eath. Yes, through this broken window I will
throw myself down from the palace tower. Better that I should
meet my end, than that the noble Charudatta should perish, this
tree of life for noble youths. And if I die in such a cause, I have
attained heaven. [_He throws himself down._] Wonderful! I did not
meet my end, and my fetters are broken. So I will follow the
sound of the headsmen's voices. [_He discovers the headsmen, and
hastens forward._] Headsmen, headsmen, make way!

_Headsmen._ For whom shall we make way?

_Sthavaraka._ Listen, good gentlemen, listen! It was I, wretch that
I am, who carried Vasantasena to the old garden Pushpakaranda,
because she mistook my bullock-cart for another. And then my
master, Sansthanaka, found that she would not love him, and it
was he, not this gentleman, who murdered her by strangling.

_Charudatta._ Thank heaven!

But who thus gladdens this my latest morn,
When in Time's snare I struggle all forlorn,
A streaming cloud above the rainless corn? 26

Listen! do you hear what I say?

Death have I never feared, but blackened fame;
My death were welcome, coming free from shame,
As were a son, new-born to bear my name. 27

And again:

That small, weak fool, whom I have never hated,
Stained me with sin wherewith himself was mated,
An arrow, with most deadly poison baited. 28

_Headsmen._ Are you telling the truth, Sthavaraka?

P. 266.13]

_Sthavaraka._ I am. And to keep me from telling anybody, he cast
me into chains, and imprisoned me in the tower of his palace.

* * * * *

[_Enter Sansthanaka._]

_Sansthanaka._ [_Gleefully._]

I ate a shour and bitter dish
Of meat and herbs and shoup and fish;
I tried at home my tongue to tickle
With rice-cakes plain, and rice with treacle. 29

[_He listens._] The headsmen's voices! They shound like a broken brass
cymbal. I hear the music of the fatal drum and the kettle-drums, and sho
I shuppose that that poor man, Charudatta, is being led to the place of
execution. I musht go and shee it. It is a great delight to shee my
enemy die. Beshides, I 've heard that a man who shees his enemy being
killed, is sure not to have shore eyes in his next birth. I acted like a
worm that had crept into the knot of a lotush-root. I looked for a hole
to crawl out at, and brought about the death