Page 37 - 9th-language-english-2

A year has not yet passed.
It was evening of a day in April,
in spring season.
The branches of the wayside trees were full of blossom
mantle Not to be republished
gay notes of the flute came floating in the
warm spring air from afar. 24

Upagupta passed through the city gates, and

stood at the base of the rampart.
©KTBS
Was that a woman lying at his feet in the
shadow of the mango grove? 28
Struck with the black pestilence, her body
spotted with sores of small-pox,
She was hurriedly driven away from the town
To avoid her poisonous contagion.
The ascetic sat by her side, took her head
on his knees, 32

And moistened her lips with water, and
smeared her body with sandal balm
“Who are you, merciful one?” asked the woman.
“The time, at last, has come to visit you, and
I am here,” replied the young ascetic. 36

Glossary

gay : happy
disciple : follower of a religious leader

tinkling : making a pleasant metallic sound.
startled : extremely surprised

forgiving : merciful, excusing
starred : shining like stars
: loose cloak (worn especially in the
past)

drunk with the wine: proud of her youth and beauty
of her youth

25