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THE LITERATURE OF ALL NATIONS AND ALL AGES
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THE
Literature of All Nations
AND ALL AGES
HISTORY, CHARACTER, AND INCIDENT
EDITED BY
JULIAN HAWTHORNE JOHN PORTER LAMBERTON
GLIVER'tf. G. LEIGH JOHN RUSSELL YOUNG
INTRODUCTION BY
JUSTIN MCCARTHY
Member of Parliament, 1879-1899
Author of "HISTORY OF OUR OWN TIMES." "DEAR LADY DISDAIN," AND OTHER NOVELS «•«•«•••«««
One 1)undred Dcmi-teinte Plates from Paintings by tbe Ulorld's Best Jlrtists
COMPLETE IN TEN VOLUMES
VOLUME II
CHICAGO NEW YORK MELBOURNE
E. R. DuMONT
1902
Ay
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Copyright, 1899, By ART LIBRARY PUBLISHING CO.
Copyright, 1900, By E. R. DU MONT
MADE BY
THE WERNER COMPANY
AKRON, OHIO
TABLE OF CONTENTa^S
volume; II.
-ri-?
THE LITERATURE OF INDIA— Period II 9
The Mahabharata 9
The Choice of Draupadi 12
The Frolic on the Shore 16
The King's Journey io the Heavenly Motcnt 20
Yudishihira's Entry into Heaven 24
The Risiftg- of the Dead 27
The Faithful Wife
29
CHINESE LITERATURE— rERiOD II 39
The Successors of Confucius 39
The Battle of Chang-Cho 41
Dream and Reality 42
The Skull Speaks , 43
Mourning 44
Unpopularity 45
Mencius 45
How to Promote Public Prosperity 45
Sayings of Mencius 47
Rulers Appointed by Heaven 48
Regard for Others 49
HEBREW LITERATURE— Period II 52
53
Belshazzar'' s Feast
Which is the Strongest Thing f 56
The Praise of Famous Me7i 59
The Jewish Martyrs .... 60
Heliodorus Drivetifrom the Temple 65
Judas MaccabcBus 68
GREEK LITERATURE— Period II 72
Baby Hermes 73
Hesiod 77
Pandora 78
The Battle of Zeus and the Titans , 80
//3 78 3
2 TABI.E OF CONTENTS.
PAGE
GREEK LITERATURE- Period II. (Continued).
el,egiac and lvric poetry 82
Tyrt^us 83
Courage and Patriotism 83
To Spartan Veterans 85
To Spartan Youths 85
MiMNERMUS 86
Youth attd Age 86
ARCHII.OCHUS 87
Two Captains 87
Sappho 88
Hyntfi to Aphrodite 89
Ode to Anactoria 91
To AlccBus 91
Ai.CiCUS 92
The Spoils of War 92
Drinki'dg Song 93
Theognis 93
The Poet's Gift of Fame 94
The Ship of State 94
SiMONiDES ok Amorgos 95
Ten Classes of Wotnen 95
SiMONiDES of Ceos 9^
Thertnopylce •• 100
Cimon's Victory at Eurymedon 100
Danes 100
Pindar - loi
The Infant Hercules 103
Jasofi 105
Olynipia 109
Elysium I'o
LATIN LITERATURE i'»
The Chant of the Arval Brothers 1 15
Ennius I '5
Reply of Pyrrhus to Fabricius "6
The Lament of Andromache "6
Fortune-Tellers '^7
Pi^autus "7
The Captives - ■ • "8
TABIDS OF CONTENTS. 3
FAGB
LATIN LITERATURE (Continued).
