Reading section 35

KING [_making a movement to arrest her departure, but checking himself. Aside_].--Ah! a lover's feelings betray themselves by his gestures. When I would fain have stayed the maid, a sense Of due decorum checked my bold design: Though I have stirred not, yet my mien betrays My eagerness to follow on her steps.

PRIYAMVADÁ [_holding Śakoontalá back_].--Dear Śakoontalá, it does not become you to go away in this manner.

ŚAKOONTALÁ [_frowning_].--Why not, pray?

PRIYAMVADÁ.--You are under a promise to water two more shrubs for me. When you have paid your debt, you shall go, and not before. [_Forces her to turn back_.

KING.--Spare her this trouble, gentle maiden. The exertion of watering the shrubs has already fatigued her. The water-jar has overtasked the strength Of her slim arms; her shoulders droop, her hands Are ruddy with the glow of quickened pulses; E'en now her agitated breath imparts Unwonted tremor to her heaving breast; The pearly drops that mar the recent bloom Of the Śirísha pendant in her ear, Gather in clustering circles on her cheek; Loosed is the fillet of her hair: her hand Restrains the locks that struggle to be free. Suffer me, then, thus to discharge the debt for you.

[_Offers a ring to Priyamvadá. Both the maidens, reading the name Dushyanta on the seal, look at each other with surprise._

KING.--Nay, think not that I am King Dushyanta. I am only the king's officer, and this is the ring which I have received from him as my credentials.

PRIYAMVADÁ.--The greater the reason you ought not to part with the ring from your finger. I am content to release her from her obligation at your simple request. [_With a smile_.] Now, Śakoontalá my love, you are at liberty to retire, thanks to the intercession of this noble stranger, or rather of this mighty prince.

ŚAKOONTALÁ [_aside_].--My movements are no longer under my own control. [_Aloud_.] Pray, what authority have you over me, either to send me away or keep me back?

KING [_gazing at Śakoontalá. Aside_].--Would I could ascertain whether she is affected towards me as I am towards her! At any rate, my hopes are free to indulge themselves. Because, Although she mingles not her words with mine, Yet doth her listening ear drink in my speech; Although her eye shrinks from my ardent gaze, No form but mine attracts its timid glances.

A VOICE [_behind the scenes_].--O hermits, be ready to protect the animals belonging to our hermitage. King Dushyanta, amusing himself with hunting, is near at hand. Lo! by the feet of prancing horses raised, Thick clouds of moving dust, like glittering swarms Of locusts in the glow of eventide, Fall on the branches of our sacred trees; Where hang the dripping vests of woven bark, Bleached by the waters of the cleansing fountain. And see! Scared by the royal chariot in its course, With headlong haste an elephant invades The hallowed precincts of our sacred grove; Himself the terror of the startled deer, And an embodied hindrance to our rites. The hedge of creepers clinging to his feet, Feeble obstruction to his mad career, Is dragged behind him in a tangled chain; And with terrific shock one tusk he drives Into the riven body of a tree, Sweeping before him all impediments.

KING [_aside_].--Out upon it! my retinue are looking for me, and are disturbing this holy retreat. Well! there is no help for it; I must go and meet them.

PRIYAMVADÁ AND ANASÚYÁ.--Noble Sir, we are terrified by the accidental disturbance caused by the wild elephant. Permit us to return into the cottage.

KING [_hastily_].--Go, gentle maidens. It shall be our care that no injury happen to the hermitage. [_All rise up_.

PRIYAMVADÁ AND ANASÚYÁ.--After such poor hospitality we are ashamed to request the honor of a second visit from you.

KING.--Say not so. The mere sight of you, sweet maidens, has been to me the best entertainment.

ŚAKOONTALÁ.--Anasúyá, a pointed blade of Kuśa-grass[35] has pricked my foot; and my bark-mantle is caught in the branch of a Kuruvaka-bush. Be so good as to wait for me until I have disentangled it. [_Exit with her two companions, after making pretexts for delay, that she may steal glances at the King_.

KING.--I have no longer any desire to return to the city. I will therefore rejoin my attendants, and make them encamp somewhere in the vicinity of this sacred grove. In good truth, Śakoontalá has taken such possession of my thoughts, that I cannot turn myself in any other direction. My limbs drawn onward leave my heart behind, Like silken pennon borne against the wind.

