PRELUDE TO ACT VI.
SCENE.—A Street.
Enter the King's brother-in-law as SUPERINTENDENT of the city police; and with him TWO CONSTABLES, dragging a poor FISHERMAN, who has his hands tied behind his back.
BOTH THE CONSTABLES. [Striking the prisoner.
Take that for a rascally thief that you are; and now tell us, sirrah, where you found this ring—aye, the King's own signet-ring. See, here is the royal name engraved on the setting of the jewel.
FISHERMAN. [With a gesture of alarm.
Mercy! kind sirs, mercy! I did not steal it; indeed I did not.
FIRST CONSTABLE.
Oh! then I suppose the King took you for some fine Bráhman, and made you a present of it?
FISHERMAN.
Only hear me. I am but a poor fisherman, living at Sakrávatára—
SECOND CONSTABLE.
Scoundrel, who ever asked you, pray, for a history of your birth and parentage?
SUPERINTENDENT. [To one of the CONSTABLES.
Súchaka, let the fellow tell his own story from the beginning.
Don't interrupt him.
BOTH CONSTABLES.
As you please, master. Go on, then, sirrah, and say what you've got to say.
FISHERMAN.
You see in me a poor man, who supports his family by catching fish with nets, hooks, and the like.
SUPERINTENDENT. [Laughing.
A most refined occupation, certainly[85]!
FISHERMAN.
Blame me not for it, master,
The father's occupation, though despised
By others, casts no shame upon the son,
And he should not forsake it[86]. Is the priest
Who kills the animal for sacrifice
Therefore deemed cruel? Sure a low-born man
May, though a fisherman, be tender-hearted.
SUPERINTENDENT.
Well, well; go on with your story.
FISHERMAN.
One day I was cutting open a large carp[87] I had just hooked, when the sparkle of a jewel caught my eye, and what should I find in the fish's maw but that ring! Soon afterwards, when I was offering it for sale, I was seized by your honours. Now you know everything. Whether you kill me, or whether you let me go, this is the true account of how the ring came into my possession.
SUPERINTENDENT. [To one of the CONSTABLES.
Well, Jánuka, the rascal emits such a fishy odour that I have no doubt of his being a fisherman; but we must inquire a little more closely into this queer story about the finding of the ring. Come, we'll take him before the King's household.
BOTH CONSTABLES.
Very good, master. Get on with you, you cutpurse.
[All move on.
SUPERINTENDENT.
Now attend, Súchaka; keep your guard here at the gate; and hark ye, sirrahs, take good care your prisoner does not escape, while I go in and lay the whole story of the discovery of this ring before the King in person. I will soon return and let you know his commands.
BOTH CONSTABLES.
Go in, master, by all means; and may you find favour in the
King's sight.
[Exit SUPERINTENDENT. FIRST CONSTABLE.
[After an interval.
I say, Jánuka, the Superintendent is a long time away.
SECOND CONSTABLE.
Aye, aye; kings are not to be got at so easily. Folks must bide the proper opportunity.
FIRST CONSTABLE.
Jánuka, my fingers itch to strike the first blow at this royal victim here. We must kill him with all the honours, you know. I long to begin binding the flowers round his head[88].
[Pretends to strike a blow at the FISHERMAN.
FISHERMAN.
Your Honour surely will not put an innocent man to a cruel death.
SECOND CONSTABLE.
There's our Superintendent at last, I declare. See! he is coming towards us with a paper in his hand. We shall soon know the King's command; so prepare, my fine fellow, either to become food for the vultures, or to make acquaintance with some hungry cur.
SUPERINTENDENT.
[Entering.
Ho, there, Súchaka! set the fisherman at liberty, I tell you. His story about the ring is all correct. SÚCHAKA.
Oh! very good, Sir; as you please.
SECOND CONSTABLE.
The fellow had one foot in hell, and now here he is in the land of the living.
[Releases him.
FISHERMAN.
[Bowing to the SUPERINTENDENT.
Now, master, what think you of my way of getting a livelihood?
SUPERINTENDENT.
Here, my good man, the King desired me to present you with this purse. It contains a sum of money equal to the full value of the ring.
[Gives him the money.
FISHERMAN.
[Taking it and bowing.
His Majesty does me too great honour.
SÚCHAKA.
You may well say so. He might as well have taken you from the gallows to seat you on his state elephant.
JÁNUKA.
Master, the King must value the ring very highly, or he would never have sent such a sum of money to this ragamuffin.
SUPERINTENDENT.
I don't think he prizes it as a costly jewel so much as a memorial of some person he tenderly loves. The moment it was shown to him he became much agitated, though in general he conceals his feelings. SÚCHAKA.
Then you must have done a great service—
JÁNUKA.
Yes, to this husband of a fish-wife.
[Looks enviously at the FISHERMAN.
FISHERMAN.
Here's half the money for you, my masters. It will serve to purchase the flowers you spoke of, if not to buy me your good-will.
JÁNUKA.
Well, now, that's just as it should be.
SUPERINTENDENT.
My good fisherman, you are an excellent fellow, and I begin to feel quite a regard for you. Let us seal our first friendship over a glass of good liquor. Come along to the next wine-shop, and we'll drink your health.
ALL.
By all means.
[Exeunt.
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