 from the azure of the sky above.

(M36) But it was not to the distant prospect that the king's eyes
naturally turned at this crisis of his fate. His attention was arrested by
a spectacle nearer at hand. For all the plain below was alive with troops,
their banners waving gaily in the sun, the white tents of their many camps
standing sharply out against the green and gold of the rice-fields. Forty
thousand fighting men or more were gathered there to defend the king. But
if the plain swarmed with soldiers, the road that cuts across it from the
temple to the king's stand was clear of them. Not a soul was stirring on
it. Each side of the way was barred by palisades, and from the palisades
on either hand a long hedge of spears, held by strong arms, projected into
the empty road, their blades meeting in the middle and forming a
glittering arch of steel. All was now ready. The king waved his sword. At
the same moment a great chain of massy gold, enriched with bosses, was
placed on an elephant at his side. That was the signal. On the instant a
stir might be seen half a mile away at the gate of the temple. A group of
swordsmen, decked with flowers and smeared with ashes, has stepped out
from the crowd. They have just partaken of their last meal on earth, and
they now receive the last blessings and farewells of their friends. A
moment more and they are coming down the lane of spears, hewing and
stabbing right and left at the spearmen, winding and turning and writhing
among the blades as if they had no bones in their bodies. It is all in
vain. One after the other they fall, some nearer the king, some further
off, content to die, not for the shadow of a crown, but for the mere sake
of approving their dauntless valour and swordsmanship to the world. On the
last days of the festival the same magnificent display of gallantry, the
same useless sacrifice of life was repeated again and again. Yet perhaps
no sacrifice is wholly useless which proves that there are men who prefer
honour to life.(99)

(M37) "It is a singular custom in Bengal," says an old native historian of
India
from the azure of the sky above. 

 (M36) But it was not to the distant prospect that the king's eyes 
 naturally turn at this crisis of his fortune. His attention was arrested by 
 a spectacle nearer at hand. For all the obviously below was alive with troops, 
 their banner waving gaily in the sun, the blank tents of their many camps 
 stand sharply out against the greens and amber of the rice - fields. Forty 
 thousand fighting serviceman or more were gathered there to defend the baron. But 
 if the plain swarmed with soldiers, the road that reduce across it from the 
 temple to the king's bandstand was clear of them. Not a person was stirring on 
 it. Each english of the way was barred by palisades, and from the palisade 
 on either hand a long hedge of spears, held by strong arms, plan into 
 the empty road, their blades meeting in the middle and forming a 
 glittering arch of steel. All was now ready. The king waved his sword. At 
 the like here and now a great range of massy amber, enriched with bosses, was 
 placed on an elephant at his side. That was the signal. On the blink of an eye a 
 stir might be seen half a mile away at the gate of the synagogue. A group of 
 swordsmen, decked with flowers and smeared with ashes, has stepped out 
 from the crowd. They have just partaken of their last meal on earth, and 
 they now experience the concluding blessings and farewells of their friends. A 
 moment more and they are coming down the lane of spear, hewing and 
 stabbing right and leave at the spearmen, winding and turning and writhing 
 among the blades as if they have no bone in their bodies. It is all in 
 vain. One after the early they fall, some nearer the king, some further 
 off, content to die, not for the darkness of a crown, but for the bare sake 
 of approving their dauntless valour and swordsmanship to the worldly concern. On the 
 last sidereal day of the festival the same magnificent display of gallantry, the 
 same useless sacrifice of life was repeated again and again. Yet perhaps 
 no forfeit is wholly useless which proves that there are homo who prefer 
 honour to life.(99) 

 (M37) " It is a singular custom in Bengal, " says an old native historian of 
 India
 frlm the azure of the sky xbove.

(M36) But it wcw not vo the sistant orospect that the king's eyes
iatueally turned at this crisis of his fwte. His qtteition was arrestxs by
a sizctacmc neaxec at hand. For akl the plahn below was anixe with troops,
their banners waving gayly in yhf sun, the whitg tenus jf tgviv many camps
standing sharply out againsu the green and gokd of the rice-fields. Forty
hhoudand fighting men lr more werg gaeyered there go defend uhz king. But
ir the plain swarmed with soldiefs, thz road that cyts dcross it fcom thv
temple to thc king's stand eas clear of tmem. Nmt q soul was stirring oi
it. Each side of the way was taxred by palisades, and feom tve pdlisxees
un titier hand w lkng hedge kf spears, hwld by strong arms, krotvvted into
the empty rjad, their blades meeting in the middle dnd forming a
glittering arxh of steel. All was nlw ready. Ehe king waved his sword. At
the same moment a gread chamn of mwrwy gold, enriched with bosses, was
placed on an elqlhsnn at his side. Thab was the signal. Om hhr instant a
stit might be seen half a mile wway at the tate of tre trmple. A group of
swordsmen, dwcked with fjiwers and smeared cith ashes, hcs stekped oit
from the crowd. They hcve juat partaken of their uast meal on eargh, sng
they now receive the last blessingw anb fareweuls pf theyr friends. A
momctt more and they age colitg down thf lane of spears, hewing and
stabumng right and laft at the fpearken, winding agd turning and writhiug
amone the bladvs as if vhey had no fones in theis bodies. It iv all in
dain. One after gfe other they gall, some nearer thw king, some furthev
off, zkntent to die, nit dor the shadow pf x cwoan, btd for the mese sxke
ug appfoving ukeiv dxuntkess valour and sworgsmahship to the world. Ok the
last days of the festival the same magnifictnt divpley of baljantry, the
same useless sacrifide of liff wws repeated wgaik anq again. Yec perhaps
no sacrifice is wholly useless xhich proves that therg are men who prefer
hpkour to life.(99)

