And finding light, and filled with joy, he said:
“Illustrious master, you have found the way.
You place the upturned chalice on its base.
You fill with light the sayings dark of old.
You open blinded eyes to see the truth.”
At length they thought of those poor hearts
at home,
Mother and sister, watching through the
night—
Waiting and watching through the livelong
day,
Startled at every step, at every sound,
Startled at every bier that came in view
In that great city of the stranger dead,
That city where the living come to die—
And home returned when evening’s
rose and gold
Had faded from the sky, and myriad lamps
Danced on the sacred stream, and moon
and stars
Hung quivering in its dark and silent
depths.
But day by day returned, eager to hear
More of that truth that sweetens daily
life,
Yet reaches upward to eternal day.
A marriage-feast,[3] three festivals in
one,
Stirs to its depths Benares’ social
life.
A gorgeous sunset ushers in the night,
Sunset and city mirrored in the stream.
Broad marble steps upon the river-bank
Lead to a garden where a blaze of bloom,
A hedge of rose-trees, forms the outer
wall;
An aged banyan-tree,[4] whose hundred
trunks
Sustain a vaulted roof of living green
Which scarce a ray of noonday’s
sun can pierce,
The garden’s vestibule and outer
court;
While trees of every varied leaf and bloom
Shade many winding walks, where fountains
fall
With liquid cadence into shining pools.
Above, beyond, the stately palace stands,
Inviting in, calling to peace and rest,
As if a soul dwelt in its marble form.
The darkness thickens, when a flood of
light
Fills every recess, lighting every nook;
The garden hedge a wall of mellow light,
A line of lamps along the river’s
bank,
With lamps in every tree and lining every
walk,
While lamps thick set surround each shining
pool,
Weaving with rainbow tints the falling
spray.
And now the palace through the darkness
shines.
A thing of beauty traced with lines of
light.[5]
The guests arrive in light and graceful
boats,
In gay gondolas such as Venice used,
With richest carpets, richest canopies,
And over walks with rose-leaves carpeted
Pass to the palace, whose wide open gates
Display within Benares’ rank and
wealth,
Proud Brahman lords and stately Brahman
dames
And Brahman youth and beauty, all were
there,
Of Aryan blood but bronzed by India’s
sun,
Not dressed like us, as very fashion-plates,
But clothed in flowing robes of softest
wool
And finest silk, a harmony of shades,
Sparkling with gems, ablaze with precious
stones.[6]
Three noble couples greet their gathering
guests:
An aged Brahman and his aged wife,