Translations Of Shakuntala And Other Works Part 19

_Shakuntala_ (_laying her hand on her breast. Aside_). Oh, my heart, why tremble so? Remember his constant love and be brave.

_Chaplain_ (_advancing_). Hail, your Majesty. The hermits have been received as Scripture enjoins. They have a message from their teacher.

May you be pleased to hear it.

_King_ (_respectfully_). I am all attention.

_The two pupils_ (_raising their right hands_). Victory, O King.

_King_ (_bowing low_). I salute you all.

_The two pupils_. All hail.

_King_. Does your pious life proceed without disturbance?

_The two pupils_.

How could the pious duties fail While you defend the right?

Or how could darkness' power prevail O'er sunbeams s.h.i.+ning bright?

_King_ (_to himself_). Indeed, my royal t.i.tle is no empty one.

(_Aloud_.) Is holy Kanva in health?

_Sharngarava_. O King, those who have religious power can command health. He asks after your welfare and sends this message.

_King_. What are his commands?

_Sharngarava_. He says: "Since you have met this my daughter and have married her, I give you my glad consent. For

You are the best of worthy men, they say; And she, I know, Good Works personified; The Creator wrought for ever and a day, In wedding such a virtuous groom and bride.

She is with child. Take her and live with her in virtue."

_Gautami_. Bless you, sir. I should like to say that no one invites me to speak.

_King_. Speak, mother.

_Gautami_.

Did she with father speak or mother?

Did you engage her friends in speech?

Your faith was plighted each to other; Let each be faithful now to each.

_Shakuntala_. What will my husband say?

_King_ (_listening with anxious suspicion_). What is this insinuation?

_Shakuntala_ (_to herself_). Oh, oh! So haughty and so slanderous!

_Sharngarava_. "What is this insinuation?" What is your question?

Surely you know the world's ways well enough.

Because the world suspects a wife Who does not share her husband's lot, Her kinsmen wish her to abide With him, although he love her not.

_King_. You cannot mean that this young woman is my wife.

_Shakuntala_ (_sadly to herself_). Oh, my heart, you feared it, and now it has come. _Sharngarava_. O King,

A king, and shrink when love is done, Turn coward's back on truth, and flee!

_King_. What means this dreadful accusation?

_Sharngarava_ (_furiously_).

O drunk with power! We might have known That you were steeped in treachery.

_King_. A stinging rebuke!

_Gautami_ (_to_ SHAKUNTALA). Forget your shame, my child. I will remove your veil. Then your husband will recognise you. (_She does so_.)

_King_ (_observing_ SHAKUNTALA. _To himself_).

As my heart ponders whether I could ever Have wed this woman that has come to me In tortured loveliness, as I endeavour To bring it back to mind, then like a bee

That hovers round a jasmine flower at dawn, While frosty dews of morning still o'erweave it, And hesitates to sip ere they be gone, I cannot taste the sweet, and cannot leave it.

_Portress_ (_to herself_). What a virtuous king he is! Would any other man hesitate when he saw such a pearl of a woman coming of her own accord?

_Sharngarava_. Have you nothing to say, O King?

_King_. Hermit, I have taken thought. I cannot believe that this woman is my wife. She is plainly with child. How can I take her, confessing myself an adulterer?

_Shakuntala_ (_to herself_). Oh, oh, oh! He even casts doubt on our marriage. The vine of my hope climbed high, but it is broken now.

_Sharngarava_. Not so.

You scorn the sage who rendered whole His child befouled, and choked his grief, Who freely gave you what you stole And added honour to a thief!

_Sharadvata_. Enough, Sharngarava. Shakuntala, we have said what we were sent to say. You hear his words. Answer him.

_Shakuntala_ (_to herself_). He loved me so. He is so changed. Why remind him? Ah, but I must clear my own character. Well, I will try.

(_Aloud_.) My dear husband--(_She stops_.) No, he doubts my right to call him that. Your Majesty, it was pure love that opened my poor heart to you in the hermitage. Then you were kind to me and gave me your promise. Is it right for you to speak so now, and to reject me?

_King_ (_stopping his ears_). Peace, peace!

A stream that eats away the bank, Grows foul, and undermines the tree.

So you would stain your honour, while You plunge me into misery.

_Shakuntala_. Very well. If you have acted so because you really fear to touch another man's wife, I will remove your doubts with a token you gave me.

_King_. An excellent idea!