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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/78126-0.txt b/78126-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..0e98a5a --- /dev/null +++ b/78126-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,8645 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 78126 *** + + + + + THE WEIRD OF THE WANDERER + + + + + THE WEIRD OF + THE WANDERER + + BEING THE PAPYRUS RECORDS + OF SOME INCIDENTS IN ONE + OF THE PREVIOUS LIVES OF + MR. NICHOLAS CRABBE + HERE PRODUCED BY + PROSPERO & CALIBAN + + LONDON + WILLIAM RIDER & SON, LIMITED + CATHEDRAL HOUSE, PATERNOSTER ROW, E.C. + 1912 + + + + + _First Published in 1912_ + + Printed by BALLANTYNE, HANSON & CO. + At the Ballantyne Press, Edinburgh + + + + + TO THE MAGNIFICENT MAN + + DOMENICO COMPARETTI + + ROMAN OF ROME, + SENATOR OF THE KINGDOM, + KNIGHT OF THE ORDER OF CIVIL MERIT OF SAVOY, + OFFICER OF THE ORDER OF ST. MAURICE AND ST. LAZARUS, + COMMANDER OF THE ORDER OF THE CROWN OF ITALY, + D.C.L. (_honoris causâ_) in the Universities of Oxford, Athens, + Cracow; Professor Emeritus in the University of Pisa and the Royal + Higher Institute of Florence; National-Member of the Royal Academy + of the Lincei, and of the Royal Academies of Sciences of Naples and + Turin; Academic-Correspondent of the Royal Academy della Crusca; +Correspondent-Member of the Royal Institute of Lombardy and the Veneto, + of the Royal Academy of Sciences of Bologna, of the Royal Academies + of Munich and Copenhagen, of the Imperial Academies of Vienna and +Petersburgh; Foreign Member of the Institute of France; Ordinary Member + of the German Archæological Institute of Rome, of the Archæological + Society of Athens, of the Syllogos Filol. of Constantinople, of the +Ugro-Finn Society of Helsingfors, of the Estone Society of Dorpat, etc. + etc. etc. + + THIS LITTLE BOOK, + + WITH OBSERVANCE AND WITH REVERENCE, + + IS DEDICATED, + + TO DIVERT HIS LEISURE. + + [_Misce stultitiam conciliis brevem + Dulce est desipere in loco._ + + HORACE TO VERGIL, _Od._ 13, _Lib._ iv.] + + + + + PROSPERO _loq._ . . . . . I pitied thee, + Took pains to make thee speak, taught thee each hour + One thing or other: when thou didst not (savage) + Know thine own meaning, but wouldst gabble like + A thing most brutish, I informed thy purposes + With words. + + CALIBAN _loq._ . . . . . Remember, + First, to possess his books: for, without them, + He’s but a sot, as I am. + + _Shakespeare’s_ TEMPEST. + + + + + PROLOGUE + + + _A Letter from the Splendour of Arry, Grandmaster of the Order of + Sanctissima Sophia, Plas Hoel, Hoel, South Wales, to the Reverend + Adam Howley, Professor of Hivite Literature in Saint George’s + College, Oxford, and Honorary Consultor to Cardinal Bensington’s + Institute of Archives and Inscriptions._ + + +“My dear M.W.S. + +“Congratulations on achieving the Chair. You thoroughly deserve it. + +“I am sending with this the key of a largish deed-box, which my man +Anderledy (P.M. of the ‘Isaak Newton,’ by all the gods!) will bring you +in the course of the day. The box contains the papyri about which I +wired to you from Smyrna last New Year’s Day; and you are to consider +yourself at liberty to deal with them in any way which you may deem +suitable. If you should think them worthy of being submitted to His +Eminency, I should not feel able to resist your judgment. + +“The box also contains other matters, which (in my humble opinion) +ought to be considered along with the papyri: but you will know best +about that. Meanwhile, it will perhaps be as well if I set down here +(for your guidance) more detailed particulars of the circumstances of +the find. + +“You know that Luke and Lombard and I went out to Armenia, in the +spring of last year, on a little private expedition of our own, to +hunt Assyrian and Persian antiquities; and I need not go into that +now, as R.H.B. says. Nor need I trouble you with a description of our +early successes and failures in digging. But it will be better for me +to come straight to the point at issue, namely, our chance-discovery +of a rock-tomb concealed behind a ruined chapel, which rewarded our +exertions at precisely 15 o’clock on the third of last December. + +“As soon as I had had cleared away some of the rubbish and broken +stonework of the chapel, I became aware (from the apparition of +brilliant mural paintings on what seemed to be a doorway in the natural +rock) that a really important discovery was in my hand. Lombard was +trying to take a siesta in his tent, and Luke was with him singing +something about filling a cup with golden wine: but I at once summoned +them; and together we proceeded to investigate. + +“Of course we were soon surrounded by a mob of Scottish-looking +_fanulloni_, who annoyed us with screams and gestures as we uncovered +the painted doorway; and it was not long before one of them proclaimed +himself to be the owner of the site and demanded compensation. Lombard +promptly tried him for the ‘Apprentice,’ and got the ‘Fellow-Craft,’ +but not the ‘Master’: whereupon I at once staggered him by offering to +purchase the place outright; and, after half-an-hour’s fierce haggling, +I obtained it for about a couple of sovereigns’ worth of the silver +money current in the district. Then, I arranged for half-a-dozen of +the less anointed-looking ruffians to work for me; and soon cleared +the rest off my new property. It was getting too dark to do more that +afternoon: so, for safety’s sake, we had our tents moved on to the +scene of our find, and camped there for the night. + +“The next morning, Luke took several photographs illustrating the +rock-tomb from the outside and every single step of our subsequent +investigations. You will find platinotypes of all these (duly numbered) +in the deed-box with the papyri; and here you must let me say that it +is entirely due to you that we were able to make so complete and so +permanent and so irrefutable a record of our work. Both Luke and I +agree that, had it not been for the peculiar cameras which you had made +for us and the singular instructions which you gave us, such a record +could not have existed. I know you say that you received these secrets +of photography from a dying man, who himself had them from our late +Lord Hadrian and only to be used for great and singular enterprizes: +but, my dear Howley, do let me affectionately ask you whether you have +ever considered the loss to humanity which is involved in the keeping +of such amazing powers in the hands of the few. However, all this +rambles away from my mark. I merely mention the point, and leave it to +your discretion, which I do not doubt for one moment. + +“I regret to say that, in cutting-out the outer door of the +rock-tomb--it was a marble monolith, painted all over on the hither +side with a design of palm-branches and the emblems of _Cancer_ and +_Luna_--we slightly damaged an inner door of cedar-wood, magnificently +carved and inlaid with silver arabesques containing the same zodiacal +symbols in mother-of-pearl. I ought to add that after we had examined +and photographed the whole tomb _in situ_, I had it all carefully +removed in numbered lots, which (at the moment of writing) are being +put together again on the south side of the narthex of my chapel here +at Plas Hoel. + +“To describe the interior of the tomb. It was twelve feet long by +six feet wide by seven feet high inside measurement, and completely +lined with silver and mother-of-pearl worked in designs similar to +those of the above-named door: excepting the far end, which has a +singular Tau-shaped cross-potent, four feet long by one-and-a-half feet +wide, in a vesica-shaped oval of Egyptian ankhs. The centre of the +floor-space was occupied by a huge chest of black basalt, eight inches +in thickness, on which was no carving of any kind: excepting an uncial +inscription on the lid (which had never been sealed up), as follows: + + ΗΝ ΕΝ ΕΠΙΧΘΟΝΙΟΙϹ ΧΑΡΙΕϹΤΑΤΕ ΞΕΙΝΕ ΔΙΥΛΛΟϹ + ΟΝ ΠΟΤ ΑΡΜΕΝΙΗΙ ΠΟΛΥΜΗΤΙϹ ΕΦΥΕΝ ΟΔΥϹϹΕΥϹ + ΤΟΝ ΔΑΡΑ ωϹ ΗΚΟΥϹ ΕΚΑΛΟΥΝ ΝΙΚΟΛΑΟΝ ΕΤΑΙΡΟΙ + ΑΛΛΟΤΕ ΔΑΥΘ ωϹ ΜΑΝΤΙϹ ΕωΝ ΒΑΛΘΑΖΑΡ ΕΚΛΗΘΗ + +I suppose we may as well translate: ‘_I was Diyllos among men on earth, +O most kindly stranger, whom, once, ever-ready Odysseys begat in +Armenia. Surely, as I hear, his comrades called him Nicholas: but, at +other times again, he (as being a Mage) was styled Balthazar._’ I shall +be curious to know what you make of that. + +“The basalt chest contained two small silver urns hermetically sealed, +one on each side of the head of a mummy done in a positively amazing +manner, which I will describe presently. At the feet was a largish +oblong silver box: this held the papyri which I am sending to you. + +“You will be able to follow our proceedings from the photographs. Luke +and Lombard and I are all agreed that such splendid photographs as +these, of a dark interior, would never have been done but for the six +oxygen lamps for burning powdered aluminium which you provided. If you +decide to lay our discoveries before His Eminency I must insist that +you shew him this letter in order that he may know to whom any credit +(which may be awarded) is actually due. + +“The following were the contents of the two small urns. Both contained +a limpid viscid substance, which (of course) at one time had been +preserving oil. In the first urn, we found a Smith & Wesson’s +Hammerless Safety revolver and a denarius of Augustus, wrapped first in +linen and then in canvas. In the second, was a gold watch with a badly +cracked dial and no glass, number 7634291, made by Dent of Trafalgar +Square--and, also, a coin of Ptolemy the Piper (the value of which I do +not know), both similarly wrapped in linen and canvas. + +“From the masons’ marks on the ruined chapel which had concealed our +rock-tomb, Lombard declares it to be a work of the ninth century after +Christ. (Lombard, I may remind you, is P.G.D. of England and in the +thirty-third degree.) And, from the fact that, between the hill-end of +the chapel and the outer slab which closed the tomb, there were quite +six feet of soil beside the wall which masked the said marble slab, it +is evident that the builders of the chapel (whoever they may have been) +were quite ignorant of the existence of the tomb behind it. The Vali of +Van also, whom I questioned, asseverated that he had never even heard +of any kind of tradition, connected either with the chapel or with the +tomb, during all his twenty-four years in the valiwick. + +“Now I come to something even queerer. Luke solemnly swears that the +revolver which we found was not made before the year 1898; and Dent +(to whom I submitted the watch) tells me that (according to his books) +it was made in 1899 and sold to a Mr. Nicholas Crabbe of Crabs +Herborough in Kent. And yet, please note that both these things have +been discovered in an Armenian rock-tomb dating from something B.C. +and only just now brought to light. + +“But I must get on. + +“We did not examine the mummy, or even unswathe it, until we got +it safe home to Plas Hoel; and, in fact, we only finished with it +yesterday. Here are the particulars. + +“The body is that of a very handsome lad indeed, of about nineteen +years of age, and most magnificently made: indeed I only know of +one specimen of physique at all comparable with it in splendour of +symmetry; and that is the statue of the Athlete with the Strigil, by +Lysippos, in the Vatican collection. There is absolutely no trace of +decay about it; and it looks as fresh and feels as soft (though of +course it’s cold) as the body of a young sleeper. Another curious +thing about it is that it does not appear to have been eviscerated, or +treated internally in any way. Luke and Lombard and I have been over +every inch of the skin with magnifiers; and have quite failed to find +anything like a likely incision. Nor are there any indications of the +actual cause of death. The lad evidently had been in the wars, for +his body has twenty-one frightful scars: but, though four of them at +least ought to have been mortal wounds, they are perfectly cicatrized +and healthily healed. The four scars, to which I specially allude, are +as follows: a thrust through the inside of the right thigh from front +to back which might very well have tapped the femoral artery: another +through the left armpit upward, with emergence inside the collar-bone: +two clean round punctures through the neck from front to back, one on +each side of the throat. There are also seventeen cuts, none less than +four inches long and all deepish, on the face and the muscles of the +arms and the front of the thighs. But they are not at all disfiguring: +for, as I have said, the skin is supple, very fine and smooth and young +in texture, and also exquisitely sunburnt throughout. Whoever he was, +any man might be proud of being his father. As for the skull, it is +small and of a very perfect facial angle of the best Greek type. The +eyes are closed; and I frankly say that we’ve none of us had the heart +to open them. As for that dear soft-hearted Luke, he declared that he’d +never speak to me again if I attempted it. The mouth is a bold firm +one--a little large perhaps: but splendidly shaped. I don’t as a rule +care for a Cupid’s bow in one of my own sex: but this one is that, +and as noble as one could wish, as well. The lips are as red as beef; +and the teeth are perfect, quite white and rather large. The hair is +short, and of a pale flaxen colour, almost white: though the man was +obviously under twenty years of age. Now for measurements. The height +is sixty-eight inches: leg inside fork, thirty-five inches (singularly +long, according to modern proportions): chest, thirty-six-and-a-quarter +inches: weight, hundred-and-thirty-seven pounds ten ounces. All the +above are taken naked. On the third finger of the right hand is a +silver signet, very massive indeed, the device being a crucified Love +(the cross is the peculiar tau-shaped cross-potent noted above) with +the legend ΨΥΧΗϹ ΑΚΟΝΗ which Luke poetically renders _The Whetstone of +the Soul_. On the shoulders of this ring are two eye-chalcedonyxes set +in the sign of the Crab; and on front and back there is the sign of the +Moon in blue moonstone and rock-crystal respectively. Under the linen +shroud, which (mark you) was a large sheet and nothing at all like the +ordinary mummy-bandage, the body was clothed in a short linen tunic +under a shirt of silver mail reaching to the middle. + +“Among the usual spices which formed a bed at the bottom of the basalt +chest, we found four English sovereigns, dated 1884, 1889, 1890, 1897. +The two first are much worn: the 1890 piece is in fair condition: while +the 1897 one has been pierced and has a small ring through it of very +red gold. + +“Professor Monteagle of Cambridge, who has been staying here, gives +it as his opinion that the mummy is not more than two thousand and +certainly not less than nineteen hundred years old. He was, however, +frightfully disturbed about the sovereigns: while the revolver and +the watch, which we discovered without his help, appear to have +disconcerted him most seriously. I am, indeed, convinced that he will +go back to Cambridge and tell everybody that we have been trying to +pull his leg: which in fact is not the case. + +“However, the whole affair bristles with incomprehensibilities, to my +mind; and I only hope that you, my dear Howley, may be able to find +some solution of them when you decypher the papyri. Of course I will +gladly furnish any further information which you may require and I +may be able to offer. And I hope you won’t mind my saying that it +will perhaps be better for both of us if you will kindly have your +translation of the papyri type-written at my charges. There is a most +satisfactory little person at 7 Broad. + + “Believe me, + “Very sincerely yours, + +[Illustration: saltire cross] “ARRICUS: _Magnus Magister_.” + + + _A Letter from the Reverend Adam Howley, Professor of Hivite + Literature in Saint George’s College, Oxford, and Honorary + Consultor to Cardinal Bensington’s Institute of Archives and + Inscriptions, to The Splendour of Arry, Grandmaster of the + Order of Sanctissima Sophia, Plas Hoel, Hoel, South Wales._ + +Dear Arry: + +“These papyri are written on in Greek of the first century Ante +Christum, by several different hands (three at least). A few words in +late-Victorian English are by another hand. I am sending type-written +translations herewith. Don’t you remember what a fuss there was about +Nicholas Crabbe’s mysterious disappearance from Cyprus just after +the Dilimile’s hysterical howls for ten thousand flying machines? +The Eminency of Cardinal Bensington desires me to thank you for your +offer; and proposes, if agreeable, to pay you a visit at Plas Hoel, +after Pentecost, for the purpose of restoring the papyri to their +proper place, and of closing up the rock-tomb with all its contents +in your chapel with Christian Rites. Now then! His Eminency, however, +intends to name you to our Most Holy Lord the Pontiff for the gold +research-medal called the “Lesser Wisdom” for this year. I hope that +this will suit your plans. + +“Personally I must beg you not to take me as expressing any opinion on +this, or on any other, matter. + +“They say that dear old Parke wants to give up his living and come back +here as archivist. + +“Billy Buffell’s got a baby. + +“The weather is fine, but cold. + + “Yours truly, + + “A. H. + +“_P.S._--The following chronology is the best I can compile: + + “1. Mr. Crabbe seems to have disappeared from civilization _circa_ + A.D. 1899. + + “2. He then, apparently, engaged in experiments in Egypt. The result + was that he took an unintentional toss backward through Time to the + reign of Ptolemaios Ayletes, _i.e._ _circa_ B.C. 80-51. (_Cf._ + Papyri IIII.-XII.) + + “3. We now learn for a fact (what must have struck a good many + earnest thinkers who had the privilege of knowing him here and + elsewhere), that he actually is Odysseys reincarnate; and of course + Odysseys originally flourished _circa_ B.C. 1180. + (_Cf._ Papyrus XII.) + + “4. However, Mr. Crabbe (as Odysseys reincarnate) enjoys infernal and + olympian experiences (_cf._ Papyri XIII.-XXIII.), obviously _circa_ + B.C. 51-44. This date can be fixed, with comparative conclusiveness, + from the allusion to Caesar’s murder (_cf._ Papyrus XXXI.), which, + we know, took place in the latter year. + + “5. I fancy that a fair case might be made out for the theory that + the Papyri themselves could very well have been written between + _circa_ B.C. 44 and the Christian Era. There can be little mistake + about the “Star” (_cf._ its prediction, Papyrus VII.; and its + occurrence, Papyrus XXXIIII.). + + “6. I am almost inclined to permit myself the use of the epithet + “annoying” in reference to the twenty-one additional papyri (giving + an account of the very imperfectly known state of Moxoene _circa_ + B.C. 44 and A.D. projected in Papyrus XXXIII.), which are, I might + almost say, as it were inaccessible, at least for the present. + + “A. H. + +“_P.P.S._--I fear that my translation is perhaps a little loose: but +then the style of the original by no means errs in the direction of +concise regularity--as one, considering all the circumstances, might +reasonably expect. + + “A. H. + +“_P.P.P.S._--His Eminency says that you may publish these naïve and +almost Dantesque and sometimes quite Homeresque fragments, if you care +to and have nothing more serious to occupy yourself with. If you do, +it will be positively fascinating to observe which, of the apparent +inconsistencies, will be selected for execration by smart sciolists of +our own hysterical age. + + “A. H. + +_P.P.P.P.S._--Before you do publish, if you determine on that course, +I think you ought to peruse Mr. Rider Haggard’s brilliant treatise on +Helen of Troy. I believe it is called _The World’s Desire_: and of +course you can get it from the T.B.C. + + “A. H. + +“_P.P.P.P.P.S._--On the whole, I really think I would, you know, if I +were you. Upon more mature consideration, I am inclined to fancy that +it might turn out to be (what we used to call) rather a ‘Lark.’ + + “A. H. + +“_P.P.P.P.P.P.S._--Publish, I mean. + + “A. H.” + + + + + THE FIRST PAPYRUS + + +I, who have been, or will be, Nicholas Crabbe of Crabs Herborough in +the duchy of Kent--and who am Odysseys son of Laertes, an immortal +and sometime inhabitant of olympian palaces--but now known as King +Balthazar of Moxoene which will be called (or which was once called) in +the time whence I came (or in the time to which I yet shall come) Van +in Armenia--I swear, by my honour and by my faith as a king who never +has built altars to Roma and Julius (like the Ephesians and Nikaians) +or to Rome and Augustus (like Bithynia and Asia), that the things which +I here cause to be written, and write, are true. + +May Osiris, and Zeys, and Mithra, and all great gods of the past and +the present and the future, masters of wisdom, blast me--and may The +One Signified scorn me, if these written words do not agree with the +facts which befell me, who am fallen backward through the rolling +wheels of time. Thus, I, an immortal and a king, swear. And may he +who belies me rot and wither and evanesce in the uttermost depths of +Tartaros whither I have been thrice, or of Amentet, whither I have +been once, or of that Hell to which I will not go. I have sworn.[1] + +Now I, King Balthazar of Moxoene in Naïri or Armenia, the Viceroy of +Victory queen of the stalwart stately Anglicans, say thus to Empedokles +my scribe, in my royal palace on the shore of my Thospitian Sea, within +my kingdom, which I do not hold from Rome, having taken it myself by +favour of Great Zeys. + +Let it be known that I, King Balthazar, was called, in an age which is +to come, Nicholas Crabbe the Impossible. I lived peacefully as might +be. I have nothing to say of my origin in that life, or of my early +years: for, in good sooth, most of the things which then happened to +me were so incredibly cruel and so unspeakably hideous that I wish to +forget most of them, and the rest have been smudged (mercifully) on +the tablets of my memory. It shall be enough to tell that, as a scope +for my energy, I forced myself (in default of all other interests) to +become a seeker after wisdom, a client of the Muses and of far-darting +Phoibos Apollon, an ardent student of all branches of music and +gymnastic,[2] and chiefly of those branches which taught my subtile +adept mind to do what all other men never even dreamed of doing, and +my strong nimble body to do what all other men dare not do. For I +penetrated into the occult arcana. + +Under pretext of studying the surgery of ancient Egypt, I learned +to read hieroglyphics; and, in time, my exertions and my energies +culminated in a single desire to get to the root of white magic as +contained on papyri in tombs of archpriests of temples of Isis. For a +whole year I pondered the difficulties and the dangers, delaying to +gratify my desire, expecting a sign or a companion from the blessed +gods. None came. + +Arrived at the end of my patience, I acted very suddenly. For, having +provided myself with gold money and circular notes,[3] I went my +own way to Alexandria, departing from my native land which now is +the barbarian Britannia. And, at Alexandria, I hired a boat with +boatmen and servants: for it was in my noble mind to sail up River +Nile, staying when and where I listed, exploring ruins above Assiut, +specially small ruins, in the hope of finding mummy-chests ripe for +rifling or hieroglyphics crying to be read on pillars or walls of +unknown temples. During eight months, thus I did: but I found no more +than three unopened mummy-chests, and (beside them) little of worth. +Nevertheless, one of the said chests contained certain superior +matters: to wit, a magic staff of silver and ebony, and a silver +divination-cup chased with sacred creatures, which things I did +not examine closely till I came to Philai. But, there, my labours +were rewarded: for a small temple at Philai yielded no less than +three-and-forty mummy-chests, carven and painted, containing the +remains of persons who (in their time) had been most mighty. And, of +these, I will name one, having many matters to narrate concerning +him. But he was the priest Amenemhat, sometime hierarch of the temple +of Isis at Tanis by the mouth of Nile. Moreover, I found a manual +intitled _For the Use of Priests_; and it contained the rules by which +mortal men may communicate with the immortals, whom the Egyptians call +Osirians. And this was by far the most noble thing which I discovered. +But I must not omit to mention also a divination-ball, of rock-crystal +of the bigness of a baby’s head, which I found in a mummy-chest: it was +banded with silver set with large blue moonstones, and a silver chain +was attached to it. Now I took this for a favourable omen, very apt +indeed to me: for, having been born under the moon and the sign of the +crab, and being therefore crab by nature as well as Crabbe by name, +the heart in my dear breast rejoiced greatly to possess so beautiful a +jewel, formed (indeed) of the very stones and of the very metal which +(as is well known) are proper to a native of that sign and of that +planet. But I hanged it by its chain to the magic staff already named. + +When, at length, I had leisure to study the papyrus manual, I became +aware of the vast power which it put into my hands. It contained a very +long and useless introduction, including oft-reiterated laments because +Okhos (the Persian successor of the deposed Nebk-Neft) had degraded the +hierarchy of Khem, striking a blow at the prestige of all hierarchs. +But, this being ended, the gist of the work was clearly set down: nor +could anything more be added necessary to enable one (possessed of the +magic implements, as I was), to commune with long-dead sages, mages who +had relinquished the use of their bodies and dwelt no more in the sweet +sunlight, obtaining from them the wisdom of the past, and the power +which such wisdom gives, both unpossessed by men alive. + +But it appeared that I still lacked certain spices and sacred +combustibles, both essential in magic operations. Wherefore, being +always young and headstrong and (therefore) of a spasmodic habit, I +turned about instantly to those places where I could purchase myrrh +and cassia and gum-olibanon and gum-tragacanth and spikenard and +red-sanders and saffron and cinnamon and sulphur and powdered ivory and +pepper and pepperwort and mastic and certain other substances the names +of which may not be written on account of a religious reason. And four +months passed before I had finished this quest in Cairo and Alexandria +and Arabia and Byzantion and Massilia, filling a cabinet with potent +essences and very virtuose quintessences. + +In this manner I reascended the sacred river, until I came to Korte. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[1] So far the papyrus is written in late-Victorian English, in what +I take to be Mr. Crabbe’s own hand. I may say that I am not inclined +to discredit any of the statements, abnormal or otherwise, made by +the King of Moxoene (that is to say, by Mr. Nicholas Crabbe). The +_Oath Compelling Truth_, which he here uses, is a recognized and quite +respectable formula; and I am not aware of any instance on record of +its ever having been belied in any particular, however minute. Indeed, +in so far as Truth is the Agreement of Words with Facts, all history +seems to shew that the solemn swearing of this _Oath Compelling Truth_ +is perhaps the most irrefragable warranty of Truth, as such, which our +present state of information can supply. A. H. + +[2] I take it that Mr. C. uses these words in a Platonic sense, as +signifying mental and physical activities respectively. A. H. + +[3] These two words are written in English in what I take to be Mr. +C.’s own hand. A. H. + + + + + THE SECOND PAPYRUS + + +But I had determined to do my magic in an inner court of the temple +at Korte, unknown to persons liable to disturb my peace. And, with +incredible toil, I cleared the said court of sand, having left my +servants in charge of my boat a mile away. Furthermore, in the hard +red-granite pavement of the court, I cut a circular channel of +sufficient depth to contain a certain very holy liquid; and this +I did with nineteen days’ incessant labour, using a hammer and a +well-tempered chisel. But the trench was three paces and nine in +circumference, and half-a-span in width, and a quarter of a span in +depth. + +In the midst of the circle and on the base of a fallen column, I set +my silver divination-cup; and, by it, I placed my cabinet of essences +and quintessences: but I hanged my divination-orb to my left arm by its +silver chain, holding the magic staff in my hand. The fulness of the +moon agreed with what was described in my papyrus manual; and, when all +was ready, I filled the circular furrow with a bright-green essence, +pungent, mysteriously potent, continuing to pour till the trench was +lip-deep with the emerald fluid. Next, I filled the divination-cup with +water from the sacred river, lowering the orb of divination therein +with my left hand, and sprinkling the circle with gum-tragacanth while +I intoned the incantation called _Of the Buckle of Red Jasper Dipped in +Water of Ankham Flowers and Inlaid in Sycamore Wood and Placed on the +Neck of the Shining One_, which is the Power of Isis. + +The moon grew brighter and more fierce, till she wellnigh rivalled the +sun in brightness; and her hot rays made me sweat profusely. Wherefore, +at the proper time, I was glad to strip me naked; but I began to stir +the water in the cup with the magic staff, saying: “_The Blood of +Isis, the Charms of Isis, the Power of Isis, be a protection unto Me, +the Master, crushing that which I abhor, making all Ways passable or +flyable or swimable unto Me: and I stretch out one Hand to Heaven and +the Other to Earth._” + +In the glare of almost unbearable moonlight, I saw that my crystal +orb was becoming red-hot notwithstanding that it was immersed in +Nile-water. But I poured the proper unguent of aloes into my cup, +with nine tears of gum-olibanon; and the green liquid in the trench +blushed with ruddily gleaming access of fury. But I, looking again on +my papyrus manual, read these words: “_See that thou grasp thy staff +firmly, not letting it fall from thee through any pang, be thy pangs +never so keen; likewise, when the clear sphere gleameth redly, hold thy +staff as though it were thy life, for so it is, and if thou lose it +thou shalt die._” And, hardly had I read this rule (which I had never +seen before: although I had collated the whole manual with some care +during my four-months’ quest for spices), hardly, I say, had I read +these awful words, when I felt the magic staff growing hot in my hands. + +I gripped it more closely: but its heat increased. I felt it searing my +flesh. I saw the smoke rise. I heard the flesh frizzle like the hissing +collops of an acceptable sacrifice farced with select fats. And, all +the while, lurid lightnings leaped from the liquid in the trench. + +At last, so poignant was my anguish, that I determined rather to risk +death than to see and hear and smell my living hand burned off while +I stood. But, at the very moment, piercing through the sputtering of +the white-hot lambent rod in my defenceless hand, there came a divine +voice from I know not where, saying in the Argive tongue: “_Be of good +heart, my child, and endure for all my pain: for many of us who inhabit +olympian palaces have suffered._”[4] + +Whereon I nerved myself, dismissing base thoughts of surrender. And +all grew black before my eyes; and my soul was shrouded in obscurity. +So I stood, enduring unmentioned and unthought-of anguish with all my +might; and I indeed was on the very verge of swooning: when suddenly +the admirable voice came again, ringing triumphantly, saying: “_Hail, +Conquistator of Self! Hail, Nicholas, the Victor over many Peoples!_” + +And immediately the staff became cool; and my reeking wounds vanished, +and only the memory of my ordeal remained. + +I turned to inspect the divination-cup. Pale flames leaped silently +therein from the crystal orb, of such intense heat as comes from +an open furnace to the well-reddened watcher at its door: but the +Nile-water lay limpid and cold above and about the raging globe of the +seven-times heated fire. But I, mindful of the rules in the papyrus +manual, cast in myrrh and powdered ivory; and I intoned the incantation +called _Demands on the gods_, which old Menes had composed many +centuries before. + +The verdant flame in the trench gave forth volumes of suffocating green +vapour, filling the whole court, and beating me brow to pavement. +But I ceased not from my chanting; and, when I came to the famous +verse, “_Nor shall ye slay us by choking: thus we adjure you_,” the +green steam suddenly arose, till it seemed that I was enclosed in +a dome-shaped cell of malachite, so solid did the vapour appear. +Whereupon, with the mightiest voice of me I uttered the summons, “_O +souls, be seen!