d its fate would have been deplorable.

MATHAVYA.--Pray, how did the ring ever come upon her hand at all?

SANUMATI.--I myself am curious to know.

KING.--You shall hear. When I was leaving my beloved Sakoontala that I
might return to my own capital, she said to me, with tears in her eyes,
"How long will it be ere my lord send for me to his palace and make me
his queen?"

MATHAVYA.--Well, what was your reply?

KING.--Then I placed the ring on her finger, and thus addressed her--
Repeat each day one letter of the name
Engraven on this gem; ere thou hast reckoned
The tale of syllables, my minister
Shall come to lead thee to thy husband's palace.
But, hard-hearted man that I was, I forgot to fulfil my promise, owing
to the infatuation that took possession of me.

SANUMATI [_aside_].--A pleasant arrangement! Fate, however, ordained
that the appointment should not be kept.

MATHAVYA.--But how did the ring contrive to pass into the stomach of
that carp which the fisherman caught and was cutting up?

KING.--It must have slipped from my Sakoontala's hand, and fallen into
the stream of the Ganges, while she was offering homage to the water of
Sachi's holy pool.

MATHAVYA.--Very likely.

SANUMATI [_aside_].--Hence it happened, I suppose, that the King, always
fearful of committing the least injustice, came to doubt his marriage
with my poor Sakoontala. But why should affection so strong as his stand
in need of any token of recognition?

KING.--Let me now address a few words of reproof to this ring.

MATHAVYA [_aside_].--He is going stark mad, I verily believe.

KING.--Hear me, thou dull and undiscerning bauble!
For so it argues thee, that thou couldst leave
The slender fingers of her hand, to sink
Beneath the waters. Yet what marvel is it
That thou shouldst lack discernment? let me rather
Heap curses on myself, who, though endowed
With reason, yet rejected her I loved.

MATHAVYA [_aside_].--And so, I suppose, I must stand here to be devoured
by hunger, whilst he goes on in this sentimental strain.

KING.--O forsaken one, unjustly banished from my presence, take pity on
thy slave, whose heart is consumed by the fire of remorse, and return to
my sight.

_Enter Chaturika hurriedly, with a picture in her hand_.

CHATURIKA.--Here is the Queen's portrait. [_Shows the picture_.

MATHAVYA.--Excellent, my dear friend, excellent! The imitation of nature
is perfect, and the at