Oracles

I38 DHAMMAPADA “ Me he abused and me he beat, he robbed me, he defeated me.” In whom such thoughts no harbourage may find, will hatred cease to be. “ The state of hate doth not abate by hate in any clime or time, But hate will cease if love increase,” so smoothly runs the ancient rhyme. (I have imitated the punning of the Pali by the repeated rhymes, which further gives the flavor of the Old English proverbial saw.) The truth that “ here we all must die ” those others do not comprehend ; But some perceiving it, for them all discords find an utter end. Sodden * with passion, unrestrained his senses (such an one we see), Immoderate in the food of sense, idle and void of energy , Him surely Mara overcomes, as wind throws down the feeble tree. Careless of passion, well restrained his senses, such an one we find Moderate in pleasure, faithful, great in mighty energy of mind , Him Mara shakes not ; are the hills thrown down by fury of the wind ? * Sodden—the habitual—who lives unrestrained, etc.