Page:Journal of the Straits Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society (IA journalofstrait561880roya).pdf/246

 legend, is talking with his Master.

Plate LXXVI. 121. SIDDHARTHA endeavouring to obtain his father's consent to his new scheme of life.

Plate LXXVIII. 125. Of this plate (of which a photograph is published with this paper) Dr. LEEMANS, or M. WILSEN, says: "SIDDHARTHA continues faithful to the resolution he has taken, and is insensible to the graces of the beautiful women of his house- hold, the number of whom has been largely increased. It is probable that the artist wished to represent, in this in-stance [sic] also, an hour in the night, For some of the women are asleep, leaning one against another, or resting on pillows. The artist has known no better way of depicting the firmness of the resolution the prince has taken, and the steadiness with which he continues to resist all temptations, than by placing his hero on a raised throne, having the aureole behind his head, and in the peculiar attitude of a Buddha."

Here a reference to Bishop BIGANDET'S "Legend of the Burmese Buddha" probably throws some additional light upon the artist's intention. I should explain that, in the Burmese version of the story, SIDDHARTHA goes by the name of Phralaong.

"Phralaong had scarcely begun to recline on his couch when a crowd of young damsels, whose beauty equalled that of the daughters of the NATs, executed all sorts of dances to the sound of the most ravishing symphony, and displayed in all their movements the graceful forms of their elegant and well-shaped persons in order to make some impression upon his heart. But all was in vain, they were foiled in their repeated attempts. Phralaong fell into a deep sleep. The damsels, perceiving their disappointment, ceased their dances, laid aside their musical instruments, and soon following the example of Phralaong abandoned themselves to sleep.

"Phralaong awoke a little before midnight, and sat in a cross-legged position on his couch. Looking all around him, he saw the varied attitudes and uninviting appearance of the sleeping damsels. Some were snoring; others gnashing their teeth; others with opened mouths; others tossed heavily from side to side; some stretched one arm upwards and the other downwards; some, seized as it were with a frantic pang, suddenly coiled up their legs for a while, and