The Drama "Sakuntala."

"Sakuntala," or "The Fatal Ring," is a celebrated Hindoo drama by Kalidasa, the Hindoo Shakspeare. Kalidasa was the greatest dramatist, and one of the most celebrated poets, of India, and is known to the literary world chiefly through his drama "Sakuntala." It was first brought to the notice of the Western world by Sir William Jones, who translated it into English in 1789. It created so great a sensation throughout Europe, that it may be considered the cause of the early success attending Sanscrit studies in England and Germany.

Very little is known of the personal history of Kalidasa; that he lived at Onjein, and that he was "one of the nine gems of the court of Vikramaditya," is all that is related in regard to him; but as there were several Vikramadityas, his date is very uncertain, and may be placed anywhere between the first century B.C., and the sixth century A.D.

Many of the dramas of Kalidasa contain episodes selected from the epic poems of India,--the "Ramayana" and the "Mahabharata,"--and are founded on the principles of Brahmanism.

The "Sakuntala," or "Fatal Ring," is considered Kalidasa's best drama; and it has been translated into English and French and German.

According to the story, Sakuntala was the daughter of St. Viswamita, and Menaka a water-nymph. Abandoned by her parents, she was brought up by a hermit. King Dushyanta, coming one day to the hermitage, persuaded Sakuntala to marry him; and in due time a son was born. When the boy was six years old, she took him to the king, who recognized his wife by a ring he had given to her.

The king then publicly proclaimed Sakuntala his queen. Bharata, his son and heir, became the founder of the glorious race of the Bharatas. Schubert has written an opera called "Sanktala."