WARDER.—­This way, Sire. [They move away.

KING.—­Do what I will, I cannot call to mind
    That I did e’er espouse the sage’s daughter—­
    Therefore I have disowned her; yet ’tis strange
    How painfully my agitated heart
    Bears witness to the truth of her assertion,
    And makes me credit her against my judgment.
          [Exeunt.

PRELUDE TO ACT SIXTH

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 Brahman, and made you a present of it?

FISHERMAN.—­Only hear me.  I am but a poor fisherman, living at
Sakravatara------

SECOND CONSTABLE.—­Scoundrel, who ever asked you, pray, for a history of your birth and parentage?

SUPERINTENDENT [to one of the Constables].—­Suchaka, 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!

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.  Is the priest
    Who kills the animal for sacrifice
    Therefore deemed cruel?  Sure a lowborn 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 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 honors.  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, Januka, the rascal emits such a fishy odor 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.