Collected Plays and Stories

 

CONTENTS

 

Pre-content

 

PLAYS

THE VIZIERS OF BASSORA

 

Rodogune

Act One

Act Two

Act Three

Act Four

Act Five

SCENE I

SCENE II

SCENE III

SCENE I

SCENE II  

SCENE III

SCENE IV

SCENE V

SCENE I

SCENE II

SCENE III

 

SCENE I

SCENE II

SCENE III

SCENE IV

SCENE V

SCENE I

SCENE II

SCENE III

SCENE IV

 

 

Perseus the Deliverer

Act One

Act Two

Act Three

Act Four

Act Five

SCENE I

SCENE II

SCENE III

SCENE I

SCENE II

SCENE III

SCENE I

SCENE II

SCENE III

SCENE I

SCENE II

SCENE III

SCENE IV

SCENE V

SCENE I

SCENE II

SCENE III

 

Eric

Act One

Act Two

Act Three

Act Four

Act Five

SCENE I

SCENE II

SCENE III

SCENE IV

SCENE I

SCENE II

SCENE I

SCENE II

SCENE I

SCENE II

SCENE I

 

Vasavadutta

 

Incomplete and Fragmentary Plays

The Witch of Ilni

Act One

 

Act Two

 

Act Three

SCENE I

SCENE II

 

SCENE I

 

 SCENE I

SCENE II

 

The House of Brut

Act  twO

 

SCENE I

 

The Maid in the Mill

Act One

 

 

 

Act Two

SCENE I

SCENE II

SCENE Iii

SCENE Iv

SCENE v

 

 

 

SCENE I

 

The Prince of Edur

The Prince of Mathura

Act  One

SCENE I

 

The Birth of Sin

Act ONE

 

Fragment of a Play

Act  One

SCENE I

 

STORIES

Occult Idylls

The Phantom Hour

 The Door at Abelard

 

Incomplete and Fragmentary Stories

Fictional Jottings

Fragment of a Story

The Devil's Mastiff

The Golden Bird

 

 

Act II

 

The forest near Dongurh.

 

Scene 1

 

In the forest near Dongurh.

Bappa, Sungram. The Captain and Rajpoot soldiers, guarded by Bheels.

 

BAPPA

Ponder it, captain. Sungram, see the bearers

Released, but let those cowards first be scourged

Who put their lives above their lady's honour.

Give golden largess to the faithful four

And send them with a script. Let Edur know

That Bappa holds his cherished daughter fast

And frees her not save for a lakh of mohurs,

Her insufficient ransom. If it displease him,

Let him come here with all his fighting-men

And take her from my grip. Word it to wound him

So that he shall come thundering up the hills

Incensed inexorably.

Exit Sungram.

Soldier, again,

'Tis not my wont to slay my prisoners,

Who am a Rajpoot, and to pen you here

Eating your hearts away like prisoned lions

Were the world's loss and to myself no profit.

Take then your choice and either follow me

Or to your Edur back return unharmed.

Page – 885


CAPTAIN

Thou art a noble enemy, young chieftain;

But change thy boon; for I have lost my charge

Ingloriously and now can only entreat

The use of my own sword to avenge my honour

On its betrayer. Living I go not back

To Edur.

 

BAPPA

Soldier, thou art too scrupulous.

The wariest captain need not think it shame

To be surprised among these mountains. If Edur

Receive you not, follow my fortunes, Rajpoot.

I am as noble as the prince you serve,

And he who waits on Bappa's fateful star,

May be more fortunate than kings.

 

CAPTAIN

Chieftain,

Save my old master's blood I serve no other

Than noble Edur.

(suddenly with excitement)

What is that jewel, boy,

Upon thy sword-hilt? Where hadst thou that weapon?

 

BAPPA

What moves thee thus? It is my father's sword,

Though who my father was, Fate hides from me.

 

CAPTAIN (with emotion)

I take thy offer, prince. I am thy soldier,

And all these men shall live and die for thee.

 

A SOLDIER

What dost thou, captain?

Page – 886


CAPTAIN

I have never swerved

From the high path of Rajpoot honour. Trust me,

Rajpoots.

 

SOLDIER

Thou wast our chief in war and always

We found thee valiant, proud and honourable.

Convince us that we may transfer unshamed

Our falchions only stained with foemen's blood,

And still we'll follow thee.

