Translations of Shakuntala and Other Works | Page 8

Wilson's
Cloud-Messenger in one volume in the Camelot Series.
KALIDASA
An ancient heathen poet, loving more
God's creatures, and His
women, and His flowers
Than we who boast of consecrated powers;

Still lavishing his unexhausted store
Of love's deep, simple wisdom, healing o'er
The world's old sorrows,
India's griefs and ours;
That healing love he found in palace towers,

On mountain, plain, and dark, sea-belted shore,
In songs of holy Raghu's kingly line
Or sweet Shakuntala in pious
grove,
In hearts that met where starry jasmines twine
Or hearts that from long, lovelorn absence strove
Together. Still his
words of wisdom shine:
All's well with man, when man and woman
love.
Willst du die Blüte des frühen, die
Früchte des späteren Jahres,

Willst du, was reizt und entzückt,
Willst du, was sättigt und nährt,

Willst du den Hummel, die erde mit
Einem Namen begreifen,
Nenn'
ich, Sakuntala, dich, und
dann ist alles gesagt.
GOETHE.

FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 1: These verses are translated on pp. 123, 124.]
[Footnote 2: The passage will be found on pp. 190-192.]
[Footnote 3: This matter is more fully discussed in the introduction to
my translation of The Little Clay Cart (1905).]
[Footnote 4: Lévi, _Le Théâtre Indien_, p. 163.]

CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION: KALIDASA--HIS LIFE AND WRITINGS
SHAKUNTALA
THE STORY OF SHAKUNTALA
THE TWO MINOR DRAMAS--
I. Malavika and Agnimitra
II.
Urvashi
THE DYNASTY OF RAGHU
THE BIRTH OF THE WAR-GOD
THE CLOUD-MESSENGER
THE SEASONS

SHAKUNTALA
A PLAY IN SEVEN ACTS
DRAMATIS PERSONÆ

KING DUSHYANTA.
BHARATA, nicknamed_ All-tamer, _his son.
MADHAVYA, a clown, his companion.
His charioteer.
RAIVATAKA, a door-keeper.
BHADRASENA, a general.
KARABHAKA, a servant.
PARVATAYANA, a chamberlain.
SOMARATA, a chaplain.
KANVA, hermit-father.
SHARNGARAVA }
SHARADVATA } his pupils.
HARITA }
DURVASAS, an irascible sage.
The chief of police.
SUCHAKA }
} policemen.
JANUKA }
A fisherman.
SHAKUNTALA, foster-child of Kanva.
ANUSUVA }

} her friends.
PRIYAMVADA }
GAUTAMI, hermit-mother.
KASHYAPA, father of the gods.
ADITI, mother of the gods.
MATALI, charioteer of heaven's king.
GALAVA, a pupil in heaven.
MISHRAKESHI, a heavenly nymph.
_Stage-director and actress (in the prologue), hermits and

hermit-women, two court poets, palace attendants, invisible fairies_.
The first four acts pass in Kanva's forest hermitage; acts five and six in
the king's palace; act seven on a heavenly mountain. The time is
perhaps seven years.
SHAKUNTALA
PROLOGUE
BENEDICTION UPON THE AUDIENCE
Eight forms has Shiva, lord of all and king:
And these are water, first
created thing;
And fire, which speeds the sacrifice begun;
The priest;
and time's dividers, moon and sun;
The all-embracing ether, path of
sound;
The earth, wherein all seeds of life are found;
And air, the
breath of life: may he draw near,
Revealed in these, and bless those
gathered here.
The stage-director. Enough of this! (_Turning toward the

dressing-room_.) Madam, if you are ready, pray come here. (_Enter an
actress_.)

Actress. Here I am, sir. What am I to do?
Director. Our audience is very discriminating, and we are to offer them
a new play, called Shakuntala and the ring of recognition, written by
the famous Kalidasa. Every member of the cast must be on his mettle.
Actress. Your arrangements are perfect. Nothing will go wrong.
Director (smiling). To tell the truth, madam,
Until the wise are satisfied,
I cannot feel that skill is shown;
The
best-trained mind requires support,
And does not trust itself alone.
Actress. True. What shall we do first?
Director. First, you must sing something to please the ears of the
audience.
Actress_. What season of the year shall I sing about? _Director. Why,
sing about the pleasant summer which has just begun. For at this time
of year
A mid-day plunge will temper heat;
The breeze is rich with forest
flowers;
To slumber in the shade is sweet;
And charming are the
twilight hours.
Actress (sings).
The siris-blossoms fair,
With pollen laden,
Are plucked to deck her
hair
By many a maiden,
But gently; flowers like these
Are kissed
by eager bees.
Director. Well done! The whole theatre is captivated by your song, and
sits as if painted. What play shall we give them to keep their good-will?
Actress. Why, you just told me we were to give a new play called
Shakuntala and the ring.

Director. Thank you for reminding me. For the moment I had quite
forgotten.
Your charming song had carried me away
As the deer enticed the
hero of our play.
(Exeunt ambo.)
ACT I
THE HUNT
(Enter, in a chariot, pursuing a deer_, KING DUSHYANTA, bow and
arrow in hand; and a charioteer_.)
Charioteer (Looking at the king and the deer). Your Majesty,
I see you hunt the spotted deer
With shafts to end his race,
As
though God Shiva should appear
In his immortal chase.
King. Charioteer, the deer has led us a long chase. And even now
His neck in beauty bends
As backward looks he sends
At my
pursuing car
That threatens death from far.
Fear shrinks to half the
body small;
See how he fears the arrow's fall!
The path he takes is strewed
With blades of grass half-chewed

From jaws wide with the stress
Of fevered weariness.
He leaps so