by Lew Wallace
CHAPTER XVI
HOW THE NEW FAITH WAS RECEIVED
It had been better for the Prince of India if he had not consented tothe intermission graciously suggested by the Emperor. The monk with thehollow eyes who had arisen and posed behind his crucifix, like anexorcist, was no other than George Scholarius, whom, for the sake ofhistorical conformity, we shall from this call Gennadius; and far fromavailing himself of His Majesty's permission to retire, that person wasobserved to pass industriously from chair to chair circulating somekind of notice. Of the refreshments he would none; his words were few,his manner earnest; and to him, beyond question, it was due that whenorder was again called, the pleasure the Prince drew from seeing everyseat occupied was dashed by the scowling looks which met him from allsides. The divining faculty, peculiarly sharpened in him, apprised himinstantly of an influence unfriendly to his project--a circumstance themore remarkable since he had not as yet actually stated any project.
Upon taking the floor, the Prince placed the large Judean Bible beforehim opened, and around it his other references, impressing the audiencewith an idea that in his own view the latter were of secondaryimportance.
"My Lord, and Reverend Sirs," he began, with a low salutation to theEmperor, "the fulness of the parallel I have run between theBodhisattwa, Son of Maya, and Jesus Christ, Son of Mary, may lead to asupposition that they were the only Blessed Ones who have appeared inthe world honored above men because they were chosen for theIncarnation of the Spirit. In these Scriptures," unrolling the _Sutra_or _Book of the Great Decease_--"frequent statements imply a number ofTathagatas or Buddhas of irregular coming. In this"--putting a fingeron a Chinese _King_--"time is divided into periods termed _Kalpas_, andin one place it is said ninety-eight Buddhas illuminated one Kalpa[Footnote: EAKIN'S Chinese Buddhism, 14.]--that is, came and taught asSaviours. Nor shall any man deny the Spirit manifest in each of themwas the same Spirit. They preached the same holy doctrine, pointed outthe same road to salvation, lived the same pure unworldly lives, andall alike made a declaration of which I shall presently speak; in otherwords, my Lord, the features of the Spirit were the same in all ofthem.... Here in these rolls, parts of the Sacred Books of the East, weread of Shun. I cannot fix his days, they were so long ago. Indeed, Ionly know he must have been an adopted of the Spirit by his leavingbehind him the Tao, or Law, still observed among the Chinese as theirstandard of virtue.... Here also is the _Avesta_, most revered remainsof the Magi, from whom, as many suppose, the Wise Men who came up toJerusalem witnesses of the birth of the new King of the Jews weresent." This too he identified with his finger. "Its teacher isZarathustra, and, in my faith, the Spirit descended upon him and abodewith him while he was on the earth. The features all showed themselvesin him--in his life, his instruction, and in the honors paid himthrough succeeding generations. His religion yet lives, though foundedhundreds of years before your gentle Nazarene walked the waters ofGalilee.... And here, O my Lord, is a book abhorred by Christians"--helaid his whole hand on the Koran--"How shall it be judged? By theindifferent manner too many of those ready to die defending its divineorigin observe it? Alas! What religion shall survive that test? In thevisions of Mahomet I read of God, Moses, the Patriarchs--nay, my Lord,I read of him called the Christ. Shall we not beware lest in condemningMahomet we divest this other Bible"--he reverently touched the greatEusebian volume--"of some of its superior holiness? He calls himself aProphet. Can a man prophesy except he have in him the light of theSpirit?"
