INDRA.

My heaven hath no place for dogs; they steal away our offerings on
earth: 
Leave, then, thy dog behind thee, nor think in thy heart that it is
cruel.

YUDHISTTHIRA.

To abandon the faithful and devoted is an endless crime, like the
murder of a Brahmin;
Never, therefore, come weal or woe, will I abandon yon faithful dog.
Yon poor creature, in fear and distress, hath trusted in my power
to save it: 
Not, therefore, for e’en life itself will I break my plighted word.

INDRA.

If a dog but beholds a sacrifice, men esteem it unholy and void;
Forsake, then, the dog, O hero, and heaven is thine own as a reward. 
Already thou hast borne to forsake thy fondly loved brothers, and
Draupadi;
Why, then, forsakest thou not the dog?  Wherefore now fails thy heart?

YUDHISTTHIRA.

Mortals, when they are dead, are dead to love or hate,—­so runs the
world’s belief;
I could not bring them back to life, but while they lived I never left
them. 
To oppress the suppliant, to kill a wife, to rob a Brahmin, and to
betray one’s friend,
These are the four great crimes; and to forsake a dependent I count
equal to them.

ALGER’S Oriental Poetry.

* * * * *

ULYSSES AND ARGUS.

This story, from the Odyssey, is also of an unknown antiquity.  Ulysses, after many years of absence, returns to his home to find himself unrecognized by his family.  With Eumaeus Ulysses walked about the familiar grounds: 

      Thus near the gates conferring as they drew,
    Argus, the dog, his ancient master knew;
    He, not unconscious of the voice and tread,
    Lifts to the sound his ear, and rears his head;
    Bred by Ulysses, nourished at his board,
    But, ah! not fated long to please his lord! 
    To him, his swiftness and his strength were vain;
    The voice of glory called him o’er the main. 
    Till then, in every sylvan chase renowned,
    With Argus, Argus, rung the woods around: 
    With him the youth pursued the goat or fawn,
    Or traced the mazy leveret o’er the lawn;
    Now left to man’s ingratitude he lay,
    Unhoused, neglected in the public way.

      He knew his lord:  he knew, and strove to meet;
    In vain he strove to crawl, and kiss his feet;
    Yet (all he could) his tail, his ears, his eyes. 
    Salute his master, and confess his joys. 
    Soft pity touched the mighty master’s soul;
    Adown his cheek a tear unhidden stole,
    Stole unperceived:  he turned his head and dried
    The drop humane:  then thus impassioned cried: