Ah me! I feel very unwilling to announce to the King that a deputation of young hermits from the sage Kanwa has arrived, and craves an immediate audience. Certainly, his majesty ought not to neglect a matter of sacred duty, yet I hardly like to trouble him when he has just risen from the judgment-seat. Well, well; a monarch's business is to sustain the world, and he must not expect much repose; because--

Onward, forever onward, in his car The unwearied Sun pursues his daily course, Nor tarries to unyoke his glittering steeds.

And ever moving speeds the rushing Wind Through boundless s.p.a.ce, filling the universe With his life-giving breezes. Day and night, The King of Serpents on his thousand heads Upholds the inc.u.mbent earth; and even so, Unceasing toil is aye the lot of kings, Who, in return, draw nurture from their subjects.

I will therefore deliver my message. [_Walking on and looking about_.]

Ah! here comes the King:--

His subjects are his children; through the day, Like a fond father, to supply their wants, Incessantly he labors; wearied now, The monarch seeks seclusion and repose-- E'en as the prince of elephants defies The sun's fierce heat, and leads the fainting herd To verdant pastures, ere his wayworn limbs He yields to rest beneath the cooling shade.

[_Approaching_.] Victory to the King! So please your majesty, some hermits who live in a forest near the Snowy Mountains have arrived here, bringing certain women with them. They have a message to deliver from the sage Kanwa, and desire an audience. I await your Majesty's commands.

KING [_respectfully_].--A message from the sage Kanwa, did you say?

CHAMBERLAIN.--Even so, my liege.

KING.--Tell my domestic priest, Somarata, to receive the hermits with due honor, according to the prescribed form. He may then himself introduce them into my presence. I will await them in a place suitable for the reception of such holy guests.

CHAMBERLAIN.--Your Majesty's commands shall be obeyed. [_Exit._

KING [_rising and addressing the Warder_].--Vetravati, lead the way to the chamber of the consecrated fire.

WARDER.--This way, Sire.

KING [_walking on, with the air of one oppressed by the cares of government_].--People are generally contented and happy when they have gained their desires; but kings have no sooner attained the object of their aspirations than all their troubles begin.

'Tis a fond thought that to attain the end And object of ambition is to rest; Success doth only mitigate the fever Of anxious expectation; soon the fear Of losing what we have, the constant care Of guarding it doth weary. Ceaseless toil Must be the lot of him who with his hands Supports the canopy that shields his subjects.

Two HERALDS [_behind the scenes_].--May the King be victorious!

FIRST HERALD.--Honor to him who labors day by day For the world's weal, forgetful of his own.

Like some tall tree that with its stately head Endures the solar beam, while underneath It yields refreshing shelter to the weary.

SECOND HERALD.--Let but the monarch wield his threatening rod And e'en the guilty tremble; at his voice The rebel spirit cowers; his grateful subjects Acknowledge him their guardian; rich and poor Hail him a faithful friend, a loving kinsman.

KING.--Weary as I was before, this complimentary address has refreshed me. [_Walks on_.

WARDER.--Here is the terrace of the hallowed fire-chamber, and yonder stands the cow that yields the milk for the oblations. The sacred enclosure has been recently purified, and looks clean and beautiful.

Ascend, Sire.

KING [_leans on the shoulders of his attendants, and ascends_].

Vetravati, what can possibly be the message that the venerable Kanwa has sent me by these hermits?-- Perchance their sacred rites have been disturbed By demons, or some evil has befallen The innocent herds, their favorites, that graze Within the precincts of the hermitage; Or haply, through my sins, some withering blight Has nipped the creeping plants that spread their arms Around the hallowed grove. Such troubled thoughts Crowd through my mind, and fill me with misgiving.

WARDER.--If you ask my opinion, Sire, I think the hermits merely wish to take an opportunity of testifying their loyalty, and are therefore come to offer homage to your Majesty.

_Enter the Hermits, leading Sakoontala, attended by Gautami; and, in advance of them, the Chamberlain and the domestic Priest._

CHAMBERLAIN.--This way, reverend sirs, this way.

