Thy duty, therefore, is to stay. As for us, we must return immediately.
KING.--Deceive not the lady, my good hermit, by any such expectations.
The moon expands the lotus of the night,
The rising sun awakes the lily; each
Is with his own contented. Even so
The virtuous man is master of his passions,
And from another's wife averts his gaze.
SARNGARAVA.--Since thy union with another woman has rendered thee
oblivious of thy marriage with Sakoontala, whence this fear of losing
thy character for constancy and virtue?
KING [_to the Priest_],--You must counsel me, revered sir, as to my
course of action. Which of the two evils involves the greater or less
sin?
Whether by some dark veil my mind be clouded,
Or this designing woman speak untruly,
I know not. Tell me, must I rather be
The base disowner of my wedded wife,
Or the defiling and defiled adulterer?
PRIEST [_after deliberation_].--You must take an intermediate course.
KING.--What course, revered sir? Tell me at once.
PRIEST.--I will provide an asylum for the lady in my own house until the
birth of her child; and my reason, if you ask me, is this.
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