The Collected Plays. Rabindranath Tagore

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СКАЧАТЬ am delighted to see you. I want to read you something that I have written. It contains nothing frivolous, but only the most important lessons.

      Ferryman

      Very good. Let us have it then.

      Watchman

      Our master used to tell us that there are plenty of men to say good things, but very few to listen. That requires strength of mind. Now, go on, Sir, go on.

      Dada

      I saw, in the street, one of the King's officers dragging along a merchant. The King had made up a false charge, in order to get his money. This gave me an inspiration. You must know that I never write a single line which is not inspired by some actual fact. You can put my verses to the test in the open streets and markets——

      Ferryman

      Please, Sir, do let us hear what you have written.

      Dada

      The sugar-cane filling itself with juice

       Is chewed and sucked dry by all beggars.

       O foolish men, take your lesson from this;

       Those trees are saved, which are fruitful.

      You will understand that the sugar-cane gets into trouble, simply because it tries to keep its juice. But nobody is so foolish as to kill the tree that freely gives fruit.

      Watchman

      What splendid writing, Ferryman!

      Ferryman

      Yes, Watchman, it contains great lessons for us.

      Watchman

      It gives me food for thought. If only I had here our neighbour, the Scribe! I should like to take this down. Do send round to tell the people of the place to assemble.

      Chandra

      But, Ferryman, you promised to come out with us. Yet, if once Dada begins to quote his quatrains, there will be——

      Ferryman

      Go along with you. None of your madness here. We are fortunate now in having met our master. Let us improve the occasion with good words. We are all of us getting old. Who knows when we shall die?

      All the more reason why you should cultivate our company.

      Chandra

      You can always find another Dada. But when once we are dead, God will never repeat the blunder of another absurdity like us again.

      (Enter Oilman.)

      Oilman

      Ho! Watchman.

      Watchman

      Who is there? Is that the Oilman?

      Oilman

      The child I was bringing up was kidnapped last night.

      Watchman

      By whom?

      Oilman

      By the Old Man.

      Youths

      (Together.) Old Man? You don't mean it. Old Man?

      Oilman

      Yes, Sirs, the Old Man; what makes you so glad?

      Oh, that's a bad habit of ours. We become glad for no reason whatever.

      Watchman

      (Aside.) Mad! Raving mad! Have you seen the Old Man?

      Oilman

      I think I saw him in the distance last night.

      First Youth

      What did he look like?

      Oilman

      Black. More black than our brother here, the Watchman. Black as night, with two eyes on his breast shining like two glow-worms.

      That won't suit us. That would be awkward for our Spring Festival.

      Chandra

      We shall have to change our date from the full moon to the dark moon. For the dark moon has no end of eyes on her breast.

      Watchman

      But I warn you, my friends, you are not doing wisely.

      No, we are not.

      We are found out again. We never do anything wisely. It is contrary to our habit.

      Watchman

      Do you take this to be a joke? I warn you, my friends, it is dangerous.

      Dangerous? That's the best joke of all.

      (They sing.)

      We are neither too good nor wise,

       That is all the merit we have.

       Our calumny spreads from land to land,

       And danger dogs our steps.

       We take great care to forget what is taught us,

       We say things different from the book,

       Bringing upon us trouble,

       And rebuke from the learned.

      Watchman

      Ah, Sir, you spoke about some Leader. Where is he? He could have kept you in order, if he were with you.

      He never stays with us, lest he should have to keep us in order.

      He simply launches us on our way, and then slips off.

      Watchman

      That's a poor idea of leadership.

      Chandra

      He is never concerned about his leadership. That is why we recognize him as our Leader.

      Watchman

      Then he has got a very easy task.

      Chandra

      It is no easy task to lead men. But it is easy enough to drive them.

      (They sing.)

      We are not too good nor wise,

       СКАЧАТЬ