SAKOONTALA.—­Well do I deserve to be thought a harlot for having, in the innocence of my heart, and out of the confidence I reposed in a Prince of Puru’s race, intrusted my honor to a man whose mouth distils honey, while his heart is full of poison.
          [Covers her face with her mantle, and bursts into tears.

SARNGARAVA.—­Thus is it that burning remorse must ever follow rash
actions which might have been avoided, and for which one has only one’s
self to blame. 
    Not hastily should marriage be contracted,
    And specially in secret.  Many a time,
    In hearts that know not each the other’s fancies,
    Fond love is changed into most bitter hate.

KING.—­How now!  Do you give credence to this woman rather than to me, that you heap such accusations on me?

SARNGARAVA [sarcastically].—­That would be too absurd, certainly.  You
have heard the proverb—­
    Hold in contempt the innocent words of those
    Who from their infancy have known no guile:—­
    But trust the treacherous counsels of the man
    Who makes a very science of deceit.

KING.—­Most veracious Brahman, grant that you are in the right, what end would be gained by betraying this lady?

SARNGARAVA.—­Ruin.

KING.—­No one will believe that a Prince of Puru’s race would seek to ruin others or himself.

SARADWATA.—­This altercation is idle, Sarngarava.  We have executed the
commission of our preceptor; come, let us return. [To the King. 
    Sakoontala is certainly thy bride;
    Receive her or reject her, she is thine. 
    Do with her, King, according to thy pleasure—­
    The husband o’er the wife is absolute. 
Go on before us, Gautami. [They move away.

SAKOONTALA.—­What! is it not enough to have been betrayed by this perfidious man?  Must you also forsake me, regardless of my tears and lamentations?
          [Attempts to follow them.

GAUTAMI [stopping].—­My son Sarngarava, see, Sakoontala is following us, and with tears implores us not to leave her.  Alas! poor child, what will she do here with a cruel husband who casts her from him?

SARNGARAVA [turning angrily towards her].—­Wilful woman, dost thou seek to be independent of thy lord?
          [Sakoontala trembles with fear.

SARNGARAVA.—­Sakoontala! 
    If thou art really what the King proclaims thee,
    How can thy father e’er receive thee back
    Into his house and home? but, if thy conscience
    Be witness to thy purity of soul,
    E’en should thy husband to a handmaid’s lot
    Condemn thee, thou may’st cheerfully endure it,
    When ranked among the number of his household.

Thy duty, therefore, is to stay.  As for us, we must return immediately.