[S’]ARADWATA.

[S’]arngarava, speak to him no more. [S’]akoontala, our part is performed; we have said all we have to say, and the King has replied in the manner thou hast heard.  It is now thy turn to give him convincing evidence of thy marriage.

[S’]AKOONTALA. [Aside.

Since his feeling towards me has undergone a complete revolution, what will it avail to revive old recollections?  One thing is clear—­I shall soon have to mourn my own widowhood.

[Aloud.]

My revered husband—­

[Stops short.]

But no—­I dare not address thee by this title, since thou hast refused to acknowledge our union.  Noble descendant of Puru!  It is not worthy of thee to betray an innocent-minded girl, and disown her in such terms, after having so lately and so solemnly plighted thy vows to her in the hermitage.

KING.

[Stopping his ears.

I will hear no more.  Be such a crime far from my thoughts!

  What evil spirit can possess thee, lady,
  That thou dost seek to sully my good name
  By base aspersions, like a swollen torrent,
  That, leaping from its narrow bed, o’erthrows
  The tree upon its bank, and strives to blend
  Its turbid waters with the crystal stream?

[S’]AKOONTALA.

If, then, thou really believest me to be the wife of another, and thy present conduct proceeds from some cloud that obscures thy recollection, I will easily convince thee by this token.

KING.

An excellent idea!

[S’]AKOONTALA.

[Feeling for the ring.

Alas! alas! woe is me!  There is no ring on my finger!

[Looks with anguish at GAUTAMI.

GAUTAMI.

The ring must have slipped off when thou wast in the act of offering homage to the holy water of [S’]achi’s sacred pool, near Sakravatara[82].

KING. [Smiling.

People may well talk of the readiness of woman’s invention!  Here is an instance of it.

[S’]AKOONTALA.

Say, rather, of the omnipotence of fate.  I will mention another circumstance, which may yet convince thee.

KING.

By all means let me hear it at once.

[S’]AKOONTALA.

One day, while we were seated in a jasmine-bower, thou didst pour into the hollow of thine hand some water, sprinkled by a recent shower in the cup of a lotus-blossom—­

KING.

I am listening; proceed.

[S’]AKOONTALA.

At that instant, my adopted child, the little fawn, with soft, long eyes, came running towards us.  Upon which, before tasting the water thyself, thou didst kindly offer some to the little creature, saying fondly:—­’Drink first, gentle fawn.’  But she could not be induced to drink from the hand of a stranger; though immediately afterwards, when I took the water in my own hand, she drank with perfect confidence.  Then, with a smile, thou didst say;—­’Every creature confides naturally in its own kind.  You are both inhabitants of the same forest, and have learnt to trust each other.’