g voice,
I have no words to speak; mine eyes are dimmed
By the dark shadows of the thoughts that rise
Within my soul. If such the force of grief
In an old hermit parted from his nursling,
What anguish must the stricken parent feel--
Bereft for ever of an only daughter.

[_Advances towards_ [S']AKOONTALA

PRIYAMVADA AND ANASUYA.

Now, dearest [S']akoontala, we have finished decorating you. You
have only to put on the two linen mantles.

[[S']AKOONTALA _rises and puts them on_.

GAUTAMI.

Daughter, see, here comes thy foster-father; he is eager to fold
thee in his arms; his eyes swim with tears of joy. Hasten to do
him reverence.

[S']AKOONTALA [_Reverently_.

My father, I salute you.

KANWA.

My daughter,

May'st thou be highly honoured by thy lord,
E'en as Yayati [S']armishtha adored[64]!
And, as she bore him Puru, so may'st thou
Bring forth a son to whom the world shall bow!

GAUTAMI.

Most venerable father, she accepts your benediction as if she
already possessed the boon it confers.

KANWA.

Now come this way, my child, and walk reverently
round these sacrificial fires.

[_They all walk round_.

KANWA.

[_Repeats a prayer in the metre of the Rig-veda_.

Holy flames, that gleam around
Every altar's hallowed ground;
Holy flames, whose frequent food
Is the consecrated wood,
And for whose encircling bed,
Sacred Ku[s']a-grass is spread [65];
Holy flames, that waft to heaven
Sweet oblations daily given,
Mortal guilt to purge away,
Hear, oh hear me, when I pray--
Purify my child this day!

Now then, my daughter, set out on thy journey.

[_Looking on one side_.]

Where are thy attendants. [S']arngarava and the others?

YOUNG HERMIT. [_Entering_.

Here we are, most venerable father.

KANWA.

Lead the way for thy sister.

[S']ARNGARAVA.

Come, [S']akoontala, let us proceed.

[_All move away_.

KANWA.

Hear me, ye trees that surround our hermitage!
[S']akoontala ne'er moistened in the stream
Her own parched lips, till she had fondly poured
Its purest water on your thirsty roots;
And oft, when she would fain have decked her hair
With your thick-clustering blossoms, in her love
She robbed you not e'en of a single