Beadle. Follow me, sir, gently and without haste.
Chārudatta. [Walks about and looks before him.]
Upon the withered tree, a crow
Turns to the sun;
His left eye falls on me. Ah, woe!
My doubt is done.11
[He looks in another direction.] But see! a snake!
His eye is fixed upon me; and his back
Flashes like antimony's lustrous black;
His long tongue quivers; four white fangs appear;
His belly swells and coils. He slumbered here,
This prince of serpents, till I crossed his path,
And now he darts upon me in his wrath.12
[143.21. S.
And more than this:
I slip, although the ground has felt no rain;
My left eye, and my left arm throb again;
Another bird is screaming overhead;
All bodes a cruel death, and hope is fled.13
Surely, the gods will grant that all may yet be well.