Chapter 12Act IV, Scene 1

Act IV

Scene 1 A room in the royal apartments. Ungarica, Vasavadutta.

UNGARICA Thou singest well; a cry of Vuthsa’s art Has stolen into thy song.

She takes Vasavadutta on her lap.

Look up at me, My daughter, let me gaze into thy eyes And from their silence learn thy treasured thoughts. Thou knowest I can read twixt human lids The secrets of the throbbing heart? I search In Vasavadutta’s eyes by what strange skill Vuthsa has crept into my daughter’s voice. Thou keepst thy lashes lowered? thou wilt not let me look? But that too I can read.

O mother, mother mine, Plague me not; thou knowst all things; comfort me.

UNGARICA Thou needest comfort?

Yes, against myself Who trouble my own heart.

UNGARICA

Why? though I know. Thou wilt not speak? I’ll speak then for thee.

over Ungarica’s mouth.

Off! It is because thou canst not here control What thy immortal part with rapture wills And the mortal longingly desires; for yet Thy proud heart cannot find the way to yield.

If thou knewst, mother.

UNGARICA

No, thou hast the will But not the art, Love’s learner. O my proud Sweet ignorance, ’tis he shall find the way And thou shalt know the joy of being forced To what thy heart desires.

O mother!

She hides her face in Ungarica’s bosom.

UNGARICA

Thou hast done thy father’s will? Thy husband shall be vassal to thy sire?

Have I a father or a house? O none, O none, O none exists but only he.

UNGARICA Let none exist for thee but the dear all thou lov’st. I charge thee, Vasavadutta, when thou rul’st In far Cowsamby, let this be thy reign To heap on him delight and seek his good. Raise his high fortunes, shelter from grief his heart, Even with thy own tears buy his joy and peace, Nor let one clamorous thought of self revolt Against him.

Mother, thou canst see my heart; Is this not there? Can it do otherwise, Being thus conquered, even if it willed?

UNGARICA Child, ’tis my care to give thy heart a voice And bind it to its nobler loving self. Let this be now thy pride.

It is, it is. But, mother, it is very sweet to rule, And if I rule him for his good, not mine?

UNGARICA Thou canst not be corrected! Queenling, rule. Go now; thy brother comes.

Vicurna enters from the outer door.

Why is thy brow A darkness?

VICURNA

Wherefore was King Vuthsa brought Into Ujjayiny? why is captive kept?

UNGARICA Thy father’s will, who knows.

VICURNA

But I would know.

UNGARICA Him ask.

VICURNA (taking her face between his hands)

I ask thee; thou must answer.

UNGARICA

To wed Thy sister.

VICURNA

Let him wed and be released. Our fame is smirched; the city murmurs. War Threatens from Vuthsa’s nation and our cause Is evil.

UNGARICA

Wedding her he must consent To be our vassal.

VICURNA

Thus are vassals made? Thus empires built? This is a shameful thing. Release him first, then with proud war subdue.

UNGARICA Thou knowest thy father’s stern, unbending will Whom we must all obey.

VICURNA

Not I, or not In evil things.

UNGARICA

Respect thy father! He Will not, unsatisfied, release his foe. Demand not this.

VICURNA

I will release him then.

UNGARICA Him by what right who is thy house’s peril?

VICURNA He is a hero and he is my friend.

UNGARICA Didst thou not help to bring him captive here?

VICURNA For Vasavadutta. I will bear them both Out from the city in my chariot far Into the freedom of the hills. I will hew down All who oppose me.

UNGARICA

Rash and violent boy, So wilt thou make bad worse. Await the hour When Vuthsa shall himself demand thy aid.

VICURNA The hour will come?

UNGARICA

He will be free.

VICURNA

Then soon, Or I myself will act.

UNGARICA

This too is well And most that the proud chivalries of old Are not yet dead in all men’s hearts. O God Shiva, thou mak’st me fortunate in my sons.