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treated； else it will fester； and all thy days thou shalt dream of
lions； ay； and snakes； and； also； it will break out in sores。 But I
know of itI know。 I am not crazed for nothing。 For mark！ everything
has its balancein madness is much wisdom； and in wisdom much
madness。 /La！ la！ la！/ Pharaoh himself can't say where the one begins
and the other ends。 Now； don't stand gazing there； looking as silly as
a cat in a crocus…coloured robe； as they say in Alexandria； but just
let me stick these green things on the place； and in six days you'll
heal up as white as a three…year…child。 Never mind the smart of it；
lad。 By Him who sleeps at Phil？； or at Abouthis； or at Abydusas our
divine masters have it nowor wherever He does sleep； which is a
thing we shall all find out before we want toby Osiris； I say；
you'll live to be as clean from scars as a sacrifice to Isis at the
new moon； if you'll but let me put it on。
〃Is it not so； good folk？〃and she turned to address some people who；
while she prophesied； had assembled unseen by me〃I've been speaking
a spell over him； just to make a way for the virtue of my medicine
/la！ la！/ there's nothing like a spell。 If you don't believe it； just
you come to me next time your wives are barren； it's better than
scraping every pillar in the Temple of Osiris； I'll warrant。 I'll make
'em bear like a twenty…year…old palm。 But then； you see； you must know
what to saythat's the pointeverything comes to a point at last。
/La！ la！/〃
Now； when I heard all this； I； Harmachis； put my hand to my head； not
knowing if I dreamed。 But presently looking up； I saw a grey…haired
man among those who were gathered together； who watched us sharply；
and afterwards I learned that this man was the spy of Ptolemy； the
very man； indeed； who had wellnigh caused me to be slain of Pharaoh
when I was in my cradle。 Then I understood why Atoua spoke so
foolishly。
〃Thine are strange spells； old wife；〃 the spy said。 〃Thou didst speak
of Pharaoh and the double crown and of the form fashioned by Ptah to
bear it； is it not so？〃
〃Yea； yeapart of the spell； thou fool； and what can one swear by
better nowadays than by the Divine Pharaoh the Piper； whom； and whose
music； may the Gods preserve to charm this happy land？what better
than by the double crown he wearsgrace to great Alexander of
Macedonia？ By the way； you know about everything： have they got back
his chlamys yet； which Mithridates took to Cos？ Pompey wore it last；
didn't he？in his triumph； toojust fancy Pompey in the cloak of
Alexander！a puppy…dog in a lion's skin！ And talking of lionslook
what this lad hath doneslain a lion with his own spear； and right
glad you village folks should be to see it； for it was a very fierce
lionjust see his teeth and his clawshis claws！they are enough to
make a poor silly old woman like me shriek to look at them！ And the
body there； the dead bodythe lion slew it。 Alack！ he's an Osiris＇*＇
now； the bodyand to think of it； but an hour ago he was an everyday
mortal like you or me！ Well； away with him to the embalmers。 He'll
soon swell in the sun and burst； and that will save them the trouble
of cutting him open。 Not that they will spend a talent of silver over
him anyway。 Seventy days in natronthat's all he's likely to get。
/La！ la！/ how my tongue does run； and it's getting dark。 Come； aren't
you going to take away the body of that poor lad； and the lion； too？
There； my boy； you keep those herbs on； and you'll never feel your
scratches。 I know a thing or two for all I'm crazy； and you； my own
grandson！ Dear； dear； I'm glad his Holiness the High Priest adopted
you when PharaohOsiris bless his holy namemade an end of his son；
you look so bonny。 I warrant the real Harmachis could not have killed
a lion like that。 Give me the common blood； I sayit's so lusty。〃
＇*＇ The soul when it has been absorbed in the Godhead。Editor。
〃You know too much and talk too fast；〃 grumbled the spy； now quite
deceived。 〃Well； he is a brave youth。 Here； you men； bear this body
back to Abouthis； and some of you stop and help me skin the lion。
We'll send the skin to you； young man；〃 he went on； 〃not that you
deserve it： to attack a lion like that was the act of a fool； and a
fool deserves what he getsdestruction。 Never attack the strong until
you are stronger。〃
But for my part I went home wondering。
CHAPTER III
OF THE REBUKE OF AMENEMHAT； OF THE PRAYER OF HARMACHIS；
