Part 31 (2/2)

Vasantasena, my beloved,

The masonry is shaken; and so old The awning, that 't will not much longer hold.

Heavy with water is the painted wall, From which dissolving bits of mortar fall. 50

[_He looks up._] The rainbow! See, my beloved, see!

See how they yawn, the cloudy jaws of heaven, As by a tongue, by forked lightning riven; And to the sky great Indra's fiery bow In lieu of high-uplifted arms is given. 51

Come, let us seek a shelter. [_He rises and walks about._]

On palm-trees shrill, On thickets still, On boulders das.h.i.+ng, On waters splas.h.i.+ng, Like a lute that, smitten, sings, The rainy music rings. 52

[_Exeunt omnes._

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 60: In Indian love poetry, the rainy season is the time when lovers most ardently long to be united.]

[Footnote 61: In allusion to Vishnu's name, Krishna, ”black.”]

[Footnote 62: A gesture of respect.]

[Footnote 63: The G.o.ddess of wealth and beauty, usually represented with a lotus.]

[Footnote 64: Kama's (Cupid's) arrows are flowers.]

[Footnote 65: Throughout this scene, Vasantasena's verses are in Sanskrit. Compare note 1 on page 73.]

[Footnote 66: The cry of the heron resembles the Sanskrit word for ”rain.” Indian love-poetry often paints the sorrow, even unto death, of her whose beloved does not return before the rainy season.]

[Footnote 67: The elephant of Indra. Indra is the G.o.d of the thunderstorm.]

ACT THE SIXTH

THE SWAPPING OF THE BULLOCK-CARTS

[_Enter a maid._]

_Maid._

Isn't my mistress awake yet? Well, I must go in and wake her. [_She walks about. Vasantasena appears, dressed, but still asleep. The maid discovers her._] It is time to get up, mistress. The morning is here.

_Vasantasena._ [_Awakening._] What! is the night over? is it morning?

_Maid._ For us it is morning. But for my mistress it appears to be night still.

_Vasantasena._ But girl, where is your gambler?

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