[_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.
Pages:
515
516
517
518
519
520
521
522
523
524
525
526
527
528
529
530
531
532
533
534
535
536
537
538
539