Part 4

(_Exit all, except Nobin Madhab._)

_Nobin._ What injustice! These two children will die without food in the same way as the new-born young of the hare suffer when the hare is in the hand of the savage hunters.

_Enter_ RAY CHURN.

_Ray._ Had not my brother caught hold of us, I would have put a stop to her breathing. I would have killed her; then, at the utmost, I had been hanged within six months.[27] That villain!

_Nobin._ Ray Churn, where art thou going?

_Ray._ Our mistress ordered me to call Putakur. The stupid Podi told me that the bailiff will bring the summons to-morrow.

(_Exit Ray Churn._)

_Nobin._ Oh! oh! oh! That which never took place in this family, has now come to pass. My father is very peaceful, honest, and of a sincere mind; knows not what disputes and enmities are; never goes out of the village; trembles with fear at the name of Court affairs, and even shed tears when he read the letter. If he is to go to Indrabad, he will turn mad; and if, to the jail, he will throw himself into the stream. Ah, such are the misfortunes that are to fall on him, while I, his son, am living! My mother is not so much afraid as my father is; she does not lose hope at once; with a firm mind, she is now invoking God. My deer-eyed is become, as it were, the deer in my volcano[28]; she is become mad with fear and anxiety. Her father died in an Indigo Factory; and her fear, now, is lest the same happens to her husband. How many sides am I to keep quiet? Is it proper to fly off with the whole family; or, is it not right that to do good unto others is the highest virtue? I shall not turn aside hastily. I see, I am not able to do any good to Shamanagara; still, what work is there which is beyond the power of exertion? Let me see what I can do.

_Enter two Pundits._

_First P._ My child, is the house of Goluk Chunder Bose in this quarter? I heard from my uncle, that person is very honest—the grandeur of the Bose family.

_Nobin._ (_Bowing before him._) Sir, I am his eldest son.

_First P._ Yes! yes! very honest! To have such a son is not the result of a little virtue.

_Second P._ We had been invited by Babu Arabindu, of Sougandha. To-day, we remain in the house of Goluk Chunder; and shall do good unto you.

_Nobin._ This is my great fortune. Sirs, come by this way.

(_Exit all._)

Footnote 22:

This expression “striking the axe on my feet” signifies ruining myself.

Footnote 23:

That is, had the intrigue used by Ray not been detected, it would have proved very advantageous.

Footnote 24:

All these signify that let Death come upon thee.

Footnote 25:

The word “you” refers to the Indigo Planters.

Footnote 26:

This number, five, here referred to, are the persons whom he was trying to bring on his side for the law-suit.

Footnote 27:

This expression “had been hanged for six months,” is only used sarcastically.

Footnote 28:

That is, as the deer feels disquieted when exposed in a volcano, so is my mate troubled by the many anxieties in my mind.

THIRD ACT—FIRST SCENE. BEFORE THE FACTORY IN BEGUNBARI.

_Enter_ GOPI CHURN _and a Native Jailor_.

_Gopi._ As long as your share is not less, don’t bring anything to my notice.

_Jailor._ Can that filth be digested by one person eating the whole? I told him, if you eat, give a part to the Dewanji; but he says what power has your Dewan? He is not so much the son of a Keát, (_shoemaker caste_) that he shall direct the Saheb like unto one leading a monkey.

_Gopi._ Very well, now go; I shall show that Kaot (what a club) how strong he is.

(_Exit Khálási._)

The fellow has got so much power through the authority of the younger Saheb. I shall also say it is a very easy thing for one to carry on his work, if his master be the husband of his sister; the elder Saheb becomes very angry at this word. But the fellow is very angry with me; at every word, he shows me the Shamchand. That day he kicked me with his stockings on. These few days, I see that his temper is become somewhat mild towards me; since Goluk Bose is summoned, he has expressed a little kindness. A person is considered very expert by the Saheb, if he can bring about the ruin of many. “_One becomes a good Physician by the death of one hundred patients._”

(_Seeing Mr. Wood._)

Here he is coming; let me first soften his mind by giving him some information about the Boses.

