e bleeding wound, and pour in healing balm.
The grateful nursling clings to its protectress,
Mutely imploring leave to follow her.

SAKOONTALA.--My poor little fawn, dost thou ask to follow an unhappy
woman who hesitates not to desert her companions? When thy mother died,
soon after thy birth, I supplied her place, and reared thee with my own
hand; and now that thy second mother is about to leave thee, who will
care for thee? My father, be thou a mother to her. My child, go back,
and be a daughter to my father. [_Moves on, weeping_.

KANWA.--Weep not, my daughter, check the gathering tear
That lurks beneath thine eyelid, ere it flow
And weaken thy resolve; be firm and true--
True to thyself and me; the path of life
Will lead o'er hill and plain, o'er rough and smooth,
And all must feel the steepness of the way;
Though rugged be thy course, press boldly on.

SARNGARAVA.--Venerable sire! the sacred precept is--"Accompany thy
friend as far as the margin of the first stream." Here then, we are
arrived at the border of a lake. It is time for you to give us your
final instructions and return.

KANWA.--Be it so; let us tarry for a moment under the shade of this
fig-tree. [_They do so_.

KANWA [_aside_].--I must think of some appropriate message to send to
his majesty King Dushyanta. [_Reflects._

SAKOONTALA [_aside to Anasuya_].--See, see, dear Anasuya, the poor
female Chakravaka-bird, whom cruel fate dooms to nightly separation
from her mate, calls to him in mournful notes from the other side of the
stream, though he is only hidden from her view by the spreading leaves
of the water-lily. Her cry is so piteous that I could almost fancy she
was lamenting her hard lot in intelligible words.

ANASUYA.--Say not so, dearest.
Fond bird! though sorrow lengthen out her night
Of widowhood, yet with a cry of joy
She hails the morning light that brings her mate
Back to her side. The agony of parting
Would wound us like a sword, but that its edge
Is blunted by the hope of future meeting.

KANWA.--Sarngarava, when you have introduced Sakoontala into the
presence of the King, you must give him this message from me.

SARNGARAVA.--Let me hear it, venerable father.

KANWA.--This is it--
Most puissant prince! we here present before thee
One thou art bound to cherish and receive
As thine own wife; yea, even to enthrone
As thine own