_ A curse on slavery! A slave convinces nobody.
[_Mournfully._] Noble Charudatta, I have no further power. [_He
falls at Charudatta's feet._]

_Charudatta._ [_Mournfully._]

Rise, rise! Kind soul to good men fallen on pain!
Brave friend who lendest such unselfish aid!
Thy greatest toil to save me was in vain,
For fate would not. Thy duty now is paid. 31

P. 270.15]

_Headsmen._ Beat your servant, master, and drive him away.

_Sansthanaka._ Out of the way, you! [_He drives Sthavaraka away._]
Come, headsmen, what are you waiting for? Kill him.

_Headsmen._ Kill him yourself, if you are in a hurry.

_Rohasena._ Oh, headsmen, kill me and let father go free.

_Sansthanaka._ Yesh, shon _and_ father, kill them both.

_Charudatta._ This fool might do anything. Go, my son, to your
mother.

_Rohasena._ And what should I do then?

_Charud._

Go with thy mother to a hermitage;
No moment, dear, delay;
Lest of thy father's fault thou reap the wage,
And tread the selfsame way. 32

And you, my friend, go with him.

_Maitreya._ Oh, my friend, have you so known me as to think that
I can live without you?

_Charudatta._ Not so, my friend. Your life is your own. You may
not throw it away.

_Maitreya._ [_Aside._] True. And yet I cannot live apart from my
friend. And so, when I have taken the boy to his mother, I will
follow my friend even in death. [_Aloud._] Yes, my friend, I will
take him to her at once. [_He embraces Charudatta, then falls at
his feet. Rohasena does the same, weeping._]

_Sansthanaka._ Look here! Did n't I tell you to kill Charudatta, and
his shon, too? [_At this, Charudatta betrays fear._]

_Headsmen._ We have n't any orders from the king to kill Charudatta, and
his son, too. Run away, boy, run away! [_They drive Rohasena away._]
Here is the third place of proclamation. Beat the drum! [_They proclaim
the sentence again._]

[167.1. S.

_Sansthanaka._ [_Aside._] But the citizens don't believe it. [_Aloud._]
Charudatta, you jackanapes, the citizens don't believe it. Shay it
with your own tongue, "I murdered Vasantasena." [_Charudatta remains
silent._] Look here, headsmen! The man won't shpeak, the
jackanapes Charudatta. Jusht make him shpeak. Beat him a few
times with thish ragged bamboo, or with a chain.

_Goha._ [_Raises his arm to strike._] Come, Charudatta, speak!

_Charudatta._ [_Mournfully._]