t possible use would it be for your daughter to marry such a -one who could never afford to give her either comforts or nes and scarce food enough ?' The iron-worker said, 'I know hat, yet I seek a fellow craftsman for my daughter, and to e else will I give her.' Thefather and the mother, having understood this, went straight- The work of deftest iron-worker, At this time the daughter of that iron-worker was sitting at window in the tower, and hearing the nobleman's son singing litty, she replied to him in the following song : "Oh my! how mad the man must be! You cannot have the least reflection; To come thus to the iron master's house, Then the nobleman's son again sang a verse in reply to the den, "Most fair and lovely maid! Indeed I am not mad or rash! My talent is that of a skilful handicraftsman, Who knows quite well to make superior needles; port of the words she had heard, and sai "Never before have I heard or se I take her as a proof of my skill (in other matters)." The Choice of Gôtamî, At this time then of all the Sâkya princes, the three who exd in the arts and martial exercises were Siddârtha first, then da, and then Devadatta. Now it happened that just at this time e was a certain noblemen in Kapilavastu, a chief minister of family of Dandi, whose name was Pani, He was very rich in y kind of property, both in cattle and grain, money and slaves, jewels and precious gems of every sort in vast abundance, at there was nothing for his heart to desire more, and his ce was like that of Vaisravana. e had an only daughter called Gôtamî; she was very beauand unequalled for grace. Not too tall or too short, not too t or too thin, not too white or too dark. She was young and he prime of her beauty. Then Suddhôdana, hearing of her e, having selected a favourable day, sent a messenger, a Brah, to the house of the minister Pani, who spake thus-" I hear have a daughter called Gôtamî, we ask you to give her to the ce Siddârtha in marriage." At the same time, the father of da sent a similar message on behalf of his son, and so also adatta, having heard that Suddhôdana was seeking Gôtamî for ârtha, sent a message to Dandi, and said, I require you to me your daughter in marriage, if you do not I will bring great to you." Then Dandi was in much distress of mind, and he cted thus-"These three powerful families have sons unlled in skill and prowess, and I have only one daughter, and each demand her in marriage; so that if I give her to Sidha, I make the others my mortal foes, and so likewise if I give to Nanda or Devadatta-I know not what to do." Being CA ndiwork—even so _atters)." The three who exlârtha first, then just at this time chief minister of was very rich in oney and slaves, ast abundance, more, and his was very beau- e sons un ughter, and ise if I give still, came to his presence and said, you so sorrowful and pensive as you si her father replied, "Dear Gôtamî! as ther--these matters are not for you him a second time, and notwithstar pressed him a third time to tell her the then he refused to tell her; but whe "Dear father, you ought to let me kn try to conceal it from me ;"-then "Dear Gôtami! since you insist upon weigh them well! You must know th has sent to me demanding you in m dârtha; but at the same time both making similar overtures, and threate do not consent, and therefore, because this matter so as to avoid trouble, I here in grief. Then Gôtamî answered father! don't be distressed! I will a I will give my father no further troub follow my directions and make my int will select the husband of my choice." At this time Dandapani, having atten immediately sent to the Râja, and begge out the city of Kapilavastu that after Sâkya princess, would select a husband; " desire to obtain her hand let them, aft ther (at the Palace) for her to choose on after six days all the Sâkya youths, wit were assembled at the Palace gate. The him all the old and reverend Sâkya by countless multitudes of men and wo the place of assembly. Then Siddârt. around him, waited to see on whom t fall. At this time the maiden Gôtam pired, very early on the morning of the s e entered the Palace. Meantime the Sâkya youths, of whom Nanda and Devadatta were emost, had in the early morn anointed themselves with every nd of unguent and perfume, and decorated their persons with ms and costly robes, all except Siddârtha, who had taken no ns to ornament his person, and was dressed in his usual attire, aply wearing his earrings, and having three small golden flowers his hair as ornaments. Then Gôtamî, accompanied by her other, entered the assembly, and her mother spoke to her thus— Whom will you select of all these as a husband ?" Then Gôtamî, king on one after the other till she had observed the whole of e five hundred youths, answered her mother thus-“ Dear other! it seems to me that all these youths are very much decoced with ornaments. As to their persons they appear to me ore like women than men. I, indeed, as a woman, cannot think selecting one of these as a husband, for I cannot suppose that y youth possessing manly qualities, fit for a woman to respect in usband, would dress himself out as these have. But I observe at Siddârtha, the Prince, is not so bedizened with jewels about s person, there is no love of false appearances in his presence, lo not think that he is of the effeminate disposition that these e-my heart is well affected to him. I will take Siddartha as e husband of my choice." Then Gôtamî in her right hand holda beautiful wreath of Sumana flowers (jasmin), advancing past the youths in succession went straight up to Siddârtha, and ving reached him she stopped, and then taking the jasmin eath, having fastened it around the neck of Siddârtha, she ntly put her arm upon the back of his head and said, "Sidrtha! my Prince! I take you to be my lord and my husband!" ■en Siddârtha replied, "So let it be-so let it be, even as you y." At this time Siddârtha in return took a jasmin wreath d fastened it round the neck of the maiden Gôtamî, and spoke us—“I take you to be my wife; you are now my own wife." Then Suddhôdana Râja, seeing this wonderful course of events, s greatly rejoiced, and his heart danced with delight, so that he |