GAUTAMA ("The Buddha," Siddhartha or Sakya Muni, founder of Buddhism), B. C. 624-543. "_Beloved Bickus, the principle of existence, and mutability carries with it the principle of destruction. Never forget this; let your minds be filled with this truth; to make it known to you I have a.s.sembled you._"
_Bigandt"s Life of Gautama, Vol. ii., p. 68._
Sometimes his last words are given thus: "Behold, brethren, I exhort you, saying, Decay is inherent in all component things, but truth will remain forever."
His life was without reproach. His constant heroism equalled his conviction; and if his theory was false, his personal example was irreproachable. He was the model of all the virtues he preached. His abnegation, his charity, his unalterable gentleness did not forsake him for an instant. He prepared his doctrine by six years of silence and meditation, and he propagated it for half a century by the sole power of his word. And when he died in the arms of his disciples, it was with the serenity of a sage who had practised good all his life, and who was a.s.sured he had found the truth.--_Barthelemy St. Hilaire._
Sir Edwin Arnold (in the preface to his "The Light of Asia") calls Gautama "the highest, gentlest, holiest and most beneficent personality, with one exception, in the History of Thought," who "united the truest princely qualities with the intellect of a sage and the pa.s.sionate devotion of a martyr.... Forests of flowers are daily laid upon his stainless shrines, and countless millions of lips daily repeat the formula, "I take refuge in Buddha!""[24]
[24] The King of Siam is sending an envoy to India to receive the relics of Buddha, discovered some time ago on the Nepal frontier, which were offered his Majesty by the Indian Government. The King, who gratefully accepted the offer, has agreed to distribute portions of the relics among the Buddhists of Burma and Ceylon from Bangkok.
It will probably be remembered that in January last a well-preserved stupa was opened at the village of Piprahwa, on the Nepal frontier, in the Basti district of the North-west Provinces. This village was in the Birdpur grant, a large property owned by Mr. William C. Peppe and his brother. Inside the building was found a large stone coffer, crystal and steat.i.te vases, bone and ash relics, fragments of lime, plaster, and wooden vessels, and a large quant.i.ty of jewels and ornaments placed in two vases in honor of the relics. A careful list was at once made of all the articles, and Mr. Peppe generously offered to place them at the disposal of the Government. The special interest of the discovery lies in the fact that the relics in honor of which the stupa was erected appear to be those of Gautama Buddha Sakya Muni himself, and may be the actual share of the relics taken by the Sakyas of Kapilavastir at the time of the cremation of Gautama Buddha.
The inscription on one of the urns proves that the builders of the stupa believed the relics to be those of Gautama Buddha himself, and runs: "This relic-receptacle of the Blessed Sakya Buddha is dedicated by the renowned brethren with their sisters and their sons" wives." The characters of the record, Prof. Buhrer points out, do not mark medial long vowels, and appear to be older than those of the Asoka inscription.
The actual relics, being a matter of such intense interest to the Buddhist world, were offered by the Indian Government to the King of Siam, who is the only existing Buddhist monarch, with a proviso that he would not object to offer a portion of the relics to the Buddhists of Burma and Ceylon, and it was suggested that his Majesty should send a deputation to receive the sacred relics with due ceremonial.
No relics of Buddha authenticated by a direct inscription have before been found in modern times, so the relics are as rare as they are unique, and by all Buddhists will be regarded as most sacred and holy objects of devotion. Their presentation to the King of Siam, the recognized head of the religion, is therefore highly proper. The accessories which were discovered will, it is understood, be distributed among the Imperial Museum at Calcutta, the Lucknow Provincial Museum, and perhaps the British Museum, Mr. Peppe retaining a reasonable number of duplicates for his own use. The stone coffer above referred to is over four feet in length and two in height. It is made out of a solid block of sandstone, and weighs about sixteen hundredweight. It is understood that the acknowledgments of the Government have been conveyed to Mr. Peppe for his public-spirited action in the matter.--_London Times, Dec.