_” + +Instantly there was a crash of thunder and the inmarcesible glow of +uranian fires. The earth beneath me quivered like a woman; and the +temple rocked as ships are rocked (in his spasms) by the azure-haired +earth-shaker, lord of the stormy sea. But, above me, the green dome +expanded, stretching to unfathomable abysses of space; and I perceived +that its place was becoming filled with fiery faces of base grotesque +and adipose dignitaries, archbishops of malevolent allure having pleats +about their eyes disdainful of obscure persons. Nor were any of them +alike for any moment of time: but they waved and flickered like the +myriad leaves of a forest blazing with autumnal glory. But out of this +maze of bodiless faces came a tired moaning, demanding why they had +been summoned. + +Now I indeed was serene; and my heart and lordly mind exulted greatly: +for I knew that I had the Power. And, holding out the magic staff with +my right hand, and placing my left on the cool crystal orb, I cried: “I +summon none but Amenemhat, the priest of Tanis.” + +Eight flame-like shapes flickered downward, individuals glabrous and +mouthing, the torsions of whose pulpy lips avowed their invirility; +and they stood before me, but on the further edge of the redly-glaring +moat; and each one wailed: “I am Amenemhat, the priest of Tanis.” + +Then for the moment I was nonplussed: but I remembered that eight +men, all named Amenemhat, had been (in their turns) priests of Tanis. +Wherefore I cried again: “I summon none but him who was Amenemhat, the +priest of Tanis, at the time when Ptolemais Ayletes reigned as Pharoah +in Khem.” + +And now but one flame-like shape flickered outside the circle; and it +simply sighed, saying: “I am that Amenemhat; and I am here.” + +So I commanded him to lie quietly down and lap the emerald liquid in +the trench as a test of his good faith. But I conjured the others to +return to their own places in Amentet, using the _Name Ineffable_ to +compel them, the _Spell_ which may not be spoken save in direst need, +nor written save on virgin papyrus by a priest who knows himself to be +without blemish. And they bowed thrice when I named the _Name_, wailing +wearily. And there was thunder and lightning and a heaving of all +things at their going; and they seemed to melt together into one vast +fiery arrow, which sped (like a bolt shot by the lord of the silver +bow) upward and away into the arcana of the outer immensity. + +But Amenemhat, the priest of Tanis, lay prostrate before me, meekly +lapping. And he no longer had the shape of a flame: for, now, the +chariot of Helios Hyperion had emerged from the crocus-hued gate of +dawn. Ashen-grey was Amenemhat, and hard indeed to see: for, being +but an Osirian, he cast no shadow, nor did he obstruct my view of the +columns of the court behind him. And I was in the mind to laugh at +the thought that, after all, so high a priest as he was should have +no more solid shape than a jellyfish, tinted like a rainbow where +the rising sun’s radiance touched him. But I remembered that Death +comes to all, and that rain-born Iris (a divine one of goddesses) is +also thus primarily tinctured; and I hastened to intone the _Spell +of Embodiment_, touching what there was of Amenemhat with the magic +staff, and saying: “_Advance, thou Dweller in the Outer Space, and be +a thing of earth again till I release thee._” + +Thus I spoke: but he rose like a brilliant mist, ever thickening +into opacity and taking the form which my lordly mind hurriedly made +for him. Mother-naked, even as I was, he crossed into the mystic +circle which my staff opened to him. I touched his brow with the +crystal orb, and placed his hands in the sacred water of Sihor in the +divination-cup. And vital fluids came back into his veins, so that he +became a thing of earth and fit for reasonable conversation. But I also +gave him the _Heart-touch_, saying: “Receive thy mortal life in lease +from me for a season.” + +But he stood at his full height, looking into my eyes; and he said: +“O thou, unknown, who has called me from Amentet, and hast given me +again a mortal body with blood and life-like juices, be ware lest I +shall overcome thee. Thus I warn thee, in accordance with the immutable +law of Osiris where it is written, _He who is summoned shall warn his +summoner_.” + +But I was not afraid. And I laid the _Spell of Obedience_ on Amenemhat. +But, when I had thus secured my own safety and also a trusty friend +and familiar who was to instruct me in unmentioned and unthought-of +magic, then, indeed, I took liberty to give way to a human weakness, +having already tolerated enough to slay nineteen ordinary men--to wit, +the agony of the scorching staff, and the long labours under the fiery +moon, and the stifling green vapour, and the horrid vision of the +flickering faces; and I took liberty, I say without shame, to swoon +away into oblivion. + +When, at length, the mind in my dear breast awakened, I found my new +familiar faithfully ministering to me, gently holding the thread of +life which bid fair to fray out in my enfeebled grasp. But we two, +having clothed ourselves, returned to my boat, there to live in +tranquillity while I recollected myself. + +But there remained much to be done yet by me. I felt that I would have +been quite content to spend the rest of that life as Amenemhat’s pupil, +learning from him the occult and affascinating arts of the hierarchs +of ancient Khem. For we read together in the many rolls of papyrus +which I had collected; and it was easy to know that, whereas I was like +a clever child who early has learned to read, he was a perfect adept +who (by long experience) was able to understand what was read. But, +by chance, the precise method of working a certain inchantment, which +opens the Hall of Double Truth and Right, baffled us both. And it was +of the very gravest import that I should know how to practise this +inchantment: for thereby I could learn the whole secret of a man using +himself Bai and Ka and Khou as might seem good to him: which, for a +miserable mortal is much to be desired, as being uncommon. + +But the rede of Amenemhat was that I should repeat the _Spell of +Summons_, summoning a Great One of the Greater Ones, from whom I should +require an instruction. But, for some time, I withstood the priest: +I know not why, unless it be that habit and temper make me prompt to +resist direction that I may steer my course in accordance only with the +mind in my lordly breast. + +But there came a night, when we by chance were sitting together on the +deck of my Nile-boat in the clear of a full moon; and great peace came +upon me, so that my soul swelled sweetly within me, letting me know +that I was full of wiles and furnished with inexhaustible reserves of +power. And I said: “At dawn we will go southward; and, at the temple of +Korte, at a moon-birth, I will use my power for summoning a Great One +of The Greater Ones.” + +Thus I spoke. But Amenemhat answered me, saying: “Nay, O Summoner, why +toil so far, seeing that there are places nearer where this inchantment +may be worked with equal ease?” + +“I know,” quoth I, “of no place as free from the risk of disturbance as +the temple of Korte.” + +“Thou hast but to command,” he responded, “and I, O Summoner, must +reveal to thee the secret fanes of Khem.” + +“Reveal them, thou,” I promptly said. + +“There is one at Heliopolis----” + +“Too near to noisy Cairo.” + +“There is another at Ptolemais, now called Thomis----” + +“I saw there a galosh-factory, when last I descended Sihor’s sacred +flood.” + +“There are those vast secret halls of Thebes----” + +“Ruined.” + +“Thebes above ground indeed is ruined, O wise Summoner, but not the +Thebes which lies below.” + +“How know’st thou this?” I said. + +“From the gods who revealed the fact to me in my former life: for when +I was a priest in Khem, I learned many things which in time would be. +And it was given to me to know how that the temples of Khem should be +desolated and the peoples of Khem destroyed. And it was shewn to me +for how many centuries the secret halls of the three priestly colleges +at Thebes would remain forgotten. But I, also, am ware of an entrance, +well-concealed, very hard to find, which I can shew to thee if thou +desirest to make use of those dim halls as they were wont to be used.” + +Thus he spoke. And the mind in my breast exulted. But I said: “Surely +the adits will be blocked with shrubs and fallen masonry?” + +“That may not be, O Summoner,” he answered, “for the adit of which I +speak is in the open plain.” + +“Then we will go to Thebes; and the thing which has to be done shall be +well-done, there.” + +But when, at length, we were come to the ruined capital of the Upper +Land and the Lower, having left some of our baggage at the paltry +village of Luxor, concealing the rest, anon we pursued our way across +the sandy plain thereby, until we reached a certain pebbly strip of +land which was unencumbered, excepting by a low pillar of granite. And +the pillar, being no more than a span in height, would have been quite +unnoticeable had any ruins approximated: as it was, I almost trod upon +it before I perceived its weather-worn surface, deeply graven with +the dead tongues of tombs, and undecypherable for all who have not +(but I have) a knowledge of those tongues from the tongue of one who +himself had used them. Time-worn was that little pillar, as well it +might be: for Amenemhat said that, in his own day, it had been more +venerable than the oldest fanes. Also, he narrated a tradition, which +said that a remote ancestor of Menes found it there, marking the site +where Divine Osiris first placed his foot on the hallowed soil of Khem: +but Amenemhat said (as well) that this tradition rested on no sure +warranty, for that Menes himself had taken the pillar from a temple +builded many ages before Khem was a country, and had it set there to +mark the entrance of the secret halls which he himself was building. + +But I instantly put this saying to the proof. For we strove to move the +pillar in its socket, where during nineteen centuries at least it had +been undisturbed. And, when we turned it round, the slab supporting it +sank slowly on a hinge: but sand with many pebbles slid downward on to +the stair which was revealed. + +Thus then was manifest the entrance to the Secret Halls of Thebes. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[4] _Cf._ a similar divine voice, _Iliad_, v. 380-410. A. H. + + + + + THE THIRD PAPYRUS + + +Having lighted lanthorns, I began to descend the stair with my +familiar: but a very noxious vapour drove us back. And, while I chafed +at this delay, Amenemhat reproved me, saying: “Why wait hours for +nature to effect that which thou (with magic art) couldst do in a +moment?” + +And this having been the second time when I myself had forgotten the +power which I possessed, till reminded of the same by my familiar, I, +indeed, held a sort of council with myself; and I determined that, in +the future, I no longer would live as men of my own race are wont to +live, in helpless abject obedience to so-called natural laws, seeing +that (for me) such laws did not exist, but that I would be limited +solely by the mind in my lordly breast, willing what I pleased, and +causing its performance by forces amenable to my magic art. And, having +thus determined, I instantly invoked certain airy sprites, yellow as +sunflowers, who, with millions of legs alternately coming and going, +purified the staircase and the edifices to which it led. + +The passage having thus been rendered favourable to earth-walking men, +we again descended: but, when we came to certain gates beyond the +forty-ninth antechamber, some mysterious energy barred our progress. +That is to say, when we reached the said gates, my head would have +gone through, but my feet refused to budge--though Amenemhat went +forward without difficulty, whom I, seeing that he was my familiar and +his place behind his lord, recalled. For, if I could not proceed (on +account of some inexplicable impotence on the part of my blameless +feet), neither might he, for a servant may not go before his master in +a case of this kind. + +Wherefore, I used my magic art again; and I uttered several spells one +by one, excepting the _Spell of the Name Ineffable_ which I do not deem +fit to say in any need but that which seems extreme. And none of my +spells availed me anything. + +But my mind mentioned that Amenemhat’s ability to go forward, and +my inability, might perchance indicate some difference of character +between us two; and I used my wiles for pondering possible differences. +In this manner I perceived that whereas he was a priest according to +the highly respectable rite of Khem, I was no more than a Tonsured +Clerk of the Latin Obedience. For it may as well be known by all men +living that, in my early (or later) life in the kingdom of Victory +queen of the stalwart stately Anglicans, one of the many incredibly +cruel and unspeakably hideous happenings which marred me and soured me +was as follows. The Divine Ones of the Latin Obedience called me to +serve them as flamen sacrificing for the Blessed Dead; and I willingly +responded to the call. In token whereof I was admitted to the first +grade of the flaminian estate, being marked apart from other men by +the five-pointed tonsure.[5] And immediately, by the blundering of +blind guides (the most righteous of men), confirmed by hierarchical +timidity or stupidity or malignity, I was denied my heart’s desire, +and bile was mingled with my blood. I, then, endured my torments +disdainfully, as my habit is, saying all those invectives which my mind +gave me to say as rudely and as loudly as possible. And there appeared +unto me processions of heresiarchs and schismatarchs (all blameless), +wearing altogether prestigious habiliments, and using gestures (almost +salacious) which ran along their bodies and suggested things not said, +who proffered to me priesthoods (and in one case) a pontificate. But +none of their pretty things pleased me, not being of valid or desirable +origin. And I remained where I was, ready to go forward, ruthlessly +refusing to go back. + +But now the blessed gods inhabiting olympian palaces were permitting me +to find in Thebes the representative of a religion prior in time to, +and by no means a dissent from, my own--a religion, furthermore, which +was to mine what the flower is to the fruit. Wherefore, being denied +the fruit, I made no more ado: but I clutched the flower. + +For this cause, I retraced my steps, returning to Luxor, where I +commanded my faithful Amenemhat, the priest of Tanis, to give me the +order of priesthood according to the rite of Khem. And this he did when +I had sworn the great oath of an Egyptian priest, which oath bound me, +till Mother Isis herself released me, as I shall narrate hereafter. +But Amenemhat gave me the unction of sacred nard, with the white linen +robe and the silver ankh, breathing on my head, and laying hands on +me, saying: “_May all the gods bless thee: may Heru-p-Khart love thee: +may Isis nurture thee: may Osiris guide and prosper thee, so that thou +never look back but alway forward on the illimitable field of wisdom +hereby opened to thee. And, by the power committed to me, I Amenemhat, +make thee, Nicholas, a priest of Khem, in the name of Apis Osiris the +great god who sitteth in Amentet, ever-living lord, everlasting ruler, +deliverer, sustainer, who is Osiris, who is Nu, who is Ra, who is Tum, +all whose feathers are upon him, and who giveth life for ever and for +ever._” + +These matters, then, being accomplished, we returned to Thebes; and +nothing impeded my entrance to the subterranean palaces. + +But we transported my magic apparatus, on a truck, into the +forty-ninth antechamber of those secret halls, to be convenient for our +operations at a fitting time. But, because the fidelity of the servants +whom we left with the rest of our baggage by the river-side (excepting +that which I myself had concealed) was not above suspicion, I, indeed, +took with me all my money, to wit, five-and-fifty gold quarter-ounces +of Victory queen of the stalwart stately Anglicans,[6] and some +Egyptian silver. Also I armed myself with my death-spitter,[7] and with +a belt containing four-and-sixty death-parcels,[8] for there was always +a chance of an encounter with barbarian tomb-riflers in Egypt of the +nineteenth century to come. Also, I took my gold time-teller:[9] for +that was the last thing which I bought before I left the land of my +future birth. + +But we stood before the hitherto-resisting portal. A touch from my +magic staff caused the massive gates to creak and to yawn with much +groaning before us. Having crossed certain vast secret halls, walking +at a slow but even pace for an hour or more, we came to the verge of a +subterranean lake. I flashed my lanthorn over the watery expanse: but +we saw no distant shore. A narrow causeway, only a few spans higher +than the dark flood, was all that met our eyes; and that lost itself, +twenty cubits away, in impenetrable gloom. I stooped and dipped my +hand into the water: by which act I perceived that what I had taken +for a lake was actually a strong stream; and I opined that it was some +subterranean collateral of sacred Sihor. + +But I boldly stepped out on to the causeway, bidding Amenemhat to +follow me and to push before him the small wheeled truck, light +to lift, easily propelled, which contained my cabinet of essences +and quintessences, with my divination-cup and my crystal orb of +divination banded with silver with adornments of rose-crystals and +blue moonstones, together with a skinful of Nile-water and certain +alimentaries. And, as my eyes became accustomed to the murky blackness, +I perceived the outlines of colossal columns on both sides of the +stream: these supported a carven roof strangely painted with cats and +weasels. + +But, after a journey which seemed to be interminable owing to the +darkness and the silence, though it was not actually more than a +thousand paces, the causeway widened suddenly; and, on peering for the +edge, I was ware that I had crossed the dark river as by a bridge. That +dark river of running water divided my life as a liegeman of Victory +queen of the stalwart stately Anglicans from a life which lay before. + +New wonders arrested the melancholy dejection of my mind. In front +of me, there appeared a wall painted with figures representing the +initiation of priests in the divine Isidian mysteries; and this wall +was pierced by three doors. Not for me was it to hesitate. Not for me +was it even to ask guidance of my familiar. But these opinions did +not prevent me from contriving a wile, observing with the corner of +my eye that Amenemhat’s glance instinctively went to the door on the +right hand. Which door I instantly laid open with a touch of my magic +staff; and, having passed along a corridor, richly adorned, very fair +to see, we emerged in a vast circular hall, columned, and surrounded by +a cloister having a series of apsidal chapels in its outer boundary. +And the place was indeed marvellous. For, in the middle of the hall, +four-and-twenty circular stairs soared to a circular platform, whereon +sat a lonely altar; and the whole place was made of some clear white +stone like polished marble, dazzling snow-white marble without veins or +mottling, and without any of the joints which are formed when slabs of +stone are laid in order one upon another: so that I could not determine +whether the wall had been builded with hands, or cut with incalculable +toil from the virgin quarry, or merely called into being by art magic. +But, though the hall was of most candid whiteness, the altar on the +summit of the circular foot-pace was of blood-red porphyry. And, being +(as it was) deep in the bosom of the grain-giving earth, the place +was lighted by a radiance, perennial, most agreeable to the eyes, the +source of which I am not at liberty to tell. Such was the secret hall +beneath Thebes.[10] + +But I placed my magic apparatus on the altar, and on the foot-pace +pertinent thereto, all in proper order; and I sat down, with Amenemhat, +on the lowest step, to refresh our bodies with a meal in preparation +for the work before us. And, when we had dismissed the desire of eating +and drinking, so sitting we conversed as follows. + +“I do not remember this white hall as it now is,” said Amenemhat. + +“Hast thou then seen it before?” I inquired. + +“When I was priest of Tanis, I oft-times celebrated the mysteries here.” + +“And to what was it like then?” + +“It was draped with white carpets of silk embroidered in silver with +images of the assessors of Amentet. And a carpet was hanged between +every pair of pillars, veiling the cloister from the hall.” + +“Yet the hall will serve our purpose as well without its hangings?” + +“Doubtless. But still it seems that some malignant sprite might lurk +in the shadow of those columns, watching, with intent to interrupt our +sacred rites.” + +And hardly had the Tanitic priest uttered the last word, when a +blameless shape (very loathesome and ferocious, shewing nothing but +the accentuation of a tattered pendulous head and the thick rictus +of parts of a face), emerged from those very shadows, and rushed upon +us with mouth-foamings and hiccoughs and eye-rollings, hideously +screeching. + +Amenemhat withered away with terror; and his mind wilted as he fell +swooning on the steps. But I, strongly bounding, leaped to the altar; +and, having seized my magic staff, and having made the terrible _Sign +of the Godlike Rulers_, then indeed I proclaimed the _Spell Which +Binds_. + +The Shape stood, held by the mighty inchantment, a ridiculous and cruel +personage, gross and ceruminous, with an incomplete head dandling on +a tendinous neck. But I descended to recover my familiar. And, having +further bound the Shape with the _Word of Fear_, I drew back the mind +of Amenemhat to his body, fattening it with comfortable words. And anon +I required the Shape to decline to me his generalities, telling who and +what he was. + +But he responded very obediently, saying: “I am Sanes, priest of +Osiris, warden of yonder purple altar, and long it is since I have +formed mortal speech with these remnants of my tongue.” + +I then demanded, “Why, O hideous and excessive prelate, didst thou rush +out so menacingly upon us?” + +“Because,” he said, “having seen no man since I know not when, I was +fearful that ye had evil designs. But, seeing that thou hast the _Sign_ +and the _Spell_ and the _Word_, I must believe thee to be present with +the sanction of the gods. Yet, seeing that I (in my lifetime) was the +warden of this place, seeing that no man hath deposed me, seeing also +that (after my accidental but lamentable death) I was not properly +embalmed but did myself fulfil the cavities of the holy crocodiles who +ate me, I still must deem myself its warden.” + +Thus having spoken, he wept fragmentarily. And I will say that I +rarely have seen anything more frightful than the tears of a shape +which (some centuries before) had been an eaten clergyman. Wherefore, +having required him to make his Mark with his finger (as it were) on +the stainless floor, and having counted the angles of the same, I said: +“Poor faithful Senior, thou shalt be relieved of thy wardenship and +speeded whither thou shouldst have gone ages ago.” + +And I removed _Spell_ and _Word_. But, intoning the _Speeding Hymn_, I +bade the Shape to begone in peace to the dull region of Amentet, giving +him the _Word of Entrance_, and praying the Assessors to deal leniently +with him. For surely so dreary and so patient a watch and ward as his +should suffice to smooth many wrinkles from his sphere of gold. + +And, with a joyful cry, the Shape collected his parts; and, leaping, +he evanesced. But we turned to the matter which engrossed us, having +dismissed the long-delayed ghost to his rest. + +In this manner, I began to use my magic art in the secret hall of +Thebes. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[5] The tonsure is, of course, not pentagonal but circular. The bishop +who confers it does, however, ceremonially dip the clerk’s hair in five +places, _e.g._ front, back, right, left, and crown, while teaching the +tonsured to twitter: “_Dominus pars--haereditatis meae--et calicis +meis--Tu es Qui restitues--haereditatem meam mihi._” Hence, perhaps, +the epithet “five-pointed.” A.H. + +[6] I surmise that these “gold quarter-ounces” were sovereigns. A. H. + +[7] These words are written in late-Victorian English by what I take to +be Mr. Crabbe’s own hand. A. H. + +[8] These words are written in late-Victorian English by what I take to +be Mr. Crabbe’s own hand. A. H. + +[9] These words are written in late-Victorian English by what I take to +be Mr. Crabbe’s own hand. A. H. + +[10] Mr. C.’s statement would almost seem to indicate that Messrs. +Currelly, Dennis, Dalison, and Naville, the learned and assiduous +excavators of the subterranean sanctuary at Thebes (cf. _The Times_, +Tuesday, viiij Apr.) are only at the beginning of their labours. A. H. + + + + + THE FOURTH PAPYRUS + + +Touching the ordeal of the scorching staff, I consulted Amenemhat. He +had grave doubts as to whether it was lawful to protect the hand with +a magic unguent, or to hold the staff with tongs; and he stood by the +injunctions of the well-written papyrus which ordained that the staff +must be held in the hand. But, as for me, my dear mind foamed with +blood, and my stomach shifted inch by inch, and the gorge of me swang +to and fro, at the anticipation of the grievous anguish which I was +to undergo: although I knew that, by enduring the ordeal the first +time, I had summoned from the dead a master of magic, from whom I was +learning ineffable wisdom, and, that, by enduring the same a second +time, I should call from the dead a master of masters of magic, from +whom I might learn wisdom absolutely illimitable. But, notwithstanding +this, the heart in my bosom would take no cheer, but remained dull and +spiritless and weighted with premonitions of disaster. + +Furthermore, while my mind was thus obliquing brusquely in the manner +of a crab, I needs must add to my perturbations by certain thoughts +about the gods of my own motherland. And I pondered the question +again, asking myself whether what I was meditating actually amounted +to apostacy. And I went over much old ground: for the point was a +very nice and subtile one. I told myself how that bad hierarchs and +far-from-immaculate anointed ones, all the most righteous of men, of my +race and age and tongue, had refused to let me serve my gods and theirs +in the manner which those divine ones inhabiting heavenly palaces had +themselves designed. And I enumerated, one by one, all the occasions +when the same blameless persons, out of spite or out of pique or out +of merely natural and ungracious cruelty, had chased me from temple +after temple with secret anathemas, denied me my rites, and withdrawn +from me the very hem of the skirt of fellowship. And I postulated that +a well-minded man must have a religion. Therefore, without disloyalty +to the gods of my own land, from whose worship my fellow-worshippers +cut me off, I pronounced that it was permissible for me, in default of +fulness, to use a moiety. Thus, then, I argued with myself, until I was +satisfied, that is to say satisfied as nearly as might be. + +And anon I addressed myself to my task, placing the crystal orb +in the silver cup, and filling the last with Nile-water, while my +familiar poured into the thirsty trench below the steps that magic +emerald-coloured liquid, whose exact ingredients may not be told at +large. Which having been well-done, we prepared to summon a Great +One of the Greater Ones out of the Outer Immensity. And, for this +cause, that the one whom I was about to summon was coming from so vast +a distance of time, I knew that the heat of my magic staff would be +immeasurably greater at this second summons than at the first. For +movement is heat and heat is movement; and, the faster and longer the +movement, the fiercer the heat of the burning. + +But, while the priest Amenemhat sprinkled beautiful-smelling +gum-tragacanth, I intoned the hymn _I am the One among the Forms +which the Eye the Only One hath created_, and the incantation called +_Of the Buckle of Red Jasper_; and then we both prayed to Ptah the +Pain-lessener to make my ordeal as endurable as might be. It is true +that I was not to have an additional burning from the fierce clear of +the moon, since I was (this time) far beneath the earth: but I ceased +not from my pure-minded prayers to Ptah, even when the crystal orb +began to glow. For I was convinced that some catastrophe was at hand. + +Wherefore, fearing lest the sudden death of his summoner (and I +expected no less) should leave Amenemhat to drag out a weary existence +for ever on man-breeding earth--for a spirit reincarnated by means of +Nile-water must remain incarnate until his own incarnator shall permit +him to depart his body--then, indeed, I hastily gave to my familiar the +_Word of Freedom_, saying: “O Amenemhat, it seems that the time of our +separation is at hand. But I am loth to part, for thou hast taught and +served me well: but I will not help myself at another man’s serious +cost. Therefore I free thee from my bond of rule, that thou mayst +return to thy place when it shall seem good to thee. And, for thine own +sake setting thee free, O Amenemhat, I bid thee farewell.” + +But his response came to me very thinly, very reed-like: for his body +instantly began to fade away from him; and he was fast becoming an +Osirian and a spider’s-web-coloured mist in my sight. And he said: “O +Nicholas, Conquistator of Peoples, I indeed thank thee for the respite +from the gnawing weariness of Amentet which thou hast granted to me, by +summoning me to tread the kindly earth for a space; and, in return, I +will unfold to thee some pages of the book of thy destiny. For, having +been and being now about to be an Osirian, I can read plainly in that +book: yet I may not tell thee all, for the gods have forbidden it. And, +ere thou hast lived another moon’s age, thou shalt see me as I used +to be: for I and thou are linked together in an unbreakable cycle of +nigh two thousand years. And I and thou will meet again in this land of +Khem, I the priest of Tanis, and thou: for that awful round of years +is----” + +Thus he departed, leaving the unfinished phrase lapping against my +mind. But I was very grievously perturbed: for, unless I read his +prediction awry, I was doomed to die within the month. And I was not +ready, having an infinity (an inconceivable infinity) of things to do, +of souls to save, of sufferers to soothe, of oppression to remove, of +wrongs to put right, of liars and thieves and slanderers to confute and +to despoil and to shame, of cruelties to avenge with head-diggings and +eye-gougings and revenges and slaughters and maimings and stonings and +spine-impalings with much moaning, and many other mind-grieving evils. +For which causes I was not ready to die then. + +Wherefore, arising with shoutings from my lethargy, I adjured the mind +in my dear breast to be very strong, very valiant indeed, very alert to +withstand Death’s insidious onsets. For, though I had seen many things, +I never yet had met personally beautiful Death the soother of men. +And first, I set myself to endure the ordeal in which I was engaged. +For lurid gleams were leaping from the emerald liquid in the trench, +wafting hot breaths in my direction. + +Instantly, stripping off my linen robe and casting it outside the +circle, I again ascended to the porphyry altar; and grasped the +magic staff with my bare hand. Now that my mind was blazing with +firm courage, the staff at first seemed cold. Anon, a gentle wave of +warmth flushed through it; and a dart of anguish shot into my flesh. +Pang followed pang: stab pierced stab. More swiftly came fiercer +thrusts of pain as the heat increased. But I kept my mind fixed and +my lips addressed to Ptah the Pain-lessener. Great scorching flames +flowed from the staff over my hand and arm. I seemed to be holding a +nineteen-times-heated fire; and, yet, amid all the intolerable agony, I +was ware that this was but the beginning of my torment. + +The heat of the flame was so intense, that I looked for my arm to +vanish away in impalpable ashes. Irresistible desire of dropping the +staff assailed me; and my fingers loosened a little against my will. +Like as the helmsman of a ship, whose rudder is shattered by wintry +storms, and who (knowing the right course) is unable to steer his +vessel, even so was I then. The staff fell out of my grasp: but the +silver chain, which looped it round my wrist, prevented it from rolling +away. + +Instantly, the flames expired; and the lambent streamers in the +divination-cup died down. But I stood, alone, in darkness. + +After a space of gloom and silence, I saw tiny golden sparks floating +in the vast circumferent void. But I watched them: for there seemed +naught else for me to do, nor was my will any longer inclined to force +leadlike unwilling limbs to act. And the sparks became spots. And +the spots became swiftly-rolling globes of light. I tried to utter a +_Spell_: but voice and hearing had deserted me. + +I lay, crouched against the blood-red altar of porphyry. The globes of +light changed, taking wonderful forms. All my members were enfeebled; +and, indeed, only the mind in my breast was me. For my body had +renounced its allegiance to my sway, and had gone apart from me in +shocking rebellion, leaving me to die having nothing but my mind and my +mind’s eye, which saw and thought the very queerest things, the most +terrible, the most unheard-of. + +All round me, I saw the spirits of my senses standing. On the left, +was my hearing: on his right, was my smell: on his right again, was +my sight: on the right of that one was my taste: on his right was my +touch. Above these, hovered my life, in the form of a small white bird +like a beautifully-crowned hoopoe. Behind them, were my powers of +speech and movement, very large, and sudden, and frightful. And the +mind in my breast told me that these things were so. + +But all these shapes mopped and mowed and sighed at me; and my voice +made as though he would have derided me, his fallen master: but the +bird of life forbade him. And the shapes wagged and wavered horribly, +gesticulating among themselves; and some seemed friendly: but others +were undoubtedly hostile. And, suddenly, with a pitiful gesture, my +hearing put up his hands and dived cleanly into me; and I heard faint +voices, as one hears the whimpering of miners coming up a pit-shaft. +For my powers and my senses were arguing against me: but the bird of +life argued for me. + +“Ye shall not leave him thus:” cried the bird. + +“And who can prevent us?” shrieked the rebels. + +“I,” said my life, “for I will not leave him; and how can ye wander +lifeless through the wide-bosomed earth when I am here refusing to die?” + +Then, indeed, the mind in my noble breast spoke unwinged words, saying +the _Spell of Not Letting the Powers and Senses of a Man be Taken from +Him in the Netherworld_; and, afterward, I intoned aloud: “How now, +rebellious creatures, why dally in idleness when work remains to be +done? Know ye your master; and obey.” + +And, with shambling gait and visages rueful and ashamed, my senses and +my powers obliqued each to his separate task. + +But I staggered to my feet; and, seizing the divination-cup, I drained +its cool contents, looping my arm through the chain of the crystal orb. +And, at the moment, flames began to rise from the summit of the purple +altar. Whitish-green they were, ever-increasing in volume, as though +some mountain (a forge of the Kyklops) were vomiting from a new vent. +And the flames rose higher and higher, till they licked the very apex +of the hall ninety men’s heights above me; and there was neither smoke +nor vapour: but only fervent flames, humming and buzzing and bounding +upward with irresistible leapings. But, changing to violet, they +vanished, leaving the place in a violet glare wherein was the whirring +of wheels. + +But I dismissed inertia; and, having my faculties under order, I began +to look upon these happenings with a wholesome curiosity. + +In the midst of the wheels were faces and figures and events, faint +indeed at first, but growing clearer and firmer and more violent in +movement till they displaced the wheels. But I watched very intently; +and I saw the histories of mortal men of many different races being +enacted before my eyes. For, things (which then were past, and since +have been) were done in my sight in that secret subterranean hall of +Thebes. Kings and queens and emperors and princes and republicans +and patricians and plebeians swept in reverse order across my view, +all doing their deeds. Time rushed enormously backward in tremendous +panoramas. Great men died before they won their fame. Kings were +deposed before they had been crowned. Nero and the Borgias and Cromwell +and Asquith and the Jesuits[11] enjoyed eternal infamy and then began +to earn it. My motherland, the kingdom of Victory queen of the stalwart +stately Anglicans, melted into barbaric Britain: Byzantion melted into +Rome; Venice into Henetian Altino; Hellas into innumerable migrations. +Blows fell; and then were struck. Bearded men became smooth-skinned +boys. Death came first; and birth came last. All things changed save +one: silver Sihor’s living waters rolled down through the green streak +of Egypt and the sacred Delta to the innumerably smiling sea. + +Thus, was I whirled back through the rolling wheels of Time. + +At length events were still. The medley of scenes vanished. And I was +ware that I was alone with Another, Unknown, in a void of blackness, +impenetrable, save where the blood-red altar glimmered obscurely; and, +on it, was inthroned a Presence, shapeless, indistinguishable from the +murky gloom. + +But I was not afraid. And anon a voice spake to me, saying: “O man of +many wiles and inquisitive mind, it is permitted to thee to have thy +will, seeing that thy will is good and not evil. And, forasmuch as +wicked and fatuous anointed ones are minded to neglect thee, wasting +thee, throwing