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Act II
The forest near Dongurh.
In the forest near Dongurh. Bappa, Sungram. The Captain and Rajpoot soldiers, guarded by Bheels.
BAPPA Ponder it, captain. Sungram, see the bearers Released, but let those cowards first be scourged Who put their lives above their lady’s honour. Give golden largess to the faithful four And send them with a script. Let Edur know That Bappa holds his cherished daughter fast And frees her not save for a lakh of mohurs, Her insufficient ransom. If it displease him, Let him come here with all his fighting-men And take her from my grip. Word it to wound him So that he shall come thundering up the hills Incensed inexorably. Exit Sungram. Soldier, again, ‘Tis not my wont to slay my prisoners, Who am a Rajpoot, and to pen you here Eating your hearts away like prisoned lions Were the world’s loss and to myself no profit. Take then your choice and either follow me Or to your Edur back return unharmed. Page – 885 CAPTAIN Thou art a noble enemy, young chieftain; But change thy boon; for I have lost my charge Ingloriously and now can only entreat The use of my own sword to avenge my honour On its betrayer. Living I go not back To Edur.
BAPPA Soldier, thou art too scrupulous. The wariest captain need not think it shame To be surprised among these mountains. If Edur Receive you not, follow my fortunes, Rajpoot. I am as noble as the prince you serve, And he who waits on Bappa’s fateful star, May be more fortunate than kings.
CAPTAIN Chieftain, Save my old master’s blood I serve no other Than noble Edur. (suddenly with excitement) What is that jewel, boy, Upon thy sword-hilt? Where hadst thou that weapon?
BAPPA What moves thee thus? It is my father’s sword, Though who my father was, Fate hides from me.
CAPTAIN (with emotion) I take thy offer, prince. I am thy soldier, And all these men shall live and die for thee.
A SOLDIER What dost thou, captain? Page – 886 CAPTAIN I have never swerved From the high path of Rajpoot honour. Trust me, Rajpoots.
SOLDIER Thou wast our chief in war and always We found thee valiant, proud and honourable. Convince us that we may transfer unshamed Our falchions only stained with foemen’s blood, And still we’ll follow thee.
C APTAINI will convince you At a fit season.
BAPPA Knowst thou something, soldier, That’s hid from me?
CAPTAIN Pardon my silence, chieftain. All things have their own time to come to light.
BAPPA I will expect my hour then and meanwhile Think myself twice as great as yesterday Whom your strong hands now serve. Come, friends, with me; Resume your swords for yet more glorious use In Bappa’s service. Exeunt. Page – 887
The road through the valley to Dongurh. Toraman, Canaca, Hooshka and Scythians.
T ORAMANI know not what impelled these mountain-boars To worry Death with their blunt tusks. This insult I will revenge in kind at first, then take A bloody reckoning.
CANACA Figh! it was a trick even beyond my wits. To put a servant-girl on the throne of Cashmere! All Asia would have been one grin had the jest prospered.
TORAMAN They take us for barbarians And thought such gross imposture good enough To puzzle Scythian brains. But I’ll so shame The witty clowns, they shall hang down their waggish heads While they are still allowed to live. You’ll wed A princess of the Rajpoots, Canaca?
CANACA I would prefer a haunch of Rajpoot venison any day; they have fat juicy stags in their mountains.
TORAMAN I give thee Edur’s daughter. While I ride With half my lances to our mountains, thou Shalt ruffle round as Scythian Toraman And wed the princess. Page – 888 CANACA Shall I indeed? Do you take me for a lettuce that you would have me sliced for a Rajpoot salad? Oh, I’ld love to be a prince if only to comfort myself with one full meal in a lifetime; but an empty plebeian paunch is a more comfortable possession than a princely belly full of Rajpoot lances.
TORAMAN Why should they at all Discover thee, dull fool? None know me here. The Rana and his men have not received me. No doubt the arrogant princeling scorned to eat As host and guest with me in Edur; even to dine With us is thought a soil! Therefore ’twas fixed In this rare plot that I should ride from Deesa On a fool’s errand. Well, it helps me now, Though I’ll avenge it fearfully. ‘Tis feasible. None know us, you are richer-robed than I, And what’s uncouth in you, they will put down To Scythia’s utter barbarousness, whose princes Are boors and boors unhuman. Oh, ’twill work.
CANACA Will it? Well, so long as I keep my belly unprodded, ’tis a jest after my own heart.