17, 1886._
GELLERT (Christian Furchtegott, a German poet of rare grace and beauty), 1715-1769. "_Now, G.o.d be praised, only one hour!_" on being told that he could live only an hour.
GEORGE IV. (of England, eldest son of George III. and Queen Charlotte), 1762-1830. "_Wally, what is this? It is death, my boy: they have deceived me_," said to his page, Sir Walthen Waller.
GERSON (Charlier de, surnamed "The Most Christian Doctor," chancellor of the University of Paris and canon of Notre-Dame. He is supposed to have been the author of the "Imitation of Christ," attributed to Thomas a Kempis), 1363-1429. "_Now, O G.o.d, thou dost let thy servant depart in peace! The soul that is accompanied to eternity by the prayers of three hundred children, may advance with humble hope into the presence of their Father and their G.o.d._"
The pious Gerson, the canon of the church and chancellor of the University of Paris, had the terror of his last moments a.s.suaged by the prayers of three hundred children supported and educated by his charity, and who were congregated in his house from the threshold to his bedchamber.
GIBBON (Edward, author of "The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire"), 1737-1794. "_Mon Dieu! Mon Dieu!_"
Some authorities give his last words thus: "Pourquoi est ce que vous me quittez," to his _valet-de-chambre_.
The _valet-de-chambre_ observed that Mr. Gibbon did not at any time, show the least sign of alarm, or apprehension of death; and it does not appear that he ever thought himself in danger, unless his desire to speak to Mr. Darrell may be considered in that light.
_Lord Sheffield"s Memoirs._
GOAR (Saint, "Patron Saint of the Rhine"), "_My children, these fearful forests and these barren rocks shall be adorned with cities and temples, where the name of Jesus shall be openly adored. Ye shall abandon your precarious and hard chase, and a.s.semble together under temples lofty as those pines, and graceful as the crown of the palm._
"_Here shall my Saviour be known in all the simplicity of his doctrines.
Ah! would that I might witness it; but I have seen those things in a vision. But I faint! I am weary! My earthly journey is finished! Receive my blessing. Go! and be kind one to another._"
_Robert Blakey: "Christian Hermits."_
GOETHE or GoTHE (Johann Wolfgang von, greatest of German poets), 1749-1831. "_More light! more light!_" He mistook the shadow of death for evening twilight.
He continued to express himself by signs, drawing letters with his fore-finger in the air, while he had strength, and finally, as life ebbed, drawing figures slowly on the shawl which covered his legs. At half past twelve he composed himself in the corner of the chair. The watcher placed a finger on her lip to intimate that he was asleep. If sleep it was it was a sleep in which a great life glided from this world.
_Lewes"s Story of Goethe"s Life._
Coudray, who was present when the poet died, left a ma.n.u.script on "The Last Days and the Death of Goethe," which has been published. Goethe was seated in the bed-room, in an arm-chair standing beside the bed.
Thinking that he saw paper lying on the floor, he said: "Why is Schiller"s correspondence permitted to lie here?" Immediately, thereupon, he uttered his last audible words: "Do open the shutter in the bed-room, in order that more light may enter." (_Macht doch den Fensterladen im Schlafgemach auf, damit mehr Licht herein komme._)
GOLDSMITH (Oliver), 1728-1774. "_No, it is not_," to a physician who asked if his mind was at ease.
GOUGH (John Bartholomew, distinguished American temperance advocate), 1817-1886. "_Young man, keep your record_--" the last word was inaudible, but was probably "clean."[25]
[25] A paragraph from one of Mr. Gough"s public addresses, carved upon his monument in Hope Cemetery, Worcester, shows the strength of his conviction and ill.u.s.trates the directness and force of his style:
"I can desire nothing better for this great country than that a barrier high as heaven be raised between the unpolluted lips of the children and the intoxicating cup; that everywhere men and women should raise strong and determined hands against whatever will defile the body, pollute the mind, or harden the heart against G.o.d and His truth."
