The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1917-02-24
/ Ten Minute Classics |
Famous Tales and Legendf Told in Brief Form
The Masterpiece Of Shakespear Great Indian Predecessor
ny j. M. MULLER
Copyrisht By J. W. LMuller
By J. III. MULLER

Many centuries before there aOas a
Shakespeare, whose tercentenary DGs
recently celebrated, there hved IN
India a dramatist and poet, Kali
dasa, whom men haze come to call
the Indian Shakespeare. The COM
parison is less fancifu1 than many
such comparisons usually are. Kali
dasa's greatest drama, "Shakun-
taza," more accurately rendered as
"Cakuntala," is graceful Nth the
poetry that makes Shakespeare's
enchanting to read. The handling
of the themes of lone and sorrow are
mach alike IN the vorks of both
men, and the Indian dramatist en-
PRODUCES comic characters who speak
in Sanskrit strikingly like the
homely mt of Shakespeare's clowms.
In holy hermitage under the Hima-
layas, on the banks of the sacred
river Malini dwelt Shakuntala, brought
up from infancy by the blessed, high
souled sage, Kanva. Here where beast
and bird were unafraid because there
was no hate, she grew up amid pur-
lty with other hermit girls, flower
children of the sacred grove, who adj
dressed the blossoms and vines as their
sisters.
One day when Kanva was absent
the strong-armed, mighty King Du-
shyanta lost his way while hunting
and entered the sacred precincts. Sha-
kuntala saw the noble man, and,
knowing not what love was, could only
cry out to her companions that some
thing hurt her heart cruelty. She lay
down, pining, on her couch of flowers,
and there the king found her, garland
ed in lotus chains white as moonbeams
shining in the night.
"Oh. my bewitching girl, have no
fear of met" he cried. He, who lived
each day in high communion with the
gods, approached her trembling with
reverence and alteration. He drew her
face tenderly to his and spoke to her
truly of the sacred impulse that draws
pure hearts together on earth.
Before Kanva returned, Shakuntala
and the king were married amid the
rejoicings of the simple hermit people.
Obliged by an urgent summons "a
hurry to his capital, he left her; But
he gave her his royal ring, engraved
with his name. And he said: Count
every day one letter of the name, dear.
Before you reach the end, my mes
sengers shall guide you to my halls"
That day after he had gone, while
Shakuntala lay among her flowers
dreaming of him with waking eyes, the
sage Durvasas known as the Irascible,
knocked at the gate. AS Shakuntala,
lost in thoughts of love, did not hear
him and hurry to him with water to
wash his feet, he strobe away, saying :
Because your heart by loving fancies
blinded, has scorned guest in pious
life grown old, your lover shall forget
you though reminded, or think of you
out as story told!"
When Kanva returned, he sent his pu-
pills forth into the grove for ornaments
to deck her. The kind trees gave silk
en- garments and gems and lac-dye for
her little feet that she might 60 attired
as princess. go to your husband y
said Kanva, and turned away sadly.
The fawns tried to hold her with their
soft muzzles. The flowers dropped
their heads. The birds forsook their
mates and cried sorrowfully. II am
torn from my fathers breast like a
vine stripped from sandal tree on the
Malabar hills!" sighed Shakuntala ;
but her heart drew her on to seek her
king.
When she appeared before Dushyan-
ia, he looked upon her and did not
know her. Troubled memories stirred
him as In a dream; but the curse of
Durvasas lay upon him, binding his
eyes and sense.
HE loved me so He is so changed !"
wept Shakuntala. She remembered the
ring, but when she would have shown
1t to him, it was not on her finger
where he had placed it. Then she re-
called that during her journey when
she bent down to worship at the holy
Ganges, something had fallen into the
water.
"Fate is too strong for me-" said she.
"But I will tell you something. One
day in the bower you were holding a
lotus-leaf cup full Of water, and when
fawn approached, you coaxed him to
drink, but he would not. Yet when !
took the cup and held it out, he liked
1t and drank deep. Then You smiled
and said: Everyone trusts his own
kind. You both belong to the sacred
grove"
ut Is just such women, selfish, sweet,
false, that entice FOOLS" said the blind
ed king.
Shakuntala covered her face and
moaned: swell, we'll! l had my way.
/ trusted king and put myself into
his hands. He had honey face and
a heart of stone. Oh, mother earth,
give me a grave"
On the moment she was snatched
away by the gods and there was emptiS