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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes index 6833f05..d7b82bc 100644 --- a/.gitattributes +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -1,3 +1,4 @@ -* text=auto -*.txt text -*.md text +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt index 6c72794..b5dba15 100644 --- a/LICENSE.txt +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -7,5 +7,5 @@ the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize -this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +this book outside of the United States should confirm copyright status under the laws that apply to them. @@ -1,2 +1,2 @@ -Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for eBook #77892 -(https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/77892) +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +book #77892 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/77892) diff --git a/images/colophon.jpg b/images/colophon.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 18ff631..0000000 --- a/images/colophon.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/images/cover.jpg b/images/cover.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 895dec0..0000000 --- a/images/cover.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/red-oleanders-text.txt b/red-oleanders-text.txt deleted file mode 100644 index d296d95..0000000 --- a/red-oleanders-text.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,4382 +0,0 @@ -*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 77892 *** - - - - -Transcriber’s Notes: Italicized text is surrounded by underscores: -_italics_. Bold text is surrounded by equal signs: =bold=. - - - - - RED OLEANDERS - - - - - [Illustration:(colophon)] - - MACMILLAN AND CO., LIMITED - LONDON · BOMBAY · CALCUTTA · MADRAS - MELBOURNE - - THE MACMILLAN COMPANY - NEW YORK · BOSTON · CHICAGO - DALLAS · SAN FRANCISCO - - THE MACMILLAN CO. OF CANADA, LTD. - TORONTO - - - - - RED OLEANDERS - - A DRAMA IN ONE ACT - - BY - - RABINDRANATH TAGORE - - MACMILLAN AND CO., LIMITED - ST. MARTIN’S STREET, LONDON - 1925 - - - - - COPYRIGHT - - - PRINTED IN GREAT BRITAIN - - - - - RED OLEANDERS - - A DRAMA IN ONE ACT - - -_The Curtain rises on a window covered by a network of intricate - pattern in front of the Palace._ - - (_Nandini and Kishôr, a digger boy, - come in._) - - _Kishôr_ - -Have you enough flowers, Nandini? Here, I have brought some more. - - _Nandini_ - -Run away, Kishôr, do,--back to your work, quick! You’ll be late again. - - _Kishôr_ - -I must steal some time from my digging and digging of nuggets to -bring out flowers to you. - - _Nandini_ - -But they’ll punish you, my boy, if they know. - - _Kishôr_ - -You said you _must_ have red oleanders. I am glad they’re hard to -find in this place. Only one tree I discovered after days of search, -nearly hidden away behind a rubbish heap. - - _Nandini_ - -Show it me. I’ll go and gather the flowers myself. - - _Kishôr_ - -Don’t be cruel, Nandini. This tree is my one secret which none shall -know. I’ve always envied Bishu, he can sing to you songs that are -his own. From now I shall have flowers which you’ll have to take only -from my hands. - - _Nandini_ - -But it breaks my heart to know that those brutes punish you. - - _Kishôr_ - -It makes these flowers all the more preciously mine. They come from -my pain. - - _Nandini_ - -It pains me to accept anything which brings you hurt. - - _Kishôr_ - -I dream of dying one day for your sake, Nandini. - - _Nandini_ - -Is there nothing I can give you in return? - - _Kishôr_ - -Promise that you will accept flowers only from me every morning. - - _Nandini_ - -I will. But do be careful. - - _Kishôr_ - -No, no, I shall be rash and defy their blows. My homage shall be my -daily triumph. - - [_Goes._ - - (_Professor comes in._) - - _Professor_ - -Nandini! - - _Nandini_ - -Yes, Professor! - - _Professor_ - -Why do you come and startle one, now and again, and then pass by? -Since you awaken a cry in our hearts, what harm if you stop a moment -in answer to it? Let us talk a little. - - _Nandini_ - -What need have you of me? - - _Professor_ - -If you talk of need, look over there!--You’ll see our tunnel-diggers -creeping out of the holes like worms, with loads of things of need. -In this Yaksha Town all our treasure is of gold, the secret treasure -of the dust. But the gold which is you, beautiful one, is not of the -dust, but of the light which never owns any bond. - - _Nandini_ - -Over and over again you say this to me. What makes you wonder at me -so, Professor? - - _Professor_ - -The sunlight gleaming through the forest thickets surprises nobody, -but the light that breaks through a cracked wall is quite a different -thing. In Yaksha Town, you are this light that startles. Tell me, -what d’you think of this place? - - _Nandini_ - -It puzzles me to see a whole city thrusting its head underground, -groping with both hands in the dark. You dig tunnels in the -underworld and come out with dead wealth that the earth has kept -buried for ages past. - - _Professor_ - -The _Jinn_ of that dead wealth we invoke. If we can enslave him the -whole world lies at our feet. - - _Nandini_ - -Then again, you hide your king behind a wall of netting. Is it for -fear of people finding out that he’s a man? - - _Professor_ - -As the ghost of our dead wealth is fearfully potent so is our ghostly -royalty, made hazy by this net, with its inhuman power to frighten -people. - - _Nandini_ - -All you say is a kind of made-up talk. - - _Professor_ - -Of course made-up. The naked is without a credential, it’s the -made-up clothes that define us. It delights me immensely to discuss -philosophy with you. - - _Nandini_ - -That’s strange! You who burrow day and night in a mass of yellow -pages, like your diggers in the bowels of the earth,--why waste your -time on me? - - _Professor_ - -The privilege of wasting time proves one’s wealth of time. We poor -drudges are insects in a hole in this solid toil, you are the evening -star in the rich sky of leisure. When we see you, our wings grow -restless. Come to my room. For a moment allow me to be reckless in my -waste of time. - - _Nandini_ - -No, not now. I have come to see your king, in _his_ room. - - _Professor_ - -How can you enter through the screen? - - _Nandini_ - -I shall find my way through the network. - - _Professor_ - -Do you know, Nandini, I too live behind a network of scholarship. I -am an unmitigated scholar, just as our king is an unmitigated king. - - _Nandini_ - -You are laughing at me, Professor. But tell me, when they brought me -here, why didn’t they bring my Rañjan also? - - _Professor_ - -It’s their way to snatch things by fractions. But why should you want -to drag your life’s treasure down amongst this dead wealth of ours? - - _Nandini_ - -Because I know he can put a beating heart behind these dead ribs. - - _Professor_ - -Your own presence is puzzling enough for our governors here; if -Rañjan also comes they will be in despair. - - _Nandini_ - -They do not know how comic they are,--Rañjan will bring God’s own -laughter in their midst and startle them into life. - - _Professor_ - -Divine laughter is the sunlight that melts ice, but not stones. Only -the pressure of gross muscle can move our governors. - - _Nandini_ - -My Rañjan’s strength is like that of your river, Sankhini,--it can -laugh and yet it can break. Let me tell you a little secret news of -mine. I shall meet Rañjan to-day. - - _Professor_ - -Who told you that? - - _Nandini_ - -Yes, yes, we shall meet. The news has come. - - _Professor_ - -Through what way could news come and yet evade the Governor? - - _Nandini_ - -Through the same way that brings news of the coming Spring. - - _Professor_ - -You mean it’s in the air,--like the rumours which flush in the colour -of the sky, or flutter in the dance of the wind? - - _Nandini_ - -I won’t say more now. When Rañjan comes you’ll see for yourself how -rumours in the air come down on earth. - - _Professor_ - -Once she begins to talk of Rañjan there’s no stopping Nandini’s -mouth! Well, well, I have my books, let me take my shelter behind -them,--I dare not go on with this. - - (_Coming back after going a little way._) - -Nandini, let me ask you one thing. Aren’t you frightened of our -Yaksha Town? - - _Nandini_ - -Why should I feel afraid? - - _Professor_ - -All creatures fear an eclipse, not the full sun. Yaksha Town is a -city under eclipse. The Shadow Demon, who lives in the gold caves, -has eaten into it. It is not whole itself, neither does it allow any -one else to remain whole. Listen to me, don’t stay here. When you -go, these pits will yawn all the wider for us, I know,--yet I say -to you, fly; go and live happily with Rañjan where people in their -drunken fury don’t tear the earth’s veil to pieces. - - (_Going a little way and then coming back._) - -Nandini, will you give me a flower from your chain of red oleanders? - - _Nandini_ - -Why, what will you do with it? - - _Professor_ - -How often have I thought that there is some omen in these ornaments -of yours. - - _Nandini_ - -_I_ don’t know of any. - - _Professor_ - -Perhaps your fate knows. In that red there is not only beauty, but -also the fascination of fear. - - _Nandini_ - -Fear! Even in me? - - _Professor_ - -I don’t know what event you have come to write with that crimson -tint. There was the gardenia and the tuberose, there was white -jasmine,--why did you leave them all and choose this flower? Do you -know, we often choose our own fate thus, without knowing it! - - _Nandini_ - -Rañjan sometimes calls me Red Oleander. I feel that the colour of his -love is red,--that red I wear on my neck, on my breast, on my arms. - - _Professor_ - -Well, just give me one of those flowers,--a moment’s gift,--let me -try to understand the meaning of its colour. - - _Nandini_ - -Here, take it. Rañjan is coming to-day,--out of my heart’s delight I -give it to you. - - [_Professor goes._ - - (_Gôkul, a digger, comes in._) - - _Gôkul_ - -Turn this way, woman! Who are you? I’ve never yet been able to -understand you. - - _Nandini_ - -I’m nothing more than what you see. What need have you to understand -me? - - _Gôkul_ - -I don’t trust what I can’t understand. For what purpose has the King -brought you here? - - _Nandini_ - -Because I serve no purpose of his. - - _Gôkul_ - -You know some spell, I’m sure. You’re snaring everybody here. You’re -a witch! Those who are bewitched by your beauty will come to their -death. - - _Nandini_ - -That death will not be yours, Gôkul, never fear! You’ll die digging. - - _Gôkul_ - -Let me see, let me see, what’s that dangling over your forehead? - - _Nandini_ - -Only a tassel of red oleanders. - - _Gôkul_ - -What does it mean? - - _Nandini_ - -It has no meaning at all. - - _Gôkul_ - -I don’t believe you, one bit! You’re up to some trickery. Some -evil will befall us before the day is out. That’s why you have got -yourself up like this. Oh you terrible, terrible witch! - - _Nandini_ - -What makes you think me so terrible? - - _Gôkul_ - -You’re looking like an ominous torch with a red flame. Let me go and -warn these fools.--Beware! Beware! - - [_He goes._ - - _Nandini_ (_knocking at the network_) - -Do you hear me? - - _A voice_ (_from behind the scenes_) - -I hear you. But don’t call me,--I have no time. - - _Nandini_ - -Let me come inside. My heart is full to-day. - - _Voice_ - -No, not into my room. - - _Nandini_ - -I have brought you a garland of white _kunda_ flowers. - - _Voice_ - -Wear it yourself. - - _Nandini_ - -My own garland is of red oleanders. - - _Voice_ - -I am like a mountain peak, my bareness is my adornment. - - _Nandini_ - -Like waterfalls running down the peak, this white flower-chain will -sway on your breast. Open the netting, I want to come in. - - _Voice_ - -I can’t allow it. There’s no time. - - _Nandini_ - -Don’t you hear that song in the distance? - - _Voice_ - -What are they singing? - - _Nandini_ - -The autumn song: - - _Hark, ’tis Autumn calling: - “Come, O, come away!”-- - Her basket is heaped with corn._ - -Don’t you see the September sun is spreading the glow of the ripening -corn in the air? - - _Drunken with the perfumed wine of wind, - the sky seems to sway among the shivering corn, - its sunlight trailing on the fields._ - -You too come out, King!