The Collected Plays. Rabindranath Tagore

      He is fond of warming his cold blood with the wine of hot youth.

      We'll give him a warm enough reception. All we want is to see him. Have you seen him?

      Watchman

      My watch is at night. I see my people, but don't know their features. But, look here, every one knows that he is the great kidnapper; and you want to kidnap him! It's midsummer madness.

      The secret is out. It doesn't take long to discover that we are mad.

      Watchman

      I am the Watchman. The people I see passing along the road are all very much alike. Therefore, when I see anything queer, it always strikes me.

      Just listen to him. All the respectable people of our neighbourhood say just the same thing—that we are queer.

      Yes, we're queer. There's no mistake about that.

      Watchman

      But all this is utter childishness.

      Do you hear that? It's exactly what our Dada says.

      We have been going on with our childishness through unremembered ages.

      And now we have become confirmed children.

      And we have a leader, who is a perfect veteran in childhood. He rushes along so recklessly, that he drops off his age at every step he runs.

      Watchman

      And who are you?

      We are butterflies, freed from the cocoon of Age.

      Watchman

      (Aside.) Mad. Raving mad.

      Ferryman

      Then what will you all do now?

      Chandra

      We shall go——

      Watchman

      Where?

      Chandra

      That we haven't decided.

      Watchman

      You have decided to go, but not where to go?

      Chandra

      Yes, that will be settled as we go along.

      Watchman

      What does that mean?

      Chandra

      It means this song.

      (They sing.)

      We move and move without rest,

       We move while the wanderers' stars shine in the sky and fade.

       We play the tune of the road

       While our limbs scatter away the laughter of movement,

       And our many-coloured mantle of youth flutters about in the air.

      Watchman

      Is it your custom to answer questions by songs?

      Chandra

      Yes, otherwise the answer becomes too unintelligible.

      Watchman

      Then you think your songs intelligible?

      Chandra

      Yes, quite, because they contain music.

      (They sing.)

      We move and move without rest.

       World, the Rover, loves his comrades of the road.

       His call comes across the sky.

       The seasons lead the way, strewing the path with flowers.

      Watchman

      No ordinary being ever breaks out singing, like this, in the middle of talking.

      Chandra

      Again we are found out. We are no ordinary beings.

      Watchman

      Have you got no work to do?

      Chandra

      No, we are on a holiday.

      Watchman

      Why?

      Chandra

      Lest our time should all be wasted.

      Watchman

      I don't quite understand you.

      Chandra

      Then we shall be obliged to sing again.

      Watchman

      No, no. There's no need to do that. I don't hope to understand you any better, even if you do sing.

      Chandra

      Everybody has given up the hope of understanding us.

      Watchman

      But how can things get on with you, if you behave like this?

      Chandra

      Oh, there's no need for things to get on with us, so long as we ourselves get on.

      Watchman

      Mad! Quite mad! Raving mad!

      Chandra

      Why, here comes our Dada.

      Dada, what made you lag behind?

      Chandra

      Don't you know? We are free as the wind, because we have no substance in us. But Dada is like the rain-cloud of August. He must stop, every now and then, to unburden himself.

      Dada

      Who are you?

      Ferryman

      I am the Ferryman.

      Dada

      And who are you?

      Watchman

      I am the Watchman.

      Dada

      I 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.