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Present: Nagadeva (N), the prime minister, General Siha (GS), commander-in-chief of the Magadha forces. Later on the Master of Ceremonies (MC), King Bimbisara (Bb.), a trumpeter and a small body guard.
N. It is a joy to serve this mighty king
Whose power extendeth over many lands.
In peace he ruleth wisely, and his subjects
Obey him willingly for he is just.
In war he swoops upon his enemies
As doth a hawk upon a helpless chicken,
Quick in attack, lucky in every fight.
Indeed he earned his name deservedly,
The warlike Bimbisara.
GS.At his side
I fought with him in many a doubtful battle
With all the odds against us, but his daring,
[29]Joined to a rare instinctive foresight
By which he could anticipate all dangers,
Would win the day and ne'er was he defeated!
In this our latest war he took great risks,
Might have been taken by his foes, and would
Have lost his liberty, his throne, his life;
But venturing much he won, and by exposing
His own high person in the brunt of battle
He stirred the courage of his followers
To do great deeds of valor.
Master of Ceremonies enters with a trumpeter.
MC.Noble lords,
Mis majesty, our royal lord, is coming
To meet you here in private council.
Trumpeter blows a signal.
GS. Hail the victorious, warlike Bimbisara!
Both kneel as the king enters preceded and followed by a small body guard.
Bb. Be greeted noble lords.
N. We wish you joy and the continuance of your good fortune.
Bb. I have a matter to bespeak with you,
Far-reaching weighty plans of great importance.
I wish to be alone with you.
[30]
Turning to the captain of his body guards.
Captain, have this room guarded by your soldiers.
The gong shall call you when I need your service.
The soldiers march out of the room.
Be seated, my good lords.
You helped me gain a wondrous victory
Which proves I have the favor of the gods.
I probed your skill, your courage and your faith
And found you both most able and most trusty.
Therefore you are to me much more than vassals
And servants of the state; you are my helpers,
Indeed my friends and nearest to my heart.
A king needs friends who share his secret thoughts,
Who stand by him in all vicissitudes,
Who bear with him responsibilities,
And above all, who frankly speak the truth.
I ask you, will you be such friends to me?
GS. I will with all my heart.
N.And I not less.
Bb. I, my dear friends, I promise you in turn
That I shall not resent your words of truth
If spoken in good faith with best intentions.
I may not always follow your advice,
But you are free to say whate'er you please,
Whate'er you may deem best for me to know,
Whate'er will benefit the empire and my people.
Now listen what I have to say to you.
[31]I will reveal to you my inmost heart:
This is an age of greatest expectations;
Riches accumulate in our cities,
Commerce and trade are flourishing, and
Our caravans exchange our native goods
For gold and precious produce from abroad.
What India needs is unity of rule.
The valley of the holy Ganges should
Be governed by one king, a king of kings.
There should no longer be a rivalry,
A clash of interests between the states,
And all the princes should obey the rule
Of the one man who guides and guards the whole.
This therefore is my plan: you Nagadeva
Must gain the favor of our neighbor kings,
So as to make them recognize our sway.
If voluntarily they will submit,
They shall be welcome as our worthy vassals.
If they resist (turning to Siha) my gallant general
You must reduce them to subjection.
A treaty with the rajas in the east,
In southern and in northern Kosala,
Speedeth my plans, the Sakyas only
Defy our sovereign will, and keep aloof.
If they yield not, their power must be broken!
There is a task for you and for my army.
N. Permit, my noble king, that I advise you.
I know the Sakya minister of state,
And he is willing to betray his master.
The Sakya prince, the only son and heir,
[32]Siddhattha Gotama he's called by name,
Went into homelessness and has turned monk,
Leaving behind his wife and a small son.
The minister aspireth to the throne,
And if we help him in his plans, he will
Acknowledge you as sovereign over him.
And that will save your army blood and trouble.
Bb. What is his name.
N.Visakha, noble King.
Bb. I wish to see him. Let him visit you
And as by accident I want to meet him.
GS. Allow me, mighty King, a word of warning.
Bb. Speak freely.
GS.
With unconcealed indignation, almost entreatingly.
Do not listen to a traitor.
Send me with all the army of the kingdom,
Bid me lead captive all the Sakyas; do it
In open fight but not by treachery.
My King, avoid alliance with Visakha,
His very breath contaminates. He lowers
Ourselves to his low level.
Bb.Thank you Siha.
I will be slow. [Pondering] But it is too important!
Argues with himself.
May I not listen to a traitor's words,
Nor hear him,—profit by his information?
GS. Oh do it not!
Bb.Siha, thou art a soldier.
I honor thee, thou speakest like a soldier,
But think how much diplomacy will help,
How many lives and property it saves.
Without the brutal means of war it will
Better accomplish all our ends; it spares
The enemy as well. A prosperous country
Will serve me better than a city sacked
And villages destroyed by fire.
GS. Pardon, my liege, I do not trust a traitor.
Bb. I will be on my guard, but I shall see him,
'T shall be by way of reconnoitering.
You in the meantime keep the army ready,
For one way or another I must conquer
The Sakya king and make him do my bidding.
The King rises indicating that his two counselors are dismissed. They rise also.
The world is growing wider every day
And our souls broaden with the general progress.
A new era dawns upon us. Let us all
Help to mature the fruitage of the times.
[The garden before the palace of King Suddhodana as in Act I]
Presents Yasodhara (Y) with her maid Gopa (G) and Rahula (R).
Y. Repeat that verse once more and then we will stop our lesson.
R.
