y 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.--Noble 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-grass[35] has pricked 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 god 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 grass 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