_ Be merciful, good gentlemen, be merciful! [_She repeats what
she had said before, beginning_ "When the golden casket:" _page 143._]
If my daughter is killed, she is killed. Let him live for me--bless him!
And besides, a lawsuit is a matter between plaintiff and defendant. I am
the real plaintiff. So let him go free!

_Sansthanaka._ You shlave, get out of the way! What have you got
to shay about him?

_Judge._ Go, madam. Guardsmen, conduct her forth.

_Mother._ Oh, my child, my son! [_Exit weeping._

_Sansthanaka._ [_Aside._] I 've done shomething worthy of myshelf.
Now I 'll go. [_Exit._

_Judge._ Noble Charudatta, the decision lies with us, but the rest
depends on the king. And yet, beadle, let King Palaka be reminded
of this:

The Brahman who has sinned, our laws declare,
May not be slain, but banished from the realm,
And with his wealth entire abroad may fare. 39

_Beadle._ Yes, Your Honor. [_He goes out, then reenters in tears._]
Oh, sirs, I was with the king. And King Palaka says: "Inasmuch
as he killed Vasantasena for such a trifle, these same jewels shall
be hung about his neck, the drum shall be beaten, he shall be conducted
to the southern burying-ground, and there impaled." And
whoever else shall commit such a crime, shall be punished with
the like dreadful doom.

_Charudatta._ Oh, how wanton is this act of King Palaka! Nevertheless,

Although his counsellors may plunge a king
Into injustice' dangers great,
Yet he will reap the woe and suffering;
And 't is a righteous fate. 40

[155.10. S.

And more than this:

They who pervert the king's true bent,
The white crow's part who play,
Have slain their thousands innocent,
And slay, and slay, and slay. 41

My friend Maitreya, go, greet the mother of my son in my name
for the last time. And keep my son Rohasena free from harm.

_Maitreya._ When the root is cut away, how can the tree be saved?

_Charudatta._ No, not so.

When man departs to worlds above,
In living son yet liveth he;
Bestow on Rohasena love
No less than that thou gavest me. 42

_Maitreya._ Oh, my friend! I will prove myself your friend by continuing
the life that you leave unfinished.

_Charudatta._ And let me see Rohasena for a single mom