ACT V SCENE The Palace. An old Chamberlain, sighing. Chamberlain. ALAS! What a decrepit old age have attained!

!This "and, "hich #irst held #or the discharge o# m$ c%stomar$ d%ties in the secret apartments o# m$ prince, is no" m$ s%pport, "hilst "al& #eebl$ thro%gh the m%ltit%de o# $ears "hich have passed. ! m%st no" mention to the &ing, as he goes thro%gh the palace, an event "hich concerns himsel#' it m%st not be dela$ed. (Advanced slo"l$) What is it* !+h* recollect' the devo%t p%pils o# Canna desire an a%dience. !,o" strange a thing is h%man li#e* !The intellects o# an old man seem at one time l%mino%s, and then on a s%dden are involved in dar&ness, li&e the #lame o# a lamp at the point o# e-tinction. (,e "al&s ro%nd and loo&s.) There is .%shmanta' he has been attending to his people, as to his o"n #amil$/ and no" "ith a tran0%il heart see&s a solitar$ chamber/ as an elephant chie# o# his herd, having gra1ed the "hole morning, and being heated b$ the meridian s%n, repairs to a cool station d%ring the oppressive heats. !Since the &ing is 2%st risen #rom his trib%nal, and m%st be #atig%ed, am almost a#raid to in#orm him at present that Canna3s p%pils are arrived' $et ho" sho%ld the$ "ho s%pport nations en2o$ rest* !The s%n $o&es his bright steeds #or the labo%r o# man$ ho%rs/ the gale breathes b$ night and b$ da$/ the prince o# serpents contin%all$ s%stains the "eight o# this earth/ and e0%all$ incessant is the toil o# that man, "hose reven%e arises #rom a si-th part o# his people3s income. (,e "al&s abo%t.) Enter .%shmanta, 45dhav$a, and Attendants. Dushm. (Loo&ing oppressed "ith b%siness.) Ever$ petitioner having attained 2%stice, is departed happ$/ b%t &ings "ho per#orm their d%ties conscientio%sl$ are a##licted "itho%t end. !The an-iet$ o# ac0%iring dominion gives e-treme pain/ and "hen it is #irml$ established, the cares o# s%pporting the nation incessantl$ harass the sovereign/ as a large %mbrella, o# "hich a man carries the sta## in his o"n hand, #atig%es "hile it shades him. 6ehind the Scenes. 4a$ the &ing be victorio%s! T"o 6ards repeat stan1as. First Bard. Tho% see&est not th$ o"n pleas%re' no/ it is #or the people that tho% art harassed #rom da$ to da$. S%ch, "hen tho% "ast created, "as the disposition implanted in th$ so%l! Th%s a branch$ tree bears on his head the scorching s%nbeams, "hile his broad shade alla$s the #ever o# those "ho see& shelter %nder him. Second Bard. When tho% "ieldest the rod o# 2%stice, tho% bringest to order all those "ho have deviated #rom the path o# virt%e tho% biddest contention cease' tho% "ast #ormed #or the preservation o# th$ people' th$ &indred possess, indeed, considerable "ealth/ b%t so bo%ndless is th$ a##ection, that all th$ s%b2ects are considered b$ thee as th$ &insmen. Dushm. (Listening.) That s"eet poetr$ re#reshes me a#ter the toil o# giving 2%dgements and p%blic orders.

