Page:Barlaam and Josaphat. English lives of Buddha.djvu/68

lxii story from India to England through the medium of the Barlaam literature, and there can be no doubt that it came to Shakspere through some derivate of the Gesta Romanorum, the English end link in the chain of tradition. But even apart from this evidence, the internal proofs of relationship would be decisive.

A reference to the form of the Parable as it appears in the Barlaam Literature (see Appendix II., infra, p. cvii.) will convince the reader that he has there the original Shaksperian motif. It is there found combined with the Parable of The Trumpet of Death in such a way as to make up one complex story. Now there can be no doubt about the Buddhistic origin of the Parable of The Trumpet of Death. It is found separately told of Vityasoka, brother of the great Buddhistic King, Asoka. The great King's brother, who had not yet been converted to Buddhism, had expressed his wonder that the followers of that religion could overcome their passions without resorting to asceticism. The King, to try his brother, and to convert him to the New Religion—so runs the tale—ordered his courtiers to