offering to our household gods?
Go, my daughter, and may thy journey be prosperous.

[_Exit Sakoontala with her escort_.

PRIYAMVADA AND ANASUYA [_gazing after Sakoontala_].--Alas! alas! she is
gone, and now the trees hide our darling from our view.

KANWA [_sighing_].--Well, Anasuya, your sister has departed. Moderate
your grief, both of you, and follow me. I go back to the hermitage.

PRIYAMVADA AND ANASUYA.--Holy father, the sacred grove will be a desert
without Sakoontala. How can we ever return to it?

KANWA.--It is natural enough that your affection should make you view it
in this light. [_Walking pensively on_.] As for me, I am quite surprised
at myself. Now that I have fairly dismissed her to her husband's house,
my mind is easy: for indeed,
A daughter is a loan--a precious jewel
Lent to a parent till her husband claim her.
And now that to her rightful lord and master
I have delivered her, my burdened soul
Is lightened, and I seem to breathe more freely.

[_Exeunt._

[40] The sandal-tree is a large kind of myrtle, with pointed leaves. The
wood affords many highly esteemed perfumes and is celebrated for its
delicious scent. It is chiefly found on the slopes of the Malay
mountains or Western Ghants, on the Malabar coast.

ACT FIFTH

Scene.--A Room in the Palace

_The King Dushyanta and the Jester Mathavya are discovered seated_.

MATHAVYA [_listening_].--Hark! my dear friend, listen a minute, and you
will hear sweet sounds proceeding from the music-room. Someone is
singing a charming air. Who can it be? Oh! I know. The queen Hansapadika
is practising her notes, that she may greet you with a new song.

KING.--Hush! Let me listen.

A VOICE [_sings behind the scenes_].--
How often hither didst thou rove,
Sweet bee, to kiss the mango's cheek;
Oh! leave not, then, thy early love,
The lily's honeyed lip to seek.

KING.--A most impassioned strain, truly!

MATHAVYA.--Do you understand the meaning of the words?

KING [_smiling_].--She means to reprove me, because I once paid her
great attention, and have lately deserted her for the queen Vasumati.
Go, my dear fellow, and tell Hansapadika from me that I take her
delicate reproof as it is intended.

MATHAVYA.--Very well. [_Rising from his seat_.] But stay--I don't much
relish being sent to bear the brunt of her jealousy. The chances are
that she will have me seized by the hair of the he