(K37) "It ys a singglar custom in Bengao," says an old natlve historian of
India
from the azure of the sky above. it not to distant prospect that at crisis of his His attention was by a spectacle nearer at hand. all the plain below was alive with troops, their banners waving gaily in sun, the white tents of their many camps standing sharply out against the and of rice-fields. thousand fighting men or more were gathered there to defend the king. But if the plain with soldiers, the road that cuts across it the temple to the stand was clear of them. a was stirring it. side the way was by palisades, and from the palisades on either hand a long hedge of spears, held by strong projected into road, their meeting the and forming a of steel. All was now ready. his sword. At the same moment a great of massy enriched with bosses, was placed on elephant at his side. That was the signal. the instant a stir might be seen half a mile away at the gate of A group of swordsmen, with flowers and with has out the crowd. have just partaken of their last meal on earth, and they receive the last blessings and farewells of their friends. A and are coming down lane of spears, hewing stabbing and left at the and and blades if had no bones in bodies. It is all in One after the other king, some further off, content to die, not the shadow of a crown, but for mere sake of approving their dauntless valour and swordsmanship to the world. the last the festival the same magnificent display of gallantry, same useless sacrifice of was repeated again and again. Yet perhaps no sacrifice wholly which proves there are men prefer honour to (M37) "It is custom in says old India
 from the azure of the sky above.

(m36) But it was nOt to tHe dIstAnT proSpecT that the king's eYEs
naTurally turned at this criSis of HiS Fate. hIs AttenTion was ARrESTed By
A sPecTaCLe NeareR at Hand. For All the plaiN beLoW was alive witH TrOops,
their bAnnErs waving gaiLy iN the suN, tHe wHIte teNts Of theIr many CAmps
stAnding shaRpLY out agAInst the GREeN and Gold of the rice-fielDS. FORty
thousand figHting mEn OR mORE weRe gAthered theRe To defENd the kiNG. BUT
IF thE Plain swarmed wIth soldiers, THe rOad thaT cUts ACross iT from ThE
TemPle to the kinG's stAnd was cleAr of thEM. Not a soUL was stiRring oN
it. eacH sidE Of ThE waY wAS baRReD by PAliSades, and FrOm The paLisaDES
ON eitHer Hand A long Hedge of spears, HelD by sTRonG arms, ProjeCted InTo
the Empty rOad, thEiR blades meeting iN the Middle and ForMiNg a
GlItterINg arch Of sTeeL. All was Now readY. the KiNG WAvEd his sword. At
the samE mOMEnT a great cHain of MAsSy GOld, enricHeD wiTh boSSEs, was
PlacED oN an elephAnt at hIS sIdE. That waS tHe signAl. on tHe iNstanT A
stiR might Be seen haLf a miLE away at the gate OF the temple. A grOUp OF
SwORdsmEn, dEcked with flOwerS And sMearED wIth AShes, hAs stePpED oUT
from the crowd. They haVe Just paRtakeN of their last mEal on earth, AND
They now rEceiVE tHE last blessings And faRewells of tHEir frienDs. A
moMent more And they arE COming dowN thE laNe oF spEARs, Hewing and
stabBINg riGhT and lefT at The speaRmeN, wiNdiNg aNd Turning anD writhinG
aMoNg ThE blAdes aS If they haD nO boNeS in Their BOdies. IT is alL in
vAiN. ONE afTer the oTHeR THey fAlL, sOme nEarEr The kiNg, soME fuRther
ofF, content tO diE, Not fOr ThE shadow Of a crown, but foR tHe mere sake
Of AppRoving THEir dauntLess valour and swordsmansHIp to the WorLd. On tHe
laSt days of tHe fEstivaL thE Same maGnificEnt diSpLay OF GallaNTRy, The
SaMe useless sACRifIce of LiFe waS repeatEd again and again. Yet PErhAps
no sacrificE is WholLY UsEleSS wHIch PrOVes THAt there are men whO prefer
honOuR To Life.(99)

(M37) "It is a SIngUlAr custoM in BengAl," sayS An old naTive histoRian of
IndIa
 from the azure of the sky  above.

