_B._ Thou lookst courageous and thy very words Possess a ring of simple honesty.

_GS._ I serve a mighty king who means to do the right. He prefers to establish his rule by treaty and spares an enemy who sues for peace.

_B._ Thou speakst of Bimbisara, King of Magadha?

_GS._ Indeed I speak of the great Bimbisara, and he is born to sway the world. My sympathy and my allegiance go with him. I am Siha, his general.

_B._ Thy name is known throughout the Indian lands.

_GS._ When I chose my profession I prayed to the G.o.ds that they would never let it be my lot to fight for any unjust cause.

_B._ Let this thy prayer be a sacred vow Which thou wilt keep inviolate. Our fate, Or say the G.o.ds, create conditions; but thou Thyself must act. Thou art responsible, Thou shapest thine own life, and not the G.o.ds.

_GS._ Thy words please me! What is thy doctrine, venerable monk?

_B._ I teach the middle way between extremes.

Neither mortifications of the body Nor self-indulgence should be practised.

We must make up our minds and walk On the eightfold n.o.ble path of righteousness.

_GS._ Who art thou, wondrous monk? Thy doctrine is so plain, and so convincing that I grant thou speakest truth. The people ought to know thee and accept thy creed. Who art thou?

_B._ Born of the Sakya race, they call me Sakyamuni.

_GS._ Blessed be this day on which I meet the greatest man of our age.

I heard of thee from the Nirgranthas, thine own enemies, the rival sect of thy new order, and they say that thou deniest the soul, thou teachest extinction, thou leadest man to non-existence, and that Nirvana is with thee an empty naught--annihilation.--Is that true?

_B._ I teach extinction, n.o.ble general, Of hatred, greed, and l.u.s.t, but I insist On doing what is right and just and good; On doing resolutely what we do, On searching for the truth, on setting up Its lamp and following its holy light.

Nirvana is attained when pa.s.sions are Extinct and when the heart is blessed with peace.

_GS._ Thou art more than a mortal, holy man. Auspicious is this day on which I've met thee. The people call thee Buddha, perhaps rightly so! A feeling of deep reverence comes over me and the truth dawns on me. Truly thou art the teacher of the world. If thy doctrine impressed the people a new era would begin, an era in which mankind would be wiser and n.o.bler, happier and better.

[Barbaric music is heard behind the stage, the drum being prominent.]

_Voices behind the stage:_ Maha Kali! Kali Ma!

_GS._ Behold how wretched are these people in their ignorance.

_B._ They must be taught and they will learn the truth.

[The procession enters. A small band of musicians comes with primitive instruments, among them drums. They are followed first by dancers, then by a priest (_Pr._) flourishing in his b.l.o.o.d.y hand a large knife.

By his side walks a shepherd carrying a lamb. Behind them the farmer's (_F._) family and other people]

_GS._ What horrible sounds! And the crowd behave like madmen.

_Pr._ Maha Kali!

_Crowd._ Kali Ma!

_Pr._ G.o.ddess of the black countenance! Great Black Mother!

_Crowd._ Maha Kali! Kali Ma!

Maha Kali! Kali Ma!

Maha Kali! Kali Ma!

[The priest steps to the altar; the crowd kneels in a large circle. At the priest's signal the farmer approaches the altar and kneels. His behavior betrays superst.i.tious timidity and great awkwardness. The shepherd exhibits the lamb first to the priest and then to the dancers who in fantastic dancing step advance and retreat while the music plays. Finally the lamb is placed on the altar.]

_Pr._ Have Mercy on us! Slay the demon of disease.

Keep away Yama the horrible one, the G.o.d of Death.

_Crowd._ Kali Ma, have mercy on us!

_Pr._ Thou art Parvati, the wife of Siva. Thou hast conquered the giant Durga, the evil one, and now thyself art called the G.o.ddess Durga.

Thou art Mahishamardini, the slayer of Mahisha.

Thou art Kalaratri, Nightly Darkness, abyss of all mysteries.

Thou art Jagaddhatri, mother of the world.

Thou art Jagadgauri, renowned throughout the world.

Thou art Katyayina, refulgent with a thousand suns.

Thou art Singhavahini, seated on a lion thou wonest victory over Raktavija, leader of the giants' army.

Great Mother of Life, accept our offering, the blood of this lamb.

_Crowd._ Maha Kali, accept our offering!

Kali Ma, accept our offering!

Kali Durga, great G.o.ddess, accept our offering!

_The priest turns toward the lamb and raises his knife.

BUDDHA steps to the altar and places his hand gently upon the priest's arm._

_B._ Hold!

_Pr._ Meddler!

_B._ Pause before thou sheddest blood.

_Pr._ How dar'st thou rudely interfere, strange monk, With our most sacred sacrifice? This lamb Is offered to the G.o.ddess. Thou disturbest Our holy ritual.

_He lifts his knife against BUDDHA, but SIHA draws his sword and knocks the knife out of the priest's hand._

_GS._ Keep peace, bold priest!

_Pr._ The vengeance of the G.o.ds will be upon you.

_B._ If there be G.o.ds they must be potent, n.o.ble, And great and holy; and if the G.o.ds are holy, They do not need the offering of a victim, They do not want the life of this poor trembling lamb.

_Pr._ The G.o.ds are kind; they take the lamb in place of this poor stricken man. We must do penance for his sins, for the sins of his wife, for the sins of his children.

_Farmer._ I crave forgiveness for the sins for which my dear good child has had to die.

_Pr._ His sins are great and nothing can wash them away but blood.