tell me of this good man's virtues high?
Shame for my baseness touches me more near;
What can this king do to such rogues as I? 20

Nevertheless, your suggestion is inconsistent with prudence. You
must discover some other plan.

[64.16. S.

_Madanika._ Yes, there is another plan.

_Vasantasena._ I wonder what it will be.

_Madanika._ Pretend to be a servant of that gentleman, and give
the jewels to my mistress.

_Sharvilaka._ And what then?

_Madanika._ Then you are no thief, Charudatta has discharged his
obligation, and my mistress has her jewels.

_Sharvilaka._ But isn't this course too reckless?

_Madanika._ I tell you, give them to her. Any other course is too
reckless.

_Vasantasena._ Good, Madanika, good! Spoken like a free woman.

_Sharvilaka._

Risen at last is wisdom's light.
Because I followed after you;
When clouds obscure the moon by night,
'Tis hard to find a guide so true. 21

_Madanika._ Then you must wait here a moment in Kama's shrine,
while I tell my mistress that you have come.

_Sharvilaka._ I wi