of her, the accursed phantom of her!  What was she?  An illusion creating illusions, a mockery, a dream, a shadow, a vanity, a vexation of spirit!  The fault, the sin, was in himself, in his rebellious thought, in his untamed memory.  Though mobile as water, intangible as vapor, Thought, nevertheless, may be tamed by the Will, may be harnessed to the chariot of Wisdom—­must be!—­that happiness be found.  And he recited the blessed verses of the “Book of the Way of the Law":—­

“All forms are only temporary.” When this great truth is fully comprehended by any one, then is he delivered from all pain.  This is the Way of Purification.

“All forms are subject unto pain.” When this great truth is fully comprehended by any one, then is he delivered from all pain.  This is the Way of Purification.

“All forms are without substantial reality.” When this great truth is fully comprehended by any one, then is he delivered from all pain.  This is the way of ...

Her form, too, unsubstantial, unreal, an illusion only, though comeliest of illusions?  She had given him alms!  Was the merit of the giver illusive also,—­illusive like the grace of the supple fingers that gave?  Assuredly there were mysteries in the Abhidharma impenetrable, incomprehensible!...  It was a golden coin, stamped with the symbol of an elephant,—­not more of an illusion, indeed, than the gifts of Kings to the Buddha!  Gold upon her bosom also, less fine than the gold of her skin.  Naked between the silken sash and the narrow breast-corslet, her young waist curved glossy and pliant as a bow.  Richer the silver in her voice than in the hollow pagals that made a moonlight about her ankles!  But her smile!—­the little teeth like flower-stamens in the perfumed blossom of her mouth!

O weakness!  O shame!  How had the strong Charioteer of Resolve thus lost his control over the wild team of fancy!  Was this languor of the Will a signal of coming peril, the peril of slumber?  So strangely vivid those fancies were, so brightly definite, as about to take visible form, to move with factitious life, to play some unholy drama upon the stage of dreams!  “O Thou Fully Awakened!” he cried aloud, “help now thy humble disciple to obtain the blessed wakefulness of perfect contemplation! let him find force to fulfil his vow! suffer not Mara to prevail against him!” And he recited the eternal verses of the Chapter of Wakefulness:—­

“Completely and eternally awake are the disciples of Gotama! Unceasingly, by day and night, their thoughts are fixed upon the Law.

“Completely and eternally awake are the disciples of Gotama! Unceasingly, by day and night, their thoughts are fixed upon the Community.

“Completely and eternally awake are the disciples of Gotama! Unceasingly, by day and night, their thoughts are fixed upon the Body.

“Completely and eternally awake are the disciples of Gotama! Unceasingly, by day and night, their minds know the sweetness of perfect peace.