Boy.  Who is he, mother?

Shakuntala.  Ask fate, my child. (She weeps.)

King.

  Dear, graceful wife, forget;
  Let the sin vanish;
  Strangely did madness strive
  Reason to banish.

  Thus blindness works in men,
  Love’s joy to shake;
  Spurning a garland, lest
  It prove a snake. (He falls at her feet.)

Shakuntala.  Rise, my dear husband.  Surely, it was some old sin of mine that broke my happiness—­though it has turned again to happiness.  Otherwise, how could you, dear, have acted so?  You are so kind. (The king rises.) But what brought back the memory of your suffering wife? King.  I will tell you when I have plucked out the dart of sorrow.

  ’Twas madness, sweet, that could let slip
  A tear to burden your dear lip;
  On graceful lashes seen to-day,
  I wipe it, and our grief, away. (He does so.)

Shakuntala (sees more clearly and discovers the ring).  My husband, it is the ring!

King.  Yes.  And when a miracle recovered it, my memory returned.

Shakuntala.  That was why it was so impossible for me to win your confidence.

King.  Then let the vine receive her flower, as earnest of her union with spring.

Shakuntala.  I do not trust it.  I would rather you wore it.

(Enter MATALI)

Matali.  I congratulate you, O King, on reunion with your wife and on seeing the face of your son.

King.  My desires bear sweeter fruit because fulfilled through a friend.  Matali, was not this matter known to Indra?

Matali (smiling.) What is hidden from the gods?  Come.  Marichi’s holy son, Kashyapa, wishes to see you.

King.  My dear wife, bring our son.  I could not appear without you before the holy one.

Shakuntala.  I am ashamed to go before such parents with my husband.

King.  It is the custom in times of festival.  Come. (They walk about.  KASHYAPA appears seated, with ADITI.)

Kashyapa (looking at the king).  Aditi,

  ’Tis King Dushyanta, he who goes before
  Your son in battle, and who rules the earth,
  Whose bow makes Indra’s weapon seem no more
  Than a fine plaything, lacking sterner worth.

Aditi.  His valour might be inferred from his appearance.

Matali.  O King, the parents of the gods look upon you with a glance that betrays parental fondness.  Approach them. King.  Matali,

  Sprung from the Creator’s children, do I see
  Great Kashyapa and Mother Aditi? 
  The pair that did produce the sun in heaven,
  To which each year twelve changing forms are given;
  That brought the king of all the gods to birth,
  Who rules in heaven, in hell, and on the earth;
  That Vishnu, than the Uncreated higher,
  Chose as his parents with a fond desire.