The question awoke the assemblage. A general signing of the Cross wasindulged in by the Fathers, and there was groaning hard to distinguishfrom growls. Gennadius kept his seat, nervously playing with hisrosary. The countenance of the Patriarch was unusually grave. In allhis experience it is doubtful if the Prince ever touched a subjectrequiring more address than this dealing with the Koran. He resumedwithout embarrassment:
"Now, my Lord, I shall advance a step nearer my real subject. Thinknot, I pray, that the things I have spoken of the Bodhisattwa, of Shun,of Zarathustra, of Mahomet, likening them in their entertainment of theSpirit to Jesus, was to excite comparisons; such as which was theholiest, which did the most godly things, which is most worthy to beaccounted the best beloved of the Father; for I come to bury all strifeof the kind.... I said I had been to the mountain's top; and now, myLord, did you demand of me to single out and name the greatest of thewonders I thence beheld, I should answer: Neither on the sea, nor onthe land, nor in the sky is there a wonder like unto the perversitywhich impels men to invent and go on inventing religions and sects, andthen persecute each other on account of them. And when I prayed to beshown the reason of it, I thought I heard a voice, 'Open thineeyes--See!' ... And the first thing given me to see was that theBlessed Ones who went about speaking for the Spirit which possessedthem were divine; yet they walked the earth, not as Gods, but witnessesof God; asking hearing and belief, not worship; begging men to comeunto them as guides sent to show them the only certain way toeverlasting life in glory--only that and nothing more.... The nextthing I saw, a bright light in a white glass set on a dark hill, wasthe waste of worship men are guilty of in bestowing it on inferior andoften unworthy objects. When Jesus prayed, it was to our Father inHeaven, was it not?--meaning not to himself, or anything human, oranything less than human.... One other thing I was permitted to see;and the reserving it last is because it lies nearest the proposal Ihave come a great distance to submit to my Lord and these most reverendbrethren in holiness. Every place I have been in which men are not leftto their own imaginings of life and religion--in every land and islandtouched by revelation--a supreme God is recognized, the same inqualities--Creator, Protector, Father--Infinite in Power, Infinite inLove--the Indivisible One! Asked you never, my Lord, the object he hadin intrusting his revelation to us, and why the Blessed Ones, his Sonsin the Spirit, were bid come here and go yonder by stony paths? Let meanswer with what force is left me. There is in such permissions but oneintention which a respectful mind can assign to a being great and goodas God--one altar, one worship, one prayer, and He the soul of them.With a flash of his beneficent thought he saw in one religion peaceamongst men. Strange--most strange! In human history no other suchmarvel! There has been nothing so fruitful of bickering, hate, murderand war. Such is the seeming, and so I thought, my Lord, until on themountain's highest peak, whence all concerns lie in view below, Iopened my eyes and perceived the wrestling of tongues and fighting werenot about God, but about forms, and immaterialities, more especiallythe Blessed Ones to whom he had intrusted his Spirit. From theCeylonesian: 'Who is worthy praise but Buddha?' 'No,' the Islamiteanswers: 'Who but Mahomet?' And from the Parsee; 'No--Who butZarathustra?' 'Have done with your vanities,' the Christian thunders:'Who has told the truth like Jesus?' Then the flame of swords, and thecruelty of blows--all in God's name!"
This was bold speaking.
"And now, my Lord," the Prince went on, his appearance of exceedingcalmness belied only by the exceeding brightness of his eyes, "Godwills an end to controversy and wars blasphemously waged in his name,and I am sent to tell you of it; and for that the Spirit is in me."
Here Gennadius again arose, crucifix in hand.
"I am returned from visiting many of the nations," the Princecontinued, nothing daunted. "They demanded of me a faith broad enoughfor them to stand upon while holding fast the lesser ideas grown up intheir consciences; and, on my giving them such a faith, they said theywere ready to do the will, but raised a new condition. Some one mustmove first. 'Go find that one,' they bade me, 'and we will followafter.' In saying now I am ambassador appointed to bring the affair toYour Majesty and Your Majesty's people, enlightened enough to see thewill of the Supreme Master, and of a courage to lead in the movement,with influence and credit to carry it peacefully forward to a gloriousend, I well know how idle recommendation and entreaty are except Isatisfy you in the beginning that they have the sanction of Heaven; andthereto now.... I take no honor to myself as author of the faithpresented in answer to the
demand of the nations. In old cities thereare houses under houses, along streets underlying streets, and to findthem, the long buried, men dig deep and laboriously; that did I, untilin these old Testaments"--he cast a loving glance at all the SacredBooks--"I made a precious discovery. I pray Your Majesty's patiencewhile I read from them.... This from the Judean Bible: 'And God saidunto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, This shalt thou say unto thechildren of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.' Thus did God, of whomwe have no doubt, name himself to one chosen race.... Next from a holyman of China who lived nearly five hundred years before the Christ wasborn: 'Although any one be a bad man, if he fasts and is collected, hemay indeed offer sacrifices unto God.' [Footnote: FABER'S _Mind ofMencius_]... And from the _Avesta_, this of the creed of the Magi: 'Theworld is twofold, being the work of Ahura Mazda and Angra Mainyu: allthat is good in the world comes from the First Principle (which is God)and all that is bad from the latter (which is Satan). Angra Mainyuinvaded the world after it was made by Ahura Mazda and polluted it, butthe conflict will some day end.' [Footnote: Sir William Jones.] TheFirst Principle here is God. But most marvellous, because of thecomparison it will excite, hearken to this from the same Magian creed:'When the time is full, a son of the lawgiver still unborn, namedSaoshyant, will appear; then Angra Mainyu (Satan) and Hell will bedestroyed, men will arise from the dead, and everlasting happinessreign over the world.' Here again the Lawgiver is God; but the Son--whois he? Has he come? Is he gone? ... Next, take these several thingsfrom the _Vedas_: 'By One Supreme Ruler is the universe pervaded, evenevery world in the whole circle of nature. There is One Supreme Spiritwhich nothing can shake, more swift than the thought of man. ThePrimeval Mover even divine intelligence cannot reach; that Spirit,though unmoved, infinitely transcends others, how rapid soever theircourse; it is distant from us, yet very near; it pervades the wholesystem of worlds, yet is infinitely beyond it.' [Footnote: _Ibid._ Vol.XIII.] Now, my Lord, and very reverend sirs, do not the words quotedcome to us clean of mystery? Or have you the shadow of a doubt whomthey mean, accept and consider the prayer I read you now from the same_Vedas:_ 'O Thou who givest sustenance to the world, Thou sole mover ofall, Thou who restrainest sinners, who pervadest yon great luminarywhich appearest as the Son of the Creator; hide thy struggling beamsand expand thy spiritual brightness that I may view thy mostauspicious, most glorious, real form. OM, remember me, divine Spirit!OM, remember my deeds! Let my soul return to the immortal Spirit ofGod, and then let my body, which ends in ashes, return to dust.' Who isOM? Or is my Lord yet uncertain, let him heed this from the _HoliestVerse of the Vedas_: 'Without hand or foot, he runs rapidly, and graspsfirmly; without eyes, he sees; without ears, he hears all; he knowswhatever can be known, but there is none who knows him: Him the wisecall the Great, Supreme, Pervading Spirit.' [Footnote: Sir WilliamJones. Vol. XIII.] ... Now once more, O my Lord, and I am done withcitation and argument. Ananda asked the Bodhisattwa what was the Mirrorof Truth, and he had this answer: 'It is the consciousness that theelect disciple is in this world possessed of faith in Buddha, believingthe Blessed One to be the Holy One, the Fully Enlightened One, Wise,Upright, Happy, World-knowing, Supreme, the bridler of men's waywardhearts, the Teacher of Gods and men--the Blessed Buddha.' [Footnote:REHYS DAVID'S _Buddhist Sutras_.] Oh, good my Lord, a child withintellect barely to name the mother who bore him, should see and say,Here God is described!" ...
