The World of Courtesans c10.28

c10.28

The seventh court serves as an aviary. Here the doves sit snugly in their dovecotes. There is a parrot, a thrush and a cuckoo fed on fruit syrups. Rows of cages hang from pegs. Quails are being egged on to fight and a partridge is being made to walk. Caged pigeons are being provoked and teased and a peacock is dancing in all its glory Flamingoes wander about gracefully. Maitreya also finds out from the maid the name of the man who is wearing a silk cloak and has adorned himself with ornaments. He is wandering about, stumbling and stretching his limbs. He turns out to be Vasantasena's brother. There is a woman dressed in the most expensive garments. She wears shoes on her greasy feet. She turns out to be Vasantasena's mother. Maitreya makes an uncharitable remark: "Lord! what an extensive belly the dirty old witch has got! I suppose they couldn't put that superb portal on the house till after they had brought the idol in." The maid reprimands him, but the irrepressible Maitreya continues in the same vein: