Part 29 (2/2)

_King_. My darling, the cruelty I showed you has turned to happiness.

Will you not recognise me?

_Shakuntala_ (_to herself_). Oh, my heart, believe it. Fate struck hard, but its envy is gone and pity takes its place. It is my husband.

_King_.

Black madness flies; Comes memory; Before my eyes My love I see.

Eclipse flees far; Light follows soon; The loving star Draws to the moon.

_Shakuntala_. Victory, victo--(_Tears choke her utterance_.)

_King_.

The tears would choke you, sweet, in vain; My soul with victory is fed, Because I see your face again-- No jewels, but the lips are red.

_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 G.o.ds? Come. Marichi's holy son, Kashyapa, wishes to see you.

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