The pleasure-groves of the palace in Ujjayinie.

Gopalaca, Vuthsa, Vicurna; at a distance under the trees Ungarica,
Vasavadutta and Umba.

GOPALACA

Vuthsa, the wine is singing in my brain,
The moonlight floods my soul. These are the hours
When the veil for eye and ear is almost rent
And we can hear wind-haired Gundharvas sing
In a strange luminous ether. Thou art one,
Vuthsa, who has escaped the bars and walks
Smiling and harping to enchanted men.

VUTHSA

It was your earthly moonlight drew me here
And thou, Gopalaca, and Vindhya's hills
And Vasavadutta. Thou shalt drink with me
In moonlight in Cowsambie.

GOPALACA

Vuthsa, when?
What wild and restless spirit keeps thy feet
Tonight, Vicurna?

VICURNA

'Tis the wine. I wait.

GOPALACA

For what?

VICURNA (with a harsh laugh)

Why, for the wine to do its work.

GOPALACA

Where's Vasavadutta ? Call her to us here.

We are not happy if she walks apart.

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VICURNA

There with the mother underneath the trees.

GOPALACA

Call them. Thou, Vuthsa, she and I will drink
One cup of love and pledge our hearts in wine
Never to be parted. Thou deceiv'st the days,
O lax and laggard lover.

VUTHSA

'Tis the last.
Tomorrow lights another scene.

GOPALACA

Tis good
That thou inclin'st thy heart. My father grows
Stern and impatient. This done, all is well.

VUTHSA

All in this poor world cannot have their will;

Its joys are bounded. I submit, it seems.
Wilt thou incline thy heart, Gopalaca ?

GOPALACA

To what?

VUTHSA

To this fair moonlight night's result
And all that follows after.

GOPALACA

Easily

I promise that.

VUTHSA

All surely will be well.

Munjoolica arrives from the gates; Vicurna  

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returning/row the trees with Ungarica, Vasavadutta
and Umba, goes forward to meet her.

VICURNA

Is't done?

MUNJOOLICA

They sprawl half senseless near the gate.

VICURNA

Whole bound and gagged were best. Give Vuthsa word.

He goes towards the gates.

UNGARICA

Munjoolica, is it tonight ?

MUNJOOLICA

What, madam?

UNGARICA (striking her lightly on the cheek)

Vicurna rides tonight?

MUNJOOLICA

He rides tonight.

UNGARICA

Let him not learn, nor any, that I knew.

She returns to the others.

GOPALACA

Come, all you wanderers. Mother, here's a cup
That thou must bless with thy fair magic hands
Before we drink it.

UNGARICA

May those who drink be one
In heart and great and loving all their days

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Favoured by Shiva and by Luxmie blest
Until the end and far beyond.

GOPALACA

Drink, Vuthsa.
Three hearts meet in this cup.

UNGARICA

Who drinks this first,
He shall be first and he shall be the bond.

GOPALACA

Drink, sister Vasavadutta, queen of all.

UNGARICA

Queen thou shalt be, my daughter, as in thy heart,
So in thy love and fortunes.

GOPALACA

Mine the last.

UNGARICA

Thou sayest, my son, yet first mid many men.

GOPALACA

Whatever place, so in this knot 'tis found.

UNGARICA (embracing Vasavadutta closely)

Forget not thy dear mother in thy bliss.
Gopalaca, attend me to the house,
I have a word for thee, my son.

GOPALACA

I come.

They go towards the palace.  

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VUTHSA

Is it the moment?

MUNJOOLICA

Yonder lies the gate.

VUTHSA

Love! Vasavadutta?

VASAVADUTTA

Vuthsa! Vuthsa! speak,
What has been quivering in the air this night ?

He takes her in his arms.

VUTHSA

Thy rapt and rapture far away, O love.
Look farewell to thy father's halls.

VASAVADUTTA

Alas!
What is this rashness? Thou art unarmed; the guards
Will slay thee.

VUTHSA

Fear not! Thou in my arms,
Our fates a double shield, thou hast no fear,
Nor anything this night to think or do
Save in the chariot lie between my knees
And listen to the breezes in thy locks
Whistling to thee of far Cowsambie's groves.

He bears her towards the gate, Vicurna

crossing him in his return.

VICURNA

Haste, haste! all's ready.

MUNJOOLICA

Umba! Umba! here?  

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UMBA (who comes running up)

Oh, what is this?

VICURNA

Should not this girl be bound ?

UMBA

Give rather thy commands.

MUNJOOLICA

Thou'lt face the wrath?

UMBA

O, all for my dear mistress. If the King
Slays me, I shall have lived and died for her
For whom I was born.

MUNJOOLICA

Hide in the groves until
Thou hearst a rumour growing from the walls,
Then seek the house and save thyself. Till then
Let no man find thee.

UMBA

I will lose myself
In the far bushes. O come safely through.
Could you not have trusted me in this ?

MUNJOOLICA

Weep not!
I'll have thee to Cowsambie if thou live.

VICURNA

Come, follow, follow. He is near the gates.

MUNJOOLICA

I to my freedom, she her royal crown!  

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