KING.

I bow to the decision of my spiritual adviser.

Daughter, follow me.

PRIEST.

SAKOONTALÁ.

O divine earth, open and receive me into thy bosom!

[Exit SAKOONTALA weeping, with the PRIEST and the

HERMITS. The KING remains absorbed in thinking of her, though the curse still clouds his recollection.

Great Prince, a stupendous prodigy has just occurred.

What is it?

KING.

PRIEST.

May it please your Majesty, so soon as Kanwa's pupils had departed,

Sakoon talá, her eyes all bathed in tears,

With outstretched arms, bewailed her cruel

fate

KING.

Well, well, what happened then?

PRIEST.

When suddenly a shining apparition,

In female shape, descended from the skies,
Near the nymph's pool, and bore her up to

heaven.

[All remain motionless with astonishment.

KING.

My good priest, from the very first I declined having anything to do with this matter. It is now all over, and we can never, by our conjectures, unravel the mystery; let it rest; go, seek repose.

PRIEST.

Be it so. Victory to the King!

KING.

[Looking at the KING.

[Exit.

Vetravatí, I am tired out; lead the way to the bedchamber.

WARDER.

This way, Sire.

[They move away.

KING.

Do what I will, I cannot call to mind

That I did e'er espouse the sage's daughter;
Therefore I have disowned her; yet 'tis strange
How painfully my agitated heart

Bears witness to the truth of her assertion,
And makes me credit her against my judgment.

[Exeunt.

PRELUDE TO ACT VI.

SCENE. A Street.

Enter the King's brother-in-law as SUPERINTENDENT of the city police; and with him Two CONSTABLES, dragging a poor FISHERMAN, who has his hands tied behind his back.

BOTH THE CONSTABLES.

[Striking the prisoner.

Take that for a rascally thief that you are; and now tell us, sirrah, where you found this ring-aye, the King's own signet-ring. See, here is the royal name engraved on the setting of the jewel.

Mercy! kind sirs, mercy! I did not steal it; indeed

I did not.

FIRST CONSTABLE.

Oh! then I suppose the King took you for some fine Bráhman, and made you a present of it?

FISHERMAN.

Only hear me. I am but a poor fisherman, living at Sakrávatára

SECOND CONSTABLE.

Scoundrel, who ever asked you, pray, for a history of your birth and parentage?

SUPERINTENDENT.

[To one of the CONSTABLES.

Súchaka, let the fellow tell his own story from the beginning. Don't interrupt him.

BOTH CONSTABLES.

As you please, master. Go on, then, sirrah, and say what you've got to say.

FISHERMAN.

You see in me a poor man, who supports his family by catching fish with nets, hooks, and the like.

SUPERINTENDENT.

A most refined occupation, certainly 85 !

FISHERMAN.

Blame me not for it, master.

[Laughing.

The father's occupation, though despised
By others, casts no shame upon the son,
And he should not forsake it 6. Is the priest
Who kills the animal for sacrifice

Therefore deemed cruel?

Sure a low-born man

May, though a fisherman, be tender-hearted.

SUPERINTENDENT.

Well, well; go on with your story.

FISHERMAN.

One day I was cutting open a large carp 87 I had