_Enter_ MR. WOOD.

Saheb, tears have now come out of the eyes of Nobin Bose. Never was he punished more severely. His garden is taken away from him; the small pieces of land he had are all included among the lands which are given to Gada, Poda (_low castes_); his cultivation is nearly put a stop to; his magazines are all become empty, and he was sent into Court twice; in the midst of so many troubles, he still stood firm; but now he has fallen down.

_Planter._ That rascal was not able to do any thing in Shamanagara.

_Gopi._ Saheb, the Munshis came to him; but he told them, my mind is not at rest now, “my limbs are become powerless through weeping for my father, and I am, as it were, become mad.” On observing the wretched condition of Nobin, about seven or eight ryots of Shamanagara have all given up, and all are doing exactly as your Honour is ordering them.

_Planter._ You are a very good Dewan, and you have formed a very good plan.

_Gopi._ I knew Goluk Bose to be a coward, and that if he were obliged to go to Court, he would turn mad. As Nobin has a great affection for his father, he will of course be punished; and it was for this reason that I gave the advice to make the old man the defendant. Also, the plan which your Honour formed was not the less good. Our Indigo cultivation has been newly made on the sides of his tank; thus laying the snake’s eggs in his heart.

_Planter._ _With one stone two birds have been killed_; ten bigahs of land are cultivated with Indigo, and also that fool is punished. He shed much tears, saying that if Indigo be planted near the tank we shall be obliged to leave our habitation; but I said, to cultivate Indigo in one’s habitation is to the best advantage.

_Gopi._ And the fool brought an action in the Court, on hearing that reply.

_Planter._ That will be of no effect; that Magistrate is a very good man. If the case turn into a civil one it will never be concluded in less than five years. That Magistrate is a great friend of mine. Just see, by the new Act, the four rascals were thrown into prison only by making your evidence strong. _This Act is become the brother of the sword._

_Gopi._ Saheb, in order that those four ryots might not suffer loss in their cultivation, Nobin Bose has given his own plough, kine, and harrow for the ploughing of their lands; and he is trying his utmost that their families might not suffer great trouble.

_Planter._ When he is required to plough this land, for which advances are allowed, he says, my ploughs and kine are less in number. He is very wicked; and now he is very well punished. Dewan, now you have done very well, and now I see work may be carried on by you, without loss.

_Gopi._ Saheb, it is your own favour. My desire is, that advances should be increased every year. But that cannot be done by me alone; some confident Amin and Khalasis are necessary. Can the Indigo cultivation be improved by those who, for the sake of two rupees, occasioned the loss of the produce of three bigahs of land?

_Planter._ I have understood it, the rascally Amin occasioned this confusion.

_Gopi._ Saheb, the new habitation, and the taking of advances of Chunder Goladar are not allowed here. The Amin once, according to regular custom, threw one rupee on his ground as an advance. That person, in order to be allowed to return that rupee even shed tears and came along with the Amin as far as Ruthtollah, begging him earnestly to take it back. There he met with Nilkanta Babu, who has chosen the profession of an Attorney immediately after leaving the College.

_Planter._ I know that rascal; he, it is, who writes every thing concerning me in the newspapers.

_Gopi._ Their papers can never stand before yours, can by no means bear a comparison; and, moreover, they are as _the earthen bottles for cooling water compared to the jars of Dacca_. But, to bring the newspapers within your influence, great expense has been incurred. That takes place according to time; as is said,

“According to circumstances, the friend becomes an enemy: The lame ass is sold at the price of the horse.”

_Planter._ What did Nilkanta do?

_Gopi._ He sharply rebuked the Amin; and the Amin with no little shame brought back that one rupee, with two rupees more, from Goladar’s house. Chunder Goladar would have been able very easily to supply the Indigo for three or four bigahs. Is this the work of a servant? If I can conduct the Dewanny and the business of the Amin, then this kind of ingratitude can be stopped.