[33] The speed of the chariot resembled that of the wind and the sun. Indra was the god of the firmament or atmosphere. The sun, in Hindoo mythology, is represented as seated in a chariot drawn by seven green horses, having before him a lovely youth without legs, who acts as charioteer, and who is Aruna, or the Dawn personified.

[34] The Matron or Superior of the female part of the society of hermits. Their authority resembled that of an abbess in a convent of nuns.

[35] A grass held sacred by the Hindoos and freely used at their religious ceremonies. Its leaves are very long and taper to a needle-like point.

ACT SECOND

Scene.--A Plain on the Skirts of the Forest

_Enter the Jester, Máthavya, in a melancholy mood_.

MÁTHAVYA [_sighing_].--Heigh-ho! what an unlucky fellow I am! worn to a shadow by my royal friend's sporting propensities. "Here's a deer!" "There goes a boar!" "Yonder's a tiger!" This is the only burden of our talk, while in the heat of the meridian sun we toil on from jungle to jungle, wandering about in the paths of the woods, where the trees afford us no shelter. Are we thirsty? We have nothing to drink but the foul water of some mountain stream, filled with dry leaves which give it a most pungent flavor. Are we hungry? We have nothing to eat but roast game, which we must swallow down at odd times, as best we can. Even at night there is no peace to be had. Sleeping is out of the question, with joints all strained by dancing attendance upon my sporting friend; or if I do happen to doze, I am awakened at the very earliest dawn by the horrible din of a lot of rascally beaters and huntsmen, who must needs surround the wood before sunrise, and deafen me with their clatter. Nor are these my only troubles. Here's a fresh grievance, like a new boil rising upon an old one! Yesterday, while we were lagging behind, my royal friend entered yonder hermitage after a deer; and there, as ill-luck would have it? caught sight of a beautiful girl, called Śakoontalá, the hermit's daughter. From that moment, not another thought about returning to the city! and all last night, not a wink of sleep did he get for thinking of the damsel. What is to be done? At any rate, I will be on the watch for him as soon as he has finished his toilet. [[_Walking and looking about_.] Oh! here he comes, attended by the Yavana women with bows in their hands, and wearing garlands of wild flowers. What shall I do? I have it. I will pretend to stand in the easiest attitude for resting my bruised and crippled limbs. [_Stands leaning on a staff_.

_Enter King Dushyanta, followed by a retinue in the manner described_.

KING.--True, by no easy conquest may I win her, Yet are my hopes encouraged by her mien. Love is not yet triumphant; but, methinks, The hearts of both are ripe for his delights. [_Smiling_.] Ah! thus does the lover delude himself; judging of the state of his loved one's feelings by his own desires. But yet, The stolen glance with half-averted eye, The hesitating gait, the quick rebuke Addressed to her companion, who would fain Have stayed her counterfeit departure; these Are signs not unpropitious to my suit. So eagerly the lover feeds his hopes, Claiming each trivial gesture for his own.

MÁTHAVYA [_still in the same attitude_].--Ah, friend, my hands cannot move to greet you with the usual salutation. I can only just command my lips to wish your majesty victory.

KING.--Why, what has paralyzed your limbs?

MÁTHAVYA.--You might as well ask me how my eye comes to water after you have poked your finger into it.

KING.--I don't understand you; speak more intelligibly.

MÁTHAVYA.--Ah, my dear friend, is yonder upright reed transformed into a crooked plant by its own act, or by the force of the current?

KING.--The current of the river causes it, I suppose.

MÁTHAVYA.--Aye; just as you are the cause of my crippled limbs.

KING.--How so?

MÁTHAVYA.--Here are you living the life of a wild man of the woods in a savage, unfrequented region, while your state affairs are left to shift for themselves; and as for poor me, I am no longer master of my own limbs, but have to follow you about day after day in your chases after wild animals, till my bones are all crippled and out of joint. Do, my dear friend, let me have one day's rest.

KING [_aside_].--This fellow little knows, while he talks in this manner, that my mind is wholly engrossed by recollections of the hermit's daughter, and quite as disinclined to the chase as his own. No longer can I bend my well-braced bow Against the timid deer; nor e'er again With well-aimed arrows can I think to harm These her beloved associates, who enjoy The privilege of her companionship; Teaching her tender glances in return.

MÁTHAVYA [_looking in the King's face_].--I may as well speak to the winds, for any attention you pay to my requests. I suppose you have something on your mind, and are talking it over to yourself.

KING [_smiling_].--I was only thinking that I ought not to disregard a friend's request.

MÁTHAVYA.--Then may the King live forever! [_Moves off_.

KING.--Stay a moment, my dear friend. I have something else to say to you.

MÁTHAVYA.--Say on, then.

KING.--When you have rested, you must assist me in another business, which will give you no fatigue.

MÁTHAVYA.--In eating something nice, I hope.

KING.--You shall know at some future time.

MÁTHAVYA.--No time better than the present.

KING.--What ho! there.

WARDER [_entering_].--What are your Majesty's commands?

KING.--O Raivataka! bid the General of the forces attend.

WARDER.--I will, Sire. [_Exit and reënters with the General_] Come forward, General; his Majesty is looking towards you, and has some order to give you.

GENERAL [_looking at the King_].--Though hunting is known to produce ill effects, my royal master has derived only benefit from it. For Like the majestic elephant that roams O'er mountain wilds, so does the King display A stalwart frame, instinct with vigorous life. His brawny arms and manly chest are scored By frequent passage of the sounding string; Unharmed he bears the mid-day sun; no toil His mighty spirit daunts; his sturdy limbs, Stripped of redundant flesh, relinquish nought Of their robust proportions, but appear In muscle, nerve, and sinewy fibre cased. [_Approaching the King_.] Victory to the King! We have tracked the wild beasts to their lairs in the forest. Why delay, when everything is ready?

KING.--My friend Máthavya here has been disparaging the chase, till he has taken away all my relish for it.

GENERAL [_aside to Máthavya_].--Persevere in your opposition, my good fellow; I will sound the King's real feelings, and humor him accordingly. [_Aloud_]. The blockhead talks nonsense, and your Majesty, in your own person, furnishes the best proof of it. Observe, Sire, the advantage and pleasure the hunter derives from the chase. Freed from all grosser influences, his frame Loses its sluggish humors, and becomes Buoyant, compact, and fit for bold encounter. 'Tis his to mark with joy the varied passions, Fierce heats of anger, terror, blank dismay, Of forest animals that cross his path. Then what a thrill transports the hunter's soul, When, with unerring course, his driven shaft Pierces the moving mark! Oh! 'tis conceit In moralists to call the chase a vice; What recreation can compare with this?

MÁTHAVYA [_angrily_].--Away! tempter, away! The King has recovered his senses, and is himself again. As for you, you may, if you choose, wander about from forest to forest, till some old bear seizes you by the nose, and makes a mouthful of you.

KING.--My good General, as we are just now in the neighborhood of a consecrated grove, your panegyric upon hunting is somewhat ill-timed, and I cannot assent to all you have said. For the present, All undisturbed the buffaloes shall sport In yonder pool, and with their ponderous horns Scatter its tranquil waters, while the deer, Couched here and there in groups beneath the shade Of spreading branches, ruminate in peace. And all securely shall the herd of boars Feed on the marshy sedge; and thou, my bow, With slackened string enjoy a long repose.

GENERAL.--So please your Majesty, it shall be as you desire.

KING.--Recall, then, the beaters who were sent in advance to surround the forest. My troops must not be allowed to disturb this sacred retreat, and irritate its pious inhabitants. Know that within the calm and cold recluse Lurks unperceived a germ of smothered flame, All-potent to destroy; a latent fire That rashly kindled bursts with fury forth:-- As in the disc of crystal that remains Cool to the touch, until the solar ray Falls on its polished surface, and excites The burning heat that lies within concealed.

GENERAL.--Your Majesty's commands shall be obeyed.

MÁTHAVYA.--Off with you, you son of a slave! Your nonsense won't go down here, my fine fellow. [_Exit General_.

KING [_looking at his attendants_].--Here, women, take my hunting-dress; and you, Raivataka, keep guard carefully outside.