BOTH MAIDENS.--The mighty power of King Dushyanta is not to be disputed.

FIRST MAIDEN.--It is but a few days since Mitravasu, the king's brother-in-law, sent us to wait upon his Majesty; and, during the whole of our sojourn here, we have been intrusted with the charge of the royal pleasure-grounds. We are therefore strangers in this place, and heard nothing of the order until you informed us of it.

CHAMBERLAIN.--Well then, now you know it, take care you don't continue your preparations.

BOTH MAIDENS.--But tell us, kind sir, why has the King prohibited the usual festivities? We are curious to hear, if we may.

SaNUMATi [_aside_].--Men are naturally fond of festive entertainments.

There must be some good reason for the prohibition.

CHAMBERLAIN.--The whole affair is now public; why should I not speak of it! Has not the gossip about the King's rejection of Sakoontala reached your ears yet?

BOTH MAIDENS.--Oh yes, we heard the story from the King's brother-in-law, as far, at least, as the discovery of the ring.

CHAMBERLAIN.--Then there is little more to tell you. As soon as the King's memory was restored by the sight of his own ring, he exclaimed, "Yes, it is all true. I remember now my secret marriage with Sakoontala.

When I repudiated her, I had lost my recollection." Ever since that moment, he has yielded himself a prey to the bitterest remorse.

He loathes his former pleasures; he rejects The daily homage of his ministers.

On his lone couch he tosses to and fro, Courting repose in vain. Whene'er he meets The ladies of his palace, and would fain Address them with politeness, he confounds Their names; or, calling them "Sakoontala,"

Is straightway silent and abashed with shame.

SaNUMATi [_aside_].--To me this account is delightful.

CHAMBERLAIN.--In short, the King is so completely out of his mind that the festival has been prohibited.

BOTH MAIDENS.--Perfectly right.

A VOICE [_behind the scenes_].--The King! the King! This way, Sire, this way.

CHAMBERLAIN [_listening_].--Oh! here comes his majesty in this direction. Pa.s.s on, maidens; attend to your duties.

BOTH MAIDENS.--We will, sir. [_Exeunt._

_Enter King Dushyanta, dressed in deep mourning, attended by his Jester, Mathavya, and preceded by Vetravati._

CHAMBERLAIN [_gazing at the King_].--Well, n.o.ble forms are certainly pleasing, under all varieties of outward circ.u.mstances. The King's person is as charming as ever, notwithstanding his sorrow of mind.

Though but a single golden bracelet spans His wasted arm; though costly ornaments Have given place to penitential weeds; Though oft-repeated sighs have blanched his lips, And robbed them of their bloom; though sleepless care And carking thought have dimmed his beaming eye; Yet does his form, by its inherent l.u.s.tre, Dazzle the gaze; and, like a priceless gem Committed to some cunning polisher, Grow more effulgent by the loss of substance.

SaNUMATi [_aside. Looking at the King_].--Now that I have seen him, I can well understand why Sakoontala should pine after such a man, in spite of his disdainful rejection of her.

KING [_walking slowly up and down, in deep thought_].-- When fatal lethargy overwhelmed my soul, My loved one strove to rouse me, but in vain:-- And now when I would fain in slumber deep Forget myself, full soon remorse doth wake me.

SaNUMATi [_aside_].--My poor Sakoontala's sufferings are very similar.

MaTHAVYA [_aside_].--He is taken with another attack of this odious Sakoontala fever. How shall we ever cure him?

CHAMBERLAIN [_approaching_].--Victory to the King! Great Prince, the royal pleasure-grounds have been put in order. Your Majesty can resort to them for exercise and amus.e.m.e.nt whenever you think proper.

KING.--Vetravati, tell the worthy Pisuna, my prime minister, from me, that I am so exhausted by want of sleep that I cannot sit on the judgment-seat to-day. If any case of importance be brought before the tribunal he must give it his best attention, and inform me of the circ.u.mstances by letter.

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

KING [_to the Chamberlain_].--And you, Vatayana, may go about your own affairs.

CHAMBERLAIN.--I will, Sire. [_Exit._

MaTHAVYA.--Now that you have rid yourself of these troublesome fellows, you can enjoy the delightful coolness of your pleasure-grounds without interruption.

KING.--Ah! my dear friend, there is an old adage--"When affliction has a mind to enter, she will find a crevice somewhere"--and it is verified in me.

Scarce is my soul delivered from the cloud That darkened its remembrance of the past, When lo! the heart-born deity of love With yonder blossom of the mango barbs His keenest shaft, and aims it at my breast.

MaTHAVYA.--Well, then, wait a moment; I will soon demolish Master Kama's arrow with a cut of my cane.

[_Raises his stick and strikes off the mango-blossom._

KING [_smiling_].--That will do. I see very well the G.o.d of Love is not a match for a Brahman. And now, my dear friend, where shall I sit down, that I may enchant my sight by gazing on the twining plants, which seem to remind me of the graceful shape of my beloved?

MaTHAVYA.--Do you not remember? you told Chaturika you should pa.s.s the heat of the day in the jasmine bower; and commanded her to bring the likeness of your queen Sakoontala, sketched with your own hand.

KING.--True. The sight of her picture will refresh my soul. Lead the way to the arbor.

MaTHAVYA.--This way, Sire.

[_Both move on, followed by Sanumati._

MaTHAVYA.--Here we are at the jasmine bower. Look, it has a marble seat, and seems to bid us welcome with its offerings of delicious flowers. You have only to enter and sit down. [_Both enter and seat themselves._

SaNUMATi [_aside_].--I will lean against these young jasmines. I can easily, from behind them, glance at my friend's picture, and will then hasten to inform her of her husband's ardent affection. [_Stands leaning against the creepers_.

KING.--Oh! my dear friend, how vividly all the circ.u.mstances of my union with Sakoontala present themselves to my recollection at this moment!

But tell me now how it was that, between the time of my leaving her in the hermitage and my subsequent rejection of her, you never breathed her name to me! True, you were not by my side when I disowned her; but I had confided to you the story of my love and you were acquainted with every particular. Did it pa.s.s out of your mind as it did out of mine?

MaTHAVYA.--No, no; trust me for that. But, if you remember, when you had finished telling me about it, you added that I was not to take the story in earnest, for that you were not really in love with a country girl, but were only jesting; and I was dull and thick-headed enough to believe you. But so fate decreed, and there is no help for it.

SaNUMATi [_aside_].--Exactly.

KING [_after deep thought_].--My dear friend, suggest some relief for my misery.

MaTHAVYA.--Come, come, cheer up; why do you give way? Such weakness is unworthy of you. Great men never surrender themselves to uncontrolled grief. Do not mountains remain unshaken even in a gale of wind?

KING.--How can I be otherwise than inconsolable, when I call to mind the agonized demeanor of the dear one on the occasion of my disowning her?

When cruelly I spurned her from my presence, She fain had left me; but the young recluse, Stern as the Sage, and with authority As from his saintly master, in a voice That brooked not contradiction, bade her stay.

Then through her pleading eyes, bedimmed with tears, She cast on me one long reproachful look, Which like a poisoned shaft torments me still.

SaNUMATi [_aside_].--Alas! such is the force of self-reproach following a rash action. But his anguish only rejoices me.

MaTHAVYA.--An idea has just struck me. I should not wonder if some celestial being had carried her off to heaven.

KING.--Very likely. Who else would have dared to lay a finger on a wife, the idol of her husband? It is said that Menaka, the nymph of heaven, gave her birth. The suspicion has certainly crossed my mind that some of her celestial companions may have taken her to their own abode.