The World of Courtesans c10.18

c10.18

In the Fourth Act Vasantasena is shown rejecting a gift sent by Shakara. In the meanwhile Sharvilaka the thief visits Vasantasena and meets his beloved Madanika, her slave girl. Vasantasena finds them engaged in intimate talk and does not wish to disturb them. The conversation centres round the redemption of Madanika from slavery and Sharvilaka offers to pay Vasantasena a handsome sum to free Madanika. In the course of the conversation Madanika discovers that he has stolen the ornaments from Charudatta's house She rebukes Sharvilaka and he bursts forth into a severe condemnation of all courtesans. "A courtesan will laugh and cry for gold, she trusts you not... A woman takes your gold, then leaves you free; you're worthless, like cosmetics, when you're dry. One man perhaps may hold her heart in trust. She lures another with coquettish eyes, sports with another in unseemly lust, another yet her body satisfies". (Ryder, IV. 14, 15, 16)