Publius, with all sincerity of aim To hearten Krishna and make most the worth Of that which he, although eye-witness not, Nor yet reporter from eye-witness known, Should proffer to that hospitality Of audience touching his dear master Buddh, Had unawares confused him more and more. For the first time the Indian felt give way A little, melting underneath his feet, His standing-ground of settled certitude: 'Was it all quicksand? Nothing there of rock?' But he made answer: "O my courteous host, All is uncertain, for tradition all, Concerning times, and order of events. Indeed, we Indians care not for these things, But trust full easily, or, not trusting, yet Rest as if trusting, in much unconcern Whether that which we learn be wholly true, Or partly not; and yet I have heard it said That, close upon the passing of the Buddh, A council of five hundred faithful met Who said together in accord complete-- No sentence varying, nay, no syllable-- The mighty mass of all the Exalted One's Instructions; but no writing then was made, Nor again afterward an hundred years, When such rehearsal came a second time. So, truth to say, where all is doubt--for me, I fear there was, for half five hundred years After he died, no record in writing made Of what our master Buddha wrought and taught. Save for those synods of rehearsal met, That precious memory lived precariously, As himself lived, the master, vagabond And mendicant from loyal mouth to mouth. But such tradition was too vital to die; Compact of only vocal breath, it still Persisted and would still for aye persist Though never at all in written record sheathed. "But the fourth part of a millennium After lord Buddha died, a synod sat Of his discreet disciples, who decreed That then at least a record should be framed In writing of the master's deeds and words." "Most fit," said Publius, who to complaisance, His impulse and his habit, now adjoined A certain willingness not unamiable To magnify the twofold part he played As host and as symposiarch, and make cheer All that he could for Krishna; "aye, most fit; And doubtless they were men, that synod, famed For wisdom and for virtue; name them thou, Or at least some, the chief, that we may here Honor them for their worth."