{"id":175,"date":"2013-07-13T01:26:23","date_gmt":"2013-07-13T01:26:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost\/?p=175"},"modified":"2013-07-13T01:26:23","modified_gmt":"2013-07-13T01:26:23","slug":"29-prince-of-edur-act-1-sc-2-vol-07-collected-plays-part-ii-volume-07","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/01-works-of-sri-aurobindo\/01-sabcl\/07-collected-plays-part-ii-volume-07\/29-prince-of-edur-act-1-sc-2-vol-07-collected-plays-part-ii-volume-07","title":{"rendered":"-29_Prince of Edur Act-1 Sc-2.htm"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n
\n
\n
\n

\n
\nSCENE II<\/b> <\/font><\/span>\n\t<\/div>\n

\n

\n <\/div>\n

\n

\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\nThe women’s apartments in the palace at Edur.
\nComol Cumary, Coomood Cumary.<\/i><\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tC<\/font>OMOL
\n\t<\/font>C<\/font>UMARY
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nTomorrow, Coomood, is the feast of May.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tC<\/font>OOMOOD
\n\t<\/font>C<\/font>UMARY
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nSweetheart, I wish it were the feast of Will.
\nI know what I would will for you.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tCOMOL <\/font>COOMARY
\n\t<\/font><\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nWhat, Coomood ?<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tC<\/font>OOMOOD
\n\t<\/font>C<\/font>UMARY<\/font><\/p>\n

\nA better husband than your father’ll give you.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tC<\/font>OMOL
\n\t<\/font>C<\/font>UMARY
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nYou mean the Scythian ? I will not believe
\nThat it can happen. My father’s heart is royal;<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nThe blood that throbs through it he drew from veins
\nOf Rajpoot mothers.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tC<\/font>OOMOOD
\n\t<\/font>C<\/font>UMARY
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nBut the brain’s too politic.
\nA merchant’s mind into his princely skull
\nSlipped in by some mischance, and it will sell you
\nIn spite of all the royal heart can say.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tC<\/font>OMOL
\n\t<\/font>C<\/font>UMARY<\/font><\/p>\n

\nHe is our father, therefore blame him not.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tC<\/font>OOMOOD
\n\t<\/font>C<\/font>UMARY
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nI blame his brain, not him. Sweetheart, remember
\nWhomever you may marry I shall claim
\nHalf of your husband.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013 747<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\n\tCOMOL <\/font>CUMARY
\n\t<\/font><\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nIf’t be the Scythian, you may have
\nThe whole uncouth barbarian with Cashmere
\nIn the bad bargain.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tC<\/font>OOMOOD
\n\t<\/font>C<\/font>UMARY
\n\t<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\nWe will not let him have you.
\nWe’ll find a mantra that shall call Urjoon
\nFrom Eden’s groves to wed you; great Dushyanta
\nShall leave Shacoontala for these wide eyes
\nWhich you have stolen from the antelope
\nTo gaze men’s hearts out of their bodies with,
\nYou lovely sorceress; or we’ll have Udaian
\nTo ravish you into his rushing car,
\nEdur’s Vasavadatta. We’ll bring crowding
\nThe heroes of romance out of the past
\nFor you to choose from, sweet, and not a Scythian
\nIn all their splendid ranks.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tC<\/font>OMOL
\n\t<\/font>C<\/font>UMARY
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nBut my poor Coomood,
\nYour hero of romance will never look at you,
\nFinding my antelope eyes so beautiful.
\nWhat will you do then ?<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tC<\/font>OOMOOD
\n\t<\/font>C<\/font>UMARY
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nI will marry him
\nBy<\/b> sleight of hand and never let him know.
\nFor when the nuptial fire is lit and when
\nThe nuptial bond is tied, I’ll slip my raiment’s hem
\nInto the knot that weds your marriage robes
\nAnd take the seven paces with you both
\nWeaving my life into one piece with yours .
\nFor ever.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\nEnter Nirmol Cumary.<\/i><\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013 748<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\n\tNIRMOL <\/font>CUMARY
\n\t<\/font><\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nNews, princess, news! What will you give me for a sackful of
\nnews?<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tC<\/font>OMOL
\n\t<\/font>C<\/font>UMARY<\/font><\/p>\n

