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

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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?

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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.

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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!

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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?

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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?

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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?

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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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