| Harriet Monroe, ed. (1860–1936). Poetry: A Magazine of Verse. 1912–22. | | | | The Price | | By Rabindranath Tagore |
| | From “Narratives”
ONLY one lotus braved the blast of winter and bloomed in the garden of Sudas the gardener. He took it to sell to the King. | |
| A traveller said to him on the way, “I will buy this untimely flower, and take it to my master Buddha. Ask your price.” | |
| The gardener asked one golden masha, and the traveler readily agreed. Just then the King came there. | |
| “I must take that lotus to Lord Buddha,” he said to the gardener. “What is your price?” | |
| The gardener claimed two golden mashas. The King was ready to buy it. The traveler doubled the price and the King’s offer ran still higher. | 5 |
| The gardener thought in his greed he could get much more from the man for whom they were eagerly bidding. | |
| He hastened with his flower to the grove where Buddha sat silent. Love shone in his eyes, on his lips was wisdom beyond words. | |
| Sudas gazed at him, and stood still. Suddenly he fell on his knees, placing the lotus at Buddha’s feet. | |
| Buddha smiled and asked, “What is your prayer, my son?” | |
| “Nothing, my lord,” Sudas answered, “only a speck of the dust off your feet.” | 10 | | | |
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