_Y._ Brahman, spare your words. _V._ The time will come when you will sore regret. O King, compel her to obey; make use Of your good right as master of this house, For I alone can save the Sakya state. _P._ O worthy Brahman, do not threaten us. _V._ Decide, O Maharaja; thou art Lord! Thy bidding must be done. Shall women rule, Or art thou master still in thine own home? _S._ I am master here; but not a tyrant; Among our people master means a leader. The Sakya yeomen justly pride themselves On their free institutions. I'm the first Among them, not an autocrat nor despot; I serve them as adviser, guide and father; Shall I who never would infringe upon The right of any poorest peasant woman, Compel a princess of the royal house To marry 'gainst her will? No sir, not I. I wished the Princess to accept your suit, But I shall never say, She must be yours. _V._ King of the Sakyas, you forget yourself, I am a Brahman and of noble birth. I served you faithfully for many years, But now I quit your service, for I know That Bimbisara, King of Magadha, The mightiest of Indian rulers, Will welcome me as friend and counselor. _He bows to the KING and PAJAPATI, and leaves. For a moment they are all silent._ _S._ I fear me that means war. _D._ Indeed it does. If you remember, King, Visakha said There was a subtle influence against you At Bimbisara's court. It dawns on me That he, Visakha, is the cause of it. I saw him whisper with a courtier, then He spoke in secret with a general, And with the King too he was closeted. The hypocrite has thrown away his mask, And since he spoke out boldly, I know now That he has been intriguing all the time. _S._ He thinks I hate my son, but I do not. I'm only angry, I am disappointed, Because he did not heed my dearest wish. I love him still and I invited him To visit his old home and me, his father. I sent Udayin with a kindly greeting. Oh, I'd forgive him all, and e'en his flight, Had only he not turned a mendicant. It hurts my pride to see a Sakya prince, And mine own son, go round from house to house With bowl in hand to beg his daily food. _RAHULA comes in excited._ _R._ Grandfather, here is your rose, and grandma, here is yours. And oh! did you hear the news? _Y._ What is it, boy? Why are you so excited? _P._ Who told you any news? _R._ The guards at the gate. They say that my father has come. All the people rush out of their houses and greet him with clasped hands. They strew flowers on the road and hail him as the Buddha! _Y._ [_rises_] Why, is it possible? _Wants to retire._ _S._ Stay here. Kala Udayin comes. _KALA enter and kneels._ _K._ I bow in humble reverence before the King. And my respectful salutations to all the members of the royal house [_turning to GOPA_] and to you. _S._ Bring you good news, Udayin? _K._ Your noble son, my King, is coming. _S._ Where did you find him? _K._ At the Jetavana at Savatthi. _S._ What kind of a place is that?