s bower of creepers, so endeared to me by the presence of my beloved
Sakoontala.
[_Looking round_.
Here printed on the flowery couch I see
The fair impression of her slender limbs;
Here is the sweet confession of her love,
Traced with her nail upon the lotus leaf--
And yonder are the withered lily stalks
That graced her wrist. While all around I view
Things that recall her image, can I quit
This bower, e'en though its living charm be fled?

A VOICE [_in the air_].--Great King,
Scarce is our evening sacrifice begun,
When evil demons, lurid as the clouds
That gather round the dying orb of day,
Cluster in hideous troops, obscene and dread,
About our altars, casting far and near
Terrific shadows, while the sacred fire
Sheds a pale lustre o'er their ghostly shapes.

KING.--I come to the rescue, I come.
[_Exit._

[38] Kama, the Hindoo Cupid, or god of love. He has five arrows, each
tipped with the blossom of a flower, which pierce the heart through the
five senses.

[39] A marriage without the usual ceremonies is called Gandharva. It was
supposed to be the form of marriage prevalent among the nymphs of
Indra's heaven.

PRELUDE TO ACT FOURTH

Scene.--The Garden of the Hermitage

_Enter Priyamvada and Anasuya in the act of gathering flowers_.

ANASUYA.--Although, dear Priyamvada, it rejoices my heart to think that
Sakoontala has been happily united to a husband in every respect worthy
of her, by the form of marriage prevalent among Indra's celestial
musicians, nevertheless, I cannot help feeling somewhat uneasy in my
mind.

PRIYAMVADA.--How so?

ANASUYA.--You know that the pious King was gratefully dismissed by the
hermits on the successful termination of their sacrificial rites. He has
now returned to his capital, leaving Sakoontala under our care; and it
may be doubted whether, in the society of his royal consorts, he will
not forget all that has taken place in this hermitage of ours.

PRIYAMVADA.--On that score be at ease. Persons of his noble nature are
not so destitute of all honorable feeling. I confess, however, that
there is one point about which I am rather anxious. What, think you,
will father Kanwa say when he hears what has occurred?

ANASUYA.--In my opinion, he will approve the marriage.

PRIYAMVADA.--What makes you think so?

ANASUYA.--From the first, it was always his fixed purpose to bestow the
maid