--out into the fields. - - _Voice_ - -Fields! What could I do there? - - _Nandini_ - -The work there is much simpler than your work in Yaksha Town. - - _Voice_ - -It’s the simple which is impossible for me. A lake cannot run out -dancing, like a frolicsome waterfall. Leave me now, I have no time. - - _Nandini_ - -The day you let me into your storehouse the blocks of gold did not -surprise me,--what amazed me was the immense strength with which you -lifted and arranged them. But can blocks of gold ever answer to the -swinging rhythm of your arms in the same way as fields of corn? Are -you not afraid, King, of handling the dead wealth of the earth? - - _Voice_ - -What is there to fear? - - _Nandini_ - -The living heart of the earth gives itself up in love and life and -beauty, but when you rend its bosom and disturb the dead, you bring -up with your booty the curse of its dark demon, blind and hard, -cruel and envious. Don’t you see everybody here is either angry, or -suspicious, or afraid? - - _Voice_ - -Curse? - - _Nandini_ - -Yes, the curse of grabbing and killing. - - _Voice_ - -But we bring up strength. Does not my strength please you, Nandini? - - _Nandini_ - -Indeed it does. Therefore I ask you, come out into the light, step on -the ground, let the earth be glad. - - _Voice_ - -Do you know, Nandini, you too are half-hidden behind an evasion,--you -mystery of beauty! I want to pluck you out of it, to grasp you within -my closed fist, to handle you, scrutinise you,--or else to break you -to pieces. - - _Nandini_ - -Whatever do you mean? - - _Voice_ - -Why can’t I strain out the tint of your oleanders and build a dream -out of it to keep before my eyes? Those few frail petals guard it and -hinder me. Within you there is the same hindrance, so strong because -so soft. Nandini, will you tell me what you think of me? - - _Nandini_ - -Not now, you have no time. Let me go. - - _Voice_ - -No, no, don’t go. Do tell me what you think of me. - - _Nandini_ - -Have I not told you often enough? I think you are wonderful. Strength -swelling up in your arms, like rolling clouds before a storm,--it -makes my heart dance within me. - - _Voice_ - -And when your heart dances to see Rañjan, is that also---- - - _Nandini_ - -Let that be,--you have no time. - - _Voice_ - -There _is_ time,--for this; only tell me, then go. - - _Nandini_ - -That dance rhythm is different, you won’t understand. - - _Voice_ - -I will, I _must_ understand. - - _Nandini_ - -I can’t explain it clearly. Let me go. - - _Voice_ - -Tell me, at least, whether you like me. - - _Nandini_ - -Yes, I like you. - - _Voice_ - -The same as Rañjan? - - _Nandini_ - -Again the same question! I tell you, you don’t understand these -things. - - _Voice_ - -I _do_ understand, a little. I know what the difference is between -Rañjan and me. In me there is only strength, in Rañjan there is magic. - - _Nandini_ - -What d’you mean by magic? - - _Voice_ - -Shall I explain? Underground there are blocks of stone, iron, -gold,--there you have the image of strength. On the surface grows the -grass, the flower blossoms,--there you have the play of magic. I can -extract gold from the fearsome depths of secrecy, but to wrest that -magic from the near at hand I fail. - - _Nandini_ - -You have no end of things, yet why always covet? - - _Voice_ - -All I possess is so much dead weight. No increase of gold can create -a particle of a touchstone, no increase of power can ever come up to -youth. I can only guard by force. If I had Rañjan’s youth I could -leave you free and yet hold you fast. My time is spent in knotting -the binding rope, but, alas, everything else can be kept tied, except -joy. - - _Nandini_ - -It is you who entangle yourself in your own net, then why keep on -fretting? - - _Voice_ - -You will never understand. I, who am a desert, stretch out my hand to -you, a tiny blade of grass, and cry: I am parched, I am bare, I am -weary. The flaming thirst of this desert licks up one fertile field -after another, only to enlarge itself,--it can never annex the life -of the frailest of grasses. - - _Nandini_ - -One would never think you were so tired. - - _Voice_ - -One day, Nandini, in a far off land, I saw a mountain as weary as -myself. I could not guess that all its stones were aching inwardly. -One night I heard a noise, as if some giant’s evil dream had moaned -and moaned and suddenly snapped asunder. Next morning I found the -mountain had disappeared in the chasm of a yawning earthquake. That -made me understand how overgrown power crushes itself inwardly by its -own weight. I see in you something quite opposite. - - _Nandini_ - -What is it you see in me? - - _Voice_ - -The dance rhythm of the All. - - _Nandini_ - -I don’t understand. - - _Voice_ - -The rhythm that lightens the enormous weight of matter. To that -rhythm the bands of stars and planets go about dancing from sky to -sky, like so many minstrel boys. It is that rhythm, Nandini, that -makes you so simple, so perfect. How small you are compared to me, -yet I envy you. - - _Nandini_ - -You have cut yourself off from everybody and so deprived yourself. - - _Voice_ - -I keep myself apart, that it may become easy for me to plunder the -world’s big treasure-houses. Nevertheless there are gifts that your -little flower-like fingers can easily reach, but not all the strength -of my body,--gifts hidden in God’s closed hand. That hand I must -force open some day. - - _Nandini_ - -When you talk like that, I don’t follow you. Let me go. - - _Voice_ - -Go then; but here, I stretch out this hand of mine from my window, -place your hand on it for a moment. - - _Nandini_ - -Only a hand, and the rest of you hidden? It frightens me! - - _Voice_ - -Everybody flies from me because they only see my hand. - -But if I wished to hold you with all of me, would you come to me, -Nandini? - - _Nandini_ - -Why talk like this when you wouldn’t even let me come into your room? - - _Voice_ - -My busy time, overloaded with work, dragged along against -obstruction, is not for you. On the day when you can arrive, full -sail before the wind, into the bosom of my full leisure, the hour of -welcome will strike. Even if that wind be a storm, all will be well. -That hour is not yet come. - - _Nandini_ - -Rañjan will bring that delightful wind here, I tell you. He carries -his holiday-time with him, even in his work. - - _Voice_ - -He has the red wine of oleanders to fill up his cup. But to me you -want to pass on an empty leisure. Where is the wine? - - _Nandini_ - -Let me go now. - - _Voice_ - -Answer me first. - - _Nandini_ - -How to fulfil leisure you will learn from Rañjan. He is so beautiful. - - _Voice_ - -Beauty only responds to beauty. Its lute strings break when force -tries to snatch an answer. But no more of this. Go, go away, or else -there will be trouble. - - _Nandini_ - -I go. But I tell you, my Rañjan is coming to-day. You cannot prevent -him. - - [_She goes._ - - (_Phágulal, the digger, and his wife - Chandrá, come in._) - - _Phágulal_ - -My bottle, Chandrá? Out with it! - - _Chandrá_ - -What! Drink from early morning? - - _Phágulal_ - -Isn’t it our holiday? Yesterday was the fast day of the War Goddess. -To-day they worship the Flag. - - _Chandrá_ - -Must you drink just because it’s a holiday? In our village home, on -feast days, you never---- - - _Phágulal_ - -Freedom itself was enough for the holidays in our village. The caged -bird spends its holiday knocking against the bars. In Yaksha Town -holidays are more of a nuisance than work. - - _Chandrá_ - -Let’s go back home, then. - - _Phágulal_ - -The road to our home is closed for ever. - - _Chandrá_ - -How’s that? - - _Phágulal_ - -Our homes don’t yield them any profit. - - _Chandrá_ - -But are we closely fitted to their profits only,--like husks to -grains of corn,--with nothing of us left over? - - _Phágulal_ - -Our mad Bishu says: to remain whole is useful only for the lamb -itself; those who eat it prefer to leave out its horns and hooves, -and even object to its bleating when butchered. - -There’s the madcap, singing as he goes. - - _Chandrá_ - -It’s only the last few days that his songs have burst forth. - - _Phágulal_ - -That’s true. - - _Chandrá_ - -He’s been possessed by Nandini. She draws his heart and his songs too. - - _Phágulal_ - -No wonder. - - _Chandrá_ - -Indeed! You’d better be careful. She’ll next be bringing out songs -from _your_ throat,--which would be rough on our neighbours. The -witch is up to all kinds of tricks, and is sure to bring misfortune. - - _Phágulal_ - -Bishu’s misfortune is nothing recent, he knew Nandini long before -coming here. - - _Chandrá_ - -(_Calling out_) I say, Bishu, come this way. Maybe you’ll find -somebody here also to listen to your singing,--it won’t be altogether -thrown away. - - (_Bishu comes in, singing._) - - _Bishu_ (_sings_) - - _Boatman of my dreams, - The sail is filled with a boisterous breeze and my mad heart sings - to the lilt of the rocking of thy boat, - at the call of the far away landing._ - - _Chandrá_ - -I know who the boatman of your dreams is. - - _Bishu_ - -How should you know from outside? You haven’t seen from inside my -boat. - - _Chandrá_ - -Your boat is going to get wrecked one of these days, let me tell -you,--by that pet Nandini of yours. - - (_Gôkul, the digger, comes in._) - - _Gôkul_ - -I say, Bishu, I don’t quite trust your Nandini. - - _Bishu_ - -Why, what has she done? - - _Gôkul_ - -She does nothing, that’s the rub. I don’t understand the way she goes -on. - - _Chandrá_ - -To see her flaunting her prettiness all over the place makes me sick. - - _Gôkul_ - -We can trust features that are plain enough to understand. - - _Bishu_ - -I know the atmosphere of this place breeds contempt for beauty. There -must be beauty even in hell; but nobody there can understand it, -that’s their cruellest punishment. - - _Chandrá_ - -Maybe we are fools, but even our Governor here can’t stand her--d’you -know that? - - _Bishu_ - -Take care, Chandrá, lest you catch the infection of our Governor’s -eyes--then perhaps yours too will redden at the sight of us. What say -you, Phágulal? - - _Phágulal_ - -To tell you the truth, brother, when I see Nandini, I feel ashamed to -think of myself. I can’t utter a word when she’s there. - - _Gôkul_ - -The day will come when you’ll know her to your cost,--perhaps too -late. - - [_Goes._ - - _Phágulal_ - -Bishu, your friend Chandrá wants to know why we drink. - - _Bishu_ - -God in his mercy has everywhere provided a liberal allowance of -drink. We men with our arms supply the output of our muscles, you -women with yours supply the wine of embraces. In this world there is -hunger to force us to work; but there’s also the green of the woods, -the gold of the sunshine, to make us drunk with their holiday-call. - - _Chandrá_ - -You call these things _drink_? - - _Bishu_ - -Yes, drinks of life, an endless stream of intoxication. Take my case. -I come to this place; I am set to work burgling the underworld; for -me nature’s own ration of spirits is stopped; so my inner man craves -the artificial wine of the market place. - -(_Sings_) - - _My life, your sap has run dry, - Fill then the cup with the wine of death, - That flushes all emptiness with its laughter._ - - _Chandrá_ - -Come, brother, let us fly from here. - - _Bishu_ - -To that boundless tavern, underneath the blue canopy? Alas, the road -is closed, and we seek consolation in the stolen wine of the prison -house. No open sky, no leisure for us; so we have distilled the -essence of all the song and laughter, all the sunlight of the twelve -hours’ day into one draught of liquid fire. - -(_Sings_) - - _Thy sun is hidden amid a mass of murky cloud. - Thy day has smudged itself black in dusty toil. - Then let the dark night descend - the last comrade of drunken oblivion. - Let it cover thy tired eyes with the mist - that will help thee desperately to lose thyself._ - - _Chandrá_ - -Well, well, Bishu, you men have gone to the dogs in Yaksha Town, if -you like, but we women haven’t changed at all. - - _Bishu_ - -Haven’t you? Your flowers have faded, and you are all slavering for -gold. - - _Chandrá_ - -No, never! - - _Bishu_ - -I say, yes. That Phágulal toils for hours over and above the -twelve,--why? For a reason unknown to him, unknown even to you. But -_I_ know. It’s your dream of gold that lashes him on to work, more -severely than the foreman’s whip. - - _Chandrá_ - -Very well. Then why don’t we fly from here, and go back home? - - _Bishu_ - -Your Governor has closed the way as well as the will to return. If -you go there to-day you will fly back here to-morrow, like a caged -bird to its cage, hankering for its drugged food. - - _Phágulal_ - -I say, Bishu, once upon a time you came very near spoiling your -eyesight poring over books; how is it they made you ply the spade -along with the rest of us stupid boors? - - _Chandrá_ - -All this time we’ve been here, we haven’t got from Bishu the answer -to this particular question. - - _Phágulal_ - -Yet we all know it. - - _Bishu_ - -Well, out with it then! - - _Phágulal_ - -They employed you to spy on us. - - _Bishu_ - -If you knew that, how is it you let me off alive? - - _Phágulal_ - -But, we knew also, that game was not in your line. - - _Chandrá_ - -How is it you couldn’t stick to such a comfortable job, brother? - - _Bishu_ - -Comfortable job? To stick to a living being like a carbuncle on his -back? - -I said: “I must go home, my health is failing.” - -“Poor thing,” said the Governor, “how can you go home in such a -state? However, there’s no harm in your trying.” - -Well, I did try. And then I found that, as soon as one enters the maw -of Yaksha Town, its jaws shut fast, and the one road that remains -open leads withinwards. Now I am swamped in that interior without -hope and without light, and the only difference between you and -me is, that the Governor looks down upon me even worse than upon -you. Man despises the broken pot of his own creation more than the -withered leaf fallen from the tree. - - _Phágulal_ - -What does that matter, Bishu? You have risen high in our esteem. - - _Bishu_ - -Discovery only means death. Where your favour falls there falls -the Governor’s glance. The more noisily the yellow frogs welcome -the black toad, the sooner their croaking points him out to the -boa-constrictor. - - _Chandrá_ - -But when will your work be finished? - - _Bishu_ - -The calendar never records the last day. After the first day comes -the second, after the second the third. There’s no such thing as -getting finished here. We’re always digging--one yard, two yards, -three yards. We go on raising gold nuggets,--after one nugget -another, then more and more and more. In Yaksha Town figures follow -one another in rows and never arrive at any conclusion. That’s why we -are not men to them, but only numbers.