Siddhartha

Author(s): Hermann Hesse, Hilda Rosner
Publisher: Macmillan India

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I have never thought about it, sir. I have been without possessions for nearly three years and I have never thought on what I should live.'
"So you have lived on the possessions of others?' 'Apparently. The merchant also lives on the possessions of others.
'Well spoken, but he does not take from others for nothing. he gives his goods in exchange.'
"That seems to be the way of things. Everyone takes, everyone gives. Life is like that.' "Ah, but if you are without possessions, how can you
give?
"Everyone gives what he has. The soldier gives strength, the merchant goods, the teacher instruction, the farmer rice, the fisherman fish.
'Very well and what can you give? What have you learned that you can give?'
'I can think, I can wait, I can fast.' 'Is that all?' I think that is all
And of what use are they? For example, fasting, what good is that?
'It is of great value, sir. If a man has nothing to eat, fasting is the most intelligent thing he can do. If, for instance, Siddhartha had not learned how to fast, he would have had to seek some kind of work today, either with you, or elsewhere, for hunger would have driven him. But as it is, Siddhartha can wait calmly. He is not impatient, he is not in need, he can ward off hunger for a long time and laugh at it. Therefore, fasting is useful, sir.
You are right, Samana. Wait a moment.' Kamaswami went out and returned with a roll which he handed to his guest and inquired: 'Can you read
Siddhartha looked at the roll, on which a sales agreement was written, and began to read the contents.
Excellent,' said Kamaswami, and will you write something for me on this sheet?'
He gave him a sheet and a pen and Siddhartha wrote something and returned the sheet.
Kamaswami read: 'Writing is good, thinking is better. Cleverness is good, patience is better.'
'You write very well,' the merchant praised him. 'We shall still have plenty to discuss, but today I invite you to be my guest and to live in my house.
Siddhartha thanked him and accepted. He now lived in the merchant's house. Clothes and shoes were brought to him and a servant prepared him a bath daily. Splendid meals were served twice a day, but Siddhartha only ate once a day, and neither ate meat nor drank wine. Kamaswami talked to him about his business, showed him goods and warehouses and accounts. Siddhartha learned many new things; he heard much and said little. And remembering Kamala's words, he was never servile to the merchant, but compelled him to treat him as an equal and even more than his equal. Kamaswami conducted his business with care and often with passion, but Siddhartha regarded it all as a game, the rules of which he endeavoured to learn well, but which did not stir his heart.
He was not long in Kamaswami's house when he was already taking a part in his master's business. Daily, however, at the hour she invited him, he visited the beautiful Kamala, in handsome clothes, in fine shoes, and soon he also brought her presents. He learned many things from her wise red lips. Her smooth gentle hand taught him many things. He, who was still a boy as regards love and was inclined to plunge to the depths of it blindly and insatiably, was taught by her that one cannot have pleasure without giving it, and that every
this?
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