The Generous Slave 119
The Impostor Exposed 125
The Parasite Brings Good News 128
The Wallet Fished Up 132
A Pitcher 0/ Water 138
The Braggart Captain 141
Terence M5
The Andrian 146
The Distracted Lover 148
The Clever Schemer 150
Tarquin's Dream 151
ARABIAN LITERATURE— Period II 153
The Romance of Antar 155
The Loss and Recovery of Abla 157
Jaida and Khalid 162
The Generous Hatim 163
Short Arabian Poems 165
The Song of Maisiina 165
To a Lady Weeping 166
Fire 166
The Crucifixion of Ibn Bakiah 167
Adversity- 167
The Inconsistent Lady 168
Birth and Death 1 68
PERSIAN LITERATURE— Period II 169
RUDAGI 172
Bokhara 172
ASADI 173
The Dispute of Day and Night 173
FiRDAUSi 17s
Praise of Mahmud 179
Invective on Mahmud 179
Jemshid the Wanderer 180
The Flying Throne 187
Rustem and Sohrah 189
The Death ofSohrab 197
Omar Khayyam 203
Rubaiyat t *.•.. 203
4 TABLE OF CONTE)NTS.
PAGE
ITALIAN LITERATURE 216
ClUIvIvO D'Al^CAMO 222
The Knight and the Lady 222
Emperor Frederick II 224
The Captive Lady 224
Sordello 226
King Enzo 228
The Fitness of Seasons 228
Poverty 229
GuiNicEi.1,1 229
Dante 230
First Sight of Beatrice 233
Beatrice's Death 236
Sonnet to Brunetto Latini 238
The Divine Comedy 239
Virgil, the PoeVs Guide 241
Fra7tcesca da Rimini 243
Count Ugolino 246
Buonconte da Montefeltro 249
Matilda Gathering Flowers 252
Beatrice Leaves Dante 255
GuiDO Cavalcanti 256
Answer to Dante 257
CiNO DA PiSTOIA 257
Cecco Angiolieri 258
The Shoemaker'' s Daughter 258
What I zuould Do 25S
N1CC01.0 At,Bizzi 259
Retur7i of the Troops 259
Petrarch . . . . 259
The Sonnet 262
Sonnets to Laura 263
Ode to Riefizi 266
SPANISH LITERATURE— Period II 269
Moorish BaIvI^ads 273
The Lamentation for Celin 273
Woe is Me, Alhama 274
The Dance of Death 278
Count Alarcos 279
TABLE OF CONTENTS. 5
PAGE
SPANISH LITERATURE— Pebliod II. (Continued),
Amadis di Gaula 283
The Rescue of Oriana 284
Marques de Santillana 289
The Milk-BIaid of Finojosa 289
Juan II 290
Love 290
The Chronicle oe Juan II 290
The Executio7i of Don Alvare de Luna 290
Juan de Mena 292
Macias the Lover 293
Jorge de Manrioue • • 294
Elegy on His Father 294
The Celestina 300
Juan Boscan 3^3
Garcilaso de La Vega 305
First Eclogue 305
FRENCH LITERATURE— Period II 308
The Romance of the Rose 309
The Old Woman's Story 3x1
Amis and Amile 312
Jean Froissart 322
The Re-vard of Valor 323
Count Gaston Phoebus de Foix 325
Virelay 33o
Christine de Pisan 332
Tokens for Sale 332
On the Death of Tier Father 333
Charles of Orleans 334
The Art of Writing 334
^ Song of the Mouse 335
Wilt Thou be Mine f ■. ... 336
Francis Villon = . . 336
Ballad of Old-Time Ladies 337
Ballad of Old-Time Loids . . 338
Villon's Epitaph 338
SCANDINAVIAN LITERATURE 340
BiARKE's Battle-Song 345
6 TABLE OF CONTENTS.
PAGB
SCANDINAVIAN LITERATURE (Continued).
Death-Song of Lodbrok 346
The Klder Edda 352
The Voluspa 355
How Thor Recovered His Hammer ... 358
The Younger Edda 362
Thor and the Giant 363
Death of Balder 369
The Punishment of Loki 373
Frithiof and Angantyr 374
GERMAN LITERATURE 378
The NibeivUngenlied 3S0
Siegfried at King Gunthcr's Court 385
Kriemhilde 387
How Siegfried was Betrayed 388
Hagen Kilts Siegfried 391
Etzel Marries Kriemhild 392
GUDRUN 394
The Singing of Horant 397
The Finding of Gudrun 397
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
VOLUME II.
Sappho's Rkverie IV. Kray . . Frontispiece
Pandora G. Max . . .
CoRiNNA, THE Theban Poetess H. Cootnans .
jEMSHiD Draws the Bow J. L. G. Ferris
Francesca da Rimini L. Ho/mann-Zc
Dante and Matilda A. Maignan .
Count Gaston Phcebus and his Son . . . .J.L.G. Ferrii
LoKi and Sigyn Carl Gebhardt
Frithiof's Fight with Atle E. Leeke . . .
Siegfried Slays the Dragon A'. Diditz . .
itz
78
lOI
239 253 325 362
375 390
THE MAHABHARATA.
UR former notice of tlie Sanskrit Epics* was con- fined chiefly to the Ramayana, which relates to the Aryan conquest of Southern India. INIore important than even that poem, as a pro- duct of ancient Indian genius, is the Mahabharata, or Great War of the Bharatas. This epic, with its eighteen books and 110,000 verses, is the longest poem in the world ; but its variations in style and incoherency of narra- tive betray it to be the work of many authors. Vyasa, the name of the author to whom Hindu tradition attributes it, means "Arranger," and may be interpreted "Editor." The main story, occupying one-fourth of the whole poem, is per- haps historical in outline ; the remainder comprises episodes of ancient Indian history, stories of the gods and of creation, didactic passages on religion, morals, philosophy and law, and, in short, nearly all that it behooves an educated Hindu to know.
