rld, I know thy voice, thy meaning.
The gifts thou offerest are transient treasures,
And thy dominion is mere vanity.
I go to found a kingdom in the realm
Of the immortal state which lasts for aye.
Thou hinderest and dost not help the truth.

_K._ Thou speakest to the empty air, my Prince,
For I see no one whom thou thus addressest.

_CHANNA helps SIDDHATTHA to mount, and while the gate opens
leads the horse out of the gate, and KALA enters into the
palace. VISAKHA is coming to the front._

_V._ He is gone. He has made room for me. The time will come when this
kingdom will be mine.

_Y._ [_from the balcony_] Siddhattha! Siddhattha! Where are you? He is
gone! He has departed into homelessness! [_She faints._]

[CURTAIN]

_FIRST INTERLUDE._

_Living pictures accompanied by appropriate music, as an introduction
to Act II._

1. BEGGING FOOD.

A scene of the Prince's life as a mendicant friar.

A Hindu village, Siddhattha stands bowl in hand before a hut; a woman
dishes some rice from a kettle into his bowl; villagers, including
children, stand around gazing at him,--a few with clasped hands.

2. THE KING GREETS THE MENDICANT.

Tradition tells that King Bimbisara, hearing of the noble monk, went
out to see him and offered him to take part in the government. This
being refused, the King requested him to visit Rajagaha, the royal
residence, as soon as Siddhattha had become a Buddha.

Siddhattha is seated under a tree near a brook; the king stands before
him, surrounded by his retinue.

3 PREACHING TO THE VILLAGERS.

Under the tree in the market place of a Hindu village The Buddha is
seated in the attitude of a preacher. The villagers stand or squat
around intently listening.

4. SAVED FROM STARVATION

In company with other monks, Siddhattha sought for a while
enlightenment by self-mortification.

Being exhausted by severe fasts, the mendicant faints, and Nanda, the
shepherd's daughter, passing by, refreshes him with rice milk. His
five disciples at a distance fear that he has given up his quest for
truth.

ACT II.

FIRST SCENE

[Seven years have elapsed since the first act. A room in the royal
palace at Magadha]

_Present: NAGADEVA (N), the prime minister, GENERAL SIHA
(GS), commander-in-chief of the Magadha forces. Later on the
MASTER OF CEREMONIES (MC), KING BIMBISARA (Bb.), a trumpeter
and a small body guard._

_N._ It is a joy to serve this mig