How an Evil Wish was Punished—an Oriental Legend [pp. 440-444]

THE LADIES' REPOSIT7'01 Y.
brothers were preparing to take their
noonday meal, each in the style suited
to his rank and wealth. Had they known
of the approach of the embryo god, they
would have thought only of some petition to present, and of suitable offerings
to lay at his sacred feet. But fate had
closed their eyes. Chan Watio, the eldest, was of noble form and comely features, with lustrous eyes that sent forth
lightning glances terrible to behold, or
melted into tender love, according to the
impulse that chanced to be uppermost.
He had exalted rank, great wealth, and
all the blessings that fate could lay at the
feet of her favorite; but to-day he was
listless and morose. Pleasure's cup had
been so often quaffed that it had ceased
to charm, and despite his gorgeous surroundings, a presentiment of impending
calamity cast a shadow over the handsome face. Moodily, as if determined
to find cause of unhappiness somewhere,
he had thrown himself on the luxurious
couch spread for his use, beneath a canopy of burnished gold, from which depended curtains of satin edged with gold
lace, and looped with bands of emerald.
The cushions were of purple velvet embruidered in gold and precious stones;
and over the tented floor were laid costly
mosaics of silver and ebony; while a
massive golden chandelier hung from
the roof by a chain of the same precious
metal. Mirrors and pictures hungaround,
and tempting divans invited to voluptuous repose. Couched in various attitudes
about their lord were a score or two of
bewitching damsels, very queens of love
and beauty, whose charms and graces
would have melted the heart of an anchorite. Some were fanning their lord
with dainty punkas of gold and pearl,
some toyed with his hands or bathed his
vexed brow in attar of roses; and several
were busy twining about the cushions
where he reclined wreaths of fragrant
flowers,-each striving to win some look
of love or coveted caress. At the farther
end of the pavilion were bands of singing and dancing girls, lovely and grace —
ful as houris. Soft strains of amorous
music floated on the balmy air, while
with pliant forms and swelling bosoms,
beauteous maidens threaded the mazes
of a voluptuous dance. Quickly following came a trill of martial music and
the sound of many instruments, that
heralded the entrance of a maiden of
majestic presence. She recounted in impassioned tones the adventures of a celestial hero, who, triumphing over all the
powers of evil, had rescued from her demon captor a princess of wondrous
beauty. Then followed the captive's
song of triumph, as she laid herself lovingly at Lord Watio's feet, after having
presented a sparkling goblet of roseate
nectar, and waited his response. It
came only in the passionate overturning
of the proffered cup, and a muttered exclamation of impatience, as the spoiled
epicure sprang to his feet. At that instant the door of the pavilion softly
opened, and, unannounced, the priest
Gaudama entered. The stately figure
was completely enveloped in the priestly
robe of sacred yellow, and in dignified
silence he placed his begging-dishl at the
feet of the noble, as he stood with folded
arms to await the result. Anxious to be
rid of the intruder, Lord Watio snatched
a golden cup from one of his ladies, laid
it in the priest's caba, and bowed himself
before the holy man, asking that in the
next state of existence his condition
might correspond with the richness of
the offering he had made. The promise
was given, and then the priest, mindful of
his vows, hastened to leave the presence
of the "wine, wealth, and women" which
the sacred law bade him "despise."
His next call was at the encampment
of Lord Thun, the second brother in age
and rank. He was young, vigorous, and
happy, not so rich as his elder brother,
but wiser, and tasting with greater zest
the gifts of Fate. His tent had been
pitched beneath the wide-spread branches
of a noble banyan, the thick, umbrageous shadow affording gratefil shelter
from the noonday sun. The canopy
beneath which he reclined was of silver,
set with clustered fruits of rubies half
442
[Nov.,