TORAMAN And mine. These haughty Rajpoots think themselves The only purity on earth; their girls So excellent in Aryan chastity, That without Rajpoot birth an emperor’s wooing Is held for insult. This they hoped to avenge By foisting a baseborn light serving-wench On the prince of all the North. How will they stare, How gnash their teeth and go stark-mad with shame When they discover their sweet cherished lily, The pride of Rajasthan, they thought too noble Page – 889 To lower herself to Cashmere’s lofty throne, Bedded with the court-jester of Cashmere, Soiled by the embraces of a low buffoon Who patters for a wage, her pride a jest, Her purity a puddle and herself The world’s sole laughing-stock.
CANACA Hem! ‘Twill be a jest for the centuries.
TORAMAN About it, then. Feign to laugh off the insult put on you And urge your suit. Bound by their trick that failed, They must, though with great sullenness, consent; And that’s desirable: the shame will taste A thousand times more bitter afterwards. Have her by force, if they are obstinate; But have her. Soon, be sure, I will be back With an avenging host and ring in Edur With loud assaults till I have crucified King, queen and princess on her smoking ruins. Exit with a number of Scythians. CANACA Well then, I am Prince Toraman of Cashmere; remember that, villains. Or why not Prince Toraman-Canaca or Prince Canaca-Toraman? it is rounder and more satisfying to the mouth. Yet simple Prince Toraman has a chastity of its own and all the magnificence of Cashmere marches after it. Ho, slave! What sounds are those approaching my majesty? Send scouts and reconnoitre. Prince Toraman, the imperial son of Cashmere! It is a part I shall play with credit; Nature made me for it of sufficient proportions and gave me a paunch imperial.
Page – 890 HOOSHKA (approaching) Prince Canaca-Toraman or Prince Toraman-Canaca or very simple Toraman, I hear tramp of men and the clang of armour. No doubt, the princess of Edur, thinking all safe by now, rides to Dongurh. Will you charge them and seize her?
CANACA To cover, thou incompetent captain, to cover. Hast thou learned war and knowest not the uses of ambush? We will hide, slave. See thou pokest not out that overlong nose of thine! Find thyself a branch big enough to cover it.
HOOSHKA Humph! What signal shall we expect from your Majesty for the charge?
CANACA Prate not to me of signals! How lacking are thy dull soldier-wits in contrivance! If I jump down into the road and howl, you will all come jumping and howling after me; but if I run, you will catch hold of my tail and run too like the very devil. Nay, I have a rare notion of tactics. To cover, to cover! They conceal themselves. Enter the Rao of Ichalgurh, Ruttan and Rajpoots. ICHALGURH She has escaped me, or the Scythian has her. The last were my dishonour.
RUTTAN We’ve held the road Since dawn. The Scythian had the serving-women. The princess has escaped.
ICHALGURH I’m glad of it. Page – 891 RUTTAN Will you pursue it farther?
ICHALGURH Ambition only Engaged me once to woo her; now my honour Is deeply pledged. The spur of chivalry Suffers me not to yield a Rajpoot flower To Scythian handling; nor could I refuse A challenge to adventurous emprise So fairly given. About, to Dongurh!
RUTTAN Brother, The place is strong, nor we equipped for sieges.
ICHALGURH I’ll have her out even from that fortressed keeping And set her in my crest at Ichalgurh For gods to gaze at. Canaca leaps down into the road brandishing a sword, followed by Hooshka and his Scythians. CANACA Ho Amitabha! Buddha for Cashmere!
ICHALGURH The Scythians on us! Swords!
CANACA Put up your skewers! Quiver not, ye wretches; steady, steady your quaking kneecaps. Though I have cause for anger, yet am I merciful. Ye would have robbed me of some very pretty property, but ye are mountain-thieves by nature and nurture and know no better. Therefore peace. Sleep in thy scabbard, thou dreadful servant of the wrath of Toraman; await a fitter subject than these carcasses. Courage, Rajpoots, you shall not die. Page – 892 ICHALGURH (smiling) Who is Your Mightiness?
CANACA I am the very formidable and valiant hero and Scythian, Toraman, prince of Cashmere. Nevertheless, tremble not. I am terrible to look at, but I have bowels; — ay, a whole paunchful of them.
ICHALGURH You sought the Princess? What, she has slipped through your most valiant fingers?
