The King of the Dark Chamber | Page 2

him outside the house without violating the sacred books. My word, that was strict observance! Ours is indeed no common country.
BHAVADATTA. And yet, though Janardan comes from the very same soil, he thinks it wise to declare that open highways are best for a country.
[Enter GRANDFATHER with a band of boys]
GRANDFATHER. Boys, we will have to vie with the wild breeze of the south to-day--and we are not going to be beaten. We will sing till we have flooded all streets with our mirth and song.
SONG.
/* The southern gate is unbarred. Come, my spring, come! Thou wilt swing at the swing of my heart, come, my spring, come! Come in the lisping leaves, in the youthful surrender of flowers; Come in the flute songs and the wistful sighs of the woodlands! Let your unfastened robe wildly flap in the drunken wind! Come, my spring, come! */
[Exeunt.]
[Enter a band of CITIZENS]
FIRST CITIZEN. After all, one cannot help wishing that the King had allowed himself to be seen at least this one day. What a great pity, to live in his kingdom and yet not to have seen him for a single day!
SECOND CITIZEN. If you only knew the real meaning of all this mystery! I could tell you if you would keep a secret.
FIRST CITIZEN. My dear fellow, we both live in the same quarter of the town, but have you ever known me letting out any man s secret? Of course, that matter of your brother's finding a hidden fortune while digging for a well--well, you know well enough why I had to give it out. You know all the facts.
SECOND CITIZEN. Of course I know. And it is because I know that I ask, could you keep a secret if I tell you? It may mean ruination to us all, you know, if you once let it out.
THIRD CITIZEN. You are a nice man, after all, Virupaksha! Why are you so anxious to bring down a disaster which as yet only may happen? Who will be responsible for keeping your secret all his life?
VIRUPAKSHA. It is only because the topic came up--well, then, I shall not say anything. I am not the man to say things for nothing. You had yourself brought up the question that the King never showed himself; and I only remarked that it was not for nothing that the King shut himself up from the public gaze.
FIRST CITIZEN. Pray do tell us why, Virupaksha.
VIRUPAKSHA. Of course I don't mind telling you--for we are all good friends, aren't we? There can be no harm. (With a low voice.) The King--is--hideous to look at, so he has made up his mind never to show himself to his subjects.
FIRST CITIZEN. Ha! that's it! It must be so. We have always wondered ... why, the mere sight of a King in all countries makes one's soul quake like an aspen leaf with fear; but why should our King never have been seen by any mortal soul? Even if he at least came out and consigned us all to the gibbet, we might be sure that our King was no hoax. After all, there is much in Virupaksha's explanation that sounds plausible enough.
THIRD CITIZEN. Not a bit--I don't believe in a syllable of it.
VIRUPAKSHA. What, Vishu, do you mean to say that I am a liar?
VISHU. I don't exactly mean that--but I cannot accept your theory. Excuse me, I cannot help if I seem a bit rude or churlish.
VIRUPAKSHA. Small wonder that you can't believe my words--you who think yourself sage enough to reject the opinions of your parents and superiors. How long do you think you could have stayed in this country if the King did not remain in hiding? You are no better than a flagrant heretic.
VISHU. My dear pillar of orthodoxy! Do you think any other King would have hesitated to cut off your tongue and make it food for dogs? And you have the face to say that our King is horrid to look at!
VIRUPAKSHA. Look here, Vishu. will you curb your tongue?
VISHU. It would be superfluous to point out whose tongue needs the curbing.
FIRST CITIZEN. Hush, my dear friends--this looks rather bad.... It seems as if they are resolved to put me in danger as well. I am not going to be a party to all this.[Exit.]
[Enter a number of men, dragging in GRANDFATHER, in boisterous exuberance]
SECOND CITIZEN. Grandpa, something strikes me to-day ...
GRANDFATHER. What is it?
SECOND CITIZEN. This year every country has sent its people to our festival, but every one asks, "Everything is nice and beautiful--but where is your King?" and we do not know what to answer. That is the one big gap which cannot but make itself felt to every one in our country.
GRANDFATHER. "Gap," do you say! Why, the whole