thee away as worthless, forasmuch also as the Maker of +thy stars will not have His good work spoiled and His keen tool rusted +or blunted by disuse or misuse, therefore, employment is granted to +thee such as thine energy deserveth and as thy mind desireth. For which +cause, thou art put back in time; and several lives are given thee to +live, and several deeds to do, and several fountains of wisdom are +laid bare to thee, so that (being perfected by much striving) at a +favourable occasion thou mayst fulfil thy free and perdurable destiny.” + +Thus having spoken, the Voice ceased. But I was alone, in the dark, +very alert, inexpressibly elated, hugging huge joys in my superior +mind; and my heart was throbbing like the tail of a lambkin in +springtime drinking life from the ewe. + +But the hall rocked slowly and more rapidly, with lamps and tones +and the roaring of hurricanes and waterspouts and the vibrance of +unmentioned and unthought-of music. And long tongues of white fire +went before; and all the gods of Khem followed after in intolerable +procession, Osiris and Isis and Heru the Child, and hawk-headed Ra in +his splendour, and well-plumed watery Nu and Nut, and intelligent Ptah +excessive in magnitude, and ram-headed Khnemu, and birdlike Khepera, +and self-originated Tum, and feathered Shu, and lion-headed Tefnut, +and Zeb the cackler, and Heru of the two horizons, and dark Set, and +jackal-headed Anpu the way-opener, and ibis-headed Thoth the measurer, +and Maat the straight, and Net the lady of heaven, and Sekhet the eye, +and cat-headed Bast, and plumed Ansu with his flail, and mistress Ta +Urt, and Hapi of the South with the papyrus, and Hapi of the North with +the lotus, and Amen the Only One who has no second, and Mother Nut the +sky his wife. And, all the while, I heard the shattering shaking of +the sacred sistrum, denoting the presence of Divine Mother Isis, the +Greatest of the Three. + +But the Voice spake yet again to me, saying: “O man of many wiles and +inquisitive mind, these are the forms of The Supreme, at this time to +which thou art come.” + +But I gazed on the assemblage of the gods, until my eyes were blinded; +and, for a time, I saw no more. + +Such, then, was the manifestation which I gained by magic art at Thebes. + +_I, Empedokles son of Polypemon, a Rhodian, have written this. My lord +the king ceased from dictating these histories, in order that he might +lead a squadron of his flying chariots, waging against King Artavasdes, +who_ (_audacious_) _has demanded tribute. And the Divine Herakles has +gone with my lord the king. May unconquered Mithra, M.Z.L., P.S.U., +D.O.M., S.H.C., M.E.L.F.,[12] prosper this undertaking. And I seal up +the scrolls, impressing the wax with my lord the king’s own sigil of +the crab and the moon. And these scrolls are written fairly by me, +and sealed by me, Empedokles, the scribe, by command of my lord the +king._[13] + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[11] This synthesis strikes me as being really most remarkable. A. H. + +[12] I can only elucidate these majuscules by reference to the +Henetian inscription containing the Mithraic Morning Litanies (_Corona +Matutina Mithraica_) lately discovered by Mr. Rolfe at Tauricellium +(_Torcello_): “_Manceps Zodiacorum Luminum--Pater, Sospitator, +Unificator--Deus Optimus Maximus--Sol, Heros, Creator,--Mundi Expiator, +Lustrator, Fautor._” A. H. + +[13] Several words in these documents are not to be found in my +lexicons. On pronouncing them aloud, however, at a time when they +worried me dreadfully, I discovered that they were mere phonetic +traliterations, _e.g._ ΡΕΒΟΛΒΕΡ is evidently “revolver,” and I take +ΟΥΑΔΤϹ for “watch.” Though, why Mr. Crabbe could not have continued to +call these conveniences a “death-spitter” or a “fire-ball-spitter” and +a “time-teller,” respectively, is something of a mystery to me. Perhaps +we shall be safe in assuming that his attention, to the form of matter +which he dictated, varied in intensity from time to time. It does so +with the best of us. Nec semper tendet arcum Apollo. I surmise that Mr. +C.’s “death-parcels” were cartridges, and (from another indication in +the papyri) it may be asserted that they were tipped with an article or +convenience called a “dumdum.” A. H. + + + + + THE FIFTH PAPYRUS + + +_I, King Balthazar of Moxoene, having been victorious once again over +a barbarian people, and being wounded in battle, but not excessively, +dictate these words to Empedokles, my scribe, to pass the time._ + +Having seen, therefore, the vast white hall in the secret subterranean +temple at Thebes teeming full of the whole hierarchy of the gods of +Khem with all their relative appanages; and, having watched these holy +ones departing with the indicible pomp and splendour of their coming; +and, having heard the mystic voice which told me the meaning of these +manifestations, warning me of my connection with the same: anon, I was +left to ponder all these admirable happenings. + +Now the hall was flooded with soft white light, as it had been when I +first entered it with Amenemhat. And, as I meditated, standing strongly +at my ease by the altar of blood-red porphyry, I was ware that white +carpets of silk (covered with silver embroideries) were looped from +column to column all round the immense circle, between each pair of +pillars a carpet hanging from capitals to bases. But the embroideries +represented the Assessors of Amentet: throned in state they were; and +they judged the dead, allotting some to the blissful abodes, and +others to the flaming house of Set who gnawed them with his teeth ever +champing in expectation of fresh meals. And, while I gazed on these +things, I remembered how that Amenemhat had spoken of similar carpets. +But, when I thought of that priest of Tanis, I was moved to hold a +council with the mind in my dear breast concerning many things. For +it seemed good to me to recall events in order, so that (knowing the +past precisely) I might understand the present and proceed securely to +the future. Wherefore, I reminded myself of my godlike dismissal of +Amenemhat at a time when I awfully needed a friend, of the ordeal of +the scorching staff, of the overwhelming and wily inquisitiveness which +impelled me to persist in spite of failure, of the mind-delighting +reward promised to my perseverance, of the flying whirling wheels +which swept me back through panoramas of Time, of the apparition of +the godlike company of Khem. And I considered all these things, fully +and turn by turn, before I laid them away in the cells of my memory, +as sedulous squirrels store nuts in hollow trees, making provision for +winter. But, when, at length, I was satisfied, I came down the steps +from the purple altar; and, gathering my priestly robe from the floor +where I had cast it at the beginning of the ordeal, I clothed myself, +and proceeded to the cloistral antechambers in search of the truck of +baggage which Amenemhat had trundled, from the outer future world, +into that arena of untimed immortality. For I was convinced that I no +longer stood in time where I had been, but rather more than nineteen +hundred years prior to the life which I had left. But, of this, I had +no particular or human certainty, but only a general or divine one, for +my watch told me that barely eleven hours had elapsed since my entrance +into the place; and I firmly prepared myself to find that those eleven +hours included nineteen centuries, and that the land of Egypt (which I +had left flourishing under the rule of Victory queen of the stalwart +stately Anglicans) was now cowering beneath the talons of Roman Eagles. +But, having wound-up my watch, and feeling very hungry, I refreshed my +body with the provisions in my baggage, leaving nothing for mice. Thus +I did, in the cloister behind the embroidered carpets. + +Afterward, it seemed good to me to take such matters as would be +useful to me in my new life, and to dispose of the rest, before +emerging into activity in the sweet sunlight. Accordingly, under my +linen robe, I buckled on my belt of beautiful death-parcels with my +death-spitter in its proper sling. And, above that belt, I buckled on +my broad belt with the well-placed pockets, so that the two belts (one +above another) became like a thorax protecting my vitals. But, in the +well-sewn pockets of the broad belt, I bestowed my watch, and a box of +wax-matches,[14] and my gold and silver money, and my pocket-book with +its beautiful pencil,[15] and my Waterman’s Ideal Fountain Pen,[16] +and my Foreign Office Passport,[17] with the circular notes from my +bankers, and eight notes[18] each worth twenty-five ounces of gold. +Thus having prepared myself, I laced the strong sandals on my feet, +arranging the pleats of my robe conveniently to conceal what was +underneath, yet leaving all things ready to be snatched-at in case of +necessity. But there was nothing left, excepting my magic apparatus, +and the truck and lanthorn which had come with me to the place. + +But, on pondering the thing again, I was ware (from the carpets between +the columns, and from a certain aspect of the porphyry altar), that +the temple in which I stood was no longer a deserted temple, forgotten +because buried by the lapse of ages, but actually a temple in daily +use. From which portent, I also was ware that it behoved me to be ready +to inflict my presence upon anyone (or at least to explain it plausibly +to anyone) who by chance might totter in my direction, and, indeed, not +to wait for such discovery, but to go at once in search of the society +of articulately-speaking men, and to take my share in life as I should +find it on the grain-giving earth. + +For these reasons, then, I set my cabinet of essences and quintessences +in a darkish recess, hiding it, in case I should need it again: +but it remains there to this day. But I retraced my steps toward +the causeway, recrossing the dark river; and, coming there, I +broke my truck and lanthorn into pieces, and committed them to the +swiftly-flowing stream. But I went on toward the light of the outer +world, having the crystal orb (silver-banded with adornments of +rose-crystals and blue moonstones) hanging by its chain from my neck, +and the silver divination-cup in my left hand, and in my right the +magic staff with its silver chain twisted round my wrist. Thus, I +passed majestically through the antechambers; and a fold of my robe +inshrouded my head, lest my silver hair and beard should bewray me +to the shaveling priests guarding every portal. But they, seeing me +emerging from the holy place with a holy and even mind and wearing +priestly habiliments, were unperturbed; and, beside, the sight of the +very beautiful instruments in my hands, and the _Word of Silence_ in +the ancient tongue of Khem which I gave them in my passage, prevented +any doubts of me from afflicting their ingenious minds. But also, of +course, I was receiving favour from the gods. + +So, at last, I stepped up through the secret trap-door on to the sandy +plain under the full blaze of radiant Ra. And I at once perceived a +difference. For the plain, with its low pillar on the spit of pebbles, +was the same, but infinitely smaller; and, below me, where I had left +desolate ruins, was a city heaped with mighty fanes and splendid +palaces. I, Nicholas Crabbe, liegeman of Victory queen of the stalwart +stately Anglicans, gazed with my live well-seeing eyes, not a puny +Luxor, but on Thebes of the Hundred Gates, Menes’ Thebes, Thotmes’ +Thebes, the capital of the Upper Land, the great metropolis of the +south, in glory inconceivable, and yet not yet in its greatest glory. + +For a time, I stood, musing at the wonder to which my wiles had +brought me, and contriving many plans. For, it appeared to me, that +(though I had done very well as a priest of Isis in extricating myself +from the temple) the mind in my lordly breast was yearning for a +wider more-strenuous life, in which my wisdom and my power (but now +considerable) might be used and (if possible) augmented. And, for this +reason, it seemed well to seek yet another guise before entering the +city. + +But a certain remembrance set me searching the rock-strewn plain; +and, by chance, about an hour before sunset, by favour of some god, +I came to the cavity under certain boulders, where I had seen fit to +hide a small teak-wood chest lined with aluminium, when I came to that +place with my familiar Amenemhat. Now I am ignorant of the reason why +I found it there, for the time when I hid it there is even now very +far in the future. But, as I had found my baggage in the secret hall, +with the food (which I brought from the era of Victory queen of the +stalwart stately Anglicans) still sweet and fresh more than nineteen +centuries before its actual confection, I was not then, and I am not +now, disposed to vibrate the air with explanations of what no one can +understand. It is enough that I found my teak-wood chest in the place +where some day I shall no doubt hide it, and that its contents provided +me with easy and beautiful garments wherewith I promptly indued myself, +namely, a pair of brown leather boots, with a flannel jacket and +trousers, and a silk shirt and socks, all of a very pale grey colour, +and a soft felt hat of the same hue but of the shape affected by +Hermes.[19] But when I had clothed myself in these well-cut garments, +I buckled my revolver-belt outside them, and hanged a leathern +satchel, containing my crystal orb and my divination-cup, over my wide +shoulders. But I kept the magic staff in my right hand to twirl and +flourish by the way; and, so, I set out for the city. + +A well-carved open chariot passed by; and the slave, driving, gazed +curiously on my strange form. Around me, on both sides of the wide +white road, brick-red tillers of the soil toiled with bent backs amid +the emerald crops. Another chariot passed me; and halted a little +further on for the naked charioteer to gaze upon me with jaw-dropped +amazement. At the gate of the city, I saw fierce Makedonians on guard, +clothed (as was the fashion of their race) with copper armour blazing +like red gold, and kirtles of the well-cured skins of ponies, and great +crested helmets on their heads, and long spears of tough ashwood in +their hands, very brave to look upon. And, as I came near, one (the +most righteous of men) said to his fellows: “I say, here is well-hatted +Hermes!” + +“Aye:” responded another: “and the godly youth goeth attired for this +hot land in grey cloud-garments, shielding his tender skin from Helios +his rays.” + +“Ho, stranger!” cried a third. “Stand thou, and say whether thou art +god or man, and what contraband thou bearest in thy bag, and whether +thou art friendly to the Pharoah.” + +Now while the usual dirty little boys and loafers and inquisitive +women were assembling, I realized that I had to do with Argyraspides, +seeing that the shields of the soldiers were laminated with silver; +and, moreover, I perceived that they were offering me the _Sign of the +Shield-rim_.[20] But I used wiles, answering: “First tell ye me who the +Pharoah is, and why ye Argives serve the lord of Khem.” + +Thus I spoke: but deep-seated indignation swept from their hearts +across their faces, even as Sihor’s stream inundates the thirsty land +in flood-time. And anon one chirruped: “O thou silly fellow! The divine +Ayletes is the Pharoah whom we serve.” + +“Ayletes?” I cried. “Is, then, Ptolemaios Dionysos the Piper lord of +sacred Khem? And are ye Makedonians minions of the Lagidai?” + +“Aye, stranger:” the blameless guard responded: “Makedonians we +are, but no slaves of that Flute-player. Of our own will we serve +Ptolemaios, for pay and for promotion. But, who art thou?” he +continued. “Who art thou, who seemest first to know nothing and then to +know everything? And why art thou thus garbed? And what bearest thou +there?” + +Then, indeed, I was wily: for I made them the _Countersign of the +Shieldnavel_;[21] and I said, in a parable which he who has a grain +of sense may read: “I am Karkinos Gampsonyx called Oypogonos, son of +Kallikhronos, born of Nomadikos, begotten by Eypator son of Eygenes +who sprang from the great race of the Selenidai. And I go thus garbed +because I have a lordly mind to go thus garbed. And, in my hand, I bear +that which is Life. And, on my thigh, I bear that which is death.” + +Thus I spoke. But the sentinels cowered before me, muttering among +themselves: “He knoweth the great _Countersign_: Yet he is not of +us, neither of present-born men, victims not masters of life and of +death: but he is some god or hero out of the Netherworld.” But to me +they said: “Pass freely, O Karkinos Oypogonos of the multitudinous +paternity, who art lord of life and death. And the Piper may stop thee +if he will: but we will have nothing to do with it.” + +But I went smoothly into the city. And men cast wondering looks at +me, because of my strange aspect; but, because I had been able to +cause the insolent soldiers of the corrupt Lagidai to shrink from me, +I was sufficiently admired. Now the sun was near his setting; and the +mind in my breast earnestly desired to seek a small place of my own, +near water, where I might rest awhile, watching for an opportunity of +mingling advantageously with mortal men. For, indeed, I have ever had a +natural longing to be near water, and useful to men. Wherefore, having +found my way to the river, I addressed myself to an Argive colonist, +and he was a master of barges, who (by chance) was seeing his barks +laid up for the night. And from him I demanded the hire of a convenient +barge, intending to sail downstream to the Delta, that (during the +voyage) I might tranquilly estimate the wisdom which I had, and perhaps +acquire more, and also take part in such adventures as the gods might +assign to my treatment. + +But the bargeman answered me, saying: “No barges, O lord, can pass down +Sihor to the Delta, now. For the wild mercenaries of the Pharoah have +mutinied at Anteiopolis for an increase of wages.” + +“I know,” I said, “that there are masterless hounds everywhere.” + +“But these, lord, are not masterless: for they serve Pyrrhos, one of +themselves, a ruddy-locked barbarian, who has made Thebes (the sacred +city of the ram-headed god) a byword through the Upper Land and the +Lower, requiring of us (as tribute) whole meals of the milk of mice as +well as a ransom of much gold.” + +“But the guards of the Lagidai--” I began. + +He interrupted me: “Lord, they league with Pyrrhos; and a share of his +spoils keeps them in their quarters while he bites our necks.” + +“But, why do not ye, Thebans, resist this freebooter?” + +“There is no strength left to us, lord, since the dread Pharoah +Ptolemaios Lathyros sacked Thebes: whom may Set snatch, and his heart +be eaten alive by slow-worms, hornets, and interminably-tongued +chameleons----” + +“Peace, fellow!” I snarled. “Nor soil thine Argive mouth with barbaric +imprecations. And know that I will sail for the Delta, though a myriad +of outlaws be between here and there.” + +“Then, lord, thou wilt go alone: for no boatman will risk his life.” + +“Not for gold?” I inquired, shewing a handful of coins. + +Then, indeed, the man wavered, curiously examining the money. But he +said: “Oh, where were these well-minted pieces struck? For they are +over-round and too well-stamped to come from a barbaric mint. And, O +lord, who art thou?” + +But, being aware that he was as much in my power as though the knuckles +of my first and second blooming fingers clutched the tender nose +of him, and being desirous at length to make an end of bargaining, +I answered him, saying: “Whom I am, thou shalt know on a fitting +occasion: but, that I am to be obeyed, thou shalt know now. Let +therefore thine eyes gaze in this direction.” + +With which words, I stretched out my magic staff to the life-giving +river, whispering a certain _Spell of Summons_. And the sons of +slime surged up with great swirlings, the many-fanged far-sweeping +crocodiles, while I slowly swayed my staff in rhythm with the +inchantment which sang within me. But they came in cohorts from far and +near, with huge eddyings of the dark-brown water; and they lay winking +in close lines by the jetty, expecting orders from me their summoner. + +But the heart of the bargeman became like dripping in a hot pan; and +he said: “Lord, I perceive that thou art the Divine Hermes at least, +with that wonderful wand: for none but thou, and only thou on a very +important message from All-father Zeys, could do this thing.” + +To whom I gave a stern word, saying: “Be ware of opposing the +counsels of Zeys, or of hindering Hermes. For the minions of Pyrrhos +have no more power over me than had the Makedonians of the Lagidai. +But, even as I command these sons of slime, so am I superior to all +earth-stamping men.” + +“Dreadful lord,” he answered at once, “take the best of my barges: for +Nesamun my brother-in-law, who has more skill in boatmanship than I, +shall indeed go with thee this minute in his own barge.” + +Having succeeded in my wile, I dismissed the Argive to see to the +business. But I waited, watching the crocodiles having their teeth +cleaned and blinking luxuriously, till I was tired of their musky +exhalations. And, having given them leave, they returned to their +stations in the slime. And anon, seeing that the barge was being +prepared very speedily, I bade the bargeman that his brother-in-law +should visit me; and to him I gave order that he should take a stock of +provisions, buying also a slave-boy of lusty form and a mind incapable +of fear, with other things which were necessary. Furthermore, I said +that all was to be ready for sailing at dawn. And, having offered +two quarter-ounces of gold of Victory queen of the stalwart stately +Anglicans to the bargeman for his charges, he foolishly refused the +same, abasing himself to the earth as before a god. But I, having +ascended the gangway, entered my cabin, where I ate a melon and some +cheeses and pigeons; and betook myself to slumber. + +These things I did in Thebes of the Hundred Gates. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[14] All these words are written in English. A. H. + +[15] All these words are written in English. A. H. + +[16] All these words are written in English. A. H. + +[17] All these words are written in English. A. H. + +[18] All these words are written in English. A. H. + +[19] All these words are written in English. A. H. + +[20] The original has “ΑΝΤΥΞ.” A. H. + +[21] The original has “ΟΜΦΑΛΟϹ.” It is extremely humiliating to +confess that I have not been able, so far, to trace this _Sign_ and +_Countersign_ to any existing Rite. I am deeply pained and mortified. +A. H. + + + + + THE SIXTH PAPYRUS + + +When Day with her white steeds was come (most beautiful to behold), +and the dawn was yet cool, then indeed I examined my barge with its +contents and its mariners. And I saw that Nesamun was a nimble and +mightily powerful youth, and that Yokkho the slave was slim and very +eager, both stripped for work, and of a brick-red colour, with long +black and white eyes, and closely shaven polls which they covered with +a napkin as is the custom among the Egyptians. But they carried girdles +in their bundles. And I saw that the barge was long and flattish, +having two bulwarks. But there was a chief cabin in the waist; and +the roof of it was like a deck: but the low waist was open. And, at +the prow, there was a smaller cabin, with a deck above it, whereon a +slave might stand to shove the barge off shoals and sandbanks with the +well-handled pole. And there was a third cabin at the stern; and the +steersman stood on the roof of it wielding the cunning steering-oar. +But, in the waist, was a lofty mast, with a triangular sail of woven +reeds and the cordage relative thereto. And, having seen all these +things, I inspected the baskets of provisions; and these were very +grateful to the mind. For there was fresh bread, and much wheat (the +marrow of men), and many cheeses, and fruits both fresh and dried, +with jars of wine from Kos and Korinth, and vinegar, and condiments, +and nuts. But, when I had given an order, all these things were +stored in the fore-cabin. And I bade the boatman and his boy to take +the aft-cabin for themselves, so that their smells might not come to +me, as I slept in the chief cabin, or took the air in the waist, or +on the main deck during the voyage. Not that they were in any wise +disagreeable, being both healthy and naked and constantly washed: but +so I willed it, for (at that time) my stomach heaved at the odour of +all mortals. And, these matters having been settled, Yokkho pulled +the gangway into the barge, while Nesamun pushed out on to the placid +bosom of Hapi-hallowed Sihor. But, when they had hoisted the sail, +a favourable breeze assisted the slow stream to waft us toward the +distant Delta. + +In this manner, I departed from hundred-gated Thebes. + +But I began to ponder the past: for this always has been, and always +is, and always will be, my singular habit, recounting in my dear mind +every particular of the things which I had done, or which had been done +to me, weighing their worth and import and possibilities, rejecting +some to fall into oblivion, but storing others in my memory until such +time when they might be used for my advantage. And, of all the things +which I had done during the last two days, there were two things which +I regretted. The first was that I had left my magic cabinet with the +papyrus-enkheiridion at Thebes; and the second was that I had left +my priestly robe and sandals in the cavity under the boulders on the +plain. But, nevertheless, the mind in my noble breast bade me be of +good cheer, relinquishing all matters, even greater than these, without +a backward thought; and going forward boldheartedly in search of fresh +adventures, and the more boldly as the more barehandedly, seeing that +greater wisdom is to be gained by the simple, and more blooming laurels +are to be won by the absolutely naked, than by the trained philosopher, +or by the heavyarmed. Furthermore, the divine ones inhabiting olympian +palaces put into my mind an unmentioned and unthought-of action. For +I remembered the prediction of Amenemhat, how he said that within the +month I should meet him again. For, since those words, Time had rolled +back for me, so that it seemed that I was now actually living in the +former lifetime of Amenemhat. And, also, it seemed that (if these +things were so) the friendly priest would be performing his functions +at Tanis in the Delta: to which place I, undoubtedly by the direction +of the gods, was at that moment proceeding. Wherefore, taking courage +from the thought that, though I had not all which I might have had, +still, I had a great deal, to wit, the prospect of meeting a friend, +the divination-cup, the crystal orb, and the magic staff, beside my +arms and my money all safely stored in my cabin, to say nothing of the +inestimable wisdom which I had so far attained, then, indeed, I became +cheerful of heart; and set myself to take my pleasure from what was +round about me. + +For, as I walked about my deck, I saw the stalwart Nesamun poised +like some grand archaic carving in carnelian jasper, at one moment +lithe, and at another moment rigid, intent upon his business at the +steering-oar. And, at his feet, across the narrow aft-deck, Yokkho +was stretched at length, busy with fishing-lines which trailed behind +in golden Sihor. All around, were the rolling waters, bordered with +leaves like living emeralds; and, above, the great splendour of Ra +flamed in the turquoise-coloured dome of the heavens. Nothing broke +the stillness, excepting ripples lapping about the well-carved prow, +or when the slave laughed contentedly, drawing a silver fish from +the stream from time to time and tossing it to flap in a heap below +Nesamun’s feet. + +But when fishes enough for a meal for my crew had been caught, for fish +is a food which my gorge rejects without even trying it, then I called +Yokkho to me, demanding that he should soothe me with singing. And, +having fetched a certain well-sounding harp from his baggage, he began +to tighten the strings. But I saw that the harp was an old one, very +dilapidated, and the gilding and the paint were both worn off, leaving +bare wood to be seen. And also I knew it for the harp of a priest of +Khem, though one of the glass eyes of the face on the base had fallen +out, and the face itself was so broken and discoloured that it was not +to be decyphered either as of a god or of a man. And the slave-boy said +that, having been rescued from a sunken temple-barge at Philai where he +dived for it, the harp had been damaged by water. For which cause, he +fitted it with new strings, the frame being still whole. And when at +length he had tuned it, crouching on his hams and pressing it to his +tender shoulder, then he opened his throat and began to sing. But his +song was in a rude metre, with a pæan of praise at the end of every +tenth strophe; and he would have continued singing even unto this day: +for his song was as interminable as that endless song of future Galatia +which will be called _Jean François de Nantes_.[22] But long before +weariness prevented his hand from twanging the strings, I myself called +for silence, demanding the name of his ditty. And he said that it was +one of the folk-songs of the watermen of the Thebaid. This, then, was +the song which Yokkho sang: + + _Slowly return we + deeply deploring + great Hapi’s anger: + we have enanger’d + Sihor’s protector: + we must propitiate, + or we shall starve: + He is offended: + our nets go empty: + Let us lament it._ + + _Great is Hapi: + worship Hapi: + mighty Hapi, + grant us favour._ + + _Now let the Ueb + pour out the red wine: + now let the Kherkeb + offer our prayer, + that our petitions, + eager and earnest, + with a sweet savour + upward may fly, + mounting to Hapi + dwelling in Duät._ + + _Great is Hapi: + worship Hapi: + mighty Hapi, + grant us favour._ + + _Then will the dread lord, + dread lord of Sihor, + smell the sweet odour + and hear our prayer: + leaping from Eäru + amid the grain-fields, + and earthward flying, + the sacred Sahus + will speed his flight + to our rejoicing._ + + _Great is Hapi: + worship Hapi: + mighty Hapi, + grant us favour._ + + _Then he will fill + full, even fuller, + each fisher’s net, + till inward trawling + we seize the prey; + and load our boats + with Sobk his food. + All will be purchased. + But we remember, + in our good fortune, + Hapi the Giver._ + + _Great is Hapi: + worship Hapi: + mighty Hapi, + grant us favour._ + + _We have offended; + and, on a sandbank, + we are held prisoners; + and the storm rages + tearing our sail: + winds blind us with spray, + while the sons of the slime + creep o’er our quarter, + each seizing victims + shrieking in vain._ + + _Great is Hapi: + worship Hapi: + mighty Hapi, + grant us favour...._ + +But when I had made an end of his singing, I gave him a small coin +of no value to me, which seemed to him wealth incalculable, he being +such a simple little fellow. And, having praised his pretty voice, a +most innocent one and not by any means shrill, I turned to Nesamun +demanding a meal. For, the sun being on his zenith, it was my pleasure +to eat before sleeping. And, having brought me cheeses and gherkins +and cakes of bread and fresh fruit and a jar of wine where I sat in +the shade of my cabin, the mariners went ashore and filled their +own bellies with the fish which they broiled in papyrus on a fire. +But, when they had bathed and returned to the barge, we again set +sail, Nesamun guiding the steering-oar, and Yokkho fanning me with a +palm-leaf where I slept in the cool cabin. + +But, while I slept, it seemed to me that I was wandering near the +Treasury of Dreams which overlooks the meadows of Eäru in Duät of the +gods. And the monotonous song of the slave still hummed in my ears. And +anon, as my manner is in dreams, I found that I was all stark, without +a single stitch of clothing on me, having naught but my wings and tail +fixed to my arms and shoulders and legs at the back, wherewith I swam +in the air[23] like a beautiful expert seagull, easily and enormously +swooping. And I was flying finely balanced over my former (or future) +home in the kingdom of Victory queen of the stalwart stately Anglicans. +Which place I have well in memory, having known it, in the life from +which I had come, and to which I infallibly shall return terribly and +invincibly armed with the wisdom of ages. But I remembered the limpid +river, and the little island with its precipitous cliffs save at one +end which sloped gently to the water’s edge and the wide-stepped quay. +And I recognized the distant river-banks, clothed with oak-forests and +steep pine-woods, purifying the air. And I looked southward to see the +rivermouth far away, kissing the lips of the innumerably smiling sea. +But I knew, also, the small old perfect fortress of grey stone, which +stood on the summit of that isle, where were velvet lawns bestarred +with daisies, and gardens of quaint herbs and sweet old flowers, and +the cedar-tree, and the ghent-azaleas, and the pergola furred with +honeysuckle and white roses and passion-flowers and dripping with +amethystine wistaria and asterial jasmine. And I saw the library of +ancient books for solacing my mind in wintertime when pinecones burn +upon the hearth. And I saw my three well-tailed kittens, the white and +the yellow and the grey, frisking round my tame white peacocks trailing +pearl-like prides indignantly across the pleasaunces and neatly cobbled +paths which lead down to the boat-house. There also, I saw my electric +gondogla, and my flat-bottomed huge-ruddered sailing bragozzetto. And, +too, I saw my sailors, John Marcus and Ermenegildo Falier by name, the +last telling horrible Venetian tales to my three servants, Bob and Bill +and Roddy, having finished their day’s work in my house and gardens. +But I swam in the air round and about the place, so near to the flag +of Saint George and the ensign of the Cinque Ports which flew from my +battlements that I could have touched the bunting with my hand; and yet +I was unseen by any mortal eye. Wherefore I flew back to the Treasury +of Dreams.[24] + +And I saw the Master of Dreams summoning a certain blameless Dream, +to whom he said: “Go thou to such and such a priest of Isis, who +sleeps in a barge, near Koptos, on River Nile; and try whether he will +receive thee.” And the Dream, having wrapped a cloak of pink and tinsel +falsehood about him, leaped out through an ivory gate; and dived down +toward me, asleep, in the cabin of my barge. But, because he could not +find a foothold there (though he fought like a dog for it), he slank +back to the Dream-Master, to whom he sulkily snarled: “Lord, there +is that on that barge which prevents me.” Whereat, the Dream-Master +(having smiled and having dismissed him to his place) summoned another +Dream, to whom he gave a similar charge. And the second Dream donned +a cloak which seemed to be woven of dewdrops and the eyes of kittens +or babies; and he leaped out of another gate, and pounced like a robin +on my brow. And, with him, there entered to me Belmarduk the god of +Assyria, very brave with fringed vestments and well-curled love-locks, +attended by winged bulls and sphynxes and cherubs; and the heroes +Gilgamish and Eabani came flatly smirking sideways in his train. But +Belmarduk addressed me, saying: “By favour of the gods of Khem, I +come to thee in a land which is not mine; and my message is that thou +shalt be a king in Armenia, that is to say in Moxoene which is called +Magurturgadash in Naïri.” And, when he had said this, the traveller-god +departed as he came. But, in my dream, I wondered very greatly, being +overwhelmed with wave after wave of astonishment: even as a stranded +ship is washed by waves pushed by azure-haired earth-shaking Nun, the +lord of the ocean. For I was ignorant of the cause why any gods should +visit me, specially a strange god, or why Assyrian gods should visit +an Egyptian priest. And other doubts also assailed me. Wherefore, in +my dream, I mentioned my perplexity to our holy Mother Isis, the wise +goddess, whose priest I was, asking for news of these matters; and she +instantly answered me by the mouth of Tefeu her messenger, saying: +“_The god of Assyria came to thee: because the word hath gone forth +in the hall of fate from the abode of The Supreme, the Dweller in the +Innermost, Whose decrees nor god nor hero nor mortal can evade._” And +the scorpion-headed god shewed the _Sign of Life_ in token that the +Lady of the Marsh indeed had sent him. But, having done this, he fled +on uplifting wings to Duät of the gods which is above Amentet. Whereat +I awakened from my sleep. + +Such was the dream which I dreamed in my barge on sacred Sihor. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[22] The title of this ballad is written in the French tongue in what +I take to be Mr. Crabbe’s own hand. “Galatia” is rather interesting, +perhaps. A. H. + +[23] Of course I suppose that it is fairly well known, now, that Mr. +C. was the first living man of our era actually to fly of himself like +a bird or an angel, and not like a libellulan insect in an Antoinette. +The story of his (shall we say--are we quite justified in saying) +accidental discovery of the slight physical development which enables +this, need not be iterated here, I fancy. A. H. + +[24] There is quite a considerable number of words in this really +singularly and exquisitely lovely pen-picture of the home of a hungry +heart, of a lonely soul, which are written in English in what I +unhesitatingly pronounce to be Mr. Crabbe’s own hand. It is quite +unnecessary for me to indicate them. A. H. + + + + + THE SEVENTH PAPYRUS + + +But now the sun was near his setting, swathing the vast dome of heaven +with arras of green and lilac and rose and burning gold. And, on the +floor by my couch, the slave had fallen asleep, with the fan still in +his hand, and his gleaming limbs stretched out, smooth, brick-red, +decently folded. But, the air being cooler, I did not disturb him, +but remained lying on the couch, pondering my dream. And, the more I +pondered, the less I knew of the manner in which I might assist the +fulfilment of the Supreme Decree. But, above all things, I was anxious +to avoid the vulgar error of confusing particulars with universals, so +as not to lose the fruit of any revelations which the gods had intended. + +And, while I was thus meditating, suddenly I remembered a certain +magic, by which one may learn a very great deal of the future; and +it seemed to me that, in this way, I might test the prediction of my +dream. But, indeed, it was the well-made body of my slave, straight, +quickening, and apparently spotless, meeting my eyes while I thought +on these matters, which recalled this magic from my memory: for it +may only be done with just such an innocent one. Wherefore, being +awakened, Yokkho opened his fearless black eyes and listened: whom I +commanded to slip into the river, and to return to me fresh and clean. +This he did. But I inspected him with the most careful minuteness from +head to foot; and, having found neither speck nor blemish anywhere upon +him, and his teeth sound and perfect, then I knew that he was worthy of +my purpose. + +But, having seated him on the edge of the cabin roof, with his legs +hanging down, for there the light was strongest, I placed his right +hand on his knee, the palm being upward: whereon, with my Waterman’s +Ideal Fountain Pen,[25] I drew two squares, a lesser inside a greater; +and, in each corner of the outer square, I wrote the arabic numbers, +Four Two Eight Six, with a Three between the Four and the Eight, and a +One between the Eight and the Six, and a Seven between the Six and the +Two, and a Nine between the Two and the Four; and, in the top of the +inner square, I wrote the arabic number Five: but, under it, I put a +fair large drop of pure dichroic ink, purple-black, having unscrewed +the top of my pen. And, when all this had been well-done, I bade Yokkho +to bend the ridge of his supple back, looking attentively into the drop +of ink, and telling me what he should see therein. But, standing below +him in the waist of the barge, I looked up into his downcast eyes, very +long and lucid and fixed upon the drop of ink. And the black-fringed +eyelids gently winked from time to time in the ordinary manner: but, +being a very obedient slave, his gaze did not waver from the palm of +his hand. + +Then, there came a moment when the winking ceased, and the eyes became +fixed wide open but still looking downward. And, when I, with a low +voice, bade him again to speak, telling the things which he saw in +the drop of ink, then, indeed, he spoke as one who at a long distance +speaks to himself, very gravely, very slowly, very solemnly, saying: +“_The silver god, pointing at the galley, slays._” Then his eyes +wavered, and again became fixed. And his voice continued, speaking +single sets of words divided by intervals as before; and he thus said: +_The silver god, in the temple, taking the bow which sings.... The +silver god, in the ship, speaking with the azure-haired god, on the +white horses.... The silver god leading the golden goddess, from the +dark.... The silver god, and the golden goddess, before many gods and +goddesses.... The silver god, and the golden goddess on a throne.... +The silver god, following the star._ Having said these words, which +seemed to be nonsensical, he tired me. Whereat I smacked him, shaking +his hand till the dark ink trickled over his thighs; and so I dismissed +him to relieve Nesamun at the steering-oar. + +Thus I did with Yokkho, without gaining the wisdom which I expected. + +But, during the rest of the evening, while the boatman was sleeping, +I made no more attempts at explaining the past or foreseeing the +future: for it seemed that this was not permitted. But I myself took +the steering-oar, dismissing the slave to seek more sleep in the waist, +by the boatman. And, as we sailed along, I watched the sky turning +violet with an after-glow of rose-colour fretted with green, which +deepened into the clear dark heliotrope of night sown with innumerable +constellations, surrounding the white-blazing serene moon. But, when +the slaves had finished sleeping, they prepared a meal, and I refreshed +my body with food and wine, while Yokkho returned to the steering-oar. + +But I inquired of Nesamun the name of the city which we were passing on +the right hythe, having seen a cluster of temples with their pylons and +flagstaves and very many houses there. + +“Lord,” he answered, “it is the city of Khenoboskis; and, on the left, +should be the lesser Diospolis of the Lagidai which we used to call +Mutio. But, in the morning we shall water at Ptolemais Hermii, another +city of the Lagidai.” + +“Our stay,” I said, “must be a short one: for I wish to come to Tanis +without delay.” + +“Lord, hast thou not heard of the mutineers at Antaiopolis, who bar the +way?” + +“Not my way, nor the way of the barge which bears me.” + +“Nor the way of thy slaves, then, who attend thee:” added Nesamun very +quietly. + +“Thou art not afraid?” I responded, inquiring. + +“Nay, lord, for who can see with his eyes a god, unwilling, going +either here or there. But I also can fight, if fighting be toward.” + +Now, when he spoke thus, I laughed without letting my memory be seen. +For I remembered that his brother-in-law and partner had taken me +for wing-footed Hermes, because of my strange aspect and the magic +inchantment which I did with obsequious crocodiles; and I considered +that the reputation of godship would do me no harm. But, looking also +upon Nesamun, as he crouched before me in the open waist of the barge, +more closely than I had looked hitherto, I was ware that he would +fight well, as one born for fighting, being of a species different +from that of other Egyptians. For he was a very mighty youth, in his +prime, and his four bones were large and very long; and, although he +had no muscles as youths of other races have, nevertheless his flesh +was extremely firm and sinewy, and his skin healthily tanned and as +smooth and polished as fine linen. Furthermore, I marked the immense +force of his supple shoulders and thighs, and the strength of his loins +and arms and deep-breathing breast. But, above all, I could read an +indomitable character in the poise of his head and the carriage of his +body, and specially in his fierce young eyes, which flashed so blackly +and so whitely when his mind looked out on me. For which causes, I was +not unwilling to have such an one on my side. And I opined that my own +not-inconsiderable strength, and my wiliness, together with my magic +and my arms, all assisted by the fearless obedience of little Yokkho +and the intelligent force of Nesamun, needed not to worry about the +resistance to be encountered. + +But, nevertheless, I made my preparations. And, seeing another vessel +coming up the river toward us, I bade my boatman to hail her and to ask +for news of the rebels. Whereby I learned that, having been driven from +Antaiopolis by Psalkos Memmaïdes (the Pharoah’s general and governour +of the lower Thebaid), they had sacked Hisoris, and were now holding +the very place which I was intending to pass in the morning, that is +to say Ptolemais Hermii. And, having mentioned that the rebel-leader +Pyrrhos was the mightiest warrior ever seen in Egypt, the strangers +scurried fearfully toward Thebes, adjuring us to turn and follow them: +for, said they, to go downstream was to court an evil and somewhat +protracted death. + +Having heard this, and having ordered my slaves to sleep by turns and +not to come within sight of Ptolemais Hermii before dawn, I rested +tranquilly in dreamless sleep. And, waking while it was yet dark, we +three bathed one by one, not disturbing the sons of slime, and also +refreshed our bodies with food and wine. Which having been done, I +instructed Nesamun and Yokkho for the fray, saying that they were not +to concern themselves with anything, excepting the swift manœuvring of +the barge, instantly and implicitly obeying my commands. And my first +stratagem was to lower the sail, lest it should be injured in the +battle which I expected. But Yokkho was to stand by with the cordage, +ready to hoist the yard immediately when we should have pierced our +foes. And Nesamun was to govern our course with the steering-oar +under my directions. But I buckled on my cartridge-belt and loaded my +revolver. And, when Helios Hyperion had driven the chariot of the sun +about an hour above the horizon, we drifted on the current in sight of +Ptolemais Hermii. + +But, between us and that city, I espied a long and lofty galley, +propelled by forty oars, hissing toward us. + +A glance at the alert eager faces of my slaves shewed me that all was +as I would have it; and, stepping into the waist, I inspected the +advancing enemy. The galley was crowded with mercenaries from stem +to stern. Red horse-hair streamed from their helmets. The shields +of some, who were Rhodians, bore the rose of Rhodes. The others, as +I learned later, were Karians. All wore white and blue kirtles girt +with well-made sword-belts: but owing to the heat of the land and the +feebleness of those who hitherto had encountered them, they neglected +their greaves and body-armour. The rebel Pyrrhos (most righteous of +men) stood on the prow, wearing a scarlet kirtle and a short purple +military cloak. His helmet gleamed with well-forged brass; and a plume +of red horse-hair sprouted therefrom. But the oars of the galley were +pulled by enormous portly Nubians, rolling-eyed, blubber-lipped; and +fiercely they snorted coming on. + +“Stop, stranger!” shouted the blameless Pyrrhos. + +“In whose name?” I inquired, dallying with my victim. + +“In my name:” he answered. + +“On what penalty?” + +“Death.” + +“For whom?” + +“For thee. Spear me this confounded babbler, O Orkhos:” he cried. + +A spear hurtled toward me: but, at my quick command, Nesamun zigzagged +the barge to let it pass, and held on a straight course as before. +The galley swung athwart the stream twenty long paces distant. But +I, raising my revolver and taking aim at the rebel-leader, bellowed: +“Pyrrhos, I give thy carcase to the sons of slime.” + +And dark doom leaped from my finger and pressing palm, and sank into +the socket of his eye. And his life withered in the seat of wisdom, +so that his soul fled gibbering to the netherworld. But the carcase, +heavily lurching, fell, purple and bejewelled, dully splashing into +sacred Sihor; and crocodiles dragged down the shreds and tatters of its +fatness with bubbling swirlings. + +But the blameless mercenaries sucked in their breath during a full +minute, being appalled at the sight of their leader turned topsy-turvy +by a noise like the yap of a small dog. But Nesamun held my barge +still, stem on to the galley’s side and twenty long paces from it, +ready to leap forward or backward at my word. But I said, very sternly: +“Thus, O ye rebels, do I treat prepotence and audacity. And thus, also, +will I deal with all, arrogant, who bar my passage.” + +And, so saying, I paused, while I reloaded my revolver, that they +might evacuate their sites if they were wise. But, recovering from +their amazement, they took to hurling javelins; and the rowers bent +to their sweeps, turning the galley upstream and driving the dreadful +ram against me. Then, indeed, did Nesamun give proof of his quality, +nimbly leaping to and fro on his narrow station to avoid the hissing +darts and (at the same time) wielding the steering-oar so dexterously +that we circled round the cumbrous galley, always maintaining our +relative position. But I, partly sheltered by the bulwarks, fired into +selected eyes or ear-holes of the rebels, as their destinies presented +the same to me. For the pure lust of fighting, which never before +had really inflamed me, had come upon me; and I laughed hideously in +bloodthirsty glee as my enemies fell to my hand. And those, in whose +wet eyes my bullets quenched their blunt-nosed heat in fizzling, +tossed their useless limbs when Death entered to drive out Life; and +their knees slackened as they flopped into the river, where crocodiles +anxiously scrambled for morsels of them. But my last shot slew two +Karians, passing through their ear-holes, and also a Nubian in whose +it remained. And the current threw the sweep, slipping from his dead +hands on to the oars of his fellows, causing a shocking confusion, in +the midst of which I recharged my revolver a third time. + +But the rebel-helmsman was already a refection for the sons of slime. +And, the galley having swung right round so that it now lay between +me and Thebes, I saw that the mercenaries desired to escape upstream, +being no longer inclined to have dealings with me. Wherefore, having +sent fourteen in all of them to Osiris, I gave a word to Nesamun and +Yokkho. And, instantly, the sail ascended to the top of the mast, while +the boatman brought us about into a favouring breeze; and, as an eagle +spreads his pinions having satiated his hunger with a prey, so we sped +on toward Ptolemais Hermii. + +In this manner I disposed of an impediment on sacred Sihor. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[25] English. A. H. + + + + + THE EIGHTH PAPYRUS + + +But, as soon as the barge was going swiftly with wind and stream, +Nesamun fixed the steering-oar, and came forward with Yokkho to adore +me. And, having laid their two bodies (gleaming with wholesome sweat) +at length at my feet, then they praised me in the Egyptian mode. But, +when they rose up, we refreshed ourselves with cups of wine; and the +boatman collected spears and javelins which were sticking in various +parts of the barge, and stacked them in tidy bundles near the prow. But +the slave brought sweet water for bathing a wound in my left forearm, +which had appeared to be a deep one: but, when the drying blood was +washed away, it was seen to be merely a scratch. And he bound it up, +using the nimble tender fingers which had waited so patiently, during +the fight, to hoist the sail at the very moment when I commanded +afterward. But, when I had rewarded them each with a handful of +Egyptian silver, I retired to my cabin, the radiant sun being near its +height; and, anon, dark sleep embraced me. + +And, once again I was disturbed by conceptions not of a restful +nature. For, while my body slept, the mind in my dear breast concerned +itself about innumerable ideas, asking unanswerable questions. It +was quite clear to me that I indeed was living a new life: but I was +not certain as to whether I was still a man, or really (as people +opined) a god. And I laughed at the latter notion: because I never +before had heard of a Yacht Club member (as I am, having compounded my +subscription and never having been expelled), who also was a god of +sorts. But, god or man, I supposed that I still had the right to put +the address of the club on my visiting-card. And once more I laughed +at the notion of leaving visiting-cards on Gajus Julius Cæsar, and +Marcus Tullius Cicero, and the whole blameless gang of venal (but +Roman) old-fogeydom, whom I actually might see in the flesh within a +month, simply by crossing the unvintaged sea. But the scratch on my +arm smarted, in what I took to be an ungodly manner: for I knew not +then that the blessed gods are ever so much more sensible to pain than +your mere man, having made men in a godlike image, but having given +them only the sorriest fraction of a godlike nature. And the Whole is +naturally greater than a Part of a Whole. But I persuaded myself that +I was a man, at least so far. And, yet again, I laughed at the notions +that I, a subject of Victory, queen of the stalwart stately Anglicans, +was also an Egyptian master of magic, and, that I, a catholic of the +Apostolic Latin Obedience, on whose agonies of cold and hunger and +thirst and mind-maddening loneliness the foundations of Westminster +Cathedral were laid, was also a priest of Isis. And a doubt came to +me from I know not where, as to whether there were in fact any gods +at all, beside those which men are wont to make in their own idiotic +image,[26] and (if, perchance, there ever had been gods), whether they +had not all retired from business, to die at their ease, having grown +so feeble that mortals could handle them rudely even before windy +Ilion far back in the morning of time. Or, perhaps, the gods of the +Argives had gone into partnership with the gods of the barbarians. +For there certainly were gods in barbaric places, and my eyes had +seen them; and I began to contrive new wiles for seeing them again +one after the other, asking them to send me back to my own time, if I +had a time. But I became displeased with the frivolous manner of the +thought of visiting immortal gods who inhabit olympian palaces. And +yet, I asked myself, why should I not visit gods, who had been visited +by a strange god, even Belmarduk the god of Assyria with his attendant +heroes. And that notion, that a god should have taken the trouble to +come from distant Assyria to visit me in the land of Khem, convinced +me that (if indeed I was not in truth a god) I was extremely important +as a man, being certainly the sole representative of The Great Queen +Victory, queen of the stalwart stately Anglicans, in the Egypt over +which the Pharoah Ptolemaios Ayletes ruled. And that idea reminded me +of my Foreign Office Passport, and of the risk (which I was running) +of being arrested as the possessor of an undecypherable document. But +I scorned that; and began to contrive yet newer plans for going to +see the Kolossos of Rhodes when I should have finished my business +with Amenemhat at Tanis. And the last notion made me think of South +Africa,[27] and the colossal man Umgugondlhovu (as the Zulus name the +rumble of an elephant) whom I had left overshadowing that country, +with the hybrid horde of I.D.Bs. and polemic georgics,[28] all the +most righteous of men, who infested his vicinity. And the notion of +an elephant reminded of a circus. And the notion of a circus gave me +a foresight of the green and blue factions of Purity and Holy Wisdom +striving in the circus at Constantinople. And, from Constantinople +onward, notions came to me in crowds, notions of Turks, Bulgarian and +Albanian atrocities, the traitors Gladstone and Asquith, the treaties +of The Hague and Berlin, the German Empire, the Holy Roman Empire, Karl +the Great, Rome, Pontifex Maximus, Saint Peter, strange gods, with +whom I had no time to deal separately owing to a pressing engagement, +but merely checked off their names as the procession hurried by. And, +then, having come back to the notion of strange gods with which I had +started, I bounded out of my dream. + +And, instantly, to me there came the last words of my dream, namely +“strange gods,” said in a fat phlegmatic voice near by. + +To which the strong tones of Nesamun firmly answered, saying: “I have +said that my lord is indeed a god. I myself am loyal to the Pharoah; +but I dare not stop until my lord the god bids me. And he is asleep.” + +“Let us see this strange god who journeys in a hired barge. Awaken thy +god, O slave, and let us see him:” the fat voice wheezed. + +But I, slinging on my revolver again, stepped out of the cabin. And, +at sight of me, the boatman shut his full red lips; and leaned easily +upon the steering-oar, as one whose part is well-done. But I perceived +that a royal galley lay alongside, which bore a very inquisitive negro, +richly garbed and of hideously inconvenient obesity. Whom I austerely +addressed, demanding his generalities. + +“I,” he said, in a quieter tone, “am the Pharoah’s private detective; +and I stop all boats which come downstream to satisfy myself that they +are not sent by the rebel-mercenaries.” + +“These spears and javelins,” I answered him, shewing the stacks, +“are branded with the Rose of Rhodes and the Crane of the Karians; +and they were drawn out of the holes which thou mayst see among my +bulwarks: into which holes they first were hurled by the rebels. Judge, +therefore, whether the rebels would thus have assailed their friends, +or their foes.” + +“But, if ye be foes of the rebels, ye must have passed them by.” + +“That is true,” I said: “for I encountered them above Ptolemais Hermii, +where I slew Pyrrhos and thirteen of his gang; and so I passed them by.” + +“Dost thou say that thou hast slain Pyrrhos and thirteen of the +mercenaries? Either thou art indeed a god, or a hero, or a very great +liar. And, as I take thee for the last, I shall detain thee while I +inquire into the truth of thy story. If it be true, thou shalt be +compensated. If it be false, prepare to suffer certain torments.” + +Thus rashly he spoke, beating his ceruminous belly: but I, glowing with +anger, said: “And dost thou, O mountain of impudence, think that I, who +have outfaced a whole galley full of armed Greeks, will be stayed by +any emasculate slaves of the Lagidai?” + +“Hear the voice of the god, and give ear to long-armed Psammy lord of +apes:” the fat phlegmatic negro exclaimed in a tone of derision. + +But my blood boiled because my rather-long arms were mocked by a +blameless black man; and the lust of battle inflamed me again, making +my great strength as the strength of nineteen; and the ferocity of the +long-curving fiercely-clutching claws of a crab inflamed the hands of +me. For which causes, and knowing that it would take a better man than +a bloated nigger to stand up to me, I bounded from my bulwark to the +galley, terribly bellowing. And, alighting near my scoffer, I rent the +well-toothed jaw from the head of him, and smashed the rest of his face +to a purple pudding therewith. Also, tearing his fingers asunder like +a rag, I split his right hand up to the wrist; and, so, I tossed him, +devoutly hiccoughing his physical agony, as an offering to the sons of +slime. + +But I turned swiftly to seek another victim. And, on the prow, +an archer stood balanced on long slim straddling legs, drawing a +brass-tipped arrow to his ear: but its point was toward me. And him, +complaining bitterly, I also sacrificed to the inchanted crocodiles. + +But, being now well in the way of fighting, I snatched at my revolver; +and, by chance, my hand touched the magic staff hanging from my belt. +And the potency of it caused certain admirable events. For, first, my +wrath cooled, and instantly died away: but I myself began to utter +wily words in my usual manner, pointing the staff at the crew of +the Pharoah’s galley, and saying: “Ye have seen the dire fate which +overtakes those who temerariously oppose me. Be wise, therefore. Stand +not in my way: nor follow me too far.[29] But draw off speedily, lest +a like doom should afflict you also.” + +But, when I had spoken thus with my mouth, I added the _Spell Which +Binds_ with my mind. And, being bound, they remained whimpering, but +as still as stones: but I, returning to my barge, washed my hands and +resumed my journey. + +After this manner I did with the Pharoah’s objectionable private +detective. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[26] I really cannot resist preserving this most pleasing pleonasm. A. +H. + +[27] It is perhaps unnecessary for me to mention that this papyrus +simply bristles with words neatly written in English of course by Mr. +C. himself. A. H. + +[28] This is the most cryptic allusion in the present fragment; and +I must confess that it puzzles me sadly. I am given to understand +that “Iota Delta Beta” sometimes signifies “Illicit Diamond Buyer,” +an obsolete species of South African criminal. But what kind of +thing a “Military Agriculturist” is (for that is what Mr. Crabbe’s +Greek means), passes my comprehension. I have therefore rendered the +expression by a simple transliteration of the original. A. H. + +[29] I simply can’t help lifting this sentence clean out of Meredith’s +_Harry Richmond_; and I defy anyone to give a neater version of Mr. +Crabbe’s original, “ὉΠΩΣ ΜΗΤΕ ΑΝΤΙϹΤΗϹΕΙ ΜΟΙ; ΜΗΤΕ ΕΨΕΙ ΠΟΡΡΩΤΕΡΩ.” A. +H. + + + + + THE NINTH PAPYRUS + + +Now it seemed to me, when I pondered the thing, that it was a +misfortune. For, when a wily stranger desires to pass through a foreign +country for a certain secret purpose, it is but prudent for him to +refrain from marking his road with homicides. Even my victory over +Pyrrhos, though the Pharoah would pension me for slaying his enemies, +gave me notoriety instead of the oblivion which I preferred. But the +matter of the face-marred negro was indeed grave: for he was an officer +of the Pharoah. For which cause, I perceived that the blessed gods +would have me in Tanis without delay, that I might find my friend there +and perform my business in seclusion. For a man may seclude himself far +more easily in a city (excepting in a certain city) than in the open +country. So, for three days, I sailed in peace, resting my body, but +contriving many new wiles. + +But the possession of the barge and of the two slaves weighed upon me. +For, having considered that I was going to a strange place, in search +of one of whose existence in the flesh I had no actual knowledge, I +determined that it is well (in all warfare) to provide a base for +operations, and one which can be moved upon occasion. And it seemed +to me that the barge and the slaves were precisely what I wanted. Yet +I did not know whether they would serve me willingly at the end of the +voyage for which they had been engaged; and, in a delicate matter, I +will have none but willing and (indeed) devoted assistants. With these +notions in my mind, therefore, I used winged words, questioning Nesamun +and Yokkho while they piously shaved each other’s heads. And I elicited +that, when Nesamun’s sister married the Argive bargeman at Thebes, the +two mariners joined together in partnership, Nesamun being owner of the +barge which I had on hire, and the three barges which we had left at +Thebes being the property of his brother-in-law. Also, I learned that +Yokkho was the son of another sister of Nesamun, both his parents being +some time guests of the Divine Osiris in Amentet. Moreover, I learned +that both were perfectly free to dispose of themselves as they pleased, +and that on reaching Tanis nothing remained expected but that I should +dismiss the youth and the boy with a gift, for they refused to take +hire from a god: they, then, in the ordinary way, would convey another +passenger upstream, returning to Thebes while I went back to heaven to +attend to my godly affairs. + +But, after I had heard all these things, and while I was weighing +them in my mind, Nesamun and Yokkho crept nearer, laying themselves +out at length on their faces very straight at my feet, and begging +me not to send them away. And I, having considered their intelligence +and fidelity not less than their agility and strength and quite +singular comeliness, did not peremptorily deny them. For, in fact, +the Nesamunity of Nesamun and the Yokkhoism of Yokkho were far from +displeasing me.[30] Moreover, the words which Yokkho had intoned, when +he looked into the palm-mirror, suddenly climbed out of my memory and +buzzed at me. He, indeed, had chaunted: “_The silver god, pointing at +the galley, slays_:” and undoubtedly I (not old but silver-haired, +and a god as they called me) had slain Pyrrhos and certain few on a +galley, pointing my death-spitter at his eye. But that was only one of +the things which the clear-seeing slave had predicted, being the first +of his utterances; and, perchance, the others also would be fulfilled +in their order. And I became sorrowful because I had smacked the +clear-seer nor paid due heed to his sayings. But, calling on Memory for +a really violent effort, I recollected the seven predictions, each in +its turn, writing them in my hand-book; and I perceived that, next, the +silver god would take a singing bow in a temple. Now, supposing myself +to be the silver god, it was quite certain that I was about to visit a +temple, seeking Amenemhat; and I opined that, there, I should engage +in some adventure of a singing bow at the pleasure of the gods. Which +adventure I began very eagerly to anticipate. But, meanwhile, Nesamun +and Yokkho lay stretched at length before me in supplication. + +And I determined that it would be greatly to my advantage to have the +commodious barge at hand, as a base of operations, as a retreat, or as +a means of retirement, should such be desirable. And I also determined +that good slaves, who are willing slaves, are very hard to find, and +(when found) ought to be cherished and used rather than rejected and +wasted. And, lastly, I determined that these two, being well-made in +mind and body, were very proper subjects for my magic arts, and likely +to be of inestimable value. For which causes, I granted their petition. +And, having bought their persons from themselves, paying two gold +quarter-ounces to Nesamun for himself and one to Yokkho for himself, I +bought also the barge and its apparatus from Nesamun for another gold +quarter-ounce, all in the coinage of Victory queen of the stalwart +stately Anglicans. And so we came nearer to Tanis. + +But, during the last hour of my journey, I cut (from one of the +Rhodian javelins) the little wooden emblem which none know save only +the priests of Isis, without which none may penetrate the sanctuaries +of temples. And I added it to the implements which I was to take +with me on my quest of Amenemhat. And, having concealed all my other +gear beneath the floor of my cabin in the presence of my slaves, in +their view also (using my magic staff) I summoned the sons of slime, +committing the charge of my goods to Nesamun and Yokkho, with a crowd +of inchanted crocodiles for witnesses, whom anon I dismissed with the +_Word_. + +Thus we came to the last reach leading to Tanis which sits on both +hythes of the river. But, skimming onward, we passed the little fane of +Pasht, marking the site of the old city-wall which the hordes of Okhos +had destroyed in the days when Nekt-Nebf was the Pharoah. And we found +a small quay below the city, secluded and abandoned, very suitable for +a voyager desirous of privacy. But here my journey ended. + +And, as soon as the barge was anchored, I sent Nesamun girded into +the city to buy a length of fine linen, and to replenish my store of +victuals and drink. Furthermore, I bade him to buy for me a necklace of +heliotrope stones and a posy of fresh marigolds, for a new wile which I +had invented. And, when the slave returned, I made a priest’s surplice +of fine linen, wherewith I vested my body, placing beneath it various +convenient matters. But, when I appeared as a priest to them, I bade +the slaves to clean the barge, and to pitch it within and without with +pitch of Zakynthos (which pitch is the best), and also to keep it ready +to start on a new voyage at a moment’s notice either by day or by night. + +Thus I spoke; and instantly I stepped ashore. But, when the two slaves +popped their heads above the bulwark to observe my going, then, +indeed, I rubbed the marigolds in my hand against the necklace of +bloodstones which I wore, moistening the beads with the flower-juice; +and, having made the proper _Act of Will_, I forthwith vanished away, +simply becoming invisible at two paces’ distance, and all in broad +daylight. And this I did as very becoming to a god, and also to confirm +them in fidelity, for a slave will not play his lord falsely when he +has no certainty whether his said lord is here, or there. + +In this manner, I came to Tanis. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[30] This sentence is exquisite in its justice. If we moderns only had +the gumption to let ourselves be guided by the great natural law of +Sympathy and Antipathy as naïvely as Mr. Crabbe appears to have done, +how many failures, and (one can even say) tragedies, would be avoided. +A. H. + + + + + THE TENTH PAPYRUS + + +But I wended my way through the city, having taken my visible shape +again in a dark entry. And I passed the walls and the gates, and the +temples with their pylons, and quays thronged with merchants of all +nations and slaves of all human colour. And I saw the galleys of the +Sidonians, and the light barks of the Sikels, with heavy merchant-ships +from Rome, and Argive biremes and trading sloops. But a great +quinquereme lay in the fairway of the mighty river; and it flew the +royal purple standard of the Lagidai, denoting that a prince of Egypt +was on board. And, everywhere about me were the insolent mercenaries +of the flute-playing Pharoah, standing in crowds: nor did any soldier +stand alone, save the sentry on the great ship which swang at anchor in +the current of the Tanitic branch of life-giving Sihor. Yet, great and +busy as it appeared, Tanis had but a small part of the shadow of its +former greatness when it was the chief city of the Lower Land. Slowly +and surely had that greatness faded, as a well-painted wall fades +unsheltered from the stress of storms in some northern land, when wind +and rain wipe away the fresh pigment, leaving a tasteless thing behind. + +But heavenly Ra poured down very hot radiance from the +turquoise-coloured vault of heaven; and the streets were crowded with +evil-stenched mongrel folk, half-Argive, half-sons of Khem, mingled +with the Hebrew hawkers who trot everywhere. And, because the mind in +my lordly breast desired to pass a word with articulately-speaking +men, I looked about for one with whom I might suitably address myself. +And I selected a haughty Roman, wrapped in pride and a purple-bordered +paludament, who surveyed the quays and the market-place, while a slave +sheltered his bare head with a sunshade of ostrich feathers. Whom I +approached, intending to converse with him. And, coming nearer, while +a squadron of Makedonians passed by, I heard the blameless creature +muttering to himself in his own tongue, saying: “Gods! That men calling +themselves soldiers should slouch in that manner! Perpol! But a cohort +of ours would outmatch a legion of theirs!” + +But I let the pride of race inflate me also, most superbly; and thus, +in the Argive tongue, I saluted him, saying: “Hail, O senator. And how +likest thou these mercenaries of the Lagidai?” + +But he began to grow black fastidiously, because one unknown should +have addressed him without introduction: but, when he saw how large I +was and how assured my gait, he answered me in Latin, saying: “O man +of the vast shoulders, whoever thou art, speak to me (I pray) in the +language of Rome.” + +To whom I repeated my question as he wished. And he responded: +“Indifferent well. But tell me, why dost thou (a stranger) dare to +address me?” + +“Thou,” I said, “art not a god, that I should worship thee.” + +“But,” he answered, “I am a Roman citizen.” + +Him I immediately coughed at, saying: “Never yet have I been told that +Roman citizens are the gods whom men ought to worship.” + +Whereat, having blown off a little indignation, he laughed hugely; and +would have known more of me; but I indifferently turned away to hire a +litter in which I caused myself to be borne to the great temple of Isis. + +But, when I reached that place, I began to walk very warily, making +inquiry of the priest on duty in the portico. And, because the most +wily way of dealing with earth-walking men, enmeshed with stupid petty +deceits, is to be quite truthful and quite straight and never anything +but bold, therefore, I instantly asked for my friend Amenemhat, priest +of Tanis, who, being bound to me by sacred spells, would (with me) +enjoy a mutual pleasure from a meeting. And, Amenemhat not being an +uncommon name among Tanitic priests, if (perchance) my inquiry should +bring to me one who was not the Amenemhat whom I desired to see, then +I still possessed sufficient wisdom and magic apparatus for disposing +of him in a suitable manner. On this account, I openly inquired for +Amenemhat in the portico of the temple at Tanis. + +And the watcher-priest answered, saying that Amenemhat was engaged in +celebrating mysteries, and could not be seen at the moment. To whom I +shewed the _Sign of the Peeping Thumb_, saying that I (also being a +priest) would enter and pontificate with my friend. But the other still +delayed me with gentle words, saying: “Sir, I do perceive that thou art +a very notable mage and also an initiate priest possessing singular and +admirable secrets: for, up thy sleeve, I see the silver chain which +binds a master’s staff to thy wrist. Nevertheless, our rites are so +sacrosanct and so solemn that not even the high priest of Ra at Thebes +may intervene in them. Wherefore, O master-mage, be propitious; and be +pleased to repose thyself awhile in a cool room, refreshing thy body +with fruit and wine: for the day is hot, and thou seemest to have come +from very far.” + +But I agreed with alacrity, for my throat was twisted with thirst. +Moreover, I saw something; and, beside, I well-knew the ways of +priests, who always may be led by the nose by anyone wily enough to +agree with them. And together we strolled into a cool antechamber, +having an apsidal recess wherein we seated ourselves on cushions. And, +over the recess, was carven a winged image of the Divine Ma, as above +the Pharoah’s throne, deep graven in the black rock of Syene and filled +with fine red gold. But the watcher-priest, having named himself to me +as Mensau, tapped the floor with his white ivory walking-staff; and +acolyths of the temple, very straightly formed but plump, robed in +fine linen, with their shaven heads roundly-shining and increasing the +long blackness of their eyes,--these, indeed, brought trays of fruits +and wines and a excellent beer of their own brewing. And, having laid +these before us, they flitted away, leaving me alone with the priest. +He seemed to be about my own age, whatever that may be: but he was +straight in figure as the fragile Egyptians are, and his face was like +smooth ivory, well-carved, wise and gentle of mien. And, having filled +a cup of Korinthic bronze (which is platinum)[31] to the brim with good +red wine from a well-chased Alexandrian flagon, he offered it to me. +But I chose beer: so he took it for himself; and, leaning toward me +watching him very warily, he began to speak, saying: “Health to thee, O +expected Wanderer.” + +But my wile was to lead him on, secretly compelling him to shew me the +way to the very root of the mystery, which I had suspected, and now was +assured of. Wherefore I, all unmoved, responded, saying: “Health also +to thee, O Mensau, priest of Isis, who wearest the garb of a priest of +Ptah perchance for coolness’ sake. And, as I perceive that thou knowest +me, tell me now how long will that other deny himself to me.” + +“Dost thou then know me, O Nicholas?” he asked, surprized, but smiling. + +“Yea: I know well the Amenemhat who looketh out of thine eye-holes. +But thy form is strange to me:” I responded magniloquently. + +Thus I spoke. But the mind in my noble breast began all of a sudden to +tell me all sorts of things: so that I knew that the form, in which +I had known Amenemhat at Thebes, was a form which I myself had given +him by the merest haphazard and in something like a violent hurry, +having summoned him from tiresome Amentet, to be my familiar, and being +unable to use him in the form of hot eyes and a jelly. And, also, I +knew that I never had seen him in his own form, which his father and +mother had made for him by the help of the gods of his stars. And, +having understood all these things, I fell into a muse, because of the +infinite number of causes and effects which a seeker after wisdom must +acquire, and arrange in his mind ready for use at any moment. + +But, even now, weighted and bedazzled as I was with unthought-of +wisdom, all was not quite clear to me. I, therefore, continued to +speak, saying: “Nevertheless, O Amenemhat, though I know thee, and +though I am beginning to know thy real form which is other than that +which I gave to thee at Thebes, still, my mind is doubtful, not of the +What, nor of the Where. The dimension of Space is known to me: but what +of Time? I understand the Categories, of Substance, of Quantity, of +Quality, of Relation, of Action, of Passion, of Place, of Position, of +Possession: but I do not understand the When. Have I already lived and +summoned thee from Amentet nineteen hundred years hence? Am I living +now another life nineteen centuries before I was born? Or is this all +some dream and some weird vision in those secret halls of Thebes? Or +what?” + +“Nay,” Amenemhat answered: “this is neither dream nor vision, but +a special disposition of The Supreme, whereby thou, O Seeker after +Wisdom, art granted experiences granted to no other man, as a reward +for thy well-endured pains, and as a means of perfecting thee for some +enormous purpose. And, to this end, I, whom thou hast known as a Sahu +and an Osirian, have a message for thee, O Wanderer through the Ages. +Doubt, then, no more: but take all things as the immortal gods are +pleased to send them, always going onward cheerfully from one step to +the next. For, know, that in Amentet, and in the Outer Immensities of +Immeasurable Space, where The Supreme is, there is no such limitation +as Time, nor any Impossibility to Him, or to Them His uncountable +forms.” + +Thus he spoke; and again was silent. But I sat still, drinking the +beer of Osiris, letting the wisdom of his words take root in my lordly +mind. And anon I said: “This, then, indeed is the meeting of thy Theban +prediction. But tell me, O Amenemhat, though thou didst expect me, by +what means did these eyes of thine recognize me whom, formerly, thou +didst see at Thebes with other eyes?” + +“I recognized thee, O Nicholas,” he said, “even at a distance, by thy +stride and by the self-assurance of thy gait of the straightened knees: +for no other man walketh as dost thou, as the owner and scorner of all +worlds old and new. But, also, I saw the shape of the orb of divination +in the folds of thy robe; and thou didst make the _Sign_ and shew the +staff of power.” + +And so we fell into more intimate conversation; and I told him all +which had befallen me during my voyage down the river, of the slaying +of that Pyrrhos (the most righteous of men), of the blameless[32] +Ethiopian whose face I had spoiled, tearing also his hand (like a +dirty rag) in twain; and I spoke of my two trusty slaves, and of all +other matters which it was necessary for him to know. But, when I saw +that he was not minded to make revelations to me on the instant, then, +indeed, I determined to stay awhile with him, as a guest of the temple, +pursuing my studies in the magic arts among holy mages whose business +was none other, and waiting the pleasure of the blessed gods inhabiting +olympian palaces. + +Thus, then, I found Amenemhat in his body as he lived. + +But, during this month of waiting on the will of the gods (for it +was no more than that), a certain thing was done by me, at the +suggestion and with the aid of Amenemhat, which I will set down here +in its place. For, it being evident to both of us that my lot was to +move through time, getting wisdom by living many lives in various +circumstances, Amenemhat used to speak of the comfort which I should +derive from constant companions throughout my wanderings. But I, +knowing the sort of man which I am, and not by any means loving, used +to respond to him saying, that it was not the perpetual companionship +of an equal which would delight me, so much as the perpetual readiness +of comely and trustworthy and affectionate slaves, whose services +I could command at pleasure or neglect if I thought well so to do. +But Amenemhat, having perceived the alert intelligent faithful minds +and the pleasing and powerful bodies of Nesamun and Yokkho, inquired +whether such as these would suit me. To whom I answered, saying, that I +had them in my mind when thus speaking. Wherefore, Amenemhat suggested +that I should perform the two magics called _The Soul-Loosening_ and +_The Life-Binding_, whereby the silver cords which tied the said +Nesamun and Yokkho to their present forms might be loosed, so that (at +a moment’s notice) they might migrate to other forms of my invention, +and, also, that by binding their lives to my life, the said slaves +might accompany me into whatsoever other lives The Supreme might have +in store for me and them. + +But I, when I had pondered the matter, found it very desirable indeed. +For which cause, having obtained the consent of the two, very gleefully +given when (without any concealment) I described the whole project to +them, for (beside being fearless and very eager for adventures) they +deemed me godlike, and desired nothing less than to be left behind +when I should go forward, then, having brought them to a sacred part +of the vast temple, where their screams would be inaudible, I and +Amenemhat did what was necessary on the bodies, first of little Yokkho, +and then of Nesamun, in such a dexterous manner that they suffered +not more pain than they could bear without swooning: but I shall not +describe the process on account of a religious reason. Nor could any +earth-walking man, mage or simple, find out any difference in them +afterward, unless (by chance) he should hap upon the tiny and almost +invisible silver-coloured puncture in the rosy breast-flower (but which +one it was of their breast-flowers I decline to indicate, for both +breast-flowers are punctured on both of them, yet only one puncture +on each of them is an exit), through which Nesamun and Yokkho became +able to leave their Egyptian bodies, and to follow me through time, as +easily as they could leave my barge by the deserted quay and follow me +through the streets of Tanis. + +In this manner, I prepared myself and them for a new migration. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[31] Oh! Is it indeed? The statement (as it stands) is a little +startling though. A. H. + +[32] This repeated use of these epithets “the most righteous of men,” +and “blameless” is, of course, obviously, an example of Greek irony. A. +H. + + + + + THE ELEVENTH PAPYRUS + + +But it was well that the thing was done when it was well-done. For, a +few months later, the occasion for departure occurred. + +Now I had been very diligently studying such magic of the Tanitic +priests as I did not know, to fill up the interval until Amenemhat +should be moved by the blessed gods to deliver his message. And, among +other matters where improvement seemed desirable, it was put into my +mind to try a new method of imbalming the dear remains of the dead, +which method (I believed and believe) not only prevents the mummy +from shrivelling and going black or dry or discoloured in any way, +but also preserves the exact freshness of appearance and condition +which it had enjoyed while used as the temporary vesture of the soul, +excepting the condition of life. But, because I found it unwise to make +my experiments on the corpses of persons who had spoiled the pristine +beauty of their bodies by over-long or over-arduous usage, I and +Amenemhat preferred those of such acolyths of the temples whose souls +well-plumed Thoth had been directed to escort elsewhere without first +afflicting their forms with loathsome diseases. But, because all the +temples of Tanis supplied no more than two such corpses within the +month, Amenemhat sent both wind-messages and ibis-messages to other +temples of other cities stating our needs. And, when we had treated +without emptying eight well-made blooming bodies, with imperishable +quintessences of unmentionable virtue and inconceivable fragrance, then +we anointed them nine times in every part, under the nine proper stars, +using a liquid unguent, preservative, which perseveres through all time +and disgusts worms. But the fame of our handicraft went abroad, so that +all the hierarchies of Khem desired to have their dead acolyths mummied +in the new manner for the benefit of the temples. For which cause, it +happened that I went to Alexandria in my barge to inspect a corpse so +perfect that I brought it away with me, intending to treat it; and, on +my return, I became imbroiled in the streets of Tanis after this wise. + +The priests attending Amenemhat had taken the beautiful body from my +barge and were gone on their way to the temple of Isis. But I remained +behind during a little while, inspecting the diligence of my slaves, +well-shaven, performing prescribed purifications. And anon, later in +the evening, I proceeded by quiet by-ways toward the temple where +Amenemhat awaited me. But, on my way, I encountered a troop of land +mercenaries, blameless Sithonians and Mygdonians, escorting the litter +of one of the Lagidai, a brother of the Pharoah’s favourite wife. And +they were rudely brushing everyone from their path, not being at all +affable. But by chance, a certain aged philosopher, Melkas by name, +who taught daily in the porch of the Serapion, was about to cross the +road. His eyes were dim, his step infirm, his pace tardy and grave. +Wherefore, I tried to help him into the shadow of a portico; and did +so, but not before a Sithonian, seeing the length of my arms, had +yelled at me, clipping the Argive tongue, “Ho, there, Ape-man, stand +aside before thy betters!” + +But instantly divine anger inflamed my lordly mind. And boldly +affronting the mocker, I broke the crust of his blameless face to pulpy +fragments with fist-blows, as a bear in springtime breaks a delicate +egg. But the puny prince in the litter ordered his guards to seize me; +and half-a-dozen rash Mygdonians hastened with an obedient start to +obey. Then, indeed, the fierce and frolicsome joy of Saint Aldate’s +or the Cowley Empire on a Saturday night[33] came upon me, so that +I delayed not, but I simply smashed the first four faces using my +left fist and my right like flails or sledge-hammers; and, snatching +a falling shield and mightily sweeping with it, I shattered the shins +of the others as they came on. Now, when they saw these things, the +shrieking slaves fled, having dropped the litter. But I, by this time, +had got into my stride, becoming very methodical in my fury: for which +cause I determined to leave nothing important undone. Wherefore, I +butted the prince out of his tangled curtains, and rolled him about +with my feet in a pool of foul slime which happened to be near by. And, +all things necessary having been accomplished, I went upon my way with +a calm and holy mind. Nor did I bestow another thought to the matter. +And indeed no one gave me news of it: for the city, in those last days +of the Lagidaian dynasty, was a scene of incessant disorder; and a few +messes more or less, found in the streets at dawn, were by no means +uncommon. But, after four days, Amenemhat suddenly interrupted my +studies, crying: “Fly, O Nicholas, to the secret chamber in the shrine: +for the Pharoah’s mercenaries are upon thee.” + +Thus he spoke. But I proceeded, without more ado, to the secret door; +and, when I stamped on the right, it slid ajar, so that I could squeeze +by, and sidle sideways along the narrow passage which led to the +secret chamber. Now this secret chamber was a very wily one; and it +was constructed after this manner: by the hollowing-out of one of the +pillars which surrounded the shrine, but the pillar itself was (like +all the others) carved into the similitude of an important god. And, +inside the hollow of it (from the secret crypt beneath the temple floor +in which I was), there ascended a very narrow ladder of twisted linen +threads leading up into the secret chamber in the skull of the god. +But, at the top of the ladder, there was contrived a small seat like a +saddle, so ordained that anyone sitting thereon in the skull, having +pulled up the ladder, was very much separated from earth-walking men; +and might (at will) speak through the orifice of the god’s mouth quite +safely, and also might see plainly all which happened in the temple, +looking downward. And the place was used in the following manner. For +the priests of the temple, being seated on the saddle and speaking +awfully through the mouth of the god, delivered themselves of oracles +imparted to them by the Divine Ones, or of revelations which they +obtained in their trances or by sacred magic on account of a religious +reason. Such, then, was the secret chamber. + +But the lower part of the hollow pillar being dark, a studio of +spiders, a thoroughfare of mice, and an abode of most holy beetles, I +made haste to ascend to the saddle, pulling the ladder after me. And, +being there conveniently insconced, I perceived Amenemhat hurriedly +entering the temple by the priest’s door; and, having seated himself in +his proper pulpit, he instantly began to intone the litanies, beginning +in the middle so that an interrupter (I suppose) might imagine that he +had been thus occupied for some time. He, therefore shook the sacred +sistrum, saying: + +“_Homage to thee, O lord of the star-gods in An and of heavenly beings +in Khez-aba, O thou god Unti more glorious than those gods hidden in +Annu:_ + +“_Homage to thee, O Heru, thou dweller in both horizons, who, +enormously striding, stridest over heaven, thou dweller in both +horizons:_ + +“_Homage to thee, O soul of everlastingness, O soul who dwellest in +Tattu, O Un-nefer son of Nut, thou lord of Akert:_ + +“_Homage to thee, in thy dominion over Tattu, the feathery crown is +stablished on thy head, thou art the one whose strength is in himself:_ + +“_Homage to thee, O lord of the acacia-tree, who settest the boat upon +its sledge, who turnest back the ill-working friend, who causest the +eye to rest:_ + +“_Homage to thee, mighty in thy moment, great god dwelling in An-rut-f, +lord of eternity, creator of everlastingness, lord of Sutenhenen:_ + +“_Homage to thee, who restest upon right and truth, O lord of Abtu +whose limbs are joined to Ta-sertet, to whom fraud and guile are +hateful:_ + +“_Homage to thee in thy boat, who bringest Hapi from his source, on +whose body light shineth, O dweller in Nek-hen:_ + +“_Homage to thee, O creator of the gods, O king of the north and of +the south, O Osiris, O victor, O lord and ruler of the world in thy +gracious seasons._” + +And, having met with no interruption at the time when he finished these +beautiful imprecations, Amenemhat shook the sacred sistrum more loudly, +and went on with the _Address to the Rudders_, saying: + +“_Hail, thou lovely power, thou lovely rudder of the northern heavens:_ + +“_Hail, thou pilot of the world, thou lovely rudder of the western +heavens:_ + +“_Hail, thou shining one who livest with the gods in visible forms, +thou lovely rudder of the eastern heavens:_ + +“_Hail, thou dweller in the temple of those with shiny faces, thou +lovely rudder of the southern heavens._” + +And, because the expected intrusion of profane persons was still +delayed, when he had chaunted these strophes, Amenemhat shook the +sacred sistrum very slowly and very solemnly, and continued with the +_Invocation of the Triads_, thus: + +“_Hail, ye gods who are above the earth, ye pilots of the netherworld:_ + +“_Hail, ye mother-gods, who are above the earth, and in the +netherworld, and in the house of Osiris:_ + +“_Hail, ye pilot-gods of Tasert, who are above the earth, and in the +netherworld, and with the followers of Ra in the train of Osiris_----” + +But, when he had intoned these words, the quiet rattling of the sistrum +and the monotonous drone of his voice were drowned by the clanking of +arms, and by the blameless cries of mercenaries, appearing at the +cedar portal of the temple. Whom Amenemhat, reverend of mien and very +hierarchic, sternly confronted from his pulpit, saying: “Who dareth +thus to intrude upon the sacrosanct shrine of Mother Isis?” + +But the answer came from one, whom I (from my secret station) perceived +to be an Argive of noble aspect, large of limb, and handsome, and very +gorgeously apparelled in golden mail with adornments of chrysoliths and +the plumage of yellow cock-parrots. He responded to Amenemhat, saying: +“I am called Agesilopodes, son of Golygosthenes, and I am a captain of +the Pharoah’s guard.” + +“And what doth Agesilopodes, servant of the Pharoah, seek in these holy +precints?” Amenemhat continued. + +“I seek the person of one Ape-man, whose trail we have pursued hither:” +the Khrysaspid affirmed. + +“Thou seest,” said the priest indifferently, “how many persons are +present occupying our pews.” + +“I see but thee:” quoth the captain: “but nevertheless I must search in +the shadows of all the most secret recesses.” + +“The rule,” said Amenemhat, “is that the sons of Khem may have free +access to this oratory of our Lady of the Marshes, but not aliens, +undesirable or otherwise.” + +“But the Ape-man whom I seek is guilty of sacrilege.” + +“Even in that case, he would have secure sanctuary here, unless he be +pursued by the Pharoah’s own sigil.” + +“Revere it:” said the captain, exhibiting his warrant. + +Amenemhat had a prostration at the sight of the royal but tipsy +flute-player’s cartouche. But, having (by his wiles) caused the +mercenaries to persuade themselves that they were on a bootless quest, +he permitted the search to be made. Makedonians and Thrakians marched +slowly round the temple, casting fierce glances into every dark place: +but Amenemhat seated himself again in his pulpit, his knees closed and +his palms upon them, his head up and his eyes fixed, as a hierarch who +engages in holy meditation while expecting the imposition of his mitre. + +But I devised a new and perfectly frightful wile. For, having taken +three wax-matches from my box, and having frayed out the half of each +match, wrapping the frayed part round the head loosely, as the men of +my future race were wont to do when they desired to kindle tobacco in +a gale of wind, then, indeed, I kindled them; and I dropped them, one +by one and horribly flaming, from the god’s mouth on to the plumed +casques of mercenaries who (by chance) were walking just below. And +their horse-hair crests instantly shrivelled with appalling stenches, +in flashes of fire which singed the soldiers’ hairy faces, terribly, +inexplicably: so that they fled, fearfully yelling, having a most +hideous tale, about gods who vomit fire, to narrate to their awful +comrades in their barracks. + +In this manner, I dismissed well-greaved mercenaries (the most +righteous of men) from the temple of Isis at Tanis. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[33] Written in English, in what I take to be Mr. Crabbe’s own hand. +“Saint Aldate’s” was, of course, a low catholic parish of Oxford, near +Pembroke and The House, and much frequented by monsignori and other +catholic converts, and I believe that no particular rashness can be +attributed to me for saying that there was also a slightly excessive +music hall, called (quaintly enough) the “Empire” in the “Cowley” Road, +Oxford. But I really feel quite unable to elucidate the allusion in +this connection. Saturday night is, of course, the eve of the day of +the sun; and perhaps we have here some cryptic allusion to sun-worship, +which (we know) was certainly of an hilarious and somewhat energetic +character. _Cf._ Frazer’s chapter on Osiris and the Sun: _Studies in +Oriental Religion_, vii. 287-294. A. H. + + + + + THE TWELFTH PAPYRUS + + +But, when the place was clear, then, indeed, I waited where I was, till +Amenemhat should leave his pulpit, giving me a signal to descend and +join him. For he directed my actions at this juncture; and it seemed +to me that he, being at liberty, understood what to do for my security +better than I in my cell. But, after I had waited an hour, stiffness +invaded my members and tedium my noble mind. Wherefore, seeing that the +temple was deserted, and that Amenemhat still remained motionless in +meditation, I came down from the secret chamber, retracing my steps, +and entering the shrine by the priests’ door. But, having approached my +friend, addressing him softly by name, I perceived that he was indeed +rapt in an ecstasy, and (no doubt) receiving a peculiar revelation from +some god. At whose pulpit I stood, watching intensely, having no more +fear. + +And anon he came out of his trance, with the usual eye-rollings and +shiverings and deep sighings for the long-unused breath. But, when his +returning gaze lit on me, he began to sob very quietly in the manner +of a man, shedding no tears; and that is the most horrible of all +things to see. But I was aware, from these tokens, that he had had a +revelation concerning me and portending a parting. For which cause I +treated him tenderly, saying nothing. + +And, at length, he descended from his pulpit; and, having led me a +long way into the innermost recesses of the temple, into a large hall +which I never yet had seen, wherein were numerous unheard-of matters, +then, he began to speak. But his words were unwinged; and thus he +said: “O Nicholas, the hour of thy departure is at hand. For, since +the Pharoah’s mercenaries have invaded this sacred place, it will be +insecure for thee as also for us. For there will be a blameless guard +continually about our walls; and, though thou mayst leave once by the +secret postern, thou couldst not do so more than once; and it is not in +thy nature to brook confinement. Also, as long as the guards remain, +the shrine of the goddess will be deserted and her gifts wasted for +lack of receivers. Wherefore thou needs must go. But, before thou +goest, know that the well-feathered shiny gods have deigned to give +me an order concerning thee and to send thee a message by my mouth, +whereby thy mind may be enlightened about mysteries of the past and a +foresight of thy future revealed to thee.” + +But I, hearing this, perceived that very fine solemnities were on hand. +Wherefore I listened attentively. + +And Amenemhat continued his discourse, saying: “Thou knowest, O +Wanderer, who thou art and whence thou camest: but thou knowest not +who thou hast been, nor who thou shalt be. But these are the matters +on which I am to give thee information. For thou, Nicholas the Third, +called the Crab, who art come from the kingdom of Victory queen of +the stalwart stately Anglicans, knowest no more of thine ancestors +than the names of Nicholas the First who was father of Robert who was +father of William who was father of Nicholas the Second who was father +of thy gentle father James. Nevertheless, thou (having been brought +backward through the rolling wheels of time) shalt know that it is +the inscrutable will of the blessed gods to make thee aware of him +who was thy primal sire. And he is none other than Laertes, lord of +rocky Ithaka, whose wife Antikleja was the daughter of Aytolikos, whom +wing-footed Hermes the Luck-bringer begat.” + +But I began to understand all sorts of riddles, and many mysteries +indeed were being solved. But the priest was uttering his rede with +the tones of one inspired; and I eagerly lent him both my ears. +And Amenemhat pursued his revelation, saying: “Furthermore, O Wily +One, thou art to know this. For, seeing that the much-enduring +much-contriving son of King Laertes, having wandered far by sea and +land during the ten years following after the siege of windy Ilion, set +out once again on another wandering (but wherefore I do not know); and +was slain here, at the mouth of sacred Sihor, by young Telegonos, his +own son and Kirke’s (that awful goddess), ignorant of whom he slew, +now, therefore, it is the will of those divine ones who have never +lost their faces that thou, Nicholas called the Crab, shouldst pursue +thy quest for wisdom reincarnate in thine original person as King +Odysseys, undertaking a third wandering, the course of which is not yet +known to me: but it will be known by me, and revealed by me to thee, in +the moment when thou farest forth. For the thing is yet on the knees of +the gods.” + +But, when Amenemhat had said all this, the Anglican portion of me +suggested the placing of some term to such seemingly nonsensical +ravings. For which cause, I said, as stolidly as possible: “When shall +I, Nicholas called the Crab, find myself reincarnate as King Odysseys +for the purpose named?” + +And the priest solemnly answered, saying: “Thou art Odysseys, even now.” + +To whom I said: “I require proof of the truth of thy word.” + +But Amenemhat drew back a veil which was concealing a picture painted +on the wall. And he said: “See here, now, O Wily One, for this is a +copy of that portrait of Odysseys Laertiades which is in the temple of +Herakles at Naykratis, a precious possession. Art thou like it, or does +it resemble thee, O thou from whom it was painted?” + +And certainly the piece did exactly resemble me, with my long arms and +legs and my silver hair and my well-sunned skin and the shy fierce +ruthlessness of my visage. But I was not overanxious to begin another +life at that moment; and, for this cause, I would not be convinced: but +I believed that the priest was deceiving me with a portrait painted +from myself secretly, for I had never seen the portrait at Naykratis. +But seeing myself likely to be brought to a full stop in the matter, I +determined to use my magic art as a means of arriving at the truth. + +And, casting a severe glance at Amenemhat, I withdrew my attention from +him as one unworthy. But he waited, calmly, placidly, saying nothing. + +But I took from my robe my orb of divination, of rock-crystal banded +with silver with adornments of blue moonstones; and, having placed it +properly, I peered into its illimitable profundity. And all within +was blank and void. But I made an act of will, willing to see the +Naykratian portrait as it was. And instantly it filled the crystal +void. And, having compared it with the picture on the wall, I was aware +that they were alike in every particular. But I gazed again into the +crystal, making another act of will, willing to see Odysseys Laertiades +in his habit as he lived. And instantly I saw him there. And, having +compared him with the picture on the wall, I was aware that it was as +like to him in every particular as it was like to me. + +But I returned the crystal to its place, and drew forth my magic staff, +signing the priest with it, and reciting the _Spell_ called _Compelling +Truth_. And I inquired of him, saying: “Who am I?” + +And he answered me: “Odysseys Laertiades.” + +But I inquired of him again, saying: “Who have I been?” + +And he answered me: “Nicholas, called the Crab.” + +But I inquired of him yet again, saying: “Who shall I be?” + +And he answered me: “After many lives thou shalt be once more Nicholas, +called the Crab.” + +Wherefore I knew that these things were somehow so. And I gave him +leave to continue. He, then, said: “O Very Wily One, proofs thou +desirest; and proofs thou shalt have, of a sort. Dost thou remember thy +bow, the black bow of Eyrytos, which none can bend save thyself or a +god? And dost thou remember thy sword, the sword of Eyryalos? I ask, +for reasons. For, after thy death near Sihormouth, thy weapons were +placed on the breast of thy corpse to go with thee to the netherworld; +and, when thy funeral-pyre was lighted, the flames leaped up, and +blazed, and died to embers: but thy deathless soul was departed (where, +I know not, nor dost thou definitely); and there were no ashes of thy +body: which things are a mystery all. But thine arms and thy bow and +thine armour, having been forged by a god, could not perish. And, now, +thou art here; and they too rest here in the secret treasury, waiting +for thee to assume them again, O much-contriving King Odysseys, Sacker +of Cities.” + +But, indeed, if any mind-perplexing doubt had remained to me, this +would have sufficed to dismiss it. For I was aware that the prediction +of my slave, Yokkho, when he said: _The silver god, in the temple, +taking the bow which sings_, was about to be fulfilled. And I arose, +following Amenemhat with a joyful mind. + +But he led me into a yet larger hall, having row upon row of ungraven +columns. And everywhere there were vast heaps of gold and silver +ingots well-builded, with vases and cups and tripods of gold and +silver and Korinthic bronze, which is platinum,[34] and sheaves of +ivory-handed spears with adornments gold and chrysoprase, armour and +shields of gold, elephants’ tusks of monstrous dimensions, fillets of +gems, and ropes of pearls. But we passed through, into a smaller hall +of a circular shape, having an altar in the centre, whereon lay an +enormous shield of silver, carved with various devices and set with +crabs and moons in very pure nonagonal prismatic rock-crystals with +balls of rock-crystal and blue moonstone. There, also, was a mighty +helmet of the same, plumed with the lofty-waving prides of nine white +peacocks. There, also, was a short sword, in a silver scabbard inlaid +with similar rock-crystals and blue moonstones. There, also, was a vast +black bow of a totally unheard-of material, with a quiver decorated +like the scabbard and full of fear-inspiring arrows. There, also, +on the altar-steps, were greaves of silver gloriously carven, with +adornments of rock-crystals and blue moonstones, and a breast-plate +with the back-plate and shoulder-pieces of the same so bespattered with +moony gems that they resembled gigantic dewdrops on a frosty field seen +in the clear of the full moon. And, also, a large bundle wrapped in +white buckskin was lying at the foot of the altar. + +And, when I had looked upon these things, Amenemhat thus addressed me, +saying: “These are thy god-forged silver armour and thy god-carven bow +and sword, O Odysseys. Take then thy bow and make a trial.” + +But, when I took the great bow in my hand, it quivered and thrilled, +singing a marvellous mystic melody; and thus it sang: + + “_Hail King Odysseys, + long hast thou left me, + long have I lain here + waiting in silence: + wars loom before us: + blood will pour over us: + death flieth with us: + take me, O Master, + and slay as of yore._” + +But, having drawn a well-winged arrow from the quiver, I passed again +into the great hall of the secret treasury; and Amenemhat followed +me, holding aloft his lanthorn; and rays of light from it flamed upon +a shield of burnished gold at the far end of the hall. But, though +never (to my remembrance) had I handled a bow since I, a little eager +scolded and mocked-at child, played my own solitary fantastic games +in the kingdom of Victory queen of the stalwart stately Anglicans, +nevertheless I bended and strang the huge black bow of Eyrytos with the +skilful ease of an expert. And the back-bent bow throbbed in my hand as +though it were alive, itself taking aim at the shield-navel. And the +shaft sped forth, shrieking and humming in the air, till it buried its +length in the boss of the burnished shield. And, having done what no +man but one man can do, I doubted no long but that I actually was King +Odysseys, the Wily One, Sacker of Cities, the Wanderer, the grandson of +Divine Wing-footed Hermes. + +Amenemhat said: “Verily, thou art the lord of rocky Ithaka.” + +And to him I answered, saying: “Yea: that I am.” + +But, returning to the inner treasury, I stripped myself all stark, and +put on the god-forged armour of yellow-haired great-hearted Akhilleys, +which, formerly, my agile feet had won from Aias son of Telamon, +arming myself with the glittering silver.