Go, my daughter, and may thy journey be prosperous.

[Exit [S’]AKOONTALA with her escort.

PRIYAMVADA AND ANASUYA. [Gazing after [S’]AKOONTALA.

Alas! alas! she is gone, and now the trees hide our darling from our view.

KANWA. [Sighing.

Well, Anasuya, your sister has departed.  Moderate your grief, both of you, and follow me, I go back to the hermitage.

PRIYAMVADA AND ANASUYA.

Holy father, the sacred grove will be a desert without
[S’]akoontala.  How can we ever return to it?

KANWA.

It is natural enough that your affection should make you view it in this light.

[Walking pensively on.]

As for me, I am quite surprised at myself.  Now that I have fairly dismissed her to her husband’s house, my mind is easy; for, indeed,

  A daughter is a loan—­a precious jewel
  Lent to a parent till her husband claim her. 
  And now that to her rightful lord and master
  I have delivered her, my burdened soul
  Is lightened, and I seem to breathe more freely.

[Exeunt.

* * * * *

ACT V.

SCENE.—­A Room in the Palace.

The King DUSHYANTA and the Jester MA[T.]HAVYA are discovered seated.

MA[T.]HAVYA. [Listening.

Hark! my dear friend, listen a minute, and you will hear sweet sounds proceeding from the music-room.  Some one is singing a charming air.  Who can it be?  Oh!  I know.  The queen Hansapadika is practising her notes, that she may greet you with a new song.

KING.

Hush!  Let me listen.

A VOICE SINGS BEHIND THE SCENES.

  How often hither didst thou rove,
  Sweet bee, to kiss the mango’s cheek;
  Oh! leave not, then, thy early love,
  The lily’s honeyed lip to seek.

KING.

A most impassioned strain, truly!

MA[T.]HAVYA.

Do you understand the meaning of the words?

KING. [Smiling.

She means to reprove me, because I once paid her great attention, and have lately deserted her for the queen Vasumati.  Go, my dear fellow, and tell Hansapadika from me that I take her delicate reproof as it is intended.

MA[T.]HAVYA.

Very well.

[Rising from his seat.]

But stay—­I don’t much relish being sent to bear the brunt of her jealousy.  The chances are that she will have me seized by the hair of the head and beaten to a jelly.  I would as soon expose myself, after a vow of celibacy, to the seductions of a lovely nymph, as encounter the fury of a jealous woman.