Reading section 36

ATTENDANTS.--We will, sire. [_Exeunt._

MÁTHAVYA.--Now that you have got rid of these plagues, who have been buzzing about us like so many flies, sit down, do, on that stone slab, with the shade of the tree as your canopy, and I will seat myself by you quite comfortably.

KING.--Go you, and sit down first.

MÁTHAVYA.--Come along, then.

[_Both walk on a little way, and seat themselves_.

KING.--Máthavya, it may be said of you that you have never beheld anything worth seeing: for your eyes have not yet looked upon the loveliest object in creation.

MÁTHAVYA.--How can you say so, when I see your Majesty before me at this moment?

KING.--It is very natural that everyone should consider his own friend perfect; but I was alluding to Śakoontalá, the brightest ornament of these hallowed groves.

MÁTHAVYA [_aside_].--I understand well enough, but I am not going to humor him. [_Aloud_.] If, as you intimate, she is a hermit's daughter, you cannot lawfully ask her in marriage. You may as well, then, dismiss her from your mind, for any good the mere sight of her can do.

KING.--Think you that a descendant of the mighty Puru could fix his affections on an unlawful object? Though, as men say, the offspring of the sage, The maiden to a nymph celestial owes Her being, and by her mother left on earth, Was found and nurtured by the holy man As his own daughter, in this hermitage;-- So, when dissevered from its parent stalk, Some falling blossom of the jasmine, wafted Upon the sturdy sunflower, is preserved By its support from premature decay.

MÁTHAVYA [_smiling_].--This passion of yours for a rustic maiden, when you have so many gems of women at home in your palace, seems to me very like the fancy of a man who is tired of sweet dates, and longs for sour tamarinds as a variety.

KING.--You have not seen her, or you would not talk in this fashion.

MÁTHAVYA.--I can quite understand it must require something surpassingly attractive to excite the admiration of such a great man as you.

KING.--I will describe her, my dear friend, in a few words-- Man's all-wise Maker, wishing to create A faultless form, whose matchless symmetry Should far transcend Creation's choicest works, Did call together by his mighty will, And garner up in his eternal mind, A bright assemblage of all lovely things:-- And then, as in a picture, fashion them Into one perfect and ideal form. Such the divine, the wondrous prototype, Whence her fair shape was moulded into being.

MÁTHAVYA.--If that's the case, she must indeed throw all other beauties into the shade.

KING.--To my mind she really does. This peerless maid is like a fragrant flower, Whose perfumed breath has never been diffused; A tender bud, that no profaning hand Has dared to sever from its parent stalk; A gem of priceless water, just released Pure and unblemished from its glittering bed. Or may the maiden haply be compared To sweetest honey, that no mortal lip Has sipped; or, rather to the mellowed fruit Of virtuous actions in some former birth, Now brought to full perfection? Lives the man Whom bounteous heaven has destined to espouse her?

MÁTHAVYA.--Make haste, then, to her aid; you have no time to lose, if you don't wish this fruit of all the virtues to drop into the mouth of some greasy-headed rustic of devout habits.

KING.--The lady is not her own mistress, and her foster-father is not at home.

MÁTHAVYA.--Well, but tell me, did she look at all kindly upon you?

KING.--Maidens brought up in a hermitage are naturally shy and reserved; but for all that, She did look towards me, though she quick withdrew Her stealthy glances when she met my gaze; She smiled upon me sweetly, but disguised With maiden grace the secret of her smiles. Coy love was half unveiled; then, sudden checked By modesty, left half to be divined.

MÁTHAVYA.--Why, of course, my dear friend, you never could seriously expect that at the very first sight she would fall over head and ears in love with you, and without more ado come and sit in your lap.

KING.--When we parted from each other, she betrayed her liking for me by clearer indications, but still with the utmost modesty. Scarce had the fair one from my presence passed, When, suddenly, without apparent cause, She stopped, and counterfeiting pain, exclaimed, "My foot is wounded by this prickly grass." Then glancing at me tenderly, she feigned Another charming pretext for delay, Pretending that a bush had caught her robe, And turned as if to disentangle it.

MÁTHAVYA.--I trust you have laid in a good stock of provisions, for I see you intend making this consecrated grove your game-preserve, and will be roaming here in quest of sport for some time to come.

