"Like as a tree upon a river brink,
Or as a drunkard sells his coat for drink ,
Such is the life of those who mortals be:
So I'm resolved--a holy life for me."

[495] "The body's elements dissolve--they fall
Young, old, the middle-aged, men, women--all,
Fall as the fruit falls from a shaken tree:
So I'm resolved--a holy life for me.

"Man's prime is all unlike the queen whose reign
Rules o'er the stars : it ne'er will come again.
For worn-out eld what joy or love can be?
So I'm resolved--a holy life for me.

"While ghost and sprite and horrid goblin can
When angry breathe their poison-breath on man,
Gainst death their poison-breath no help can be:
So I'm resolved--a holy life for me.

"While ghost and sprite and horrid goblin can
When angry, be appeased by deed of man,
Work it with death, no softening knows he:
So I'm resolved--a holy life for me.

"Those who do crime, and wrong, and hurtful things,
When known, are punished by the act of kings,
But against death no punishment can be:
So I'm resolved--a holy life for me.

"Those who do crime, and wrong, and hurtful things
Can find a way to stay the hand of kings,
But how to stay death's hand no way can be:
So I'm resolved--a holy life for me.

"Warriors or brahmins, men of high estate,
Men of much wealth, the mighty and the great,--
King Death no pity has, no ruth has he:
So I'm resolved--a holy life for me.

"Lions and tigers, panthers, seize their prey,
And all devour it, struggle as it may;
From fear of their devouring death is free:
So I'm resolved--a holy life for me.

"Upon the stage a juggler with his sleight
Performing can deceive the people's sight,
To cozen death, no trick so quick can be:
So I'm resolved--a holy life for me.

[496] "Serpents enraged will with envenomed bite
Attack at once and kill a man outright;
For death no fear of poison-bite can be:
So I'm resolved--a holy life for me.

"Serpents enraged with venomed fangs may bite,
The skilful leach can stay the poison's might;
To cure death's bite no man so strong can be:
So I'm resolved--a holy life for me.

"Physicians' skill could cure the serpent's bite;
Now they are dead themselves and out of sight,
Bhoga, Vetarani, Dhammantari
So I'm resolved--a holy life for me.

"Some who in spells and magic lore are wise
Can walk invisible to other eyes,
Yet not so invisible but death can see:
So I'm resolved--a holy life for me.