Scene 19 - Page 2

would
start with a sudden thrill: it is the same, the same touch again!
Who says that he is not here?--Surangama, can you not see that he
has come, in silence and secret? ... Who is that there? Look,
Surangama, there is a third traveller of this dark road at this
hour of the night.

SURANGAMA. I see, it is the King of Kanchi, my Queen.

SUDARSHANA. King of Kanchi!

SURANGAMA. Don't be afraid, my Queen!

SUDARSHANA. Afraid! Why should I be afraid? The days of fear
are gone for ever for me.

KANCHI. [entering] Queen-mother, I see you two on this road! I
am a traveller of the same path as yourself. Have no fear of me,
O Queen!

SUDARSHANA. It is well, King of Kanchi, that we should be going
together, side by side--this is but right. I came on your way
when I first left my home, and now I meet you again on my way
back. Who could have dreamed that this meeting of ours would
augur so well?

KANCHI. But, Queen-mother, it is not meet that you should walk
over this road on foot. Will you permit me to get a chariot for
you?

SUDARSHANA. Oh, do not say so: I shall never be happy if I could
not on my way back home tread on the dust of the road that led me
away from my King. I would be deceiving myself if I were now to
go in a chariot.

SURANGAMA. King, you too are walking in the dust to-day: this
road has never known anybody driving his horse or chariot over
it.

SUDARSHANA. When I was the Queen, I stepped over silver and
gold--I shall have now to atone for the evil fortune of my birth
by walking over dust and bare earth. I could not have dreamed
that thus I would meet my King of common earth and dust at every
step of mine to-day.

SURANGAMA. Look, my Queen, there on the eastern horizon comes
the dawn. We have not long to walk: I see the spires of the
golden turrets of the King's palace.

[Enter GRANDFATHER]

GRANDFATHER. My child, it is dawn--at last!

SUDARSHANA. Your benedictions have given me Godspeed, and here I
am, at last.

GRANDFATHER. But do you see how ill-mannered our King is? He
has sent no chariot, no music band, nothing splendid or grand.

SUDARSHANA. Nothing grand, did you say? Look, the sky is rosy
and crimson from end to end, the air is full of the welcome of
the scent of flowers.

GRANDFATHER. Yes, but however cruel our King may be, we cannot
seek to emulate him: I cannot help feeling pain at seeing you in
this state, my child. How can we bear to see you going to the
King's palace attired in this poor and wretched attire? Wait a
little--I am running to fetch you your Queen's garments.

SUDARSHANA. Oh no, no, no! He has taken away those regal robes
from me for