--Phágu, what’s yours? - - _Phágulal_ - -I’m No. 47 V. - - _Bishu_ - -I’m 69 Ng. - - _Chandrá_ - -Brother, they’ve hoarded such heaps of gold, can’t they stop digging -now? - - _Bishu_ - -There’s always an end to things of need, no doubt; so we stop when -we’ve had enough to eat. But we don’t need drunkenness, therefore -there’s no end to it. These nuggets are the drink--the solid -drink--of our Gold King. Don’t you see? - - _Chandrá_ - -No, I don’t. - - _Bishu_ - -Cups in hand, we forget that we are chained to our limits. Gold -blocks in hand, our master fancies he’s freed from the gravitation of -the commonplace, and is soaring in the rarest of upper heights. - - _Chandrá_ - -In this season the villages are preparing for their harvest festival. -Let’s go home. - - _Phágulal_ - -Don’t worry me, Chandrá. A thousand times over have I told you that -in these parts there are high roads to the market, to the burning -ground, to the scaffold,--everywhere except to the homeland. - - _Chandrá_ - -If we were to go to the Governor, and just tell him---- - - _Bishu_ - -Hasn’t your woman’s wit seen through the Governor yet? - - _Chandrá_ - -Why, he seems to be so nice and---- - - _Bishu_ - -Yes, nice and polished, like the crocodile’s teeth, which fit into -one another with so thorough a bite that the King himself can’t -unlock the jaw, even if he wants to. - - _Chandrá_ - -There comes the Governor. - - _Bishu_ - -Then it’s all up with us. He’s sure to have overheard---- - - _Chandrá_ - -Why, we haven’t said anything so very---- - - _Bishu_ - -Sister, we can only say the words,--they put in the meaning. - - (_The Governor comes in._) - - _Chandrá_ - -Sir Governor! - - _Governor_ - -Well, my child? - - _Chandrá_ - -Grant us leave to go home for a little. - - _Governor_ - -Why, aren’t the rooms we have given you excellent, much better than -the ones at home? We have even kept a state watchman for your safety. - -Hallo, 69 Ng, to see you amongst these people reminds one of a heron -come to teach paddy birds how to cut capers. - - _Bishu_ - -Sir, your jesting does not reassure me. Had my feet the strength to -make others dance, would I not have run away from here, first thing? -Especially after the striking examples I’ve seen of the fate that -overtakes dancing masters in this country. As things are, one’s legs -tremble even to walk straight. - - _Chandrá_ - -Give us leave, Sir Governor, do give us leave. Let us go just for -once, and see our waving fields of barleycorn in the ear, and the -ample shade of our banyan tree with its hanging roots. I cannot tell -you how our hearts ache. Don’t you see that your men here work all -day in the dark, and in the evening steep themselves in the denser -dark of drunkenness? Have you no pity for them? - - _Governor_ - -My dear child, surely you know of our constant anxiety for their -welfare. That is exactly why I have sent for our High Preacher, -Kenarám Gosain himself, to give moral talks to the men. Their votive -fees will pay for his upkeep. Every evening the Gosain will come -and---- - - _Phágulal_ - -That won’t do, sir! Now, at worst, we get drunk of an evening, but if -we are preached to every night, there’ll be manslaughter! - - _Bishu_ - -Hush, hush, Phágulal. - - (_Preacher Gosain comes in._) - - _Governor_ - -Talk of the Preacher and he appears. Your Holiness, I do you -reverence. These workmen of ours sometimes feel disturbed in their -weak minds. Deign to whisper in their ears some texts of peace. The -need is urgent. - - _Gosain_ - -These people? Are they not the very incarnation of the sacred -Tortoise of our scripture, that held up the sinking earth on its -back? Because they meekly suppress themselves underneath their -burden, the upper world can keep its head aloft. The very thought -sends a thrill through my body! - -Just think of it, friend 47 V, yours is the duty of supplying food to -this mouth which chants the holy name. With the sweat of your brow -have you woven this wrap printed with the holy name, which exalts -this devoted body. Surely that is no mean privilege. May you remain -for ever undisturbed, is my benediction, for then the grace of God -will abide with you likewise. - -My friends, repeat aloud the holy name of Hari, and all your burdens -will be lightened. The name of Hari shall be taken in the beginning, -in the middle, and at the end,--so say the scriptures. - - _Chandrá_ - -How sweet! It’s long since I have heard such words! Give, oh give me -a little dust off your feet! - - _Phágulal_ - -Stop this waste of money, Governor. If it’s our offerings you want, -we can stand it, but we’re fairly sick of this cant. - - _Bishu_ - -Once Phágulal runs amok it’s all over with the lot of you. Hush, -hush, Phágulal! - - _Chandrá_ - -Are you bent on spoiling your chances both in this world and the -next, you wretched man? You were never like this before. Nandini’s -ill wind has blown upon you,--and no mistake. - - _Gosain_ - -What charming naïveté, Sir Governor! What’s in their heart is always -on their lips. What can we teach them?--it’s they who’ll teach us a -lesson. You know what I mean. - - _Governor_ - -I know where the root of the trouble is. I’ll have to take them in -hand myself, I see. Meanwhile, pray go to the next parish and chant -them the holy name,--the sawyers there have taken to grumbling, -somewhat. - - _Gosain_ - -Which parish did you say? - - _Governor_ - -Parish T-D. No. 71 T is headman there. It ends to the left of where -No. 65 of Row M lives. - - _Gosain_ - -My son, though Parish T-D may not yet be quieted, the whole Row of -M’s have lately become steeped in a beautiful spirit of meekness. -Still it is better to keep an extra police force posted in the parish -some time longer. Because, as you know our scripture says,--pride -is our greatest foe. After the strength of the police has helped to -conquer pride, then comes our turn. I take my leave. - - _Chandrá_ - -Forgive these men, Your Holiness, and give them your blessing, that -they may follow the right path. - - _Gosain_ - -Fear not, good woman, they’ll all end thoroughly pacified. - - [_The Gosain goes._ - - _Governor_ - -I say, 69 Ng, the temper of your parish seems to be somewhat strained. - - _Bishu_ - -That’s nothing strange. The Gosain called them the incarnation of the -Tortoise. But, according to scripture, incarnations change; and, when -the Tortoise gave place to the Boar, in place of hard shell came out -aggressive teeth, so that all-suffering patience was transformed into -defiant obstinacy. - - _Chandrá_ - -But, Sir Governor, don’t forget my request. - - _Governor_ - -I have heard it and will bear it in mind. - - [_He goes._ - - _Chandrá_ - -Ah now, didn’t you see how nice the Governor is? How he smiles every -time he talks! - - _Bishu_ - -Crocodile’s teeth begin by smiling and end by biting. - - _Chandrá_ - -Where does his bite come in? - - _Bishu_ - -Don’t you know he’s going to make it a rule not to let the workmen’s -wives accompany them here. - - _Chandrá_ - -Why? - - _Bishu_ - -We have a place in their account book as numbers, but women’s figures -do not mate with figures of arithmetic. - - _Chandrá_ - -O dear! but have they no womenfolk of their own? - - _Bishu_ - -Their ladies are besotted with the wine of gold, even worse than -their husbands. - - _Chandrá_ - -Bishu, you had a wife at home,--what’s become of her? - - _Bishu_ - -So long as I filled the honoured post of spy, they used to invite her -to those big mansions to play cards with their ladies. Ever since I -joined Phágulal’s set, all that was stopped, and she left me in a -huff at the humiliation. - - _Chandrá_ - -For shame! But look, brother Bishu, what a grand procession! One -palanquin after another! Don’t you see the sparkle of the jewelled -fringes of the elephant-seats? How beautiful the out-riders on -horseback look, as if they had bits of sunlight pinned on the points -of their spears! - - _Bishu_ - -Those are the Governor’s and Deputy Governor’s ladies, going to the -Flag-worship. - - _Chandrá_ - -Bless my soul, what a gorgeous array and how fine they look! - -I say, Bishu, if you hadn’t given up that job, would you have gone -along with that set in this grand style?--and that wife of yours, -surely---- - - _Bishu_ - -Yes, we too should have come to just such a pass. - - _Chandrá_ - -Is there no way going back,--none whatever? - - _Bishu_ - -There is,--through the gutter. - - _A distant voice_ - -Bishu, my mad one! - - _Bishu_ - -Yes, my mad girl! - - _Phágulal_ - -There’s Nandini. There’ll be no more of Bishu for us, for the rest of -the day. - - _Chandrá_ - -Tell me, Bishu, what does she charm you with? - - _Bishu_ - -The charm of sorrow. - - _Chandrá_ - -Why do you talk so topsy-turvy? - - _Bishu_ - -She reminds me that there are sorrows, to forget which is the -greatest of sorrow. - - _Phágulal_ - -Please to speak plainly, Bishu, otherwise it becomes positively -annoying! - - _Bishu_ - -The pain of desire for the near belongs to the animal, the sorrow of -aspiration for the far belongs to man. That far away flame of my -eternal sorrow is revealed through Nandini. - - _Chandrá_ - -Brother, we don’t understand these things. But one thing I do -understand and that is,--the less you men can make out a girl, the -more she attracts you! We simple women,--our price is not so high, -but we at least keep you on the straight path. I warn you, once for -all, that girl with her noose of red oleanders will drag you to -perdition. - - [_Chandrá and Phágulal go._ - - (_Nandini comes in._) - - _Nandini_ - -My mad one, did you hear their autumn songs this morning? - - _Bishu_ - -Is my morning like yours that I should hear singing? Mine is only a -swept-away remnant of the weary night. - - _Nandini_ - -In my gladness of heart I thought I’d stand on the rampart and join -in their song. But the guards would not let me, so I’ve come to you. - - _Bishu_ - -I am not a rampart. - - _Nandini_ - -You are _my_ rampart. When I come to you I seem to climb high, I find -the open light. - - _Bishu_ - -Ever since coming to Yaksha Town the sky has dropped out of my life. -I felt as if they had pounded me in the same mortar with all the -fractions of men here, and rolled us into a solid lump. - -Then you came and looked into my face in a way that made me sure some -light could still be seen through me. - - _Nandini_ - -In this closed fort a bit of sky survives only between you and me, my -mad one. - - _Bishu_ - -Through that sky my songs can fly towards you. - -(_Sings_) - - _You keep me awake that I may sing to you, - O Breaker of my sleep! - And so my heart you startle with your call, - O Waker of my grief! - The shades of evening fall, the birds come to their nest. - The boat arrives ashore, yet my heart knows no rest, - O Waker of my grief!