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Act II
Scene. — Park of the King’s palace in Pratisthana. — In the background the wings of a great building, near it the gates of the park, near the bounds of the park an arbour and a small artificial hill to the side. Manavaka enters.
MANAVAKA Houp! Houp! I feel like a Brahmin who has had an invitation to dinner; he thinks dinner, talks dinner, looks dinner, his very sneeze has the music of the dinner-bell in it. I am simply bursting with the King’s secret. I shall never manage to hold my tongue in that crowd. Solitude’s my only safety. So until my friend gets up from the session of affairs, I will wait for him in this precinct of the House of Terraces. Nipunika enters.
NIPUNIKA I am bidden by my lady the King’s daughter of Kashi, “Nipunika, since my lord came back from doing homage to the Sun, he has had no heart for anything. So just go and learn from his dear friend, the noble Manavaka, what is disturbing his mind.” Well and good! but how shall I overreach that rogue, — a Brahmin he calls himself, with the murrain to him! But there! thank Heaven, he can’t keep a secret long; ’tis like a dewdrop on a rare blade of grass. Well, I must hunt him out. O! there stands the noble Manavaka, silent and sad like a monkey in a picture. I will accost him. (approaching) Salutation to the noble Manavaka!
MANAVAKA Blessing to your ladyship! (aside) Ugh, the very sight of this little
Page – 140 rogue of a tiring-woman makes the secret jump at my throat. I shall burst! I shall split! Nipunika, why have you left the singing lesson and where are you off to?
NIPUNIKA To see my lord the King, by my lady’s orders.
MANAVAKA What are her orders?
NIPUNIKA Noble sir, this is the Queen’s message. “My lord has always been kind and indulgent to me, so that I have become a stranger to grief. He never before disregarded my sorrow" —
MANAVAKA How? how? has my friend offended her in any way?
NIPUNIKA Offended? Why, he addressed my lady by the name of a girl for whom he is pining.
MANAVAKA (aside) What, he has let out his own secret? Then why am I agonizing here in vain? (aloud) He called her Urvasie?
NIPUNIKA Yes. Noble Manavaka, who is that Urvasie?
MANAVAKA Urvasie is the name of a certain Apsara. The sight of her has sent the King mad. He is not only tormenting the life out of my lady, but out of me too with his aversion to everything but moaning.
NIPUNIKA (aside) So! I have stormed the citadel of my master’s secret. (aloud) What am I to say to the Queen?
Page – 141 MANAVAKA Nipunika, tell my lady with my humble regards that I am endeavouring my best to divert my friend from this mirage and I will not see her ladyship till it is done.
NIPUNIKA As your honour commands. She goes. BARDS (within) Victory, victory to the King! The Sun in Heaven for ever labours; wide His beams dispel the darkness to the verge Of all this brilliant world. The King too toils, Rescuing from night and misery and crime His people. Equal power to these is given And labour, the King on earth, the Sun in Heaven.
The brilliant Sun in Heaven rests not from toil; Only at high noon in the middle cusp And azure vault the great wheels slacken speed A moment, then resume their way; thou too In the mid-moment of daylight lay down Thy care, put by the burden of a crown.
MANAVAKA Here’s my dear friend risen from the session. I will join him. He goes out, then re-enters with Pururavas.
PURURAVAS (sighing) No sooner seen than in my heart she leaped. O easy entrance! since the bannered Love With his unerring shaft had made the breach Where she came burning in.
Page – 142 MANAVAKA (aside) Alas the poor King’s daughter of Kashi!
PURURAVAS (looking steadfastly at him) Hast thou kept thy trust, — My secret?
MANAVAKA (depressed) Ah! that daughter of a slave Has overreached me. Else he would not ask In just that manner.
PURURAVAS (alarmed) What now? Silence?
MANAVAKA Why, sir, It’s this, I’ve padlocked so my tongue that even To you I could not give a sudden answer.
PURURAVAS ‘Tis well. O how shall I beguile desire?
MANAVAKA Let’s to the kitchen.
PURURAVAS Why, what’s there?
MANAVAKA What’s there? The question! From all quarters gathered in Succulent sweets and fivefold eatableness, Music from saucepan and from frying-pan, The beauty of dinner getting ready. There’s A sweet beguiler to your emptiness!
Page – 143 PURURAVAS (smiling) For you whose heart is in your stomach. I Am not so readily eased who fixed my soul Upon what I shall hardly win.
MANAVAKA Not win? Why, tell me, came you not within her sight?
PURURAVAS What comfort is in that?
MANAVAKA When she has seen you, How is she hard to win?
PURURAVAS O your affection Utters mere partiality.
