NDRANYBy princely compromise, alliance high,
Not yet by purchase or a social stain.
A
TRY
Our child will be an empress.
I
NDRANY
And outcaste.
A
TRY
There have been many nuptials mixed like these,
Of which world-famous emperors were born.
I
NDRANY
Yes, but we took, not gave, were lords, not slaves.
As ransom of his fate the conquered Greek
To Indian Chandragupta gave his child,
Knowing a son by her could never rule.
A
TRY
There is no bar. The Scythian weds with all
And makes impartial Time the arbiter
Whether a native or a foreign womb
Shall be the shelterer of his empire's heir.
I
NDRANY
This honour's purchased at too vile a cost.
A
TRY
There is no help. If we deny our girl,
He'll have her violently, make her his slave
And not his wife.
I
NDRANY
Do this then, seem to yield,
But send her to your fortress on the hills,
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Whence let one take her with a show of force,
Whoever's noblest now of Aryan lords
In Magadha, Avanty or the South,
Fit mate for Atry's stock. Twixt him be strife
And the Cashmerian, we escape his wrath.
A
TRY
It shall be so. I'll choose a trusty man
Who shall to Magadha before the morn.
Meanwhile prepare your daughter for the hills.
Indrany goes out joyfully.
It is not good. The man will learn the trick,
A fierce barbarian, rapid as the storm,
Violent, vindictive, stamping on the world
Like a swift warhorse, neighing to the winds
With nostrils wide for any scent of war,
For men to kill, lands to lay desolate,
Haughty and keen amid his violence
With the king's eye that reads the minds of men, —
Such is the man she counsels me to tempt
By palpable evasion. I will send
Urmila to my fortress on the hills.
But he, not Magadha, shall take her forth
By secret nuptials. He is honourable
Though violent, a statesman though too proud.
The prejudices of our race and day
Must yield to more commanding thoughts and views
That suit the changing times. Custom is mutable,
Only the breach of it is dangerous
If too impetuously we innovate. It's best
To circumvent opinion, not provoke.
Who's there? Call Mayoor!
The King's first task is to preserve his realm,
Means honourable or dishonourable
Are only means to use impartially,
The most effective first.
Mayoor enters.
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Mayoor, you know
The motion made by the Cashmerian's son
To wed my daughter.
M
AYOOR
We have spoken of it
Already.
A
TRY
You are still of the same mind?
You think my subjects will revolt?
M
AYOOR
It's sure.
A
TRY
The Scythian sword can keep them hushed and still.
M
AYOOR
And you its slave and pensioner, impotent.
A
TRY
Then do it thus. The thing is secret still.
Let it remain so. Let Prince Toraman
Wed Urmila in secret in the hills
As if herself had yielded to his suit,
Not my consent. Against whom then, Mayoor,
Shall Mathura revolt?
M
AYOOR
It may be done.
But will the Scythian's pride assent, or if
The bond is secret, will he own the bond?
A
TRY
He shall, he must. To break by any means
The bar of pride that lowers him beneath
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The lowest of his Aryan tributaries,
He will consent to much. And for the bond
He shall engage his honour, then possess.
Yourself go to him, Mayoor, where he's camped.
Persuade him. Let an escort start at once
With Urmila to Roondhra in the hills.
I trust you, Mayoor, for entire success.
My crown, my honour are upon this cast.
M
AYOOR
Your crown is safe with me; your honour, King,
I'll save.
A
TRY
Always few words were yours, Mayoor,
But each one solid gold.
He goes out.
M
AYOOR
To cheat you's best
Of the dishonour to which you aspire
And for the crown, it's safer in my hands
Than Toraman's, the Scythian giant, bold,
Subtle and violent, who spreads his toils
Over all India, helping force with guile
And guile with force.
Enter Mekhala.
M
EKHALA
He is alone. Hear you,
Mayoor!
M
AYOOR
It's from the queen?
M
EKHALA
Read it and see.
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M
AYOOR
Tell her my word is pledged and Urmila
Saved from the Scythian wedlock.
M
EKHALA
And that means
You'll do it?
M
AYOOR
She shall not wed Toraman.
Mekhala goes out.
This is another coil. The King, it seems,
Deceives his people and deceives his queen.
She trusts him not, nor they. A lying King
Tortuous and serpentine in policy,
Loses as much by the distrust he breeds
As all his shufflings gain. I'll write to Magadha
In other terms than Queen Indrany dreams.
I will send out my messengers at once.
One first to Ajamede, the lion dispossessed,
Where in the hills of Roondhra now he lairs.
Another to the mighty Magadhan
Who gathers up his strength to free the land
From the barbarian's tread. Myself shall go
To Toraman and meet the Scythian will.
The end shall be as God long since decreed.
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