A new

Dufbm. Oh! fear not, fear not. servant never tranfgreffes the command of his mistress.

Sac. But a fervant over-affiduous deferves no confidence.

Dufbm. [Afide.] I will not let flip this charming occafion.--[Attempting to raife her headSacontala faintly repels him, but fits ftill.]—O damfel with an antelope's eyes, be not apprehenfive of my indifcretion.[Sacontala looks up for a moment, and then bafhfully drops her head -Dufhmanta, afide, gently raising her head.]-That lip, the softness of which is imagined, not proved, feems to pronounce, with a delightful tremour, its permiffion for me to allay my thirft.

Sac. The fon of my lord feems inclined to break his promise.

Dufhm. Beloved, I was deceived by the proximity of the lotos to that eye which equals it in brightness. [He blows gently on her eye.

Sac. Well: now I fee a prince who keeps his word as it becomes his imperial character. Yet I am really afhamed that no defert of mine entitles me to the kind fervice of my lord's fon.

Dufbm. What reward can I defire, except that which I confider as the greateft, the fragrance of your delicious lip?

Sac. Will that content you?

Dufhm. The bee is contented with the mere odour of the water lily.

Sac. If he were not, he would get no remedy. Dufhm. Yes, this and this-

[Kiffing her eagerly.

Behind the Scenes. Hark! the Chacraváca is calling her mate on the bank of the Málinì: the night is beginning to spread her shades.

Sac. [Liftening alarmed.] O fon of my lord, the matron Gautami approaches to enquire after my health. Hide yourself, I entreat, behind

yon trees.

Dushm. I yield to neceffity.

[He retires.

Gautami enters with a vafe in her hand.

Gaut. [Looking anxiously at Sacontalá.] My child, here is holy water for thee.-What! haft thou no companion here but the invisible gods; thou who art so much indisposed?

Sac. Both Priyamvadá and Anusúyá are just gone down to the river.

Gaut. [Sprinkling her.] Is thy fever, my child, a little abated?

[Feeling her hand.

Sac. Venerable matron, there is a change for the better.

Gaut. Then thou art in no danger. Mayft thou live many years! The day is departing: let us both go to the cottage.

Sac. [Afide, rifing flowly.] O my heart, no fooner hadft thou begun to tafte happiness, than the occafion flipped away! [She advances a few Steps, and returns to the arbour.]-O bower of twining plants, by whom my forrows have been dispelled, on thee I call; ardently hoping to be once more happy under thy fhade.

[She goes out with Gautami. Dufhm. [Returning to the bower, and fighing,] How, alas, have my defires been obftructed!-Could I do less than kifs the lips of my charmer, though her modeft cheeks were half averted; lips, whofe fweetnefs had enchanted me, even when they pronounced a denial?-Whither now can I go? I will remain a while in this arbour of creepers, which my darling's presence has illuminated.——[Looking round.]—Yes; this is her feat on the rock, spread with blossoms, which have been preffed by her delicate limbs.-Here lies her exquifite love letter on the leaf of a water lily; here lay her bracelet of tender filaments which had fallen from her sweet wrist. Though the bower of twining Vétafas be now defolate, fince charmer has left it, yet, while my eyes my are fixed on all these delightful memorials of her, I am unable to depart.--[Mufing.]-Ah! how imperfectly has this affair been conducted by a lover, like me, who, with his darling by his fide, has let the occafion flip.-Should Sacontalá

vifit once more this calm retreat, the opportunity shall not pafs again unimproved: the pleafures of youth are by nature tranfitory.—Thus my foolish heart forms refolutions, while it is distracted by the fudden interruption of its happiness. Why did it ever allow me to quit without effect the presence of my beloved?

Behind the Scenes. O king, while we are beginning our evening facrifice, the figures of blood-thirsty demons, embrowned by clouds collected at the departure of day, glide over the facred hearth, and spread confternation around. Dufhm. Fear not, holy men.-Your king will protect you, [He goes out.

ACT IV.

SCENE-A LAWN before the Cottage.

The two damfels are difcovered gathering flowers.

Anufuyá.

O MY Priyamvadá, though our sweet friend

has been happily married, according to the rites of Gandharvas, to a bridegroom equal in rank and accomplishments, yet my affectionate heart is not wholly free from care; and one doubt gives me particular uneafinefs.

Pri. What doubt, my Anusúyá?

Anu. This morning the pious prince was difmiffed with gratitude by our hermits, who had then completed their myftick rites: he is now gone to his capital, Haftinápura, where, furrounded by a hundred women in the receffes of his palace, it may be doubted whether he will remember his charming bride.

Pri. In that respect you may be quite easy. Men, fo well informed and well educated as he,can never be utterly deftitute of honour.-We have another thing to confider. When our father Canna fhall return from his pilgrimage, and