CANACA As if she had greased herself with butter. But I am going to Dongurh straight away to demand her and dinner.
ICHALGURH Together then. We’re comrades in her loss; Why not allies to win her?
CANACA Am I to be so easily bamboozled? wilt thou insult my cranium? Thou wouldst use my valiant and invincible sword to win her, thinking to steal her from me afterwards when I am not looking.
ICHALGURH Who would dare Defraud the formidable Toraman, The valiant and heroic Scythian?
CANACA Well! I am content; fall in behind me, mountaineers.
ICHALGURH Ruttan, we’ll keep an eye upon this Scythian. Page – 893 His show of braggart folly hides, I fear, A deal of knavishness.
CANACA Trumpets! To Dongurh! March! Exeunt. Page – 894
Bappa’s cot on the hillside. Bappa; the Captain; Coomood, decorating the cot with flowers.
B APPAWhere was she when you had the script from her?
CAPTAIN Singing of battle on the rocks alone With wrestling winds in her wild hair and raiment, A joyous Oread.
BAPPA Said she anything?
CAPTAIN She gave it me with glad and smiling eyes And laughed: “This for my noble Bheel, my sovereign Of caterans, my royal beast of prey. These to their mighty owners.”
COOMOOD Will you read it?
BAPPA (reads) “Cateran, I have given thy captain letters which when thou hast read them, fail not to despatch. I have sent for teachers for thee to beat thee into modesty and lesson thee in better behaviour to a lady and princess. — “
What letters has she given thee, captain? These? Page – 895 CAPTAIN To Pratap, Rao of Ichalgurh; — and one To Toraman the Scythian.
BAPPA Deliver them. Thou’lt find at Dongurh both these warlike princes. No, I’ll not read them. Exit Captain. COOMOOD Let me hear the rest.
BAPPA “Cateran, I will show thee the sum of thy bold and flagitious offences, though I dare not to hope that it will make thee ashamed. Thou hast laid injurious hands on a royal maiden, being thyself a mere Bheel and outlaw and of no parentage; thou hast carried me most violently to this thy inconsiderable and incommodious hut, treating the body of a princess as if it were a sack of potatoes; thou hast unmercifully and feloniously stripped my body with thy own rude Bheel hands of more ornaments than thou hast seen in thy lifetime and didst hurt me most cruelly in the deed, though thou vainly deniest it; thou hast compelled and dost yet compel me, the princess of Edur, by the infamous lack of women-servants in thy hut, to minister to thee, a common Bheel, menially with my own royal hands, so that my fingers are sore with scrubbing thy rusty sword which thou hast never used yet on anything braver than a hill-jackal, and my face is still red with leaning over the fire cooking thy most unroyal meals for thee; and to top these crimes, thou hast in thy robustious robber fashion taken a kiss from my lips without troubling thyself to ask for it, and thou yet keepest it with thee. All which are high misdoings and mortal offences; yet would I have pardoned them knowing thee to be no more than a boy and a savage. But now thou darest to tell me that I, a Rajpoot maiden, am in love with thee, a Bheel, and that even if I deny it, thou carest not; for I am
Page – 896 thine already whether I will or no, thy captive and thy slave-girl. This is not to be borne. So I have written to my noble suitors of Ichalgurh and Scythia to avenge me upon thy Bheel body; I doubt not, they will soon carry thy head to Edur in a basket, if thou hast the manners to permit them. Yet since thy followers call thee Smiter of the Forest and Lion of the Hills, let me see thee smite more than jackals and rend braver than flesh of mountain-deer. Cateran, when thou trundlest the Scythian down-hill like a ball, thou mayst marry me in spite of thy misdeeds, if thou darest; and when thou showest thyself a better man than the Chouhan of Ichalgurh, which is impossible, thou mayst even keep me for thy slave-girl and I will not deny thee. Meanwhile, thou shalt give me a respite till the seventh morn of the May. Till then presume not to touch me. Thy captive, Comol Cumary.”
Why, here’s a warlike and most hectoring letter, Coomood.
COOMOOD She pours her happy heart out so In fantasies; I never knew her half so wayward. The more her soul is snared between your hands, The more her lips will chide you.
BAPPA Can you tell Why she has set these doughty warriors on me, Coomood?
COOMOOD You cannot read a woman’s mind. It’s to herself a maze inextricable Of vagrant impulses with half-guessed tangles Of feeling her own secret thoughts are blind to.
