Chapter 2Act I, Scene 1

Act I The Palace in Edur. The forests about Dongurh. Scene 1 The Palace in Edur. Rana Curran, Visaldeo. CURRAN He is at Deesa then? VISALDEO So he has written. CURRAN Send out a troop for escort, yielding him Such honours as his mighty birth demands. Let him be lodged for what he is, a Prince Among the mightiest. VISALDEO You have chosen then? You’ll give your daughter, King, to this Cashmerian? CURRAN My brother from Ajmere writes to forbid me, Because he’s Scythian, therefore barbarous. A Scythian! He is Cashmere’s mighty lord Who stretches out from those proud Himalayan hills His giant arms to embrace the North.

The Prince of Edur VISALDEO But still A Scythian. CURRAN Whom many Aryan monarchs crouch to appease When he but shakes his warlike lance. A soldier And conqueror, — what has the earth more noble? And he is of the great Cushanian stock That for these centuries bestride the hills Against all comers. World-renowned Asoca Who dominated half our kingly East, Sprang from a mongrel root. VISALDEO Rana, you’ll wed Your daughter to Prince Toraman? CURRAN I’m troubled By Ajmere’s strong persistence. He controls Our Rajpoot world and it were madly done To offend him. VISALDEO That’s soon avoided. Send your daughter out To your strong fort among the wooded hills, Dongurh; there while she walks among the trees, Let the Cashmerian snatch her to his saddle In the old princely way. You have your will And the rash Chouhan has his answer. CURRAN Visaldeo, You are a counsellor! Call the queen hither; I’ll speak to her. Exit Visaldeo.

Act I, Scene 1 O excellently counselled! What is it but a daughter? One mere girl And in exchange an emperor for my ally. It must be done. Enter Menadevi and Visaldeo. MENADEVI You sent for me, my lord? CURRAN How many summers might our daughter count, Mena? MENADEVI Sixteen, my lord. CURRAN She flowers apace And like a rose in bloom expects the breeze With blushing petals. We can delay no longer Her nuptial rites. MENADEVI The Rao of Ichalgurh Desires her. He’s a warrior and a Chouhan. CURRAN A petty baron! O my dearest lady, Rate not your child so low. Her rumoured charm Has brought an emperor posting from the north To woo her. MENADEVI Give me the noble Rajpoot blood, I ask no more.

The Prince of Edur CURRAN The son of great Cashmere Journeys to Edur for her. MENADEVI Your royal will Rules her and me. And yet, my lord, a child Of Rajpoot princes might be better mated; So much I’ll say. CURRAN You are your brother’s sister. He says he will not have a Scythian wed her. MENADEVI He cherishes the lofty Chouhan pride. You know, my lord, we hold a Rajpoot soldier Without estate or purse deserves a queen More than a crowned barbarian. CURRAN You are all As narrow as the glens where you were born And live immured. No arrogance can match The penniless pride of mountaineers who never Have seen the various world beyond their hills. Your petty baron who controls three rocks For all his heritage, exalts himself O’er monarchs in whose wide domains his holding’s An ant-hill, and prefers his petty line To their high dynasties; — as if a mountain tarn Should think itself more noble than the sea To which so many giant floods converge. MENADEVI Our tarns are pure at least, if small, they hold Sweet water only; but your seas are brackish.

Act I, Scene 1 CURRAN Well, well; tomorrow send your little princess To Dongurh, there to dwell till we decide If great Cashmere shall have her. Visaldeo, Give ten good lances for her escort. MENADEVI Only ten! It is not safe. VISALDEO Rana, the queen is right. The Bheels are out among the hills; they have A new and daring leader and beset All wayside wealth with swarms of humming arrows. CURRAN The lord of Edur should not fear such rude And paltry caterans. When they see our banner Advancing o’er the rocks, they will avoid Its peril. Or if there’s danger, take the road That skirts the hills. Ten lances, Visaldeo! Exit. MENADEVI My blood shall never mingle with the Scythian. I am a Chouhan first and next your wife, Edur. What means this move to Dongurh, Visaldeo? VISALDEO (as if to himself) Ten lances at her side! It were quite easy To take her from them, even for a Cashmerian. MENADEVI I understand. The whole of Rajasthan Would cry out upon Edur, were this marriage Planned openly to soil their ancient purity.

The Prince of Edur The means to check this shame? VISALDEO Lady, I am The Rana’s faithful servant. MENADEVI So remain. I’ll send a horse to Ichalgurh this hour. There may be swifter snatchers than the Scythian. Exit. VISALDEO Or swifter even than any in Ichalgurh. I too have tidings to send hastily. Exit.