If your Majesty will rest under the shade, at the foot of this A[s’]oka-tree [118], I will seek an opportunity of announcing your arrival to Indra’s reputed father.

KING.

As you think proper.

[Remains under the tree.

MATALI.

Great King, I go. [Exit.

KING. [Feeling his arm throb.

Wherefore this causeless throbbing, O mine arm[18]? 
All hope has fled for ever; mock me not
With presages of good, when happiness
Is lost, and nought but misery remains.

A VOICE BEHIND THE SCENES.

Be not so naughty.  Do you begin already to show a refractory spirit?

KING. [Listening.

This is no place for petulance.  Who can it be whose behaviour calls for such a rebuke?

[Looking in the direction of the sound and smiling.]

A child, is it? closely attended by two holy women.  His disposition seems anything but child-like.  See!

  He braves the fury of yon lioness
  Suckling its savage offspring, and compels
  The angry whelp to leave the half-sucked dug,
  Tearing its tender mane in boisterous sport.

Enter a CHILD, attended by TWO WOMEN of the hermitage, in the manner described.

CHILD.

Open your mouth, my young lion, I want to count your teeth.

FIRST ATTENDANT.

You naughty child, why do you tease the animals?  Know you not that we cherish them in this hermitage as if they were our own children?  In good sooth, you have a high spirit of your own, and are beginning already to do justice to the name Sarva-damana (’All-taming’), given you by the hermits.

KING.

Strange!  My heart inclines towards the boy with almost as much affection as if he were my own child.  What can be the reason?  I suppose my own childlessness makes me yearn towards the sons of others.

SECOND ATTENDANT.

This lioness will certainly attack you if you do not release her whelp.

CHILD. [Laughing.

Oh! indeed! let her come.  Much I fear her, to be sure!

[Pouts his under-lip in defiance.

KING.

  The germ of mighty courage lies concealed
  Within this noble infant, like a spark
  Beneath the fuel, waiting but a breath
  To fan the flame and raise a conflagration.

FIRST ATTENDANT.

Let the young lion go, like a dear child, and I will give you something else to play with.

CHILD.

Where is it?  Give it me first.

[Stretches out his hand.

KING. [Looking at his hand.

How’s that?  His hand exhibits one of those mystic marks[84] which are the sure prognostic of universal empire.  See!  His fingers stretched in eager expectation To grasp the wished-for toy, and knit together By a close-woven web, in shape resemble A lotus blossom, whose expanding petals The early dawn has only half unfolded.