BAPPA But yet? Page – 897 COOMOOD Her sudden eager headstrong passion Would justify its own extravagance By proving you unparalleled. Therefore she picks Earth’s brace of warriors out for your opponents.
BAPPA Pratap the Chouhan, Rao of Ichalgurh! To meet him merely were a lifetime’s boast; But to cross swords with him! Oh, she has looked Into my heart.
COOMOOD You’ll give her seven days?
BAPPA Not hours, — the dainty rebel! Great Ichalgurh Will wing here like an eagle; soon I’ll meet him And overthrow, who feel a giant’s strength, Coomood, since yesterday. My fate mounts sunward.
COOMOOD Ours, Bappa, has already arrived. Our sun Rose yesterday upon the way to Dongurh. Curtain Page – 898
Outside Dongurh. Ichalgurh, a letter in his hand; Ruttan, the Captain.
I CHALGURHWho art thou, soldier?
CAPTAIN The leader of the lances That guarded Edur’s princess and with her Were captived by the Bheels. Their chief I serve.
ICHALGURH Thou hast dishonoured then the Rajpoot name Deserting from thy lord to serve a ruffian Under the eyes of death, thou paltry trembler.
CAPTAIN My honour, Rao of Ichalgurh, is mine To answer for, and at a fitting time I will return thy insults on my sword-point. But now I am only a messenger.
ICHALGURH I’ll read The princess’ writing. (reads) “Baron of Ichalgurh, My mother’s clansman, warrior, noble Rajpoot, Thrice over therefore bound to help the weak And save the oppressed! A maiden overpowered, Comol Cumary, Edur’s princess, sues For thy heroic arm of rescue, prince, To the Bheel outlaws made a prey, unsought Page – 899 By her own kin; whom if thou save, I am A princess and thy handmaid, else a captive Only and Bappa’s slave-girl." Go! my war-cry Echoing among the hills shall answer straightway This piteous letter. Ruttan, swift! Arm! arm! I will not vent my wrath in braggart words But till it leap into my sword, I suffer.
RUTTAN You shall not wait for long. Exit. CAPTAIN I have a letter To Toraman the Scythian.
ICHALGURH Give it to him, For this is he. Enter Canaca, Hooshka and Scythians. CANACA It will not fill. This paltry barren Rajpootana has not the where-withal to choke up the gulf within me. Ha! avaunt! Dost thou flutter paper before me? I have no creditors in Rajpootana.
CAPTAIN I understand thee not. This is a script Comol Cumary sends thee, Edur’s princess.
CANACA Is it so? Well then, thou mayst kneel and lay it at my feet; I will deign to read it. (The Captain flings it into his hands.) What, thou dirty varlet! (The Captain lays his hand on his sword.) Nay, it is a game? Oh, I can catch, I can catch.
Exit Captain. Page – 900 (reads) “Prince Toraman, they say thou desirest me and camest from Cashmere as far as Edur for my sake. Thou must come a little farther, prince! Bappa, the outlaw, has been beforehand with thee and holds me in durance among the hills. Prince, if thou yet desirest this little beauty one poor body can hold, come up hither and fight for its possession which otherwise I must in seven days perforce yield to my captor. From whom if thou canst rescue me, — but I will not drive bargains with thee, trusting rather to thy knightly princeliness to succour a distressed maiden for no hope of reward. Comol Cumary.” No, no, no; there is too much butter about thee. No hope of reward! What! I shall fight like an enraged rhinoceros, I shall startle the hills by my valour, I shall stick three thousand Bheels with my own princely hand like so many boar-pigs; and all this violent morning exercise for what? To improve my appetite? I have more gastric juice than my guts can accommodate. They roar to me already for a haunch of venison.
HOOSHKA Prince Toraman, shall I give the order for the hills?
CANACA Ay, Hooshka Long-nose, hast thou news of venison, good fellow?
HOOSHKA I meant, to rescue the Princess Comol Cumary from the Bheels.
CANACA Didst thou mean so? Nay, I will not hinder thy excellent intentions. But bring some venison with thee as thou comest along with her, Hooshka.
HOOSHKA Prince of Cashmere, lead us to the hills and tear her from the grip of the outlaws. As a prince and a soldier thou canst do no less.
Page – 901 CANACA Thou liest through thy long nose! I can do much less than that. I will not suffer thee to put limits to my infinite ability. And I can tell a decoy- duck from a live gander. Shall I waddle my shins into Bappa’s trap? This letter was written under compulsion.