Mdh. 7es/ as a tired b%ll is re#reshed "hen the people sa$, 8There goes the lord o# cattle.8 Dushm. (Smiling.) +h! art tho% here, m$ #riend' let %s ta&e o%r seats together.(The &ing and 45dhav$a sit do"n.) 4%sic behind the scenes. Mdh. Listen, m$ ro$al #riend. hear a "ell t%ned V9n: so%nding, as i# it "ere in concert "ith the l%tes o# the gods, #rom $onder apartment. !The 0%een ,ansamat; is preparing, imagine, to greet $o% "ith a ne" song. Dushm. 6e silent, that ma$ listen. Cham. (Aside.) The &ing3s mind seems intent on some other b%siness. m%st "ait his leis%re. (<etiring on one side. Song (6ehind the scenes.) 8S"eet bee, "ho, desiro%s o# e-tracting #resh hone$, "ast "ont to &iss the so#t border o# the ne"=blo"n Amra #lo"er, ho" canst tho% no" be satis#ied "ith the "ater lil$, and #orget the #irst ob2ect o# th$ love*8 Dushm. The ditt$ >short simple song? breathes a tender passion. Mdh. .oes the &ing &no" its meaning* t is too deep #or me. Dushm.(Smiling.) "as once in love "ith ,ansamat;, and am no" reproved #or contin%ing so long absent #rom her. !@riend 45dhav$a, in#orm the 0%een in m$ name that #eel the reproo#. Mdh. As the &ing commands/ b%t (<ising slo"l$.) 4$ #riend, $o% are going to sei1e a sharp lance "ith another man3s hand. cannot relish $o%r commission to an enraged "oman. !A hermit cannot be happ$ till he has ta&en leave o# all passions "hatever. Dushm. Ao. m$ &ind #riend' the %rbanit$ o# th$ disco%rse "ill appease her. Mdh. What an errand! (,e goes o%t.) Dushm. (Aside.) Ah! "hat ma&es me so melanchol$ on hearing a mere song on absence, "hen am not in #act separated #rom an$ real ob2ect o# m$ a##ection* !Perhaps the sadness o# men, other"ise happ$, on #eeling bea%ti#%l #orms and listening to s"eet melod$, arises #rom some #aint remembrance o# past 2o$s and the traces o# connections in a #ormer state o# e-istence. (,e sits pensive and sorro"#%l.) Cham. (Advancing h%mbl$.) 4a$ o%r sovereign be victorio%s! !T"o religio%s men, "ith some "omen, are come #rom their abode in a #orest near the Sno"$ 4o%ntains, and bring a message #rom Canna. !The &ing "ill command. Dushm. (S%rprised.) What* Are pio%s hermits arrived in the compan$ o# "omen* Cham. t is even so.

Dushm. +rder the priest SBmarat5, in m$ name, to sho" them d%e reverence in the #orm appointed b$ the VCda/ and bid him attend me. shall "ait #or m$ hol$ g%ests in a place #it #or their reception. Cham. obe$. (,e goes o%t.) Dushm. Wardo%r, point the "a$ to the hearth o# the consecrated #ire. Ward. This, + &ing, this is the "a$. (,e "al&s be#ore.) ,ere is the entrance o# the hallo"ed enclos%re/ and there stands the venerable co" to be mil&ed #or the sacri#ice, loo&ing bright #rom the recent sprin&ling o# m$stic "ater. !Let the &ing ascend. (.%shmanta is raised to the place o# sacri#ice on the sho%lders o# his Wardo%rs.) Dushm. What message can the pio%s Canna have sent me* !,as the devotion o# his p%pils been impeded b$ evil spirits !or b$ "hat other calamit$* !+r has an$ harm, alas! be#allen the poor herds "ho gra1e in the hallo"ed #orest* !+r have the sins o# the &ing tainted the #lo"ers and #r%its o# the creepers planted b$ #emale hermits* !4$ mind is entangled in a lab$rinth o# con#%sed apprehensions. Ward. What o%r sovereign imagines, cannot possibl$ have happened/ since the hermitage has been rendered sec%re #rom evil b$ the mere so%nd o# his bo"string. The pio%s men, "hom the &ing3s benevolence has made happ$, are come, pres%me, to do him homage. Enter S5rngarava, S5rad"ata and Aa%tam9, leading Sacontal5 b$ the hand/ and be#ore them the old Chamberlain and the Priest. Cham. This "a$, respectable strangers/ come this "a$. Srn. 4$ #riend S5rad"ata, there sits the &ing o# men, "ho has #elicit$ at command, $et sho"s e0%al respect to all' here no s%b2ect, even o# the lo"est class, is received "ith contempt. Nevertheless, m$ so%l having ever been seen #rom attachment to "orldl$ things consider this hearth, altho%gh a cro"d no" s%rro%nd it, as the station merel$ o# consecrated #ire. Srad. "as not less con#o%nded than $o%rsel# on entering the pop%lo%s cit$/ b%t loo& on it, as a man 2%st bathed in p%re "ater, on a man smeared "ith oil and d%st, as the p%re on the imp%re, as the "a&ing on the sleeping, as the #ree man on the captive, as the independent on the slave. Priest. Thence it is, that men, li&e $o% t"o, are so elevated above other mortals. Sac. Perceiving a bad omen) Venerable mother, #eel m$ right e$e throb! What means this invol%ntar$ motion Gaut. ,eaven avert the omen, m$ s"eet child! 4a$ ever$ delight attend thee!(The$ all advance.) Priest. (She"ing the &ing to them.) There, hol$ men, is the protector o# the people/ "ho has ta&en his seat, and e-pects $o%.