_Planter._ Great wickedness this is; evident ingratitude.

_Gopi._ Saheb, grant pardon for this bad conduct; the Amin brought his own sister to our younger Saheb’s room.

_Planter._ Yes! Yes! I know; that rascal and Podi corrupted our young Saheb. I must give that wicked fool some instruction very soon. Send him to my sitting room.

(_Exit Mr. Wood._)

_Gopi._ Just see, _in whose hand the monkey plays best. The Khait is one rogue, and the Crow another._

“_Now have you fallen under the stroke of the Khait; where even the grand-father of the sister’s husband loses the game._”

THIRD ACT—SECOND SCENE. THE BED-ROOM OF NOBIN MADHAB.

NOBIN MADHAB _and_ SOIRINDRI _sitting_.

_Soirindri._ Lord of my soul, what is preferable, whether the ornament or my father-in-law? That, for which thou art wandering about day and night; that, for which thou hast left thy food and sleep; that, for which thou art shedding tears incessantly; that, for which thy pleasant face has been depressed; and that which has occasioned thy head-ache; my dear Lord, can I not for that give away this my trifling ornament.

_Nobin._ My dear, you can, with ease, give; but with what face shall I take it? What great troubles the husband is to undergo in order to dress his wife: he has to swim in the rapid stream, to throw himself into the deep ocean, engage in battles, to climb mountains, to live in the wilderness, and to go before the mouth of the tiger. The husband adorns his wife with so much trouble; am I so very foolish as to take away the ornament from the very same wife. O my lotus-eyed, wait a little. Let me see this day, and if, finally I cannot procure it, then I shall take your ornaments afterwards.

_Soirindri._ O my heart’s love! We are very unfortunate now; and who is there that shall give you on loan the sum of Co.’s Rs. 500 at such a time. I am entreating you again, take my ornaments and those of our youngest Bou, and try to procure money from a banker. Observing your troubles the lotus-like young Bou is become sad.

_Nobin._ Ah! my sweet-faced, the cruel words which you used struck on my heart like arrows of fire. Our youngest Bou, she is a girl; good clothes and beautiful ornaments are objects of pleasure to her. What understanding has she now? What does she know of family business. As our young Bipin cries when his neck-lace is taken from him in play, so our youngest Bou weeps when her ornaments are taken away. Oh, oh! am I formed so mean-spirited a man? Am I to be so cruel a robber? Shall I deceive a young girl? This can never be, as long as life exists. The worthless Indigo Planters even cannot commit such a crime. My dear, never use such a word before me.

_Soirindri._ Beloved of my soul, that pain with which I told these words, is only known to me and the omniscient God. What doubt is there, that they are fiery arrows? They have burst my heart and burnt my tongue, and then having divided the lips, have entered your heart. It is with great pain that I told you to take the ornaments of the youngest Bou. Can there be any pleasure in the mind, after having observed this your insane wandering, this weeping of my father-in-law, the deep sighs of my mother-in-law, the sad face of the youngest Bou, the dejected countenance of relatives and friends, and the sorrowful mournings of the ryots? If by any means we can restore safety, then all shall be safe. My Lord, I do feel the same pain in giving the ornaments of our youngest Bou, as if I had to give those of Bipin; but if I give away the ornaments of Bipin, before giving those of the youngest Bou, that would prove an act of cruelty to her; since, she might think that my sister looks on me as a stranger. Can I give pain to her honest heart by doing this? Is this the work of the elder sister who is like a mother?

_Nobin._ My dear love! Your heart is very sincere. There is not a second to you in sincerity in the female race. Is this my family reduced to this state! What was I, and what am I now become! The sum of my profits was seven hundred Rupees. I had fifteen warehouses for corn, sixteen bigahs of garden land, twenty ploughs and fifty harrows. What great feasts had I at the time of the Puja; the house filled with men, feasting the Brahmins, gifts to the poor, the feasting of friends and relations, the musical entertainments of the Voishnabas, and also pleasant theatrical representations. I have expended such large sums, and even given as donations one hundred Rupees. Being so rich, now I am obliged to take away the ornaments of my wife, and the wife of my young brother. What affliction? God, thou didst give these, and thou hast taken them again. Then, what sorrow?

