[Turret of the Royal Palace. SUDARSHANA and her friend ROHINI]
SUDARSHANA. You may make mistakes, Rohini, but I cannot be
mistaken: am I not the Queen? That, of course, must be my King.
ROHINI. He who has conferred such high honour upon you cannot be
long in showing himself to you.
SUDARSHANA. His very form makes me restless like a caged bird.
Did you try well to ascertain who he is?
ROHINI. Yes, I did. Every one I asked said that he was the
King.
SUDARSHANA. What country is he the King of?
ROHINI. Our country, King of this land.
SUDARSHANA. Are you sure that you are speaking of him who has a
sunshade made of flowers held over his head?
ROHINI. The same: he whose flag has the <i>Kimshuk</i> flower
painted on it.
SUDARSHANA. I recognised him at once, of course, but it is you
who had your doubts.
ROHINI. We are apt to make mistakes, my Queen, and we are afraid
to offend you in case we are wrong.
SUDARSHANA. Would that Surangama were here! There would remain
no room for doubt then.
ROHINI. Do you think her cleverer than any of us?
SUDARSHANA. Oh no, but she would recognise him instantly.
ROHINI. I cannot believe that she would. She merely pretends to
know him. There is none to test her knowledge if she professes
to know the King. If we were as shameless as she is, it would
not have been difficult for us to boast about our acquaintance
with the King.
SUDARSHANA. But no, she never boasts.
ROHINI. It is pure affectation, the whole of it: which often
goes a longer way than open boasting. She is up to all manner of
tricks: that is why we could never like her.
SUDARSHANA. But whatever you may say, I should have liked to ask
her if she were here.
ROHINI. Very well, Queen. I shall bring her here. She must be
lucky if she is indispensable for the Queen to know the King.
SUDARSHANA. Oh no--it isn't for that--but I would like to hear
it said by every one.
ROHINI. Is not every one saying it? Why, just listen, the
acclamations of the people mount up even to this height!
SUDARSHANA. Then do one thing: put these flowers on a lotus
leaf, and take them to him.
ROHINI. And what am I to say if he asks who sends them?
SUDARSHANA. You will not have to say anything--he will know. He
thought that I would not be able to recognise him: I cannot let
him off without showing that I have found him out.
[ROHINI goes out with the flowers.]
SUDARSHANA. My heart is all a-quiver and restless to-night: I
have never felt like this before. The white, silver light of the
full moon is flooding the heavens and brimming over on every side
like the bubbling foam of wine, ... It seizes on me like a
yearning, like a mantling intoxication. Here, who is here?
[Enter a SERVANT]
SERVANT. What is your pleasure, your Majesty?
SUDARSHANA. Do you see those festive boys singing and moving
through the alleys and avenues of the mango trees? Call them
hither, bring them to me: I want to hear them sing. [SERVANT
goes out and enters with the boys.] Come, living emblems of
youthful spring, begin your festive song! All my mind and body
is song and music to-night--but the ineffable melody escapes my
tongue: do you then sing for my sake!