Her household duties are beyond her strength;
I want a slave, and therefore I will give
A price proportioned to the woman's skill
And temper; nor will I o'erlook her youth
And beauty. What you think is fair and right,
That will I pay." Struck dumb with grief, the king
Stood mute, nor answered aught. And then the priest,
Tying the price in the king's garment-hem--
His bark-cloth garment--roughly grasped the queen,
And dragged her off. But when the loving child
Beheld his mother led away, he seized
Her by her garment. And the queen exclaimed:
"If only for a moment, noble sir!
Oh! let me go! that I may gaze once more
Upon my child, whom I shall never see,
And never touch again! My child, behold
Thy mother, now a slave! And thou--a prince!
Oh, touch me not! My lot of servitude
Forbids that thou should'st touch me." But the child,
His eyes bedewed with tears, ran after her,
Calling her "Mother!" As the boy came near,
The Brahman spurned him with his foot; but he
Still following close would not be torn from her,
Calling her "Mother!" "Oh, my lord! I pray,
Be gracious to me!" said the queen. "Oh, buy
My son with me; divide us not! For I
Without him shall be nought of use to you.
Be gracious, O my lord!" Then said the priest:
"Here! take the money! give the boy to me!
The saints, who know the scriptures, have ordained