GRANT (Ulysses Simpson, eighteenth President of the United States, and one of the most distinguished of American generals), 1822-1885.
"_Water_," said to an attendant who inquired if he wished for anything.
GRATTAN (Henry, Irish statesman and orator), 1750-1820. "_I am perfectly resigned. I am surrounded by my family. I have served my country. I have reliance upon G.o.d, and am not afraid of the Devil._"
GRAY (Thomas, author of "Elegy written in a country churchyard"), 1716-1771. "_Molly, I shall die!_"
GREELEY (Horace, famous editor of "The Log Cabin," and later founder, and, for thirty years editor of "The New York Daily Tribune"), 1811-1872. "_It is done!_" During the closing days of his life his mind was deranged.
GREEN (Joseph Henry, distinguished English surgeon, thinker, philosopher, and instructor), 1791-1863. "_Stopped!_"
Among all the brilliant young men who gathered at the feet of Samuel Taylor Coleridge, eager to learn from this "rapt one of the G.o.d-like brow," none surpa.s.sed him in admiration, and possibly in ability. It was not strange that Coleridge selected him to complete the development of that "Spiritual Philosophy" which was the great unaccomplished work of his life. Upon Coleridge"s death, Mr. Green abandoned all his London work, threw aside the distinctions and emoluments of professional life, rewards that would surely increase from year to year, and devoted his whole time to philosophy and incidental studies to qualify himself for carrying out the commission of Coleridge. The story of his death has been told by one of his colleagues at St. Thomas"s Hospital, one whose fame is familiar to the profession, Mr. Simon. "Not even the last agony of death," said Mr. Simon, "ruffled his serenity of mind, or rendered him unthoughtful of others. No terrors, no selfish regrets, no reproachful memories were there. The few tender parting words which he had yet to speak he spoke. And to the servants who were gathered grieving round him, he said, "While I have breath, let me thank you for all your kindness and attention to me." Next, to his doctor who quickly entered,--his neighbor and old pupil, Mr. Carter,--he significantly, and pointing to the region of his heart, said, "Congestion," after which he in silence set his finger to his wrist, and visibly noted to himself the successive feeble pulses which were just between him and death.
Presently he said "Stopped," and this was the very end. It was as if even to die were an act of his own self-government; for at once, with the warning word still scarce beyond his lips, suddenly the stately head drooped aside, pa.s.sive and defunct, forever."
_Dr. Theophilus Parvin._
GREGORY VII. ("the Great," Pope Hildebrand), about 1020-1085. "_I have loved justice and hated iniquity; therefore, I die an exile._" He died at Salerno, May 25, 1085.
His dying words are deeply affecting, but yet a stern and unbending profession of the faith of his whole life, and of the profound convictions under which even his enemies acknowledge him to have acted.
_Chambers" Encyclopaedia._
GREY (Lady Jane), 1537-1554. "_Lord, into Thy hands I commend my spirit._"
Then the hangman kneeled down and asked her forgiveness, whom she forgave most willingly. Then he willed her to stand upon the straw; which doing, she saw the block. Then she said, "I pray you despatch me quickly." Then she kneeled down, saying, "Will you take it off before I lay me down?" And the hangman said, "No, Madam." Then she tied the handkerchief about her eyes, and, feeling for the block, she said, "What shall I do? Where is it? Where is it?" One of the standers-by guided her thereunto; she laid her head down upon the block and then stretched forth her body, and said "Lord, into Thy hands I commend my spirit,"
and so finished her life in the year of our Lord 1554.
_Fox"s "Book of Martyrs."_
Lady Jane was only in her seventeenth year, and was remarkable for her skill in the cla.s.sical, oriental, and modern languages, and for the sweetness of her disposition.