Chapter 17Scene 3

Vasavadutta’s apartments. Mahasegn, Ungarica, Umba bound, armed women. MAHASEGN She is not here. O treachery! If thou Wert privy to this, thou shalt die impaled Or cloven in many pieces. UMBA I am resigned. UNGARICA Thou’lt stain thy soul with a woman’s murder, King? MAHASEGN ’Tis truth; she is too slight a thing to crush. Are not the gardens searched? Who are these slaves Who dare to loiter? If he’s seized, he dies. UNGARICA Wilt thou make ill much worse, — if this be ill? MAHASEGN How sayst thou? ’Tis not ill? My house is shamed, My pride downtrodden; all the country laughs Already at the baffled Mahasegn Whose daughter was plucked out by one frail boy From midst his golden city and his hosts Unnumbered. Who shall honour me henceforth? Who worship? who obey? who fear my sword?

Vasavadutta UNGARICA Cowsamby’s king has kept the Aryan law, Nor is thy daughter shamed at all in this, But taken with noblest honour. MAHASEGN ’Tis a law I spurn. My will is trodden underfoot, My pride which to preserve or to avenge Is the warrior’s righteousness. Udaian dies. Or if he reach his capital, my hosts Shall thunder on and blot it into flame, A pyre for his torn dishonoured corpse. UNGARICA Hast thou forgotten thy daughter’s heart? Her good, Her happiness are nothing then to thee? MAHASEGN Is she my daughter? She’ll not wish to live Her sire’s dishonour. UNGARICA Thinkest thou he seized her, Her heart consenting not? MAHASEGN If it be so And she thus rebel to my will and blood, Let her eyes gaze upon their sensuous cause Of treason mocked with many marring spears. UNGARICA Art thou an Aryan king and threatenest thus? Thy daughter only for thyself was loved?

Act V, Scene 3 MAHASEGN Silence, my queen! Chafe not the lion wroth. UNGARICA The tiger rather, if this mood thou nurse. A Kiratha woman enters. MAHASEGN Thou com’st, slow slave! KIRATHIE King, all the grounds are searched. The guards lie gagged below the southern gate; All’s empty. MAHASEGN Where’s Gopalaca? He too Has leisures! KIRATHIE There’s a captain from the walls. MAHASEGN Ha! bring him. The Kirathie brings in the Avunthian captain. Well! CAPTAIN Vuthsa has broken forth. The wardens of the gate are maimed or dead; Triumphant, bearing Vasavadutta, far Exults his chariot o’er the moonlit plains. MAHASEGN O bitter messenger! Pursue, pursue!

Vasavadutta CAPTAIN Rebha with his armed men and stern-lipped speed Is hot behind. MAHASEGN Let all my force that keeps Ujjayiny, be hurled after them, one speed. Call, call Vicurna; let the boy bring back First fame of arms today in Vuthsa slain, His sister’s ravisher. CAPTAIN Let not my words Offend my king. ’Twas Prince Vicurna’s car Bore forth his sister and Vicurna’s self Rode as her guard. MAHASEGN (after an astonished pause) Do all my house, my blood Revolt against me? CAPTAIN The princess Bundhumathie, Thy daughter’s serving-maiden, at Vuthsa’s side Controlled his coursers. MAHASEGN Her I do not blame, Yet will most fiercely punish. Captain, go; Gather my chariots; let them gallop fast Crushing these fugitives’ new-made tracks. As the captain departs, Gopalaca enters. Gopalaca, Head, son, my armies; bear thy sister back Before irrevocable shame is done, Nor with thy father’s greatness unavenged return.

Act V, Scene 3 GOPALACA My father, hear me. Though quite contrary To all our planned design this thing has fallen, Yet no dishonour tarnishes the deed, But as a hero with a hero’s child Has Vuthsa seized the girl. We planned a snare, He by a noble violence answers us. We sought to bribe him to a vassal’s state Dangling the jewel of our house in front; He keeps his freedom and enjoys the gem. Then since we chose the throw of dice and lost, Let us be noble gamblers, like a friend Receive God’s hostile chance, nor house blind wounded thoughts As common natures might. Sanction this rapt; Let there be love twixt Vuthsa’s house and us. MAHASEGN I see that in their hearts all have conspired Against my greatness. Thou art Avunthy’s prince, My second in my cares. Hear then! if twixt Ujjayiny and my frontiers they are seized, My fiercer will shall strike; but if they reach Free Vindhya, thou thyself shalt make the peace. Take Vasavadutta’s household and this girl, Take all her wealth and gauds; lead her thyself Or follow to Cowsamby, but leave not Till she is solemnised as Vuthsa’s queen. Sole let her reign throned by Udaian’s side; Then only shall peace live betwixt our realms. GOPALACA And I will fetch Vicurna back. MAHASEGN Son, never. I exile the rebel to his name and house. Let him with Vuthsa whom he chooses dwell,

Vasavadutta My foeman’s servant. He goes out, followed by the guards. Gopalaca unbinds Umba. UNGARICA If we give his rage its hour, ’Twill sink. His pride will call Vicurna back, If not the father’s heart. GOPALACA Haste, gather quickly Her wealth and household. I would make earliest speed, Lest Vuthsa by ill hap be seized for ill. UNGARICA Fear not, my son. The hosts are not on earth That shall prevail against these two in arms.