Chap. XI.] EEWAKDS AND PUNISHMENTS. 533 



consequences of liis acts; that morals are in tlieir essence 

 productive causes, without the aid or intervention of any- 

 higher authority; and hence forgiveness or atonement 

 are ideas utterly unknown in the despotic dogmas of 

 I3uddha. 



Allusion has already been made to the subtleties enter- 

 tained by the priesthood, in connexion with the doctrine 

 of the metempsychosis, as developed in their sacred 

 books; but the exposition would be tedious to show the 

 distinctions between then- theories, and the opinions of 

 transmigration entertained by the mass of the Singhalese 

 Buddhists. The rewards of virtue and the punishment 

 of vice are supposed to be equally attainable in this 

 world; and according to the amount of either, which 

 characterizes the conduct of an individual in one stao;e 

 of being, will be the elevation or degradation into which 

 he will be hereafter born. 



Thus punishment and reward become equally fixed 

 and inevitable : but retribution may be deferred by the 

 intermediate exhibition of virtue, and an offerino- or 

 prostration to Buddha, or an aspiration in favour of 

 faith in his name, mil suffice to ward off punishment for 

 a tune, and even produce happiness in an intermediate 

 buth; hence the most flagitious offender, by an act of 

 reverence in dying, may postpone indefinitely the evil 

 consequence of liis crimes, and hence the indifference and 

 apparent apathy Avliich is a remarkable characteristic 

 of the Singlialese who suffer death for their offences.^ 



To manldnd in general Buddha came only as an ad- 

 viser and a friend; but, as regards his own priesthood, 

 he assumes all the authority of a lawgiver and chief. 

 Spurning the desires and vanities of the world, he has 

 taught them to aspke to no other reward for then- 



Et vos barbaricos ritus, moremque sinistrum 

 Sacronim Druidae positis repetistis ab armis. 

 Solis nosse dcos, et cceli numiiia vobis 

 Aut solis nescire datum: nemora alta remoti 

 Incolitis lucis : vobis auctorihus umbnc 

 Kon lacitas Erebi sedes Vitisque pi-ofundi 



PaUirla regnn pciunt : regil idem spiiitns alius 

 Oibe alio : longtc {si caiiilis cngnita) vita; 

 Mors media est. Cerlipopuli quos despicitArctos 

 Felices errore suo, quos iltc timorum 

 Maximus haud urgct leti metus, etc. 



Li'CAN, 1. i. 450 ct seq. 



M IM 3 



