Sakoontala; Or, The Lost Ring. Kalidasa

RULES FOR THE PRONUNCIATION OF THE PROPER NAMES.

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      Observe, that in order to secure the correct pronunciation of the title of this Drama, 'Sakuntalá' has been spelt '[S']akoontalá,' the u of [S']akuntalá being pronounced like the u in the English word rule.

      The vowel a must invariably be pronounced with a dull sound, like the a in organ, or the u in gun, sun. Dushyanta must therefore be pronounced as if written Dooshyunta. The long vowel á is pronounced like the a in last, cart; i like the i in pin, sin; í like the i in marine; e like the e in prey; o like the o in so; ai like the ai in aisle; au like au in the German word haus, or like the ou in our.

      The consonants are generally pronounced as in English, but g has always the sound of g in gun, give, never of g in gin. S with the accent over it (s), has the sound of s in sure, or of the last s in session.

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PERSONS REPRESENTED.

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      DUSHYANTA, King of India.

      MÁ[T.]HAVYA, the jester, friend, and companion of the King.

      KANWA, chief of the hermits, foster-father of [S']AKOONTALÁ.

      [S']ÁRNGARAVA,} } two Bráhmans, belonging to the hermitage of KANWA. [S']ÁRADWATA, }

      MITRÁVASU, brother-in-law of the King, and superintendent of the city police.

      JÁNUKA and SÚCHAKA, two constables.

      VÁTÁYANA, the chamberlain or attendant on the women's apartments.

      SOMARÁTA, the domestic priest.

      KARABHAKA, a messenger of the queen-mother.

      RAIVATIKA, the warder or doorkeeper.

      MÁTALI, charioteer of Indra.

      SARVA-DAMANA, afterwards BHARATA, a little boy, son of DUSHYANTA by [S']AKOONTALÁ.

      KA[S']YAPA, a divine sage, progenitor of men and gods, son of MARÍCHI, and grandson of BRAHMÁ.

      [S']AKOONTALÁ, daughter of the sage VI[S']WÁMITRA and the nymph MENAKÁ, foster-child of the hermit KANWA.

      PRIYAMVADÁ and ANASÚYÁ, female attendants, companions of [S']AKOONTALÁ.

      GAUTAMÍ, a holy matron, Superior of the female inhabitants of the hermitage.

      VASUMATÍ, the Queen of DUSHYANTA.

      SÁNUMATÍ, a nymph, friend of [S']AKOONTALÁ.

      TARALIKÁ, personal attendant of the Queen.

      CHATURIKÁ, personal attendant of the King.

      VETRAVATÍ, female warder or doorkeeper.

      PARABHRITIKÁ} and

      MADHUKARIKÁ,} maidens in charge of the royal gardens.

      SUVRATÁ, a nurse.

      ADITI, wife of KA[S']YAPA; granddaughter of BRAHMÁ through her father DAKSHA.

CHARIOTEER, FISHERMAN, OFFICERS, AND HERMITS.