[35] First, indeed, I put +on the beautiful greaves round my legs, well-fitting to the clasps. +Next, I covered my body with the white leathern kirtle having taslets +of carven silver about my loins, which Ares himself had worn. But I +clothed myself over it with a kirtle of silver mail. Next, I placed on +my breast and back and shoulders the corslet of swift-footed Akhilleys, +wrought by Hephaistos himself at the behest of Thetis of the sea; and +the silver-shining of it went to a great distance, as of the moon. And +I hanged from my shoulders the silver-sheathed sword, gleaming with +moony gems, and also the well-carven quiver of arrows. And, on my head, +I set the well-made helmet, crested with the lofty-waving prides of +nine white peacocks; and dreadfully the plumage nodded from above. And +I took, beside, the bow which sings, well-fitted to my hand, and then +the huge and sturdy shield, whereon Hephaistos had wrought, in silver +and rock-crystals and blue moonstones, earth, and heaven, and sea, +and the unwearied sun, and the full moon, and all the constellations +crowning heaven, the Pleiades, the Hyades, and the strength of Orion, +and the Bear or the Wain which there revolves watching Orion, but it +alone descends not into the baths of the ocean. But Amenemhat shod my +feet with sandals of white leather, buckled with silver studded with +moony gems. And he covered me with a great trailing mantle, of silver +tissue lined with white fur, having a huge silver clasp of the crab +and the moon. And the sheen of me reached to heaven; and all the earth +around smiled in the splendour of the silver; and a sound like the +trampling of men’s feet arose. But I stood in the midst, gnashing my +teeth; and my eyes shone like a blaze of white fire. + +These things having been duly accomplished, Amenemhat left me while he +went about my business: for, indeed, the occasion was one for operating +very mighty and singular magic, whereby I, King Odysseys, might be +sent on my new quest suitably attended and in kingly fashion, and not +without my gear. But, when it was night, the priest returned to me +contriving wiles; and he said that all things were ready. For he had +prepared for me one of the temple-galleys, a stout ship builded in +the yards of Alexandria, pierced for forty oars, twenty a side in a +single old-fashioned bank. And he had manned the galley with rowers and +slaves, whom he gave to me as a sweet guest-gift: but one Deythes was +the master-mariner. And the galley rode at anchor in mid-stream, ready +to sail. + +But, at midnight, having gathered all my goods which were in +the temple, and having rubbed my necklace of bloodstones with +marigold-juice so that I became invisible, I went down with Amenemhat +to my barge by the desolate quay; and I shewed myself without warning +in my brilliant panoply to Nesamun and Yokkho. And, when they had +finished their adorations (for they naturally adored the silver god), +then, indeed, I and Amenemhat did the magic which we had prepared, +giving to my two slaves new forms with new names, whereby Nesamun came +out of his Egyptian body, becoming Neandros, an Argive, and squire to +me, and Yokkho came in turn out of his Egyptian body, becoming Thalos, +an Argive also, and foot-boy to me. And the magic was done perfectly, +nor was there any unusual noise. + +But, when we had bestowed the evacuated Egyptian bodies upon the +inchanted sons of slime, the mind in my dear breast was perplexing me +concerning two further matters. For, I knew not what worthy gift I +could give to Amenemhat as a parting blessing; and, also, I was aware +that I desired to have something more in my slaves than that which +they already possessed, to wit, their ingenious minds, faithful and +fearless, which the gods of their stars had bestowed upon them, and the +comely Argive forms wherewith I myself by my magic art had endowed +them. But then, indeed, suddenly, a very singular and unheard-of +thought illumined my noble mind, which bade me to use a most potent +magic inchantment of another age (and I never had used it before, +though I was fully competent in the circumstances), performing a sacred +lavation, pouring a handful of Nile-water upon Amenemhat, and upon +Neandros, and upon Thalos, saying over each in turn the _Spell of the +Three Who are One_. Thus, then, I did. And the faces of the priest +and of the slaves whitened, becoming strangely purified and thankful, +unknowing. But I know all. + +And, now that the time was come when I must part from Amenemhat, we +two drew away to a darker corner of the desolate quay. But the haughty +wise eyes of the priest were full of unshed tears; and he spoke in the +secret tongue of the priests of Khem, saying: “Never, O Odysseys, shall +we meet again, neither in this life nor in another, till the cycles of +our opportunities shall be fulfilled. But to thee I give the galley +and her crew, slaves; and I have placed a certain treasure in the hold +for thy use and comfort. Take them, O friend, as a sweet guest-gift. +And, so, fare thee well, O King Odysseys, whom may all gods of sea and +land and air and sky have in prime and perpetual favour. And this is +the message which I have in charge to give thee at parting: _From the +Depths of the Dead thou shalt win back the Treasure of Hades_.” + +Thus he spoke; and, having embraced me, he went his own way. + +But I ascended my barge; and, when Neandros and Thalos had rowed me to +my galley, I mounted the lofty poop, to see my goods brought aboard, +and the empty barge sent adrift, for it was no longer useful to me. But +I gave commands to Deythes, my shipman, that he should shape a course +for Sihormouth and, so, out to the open sea. + +Thus I did, leaving the land of Khem, and beginning a new quest. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[34] This is rather worrying. Everyone knows that, before the reign +of David, there was in Asia a plenty of a third precious and perfect +metal: that Tyrians and Phoinikians founded and worked it till the +reign of Salomon: that there were rich deposits of it in the Atlantis, +where it was excavated, founded, and worked: that it was heavier and +more valuable than either gold or silver: that it had most of the +qualities of gold, but was something of the colour of silver: that it +was capable of high polish, the Romans using it for lamp-reflectors: +that the Hebrews called it _Khasmal_ = White Metal, and the Greeks +called it _Elektron_ or _Khalkolibanon_, or _Orikhalkon_: that it +became rare through barbarian incursion and the submergence of the +Atlantis: that it was imitated by a mixture of gold and silver by the +Korinthians, the native metal (which they originally manipulated) +being practically lost. Strabo (III.) and Pliny (Proem. xxxiii.) say +that there was enough of this metal found in the sands of the Po in +Trajan’s time to form a statue of Augustus. Many other writers preserve +its memory, _e.g._ Saint Ezekhiel Prophet, i. 4, 7: Homer, _Od._ IIII. +71, XV. 458: Vergil, _Georg._ III. 521: _Æn._ VIII. 402, V. 624: +Martial, VIII. 50: Sil. It., I. 229: Stat. _Thebaid_: Juv. _Sat._ +xiiii. Serenus Samm. _De Uenenis_: Serv. _Georg._: Lamprid. _Heliog._ +_Cf._ also Aristophanes’ _Knights_, and Sophokles’ praise of the White +Metal (ἐλέκτρον) of Sardis with gold of India. But, even now I see no +particular connection (excepting in Mr. Crabbe’s mind) between modern +platinum (which only exists, I am told, in the other hemisphere), and +the undeniable White Metal (which the ancients called Elektron or +Korinthic Bronze) which disappeared, I conceive, in the earthquake +ingulphing the lost Atlantis. The problem is a sadly distracting one. +A. H. + +[35] Hitherto we have been led to believe that Akhilleys’ armour was +golden, not silvern as here emphatically stated. Perhaps our error +is due to the lamentable fact that all our classical texts have been +edited by tasteless and not highly scrupulous Dutchmen, so far. I just +throw out the suggestion. A. H. + + + + + THE THIRTEENTH PAPYRUS + + +When white Dawn was come, I left the small Pharos behind. Sihor had +become brackish; and a favourable breeze drove us out on to the +unvintaged sea. My galley was indeed meet for a king: for all her +fitments were of cedar inlaid with silver and mother-of-pearl. Her +food-service also was of well-chased ephesian silver; and her sail +and her awnings were of thick white silk with vermilion bordures and +fringes. Furthermore, my master-mariner, Deythes son of Kimon of Naxos, +was an honest man, an islander, as well as a mariner of much favour +with the Divine Ones who inhabit olympian palaces; and he had never +lost a ship. Wherefore, being aware that my equipage was quite worthy +of me and of my destiny, I was glad. + +But, when I came to ponder Amenemhat’s last prediction, I could not +understand it; and it behoved me to understand it very speedily, in +order that I might contrive new wiles and suitable: for, at the moment, +I was sailing the open sea without a notion as to my destination. + +For which cause, I tried my crystal orb of divination: but I saw +nothing therein. But, having next refreshed my memory concerning the +things which Thalos (who had been Yokkho) saw in the palm-mirror, +I read in my note-book these words: _The silver god, in the ship, +speaking with the azure-haired god on the white horses._ And that I +might know more about this azure-haired god on the white horses, of +whom the innocent eager slave had spoken, I performed the rite of the +palm-mirror a second time, having summoned clear-eyed Thalos to me. But +he saw nothing in the ink, though he gazed into it and sweated till he +swooned from sheer exhaustion. But I was aware, having restored him and +having given him to be treated tenderly, that a far greater magic was +necessary to explain his utterance and the utterance of Amenemhat, to +wit: _The silver god, in the ship, speaking to the azure-haired god, on +the white horses, and From the Depths of the Dead thou shalt win back +the Treasure of Hades._ And, when the mother of Dawn, rosy-fingered +Morning, was about to come again, bringing light to mortals and +immortals, then my galley was alone upon the bluish-grey-green sea. + +But I was resolved to try the _Rite of Thalattomancy_, which is most +efficacious; and it may only be performed by a master and prince of the +highest degree and most secret initiation and by a sacred ruler of the +innermost light. To which end, I caused Nile-water and other proper +apparatus to be placed on the lofty poop; and I made a proclamation to +my crew, lest curiosity should overcome fear and obedience, that death +in shreds (lasting some hours) would be the lot of an interruptor of +my solitude in the sight of all. And, having bathed and arrayed myself +in my silver panoply, I opened the rite. + +Within the square of four pentagons, I drew the four concentric +circles with white chalk on the lofty poop-deck, filling them with the +proper names. Within these, I drew also the double circle for ebb and +flow. And, within the last, I placed a dish of offerings to the seven +sea-gods and the silver divination-cup brimming with Nile-water. But +I stood between them, wearing the symbols of the Crab and the Moon: +for the Crab is a watery sign, and the Moon is the Governess of the +Sea. And, having called on the gods of the sea and the moon to be +propitious, I burned aloes in a brazier, and I chanted the _Spell_ +which releases the souls of the drowned from their torments in the +netherworld, providing the forms of birds for clothing them, and +treating them to a taste of fresh air, so that (with their wings) they +might veil the apparition of a favouring sea-god, an aboundingly holy +awful sight not to be viewed excepting by initiates, as it is written: +_It is not necessary for the novice to believe anything, but only to +sacrifice his little pig._ + +But the cries of my birds, rejoicing in freedom for an hour, came +nearer and nearer; and they circled round me closely and more closely, +till I seemed to be enclosed in a pillar like a cylinder of whirling +wings. And, at the moment of sunrise, the spirits of the moon came +knocking at the gates of the waves to summon the divine ones of +the sea. But those spirits were of a great and full body, soft and +phlegmatic, of colour like a cloud, black, morbid, obscure, having +swelling countenances and aspects ready to melt away like an exceeding +great rain about the circles. And their particular shapes were a king +like an archer riding on a doe, and a little boy, and a woman-hunter +with a bow and arrows, and a cow, and a little doe, and a vermilion and +silver garment, and many white horses having finny feet. + +Then, I seized the cup of divination by both handles, crying aloud the +magic _Spell_, and saying: + +“_Let him come in the boat. And the name of the boat is Assembler of +Souls._ + +“_Let him come with the oars. And the name of the oars is Making The +Hair To Stand On End._ + +“_Let him come from the hold. And the name of the hold is Good._ + +“_Let him come by the rudder. And the name of the rudder is Making +Straight For The Middle._ + +“_Let him come with the mariners. And the name of the mariners is The +Divine Ones Who Have Found Their Faces._ + +“_Let the master-mariner come. And the name of the master-mariner is +The Divine One Who Has Never Lost His Face._” + +And I held out the cup of divination over the sea, flinging the +water of sacred Sihor in a hemicycle of crystal drops as far as I +could reach. But the cloud of birds moved away with it; and hovered +above a billow with an agitated crest, which they surrounded with +innumerably-feathered pinions. Whereby I was aware that a godlike form +was manifesting himself in that direction. And, the dawn being fully +come, I recited the _Invitation to the gods of the sea_, using the +tongue of the gods. + +Then, the answer arrived, very thin and clear, like a cock-crow +far away in the stillness of a desert-night, saying: _Receive the +azure-haired Earth-shaker from the sea_. + +And the breeze instantly moaned and died; and the waves ceased from +lapping against my galley. And my sea-birds made a great confusion +in the awful calm, filling it with flashing pinions and plaintive +whimperings, and settling into the shape of a dome all formed of +beating wings, in which I on my ship and the tridentiferous god of the +sea were enclosed, face to face. + +The floor of the temple of this blessed vision was the marbled water +of the rushing sea, frozen mute and motionless with awe. Throned +upon white horses ramping along a curling-crested billow, was the +form of wide-ruling sea-stilling earth-shaking Poseidon, king of the +ocean, with his court of white-bodied nymphs of the sea attended by +scaly tritons. And King Poseidon said: “Much is permitted to thee, O +god-beloved Odysseys. For even I, forgetful of our ancient feud, am +here to warn thee that severe ordeals of thine endurance are ordained. +And my rede to thee is that thou speed to Delphi, there to have sure +news of thy quest from the priestess of the Radiant Pure One: for we of +the sea are ignorant of what may be intended.” + +Thus he spoke; and forthwith the vision dived in deep waters, splashing +awfully in disappearing. But I was left alone upon the lofty poop. +Wherefore, having summoned Deythes, my shipman, I gave him his course; +and, afterward, I rested, for magic is much more wearisome than war. +In this manner, I learned that the sea-gods at least were propitious +to me, and (also) that I was to go to the shrine of Phoibos Apollon at +Delphi, there to receive an oracle and a Pythian revelation. + +But, when we had passed Patrai and were making Kirrha (which was the +port of Delphi on the Korinthic Gulph), it seemed good to me to prepare +a gift, meet to be given by me, a priest and a king, to the domestic +prelate of Pythian Phoibos Apollon. For which cause, I took stock of +the treasure wherewith Amenemhat had loaded my galley. And indeed it +was a generous and a godlike treasure. For there were wedges of virgin +gold, weighty, plastic, red as the hair of a lovely girl of Altino of +the Heneti, with great cut gems in leathern sacks, and vases and lamps +of Korinthic bronze (which is platinum)[36] wrought about with foliage, +and tripods of burnished gold fit to stand with those which limping +Hephaistos made for himself, and chryselephantine images of gods the +work of Pheidias and Praxiteles and Lysippos, and bales of tissues +of silver and gold and vermilion, with other treasures innumerable. +Moreover, there was a gigantic chariot all of silver, inlaid with crabs +and moons in mother-of-pearl; and the spokes of its wheels were images +of the heroes, mighty men of old, wine-companions and sword-friends +of me when we beleaguered woman-mad Paris and his Phrygians before +the walls of windy Ilion. And, poised upon the front of the rail of +the silver-shining chariot, there was a silver image of Love, larger +than life, blindfolded, naked, most alluringly proportioned, and his +well-winged arms were spread abroad in the very act of taking flight. +And there were four white horses, a well-matched team, to go before the +chariot for the sake of custom: but their harness and caparisons were +of white leather with adornments of silver. + +Thus, then, I prepared myself for pursuing my quest on land. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[36] I sadly fear that we must be content to take Mr. C.’s word for +it. All the same, one can’t help feeling a little exasperated at his +reiterated emphasis of his statement, and at one’s own utter ignorance +of his real reason for being so insistent on a point which one is +perfectly unable to dispute or even to discuss. A. H. + + + + + THE FOURTEENTH PAPYRUS + + +But, when we reached Kirrha, having harboured my galley suitably, I +went on to Delphi with Neandros and Thalos and nine trusty-looking +slaves, who carried a part of my treasure. But we were all disguised +in sordid garments; and the treasure was concealed in filthy wallets: +for I was prepared with a wile. For, indeed, I was willing enough, and +even glad to offer gifts propitiatory to the Far-Darter, lest he still +should cherish his ancient rancour against me: for time is of small +account to the gods, but hatred may be an open fester for ever. But, +nevertheless, I (being myself a priest) did not intend to be skinned by +priests of the Lord (of the Silver Bow), nor was I ready to let them +suck me dry, as a fly is sucked by assiduous spiders. For the good +shepherd only shears his sheep, leaving the skinning of them to the +butcher. + +Thus, then, I came to the fane in the laurel-grove; and I counted the +glittering shields there while waiting for my turn: for there were many +suppliants that day, seeking an oracle, and giving gifts of red gold. + +And, anon, the warden of the treasury, the most righteous of men with +the pleated regard of a not-very-gracious pig, bade me to advance +and make my offering. But I grieved that men, of evil mind and +turpilucricupidous, should have twisted the good mind of the gods to +suit their own improper ends: for, whereas, of old, a suppliant’s gift +was made as a willing thank-offering after the Pythian nun had repeated +the words of the god, now, indeed, the treasurer would have appraised +my gift, before admitting me even to the narthex of the shrine where +men may await the divine oracle. Wherefore, avoiding undue display of +my actual condition, and (in fact) wilily simulating poverty, I began +by making reluctant offering of a tiny golden ingot. But the blameless +treasurer had a motion which made his mitre slip down to one ear of +his, discovering a corner of old skull red as a rotten bite of meat and +giving his aspect something of dancing and elastic: also, he snorted +very contemptuously, like a camel of sneering nostrils; and (seeing +me to be clad in an old cloak and wearing no well-crested helmet but +a shabby floppy hat such as my wing-footed grandsire Hermes loves to +wear), he had a flapping of his fattish fingers, and cried out upon me, +and would have sent me away. But I doled out gold in morsels; and, as a +Kretan, selling embroideries or incised stones to some blubber-lipped +carroty-headed chin-less alien who screams with spasms of fury, lies +in wait to see what the fool will offer, so did I with the warden of +the treasury, offering a little at a time, moaning prodigiously, till I +wearied him of bargaining and gained permission to pass in. + +And, at length, I stood before the hollow shrine, and I prayed to the +son of Queen Titania that he would be propitious and easy of memory +concerning certain former regrettable occurrences. And all was still. + +The bards sat hard on their stools, anointed ones, ignoble, stinking, +and perfectly contented, in an odious fraternity of dalmatics, +listless, till such time when the shrieks of the Pythia should spinge +them into vibration with verses. + +Above the bards, the hierarch of Phoibos Apollon, occupied a throne as +archbishop, laurel-crowned, venerably filletted. + +And, anon, the holy Pythian nun, standing on the fumy grating with her +python coiled about her feet, ecstatic amid clouds of frankincense, +shrieked, and moaned, and shrieked again; and her eyes glared, being +fixed wide open. + +The blameless bards sprang forth from their drowsing; and put on the +allure of very intelligent men. The archbishop advanced an attentive +ear of the rose of rotten flesh. And the inspired virgin chanted, in +the Delian mode, with bell-like notes and simple cadences, delivering +the oracle which the fair-haired god was whispering to her mind. But +she sang in the language of the gods, intelligible only to masters +alone among articulately-speaking men. + +Thus, then, she sang; and the bards were dazed; and the filletted +archbishop marvelled vastly: for very rarely does the Pythia use the +secret tongue in her phrenzies. + +Thus, then, she sang, as her ecstasy intensified, floating her up from +the grating all rigid, as she stood on the willing air tenderly lifting +her up on high. For far-darting Phoibos Apollon himself was uttering +unwinged words through the mouth of his nun. + +And thus she sang: + + _Time-straying Wanderer, sea-borne Sea-lover, + signed with the Crab and starred with the Moon, + priest of all crafts of god-lore and man-lore, + head corner-stone by base builders rejected, + castaway paladin, master of mysteries, + known in the future, renowned in the past, + now, in the present, thy quest thou pursuest, + god-confirmed, seeking the crown of thy wisdom. + I smell, in the south, the odour of aloes + and basil and thyme and verbena and rosemary: + I see the black portal of Tainaron yawning: + I hear the fierce howls of the three-headed hound of hell. + Where thou hast been, go again, very warily: + heroes shall compass thee, ghosts of the great + shall acclaim, and the high gods environ, thee. + There is the golden crown of all wisdom: + there, in dark Hades, accomplish thy questing, + spoiling the god of the world of the dead._ + +Such was the Oracle of Delphic Phoibos Apollon. + +But, when the Pythian nun swooned, having made an end of her singing, +the blameless archbishop gushed hurriedly down from his throne, very +ardent, very violent, the crupper under his dalmatic waggling with +furies no longer to be concealed: for he knew the secret tongue; and +he perceived that I must be a personage of superior quality, though +assuredly he did not understand the full import of the message, which +(indeed) could be known solely to the divine Bow-bearer and to me, the +bearer of the singing bow. But, because (being a priest, and one of +the most righteous of men) he hankered after the society of a person +so openly favoured by the god, he approached me, bent upon inquiries. +And he made me the _Sign of the Master-Architect_: but I responded +with the _Grip of the Ruler of Nine_. And he signed me with the Word +of the Knight of the Crab: but I countersigned him with the _Word of +the Prince of the Moon_. We embraced in the _Ways of the East and of +the West_. Together we formed the _Symbols of the Peacock_ and of _the +Ravens both Black and White_. But, when he shewed himself to be a +_Master of the White Stars_, I, in my turn gave him my token as _Lord +of the Ultra-Violet Radiance_, further than which no mortal man can +go in this direction. And I beckoned him to slink back to his throne: +which he did, very sorrowful in his heart, and champing his ancient +gums while borborygms of his belly went and came. + +In this manner, I triumphed at the temple of Delphi, obtaining the +favour of the god. + + + + + THE FIFTEENTH PAPYRUS + + +But, having returned to Kirrha, I went up into the curved ship, and +I sailed propitiously southward for Tainaron, dark, forbidding to +strangers. And, while I was voyaging, I pondered the words of the +oracle. + +But, as I thought of these things, many remembrances crept out of my +mind, crowding upon me: for, when I was a liegeman of Victory queen +of the stalwart stately Anglicans, and also when I was a priest of +Queen Isis in the land of Khem, I had been oblivious of many great and +wily deeds which I had done in the morning of the world. But, now, +I began to remember many things concerning lofty Ilion, and wars, +and windy Fate, and my sometime comrades there; and the black bow of +Eyrytos vibrated in my hand, and my glance fixed itself on the dazzling +sheen of my huge silver shield; and the bow sang to me of implacable +young yellow-haired Akhilleys, and faithful temerarious Patrokles his +friend, and fearless ruddy-headed Neoptolemos his son, and magnanimous +Agamemnon shepherd of the people and leader of the Argive hosts, and +aged Phoinix who (when a boy) obeyed his mother, and proud insane +Aias, and Aitolian Diomedes of the loud war-cry with whom I spied on +the Dardanians and stole the horses of Rhesos king of the Thrakians, +and Idomeneys the Kretan fierce as flame, and my own dear son wise +Telemakhos, and, also, the blameless foes of the rolling-eyed Argives, +to wit, pious runaway Aineias and accursed crest-tossing Hektor, and +old Priam with his sons Lykaon and Kebriones and godlike Polydoros the +runner, all blameless, and woman-mad Paris of the splendid body, and +also equal-handed Asteropaios: nor was I unmindful of bandy-legged +woolly-haired Thersites, the very ugliest man of all who came to Ilion. +And, furthermore, my singing bow began to sing to me, and it sang +of the white-armed slave Lyrnessian Briseis, and of the inquisitive +Deidamia, and of perfidious Klytaimnestra wife of Agamemnon, and of +unhappy Andromakhe, and of prudent Penelope, and of beautiful golden +Helen daughter of Zeys the Swan. + +But the mind in my lordly breast busied itself with causes and effects: +for I began to understand many more things, and one thing specially +above all things, this, to wit, that these heroes (my friends and +enemies) strove as I strove, and endured as I endured, and contrived +their plans as I contrived my very wily plans, all for a prize and a +crown. And, further, it seemed to me that, in all my striving after +wisdom, there was one branch of knowledge which I had not considered +even rudimentarily: for, as far as I remembered, I had never permitted +myself (as all other heroes permit themselves) to go stark mad for +love of a woman. But that was chiefly due to my nature, which caused +me to hide my soft and hungry heart beneath a hard and cruel armour of +proof. Yet other men, not less brave (though far less wily) than I, +loved women, not coolly, as I had loved prudent Penelope (whom I always +used most respectfully and kindly), but perfervidly and even hairily +and with utter self-renunciation. And I began to wonder why my wisdom +had omitted to take count of rather more than half the human race. +And I began to wonder whether my comrades had gained certain rewards +of wisdom by their madness which I, by my wily self-control had not +attained. For I suddenly remembered the old adage, _What I gained, I +lost: What I lost, I won: What I gave, I have._ + +Now I blamed divine Memory: for she was treating me in a scurvy and +niggardly manner, doling out mere handfuls of all the wealth of notions +and ideas which, from time to time, I had been used to store in her +cells. For the wise man ought not to utter a judgment until he knows +all the matter to be judged. And I did not know all. Wherefore I put +myself to ponder the little which I knew. + +And, one by one, slowly, and painfully, certain other matters were +brought out and laid before my mind. + +For I remembered that the oldest and the youngest and the most +venerated and by far the most exceedingly powerful of all the gods +is Love. And, also, I remembered that each one of us, who stamp on +the wide-bosomed earth, is no more than a moiety and counterpart of a +perfect human creature. For, very early in the morning of the world, +Zeys Pampator cut all mortals in two, halving them, for a religious +reason, and on account of their ineffable prepotence. Wherefore, +having once been a whole being, and being now but the half of a whole +being, all articulately-speaking men most fervently desire and pursue +any other creature whom they take to be their lost counterpart, that +the two halves may again be mingled and fused in one: for, as Plato +definitely teaches, _Love is the Desire and Pursuit of the Whole_. For +which cause, I was aware that all men and all women needed nothing +more than this, and nothing so much as this, that Love should work out +perfectly, each finding other, returning to the aboriginal nature. +These things, then, occupied the mind in my breast. + +And, moreover, I considered how that I was going (obeying the Delphic +oracle) where I twice had been before, once alive and once dead, to +wit, to the House of Hades, tremendous king of infernal shades, whom +I was to despoil of his treasure and the crown of all wisdom. Yet, +still, I knew not what that treasure and crown might be. And, having +remembered thus much of the past, I held a sort of council with my +noble mind, which determined me to despoil that king of whatever might +seem to be of greatest worth in his kingdom. + +Wherefore, having summoned Thalos my slave, bathed and purified, I set +the magic mirror on his palm, bidding him to gaze therein, and laying a +very strong spell on him so that he should have clear sight of that one +thing of which I had no knowledge. + +And his little body became rigid; and his long black eyes stared; and +the sweet sweat oozed like dewdrops from his flesh, and he shook with +fear, insomuch that I chained his arms and legs with my own hands as +in brazen manacles, forcing him to do my will. And, when I refused him +permission to swoon, then his rigours took him stupendously; and, being +as rigid as a strung bow, he began to declare his vision, saying: _The +golden goddess, sitting with her star-crowned brothers, in the dark, +disdaining a victorious hero, and an unmanlike king, and a shepherd +beloved of goddesses, and innumerable warriors contending among +themselves._ And then I could no longer hold him: for limb-relaxing +Sleep, the all-subduer, drew him from me. + +But I knew what I wanted to know. + +For this utterance was all of a piece with the divination which my same +slave had made, when he wore a young Egyptian body on the sacred river +of Khem, saying: _The silver god, leading the golden goddess, from the +dark._ For who was the golden goddess in the dark, but fair long-robed +golden Helen daughter of Zeys the Swan, dwelling in the unlighted House +of Hades? + +And who were her star-crowned brothers, but the Great Twins, godlike +youths, Kastor the tamer of horses and Polydeykes the pugilist, +star-crowned sharers of immortality? + +And whose blameless homage was refused by Golden Helen, but that of +the victorious hero Theseys, and that of sandy-haired old impotent +Menelaos, and that of the woman-mad shepherd Paris beloved of Hera and +Aphrodite and Pallas Athene most righteous of goddesses? + +And for whom, but for Golden Helen, had innumerable warriors, my +comrades and my enemies, contended during ten long years of war, and +after? + +And I asked of the mind in my lordly breast, saying: Who, then, is the +Treasure of Hades? + +And my mind answered me, saying: Who but Golden Helen, sought of all +men. + +Then, indeed, the mind in my dear breast bounded with an unmentioned +and unthought-of joy in thinking of these things, and in remembering +also the things which were to come, to wit, the leading of the golden +goddess from the dark, the moving with her among gods and goddesses, +and the sitting with her on a throne. + +In this manner did I find out the meaning of the Delphic oracle and +the spoil which I was to win from the king of the netherworld with the +crown of all wisdom. + + + + + THE SIXTEENTH PAPYRUS + + +But I went to Tainaron, where the hollow ship lay at anchor in a little +cove to the west of the headland, being too great to draw up on the +black beach; and, indeed, at Tainaron there is no sand fit for such a +purpose. But I came ashore on a raft made of spars and planks, which +the slaves of my galley pushed before them swimming, thrusting the sea +back with their strong legs. And the raft carried also my gear, and my +silver-shining chariot adorned with crabs and moons in mother-of-pearl +with its mystic charioteer poised on the front of the rail: but my four +white horses swam lustily apart, having no fear of deep water. + +Not every day does mortal man drive down in awful pomp to the dark +House of Hades. And, indeed, I did not know the way: nor was there +a sacrifice proper for so great an occasion ready to my hand. +Wherefore, I mentioned the point in a prayer addressed to my grandsire, +wing-footed Hermes, inhabiting olympian palaces; and he sent me a +Dream, to tell me how to prepare for his coming. But the Dream said +that I was to build up an altar of stones on a mound of earth, and to +make a fire, and to sacrifice my four white horses to the areiopagos of +the immortals; and, after the sacrifice, I was to feast with my crew; +and, at moonset, I was to cast fresh fennel on a clear fire, having +dismissed all the lusty slaves to my galley with a commandment there to +await my return. + +But, when I awakened, the sun was close above the distant mountains, +all ruddy with his hard day’s course and ready for the evening. And +I bade my slaves to build up an altar, and to do all other things +which the Dream had commanded me: but they were unwilling to slay the +beautiful horses; and they coughed horribly when I did it myself; +and they made no difficulty about thoroughly enjoying themselves at +the feast when the sacrifice was duly done. And, in the midst of +the sacrifice, a portent was vouchsafed to me: for the smoke of my +burnt-offering was not blown abroad by the evening breeze: but it +ascended straightly as a column to the sky above. And this I knew to +be a very favourable omen, auguring that my sacrifice was accepted as +pleasing to the areiopagos of divine ones who inhabit olympian palaces. + +And, with a glad heart, I did on my shining panoply, the silver-shining +armour of Akhilleys, and his god-made shield, with the singing bow of +Eyrytos: so that I shone like the star which rises in autumn, whose +resplendent rays shine among many stars in the depths of the night. But +I slung my revolver on my body, in a secret hollow of my armour, having +fed it full and made it ready to spit dire death. + +But, when my mariners had cut me many faggots of fresh fennel, heaping +the same in a stack apt to my hand, then, indeed, I dismissed them to +the hollow ship, with a commandment to await my return, all as the +Dream had ordained. + +And, as soon as I was alone, I very eagerly began to cast choice twigs +of fennel on the redly-glowing embers of my sacrifice. And the sweet +face of the moon became pale and paler, as the face of a dear woman +about to swoon; and she snatched up a few soft mists wherewith to +cloak herself in her going. For black night was creeping up the vault +of heaven to overwhelm her; and she fled before him, as a maid flies +before a blameless Ethiopian slave, whose bestial nostrils snuffle +as he capers meditating very evil deeds. And anon she escaped with +her purity. But I sat down to wait: nor did sweet Sleep light on my +eyelids, when I contemplated the Pleiades, and setting Arktoyros, and +the Bear (which they also call the Waggon) turning itself and watching +Orion, but it alone does not share in the washing of the ocean. + +But soon there was nothing between me and the darkness, excepting the +glow of my fire. And I, being very eager for an apparition, grasped the +stalks of fennel by handfuls, flinging them on to the roaring blaze, +till all the world was awhirl with the fragrant greyish-blue smoke +beloved of my grandsire Hermes, beneficial son of Zeys. + +And, very far away, I heard a noise as of the noise of a single +thunderclap. But I was aware that it was the clang of the great gate +on lofty Olympos closing behind the wing-footed messenger who was +coming in answer to my prayer. + +But, while I was awaiting his swift arrival, I ceased not to feed the +flame with the magic herb. And, suddenly, I became aware that I was not +alone. For a Presence was very near me, but hidden by the clouds of +scented smoke; and two glowing eyes were fixed upon me: also, from time +to time, I caught a glimpse of horns and pointed ears very terrible of +aspect. + +Then, indeed, sharp Fear tried to lay her clammy hand upon my heart: +as a boy of evil mind, desiring to annoy his bedfellow, slips a wet +toad into the white armpit of him sleeping. And I said to myself, in +the words of one dying: _I am about to see Pan_.