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a crown。
Around the dwelling of Artaban spread a fair garden； a
tangle of flowers and fruit…trees； watered by a score of
streams descending from the slopes of Mount Orontes； and made
musical by innumerable birds。 But all colour was lost in the
soft and odorous darkness of the late September night； and all
sounds were hushed in the deep charm of its silence； save the
plashing of the water； like a voice half…sobbing and
half…laughing under the shadows。 High above the trees a dim
glow of light shone through the curtained arches of the upper
chamber； where the master of the house was holding council
with his friends。
He stood by the doorway to greet his guestsa tall； dark
man of about forty years； with brilliant eyes set near together
under his broad brow； and firm lines graven around his fine； thin
lips； the brow of a dreamer and the mouth of a soldier； a man of
sensitive feeling but inflexible willone of those who； in
whatever age they may live； are born for inward conflict and a
life of quest。
His robe was of pure white wool； thrown over a tunic of
silk； and a white； pointed cap； with long lapels at the sides；
rested on his flowing black hair。 It was the dress of the
ancient priesthood of the Magi； called the fire…worshippers。
〃Welcome！〃 he said； in his low； pleasant voice； as one
after another entered the room〃welcome； Abdus； peace be with
you； Rhodaspes and Tigranes； and with you my father； Abgarus。
You are all welcome。 This house grows bright with the joy of
your presence。〃
There were nine of the men； differing widely in age； but
alike in the richness of their dress of many…coloured silks；
and in the massive golden collars around their necks； marking
them as Parthian nobles； and in the winged circles of gold
resting upon their breasts； the sign of the followers of
Zoroaster。
They took their places around a small black altar at the
end of the room； where a tiny flame was burning。 Artaban；
standing beside it； and waving a barsom of thin tamarisk
branches above the fire； fed it with dry sticks of pine and
fragrant oils。 Then he began the ancient chant of the Yasna；
and the voices of his companions joined in the hymn to
Ahura…Mazda：
We worship the Spirit Divine；
all wisdom and goodness possessing；
Surrounded by Holy Immortals；
the givers of bounty and blessing；
We joy in the work of His hands；
His truth and His power confessing。
We praise all the things that are pure；
for these are His only Creation
The thoughts that are true； and the words
and the deeds that have won approbation；
These are supported by Him；
and for these we make adoration。
Hear us； O Mazda！ Thou livest
in truth and in heavenly gladness；
Cleanse us from falsehood； and keep us
from evil and bondage to badness；
Pour out the light and the joy of Thy life
on our darkness and sadness。
Shine on our gardens and fields；
shine on our working and waving；
Shine on the whole race of man；
believing and unbelieving；
Shine on us now through the night；
Shine on us now in Thy might；
The flame of our holy love
and the song of our worship receiving。
The fire rose with the chant； throbbing as if the flame
responded to the music； until it cast a bright illumination
through the whole apartment； revealing its simplicity and
splendour。
The floor was laid with tiles of dark blue veined with
white； pilasters of twisted silver stood out against the blue
walls； the clear…story of round…arched windows above them was
hung with azure silk； the vaulted ceiling was a pavement of
blue stones； like the body of heaven in its clearness； sown with
silver stars。 From the four corners of the roof hung four
golden magic…wheels； called the tongues of the gods。 At the
eastern end； behind the altar； there were two dark…red pillars
of porphyry； above them a lintel of the same stone； on which
was carved the figure of a winged archer； with his arrow set
to the string and his bow drawn。
The doorway between the pillars； which opened upon the
terrace of the roof； was covered with a heavy curtain of the
colour of a ripe pomegranate； embroidered with innumerable
golden rays shooting upward from the floor。 In effect the
room was like a quiet； starry night； all azure and silver；
flushed in the cast with rosy promise of the dawn。 It was； as
the house of a man should be； an expression of the character
and spirit of the master。
He turned to his friends when the song was ended； and
invited them to be seated on the divan at the western end of