_Soirindri._ My dear, when I see you weep, my life itself weeps (_tears in her eyes_). Was there so much pain in my fate; am I thus destined to see such distress in my Lord? Do not prevent me any more. (_Takes out the amulet._)

_Nobin._ My heart bursts when I see your tears (_rubbing the tears_). Stop my dear, of the moon-like face, stop (_taking hold of her hands_). Keep these; one day more, let me see.

_Soirindri._ My dear, what further resource is left? Do, as I tell you now. If it be so destined, there shall be many ornaments afterwards (_aside, sneezing_); true, true. Aduri is coming.

_Enter_ ADURI _with two letters_.

_Aduri._ I can’t say whence the letters came; but my mistress told me to give them to you.

(_Exit Aduri, after giving the letters._)

_Nobin._ It shall be known by these letters whether your ornaments are to be taken or not. (_Opens the first letter._)

_Soirindri._ Read it aloud.

_Nobin._ (_Reads the letter._)

“DEAR FRIEND,—_This is to make it known to you, that to give a sum of money to you at present is only to make a return of favours. My mother has taken leave of this world yesterday; and the day of her first funeral obsequies is very near. This have I written yesterday. The tobacco is not yet sold._

“_I am, yours_,

“GHONOSYAM MUKERJI.”

What misfortune is this! Is this my assistance on the funeral obsequies of the mother of the honorable Mukerji? Let me see what deadly weapon hast thou brought. (_Opens the letter._)

_Soirindri._ My dear, it is very miserable to fall into despair after entertaining high hopes. Let the letter remain as it is.

_Nobin._ (_Reads the letter._)

“HONORED SIR,—_I received your last letter, and was much pleased with reading of your good fortune. I have already collected the sum of three hundred Rupis, and shall take that along with me to you to-morrow. As to the remaining one hundred, I shall clear that on the coming month. The great benefit which you have bestowed on me, excites me to give some interest._

“_I am, your most obdt. Servt._,

“GOKUL KRISHNA PALITA.”

_Soirindri._ I think God has turned his face towards us; now, let me go, and give this information to our youngest Bou.

(_Exit Soirindri._)

_Nobin._ (_Aside._) My life is, as it were, the idol of sincerity; it is a piece of a straw in a rapid stream. Let me take my father now to Indrabad, depending on this; as to the future it shall be according to Fate. With me I have one hundred and fifty Rupis. As to the tobacco, if I had kept it for a month more, I would have sold that for the sum of five hundred Rupis; but what can I do? I am obliged to give it for three hundred and fifty Rupis, since I have to pay much for the Officers of the Court; and also heavy expenses for going to and returning from the place. If on account of this false case, there be a delay, then am I certain that the destruction of this land is very near. What a brutal Act is passed? But, what is the fault of the Act; or of those who passed the Act? What misery can the country suffer if those who are to carry out the Act, do it with impartiality? Ah, by this Act how many persons are suffering in prison-houses without a fault! It bursts the heart to see the miseries of their wives and children; the pots for boiling rice on the hearths are remaining as they are; the several kinds of grain in their yards are being dried up; their kine in the rooms are all remaining bound in their places; the cultivation of the fields is not fully carried out, the seeds are not sown, and the wild grass in the rice fields is not cut off. What further prospects are there in the present year? All are crying aloud, with the exclamation, Where is my lord? Where is my father? Some Magistrates are dispensing justice with proper consideration; in their hands this Act is not become the rod of death. Ah! Had all Magistrates been as just as the Magistrate of Amaranagara is, then could the harrow fall on the ripe grain and the locusts destroy the fields? Had that been the case, would I ever have been thrown into so many dangers? O, thou Lieutenant-Governor! had’st thou engaged men of the same good character as thou had’st enacted laws, then the country would never have been miserable. O, thou Governor of the land! had’st thou made such a regulation, that every plaintiff, when his case is proved false, shall be put in prison, then the jail of Amaranagara would have been crowded with Indigo Planters; and they would never have been so very powerful. Our Magistrate is transferred, but our case is to continue here to the end; and that will occasion our ruin.

