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The King of the Dark Chamber, a play by Rabindranath Tagore |
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SCENE XV |
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_ SCENE XV XV [The Gathering of the PRINCES] VIDARBHA. King of Kanchi, how is it that you have not got a single piece of ornament on your person? KANCHI. Because I entertain no hopes at all, my friend. Ornaments would but double the shame of my defeat. KALINGA. But your umbrella-bearer seems to have made up for that,--he is loaded with gold and jewellery all over. VIRAT. The King of Kanchi wants to demonstrate the futility and inferiority of outer beauty and grandeur. Vanity of his prowess has made him discard all outer embellishments from his limbs. KOSLIALA. I am quite up to his trickery; he is seeking to prove his own dignity, maintaining a severe plainness among the bejewelled princes. PANCHALA. I cannot commend his wisdom in this matter. Every one knows that a woman's eyes are like a moth in that they fling themselves headlong on the glare and glitter of jewel and gold. KALINGA. But how long shall we have to wait more? KANCHI. Do not grow impatient, King of Kalinga--sweet are the fruits of delay. KALINGA. If I were sure of the fruit I could have endured it. It is because my hopes of tasting the fruit are extremely precarious that my eagerness to have a sight of her breaks through all bounds. KANCHI. But you are young still--abandoned hope comes back to you again and again like a shameless woman at your age: we, however, have long passed that stage. KOSHALA. Kanchi, did you feel as if something shook your seat just now? Is it an earthquake? KANCHI. Earthquake? I do not know. VIDARBHA. Or perhaps some other prince is coming with his army. KALINGA. There is nothing against your theory except that we should have first heard the news from some herald or messenger in that case. VIDARBHA. I cannot regard this as a very auspicious omen. KANCHI. Everything looks inauspicious to the eye of fear. VIDARBHA. I fear none except Fate, before which courage or heroism is as futile as it is absurd. PANCHALA. Vidarbha, do not darken to-day's happy proceedings with your unwelcome prognostications. KANCHI. I never take the unseen into account till it has become "seen." VIDARBHA. But then it might be too late to do anything. PANCHALA. Did we not all of us start at a specially auspicious moment? VIDARBHA. Do you think you insure against every possible risk by starting at auspicious moments? It looks as if-- KANCHI. You had better let the "as if" alone: though our own creation, it often proves our ruin and destruction. KALINGA. Isn't that music somewhere outside? PANCHALA. Yes, it sounds like music, sure enough. KANCHI. Then at last it must be the Queen Sudarshana who is approaching near. [Aside to SUVARNA.] Suvarna, you must not hide and cower behind me like that. Mind, the umbrella in your hand is shaking! [Enter GRANDFATHER, dressed as a warrior] KALINGA. Who is that?--Who are you? PANCHALA. Who is this that dares to enter this hall without being invited? VIRAT. Amazing impudence! Kalinga, just prevent the fellow from advancing further. KALINGA. You are all my superiors in age--you are fitter to do that than myself. VIDARBHA. Let us hear what he has to say. GRANDFATHER. The KING has come. VIDARBHA. [starting] King? PANCHALA. Which King? KALINGA. Where does he come from? GRANDFATHER. My King! VIRAT. Your King? KALINGA. Who is he? KOSHALA. What do you mean? GRANDFATHER. You all know whom I mean. He has come. VIDARBHA. He has come? KOSHALA. With what intention? GRANDFATHER. He has summoned you all to come to him. KANCHI. Summoned us, indeed? In what terms has he been pleased to summon us? GRANDFATHER. You can take his call in any way you like--there is none to prevent you--he is prepared to make all kinds of welcome to suit your various tastes. VIRAT. But who are you? GRANDFATHER. I am one of his generals. KANCHI. Generals? It is a lie! Do you think of frightening us? Do you imagine that I cannot see through your disguise? We all know you well--and you pose as a "general" before us! GRANDFATHER. You have recognised me to perfection. Who is so unworthy as I to bear my King's commands? And yet it is he who has invested me with these robes of a general and sent me here: he has chosen me before greater generals and mightier warriors. KANCHI. All right, we shall go to observe the proprieties and amenities on a fitting occasion--but at present we are in the midst of a pressing engagement. He will have to wait till this little function is over. GRANDFATHER. When he sends out his call he does not wait. KOSHALA. I shall obey his call; I am going at once. VIDARBHA. Kanchi, I cannot agree with you in your proposal to wait till this function is over. I am going. KALINGA. You are older than I am--I shall follow you. PANCHALA. Look behind you, Prince of Kanchi, your regal umbrella is lying in the dust: you have not noticed when your umbrella-holder has stolen away. KANCHI. All right, general. I too am going--but not to do him homage. I go to fight him on the battle-ground. GRANDFATHER. You will meet my King in the field of battle: that is no mean place for your reception. VIRAT. Look here, friends, perhaps we are all flying before an imagined terror--it looks as if the King of Kanchi will have the best of it. PANCHALA. Possibly, when the fruit is so near the hand, it is cowardly and foolish to go away without plucking it. KALINGA. It is better to join the King of Kanchi. He cannot be without a definite plan and purpose when he is doing and daring so much. _ |
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