_ - - _Nandini_ - -The waker of your grief, Bishu? - - _Bishu_ - -Yes, you are my messenger from the unreachable shore. The day you -came to Yaksha Town a gust of salt air knocked at my heart. - - _Nandini_ - -But I never had any message of this sorrow of which you sing. - - _Bishu_ - -Not even from Rañjan? - - _Nandini_ - -No, he holds an oar in each hand and ferries me across the stormy -waters; he catches wild horses by the mane and rides with me through -the woods; he shoots an arrow between the eyebrows of the tiger on -the spring, and scatters my fear with loud laughter. As he jumps into -our Nagai river and disturbs its current with his joyous splashing, -so he disturbs me with his tumultuous life. Desperately he stakes his -all on the game and thus has he won me. - -You also were there with us, but you held aloof, and at last -something urged you one day to leave our gambling set. At the time of -your parting you looked at my face in a way I could not quite make -out. After that I’ve had no news of you for long. Tell me where you -went off to then. - - _Bishu_ - -My boat was tied to the bank; the rope snapped; the wild wind drove -it into the trackless unknown. - - _Nandini_ - -But who dragged you back from there to dig for nuggets here in Yaksha -Town? - - _Bishu_ - -A woman. Just as a bird on the wing is brought to the ground by a -chance arrow, so did she bring me down to the dust. I forgot myself. - - _Nandini_ - -How could she touch you? - - _Bishu_ - -When the thirsty heart despairs of finding water it’s easy enough for -it to be deluded by a mirage, and driven in barren quest from desert -to desert. - -One day, while I was gazing at the sunset clouds, she had her eye -upon the golden spire of the Governor’s palace. Her glance challenged -me to take her over there. In my foolish pride I vowed to do so. When -I did bring her here, under the golden spire, the spell was broken. - - _Nandini_ - -I’ve come to take you away from here. - - _Bishu_ - -Since you have moved even the king of this place, what power on earth -can prevent you? Tell me, don’t you feel afraid of him? - - _Nandini_ - -I did fear him from outside that screen. But now I’ve seen him inside. - - _Bishu_ - -What was he like? - - _Nandini_ - -Like a man from the epics,--his forehead like the gateway of a tower, -his arms the iron bolts of some inaccessible fortress. - - _Bishu_ - -What did you see when you went inside? - - _Nandini_ - -A falcon was sitting on his left wrist. He put it on the perch and -gazed at my face. Then, just as he had been stroking the falcon’s -wings, he began gently to stroke my hand. After a while he suddenly -asked: “Don’t you fear me, Nandini?” - -“Not in the least,” said I. - -Then he buried his fingers in my unbound hair and sat long with -closed eyes. - - _Bishu_ - -How did you like it? - - _Nandini_ - -I liked it. Shall I tell you how? It was as if he were a -thousand-year-old banyan tree, and I a tiny little bird; when I lit -on a branch of his and had my little swing, he needs must have felt a -thrill of delight to his very marrow. I loved to give that bit of joy -to that lonely soul. - - _Bishu_ - -Then what did he say? - - _Nandini_ - -Starting up and fixing his spearpoint gaze on my face, he suddenly -said: “I want to know you.” - -I felt a shiver run down my body and asked: “What is there to -know?--I am not a manuscript!” - -“I know all there is in manuscripts,” said he, “but I don’t know -you.” Then he became excited and cried: “Tell me all about Rañjan. -Tell me how you love him.” - -I talked on: “I love Rañjan as the rudder in the water might love the -sail in the sky, answering its rhythm of wind in the rhythm of waves.” - -He listened quietly, staring like a big greedy boy. All of a sudden -he startled me by exclaiming: “Could you die for him?” - -“This very moment,” I replied. - -“Never,” he almost roared, as if in anger. - -“Yes, I could,” I repeated. - -“What good would that do you?” - -“I don’t know,” said I. - -Then he writhed and shouted: “Go away from my room, go, go at once, -don’t disturb me in my work.” - -I could not understand what that meant. - - _Bishu_ - -He gets angry when he can’t understand. - - _Nandini_ - -Bishu, don’t you feel pity for him? - - _Bishu_ - -The day when God will be moved to pity for him, he will die. - - _Nandini_ - -No, no, you don’t know how desperately he wants to live. - - _Bishu_ - -You will see this very day what his living means. I don’t know -whether you’ll be able to bear the sight. - - _Nandini_ - -There, look, there’s a shadow. I am sure the Governor has secretly -heard what we’ve been saying. - - _Bishu_ - -This place is dark with the Governor’s shadow, it is everywhere. How -do you like him? - - _Nandini_ - -I have never seen anything so lifeless,--like a cane stick cut from -the cane bush,--no leaves, no roots, no sap in the veins. - - _Bishu_ - -Cut off from life, he spends himself in repressing life. - - _Nandini_ - -Hush, he will hear you. - - _Bishu_ - -He hears even when you are silent, which is all the more dangerous. -When I am with the diggers I am careful in my speech, so much so that -the Governor thinks I’m the sorriest of the lot, and spares me out of -sheer contempt. But, my mad girl, when I am with you my mind scorns -to be cautious. - - _Nandini_ - -No, no, you must not court danger. There comes the Governor. - - (_The Governor comes in._) - - _Governor_ - -Hallo, 69 Ng! you seem to be making friends with everybody, without -distinction. - - _Bishu_ - -You may remember that I began by making friends even with you, only -it was the distinction that stood in the way. - - _Governor_ - -Well, what are we discussing now? - - _Bishu_ - -We are discussing how to escape from this fortress of yours. - - _Governor_ - -Really? So recklessly, that you don’t even mind confessing it? - - _Bishu_ - -Sir Governor, it doesn’t need much cleverness to know that when a -captive bird pecks at the bars it’s not in the spirit of caress. What -does it matter whether that’s openly confessed or not? - - _Governor_ - -The captives’ want of love we were aware of, but their not fearing -to admit it has become evident only recently. - - _Nandini_ - -Won’t you let Rañjan come? - - _Governor_ - -You will see him this very day. - - _Nandini_ - -I knew that; still, for your message of hope I wish you victory. -Governor, take this garland of _kunda_ flowers. - - _Governor_ - -Why throw away the garland thus, and not keep it for Rañjan? - - _Nandini_ - -There _is_ a garland for him. - - _Governor_ - -Aha, I thought so! I suppose it’s the one hanging round your neck. -The garland of victory may be of _kunda_ flowers, the gift of the -hand; but the garland of welcome is of red oleanders, the gift of the -heart. Well, let’s be quick in accepting what comes from the hand, -for that will fade; as for the heart’s offering, the longer it waits -the more precious it grows. - - [_The Governor goes._ - - _Nandini_ (_knocking at the window_) - -Do you hear? Let me come into your room. - - _Voice_ (_from behind the scenes_) - -Why always the same futile request? Who is that with you? A pair to -Rañjan? - - _Bishu_ - -No, King, I am the obverse side of Rañjan, on which falls the shadow. - - _Voice_ - -What use has Nandini for you? - - _Bishu_ - -The use which music has for the hollow of the flute. - - _Voice_ - -Nandini, what is this man to you? - - _Nandini_ - -He’s my partner in music. My heart soars in his voice, my pain cries -in his tunes,--that’s what he tells me. - - -(_Sings_) - - _“I love, I love,”--’Tis the cry that breaks out - from the bosom of earth and water._ - - _Voice_ - -So that’s your partner! What if I dissolved your partnership this -very minute? - - _Nandini_ - -Why are you so cross? Haven’t you any companion yourself? - - _Voice_ - -Has the mid-day sun any companion? - - _Nandini_ - -Well, let’s change the subject. What’s that? what’s that in your hand? - - _Voice_ - -A dead frog. - - _Nandini_ - -What for? - - _Voice_ - -Once upon a time this frog got into a hole in a stone, and in that -shelter it existed for three thousand years. I have learnt from it -the secret of continuing to exist, but to live it does not know. -To-day I felt bored and smashed its shelter. I’ve thus saved it from -existing for ever. Isn’t that good news? - - _Nandini_ - -Your stone walls will also fall away from around me to-day,--I shall -meet Rañjan. - - _Voice_ - -I want to see you both together. - - _Nandini_ - -You won’t be able to see from behind your net. - - _Voice_ - -I shall let you sit inside my room. - - _Nandini_ - -What will you do with us? - - _Voice_ - -Nothing, I only want to know you. - - _Nandini_ - -When you talk of knowing, it frightens me. - - _Voice_ - -Why? - - _Nandini_ - -I feel that you have no patience with things that cannot be known, -but can only be felt. - - _Voice_ - -I dare not trust such things lest they should play me false. Now -go away, don’t waste my time.--No, no, wait a little. Give me that -tassel of red oleanders which hangs from your hair. - - _Nandini_ - -What will you do with it? - - _Voice_ - -When I look at those flowers it seems to me as if the red light of my -evil star has appeared in their shape. At times I want to snatch them -from you and tear them to pieces. Again I think that if Nandini were -ever to place that spray of flowers on my head, with her own hands, -then---- - - _Nandini_ - -Then what? - - _Voice_ - -Then perhaps I might die in peace. - - _Nandini_ - -Some one loves red oleanders and calls me by that name. It is in -remembrance of him that I wear these flowers. - - _Voice_ - -Then, I tell you, they’re going to be _his_ evil star as well as -_mine_. - - _Nandini_ - -Don’t say such things, for shame! I am going. - - _Voice_ - -Where? - - _Nandini_ - -I shall go and sit near the gate of your fort. - - _Voice_ - -Why? - - _Nandini_ - -When Rañjan comes he’ll see I am waiting for him. - - _Voice_ - -I should like to tread hard on Rañjan and grind him in the dust. - - _Nandini_ - -Why pretend to frighten me? - - _Voice_ - -Pretend, you say? Don’t you know I am really fearsome? - - _Nandini_ - -You seem to take pleasure in seeing people frightened at you. In our -village plays Srikantha takes the part of a demon; when he comes on -the stage, he is delighted if the children are terrified. You are -like him. Do you know what I think? - - _Voice_ - -What is it? - - _Nandini_ - -The people here trade on frightening others. That’s why they have put -you behind a network and dressed you fantastically. Don’t you feel -ashamed to be got up like a bogeyman? - - _Voice_ - -How dare you! - - _Nandini_ - -Those whom you have scared all along will one day feel ashamed to be -afraid. If my Rañjan were here, he would have snapped his fingers in -your face, and not been afraid even if he died for it. - - _Voice_ - -Your impudence is something great. I should like to stand you up on -the top of a heap of everything I’ve smashed throughout my life. And -then---- - - _Nandini_ - -Then what? - - _Voice_ - -Then, like a squeezed bunch of grapes with its juice running out from -between the gripping fingers, if I could but hold you tight with -these two hands of mine,--and then--go, go, run away, at once, at -once! - - _Nandini_ - -If you shout at me so rudely, I’ll stay on, do what you will! - - _Voice_ - -I long savagely to prove to you how cruel I am. Have you never heard -moans from inside my room? - - _Nandini_ - -I have. Whose moaning was it? - - _Voice_ - -The hidden mystery of life, wrenched away by me, bewails its torn -ties. To get fire from a tree you have to burn it. Nandini, there is -fire within you too, red fire. One day I shall burn you and extract -that also. - - _Nandini_ - -Oh, you are cruel! - - _Voice_ - -I must either gather or scatter. I can feel no pity for what I do not -get. Breaking is a fierce kind of getting. - - _Nandini_ - -But why thrust out your clenched fist like that? - - _Voice_ - -Here, I take away my fist. Now fly, as the dove flies from the shadow -of a hawk. - - _Nandini_ - -Very well, I will go, and not vex you any more. - - _Voice_ - -Here, listen, come back, Nandini! - - _Nandini_ - -What is it? - - _Voice_ - -On your face, there is the play of life in your eyes and lips; at -the back of you flows your black hair, the silent fall of death. -The other day when my hands sank into it they felt the soft calm of -dying. I long to sleep with my face hidden inside those thick black -clusters. You don’t know how tired I am! - - _Nandini_ - -Don’t you ever sleep? - - _Voice_ - -I feel afraid to sleep. - - _Nandini_ - -Let me sing you the latest song that I’ve learnt. - -(_Sings_) - - _“I love, I love” is the cry that breaks out - from the bosom of earth and water. - The sky broods like an aching heart, - the horizon is tender like eyes misted with tears._ - - _Voice_ - -Enough! Enough! stop your singing! - - _Nandini_ - -(_Sings on_) - - _A lament heaves and bursts - on the shore of the sea, - The whispers of forgotten days - are born in new leaves to die again._ - -See, Bishu, he has left the dead frog there and disappeared. He is -afraid of songs. - - _Bishu_ - -The old frog in his heart yearns to die when it hears singing, that’s -why he feels afraid. My mad girl, why is there a strange light on -your face to-day, like the glow of a distant torch in the sky? - - _Nandini_ - -News has reached me, Rañjan is coming to-day. - - _Bishu_ - -How? - - _Nandini_ - -Let me tell you. Every day a pair of blue-throats[1] come and sit -on the pomegranate tree in front of my window. Every night, before -I sleep, I salute the pole star and say: Sacred star of constancy, -if a feather from the wings of the blue-throats finds its way into -my room, then I will know my Rañjan is coming. This morning, as soon -as I woke, I found a feather on my bed. See, here it is under my -breast-cloth. When I meet him I shall put this feather on his crest. - - _Bishu_ - -They say blue-throats’ wings are an omen of victory. - - _Nandini_ - -Rañjan’s way to victory lies through my heart. - - _Bishu_ - -No more of this; let me go to my work. - - _Nandini_ - -I shan’t let you work to-day. - - _Bishu_ - -What must I do then? - - _Nandini_ - -Sing that song of waiting. - - _Bishu_ - -(_Sings_) - - _He who ever wants me through the ages,-- - is it not he who sits to-day by my wayside? - I seem to remember a glimpse I had of his face, - in the twilight dusk of some ancient year. - Is it not he who sits to-day by the wayside?