[4]Arnold follows the tradition, that there was but one, whom he makes
a young wife, without any authority so far as I can learn. I prefer to
follow the Chinese pilgrim, Fa Hian, who was on the ground with every
means of knowing, who makes them two young girls, and named as above.
[5]Bishop Heber says he saw a recluse whose hands had been clinched so
close and so long that the nails had actually grown through the hands
as here described.
[6]The last temptation of Buddha was to keep his light to himself under
the fear that men would reject his message.
BOOK VI.
Seven days had passed since first he saw the light,
Seven days of deep, ecstatic peace and joy,
Of open vision of that blissful world,
Of sweet communion with those dwelling there.
But having tasted, seen and felt the joys
Of that bright world where love is all in all,
Filling each heart, inspiring every thought,
Guiding each will and prompting every act,
He yearned to see the other, darker side
Of that bright picture, where the wars and hates,
The lust, the greed, the cruelty and crime
That fill the world with pain and want and woe
Have found their dwelling-place and final goal.
Quicker than eagles soaring toward the sun
Till but a speck against the azure vault
Swoop down upon their unsuspecting prey,
Quicker than watch-fires on the mountain-top
Send warnings to the dwellers in the plain,
Led by his guides he reached Nirvana's verge,
Whence he beheld a broad and pleasant plain,
Spread with a carpet of the richest green
And decked with flowers of every varied tint,
Whose blended odors fill the balmy air,
Where trees, pleasant to sight and good for food,
In rich abundance and spontaneous grow.
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