To him deliverance- -even as the swan
Distinguishes the milk from worthless water 101.

[Takes aim.

Enter MÁTALI 12 holding MATHAVYA, whom he releases.

MÁTALI.

Turn thou thy deadly arrows on the demons;
Such is the will of Indra; let thy bow

Be drawn against the enemies of the gods;

But on thy friends cast only looks of favour.

What, Mátali! Welcome, most noble charioteer of the mighty Indra.

MATHAVYA.

So, here is a monster who thought as little about slaughtering me as if I had been a bullock for sacrifice, and you must e'en greet him with a welcome.

Great Prince, hear on what errand Indra sent me

into your presence.

KING.

I am all attention.

MÁTALI.

There is a race of giants, the descendants of Kálanemi 103, whom the gods find it difficult to subdue.

KI G

So I have already heard from Nárada 104.

MÁTALI.

Heaven's mighty lord, who deigns to call thee

'friend,'

Appoints thee to the post of highest honour,

As leader of his armies; and commits
The subjugation of this giant brood

To thy resistless arms, e'en as the sun

Leaves the pale moon to dissipate the darkness. Let your Majesty, therefore, ascend at once the celestial car of Indra; and, grasping your arms, advance to victorv.

KING.

The mighty Indra honours me too highly by such a mark of distinction. Put tell me, what made you act thus towards my poor friend Máthavya?

MÁTALI.

I will tell you. Perceiving that your Majesty's spirit was completely broken by some distress of mind under which you were labouring, I determined to rouse your energies by moving you to anger. Because To light a flame, we need but stir the embers; The cobra, when incensed, extends his head And springs upon his foe; the bravest men Display their courage only when provoked.

My dear Máthavya the commands of the great Indra must not be left unfulfilled. Go you and acquaint my minister, Pisuna, with what has happened, and say to him from me:

Dushyanta to thy care confides his realm-
Protect with all the vigour of thy mind
The interests of his people; while his bow
Is braced against the enemies of heaven.

ACT VII.

SCENE. The Sky.

Enter KING DUSHYANTA and MÁTALI in the car of Indra,

moving in the air.

KING.

My good Mátali, it appears to me incredible that I can merit such a mark of distinction for having simply fulfilled the behests of the great Indra.

MÁTALI.

Great Prince, it seems to me that neither of satisfied with himself.

[Smiling.

you

You underrate the services you have rendered,
And think too highly of the god's reward;
He deems it scarce sufficient recompense
For your heroic deeds on his behalf.

KING.

is

Nay, Mátali, say not so. My most ambitious expectations were more than realised by the honour conferred on me at the moment when I took my leave.

For,

Tinged with celestial sandal, from the breast 105

Of the great Indra, where before it hung,
A garland of the ever-blooming tree

Of Nandana 106 was cast about my neck

By his own hand; while, in the very presence
Of the assembled gods, I was enthroned
Beside their mighty lord, who smiled to see
His son Jayanta 107 envious of the honour.

MÁTALI.

There is no mark of distinction which your Majesty does not deserve at the hands of the immortals. See, Heaven's hosts acknowledge thee their second

saviour;

For now thy bow's unerring shafts (as erst
The Lion-man's terrific claws 108) have purged
The empyreal sphere from taint of demons foul.

KING.

The praise of my victory must be ascribed to the majesty of Indra.

When mighty gods make men their delegates
In martial enterprise, to them belongs

The palm of victory; and not to mortals.
Could the pale Dawn dispel the shades of night,
Did not the god of day, whose diadem
Is jewelled with a thousand beams of light,
Place him in front of his effulgent car 11?

MÁTALI.

A very just comparison! [Driving on.] Great King, behold the glory of thy fame has reached even to the vault of heaven.