Produced by Sankar Viswanathan, Thierry Alberto, Henry Craig, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net Transcriber's Note: The Table of Contents is not part of the original book. THE CYCLE OF SPRING BY SIR RABINDRANATH TAGORE MACMILLAN AND CO., LIMITED ST. MARTIN'S STREET, LONDON 1919 COPYRIGHT _First Edition February 1917_ _Reprinted March 1917, 1919_ * * * * * CONTENTS INTRODUCTION ACT I ACT II ACT III ACT IV * * * * * The greater part of the introductory portion of this drama was translated from the original Bengali by Mr. C. F. Andrews and Prof. Nishikanta Sen, and revised by the Author. * * * * * I DEDICATE THIS BOOK TO MY BOYS OF THE SHANTINIKETAN WHO HAVE FREED THE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH HIDDEN IN THE HEART OF THIS OLD POET AND TO DINENDRANATH WHO IS THE GUIDE OF THESE BOYS IN THEIR FESTIVALS AND TREASURE-HOUSE OF ALL MY SONGS * * * * * INTRODUCTION _Characters of the Prelude_ KING, VIZIER, GENERAL (BIJOY VARMA) CHINESE AMBASSADOR, PUNDIT (SRUTI-BHUSHAN) POET (KABI-SHEKHAR), GUARDS, COURTIERS, HERALD _The stage is on two levels: the higher, at the back, for the Song-preludes alone, concealed by a purple curtain; the lower only being discovered when the drop goes up. Diagonally across the extreme left of the lower stage, is arranged the king's court, with various platforms, for the various dignitaries ascending to the canopied throne. The body of the stage is left free for the "Play" when that develops._ (_Enter some_ COURTIERS.) [The names of the speakers are not given in the margin, as they can easily be guessed.] Hush! Hush! What is the matter? The King is in great distress. How dreadful! Who is that over there, playing on his flute? Why? What's the matter? The King is greatly disturbed. How dreadful! What are those wild children doing, making so much noise? They are the Mandal family. Then tell the Mandal family to keep their children quiet. Where can that Vizier have gone to? Here I am. What's the matter? Haven't you heard the news? No, what? The King is greatly troubled in his mind. Well, I've got some very important news about the frontier war. War we may have, but not the news. Then the Chinese Ambassador is waiting to see His Majesty. Let him wait. Anyhow he can't see the King. Can't see the King?--Ah, here is the King at last. Look at him coming this way, with a mirror in his hand. "Long live the King. Long live the King." If it please Your Majesty, it is time to go to the Court.