 

CAPTAIN

I will convince you

At a fit season.

 

BAPPA

Knowst thou something, soldier,

That's hid from me?

 

CAPTAIN

Pardon my silence, chieftain.

All things have their own time to come to light.

 

BAPPA

I will expect my hour then and meanwhile

Think myself twice as great as yesterday

Whom your strong hands now serve. Come, friends, with me;

Resume your swords for yet more glorious use

In Bappa's service.

Exeunt.

Page – 887


Scene 2

 

The road through the valley to Dongurh.

Toraman, Canaca, Hooshka and Scythians.

 

TORAMAN

I know not what impelled these mountain-boars

To worry Death with their blunt tusks. This insult

I will revenge in kind at first, then take

A bloody reckoning.

 

CANACA

Figh! it was a trick even beyond my wits. To put a servant-girl on the throne of Cashmere! All Asia would have been one grin had the jest prospered.

 

TORAMAN

They take us for barbarians

And thought such gross imposture good enough

To puzzle Scythian brains. But I'll so shame

The witty clowns, they shall hang down their waggish heads

While they are still allowed to live. You'll wed

A princess of the Rajpoots, Canaca?

 

CANACA

I would prefer a haunch of Rajpoot venison any day; they have fat juicy stags in their mountains.

 

TORAMAN

I give thee Edur's daughter. While I ride

With half my lances to our mountains, thou

Shalt ruffle round as Scythian Toraman

And wed the princess.

Page – 888


CANACA

Shall I indeed? Do you take me for a lettuce that you would have me sliced for a Rajpoot salad? Oh, I'ld love to be a prince if only to comfort myself with one full meal in a lifetime; but an empty plebeian paunch is a more comfortable possession than a princely belly full of Rajpoot lances.

TORAMAN

Why should they at all

Discover thee, dull fool? None know me here.

The Rana and his men have not received me.

No doubt the arrogant princeling scorned to eat

As host and guest with me in Edur; even to dine

With us is thought a soil! Therefore 'twas fixed

In this rare plot that I should ride from Deesa

On a fool's errand. Well, it helps me now,

Though I'll avenge it fearfully. 'Tis feasible.

None know us, you are richer-robed than I,

And what's uncouth in you, they will put down

To Scythia's utter barbarousness, whose princes

Are boors and boors unhuman. Oh, 'twill work.

 

CANACA

Will it? Well, so long as I keep my belly unprodded, 'tis a jest after my own heart.

TORAMAN

And mine. These haughty Rajpoots think themselves

The only purity on earth; their girls

So excellent in Aryan chastity,

That without Rajpoot birth an emperor's wooing

Is held for insult. This they hoped to avenge

By foisting a baseborn light serving-wench

On the prince of all the North. How will they stare,

How gnash their teeth and go stark-mad with shame

When they discover their sweet cherished lily,

The pride of Rajasthan, they thought too noble

Page – 889


To lower herself to Cashmere's lofty throne,

Bedded with the court-jester of Cashmere,

Soiled by the embraces of a low buffoon

Who patters for a wage, her pride a jest,

Her purity a puddle and herself

The world's sole laughing-stock.

 

CANACA

Hem! 'Twill be a jest for the centuries.

TORAMAN

About it, then.

Feign to laugh off the insult put on you

And urge your suit. Bound by their trick that failed,

They must, though with great sullenness, consent;

And that's desirable: the shame will taste

A thousand times more bitter afterwards.

Have her by force, if they are obstinate;

But have her. Soon, be sure, I will be back

With an avenging host and ring in Edur

With loud assaults till I have crucified

King, queen and princess on her smoking ruins.

Exit with a number of Scythians.

CANACA

Well then, I am Prince Toraman of Cashmere; remember that, villains. Or why not Prince Toraman-Canaca or Prince Canaca-Toraman? it is rounder and more satisfying to the mouth. Yet  simple Prince Toraman has a chastity of its own and all the magnificence of Cashmere marches after it. Ho, slave! What sounds are those approaching my majesty? Send scouts and reconnoitre.  Prince Toraman, the imperial son of Cashmere! It is a part I shall play with credit; Nature made me for it of sufficient proportions and gave me a paunch imperial.

Page – 890


HOOSHKA (approaching)

Prince Canaca-Toraman or Prince Toraman-Canaca or very simple Toraman, I hear tramp of men and the clang of armour. No doubt, the princess of Edur, thinking all safe by now, rides to Dongurh. Will you charge them and seize her?

