2347417The King of the Dark Chamber — Act 14Kshitish Chandra SenRabindranath Tagore

XIV

Sudarshana and Surangama at the Window

Sudarshana

Must I go to the assembly of the princes, then? Is there no other means of saving father's life?

Surangama

The King of Kanchi has said so.

Sudarshana

Are these the words worthy of a King? Did he say so with his own lips?

Surangama

No, his messenger, Suvarna, brought this news.

Sudarshana

Woe, woe is me!

Surangama

And he produced a few withered flowers and said, "Tell your Queen that the drier and more withered these souvenirs of the Spring Festival become, the fresher and more blooming do they grow within in my heart."

Sudarshana

Stop! Tell me no more. Do not torment me any more.

Surangama

Look! There sit all the princes in the great assembly. He who has no ornament on his person, except a single garland of flowers round his crown—he is the King of Kanchi. And he who holds the umbrella over his head, standing behind him—that is Suvarna.

Sudarshana

Is that Suvarna? Are you quite certain?

Surangama

Yes, I know him well.

Sudarshana

Can it be that it is this man that I saw the other day? No, no,—I saw something mingled and transfused and blended with light and darkness, with wind and perfume,—no, no, it cannot be he; that is not he.

Surangama

But every one admits that he is exceedingly beautiful to look at.

Sudarshana

How could that beauty fascinate me? Oh, what shall I do to purge my eyes of their pollution?

Surangama

You will have to wash them in that bottomless darkness.

Sudarshana

But tell me, Surangama, why does one make such mistakes?

Surangama

Mistakes are but the preludes to their own destruction.

Messenger (entering)

Princess, the Kings are waiting for you in the hall. [Exit.

Sudarshana

Surangama, bring me the veil. (Surangama goes out.) O King, my only King! You have left me alone, and you have been but just in doing so. But will you not know the inmost truth within my soul? (Taking out a dagger from within her bosom.) This body of mine has received a stain—I shall make a sacrifice of it to-day in the dust of the hall, before all these princes! But shall I never be able to tell you that I know of no stain of faithlessness within the hidden chambers of my heart? That dark chamber where you would come to meet me lies cold and empty within my bosom to-day—but, O my Lord! none has opened its doors, none has entered it but you, O King! Will you never come again to open those doors? Then, let death come, for it is dark like yourself, and its features are beautiful as yours. It is you—it is yourself, O King!