SaRNGARAVA.--O Saradwata, 'Tis true the monarch lacks no royal grace, Nor ever swerves from justice; true, his people, Yea such as in life's humblest walks are found, Refrain from evil courses; still to me, A lonely hermit reared in solitude, This throng appears bewildering, and methinks I look upon a burning house, whose inmates Are running to and fro in wild dismay.

SaRADWATA.--It is natural that the first sight of the King's capital should affect you in this manner; my own sensations are very similar.

As one just bathed beholds the man polluted; As one late purified, the yet impure:-- As one awake looks on the yet unwakened; Or as the freeman gazes on the thrall, So I regard this crowd of pleasure-seekers.

SAKOONTALa [_feeling a quivering sensation in her right eyelid, and suspecting a bad omen_],--Alas! what means this throbbing of my right eyelid?

GAUTAMi.--Heaven avert the evil omen, my child! May the guardian deities of thy husband's family convert it into a sign of good fortune! [_Walks on_.

PRIEST [_pointing to the King_].--Most reverend sirs, there stands the protector of the four cla.s.ses of the people; the guardian of the four orders of the priesthood. He has just left the judgment-seat, and is waiting for you. Behold him!

SaRNGARAVA.--Great Brahman, we are happy in thinking that the King's power is exerted for the protection of all cla.s.ses of his subjects. We have not come as pet.i.tioners--we have the fullest confidence in the generosity of his nature.

The loftiest trees bend humbly to the ground Beneath the teeming burden of their fruit; High in the vernal sky the pregnant clouds Suspend their stately course, and hanging low, Scatter their sparkling treasures o'er the earth:-- And such is true benevolence; the good Are never rendered arrogant by riches.

WARDER.--So please your Majesty, I judge from the placid countenance of the hermits that they have no alarming message to deliver.

KING [_looking at Sakoontala_].--But the lady there-- Who can she be, whose form of matchless grace Is half concealed beneath her flowing veil?

Among the sombre hermits she appears Like a fresh bud 'mid sear and yellow leaves.

WARDER.--So please your Majesty, my curiosity is also roused, but no conjecture occurs to my mind. This at least is certain, that she deserves to be looked at more closely.

KING.--True; but it is not right to gaze at another man's wife.

SAKOONTALa [_placing her hand on her bosom. Aside_].--O my heart, why this throbbing? Remember thy lord's affection, and take courage.

PRIEST [_advancing_].--These holy men have been received with all due honor. One of them has now a message to deliver from his spiritual superior. Will your Majesty deign to hear it?

KING.--I am all attention.

HERMITS [_extending their hands_].--Victory to the King!

KING.--Accept my respectful greeting.

HERMITS.--May the desires of your soul be accomplished!

KING.--I trust no one is molesting you in the prosecution of your religious rites.

HERMITS.--Who dares disturb our penitential rites When thou art our protector? Can the night Prevail to cast her shadows o'er the earth While the sun's beams irradiate the sky?

KING.--Such, indeed, is the very meaning of my t.i.tle--"Defender of the Just." I trust the venerable Kanwa is in good health. The world is interested in his well-being.

HERMITS.--Holy men have health and prosperity in their own power. He bade us greet your Majesty, and, after kind inquiries, deliver this message.

KING.--Let me hear his commands.

SaRNGARAVA.--He bade us say that he feels happy in giving his sanction to the marriage which your Majesty contracted with this lady, his daughter, privately and by mutual agreement. Because By us thou art esteemed the most ill.u.s.trious Of n.o.ble husbands; and Sakoontala Virtue herself in human form revealed.

Great Brahma hath in equal yoke united A bride unto a husband worthy of her:-- Henceforth let none make blasphemous complaint That he is pleased with ill-a.s.sorted unions.

Since, therefore, she expects soon to be the mother of thy child, receive her into thy palace, that she may perform, in conjunction with thee, the ceremonies prescribed by religion on such an occasion.

GAUTAMi.--So please your Majesty, I would add a few words: but why should I intrude my sentiments when an opportunity of speaking my mind has never been allowed me?

She took no counsel with her kindred; thou Didst not confer with thine, but all alone Didst solemnize thy nuptials with thy wife.