SARADWATA.—­It is natural that the first sight of the King’s capital
should affect you in this manner; my own sensations are very similar. 
    As one just bathed beholds the man polluted;
    As one late purified, the yet impure:—­
    As one awake looks on the yet unwakened;
    Or as the freeman gazes on the thrall,
    So I regard this crowd of pleasure-seekers.

SAKOONTALA [feeling a quivering sensation in her right eyelid, and suspecting a bad omen],—­Alas! what means this throbbing of my right eyelid?

GAUTAMI.—­Heaven avert the evil omen, my child!  May the guardian deities of thy husband’s family convert it into a sign of good fortune! [Walks on.

PRIEST [pointing to the King].—­Most reverend sirs, there stands the protector of the four classes of the people; the guardian of the four orders of the priesthood.  He has just left the judgment-seat, and is waiting for you.  Behold him!

SARNGARAVA.—­Great Brahman, we are happy in thinking that the King’s
power is exerted for the protection of all classes of his subjects.  We
have not come as petitioners—­we have the fullest confidence in the
generosity of his nature. 
    The loftiest trees bend humbly to the ground
    Beneath the teeming burden of their fruit;
    High in the vernal sky the pregnant clouds
    Suspend their stately course, and hanging low,
    Scatter their sparkling treasures o’er the earth:—­
    And such is true benevolence; the good
    Are never rendered arrogant by riches.

WARDER.—­So please your Majesty, I judge from the placid countenance of the hermits that they have no alarming message to deliver.

KING [looking at Sakoontala].—­But the lady there—­
    Who can she be, whose form of matchless grace
    Is half concealed beneath her flowing veil? 
    Among the sombre hermits she appears
    Like a fresh bud ’mid sear and yellow leaves.

WARDER.—­So please your Majesty, my curiosity is also roused, but no conjecture occurs to my mind.  This at least is certain, that she deserves to be looked at more closely.

KING.—­True; but it is not right to gaze at another man’s wife.

SAKOONTALA [placing her hand on her bosom.  Aside].—­O my heart, why this throbbing?  Remember thy lord’s affection, and take courage.

PRIEST [advancing].—­These holy men have been received with all due honor.  One of them has now a message to deliver from his spiritual superior.  Will your Majesty deign to hear it?

KING.—­I am all attention.

HERMITS [extending their hands].—­Victory to the King!

KING.—­Accept my respectful greeting.

HERMITS.—­May the desires of your soul be accomplished!

KING.—­I trust no one is molesting you in the prosecution of your religious rites.

HERMITS.—­Who dares disturb our penitential rites
    When thou art our protector?  Can the night
    Prevail to cast her shadows o’er the earth
    While the sun’s beams irradiate the sky?