Book of Love' (1888), a poem turning on a part of the 'Bostani' of the
Persian poet Sa'di, brought Sir Edwin the Order of the Lion and Sun from
the Shah of Persia. In 1888 he published also 'Poems National and
Non-Oriental.' Since then he has written 'The Light of the World';
'Potiphar's Wife, and Other Poems' (1892); 'The Iliad and Odyssey of
Asia,' and in prose, 'India Revisited' (1891); 'Seas and Lands';
'Japonica,' which treats of life and things Japanese; and 'Adzuma, the
Japanese Wife: a Play in Four Acts' (1893). During his travels in Japan
the Emperor decorated him with the Order of the Rising Sun. In 1893 Sir
Edwin was chosen President of the Birmingham and Midland Institute. His
latest volume, 'The Tenth Muse and Other Poems,' appeared in 1895.

'The Light of Asia,' the most successful of his works, attracted instant
attention on its appearance, as a novelty of rich Indian local color. In
substance it is a graceful and dramatic paraphrase of the mass of more
or less legendary tales of the life and spiritual career of the Buddha,
Prince Gautama, and a summary of the principles of the great religious
system originating with him. It is lavishly embellished with Indian
allusions, and expresses incidentally the very spirit of the East. In
numerous cantos, proceeding from episode to episode of its mystical
hero's career, its effect is that of a loftily ethical, picturesque, and
fascinating biography, in highly polished verse. The metre selected is a
graceful and dignified one, especially associated with 'Paradise Lost'
and other of the foremost classics of English verse. Sir Edwin says of
the poem in his preface, "I have sought, by the medium of an imaginary
Buddhist votary, to depict the life and character and indicate the
philosophy of that noble hero and reformer, Prince Gautama of India, the
founder of Buddhism;" and the poet has admirably, if most flatteringly,
succeeded. The poem has been printed in innumerable cheap editions as
well as those _de luxe_; and while it has been criticized as too
complaisant a study of even primitive Buddhism, it is beyond doubt a
lyrical tract of eminent utility as well as seductive charm.

THE YOUTH OF BUDDHA

From 'The Light of Asia'

This reverence
Lord Buddha kept to all his schoolmasters,
Albeit beyond their learning taught; in speech
Right gentle, yet so wise; princely of mien,
Yet softly mannered; modest, deferent,
A