KING [advancing a little further].—­The inhabitants of this sacred retreat must not be disturbed.  Stay the chariot, that I may alight.

CHARIOTEER.—­The reins are held in.  Your Majesty may descend.

KING [alighting].—­Charioteer, groves devoted to penance must be entered in humble attire.  Take these ornaments. [Delivers his ornaments and bow to the Charioteer.] Charioteer, see that the horses are watered, and attend to them until I return from visiting the inhabitants of the hermitage.

CHARIOTEER.—­I will. [Exit.

KING [walking and looking about].—­Here is the entrance to the
hermitage.  I will now go in.
          [Entering he feels a throbbing sensation in his arm
    Serenest peace is in this calm retreat,
    By passion’s breath unruffled; what portends
    My throbbing arm?  Why should it whisper here
    Of happy love?  Yet everywhere around us
    Stand the closed portals of events unknown.

A VOICE [behind the scenes].—­This way, my dear companions; this way.

KING [listening].—­Hark!  I hear voices to the right of yonder grove of
trees.  I will walk in that direction. [Walking and looking about.] Ah!
here are the maidens of the hermitage coming this way to water the
shrubs, carrying watering-pots proportioned to their strength. [Gazing
at them.] How graceful they look! 
    In palaces such charms are rarely ours;
    The woodland plants outshine the garden flowers. 
I will conceal myself in this shade and watch them.
          [Stands gazing at them.

Enter Sakoontala, with her two female companions, employed in the manner described.

SAKOONTALA.—­This way, my dear companions; this way.

ANASUYA.—­Dear Sakoontala, one would think that father Kanwa had more affection for the shrubs of the hermitage even than for you, seeing he assigns to you who are yourself as delicate as the fresh-blown jasmine, the task of filling with water the trenches which encircle their roots.

SAKOONTALA.—­Dear Anasuya, although I am charged by my good father with this duty, yet I cannot regard it as a task.  I really feel a sisterly love for these plants.
          [Continues watering the shrubs.

KING.—­Can this be the daughter of Kanwa?  The saintly man, though
descended from the great Kasyapa, must be very deficient in judgment to
habituate such a maiden to the life of a recluse. 
    The sage who would this form of artless grace
    Inure to penance—­thoughtlessly attempts
    To cleave in twain the hard acacia’s stem
    With the soft edge of a blue lotus leaf. 
Well! concealed behind this tree, I will watch her without raising her
suspicions. [Conceals himself.

SAKOONTALA.—­Good Anasuya, Priyamvada has drawn this bark-dress too tightly about my chest.  I pray thee, loosen it a little.