by night forsakes my couch;
And now that I would fain assuage my grief
By gazing on her portrait here before me,
Tears of despairing love obscure my sight.

SANUMATI. [_Aside_.

You have made ample amends for the wrong you did [S']akoontala in
disowning her.

CHATURIKA. [_Entering_.

Victory to the King! I was coming along with the box of colours
in my hand--

KING.

What now?

CHATURIKA.

When I met the queen Vasumati, attended by Taralika. She insisted
on taking it from me, and declared she would herself deliver it
into your Majesty's hands.

MA[T.]HAVYA.

By what luck did you contrive to escape her?

CHATURIKA.

While her maid was disengaging her mantle, which had caught in
the branch, of a shrub, I ran away.

KING.

Here, my good friend, take the picture and conceal it. My
attentions to the Queen have made her presumptuous. She will be
here in a minute.

MA[T.]HAVYA.

Conceal the picture! conceal myself, you mean.

[_Getting up and taking the picture_.]

The Queen has a bitter draught in store for you, which you will
have to swallow, as [S']iva did the poison at the Deluge[96]. When
you are well quit of her, you may send and call me from the
Palace of Clouds[97], where I shall take refuge.

[_Exit, running_.

SANUMATI. [_Aside_.

Although the King's affections are transferred to another object,
yet he respects his previous attachments. I fear his love must be
somewhat fickle.

VETRAVATI. [_Entering with a despatch in her hand_.

Victory to the King!

KING.

Vetravati, did you observe the queen Vasumati coming in this
direction?

VETRAVATI.

I did; but when she saw that I had a despatch in my hand for your
Majesty, she turned back.

KING.

The Queen has too much regard for propriety to interrupt me when
I am engaged with State-affairs.

VETRAVATI.

So please your Majesty, your prime minister begs respectfully to
inform you that he has devoted much time to the settlement of
financial calculations, and only one case of importance has been
submitted by the citizens for his consideration. He has made a
written report of the facts, and requests your Majesty to cast
your eyes over it.

KING.

Hand me the paper.

[_VETRAVATI delivers