18 Shadowings 



she sang but the song also was now trans- 

 formed; and the words came thus to the ears 

 of the priest: 



On the Vast Sea of Cessation, 



Though the Winds of the Six Desires and of the 



Five Corruptions never blow, 

 Yet the surface of that deep is always covered 

 With the billowings of Attainment to the Real- 



ity-in-Itself. 



Dazzled by the divine ray, the priest closed 

 his eyes : but through their lids he still distinctly 

 saw the vision. When he opened them again, it 

 was gone : he saw only the girl with her hand- 

 drum, and heard only the song about the water 

 of Murozumi. But he found that as often as 

 he shut his eyes he could see Fugen-Bosatsu 

 on the six-tusked elephant, and could hear the 

 mystic Song of the Sea of Cessation. The other 

 persons present saw only the yujo : they had not 

 beheld the manifestation. 



Then the singer suddenly disappeared from 

 the banquet-room none could say when or 

 how. From that moment the revelry ceased; 

 and gloom took the place of joy. After having 

 waited and sought for the girl to no purpose, 



