Sacontalá and her two Damsels discovered.
Both. [Fanning her.] Say, beloved Sacontalá, does the breeze raised by our fans of broad lotos leaves, refresh you?
Sac. [Mournfully.] Why, ala ! do my dear friends take this trouble?
Dushm. [Aside.] Ah! she seems much indisposed. What can have been the cause of so violent a fever? Is it what my heart suggests?—[Musing.]—Or I am perplexed with doubts. The medicine extracted from the balmy Usíra has been applied, I see, to her bosom; her only bracelet is made of thin filaments from the stalks of a water lily, and even that is loosely bound on her arm. Yet, even thus disordered, she is exquisitely beautiful. Such are the hearts of the young! Love and the sun equally inflame us; but the scorching heat of summer leads not equally to happiness with the ardour of youthful desires.
Pri. [Aside to Anusúyá.] Did you not observe how the heart of Sacontalá was affected by the first sight of our pious monarch? My suspicion is, that her malady has no other cause.
Anu. [Aside to Priyamvadá.] The same suspicion had risen in my mind. I will ask her at once.—[Aloud.]—My sweet friend Sacontalá, let me put one question to you. What has really occasioned your indisposition?
Dushm. [Aside.] She must now declare it.