Page:Buddhism in Christendom, or, Jesus, the Essene.djvu/209

Rh Then Buddha hurled it in the foam,

Repeating as he journeyed home

His solemn caution: Son, beware!

Use not this knowledge, have a care!'

But as they trudged, at break of day,

Five hundred robbers barred the way!

O holy masters, we are told,'

They said, that you have countless gold.'

Said Buddha, Gold sheds human blood,

And so we flung it in the flood.'

The chieftain said, 'Such words are vain

And one as hostage must remain—

The younger one. So promptly hie

And fetch the gold, or he must die,

Within a week he will be slain!

Within a week I come again,'

Said Buddha, 'Fear not, Brahmin youth,

A Buddha's tongue is simple truth.'

Grim terror pales the young man's brow,

Will the great Buddha keep his vow?

Five days have passed away too soon,

To-night will end the weeks in June

When spells can work; and if he wait,

To-morrow will be all too late.

'O take me to the rocky dell,

To-night I'll work a mystic spell.'

The gold was made. Quick spread its fame,

A rival band of robbers came;

'Divide or fight!' they loudly cried,

When the broad pieces they espied.

'He made this gold,' the first clan said,

'We give him up to you instead.'

O pity now the Brahmin's fate,

He thinks of Buddha's word too late.

Though all unfit the time of year,

The greedy robbers will not hear,

They cut his throat; and then assail

Their rivals for their lying tale.

Swords flash and fall on sounding crest,

On cloven targe, and stricken breast,

Sharp cries of anguish over all

Outroar the angry waterfall,

Whose snowy stream is soon a flood

Of dying men and human blood,

Borne off to Yama's realm of death;

Two robbers soon alone draw breath.

Exhausted with three days of fast,