MANAVAKA You make me Desperate to see her. Why, sir, she must be A nonpareil of grace. Like me perhaps?
PURURAVAS Who could with words describe each perfect limb Of that celestial whole? Take her in brief, O friend, for she is ornament’s ornament, And jewels cannot make her beautiful. They from her body get their grace. And when You search the universe for similes, Her greater beauty drives you to express Fair things by her, not her by lesser fairness: So she’s perfection’s model.
Page – 144 MANAVAKA No wonder then, With such a shower of beauty, that you play The rain-bird open-mouthed to let drops glide Graciously down his own particular gullet. But whither now?
PURURAVAS When love grows large with yearning, He has no sanctuary but solitude. I pray you, go before me to the park.
MANAVAKA (aside) Oh God, my dinner! There’s no help. (aloud) This way. Lo, here the park’s green limit. See, my lord, How this fair garden sends his wooing breeze To meet his royal guest.
PURURAVAS O epithet Most apt. Indeed this zephyr in fond arms Impregnating with honey spring-creeper And flattering with his kiss the white May-bloom, Seems to me like a lover girl-divided Between affection smooth and eager passion.
MANAVAKA May like division bless your yearning, sir. We reach the garden’s gate. Enter, my lord.
PURURAVAS Enter thou first. O! I was blindly sanguine, By refuge in this flowery solitude Who thought to heal my pain. As well might swimmer Hurled onward in a river’s violent hands Oppose that roaring tide, as I make speed Hither for my relief.
Page – 145 MANAVAKA And wherefore so?
PURURAVAS Was passion not enough to torture me, Still racking the resistless mind with thoughts Of unattainable delight? But I Must add the mango-trees’ soft opening buds, And hurt myself with pallid drifting leaves, And with the busy zephyr wound my soul.
MANAVAKA Be not so full of grief. For Love himself Will help you soon to your extreme desire.
PURURAVAS I seize upon thy word, — the Brahmin’s speech That never can be false!
MANAVAKA See what a floral Green loveliness expresses the descent And rosy incarnation of the spring. Do you not find it lovely?
PURURAVAS Friend, I do. I study it tree by tree and leaf by leaf. This courbouc’s like a woman’s rosy nail, But darkens to the edge; heavy with crimson, Yon red asoka breaking out of bud Seems all on fire; and here the cary mounting Slight dust of pollen on his stamen-ends Clusters with young sweet bloom. Methinks I see The infant honeyed soul of spring, half-woman, Grow warm with bud of youth.
Page – 146 MANAVAKA This arbour, green, With blossoms loosened by the shock of bees Upon a slab of costly stone prepares With its own hands your cushioned honours. Take The courtesy.
PURURAVAS As you will.
MANAVAKA Here sit at ease. The sensitive beauty of the creepers lax Shall glide into your soul and gently steal The thought of Urvasie.
PURURAVAS O no, mine eyes Are spoilt by being indulged in her sweet looks, And petulantly they reject all feebler Enchantings, even the lovely embowering bloom Of these grace-haunted creepers bending down To draw me with their hands. I am sick for her. Rather invent some way to my desire.
MANAVAKA Oh rare! when Indra for Ahalya pined A cheapjack was his counsellor; you as lucky Have me for your ally. Mad all! mad all!
PURURAVAS Not so! affection edging native wit, Some help it’s sure to find for one it loves.
MANAVAKA Good, I will cogitate. Disturb me not With your love-moanings.
Page – 147 PURURAVAS (his right arm throbbing; aside) Her face of perfect moonlight Is all too heavenly for my lips. How canst thou then Throb expectation in my arm, O Love? Yet all my heart is suddenly grown glad As if it had heard the feet of my desire. He waits hopefully. There enter in the sky Urvasie and Chitralekha.
CHITRALEKHA Will you not even tell me where we go?
URVASIE Sister, when I upon the Peak of Gold Was stayed from Heaven by the creeper’s hands, You mocked me then. And have you now to ask Whither it is I go?
CHITRALEKHA To seek the side Of King Pururavas you journey then?
URVASIE Even so shameless is your sister’s mind.
CHITRALEKHA Whom did you send before, what messenger To him you love?
URVASIE My heart.
CHITRALEKHA O yet think well, Sister; do not be rash.
Page – 148 URVASIE
Love sends me, Love Compels me. How can I then think?
CHITRALEKHA To that I have no answer.
URVASIE
Then take me to him soon. Only let not our way be such as lies Within the let of hindrance.
CHITRALEKHA
Fear not that. Has not the great Preceptor of the Gods Taught us to wear the crest invincible? While that is bound, not any he shall dare Of all the Heaven-opposing faction stretch An arm of outrage.
