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The Post Office - Translated By Devabrata Mukerjea
The Post Office Translated By Devabrata Mukerjea Author:Rabindranath Tagore PREFACE. WHEN this little play was performed in London a year ago by the Irish players, some friends of mine discovered much detailed allegory, the Headman being one principle of social life, the Curdseller or the Gaffer another but the meaning is less intellectual, more emotional and simple. The deliverance sought and won by the dying child is ... more »the same deliverance which rose before his imagination, Mr. Tagore has said, when once in the early dawn he heard, amid the noise of a crowd returning from some festival, this line out of an old village song, 6 L Ferryman, take me v vi THE POST OFFICE to the other shore of the river. It may come at any moment of Iife, though the child discovers it in death, for it always comes at the moment when the I, seeking no longer for gains that cannot be assimilated with its spirit, is able to say, All my work is thine Sadhand, pp. 162, 163. On the stage the little play shows that it is very perfectly constructed, and conveys to the right audience an emotion of gentleness and peace. W. R. YEATS. DRAMATIS PERSONAE MADHAV. AMAL, his adopted child. SUDHA, a little flower girl. THE DOCTOR. DAIRYMAN. WATCHMAN. GAFFER. VILLAGEH EADMAN a , bully. KINGS HERALD. ROYAL PHYSICIAN. THE POST OFFICE ACT I ACT I Madhavs House. iMadhav What a state I am in Before he came, nothing mattered I felt so free. But now that he has come, goodness knows from where, my heart is filled with his dear self, and my home will be no home to me when he leaves. Doctor, do you think he-Physician If theres life in his fate, then Iic will live long. But what the medical scriptures say, it seems-Madhav Great heavens, what Physician The scriptures have it Bile or palsey, cold or gout spring all alike. Oh, get along, dont fling your scriptures at me you only make me more anxious tell me what I can do. Physician taking snuff The patient needs the most scrupulous care. JIadhav Thats true but tell me how. Physician I have already mentioned, on no account must he be let out of doors. Madhav Poor child, it is very hard to keep him indoors all day long.Physician What else can you do The autumn sun and the damp arc both very bad for the little fellow-for the scriptures have it In wheezing, swooning or in nervous fret, In jaundice or leaden eyes-- 7 Never mind the scriptures, please. Eh, then we must shut the poor thing up. Is there no other method PIA y sician None at all for, In the wind and 7 in the sun--A3fadhav What will your in this and in that do for me now Why dont you let them alone and come straight to the point Whats to be done then Your system is very, very hard for the poor boy and he is so quiet too with all his pain and sickness. It tears my heart to see him wince, as he takes your medicine. Physician The more he winces, the surer is the effect. Thats why the sage Chyabana observes In medicine as in good advice, the least palatable is the truest. Ah, well I must be trotting now. Exit. Cuffer enters. Madhav Well, Im jiggered, theres Gaffer now. GafSer Why, why, I wont bite you. No, but you are a devil to send children off their heads. Gaffer But you arent a child, and youve no child in the house why worry then Madhav Oh, but I have brought a child into the house. Gafser Indeed, how so You remember how my wife was dying to adopt a child Gaffer Yes, but thats an old story you didnt like the idea. Madhav You know, brother, how hard all this getting money in has been. That somebody elses child would sail in and waste all this money earned with so much trouble-Oh, I hated the idea...« less