Srn. This is "hat "e "ished/ $et "e have no private interest in the b%siness. t is ever th%s' trees are bent b$ the ab%ndance o# their #r%it/ clo%ds are bro%ght lo", "hen the$ teem "ith sal%brio%s rain/ and the real bene#actors o# man&ind are not elated b$ riches. Ward. + &ing, the hol$ g%ests appear be#ore $o% "ith placid loo&s, indicating their a##ection. Dushm. (Aa1ing at Sacontal5.) Ah * "hat damsel is that, "hose mantle conceals the #ar greater part o# her bea%ti#%l #orm* !She loo&s, among the hermits, li&e a #resh green b%d among #aded and $ello" leaves. Ward. This at least, + &ing, is apparent/ that she has a #orm "hich deserves to be seen more distinctl$. Dushm. Let her still be covered' she seems pregnant/ and the "i#e o# another m%st not be seen even b$ me. Sac. (Aside, "ith her hand on her bosom.) + m$ heart, "h$ dost tho% palpitate* !<emember the beginning o# th$ lord3s a##ection, and be tran0%il. Priest. 4a$ the &ing prosper* The respectable g%ests have been hono%red as the lam ordains/ and the$ have no" a message to deliver #rom their spirit%al g%ide' let the &ing deign to hear it. Dushm. (With reverence.) am attentive. Both Misras. (E-tending their hands.) Victor$ attend th$ banners! Dushm. respect#%ll$ greet $o% both. Both. 6lessings on o%r sovereign! Dushm. ,as $o%r devotion been %ninterr%pted* Srn. ,o" sho%ld o%r rites be dist%rbed, "hen tho% art the preserver o# all creat%res* ,o", "hen the bright s%n bla1es, sho%ld dar&ness cover the "orld* Dushm. (Aside.) The name o# ro$alt$ prod%ces, s%ppose, all "orldl$ advantages! (Alo%d.) .oes the hol$ Canna then prosper* Srn. + &ing, the$ "ho gather the #r%its o# devotion ma$ command prosperit$. ,e #irst in0%ires a##ectionatel$ "hether th$ arms are s%ccess#%l, and then addresses thee in these "ords'. ! Dushm. What are his orders* Srn. 8The contract o# marriage, reciprocall$ made bet"een thee and this girl, m$ da%ghter, con#irm "ith tender regard/ since tho% art celebrated as the most hono%rable o# men, and m$ Sacontal5 is Virt%e hersel# in a h%man #orm, no blasphemo%s complaint "ill hence#orth be made against 6rahm5 #or s%##ering discordant matches' he has no" %nited a bride and bridegroom "ith 0%alities e0%all$ transcendent. !Since, there#ore, she is pregnant b$ thee, receive her in th$ palace, that she ma$ per#orm, in con2%nction "ith thee, the d%ties prescribed b$ religion.8

Gaut. Areat &ing, tho% halt a mild aspect/ and "ish to address thee in #e" "ords. Dushm. (Smiling.) Spea&, venerable matron. Gaut. She "aited not the ret%rn o# her spirit%al #ather/ nor "ere th$ &indred cons%lted b$ thee. 7o% t"o onl$ "ere present, "hen $o%r n%ptials "ere solemni1ed' no", there#ore, converse #reel$ together in the absence o# all others. Sac.(Aside.) What "ill m$ lord sa$* Dushm. (Aside, perple-ed.) ,o" strange an advent%re* Sac. (Aside.) Ah me* ,o" disdain#%ll$ he seems to receive the message* Srn. Aside.) What means that phrase "hich overheard, ,o" strange an advent%re*8 (Alo%d.) !4onarch, tho% &no"est the hearts o# men. Let a "i#e behave ever so discreetl$, the "orld "ill thin& ill o# her, i# she live onl$ "ith her paternal &insmen/ and a la"#%l "i#e no" re0%ests, as her &indred also h%mbl$ entreat, that "hether she be loved or not, she ma$ pass her da$s in the mansion o# her h%sband. Dushm. What sa$est tho%* !Am the lad$3s h%sband* Sac. (Aside "ith ang%ish.) + m$ heart, th$ #ears have proved 2%st. Srn. .oes it become a magni#icent prince to depart #rom the r%les o# religion and hono%r, merel$ beca%se he repents o# his engagements* Dushm. With "hat hope o# s%ccess co%ld this gro%ndless #able have been invented* Srn.