the lake is much below the level of the Mediterranean. M. Linant is not, however, reported as having referred to the supposed destruction of villages, and in speaking of the plain as formerly a fertile district, he perhaps really alluded to a period from which we are separated by some eight or ten centuries. HENRY C. KAY. [Since these pages were written, and on the eve of my departure from England, I have read in the Times of the 17th of January, the interesting letter of its special correspondent in Egypt, by whom, for the first time, the general facts are indicated to which it has been my desire to direct the attention of the English public, now so largely responsible for the future destinies of the Egyptian people.-H. C. K.] THE ENCHANTED LAKE. FROM THE VANA PARVA OF THE MAHABHARATA, page 825, line 17,305, of the Calcutta 4to text. [The following curious episode (now for the first time translated) occurs at the close of the Third Book of the Great Sanskrit Epic; and is, perhaps, chiefly remarkable for anticipating the classical fable of the Sphinx, as well as for containing probably the most ancient conundrums recorded. There are thirty-four in all of these propounded by the "Yaksha," or Spirit of the Lake, but some of them are here omitted. The Yakshas of Hindoo mythology are a kind of fairies, generally benignant and harmless,—and commonly called, indeed, "Punyajanas," or "good people," but possessed of great power and knowledge. In the preceding section the five Pandu Princes have been wandering in the forest, greatly distressed for want of water. The concluding portion of the translation illustrates a passage in my previously published version of the "Swargarohana," where the god Dharma praises the King Yudhisthira for his equity and self-denial.] HEN Yudhisthira spake to Nakula: "Thou Son of Madri! climb upon a tree, THEN So Nakula "Go!" said the King, "and fetch for us to drink, Then sped Nakula, Obeying Yudhisthira with swift feet, And found a crystal pool brimmed to the bank : But the eager Prince Being so parched, quaffed deep, not heeding him, Fell lifeless in the reeds. So, when they looked To see him coming, and he tarried long, Lingers too much, my brothers !-Sahadev ! Go thou; and bring him back, and bring to drink." "I go," quoth Sahadev ; and sought the pool, And saw the water, and saw Nakula Prone on the earth. Then mightily he grieved, Yet, so the stress Of thirst o'ercame him, that he heeded not, But drank, and rose, and-reeled among the reeds Then, once again, great Kunti's son Spake, saying: "Oh, Arjuna, Fear of foes! These, our twain brethren, tarry go thyself, And speed, and bring them back, and bring to drink; Our trust thou art, for we are sore distressed." Which hearing, Gudâkeśa* seized his bow And arrows, and with drawn sword sought the pool. * गुडाकेश : "He of the knotted locks," a name of Arjuna. But coming thither, saw those heroes stretched- Seeking some foe; but when none came in sight, Thus sternly stayed, the Prince exclaimed in wrath: That angry Prince, covering the sky and wood Thou shalt not live." Yet was his throat so parched Then Yudhisthira spake : "Bhima! thou Terror of thy foes! see now! To fetch us water; but they come not back. And Bhima said, "So be it ;" and he went unto the place Where those, his mighty-hearted brethren, lay. Had wrought their doom, and chafing for the fight. "But first," quoth he, " 'twere good to drink,"-so sore Then, long time left alone, Kunti's wise son Uprose-great Yudhisthira-sorrowful, Perplexed in thought; and strode into the wood: A leafy depth, where never foot was heard. Of man, but shy deer roamed, and shaggy bears Rustled, and jungle hens clucked in the shade; With tall trees crowded, in whose crown the bees Swarmed buzzing, and strange birds buiided their nests. Through this green darkness wending, Yudhisthir Passed to the pool, and marked its silver face Shine in the light, rimmed round with golden cups Of lotus blossoms, all as if 'twere made By Viswakarma, Architect divine; And all its gleaming shallows and bright bays And framed about with Ketuk-groves,* and clumps For there he saw, Stretched dead together-as the World's Lords die, His warrior brethren. There Arjuna lay, Saying, "Ah, Bhima! oh, my brother! named From the grim wolf;t vain is the vow thou mad'st To break the thigh of fell Duryodhana In battle with thy mace. And those words wind. Dead art thou now, Brother and faithful Friend! *The Pandanus odoratissimus. tel “Vrikodara," i.e., “Wolf's belly." |