The story describes the contest of two branches of the Bharatas for supremacy. The Pandavas descended through Bharata from Puni, ancestor of a branch of the lunar race. Dhritarashtra being blind, his younger brother Pandu suc- ceeded to the throne, but resigned it to spend his life hunting.
See Volume I., pp. 93-125.
lO WTERATURE OF AI,I, NATIONS.
Assisted by his uncle Bhishma, Dhritarashtra undertook the government ; and tlie five sons of Pandu, after the latter' s death, are brought up at court with their cousins, the hun- dred sons of Dhritarashtra, called Kauravas. Such is the superiority of the Pandavas that the king makes the eldest, Yudishthira, heir-apparent. Duryodhana, then eldest of the Kauravas, plots the Pandavas' destruction, but they escape to the forest, and one of them wins a king's daughter, Draupadi, who becomes the wife of the five. Prince Krishna acts as their friend and counsellor. Dhritarashtra divides the king- dom between the two families, and the Pandavas build Indraprastha on the site of the present Delhi. Duryodhana induces Yudishthira to stake the kingdom on a game of dice, and wins it from him. By the terms of the wager, the Pan- davas must retire for twelve years to the forest, and if they then succeed in passing another year incognito, they are to receive back their possessions. They fulfill the conditions ; but when, in the fourteenth year, they demand their right the Kauravas refuse, and the war begins. All the Kauravas are slain, and Yudishthira is crowned king. But after the death of Krishna, he lays aside his crown and with his brothers and their wife sets out for Mount Meru, to gain entrance to hea- ven. One after another, his brothers and Draupadi fall ex- hausted by the way, till when he reaches heaven's gate, only his faithful dog is left. When the dog was refused admittance, the king declined to enter ; whereupon it appears that his companion is in truth the god of Justice, who had taken this means of testing his virtue. The way now lies open to him ; but when he learns that his wife and brothers have been sent to the lower world, he elects to join them there. As a reward for this final proof of love, they are permitted to enter heaven with him, where they enjoy eternal bliss together.
There are many features in this great poem of the ancient Eastern world recalling the customs of mediaeval Europe. Its tone is chivalric. Young princes display their powers in contests at the court of the Raja, and sometimes a lady of the royal family, not without her own consent, becomes the prize of the victor. Yet there are also practices which seem to belong to a more primitive state of society. The most strik-
THE LITERATURE OF INDIA.
II
ing instance is in the polyandry, by which Draupadi became at once the wife of the five Pandavas. The charioteers were the comrades and instructors of princely warriors, as in Homer. Again, the most important religious solemnity was the Aswamadha, or sacrifice of a horse. Such sacrifices are known to have been customary among the early Teutonic tribes, but were rare among the other branches of the Aryan stock. In general, the manners portrayed in the IMahabharata indicate an earlier period than those of the Ramayana. Its antiquity thus procured for it an unlimited reverence.
It seems probable, however, that when the Brahmans, who had been the familiar advisers of princes and warriors, gained social pre- eminence in the system of caste, they took advantage of their opportunities to in- '
troduce comments and alter- j^ ations to suit their doctrines _: and practices. Portions can easily be separated which make sufficiently long dis- tinct narratives. The date of the poem can be only vaguely intimated. The main epic may have been originally composed about 500 B.C., though some critics suggest a still earlier date.
The work probably had assumed its present outline by the first century of the Christian era, though additions continued to be made still later.
12 LITERATURE OF ALL NATIONS.
The Choice of Draupadi.
The Swayamvara or free choice of a husband was a common prac- tice among the ancient Hindus. Many Princes, being invited, assem- bled in a public place with appropriate ceremonies. The Princess made a tour of the circle and showed her preference by throwing a garland of flowers on the head of the successful competitor. The marriage rite was subsequently performed. The preference was not in general the suggestion of the moment, but grew out of previous acquaintance. But the disappointed expectation of some suitors led to personal hostilities and sometimes to serious wars. The name Draupadi is a patronymic, meaning " daughter of Drupada." The five brothers were the sons of Pandu— Yudishthira, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula and Sahadeva. This translation is by Horace PI. Wilson.
