response 142 of 278:

May 9 12:39 UTC 1999

Not Gibbon. Our author is 20th century, remember.

Here's another quote, from the same work as the previous two:

     The majority of the Indian people, therefore, lived in misery.
Since this planet offered them very little joy, salvation from
suffering must be found elsewhere. They tried to derive a little
consolation from meditataion upon the bliss of their future
existence.
     Brahma, the all-creator who was regarded by the Indian people
as the supreme ruler of life and death, was worshipped as the
highest level of perfection. To become like Brahma, to lose all
desires for riches and power, was recognised as the most exalted
purpose of existence. Holy thoughts were regarded as more important
than holy deeds, and many people went into the desert and lived
upon the leaves of trees and starved their bodies that they might
feed their souls with the glorious contemplation of the splendours
of Brahma, the Wise, the Good and the Merciful.
     Siddhartha, who had often observed these solitary wanderers
who were seeking the truth far away from the turmoil of the cities
and the villages, decided to follow their example. He cut his hair.
He took his pearls and his rubies and sent them back to his family
with a message of farewell, which the ever faithful Channa carried.
Without a single follower, the young prince then moved into the
wilderness.