AMRA. 148 



pate with terror the effects of his treachery, when once discovered ; 

 but he repelled such obstrusive images, and resolutely shut his eyes 

 against a future, which he could neither control nor avert. He tried 

 to persuade himself, that it was now too late ; that the stoical in- 

 difference to all earthly evil, passion, and suffering, which the Pun- 

 dit Sarma taught and practised, would sufficiently arm him against 

 the double blow preparing for him. Yet, as the hour approached, 

 the fever of suspense consumed his heart. Contrary passions dis- 

 tracted and bewildered him : his ideas of right and wrong became 

 fearfully perplexed. He would have given the treasures of Istakar 

 to arrest the swift progress of time. He felt like one entangled in 

 the wheels of some vast machine, and giddily and irresistibly whirled 

 along he knew neither how nor whither. 



At length the day arrived : the morning broke forth in all that 

 splendor with which she descends upon "the Indian steep/' Go- 

 vinda prepared for the early sacrifice, the last he was to perform. 

 In spite of the heaviness arid confusion which reigned in his own 

 mind, he could perceive, that something unusual occupied the thoughts 

 of his preceptor : some emotion of a pleasurable kind had smoothed 

 the old man's brow. His voice was softened ; and though his lips 

 were compressed, almost a smile lighted up his eyes, when he turn- 

 ed them on Govinda. The sacrifice was one of unusual pomp and 

 solemnity, in honour of the goddess Parvati, and lasted till the sun's 

 decline. When they returned to the dwelling of Sarma he dismissed 

 his pupils from their learned exercises, desiring them to make that 

 day a day of rest and recreation, as if it were the festival of Sri, the 

 goddess of learning, when books, pens, and papers, being honoured 

 as her emblems, remain untouched, and her votaries enjoy a sabbath. 

 When they were departed, the old Brahman commanded Govinda 

 to seat himself on the ground opposite to him. This being the first 

 time he had ever sat in the presence of his preceptor, the young, man 

 hesitated ; but Sarma motioned him to obey, and accordingly he sat 

 down at a respectful distance, keeping his eyes reverently cast upon 

 the ground. The old man then spoke these words : 



" It is now five years since the son of Mitra entered my dwelling. 

 He was then but a child, helpless, orphaned, ignorant of all true 

 knowledge ; expelled from the faith of his fathers and the priveleges 

 of his high caste. I took him to my heart with joy, I fed him, I 

 clothed him, I opened his mind to truth, I poured into his soul the 

 light of knowledge : he became to me a son. If in any thing I have 

 omitted the duty of a father towards him, if ever I refused to him. 

 the wish of his heart or the desire of his eyes, let him now speak ! " 