HOOSHKA The Princess must be rescued. I wonder, Prince Toraman, that thou wilt jest over a thing so grave and unhappy.
CANACA Why, genius will out, you cannot stable it for long, Hooshka; it will break bounds and gallop. Yet go, Hooshka, go; take all my men, Hooshka. Hooshka, slay the Bheel; rescue the lady, Hooshka. I wish I could go with thee and swing my dreadful blade with my mighty arm till the mountains re-echoed. But the simple truth is, I have a bleeding dysentery. Willingly would I shed my princely blood for my sweet lady, but it is shedding itself already otherwise.
HOOSHKA (aside) Thou fat-gutted cowardly rogue, wilt thou blacken the name of a hero with thy antics? Out at once, or the Rajpoots shall know who thou art and carve thee into little strips for a dog’s dinner.
CANACA Sayst thou, my little captain? Thy arguments are strangely conclusive. Arms! arms! my horse! my horse! Out, Scythians, to the hills! My horse, I say! I will do deeds; I will paint the hills in blood and tattoo the valleys. (Enter Scythians.) Amitabha! Amitabha! Yell, you rogues, have you no lungs in your big greasy carcasses? With what will you fight then?
SCYTHIANS Amitabha! Enter Ruttan and Rajpoots. Page – 902 RUTTAN Rajpoots, to save a noble lady captived We march today. No gallant open enemy, But savages who lurk behind the rocks Are our opposers. Sweep them from the hills, Rajpoots, with the mere flashing of your swords And rescue from their villain touch a princess. Exeunt Ichalgurh, Ruttan and Rajpoots. CANACA March, Scythians! (aside) Hooshka, what say you? We will keep behind these mad-dog Rajpoots and fight valiantly in their shadow. That is but strategy.
HOOSHKA (aside) If thou dost, I will kick thee into the enemy’s midst with my jackboots.
CANACA (aside) Wilt thou muddy such a fine coat as this is? Hast thou the heart? (aloud) Trumpets! Into the breach, into the breach, my soldiers! Exeunt. Page – 903
In the forest. Ichalgurh, Ruttan and Rajpoots.
O UTSIDEBappa! Bappa! Ho, Sheva Ekling! An arrow descends and a Rajpoot falls. R UTTANStill upwards!
ICHALGURH Upwards still! Death on the height Sits crowned to meet us; downwards is to dishonour And that’s no Rajpoot movement. Brother Ruttan, We’re strangled with a noose intangible. O my brave Rajpoots, by my headlong folly Led to an evil death!
RUTTAN What is this weakness, Chouhan of famous Ichalgurh? Remember Thyself, my brother. But a little more And we have reached their wasps’-nest on the hills.
ICHALGURH Not one alive. Another arrow. A Rajpoot falls. RUTTAN I ask no better fate, Brother, than at thy side however slain,
Page – 904 Victorious or defeated.
ICHALGURH We have acted Like heedless children, thinking we had to stamp Our armoured heel on a mere swarm and rabble, But find ourselves at grips with skilful fighters And a great brain of war. Safe under cover They pick us off; we battle blindly forwards Without objective, smiting at the wind, Stumbling as in a nightmare and transfixed Ignobly by a foe invisible Our falchions cannot reach, — like crows, like jackals, Not like brave men and battle-famous warriors.
RUTTAN Still on!
ICHALGURH Yes, on, till the last man falls pierced Upon the threshold that immures the sweetness We could not save. Forward the Chouhan! Enter Kodal. KODAL Halt! A parley!
I CHALGURHSpeak, but talk not of surrender.
KODAL ‘Tis that I’ll talk of. I am Bappa’s mouthpiece. Rajpoots, you’re quite surrounded. If we choose, Our arrows buzzing through your brains can end you In five swift minutes. Lay then at Bappa’s feet Your humble heads; else like mad dogs be skewered
Page – 905 And yelp your lives out.
ICHALGURH Return unpunished; the name Of envoy guards thy barbarous insolence. Enter Sungram. SUNGRAM You speak too insolently your message, Kodal. Chouhan of Ichalgurh, thou art too great To die thus butchered. We demand a parley For courteous equal terms, not base surrender.
ICHALGURH Thou art a Rajpoot; dost thou lead these arrows?
