He returns rejoicing, however, to his mountain-home, for his eyes had seen the promised and expected Saviour.[151:6] Paintings in the _cave_ of Ajunta represent Asita with the infant Buddha in his arms.[152:1] The marvelous gifts of this child had become known to this eminent ascetic by _supernatural signs_.[152:2] Buddha, as well as Crishna and Jesus, was presented with "costly jewels and precious substances."[152:3] (Why not gold and perfumes?) _Rama_--the seventh incarnation of Vishnu for human deliverance from evil--is also hailed by "_aged saints_"--(why not "wise _men_"?)--who die gladly when their eyes see the long-expected one.[152:4] _How-tseich_, who was one of those personages styled, in China, "Tien-Tse," or "Sons of Heaven,"[152:5] and who came into the world in a miraculous manner, was laid in a narrow lane. When his mother had fulfilled her time: "Her first-born son (came forth) like a lamb. There was no bursting, no rending, No injury, no hurt-- Showing how wonderful he would be." When born, the sheep and oxen protected him with loving care.[152:6] The birth of _Confucius_ (B. C. 551), like that of all the demi-gods and saints of antiquity, is fabled to have been attended with allegorical prodigies, amongst which was the appearance of the _Ke-lin_, a miraculous quadruped, prophetic of happiness and virtue, which announced that the child would be "a king without a throne or territory." _Five celestial sages, or "wise men" entered the house at the time of the child's birth, whilst vocal and instrumental music filed the air._[152:7] _Mithras_, the Persian Saviour, and mediator between God and man, was also visited by "wise men" called Magi, at the time of his birth.[152:8] He was presented with gifts consisting of gold, frankincense and myrrh.'[152:9] According to Plato, at the birth of _Socrates_ (469 B. C.) there came three Magi from the east to worship him, bringing gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.[152:10] _Æsculapius_, the virgin-born Saviour, was protected by goatherds (why not shepherds?), who, upon seeing the child, knew at once that he was divine. The voice of fame soon published the birth of this miraculous infant, upon which people flocked from all quarters to behold and worship this heaven-born child.[153:1] Many of the Grecian and Roman demi-gods and heroes were either fostered by or worshiped by shepherds. Amongst these may be mentioned _Bacchus_, who was educated among shepherds,[153:2] and _Romulus_, who was found on the banks of the Tiber, and educated by shepherds.[153:3] _Paris_, son of Priam, was educated among shepherds,[153:4] and _Ægisthus_ was exposed, like Æsculapius, by his mother, found by shepherds and educated among them.[153:5] Viscount Amberly has well said that: "Prognostications of greatness in infancy are, indeed, among the stock incidents in the mythical or semi-mythical lives of eminent persons."