joins. They have a message from their teacher.
May you be pleased to hear it.
_King_ (_respectfully_). I am all attention.
_The two pupils_ (_raising their right hands_). Victory, O King.
_King_ (_bowing low_). I salute you all.
_The two pupils_. All hail.
_King_. Does your pious life proceed without disturbance?
_The two pupils_.
How could the pious duties fail
While you defend the right?
Or how could darkness' power prevail
O'er sunbeams shining bright?
_King_ (_to himself_). Indeed, my royal title is no empty one.
(_Aloud_.) Is holy Kanva in health?
_Sharngarava_. O King, those who have religious power can command
health. He asks after your welfare and sends this message.
_King_. What are his commands?
_Sharngarava_. He says: "Since you have met this my daughter and have
married her, I give you my glad consent. For
You are the best of worthy men, they say;
And she, I know, Good Works personified;
The Creator wrought for ever and a day,
In wedding such a virtuous groom and bride.
She is with child. Take her and live with her in virtue."
_Gautami_. Bless you, sir. I should like to say that no one invites me
to speak.
_King_. Speak, mother.
_Gautami_.
Did she with father speak or mother?
Did you engage her friends in speech?
Your faith was plighted each to other;
Let each be faithful now to each.
_Shakuntala_. What will my husband say?
_King_ (_listening with anxious suspicion_). What is this insinuation?
_Shakuntala_ (_to herself_). Oh, oh! So haughty and so slanderous!
_Sharngarava_. "What is this insinuation?" What is your question?
Surely you know the world's ways well enough.
Because the world suspects a wife
Who does not share her husband's lot,
Her kinsmen wish her to abide
With him, although he love her not.
_King_. You cannot mean that this young woman is my wife.
_Shakuntala_ (_sadly to herself_). Oh, my heart, you feared it, and
now it has come. _Sharngarava_. O King,
A king, and shrink when love is done,
Turn coward's back on truth, and flee!
_King_. What means this dreadful accusation?
_Sharngarava_ (_furiously_).
O drunk with power! We might have known
That you were steeped in treachery.
_King_. A stinging rebuke!
_Gautami_ (_to_ SHAKUNTALA). Forget your shame, my child. I will
remove your veil. Then your husband will recognise you. (_She does
so_.)
_King_ (_observing_ SHAKUNTALA. _To hi
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