FIRST MAN.
The King, the King! Come along, quick, the King is passing this way.
SECOND MAN.
Do not forget me, O King! I am Vivajadatta, the grandson of Udayadatta of Kushalivastu. I came here at the first report of thy coming—I did not stop to hear what people were saying: all the loyalty in me went out towards thee, O Monarch, and brought me here.
THIRD MAN.
Rubbish! I came here earlier than you—before the cockcrow. Where were you then? O King, I am Bhadrasena, of Vikramasthali. Deign to keep thy servant in thy memory!
KING.
I am much pleased with your loyalty and devotion.
VIVAJADATTA.
Your Majesty, many are the grievances and complaints we have to make to thee: to whom could we turn our prayers so long, when we could not approach thy august presence?
KING.
Your grievances will all be redressed. [Exit.]
FIRST MAN.
It won’t do to lag behind, boys—the King will lose sight of us if we get mixed up with the mob.
SECOND MAN.
See there-look what that fool Narottam is doing! He has elbowed his way through all of us and is now sedulously fanning the King with a palm leaf!
MADHAV.
Indeed! Well, well, the sheer audacity of the man takes one’s breath away.
SECOND MAN.
We shall have to pitch the fellow out of that place—is he fit to stand beside the King?