Hindu literature Part 57

Lo! in one quarter of the sky, the Moon, Lord of the herbs and night-expanding flowers, Sinks towards his bed behind the western hills; While in the east, preceded by the Dawn, His blus.h.i.+ng charioteer, the glorious Sun Begins his course, and far into the gloom Casts the first radiance of his orient beams, Hail! co-eternal orbs, that rise to set, And set to rise again; symbols divine Of man's reverses, life's vicissitudes.

And now, While the round Moon withdraws his looming disc Beneath the western sky, the full-blown flower Of the night-loving lotus sheds her leaves In sorrow for his loss, bequeathing nought But the sweet memory of her loveliness To my bereaved sight: e'en as the bride Disconsolately mourns her absent lord, And yields her heart a prey to anxious grief.

ANASuYa [_entering abruptly_].--Little as I know of the ways of the world, I cannot help thinking that King Dushyanta is treating Sakoontala very improperly.

PUPIL.--Well, I must let my revered preceptor know that it is time to offer the burnt oblation. [_Exit._

ANASuYa.--I am broad awake, but what shall I do? I have no energy to go about my usual occupations. My hands and feet seem to have lost their power. Well, Love has gained his object; and Love only is to blame for having induced our dear friend, in the innocence of her heart, to confide in such a perfidious man. Possibly, however, the imprecation of Durvasas may be already taking effect. Indeed, I cannot otherwise account for the King's strange conduct, in allowing so long a time to elapse without even a letter; and that, too, after so many promises and protestations. I cannot think what to do, unless we send him the ring which was to be the token of recognition. But which of these austere hermits could we ask to be the bearer of it? Then, again, Father Kanwa has just returned from his pilgrimage: and how am I to inform him of Sakoontala's marriage to King Dushyanta, and her expectation of being soon a mother? I never could bring myself to tell him, even if I felt that Sakoontala had been in fault, which she certainly has not. What is to be done?

PRIYAMVADa [_entering; joyfully_].--Quick! quick! Anasuya! come and a.s.sist in the joyful preparations for Sakoontala's departure to her husband's palace.

ANASuYa.--My dear girl, what can you mean?

PRIYAMVADa.--Listen, now, and I will tell you all about it. I went just now to Sakoontala, to inquire whether she had slept comfortably--

ANASuYa.--Well, well; go on.

PRIYAMVADa.--She was sitting with her face bowed down to the very ground with shame, when Father Kanwa entered and, embracing her, of his own accord offered her his congratulations. "I give thee joy, my child," he said, "we have had an auspicious omen. The priest who offered the oblation dropped it into the very centre of the sacred fire, though thick smoke obstructed his vision. Henceforth thou wilt cease to be an object of compa.s.sion. This very day I purpose sending thee, under the charge of certain trusty hermits, to the King's palace; and shall deliver thee into the hands of thy husband, as I would commit knowledge to the keeping of a wise and faithful student."

ANASuYa.--Who, then, informed the holy Father of what pa.s.sed in his absence?

PRIYAMVADa.--As he was entering the sanctuary of the consecrated fire, an invisible being chanted a verse in celestial strains.

ANASuYa [_with astonishment_].--Indeed! pray repeat it.

PRIYAMVADa [_repeats the verse_].-- Glows in thy daughter King Dushyanta's glory, As in the sacred tree the mystic fire.

Let worlds rejoice to hear the welcome story; And may the son immortalize the sire.

ANASuYa [_embracing Priyamvada_].--Oh, my dear Priyamvada, what delightful news! I am pleased beyond measure; yet when I think that we are to lose our dear Sakoontala this very day, a feeling of melancholy mingles with my joy.

PRIYAMVADa.--We shall find means of consoling ourselves after her departure. Let the dear creature only be made happy, at any cost.

ANASuYa.--Yes, yes, Priyamvada, it shall be so; and now to prepare our bridal array. I have always looked forward to this occasion, and some time since, I deposited a beautiful garland of Kesara flowers in a cocoa-nut box, and suspended it on a bough of yonder mango-tree. Be good enough to stretch out your hand and take it down, while I compound unguents and perfumes with this consecrated paste and these blades of sacred gra.s.s.