And now the day of festival drew nigh ; When Drupada, whose anxious hopes desired A son of Pandu for his daughter's lord, And who had sent his messengers to search The banished chiefs, still sought by them in vain, Devised a test — no other force but theirs He deemed could undergo, to win the bride. A ponderous bow with magic skill lie framed, Unyielding but to more than mortal strength. And for a mark he hung a metal plate Suspended on its axle, swift revolving Struck by a shaft that from the centre strayed. This done he bade proclaim — that he whose hand Should wing the arrow to its destined aim. Should win the Princess by his archery.
Before the day appointed, trooping came Princes and chiefs innumerous : 'midst the throng Duryodhana and all the hundred sons Of Dhritarashtra with the gallant Kama In haughty cohort at the court appeared. With hospitable act the king received His royal guests and fitting welcome gave.
Between the north and east without the gates There lay a spacious plain : a fosse profound And lofty walls enclosed its ample circuit.
THS IvITERATURE; of INDIA. 1 3
And towering gates and trophied arches rose,
And tall pavilions glittered round its borders :
Here, ere the day of trial came, the sports
Were held ; and loud as ocean's boisterous waves,
And thick as stars that gem the Dolphin's brow,
The mighty city here her myriads poured.
Around the monarch's throne on lofty seats
Of gold, with gems emblazoned, sat the kings,
Each lowering stern defiance on the rest.
Without the barriers pressed the countless crowd.
Or, clambering upon scaffolds, clustering hung.
Skirting the distance, multitudes beheld
The field from golden lattices, or thronged
The high house-tops, whose towering summits touched
The clouds, and like the mountain of the gods
With sparkling peaks streamed radiant through the air.
A thousand trumpets brayed, and slow the breeze,
With incense laden, wafted perfume round.
Whilst games of strength and skill, the graceful dance.
The strains of music, or dramatic art.
Awoke the gazers' wonder and applause.
Thus sixteen days were passed, and every chief Of note was present — and the king no more Could with fair plea his daughter's choice delay. Then came the Princess forth in royal garb Arrayed and costly ornaments adorned : A garland interwove with gems and gold Her delicate hands sustained. From the pure bath With heightened loveliness she tardy came. And blushing in the princely presence stood. Next in the ring the reverend Priest appeared And strewed the holy grass and poured the oil, An offering to the God of Fire, with prayer Appropriate, and with pious blessings crowned. Then bade the king the trumpet's clangor cease And hush the buzzing crowd — while his brave son. The gallant Dhrishtadyumna, on the plain Descended and his father's will proclaimed. " Princes, this bow behold— yon mark — these shafts — Whoe'er with dexterous hand at once directs Five arrows to their aim, and be his race,
14 LITERATURE OF ALL NATIONS.
His person and his deeds equivalent
To such exalted union, he obtains
My sister for his bride. — My words are truth."
Thus said, he to the Princess next described
Each royal suitor by his name and lineage
And martial deeds, and bade her give the wreath
To him whose prowess best deserved the boon.
Quick from their gorgeous thrones the kings uprose,
Descending to the conflict, and around
The lovely Draupadi contending pressed ;
lyike the bright gods round Siva's mountain bride.
Love lodged his viewless arrows in their hearts,
And jealous hatred swelled their haughty minds;
Each on his rivals bent a lowering glance,
And friends till now, they met as deadliest foes.
Alone the kindred bands remained aloof
Who owned Janardana* their glorious chief.
He and the mighty Halaj'udha curbed
Their emulous zeal, — and tranquil they beheld
Like furious elephants the monarchs meet ;
Their rage by courteous seeming ill repressed ,
Like fire amidst the smoldering embers glowing.
And now in turn the Princes to the trial Succeeding passed, in turn to be disgraced — No hand the stubborn bow could bend — they strained Fruitless each nerve, and many on the field Recumbent fell, whilst laughter pealed around. In vain they cast aside their royal robes 'And diamond chains and glittering diadems, And with unfettered arm and ample chest Put forth their fullest strength — the bow defied Each chief, nor left the hope he might succeed. Kama alone the 3aelding bowstring drew And ponderous shafts applied, and all admired. The timid Draupadi in terror cried, " I wed not with the base-born." — Karnaf smiled In bitterness and upwards turned his eyes To his great Sire the Sun — then cast to earth The bow and shafts, and sternly stalked away.
* This is a name for Krishna.
t Kama was reputed to be the son of a charioteer.
