FIRST WOMAN [_to Śakoontalá_].--My child, may'st thou receive the title of "Chief-queen," and may thy husband delight to honor thee above all others! SECOND WOMAN.--My child, may'st thou be the mother of a hero! THIRD WOMAN.--My child, may'st thou be highly honored by thy lord! [_Exeunt all the women, excepting Gautamí, after blessing Śakoontalá._ PRIYAMVADÁ AND ANASÚYÁ [_approaching_].--Dear Śakoontalá, we are come to assist you at your toilet, and may a blessing attend it! ŚAKOONTALÁ.--Welcome, dear friends, welcome. Sit down here. PRIYAMVADÁ AND ANASÚYÁ [_taking the baskets containing the bridal decorations, and sitting down_].--Now, then, dearest, prepare to let us dress you. We must first rub your limbs with these perfumed unguents. ŚAKOONTALÁ.--I ought indeed to be grateful for your kind offices, now that I am so soon to be deprived of them. Dear, dear friends, perhaps I shall never be dressed by you again. [_Bursts into tears_. PRIYAMVADÁ AND ANASÚYÁ.--Weep not, dearest, tears are out of season on such a happy occasion. [_They wipe away her tears and begin to dress her_. PRIYAMVADÁ.--Alas! these simple flowers and rude ornaments which our hermitage offers in abundance, do not set off your beauty as it deserves. _Enter two young Hermits, bearing costly presents_. BOTH HERMITS.--Here are ornaments suitable for a queen. [_The women look at them in astonishment_. GAUTAMÍ.--Why, Nárada, my son, whence came these? FIRST HERMIT.--You owe them to the devotion of Father Kanwa. GAUTAMÍ.--Did he create them by the power of his own mind? SECOND HERMIT.--Certainly not; but you shall hear. The venerable sage ordered us to collect flowers for Śakoontalá from the forest-trees; and we went to the wood for that purpose, when Straightway depending from a neighboring tree Appeared a robe of linen tissue, pure And spotless as a moon-beam--mystic pledge Of bridal happiness; another tree Distilled a roseate dye wherewith to stain The lady's feet; and other branches near Glistened with rare and costly ornaments. While, 'midst the leaves, the hands of forest-nymphs, Vying in beauty with the opening buds, Presented us with sylvan offerings. PRIYAMVADÁ [_looking at Śakoontalá_].--The wood-nymphs have done you honor, indeed. This favor doubtless signifies that you are soon to be received as a happy wife into your husband's house, and are from this forward to become the partner of his royal fortunes. [_Śakoontalá appears confused_. FIRST HERMIT.--Come, Gautama; Father Kanwa has finished his ablutions. Let us go and inform him of the favor we have received from the deities who preside over our trees. SECOND HERMIT.--By all means. [_Exeunt._