 

CANACA

To cover, thou incompetent captain, to cover. Hast thou learned war and knowest not the uses of ambush? We will hide, slave.  See thou pokest not out that overlong nose of thine! Find thyself a branch big enough to cover it.

HOOSHKA

Humph! What signal shall we expect from your Majesty for the charge?

CANACA

Prate not to me of signals! How lacking are thy dull soldier-wits in contrivance! If I jump down into the road and howl, you will all come jumping and howling after me; but if I run, you will catch hold of my tail and run too like the very devil. Nay, I have a rare notion of tactics. To cover, to cover!

They conceal themselves. Enter the Rao of

Ichalgurh, Ruttan and Rajpoots.

ICHALGURH

She has escaped me, or the Scythian has her.

The last were my dishonour.

 

RUTTAN

We've held the road

Since dawn. The Scythian had the serving-women.

The princess has escaped.

 

ICHALGURH

I'm glad of it.

Page – 891


RUTTAN

Will you pursue it farther?

ICHALGURH

Ambition only

Engaged me once to woo her; now my honour

Is deeply pledged. The spur of chivalry

Suffers me not to yield a Rajpoot flower

To Scythian handling; nor could I refuse

A challenge to adventurous emprise

So fairly given. About, to Dongurh!

 

RUTTAN

Brother,

The place is strong, nor we equipped for sieges.

 

ICHALGURH

I'll have her out even from that fortressed keeping

And set her in my crest at Ichalgurh

For gods to gaze at.

Canaca leaps down into the road brandishing a sword,

followed by Hooshka and his Scythians.

CANACA

Ho Amitabha! Buddha for Cashmere!

ICHALGURH

The Scythians on us! Swords!

CANACA

Put up your skewers! Quiver not, ye wretches; steady, steady your quaking kneecaps. Though I have cause for anger, yet am I  merciful. Ye would have robbed me of some very pretty property, but ye are mountain-thieves by nature and nurture and know no better. Therefore peace. Sleep in thy scabbard, thou dreadful servant of the wrath of Toraman; await a fitter subject than these carcasses. Courage, Rajpoots, you shall not die.

Page – 892


ICHALGURH (smiling)

Who is Your Mightiness?

 

CANACA

I am the very formidable and valiant hero and Scythian, Toraman, prince of Cashmere. Nevertheless, tremble not. I am terrible to look at, but I have bowels; —  ay, a whole paunchful of them.

ICHALGURH

You sought the Princess?

What, she has slipped through your most valiant fingers?

 

CANACA

As if she had greased herself with butter. But I am going to

Dongurh straight away to demand her and dinner.

 

ICHALGURH

Together then. We're comrades in her loss;

Why not allies to win her?

 

CANACA

Am I to be so easily bamboozled? wilt thou insult my cranium?

Thou wouldst use my valiant and invincible sword to win her,

thinking to steal her from me afterwards when I am not looking.

 

ICHALGURH

Who would dare

Defraud the formidable Toraman,

The valiant and heroic Scythian?

 

CANACA

Well!

I am content; fall in behind me, mountaineers.

 

ICHALGURH

Ruttan, we'll keep an eye upon this Scythian.

Page – 893


His show of braggart folly hides, I fear,

A deal of knavishness.

 

CANACA

Trumpets! To Dongurh! March!

Exeunt.

Page – 894


Scene 3

 

Bappa's cot on the hillside.

Bappa; the Captain; Coomood, decorating the cot with flowers.

 

BAPPA

Where was she when you had the script from her?

CAPTAIN

Singing of battle on the rocks alone

With wrestling winds in her wild hair and raiment,

A joyous Oread.

 

BAPPA

Said she anything?

CAPTAIN

She gave it me with glad and smiling eyes

And laughed: "This for my noble Bheel, my sovereign

Of caterans, my royal beast of prey.

These to their mighty owners."

 

COOMOOD

Will you read it?

 

BAPPA (reads)

"Cateran, I have given thy captain letters which when thou hast read them, fail not to despatch. I have sent for teachers for thee to beat thee into modesty and lesson thee in better behaviour to a lady and princess. —  "

 

What letters has she given thee, captain? These?

Page – 895


CAPTAIN

To Pratap, Rao of Ichalgurh; —  and one

To Toraman the Scythian.

