XIII

[KING OF KANCHI and SUVARNA]

SUVARNA. You say, then, that there will be no more necessity of

any fight amongst yourselves?

KANCHI. No, you need not be afraid. I have made all the princes

agree that he whom the Queen accepts as her husband will have

her, and the others will have to abandon all further struggle.

SUVARNA. But you must have done with me now, Your Highness--so I

beg to be let off now. Unfit as I am for anything, the fear of

impending danger has unnerved me and stunned my intellect. You

will therefore find it difficult to put me to any use.

KANCHI. You will have to sit there as my umbrella-holder.

SUVARNA. Your servant is ready for anything; but of what profit

will that be to you?

KANCHI. My man, I see that your weak intellect cannot go with a

high ambition in you. You have no notion yet with what favour

the Queen looked upon you. After all, she cannot possibly throw

the bridal garland on an umbrella-bearer's neck in a company of

princes, and yet, I know, she will not be able to turn her mind

away from you. So on all accounts this garland will fall under

the shade of my regal umbrella.

SUVARNA. Your Highness, you are entertaining dangerous

imaginings about me. I pray you, please do not implicate me in

the toils of such groundless notions. I beg Your Highness most

humbly, pray set me at liberty.

KANCHI. As soon as my object is attained, I shall not keep you

one moment from your liberty. Once the end is attained, it is

futile to burden oneself with the means.

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