Ten days have passed, and now the rising sun. That hangs above the distant mountain-peaks Is mirrored back by countless rippling waves That dance upon the Ganges' yellow stream, Swollen by rains and melted mountain-snows, And glorifies the thousand sacred fanes[2] With gilded pinnacles and spires and domes That rise in beauty on its farther bank, While busy multitudes glide up and down With lightly dipping oars and swelling sails. And pilgrims countless as those shining waves, From far and near, from mountain, hill and plain, With dust and travel-stained, foot-sore, heart-sick, Here came to bathe within the sacred stream, Here came to die upon its sacred banks, Seeking to wash the stains of guilt away, Seeking to lay their galling burdens down. Scoff not at these poor heavy-laden souls! Blindly they seek, but that all-seeing Eye That sees the tiny sparrow when it falls, Is watching them, His angels hover near. Who knows what visions meet their dying gaze? Who knows what joys await those troubled hearts? The ancient writings say that having naught To pay the ferryman, the churl refused To ferry him across the swollen stream, When he was raised and wafted through the air. What matter whether that all-powerful Love Which moves the worlds, and bears with all our sins, Sent him a chariot and steeds of fire, Or moved the heart of some poor fisherman To bear him over for a brother's sake? All power is His, and men can never thwart His all-embracing purposes of love. Now past the stream and near the sacred grove The deer-park called, the five saw him approach. But grieved at his departure from the way The ancient sages taught, said with themselves They would not rise or do him reverence. But as he nearer came, the tender love, The holy calm that shone upon his face, Made them at once forget their firm resolve. They rose together, doing reverence, And bringing water washed his way-soiled feet, Gave him a mat, and said as with one voice: "Master Gautama, welcome to our grove. Here rest your weary limbs and share our shade. Have you escaped from karma's fatal chains And gained clear vision--found the living light?"