Kalidasa, František Hrubín: The Lost Ring

Shakuntala - a lyric drama probably from the 5th century AD, written by the poet Kalidasa, the supreme work of ancient Indian drama. The king of Hastinapura Dushyanta chases a gazelle while hunting and reaches a deserted place where several hermits live and meditate. Here he sees Shakuntala, the adopted daughter of Kanva, who is the head of the penitent community. He is enchanted by the beautiful girl and secretly marries her. Then he will return to his court. His wife is soon to follow him. The hermit Durvasa comes to the penitents' grove, but Shakuntala, in the thrall of dreams of love, does not receive him with due honours. An angry Durvasa curses her: the one she was thinking of will forget her.