KING.--You must know, my good fellow, that I have been recognized by some of the inmates of the hermitage. Now I want the assistance of your fertile invention, in devising some excuse for going there again.

MÁTHAVYA.--There is but one expedient that I can suggest. You are the King, are you not?

KING.--What then?

MÁTHAVYA.--Say you have come for the sixth part of their grain, which they owe you for tribute.

KING.--No, no, foolish man; these hermits pay me a very different kind of tribute, which I value more than heaps of gold or jewels; observe, The tribute which my other subjects bring Must moulder into dust, but holy men Present me with a portion of the fruits Of penitential services and prayers-- A precious and imperishable gift.

A VOICE [_behind the scenes_].--We are fortunate; here is the object of our search.

KING [_listening],_--Surely those must be the voices of hermits, to judge by their deep tones.

WARDER [_entering],_--Victory to the King! two young hermits are in waiting outside, and solicit an audience of your Majesty.

KING.--Introduce them immediately.

WARDER.--I will, my liege. [_Goes out, and reënters with two young Hermits_.] This way, Sirs, this way.

[_Both the Hermits look at the King_

FIRST HERMIT.--How majestic is his mien, and yet what confidence it inspires! But this might be expected in a king whose character and habits have earned for him a title only one degree removed from that of a Saint. In this secluded grove, whose sacred joys All may participate, he deigns to dwell Like one of us; and daily treasures up A store of purest merit for himself, By the protection of our holy rites. In his own person wondrously are joined Both majesty and saintlike holiness:-- And often chanted by inspired bards, His hallowed title of "Imperial Sage" Ascends in joyous accents to the skies.

SECOND HERMIT.--Bear in mind, Gautama, that this is the great Dushyanta, the friend of Indra.

FIRST HERMIT.--What of that?

SECOND HERMIT.--Where is the wonder if his nervous arm, Puissant and massive as the iron bar That binds a castle-gateway, singly sways The sceptre of the universal earth, E'en to its dark-green boundary of waters? Or if the gods, beholden to his aid In their fierce warfare with the powers of hell, Should blend his name with Indra's in their songs Of victory, and gratefully accord No lower meed of praise to his braced bow, Than to the thunders of the god of heaven?

BOTH THE HERMITS [_approaching_].--Victory to the King!

KING [_rising from his seat_].--Hail to you both!

BOTH THE HERMITS.--Heaven bless your Majesty!

[_They offer fruits_.

KING [_respectfully receiving the offering_].--Tell me, I pray you, the object of your visit.

BOTH THE HERMITS.--The inhabitants of the hermitage having heard of your Majesty's sojourn in our neighborhood, make this humble petition.

KING.--What are their commands?

BOTH THE HERMITS.--In the absence of our Superior, the great Sage Kanwa, evil demons are disturbing our sacrificial rites.[36] Deign, therefore, accompanied by your charioteer, to take up your abode in our hermitage for a few days.

KING.--I am honored by your invitation.

MÁTHAVYA [_aside_].--Most opportune and convenient, certainly!

KING [_smiling_].--Ho! there, Raivataka! Tell the charioteer from me to bring round the chariot with my bow.

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

BOTH THE HERMITS [_joyfully_].--Well it becomes the King by acts of grace To emulate the virtues of his race. Such acts thy lofty destiny attest; Thy mission is to succor the distressed.

KING [_bowing to the Hermits_].--Go first, reverend Sirs, I will follow you immediately.

BOTH THE HERMITS.--May victory attend you! [_Exeunt._

KING.--My dear Máthavya, are you not full of longing to see Śakoontalá?

MÁTHAVYA.--To tell you the truth, though I was just now brimful of desire to see her, I have not a drop left since this piece of news about the demons.

KING.--Never fear; you shall keep close to me for protection.

MÁTHAVYA.--Well, you must be my guardian-angel, and act the part of a very Vishnu[37] to me.

WARDER--[_entering_].--Sire, the chariot is ready, and only waits to conduct you to victory. But here is a messenger named Karabhaka, just arrived from your capital, with a message from the Queen, your mother.

KING--[_respectfully_].--How say you? a messenger from the venerable Queen?

WARDER.--Even so.