SUNGRAM I lead the shafts that wear thee out; another Surrounds the Scythian; but we are the hands Of one more godlike brain.
ICHALGURH With him I’ll parley.
SUNGRAM ‘Tis well. Go, Kodal, learn our chieftain’s will. Exit Kodal. ICHALGURH Young man, thou hast a Rajpoot form and bearing, Yet herdst with the wild forest tribes, remote From arms and culture. Dost thou hide thy name too?
SUNGRAM I am a Chouhan like thyself, of birth As princely. Ask the warriors of Ajmere Who valiant Martund was; his sons are we,
Page – 906 Sungram and Prithuraj.
ICHALGURH O youth, thy father Was my great pattern and my guide in war. Brother and enemy, embrace me. They embrace. Sungram, Who is thy captain? For the sons of Martund Serve not a Bheel.
SUNGRAM Thine eyes shall answer thee. Enter Bappa and Kodal. ICHALGURH A noble-featured youth! What son of Kings Lives secret in these rugged hills?
BAPPA Chouhan Of famous Ichalgurh, now if I’m slain In battle, I can tell the dead I’ve seen thee, Thou god of war. O let there be no hatred, Hero, between us, but only faith.
ICHALGURH Young chieftain, Thou bearst a godlike semblance, but thy deeds Are less than noble. Hast thou not seized a princess By robber violence, forced her with thee To thy rude lair and threatenest her sweet body With shameful mastery?
BAPPA We are warriors, Rajpoot; Two ways of mating only fit for us,
Page – 907 By mutual sweet attraction undenied To grow to oneness as they do in heaven, Or else with lion leap to seize our bride And pluck her from the strong protecting spears Taking her heart by violence. We mate not Like castes unwarlike, from a father’s hand Drawing an innocent wide-eyed wondering child Like cattle given or sold. This was the way Of Rajpoots long before the earth grew aged; And shall a Rajpoot blame it? Wherefore then rod’st thou Clanging last morn from Ichalgurh in arms, Pratap the Chouhan?
ICHALGURH Chieftain, I am pledged To save the girl from thee.
BAPPA But canst redeem The vow with thy dead body only. Hero, I too am sworn to keep her ‘gainst the world. Let us in the high knightly way decide it. Deign to cross swords with me and let the victor Possess the maiden.
ICHALGURH O thou springing stem That surely yet wilt rise to meet the sun! Agreed. Let no man intervene betwixt us.
BAPPA Kodal, restrain thy Bheels. Exit Kodal. They fight. RUTTAN Bold is thy chieftain To match his boyish arm against my brother!
Page – 908 SUNGRAM He is a mighty warrior, but not age Nor bulk can measure strength; the exultant spirit Pressing towards glory gives the arm a force Mightier than physical. He’s down. Ichalgurh falls wounded. RUTTAN Great Ichalgurh! Who is this godlike combatant?
BAPPA Surrender My princess, Chouhan.
ICHALGURH Thou hast her who deserv’st Much more than her. He rises. Young hero who in thy first battle o’erbearst Maturer victors! know Pratap the Chouhan Unalterably thy friend. When thou shalt ask My sword, ’tis thine.
BAPPA Thou’rt wounded?
ICHALGURH (binding his wound) I have been worse And ridden far to meet the foe. Another day We’ll share one rocky pillow on the hills And talk of battles.
BAPPA Pratap, I could but offer A rude and hillside hospitality. But when I hold my court in mighty Edur
Page – 909 I will absolve this morning’s debt. Enter Captain. ICHALGURH Farewell.
BAPPA Escort him, friend. Exeunt Sungram, Ichalgurh, Ruttan and Rajpoots. How speeds the battle, comrade, There with the Scythians?
CAPTAIN It is finished, prince. They fell in slaughtered heaps.
BAPPA Prince Toraman?
CAPTAIN Lay flat and bellowed. We’ld have taken him, But Prithuraj, mad for the joy of battle, Leaped on their foremost; while he hewed them down, Like an untiring woodman, one giant Scythian Crashing through bush and boulder hurled himself Out of thy net; with him a loyal handful Carried this Toraman. Enter Prithuraj. PRITHURAJ Pardon my error, Bappa.
BAPPA It was a noble fault, my soldier. We have done all we hoped. The amorous Scythian Will not return in haste mid our green hills
Page – 910 To woo a Rajpoot maiden. Let us go. I wonder when great Edur moves upon us. I long to hear his war assail our mountains. Exeunt. Page – 911
Outside Bappa’s cot. Comol Cumary alone.
