The King of the Dark Chamber: Scene 15

Scene 15

[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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