He tore up the picture, crying, "My revenge has returned on my head!" 31 The General came before the silent and angry King and saluting him said: "The village is punished, the men are stricken to dust, and the women cower in their unlit homes afraid to weep aloud." The High Priest stood up and blessed the King and cried: "God's mercy is ever upon you." The Clown, when he heard this, burst out laughing and startled the court. The King's frown darkened. "The honour of the throne," said the minister, "is upheld by the King's prowess and the blessing of Almighty God." Louder laughed the Clown, and the King growled,--"Unseemly mirth!" "God has showered many blessings upon your head," said the Clown; "the one he bestowed on me was the gift of laughter." "This gift will cost you your life," said the King, gripping his sword with his right hand. Yet the Clown stood up and laughed till he laughed no more. A shadow of dread fell upon the Court, for they heard that laughter echoing in the depth of God's silence. 32 THE MOTHER'S PRAYER THE MOTHER'S PRAYER _Prince Duryodhana, the son of the blind Kaurava King Dhritarashtra, and of Queen Gandhari, has played with his cousins the Pandava Kings for their kingdom, and won it by fraud._ DHRITARASHTRA You have compassed your end. DURYODHANA Success is mine! DHRITARASHTRA Are you happy? DURYODHANA I am victorious. DHRITARASHTRA I ask you again, what happiness have you in winning the undivided kingdom? DURYODHANA Sire, a Kshatriya thirsts not after happiness but victory, that fiery wine pressed from seething jealousy. Wretchedly happy we were, like those inglorious stains that lie idly on the breast of the moon, when we lived in peace under the friendly dominance of our cousins. Then these Pandavas milked the world of its wealth, and allowed us a share, in brotherly tolerance. Now that they own defeat and expect banishment, I am no longer happy but exultant. DHRITARASHTRA Wretch, you forget that both Pandavas and Kauravas have the same forefathers. DURYODHANA It was difficult to forget that, and therefore our inequalities rankled in my heart. At midnight the moon is never jealous of the noonday sun. But the struggle to share one horizon between both orbs cannot last forever. Thank heaven, that struggle is over, and we have at last won solitude in glory. DHRITARASHTRA The mean jealousy! DURYODHANA Jealousy is never mean--it is in the essence of greatness. Grass can grow in crowded amity, not giant trees. Stars live in clusters, but the sun and moon are lonely in their splendour. The pale moon of the Pandavas sets behind the forest shadows, leaving the new-risen sun of the Kauravas to rejoice. DHRITARASHTRA But right has been defeated. DURYODHANA