* * * * * A moment later, on the other side, on the stony path leading to the city, appeared Pontius Pilate. Before he had come near, it was evident from his face that he was bringing news, which, as a man of judgment, he considered a fresh, absurd invention of the ignorant and credulous rabble. In fact, while still at some distance, he began to call, wiping perspiration from his brow,-- "Imagine to thyself, they declare that he has risen from the dead!" BE THOU BLESSED. Once on a bright moonlight night the wise and mighty Krishna fell into deep meditation, and said,-- "I thought man the most beautiful creation on earth; but I was mistaken. Here I see the lotus, rocked by the night breeze. Oh, how much more beautiful it is than any living being; its leaves have just opened to the silver light of the moon, and I cannot wrest my eyes from it! "Among men there is nothing to compare with it," repeated he, sighing. But after a while he thought,-- "Why should I, a god, not create, by the power of my word, a being who would be among men what the lotus is among flowers? Let it be then to the delight of man and the earth. Lotus, change thou into a living maiden and stand before me." The water trembled slightly, as if touched by the wings of a swallow; the night grew bright; the moon shone with more power in the sky; the night thrushes sang more distinctly, then stopped on a sudden, and the charm was accomplished: before Krishna stood the lotus in human shape. The god himself was astonished. "Thou wert a flower of the lake," said he; "henceforth be the flower of my thought, and speak." The maiden began to whisper in a voice as low as the sound made by the white leaves of the lotus when kissed by a summer breeze,-- "Lord, thou hast changed me into a living being; where now dost thou command me to dwell? Remember, lord, that when I was a flower I trembled and drew in my leaves at every breath of the wind. I feared heavy rain; I feared storms; I feared thunder and lightning; I feared even the burning rays of the sun. Thou hast commanded me to be the incarnation of the lotus; hence I have kept my former nature, and now I fear the earth and all that is on it. Where dost thou command me to dwell?" Krishna raised his wise eyes to the stars, meditated a while, and then asked,-- "Dost thou wish to live on the summits of mountains?" "Snow and cold are there, lord, I am afraid." "Well, I will build thee a palace of crystal at the bottom of the lake." "In the depths of the waters move serpents and other monsters; I am afraid, lord." "Dost thou prefer the boundless steppes?" "Whirlwinds and tempests rush over the steppes like wild herds." "What is to be done with thee, incarnate flower? Ha! In the caves of Ellora live holy hermits. Wilt thou dwell far away from the world, in those caves?" "It is dark there, lord; I am afraid."