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The forest near Dongurh.
Enter bearers with Comol Cumary in the palanquin.
2ND
BEARER
Courage, brothers, courage! We are almost out of the wood.
Enter Kodal, leaping down from a thicket in front.
KODAL
But it is too soon to hollo. Stop, you plain-frogs, or you shall
gutturalize your last croak.
2ND
BEARER
Put down the palanquin; we are taken. Great emperor of
Bheels, be merciful.
KODAL
Stand still, rogues. I must first haul the runaway Rajpootny
out of her dog-box.
As he approaches the palanquin, the bearer
strikes him down suddenly and throws his bows
and arrows down the hill-side.
2ND
BEARER
Quick! Let us be off while he’s stunned.
Enter Bappa and Coomood, followed by Bheels.
BAPPA
Your sister cannot overstep the pass,
Which is beset and ambushed. Ho, there, halt!
Put down the palanquin. Insensate fools,
Invite not death.
The Bheels crowd in and surround the bearers.
Is’t Kodal? is he hurt?
KODAL
(rising)
Only stunned, Bappa. The hillside was a trifle harder than
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my head. Plain-frog, thou didst that trick handsomely. Give
me thy paw, fellow.
BAPPA
Take these men prisoners and keep them safely.
Remove your men; and, Kodal, guard the road
Barring all rescue.
Exit Kodal and Bheels with the bearers.
Princess, take your sister
Out of the palanquin.
COOMOOD CUMARY
Comol, Comol.
Dear fugitive from fate’s arrest you’re taken.
Come out.
COMOL
CUMARY
How was it?
COOMOOD
CUMARY
I told him of your flight.
You’ll leave me all alone to wed a Bheel ?
You’ll break our compact ? I have dragged you back
To servitude.
COMOL
CUMARY
Nay, let me see my captor then.
For if you smile, my Coomood, I must be
Out of misfortune’s reach.
(leaving the palanquin)
Stand back, sweet. Come,
Where is this mountain thief who wars with Kings
And lays his hands on Edur’s princesses
As if his trunk were an immortal piece
And he unhangable ?
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BAPPA
(advancing)
I am the man,
Bappa, the outlaw.
COMOL CUMARY
This Bappa! this the Bheel?
They gaze at one another.
(smiling)
Why, Coomood, it was Krishna after all.
Monarch of caterans, I am Edur’s princess,
Comol Cumary. Why didst thou desire me ?
BAPPA
O who would not desire thee, glorious virgin?
Thou art the rose of Rajasthan and I
Will wear thee on my crest.
COMOL
CUMARY
‘Twas prophesied me.
But roses, King of thieves, have thorns, and see!
I have a sword.
BAPPA
(smiling)
Thinkst thou that pretty toy
Will save thee from me ?
COMOL
CUMARY
It will do its best.
And if you take me still, ’tis at your peril.
I am a dangerous creature to possess.
BAPPA
I will embrace the peril as a bride
If in thy shape it dwell.
COMOL
CUMARY
I swear I pity you.
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You rush upon you know not what. Come now,
If ’tis a gentle serving-girl you need,
Here is my sister, Coomood, who can cook
Divinely. Take her. Let me walk on to Dongurh.
You will regret it, youth.
COOMOOD CUMARY
Believe her not,
‘Tis she’s a Droupadie; and who possesses her
Is fated to be Emperor of the West.
BAPPA
Nay, you are twin sweet roses on one stalk
And I will pluck you both, O flowers of Edur.
COMOL
CUMARY
Why did thy men beset me, mountaineer ?
What was thy hope ?
BAPPA
At first ’twas policy
And some desire of thy imperial ransom.
But now I’ve seen thee, I will hold thee fast.
Thou art not ransomable.
COMOL
CUMARY
You shall not have me, sir, till you have fought
And beaten me. You shall not get me cheaply.
I am a swashbuckler. Bheel, I can fight.
BAPPA
Marvel, thou mayst and with great ease be victor
If thou but use thy soft and shining eyes
To dazzle me out of all possibility
Of sound defence.
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COMOL CUMARY
Come, measure swords, on guard!
BAPPA
Thou
wilt persist then in this pretty folly ?
COMOL
CUMARY
Halt, halt! I will not fight except on terms.
You’ll yield yourself my prisoner, Bheel, and free
My maidens, when I’ve drubbed you handsomely ?
BAPPA
If when I’ve conquered, you will utterly
Surrender your sweet self into my arms,
Princess of Edur.
COMOL
CUMARY
Take me if you can.
BAPPA
Thus then I take you.
(disarms her)
Rose, where is thy thorn ?
Now thou must yield indeed.
COMOL
CUMARY
Foul play! foul play!
It was not fair to rob me of my sword.
Call you this fighting? I’ll not yield myself.
BAPPA
Thou hast no choice.
He seizes her.
COMOL
CUMARY
I was not fairly won.
Avaunt! this is mere highway robbery.
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I will not bear it.
BAPPA
Virgin, this is the moment
For which thy loveliness was born, alas.
COMOL
CUMARY
(faintly)
What will you do with me ?
BAPPA
I’ll carry thee,
A hungry lion, to my secret lair
Among the mighty hills, where none shall come
To save thee from me, O my glorious prey,
Bright antelope of Edur!
COOMOOD
CUMARY
Will you play
With the young lion, Comol, and chafe his mood ?
Now you are borne down by his heavy mane
And lie beneath his huge and tawny chest,
Trembling and silent.
BAPPA
Princess,—
COOMOOD
CUMARY
May I walk on
To Dongurh?
BAPPA
No, thou mayst not. Follow me.
Hold fast my arm, nor, princess, fear to hang
Thy whole sleight weight on me up these abrupt
And breathless places, for the high ascent
Is steep and rough to our uncouth abodes.
Descent’s for your small feet impossible,
Page – 775
Coomood, from your green prison on the heights.
There Spring shall wall you in with flowers and make
Her blossoming creepers chains for your bright limbs
Softly forbidding you, when you’ld escape.
COOMOOD CUMARY
Comol, tomorrow is the feast of May.
Exeunt.
Curtain
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