 

BAPPA

Deliver them.

Thou'lt find at Dongurh both these warlike princes.

No, I'll not read them.

Exit Captain.

COOMOOD

Let me hear the rest.

 

BAPPA

"Cateran, I will show thee the sum of thy bold and flagitious offences, though I dare not to hope that it will make thee ashamed. Thou hast laid injurious hands on a royal maiden, being thyself a mere Bheel and outlaw and of no parentage; thou hast carried me most violently to this thy inconsiderable and incommodious hut, treating the body of a princess as if it were a sack of potatoes; thou hast unmercifully and feloniously stripped my body with thy own rude Bheel hands of more ornaments than thou hast seen in thy lifetime and didst hurt me most cruelly in the deed, though thou vainly deniest it; thou hast compelled and dost yet compel me, the princess of Edur, by the infamous lack of women-servants in thy hut, to minister to thee, a common Bheel, menially with my own royal hands, so that my fingers are sore with scrubbing thy rusty sword which thou hast never used yet on anything braver than a hill-jackal, and my face is still red with leaning over the fire cooking thy most unroyal meals for thee; and to top these crimes, thou hast in thy robustious robber fashion taken a kiss from my lips without troubling thyself to ask for it, and thou yet keepest it with thee. All which are high misdoings and mortal offences; yet would I have pardoned them knowing thee to be no more than a boy and a savage. But now thou darest to tell me that I, a Rajpoot maiden, am in love with thee, a Bheel, and that even if I deny it, thou carest not; for I am

 

Page – 896


thine already whether I will or no, thy captive and thy slave-girl. This is not to be borne. So I have written to my noble suitors  of Ichalgurh and Scythia to avenge me upon thy Bheel body; I  doubt not, they will soon carry thy head to Edur in a basket, if thou hast the manners to permit them. Yet since thy followers call thee Smiter of the Forest and Lion of the Hills, let me see thee smite more than jackals and rend braver than flesh of mountain-deer. Cateran, when thou trundlest the Scythian down-hill like a ball, thou mayst marry me in spite of thy misdeeds, if thou darest; and when thou showest thyself a better man than the Chouhan of Ichalgurh, which is impossible, thou mayst even keep me for thy slave-girl and I will not deny thee. Meanwhile, thou shalt give me a respite till the seventh morn of the May. Till then presume not to touch me. Thy captive, Comol Cumary."

 

Why, here's a warlike and most hectoring letter, Coomood.

 

COOMOOD

She pours her happy heart out so

In fantasies; I never knew her half so wayward.

The more her soul is snared between your hands,

The more her lips will chide you.

 

BAPPA

Can you tell

Why she has set these doughty warriors on me,

Coomood?

 

COOMOOD

You cannot read a woman's mind.

It's to herself a maze inextricable

Of vagrant impulses with half-guessed tangles

Of feeling her own secret thoughts are blind to.

 

BAPPA

But yet?

Page – 897


COOMOOD

Her sudden eager headstrong passion

Would justify its own extravagance

By proving you unparalleled. Therefore she picks

Earth's brace of warriors out for your opponents.

 

BAPPA

Pratap the Chouhan, Rao of Ichalgurh!

To meet him merely were a lifetime's boast;

But to cross swords with him! Oh, she has looked

Into my heart.

 

COOMOOD

You'll give her seven days?

 

BAPPA

Not hours, —  the dainty rebel! Great Ichalgurh

Will wing here like an eagle; soon I'll meet him

And overthrow, who feel a giant's strength,

Coomood, since yesterday. My fate mounts sunward.

 

COOMOOD

Ours, Bappa, has already arrived. Our sun

Rose yesterday upon the way to Dongurh.

Curtain

Page – 898


Scene 4

 

Outside Dongurh.

Ichalgurh, a letter in his hand; Ruttan, the Captain.

 

ICHALGURH

Who art thou, soldier?

CAPTAIN

The leader of the lances

That guarded Edur's princess and with her

Were captived by the Bheels. Their chief I serve.

 

ICHALGURH

Thou hast dishonoured then the Rajpoot name

Deserting from thy lord to serve a ruffian

Under the eyes of death, thou paltry trembler.

 

CAPTAIN

My honour, Rao of Ichalgurh, is mine

To answer for, and at a fitting time

I will return thy insults on my sword-point.

