THE WATER-GARDEN 263 



of his neck stood on end.'' Then Sumukha pleaded with 

 him, urging the glory of merit he would reach through 

 releasing Bodhisatta. And the fowler, adoring the self- 

 denial of Sumukha, was melted to the depths of a heart 

 that his harsh trade had never hardened. So he unbound 

 the cord and released Our Lord Bodhisatta. And then 

 in gratitude, both Sumukha and Bodhisatta offered 

 themselves freely to the man, that he might win rich 

 rewards by taking them, unbound, as a spectacle to 

 Brahmadatta the King. So the fowler carried the two 

 royal swans into the presence of the King, and before 

 Brahmadatta the Holy One lifted up his voice for holiness, 

 unfolding the Most Blessed Way; and the fowler bore 

 witness that the ardour of Sumukha's prayer for the 

 release of Bodhisatta arose from pure readiness to lay 

 down life for his master. And thus, after much profitable 

 discourse, the King was filled with wonder and piety; 

 he released the two royal swans, ' who soared upwards 

 through the clear autumn air, dark-blue as a polished 

 sword-blade,' and departed to their old waters, where a 

 myriad swans received with clamours of joy the return 

 of their Lord, with Sumukha close behind him as a 

 shadow. But Bodhisatta, overflowing in compassion for 

 his neighbour, returned again and again to the King, 

 and opened to him the perfect path of wisdom and 

 release from sorrow. And the King honoured the great 

 swan respectfully, with bowed head and humility. 



Beautiful though we may build our ponds and keep 

 them, I fear it is not likely we shall ever allure a Bod- 

 hisatta. Nearest approach to a divine swan will be a 

 very worldly heron, filled with belly-thoughts and murder, 

 who will come to take toll of any little frogs and fishes 

 that may be enjoying our waters. Nor are saintly herons, 

 I believe, so common that the prayer of frog or fish may 

 turn their hearts to kindness ; therefore if you want to 