THE I.I'TERATURE OP INDIA, 1 5
Thus foiled the Princes, through the murmuring crowd Amazement spread— then Arjuna from where He and his brethren, with the Brahmans placed, Had viewed the scene, advanced to prove his skill. — The priestly bands, with wonder struck, beheld Who seemed a student of their tribe aspire To triumph where the mightiest chiefs had failed — They deemed the like disgrace would shame the attempt. And ridicule their race and name assail. And many a venerable elder strove To turn the stripling from the hopeless task : They strove in vain. Yet did not all despair — For many marked his elephantine strength, His lion port and self-collected soul ; And fancied that they saw revived in him The son of Jamadagni, to o'erthrow Once more the haughty Kshatriya's power and pride. Unheeding praise or censure, Arjuna Passed to the field : with reverential steps He round the weapon circled, next addressed A silent prayer to Mahadeo and last With faith inflexible on Krishna dwelt. One hand the bow upbore, the other drew The sturdy cord, and placed the pointed shafts — They flew — the mark was hit — and sudden shouts Burst from the crowd long silent : fluttering waved The Brahman scarfs, and drum and trumpet brayed, And bard and herald sung the hero's triumph.
Well pleased the monarch marked the youthful might That had succeeded where so many chiefs Of high renown were foiled, and deemed secure His state by such alliance — nor was Draupadi The less content, her beauties were the prize Of youth and grace as well as skill in arms.
The Princes are indignant at the result, and as they dare not wreak their vengeance on the sacred Brahmans, they attack Drupada. The five brothers come to his rescue and drive even Kama from the field.
Appalled by Salya's fate and Kama's flight. The princes changed their anger for surprise. And humbled to the seeming Brahmans spake.
1 6 LITERATURE OF ALI, NATIONS.
" 'Tis bravely done, aud we confess your prowess.
But what your birth, or where your country, tell,
Whose is the valor that has equal stood
The son of Radlia : whose the strength that felled
The king of Madra? they are champions both
That few of their compeers would dare encounter.
Suspend the strife : although we stand as foes,
We own due reverence for your sacred race.
Comply with our request : then if ye list,
The conflict be resumed, ' ' Thus humbly they.
The sons of Pandu stern surveyed the kings
Nor deigned reply; but Vasudeva's glance
Had penetrated their disguise, not 3^et
To be unveiled to hostile eyes ; and soothed
The wounded indignation of the Princes.
His gentle intercession lulled their rage.
And sullen from the field the Kings retired,
Mid shouts of triumph from the Brahman train.
Then round the hero's neck the trembling hand
Of Draupadi the marriage chaplet flung.
And with his lovely bride, the prize of valor,
The victor from the scene of strife withdrew.
The Frolic on the Shore.
The Hindu pantheon, like that of Greece and Rome, reveals a succession of celestial dynasties. In the Vedic hymns Varuna first, and then Indra, was the most prominent deity. Under the influence of the priestly philosophers, Indra was superseded b^' the more spiritual Brahma the Creator. But the remoteness of such a being from the common mind caused his place in popular regard to be taken by the other members of the Hindu trinity — Vishnu the Preserver and Siva the Destroyer. Even these could not effectually maintain their place against the allurements of the sportive Krishna, who is to-day the favorite deity of the populace of India. The contest for supremacy resulted in a compromise, by which Krishna is regarded as another form of Vishnu. The passages relating to him in the great epic are probably the latest interpolations, and may be concessions to the preju- dices of certain localities. The following extract is one of the most remarkable, and serves to explain the universal affection for Krishna, who is here called also Govinda, Janardana, and Hari. Some modern interpreters regard Krishna as the sun, and explain his 16,000 wives by his reflection in the dew-drops. This passage is translated by the learned Hindu scholar. Dr. Rajendralata Mitra.
THE) LITERATURE OF INDIA. 1 7
When Vishnu of unrivaled vigor dwelt at Dvaravati, lie once desired to visit the sea-side watering-place of Pindaraka. Appoint- ing King Vasudeva and Ugrasena regents for the management of state aflfairs, he started with the rest of his family. The wise Baladeva, lord of regions, went out with his affectionate and only- wife, Revati, for whom the glorious chief of the Yadu race entertained the feeling which the sacred drake has for his mate. Adorned with garlands of wild flowers, and jubilant with draughts of kadamba wine, he disported with Revati in the ocean waters.
Govinda of the lotus eye entertained himself in many forms with his sixteen thousand waves, so pleasing every one that each thought Krishna was most attached to her, and it was for her only that he was in the ocean water. They were all exceedingly grati- fied and delighted with Krishna. Each, thinking herself to be the greatest favorite, cast the most bewitching glances at him, sang in great delight, and seemed to drink him with her eyes. Each carried her head high at the idea of being the greatest favorite, and, without any feeling of jealousy for rivals, loved him with the most tender passion. Thus enjoyed Krishna his sport in the clear water of the sea, even as if he had assumed a multiplicity of shapes for the gratification of his numerous consorts.
