Vasavadatta

Scene I

A room in the royal apartments.

 

Ungarica, Vasavadutta.

 

UNGARICA

Thou singest well; a cry of Vuthsa's art

Has stolen into thy song.

 

She takes Vasavadutta on her lap.

 

Look up at me,

My daughter, let me gaze into thy eyes

And from their silence learn thy treasured thoughts.

Thou knowest I can read twixt human lids

The secrets of the throbbing heart? I search

In Vasavadutta's eyes by what strange skill

Vuthsa has crept into my daughter's voice.

Thou keepst thy lashes lowered? thou wilt not let me look?

But that too I can read.

 

VASAVADUTTA

O mother, mother mine,

Plague me not; thou knowst all things; comfort me.

 

UNGARICA

Thou needest comfort?

 

VASAVADUTTA

Yes, against myself

Who trouble my own heart.

 

UNGARICA

Why? though I know.

Thou wilt not speak? I'll speak then for thee.

 

Vasavadutta alarmed puts her hand over Ungarica's mouth.

 

Off!

It is because thou canst not here control

What thy immortal part with rapture wills

And the mortal longingly desires; for yet

Thy proud heart cannot find the way to yield.

 

VASAVADUTTA

If thou knewst, mother.

 

UNGARICA

No, thou hast the will

But not the art, Love's learner. O my proud

Sweet ignorance, 'tis he shall find the way

And thou shalt know the joy of being forced

To what thy heart desires.

 

VASAVADUTTA

O mother!

 

She hides her face in Ungarica's bosom.

 

UNGARICA

Thou hast done thy father's will?

Thy husband shall be vassal to thy sire?

 

VASAVADUTTA

Have I a father or a house? O none,

O none, O none exists but only he.

 

UNGARICA

Let none exist for thee but the dear all thou lov'st.

I charge thee, Vasavadutta, when thou rul'st

In far Cowsamby, let this be thy reign

To heap on him delight and seek his good.

Raise his high fortunes, shelter from grief his heart,

Even with thy own tears buy his joy and peace,

Nor let one clamorous thought of self revolt

Against him.

 

VASAVADUTTA

Mother, thou canst see my heart;

Is this not there? Can it do otherwise,

Being thus conquered, even if it willed?

 

UNGARICA

Child, 'tis my care to give thy heart a voice

And bind it to its nobler loving self.

Let this be now thy pride.

 

VASAVADUTTA

It is, it is.

But, mother, it is very sweet to rule,

And if I rule him for his good, not mine?

 

UNGARICA

Thou canst not be corrected! Queenling, rule.

Go now; thy brother comes.

 

Vasavadutta escapes towards her own apartments; Vicurna enters from the outer door.

 

Why is thy brow

A darkness?

 

VICURNA

Wherefore was King Vuthsa brought

Into Ujjayiny? why is captive kept?

 

UNGARICA

Thy father's will, who knows.

 

VICURNA

But I would know.

 

UNGARICA

Him ask.

 

VICURNA (taking her face between his hands)

I ask thee; thou must answer.

 

UNGARICA

To wed

Thy sister.

 

VICURNA

Let him wed and be released.

Our fame is smirched; the city murmurs. War

Threatens from Vuthsa's nation and our cause

Is evil.

 

UNGARICA

Wedding her he must consent

To be our vassal.

 

VICURNA

Thus are vassals made?

Thus empires built? This is a shameful thing.

Release him first, then with proud war subdue.

 

UNGARICA

Thou knowest thy father's stern, unbending will

Whom we must all obey.

 

VICURNA

Not I, or not

In evil things.

 

UNGARICA

Respect thy father! He

Will not, unsatisfied, release his foe.

Demand not this.

 

VICURNA

I will release him then.

 

UNGARICA

Him by what right who is thy house's peril?

 

VICURNA

He is a hero and he is my friend.

 

UNGARICA

Didst thou not help to bring him captive here?

 

VICURNA

For Vasavadutta. I will bear them both

Out from the city in my chariot far

Into the freedom of the hills. I will hew down

All who oppose me.

 

UNGARICA

Rash and violent boy,

So wilt thou make bad worse. Await the hour

When Vuthsa shall himself demand thy aid.

 

VICURNA

The hour will come?

 

UNGARICA

He will be free.

 

VICURNA

Then soon,

Or I myself will act.

 

He goes out.

 

UNGARICA

This too is well

And most that the proud chivalries of old

Are not yet dead in all men's hearts. O God

Shiva, thou mak'st me fortunate in my sons.

 

Scene II

Vasavadutta's chamber.

 

Vuthsa, Vasavadutta.

 

VUTHSA

Thy hands have yet no cunning with the strings.

'Tis not the touch alone but manner of the touch

That calls the murmuring spirit forth,—as thus.