(Angril$.) The minds o# those "hom po"er into-icates are perpet%all$ changing. Dushm. am reproved "ith too great severit$. Gaut. (To Sacontal5.) 6e not ashamed, m$ s"eet child' let me ta&e o## th$ mantle, that the &ing ma$ recollect thee. (She %nveils her). Dushm. (Aside, loo&ing at Sacontal5.) While am do%bt#%l "hether this %nblemished bea%t$ "hich is displa$ed be#ore me has not been possessed b$ another, resemble a bee #l%ttering at the close o# night over a blossom #illed "ith de"/ and in this state o# mind, neither can en2o$ nor #orsa&e her. Ward. (Aside to .%shmanta.) The &ing best &no"s his rights and his d%ties' b%t "ho "o%ld hesitate "hen a "oman, bright as a gem, brings l%stre to the apartments o# his palace* Srn. What, + &ing, does th$ strange silence import* Dushm. ,ol$ man, have been meditating again and again, b%t have no recollection o# m$ marriage "ith this lad$. ,o" then can la$ aside all consideration o# m$ militar$ tribe, and admit into m$ palace a $o%ng "oman "ho is pregnant b$ another h%sband*

Sac. (Aside.) Ah* "o is me. !Can there be a do%bt even o# o%r n%ptials* !The tree o# m$ hope, "hich had risen so l%-%riantl$, is at once bro&en do"n. Srn. 6e"are, lest the godli&e sage, "ho "o%ld have besto"ed on thee, as a #ree gi#t, his inestimable treas%re, "hich tho% had ta&en, li&e a base robber, sho%ld no" cease to thin& o# thee, "ho art la"#%ll$ married to his da%ghter, and sho%ld con#ine all his tho%ghts to her "hom th$ per#id$ disgraces. Srad. <est a "hile, m$ S5rngarava/ and tho%, Sacontal5, ta&e th$ t%rn to spea&/ since th$ lord has declared his #orget#%lness. Sac. (Aside.) # his a##ection has ceased, o# "hat %se "ill it be to recall his remembrance o# me* !7et, i# m$ so%l m%st end%re torment, be it so' "ill spea& to him. (Alo%d to .%shmanta.) + m$ h%sband! (Pa%sing.) +r >i# the 2%st application o# that sacred "ord be still do%bted b$ thee? + son o# P%r%, is it becoming, that, having been once enamo%red o# me in the consecrated #orest, and having sho"n the e-cess o# th$ passion, tho% sho%ldst this da$ den$ me "ith bitter e-pressions* Dushm. (Covering his ears.) 6e the crime removed #rom m$ so%l! !Tho% hast been instr%cted #or some bare p%rpose to vili#$ me, and ma&e me #all #rom the dignit$ "hich have hitherto s%pported/ as a river "hich has b%rst its ban&s and altered its placid c%rrent, overthro"s the trees that had risen alo#t on them. Sac. # tho% sa$st this merel$ #rom "ant o# recollection, "ill restore th$ memor$ b$ prod%cing th$ o"n ring, "ith th$ name engraved on it* Dushm. A capital invention! Sac. (Loo&ing at her #inger.) Ah me! have no ring. (She #i-es e$es "ith ang%ish on Aa%tam9.) Gaut. The #atal ring m%st have dropped, m$ child, #rom th$ hand, "hen tho% too&est %p "ater to po%r on th$ head in the pool o# Sach9t9rt3ha, near the station o# Sacr5vat5ra. Dushm. (Smiling.) So s&il#%l are "omen in #inding read$ e-c%ses* Sac. The po"er o# 6ram5 m%st prevail' "ill $et mention one circ%mstance. Dushm. m%st s%bmit to hear the tale. Sac. +ne