{"id":718,"date":"2013-07-13T01:29:56","date_gmt":"2013-07-13T01:29:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost\/?p=718"},"modified":"2013-07-13T01:29:56","modified_gmt":"2013-07-13T01:29:56","slug":"21-vasavadutta-act-one-scene-1-vol-06-collected-plays-part-i-volume-06","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/01-works-of-sri-aurobindo\/01-sabcl\/06-collected-plays-part-i-volume-06\/21-vasavadutta-act-one-scene-1-vol-06-collected-plays-part-i-volume-06","title":{"rendered":"-21_Vasavadutta-Act One-Scene-1.htm"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n
\n

\nAct One <\/b><\/font> <\/p>\n

\n
\n
\nSCENE I <\/font><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\nAn inner room of the palace in Avunthie. <\/i><\/font><\/p>\n

\nChunda Mahasegn, seated; Gopalaca.<\/i><\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tM<\/font>AHASEGN <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nVuthsa Udayan drives my fortune back. <\/font><\/p>\n

\nOur strengths retire from one luxurious boy, <\/font><\/p>\n

\nDefeated.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tG<\/font>OPALACA <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nI have seen him in the fight <\/font><\/p>\n

\nAnd I have lived to wonder. <\/b><\/font><\/p>\n

\nO, he ranges
\nAs lightly through the passages of war <\/font><\/p>\n

\nAs might the moonbeam feet of some bright laughing girl, <\/font><\/p>\n

\nHer skill concealing in her reckless grace, <\/font><\/p>\n

\nThe measures of a rapid dance.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tM<\/font>AHASEGN <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nIf this dawn <\/font><\/p>\n

\nBrings its portentous morning to our gates, <\/font><\/p>\n

\nOur suns are ended. Yet I had great dreams. <\/font><\/p>\n

\nOudh and Cowsambie were my high-carved doors;<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nGanges, Godavarie and Nurmada<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nIn lion race besprayed with sacred dew<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nThe moonlit jasmines in my pleasure-grounds.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nAll this great sunlit continent lay sleeping<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nAt peace beneath the shadow of my brows.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nBut they were dreams.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tG<\/font>OPALACA
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nArt thou not great enough<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nTo live them?<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013 211<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\n\tM<\/font>AHASEGN <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nO my son, many high hearts <\/font><\/p>\n

\nMust first have striven, many must have failed <\/font><\/p>\n

\nBefore a great thing can be done on earth;<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nAnd who shall say then that he is the man ? <\/font><\/p>\n

\nOne age has seen the dreams another lives!<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tGOPALACA <\/font><\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nLook up towards the hills where Rudra stands, <\/font><\/p>\n

\nHis dreadful war-lance pointing to the east. <\/font><\/p>\n

\nFear not the obstacles the gods have strewn. <\/font><\/p>\n

\nWhy should the mighty man restrain his soul ? <\/font><\/p>\n

\nStretch out thy hand to seize, thy foot to trample, <\/font><\/p>\n

\nA Titan’s motion.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nHigh thou soarest now <\/font><\/p>\n

\nBut with eyes shut to the tempest.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tG<\/font>OPALACA <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nSuest thou at last <\/font><\/p>\n

\nTo foemen for the end of haughty strife ?<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nThat never shall be seen. The boy must fall.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tG<\/font>OPALACA <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nHe is young, noble, beautiful and bold, <\/font><\/p>\n

\nBut let him fall. We will not bear defeat.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nHow shall he fall, my son ? For Heaven-admired <\/font><\/p>\n

\nRudra still guards my stern and high-eyed fates, <\/font><\/p>\n

\nBut many gods stood smiling at his birth. <\/font><\/p>\n

\nLuxmie came full of fortunate days; Vishnu <\/font><\/p>\n

\nPoured down his radiant sanction in the skies <\/font><\/p>\n

\nAnd promised his far stride across the earth;<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013 212<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nMagic Saruswathie between his hands <\/font><\/p>\n

\nLaid down her lotus arts.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tGOPALACA <\/font><\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nThe austere gods <\/font><\/p>\n

\nHelp best and not indulgent deities. <\/font><\/p>\n

\nThe greatness in him cannot grow to man. <\/font><\/p>\n

\nExcused from effort and propped on difficult ascent <\/font><\/p>\n

\nBirds that are brilliant-winged fly near to earth. <\/font><\/p>\n

\nHis hero hours are rare forgetful flights. <\/font><\/p>\n

\nWine, song and dance winging his peaceful days <\/font><\/p>\n

\nThrong round his careless soul, it cannot find <\/font><\/p>\n

\nThe noble leisure to grow great.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tM<\/font>AHASEGN <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nThere lives <\/font><\/p>\n

\nOur hope. My son, spy out thy enemy’s spirit, <\/font><\/p>\n

\nEven as his wealth and armies! Let thy eyes <\/font><\/p>\n

\nFind out its weakness and thy hand there strike.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tG<\/font>OPALACA <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nThou hast a way to strike?<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nI have a way, <\/font><\/p>\n

\nNot noble like the sounding paths of war.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tG<\/font>OPALACA
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nTake it; let us stride straight towards our goal.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nThy arm is asked for.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tG<\/font>OPALACA <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nIt is thine to use. <\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tM<\/font>AHASEGN
\n\t<\/font>.<\/font>
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nInvent some strong device and bring him to us<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013 213<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nA captive in Ujjayinie’s golden groves. <\/font><\/p>\n

\nShall he not find there a jailor for his heart <\/font><\/p>\n

\nTo take the miracle of its keys and wear them <\/font><\/p>\n

\nSwung on her raiment’s border? Then he lives <\/font><\/p>\n

\nShut up by her close in a prison of joy, <\/font><\/p>\n

\nHer and our vassal.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tGOPALACA <\/font><\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nBrought to the eagle’s nest <\/font><\/p>\n

\nFor the eagle’s child, thou giv’st him her heart’s prey <\/font><\/p>\n

\nTo Vasavadutta? King, thy way is good. <\/font><\/p>\n

\nGarooda on a young and sleeping Python <\/font><\/p>\n

\nRushing from heaven I’ll lift him helpless up <\/font><\/p>\n

\nInto the skiey distance of our peaks. <\/font><\/p>\n

\nThough it is strange and new and subtle, it is good. <\/font><\/p>\n

\nThink the blow struck, thy foeman seized and bound.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tM<\/font>AHASEGN <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nI know thy swiftness and thy gathered leap.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nOnce here! his senses are enamoured slaves<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nTo the touch of every beautiful thing. O, there<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nNo hero, but a tender soul at play,<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nA soft-eyed, mirthful and luxurious youth<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nWhom all sweet sounds and all sweet sights compel<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nTo careless ecstasy. Wine, music, flowers<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nAnd a girl’s dawning smile can weave him chains<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nOf vernal softness stronger than bonds can give<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nOf unyielding iron. Two lips shall seal his strength,<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nTwo eyes of all his acts be tyrant stars.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tG<\/font>OPALACA <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nOne aid I ask of thee and only one. <\/font><\/p>\n

\nMy banishment, O King, from thy domains.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tM<\/font>AHASEGN <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nGopalaca, I banish thee, my child. <\/font><\/p>\n

\nReturn not with my violent will undone.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013 214<\/font><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Act One   SCENE I   An inner room of the palace in Avunthie. Chunda Mahasegn, seated; Gopalaca. MAHASEGN Vuthsa Udayan drives my fortune back….<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-718","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-06-collected-plays-part-i-volume-06","wpcat-15-id"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/718","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=718"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/718\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=718"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=718"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=718"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}