Is linked and kin, and what we slay have given
     Meek tribute of the milk and wool, and set
     Fast trust upon the hands which murder them. 
     Also he spake of what the holy books
     Do surely teach, how that at death some sink
     To bird and beast, and these rise up to man
     In wanderings of the spark which grows purged flame. 
     So were the sacrifice new sin, if so
     The fated passage of a soul be stayed. 
     Nor, spake he, shall one wash his spirit clean
     By blood; nor gladden gods, being good, with blood;
     Nor bribe them, being evil; nay, nor lay
     Upon the brow of innocent bound beasts
     One hair’s weight of that answer all must give
     For all things done amiss or wrongfully,
     Alone, each for himself, reckoning with that
     The fixed arithmetic of the universe,
     Which meteth good for good and ill for ill,
     Measure for measure, unto deeds, words, thoughts;
     Watchful, aware, implacable, unmoved;
     Making all futures fruits of all the pasts. 
     Thus spake he, breathing words so piteous
     With such high lordliness of ruth and right,
     The priests drew back their garments o’er the hands
     Crimsoned with slaughter, and the King came near,
     Standing with clasped palms reverencing Buddha;
     While still our Lord went on, teaching how fair
     This earth were if all living things be linked
     In friendliness of common use of foods,
     Bloodless and pure; the golden grain, bright fruits,
     Sweet herbs which grow for all, the waters wan,
     Sufficient drinks and meats.  Which, when these heard,
     The might of gentleness so conquered them,
     The priests themselves scattered their altar-flames
     And flung away the steel of sacrifice;
     And through the land next day passed a decree
     Proclaimed by criers, and in this wise graved
     On rock and column:—­“Thus the King’s will is: 
     There hath been slaughter for the sacrifice
     And slaying for the meat, but henceforth none
     Shall spill the blood of life nor taste of flesh,
     Seeing that knowledge grows, and life is one,
     And mercy cometh to the merciful.” 
     So ran the edict, and from those days forth
     Sweet peace hath spread between all living kind,
     Man and the beasts which serve him, and the birds,
     Of all those banks of Gunga where our Lord
     Taught with his saintly pity and soft speech.

          THE FAITHFULNESS OF YUDHISTHIRA

     From ‘The Great Journey,’ in the Mahabharata

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