_ - - _Nandini_ - -Bishu, when you sing I cannot help feeling that I owe you much, but -have never given anything to you. - - _Bishu_ - -I shall decorate my forehead with the mark of your never-giving, and -go my way. No little-giving for me, in return for my song! Where will -you go now? - - _Nandini_ - -To the wayside by which Rañjan is coming. - - [_They go._ - - (_The Governor and a Headman - come in._) - - _Governor_ - -No, we can’t possibly allow Rañjan to enter this parish. - - _Headman_ - -I put him to work in the tunnels of Vajragarh. - - _Governor_ - -Well, what happened? - - _Headman_ - -He said he was not used to being made to work. The Headman of -Vajragarh came with the police, but the fellow doesn’t know what fear -is. Threaten him, he bursts out laughing. Asked why he laughs, he -says solemnity is the mask of stupidity and he has come to take it -off. - - _Governor_ - -Did you set him to work with the diggers? - - _Headman_ - -I did, I thought that pressure would make him yield. But on the -contrary it seemed to lift the pressure from the diggers’ minds also. -He cheered them up, and asked them to have a digger’s dance! - - _Governor_ - -Digger’s dance! What on earth is that? - - _Headman_ - -Rañjan started singing. Where were they to get drums?--they objected. -Rañjan said, if there weren’t any drums, there were spades enough. -So they began keeping time with the spades, making a joke of their -digging up of nuggets. - -The Headman himself came over to reprimand them. “What style of work -is this?” he thundered. - -“I have unbound the work,” said Rañjan. “It won’t have to be dragged -out by main force any more, it will run along of itself, dancing.” - - _Governor_ - -The fellow is mad, I see. - - _Headman_ - -Hopelessly mad. “Use your spade properly,” shouted I. “Much better -give me a guitar,” said he, smiling. - - _Governor_ - -But how did he manage to escape from Vajragarh and come up here? - - _Headman_ - -That I do not know. Nothing seems to fasten on to him. His -boisterousness is infectious. The diggers are getting frisky. - - _Governor_ - -Hallo, isn’t that Rañjan himself,--going along the road, thrumming on -an old guitar? Impudent rascal! He doesn’t even care to hide. - - _Headman_ - -Well, I never! Goodness alone knows how he broke through the wall! - - _Governor_ - -Go and seize him instantly! He must not meet Nandini in this parish, -for anything. - - (_Enter Assistant Governor._) - -Where are you going? - - _Assistant Governor_ - -To arrest Rañjan. - - _Governor_ - -Where is the Deputy Governor? - - _Assistant Governor_ - -He is so much amused by this fellow that he doesn’t want to lay hands -on him. He says the man’s laugh shows us what queer creatures we -governors have grown into. - - _Governor_ - -I have an idea. Don’t arrest Rañjan. Send him on to the King’s -sanctum. - - _Assistant Governor_ - -He refuses to obey our call, even in the King’s name. - - _Governor_ - -Tell him the King has made a slave-girl of his Nandini. - - _Assistant Governor_ - -But if the King---- - - _Governor_ - -Don’t you worry. Come on, I’ll go with you myself. - - [_They go._ - - (_Enter Professor and Antiquarian._) - - _Antiquarian_ - -I say, what is this infernal noise going on inside? - - _Professor_ - -The King, probably in a temper with himself, is engaged in breaking -some of his own handiwork. - - _Antiquarian_ - -It sounds like big pillars crashing down one after another. - - _Professor_ - -There was a lake, at the foot of our hill over there, in which the -waters of this Sankhini river used to gather. One day, suddenly, -the rock to its left gave way, and the stored-up water rushed out -laughing like mad. To see the King nowadays, it strikes me that his -treasure lake has grown weary of its rock wall. - - _Antiquarian_ - -What did you bring me here for, Professor? - - _Professor_ - -Latterly he has begun to get angry with my science. He says it -only burgles through one wall to reveal another behind it, and -never reaches the inner chamber of the Life spirit. I thought that, -perhaps in the study of antiquity, he might explore the secret of -Life’s play. My knapsack has been rifled empty, now he can go on -pocket-picking history. - -Do you see who that is passing by? - - _Antiquarian_ - -A girl wearing a grass-green robe. - - _Professor_ - -She has for her mantle the green joy of the earth. That is our -Nandini. In this Yaksha Town there are governors, foremen, -headmen, tunnel-diggers, scholars like myself; there are policemen, -executioners, and undertakers,--altogether a beautiful assortment! -Only _she_ is out of element. Midst the clamour of the market place -she is a tuned-up lyre. There are days when the mesh of my studies is -torn by the sudden breeze of her passing by, and through that rent my -attention flies away _swish_, like a bird. - - _Antiquarian_ - -Good heavens, man! Are even your well-seasoned bones subject to these -poetic fits? - - _Professor_ - -Life’s attraction, like the tidal wave, tears away mind from its -anchorage of books. - - _Antiquarian_ - -Tell me, where am I to meet the King? - - _Professor_ - -There’s no means of meeting him. You’ll have to talk to him from -outside this network. - - _Antiquarian_ - -We’re to converse with this net between us? - - _Professor_ - -Not the kind of whispered talk that may take place through a woman’s -veil, but solidly concentrated conversation. Even the cows in his -stall don’t dare to give milk, they yield their butter straight off! - - _Antiquarian_ - -Admirable! To extract the essential from the diluted, is what -scholars aim at. - - _Professor_ - -But not what God in His creation aims at. He respects the fruit -stones that are hard, but rejoices in the pulp that is sweet. - - _Antiquarian_ - -Professor, I see that your grey science is galloping fast towards -grass-green. But I wonder how you can stand this King of yours. - - _Professor_ - -Shall I tell you the truth? I love him. - - _Antiquarian_ - -You don’t mean to say so? - - _Professor_ - -He is so great that even what is wrong with him will not be able to -spoil him. - - (_The Governor comes in._) - - _Governor_ - -I say, man of science, so this is the person you volunteered to bring -here. Our King flew into a passion at the very mention of his special -subject. - - _Antiquarian_ - -May I ask why? - - _Governor_ - -The King says there is no age of history which may be called old. It -is always an eternal extension of the present. - - _Antiquarian_ - -Can the front exist without the back? - - _Governor_ - -What he said was: “Time proceeds by revealing the new on his front; -but the men of learning, suppressing that fact, will have it that -Time ever carries the burden of the old on his back.” - - (_Nandini comes in hurriedly._) - - _Nandini_ - -What is happening? Who are they? - - _Governor_ - -Hallo, Nandini, is that you? I shall wear your _kunda_ chain late in -the evening. When three-quarters of me can hardly be seen for the -dark, then perchance a flower garland might become even me. - - _Nandini_ - -Look over there--what a piteous sight! Who are those people, going -along with the guards, filing out from the back door of the King’s -apartments? - - _Governor_ - -We call them the King’s leavings. - - _Nandini_ - -What does that mean? - - _Governor_ - -Some day you too will know its meaning; let it be for to-day. - - _Nandini_ - -But are these men? Have they flesh and marrow, life and soul? - - _Governor_ - -Maybe they haven’t. - - _Nandini_ - -Had they never any? - - _Governor_ - -Maybe they had. - - _Nandini_ - -Where then is it all gone now? - - _Governor_ - -Man of science, explain it if you can, I’m off. - - [_He goes._ - - _Nandini_ - -Alas, alas! I see amongst these shadows faces that I know. Surely -that is our Anup and Upamanyu? - -Professor, they belong to our neighbouring village. Two brothers as -tall as they were strong. They used to come and race their boats in -our river on the fourteenth day of the moon in rainy June. Oh, who -has brought them to this miserable plight? - -See, there goes Shaklu,--in sword play he used to win the prize -garland before all the others. Anu-up! Shaklu-u! look this way; it’s -I, your Nandini, Nandin of Isháni, your very next village. They -won’t even raise their heads--heads lowered for ever! - -Who is that? Surely, it is Kanku! Ah misery me! Even a boy like him -has been chewed dry and thrown away a piece of sugar cane. He was a -very shy lad. He would sit by the sloping side of the river landing -where I used to go and fetch water, pretending he had come to gather -reeds for making arrows. How often have I mischievously teased him. -Kanku, look back at me! Alas, he whose blood would dance in his veins -at a mere sign from me, now leaves my call unanswered. - -Gone, gone, all the lights of our village are gone out! Professor, -the steel is all eaten away, only the dark rust remains,--however did -this happen? - - _Professor_ - -Nandini, your notice happens to be attracted towards the ashes, but -turn your eyes towards the flame, and you will behold the brilliance -of its writhing tongues. - - _Nandini_ - -I don’t follow you at all. - - _Professor_ - -Well, you have seen the King, haven’t you? I hear you were charmed by -his appearance. - - _Nandini_ - -Of course I was! Isn’t he marvellous in his strength? - - _Professor_ - -That marvellousness is the credit side of the account, and this -ghastliness is the debit. These small ones are consumed to ash, -that the great ones may leap up in flame. This is the principle -underlying all rise to greatness. - - _Nandini_ - -It’s a fiendish principle! - - _Professor_ - -It’s no use getting annoyed with a principle. Principles are neither -good nor bad. That which happens _does_ happen. To go against it, is -to knock your head against the law of being. - - _Nandini_ - -If this is the way of man’s being, I refuse to _be_, I want to depart -with those shadows,--show me the way. - - _Professor_ - -When the time comes for showing us out, the great ones themselves -will point the way. Before that, there’s no such nuisance as a way at -all! You see how our Antiquarian has quietly slipped off, thinking -he’ll fly and save himself. After going a few steps, he’ll soon -discover that there’s a wire network stretched from post to post, -from country to country. - -Nandini, I see, your temper is rising. The red oleanders against -your flaming cheek are beginning to look like evening storm clouds -gathering for a night of terror. - - _Nandini_ - -(_Knocking at the net window_) Listen, listen! - - _Professor_ - -Whom are you calling? - - _Nandini_ - -That King of yours, shrouded in his mist of netting. - - _Professor_ - -The door of the inner room has been closed. He won’t hear you. - - _Nandini_ - -(_Calling out_) Bishu, mad brother mine! - - _Professor_ - -What d’you want with _him_? - - _Nandini_ - -Why hasn’t he come back yet? I feel afraid. - - _Professor_ - -He was with you only a little while ago. - - _Nandini_ - -The Governor said he was wanted to identify Rañjan. I tried to go -with him, but they wouldn’t let me. Whose groaning is that? - - _Professor_ - -It must be that wrestler of ours. - - _Nandini_ - -What wrestler? - - _Professor_ - -The world-famous Gajju, whose brother, Bhajan, had the bravado to -challenge the King to a wrestling match, since when not even a -thread of his loin cloth is anywhere to be seen. That put Gajju on -his mettle, and he came on with great sound and fury. I told him at -the outset that, if he wanted to dig in the tunnels underneath this -kingdom, he was welcome,--he could at least drag on a dead and alive -existence for some time. But if he wanted to make a show of heroics, -that would not be tolerated for a moment. - - _Nandini_ - -Does it at all make for their well-being thus to keep watch and ward -over these man-traps night and day? - - _Professor_ - -Well-being! There’s no question of “well” in it at all,--only -“being.” That _being_ of theirs has expanded so terribly that, unless -millions of men are pressed into service, who’s going to support its -weight? So the net is spreading farther and farther. They must exist, -you see. - - _Nandini_ - -Must they? If it is necessary to die in order to live like men, what -harm in dying? - - _Professor_ - -Again that anger, the wild cry of red oleander? It is sweet, no -doubt, yet what is true is true. If it gives you pleasure to say -that one must die to live, well, say so by all means; but those who -say that others must die that they themselves may live,--it’s only -they who are actually alive. You may cry out that this shows a lack -of humanity, but you forget, in your indignation, that this is what -humanity itself happens to be. The tiger does not feed on the tiger, -it’s only man who fattens on his fellow-man. - - (_The Wrestler totters in._) - - _Nandini_ - -Oh poor thing, see how he comes, staggering. Wrestler, lie down here. -Professor, do see where he’s hurt. - - _Professor_ - -You won’t see any outward sign of a wound. - - _Wrestler_ - -All-merciful God, grant me strength once more in my life, if only for -one little day! - - _Professor_ - -Why, my dear fellow? - - _Wrestler_ - -Just to wring that Governor’s neck! - - _Professor_ - -What has the Governor done to you? - - _Wrestler_ - -It’s he who brought about the whole thing. I never wanted to fight. -Now, after egging me on, he goes about saying it’s my fault. - - _Professor_ - -Why, what interest had he in your fighting? - - _Wrestler_ - -They only feel safe when they rob the whole world of strength. Lord -of Mercy, grant that I may be able to gouge his eyes out some day, -to tear asunder his lying tongue! - - _Nandini_ - -How do you feel now, Wrestler? - - _Wrestler_ - -Altogether hollowed out! These demons know the magic art of sucking -away not only strength but hope. - -If only once I could somehow,--O good God, but once,--everything is -possible to Thy mercy,--if only I could fasten my teeth for once in -the Governor’s throat! - - _Nandini_ - -Professor, help me to raise him. - - _Professor_ - -That would be a crime, Nandini, according to the custom of this land. - - _Nandini_ - -Wouldn’t it be a crime to let the man perish? - - _Professor_ - -That which there is none to punish may be a sin, but never a crime. -Nandini, come away, come right away out of this. The tree spreads its -root-fingers and does its grabbing underground, but there it does not -bring forth its flowers. Flowers bloom on the branches which reach -towards the light. My sweet Red Oleander, don’t try to probe our -secrets in the depths of their dust. Be for us swaying in the air -above, that we may gaze upwards to see you. - -There comes the Governor. He hates to see me talk to you. So I must -go. - - _Nandini_ - -Why is he so dead against me? - - _Professor_ - -I can guess. You have touched his heart-strings. The longer it takes -to tune them up, the more awful the discord meanwhile. - - (_The Professor goes, the Governor comes in._) - - _Nandini_ - -Sir Governor! - - _Governor_ - -Nandini, when our Gosain saw that _kunda_ garland of yours in my -room, both his eyes,--but here he comes---- - - (_The Gosain comes in._) - -Your Holiness, accept my reverence. That garland was given to me by -our Nandini here. - - _Gosain_ - -Ah indeed! the gift of a pure heart! God’s own white _kunda_ flowers! -Their beauty remains unsullied even in the hands of a man of the -world. This is what gives one faith in the power of virtue, and hope -for the sinners’ redemption. - - _Nandini_ - -Please do something for this man, Your Reverence. There’s very little -life left in him. - - _Gosain_ - -The Governor is sure to keep him as much alive as it is necessary for -him to be. But, my child, these discussions ill become your lips. - - _Nandini_ - -So in this kingdom you follow some calculation in apportioning life? - - _Gosain_ - -Of course,--for mortal life has its limits. Our class of people have -their great burden to bear, therefore we have to claim a larger -portion of life’s sustenance for our share. That’s according to -Almighty God’s own decree. - - _Nandini_ - -Reverend Sir, may I know what good God has so heavily charged you to -do to these people? - - _Gosain_ - -The life that is unlimited gives no provocation to fight for its -distribution. We Preachers have the charge of turning these people -towards this unlimited life. So long as they remain content with -that, we are their friends. - - _Nandini_ - -Then will this man with his very limited life have to remain lying -here half dead? - - _Gosain_ - -Why should he remain lying down anyway? What say you, Governor? - - _Governor_ - -Quite right. Why should we let him lie? From now he won’t need to -walk by his own strength alone, we shall carry him along with ours. - -Here, Gajju! - - _Wrestler_ - -Yes, Sir Governor! - - _Gosain_ - -Good Lord, his voice has already become ever so much reedier. It -strikes me we shall be able to make him join our choir of the Holy -Name. - - _Governor_ - -Gajju! - - _Wrestler_ - -At your service, Sir! - - _Governor_ - -Report yourself at the Headman’s quarters, parish Y-Z. - - _Nandini_ - -How can the poor man possibly walk? - - _Governor_ - -Look here, Nandini, it is our business to drive men. With the right -kind of push a man can be made to go a good distance, even when he is -at the point of collapse. - -Get along with you, Gajju! - - _Wrestler_ - -As you command, Sir! - - _Nandini_ - -Let me come over to the Headman’s quarters to help you. - - _Wrestler_ - -No. Don’t add to my troubles, I beg of you. - - [_The Wrestler goes._ - - _Nandini_ - -Governor, stay, tell me, whither have you taken my Bishu? - - _Governor_ - -Who am I that I should take him? The wind carries off the clouds,--if -you think that to be a crime, make enquiries as to who is behind the -wind. - - _Nandini_ - -Dear me, what an awful place! You are not men, and those you drive -are not men, either,--you are winds and they are clouds! - -Reverend Gosain, I am sure, _you_ know where my Bishu is. - - _Gosain_ - -I know, for sure, that wherever he is, it’s for the best. - - _Nandini_ - -For whose best? - - _Gosain_ - -That you won’t understand-- - -Oh, I say, leave off, let go of that, it’s my rosary.--Hallo, -Governor, what wild girl is this you have---- - - _Governor_ - -The girl has somehow managed to ensconce herself in a niche, safe -from the laws of this land, and we can’t lay hands on her. Our King -himself---- - - _Gosain_ - -Good heavens, now she’ll tear off my wrap of the Holy Name too. What -unspeakable outrage! - - [_The Gosain flies._ - - _Nandini_ - -Governor, you _must_ tell me where you have taken Bishu. - - _Governor_ - -They have summoned him to the court of judgement. That’s all that -there is to tell you. Let me go. - - _Nandini_ - -Because I am a woman, you are not afraid of me? God sends His -thunderbolt through His messenger, the lightning spark--that bolt I -have borne here with me; it will shatter the golden spire of your -mastery. - - _Governor_ - -Then let me tell you the truth before I go. It’s you who have dragged -Bishu into danger. - - _Nandini_ - -I? - - _Governor_ - -Yes, you! He was so long content to be quietly burrowing away -underground like a worm. It’s you who taught him to spread the wings -of death. O fire of the gods, you’ll yet draw forth many more to -their fate.--Then at length will you and I come to our understanding, -and that won’t be long. - - _Nandini_ - -So may it be. But tell me one thing before you go. Will you not let -Rañjan come and see me? - - _Governor_ - -No, never. - - _Nandini_ - -Never, you say! I defy you to do your worst. This very day I am sure, -absolutely sure, that he and I will meet! - - [_Governor goes._ - -(_Knocking and tugging at the network_) Listen, listen, King! Where’s -your court of judgement? Open its door to me. - - (_Kishôr comes in._) - -Who is that? My boy, Kishôr! Do you know where Bishu is? - - _Kishôr_ - -Yes, Nandini, be ready to see him. I don’t know how it was, the -Chief of the Guard took a fancy to my youthfulness and yielded to my -entreaties. He has consented to take him along by this path. - - _Nandini_ - -Guard! Take him along? Is he then---- - - _Kishôr_ - -Yes, here they come. - - _Nandini_ - -What! Handcuffs on your wrists? Friend of my heart, where are they -taking you like that? - - (_Bishu comes in under arrest._) - - _Bishu_ - -It’s nothing to be anxious about!--Guards, please wait a little, let -me say a few words to her.--My wild girl, my heart’s joy, at last I -am free. - - _Nandini_ - -What do you mean, Singer of my heart? I don’t understand your words. - - _Bishu_ - -When I used to be afraid, and try to avoid danger at every step, -I seemed to be at liberty; but that liberty was the worst form of -bondage. - - _Nandini_ - -What offence have you committed that they should take you away thus? - - _Bishu_ - -I spoke out the truth to-day, at last. - - _Nandini_ - -What if you did? - - _Bishu_ - -No harm at all! - - _Nandini_ - -Then why did they bind you like this? - - _Bishu_ - -What harm in that either? These chains will bear witness to the truth -of my freedom. - - _Nandini_ - -Don’t they feel ashamed of themselves to lead you along the road -chained like a beast? Aren’t they men too? - - _Bishu_ - -They have a big beast inside them, that’s why their heads are not -lowered by the indignity of man, rather the inner brute’s tail swells -and wags with pride at man’s downfall. - - _Nandini_ - -O dear heart! Have they been hurting you? What are these marks on -your body? - - _Bishu_ - -They have whipped me, with the whips they use for their dogs. The -string of that whip is made with the same thread which goes to the -stringing of their Gosain’s rosary. When they tell their beads they -don’t remember that; but probably their God is aware of it. - - _Nandini_ - -Let them bind me like that too, and take me away with you, my heart’s -Joy! Unless I share some of your punishment I shan’t be able to touch -food from to-day. - - _Kishôr_ - -I’m sure I can persuade them to take me in exchange for you. Let me -take your place, Bishu. - - _Bishu_ - -Don’t be silly! - - _Kishôr_ - -Punishment won’t hurt me. I am young. I shall bear it with joy. - - _Nandini_ - -No, no, do not talk like that. - - _Kishôr_ - -Nandini, my absence has been noticed, their bloodhounds are after me. -Allow me to escape the indignity awaiting me by taking shelter in a -punishment I joyfully accept. - - _Bishu_ - -No, it won’t do for you to be caught--not for a while yet. There’s -work for you, dear boy, and dangerous work too. Rañjan has come. You -must find him out. - - _Kishôr_ - -Then I bid you farewell, Nandini. What is your message when I meet -Rañjan? - - _Nandini_ - -This tassel of red oleanders (_hands it to him_). - - [_Kishôr goes._ - - _Bishu_ - -May you both be united once again. - - _Nandini_ - -That union will give me no pleasure now. I shall never be able to -forget that I sent you away empty-handed. And what has that poor boy, -Kishôr, got from me? - - _Bishu_ - -All the treasure hidden in his heart has been revealed to him by the -fire you have lighted in his life. Nandini, I remind you, it’s for -you to put that blue-throat’s feather on Rañjan’s crest.--There, do -you hear them singing the harvest song? - - _Nandini_ - -I do, and it wrings my heart, to tears. - - _Bishu_ - -The play of the fields is ended now, and the field-master is taking -the ripe corn home. Come on, Guards, let’s not linger any more. - -(_Sings_) - - _Mow the corn of the last harvest, bind it in sheaves. - The remainder, let it return as dust unto the dust._ - - [_They go._ - - (_The Governor and a Doctor come in._) - - _Doctor_ - -I’ve seen him. I find the King dissatisfied with himself. That’s a -disease, not of the body, but of the mind. - - _Governor_ - -What’s the remedy? - - _Doctor_ - -A big shock. Try and get up a big row, either with some other king, -or amongst the people themselves! - - _Governor_ - -In other words, unless he is allowed to harm some one else, he will -harm himself? - - _Doctor_ - -These big men are big babies. They must have plenty of play. When -they get tired of one game, if you don’t supply them with another, -they’ll break their toys. But be prepared, Governor, there isn’t much -time to lose. - - _Governor_ - -I’ve read the signs long ago, and completed all arrangements. But -what a pity! Just when our golden city has amassed wealth such as it -never had before, to have to--never mind, you may go--I’ll think it -over. - - [_Doctor goes._ - - (_A Headman comes in._) - - _Headman_ - -Did Your Lordship send for me? I am the Headman of Parish J. - - _Governor_ - -You are No. 321, aren’t you? - - _Headman_ - -Marvellous! Your Lordship remembers even my unworthy self! - - _Governor_ - -My wife will be driving out to-day. The post will be changed near -your village, and you must see that she’s not detained. - - _Headman_ - -There’s a plague on the cattle of our parish, and not a single ox can -be had to draw the car. Never mind, we can press the diggers into -service. - - _Governor_ - -You know where you have to take her? To the garden-house, where the -feast of the Flag-worship is to be held. - - _Headman_ - -I’ll see to it at once, but let me tell you one thing before I go. -That 69 Ng, whom they call mad Bishu,--it’s high time to cure his -madness. - - _Governor_ - -Why, how does he annoy you? - - _Headman_ - -Not so much by what he says or does, as by what he implies. - - _Governor_ - -There’s no need to worry about him any further. You understand! - - _Headman_ - -Really! That’s good news, indeed! Another thing. That 47 V, he’s -rather too friendly with 69 Ng. - - _Governor_ - -I have observed that. - - _Headman_ - -Your Lordship’s observation is ever keen. Only, as you have to keep -an eye on so many things, one or two may perchance escape your -notice. For instance, there’s our No. 95, a distant connection of -mine by marriage, ever ready to make sandals for the feet of Your -Lordship’s sweeper out of his own ribs,--so irrepressibly loyal is -he that even his wife hangs her head for very shame,--and yet up to -now---- - - _Governor_ - -His name has been entered in the High Register. - - _Headman_ - -Ah, then his lifelong service will at last receive its reward! The -news must be broken to him gently, because he gets epileptic fits, -and supposing suddenly---- - - _Governor_ - -All right, we’ll see to that. Now be off, there’s no time. - - _Headman_ - -Just a word about another person,--though he’s my own brother-in-law. -When his mother died, my wife brought him up with her own hands; yet -for my master’s sake---- - - _Governor_ - -You can tell me about him another time. Run away now. - - _Headman_ - -There comes His Honour the Deputy Governor. Please speak a word to -him on my behalf. He doesn’t look upon me with favour. I suspect that -when 69 Ng used to enjoy the favour of free entry into the palace, he -must have been saying things against me. - - _Governor_ - -I assure you, he never even mentioned your name. - - _Headman_ - -That’s just his cleverness! What can be more damaging than to -suppress the name of a man, whose name is his best asset? These -schemers have their different ways. No. 33 of our parish has an -incurable habit of haunting Your Lordship’s private chamber. One is -always afraid of his inventing goodness knows what calumnies about -other people. And yet if one knew the truth about his own---- - - _Governor_ - -There’s positively no time to-day. Get away with you, quick! - - _Headman_ - -I make my salute. - -(_Coming back_) Just one word more lest I forget. No. 88 of our -neighbouring parish started work on a miserable pittance, and before -two years are out his income has run into thousands, not to speak of -extras! Your Lordship’s mind is like that of the gods--a few words of -hypocritical praise are enough to draw down the best of your boons. - - _Governor_ - -All right, all right,--that can keep for to-morrow. - - _Headman_ - -I’m not so mean as to suggest taking away the bread from his mouth. -But Your Lordship should seriously consider whether it’s wise to keep -him on at the Treasury. Our Vishnu Dutt knows him inside out. If you -send---- - - _Governor_ - -I shall send for him this very day. But begone,--not another word! - - _Headman_ - -Your Lordship, my third son is getting to be quite a big boy. He -came the other day to prostrate himself at your feet. After two days -of dancing attendance outside, he had to go away without gaining -admission to you. He feels it very bitterly. My daughter-in-law -has made with her own hands an offering of sweet pumpkin for Your -Lordship---- - - _Governor_ - -Oh confound you! Tell him to come day after to-morrow, he will be -admitted. _Now, will you_---- - - (_Headman goes. The Deputy Governor comes in._) - - _Deputy Governor_ - -I’ve just sent on the dancing girls and musicians to the garden. - - _Governor_ - -And that little matter about Rañjan,--how far----? - - _Deputy Governor_ - -That kind of work is not in my line. The Assistant Governor has taken -it upon himself to do the job. By this time his---- - - _Governor_ - -Does the King----? - - _Deputy Governor_ - -The King can’t possibly have understood. Some lie told by our men has -goaded Rañjan to frenzy, and he’s rushing to the usual fate of----I -detest the whole business. Moreover, I don’t think it right to -deceive the King like this. - - _Governor_ - -That responsibility is mine. Now then, that girl must be---- - - _Deputy Governor_ - -Don’t talk of all that to me. The Headman who has been put on duty is -the right man,--he doesn’t stick at any dirtiness whatever. - - _Governor_ - -Does that man Gosain know about this affair? - - _Deputy Governor_ - -I’m sure he can guess, but he’s careful not to know for certain. - - _Governor_ - -What’s his object? - - _Deputy Governor_ - -For fear of there being no way left open for saying: “I don’t believe -it.” - - _Governor_ - -But what makes him take all this trouble? - - _Deputy Governor_ - -Don’t you see? The poor man is really two in one, clumsily -joined,--Priest on the skin, Governor at the marrow. He has to take -precious care to prevent the Governor part of him coming up to the -surface, lest it should clash too much with his telling of beads. - - _Governor_ - -He might have dropped the beads altogether. - - _Deputy Governor_ - -No, for whatever his blood may be, his mind, in a sense, is really -pious. If only he can tell his beads in his temple, and revel in -slave-driving in his dreams, he feels happy. But for him, the true -complexion of our God would appear too black. In fact, Gosain is -placed here only to help our God to feel comfortable. - - _Governor_ - -My friend, I see the instinct of the Ruler doesn’t seem to match with -the colour of your own blood, either! - - _Deputy Governor_ - -There’s hope still. Human blood is fast drying up. But I can’t -stomach your No. 321 yet. When I’m obliged to embrace him in public, -no holy water seems able to wash out the impurity of his touch. - -Here comes Nandini. - - _Governor_ - -Come away, I don’t trust you. I know the spell of Nandini has fallen -on your eyes. - - _Deputy Governor_ - -I know that as well as you do. But you don’t seem to know that a -tinge of her oleanders has got mixed with the colour of duty in -_your_ eyes too--that’s what makes them so frightfully red. - - _Governor_ - -That may be. Fortunately for us, our mind knows not its own secret. -Come away. - - [_They go._ - - (_Nandini comes in._) - - _Nandini_ - -(_Knocking and pushing at the network_) Listen, listen, listen! - - (_The Gosain comes in._) - - _Gosain_ - -Whom are you prodding like that? - - _Nandini_ - -That boa-constrictor of yours, who remains in hiding and swallows men. - - _Gosain_ - -Lord, lord! When Providence wishes to destroy the small, it does so -by putting big words into their little mouths. - -See here, Nandini, believe me when I tell you that I aim at your -welfare. - - _Nandini_ - -Try some more real method of doing me good. - - _Gosain_ - -Come to my sanctuary, let me chant you the Holy Name for a while. - - _Nandini_ - -What have I to do with the name? - - _Gosain_ - -You will gain peace of mind. - - _Nandini_ - -Shame, shame on me if I do! I shall sit and wait here at the door. - - _Gosain_ - -You have more faith in men than in God? - - _Nandini_ - -Your God of the Flagstaff,--he will never unbend. But the man who is -lost to sight behind the netting, will he also remain bound in his -network for ever? Go, go. It’s your trade to delude men with words, -after filching away their lives. - - [_The Gosain goes._ - - (_Enter Phágulal and Chandrá._) - - _Phágulal_ - -Our Bishu came away with you, where is he now? Tell us the truth. - - _Nandini_ - -He has been made prisoner and taken away. - - _Chandrá_ - -You witch, you must have given information against him. You are their -spy. - - _Nandini_ - -You don’t really believe that! - - _Chandrá_ - -What else are you doing here? - - _Phágulal_ - -Every person suspects every other person in this cursed place. Yet I -have always trusted you, Nandini. In my heart I used to---- However, -let that pass. But to-day it looks very very strange, I must say. - - _Nandini_ - -Perhaps it does. It may really be even as you say. Bishu has got into -trouble for coming with me. He used to be quite safe in your company, -he said so himself. - - _Chandrá_ - -They why did you decoy him away, you evil-omened creature? - - _Nandini_ - -Because he said he wanted to be free. - - _Chandrá_ - -A precious kind of freedom you have given him! - - _Nandini_ - -I could not understand all that he said, Chandrá. Why did he tell me -that freedom could only be found by plunging down to the bottom of -danger?--Phágulal, how could I save him who wanted to be free from -the tyranny of safety? - - _Chandrá_ - -We don’t understand all this. If you can’t bring him back, you’ll -have to pay for it. I’m not to be taken in by that coquettish -prettiness of yours. - - _Phágulal_ - -What’s the use of idle bickering? Let’s gather a big crowd from the -workmen’s lines, and then go and smash the prison gate. - - _Nandini_ - -I’ll come with you. - - _Phágulal_ - -What for? - - _Nandini_ - -To join in the breaking. - - _Chandrá_ - -As if you haven’t done quite enough breaking already, you sorceress! - - (_Gôkul comes in._) - - _Gôkul_ - -That witch must be burnt alive, before everything else. - - _Chandrá_ - -That won’t be punishment enough. First knock off that beauty of hers, -with which she goes about ruining people. Weed it out of her face as -the grass is weeded with a hoe. - - _Gôkul_ - -That I can do. Let this hammer just have a dance on her nose tip---- - - _Phágulal_ - -Beware! If you dare touch her---- - - _Nandini_ - -Stop, Phágulal. He’s a coward; he wants to strike me because he’s -afraid of me. I don’t fear his blows one bit. - - _Gôkul_ - -Phágulal, you haven’t come to your senses yet. You think the Governor -alone is your enemy. Well, I admire a straightforward enemy. But that -sweet-mouthed beauty of yours---- - - _Nandini_ - -Ah, so you too admire the Governor, as the mud beneath his feet -admires the soles of his shoes! - - _Phágulal_ - -Gôkul, the time has at length come to show your prowess, but not by -fighting a girl. Come along with me. I’ll show you what to fight. - - [_Phágulal, Chandrá, and Gôkul go._ - - (_A band of men come in._) - - _Nandini_ - -Where are you going, my good men? - - _First man_ - -We carry the offering for the Flag-worship. - - _Nandini_ - -Have you seen Rañjan? - - _Second man_ - -I saw him once, five days ago, but not since. Ask those others who -follow us. - - _Nandini_ - -Who are they? - - _Third man_ - -They are bearing wine for the Governors’ feast. - - (_The first batch goes, another comes in._) - - _Nandini_ - -Look here, red-caps, have you seen Rañjan? - - _First man_ - -I saw him the other day at the house of Headman Sambhu. - - _Nandini_ - -Where is he now? - - _Second man_ - -D’you see those men taking the ladies’ dresses for the feast? Ask -them. They hear a lot of things that don’t reach our ears. - - (_Second batch go, a third come in._) - - _Nandini_ - -Do _you_ know, my men, where they have kept Rañjan? - - _First man_ - -Hush, hush! - - _Nandini_ - -I am sure you know. You _must_ tell me. - - _Second man_ - -What enters by our ears doesn’t come out by our mouths, that’s why we -are still alive. Ask one of the men who are carrying the weapons. - - (_They go, others come in._) - - _Nandini_ - -Oh do stop a moment and listen to me. Tell me, where is Rañjan? - - _First man_ - -The auspicious hour draws near. It’s time for the King himself to -come for the Flag-worship. Ask him about it when he steps out. We -only know the beginning, not the end. - - [_They go._ - - _Nandini_ (_shaking the network violently_) - -Open the door. The time has come. - - _Voice_ (_behind the scenes_) - -But not for you. Go away from here. - - _Nandini_ - -You must hear _now_ what I have to say. It cannot wait for another -time. - - _Voice_ - -You want Rañjan, I know. I have asked the Governor to fetch him at -once. But don’t remain standing at the door when I come out for the -worship, for then you’ll run great risk. - - _Nandini_ - -I have cast away all fear. You can’t drive me away. Happen what may, -I’m not going to move till your door is opened. - - _Voice_ - -To-day’s for the Flag-worship. Don’t distract my mind. Get away from -my door. - - _Nandini_ - -The gods have all eternity for their worship, they’re not pressed for -time. But the sorrows of men cannot wait to reach other men, they -have so very little time. - - _Voice_ - -I am tired, very tired. I go to the Flag-worship to revive my -drooping spirit. Don’t unnerve me. - - _Nandini_ - -Pass over my body if you will, I shan’t move. - - _Voice_ - -Nandini, too much have I indulged you, so that you no longer fear me. -But to-day you _shall_ be afraid! - - _Nandini_ - -I dare you to frighten me, as you do the rest. I scorn your -indulgence! - - _Voice_ - -Do you indeed! Then I shall shatter your pride to-day. The time has -come for me to reveal myself to you. - - _Nandini_ - -I await that revelation. Open your door. - - (_The door opens, the King appears._) - -Oh who is that,--lying on the floor,--is it not Rañjan himself? - - _King_ - -What did you say? Rañjan! How can that possibly be? - - _Nandini_ - -Yes, this is indeed my Rañjan. - - _King_ - -Then why did he not give his name? Why did he fling me his challenge? - - _Nandini_ - -Wake, Rañjan, it is I, your Red Oleander! King, why does he not wake? - - _King_ - -Deceived! These traitors have deceived me,--perdition take them! -My own machine refuses my sway! Call the Governor--bring him to me -handcuffed---- - - _Nandini_ - -King, they all say you know magic. Make him wake up for my sake. - - _King_ - -My magic can only put an end to waking.