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rent way with Gautamí—Dushmanta stands meditating on the beauty of Sacontalá; but the imprecation still clouds his memory.]

Behind the scenes. Oh! miraculous event!

Dushm. [Listening.] What can have happened?

Priest. Hear, O king, the stupendous event. When Canna's pupils had departed, Sacontalá, bewailing her adverse fortune, extended her arms and wept; when

Dushm. What then?

Priest. A body of light, in a female shape, descended near Apsarastírt'ha, where the nymphs of heaven are worshipped; and having caught her hastily in her bosom, disappeared.

[All express astonishment.

Dushm. I suspected from the beginning some work of sorcery.—The business is over; and it is needless to reason more on it.—Let thy mind Sómaráta be at rest.

Priest. May the king be victorious!

[He goes out.

Dushm. Chamberlain, I have been greatly harassed: and thou, Warder, go before me to a place of repose.

Ward. This way; Let the king come this way.

Dushm. [Advancing, aside.] I cannot with all my efforts recollect my nuptials with the daughter of the hermit; yet so agitated is my heart, that it almost induces me to believe her story.

[All go out.