the room。
〃You have come to…night；〃 said he； looking around the
circle； 〃at my call； as the faithful scholars of Zoroaster； to
renew your worship and rekindle your faith in the God of Purity；
even as this fire has been rekindled on the altar。 We worship
not the fire； but Him of whom it is the chosen symbol； because it
is the purest of all created things。 It speaks to us of one who
is Light and Truth。 Is it not so； my father？〃
〃It is well said； my son；〃 answered the venerable Abgarus。
〃The enlightened are never idolaters。 They lift the veil of
form and go in to the shrine of reality； and new light and
truth are coming to them continually through the old symbols。〃
〃Hear me； then； my father and my friends；〃 said Artaban；
〃while I tell you of the new light and truth that have come to
me through the most ancient of all signs。 We have searched
the secrets of Nature together； and studied the healing virtues
of water and fire and the plants。 We have read also the
books of prophecy in which the future is dimly foretold in
words that are hard to understand。 But the highest of all
learning is the knowledge of the stars。 To trace their course
is to untangle the threads of the mystery of life from the
beginning to the end。 If we could follow them perfectly； nothing
would be hidden from us。 But is not our knowledge of them still
incomplete？ Are there not many stars still beyond our
horizonlights that are known only to the dwellers in the far
south…land； among the spice…trees of Punt and the gold mines of
Ophir？〃
There was a murmur of assent among the listeners。
〃The stars；〃 said Tigranes； 〃are the thoughts of the
Eternal。 They are numberless。 But the thoughts of man can be
counted； like the years of his life。 The wisdom of the Magi
is the greatest of all wisdoms on earth； because it knows its
own ignorance。 And that is the secret of power。 We keep men
always looking and waiting for a new sunrise。 But we
ourselves understand that the darkness is equal to the light；
and that the conflict between them will never be ended。〃
〃That does not satisfy me；〃 answered Artaban； 〃for； if the
waiting must be endless； if there could be no fulfilment of
it； then it would not be wisdom to look and wait。 We should
become like those new teachers of the Greeks； who say that
there is no truth； and that the only wise men are those who
spend their lives in discovering and exposing the lies that
have been believed in the world。 But the new sunrise will
certainly appear in the appointed time。 Do not our own books
tell us that this will come to pass； and that men will see the
brightness of a great light？〃
〃That is true；〃 said the voice of Abgarus； 〃every faithful
disciple of Zoroaster knows the prophecy of the Avesta； and
carries the word in his heart。 ‘In that day Sosiosh the
Victorious shall arise out of the number of the prophets in
the east country。 Around him shall shine a mighty brightness；
and he shall make life everlasting； incorruptible； and
immortal； and the dead shall rise again。'〃
〃This is a dark saying；〃 said Tigranes； 〃and it may be
that we shall never understand it。 It is better to consider
the things that are near at hand； and to increase the
influence of the Magi in their own country； rather than to
look for one who may be a stranger； and to whom we must resign
our power。〃
The others seemed to approve these words。 There was a
silent feeling of agreement manifest among them； their looks
responded with that indefinable expression which always
follows when a speaker has uttered the thought that has been
slumbering in the hearts of his listeners。 But Artaban turned
to Abgarus with a glow on his face； and said：
〃My father； I have kept this prophecy in the secret place
of my soul。 Religion without a great hope would be like an
altar without a living fire。 And now the flame has burned
more brightly； and by the light of it I have read other words
which also have come from the fountain of Truth； and speak yet
more clearly of the rising of the Victorious One in his
brightness。〃
He drew from the breast of his tunic two small rolls of
fine parchment； with writing upon them； and unfolded them
carefully upon his knee。
〃In the years that are lost in the past； long before our
fathers came into the land of Babylon； there were wise men in
Chaldea； from whom the first of the Magi learned the secret of
the heavens。 And of these Balaam the son of Beor was one of the
mightiest。 Hear the words of his prophecy： 'There shall come a
star ou