_We cling to our seats and never stir, We allow our flowers to fade in peace, and avoid the trouble of bearing fruit. Let the starlights blazon their eternal folly, We quench our flames. Let the forest rustle and the ocean roar, We sit mute. Let the call of the flood-tide come from the sea, We remain still._ Do you hear that laughter? Yes, yes, it is laughter. What a relief! We have never heard that sound for an age. We had been choking, for want of the breath of laughter. This laughter comes to us like the April rain. Whose is it? Cannot you guess? It is our Chandra. What a marvellous gift of laughter he has! It is like a waterfall. It dashes all the black stones out of the path. It is like sunlight. It cuts the mist to pieces with its sword. Now all danger of quatrain fever is over. Let us get up. From this moment there will be nothing but work for us. As the Scripture says, "Everything in this world is fleeting, and he only lives who does his duty and achieves fame." Why are you quoting that? Are you still suffering from the quatrain fever? What do you mean by fame? Does the river take any heed of its foam? Fame is that foam on life's stream. (_Enter Chandra with a blind Minstrel._) Well, Chandra, what makes you so glad? _Chandra_ I have got the track of the Old Man. From whom? _Chandra_ From this old Minstrel. He seems to be blind. _Chandra_ Yes, that is why he has not got to seek the road. What do you say? Shall you be able to lead us right? _Minstrel_ Yes. But how? _Minstrel_ Because I can hear the footsteps. We also have ears, but---- _Minstrel_ I hear with my whole being. _Chandra_ They all started up with fear, when I asked about the Old Man. Only this Minstrel seemed to have no fear. I suppose because he cannot see, he is not afraid. _Minstrel_ Do you know why I have no fear? When the sun of my life set, and I became blind, the dark night revealed all its lights, and, from that day forward, I have been no more afraid of the dark. Then let us go. The evening star is up. _Minstrel_ Let me sing, and walk on as I sing, and you follow me. I cannot find my way, if I do not sing. What do you mean? _Minstrel_ My songs precede, I follow. (_He sings._) _Gently, my friend, gently walk to your silent chamber. I know not the way, I have not the light, Dark is my life and my world. I have only the sound of your steps to guide me in this wilderness._ _Gently, my friend, gently walk along the dark shore. Let the hint of the way come in whisper, Through the night, in the April breeze. I have only the scent of your garland to guide me in this wilderness._ ACT IV SONG-PRELUDE [_There enter a troupe of young things, and they introduce themselves in a song as follows:_] THE SONG OF RETURNING YOUTH