Chapter 1Act I, Scene 1

Mathura.

Scene 1 A street in Mathura. Ahuca’s house. Sudaman, Ocroor.

SUDAMAN What art thou?

OCROOR

One that walks the Night.

SUDAMAN

No Ogre! Thou art Ocroor by thy voice.

OCROOR

Whatever name The Lord has given his creature. Thou shouldst be Sudaman.

SUDAMAN

If I am?

OCROOR

Walk not alone When the black-bellied Night has swallowed earth Lest all thou hast done to others should return Upon thee with a sword in the dumb Night And no man know it.

SUDAMAN

Care not; I am shielded.

OCROOR Not by the gods!

SUDAMAN

No, by a greater god Than any that have seats near Vishnu’s throne.

OCROOR What god whom even Sudaman worships?

SUDAMAN

Terror Whose shoe I have enshrined in Mathura And all men kiss it and their tongues declare ’Tis justice and mild rule while their hearts hate And quiver.

OCROOR

Thou art the Ogre. Has the blood Of many nobles not contented thee? Dost thou not feel enough thy furious greatness yet, Sudaman?

SUDAMAN Ocroor, I have a belly to digest Much more than Mathura.

OCROOR

So Ravan had Who perished.

SUDAMAN

What dost thou in this black night Whose shadows help the lover and the thief, Two kindred traders? Which of these art thou?

OCROOR Both, may be.

SUDAMAN

If thou be, then let thy theft Attain some Yadav’s house, that I may laugh At his dishonour.

OCROOR

Thou hatest much, it seems, Thy father’s nation!

SUDAMAN

Whom I have imprisoned That I may mock him daily, else were he dead And with the gods he worships.

OCROOR

Thou shalt end Evilly yet.

SUDAMAN

If it is so, ’tis so Because the round of being leads to that, And not because of gods or virtue.