The Buddha Part 5

_B._ [_Addressing the vision in the air._]

Mara, thou here? thou wicked one, thou tempter!

_K._ Oh do not leave us Prince. Think of the wrong you do.

You wrong your royal father, you wrong your wife, you wrong your child.

_B._ What sayest thou? Thou sayest I do wrong?

The same rebuke is echoed in my heart; It is so sweet, so loving, so alluring!

And shall I listen to its tender voice?

How pleasant would it be to stay at home, And to enjoy my wife's love and my child's!

Is that my duty? Say, is that my duty?

_K._ Surely my Lord, your duties lie at home.

_SIDDHATTHA wavers as if in doubt. He stands pondering for a moment._

_B._ Who will instruct me where my duty lies?

_M._ I will instruct thee, I will guide thee right.

_K._ How can you doubt, my Prince? And can you not Search for the truth here in this pleasant garden?

There're spots enough where you can think and ponder, And meditate among the fragrant flowers.

_B._ Here I shall never reach my goal.

_K._ Stay here.

A kingdom is your sure inheritance, While Buddahood is but a doubtful prize.

_B._ And shall the world wait for another Buddha?

So many millions clamor for the truth!

_With determination._

I hear the call and naught shall hold me back.

I see my duty and I will obey.

_M._ Wilt thou not stay, my n.o.ble Prince Siddhattha?

The wheel of empire turns, and thee I shall Make king of kings to rule the whole broad earth.

Think of the good which thou wilt do as king!

And then as king of kings thy mighty power Will spread the good religion o'er the world.

_B._ I know thee Mara, tempter, Evil One, Prince of this world, I know thy voice, thy meaning.

The gifts thou offerest are transient treasures, And thy dominion is mere vanity.

I go to found a kingdom in the realm Of the immortal state which lasts for aye.

Thou hinderest and dost not help the truth.

_K._ Thou speakest to the empty air, my Prince, For I see no one whom thou thus addressest.

_CHANNA helps SIDDHATTHA to mount, and while the gate opens leads the horse out of the gate, and KALA enters into the palace. VISAKHA is coming to the front._

_V._ He is gone. He has made room for me. The time will come when this kingdom will be mine.

_Y._ [_from the balcony_] Siddhattha! Siddhattha! Where are you? He is gone! He has departed into homelessness! [_She faints._]

[CURTAIN]

_FIRST INTERLUDE._

_Living pictures accompanied by appropriate music, as an introduction to Act II._

1. BEGGING FOOD.

A scene of the Prince's life as a mendicant friar.

A Hindu village, Siddhattha stands bowl in hand before a hut; a woman dishes some rice from a kettle into his bowl; villagers, including children, stand around gazing at him,--a few with clasped hands.

2. THE KING GREETS THE MENDICANT.

Tradition tells that King Bimbisara, hearing of the n.o.ble monk, went out to see him and offered him to take part in the government. This being refused, the King requested him to visit Rajagaha, the royal residence, as soon as Siddhattha had become a Buddha.

Siddhattha is seated under a tree near a brook; the king stands before him, surrounded by his retinue.

3 PREACHING TO THE VILLAGERS.

Under the tree in the market place of a Hindu village The Buddha is seated in the att.i.tude of a preacher. The villagers stand or squat around intently listening.

4. SAVED FROM STARVATION

In company with other monks, Siddhattha sought for a while enlightenment by self-mortification.

Being exhausted by severe fasts, the mendicant faints, and Nanda, the shepherd's daughter, pa.s.sing by, refreshes him with rice milk. His five disciples at a distance fear that he has given up his quest for truth.

ACT II.

FIRST SCENE

[Seven years have elapsed since the first act. A room in the royal palace at Magadha]

_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.