 

VASAVADUTTA

I cannot manage it; my hand rebels.

 

VUTHSA

I will compel it then.

 

He takes her hand in his.

 

Thou dost not chide.

 

VASAVADUTTA

I am weary of chiding; and how rule a boy

Who takes delight in being chidden? And then

'Twas only my hand. What dost thou?

 

Vuthsa takes her by the arms and draws her towards him.

 

VUTHSA

What thy eyes

Commanded me and what for many days

My heart has clamoured for in hungry pain.

 

VASAVADUTTA

Presumptuous! wilt thou not immediately

Release me?

 

VUTHSA

Not till thy heart's will is done.

 

He draws her down on his knees, resisting.

 

VASAVADUTTA

What will? I did not bid. What will? Vuthsa!

Vuthsa! I did not bid. This is not well.

 

He masters her and holds her on his bosom.

 

Her head falls on his shoulder.

 

VUTHSA

O my desire, why should we still deny

Delight that calls to us? Strive not with joy,

But yield me the sweet mortal privilege

That makes me equal with the happiest god

In all the heavens of fulfilled desire.

O on thy sweet averted cheek! My queen,

My wilful empress, all in vain thou striv'st

To keep from me the treasure of thy lips

I have deserved so long.

 

VASAVADUTTA

Vuthsa! Vuthsa!

 

He forces her lips up to his and kisses her.

 

VUTHSA

O honey of thy mouth! The joy, the joy

Was sweeter. I have drunk in heaven at last,

Let what will happen.

 

Vasavadutta escapes and stands quivering at a distance.

 

VASAVADUTTA

Stand there! approach me not.

 

VUTHSA

I thought 'twould be enough for many ages;

But 'tis not so.

 

VASAVADUTTA

Go from me, seek thy room.

 

VUTHSA

Have I so much offended? I will go.

 

He pretends to go.

 

VASAVADUTTA

Vuthsa, I am not angry; do not go.

Sit; I must chide thee. Was this well to abuse

My kindness, to mistake indulgence?—No,

I am not angry; thou art only a boy.

I have permitted thee to love because

Thou saidst thou couldst not help it. This again

Thou must not do,—not thus.

 

VUTHSA

Then teach me how.

 

VASAVADUTTA (with a troubled smile)

I never had so importunate a slave.

I must think out some punishment for thee.

 

She comes to him suddenly, takes him to her bosom and kisses him with passion.

 

VUTHSA

O if 'tis this, I will again offend.

 

She clings to him, kisses him again, then puts him away from her.

 

VASAVADUTTA

Go from me, go. Wilt thou not go? Munjoolica!

 

VUTHSA

She is not here to help thee against thy heart.

But I will go; thou willst it.

 

VASAVADUTTA

Wilt thou leave me?

 

VUTHSA

Never! thus, thus into my bosom grow,

O Vasavadutta.

 

VASAVADUTTA

O my happiness!

O Vuthsa, only name that's sweet on earth

I have murmured to the silence of the hours,

Give me delight, let me endure thy clasp

For ever. O loveliest head on all the earth!

 

VUTHSA

If we could thus remain through many ages,

Nor Time grow weary ever of such bliss,

O Vasavadutta!

 

VASAVADUTTA

I have loved thee always

Even when I knew it not. Was't not the love

Secret between us, drew thee here by force,

Vuthsa?

 

VUTHSA

Thou wilt not now refuse thy lips?

 

VASAVADUTTA

Nothing to thee.

 

VUTHSA

Yes, thou shalt be my queen

Surrendered henceforth, I thy slave enthroned.

Give me the largess of thyself that I may be

The constant vassal of thy tyrant eyes

And captive of thy beauty all my days

And homage pay to thy sweet sovereign soul.

Thus, thus accept me.

 

VASAVADUTTA

I accept, my king,

Thy service and thy homage and thy love.

If in return the bounty of myself

I lavish on thee, will it be enough?

Can it hold thy life as thou wilt fill all mine?

 

VUTHSA

Weave thyself into morn and noon and eve.

We will not be as man and woman are

Who are with partial oneness satisfied,

Divided in our works, but one large soul

Parted in two dear bodies for more bliss.

For all my occupations thou shalt rule,

And those that take me from thy blissful shadow

Still with thy sweet remembrance shall inspired

Be done by thee.

 

VASAVADUTTA

If thy heart strays from me,—

 

VUTHSA

Never my heart.

 

VASAVADUTTA

If thy eyes stray from me,

O Vuthsa,—

 

VUTHSA

If I view all beautiful things

With natural delight, thou wilt pardon that

Because thou wilt share the joy.

 

VASAVADUTTA

Then must I find

Thy beauty there.

 

VUTHSA

Tonight, my love, my love,

Shall we not linger heart on heart tonight?

 

VASAVADUTTA

Ah, Vuthsa, no.