By his order, the ocean then circulated clear and fragrant water, devoid of all saltness. Standing ankle-deep, or knee-deep, thigh-deep, or breast-deep, each according to her choice, the ladies in great glee threw showers of water on Krishna, even as the heaven pours on the sea; and Krishna, in his turn, showered water on the ladies, as gentle clouds drizzle on flowering creepers. One fawn-eyed nymph, leaning on his shoulder, cried out " Help, help, I am falling." Others swam, leaning on floats of divers forms, some shaped like cranes, others like peacocks, others like serpents, or dolphins, or fish. Some, resting on their breasts like pitchers, swam about in great joy for the gratification of Janardana. Delighted with the sight, Krishna sported with Rukmini, even as the I^ord of the Immortals sports with his consort ; and his other wives did what each thought likely to please him most. Some gazelle-eyed damsels disported in the water with very thin raiment on their persons ; and Krishna, knowing their feeling, did for each just what she would like most of the time. The ladies thought that in birth and accomplishment he was in every way worthy of them, and so they devoted themselves to his gratifica- tion, to win his sweet smile, and delightful converse, and charm- ing affection.
II— 2
1 8 LITERATURE OP ALI, NATIONS.
The accomplished and heroic princes, in a separate company, entertained themselves in the sea-waters with the damsels that had come with them, and who were proficient in dancing and singing. Though forcibly brought away from their homes, these women had been overcome by the suavity of the princes ; and the latter in their turn were delighted with the singing and acting and dancing of these excellent persons.
At this time, Krishna sent for accomplished Apsarases [or nymphs] to heighten the pleasures of the entertainment, and when they, with folded hands, appeared before him, and saluted him, the Lord of the universe spoke to them most encouragingly, and desired them to join the fete without fear. " For my sake," said he, " O fair ones, entertain the Yadus ; exhibit to them your rare proficiency in dancing and singing, as well as in acting and music of divers kinds. These are all myself in different persons, and if you entertain them well, and acquit yourselves becomingly, I shall grant you all your desires. ' '
The charming Apsarases respectfully received the order of Hari, and entered joyfully the pleasant throng of the noble heroes. Their advent on the waters shed new lustre on the wide ocean, like lightning playing on the breast of heavy dark clouds. Stand- ing on water as on land, they played on aquatic musical instru- ments, and enacted heavenly scenes of delight. By their aroma and garlands and toilet, by their coquetry, blandishment, and wanton dalliance, these sweet ones with beaming eyes robbed the minds of the heroes. By their side glances and hints and smiles, by their assumed arrogance and mirth and complaisance, they completely charmed their audience. When the princes were over- come with wine, these bewitching actresses lifted them high in the air, and anon held them in their hands, looking at them with enchanting grace.
Krishna himself commenced the same pastime with his six- teen thousand wives for their gratification, and this did not excite the ridicule or wonder of the Yadavas, for they knew his worth and nature, and preserved their gravity. Some ran to the Raiva- taka hill, some to houses, and some to the jungle, whatever suited them best, and returned immediately after. By order of Vishnu, Lord of regions, the undrinkable water of the ocean then be- came drinkable, and the damsels with beaming eyes, taking each other by the hand, walked on the water as on land, now diving deep, and anon rising on the surface. Wearing fresh garlands, these faultless women, never to be overcome, enter-
TH]^ LITERATURE OF INDIA. I9
tained themselves in private in the cabins of pleasant boats even as do the gods.
Having thus bathed, the Andhakas and the Vishnis in the afternoon entertained themselves by perfuming their persons with unguents on board their boats. Some of the cabins in these vessels were wide, others square, others circular, others like the Kailasa and the Sumeru mountains. Some were shaped like birds, some like wolves, some like the painted Carunda, some like cranes, some like parrots, and some like elephants; some painted with gateways of lapis-lazuli, some gilt, some bedecked with rubies and pearls and lapis-lazuli, and other gems, — all de- signed for the purpose by Visvakarma. Guided by able seamen, these boats, bright as gold, added new lustre to the billows. Pleasure-boats and tenders, and large vessels with commodious • cabins, adorned the breast of the flowing main. When these noble vessels moved about on the sea, they seemed like the abodes of Candharvas floating in the air. The heavenly architect, Visva- karma, had, in these cabins, depicted gardens and trees and tanks and festal halls and cars in imitation of those in the Nandana Park of Indra, and they were in no way inferior to their heavenly archetypes.
