BOOK XIX.
BAPTISM OF KRISHNA.
Krishna, much wrought upon in his secret mind, seeks a private interview with Paul. The two converse at large, Paul expounding his doctrine of sin and of salvation through faith in Christ. Krishna resists, feeling nevertheless an impulse in himself responsive to Paul's words. They part with nothing concluded between them, but Krishna meditating alone is finally brought to obedience of faith. He seeks the company of the Christian disciples and declares himself a believer. He expressing eager desire to testify as soon as possible in some outward act commanded by Jesus his readiness to obey Him, Paul tells him of the command "Be baptized," and Krishna accordingly is baptized by Aristarchus, Paul giving the new disciple appropriate counsel and exhortation.
BAPTISM OF KRISHNA.
As the days passed, the prisoner Paul, allowed
The freedom of his ways about the isle,
Would often, musing by himself alone—
Or haply his shadow Stephen following so
As never to be seen yet ever see
In jealous loving watch and ward of him—
Walk in seclusions well to Julius known
Where, held by all the islanders in awe
And sentried as if sentried not the while,
He could be safe in sense of solitude
And easement from the fret of custody.
He walking thus one sunny afternoon,
The Indian met him at the hither goal
And entrance to his wonted rounding ways,
And with such salutation greeted him
As seemed to seek access for mutual speech.
Paul, out of insulation and himself
Emerging wholly at his fellow's call,
Rallied at once to be a social man;
He welcomed Krishna frankly to his side,
And they twain walked and talked together there.
"O Paul," said Krishna, "I am not at rest;
Thou, and that Mary's story of her Lord,
Have deeply shaken my repose in me.
There must have been, lodged in me from the first,
A witness ready to speak up and say,
'Hearken, O Krishna!' when the name of 'God'
Fell on my ear. For since that word from thee,
I have not ceased to hear within me cry
Reverberant through the chambers of my soul—
Like a voluminous echo shouting round
Reduplicated images of voice—
Clamor and attestation vehement
Confirming what thou saidst that day of God,
And of our orphanhood without Him. Oh,
My friend, that I might find Him, I, even I!"
Such passion in passivity moved Paul
To pity, which he hid, while thus he spoke:
"It is the answer of the infinite
Within thee to the infinite above
Thee and beneath thee and about thee round.
God made thee for Himself, and Himself is
The only good that can content thy mind.
Feel after Him and find Him, He is nigh,
Drawn nigh and drawing nigh, in Jesus Christ.
Not to believe in Him, God's Son made flesh—
He once revealed to thee—this, this, is sin;
And sin is death; but to believe is life.
Believe and live, O Krishna."
"Thy word 'sin,'
O Paul," said Krishna, "it perplexes me.
What is sin? Evil, I guess. Now evil I know
In many forms—forms many, essence one—
Misery all. But sin to thee, I trow,
Is something else than simple misery."