Scene 9

IX

[The KING OF KANYA KUBJA, father of SUDARSHANA, and his MINISTER]

KING OF KANYA KUBJA. I heard everything before her arrival.

MINISTER. The princess is waiting alone outside the city gates
on the bank of the river. Shall I send people to welcome her
home?

KING OF KANYA KUBJA. What! She who has faithlessly left her
husband--do you propose trumpeting her infamy and shame to every
one by getting up a show for her?

MINISTER. Shall I then make arrangements for her residence at
the palace?

KING OF KANYA KUBJA. You will do nothing of the sort. She has
left her place as the Empress of her own accord--here she will
have to work as a maid-servant if she wants to stay in my house.

MINISTER. It will be hard and bitter to her, Your Highness.

KING OF KANYA KUBJA. If I seek to save her from her sufferings,
then I am not worthy to be her father.

MINISTER. I shall arrange everything as you wish, Your Highness.

KING OF KANYA KUBJA. Let it be kept a secret that she is my
daughter; otherwise we shall all be in an awful trouble.

MINISTER. Why do you fear such disaster, Your Highness?

KING OF KANYA KUBJA. When woman swerves from the right path,
then she appears fraught with the direst calamity. You do not
know with what deadly fear this daughter of mine has inspired
me--she is coming to my home laden with peril and danger.