Chapter 20Scene 6

Near the edge of the forest in Avunthy. Roomunwath, Yougundharayan, Alurca, Munjoolica, forces. ROOMUNWATH Stay, stay our march; ’tis Vuthsa’s car arrives. The tired horses stumble as they pause. YOUGUNDHARAYAN There is a noise of armies close behind And out of woods the Avunthian wheels emerge. There arrive Vuthsa, Vicurna, Vasavadutta. VUTHSA My father, all things to their hour are true And I bring back my venture. Am I pardoned Its secrecy? YOUGUNDHARAYAN My pupil and son no more, But hero and monarch! Thou hast set thy foot Upon Avunthy’s head. VUTHSA Yet still thy son. YOUGUNDHARAYAN Hail, Vasavadutta, great Cowsamby’s queen. VASAVADUTTA (smiling happily on Vuthsa) My crown was won by desperate alarms.

Act V, Scene 6 VUTHSA It was a perilous race and in the end Fate won by a head. Were it not the difficult paths Baffled their numbers, we were hardly here, So oft we had to pause and rest our steeds. But in less strength they dared not venture on. YOUGUNDHARAYAN They range their battle now. VUTHSA Speak thou to them. War must not break. YOUGUNDHARAYAN Demand a parley there. VUTHSA If we must fight, it shall be for defence Retreating while we war unless they urge Too far their violent trespass. VICURNA Rebha comes. Rebha arrives. REBHA Ye are suitors for a parley? VICURNA Rebha, with beaten men? REBHA Because you had your sister in the car Our shafts were hampered.

Vasavadutta VICURNA Nor could with swords prevail Against two boys so many hundred men. REBHA O Prince Vicurna, what thou hast done today Against thy name and nation, I forbear To value. ’Tis thy first essay of arms. VICURNA Well dost thou not to weigh thy better’s deeds. YOUGUNDHARAYAN Rebha, wilt thou urge vainly yet this strife? What hitherto was done, was private act And duel; now if thou insist on fight, Two nations are embroiled; and to what end? REBHA I will take Vuthsa and the Princess back. It is my king’s command. YOUGUNDHARAYAN The impossible No man is bound to endeavour. While we fight, King Vuthsa with the captive princess bounds Unhindered to his high-walled capital. REBHA It is my king’s command. I am his arm And not his counsellor; nor to use my brain Have any right, save for the swift way to fulfil His proud and absolute mandate. YOUGUNDHARAYAN If there came Word from Ujjayiny, then pursuit must cease?

Act V, Scene 6 REBHA Then truly. YOUGUNDHARAYAN Send a horseman, Rebha, ask. All meanwhile shall remain as now it stands. REBHA I’ll send no horseman; I will fight. YOUGUNDHARAYAN Then war! REBHA We fear it not. This is strange insolence To stand in arms upon Avunthian ground And issue mandates to the country’s lords. He is going. ROOMUNWATH Rebha, yet pause! No messenger thou needst. Look where yon chariot furious-bounding comes And over it streams Avunthy’s royal flag. REBHA It is the prince Gopalaca. Of this I am glad. VASAVADUTTA O if my brother comes, then all is well. VUTHSA For thou art Luxmie. Thou beside me, Fate And Fortune, peace and battle must obey The vagrant lightest-winged of my desires. Gopalaca arrives; with him Umba.

Vasavadutta GOPALACA Hail, Vuthsa! peace and love between our lands! VUTHSA I hold them here incarnate. Welcome thou, Their strong achiever. GOPALACA As earnest and as proof Receive this fair accomplice of thy flight Unpunished. Sister, take her to thy arms. VASAVADUTTA O Umba, thou com’st safe to me! GOPALACA And all My sister’s household and her wealth comes fast Behind me. Only one claim Avunthy keeps; My sister shall sit throned thy only queen, — Which, pardon me, my eyes must witness done With honour to our name. VUTHSA Cowsamby’s majesty Will brook not even in this, Gopalaca, A foreign summons. Surely my will and love Shall throne most high, not strong Avunthy’s child, But Vasavadutta; whether alone, her will And mine, the nation and the kingdom’s good Consenting shall decide. Therefore this claim Urge not, my brother. GOPALACA Let not this divide us. The present’s gladness is enough: the future’s hers And thine, Udaian, nor shall any man

Act V, Scene 6 Compel thee. Boy, thy revolt was rash and fierce Wronging thy house and thy high father’s will. Exiled must thou in far Cowsamby dwell Until his wrath is dead. VICURNA I care not, brother. I have done my will, I have observed the right. Near Vuthsa and my sister’s home enough And I shall see new countries. VUTHSA Follow behind, Gopalaca; thy sister’s household bring And all the force thou wilt. We speed in front. Ride thou, Alurca, near us; let thy harp Speak of love’s anthems and her golden life To Vasavadutta. Love, the storm is past, The peril o’er. Now we shall glide, my queen, Through green-gold woods and between golden fields To float for ever in a golden dream, O earth’s gold Luxmie, till the shining gates Eternal open to us thy heavenly home.