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. SECOND SCENE [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._ With goodness meet an evil deed, With loving kindness conquer wrath, With generosity quench greed, And lies by walking on truth's path. _Y._ Now you can run about in the garden or play with the Captain's son. _R._ Mother, I do not believe that goodness always works in this life. _Y._ Why do you think so? _R._ Because there are very bad boys, so bad that only a whipping will cure them. _Y._ Rahula! _R._ Truly, mother, truly. Even the gardener says so. _Y._ You must set the bad boys a good example. _R._ No use, mother; they remain bad. I have tried it. _Y._ You must have patience. _R._ No use, mother; and the gardener says, A viper remains a viper. _Y._ Even poisonous reptiles can be tamed. _R._ Yes, but the gardener first pulls their fangs. Would you like me to play with a viper? _Y._ No, my boy. _Excitement at the gate. KALA enters and soldiers of the guard surround him._ _R._ What is going on?--O Mother! Kala Udayin is back! _KALA UDAYIN (K) appears among the guards. RAHULA runs to the gate._ _R._ Kala! Welcome home! Shake hands! _K._ Be heartily greeted, my boy. _R._ Did you see father? _K._ I did, Rahula. _R._ Tell me all. _K._ I will tell mother. _R._ Come to mother. She has been expecting you for many days. _KALA kneels to the Princess._