MÁTHAVYA.—In eating something nice, I hope.
KING.—You shall know at some future time.
MÁTHAVYA.—No time better than the present.
KING.—What ho! there.
WARDER [entering].—What are your Majesty's commands?
KING.—O Raivataka! bid the General of the forces attend.
WARDER.—I will, Sire. [Exit and reënters with the General] Come forward, General; his Majesty is looking towards you, and has some order to give you.
GENERAL [looking at the King].—Though hunting is known to produce ill effects, my royal master has derived only benefit from it. For
Like the majestic elephant that roams
O'er mountain wilds, so does the King display
A stalwart frame, instinct with vigorous life.
His brawny arms and manly chest are scored
By frequent passage of the sounding string;
Unharmed he bears the mid-day sun; no toil
His mighty spirit daunts; his sturdy limbs,
Stripped of redundant flesh, relinquish nought
Of their robust proportions, but appear
In muscle, nerve, and sinewy fibre cased.
[Approaching the King.] Victory to the King! We have tracked the wild beasts to their lairs in the forest. Why delay, when everything is ready?