(_The door opens, the King appears._)
Oh who is that,--lying on the floor,--is it not Rañjan himself?
_King_
What did you say? Rañjan! How can that possibly be?
_Nandini_
Yes, this is indeed my Rañjan.
_King_
Then why did he not give his name? Why did he fling me his challenge?
_Nandini_
Wake, Rañjan, it is I, your Red Oleander! King, why does he not wake?
_King_
Deceived! These traitors have deceived me,--perdition take them!
My own machine refuses my sway! Call the Governor--bring him to me
handcuffed----
_Nandini_
King, they all say you know magic. Make him wake up for my sake.
_King_
My magic can only put an end to waking.--Alas! I know not how to
awaken.
_Nandini_
Then lull me to sleep,--the same sleep! Oh, why did you work this
havoc? I cannot bear it any more.
_King_
I have killed youth. Yes, I have indeed killed youth,--all these
years, with all my strength. The curse of youth, dead, is upon me.
_Nandini_
Did he not take my name?
_King_
He did,--in such a way that every vein in my body was set on fire.
_Nandini_ (_to Rañjan_)
My love, my brave one, here do I place this blue-throat’s feather in
your crest. Your victory has begun from to-day, and I am its bearer.
Ah, here is that tassel of my flowers in his hand. Then Kishôr must
have met him----
But where is he? King, where is that boy?
_King_
Which boy?
_Nandini_
The boy who brought these flowers to Rañjan.
_King_
That absurd little child! He came to defy me with his girlish face.
_Nandini_
And then? Tell me! Quick!
_King_
He burst himself against me, like a bubble.
_Nandini_
King, the Time is indeed now come!
_King_
Time for what?
_Nandini_
For the last fight between you and me.
_King_
But I can kill you in no time,--this instant.
_Nandini_
From that very instant that death of mine will go on killing you
every single moment.
_King_
Be brave, Nandini, trust me. Make me your comrade to-day.
_Nandini_
What would you have me do?
_King_
To fight against me, but with your hand in mine. That fight has
already begun. There is my flag. First I break the Flagstaff,--thus!
Next it’s for you to tear its banner. Let your hand unite with mine
to kill me, utterly kill me. That will be my emancipation.
_Guards_ (_rushing up_)
What are you doing, King? You dare break the Flagstaff, the holiest
symbol of our divinity? The Flagstaff which has its one point
piercing the heart of the earth and the other that of heaven! What a
terrible sin,--on the very day of the Flag-worship! Comrades, let us
go and inform our Governors.
[_They run off._
_King_
A great deal of breaking remains to be done. You will come with me,
Nandini?
_Nandini_