In virtue of thine honorable rank—­
    In virtue of the pure spontaneous love
    That secretly grew up ’twixt thee and her,
    Without consent or privity of us. 
    We ask no more—­the rest we freely leave
    To thy just feeling and to destiny.

SARNGARAVA.—­A most suitable message.  I will take care to deliver it correctly.

KANWA.—­And now, my child, a few words of advice for thee.  We hermits, though we live secluded from the world, are not ignorant of worldly matters.

SARNGARAVA.—­No, indeed.  Wise men are conversant with all subjects.

KANWA.—­Listen, then, my daughter.  When thou reachest thy husband’s
palace, and art admitted into his family,
    Honor thy betters; ever be respectful
    To those above thee; and, should others share
    Thy husband’s love, ne’er yield thyself a prey
    To jealousy; but ever be a friend,
    A loving friend, to those who rival thee
    In his affections.  Should thy wedded lord
    Treat thee with harshness, thou must never be
    Harsh in return, but patient and submissive. 
    Be to thy menials courteous, and to all
    Placed under thee, considerate and kind: 
    Be never self-indulgent, but avoid
    Excess in pleasure; and, when fortune smiles,
    Be not puffed up.  Thus to thy husband’s house
    Wilt thou a blessing prove, and not a curse. 
What thinks Gautami of this advice?

GAUTAMI.—­An excellent compendium, truly, of every wife’s duties!  Lay it well to heart, my daughter.

KANWA.—­Come, my beloved child, one parting embrace for me and for thy companions, and then we leave thee.

SAKOONTALA.—­My father, must Priyamvada and Anasuya really return with you?  They are very dear to me.

KANWA.—­Yes, my child; they, too, in good time, will be given in marriage to suitable husbands.  It would not be proper for them to accompany thee to such a public place.  But Gautami shall be thy companion.

SAKOONTALA [embracing him].—­Removed from thy bosom, my beloved father, like a young tendril of the sandal-tree torn from its home in the western mountains,[40] how shall I be able to support life in a foreign soil?

KANWA.—­Daughter, thy fears are groundless:—­
    Soon shall thy lord prefer thee to the rank
    Of his own consort; and unnumbered cares
    Befitting his imperial dignity
    Shall constantly engross thee.  Then the bliss
    Of bearing him a son—­a noble boy,
    Bright as the day-star—­shall transport thy soul
    With new delights, and little shalt thou reck
    Of the light sorrow that afflicts thee now
    At parting from thy father and thy friends.

          [Sakoontala throws herself at her foster-father’s feet.

KANWA.—­Blessings on thee, my child!  May all my hopes of thee be realized!

SAKOONTALA [approaching her friends].—­Come, my two loved companions, embrace me—­both of you together.