New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-08-12
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
aPNoLD,s THE LIGHT OF ASIA.

lluDnei q To-
The fruits of an earnest study of Oriental htera-
tpre and of personal residence of several years III
India are embodied in this stately poetlcal TO-
,nance. From the dim and shadowy legends OF the
nr,ncelv founder Of the great religion OF the Eas''
scantv and uncertain they prove TO oe uuuer t'c
hand of critical research MI Arnold has constructor
n uoem. which for afiuence OF lmagnauoh' SpIehuoi
of dicton. and yrile descriptive power VIII moi DC
easily matched among the most remarhaole pro
cuctiops in the literature of the day. His starting
MONT is the historical importance of the buddhist
faith. which has existed during twenty-tour cen
turies and now SurpaSSeS in the number OF us lo-
lowers and the extent Of It's prevalence any other
form of religious belief Not less than four huhuieu
and seventy millions of our race i've ana ule In inc
tenets of Gautama HIS spiritual dominions at the
present time reach from Nepam and CeyIon over
The whole Eastern Peninsula TO China Japan
Tbibct. Central Asia, Siberia, and even swedish
IopIoud More than third of mankind. there
fore - Mr.. Arnold remarks, "Owc their moral ana
religions ideas 10 this illuSrious Prince whose per
sonalitv though mperfectly revealed IN the exist
inc sources of information, cannot but appear the
highest. gentest, hottest, and most beneheent. with
one exception. in The history of Thought" MOI q
single act or word is recorded (Which mars the
uerfect purity and tenderness of this Indian teacher
bounited the truest prucely qualities with the
intellect Of a sage and the passionate devotion OF
martyr"
The author has put his poem into the mouth OF an
Indian Buddhist, because the spirit OF AsI"''o
Thought must be regarded from an Olental poln' VI
,,i,v in order 10 gain correct appreciation OF It's
significance. After relating the circumstances al
tending the birth of Prince Siddartha known as
the founder of a religion by the name OF Buddha'
the noet proceeds to describe his education under
the discipline provided by his wise and hDeral
father who spared none Of the resources OF an
Oriental monarchy for the training and culture oil
the youthful Prince. He early displayed pre-
cocity of intellect and character which surpassed
the highest skill of his teachers, and presaged
future Of marvellous import -
When reverence
Lord Buddha kept to an bis schCOlmastels'
Albeit beyond their learning taught II speech
Iight gentle. vet so wise prnceiy OF men,
And tender.heartcd, though OF fearless blood;
No bOloer hurseman ID the youthful band
No keener driver OF the chariot ,. ,,,+s
Yet md-plsy the boy would Outlines pause,
Letting the deer pass free ; would oilumes Aae'u
lis ualf-won race because the laoornc stecds
Pitched painful breath; OF il ms pILcely mates
saddened 70 l0se or II some TlstIu di III, .
swept DER his thoughts. And ever win the years
Waxed TINS compass -ionaeucsS OF our L0rd,
Iyen as a great tree grows from two SOFT leaves
Knew the young child OF sorrow, pain or tears a
bivc strange names FOR things NOT iel' Oy Auss'
The poet then relates an instance Illustrating the
early development of the quality of mercy" IN
the bosom of the Prince. Ii happened one Vernh
day that a wild swan was shot by an idle courier
rs the flock flew near the palace, and the wounded
bird fell into the hands of Siddastha As he soothed
the frightened, hutterng bird with tender touch
and drew the arrow from its side, he pressed the
barb into his own wrist to make trlal OF the pam =
Then some one came who sand 81 Ny Prince hath shot
HfHIH f.. D .f.I . e T..
Nay" quoih sIdGj tua, 90 if tde bird were dead
TO SEND 10 10 the yer might be Well 100
Tut the swan live NY cousin hath but killed
fGr g"d-lfl srteu winch throbb,d this white wing
And Dtysdutfa .sW1ed, Tho wild thug,
Living or dead. ls his who fetched IL down;
'Twds mans IA tue clouds, Iut IllE us mIhe'
Give me my Irgc, fam COUSIN" Then our L2IU
Lad III. swans neck beside bis own smooth check
And graycly spakc, - say mol the bird Is NINE
Tie itst Of myriad things which shall be mine
b. rIght Of mercy and loves loneliness
For now know, by what WITHIN me stiIA
That [ shall teach compassion unto men
Aud be a speechess words interpreter
AMAZING mis- accursed food Of woe,
Sotf mans alone. but if the Prince disputes,
Let him submit tins matter 10 the wise A.,
And we Will wait their word" 80 was 1t donei
In fun diyan the business had debate
And many thought this thing and many that,
Til there arose an unknown priest VINO SAID,
Il" Il lie be augnt, Tue a4ttoG o, q me o,
Who sought to say-the slayer spo,ls ana wastes
Tie eleshrr 9t94s yg Gin b tine Hira o King
Sought out The sage for honor, ne Was gomez
And some one saw hooded snake glide foItB ID,
The gods come Ulttimes thus! 80 our LOI0 Buddh
Began his works OF mercy
His experience of human suffering upon visit
with his father to different III the royal do
man. is greatly enlarged by the suggestive specta-
Gle. and fresh impulse is given 10 his already deep
sympathy with the woes OF his kind -
On another day, the King said, Come
sweet son aud see the pCdsdunce OF the Spring,
And how the fruitful earth is wooed to yield
It's riches TO the reaper now my Ttalm- .
Feeds al its mouths and keeps the Kings chest filed
Far Is the season with new leaves, bright blooms
Green grass, and cries OF plOugh-im"" 20 ihey rOde
Into land OF wells ana gardens, where
an up aud down the rich red ic1In, the steers
Straiued their strong shoulders III the creaking yoke
Dragging the poughs; the fat sOil rose ana rOl. ed
Planted botu feet upon the lcaping share
TO make the iurrOw deep among the palms
And where il ran the glad earth 'broderedit
with ba sans ana the spears OF emOu-grass.
Aud all the jungle laughed with nesting songs
And all the tmckets rustled with small llie
OF lizard, bee, beetle, and creeping things
Pleased at the sprng-ime. In Ilo mang2}-sprays
The sm-birds flashed; alone at his green forge
chasing the purple butterflies; beneath,
ne nine fhro1n sisters chatcred in the thorn
The pied dsh-tiger hung above the pool,
The egrets stalkcl among the buhdl0es'
The kites sailed circles IN the golden AR;
About the painted temple peacOcks new
The village drums he t for some marriage feast;
All things spoke peace and plenty, aud the Prince
The thorns which grow upon this rose OF lfe
How the swart peasant sWcated for his wage,
T0ilng for leave TO live ana how no urged
The greateyed oxen through the flaming hours,
Goadlng Their velvet hanks then marked he, too,
How lizard fed on ant, aud snake on Inn,
And kite on bOtu and how me hsl-haWk rODDed
The tish-tigcr of that which 10 had seized;
The shTke chasing the UulDul, which ala chase
The irwelled buttcrfi TIL everywhere
Zach a slayer and I'm turn was slain5
Life living upon death SO he fair show
Yelled one vast, savage, grim conspiracy
OF mutual murder, from The worm TO man,
Who himself Kills ms fellow seeing which
The hungry pOugIman and his labOrlng kline,
Their dew .aus blistercd with the bitter yoke,
The rage 10 1--we which makes al living strife
Tue Prince Siddaftha sighed els this," hesaid,
Tnat happy earth they brought me forth 10 zee 2
How salt with sweat tne pe.-ants bread! now hard