ulate the virtues of his race.
Such acts thy lofty destiny attest;
Thy mission is to succor the distressed.

KING [_bowing to the Hermits_].--Go first, reverend Sirs, I will follow
you immediately.

BOTH THE HERMITS.--May victory attend you! [_Exeunt._

KING.--My dear Mathavya, are you not full of longing to see Sakoontala?

MATHAVYA.--To tell you the truth, though I was just now brimful of
desire to see her, I have not a drop left since this piece of news about
the demons.

KING.--Never fear; you shall keep close to me for protection.

MATHAVYA.--Well, you must be my guardian-angel, and act the part of a
very Vishnu[37] to me.

WARDER--[_entering_].--Sire, the chariot is ready, and only waits to
conduct you to victory. But here is a messenger named Karabhaka, just
arrived from your capital, with a message from the Queen, your mother.

KING--[_respectfully_].--How say you? a messenger from the venerable
Queen?

WARDER.--Even so.

KING.--Introduce him at once.

WARDER.--I will, Sire. [_Goes out, and re-enters with Karabhaka_.]
Behold the King! Approach.

KARABHAKA.--Victory to the King! The Queen-mother bids me say that in
four days from the present time she intends celebrating a solemn
ceremony for the advancement and preservation of her son. She expects
that your Majesty will honor her with your presence on that occasion.

KING.--This places me in a dilemma. Here, on the one hand, is the
commission of these holy men to be executed; and, on the other, the
command of my revered parent to be obeyed. Both duties are too sacred to
be neglected. What is to be done?

MATHAVYA.--You will have to take up an intermediate position between the
two, like King Trisanku, who was suspended between heaven and earth,
because the sage Viswamitra commanded him to mount up to heaven, and the
gods ordered him down again.

KING.--I am certainly very much perplexed. For here,
Two different duties are required of me
In widely distant places; how can I
In my own person satisfy them both?
Thus is my mind distracted and impelled
In opposite directions, like a stream
That, driven back by rocks, still rushes on,
Forming two currents in its eddying course.
[_Reflecting_.] Friend Mathavya, as you were my playfellow in childhood,
the Queen has always received you like a second son; go you, then, back
to her and tell her of my solemn engagement to assist these holy men.
You can supply