THE LIGHT OF ASIA


By Sir Edwin Arnold



This volume is dutifully inscribed to the Sovereign, Grand Master, and Companions of The Most Exalted Order of the Star of India by The Author.






CONTENTS


Book The First

Book The Second

Book The Third

Book The Fourth

Book the Fifth

Book The Sixth

Book The Seventh

Book The Eighth








Book The First

     The Scripture of the Saviour of the World,     Lord Buddha—Prince Siddartha styled on earth     In Earth and Heavens and Hells Incomparable,     All-honoured, Wisest, Best, most Pitiful;     The Teacher of Nirvana and the Law.          Then came he to be born again for men.     Below the highest sphere four Regents sit     Who rule our world, and under them are zones     Nearer, but high, where saintliest spirits dead     Wait thrice ten thousand years, then live again;     And on Lord Buddha, waiting in that sky,     Came for our sakes the five sure signs of birth     So that the Devas knew the signs, and said     "Buddha will go again to help the World."     "Yea!" spake He, "now I go to help the World.     This last of many times; for birth and death     End hence for me and those who learn my Law.     I will go down among the Sakyas,     Under the southward snows of Himalay,     Where pious people live and a just King."          That night the wife of King Suddhodana,     Maya the Queen, asleep beside her Lord,     Dreamed a strange dream; dreamed that a star          from heaven—     Splendid, six-rayed, in colour rosy-pearl,     Whereof the token was an Elephant     Six-tusked and whiter than Vahuka's milk—     Shot through the void and, shining into her,     Entered her womb upon the right.  Awaked,     Bliss beyond mortal mother's filled her breast,     And over half the earth a lovely light     Forewent the morn.  The strong hills shook; the waves     Sank lulled; all flowers that blow by day came forth     As 't were high noon; down to the farthest hells     Passed the Queen's joy, as when warm sunshine thrills     Wood-glooms to gold, and into all the deeps     A tender whisper pierced.  "Oh ye," it said,     "The dead that are to live, the live who die,     Uprise, and hear, and hope!  Buddha is come!"     Whereat in Limbos numberless much peace     Spread, and the world's heart throbbed, and a wind blew     With unknown freshness over lands and seas.     And when the morning dawned, and this was told,     The grey dream-readers said  "The dream is good!     The Crab is in conjunction with the Sun;     The Queen shall bear a boy, a holy child     Of wondrous wisdom, profiting all flesh,     Who shall deliver men from ignorance,     Or rule the world, if he will deign to rule."          In this wise was the holy Buddha born.     Queen Maya stood at noon, her days fulfilled,     Under a Palsa in the Palace-grounds,     A stately trun                        
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