University of Virginia Library

“Ofttimes, dear Lady! while I listened close”—
Next morn, the Indian said:—“loath, by one stop,
To mar such noble music—I had will
To tell thee how the great Tathâgata
Spake many things in one mind with thy Lord.
Methought I heard our holy Books unroll,
Line after line, as thou didst featfully
Recite those sayings on the Mount. He, too,
Bade us not hate, but love; and conquer Hate
With Love; and let light cares of Life go by
Careless, because it is a show, which cheats;
And earthly treasures fade; and he is rich
Who lays up riches, in the Realm beyond,
Of deeds done well, and gentle service wrought,
And days without injuriousness. Mark, too,
Our Buddha would not know of enemies
More than thy Master. He commanded us,
‘If one upon the left shall wound thy hand,
And one upon the right shall bathe thy hand
With sandal-oil, and kiss it, bear to each
The same mild heart! So shall the smiter love,
Or—if not—vainly hate thee!’ Charity,
Mercy, and meekness, taught he:—for Love's sake
Utmost renunciation. Once, it fell
Buddh to a starving tigress gave his flesh;
Not fearing loss, for never can Love lose.
Yet, truly, nowise have we known before
Wisdom so packed and perfect, as thy Lord's,
Giving that Golden Rule that each shall do
Unto his fellow as he would have done
Unto himself; for, then, this Earth were Heaven,
And equity in every breast throned King.
Also, right joyous goes His doctrine; glad
'Mid Life's sad charms, and swift vicissitudes,
And Death's unshunned and hard perplexities
Which make us bear to live. But, Buddha held
Life was long sorrow, ignorantly prized,
Grievously reassumed from change to change;
Whirling sad souls upon The Wheel, unsaved,
Until they stay it, staying lust of days;
Ceasing to drink the false salt wave which breeds
Worse thirst—a wilder Trishna:—quit of quests,
And gliding, passionless and purged and sane,
Back to that Infinite where silence lives.
Om mani padme!—‘from the lotus-leaf
The Dewdrop sliding to the shining Sea,
When Sunrise comes!’”