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Avunthie, a wooded hill-side overlooking the plain.
Gopalaca in a chariot with Vuthsa; armed men surround them.
GOPALACA
Arrest our wheels. Those are our army’s lights
That climb to us like fireflies from the plain.
VUTHSA
(awakened from sleep)
Is this Avunthie?
GOPALACA
We have passed her bounds.
VUTHSA
So, thou dear traitor, this thou from the first
Cam’st planning?
GOPALACA
This and more for which it was done.
VUTHSA
Thou bearst me to thy father’s house ?
GOPALACA
Where
thou
Shalt lie a jewel guarded carefully
Close to the dearest treasures of our house,
Nor all Yougundharayan’s wiles prevail
To take thee from our guard.
VUTHSA
I must be cooped,
It seems, and guarded in a golden cage,
As I was watched o’er in Cowsambie once.
So all men think to do their will with me.
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But now I warn you all that I will have
My freedom and will do my own dear will
By fraud or violence greater than your own.
GOPALACA
Thou never! If thou hadst thy bow indeed!
VUTHSA
Thou hadst me for the taking. I will break out
As easily.
GOPALACA
Thou shalt find the evasion hard,
Such keepers shall enring thy steps.
VUTHSA
But I will,
And carry with me something costlier far
Than what thou stealest from Cowsambie’s realm.
For I will have revenge.
GOPALACA
No wealth we have
More precious than the thing I seize today.
Therefore thy boast is vain.
VUTHSA
That I will see.
Vicurna passes.
Was’t not thy brother rode behind our car ?
He passes now; call him.
GOPALACA
Vicurna, here!
VUTHSA
Come near, embrace me, brother of Gopalaca,
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Loved for his sake, now for thy own
desired
Since I beheld thee, son of Mahasegn.
VICURNA
Vuthsa Udayan, in the battle’s front
I had hoped to meet thee and compel thy praise
As half thy equal in the fight. But this ‘
Is nearer, this is better.
VUTHSA
Thou art fair to see.
Thy father has two noble sons. Are there
No others of your great upspringing stock ?
GOPALACA
Only a sister.
VUTHSA
The world has heard of her.
GOPALACA
Thou shalt behold.
VUTHSA
Oh, then, it is all gain
That awaits me in Avunthie. O the night
With all her glorious stars and from the trees
Millions of shrill cigalas peal one note,
A thunderous melody! Shall we be soon
In the golden city ? But it will be night
And I shall hardly see her famous fanes.
GOPALACA
Dawn will have passed overtaking in her
skies
Our chariots long before Ujjayinie’s seen.
The vanguard nears; make haste to join with them.
Roomunwath’s cohorts should tread close behind.
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VUTHSA
They will not come. My fate must ride with me
Unhindered to Ujjayinie.
GOPALACA
Captains, march.
Spur towards my father swift-hooved messengers
To cry aloud to him the prize we bring.
Shiva has smiled on us.
VUTHSA
Vishnu on me.
Vicurna, mount by us and talk to me.
Curtain
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