But now I am only a messenger.

 

ICHALGURH

I'll read

The princess' writing. (reads) "Baron of Ichalgurh,

My mother's clansman, warrior, noble Rajpoot,

Thrice over therefore bound to help the weak

And save the oppressed! A maiden overpowered,

Comol Cumary, Edur's princess, sues

For thy heroic arm of rescue, prince,

To the Bheel outlaws made a prey, unsought

Page – 899


By her own kin; whom if thou save, I am

A princess and thy handmaid, else a captive

Only and Bappa's slave-girl." Go! my war-cry

Echoing among the hills shall answer straightway

This piteous letter. Ruttan, swift! Arm! arm!

I will not vent my wrath in braggart words

But till it leap into my sword, I suffer.

 

RUTTAN

You shall not wait for long.

Exit.

CAPTAIN

I have a letter

To Toraman the Scythian.

 

ICHALGURH

Give it to him,

For this is he.

Enter Canaca, Hooshka and Scythians.

CANACA

It will not fill. This paltry barren Rajpootana has not the where-withal to choke up the gulf within me. Ha! avaunt! Dost thou flutter paper before me? I have no creditors in Rajpootana.

CAPTAIN

I understand thee not. This is a script

Comol Cumary sends thee, Edur's princess.

 

CANACA

Is it so? Well then, thou mayst kneel and lay it at my feet; I will deign to read it. (The Captain flings it into his hands.) What, thou dirty varlet! (The Captain lays his hand on his sword.) Nay, it is a game? Oh, I can catch, I can catch.

Exit Captain.

Page – 900


(reads)

"Prince Toraman, they say thou desirest me and camest from Cashmere as far as Edur for my sake. Thou must come a little  farther, prince! Bappa, the outlaw, has been beforehand with thee and holds me in durance among the hills. Prince, if thou yet desirest this little beauty one poor body can hold, come up hither and fight for its possession which otherwise I must in seven days perforce yield to my captor. From whom if thou canst rescue me, —  but I will not drive bargains with thee, trusting rather to thy knightly princeliness to succour a distressed maiden for no hope of reward. Comol Cumary."

No, no, no; there is too much butter about thee. No hope of reward! What! I shall fight like an enraged rhinoceros, I shall startle the hills by my valour, I shall stick three thousand Bheels with my own princely hand like so many boar-pigs; and all this violent morning exercise for what? To improve my appetite? I have more gastric juice than my guts can accommodate. They roar to me already for a haunch of venison.

 

HOOSHKA

Prince Toraman, shall I give the order for the hills?

CANACA

Ay, Hooshka Long-nose, hast thou news of venison, good fellow?

HOOSHKA

I meant, to rescue the Princess Comol Cumary from the Bheels.

CANACA

Didst thou mean so? Nay, I will not hinder thy excellent intentions. But bring some venison with thee as thou comest along with her, Hooshka.

HOOSHKA

Prince of Cashmere, lead us to the hills and tear her from the grip of the outlaws. As a prince and a soldier thou canst do no less.

 

Page – 901


CANACA

Thou liest through thy long nose! I can do much less than that. I will not suffer thee to put limits to my infinite ability. And I can tell a decoy- duck from a live gander. Shall I waddle my shins into Bappa's trap? This letter was written under compulsion.

HOOSHKA

The Princess must be rescued. I wonder, Prince Toraman, that thou wilt jest over a thing so grave and unhappy.

CANACA

Why, genius will out, you cannot stable it for long, Hooshka; it will break bounds and gallop. Yet go, Hooshka, go; take all my men, Hooshka. Hooshka, slay the Bheel; rescue the lady, Hooshka. I wish I could go with thee and swing my dreadful blade with my mighty arm till the mountains re-echoed. But the simple truth is, I have a bleeding dysentery. Willingly would I shed my princely blood for my sweet lady, but it is shedding itself already otherwise.

HOOSHKA (aside)

Thou fat-gutted cowardly rogue, wilt thou blacken the name of a hero with thy antics? Out at once, or the Rajpoots shall know  who thou art and carve thee into little strips for a dog's dinner.

 

CANACA

Sayst thou, my little captain? Thy arguments are strangely conclusive. Arms! arms! my horse! my horse! Out, Scythians, to the hills! My horse, I say! I will do deeds; I will paint the hills in blood and tattoo the valleys. (Enter Scythians.) Amitabha! Amitabha! Yell, you rogues, have you no lungs in your big greasy carcasses? With what will you fight then?