\nTwo switches and a birchrod. A backful for your sackful!<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tN<\/font>IRMOL
\n\t<\/font>C<\/font>UMARY
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nI will empty my sack first, if only to shame you for your base
\ningratitude. To begin with what will please you best. Prince
\nToraman is arrived. I hear he is coming to see and approve of
\nyou before he makes the venture; it is the Scythian custom.<\/font> 
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tC<\/font>OMOL
\n\t<\/font>C<\/font>UMARY
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nHe shall not have his Scythian custom. In India it is we girls who
\nhave the right of choice.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tN<\/font>IRMOL
\n\t<\/font>C<\/font>UMARY
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nHe will not listen. These Scythians stick to their customs as if it
\nwere their skin; they will even wear their sheepskins in mid-summer in Agra.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tC<\/font>OMOL
\n\t<\/font>C<\/font>UMARY
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nThen, Nirmol, we will show you to him for the Princess Comol
\nCumary and marry you off into the mountains. Would you not
\nlove to be the Queen of Cashmere ?<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tN<\/font>IRMOL
\n\t<\/font>C<\/font>UMARY
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nI would not greatly mind. They say he is big as a Polar bear and
\nhas the sweetest little pugnose and cheeks like two fat pouches.
\nThey say too he carries a knout in his hand with which he will
\ntouch up the bride during the ceremony as a promise of what she
\nmay expect hereafter; it is the Scythian custom. <\/b> Oh, I envy you,
\nPrincess.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tC<\/font>OMOL
\n\t<\/font>C<\/font>UMARY<\/font><\/p>\n

\nNirmol, in sober earnest I will beat you.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013 749<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\n\tNIRMOL <\/font>CUMARY
\n\t<\/font><\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nStrike but hear! For I have still news in my sack. You must
\ngather your traps; we are to start for Dongurh in an hour.
\nWhat, have I made your eyes smile at last? <\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tC<\/font>OMOL
\n\t<\/font>C<\/font>UMARY
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nTo Dongurh! Truth, Nirmol.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tN<\/font>IRMOL
\n\t<\/font>C<\/font>UMARY<\/font><\/p>\n

\nBeat me in earnest, if it is not. Visaldeo himself told me.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tC<\/font>OMOL
\n\t<\/font>C<\/font>UMARY
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nTo Dongurh! To the woods! It is three years <\/font><\/p>\n

\nSince I was there. I wonder whether now <\/font><\/p>\n

\nThe woodland flowers into a sudden blush <\/font><\/p>\n

\nCrimsoning at the sweet approach of Spring <\/font><\/p>\n

\nAs once it did against that mooned white <\/font><\/p>\n

\nOf myriad blossoms. We shall feel again, <\/font><\/p>\n

\nCoomood, the mountain breezes kiss our cheeks
\nStanding on treeless ridges and behold
\nThe valleys wind unnoticeably below
\nIn threads of green.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tC<\/font>OOMOOD
\n\t<\/font>C<\/font>UMARY
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nIt is the feast of May.
\nShall we not dance upon the wind-blown peaks
\nAnd put the peacock’s feather in our hair
\nAnd think we are in Brindabon the green?<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tN<\/font>IRMOL
\n\t<\/font>C<\/font>UMARY
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nWith a snubnosed Scythian Krishna to lead the dance. But they
\nsay Krishna was neither Scythian nor Rajpoot but a Bheel. Well,
\nthere is another Krishna of that breed out who will make eighth-century Rookminnies of you if you dance too far into the forest,
\nsweethearts.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tC<\/font>OOMOOD
\n\t<\/font>C<\/font>UMARY<\/font><\/p>\n

\nYou mean this boy-captain of robbers who makes such a noise in<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013 750<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nour little world? Bappa they call him, do they not?<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tNIRMOL<\/font>
\n\t<\/font><\/b>CUMARY <\/font><\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\n‘Tis some such congregation of consonants. Now, which sort of
\nhusband would the most modern taste approve ? \u2014 a coal-black
\nsturdy young Bheel, his face as rugged as Rajputana, or a red and
\nwhite snubnosed Scythian with two prosperous purses for his
\ncheeks. There’s a problem in aesthetics for you, Coomood.<\/font> 
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tC<\/font>OMOL
\n\t<\/font>C<\/font>UMARY
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nA barbarous emperor or a hillside thief
\nAre equals in a Rajpoot maiden’s eyes.
\nYon mountain-peak or some base valley clod,
\nTis one to the heaven-sailing star above
\nThat scorns their lowness.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tN<\/font>IRMOL
\n\t<\/font>C<\/font>UMARY
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nYes, but housed with the emperor the dishonour is lapped in cloth
\nof gold; on the thief’s hillside it is black, naked and rough, its
\nprimitive and savage reality. To most women the difference
\nwould be great.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tC<\/font>OMOL
\n\t<\/font>C<\/font>UMARY
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nNot to me. I wonder they suffer this mountain springald
\nto presume so long.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tN<\/font>IRMOL
\n\t<\/font>C<\/font>UMARY
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nWhy, they sent out a captain lately to catch him, but he came
\nback a head shorter than he went. But how do you fancy my
\nnews, sweethearts?<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tC<\/font>OMOL
\n\t<\/font>C<\/font>UMARY<\/font><\/p>\n

\nWhat, is your sack empty?<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tN<\/font>IRMOL
\n\t<\/font>C<\/font>UMARY
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nYour kingly father was the last to stalk out of it. I expect him
\nhere to finish my story.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013 751<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nEnter Rana Curran, Menadevi and Visaldeo.<\/i><\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tC<\/font>URRAN<\/font><\/p>\n

