_B._ Could we be truly happy while the world Is filled with misery? Mine eyes are opened; I see how death his gruesome revel holds. He owns the world and sways its destinies. One creature ruthlessly preys on the other, And man, the cleverest, preys on them all. Nor is he free, for man preys upon man! Nowhere is peace, and everywhere is war; Life's mighty problem must be solved at last.-- I have a mission to fulfil. _Y._ And me Wouldst sacrifice for a philosophy, For the idea of an idle quest! _B._ 'Tis not for me to ask whether my quest Be vain: for me 'tis to obey the call. _Y._ [_with passionate outburst_] Siddhattha, O my Lord, my husband, what wilt thou do? Dost thou forget the promise made me on our wedding day? _B_. Yasodhara, a higher duty calls. The time will come, and it is close at hand, When I shall wander into homelessness. I'll leave this palace and its splendid gardens I'll leave the pleasures of this world behind To go in quest of Truth, of saving Truth. _YASODHARA sinks on her knees before him and clasps his knees._ _Y._ And me, my Lord, thy quest will make a widow! Oh, stay, and build thee here a happy home. _B._ My dear Yasodhara, it cannot be. _The Prince stands lost in thought. Rahula is restless. YASODHARA rises and turns toward the child._ _Y_. He wakes again. I come, my babe, I come. [The veil comes down again, and when it rises it shows the garden before the palace as in the first scene, but it is night and all is wrapped in darkness.] FOURTH SCENE. _King SUDDHODANA (S) and his minister VISAKHA (V) come out of the entrance._ _Later on Captain DEVALA (D) and soldiers._ _S._ Unfortunate, most unfortunate, that Udayin died. Siddhattha will miss the gardener and will ask for him. _V._ The Prince loves flowers, and he knows them all by name; he loves trees and shrubs, and praises them for yielding fruit and grain for feeding us without the need of shedding blood. _S._ Have the body removed so long as it is dark. _V_. The moon is full to-day and must rise in a little while. _S._ Double the guards at the gate. I am afraid my son will flee. It would be a disgrace on my house to have him become a mendicant. The kings of Kosala, of Magadha, and all the others look with envy on our sturdy people; they dislike our free institutions and our warlike spirit. They would scoff at us if a Sakya prince had become a monk. But if Siddhattha does flee, I swear by Lord Indra that I shall disown him; I will no longer recognize him as my son. I will disinherit him and make Rahula my heir apparent. _VISAKHA looks at SUDDHODANA in amazement._ _S_. I am serious and I will do it. I swore an oath, and Issara will help me to keep it. Now go to the captain of the guards and do as I bid you. _Exit. The Minister alone._