"
"And heard?"
"Augustness, nothing but the harsh voice of the wood-cutter's
daughter."
"And felt?"
"Augustness, nothing but the bone-piercing cold." So His Majesty
adored that which cannot be uttered, saying;
"So Wisdom, so Glory encompass us about, and we see them not for
we are blinded with illusion. Yet every stone is a jewel and
every clod is spirit and to the hems of the Infinite Buddha all
cling. Through the compassion of the Supernal Mercy that walks
the earth as the Bodhisattwa Kwannon, am I admitted to wisdom and
given sight and hearing. And what is all the world to that happy
one who has beheld Her eyes!"
And His Majesty returned through the forest.
When, the next day, he sent for the venerable Semimaru that holy
recluse had departed and none knew where. But still when the moon
is full a strange music moves in the tree tops of Shiobara.
Then His sacred Majesty returned to City-Royal, having determined
to retire into the quiet life, and there, abandoning the throne
to a kinsman wise in greatness, he became a dweller in the
deserted hut of Semimaru.
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