[37] For I remembered +the adage concerning a man who is given over unto sweet white Death, of +whom it is said _Let him see Pan_.[38] For, indeed, it is known that +the faces of the dead shew one thing very clearly, and that is that +they have found out everything which there is to be known by mortal +man, and are satisfied, as we all have seen in the dear beautiful face +of Diyllos: so that, in saying of such an one _He has seen Pan_,[39] +it is signified that he is satisfied with perfect knowledge, having +seen All. Wherefore, for the moment, I wondered whether the crown of my +wisdom was to come to me (by the will of the gods) in this manner. + +But the mind in my lordly breast instantly bade me to face fate with +a brave and dauntless countenance: for which cause, I summoned all my +boldness, fearlessly gazing upon the glowing eyes amid the smoke, being +determined to know all which there was to be known, without counting +the cost, and meeting sweet Death unflinchingly and as a lover. Thus, +for some moments, I eyed rustic Pan: for the silvan god indeed was +looking upon me. But, as white Death gave no sign of approaching me, +I remembered that I had no cause for fear, seeing that my veins were +filled with the ichor of the immortal gods as well as with the blood of +a man. + +But, at length, Pan came out of the smoky cloud and stood before me, +goat-footed, hairy. His voice, when he spoke, was like the sound of +leaves lying in the forest which sigh when some wanton breeze disturbs +their slumbers. And he said: “Now do I greet thee, O Stranger. And +whence comest thou? And what manner of man art thou? Art thou violent +and wild and not just? Or art thou hospitable, and hast thou a holy +mind? For I rejoice to see that thou art not like other earth-trampling +men, who incontinently die (a most foolish and reprehensible custom) +whensoever as they set eyes on me, rendering themselves unfit for +serious conversation, while I am a-weary of the prattle of the +children of hills and streams and trees.” + +But I made audacious answer to the simple country-god, saying: “O Pan, +folk say that I am both thy half-brother and thy step-father: for I am +King Odysseys, the sacker of cities, and prudent Penelope (who was my +wife) bore thee to Hermes, my immortal grandsire. Wherefore we should +be kin of some kind, I and thou.” + +Whereat he laughed merrily; and he answered: “Thou thyself dost not +believe that tale, O wily Odysseys: for thou well knowest that I am as +old as Time, being own brother to great Khronos. Nevertheless, any god +might indeed be proud to call cousins with King Odysseys. Wherefore, +tell me, O cousin, whence thou art now come: for it seemeth that nephew +Hades hath relaxed his grim ward of thee.” + +But, ere I could open my lips in reply, the rustic god cried: “Aha! Who +cometh here? ’Tis young Hermes, as I live with goats!” + +Thus he spoke. But I saw the grey-blue smoke-cloud broken by golden +radiances flashing here and there. And, looking, we beheld now +the golden wand, now the beautiful swiftly-flying limbs shod with +golden-winged sandals, now the cloak of gold and purple tissue blown +back from the body in flight; and, anon, the youthful bird of heaven +burst upon us out of the fume in all the inmarcesible splendour of nude +immortality. + +In this manner, I first saw Hermes, the Luck-bringer, my grandsire, a +god. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[37] ΟΨΕϹΘΑΙ ΜΕΛΛΩ ΤΟ ΠΑΝ. + +[38] ΒΛΕΠΕΤΩ ΤΟ ΠΑΝ. + +[39] ΕΩΡΑΚΕ ΤΟ ΠΑΝ: I am reluctantly compelled to confess that I have +quite failed to trace these illuminating adages to any source prior to +the year B.C. 45; and can only recommend application to the erudite +author of a treatise called _Dodo_, whose writings clearly demonstrate +that he has at least a very fair working knowledge of their ideal +content. A. H. + + + + + THE SEVENTEENTH PAPYRUS + + +Now that divine young one of gods came to me holding in his hand the +halters of four white horses, all mad, incomparable in splendour, +tossing their heads, and stamping with their feet. And Pan looked +curiously upon us, while sprightly Hermes took me to his beautiful +large breast, calling me Son and Child: for the heart of the youthful +god was glad when he saw the goat-footed divine one with whom I stood +as an equal; and the sheen of my silver-shining armour glittered with +moony gems. And, first, he began to speak very eloquently (as his +manner is), having a tale to tell of the cause of his lateness in +coming. + +For he said that the blessed gods, having sniffed the savour of my +sacrifice with pleasure, graciously deigned to acknowledge the same by +a gift. And, seeing that I had not hesitated to offer my only horses, +those divine ones were pleased to send me another team. Wherefore, +four heavenly steeds were selected from that godly stock which the +indomitable hero Herakles won from King Laomedon. But, when quick-eyed +though blindfolded Love had seen my grandsire about to descend bearing +away beautiful horses, he had howled (that dire intractable boy), +only for the sake of annoying, saying that steeds ought not to be sent +to me, seeing that he himself (even Love) with his burning breath and +wide-sailing wings was ready to come at my call to be my beast, my +bird, my bearer of burdens and deep delight for ever and ever. But, +when Hermes persisted (for the thing was an order from the All-father +which must be obeyed), then Divine Eros had betaken himself to his bow +and arrows, shooting through the bars of heaven’s gate, so that more +than nine times the halters had been severed, and the horses had gone +free, galloping here and there, till, at last, being caught and herded +safely out of range, they were led down to me, apparently docile and +ready for the traces. Such was the apology of Hermes. + +But Pan, standing by and listening attentively, saw how highly I was +in favour with the gods of lofty Olympos; and he stooped, picking up +a sprig of fragrant fennel, wherewith he touched my two eyes, saying: +“Receive the power of seeing as the gods see.” + +And instantly he was gone, I know not where. But Hermes laughed, +triumphantly merry, saying: “Thou, O my brave child, hast indeed won +old Pan’s favour: for few there be to whom he would communicate this +virtue, a very signal one, as thou shalt know anon.” + +Thus having spoken, he bade me to prepare for my fearsome journey. +But, while I obeyed him, he illuminated my mind with knowledge of +the ordeals through which I was to pass: yet he could not tell me +everything, for the time was short; and, as much of the rest as he +might, he said that he would tell me by the way. For he was going +with me as far as was permitted. But I went even gleefully, having so +affable and so splendid a young god for my comrade. + +But I yoked the white steeds to the well-wrought chariot, carven of +silver inlaid with adornments of crabs and moons in mother-of-pearl, +whereon was poised the silver Love, blindfolded, naked, larger than +life, and just in the act of flight. But my grandsire examined my +glittering armour; and, having approved it, he wrapped me in my great +trailing mantle of tissue of silver lined with white furs and clasped +with the signs of the crab and the moon. Furthermore, he gave me a +heavenly amulet for my use and comfort, formed of two chalcedonyxes +having the similitude of eyes set in the Sign of the Crab in a silver +finger-ring, saying that I would need it on occasion. And he let me +twist long stalks of fennel into a monstrous torch, three stalks with +seven stalks and nine stalks, nineteen in all. And, having lighted it, +we mounted my chariot, both I and the god. + +Now the silver Love on the chariot was motionless and dumb, as the +manner of gods is when they are made of metal: yet it evidently was +a very potent and unheard-of magic, though neither Hermes nor I, +Odysseys, wily and knowing as we both were, fully understood it, for +the divine ones inhabiting olympian palaces had not manifested their +will in this particular. For which cause, I stood in my proper place +on the left:[40] but Hermes went to the other side of the flying Love, +seizing the reins, and urging the huge white horses onward with the +shouts of a charioteer. But they plunged madly forth into the cloud of +fennel-smoke. + +I closed my eyes, smarting with the murky reek. But the flaming +firebrand which I bore flared like a banner far behind me: so that, +though I love sunlight as well as any man alive, I gladly and joyously +went (god-driven) from the grain-giving earth to the netherworld, +dashing into the secret adit whereby the souls of dwellers in daylight +go down to the dark house of Hades. Thus, then, I went, to despoil the +king of shades. + +But we galloped on, at more than mortal speed, down the broad path, +never slipping nor stumbling: for Hephaistos had shodden the heavenly +steeds, and Hermes drove them, mightily encouraging them with +shoutings. And my firebrand, fanned by the wind of the speed of my +going, flamed on the pallor of dead men, terror-stricken, who were +passing down the same road, like sheep unshepherded, toward old Kharon +and his insatiable barge. + +We came to the shelving river-bank; and the Old Man of Styx drove many +souls from our path as the silver-shining chariot dashed irresistibly +into the stink of the putrid stream. But my lusty horses swam swiftly +to the farther hythe; and Hermes buoyed up the ponderous chariot with +magic so that it did not sink. But we speeded on, over sandy desolate +wastes, veiled in impenetrable gloom. Fast and faster tore those +untiring stallions of matchless breed; and the whirling wheels span +round; and chill winds blew in our faces, so that I wrapped myself +shivering in my furry cloak. League after league we flew, through +unpeopled wildernesses; and the earth became no more sandy, but thick +with salt, which flashed back the gleam of my fast-burning torch, lying +wide-spread on both sides of the narrowing way. + +But when I (being inquisitive) addressed a word to my grandsire +concerning the phrenetic speed of our going, and what should come +thereafter, and the salt which lay by the way, then, indeed, he +answered me, saying: “The tides of hell are flowing fast; and, as we +crossed Styx at the slack, so we must cross Pyriphthlegethon at the +full, or we shall not win through: for none may traverse those dread +streams excepting at such times. Nor can a man tarry upon the banks, +by reason of the singularly putrid fumes arising. Neither may a man +dally in this wilderness of salt, which is sacrosanct: for every grain +thereof contains selections from the body of a dead man, and thus they +are preserved against the day when they shall be required for use once +more.” + +To whom I, without delay, spoke boldly, saying: “And what of those men +who (by the sanction of the gods) have not died until after they have +occupied several different bodies?” For I was thinking of Amenemhat and +of Neandros and Thalos, and of the other persons whom I myself (from +time to time) have metamorphosed. + +But young Hermes responded to me, saying: “Know, O inquisitive wily +and well-beloved child, that, in every body of a mortal, there is +that which is beautiful and that which is hideous, just as, in every +soul of a mortal, there is that which is good and that which is evil. +Wherefore, it is the will of Zeys, the Father of all, that the evil and +the hideous shall perish everlastingly, but the good and the beautiful +blended together shall live in immortal palaces.” + +And it seemed to me very strange to hear such words of wisdom coming +from a youth, whose cheeks of summer hue shewed not the tender mother +of the vine-down. But he, Hermes, the powerful Argicide, fell again +to urging the heavenly steeds, crying: “On, on, to the house of shady +Hades!” + +And the gloom before us was illumined with a dull-red glow, which shot +up into the dark vault like a roof above our heads: for, indeed, we +were rushing into the very abysses of the netherworld; and the light +grew clearer and more fierce to us advancing. But, behind us, we left a +trail of smoke from my flaming firebrand, and a trail of steam from the +straining stallions. And the cold wind died; and immensurable flames +streamed upward from the river of fire, licking invisible heights, +flashing and flickering. And I heard my divine charioteer praising +great Zeys with bated breath, for that we were come at a propitious +time. For, as we flew down to the blackened shore, our wheels drove +heavily among the crackling cinders; and the flames died, and +evanesced: for, as the tides of the accursed mystic river were flowing +full, the flames (which blazed and roared through ebb and flow) were +hushed in phosphorescent silence. + +But my mighty steeds, mad by nature, plunged bravely in the stream +which bubbled and boiled with recent heat: yet, because of their +heavenly breed, they (already mad) succumbed not to the scalding flood, +though they screamed with terror and piety, as did Ares (potent in +battle) when (wounded by Diomedes son of Tydeys) he fell, covering +seven acres, and fled (bellowing) to Paieon (the surgeon of the gods) +to be healed of his hurt. But, when we were on the other side of that +flaming moat which surrounds the city of the dead, Hermes assuaged +the pangs of my mad horses with a holy _Spell_ which he contrived to +remember just then, so that they became much madder than they ever had +been before and went most valiantly onward. + +Then, also, that same divine one of gods cried aloud to me, saying: “If +thou thyself canst remember any inchantments, work them well now, O +master of crafts: for this locality is very fatal to miserable mortals +as a rule; and twice already thou hast escaped herefrom alive: but, for +a third attempt something extremely exquisite of magic will be found +desirable.” + +Thus he admonished me. But I instantly recited aloud most potent +_Spells_, to wit, _The Spell of Sniffing the Air and Getting Power over +the Water in the Netherworld_, and _The Spell of Not Dying Again in the +Netherworld_,[41] making the proper _Signs_, and saying: + +“_I take hold of air and water: I watch and guard the egg of the great +cackler._ + +“_It groweth, and I will grow: it sniffeth the air, and I will sniff +the air._ + +“_It liveth, and I will live: I will triumph in the air and the water +of the netherworld._ + +“_Let the place of hiding things be opened: for I will not be treated +with scorn._ + +“_I will not submit to any violence: nor will I die again in the +netherworld._” + +And, having thus composed and fortified my will, we continued to rage +furiously onward. + +Now the gloom of the place was very grey and terrible, insomuch that +the mad heads of my horses were invisible to us standing behind them in +the chariot, for a dense fog was enveloping the netherworld. And, anon, +we found our way blocked by a great and monstrous wall which frowned +blackly in the shade, wherein loomed a mountainous barbacan fortified +with turrets and pierced by a tremendous gate. But the gate was +guarded by unsleeping Kerberos, the hound of hell spoken of by Pythian +Phoibos Apollon, barking at me with three ugly heads and gnashing the +relative mouthfuls of teeth. Whom my grandsire appeased, silencing him +with the _Word of Power_.[42] + +But divine Hermes began to warn me, saying that his business ended in +the realms of shady Hades, his uncle; and he gave me to know that, in +what more remained to be done, I must trust only in myself: but he bade +me to be very wary regarding the mood in which I should find surly +King Hades, biding my time and not precipitantly asking inopportune or +excessive favours. And these were the mandates which he had brought +to me from Zeys Pantokrator and Pampator. But, when he had said these +things and embraced me, and when he had whispered a most pious and +secret monition, then, indeed, he kicked off and vanished away; and his +swift winged-sandals bore him again to the summit of lofty Olympos. + +But I lifted up my voice, terrifically shouting to the warden of the +gate. And a blameless titan peered over the battlements, and brayed +with the formidable degorgement of a trumpet, demanding of me the +password. Whom I answered in the language of the gods, speaking one +of the _Words_ which Hermes had left with me, but I may not write it +on account of a religious reason. And instantly the gate unfolded its +enormous hinges. + +In these circumstances, then, I came thundering in my silver-shining +chariot invading the city of infernal shades. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[40] But was “the left” really his proper place? A. H. + +[41] These are well-known Egyptian inchantments, and Mr. C. perhaps had +them from the Rt. Rev. Amenemhat of Tanis. A. H. + +[42] “Down, dog, down!” is the exact (though perhaps somewhat +colloquial) rendering of this particular _Spell_. _Cf._ Lucian. A. H. + + + + + THE EIGHTEENTH PAPYRUS + + +Now I was all alone. And, before me on both sides, there stretched a +sad-coloured meadow, apparently interminable, thickly sown with flowers +of pinkish pear-like asphodel. And no sky smiled above my head: but +only an impenetrable dark-grey mist, which hung down also, like the +curtains of a tent, at a very little distance on all sides of me. But +the mind in my noble breast warned me to pause, and to ponder, and to +contrive a few new wiles before going further. Wherefore, having abated +the madness of my horses, I betook myself to deep thought. + +And it appeared to me very desirable that I should not manifest myself +to the denizens of that neighbourhood, wheresoever they might be +concealing themselves, without the full equipage and paraphernalia +proper to a personage of my quality. And I very greatly wished that I +had brought at least my two slaves, Neandros and Thalos, the one on +account of his stalwart virtue, the other on account of his luminous +innocence, and both full of grace, that they might serve me if need +should arise. And I began to consider whether there was any magic +whereby I might summon them to my side: for I already had done so many +wonderful things by myself, and the heavenly gods had shewn themselves +so entirely favourable to me, that I was not at any time daunted +when confronted by what the purely stupid man is wont to cringe to +as a sheer impossibility. For the minds of the prudent, indeed, are +flexible. And a master of magic (who is thoroughly in earnest) may +achieve unmentioned and unthought-of deeds, of course with the aid of +the immortal gods. + +But, while I was pondering these high matters, I saw two young boys, +like twin-brothers, coming toward me across the meadow of asphodel and +emerging from the obscurity of the mist. They were well-grown and in +the prime of their age; and their gait betokened a very divine origin. +Both were most sweet and gentle of aspect: but this one was of dusky +hue, crowned with a garland of white poppies, and (in his tender hand) +he bore a dark horn, from which (from time to time) he scattered a fine +dust in the air, and an obsequious zephyr carried it away to fall on +the eyes of mortals: but that one was of a candid whiteness colder than +hoar-frost, such as I never have seen on the grain-giving earth either +in marble or milk or the delicate flesh of the young in the clear of +the moon, or the snow which falls in winter; and his pure candour was +crowned with a garland of pinkish pearl-like asphodel, and in his soft +hand he bore a torch extinguished. Wherefore, I recognized them for +dusky Sleep the All-tamer, and pale kind Death his brother, the twin +sons of Khronos. + +And now, indeed, the mind in my lordly breast spoke loudly, telling me +what I ought to do. For which cause, I addressed a simple word to these +divine ones; shewing the _Sign of Life_, engaging their aid by spells +unutterable. But, when I had mentioned my desire of having with me +Neandros my squire and Thalos my foot-boy, whose lives were bound unto +mine, which itself was terminable only at the supernal will of the god, +then, white Death (coldly smiling) turned away, saying that the matter +concerned his brother. Wherefore, I made my petition to care-dispersing +Sleep, saying the _Spell_: “_O Sleep, king of all blessed gods and of +all men, if ever indeed thou didst lend an ear to mine intreaty, now, +too, be persuaded; and I will own gratitude to thee all my days._”[43] + +And the dusky god also was favourable to me: for, having cast a pinch +of dust from his horn into the air, it fell on the eyelids of Neandros +and Thalos waiting for me in my hollow ship at Tainaron, so that their +limbs were relaxed, and they submitted themselves to divine Sleep, who +brought them straight to me in the meadow of asphodel. + +But, when we three had ascended the silver-shining chariot, I gave the +reins to my squire standing on my right hand: but my foot-boy attended +me, eagerly clutching the rail behind. Thus, I, with Neandros and +Thalos, swiftly galloped onward through the grey gloom, approaching the +palace of shady King Hades. + +And, having whizzed through its brazen portal, we drave horrifically +into an immeasurable hall. And the awfully whirring wheels of my +chariot, with the silver Love perched upon it, amazed the uncountable +multitudes collected therein, insomuch that whimpering Fear took +possession of all, and Rumour went squealing everywhere, whispering +that some hero from out of the sunlight alive was invading the house of +Hades. But I cared naught for the ineffectual gibberings of mere shades. + +And I pursued my way to where I saw the great black throne set, with +the very shady god enthroned thereon, and Queen Persephone by his +side, and a court below him of the arbiters of the dead, Aiakos, +Minos, Rhadamanthos, just, inexorable, most venerable, uttering +immutable dooms for mortal men. And, near by, I saw also great-hearted +yellow-haired Akhilleys, the greatest hero and faithfullest friend +which the world has ever seen; and my heart in my dear breast leaped +when he hailed me passing by, recognizing on me his glittering armour +which I had won as a spoil: for, to have a trusty comrade in such a +shady place is very good. + +But, when I checked my chariot before the throne, then, King Hades (the +most righteous of gods) sternly addressed me, saying: “Tell me thy +name, O Stranger greatly-daring, and thy father’s name; and say also +how thou comest hither.” + +And thus I answered him: “O King of Tartarean realms and dreadful +brother of Zeys, my father’s name was James--may the gods grant rest to +his gentle soul,--and I am Nicholas the Crab, client of the Muses and +of far-darting Phoibos Apollon. But divine Hermes brought me hither, +acknowledging me to be his own grandson, called Odysseys son of Laertes +by all articulately-speaking men who walk in the sweet sunlight.” + +But the brow of blameless Hades became blacker than starless night; and +he frowned so ferociously that even his shady eyes were shrouded. And +he cried: “So thou art that much-contriving Odysseys, who aforetime +camest hither and twice escaped alive. And now thou wouldst perplex +me with a wily tale, mixing Was with Will-be and Is in a medley, and +bearing a double name full of deceit. But doubtless that is part of thy +evil purpose: for thy purpose cannot but be evil. Perchance thou hast +it in mind to depose me, or even to steal away with my queen, divine +Persephone. But, since thine overweening audacity has driven thee, +foolish, to place thyself in my power a third time, thou shalt not now +escape me.” And he howled for titans to trammel me, as a trickster. + +Thus he spoke. But, when I saw giants towering like mountains near me, +in the gloom, then, instantly, I broke my necklace of heliotrope stones +moistened with the juice of marigolds; and I thrust the two halves of +it into the hands of my two trusty slaves, making the _Act of Will_ +for them, whereby they became unseen, even by Stygian gods, unknowing +it. But I gave them a short command. And the stalwart Neandros started +my horses, goading them again to madness in the twinkling of an eye, +turning them, so that my slaves and my chariot went ramping out of +the palace of blameless Hades like a flash of white thunder. By which +means, both my slaves evaded the Tyrant of Tartaros. But, being +visible and willing, I remained: for, as yet I had not done any of +the wily deeds which I had come to do, and, moreover, there was no +retreat for me till I had ravished a spoil from the king of the shades. +Furthermore, I was not unmindful of the very pious and secret monitions +which Hermes had whispered to me at parting, when he said: _Under-go to +Over-come_.[44] + +And, so, I waited; and gigantic hands were thrust down out of +obscurity, which seized me, and shook me violently to and fro over +enormous areas: so that giddiness nauseated me, and the eyes in my face +refused to continue seeing, and my strength also rebelled and left +me, and the utter darkness of oblivion settled upon me, shrouding the +senses of my soul. + +Thus, then, I began my ordeals in the Quest of the Treasure of Hades. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[43] This is perfectly Homeresque. A. H. + +[44] I am almost inclined to say that this delicious epigram contains +the whole body of Christian doctrine. But of course I speak under +correction. A. H. + + + + + THE NINETEENTH PAPYRUS + + +But when, anon, I had recollected my forces, I was in a pit, dismal, +slimy, creeping with long cold worms. And great chains, also, were +hanged to my wrists and waist and ankles. But, far above my head, there +was a little window, very heavily barred; and, through it, there came a +dull-red glow from the distant River Pyriphthlegethon. And the shrieks +and moans of damned souls in mind-grieving torment elsewhere was the +music provided for my entertainment. + +As for myself, it seemed that I had been stripped of my armour, and +(indeed) of all which I had brought with me from the sunlight; and, +now, I was mother-naked, gyved also, and with no gear which would +deliver me from my plight, excepting the knowledge of sacred spells +which was stored in my mind, and a large quantity of natural strength +which was stored in my body. But I rejoiced, seeing that I was unhurt, +and as able as ever: because I was aware that I should have the greater +fame when I should have passed through this ordeal. For there is not +any greater renown for a man, while he exists, than what he shall have +earned naked with his feet and his hands. + +But, first, I gathered up the weight of my fetters, to try to break +them; and, when I felt them to be as massive as the cable of my galley, +then I let them drop again, not to waste time: for my noble mind began +to devise insidious wiles. But, when the chains clashed against the +slimy floor, I heard a sound of a drawing of bolts, and a brazen door +was opened in my pit near by. And, to me, there entered a very gravely +objectionable individual. + +For she was a barren virgin of inconceivable antiquity, whose skinny +arms were joined to her withered body by membraneous wings such as are +the wings of bats and vampires and pterodactyls and all other flying +dragons; and her slit mouth grinned disgustingly, having loose yellow +fangs dangling from the dripping corners: vipers, also, writhed in the +dankness of her sparse hair; and her hands were filled with torches +and scourges. Moreover, what I took to be blood was oozing out of her +pustulous eyeballs. And thus she said: “How now, O wily Odysseys! And +art thou yet alive? For we deemed that the titans had shaken the life +from thy white bones. And that, indeed, would have made our task an +easy one: for we are not accustomed to torment live men here among the +shades.” + +Thus she spoke: but the mind in my lordly breast bade me to treat this +blameless Erinnys with affability while keeping her at arm’s length, +that I might gain a benefit from her conversation without coming to +close quarters with her. For, when a female of this kind prevails, +her audacity is more than one can bear without blasphemy; and, when +she is affrighted or affronted, she is a still greater mischief to her +house and city. Wherefore I said: “Hail, O divine one of goddesses, +serpent-crowned, for I am ignorant of thy blessed name, or I would ask +thee where we are.” + +But to me the most righteous of furies responded, saying: “I am +night-born Tisiphone, a scratcher of earth-walking men after they are +dead. But this is the dungeon where Pirithoos lay to be scratched by me +during a hundred years.” + +Now there is nothing more terrible than such an impudent female as +this. Wherefore, having prepared a wile, not to enrage her, but to +delude her, by seeming to be overcome by piety and terror, then, I let +my mouth gape like a fool’s while I repeated after her: “A hundred +years!” + +But she began to be garrulous. But I watched for an opportunity +of entangling her in her talk. And thus she chattered: “Yea, here +indeed lay Pirithoos, son of Ixion, during a hundred years. For King +Hades would not give him to sweet Death, so black was his crime. +But, every night, we sisters three tormented his body as though he +were dead, using fiery tortures and nail-tearings, until the decree +came that his shade should repose in peace, being purged. But thou, +also, O much-enduring Odysseys, will lie here, chained, purging thy +presumptuous prepotence: but, not till after thy death, may we deal +with thee according to thy doom, whatever that may be.” + +And, having thus enlightened me, the very excessive Fury suddenly left +me, with extempore shrieks and a flapping of her skinny wings. + +Thereafter, I forget how some days passed: for a prisoner may not +reckon the flight of Time in the region of Tartaros, excepting by +marking the ebb and flow of the fiery tides of Pyriphthlegethon. +Moreover, I was occupied in my mind, reviewing all my store of magic +wisdom and contriving many wiles. + +And, by chance, one day, I became aware that I was hearing a song; and +the sound of it seemed to come from very far away, sweetly, like the +voice of a cicada drunk on dewdrops,[45] which, in the woods, sitting +on a tree, sends forth a delicate lily-like voice. + +Now, in the house of shady Hades (most righteous of gods), this is +the condition of mortals when they are dead. For their nerves have no +longer flesh and bones: but the strong force of burning fire subdues +them, when first the mind leaves the white bones; and the soul, +gibbering like a dream, flits and flutters away. Wherefore, the souls +of the dead cannot sing, nor do they attempt it, being occupied in +shrieking with agony and fear. For which cause, I was vastly amazed to +hear so very sweet a song, so grave, so quiet in tone; and, having +summoned all my strength, despite the weighty manacles which trammelled +me, I leaped up to the high barred window which looked out into the +gloom. But I saw little more than that my dungeon was a pit in a rocky +height: for it happened to be the hour of slack tide, when the flames +of Pyriphthlegethon die down for a while. + +And the wonderful song came more clearly from below, thrilling the +darkness of black night. + +But, when, anon, the voice was silent, I wedged myself (as best I +could) into the narrow alcove of the window, waiting for the ebb of +the tide, when I might see more plainly in the light of the increscent +flames. + +And, when the flickering gleam of the fires leaped up, I saw that my +pit was a cell in a watch-tower perched high above the walls of the +house of blameless Hades. But there was a great gulph fixed below, and +bleak meadows beyond, swept by mists and winds of hell. + +And, while I gazed, the lily-like voice began again to sing, +maidenlike, very solemn, and of entrancing sweetness. But I, listening, +heard it; and the heart in my dear breast thrilled strangely: for it +seemed as though Memory (that divine one of goddesses) was opening yet +once more certain chambers in my mind, unknown, or unremembered; and +I was aware of treasures stored therein, whose very existence I had +forgotten. But the simple song went sadly on, as though the singer sat +in patience waiting, singing only just to pass the time, but always +with hope, very faint indeed but never-failing, ever-enduring, in the +depth of her maiden breast. And thus she sang: + + _Once, a flower, in a garden where gold sunlight + flamed on all with its fervent splendour, flourish’d + stainless aye, from the tender seed’s upspringing + to the snow of its yet-unfolded blossom. + When, at length, on its stem so straight and slender, + fragrant, delicate, fresh, this blossom budded, + men from near and a host from far came, each one + longing only to pluck and wear the full flower. + Came a stripling of noble mien and stately, + strong and clean as a sword. His bright eyes saw her, + shyly paused to admire, and pass’d in silence: + but she, pure as a priestess, ne’er forgot him. + Came a hero in triumph, wearing garlands + woven close with the glory of full-blown roses; + and he stole from her place the snow-white blossom-- + rescued soon by the two who were her wardens, + Came a noisily-shouting dotard, jealous + for the bud, which he knew not how to cherish: + him, the lord of the garden fair permitted; + and he carried away the prize unfolded. + Came one mad with the scents of gaudy posies, + One who revell’d in robbing other gardens: + he, the delicate blossom, ravish’d: but she + never open’d for him her snow-white petals. + Last of all, then, the gods in grace restored her + to the peace of the sunlit garden’s splendour; + and the youth who, afore, had seen and loved her, + would have taken her: but dire Fate o’ertook him. + Still she blooms in a garden, where the winter + frost and cold cannot quench the golden sunlight + in her heart, nor the storms defile her whiteness; + waiting, till, on his breast, she bursts in full flower._[46] + +And the strange sweet dancing rhythm made my pulses bound; and my +breath came quickly in accord. For it was like a sudden-blazing +thunderbolt illuminating the recesses of my mind; and I remembered the +object of my quest, to wit, Golden Helen, who, when I was not much +more than a boy, had watched me faring girded high through the ford +of Eyrotas near windy Lakedaimon--Golden Helen, whom her star-crowned +brothers (Kastor the tamer of horses and Polydeykes the pugilist) had +rescued from the blameless hero Theseys carrying her away when she +was a tender girl,--Golden Helen, whom King Tyndareys had given in +so-called marriage to loud-shouting impotent old sandy-haired Menelaos, +blameless, and blubber-lipped,--Golden Helen, whom woman-mad Paris had +reft from her farcical husband,--Golden Helen, who had come again to me +in the land of Khem, long ages since, pure as snow or fire, and always +mine alone,--Golden Helen, whom black Fate had reft from me, when I +died that time by the sacred river of Egypt, being wounded to death by +blameless Kirke’s son and mine, unknowing Telegonos.