The Prince came to a full stop, and taking a fine silken cloth from apocket in his gown, he carefully wiped the open pages of the EusebianBible, and shut it. Of the other books he made a separate heap, firstdusting each of them. The assemblage watched him expectantly. TheFathers had been treated to strange ideas, matter for thought throughmany days and nights ahead; still each of them felt the application waswanting. "The purpose--give it us--and quickly!" would have been a fairexpression of their impatience. At length he proceeded:
"Dealing with children, my Lord, and reverend sirs," he began, "it isneedful to stop frequently, and repeat the things we have said; but youare men trained in argument: wherefore, with respect to the faith askedof me as I have told you by the nations, I say simply it is God; andtouching his sanction of it, you may wrest these Testaments from me andmake ashes of them, but you shall not now deny his approval of theFaith I bring you. It is not in the divine nature for God to abjurehimself. Who of you can conceive him shrunk to so small a measure?"
The dogmatic vehemence amazed the listeners.
"Whether this idea of God is broad enough to accommodate all thereligions grown up on the earth, I will not argue; for I desire to bemost respectful"--thus the speaker went on in his natural manner. "Butshould you accept it as enough, you need not be at loss for a form inwhich to put it. 'Master,' the lawyer asked, 'which is the greatcommandment in the law?' And the Master answered: 'Thou shalt love theLord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with allthy mind;' and he added: 'This is the first and great commandment.' MyLord, no man else ever invented, nor shall any man ever invent anexpression more perfectly definitive of the highest human duty--thetotal of doctrine. I will not tell you who the master uttering it was;neither will I urge its adoption; only if the world were to adopt it,and abide by it, there would be an end to wars and rumors of war, andGod would have his own. If the Church here in your ancient capital werefirst to accept it, what happiness I should have carrying the gladtidings to the peoples"--
The Prince was not allowed to finish the sentence.
"What do I understand, O Prince, by the term 'total of doctrine'?"
It was the Patriarch speaking.
"Belief in God."
In a moment the assemblage became uproarious, astounding the Emperor;and in the midst of the excitement, Gennadius was seen on tip-toe,waving his crucifix with the energy of command.
"Question--a question!" he cried.
Quiet was presently given him.
"In thy total of doctrine, what is Jesus Christ?"
The voice of the Patriarch, enfeebled by age and disease, had beenscarcely heard; his rival's penetrated to the most distant corner; andthe question happening to be the very thought pervading the assemblage,the churchmen, the courtiers, and most of the high officials arose tohear the reply.
In a tone distinct as his interlocutor's, but wholly without passion,the master actor returned:
"A Son of God."
"And Mahomet, the Father of Islam--what is he?"
If the ascetic had put the name of Siddartha, the Bodhisattwa, in hissecond question, his probing had not been so deep, nor the effect soquick and great; but Mahomet, the camel-driver! Centuries of feud,hate, crimination, and wars--rapine, battles, sieges, massacres,humiliations, lopping of territory, treaties broken, desecration ofchurches, spoliation of altars, were evoked by the name Mahomet.
We have seen it a peculiarity of the Prince of India never to forget arelation once formed by him. Now behind Constantine he beheld youngMahommed waiting for him--Mahommed and revenge. If his scheme wererejected by the Greeks, very well--going to the Turks would be the oldexchange with which he was familiar, Cross for Crescent. To be surethere was little time to think this; nor did he think it--it appearedand went a glare of light--and he answered:
"He will remain, in the Spirit another of the Sons of God."
Then Gennadius, beating the air with his crucifix:"Liar--impostor--traitor! Ambassador of Satan thou! Behind thee Helluncurtained! Mahomet himself were more tolerable! Thou mayst turn blackwhite, quench water with fire, make ice of the blood in our hearts, allin a winking or slowly, our reason resisting, but depose the pure andblessed Saviour, or double his throne in the invisible kingdom withMahomet, prince of liars, man of blood, adulterer, monster for whomHell had to be enlarged--that shalt thou never! A body without a soul,an eye its light gone out, a tomb rifled of its dead--such the Churchwithout its Christ! ... Ho, brethren! Shame on us that we are guests incommon with this fiend in cunning! We are not hosts to bid him begone;yet we can ourselves begone. Follow me, O lovers
of Christ and theChurch! To your tents, O Israel!"
