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htees until they send forth their silver ripple of music to swell the hymn of praise！
There is a little bay on the bank of the flooding river … a silent； deserted place of sand… dunes and small bills。 When a ship is in sight； some poor folk come and spread out the red lacquer that helps their scanty subsistence； and the people from the passing ship land and barter and in a few minutes are gone on their busy way and silence settles down once more。 They neither know nor care that； near by； a mighty city spread its splendour for miles along the river bank； that the king known as Lord of the Golden Palace； The Golden Foot； Lord of the White Elephant； held his state there with balls of magnificence； obsequious women； fawning courtiers and all the riot and colour of an Eastern tyranny。 How should they care？ Now there are ruins … ruins； and the cobras slip in and out through the deserted holy places。 They breed their writhing young in the sleeping…chambers of queens； the tigers mew in the moonlight； and the giant spider； more terrible than the cobra； strikes with its black poison… claw and； paralyzing the life of the victim； sucks its brain with slow； lascivious pleasure。
Are these foul creatures more dreadful than some of the men； the women； who dwelt in these palaces … the more evil because of the human brain that plotted and foresaw？ That is known only to the mysterious Law that in silence watches and decrees。
But this is a story of the dead days of Pagan； by the Irawadi； and it will be shown that； as the Lotus of the Lord Buddha grows up a white splendour from the black mud of the depths； so also may the soul of a woman。
In the days of the Lord of the White Elephant； the King Pagan Men； was a boy named Mindon； son of second Queen and the King。 So； at least； it was said in the Golden Palace； but those who knew the secrets of such matters whispered that； when the King had taken her by the hand she came to him no maid； and that the boy was the son of an Indian trader。 Furthermore it was said that she herself was woman of the Rajputs； knowledgeable in spells； incantations and elemental spirits such as the Beloos that terribly haunt waste places； and all Powers that move in the dark； and that thus she had won the King。 Certainly she had been captured by the King's war…boats off the coast from a trading…ship bound for Ceylon； and it was her story that； because of her beauty； she was sent thither to serve as concubine to the King； Tissa of Ceylon。 Being captured； she was brought to the Lord of the Golden Palace。 The tongue she spoke was strange to all the fighting men； but it was wondrous to see how swiftly she learnt theirs and spoke it with a sweet ripple such as is in the throat of a bird。
She was beautiful exceedingly； with a colour of pale gold upon her and lengths of silk…spun hair； and eyes like those of a jungle…deer； and water might run beneath the arch of her foot without wetting it； and her breasts were like the cloudy pillows where the sun couches at setting。 Now； at Pagan； the name they called her was Dwaymenau； but her true name； known only to herself； was Sundari； and she knew not the Law of the Blessed Buddha but was a heathen accursed。 In the strong hollow of her hand she held the heart of the King； so that on the birth of her son she had risen from a mere concubine to be the second Queen and a power to whom all bowed。 The First Queen； Maya； languished in her palace； her pale beauty wasting daily； deserted and lonely； for she had been the light of the King's eyes until the coming of the Indian woman； and she loved her lord with a great love and was a noble woman brought up in honour and all things becoming a queen。 But sigh as she would； the King came never。 All night he lay in the arms of Dwaymenau； all day he sat beside her； whether at the great water pageants or at the festival when the dancing…girls swayed and postured before him in her gilded chambers。 Even when be went forth to hunt the tiger； she went with him as far as a woman may go； and then stood back only because he would not risk his jewel； her life。 So all that was evil in the man she fostered and all that was good she cherished not at all； fearing lest he should return to the Queen。 At her will he had consulted the Hlwot Daw； the Council of the Woon…gyees or Ministers； concerning a divorce of the Queen； but this they told him could not be since she had kept all the laws of Manu； being faithful； noble and beautiful and having borne him a son。