COMOL Have I too dangerously ventured my all Daring a blast so rude? The Scythian roar Appals no more the forest, nor the war-cry Of Ichalgurh climbs mightily the hills; The outlaws’ fierce triumphant shout is stilled Of their young war-god’s name. Who has won? who fallen? Enter Bappa. COMOL (coming eagerly to him) How went the fight? You’re safe! And Ichalgurh?
BAPPA Give me your hands; I’ll tell you.
COMOL I see your head’s Not in the basket. He takes her hands and draws her towards him. Cateran, I forbade you To touch me till the seventh day.
BAPPA I touch What is my own. To bid or to forbid Is mine upon this hillside where I’m sovereign. Sit down by me. Page – 912 COMOL I will not be commanded. She sits down at his feet. BAPPA Oh, you are right, love. At my feet’s more fitting Who am your master and monarch. Come, no rising. Stay there, where I can watch your antelope eyes Look up at me bright with all love’s own sunshine.
COMOL Oh, you provoke me. You’ve not met the Chouhan, Or you’ld have been much chastened.
BAPPA I have met him. COMOL Great Ichalgurh?
BAPPA We soon o’ercame the Scythians. Your lover, Comol, the great Toraman, Was borne, a mass of terror-stricken flesh, By faithful fugitives headlong down the hillside.
COMOL You need not triumph. These were only Scythians. But what of Ichalgurh?
BAPPA We fought. I conquered.
COMOL Thou? thou? It is impossible.
Page – 913 BAPPA But done.
COMOL Why, you’re a boy, a child! O my bright lion, You are a splendid and a royal beast, But very youthful. This was the maned monarch Whose roar shook all the forest when he leaped Upon his opposite. Then the great tusker Went down beneath his huge and tawny front As if it were an antelope. Him you’ve conquered?
BAPPA He fell and yielded.
COMOL You have learned romance From the wild hill-tops and the stars at night And take your visions for the fact.
BAPPA Arch-infidel! Ask Sungram.
COMOL Then I understand. You won As in your duel with me, quite unfairly. You used your sleight of hand?
BAPPA Perhaps, my princess, His foot slipped and he fell; ’twas my good fortune, Not I that conquered him.
COMOL Indeed it was Your high resistless fortune. O my king,
Page – 914 My hero, thou hast o’erborne great Ichalgurh; Then who can stand against thee? Thou shalt conquer More than my heart. (Bappa takes her into his arms) What dost thou, Bheel? Forbear! I did but jest.
BAPPA Do you recall your letter, Comol? I have outdone the Chouhan, girl.
COMOL Bheel, I wrote nothing, nothing.
BAPPA I’ll keep you now For my sweet slave-girl, princess? You will not Deny me?
COMOL ‘Twas not my hand. Your Coomood forged it. I’ll not admit it.
BAPPA Rebel against your heart! You’re trapped in your own springe. My antelope! (kisses her) I’ve brought you to my lair; shall I not prey on you? Kiss me.
COMOL I will not. (kisses him) O not now! O give me The memory of this May to keep with me Till death and afterwards, a dream of greenness With visions of the white and vermeil spring,
Page – 915 A prelude set to winds and waterfalls Among the mountains of immortal Dongurh Far from the earth, in a delightful freedom Treading the hill-tops, all the joy of life In front of me to dream of its perfection, Bappa.
BAPPA When you entreat, who shall refuse you, O lips of honey?
COMOL Till the seventh morning, Bappa.
BAPPA Only till then.
COMOL That is a promise. (escaping from him) Which, having won, I do deny, unsay, Wholly recant and absolutely abjure Whatever flattery I have said or done To win it. You are still my Bheel and brigand, My lawless cateran; I great Edur’s princess. I love you! Do not dream of it. Six days! By then my father’ll smoke you from your lair, And take me from your dreadful claws, my lion, An antelope undevoured.
BAPPA Have you yet thought Of the dire punishments you’ll taste for this, Deceiver? Page – 916 COMOL Not till the seventh morning, lion. Exit. BAPPA Till then, my antelope, range my hills and make them An Eden for me with thy wondrous beauty Moving in grace and freedom of the winds, Sweetness of the green woodlands; for of these Thou seemst a part and they thy natural country. Exit. Page – 917 |