The speaker's face was purple with passion; his voice filled thechamber; many of the monks broke from their seats and rushed howlingand blindly eager to get nearer him. The Patriarch sat ashy white,helplessly crossing himself. Constantine excellently and rapidlyjudging what became him as Emperor and host, sent four armed officersto protect the Prince, who held his appointed place apparentlysurprised but really interested in the scene--to him it was anexhibition of unreasoning human nature replying to an old-fashionedimpulse of bigotry.
Hardly were the guards by the table, when Gennadius rushed past goingto the door, the schismatics at his heels in a panic. The pulling andhauling, the hurry-skurry of the mad exit must be left to theimagination. It was great enough to frighten thoroughly the attendantsof the Princess Irene. Directly there remained in the chamber with HisMajesty, the attaches of the court, the Patriarch and his adherents.Then Constantine quietly asked:
"Where is Duke Notaras?"
There was much looking around, but no response.
The countenance of the monarch was observed to change, but stillmindful, he bade the Dean conduct the Prince to him.
"Be not alarmed, Prince. My people are quick of temper, and sometimesthey act hastily. If you have more to say, we are of a mind to hear youto the end."
The Prince could not but admire the composure of his august host. Aftera low reverence, he returned:
"Perhaps I tried the reverend Fathers unreasonably; yet it would be amuch greater grief to me if their impatience extended to Your Majesty.I was not alarmed; neither have I aught to add to my discourse, unlessit pleases you to ask of anything in it which may have been leftobscure or uncertain."
Constantine signed to the Patriarch and all present to draw nearer.
"Good Dean, a chair for His Serenity."
In a short time the space in front of the dais was occupied.
"I understand the Prince of India has submitted to us a proposallooking to a reform of our religion," His Majesty said, to thePatriarch; "and courtesy requiring an answer, the violence to which wehave just been subjected, and the spirit of insubordination manifested,make it imperative that you listen to what I now return him, and withattention, lest a misquotation or false report lead to furthertrouble.... Prince," he continued, "I think I comprehend you. The worldis sadly divided with respect to religion, and out of its divisionshave proceeded the mischiefs to which you have referred. Your projectis not to be despised. It reminds me of the song, the sweetest ear everlistened to--'Peace and good will toward men.' Its adoption,nevertheless, is another matter. I have not power to alter the worshipof my empire. Our present Creed was a conclusion reached by a Counciltoo famous in history not to be conspicuously within your knowledge.Every word of it is infinitely sacred. It fixed the relations betweenGod the Father, Christ the Son, and men to my satisfaction, and that ofmy subjects. Serenity, do thou say if I may apply the remark to theChurch."
"Your Majesty," the Patriarch replied, "the Holy Greek Church can neverconsent to omit the Lord Jesus Christ from its worship. You have spokenwell, and it had been better if the brethren had remained to hear you."
"Thanks, O most venerated--thanks," said the Emperor, inclining hishead. "A council having established the creed of the Church," heresumed, to the Prince of India, "the creed is above change to theextent of a letter except by another council solemnly andauthoritatively convoked. Wherefore, O Prince, I admit myself wiser ofthe views you have presented; I admit having been greatly entertainedby your eloquence and rhetoric; and I promise myself further happinessand profit in drawing upon the stores of knowledge with which youappear so amply provided, results doubtless of your study andtravel--yet you have my answer."
The faculty of retiring his thoughts and feelings deeper in his heartas occasion demanded, was never of greater service to the Prince thannow; he bowed, and asked if he had permission to retire; and receivingit, he made the usual prostrations, and began moving backwards.
"A moment, Prince," said Constantine. "I hope your residence ispermanently fixed in our capital."
"Your Majesty is very gracious, and I thank you. If I leave the city,it will be to return again, and speedily."
At the door of the palace the Prince found an escort waiting for him,and taking his chair, he departed from Blacherne.