(_Enter Sabitri._)

_Sabitri._ If you are to give up all the ploughs, is it that even then you are to take the advance-money? Sell all your ploughs and kine, and engage in trade; we shall enjoy ourselves with the profits that shall accrue from that. We can no longer endure this.

_Nobin._ Mother, I, also, have the same desire. Only, I wait till Bindu is engaged in some service. If we leave off ploughing the land, it will be impossible for us to maintain the family; and it is for this reason, that we have still, with so much trouble, kept these ploughs.

_Sabitri._ How shalt thou go with this headache? Oh oh! was such Indigo produced in this land! (_Places her hand on Nobin’s head_).

(_Enter Reboti._)

_Reboti._ My mother! Where shall I go? What shall I do? They have done what! Why is it that through ill-fortune I brought her? Having brought one of a strange caste, I am become unable to preserve propriety. My eldest Babu! preserve me; my life is on the point of bursting out. Bring me Khetromani; bring me my _puppet of gold_.

_Sabitri._ These destroyers can do all things. Ye are taking by force the pieces of ground of men, their grain, their kine and calves. By the force of clubs, ye are cultivating Indigo, and the people are doing your work with cries and sobbings.

_Reboti._ My mother! I am preparing the Indigo, taking only half the food. Those bigahs which they had marked, on them I worked. When Ray works, he weeps with deep sighs; if he hear of this my work, he would become, as it were, insane.

_Nobin._ Where is Sadhu now?

_Reboti._ He is sitting outside, and is weeping.

_Nobin._ To a woman of good family, _constancy in faithfulness to her husband is, as it were, the loadstone_; and how very beautiful does she appear (_ramaniki ramaniyá_) when she is decorated with that ornament. Is a woman of a good family carried off, when the Bhima-like Svaropur of my father is still in existence? At this very moment shall I go. I shall see what manner of injustice this is. _The Indigo frog can never sit on the white waterlily-like constancy of a woman._

(_Exit Nobin Madhab._)

_Sabitri._ _Chastity is the store of gold which is given by Providence; it is so valuable that it makes the beggar woman, a queen._ If you can rescue this jewel before it is soiled, from the hands of the Indigo monkey, then shall I say that you have actually answered the purpose of my being your mother. Such injustice I never heard of. Now, Ghose Bou, let us go out-side.

THIRD ACT—THIRD SCENE. MR. ROSE’S CHAMBER.

MR. ROSE _sitting. Enter_ PODI MOYRANI & KHETROMANI.

_Khetra._ My aunt, don’t speak of such things to me; I can give up my life, but my chastity never; cut me in pieces, burn me in the fire, throw me into the water, and bury me under ground; but as to touching another man that can I never do. What will my husband think?

_Podi._ Where is your husband now, and where are you? This shall no one know. Within this night, I shall bring you back with me to your mother.

_Khetra._ Very well, the husband may not know it—but God above will know it, and I shall never be able to throw dust in his eyes. Like the fire of the brick-kiln it will still burn within my breast, and the more my husband shall love me for my constancy, the more my soul shall be tortured. Openly or secretly, I never can take a paramour.

_Podi._ My child, come, come to the Saheb. Whatever you have to say, say to him. To speak to me is like _crying in the wilderness_.

_Planter Rose._ To speak to me is _throwing pearls at the hog’s feet_. Ha, ha, ha, we Indigo Planters, are become the companions of Death; can our Factories remain, if we have pity? By nature, we are not bad; our evil disposition has increased by Indigo cultivation. Before, we felt sorrow in beating one man; now, we can beat ten persons with the Ramkant (leather strap), making them senseless; and immediately after, we can, with great laughter, take our dinner or supper.