PRIYAMVADÁ AND ANASÚYÁ [fanning her. In a tone of affection.]—Dearest Śakoontalá, is the breeze raised by these broad lotus leaves refreshing to you?
ŚAKOONTALÁ.—Dear friends, why should you trouble yourselves to fan me?
[Priyamvadá and Anasúyá look sorrowfully at one another.]
KING.—Śakoontalá seems indeed to be seriously ill. [Thoughtfully.]Can it be the intensity of the heat that has affected her? or does my heart suggest the true cause of her malady? [Gazing at her passionately.] Why should I doubt it?
The maiden's spotless bosom is o'erspread
With cooling balsam; on her slender arm
Her only bracelet, twined with lotus stalks,
Hangs loose and withered; her recumbent form
Expresses languor. Ne'er could noon-day sun
Inflict such fair disorder on a maid—
No, love, and love alone, is hereto blame.
PRIYAMVADÁ [aside to Anasúyá.]—I have observed, Anasúyá, that Śakoontalá has been indisposed ever since her first interview with King Dushyanta. Depend upon it, her ailment is to be traced to this source.
ANASÚYÁ.—The same suspicion, dear Priyamvadá, has crossed my mind. But I will at once ask her and ascertain the truth. [Aloud.] Dear Śakoontalá, I am about to put a question to you. Your indisposition is really very serious.
ŚAKOONTALÁ [half-rising from her couch].—What were you going to ask?
ANASÚYÁ.—We know very little about love-matters, dear Śakoontalá; but for all that, I cannot help suspecting your present state to be something similar to that of the lovers we have read about in romances. Tell us frankly what is the cause of your disorder. It is useless to apply a remedy, until the disease be understood.
KING.—Anasúyá bears me out in my suspicion.