da$, in a grove o# VCtasas, tho% too&est "ater in th$ hand #rom its nat%ral vase o# lotos leaves ! Dushm. What #ollo"ed* Sac. At that instant a little #a"n, "hich had reared as m$ o"n child, approached thee/ and tho% saidst "ith benevolence' 8.rin& tho% #irst, gentle #a"n.8 ,e "o%ld not drin& #rom the hand o# a stranger, b%t received "ater eagerl$ #rom mine/ "hen tho% saidst, "ith increasing a##ection' 8Th%s ever$ creat%re loves its companions/ $o% are both #oresters ali&e, and both ali&e amiable.8

Dushm. 6$ s%ch interested and honied #alsehoods are the so%ls o# vol%pt%aries ensnared* Gaut. @orbear, ill%strio%s prince, to spea&/ harshl$. She "as bred in a sacred grove "here she learned no g%ile. Dushm. Pio%s matron, the de-terit$ o# #emales, even "hen the$ are %nta%ght, appears in those o# a species di##erent #rom o%r on that "o%ld it be i# the$ "ere d%l$ instr%cted! !The #emale DB&ilas, be#ore the$ #l$ to"ards the #irmament, leave their eggs to be hatched, and their $o%ng #ed, b$ birds "ho have no relation to them. Sac. (With anger.) +h! void o# hono%r, tho% meas%rest all the "orld b$ th$ o"n bad heart. What prince ever resembled, or ever "ill resemble, thee, "ho "earest the garb o# religion and virt%e, b%t in tr%th art a base deceiver/ li&e a deep "ell "hose mo%th is covered "ith smiling plants* Dushm. (Aside.) The r%sticit$ o# her ed%cation ma&es her spea& th%s angril$ and inconsistentl$ "ith #emale decor%m. !She loo&s indignant/ o# harsh terms, #a%lters as she %tters them. ,er lip, r%dd$ as the 6imba #r%it, 0%ivers as i# it "ere nipped "ith #rost/ and her e$ebro"s, nat%rall$ smooth and e0%al, are at once irreg%larl$ contracted. !Th%s having #ailed in circ%mventing me b$ the apparent l%stre o# simplicit$, she has reco%rse to "rath, and snaps in t"o the bo" o# C5ma, "hich, i# she had not belonged to another, might have "o%nded me. !(Aloud.) !The heart o# .%shmanta, $o%ng "oman is &no"n to all/ and thine is betra$ed b$ th$ present demeanor. Sac. ( ronicall$.) 7o% &ings are in all cases to be credited implicitl$' $o% per#ectl$ &no" the respect "hich is d%e to virt%e and to man&ind/ "hile #emales, ho"ever modest, ho"ever virt%o%s, &no" nothing, and spea& nothing tr%l$. ! n a happ$ ho%r came hither to see& the ob2ect o# m$ a##ection' in a happ$ moment received the hand o# a prince descended #rom P%r%/ a prince "ho had "on m$ con#idence b$ the hone$ o# his "ords, "hilst his heart concealed the "eapon that "as to pierce mine. (She hides her #ace and "eeps.) Srn. This ins%##erable m%tabilit$ o# the &ing3s temper &indles m$ "rath. ,ence#orth let all be circ%mspect be#ore the$ #orm secret connections' a #riendship hastil$ contracted, "hen both hearts are not per#ectl$ &no"n, m%st ere long become enmit$. Dushm. Wo%ldst tho% #orce me then to commit an enormo%s crime, rel$ing solel$ on her smooth speeches* Srn. (Scorn#%ll$.) Tho% hast heard an ans"er. !The "ords o# an incomparable girl, "ho never learned "hat ini0%it$ "as, are here to receive no credit/ "hile the$, "hose learning consists in acc%sing others, and in0%iring are the onl$ persons "ho spea& tr%th! Dushm. + man o# %nimpeached veracit$, certainl$ am "hat tho% describest/ b%t "hat "o%ld be gained b$ acc%sing th$ #emale associate* Srn. Eternal miser$. Dushm. No/ miser$ "ill never be the portion o# P%r%3s descendants.