PRIYAMVADa.--Very well.

[_Exit Anasuya. Priyamvada takes down the flowers._

A VOICE [_behind the scenes_].--Gautami, bid Sarngarava and the others hold themselves in readiness to escort Sakoontala.

PRIYAMVADa [_listening_].--Quick, quick, Anasuya! They are calling the hermits who are to go with Sakoontala to Hastinapur.

ANASuYa [_reentering, with the perfumed unguents in her hand_].--Come along then, Priyamvada; I am ready to go with you. [_They walk away_.

PRIYAMVADa [_looking_].--See! there sits Sakoontala, her locks arranged even at this early hour of the morning. The holy women of the hermitage are congratulating her, and invoking blessings on her head, while they present her with wedding-gifts and offerings of consecrated wild-rice.

Let us join them. [_They approach_.

_Sakoontala is seen seated, with women surrounding her, occupied in the manner described_.

FIRST WOMAN [_to Sakoontala_].--My child, may'st thou receive the t.i.tle of "Chief-queen," and may thy husband delight to honor thee above all others!

SECOND WOMAN.--My child, may'st thou be the mother of a hero!

THIRD WOMAN.--My child, may'st thou be highly honored by thy lord!

[_Exeunt all the women, excepting Gautami, after blessing Sakoontala._

PRIYAMVADa AND ANASuYa [_approaching_].--Dear Sakoontala, we are come to a.s.sist you at your toilet, and may a blessing attend it!

SAKOONTALa.--Welcome, dear friends, welcome. Sit down here.

PRIYAMVADa AND ANASuYa [_taking the baskets containing the bridal decorations, and sitting down_].--Now, then, dearest, prepare to let us dress you. We must first rub your limbs with these perfumed unguents.

SAKOONTALa.--I ought indeed to be grateful for your kind offices, now that I am so soon to be deprived of them. Dear, dear friends, perhaps I shall never be dressed by you again. [_Bursts into tears_.

PRIYAMVADa AND ANASuYa.--Weep not, dearest, tears are out of season on such a happy occasion.

[_They wipe away her tears and begin to dress her_.

PRIYAMVADa.--Alas! these simple flowers and rude ornaments which our hermitage offers in abundance, do not set off your beauty as it deserves.

_Enter two young Hermits, bearing costly presents_.

BOTH HERMITS.--Here are ornaments suitable for a queen.

[_The women look at them in astonishment_.

GAUTAMi.--Why, Narada, my son, whence came these?

FIRST HERMIT.--You owe them to the devotion of Father Kanwa.

GAUTAMi.--Did he create them by the power of his own mind?

SECOND HERMIT.--Certainly not; but you shall hear. The venerable sage ordered us to collect flowers for Sakoontala from the forest-trees; and we went to the wood for that purpose, when Straightway depending from a neighboring tree Appeared a robe of linen tissue, pure And spotless as a moon-beam--mystic pledge Of bridal happiness; another tree Distilled a roseate dye wherewith to stain The lady's feet; and other branches near Glistened with rare and costly ornaments.

While, 'midst the leaves, the hands of forest-nymphs, Vying in beauty with the opening buds, Presented us with sylvan offerings.

PRIYAMVADa [_looking at Sakoontala_].--The wood-nymphs have done you honor, indeed. This favor doubtless signifies that you are soon to be received as a happy wife into your husband's house, and are from this forward to become the partner of his royal fortunes.

[_Sakoontala appears confused_.

FIRST HERMIT.--Come, Gautama; Father Kanwa has finished his ablutions.

Let us go and inform him of the favor we have received from the deities who preside over our trees.

SECOND HERMIT.--By all means. [_Exeunt._

PRIYAMVADa AND ANASuYa.--Alas! what are we to do? We are unused to such splendid decorations, and are at a loss how to arrange them. Our knowledge of painting must be our guide. We will dispose the ornaments as we have seen them in pictures.

SAKOONTALa.--Whatever pleases you, dear girls, will please me. I have perfect confidence in your taste. [_They commence dressing her_.

_Enter Kanwa, having just finished his ablutions_.