I honor thee, thou speakest like a soldier,
But think how much diplomacy will help,
How many lives and property it saves.
Without the brutal means of war it will
Better accomplish all our ends; it spares
The enemy as well. A prosperous country
Will serve me better than a city sacked
And villages destroyed by fire.

_GS._ Pardon, my liege, I do not trust a traitor.

_Bb._ I will be on my guard, but I shall see him,
'T shall be by way of reconnoitering.
You in the meantime keep the army ready,
For one way or another I must conquer
The Sakya king and make him do my bidding.

_The King rises indicating that his two counselors are
dismissed. They rise also._

The world is growing wider every day
And our souls broaden with the general progress.
A new era dawns upon us. Let us all
Help to mature the fruitage of the times.

SECOND SCENE

[The garden before the palace of King SUDDHODANA as in Act I]

_Presents YASODHARA (Y) with her maid GOPA (G) and RAHULA
(R)._

_Y._ Repeat that verse once more and then we will stop our lesson.

_R._ With goodness meet an evil deed,
With loving kindness conquer wrath,
With generosity quench greed,
And lies by walking on truth's path.

_Y._ Now you can run about in the garden or play with the Captain's
son.

_R._ Mother, I do not believe that goodness always works in this life.

_Y._ Why do you think so?

_R._ Because there are very bad boys, so bad that only a whipping will
cure them.

_Y._ Rahula!

_R._ Truly, mother, truly. Even the gardener says so.

_Y._ You must set the bad boys a good example.

_R._ No use, mother; they remain bad. I have tried it.

_Y._ You must have patience.

_R._ No use, mother; and the gardener says, A viper remains a viper.

_Y._ Even poisonous reptiles can be tamed.

_R._ Yes, but the gardener first pulls their fangs. Would you like me
to play with a viper?

_Y._ No, my boy.

_Excitement at the gate. KALA enters and soldiers of the
guard surround him._

_R._ What is going on?--O Mother! Kala Udayin is back!

_KALA UDAYIN (K) appears among the guards.
RAHULA runs to the gate._

_R._ Kala! Welcome home! Shake hands!

_K._ Be heartily greeted, my boy.

_R._ Did you see father?

_K._ I did, Rahula.

_R._ Tell me all.

_K._ I will tell mother.

_R._ Come to mother. She has been expecting you for many days.

_KALA kneels to the Princess._

_Y._ Gopa, tak