l, Anasuya, your sister has departed. Moderate your grief,
both of you, and follow me, I go back to the hermitage.

PRIYAMVADA AND ANASUYA.

Holy father, the sacred grove will be a desert without
[S']akoontala. How can we ever return to it?

KANWA.

It is natural enough that your affection should make you view it
in this light.

[_Walking pensively on_.]

As for me, I am quite surprised at myself. Now that I have fairly
dismissed her to her husband's house, my mind is easy; for,
indeed,

A daughter is a loan--a precious jewel
Lent to a parent till her husband claim her.
And now that to her rightful lord and master
I have delivered her, my burdened soul
Is lightened, and I seem to breathe more freely.

[_Exeunt_.

* * * * *

ACT V.

SCENE.--_A Room in the Palace_.

_The King_ DUSHYANTA _and the Jester_ MA[T.]HAVYA _are discovered
seated_.

MA[T.]HAVYA. [_Listening_.

Hark! my dear friend, listen a minute, and you will hear sweet
sounds proceeding from the music-room. Some one is singing a
charming air. Who can it be? Oh! I know. The queen Hansapadika is
practising her notes, that she may greet you with a new song.

KING.

Hush! Let me listen.

A VOICE SINGS BEHIND THE SCENES.

How often hither didst thou rove,
Sweet bee, to kiss the mango's cheek;
Oh! leave not, then, thy early love,
The lily's honeyed lip to seek.

KING.

A most impassioned strain, truly!

MA[T.]HAVYA.

Do you understand the meaning of the words?

KING. [_Smiling_.

She means to reprove me, because I once paid her great attention,
and have lately deserted her for the queen Vasumati. Go, my dear
fellow, and tell Hansapadika from me that I take her delicate
reproof as it is intended.

MA[T.]HAVYA.

Very well.

[_Rising from his seat_.]

But stay--I don't much relish being sent to bear the brunt of her
jealousy. The chances are that she will have me seized by the
hair of the head and beaten to a jelly. I would as soon expose
myself, after a vow of celibacy, to the seductions of a lovely
nymph, as encounter the fury of a jealous woman.

KING.

Go, go; you can disarm her wrath by a civil speech; but give her
my message.

MA[T.]HAVYA.

What must be must be, I suppose.