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of a Kinsuka petal has neither name nor destination。 It offers
no answer to any question。 She whom you love is like that
perfect bead of dew。
Arjuna
Has she no tie with the world？ Can she be merely like a fragment
of heaven dropped on the earth through the carelessness of a
wanton god？
Chitra
Yes。
Arjuna
Ah； that is why I always seem about to lose you。 My heart is
unsatisfied； my mind knows no peace。 Come closer to me；
unattainable one！ Surrender yourself to the bonds of name and
home and parentage。 Let my heart feel you on all sides and live
with you in the peaceful security of love。
Chitra
Why this vain effort to catch and keep the tints of the clouds；
the dance of the waves； the smell of the flowers？
Arjuna
Mistress mine； do not hope to pacify love with airy nothings。
Give me something to clasp； something that can last longer than
pleasure； that can endure even through suffering。
Chitra
Hero mine； the year is not yet full； and you are tired already！
Now I know that it is Heaven's blessing that has made the
flower's term of life short。 Could this body of mine have
drooped and died with the flowers of last spring it surely would
have died with honour。 Yet； its days are numbered； my love。
Spare it not； press it dry of honey； for fear your beggar's heart
come back to it again and again with unsated desire； like a
thirsty bee when summer blossoms lie dead in the dust。
SCENE VII
Madana
TONIGHT is thy last night。
Vasanta
The loveliness of your body will return tomorrow to the
inexhaustible stores of the spring。 The ruddy tint of thy lips
freed from the memory of Arjuna's kisses； will bud anew as a pair
of fresh asoka leaves； and the soft； white glow of thy skin will
be born again in a hundred fragrant jasmine flowers。
Chitra
O gods； grant me this my prayer！ Tonight； in its last hour let
my beauty flash its brightest； like the final flicker of a dying
flame。
Madana
Thou shalt have thy wish。
SCENE VIII
Villagers
WHO will protect us now？
Arjuna
Why； by what danger are you threatened？
Villagers
The robbers are pouring from the northern hills like a mountain
flood to devastate our village。
Arjuna
Have you in this kingdom no warden？
Villagers
Princess Chitra was the terror of all evil doers。 While she was
in this happy land we feared natural deaths； but had no other
fears。 Now she has gone on a pilgrimage； and none knows where to
find her。
Arjuna
Is the warden of this country a woman？
Villagers
Yes； she is our father and mother in one。
＇Exeunt。
Enter CHITRA。
Chitra
Why are you sitting all alone？
Arjuna
I am trying to imagine what kind of woman Princess Chitra may be。
I hear so many stories of her from all sorts of men。
Chitra
Ah； but she is not beautiful。 She has no such lovely eyes as
mine； dark as death。 She can pierce any target she will； but not
our hero's heart。
Arjuna
They say that in valour she is a man； and a woman in tenderness。
Chitra
That； indeed； is her greatest misfortune。 When a woman is merely
a woman； when she winds herself round and round men's hearts with
her smiles and sobs and services and caressing endearments； then
she is happy。 Of what use to her are learning and great
achievements？ Could you have seen her only yesterday in the
court of the Lord Shiva's temple by the forest path； you would
have passed by without deigning to look at her。 But have you
grown so weary of woman's beauty that you seek in her for a man's
strength？
With green leaves wet from the spray of the foaming waterfall； I
have made our noonday bed in a cavern dark as night。 There the
cool of the soft green mosses thick on the black and dripping
stone； kisses your eyes to sleep。 Let me guide you thither。
Arjuna
Not today； beloved。
Chitra
Why not today？
Arjuna
I have heard that a horde of robbers has neared the plains。
Needs must I go and prepare my weapons to protect the frightened
villagers。
Chitra
You need have no fear for them。 Before she started on her
pilgrimage； Princess Chitra had set strong guards at all the
frontier passes。
Arjuna
Yet permit me for a short while to set about a Kshatriya's work。
With new glory will I ennoble this idle arm； and make of it a
pillow more worthy of your head。
Chitra
What if I refuse to let you go； if I keep you entwined in my
arms？ Would you rudely snatch yourself free and leave me？ Go
then！ But you must know that the liana； once broken in two；
never joins again。 Go； if your thirst is quenched。 But； if not；
then remember that the goddess of pleasure is fickle； and waits
for no man。 Sit for a while； my lord！ Tell me what uneasy
thoughts tease you。 Who occupied your mind today？ Is it Chitra？
Arjuna
Yes； it is Chitra。 I wonder in fulfilment of what vow she has
gone on her pilgrimage。 Of what could she stand in need？
Chitra
Her needs？ Why； what has she ever had； the unfortunate creature？
Her very qualities are as prison walls； shutting her woman's
heart in a bare cell。 She is obscured； she is unfulfilled。 Her
womanly love must content itself dressed in rags； beauty is
denied her。 She is like the spirit of a cheerless morning；
sitting upon the stony mountain peak； all her light blotted out
by dark clouds。 Do not ask me of her life。 It will never sound
sweet to man's ear。
Arjuna
I am eager to learn all about her。 I am like a traveller come to
a strange city at midnight。 Domes and towers and garden…trees
look vague and shadowy； and the dull moan of the sea comes
fitfully through the silence of sleep。 Wistfully he waits for
the morning to reveal to him all the strange wonders。 Oh； tell
me her story。
Chitra
What more is there to tell？
Arjuna
I seem to see her； in my mind's eye； riding on a white horse；
proudly holding the reins in her left hand； and in her right a
bow； and like the Goddess of Victory dispensing glad hope all
round her。 Like a watchful lioness she protects the litter at
her dugs with a fierce love。 Woman's arms； though adorned with
naught but unfettered strength； are beautiful！ My heart is
restless； fair one； like a serpent reviving from his long
winter's sleep。 Come； let us both race on swift horses side by
side； like twin orbs of light sweeping through space。 Out from
this slumbrous prison of green gloom； this dank； dense cover of
perfumed intoxication； choking breath。
Chitra
Arjuna； tell me true； if； now at once； by some magic I could
shake myself free from this voluptuous softness； this timid bloom
of beauty shrinking from the rude and healthy touch of the world；
and fling it from my body like borrowed clothes； would you be
able to bear it？ If I stand up straight and strong with the
strength of a daring heart spurning the wiles and arts of twining
weakness； if I hold my head high like a tall young mountain fir；
no longer trailing in the dust like a liana； shall I then appeal
to man's eye？ No； no； you could not endure it。 It is better
that I should keep spread about me all the dainty playthings of
fugitive youth； and wait for you in patience。 When it pleases
you to return； I will smilingly pour out for you the wine of
pleasure in the cup of this beauteous body。 When you are tired
and satiated with this wine； you can go to work or play； and when
I grow old I will accept humbly and gratefully whatever corner is
left for me。 Would it please your heroic soul if the playmate of
the night aspired to be the helpmeet of the day； if the left arm
learnt to share th