SCYTHIANS

Amitabha!

Enter Ruttan and Rajpoots.

Page – 902


RUTTAN

Rajpoots, to save a noble lady captived

We march today. No gallant open enemy,

But savages who lurk behind the rocks

Are our opposers. Sweep them from the hills,

Rajpoots, with the mere flashing of your swords

And rescue from their villain touch a princess.

Exeunt Ichalgurh, Ruttan and Rajpoots.

CANACA

March, Scythians! (aside) Hooshka, what say you? We will keep behind these mad-dog Rajpoots and fight valiantly in their  shadow. That is but strategy.

HOOSHKA (aside)

If thou dost, I will kick thee into the enemy's midst with my jackboots.

 

CANACA (aside)

Wilt thou muddy such a fine coat as this is? Hast thou the heart? (aloud) Trumpets! Into the breach, into the breach, my soldiers!

Exeunt.

Page – 903


Scene 5

 

In the forest.

Ichalgurh, Ruttan and Rajpoots.

 

OUTSIDE

Bappa! Bappa! Ho, Sheva Ekling!

An arrow descends and a Rajpoot falls.

RUTTAN

Still upwards!

ICHALGURH

Upwards still! Death on the height

Sits crowned to meet us; downwards is to dishonour

And that's no Rajpoot movement. Brother Ruttan,

We're strangled with a noose intangible.

O my brave Rajpoots, by my headlong folly

Led to an evil death!

 

RUTTAN

What is this weakness,

Chouhan of famous Ichalgurh? Remember

Thyself, my brother. But a little more

And we have reached their wasps'-nest on the hills.

 

ICHALGURH

Not one alive.

Another arrow. A Rajpoot falls.

RUTTAN

I ask no better fate,

Brother, than at thy side however slain,

 

Page – 904


Victorious or defeated.

 

ICHALGURH

We have acted

Like heedless children, thinking we had to stamp

Our armoured heel on a mere swarm and rabble,

But find ourselves at grips with skilful fighters

And a great brain of war. Safe under cover

They pick us off; we battle blindly forwards

Without objective, smiting at the wind,

Stumbling as in a nightmare and transfixed

Ignobly by a foe invisible

Our falchions cannot reach, —  like crows, like jackals,

Not like brave men and battle-famous warriors.

 

RUTTAN

Still on!

ICHALGURH

Yes, on, till the last man falls pierced

Upon the threshold that immures the sweetness

We could not save. Forward the Chouhan!

Enter Kodal.

KODAL

Halt!

A parley!

 

ICHALGURH

Speak, but talk not of surrender.

KODAL

'Tis that I'll talk of. I am Bappa's mouthpiece.

Rajpoots, you're quite surrounded. If we choose,

Our arrows buzzing through your brains can end you

In five swift minutes. Lay then at Bappa's feet

Your humble heads; else like mad dogs be skewered

 

Page – 905


And yelp your lives out.

 

ICHALGURH

Return unpunished; the name

Of envoy guards thy barbarous insolence.

Enter Sungram.

SUNGRAM

You speak too insolently your message, Kodal.

Chouhan of Ichalgurh, thou art too great

To die thus butchered. We demand a parley

For courteous equal terms, not base surrender.

 

ICHALGURH

Thou art a Rajpoot; dost thou lead these arrows?

SUNGRAM

I lead the shafts that wear thee out; another

Surrounds the Scythian; but we are the hands

Of one more godlike brain.

 

ICHALGURH

With him I'll parley.

SUNGRAM

'Tis well. Go, Kodal, learn our chieftain's will.

Exit Kodal.

ICHALGURH

Young man, thou hast a Rajpoot form and bearing,

Yet herdst with the wild forest tribes, remote

From arms and culture. Dost thou hide thy name too?

 

SUNGRAM

I am a Chouhan like thyself, of birth

As princely. Ask the warriors of Ajmere

Who valiant Martund was; his sons are we,

 

Page – 906


Sungram and Prithuraj.

 

ICHALGURH

O youth, thy father

Was my great pattern and my guide in war.

Brother and enemy, embrace me.

They embrace.

Sungram,

Who is thy captain? For the sons of Martund

Serve not a Bheel.

