SURANGAMA. I could not tell you--I do not know that myself. A
day came when all the rebel in me knew itself beaten, and then my
whole nature bowed down in humble resignation on the dust of the
earth. And then I saw ... I saw that he was as matchless in
beauty as in terror. Oh. I was saved, I was rescued.

SUDARSHANA. Tell me, Surangama, I implore you, won't you tell me
what is the King like to look at? I have not seen him yet for a
single day. He comes to me in darkness, and leaves me in this
dark room again. How many people have I not asked--but they all
return vague and dark answers--it seems to me that they all keep
back something.

SURANGAMA. To tell you the truth, Queen, I could not say well
what he is like. No--he is not what men call handsome.

SUDARSHANA. You don't say so? Not handsome!

SURANGAMA. No, my Queen, he is not handsome. To call him
beautiful would be to say far too little about him.

SUDARSHANA. All your words are like that--dark, strange, and
vague. I cannot understand what you mean.

SURANGAMA. No, I will not call him handsome. And it is because
he is not beautiful that he is so wonderful, so superb, so
miraculous!

SUDARSHANA. I do not quite understand you--though I like to hear