Buddhacarita by Ven Asvaghosa - Ancient Buddhist Texts

Buddha-carita, or Life of Buddha - 71
he were desirous to plunge into the middle of an army:
75. ‘Oftentimes have evil enemies been overthrown by the king when
mounted on thee; do thou, O best of steeds, so exert thyself that I too
may obtain the highest immortality.
76. ‘Companions are easy to be found in battle or in the happiness
obtained by winning worldly objects or in attaining wealth; but
companions are hard for a man to find who has fallen into misfortune
or when he flies for refuge to Dharma.
77. ‘And yet all those who in this world are companions, whether in
sinful custom or in seeking for Dharma, – as my inner soul now
recognises, – they too are verily sharers in the common aim.
78. ‘Since then, when I attain this righteous end, my escape from
hence will be for the good of the world, – O best of steeds, by thy
speed and energy, strive for thine own good and the good of the
world.’
79. Thus having exhorted the best of steeds like a friend to his duty,
he, the best of men, longing to go to the forest, wearing a noble form,
in brightness like fire, mounted the white horse as the sun an
autumnal cloud.
80. Then that good steed, avoiding all noises which would sound
startling in the dead of night and awaken the household, – all sound