 

SUNGRAM

Thine eyes shall answer thee.

Enter Bappa and Kodal.

ICHALGURH

A noble-featured youth! What son of Kings

Lives secret in these rugged hills?

 

BAPPA

Chouhan

Of famous Ichalgurh, now if I'm slain

In battle, I can tell the dead I've seen thee,

Thou god of war. O let there be no hatred,

Hero, between us, but only faith.

 

ICHALGURH

Young chieftain,

Thou bearst a godlike semblance, but thy deeds

Are less than noble. Hast thou not seized a princess

By robber violence, forced her with thee

To thy rude lair and threatenest her sweet body

With shameful mastery?

 

BAPPA

We are warriors, Rajpoot;

Two ways of mating only fit for us,

 

Page – 907


By mutual sweet attraction undenied

To grow to oneness as they do in heaven,

Or else with lion leap to seize our bride

And pluck her from the strong protecting spears

Taking her heart by violence. We mate not

Like castes unwarlike, from a father's hand

Drawing an innocent wide-eyed wondering child

Like cattle given or sold. This was the way

Of Rajpoots long before the earth grew aged;

And shall a Rajpoot blame it? Wherefore then rod'st thou

Clanging last morn from Ichalgurh in arms,

Pratap the Chouhan?

 

ICHALGURH

Chieftain, I am pledged

To save the girl from thee.

 

BAPPA

But canst redeem

The vow with thy dead body only. Hero,

I too am sworn to keep her 'gainst the world.

Let us in the high knightly way decide it.

Deign to cross swords with me and let the victor

Possess the maiden.

 

ICHALGURH

O thou springing stem

That surely yet wilt rise to meet the sun!

Agreed. Let no man intervene betwixt us.

 

BAPPA

Kodal, restrain thy Bheels.

Exit Kodal. They fight.

RUTTAN

Bold is thy chieftain

To match his boyish arm against my brother!

 

Page – 908


SUNGRAM

He is a mighty warrior, but not age

Nor bulk can measure strength; the exultant spirit

Pressing towards glory gives the arm a force

Mightier than physical. He's down.

Ichalgurh falls wounded.

RUTTAN

Great Ichalgurh!

Who is this godlike combatant?

 

BAPPA

Surrender

My princess, Chouhan.

 

ICHALGURH

Thou hast her who deserv'st

Much more than her.

He rises.

Young hero who in thy first battle o'erbearst

Maturer victors! know Pratap the Chouhan

Unalterably thy friend. When thou shalt ask

My sword, 'tis thine.

 

BAPPA

Thou'rt wounded?

ICHALGURH (binding his wound)

I have been worse

And ridden far to meet the foe. Another day

We'll share one rocky pillow on the hills

And talk of battles.

 

BAPPA

Pratap, I could but offer

A rude and hillside hospitality.

But when I hold my court in mighty Edur

 

Page – 909


I will absolve this morning's debt.

Enter Captain.

ICHALGURH

Farewell.

BAPPA

Escort him, friend.

Exeunt Sungram, Ichalgurh, Ruttan and Rajpoots.

How speeds the battle, comrade,

There with the Scythians?

 

CAPTAIN

It is finished, prince.

They fell in slaughtered heaps.

 

BAPPA

Prince Toraman?

CAPTAIN

Lay flat and bellowed. We'ld have taken him,

But Prithuraj, mad for the joy of battle,

Leaped on their foremost; while he hewed them down,

Like an untiring woodman, one giant Scythian

Crashing through bush and boulder hurled himself

Out of thy net; with him a loyal handful

Carried this Toraman.

Enter Prithuraj.

PRITHURAJ

Pardon my error,

Bappa.

 

BAPPA

It was a noble fault, my soldier.

We have done all we hoped. The amorous Scythian

Will not return in haste mid our green hills

 

Page – 910


To woo a Rajpoot maiden. Let us go.

I wonder when great Edur moves upon us.

I long to hear his war assail our mountains.

Exeunt.

Page – 911


Scene 6

 

Outside Bappa's cot.

Comol Cumary alone.

 

COMOL

Have I too dangerously ventured my all

Daring a blast so rude? The Scythian roar

Appals no more the forest, nor the war-cry

Of Ichalgurh climbs mightily the hills;

The outlaws' fierce triumphant shout is stilled

Of their young war-god's name. Who has won? who fallen?

