SACCOUNTALA. 643 



Arrived at the palace, and introduced into the presence of the sove- 

 reign 



" Behold/' they said to him,, " the faithful Saccountala, who has 

 come from the sacred forest with her youthful son, to offer the tribute 

 of her homage to her husband." ; sfo "io sJafio 



Their mission being thus accomplished, they returned immediately to 

 their venerable Gouroiiinrinair^ 



On a sign of approbation from the prince, Saccountala, holding her 

 son by the hand, advanced with an air of dignity, and making a pro- 

 found obeisance, spoke as follows: 



" My lord," she said, " the period is accomplished when this youth 

 should be consecrated : this royal youth, the cherished fruit of our le- 

 gitimate union. Fulfil this engagement, O chief of men, those sacred 

 engagements contracted in the face of heaven, by which we were joined 

 in indissoluble ties. Forgettest thou the circumstance, magnanimous 

 prince, which occurred in the hermitage of Canoua ?" 



Douchmanta, although perfectly remembering the whole of the facts, 

 replied .aaJeixs ymlo miBfla arfj JIB odv/- 99ib oJ 



te What means this story, hypocritical woman, disguised so ill by a 

 dress which belongs to the virtuous of your sex. You are totally un- 

 known to me. Never no, never did I unite myself to thee by the ties 

 of a pure and legitimate affection. Go, then, from whence thou earnest 

 whither I care not. I leave thee mistress of thy actions." ....... 



Confounded by this harsh language, as if struck by a thunderbolt, 

 Saccountala remained for some time incapable of movement or utterance. 

 But indignation soon succeeded to this state of stupor ; her eyes shone 

 with anger ; her pale lips trembled with a convulsive movement ; her 

 heart, in its rapid pulsation, could scarcely contain itself within her 

 agitated breast. It seemed as if she was about to die ! Yet this state 

 of violence was gradually tranquillized, and, making an incredible effort, 

 she thus addressed her unjust spouse: ,[ jjnibbsrfa n't Jrhjilsb oibsoiaae 



<f Why, O great king, like a despicable creature devoted to effron- 

 tery, shouldst thou debase thyself by forging an odious falsehood ? 

 Your heart must teach you to distinguish between the false and the 

 true. Consult it follow only the inspirations of justice, and degrade 

 not your soul that pure spark which emanates from Brahma. Follow 

 not the steps of the hypocrite, who resists, without fear, the sacred voice 

 of conscience the hypocrite, that basest of robbers since he would rob 

 us of our very soul. Perhaps you thought yourself alone when you did 

 the mischief; but within thee a judge sat concealed, in whose inevitable 

 presence thy actions were performed. The sun, the moon, the air and 

 fire, the earth, the firmament, and the vast expanse of waters, the night, 

 the day, the morning and evening, twilight, Dharma and Yama, all are 

 witnesses of man's most secret actions. If he has not acted against the 

 inner voice of conscience, Yama, that incorruptible judge, gives him to 

 enjoy eternal happiness ; but if he stifles the voice, and abandons him- 

 self to crime, he condemns him to the most cruel torments. Deny not 

 the unspotted wife of thy choice. Why shouldst thou contemn her, 

 who, as heaven is my witness, is worthy of all thy regard ; why treat 

 -, , . ____ 



capital of the kings of the lunar dynasty. It was, according to some, the ancient 

 Delhi, of which some ruins still exist about fifty -seven leagues nearly north-east of 

 the present Delhi. 