Srn. What avails o%r altercation* !+ &ing, "e have obe$ed the commands o# o%r preceptor, and no" ret%rn. Sacontal5 is b$ la" th$ "i#e, "hether tho% desert or ac&no"ledge her/ and the dominion o# a h%sband is absol%te. !Ao be#ore %s, Aa%tam9. (The t"o 4isras and Aa%tam9 ret%rning.) Sac. have been deceived b$ this per#idio%s man/ b%t "ill $o%, m$ #riends, "ill $o% also #orsa&e me* @ollo"ing them.) Gaut. (Loo&ing bac&.) 4$ son, Sacontal5/ #ollo"s %s "ith a##ectionate s%pplications. What can she do here "ith a #aithless h%sband/ she "ho is all tenderness* Srn. (Angril$ to Sacontal5.) + "i#e, "ho seeth the #a%lts o# th$ lord, dost tho% desire independence* (Sacontal5 stops, and trembles.) Srad. Let the 0%een hear. # tho% beest "hat the &ing proclaims thee, "hat right hast tho% to complain* 6%t i# tho% &no"est the p%rit$ o# th$ o"n so%l, it "ill become thee to "ait as a handmaid in the mansion o# th$ lord. Sta$, then, "here tho% art' "e m%st ret%rn to Canna. Dushm. .eceive her not, hol$ men, "ith vain e-pectations. The moon opens the night #lo"er/ and the s%n ma&es the "ater lil$ blossom' each is con#ined to its o"n ob2ect' and th%s a virt%o%s man abstains #rom an$ connection "ith the "i#e o# another. Srn. 7et tho%, + &ing, "ho #earest to o##end religion and virt%e, art not a#raid to desert th$ "edded "i#e/ pretending that the variet$ o# th$ p%blic a##airs has made thee #orget th$ private contract. Dushm. (To his Priest.) reall$ have no remembrance o# an$ s%ch engagement/ and as& thee, m$ spirit%al co%nsellor, "hether o# the t"o o##ences be the greater, to #orsa&e m$ o"n "i#e, or to have an interco%rse "ith the "i#e o# another* Priest. (A#ter some deliberation.) We ma$ adopt an e-pedient bet"een both. Dushm. Let m$ venerable g%ide command. Priest. The $o%ng "oman ma$ d"ell till her deliver$ in m$ ho%se. Dushm. @or "hat p%rpose* Priest. Wise astrologers have ass%red the &ing, that he "ill be the #ather o# an ill%strio%s prince, the "hole dominion "ill be bo%nded b$ the "estern and eastern seas' no", i# the hol$ man3s da%ghter shall bring #orth a son "hose hands and #eet bear the mar&s o# e-tensive sovereignt$ "ill do homage to her as m$ 0%een, and cond%ct her to the ro$al apartments/ i# not, she shall ret%rn in d%e time to her #ather. Dushm. 6e it as $o% 2%dge proper. Priest.(To Sacontal5.) This "a$, m$ da%ghter, #ollo" me.

Sac. + earth! mother goddess, give me a place "ithin th$ bosom! She goes o%t "ith the Priest/ "hile the t"o 4isras go o%t b$ a di##erent "a$ "ith Aa%tam9 ! .%shmanta stands meditating on the bea%t$ o# Sacontal5/ b%t the imprecation still clo%ds his memor$.) Behind the Scenes. +h! mirac%lo%s event! Dushm. (Listening.) What can have happened! The Priest re=enters. Priest. ,ear, + &ing, the st%pendo%s event. When Canna3s p%pils had departed, Sacontal5, be"ailing her adverse #ort%ne, e-tended her arms and "ept/ "hen ! Dushm. What then* Pri. A bod$ o# light, in a #emale shape, descended near Apsarast9rt3ha, "here the n$mphs o# heaven are "orshiped/ and having ca%ght her hastil$ in her bosom, disappeared. (All e-press astonishment.) Dushm. s%spected #rom the beginning some "or& o# sorcer$. !The b%siness is over/ and it is needless to reason more on it. !Let th$ mind, SBmar5ta, be at rest. Priest. 4a$ the &ing be victorio%s. (,e goes o%t.) Dushm. Chamberlain, have been greatl$ harassed/ and tho%, Warder, go be#ore me to a place o# repose. Ward. This "a$/ let the &ing come this "a$. Dushm. Advancing, aside.) cannot "ith all m$ e##orts recollect m$ n%ptials "ith the da%ghter o# the hermit/ $et so agitated is m$ heart, that it almost ind%ces me to believe her stor$. (All go o%t.)