Why should my right eye twitch now? But the sight of Chārudatta will smooth away the bad omen. [Enter Sthāvaraka.]
Sthāvaraka. I've cleared the carts out of the way, and now I'll go ahead. [He mounts and drives away. To himself.] The cart has grown heavy. But I suppose it only seems so, because I got tired helping them with that wheel. Well, I'll go along. Get up, bullocks, get up!
A voice behind the scenes. Police! Police! Every man at his post! The young herdsman has just broken jail, killed the jailer, broken his fetters, escaped, and run away. Catch him! Catch him!
[Enter, in excited haste, Aryaka, an iron chain on one foot. Covering his face, he walks about.]
Sthāvaraka. [To himself.] There is great excitement in the city. I must get out of the way as fast as I possibly can. [Exit.
Aryaka. I leave behind me that accursèd sea
Of human woe and human misery,
The prison of the king.
Like elephants that break their chains and flee,
I drag a fettered foot most painfully
In flight and wandering. 1
King Pālaka was frightened by a prophecy, took me from the hamlet where I lived, fettered me, and thrust me into a solitary cell, there to await my death. But with the help of my good friend Sharvilaka I escaped. [He sheds tears.]
If such my fate, no sin is mine at least,
That he should cage me like a savage beast.
A man may fight with kings, though not with fate—
And yet, can helpless men contend with great? 2
Whither shall I go with my wretchedness? [He looks about.] Here is the house of some good man who hasn't locked the side-door.
The house is old, the door without a lock,