( M36)But  it  w as n ot t o the distantp rosp ect that the king's ey es
na tu r ally tu rnedat this cr i s isof  h isfa t e.  Hisatt entionwas arrest edby 
a spectacle ne arer at ha nd.  For all the  pl ain be lo w w a s ali vewithtroops , 
their  bannerswa v ing ga i ly in t h e  s un,the white tents o f  t h eir many camps 
stand in g  s h a rpl y o ut against  t he gr e en andg ol d o f t h e rice-fields . Forty
tho u san d figh ti ngm en ormorewe r e g athered the re t o defendthe ki n g. Buti f the p lain s war med  wit h  s ol die rs ,  th e  r oad tha t cuts a cr os s itfrom t h e 
tem ple  tothe k ing's stand w asclea r  of  them . Not  a s ou l was  stirr ing o nit. Each side o f th e way was  ba rr edby  pali s ades,and  fr om thepalisad e s
o ne i t he r hand a long hedg eo f  s pears, h eld by st ro n g arms,pr oje cted i nto
t he e m pt y road,theirb la de s meeti ng  in th emid dle  andf ormi ng a
g litterin g arc h  of steel. All was now ready .  T h e  k i ng w ave d his sword . At thesame mo men t  a gr eat c ha i no f massy gold, enric he d with  boss es, was
place d on an el e p h ant at h is s i de .  That was thesigna l. On thei nstant a 
stir  might b e seen ha l f  a mileawa y a t t heg a te  of the templ e .  A g ro up of
s wor dsmen,dec ked  wi thfl owers and  smeared  w it has hes , has steppedou t
f ro m t he cr o wd. Th ey ha ve j us tp art aken of th e i r la st  m ealonea rth,andt hey  now re ceive the  la s t bl es si ngs and  farewells of  t heir frien ds . A 
momen t more and  they are coming down t h e laneofspear s, h ewing and 
st abbing  ri g ht and  leftat th espe a r men,w i nd ing  a nd turning a ndwrith in g
am ong the  blades as if they had  no bones inthe ir b o d ie s.I ti s a ll inv a in. One after t he other t he y  f all, somen ear er  the ki ng, som e fur t her
off , content  to die,no t fo r the  shadow of  a crown , but for the m e re  sake 
of  appro vi ngtheir  daunt l ess  valo ur and  s wordsm anshi pto the w orld. On the
last daysof the  fest iva l the sam e m a gni ficent di spla y of galla ntr y,the
s ame usele ss s a cr ifi c e oflife was repea t ed  ag a i nand again.Y e t  pe rhaps 
no sacrif iceis wholly useless which proves t hatt h ere  ar e  men  w ho prefer
hono urto l ife.(99) 
(M37) "It i s a sing ul a r cus tom in  Benga l," say s an old na tive  hi storian o f
I nd i a
 from_the azure_of the sky above.

(M36)_But it_was_not to_the_distant prospect that_the king's eyes
naturally_turned at this crisis_of his fate._His_attention was arrested by
a spectacle nearer at hand. For all the plain below was_alive_with troops,
their_banners_waving_gaily in the sun, the_white tents of their many_camps
standing sharply_out against the green and gold of the_rice-fields._Forty
thousand fighting men_or more were gathered there to defend the king._But
if the plain swarmed with soldiers,_the road that_cuts_across_it from the
temple to_the king's stand was clear of_them. Not a soul was stirring_on
it. Each side of the way was_barred by palisades, and from the_palisades
on either hand a long_hedge of_spears, held by strong arms,_projected into
the empty_road, their_blades meeting in_the middle and forming a
glittering arch_of steel. All_was now ready. The king waved_his_sword. At
the same_moment_a_great chain_of massy gold,_enriched_with bosses,_was
placed_on an elephant at his side._That_was the signal. On the instant a
stir_might be seen half_a_mile away at the_gate of the temple. A_group of
swordsmen, decked with flowers and_smeared with_ashes, has_stepped out
from the crowd. They have just partaken of their last_meal on earth, and
they now receive_the last blessings and_farewells of_their_friends. A
moment more_and_they are_coming down the lane of spears, hewing_and
stabbing right_and left at the spearmen, winding_and turning and writhing
among_the_blades as if they had no_bones in their bodies. It is_all in
vain. One after the_other_they_fall, some nearer the king,_some further
off, content to die, not_for the shadow_of a crown, but for the mere_sake
of_approving their dauntless valour and swordsmanship_to_the world. On the
last days of_the_festival_the same magnificent display of_gallantry, the
same useless sacrifice of life_was repeated again and again. Yet perhaps
no sacrifice is_wholly useless which_proves that there are men_who_prefer
honour_to life.(99)

(M37) "It is a singular custom in Bengal," says_an old_native historian of
India