t appears that war is imminent.

_P._ Oh do not fret;
Visakha is a cunning diplomat:
I hope he'll be successful, and he will
Persuade King Bimbisara to keep peace.

_S._ I do hope too, but hope against conviction.

_VISAKHA and DEVALA enter._

There come the Brahman and the gallant Captain.

_V._ [Kneeling on one foot to the King] Hail Maharaja!

_D._ Hail, my gracious King.

_S._ Welcome my worthy messengers!

_They kneel to PAJAPATI._

_P._ Be welcome.

_S._ Tell me at once, how did your mission speed?

_V._ There is a subtle influence against you
At Bimbisara's court; there is a party
Bound to have war, and they will have it too,
Unless we meet them by diplomacy.
Leave it to me, and I'll preserve the peace.

_S._ Had not my son turned mendicant, how useful
Could he at present be! I need a general,
A trusty man of youthful strength and courage
To take the helm and lead the ship of state
Through storm and danger, for our foes are strong.

_V._ Great Raja, I am privy to your grief,
I know the hope you'd set upon Siddhattha.
What brilliant gifts the boy inherited,
From you, his royal father, and how he,
Forgetful of his filial duty, left you,
And his fair wife and child, to turn a beggar.

_S._ All this is true, remind me not of it,
'Tis a disgrace to our most royal house,
And all the Rajas in the Indian land,
Will point to us and mock the Sakya tribe.

_RAHULA comes in with childlike joy and brings his mother a
rose._

_R._ Here, mother, is a rose. I picked it from the bush where the
nightingale sings. I thought, if father had been here, he would have
brought the rose to you. He loves the flowers and so do you.

_Y._ My darling!

_S._ [_with a touch of anger_] Yasodhara, I wish you would not speak
to him too much of his father.

_R._ Why should mother not mention father? I love him and I should
know all about him. I want to join the Buddha's brotherhood.

_S._ Do you love him more than your grandfather?

_R._ I love my grandfather too, I love mother, and you, dear
grandmother [_turning to PAJAPATI_]. You are always so kind to me. I
love you all. But father I love in a different manner. I love him as
Buddha. I clasp my hands to him as to a god; and so do you mother, do
you not?

_Y._ [_Puts her hand on Rahula's mouth_] Hush! I thank you for the
rose, my child; now run away and bring another rose to grandfather,
and one for your grandmother Pajapati.

_R._ Yes mothe