Matali.  It is indeed they.

King (falling before them).  Dushyanta, servant of Indra, does reverence to you both.

Kashyapa.  My son, rule the earth long.

Aditi.  And be invincible. (SHAKUNTALA and her son fall at their feet.)

Kashyapa.  My daughter,

  Your husband equals Indra, king
  Of gods; your son is like his son;
  No further blessing need I bring: 
  Win bliss such as his wife has won.

Aditi.  My child, keep the favour of your husband.  And may this fine boy be an honour to the families of both parents.  Come, let us be seated. (All seat themselves.)

Kashyapa (indicating one after the other).

  Faithful Shakuntala, the boy,
  And you, O King, I see
  A trinity to bless the world—­
  Faith, Treasure, Piety.

King.  Holy one, your favour shown to us is without parallel.  You granted the fulfilment of our wishes before you called us to your presence.  For, holy one,

  The flower comes first, and then the fruit;
  The clouds appear before the rain;
  Effect comes after cause; but you
  First helped, then made your favour plain.

Matali.  O King, such is the favour shown by the parents of the world. King.  Holy one, I married this your maid-servant by the voluntary ceremony.  When after a time her relatives brought her to me, my memory failed and I rejected her.  In so doing, I sinned against Kanva, who is kin to you.  But afterwards, when I saw the ring, I perceived that I had married her.  And this seems very wonderful to me.

  Like one who doubts an elephant,
  Though seeing him stride by,
  And yet believes when he has seen
  The footprints left; so I.

Kashyapa.  My son, do not accuse yourself of sin.  Your infatuation was inevitable.  Listen.

King.  I am all attention.

Kashyapa.  When the nymph Menaka descended to earth and received Shakuntala, afflicted at her rejection, she came to Aditi.  Then I perceived the matter by my divine insight.  I saw that the unfortunate girl had been rejected by her rightful husband because of Durvasas’ curse.  And that the curse would end when the ring came to light.

King (with a sigh of relief.  To himself).  Then I am free from blame.

Shakuntala (to herself).  Thank heaven!  My husband did not reject me of his own accord.  He really did not remember me.  I suppose I did not hear the curse in my absent-minded state, for my friends warned me most earnestly to show my husband the ring.

Kashyapa.  My daughter, you know the truth.  Do not now give way to anger against your rightful husband.  Remember: 

  The curse it was that brought defeat and pain;
  The darkness flies; you are his queen again. 
  Reflections are not seen in dusty glass,
  Which, cleaned, will mirror all the things that pass.