URVASIE (abashed) Oh true! my heart forgot.
CHITRALEKHA Look, sister! For in Ganges’ gliding waves Holier by influx of blue Yamuna, The palace of the great Pururavas, Crowning the city with its domes, looks down As in a glass at its own mighty image.
URVASIE All Eden to an earthly spot is bound. But where is he who surely will commiserate A pining heart?
Page – 149 CHITRALEKHA
This park which seems one country With Heaven, let us question. See, the King Expects thee, like the pale new-risen moon Waiting for moonlight.
URVASIE How beautiful he is, — Fairer than when I saw him first!
CHITRALEKHA
‘Tis true. Come, we will go to him.
URVASIE I will not yet. Screened in with close invisibility, I will stand near him, learn what here he talks Sole with his friend.
CHITRALEKHA
You’ll do your will always.
MANAVAKA Courage! your difficult mistress may be caught, Two ways.
URVASIE (jealously) O who is she, that happy she, Being wooed by such a lover, preens herself And is proud?
CHITRALEKHA Why do you mock the ways of men And are a Goddess?
Page – 150 URVASIE I dare not, sweet, I fear To learn too suddenly my own misfortune, If I use heavenly eyes.
MANAVAKA Listen, you dreamer! Are you deaf? I tell you I have found a way:
PURURAVAS Speak on.
MANAVAKA Woo sleep that marries men with dreams, Or on a canvas paint in Urvasie And gaze on her for ever.
URVASIE (aside) O sinking coward heart, now, now revive.
PURURAVAS And either is impossible. For look! How can I, with this rankling wound of love, Call to me sleep who marries men with dreams? And if I paint the sweetness of her face, Will not the tears, before it is half done, Blurring my gaze with mist, blot the dear vision?
CHITRALEKHA Heardst thou?
URVASIE I have heard all. It was too little For my vast greed of love.
MANAVAKA Well, that’s my stock
Page – 151 Of counsel.
PURURAVAS (sighing) Oh me! she knows not my heart’s pain, Or knowing it, with those her heavenly eyes Scorns my poor passion. Only the arrowed Love Is gratified tormenting with her bosom My sad, unsatisfied and pale desire.
CHITRALEKHA Heardst thou, sister?
URVASIE He must not think so of me! I would make answer, sister, but to his face I have not hardihood. Suffer me then, To trust to faery birch-leaf mind-created My longing.
CHITRALEKHA It is well. Create and write. Urvasie writes in a passion of timidity and excitement, then throws the leaf between Pururavas and Manavaka.
MANAVAKA Murder! murder! I’m killed! I’m dead! help! help! (looking) What’s this? a serpent’s skin come down to eat me?
PURURAVAS (looks closely and laughs) No serpent’s slough, my friend, only a leaf Of birch-tree with a scroll of writing traced on it.
MANAVAKA Perhaps the invisible fair Urvasie Heard you complain and answers.
Page – 152 PURURAVAS To desire Nothing can seem impossible. He takes the leaf and reads it to himself, then with joy, O friend, How happy was your guess!
MANAVAKA I told you so. The Brahmin’s speech! Read, read! aloud, if it please you.
URVASIE (aside) The Brahmin has his own urbanity!
PURURAVAS Listen.
MANAVAKA I am all ears.
PURURAVAS (reading aloud) “My master and my King! Were I what thy heart thinks and knows me not, Scorning thy love, would then the soft-winged breeze Of deathless gardens and the unfading flowers That strew the beds of Paradise, to me Feel fire!”
URVASIE What will he say now?
CHITRALEKHA What each limb, That is a drooping lotus-stalk with love, Has said already.
Page – 153 MANAVAKA You’re consoled, I hope? Don’t tell me what you feel. I’ve felt the same When I’ve been hungry and one popped in on me With sweetmeats in a tray.
PURURAVAS Consoled! a word How weak! I con this speaking of my sweet, This dear small sentence full of beautiful meaning, This gospel of her answering love, and feel Her mouth upon my mouth and her soft eyes Swimming and large gaze down into my own, And touch my lifted lids with hers.
URVASIE O even Such sweetness feels thy lover.
PURURAVAS Friend, my finger Moistening might blot the lines. Do thou then hold This sweet handwriting of my love. He gives the leaf to Manavaka.
MANAVAKA But tell me. Why does your mistress, having brought to bloom Your young desire, deny its perfect fruit?
URVASIE O sister, my heart flutters at the thought Of going to my lord. While I cajole And strengthen the poor coward, show yourself, Go to him, tell him all that I may speak.