Enter Bappa.

COMOL (coming eagerly to him)

How went the fight? You're safe! And Ichalgurh?

 

BAPPA

Give me your hands; I'll tell you.

COMOL

I see your head's

Not in the basket.

He takes her hands and draws her towards him.

Cateran, I forbade you

To touch me till the seventh day.

 

BAPPA

I touch

What is my own. To bid or to forbid

Is mine upon this hillside where I'm sovereign.

Sit down by me.

Page – 912


COMOL

I will not be commanded.

She sits down at his feet.

BAPPA

Oh, you are right, love. At my feet's more fitting

Who am your master and monarch. Come, no rising.

Stay there, where I can watch your antelope eyes

Look up at me bright with all love's own sunshine.

 

COMOL

Oh, you provoke me. You've not met the Chouhan,

Or you'ld have been much chastened.

 

BAPPA

I have met him.

COMOL

Great Ichalgurh?

 

BAPPA

We soon o'ercame the Scythians.

Your lover, Comol, the great Toraman,

Was borne, a mass of terror-stricken flesh,

By faithful fugitives headlong down the hillside.

 

COMOL

You need not triumph. These were only Scythians.

But what of Ichalgurh?

 

BAPPA

We fought. I conquered.

COMOL

Thou? thou? It is impossible.

 

Page – 913


BAPPA

But done.

COMOL

Why, you're a boy, a child! O my bright lion,

You are a splendid and a royal beast,

But very youthful. This was the maned monarch

Whose roar shook all the forest when he leaped

Upon his opposite. Then the great tusker

Went down beneath his huge and tawny front

As if it were an antelope. Him you've conquered?

 

BAPPA

He fell and yielded.

COMOL

You have learned romance

From the wild hill-tops and the stars at night

And take your visions for the fact.

 

BAPPA

Arch-infidel!

Ask Sungram.

 

COMOL

Then I understand. You won

As in your duel with me, quite unfairly.

You used your sleight of hand?

 

BAPPA

Perhaps, my princess,

His foot slipped and he fell; 'twas my good fortune,

Not I that conquered him.

 

COMOL

Indeed it was

Your high resistless fortune. O my king,

 

Page – 914


My hero, thou hast o'erborne great Ichalgurh;

Then who can stand against thee? Thou shalt conquer

More than my heart.

(Bappa takes her into his arms)

What dost thou, Bheel? Forbear!

I did but jest.

 

BAPPA

Do you recall your letter,

Comol? I have outdone the Chouhan, girl.

 

COMOL

Bheel, I wrote nothing, nothing.

 

BAPPA

I'll keep you now

For my sweet slave-girl, princess? You will not

Deny me?

 

COMOL

'Twas not my hand. Your Coomood forged it.

I'll not admit it.

 

BAPPA

Rebel against your heart!

You're trapped in your own springe. My antelope!

(kisses her)

I've brought you to my lair; shall I not prey on you?

Kiss me.

 

COMOL

I will not.

(kisses him)

O not now! O give me

The memory of this May to keep with me

Till death and afterwards, a dream of greenness

With visions of the white and vermeil spring,

 

Page – 915


A prelude set to winds and waterfalls

Among the mountains of immortal Dongurh

Far from the earth, in a delightful freedom

Treading the hill-tops, all the joy of life

In front of me to dream of its perfection,

Bappa.

 

BAPPA

When you entreat, who shall refuse you,

O lips of honey?

 

COMOL

Till the seventh morning,

Bappa.

 

BAPPA

Only till then.

COMOL

That is a promise.

(escaping from him)

Which, having won, I do deny, unsay,

Wholly recant and absolutely abjure

Whatever flattery I have said or done

To win it. You are still my Bheel and brigand,

My lawless cateran; I great Edur's princess.

I love you! Do not dream of it. Six days!

By then my father'll smoke you from your lair,

And take me from your dreadful claws, my lion,

An antelope undevoured.

 

BAPPA

Have you yet thought

Of the dire punishments you'll taste for this,

Deceiver?

Page – 916


COMOL

Not till the seventh morning, lion.

Exit.

BAPPA

Till then, my antelope, range my hills and make them

An Eden for me with thy wondrous beauty

Moving in grace and freedom of the winds,

Sweetness of the green woodlands; for of these

Thou seemst a part and they thy natural country.

Exit.

Page – 917