By order of Vishnu birds were singing sweetly and delightfully in the forest ; white cuckoos of paradise cooed mellifluently for the gratification of the heroes ; peacocks, surrounded by their hens, danced gracefully on the tops of the cabins resplendent as moonbeams. The flags of the vessels bore the pictures of birds ; and the garlands on the vehicles were musical with the hum of bees. By order of Narayana the trees in the neighborhood pro- duced fragrant flowers of all seasons. The zephyr, loaded with the pollen of various flowers and the aroma of the sandal-wood, blew gently, driving away all exhaustion — now warm, and anon cool, according to the varying desires of the pleasure-seekers. No hunger, no thirst, no languor, no ennui, no grief assailed them, when through the grace of Vasudeva, they were engaged in this delightful fete of music, singing and dancing.
Thus did these god-like heroes, protected by the wielder of the discus, occupy themselves in their aquatic recreations, spreading over many leagues of the sea, the abode of waters.
20 WTERATURE OF ALI. NATIONS.
The King's Journey to the Heavenly Mount.
YuDiSHTHiRA, having resigned his kingdom, sets out, in company with his wife, his brothers, and his dog, for Mount Meru, the highest of the Himalayas, the Hindu Olympus. Here he expected to enjoy heavenly bliss in Swarga. This portion is versified by Sir Edwin Arnold.
Thenceforth alone the long-armed monarch strode, Not looking back, — nay not for Bhima's sake, — But walking with his face set for the Mount ; And the hound followed him, — only the hound.
After the deathly sands, the Mount ! and, lo ! Sakra shone forth, — the God, — filling the earth And heavens with thunder of his chariot wheels. "Ascend," he said, "with me, Pritha's great son ! " But Yudishthira answered, sore at heart For those his kinsfolk, fallen on the way : "O Thousand-eyed, O Lord of all the Gods, Give that my brothers come with me, who fell ! Not without them is Swarga sweet to me. She too, the dear and kind and queenly, — she Whose perfect virtue Paradise must crown, — Grant her to come with us ! Dost thou grant this?"
The God replied : "In heaven thou shalt see Thy kinsmen and the queen — these will attain — And Krishna. Grieve no longer for thy dead, Thou chief of men ! their mortal covering stripped, They have their places ; but to thee the gods Allot an unknown grace ; thou shalt go up Living and in thy form to the immortal homes."
But the king answered : " O thou Wisest One, Who know'st what was, and is, and is to be, Still one more grace ! This hound hath ate with me, Followed me, loved me: must I leave him now?"
"Monarch," spake Indra, "thou art now as we, — ■ Deathless, divine ; thou art become a god ; Glory and power and gifts celestial,
THE WTKRATURE OF INDIA. 21
And all the joys of heaven are thine for aye.
What hath a beast with these? Leave here thy hound."
Yet Yudishthira answered : " O Most High,
0 Thousand-eyed and Wisest ! can it be That one exalted should seem pitiless? Nay, let me lose such glory : for its sake
1 would not leave one living thing I loved."
Then sternly Indra spake : "He is unclean, And into Swarga such shall enter not. The Krodhavasha's hand destroys the fruits Of sacrifice, if dogs defile the fire. Bethink thee, Dharmaraj, quit now this beast! That which is seemly is not hard of heart."
Still he replied : " 'Tis written that to spurn
A suppliant equals in ofience to slay
A twice-born ;* wherefore, not for Swarga' s bliss
Quit I, Lord Indra, this poor clinging dog, —
So without any hope or friend save me,
So wistful, fawning for my faithfulness,
So agonized to die, unless I help
Who among men was called steadfast and just."
Quoth Indra : "Nay ! the altar-flame is foul Where a dog passeth ; angry angels sweep The ascending smoke aside, and all the fruits Of oifering, and the merit of the prayer Of him whom a hound toucheth. Leave it here ! He that will enter heaven must enter pure. Why didst thou quit thy brethren on the way, And Krishna, and the dear-loved Draupadi, Attaining, firm and glorious, to this Mount Through perfect deeds, to linger for a brute? Hath Yudishthira vanquished self, to melt With one poor passion at the Door of bliss ? Stay'st thou for this, who didst not stay for them, — Draupadi, Bhima?"
But the king yet spake : ** 'Tis known that none can hurt or help the dead.
* Every Brahman is twice-born, or regenerate.