Page – 154 CHITRALEKHA I will. She becomes visible and approaches the King. Hail, lord our King.
PURURAVAS (joyfully) O welcome, welcome! He looks around for Urvasie. Yet, fair one, as the Yamuna not mixed With Ganges, to the eye that saw their beauty Of wedded waters, seems not all so fair, So thou without thy sister givest not That double delight.
CHITRALEKHA First is the cloud’s dim legion Seen in the heavens; afterwards comes the lightning.
MANAVAKA (aside) What! this is not the very Urvasie? Only the favourite sister of that miracle?
PURURAVAS Here sit down, fairest.
CHITRALEKHA Let me first discharge My duty. Urvasie by me bows down Her face thus to her monarch's feet, imploring —
PURURAVAS Rather commanding.
CHITRALEKHA She whom in Titan hands Afflicted thou didst pity, thou didst rescue, Now needs much more thy pity, not by hands
Page – 155 Titan, but crueller violence of love Oppressed, — the sight of thee her sudden cause.
PURURAVAS O Chitralekha, her thou tellst me of Passionate for me. Hast thou not eyes to know Pururavas in anguish for her sake? One prayer both pray to Kama, “Iron with iron Melts in fierce heat; why not my love with me?”
CHITRALEKHA (returning to Urvasie) Come, sister, to your lord. So much his need Surpasses yours, I am his ambassador.
URVASIE (becoming visible) How unexpectedly hast thou with ease Forsook me!
CHITRALEKHA (with a smile) In a moment I shall know Who forsakes whom, sister. But come away And give due greeting. Urvasie approaches the King fearfully and bows down, then low and bashfully,
URVASIE Conquest to the King!
PURURAVAS I conquer, love, indeed, when thy dear lips Give greeting to me, vouchsafed to no mortal But Indra only. He takes her by both hands and makes her sit down.
MANAVAKA I am a mighty Brahmin and the friend Of all earth’s lord. O’erlook me not entirely.
Page – 156 Urvasie smiles and bows to him. Peace follow you and keep you.
MESSENGER OF THE GODS (cries from within) Chitralekha, urge haste on Urvasie. This day the wardens of the ancient worlds And the great King of Heaven himself will witness That piece where all the passions live and move, Quickened to gracious gesture in the action Deposed in you by Bharat Sage, O sisters. All listen, Urvasie sorrowfully.
CHITRALEKHA Thou hearst the Messenger of Heaven? Take leave, Sweet, of the King.
URVASIE I cannot speak!
CHITRALEKHA My liege, My sister not being lady of herself Beseeches your indulgence. She would be Without a fault before the Gods.
PURURAVAS (articulating with difficulty) Alas! I must not wish to hinder you when Heaven Expects your service. Only do not forget Pururavas. Urvasie goes with her sister, still looking backwards towards the King. O she is gone! my eyes Have now no cause for sight: they are worthless balls Without an object.
Page – 157 MANAVAKA Why, not utterly. He is about to give the birch-leaf. There’s — Heavens! ’tis gone! it must have drifted down, While I, being all amazed with Urvasie, Noticed nothing.
PURURAVAS What is it thou wouldst say? There is — ?
MANAVAKA No need to droop your limbs and pine. Your Urvasie has to your breast been plucked With cords of passion, knots that will not slacken Strive as she may.
PURURAVAS My soul tells me like comfort. For as she went, not lady of her limbs To yield their sweets to me for ever, yet Her heart, which was her own, in one great sob From twixt two trembling breasts shaken with sighs Came panting out. I hear it throb within me.
MANAVAKA (aside) Well, my heart’s all a-twitter too. Each moment I think he is going to mention the damned birch-leaf.
PURURAVAS With what shall I persuade mine eyes to comfort? The letter!
MANAVAKA (searching) What! Hullo! It’s gone! Come now, It was no earthly leaf; it must have gone Flying behind the skirts of Urvasie.
Page – 158 PURURAVAS (bitterly, in vexation) Will you then never leave your idiot trick Of carelessness? Search for it.
MANAVAKA (getting up) Oh, well! well! It can’t be far. Why, here it is — or here — or here. While they search, the Queen enters, with her attendants and Nipunika.
AUSHINARIE Now, maiden, is’t true thou tellst me? Sawst thou really My lord and Manavaka approach the arbour?
NIPUNIKA I have not told my lady falsehood ever That she should doubt me.
AUSHINARIE
Well, I will lurk thick-screened With hanging creepers and surprise what he Disburdens from his heart in his security. So I shall know the truth.
NIPUNIKA (sulkily) Well, as you please. They advance.
