Madanikā. But mistress, do the butterflies visit the mango-tree when its blossoms have fallen?
Vasantasenā. That is just why we call that sort of a girl a butterfly.
Madanikā. Well, mistress, if you love him, why don't you go and visit him at once?
Vasantasenā. Girl, if I should visit him at once, then, because he can't make any return—no, I don't mean that, but it would be hard to see him.
Madanikā. Is that the reason why you left your jewels with him?
Vasantasenā. You have guessed it.
A voice [1] behind the scenes. Oh, sir, a shampooer owes me ten gold-pieces, and he got away from us. Hold him, hold him! [To the fleeing shampooer.] Stop, stop! I see you from here. [Enter hurriedly a frightened shampooer.]
Shampooer. Oh, confound this gambling business!
Freed from its tether, the ace—
I might better say "ass"—how it kicks me!
And the cast of the dice called the "spear"
Proves true to its name; for it sticks me. 1
The keeper's whole attention
Was busy with the score;
So it took no great invention
To vanish through the door.
But I cannot stand forever
In the unprotected street.
Is there no one to deliver?
I would fall before his feet. 2
While the keeper and the gambler are looking somewhere else for me, I'll just walk backwards into this empty temple and turn goddess. [He makes all sorts of gestures, takes his place, and waits. Enter Māthura and the gambler.]
- ↑ That of Māthura, the keeper of the gambling-house.
