Page:Karl Gjellerup - The Pilgrim Kamanita - 1911.djvu/240

 me deeply as he did so. But had I imagined that thou hadst been present, then I should have been yet more deeply affected."

"He was very probably among those who were there," said Vasitthi; "in any case, he seems to have given thee an accurate report. And the Master further added—

"And what, ye disciples, have I declared to you? I have, declared to you what Suffering is, what the Origin of Suffering is, what the End of all Suffering is, what the Path that leads to the End of all Suffering is—all this have I declared to you. Therefore, ye disciples, what I have revealed, that leave revealed; and what I have left unrevealed, that leave unrevealed."

As he uttered these words, he opened his hand, and let the leaves fall. And when one of these, describing gyrations in the air, fluttered down near to me, I took courage, stepped quickly forward, and caught it before it had touched the earth, in that way receiving it, as it were, from the Master's hand. This priceless memorial I concealed in my bosom, a symbol of the short but all-sufficing message communicated to us by the Perfect One from his measureless wealth of knowledge, a symbol from which I was not to be parted till death.

This movement of mine drew the attention of the Master to me. The gigantic monk to whom I have alluded now bowed before him and made a whispered communication, upon which the Master again looked at me and then made a sign to the monk.

The latter now came towards us.

"Approach, noble lady," said the monk,—and I knew at once from the voice that it was Angulimala's,—"the Master will himself receive thy gifts."

We all went forward to within a few paces of the Master