Page:The Sacred Tree (Waley 1926).pdf/28

 a flood of tears. By this time I too was weeping; but seeing him almost beside himself with grief I tried to pass the thing off as a jest, saying "Well, I mean to one day; and what will your highness do then?" It happened that he had a falcon on his wrist, and jumping straight to his feet he set it free, reciting as he did so the verse: "Desolate must she be, and weary of strife, whose thoughts, like this swift bird, fly heavenward at a touch."

'At this, some of my servants who chanced to be sitting near by could not restrain their tears; and it may be imagined with what feelings I, in the midst of the unendurable misery and agitation with which I was contending, heard my child utter these words.

'It was growing dark when suddenly he (her lover) arrived at the house. For some reason I felt certain that he had come only to regale me with all the empty gossip that was going round. I sent a message that I was not well and would see him some other time.

'It is the tenth day of the seventh month. Every one is getting ready their Ullambana presents. If, after all these years, he should fail to send me anything for the festival I think the most hard-hearted person in the world could not help being sorry for me! However, there is still time.

'Last night, just when I was thinking I should have to get the offerings for myself and was weeping bitterly, a messenger came with just the same presents as in other years, and a letter attached! Even the dead were not forgotten. In his letter he quoted the poem: "Though never far away, yet wretched must I bide" If that is indeed how he feels, his conduct becomes more than ever