22 WTERATURK OF AI,I, NATIONS.
They, the delightful ones, who sank and died, Following my footsteps, could not live again Though I had turned, — therefore I did not turn ; But could help profit, I had turned to help. There be four sins, O Sakra, grievous sins : The first is making suppliants despair, The second is to slay a nursing wife, The third is spoiling Brahman's goods by force. The fourth is injuring an ancient friend. These four I deem but equal to one sin. If one, in coming forth from woe to weal, Abandon any meanest comrade then."
Straight as he spake, brightly great Indra smiled ;
Vanished the hound, and in its stead stood there
The Lord of Death and Justice, Dharma's self!
Sweet were the words which fell from those dread lips,
Precious the lovely praise : " O thou true king.
Thou that dost bring to harvest the good seed
Of Pandu's righteousness ; thou that hast ruth,
As he before, on all which lives ! — O Son,
I tried thee in the Dvaita wood, what time
They smote thy brothers, bringing water ; then
Thou prayed'st for Nakula's life — tender and just —
Not Bhima's nor Arjuna's, true to both,
To Madri as to Kunti, to both queens.
Hear thou my word ! Because thou didst not mount
This car divine, lest the poor hound be shent,
Who looked to thee, lo ! there is none in heaven
Shall sit above thee. King! — Bharata's son,
Enter thou now to the eternal joys,
lyiving and in thy form ! Justice and L,ove
Welcome thee. Monarch ! thou shalt throne with them ! "
Thereat those mightiest Gods, in glorious train, Lord Indra, Dharma, — with bright retinue Of Maruts, Saints, Aswin-Kumaras, Nats, Spirits and Angels, — bore the king aloft. The thundering chariot first, and after it Those airy-moving Presences. Serene, Clad in great glory, potent, wonderful. They glide at will, — at will they know and see.
THE WTERATURE OF INDIA. 23
At wish their wills are wrought ; for these are pure,
Passionless, hallowed, perfect, free of earth.
In such celestial midst the Pandu king
Soared upward, and a sweet light filled the sky
And fell on earth, cast by his face and form,
Transfigured as he rose ; and there was heard
The voice of Narad, — it is he who writes,
Sitting in heaven, the deeds that good men do
In all the quarters, — Narad, chief of scribes,
Narad, the wise, who laudeth purity, —
So cried he : "Thou art risen, unmatched king,
Whose greatness is above all royal saints.
Hail, son of Pandu ! like to thee is none
Now or before among the sons of men,
Whose fame hath filled the three wide worlds, who com'st
Bearing thy mortal body, which doth shine
With radiance as a god s. ' '
The glad king heard Narad's loud praise ; he saw the immortal gods, — Dharma, Mahendra ; and dead chiefs and saints, Known upon earth, in blessed heaven he saw; But only those. "I do desire," he said, "That region, be it of the Blest as this, Or of the Sorrowful some otherwhere. Where my dear brothers are, and Draupadl. I cannot stay elsewhere ! I see them not ! "
Then answer made Purandara, the God :
"O thou compassionate and noblest One,
Rest in the pleasures which thy deeds have gained.
How, being as are the Gods, canst thou live bound
By mortal chains? Thou art become of us,
Who live above hatred and love, in bliss
Pinnacled, safe, supreme. Sun of thy race,
Thy brothers cannot reach where thou hast climbed !
Most glorious lord of men, let not thy peace
Be touched by stir of earth ! Look ! this is heaven.
See where the saints sit, and the happy souls,
Siddhas and angels, and the gods who live
Forever and forever."
24 LITERATURE OF ALL, NATIONS.
"King of gods," Spake Yudishthira, ' ' but I will not live A little space without those souls I loved. O Slayer of the demons ! let me go Where Bhima and my brothers are, and she, My Draupadi, the princess with the face Softer and darker than the kihat-bud. And soul as sweet as are its odors. Lo ! Where they have gone, there will I surely go."
Yudishthira's Entry into Heaven.
YUDISHTHIRA refused to enter heaven when told that his wife and brothers had been consigned to hell, and departed to seek them. He is recalled and rewarded with his kin by admission to eternal bliss. This translation is by Sir Edwin Arnold.
At hearing and at knowing that high deed
(Great Yudishthira braving hell for love),
The Presences of Paradise uprose.
Each Splendor in his place, — God Sakra chief;
Together rose they, and together stepped
Down from their thrones, treading the nether road
Where Yudishthira tarried. Sakra led
The shining van, and Dharma, Lord of laws.
Paced glorious next. O Son of Bharata,
While that celestial company came down —
Pure as the white stars sweeping through the sky,
And brighter than their brilliance — look ! Hell's shades
Melted before them ; warm gleams drowned the gloom ;
Soft, lovely scenes rolled over the ill sights ;
Peace calmed the cries