 

VUTHSA

Does not thy heart cry, yes?

Are we not wedded? Shall we dally, love,

Upon heaven's outskirts, nor all Paradise

This hour compel?

 

VASAVADUTTA (faintly)

Munjoolica!

 

VUTHSA

Beloved, thy eyes

Beseech me to overcome thee with my will.

 

Munjoolica entering, Vuthsa releases Vasavadutta.

 

MUNJOOLICA

Princess!

 

VASAVADUTTA

Munjoolica! Why camest thou?

 

MUNJOOLICA

Call'dst thou not?

 

VASAVADUTTA

'Tis forgotten. Oh, I remember.

'Twas to lead Vuthsa to his prison. (low) Smile,

And I will beat thee! It was all thy fault.

 

MUNJOOLICA

Oh, very little. Come, the hour is late;

The Princess' maidens will come trooping in.

Turn not reluctant eyes behind but come.

 

She takes Vuthsa by both wrists and leads him out.

 

VASAVADUTTA

There is a fire within me and a cry.

My longings have all broken in a flood

And I am the tossed spray! O my desire

That criest for the beauty of his limbs

And to feel all his body with thyself

And lose thy soul in his sweet answering soul,

Wilt thou not all this night be silent? I

Will walk upon the terrace in moonlight;

Perhaps the large, silent night will give me peace.

For now 'twere vain to sleep. O in his arms!

His arms about me and the world expunged!

 

Scene III

The tower-room by the terrace.

 

Vuthsa asleep on a couch; Munjoolica.

 

MUNJOOLICA

He sleeps and now to lure my victim here.

You! princess! Vasavadutta!

 

VASAVADUTTA (appearing at the doorway)

Didst thou call?

 

MUNJOOLICA

Yes, to come in from moonlight to the moon.

Thou hast never seen him yet asleep.

 

VASAVADUTTA

He sleeps!

 

MUNJOOLICA

His curls are pillowed on one golden arm

Like clouds upon the moon. Wilt thou not see?

 

VASAVADUTTA

I dare not. I will stand here and will see.

 

MUNJOOLICA

Thou shalt not. Either pass or enter in.

 

VASAVADUTTA

Thou playst the tyrant? I will stand and see.

 

MUNJOOLICA (pushing her suddenly in)

In with thee!

 

VASAVADUTTA

Munjoolica!

 

MUNJOOLICA

Hush, wake him not!

 

She drags her to the couch-side.

 

Is he not beautiful?

 

She draws back and after a moment goes quietly out and closes the door.

 

VASAVADUTTA

Oh, now I feel

My mother's heart when over me she bowed

Wakeful at midnight! He has never had

Since his strange birth a mother's, sister's love.

O sleeping soul of my beloved, hear

My vow, that while thy Vasavadutta lives,

Thou shalt not lack again one heart's desire,

One tender bodily want. All things at once,

Wife, mother, sister, lover, playmate, friend,

Queen, comrade, counsellor I will be to thee.

Self shall not chill my heart with wedded strife,

Nor age nor custom pale my fire of love.

I have that strength in me, the strength to love of gods.

 

A tress of her hair falls on his face and awakes him.

 

VUTHSA

O Vasavadutta, thou hast come to me!

 

VASAVADUTTA

It was not I! Munjoolica dragged me in.

O where is she? The door!

 

She hastens to the door and finds it bolted from outside.

 

Munjoolica!

What is this jest? I shall be angry. Open.

 

MUNJOOLICA (outside, solemnly)

Bolted.

 

VASAVADUTTA

For pity, sweet Munjoolica!

 

MUNJOOLICA

I settle my accounts. Be happy. I

Am gone.

 

VASAVADUTTA

Go not, go not, Munjoolica.

 

VUTHSA (coming to her)

She's gone, the thrice-blessed mischief, and tonight

This happy prison thou gav'st me is thine too.

Goddess! thou art shut in with thy delight.

Why wouldst thou flee then through the doors of heaven?

 

VASAVADUTTA

O not tonight! Be patient! I will ask

My father; he will give me as thy wife.

 

VUTHSA

Thou thinkst I'll take thee from thy father's hands

Like a poor Brahmin begging for a dole?

Not so do heroes' children wed, nor they

Who from the loins of puissant princes sprang.

With the free interchange of looks and hearts

Nobly self-given, heaven for the priest

And the heart's answers for the holy verse,

They are wedded or by wished-for violence torn

Consenting, yet resisting from the midst

Of many armed men. So will I wed thee,

O Vasavadutta, so will bear by force

Out of the house and city of my foes

Breaking through hostile gates. By a long kiss

I'll seal thy lips that vainly would forbid.

Let thy heart speak instead the word of joy,

O Vasavadutta.

 

VASAVADUTTA

Do with me what thou wilt, for I am thine.