Is there aught of harm believing, That, some newer form receiving, They may find a wider sphere, Live a larger life than here? That the meek, appealing eyes, Haunted by strange mysteries, Find a more extended field, To new destinies unsealed; Or, that in the ripened prime Of some far-off summer time, Ranging that unknown domain, We may find our pets again. Sir Edwin Arnold has translated much that is touching about those who are devoted to animals. A sinful woman led out to die by stoning was pardoned by the king, because of her pity, even at that terrible crisis, for a dying dog: Glaring upon the water out of reach, And praying succor in a silent speech, So piteous were its eyes which, when she saw, This woman from her foot her shoe did draw, Albeit death-sorrowful, and looping up The long silk of her girdle, made a cup Of the heel’s hollow, and thus let it sink Until it touched the cool, black water’s brink, So filled the embroidered shoe and gave a draught To the spent beast. This brute beast Testifies for thee, sister! whose weak breast Death could not make ungentle. I hold rule In Allah’s stead, who is the merciful, And hope for mercy; therefore go thou free— I dare not show less pity unto thee! We send missionaries to the East to teach those who in some respects are well fitted by their pure lives, exalted aims, and mercy toward the brute creation to instruct us. How exquisite the story of the man who would not enter heaven and leave his dog behind! But the king answered: “O thou Wisest One, Who knowest what was, and is, and is to be, Still one more grace: this hound hath ate with me, Followed me, loved me: must I leave him now?” “Monarch,” spake Indra, “thou art now as we— Deathless, divine—thou art become a god; Glory and power and gifts celestial, And all the joys of heaven are thine for aye. What hath a beast with these? Leave here thy hound.” Yet Yudhishthira answered: “O Most High, O thousand-eyed and wisest; can it be That one exalted should seem pitiless? Nay, let me lose such glory: for its sake I would not leave one living thing I loved.” Then sternly Indra spake: “He is unclean, And into Swarga such shall enter not. The Krodhavasha’s hand destroys the fruits Of sacrifice, if dogs defile the fire. Bethink thee, Dharmaraj, quit now this beast; That which is seemly is not hard of heart.”