--Alas! I know not how to -awaken. - - _Nandini_ - -Then lull me to sleep,--the same sleep! Oh, why did you work this -havoc? I cannot bear it any more. - - _King_ - -I have killed youth. Yes, I have indeed killed youth,--all these -years, with all my strength. The curse of youth, dead, is upon me. - - _Nandini_ - -Did he not take my name? - - _King_ - -He did,--in such a way that every vein in my body was set on fire. - - _Nandini_ (_to Rañjan_) - -My love, my brave one, here do I place this blue-throat’s feather in -your crest. Your victory has begun from to-day, and I am its bearer. -Ah, here is that tassel of my flowers in his hand. Then Kishôr must -have met him---- - -But where is he? King, where is that boy? - - _King_ - -Which boy? - - _Nandini_ - -The boy who brought these flowers to Rañjan. - - _King_ - -That absurd little child! He came to defy me with his girlish face. - - _Nandini_ - -And then? Tell me! Quick! - - _King_ - -He burst himself against me, like a bubble. - - _Nandini_ - -King, the Time is indeed now come! - - _King_ - -Time for what? - - _Nandini_ - -For the last fight between you and me. - - _King_ - -But I can kill you in no time,--this instant. - - _Nandini_ - -From that very instant that death of mine will go on killing you -every single moment. - - _King_ - -Be brave, Nandini, trust me. Make me your comrade to-day. - - _Nandini_ - -What would you have me do? - - _King_ - -To fight against me, but with your hand in mine. That fight has -already begun. There is my flag. First I break the Flagstaff,--thus! -Next it’s for you to tear its banner. Let your hand unite with mine -to kill me, utterly kill me. That will be my emancipation. - - _Guards_ (_rushing up_) - -What are you doing, King? You dare break the Flagstaff, the holiest -symbol of our divinity? The Flagstaff which has its one point -piercing the heart of the earth and the other that of heaven! What a -terrible sin,--on the very day of the Flag-worship! Comrades, let us -go and inform our Governors. - - [_They run off._ - - _King_ - -A great deal of breaking remains to be done. You will come with me, -Nandini? - - _Nandini_ - -I will. - - (_Phágulal comes in._) - - _Phágulal_ - -They won’t hear of letting Bishu off. I am afraid, they’ll----Who is -this? The King! - -Oh you wicked witch,--conspiring with the King himself! O vile -deceiver! - - _King_ - -What is the matter with you? What is that crowd out for? - - _Phágulal_ - -To break the prison gate. We may lose our lives, but we shan’t fall -back. - - _King_ - -Why should you fall back? I too am out for breaking. Behold the first -sign--my broken Flagstaff! - - _Phágulal_ - -What! This is altogether beyond us simple folk. - -Be merciful, Nandini, don’t deceive me. Am I to believe my eyes? - - _Nandini_ - -Brother, you have set out to win death. You have left no chance for -deception to touch you. - - _Phágulal_ - -You too come along with us, our own Nandini! - - _Nandini_ - -That is what I’m still alive for, Phágulal. I wanted to bring my -Rañjan amongst you. Look there, he has come, my hero, braving death! - - _Phágulal_ - -Oh, horror! Is that Rañjan lying there, silent? - - _Nandini_ - -Not silent. He leaves behind him in death his conquering call. He -will live again, he cannot die. - - _Phágulal_ - -Ah, my Nandini, my beautiful one, was it for this you were waiting -all these eager days? - - _Nandini_ - -I _did_ await his coming, and he _did_ come. I still wait to prepare -for his coming again, and he _shall_ come again. Where is Chandrá? - - _Phágulal_ - -She has gone with her tears and prayers to the Governor, accompanied -by Gôkul. I’m afraid Gôkul is seeking to take up service with the -Governor. He will betray us. - -King, are you sure you don’t mistake us? We are out to break your own -prison, I tell you! - - _King_ - -Yes, it is my _own_ prison. You and I must work together, for you -cannot break it alone. - - _Phágulal_ - -As soon as the Governor hears of it, he will march with all his -forces to prevent us. - - _King_ - -Yes, my fight is against them. - - _Phágulal_ - -But the soldiers will not obey you. - - _King_ - -_You_ will be on my side! - - _Phágulal_ - -Shall we be able to win through? - - _King_ - -We shall at least be able to die! At last I have found the meaning of -death. I am saved! - - _Phágulal_ - -King, do you hear the tumult? - - _King_ - -There comes the Governor with his troops. How could he be so quick -about it? He must have been prepared beforehand. They have used my -own power against me. - - _Phágulal_ - -My men have not yet turned up. - - _King_ - -They will never come. The Governor is sure to get round them. - - _Nandini_ - -I had my last hope that they would bring my Bishu to me. Will that -never be? - - _King_ - -No hope of that, I’m afraid. - - _Phágulal_ - -Then come along, Nandini, let us take you to a safe place first. The -Governor will see red, if he but catches sight of you. - - _Nandini_ - -You want to banish me into the solitary exile of safety? - -(_Calling out_) Governor! Governor!--He has swung up my garland of -_kunda_ flowers on his spear-head. I will dye that garland the colour -of my oleanders with my heart’s blood.--Governor! He has seen me! -Victory to Rañjan! - - [_Runs off._ - - _King_ (_calling after her_) - -Nandini! - - [_Follows her._ - - (_The Professor comes in._) - - _Phágulal_ - -Where are _you_ hurrying to, Professor? - - _Professor_ - -Some one said that the King has at last had tidings of the secret of -Life, and has gone off in quest of it. I have thrown away my books to -follow him. - - _Phágulal_ - -The King has just gone off to his death. He has heard Nandini’s call. - - _Professor_ - -The network is torn to shreds! Where is Nandini? - - _Phágulal_ - -She has gone before them all. We can’t reach her any more. - - _Professor_ - -It is only now that we shall reach her. She won’t evade us any longer. - - (_Professor rushes out, Bishu comes in._) - - _Bishu_ - -Phágulal, where is Nandini? - - _Phágulal_ - -How did you get here? - - _Bishu_ - -Our workmen have broken into the prison. There they are,--running off -to fight. I came to look for Nandini. Where is she? - - _Phágulal_ - -She has gone in advance of us all. - - _Bishu_ - -Where? - - _Phágulal_ - -To the last freedom. - -Bishu, do you see who is lying there? - - _Bishu_ - -Rañjan! - - _Phágulal_ - -You see the red streak? - - _Bishu_ - -I understand,--their red marriage tie! - - _Phágulal_ - -They are united. - - _Bishu_ - -Now it is for me to take my last lonely journey.--Perhaps we may -meet.--Perhaps she may want me to sing.--My mad girl, O my mad girl!-- - -Come, brother, on to the fight! - - _Phágulal_ - -To the fight! Victory to Nandini! - - _Bishu_ - -Victory to Nandini! - - _Phágulal_ - -Here is her wristlet of red oleanders. She has bared her arm -to-day,--and left us. - - _Bishu_ - -Once I told her I would not take anything from her hand. I break my -word and take this. Come along! - - [_They go._ - -(_Song in the distance._) - - _Hark ’tis Autumn calling,-- - Come, O come away! - The earth’s mantle of dust is filled with ripe corn! - O the joy! the joy!_ - - - CURTAIN - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[1] _Nîlkantha_, a bird of good omen. - - - _Printed in Great Britain by_ R. & R. CLARK, LIMITED, _Edinburgh_. - - - - - BY RABINDRANATH TAGORE - - -=GITANJALI. (Song Offerings.)= Translated by the Author. With an - Introduction by W. B. YEATS, and a Portrait by W. ROTHENSTEIN. - Crown 8vo. 5s. net. - -_ATHENÆUM._--“Mr. Tagore’s translations are of trance-like beauty.... -The expanding sentiment of some of the poems wins, even through the -alien medium of our English prose, a rhythm which in its strength -and melody might recall familiar passages in the Psalms or Solomon’s -Song.” - - -=FRUIT-GATHERING. A Sequel to “Gitanjali.”= Crown 8vo 5s. net. - -_ATHENÆUM._--“The eighty-six pieces that fill this volume are pure -jets of lyric feeling, aphorisms expressed in moving symbols, or -fully developed parables and allegories ... several are as perfect in -form as they are beautiful and poignant in content.” - - -=GITANJALI AND FRUIT-GATHERING.= With Illustrations in colour and - half-tone by NANDALAL BOSE, SURENDRANATH KAR, ABANINDRANATH - TAGORE, and NOBINDRANATH TAGORE. Crown 8vo. 10s. net. - - -=THE GARDENER. Lyrics of Love and Life.= Translated by the Author. - With Portrait Crown 8vo. 5s. net. - -_DAILY MAIL._--“Flowers as fresh as sunrise.... One cannot tell what -they have lost in the translation, but as they stand they are of -extreme beauty.... They are simple, exalted, fragrant--episodes and -incidents of every day transposed to faery.” - - -=THE CRESCENT MOON. Child-Poems.= Translated by the Author. With 8 - Illustrations in Colour. Pott 4to. 5s. net. - -_NATION._--“A vision of childhood which is only paralleled in our -literature by the work of William Blake.” - - -=STRAY BIRDS. Poems.= With a Frontispiece by WILLY POGÁNY. Crown - 8vo. 4s. 6d. net. - -_SCOTSMAN._--“The richness of this volume in thought and in imagery, -in tracing analogies and in discovering apologues, is such as to -yield pleasure and profit to the most fertile and cultured minds.” - - -=LOVER’S GIFT AND CROSSING. Poems.= Crown 8vo. 5s. net. - -_ATHENÆUM._--“The poems often touch extreme heights of passion and -sublimity, and the diction has a beauty and a music that few have -attained in this particular medium.” - - -=THE FUGITIVE. Poems.= Crown 8vo. 7s. 6d. net. - -_SUNDAY TIMES._--“In ‘The Fugitive’ the lovers of Tagore will not be -disappointed. He has all his powers still undimmed. Indeed, the poet -never, in our judgment, has surpassed this work.” - - -=CHITRA. A Play.= Translated by the Author. Crown 8vo. 3s. 6d. net. - -_OBSERVER._--“An allegory of love’s meaning, clear as a pool in the -sunshine.... This little work of beauty.” - - -=THE KING OF THE DARK CHAMBER. A Play.= Translated by KSHITISH - CHANDRA SEN. Crown 8vo. 6s. net. - -_PALL MALL GAZETTE._--“Altogether, the play is a beautiful piece of -fanciful writing with a veiled purpose at the back of it.” - - -=THE POST OFFICE. A Play.= Translated by DEVABRATA MUKERJEA. Crown - 8vo. 3s. 6d. net. - -_MANCHESTER GUARDIAN._--“‘The Post Office’ is a delicate, wistful -thing, coloured with beautiful imagery; for a moment it lifts a -corner of the veil of worldly existence.” - - -=THE CYCLE OF SPRING. A Play.= Crown 8vo. 3s. 6d. net. - - -_MANCHESTER GUARDIAN._--“The whole little drama is a spring-gift such -as England has seldom received.” - - -=SACRIFICE and other Plays.= Crown 8vo. 6s. net. - -_SCOTSMAN._--“All the pieces have a rare beauty of their own.” - - -=THE HOME AND THE WORLD. A Novel.= Crown 8vo. 7s. 6d. net. - -_SATURDAY REVIEW._--“In these days of indiscriminating praise, it is -hard for a reviewer to find words with which to welcome properly a -book so good as this.” - - -=THE WRECK. A Novel.= Crown 8vo. 7s. 6d. net. - -_MORNING POST._--“The story cannot fail to interest and delight.” - - -=GORA. A Novel.= Crown 8vo. 7s. 6d. net. - -_JOHN O’ LONDON’S WEEKLY._--“The author has created characters who -seem too real to live between the covers of a book.” - - -=MASHI and other Stories.= Crown 8vo. 6s. net. - -_OXFORD MAGAZINE._--“Full of pregnant pictures of Indian life and -character, subdued but vivid in tone.” - - -=HUNGRY STONES and other Stories.= Crown 8vo. 6s. net. - -_DAILY TELEGRAPH._--“Contains descriptive passages of rare vigour and -beauty, and is embellished with imagery of a delicate and distinctive -character.” - - -=SĀDHANĀ: The Realisation of Life. Lectures.= Extra Crown 8vo. 6s. - net. - - -=NATIONALISM.= Extra Crown 8vo. 6s. net. - - -=PERSONALITY. Lectures delivered in America.= Illustrated. Crown - 8vo. 6s. net. - - -=CREATIVE UNITY.= Extra Crown 8vo. 7s. 6d. net. - - -=MY REMINISCENCES.= Illustrated. Extra Crown 8vo. 7s. 6d. net - - -=GLIMPSES OF BENGAL. Selected from the Letters of Rabindranath - Tagore, 1885 to 1895.= Crown 8vo. 7s. 6d. net. - - * * * * * - -=ONE HUNDRED POEMS OF KABIR.= Translated by RABINDRANATH TAGORE, - assisted by EVELYN UNDERHILL. Crown 8vo. 5s. net. - -=RABINDRANATH TAGORE.= A Biographical Study. By ERNEST RHYS. - Illustrated. Extra Crown 8vo. 10s. 6d. net. - -=SIX PORTRAITS OF RABINDRANATH TAGORE.= By W. ROTHENSTEIN. - Reproduced in Collotype. With Prefatory Note by MAX BEERBOHM. - Imperial 4to. 10s. net. - -=THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MAHARSHI DEVENDRANATH TAGORE= (Father of - RABINDRANATH TAGORE). Translated by SATYENDRANATH TAGORE - and INDIRA DEVI. With Introduction by EVELYN UNDERHILL, and - Portrait. Extra Crown 8vo. 7s. 6d. net. - -=THE PHILOSOPHY OF RABINDRANATH TAGORE.= By Prof. S. RADHAKRISHNAN. - 8vo. 8s. 6d. net. - -=SHANTINIKETAN: The Bolpur School of Rabindranath Tagore.= By W. W. - PEARSON. With Introduction by RABINDRANATH TAGORE. Illustrated. - Extra Crown 8vo. 4s. 6d. net. - - - LONDON: MACMILLAN AND CO., LTD. - - - - - Transcriber’s Notes - - -Obvious typographical errors and punctuation errors have been -silently corrected after careful comparison with other occurrences -within the text and consultation of external sources. Some hyphens -in words have been silently removed and some silently added when -a predominant preference was found in the original book. Except -for those changes noted below, all misspellings in the text and -inconsistent or archaic usage have been retained. - - Page 51: “Hullo, 69 Ng” replaced by “Hallo, 69 Ng”. - - Page 52: “banian tree” replaced by “banyan tree”. - -Italicized text is surrounded by underscores: _italics_. Bold text is -surrounded by equal signs: =bold=. - -*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 77892 *** |
