of　a　Kinsuka　petal　has　neither　name　nor　destination。　　It　offers
  no　answer　to　any　question。　　She　whom　you　love　is　like　that
  perfect　bead　of　dew。
  Arjuna
  Has　she　no　tie　with　the　world？　　Can　she　be　merely　like　a　fragment
  of　heaven　dropped　on　the　earth　through　the　carelessness　of　a
  wanton　god？
  Chitra
  Yes。
  Arjuna
  Ah；　that　is　why　I　always　seem　about　to　lose　you。　　My　heart　is
  unsatisfied；　my　mind　knows　no　peace。　　Come　closer　to　me；
  unattainable　one！　　Surrender　yourself　to　the　bonds　of　name　and
  home　and　parentage。　　Let　my　heart　feel　you　on　all　sides　and　live
  with　you　in　the　peaceful　security　of　love。
  Chitra
  Why　this　vain　effort　to　catch　and　keep　the　tints　of　the　clouds；
  the　dance　of　the　waves；　the　smell　of　the　flowers？
  Arjuna
  Mistress　mine；　do　not　hope　to　pacify　love　with　airy　nothings。
  Give　me　something　to　clasp；　something　that　can　last　longer　than
  pleasure；　that　can　endure　even　through　suffering。
  Chitra
  Hero　mine；　the　year　is　not　yet　full；　and　you　are　tired　already！
  Now　I　know　that　it　is　Heaven's　blessing　that　has　made　the
  flower's　term　of　life　short。　　Could　this　body　of　mine　have
  drooped　and　died　with　the　flowers　of　last　spring　it　surely　would
  have　died　with　honour。　　Yet；　its　days　are　numbered；　my　love。
  Spare　it　not；　press　it　dry　of　honey；　for　fear　your　beggar's　heart
  come　back　to　it　again　and　again　with　unsated　desire；　like　a
  thirsty　bee　when　summer　blossoms　lie　dead　in　the　dust。
  SCENE　VII
  Madana
  TONIGHT　is　thy　last　night。
  Vasanta
  The　loveliness　of　your　body　will　return　tomorrow　to　the
  inexhaustible　stores　of　the　spring。　　The　ruddy　tint　of　thy　lips
  freed　from　the　memory　of　Arjuna's　kisses；　will　bud　anew　as　a　pair
  of　fresh　asoka　leaves；　and　the　soft；　white　glow　of　thy　skin　will
  be　born　again　in　a　hundred　fragrant　jasmine　flowers。
  Chitra
  O　gods；　grant　me　this　my　prayer！　　Tonight；　in　its　last　hour　let
  my　beauty　flash　its　brightest；　like　the　final　flicker　of　a　dying
  flame。
  Madana
  Thou　shalt　have　thy　wish。
  SCENE　VIII
  Villagers
  WHO　will　protect　us　now？
  Arjuna
  Why；　by　what　danger　are　you　threatened？
  Villagers
  The　robbers　are　pouring　from　the　northern　hills　like　a　mountain
  flood　to　devastate　our　village。
  Arjuna
  Have　you　in　this　kingdom　no　warden？
  Villagers
  Princess　Chitra　was　the　terror　of　all　evil　doers。　　While　she　was
  in　this　happy　land　we　feared　natural　deaths；　but　had　no　other
  fears。　　Now　she　has　gone　on　a　pilgrimage；　and　none　knows　where　to
  find　her。
  Arjuna
  Is　the　warden　of　this　country　a　woman？
  Villagers
  Yes；　she　is　our　father　and　mother　in　one。
  ＇Exeunt。
  Enter　CHITRA。
  Chitra
  Why　are　you　sitting　all　alone？
  Arjuna
  I　am　trying　to　imagine　what　kind　of　woman　Princess　Chitra　may　be。
  I　hear　so　many　stories　of　her　from　all　sorts　of　men。
  Chitra
  Ah；　but　she　is　not　beautiful。　　She　has　no　such　lovely　eyes　as
  mine；　dark　as　death。　　She　can　pierce　any　target　she　will；　but　not
  our　hero's　heart。
  Arjuna
  They　say　that　in　valour　she　is　a　man；　and　a　woman　in　tenderness。
  Chitra
  That；　indeed；　is　her　greatest　misfortune。　　When　a　woman　is　merely
  a　woman；　when　she　winds　herself　round　and　round　men's　hearts　with
  her　smiles　and　sobs　and　services　and　caressing　endearments；　then
  she　is　happy。　　Of　what　use　to　her　are　learning　and　great
  achievements？　　Could　you　have　seen　her　only　yesterday　in　the
  court　of　the　Lord　Shiva's　temple　by　the　forest　path；　you　would
  have　passed　by　without　deigning　to　look　at　her。　　But　have　you
  grown　so　weary　of　woman's　beauty　that　you　seek　in　her　for　a　man's
  strength？
  With　green　leaves　wet　from　the　spray　of　the　foaming　waterfall；　I
  have　made　our　noonday　bed　in　a　cavern　dark　as　night。　　There　the
  cool　of　the　soft　green　mosses　thick　on　the　black　and　dripping
  stone；　kisses　your　eyes　to　sleep。　　Let　me　guide　you　thither。
