Chārudatta. Not so, my friend.
She showed her trust in leaving us her treasure;
The price of confidence has no less measure.29
Friend, I conjure you by this gesture, not to return until you have delivered it into her hands. Vardhamānaka, do you speedily
Fill up the opening with the selfsame bricks;
Thus will I thwart the process of the law,
For the blemish of so great a scandal sticks.30
And, friend Maitreya, you must show your pride by not speaking too despondently.
Maitreya. How can a poor man help speaking despondently?
Chārudatta. Poor I am not, my friend. For I have a wife
Whose love outlasts my wealthy day;
In thee a friend through good and ill;
And truth that naught could take away:
Ah, this the poor man lacketh still.(28)
Go then, and after performing rites of purification, I will offer my morning prayer.
[Exeunt omnes.
FOOTNOTES:
[44] This refers to Chārudatta's generosity, which continues after his wealth has vanished.
[45] The following scene satirises the Hindu love of system and classification.
[46] The patron saint of thieves.