AND OF THE SIGN GIVEN BY THE HOLY GODS
For a while as I； Harmachis； went； the juice of the green herbs which
the old wife； Atoua； had placed upon my wounds caused me much smart；
but presently the pain ceased。 And； of a truth； I believe that there
was virtue in them； for within two days my flesh healed up； so that
after a time no marks remained。 But I bethought me that I had
disobeyed the word of the old High Priest； Amenemhat； who was called
my father。 For till this day I knew not that he was in truth my father
according to the flesh； having been taught that his own son was slain
as I have written； and that he had been pleased； with the sanction of
the Divine ones； to take me as an adopted son and rear me up； that I
might in due season fulfil an office about the Temple。 Therefore I was
much troubled； for I feared the old man； who was very terrible in his
anger； and ever spoke with the cold voice of Wisdom。 Nevertheless； I
determined to go in to him and confess my fault and bear such
punishment as he should be pleased to put upon me。 So with the red
spear in my hand； and the red wounds on my breast； I passed through
the outer court of the great temple and came to the door of the place
where the High Priest dwelt。 It is a great chamber； sculptured round
about with the images of the solemn Gods； and the sunlight comes to it
in the daytime by an opening cut through the stones of the massy roof。
But at night it was lit by a swinging lamp of bronze。 I passed in
without noise； for the door was not altogether shut； and； pushing my
way through the heavy curtains that were beyond； I stood with a
beating heart within the chamber。
The lamp was lit； for the darkness had fallen； and by its light I saw
the old man seated in a chair of ivory and ebony at a table of stone
on which were spread mystic writings of the words of Life and Death。
But he read no more； for he slept； and his long white beard rested
upon the table like the beard of a dead man。 The soft light from the
lamp fell on him； on the papyri and the gold ring upon his hand； where
were graven the symbols of the Invisible One； but all around was
shadow。 It fell on the shaven head； on the white robe； on the cedar
staff of priesthood at his side； and on the ivory of the lion…footed
chair； it showed the mighty brow of power； the features cut in kingly
mould； the white eyebrows； and the dark hollows of the deep…set eyes。
I looked and trembled； for there was about him that which was more
than the dignity of man。 He had lived so long with the Gods； and so
long kept company with them and with thoughts divine； he was so deeply
versed in all those mysteries which we do but faintly discern； here in
this upper air； that even now； before his time； he partook of the
nature of the Osiris； and was a thing to shake humanity with fear。
I stood and gazed； and as I stood he opened his dark eyes； but looked
not on me； nor turned his head； and yet he saw me and spoke。
〃Why hast thou been disobedient to me； my son？〃 he said。 〃How came it
that thou wentest forth against the lion when I bade thee not？〃
〃How knowest thou； my father； that I went forth？〃 I asked in fear。
〃How know I？ Are there； then； no other ways of knowledge than by the
senses？ Ah； ignorant child！ was not my Spirit with thee when the lion
sprang upon thy companion？ Did I not pray Those set about thee to
protect thee； to make sure thy thrust when thou didst drive the spear
into the lion's throat！ How came it that thou wentest forth； my son？〃
〃The boaster taunted me；〃 I answered； 〃and I went。〃
〃Yes； I know it； and； because of the hot blood of youth； I forgive
thee； Harmachis。 But now listen to me； and let my words sink into thy
heart like the waters of Sihor into the thirsty sand at the rising of
Sirius。＇*＇ Listen to me。 The boaster was sent to thee as a temptation；
he was sent as a trial of thy strength； and see！ it has not been equal
to the burden。 Therefore thy hour is put back。 Hadst thou been strong
in this matter； the path had been made plain to thee even now。 But
thou hast failed； and therefore thy hour is put back。〃
＇*＇ The dog…star； whose appearance marked the commencement of the
overflow of the Nile。Editor。
〃I understand thee not； my father；〃 I answered。
〃What was it； then； my son； that the old wife； Atoua； said to thee
down by the bank of the canal？〃
Then I told him all that the old wife had said。
〃And thou believest； Harmachis； my son？〃