  Arjuna
  Not　today；　beloved。
  Chitra
  Why　not　today？
  Arjuna
  I　have　heard　that　a　horde　of　robbers　has　neared　the　plains。
  Needs　must　I　go　and　prepare　my　weapons　to　protect　the　frightened
  villagers。
  Chitra
  You　need　have　no　fear　for　them。　　Before　she　started　on　her
  pilgrimage；　Princess　Chitra　had　set　strong　guards　at　all　the
  frontier　passes。
  Arjuna
  Yet　permit　me　for　a　short　while　to　set　about　a　Kshatriya's　work。
  With　new　glory　will　I　ennoble　this　idle　arm；　and　make　of　it　a
  pillow　more　worthy　of　your　head。
  Chitra
  What　if　I　refuse　to　let　you　go；　if　I　keep　you　entwined　in　my
  arms？　　Would　you　rudely　snatch　yourself　free　and　leave　me？　　Go
  then！　　But　you　must　know　that　the　liana；　once　broken　in　two；
  never　joins　again。　　Go；　if　your　thirst　is　quenched。　　But；　if　not；
  then　remember　that　the　goddess　of　pleasure　is　fickle；　and　waits
  for　no　man。　　Sit　for　a　while；　my　lord！　　Tell　me　what　uneasy
  thoughts　tease　you。　　Who　occupied　your　mind　today？　　Is　it　Chitra？
  Arjuna
  Yes；　it　is　Chitra。　　I　wonder　in　fulfilment　of　what　vow　she　has
  gone　on　her　pilgrimage。　　Of　what　could　she　stand　in　need？
  Chitra
  Her　needs？　　Why；　what　has　she　ever　had；　the　unfortunate　creature？
  Her　very　qualities　are　as　prison　walls；　shutting　her　woman's
  heart　in　a　bare　cell。　　She　is　obscured；　she　is　unfulfilled。　　Her
  womanly　love　must　content　itself　dressed　in　rags；　beauty　is
  denied　　her。　　　She　　is　like　the　spirit　of　　a　　cheerless　　morning；
  sitting　upon　the　stony　mountain　peak；　all　her　light　blotted　out
  by　dark　clouds。　　Do　not　ask　me　of　her　life。　　It　will　never　sound
  sweet　to　man's　ear。
  Arjuna
  I　am　eager　to　learn　all　about　her。　　I　am　like　a　traveller　come　to
  a　strange　city　at　midnight。　　Domes　and　towers　and　garden…trees
  look　vague　and　shadowy；　and　the　dull　moan　of　the　sea　comes
  fitfully　through　the　silence　of　sleep。　　Wistfully　he　waits　for
  the　morning　to　reveal　to　him　all　the　strange　wonders。　　Oh；　tell
  me　her　story。
  Chitra
  What　more　is　there　to　tell？
  Arjuna
  I　seem　to　see　her；　in　my　mind's　eye；　riding　on　a　white　horse；
  proudly　holding　the　reins　in　her　left　hand；　and　in　her　right　a
  bow；　and　like　the　Goddess　of　Victory　dispensing　glad　hope　all
  round　her。　　Like　a　watchful　lioness　she　protects　the　litter　at
  her　dugs　with　a　fierce　love。　　Woman's　arms；　though　adorned　with
  naught　but　unfettered　strength；　are　beautiful！　　My　heart　is
  restless；　fair　one；　like　a　serpent　reviving　from　his　long
  winter's　sleep。　　Come；　let　us　both　race　on　swift　horses　side　by
  side；　like　twin　orbs　of　light　sweeping　through　space。　　Out　from
  this　slumbrous　prison　of　green　gloom；　this　dank；　dense　cover　of
  perfumed　intoxication；　choking　breath。
  Chitra
  Arjuna；　tell　me　true；　if；　now　at　once；　by　some　magic　I　could
  shake　myself　free　from　this　voluptuous　softness；　this　timid　bloom
  of　beauty　shrinking　from　the　rude　and　healthy　touch　of　the　world；
  and　fling　it　from　my　body　like　borrowed　clothes；　would　you　be
  able　to　bear　it？　　If　I　stand　up　straight　and　strong　with　the
  strength　of　a　daring　heart　spurning　the　wiles　and　arts　of　twining
  weakness；　if　I　hold　my　head　high　like　a　tall　young　mountain　fir；
  no　longer　trailing　in　the　dust　like　a　liana；　shall　I　then　appeal
  to　man's　eye？　　　No；　no；　you　could　not　endure　it。　　It　is　better
  that　I　should　keep　spread　about　me　all　the　dainty　playthings　of
  fugitive　youth；　and　wait　for　you　in　patience。　　When　it　pleases
  you　to　return；　I　will　smilingly　pour　out　for　you　the　wine　of
  pleasure　in　the　cup　of　this　beauteous　body。　　When　you　are　tired
  and　satiated　with　this　wine；　you　can　go　to　work　or　play；　and　when
  I　grow　old　I　will　accept　humbly　and　gratefully　whatever　corner　is
  left　for　me。　　Would　it　please　your　heroic　soul　if　the　playmate　of
  the　night　aspired　to　be　the　helpmeet　of　the　day；　if　the　left　arm
  learnt　to　share　th