\nMaid Comol, are you ready yet for Dongurh ?<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tCOMOL <\/font>CUMARY
\n\t<\/font><\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nI heard of it this moment, sir.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tC<\/font>URRAN
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nMake ready.
\nPrince Toraman arrives. You blush, my lily?<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tM<\/font>ENADEVI
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nThere is a maiden’s blush of bashfulness,<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nBut there’s her blush of shame too when her cheeks<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nOffended scorn a suitor far too base<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nShould bring such noble blood to flush their whiteness.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tC<\/font>URRAN<\/font><\/p>\n

\nMaid Comol, which was yours ?<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tC<\/font>OMOL
\n\t<\/font>C<\/font>UMARY
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nI would learn that,
\nFather, from your high sovereign will. I am not
\nThe mistress of my blushes.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tC<\/font>URRAN
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nKeep them for him,
\nComol, for whom their sweetness was created.
\nHearken, my little one, you are marked out
\nTo reign an empress; ’tis the stars decree it
\nThat in their calm irrevocable round
\nWeave all our fates. Then shrink not if thou hearest
\nThe noise of battle round thy palanquin
\nFilling the hills, nor fear its rude event,
\nBut veil thy cheeks in scarlet to receive
\nThy warlike husband.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013 752<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\n\tCOMOL <\/font>CUMARY
\n\t<\/font><\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nFather!<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tCURRAN <\/font><\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nIt is so.
\nThou journeyest not to Dongurh but thy nuptials.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tC<\/font>OMOL
\n\t<\/font>C<\/font>UMARY<\/font><\/p>\n

\nWith Toraman ?<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tC<\/font>URRAN
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nWith one whose lofty doom
\nIs empire. Keep this in thy joyous bosom
\nThrobbing in a sweet secrecy. Farewell.
\nWhen we foregather next, I hope to greet
\nMy little empress.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\nExit.<\/i><\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tM<\/font>ENADEVI
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nComol, what said he to thee?<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tC<\/font>OMOL
\n\t<\/font>C<\/font>UMARY
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nWhat I unwillingly have heard. Mother,
\nMust I be mated to a barbarous stock?<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tM<\/font>ENADEVI
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nNo, child. When you shall hear the trumpet’s din
\nOr clash of blades, think not ’tis Toraman,
\nBut your dear mother’s care to save her child
\nFrom shameful mating. Little sweetheart, go.
\nWhen I shall meet you next, you’ll shine, a flower
\nUpon the proudest crest in Rajasthan,
\nNo Scythian’s portion. Visaldeo, prepare
\nHer going quickly.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\nExit.<\/i><\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tC<\/font>OMOL
\n\t<\/font>C<\/font>UMARY
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nWhat plots surround me ? Nirmol,<\/font>
\n<\/font> <\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013 753<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nGive me my sword with me. I’ll have a friend
\nTo help me, should the world go wrong.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nOur self,<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tV<\/font>ISALDEO<\/font><\/p>\n

\nLady, is our best helper.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tCOMOL <\/font>CUMARY
\n\t<\/font><\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nI believe it.
\nWhich path’s resolved on ?<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tV<\/font>ISALDEO
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\n‘Tis the valley road
\nThat clings to the deep bases of the hills.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tC<\/font>OMOL
\n\t<\/font>C<\/font>UMARY<\/font><\/p>\n

\n‘<\/font>Tis not the shortest.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tV<\/font>ISALDEO
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nThe easiest, \u2014 to Cashmere.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tC<\/font>OMOL
\n\t<\/font>C<\/font>UMARY<\/font><\/p>\n

\nThe other’s safer then for Dongurh ?<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tV<\/font>ISALDEO
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nAt least
\n‘Tis green and beautiful, and love may walk there
\nUnhindered.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\nExit.<\/i><\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tC<\/font>OMOL
\n\t<\/font>C<\/font>UMARY
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nThou seemst to be my friend,
\nBut I’ll believe myself and no one else
\nExcept my sword whose sharpness I can trust
\nNot to betray me. Come, girls, make we ready
\nFor this planned fateful journey.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013 754<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\n\tCOOMOOD <\/font>CUMARY
\n\t<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\nLet them keep
\nOur palanquins together. One fate for both,
\nSweetheart.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tCOMOL <\/font>CUMARY
\n\t<\/font><\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nIf we must marry Toraman,
\nCoomood, it shall be in that shadowy country.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tN<\/font>IRMOL
\n\t<\/font>C<\/font>UMARY
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nWhere, I hope, justice will have set right the balance between his
\nnose and his cheeks. Girls, we are the prizes of this handicap
\nand I am impatient to know which jockey wins.<\/font> 
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nExeunt.<\/i><\/font><\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013 755<\/font><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

SCENE II     The women’s apartments in the palace at Edur. Comol Cumary, Coomood Cumary. COMOL CUMARY Tomorrow, Coomood, is the feast of May….<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-175","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-07-collected-plays-part-ii-volume-07","wpcat-6-id"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/175","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=175"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/175\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=175"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=175"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=175"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}