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of the night was vocal with the chirping of crickets； the
reflections of the trees hung motionless in the lake； and with
his staff in his hand he stood； tall and straight and still； like
a forest tree。 It seemed to me that I had； on opening my eyes；
died to all realities of life and undergone a dream birth into a
shadow land。 Shame slipped to my feet like loosened clothes。 I
heard his call〃Beloved； my most beloved！〃 And all my forgotten
lives united as one and responded to it。 I said； 〃Take me； take
all I am！〃 And I stretched out my arms to him。 The moon set
behind the trees。 One curtain of darkness covered all。 Heaven
and earth； time and space； pleasure and pain； death and life
merged together in an unbearable ecstasy。 。 。 。 With the first
gleam of light； the first twitter of birds； I rose up and sat
leaning on my left arm。 He lay asleep with a vague smile about
his lips like the crescent moon in the morning。 The rosy red
glow of the dawn fell upon his noble forehead。 I sighed and
stood up。 I drew together the leafy lianas to screen the
streaming sun from his face。 I looked about me and saw the same
old earth。 I remembered what I used to be； and ran and ran like
a deer afraid of her own shadow； through the forest path strewn
with shephali flowers。 I found a lonely nook； and sitting down
covered my face with both hands； and tried to weep and cry。 But
no tears came to my eyes。
Madana
Alas； thou daughter of mortals！ I stole from the divine
Storehouse the fragrant wine of heaven； filled with it one
earthly night to the brim； and placed it in thy hand to drink
yet still I hear this cry of anguish！
Chitra ＇bitterly＇
Who drank it？ The rarest completion of life's desire； the first
union of love was proffered to me； but was wrested from my grasp？
This borrowed beauty； this falsehood that enwraps me； will slip
from me taking with it the only monument of that sweet union； as
the petals fall from an overblown flower； and the woman ashamed
of her naked poverty will sit weeping day and night。 Lord Love；
this cursed appearance companions me like a demon robbing me of
all the prizes of loveall the kisses for which my heart is
athirst。
Madana
Alas； how vain thy single night had been！ The barque of joy came
in sight； but the waves would not let it touch the shore。
Chitra
Heaven came so close to my hand that I forgot for a moment that
it had not reached me。 But when I woke in the morning from my
dream I found that my body had become my own rival。 It is my
hateful task to deck her every day； to send her to my beloved and
see her caressed by him。 O god； take back thy boon！
Madana
But if I take it from you how can you stand before your lover？
To snatch away the cup from his lips when he has scarcely drained
his first draught of pleasure； would not that be cruel？ With
what resentful anger he must regard thee then？
Chitra
That would be better far than this。 I will reveal my true self
to him； a nobler thing than this disguise。 If he rejects it； if
he spurns me and breaks my heart； I will bear even that in
silence。
Vasanta
Listen to my advice。 When with the advent of autumn the
flowering season is over then comes the triumph of fruitage。 A
time will come of itself when the heat…cloyed bloom of the body
will droop and Arjuna will gladly accept the abiding fruitful
truth in thee。 O child； go back to thy mad festival。
SCENE IV
Chitra
WHY do you watch me like that； my warrior？
Arjuna
I watch how you weave that garland。 Skill and grace； the twin
brother and sister； are dancing playfully on your finger tips。 I
am watching and thinking。
Chitra
What are you thinking； sir？
Arjuna
I am thinking that you； with this same lightness of touch and
sweetness； are weaving my days of exile into an immortal wreath；
to crown me when I return home。
Chitra
Home！ But this love is not for a home！
Arjuna
Not for a home？
Chitra
No。 Never talk of that。 Take to your home what is abiding and
strong。 Leave the little wild flower where it was born； leave it
beautifully to die at the day's end among all fading blossoms and
decaying leaves。 Do not take it to your palace hall to fling it
on the stony floor which knows no pity for things that fade and
are forgotten。
Arjuna
Is ours that kind of love？
Chitra
Yes； no other！ Why regret it？ That which was meant for idle
days should never outlive them。 Joy turns into pain when the
door by which it should depart is shut against it。 Take it and
keep it as long as it lasts。 Let not the satiety of your evening
claim more than the desire of your morning could earn。 。 。 。 The
day is done。 Put this garland on。 I am tired。 Take me in your
arms； my love。 Let all vain bickerings of discontent die away at
the sweet meeting of our lips。
Arjuna
Hush！ Listen； my beloved； the sound of prayer bells from the
distant village temple steals upon the evening air across the
silent trees！
SCENE V
Vasanta
I CANNOT keep pace with thee； my friend！ I am tired。 It is a
hard task to keep alive the fire thou hast kindled。 Sleep
overtakes me； the fan drops from my hand； and cold ashes cover
the glow of the fire。 I start up again from my slumber and with
all my might rescue the weary flame。 But this can go on no
longer。
Madana
I know； thou art as fickle as a child。 Ever restless is thy play
in heaven and on earth。 Things that thou for days buildest up
with endless detail thou dost shatter in a moment without regret。
But this work of ours is nearly finished。 Pleasure…winged days
fly fast； and the year； almost at its end； swoons in rapturous
bliss。
SCENE VI
Arjuna
I WOKE in the morning and found that my dreams had distilled a
gem。 I have no casket to inclose it； no king's crown whereon to
fix it； no chain from which to hang it； and yet have not the
heart to throw it away。 My Kshatriya's right arm； idly occupied
in holding it； forgets its duties。
Enter CHITRA。
Chitra
Tell me your thoughts； sir！
Arjuna
My mind is busy with thoughts of hunting today。 See； how the
rain pours in torrents and fiercely beats upon the hillside。 The
dark shadow of the clouds hangs heavily over the forest； and the
swollen stream； like reckless youth； overleaps all barriers with
mocking laughter。 On such rainy days we five brothers would go
to the Chitraka forest to chase wild beasts。 Those were glad
times。 Our hearts danced to the drumbeat of rumbling clouds。 The
woods resounded with the screams of peacocks。 Timid deer could
not hear our approaching steps for the patter of rain and the
noise of waterfalls； the leopards would leave their tracks on the
wet earth； betraying their lairs。 Our sport over； we dared each
other to swim across turbulent streams on our way back home。 The
restless spirit is on me。 I long to go hunting。
Chitra
First run down the quarry you are now following。 Are you quite
certain that the enchanted deer you pursue must needs be caught？
No； not yet。 Like a dream the wild creature eludes you when it
seems most nearly yours。 Look how the wind is chased by the mad
rain that discharges a thousand arrows after it。 Yet it goes
free and unconquered。 Our sport is like that； my love！ You give
chase to the fleet…footed spirit of beauty； aiming at her every
dart you have in your hands。 Yet this magic deer runs ever free
and untouched。
Arjuna
My love； have you no home where kind hearts are waiting for your
return？ A home which you once made sweet with your gentle
service and whose light went out when you left it for this
wilderness？
Chitra
Why these questions？ Are the hours of unthinking pleasure over？
Do you not know that I am no more than what you see before you？
For me there is no vista beyond。 The dew that hangs on the tip
of a Kinsuka petal has neither name nor destination。 It offers
no answer to any qu