JANARDAN.
What I want to say is this: you know from your experience that there can be chaos and anarchy even if a King be present: but what do we see here?
KAUNDILYA.
You are always coming back to your quibbling. Why can you not give a straight answer to Bhavadatta’s question—Have you, or have you not, seen the King? Yes or no? [Exeunt.]
[Enter a band of MEN, singing]
SONG.
My beloved is ever in my heart
That is why I see him everywhere,
He is in the pupils of my eyes
That is why I see him everywhere.
I went far away to hear his own words,
But, ah, it was vain!
When I came back I heard them
In my own songs.
Who are you who seek him like a beggar
from door to door!
Come to my heart and see his face in the
tears of my eyes!
[Enter HERALDS and ADVANCE GUARDS of the KING]
FIRST HERALD.
Stand off! Get away from the street, all of you!
FIRST CITIZEN.
Eh, man, who do you think you are? You weren’t of course born with such lofty strides, my friend?—Why should we stand off, my dear sir? Why should we budge? Are we street dogs, or what?
SECOND HERALD.
Our King is coming this way.
SECOND CITIZEN.
King? Which King?