For； before the Indian woman had come to the King； the Queen had borne a son； Ananda； and he was pale and slender and the King despised him because of the wiles of Dwaymenau； saying he was fit only to sit among the women； having the soul of a slave； and he laughed bitterly as the pale child crouched in the corner to see him pass。 If his eyes had been clear； he would have known that here was no slave； but a heart as much greater than his own as the spirit is stronger than the body。 But this he did not know and he strode past with Dwaymenau's boy on his shoulder； laughing with cruel glee。
And this boy； Mindon； was beautiful and strong as his mother； pale olive of face； with the dark and crafty eyes of the cunning Indian traders； with black hair and a body straight； strong and long in the leg for his years … apt at the beginnings of bow； sword and spear … full of promise； if the promise was only words and looks。
And so matters rested in the palace until Ananda had ten years and Mindon nine。
It was the warm and sunny winter and the days were pleasant； and on a certain day the Queen； Maya； went with her ladies to worship the Blessed One at the Thapinyu Temple； looking down upon the swiftly flowing river。 The temple was exceedingly rich and magnificent； so gilded with pure gold…leaf that it appeared of solid gold。 And about the upper part were golden bells beneath the jewelled htee； which wafted very sweetly in the wind and gave forth a crystal…clear music。 The ladies bore in their hands more gold…leaf； that they might acquire merit by offering this for the service of the Master of the Law； and indeed this temple was the offering of the Queen herself； who； because she bore the name of the Mother of the Lord； excelled in good works and was the Moon of this lower world in charity and piety。
Though wan with grief and anxiety； this Queen was beautiful。 Her eyes； like mournful lakes of darkness； were lovely in the pale ivory of her face。 Her lips were nobly cut and calm； and by the favour of the Guardian Nats； she was shaped with grace and health； a worthy mother of kings。 Also she wore her jewels like a mighty princess； a magnificence to which all the people shikoed as she passed； folding their hands and touching the forehead while they bowed down； kneeling。
Before the colossal image of the Holy One she made her offering and； attended by her women； she sat in meditation； drawing consolation from the Tranquillity above her and the silence of the shrine。 This ended； the Queen rose and did obeisance to the Lord and； retiring； paced back beneath the White Canopy and entered the courtyard where the palace stood … a palace of noble teakwood； brown and golden and carved like lace into strange fantasies of spires and pinnacles and branches where Nats and Tree Spirits and Beloos and swaying river maidens mingled and met amid fruits and leaves and flowers in a wild and joyous confusion。 The faces； the blowing garments； whirled into points with the swiftness of the dance； were touched with gold； and so glad was the building that it seemed as if a very light wind might whirl it to the sky； and even the sad Queen stopped to rejoice in its beauty as it blossomed in the sunlight。
And even as she paused； her little son Ananda rushed to meet her； pale and panting； and flung himself into her arms with dry sobs like those of an overrun man。 She soothed him until he could speak； and then the grief made way in a rain of tears。
〃Mindon has killed my deer。 He bared his knife； slit his throat and cast him in the ditch and there he lies。〃
〃There will he not lie long！〃 shouted Mindon； breaking from the palace to the group where all were silent now。 〃For the worms will eat him and the dogs pick clean his bones； and he will show his horns at his lords no more。 If you loved him； White…liver； you should have taught him better manners to his betters。
With a stifled shriek Ananda caught the slender knife from his girdle and flew at Mindon like a cat of the woods。 Such things were done daily by young and old； and this was a long sorrow come to a head between the boys。
Suddenly； lifting the hangings of the palace gateway； before them stood the mother of Mindon； the Lady Dwaymenau； pale as wool； having heard the shout of her boy； so that the two Queens faced each other； each holding the shoulders of her son； and the ladies watched； mute as fishes； for it was years since these two had met。
〃What have you done to my son？〃 breathed Maya the Queen； dry in the throat and all but speechless with passion。 For indeed his face； for a child； was ghastly。
〃Look at his knife！ What would he do to my son？〃 Dwaymenau was stiff with hate and spoke as to a slave。
〃He has killed my deer and mocks me because I loved him； He is the devi