eat until my quest be done.
Much better 'tis to die in glorious battle
Than flee and lead a coward's life, defeated.
I shall not eat, O Mara, take thee hence.

_M._ Wilt thou not listen to my good advice?

_B._ The tempter always calls his councils good,
But pleasures which he promises are evil.

_M._ I will not suffer thee to stay, Siddhattha,
And shall disturb thy daring quest of truth.
I'll split the Bodhi tree by lightning
And frighten thee away with rumbling thunder.

_All is wrapped in darkness, except SIDDHATTHA and the Bohdi
tree. Thunder and lightning. After a while the noise abates.
It grows light again. MARA'S daughters appear._

_M._ Go forth my daughters, tempt the holy man,
And lure him from the seat of Buddahood.

_Three graceful women, MARA'S daughters, sing in a low
enticing voice._

[Melody: The Mermaids' Song from Weber's Oberon.]

Sweetest on earth 'tis in pleasure to live,
Love thou must ask for, and love thou must give.
Pain we can soothe and assuage every smart,
Yea, we will grant thee the wish of thy heart.
Power bestow we, enjoyment and mirth,
Health and wealth also, and all that has worth.
Lo, of life's happiness naught shalt thou miss,
Satisfied longings are greatest of bliss.

_While they sing they circle around the Bodhi tree and pose
in graceful attitudes._

[Siddhattha does not mind Mara's daughters. They withdraw, and
grotesque monsters appear in threatening attitudes, exhibiting a
savage war dance, always approaching the tree and turning their
weapons against the Sakyamuni, but as soon as they approach the halo
they droop, unable to hurt him. Lotus flowers rain down. Sakyamuni
raises his right hand. A flash of lightning and a sudden clap of
thunder. The spook vanishes in darkness while the Buddha under the
Bodhi tree alone remains visible in a halo of light. The forest
landscape reappears in full light as before.]

_B._ The wheel of life turns round through birth and death,
Its twelve-linked chain of causes takes its start
In ignorance and ends in suffering.
The truth is found, the fourfold noble truth;
All life is sorrow, sorrow's cause is lust,
But from our sorrow we can escape
If we abandon lust and thought of self.
The eightfold noble path of righteousness
Delivers from all evil: it will bring
Sweet peace of mind and leadeth to Nirvana.

[With music accompaniment]

Through many births I sought in vain
The builder of t