________________
I, 5.
LEAVING THE CITY.
AT
VARGA 5. LEAVING THE City. And so the king increased the means for gratifying the appetite for pleasure; both night and day the joys of music wore out the prince, opposed to pleasure; 323
Disgusted with them, he desired their absence, his mind was weaned from all such thoughts, he only thought of age, disease, and death ; as the lion wounded by an arrow. 324
The king then sent his chief ministers, and the most distinguished of his family, young in years and eminent for beauty, as well as for wisdom and dignity of manners, 325
To accompany, and rest with him, both night and day, in order to influence the prince's mind. And now within a little interval, the prince again requested the king that he might go abroad. 326
Once more the chariot and the well-paced horses were prepared, adorned with precious substances and every gem; and then with all the nobles, his associates, surrounding him, he left the city gates: 327
Just as the four kinds of flower?, when the sun shines, open out their leaves, so was the prince in all his spiritual splendour ; effulgent in the beauty of his youth time; 328
As he proceeded to the gardens from the city, the road was well prepared, smooth, and wide, the trees were bright with flowers and fruit, his heart was joyous, and forgetful of its care. 329
It may be a description of some particular flower, 'four-seed (kind)-flower.'
Digitized by Google