Hindu literature Part 50

[_Sakoontala makes a chiding gesture with her finger_.

KING.--You conjecture truly. I am so eager to hear the particulars of your friend's history, that I have still another question to ask.

PRIYAMVADa.--Scruple not to do so. Persons who lead the life of hermits may be questioned unreservedly.

KING.--I wish to ascertain one point respecting your friend-- Will she be bound by solitary vows Opposed to love, till her espousals only?

Or ever dwell with these her cherished fawns, Whose eyes, in l.u.s.tre vieing with her own, Return her gaze of sisterly affection?

PRIYAMVADa.--Hitherto, Sir, she has been engaged in the practice of religious duties, and has lived in subjection to her foster-father; but it is now his fixed intention to give her away in marriage to a husband worthy of her.

KING [_aside_].--His intention may be easily carried into effect.

Be hopeful, O my heart, thy harrowing doubts Are past and gone; that which thou didst believe To be as unapproachable as fire, Is found a glittering gem that may be touched.

SAKOONTALa [_pretending anger_].--Anasuya, I shall leave you.

ANASuYa.--Why so?

SAKOONTALa.--That I may go and report this impertinent Priyamvada to the venerable matron, Gautami.[34]

ANASuYa.--Surely, dear friend, it would not be right to leave a distinguished guest before he has received the rights of hospitality, and quit his presence in this wilful manner.

[_Sakoontala, without answering a word, moves away_.

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.

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

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

PRIYAMVADa.--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 Sirisha pendant in her ear, Gather in cl.u.s.tering 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 Priyamvada. 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.

PRIYAMVADa.--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, Sakoontala my love, you are at liberty to retire, thanks to the intercession of this n.o.ble stranger, or rather of this mighty prince.

SAKOONTALa [_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 Sakoontala. 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.

PRIYAMVADa AND ANASuYa.--n.o.ble 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_.

PRIYAMVADa AND ANASuYa.--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.

SAKOONTALa.--Anasuya, a pointed blade of Kusa-gra.s.s[35] has p.r.i.c.ked 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, Sakoontala 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 G.o.d 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 gra.s.s 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, Mathavya, in a melancholy mood_.

MaTHAVYA [_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 Sakoontala, 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 att.i.tude 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.