AUSHINARIE (looking ahead) What’s yonder like a faded rag that lightly The southern wind guides towards us?
NIPUNIKA It is a birch-leaf. There’s writing on it; the letters, as it rolls, Half show their dinted outlines. Look, it has caught Just on your anklet’s spike. I’ll lift and read.
Page – 159 She disengages the leaf. AUSHINARIE Silently first peruse it; if ’tis nothing Unfit for me to know, then I will hear.
NIPUNIKA It is, oh, it must be that very scandal. Verses they seem and penned by Urvasie, And to my master. Manavaka’s neglect Has thrown it in our hands. Laughs.
AUSHINARIE
Tell me the purport.
NIPUNIKA I’ll read the whole. “My master and my King! Were I what thy heart thinks and knows me not, Scorning thy love, would then the soft-winged breeze Of deathless gardens and unfading flowers That strew the beds of Paradise, to me Feel fire!”
AUSHINARIE
So! by this dainty love-letter, He is enamoured then, and of the nymph.
NIPUNIKA It’s plain enough. They enter the arbour.
MANAVAKA What’s yonder to the wind Enslaved, that flutters on the park-side rockery?
Page – 160 PURURAVAS (rising) Wind of the south, thou darling of the Spring, Seize rather on the flowery pollen stored By months of fragrance, that gold dust of trees. With this thou mightest perfume all thy wings. How wilt thou profit, snatching from me, O wind, My darling’s dear handwriting, like a kiss All love? When thou didst woo thine Anjana, Surely thou knewest lovers’ dying hearts Are by a hundred little trifles kept, All slight as this!
NIPUNIKA See, mistress, see! A search In progress for the leaf.
AUSHINARIE
Be still.
MANAVAKA Alas! I was misled with but a peacock’s feather, Faded, a saffron splendour of decay.
PURURAVAS In every way I am undone.
AUSHINARIE (approaching suddenly) My lord, Be not so passionate; here is your dear letter.
PURURAVAS (confused) The Queen! O welcome!
MANAVAKA (aside) Ill come, if ’twere convenient To tell the truth.
Page – 161 PURURAVAS (aside) What shall I do now, friend, Or say?
MANAVAKA (aside) Much you will say! A thief red-handed Caught with his swag!
PURURAVAS (aside) Is this a time for jesting? (aloud) Madam, it was not this I sought but other, A record of state, a paper that I dropped.
AUSHINARIE Oh, you do well to hide your happiness.
MANAVAKA My lady, hurry on His Majesty’s dinner. When bile accumulates, dinner does the trick.
AUSHINARIE A noble consolation for his friend The Brahmin finds! Heardst thou, Nipunika?
MANAVAKA Why, madam, even a goblin is appeased By dinner.
PURURAVAS Fool! by force you’ld prove me guilty.
AUSHINARIE Not yours the guilt, my lord! I am in fault Who force my hated and unwelcome face Upon you. But I go. Nipunika, Attend me.
Page – 162 She is departing in wrath.
PURURAVAS (following her) Guilty I am. O pardon, pardon! O look on me more kindly. How can a slave Be innocent, when whom he should please is angry? He falls at her feet.
AUSHINARIE (aside) I am not so weak-minded as to value Such hollow penitence. And yet the terror Of that remorse I know that I shall feel If I spurn his kindness, frightens me — but no! She goes out with Nipunika and attendants.
MANAVAKA She has rushed off like a torrent full of wrath. Rise, rise! she’s gone.
PURURAVAS (rising) O she did right to spurn me. Most dulcet words of lovers, sweetest flatteries, When passion is not there, can find no entrance To woman’s heart; for she knows well the voice Of real love, but these are stones false-coloured Rejected by the jeweller’s practised eye.
MANAVAKA This is what you should wish! The eye affected Brooks not the flaming of a lamp too near.
PURURAVAS You much misjudge me. Though my heart’s gone out To Urvasie, affection deep I owe My Queen. But since she scorned my prostrate wooing, I will have patience till her heart repent.
Page – 163 MANAVAKA Oh, hang your patience! keep it for home consumption. Mine’s at an end. Have some faint mercy instead And save a poor starved Brahmin’s life. It’s time For bath and dinner! dinner!!
PURURAVAS (looking upward) ‘Tis noon. The tired And heated peacock sinks to chill delight Of water in the tree-encircling channel, The bee divides a crimson bud and creeps Into its womb; there merged and safe from fire, He’s lurking. The duck too leaves her blazing pool And shelters in cold lilies on the bank, And in yon summer-house weary of heat The parrot from his cage for water cries. They go.
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