traightway stricken blind?
You thrust your hand into the blazing fire,
And draw it forth, unscathed and sound?
Drag Charudatta's virtue in the mire,
Nor sink beneath this yawning ground? 21

How could the noble Charudatta commit a crime?

Of all the riches of the mighty sea
Only the swelling waters now are left,
Because, without consideration, he--
For others' good--himself of all has reft.
And should this high-souled man, this store-house where
All gems of virtue gather and unite,
For lucre's sake, so foul a trespass dare
That in it even his foe could not delight? 22

_Mother._ You scoundrel! When the golden casket that was left
with him as a pledge was stolen by thieves at night, he gave in
place of it a pearl necklace that was the pride of the four seas.
And he should now, for a mere trifle--for her money!--do this
sin? Oh, my child, come back to me, my daughter! [_She weeps._]

[147.16. S.

_Judge._ Noble Charudatta, did she go on foot, or in a bullock-cart?

_Charudatta._ I did not see her when she went. Therefore I do not
know whether she went on foot, or in a bullock-cart.

* * * * *

[_Enter Viraka, in anger._]

_Viraka._

My anger was so prodded to the quick,
By that dishonoring, insulting kick,
And so I brooded, till at last the night
Unwilling yielded to the dawning light. 23

So now I will go to the court-room. [_He enters._] May happiness
be the lot of these honorable gentlemen.

_Judge._ Ah, it is Viraka, the captain of the guard. Viraka, what
is the purpose of your coming?

_Viraka._ Well! I was looking for Aryaka, in all the excitement
about his escape from prison. I had my suspicions about a covered
bullock-cart that was coming, and wanted to look in. "You 've
made one inspection, man, I must make another," said I, and then
I was kicked by the highly respectable Chandanaka. You have
heard the matter, gentlemen. The rest is your affair.

_Judge._ My good man, do you know to whom the bullock-cart
belonged?

_Viraka._ To this gentleman here, Charudatta. And the driver said
that Vasantasena was in it, and was on her way to have a good
time in the old garden Pushpakaranda.

_Sansthanaka._ Lishten to that, too!

_Judge._

This moon, alas, though spotless-bright,
Is now eclipsed, and robbed of light;
The ba