[47] + +But now, indeed, I knew of a truth that Golden Helen was that very +Treasure of Hades which I had come to win: for, by favour of Queen +Persephone, she was safe in the netherworld, and only there, for in +the netherworld there are no men capable of worrying a lady, but +merely shades of men, who are quite negligible; and, there, she (being +immortal) could live faithful to me and not altogether without certain +amenities. Wherefore, with a great shout, I called her by name. + +And she made answer, half-amazed and half-afraid, saying: “Who calleth +me with the voice of one long dead?” + +To whom I replied: “I am Odysseys, grandson of Hermes, victor over all +sorts of people; and I am come here for thee, O high-born long-robed +Helen whom I love.” + +Thus I spoke. But the golden goddess, filled with joy, said: “O +Odysseys, I have waited long. But now where art thou?” + +To whom I answered, saying: “I am imprisoned by shady Hades in a pit in +one of his towers. But canst thou see me at any window, O Golden Helen, +for I can not see thee.” + +She said: “I see thee not, O much-enduring Odysseys. But thou shalt +soon escape and come to me: for, though it is not safe for me to go +alone among the gods (married and unmarried) of lofty Olympos to plead +for thee, and, though shady Hades doth regard me with disfavour, yet my +twin-brothers (who are dead to-day in the netherworld where I can speak +firmly to them) will be all alive to-morrow in the neighbourhood of +the immortals, such being their destiny. And they shall demand graces +from my lordly sire Zeys Pantokrator.” + +Thus she spoke; and, incontinent, sped away about my business. But I, +being refilled with hopeful ideas, felt my great strength increasing +every moment. Wherefore, with loud laughter, I came down from the +hollow window, beginning to break my bonds. Now, had I been on earth or +sea, I should have used certain magic recipes known to me, whereby the +bitter iron would have crumpled up in sheer bewilderment: but I wished +it to be said of me that I had won the Treasure of Hades with my naked +strength as far as possible, if (indeed) it should be permitted to me +by the gods inhabiting olympian palaces. Wherefore, I set my sinews to +work: for youth was hotter than ever in my veins and my life was raging +within me. And, having tasted the name of the golden goddess desired +of all men, I made that my only spell; and then indeed I burst great +fetters with my little fingers. And, with the same spell (and lusty +loin-heavings), I tore at the staple inset in a flag-stone, dragging +it from its socket. And, with the same spell (and a mighty swelling of +my hardened body), I wrenched asunder the last hoop of iron; and stood +free among my splendidly-shattered shackles. + +Thus having delivered myself from bonds, I waited as patiently as +might be. But none came near me; and, indeed, the mind in my noble +breast would have bidden me to attempt the slaughter of anyone, even +a blameless titan, who should have approached me, not openly coming as +a friend. And my patience was tried during all that day, and the day +after: nor did any voice of song cheer me. + +But, on the third day, I heard someone buffetting the bars of my +window; and a friendly voice uttered my great name. And, when I +answered, a young and very godly face, crowned on the brow with a star, +looked in upon me through the grating. And the half-immortal hero said: +“Our sister, fair Helen, hath sent us to thee, O Odysseys, sacker of +cities; and here am I, Polydeykes: but brother Kastor keeps watch +below, for Father Zeys wishes to see what we can do unaided. Wherefore, +we two are come to rescue thee: but Queen Persephone hath promised help +hereafter, for Helen’s sake whom she considers injured.” + +Thus he spoke: and indeed it was Polydeykes the pugilist, son of Zeys +the Swan, who was taking my part. But, first, he tore at the bars of +the window: but when, indeed, he found them firmly fixed, then he +laughed, warning me away; and, with a boxer’s blow straight from the +shoulder, he drove the massive irons inward, so that they stretched +out, becoming thin as threads with sheer amazement, until they snapped +in twain in every direction and ceased from being bars. But I instantly +leaped to the window, crouching on the sill, till star-crowned Kastor +ascended. And, having squeezed myself through the narrow aperture, the +Great Twins bore me up, supporting me on both sides, till we touched +the solid earth once more. + +In this manner, I escaped from my dungeon in the house of Shady Hades. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[45] One cannot help pointing out that the same poetic imagery as +that used here by Mr. C. seems to have been adopted subsequently by +Meleagros of Gadara. A. H. + +[46] I have managed (not without complacency) to render this exquisite +(and perfectly pagan) ditty both literally and in its original +hendecasyllabic or ithyphallic measure--a somewhat difficult task, and +(perhaps) an audacious, in the light of Lord Tennyson’s deplorable +attempt “all composed in a metre of Catullus.” A. H. + +[47] I fancy that I do not err in affirming that this particular +incident in the lives of Mr. C. (_i.e._ King Odysseys) may be best +studied in Haggard’s erudite treatise entitled _The World’s Desire_. A. +H. + + + + + THE TWENTIETH PAPYRUS + + +But, upon the instant when we stood in open country at the base of +the rock, there came a fearful whirring of the wings of blameless +harpies, beating down upon us, raucously screeching, calling titans and +furies to their aid. But the Dioskoyroi laughed these bestial birds to +scorn; and Polydeykes dashed his iron-studded boxing-glove into their +ugly faces, whereat the ill-breathing wardens of the damned became +melancholy, and fled back to their station on the wall, feeling much +hurt. + +But we went on through the murk, entering a secret chamber in the house +of Hades, where were food and drink, corn-cakes the strength of men, +with cheeses and the fat haunches of pigs, and honey-hearted wine. +Here, also, by the arts of Queen Persephone, I found all my gear, and +my silver-shining armour piled upon a bed, and baths of boiling water +for washing. And having cleaned away my abounding sweat and slime, +I anointed myself, coming out of the bath like to the immortals in +person, and was visited by the shades of most accomplished barbers. +But, when I sat down to a repast (not because of hunger, for, in that +life I was not afflicted with the craving belly, pernicious, which +brings so many evils to mortal men, but merely for the pleasure of +eating and drinking with friends), then, indeed, godlike Kastor and +Polydeykes served me as squires for a religious reason,[48] girding me +again with my silver-shining armour glittering with rock-crystals and +blue moonstones, which I won from Aias son of Telamon, in a foot-race, +after lordly Akhilleys had left the earth. + +Which matters having been concluded, the Great Twins conducted me to +the presence of well-disposed Queen Persephone, who addressed to me +unwinged words, saying: “O much-enduring grandson of Hermes, always +wily and ready at need, my cousin Golden Helen hath persuaded me on +thy behalf; and I will protect thee as far as may be from my shady +husband’s wrath. For King Hades hath a bitter spirit, and is fain to +do thee wrong, by reason that thou already hast evaded him twice, and, +also, that thou (by thy wiles and a woolly sheep) didst cause to suffer +much in mind and to perish most miserably his sweet friend the Kyklops +Polyphemos. Nevertheless I will beseech the king to let thee go in +peace, for the sake of avoiding fresh wiles of thine.” + +Then came long-robed Helen, the divine one of goddesses; and I read in +her amber eyes that which told me (even more than her song had told +me) that she was mine now, even as she had been willing to be mine in +Egypt long before. Glowed then the heart in my dear breast with love +and joy; and my very form swelled hugely with pride of conquest: for, +not to everyone of earth-trampling men is it given to win the love of a +goddess so true that she will wait for him during a thousand years. + +And so we passed into the judgment-hall of Hades, most righteous of +gods brooding on his shady throne: that that which had to be done might +be well-done with the least possible delay. And, before the king, the +judges were giving dooms to the unnumbered dead, as usual. But Queen +Persephone stood before him; and she held my hand, and said: “O king +and lord of shades, it pleaseth me that King Odysseys should retire +forthwith from these dismal realms, with his life, and with all else +which belongeth to him.” + +But, at sight of me, surly Hades bounced and had a borborygm; and he +quickly answered her, saying: “Such, O daughter of Demeter, is by no +means my intent: but now I will toss him into Tartaros, there to lie +for ever, on account of his presumption in coming hither after having +twice escaped me, and also on account of the woes which his prepotence +wrought wilily upon my sweet friend, the giver of cherished gifts, even +the Kyklops Polyphemos who gave me this blooming helmet of viewless +night.” + +But the holy queen persisted, saying: “Odysseys shall not lie for ever +in Tartaros: for my cousin, Golden Helen, hath persuaded me for his +sake. Yet, seeing that he cannot go hence without thy leave, I say let +him fight a select champion for his liberty.” + +But the shady king of terrors instantly assented, saying: “So mote it +be. And irrevocable doom shall come upon him when he has been properly +slain.” + +But the Stygian queen smiled in scorn, mocking a king so foolish as +to think that a woman, a daughter of Great Zeys, could not find some +crafty wile for evading an adverse chance if necessary. + +And the king cried again, saying: “Who, of all the heroes here, will +fight against Odysseys, grandson of Hermes, for the honour of the house +of Hades?” + +And straightway answered him Attik Theseys the conqueror of the Kretan +Minotayr, and loud-shouting impotent old sandy-haired King Menelaos, +and woman-mad Paris son of Dardanian Priam, saying: “That will we do, +O dread lord: for, of old, we sought the love of long-robed Helen, +to have her after the manner of men and women. But she rejected us, +favouring Odysseys with her amber eyes, from her girlhood to this day. +Wherefore, we are ready to fight against him on thy behalf, O Dominator +of the netherworld.” + +And these three made their way to the front of the throne. Now Theseys +was a stalwart hero and a very worthy champion: moreover, his very +nose had gone black with jealous hatred. But sandy-haired Menelaos +was merely an aged screecher and whimperer, blear-eyed, rheumy-nosed, +scraggy, knotty as to the joints, and unfit to be put to tussle even +with a foot-boy’s slut out of the kitchens. And Phrygian Paris, once +the comely shepherd of Ida, was a flaccid obese weakling, exhausted by +excess, against whom I should have been ashamed to lift a finger. So I +said. But, from afar, there came a great bellowing from Salaminian Aias +son of King Telamon, very mad with rage, saying that he would fight on +the part of King Menelaos, having also a private grievance to avenge, +in that I had won from him (on the plain of windy Ilion) the armour +of glorious Akhilleys. And great-hearted Hektor, son of King Priam, +took up the cause of his wasted brother Paris, claiming the right of +fighting against me because of the ruin which I worked on his house and +city by my wile of the Wooden Horse. + +But shady Hades sniggered, saying: “Not one of these three champions, +who hold my honour so dear, shall be disappointed. Wherefore, fight +each of you in turn; and let King Theseys fight first. And, if so be +that no Odysseys is left in life to fight loud-bellowing Aias and great +Hektor in turn, then, indeed, the blame will not be mine.” + +But Queen Persephone cried: “Now would it be foul shame to pit a single +man, even though he be King Odysseys whom they call Peer of Zeys in +Counsel, against three heroes so justly famous in battle, princes +renowned throughout all time. Wherefore I, the queen, call for two +heroes to fight side by side with King Odysseys, upholding the honour +of Queen Persephone protecting him.” + +And, almost before the goddess had ceased from speaking, and, while +King Hades was yet frowning in perplexity, Argive Diomedes the +well-thewed son of King Tydeys cried: “I will fight cheerfully for the +honour of Queen Persephone, and for my ancient friendship with King +Odysseys, with whom, by night, I attacked the hardy Thrakians who wear +their red hair bunched on the crown of their heads.” + +Then, indeed, the mind in my breast rejoiced: for I knew that, with +my old comrade Diomedes (a mighty man of war) by my side, many +very virtuous and proper deeds would be done against the hostile +champions. But, while I wondered who would be my other sword-fellow and +shield-friend, the voice of great-hearted implacable Akhilleys declared +that his god-forged armour might in no wise go into battle, he being +present, unless he himself fought by its wearer’s side. But I knew then +that I should not tarry long among the ghosts. + +King Hades preened himself at the prospect of bloody war; and, seeing +three sons of kings ready to contend with three sons of kings, he made +no more ado, but began to embody the shades of these five heroes, +furnishing them with bodies and limbs and arms and armour such as they +had used in their very prime, when (living) they stamped on the earth +the giver of grain. + +Now it is not to be thought that I, when I saw such notable magic being +done before my eyes, could (or would) refrain from offering also a +specimen of my own proficiency. But I determined at once to let King +Hades see how great a mage he had been minded to treat thus bitterly, +and (at the same time) to comfort my friends and to secure respectful +opinions from the inhabitants of the netherworld there present in +innumerable multitudes. + +Wherefore, seeing the ghosts of those five heroes becoming clothed +with live flesh and about to be armed by their proper squires, I nobly +refused the service of the Great Twins, star-crowned, when they would +have prepared me for the fray. And the eyes of all, from highest to +lowest instantly became fixed upon me. But I stood still, summoning +certain forces within me, and silently saying the _Spell_ called _The +Summons which must be Answered_. + +And, forthwith, Thalos my foot-boy (whose life was bound to mine) +came from the misty meadows of asphodel, where he and Neandros and my +silver chariot were waiting for me. Fearlessly he came, entering the +judgment-hall of Hades, thinking of naught but his duty to his lord. +And it was very strange to see a mere boy, mortal, but alive and very +healthy, wearing his usual sandals and short mantle, running toward me +through so vast a throng of naked shades. But the dead all made way +for him, being beaten back and most dreadfully worried: for he was (as +I was) immune against death by reason of my magic and also by reason +of the grace of his own luminous innocence. And, having come to me, he +went over the clasps of my armour in the usual manner, saying nothing. +But, when he had done his service, he went (at my command) and crouched +by the feet of long-robed Helen. + +Then, again, I called, calling (this time) as Master. + +And forthwith there came in Delphic Phoibos Apollon as Knight of the +Sun, and Arkadian Hermes as Knight of East and West and North and +South, and lordly Ares as Knight of Kadosh, and Lemnian Hephaistos +as Knight of the Brazen Serpent, and Theban Herakles (who, they +say, changed wives with Zeys) as Knight of the Sword of the East, +all gloriously triumphant, and, also, beardless Dionysos as Noahite +Patriarch, and pale Death and dusky Sleep as Princes of Mercy, and +immortal Eros as Prince of the Royal Secret, each one giving me the +greeting of his own degree. But to them I responded as Master. They +seated themselves on the bench with the judges Aiakos, Minos, and +Rhadamanthos. And I remember how that the shade of accursed Thersites, +humpty-backed, blameless, took a mind-grieving toss from lordly Ares, +having presumed (as his wont was) to thrust himself unbidden into the +pews of his betters. And inextinguishable laughter arose among the +shades, when they saw the staggering unhappiness of that chatterbox +Thersites. + +But, when all was ready, I took my place, having kissed the still brow +of Golden Helen. But the touch of the goddess, though her mien was +strange and unresponsive, put strength into my shoulders and knees, and +placed in my breast the boldness of a fly, which persists in biting, +although often driven away by a mortal man whose blood is its most +delicate sweetmeat. For I burned with an insatiable desire for slaying, +nor to surcease therefrom till all were gone who stood between me and +Golden Helen. For I was in face of her, for pious reasons. + +Thus, indeed, were the champions placed: at my side, I had +great-hearted Akhilleys on my left, and well-thewed Diomedes on the +right: but at the other side, renowned Theseys faced me, and keen +Hektor faced Akhilleys, and sacrilegious Aias faced Diomedes. And we +were to fight with spears and swords. But my wily revolver was ready to +my hand; and long-robed Helen held my black bow, which sang of war and +the slaughter of heroes till King Hades gave signal for the onset. + +Theseys thrust his spear straight at my best eyelid, terribly shouting: +but I raised my shining shield like a flash of white thunder, taking +his point full on the god-made boss of it. And the heavenly silver rang +true as a bell. But I, stooping, drove up with my own spear, which he +(also) took on his shield. But, so mightily had I thrust it, that +the head stuck fast in the metal: nor could I tear it again from the +grip of his shield. He, then, noisily swang his targe aside, snatching +away my weapon. But I dashed in, battering him with my own shield, +till he was beaten to his knee. And, while he recollected himself, I +drew my sword and lopped off his spear-head, pressing hard with my +shield against his, and hewing at his head. But he, cunning, took my +strokes on his well-crested helmet, while he fumbled for his sword. +Nevertheless, his head must have hummed, for sparks fell thickly on all +sides from every blow, as they fall from a red-hot horse-shoe smitten +upon an anvil in a winter’s night. And, when once more we were equally +armed, we fell to fighting very seriously; and, for a time, neither of +us gained an advantage. + +But, suddenly, I heard a great sob on my right hand. For well-thewed +Diomedes crashed to the ground; and all the netherworld shook at his +fall, as a citadel shakes when thumped by a battering-ram. And, at the +same time, Aias son of Telamon leaped upon me, masked in blood, and +bellowing like a hamstrung bull. + +Now, hitherto, notwithstanding the gravity of our combat, neither I nor +Theseys had let blood. But, when I saw scarlet Aias coming ravening +upon me, and, when I sniffed the delicious odour of a hero’s blood, +then, indeed, I accomplished a certain wile. For I feinted downward, +to draw the sword of Aias; and, lightening my guard before his eye +(half-dimmed with streaming gore) could follow, I lunged upward, +plunging my blade like an onion into the bellowing mouth of him, where +a wound is particularly painful to a miserable mortal; and awfully my +hilt thudded on the bones behind his face, passing right through his +head under the brain and bruising the white bones at the back. And his +teeth were shivered to splinters; and his two eyes gushed with gore, +which he (gaping) made violently to spout also with a bubbling noise +from his mouth and from both his ears and nostrils, drenching me with +five purple fountains. But his knees relaxed; and he sat down suddenly +backward, stretching out his two hands; and Death enveloped him in a +pale cloud. In this manner, I lost my sword as well as my spear, being +too much occupied to retrieve it from the badly-wrecked face of Aias. + +And now one would have said that I was at the mercy of my own enemy: +for Theseys all the time did not omit to hack at my head. But I caught +his strokes on my shield till it was split in twain, and then upon my +crested helmet studded with adamantine crystals and blue moonstones; +and his blows were like the blows of a poleaxe wielded by a blooming +butcher, or of a sledge-hammer wielded by a lusty smith. But, because I +was unarmed and liable to reel giddily under the hero’s onslaught, my +noble mind contrived a new wile. And, diving upward under his shield +(lest he should wound me in the back), I caught him round the ribs with +my long arms, and began to crumple him up. He, indeed, having dropped +his shield, smote once on my back: but it was only a half-cut, for my +shoulder filled the sweet pit of his sword-arm, preventing him from +giving either force or weight unto his effort. Meanwhile, I splintered +his crackling ribs one by one, pinching him as ferociously as possible, +and wrenching him hither and thither, with a heart full of pure joy, +when I felt so renowned a hero as Theseys becoming like a broken basket +of entrails in my arms. He, indeed, tried to stab me with his bitter +steel, in the intervals when he was neither screeching nor gasping for +breath with much hiccoughing. And, anon, having heaved him high above +my head, (for he tired me), then I dashed him to the ground, snapping +his big backbone with a noise like the quick tearing of linen. But +he lapsed limply into a shapeless bundle of broken man; and his last +breath shot out with a wet squeak, moistly whistling; and renowned +Theseys was once more a shade. + +But I sidled away from the carcase, looking toward my left hand, where +the two great heroes and masters of perfect swordsmanship were fighting +valiantly. And crest-tossing Hektor feigned to slip, half exposing +his head: but implacable Akhilleys, for the nonce unwary, brandished +his blade for a last terrific blow which should end the battle. But +him Hektor overcame, eluding the shield which swang away to the left, +and thrusting his own sword through the taslets of the breast-plate +deep into the beautiful groin. Nevertheless, the end was not yet. For +fierce Akhilleys, though wounded to death, finished the stroke which +he had begun. And his sword came down irresistibly on Hektor’s crested +helm; and the horse-hair floated away on this side and on that; and the +whole casque fell in two halves here and there, like the split shells +of a walnut; and the head within, being divided in twain right down +to the roots of the throat, flapped upon the shoulders like a halved +pomegranate on a sliced stem. In this manner, fell together the two +greatest warriors and the two most glorious heroes who ever stamped on +the wide-bosomed earth. + +But all voices were hushed at the splendour of the sight, grieving that +the five famous sons of kings should so soon have ceased from sweet +life, again becoming shades. And I, also, stood in silence: for I was +still rather dizzy. But, all at once, shady Hades shouted from his +throne: “This much-contriving Odysseys again hath tricked us by some +magic wile. Ha, Titans, hold him!” + +And, on the word, the enormous monsters lumbered in my direction. But +all the shades began to gibber like bats, moaning with fear; and the +shade of great-hearted Akhilleys became paler with horror, because of +King Hades’ treachery. But Thalos, my foot-boy, lithely leaped from +crouching at the feet of Golden Helen; and, having snatched my black +bow from her (but she gave it willingly), he thrust it into my hand, +standing alertly close behind me with my quiver, ready to feed me with +arrows. And, in an instant, I bent the great bow to the string, while +it sang shrilly with joy, loosing the well-feathered shafts which +swiftly hissed down the long hall; and they bit the eyeballs of the +titans so that they yelped like whipped whelps in their displeasure, +falling as great oaks crash earthward in storms, littering considerable +areas. + +But, as I sped the winged deaths on their way, I heard a terrible cry +from the queen. But I, without turning round to her, was suddenly +aware that I was seeing on all sides, both before and behind: for the +eyes in my face, fearfully rolling, gazed in front; and, when I drew +the string of the bent-back bow to my ear with my right hand, the two +eye-chalcedonyxes in the magic ring which Hermes, my grandsire, had +placed on my third finger looked out over my shoulder in the rear, +warning me of danger from that quarter. And I saw shady King Hades, the +most righteous of gods, about to dash out my brain with the gigantic +key which fits the locks of hell. + +But, leaping aside, I evaded the blameless coward’s blow: but, in +escaping from the god, I became far away from Thalos who bore my +arrows; and my bow shrieked because I could not use it. Once more, +King Hades struck at me; and, once more mightily leaping, I eluded +the danger. Moreover, I saw, from the bewildered gestures of the +shades, that they understood neither what was going on nor the reason +of my marvellous agility. And, then, I perceived that the shady one +had donned his cyclopean helmet of invisibility, whereby none but a +god’s eyes could see him. But I, being hard pressed, determined to use +magic of another kind, such as I had found very efficacious against +shady hustlers and bullies when I was a subject of Victory queen of +the stalwart stately Anglicans. And, first, I praised rustic Pan and +wing-footed Hermes, with wildly joyful acclamations: the one for his +gift in the touch of fennel on the seashore by Tainaron, whereby I was +able to see with the eyes of a god as well as with the eyes of a man, +and the other (my grandsire) for his gift of two eyes more than the +number allotted to olympians, to say nothing of miserable mortals: for, +without these extraordinary faculties, shady Hades would certainly have +gotten me again, and for good, and I should have lost Golden Helen for +the third and last time. + +Wherefore, I plucked out my revolver, as blameless Hades came upon me. +He, indeed, had the air of being dreadfully worried, believing himself +to be invisible, and yet finding that I was able to dodge him quite +successfully. And, having pressed the well-made spring of my weapon +with my palm, I pulled the beautiful trigger six times, afflicting the +Shady One with a dumdum[49] in each nostril and two in the belly and +one in each knee. But he, being a god, was unable to die, even though +he had lost his ugly face: but all the same, he was extremely capable +of feeling pain; and dreadful pain he felt. Now, as everyone knows, +when lordly Ares was wounded by well-thewed Diomedes at the siege of +windy Ilion, he hullabalooed (as it is chanted in the canticle) like an +army of ten thousand men all mad-drunk with beer. But, King Hades being +of the elder generation of the gods, and (therefore) of far vaster bulk +than his lusty nephew, the bellowing of nineteen such armies would +have been (to the outpouring of his godly griefs and pains) but as the +wheezy puling of an infant to the thunder of immeasurable Ocean on a +rock-bound coast. For, indeed, the very firmament of the netherworld +was riven and cleft asunder by the thuds of his high-stepped capers and +contortions, and the bombilation of his vibrant vociferatings to my +address. + +But I, looking upward through the grateful fissure, saw clear heaven +again, and the serenely-sailing Moon, and the glittering constellation +of the Crab, and all the holy stars which kindly gaze upon +earth-trampling men. + +After this manner, did I work notable wiles in the house of blameless +Hades. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[48] This might, perhaps, almost strike some persons as being just a +little “thin.” A. H. + +[49] I find several English words in this papyrus, written in what we +will agree to call Mr. C.’s own hand. A. H. + + + + + THE TWENTY-FIRST PAPYRUS + + +Then, the gods, divine ones inhabiting olympian palaces, whom I had +summoned to see how a master-mage under-goes that he may overcome, +intervened to protect me from further annoyance. For unspeakable +confusion buzzed and boomed throughout all the house of Hades. + +For the shades of well-born Theseys and of sandy-haired old Menelaos +and of woman-mad Paris were gibbering with rage, seeing that I was free +to depart with Golden Helen, the Treasure of Hades, as my spoil. And +they shook their angry fingers at me, like fringes in a wind, being +quite impotent: but Paris, unable to contain what there was of himself +(so abounding was his ire), burst, over and over again, like a bad +bubble in my vicinity. And he suddenly frittered away. + +But, as I walked with the blessed gods, having Helen the Treasure +of Hades beside me, we went to and fro, walking delicately over the +monstrous wrigglings of titans, victims of my bow, as men pick their +way among earthquakes, lightly leaping hither and thither. But the mind +in my breast was contriving new wiles. + +Then said Delphic Phoibos Apollon, the Knight of the Sun: “We have +tarried long enough in the kingdom of twilight; and I yearn to go back +to blazing noon. Return with us, O Master of Wisdom; and be sure of +olympian welcomes.” + +Then said Arkadian Hermes Psykhopompos, the Knight of East and West +and North and South: “Never yet have I led articulately-speaking men +out of this place: but rather my business is to bring them hither when +they are dead. But very gladly will I bear thee and thine away with +swift-winged feet, O Master my child. Return, therefore, with us; and +be sure of olympian welcomes.” + +Then said Lemnian Hephaistos, the Knight of the Brazen Serpent: “There +be many dints and notches in thy silver-shining armour, and many of thy +lovely rock-crystals and blue moonstones have been shattered in battle, +and what shall we say of thy nodding crest of the prides of nine white +peacocks. But, indeed, my fingers itch to have thee in my smithy where +I may restore thee. Return, therefore, with us, O Master of Arms; and +be sure of olympian welcomes.” + +And, in like manner, all the divine ones spoke, very affably. + +But white Death and black Sleep, being young, stood modestly aside: +for the general rule is that the last may not come to man without an +invitation, and that the first may come only at a particular time. +And that time for me had not even been discussed by the authorities. +For which cause, the pale god moved away, going about more pressing +business: but the dark one lingered, lifting his horn of dust to tempt +me. But, though I was not unwilling to receive the kindly gift of +Sleep, the mind in my noble breast reminded me that many things still +remained for me to do. Wherefore I addressed unwinged words to the +blessed gods, saying: “Gladly, O divine ones, will I escape from this +nasty neighbourhood, and gladly will I visit the height of Olympos, +bringing with me Helen the Treasure of Hades, and Love, the Crown of +All Wisdom.” + +Thus I spoke, as we came forth from the hall into the misty +meadows of Asphodel. But, behind us in the House of Hades, we left +incalculable pudder and turmoil. For, beside the roars of the wounded, +the innumerable shades of all the dead since Cain slew Abel,[50] +being worried with pique and jealousy, were pouring themselves out +helter-skelter, snuffling in clusters, whimpering and maudling and +mumbling, waving themselves all over the place like streamers of +seaweed, all in a most embarrassing manner. And it seemed as though my +passage would be impeded by them, as by inextricable mazes of cobwebs. + +Wherefore, I (to make an end) summoned Thalos, nimbly loaded with my +gear by him collected and skipping after me; and of him I inquired +whereabouts might be my silver chariot. Who answered me, saying that +my squire Neandros was not ceasing from driving about the asphodeline +meadows, being unseen, and keeping alert for my call: yet he knew not +precisely where the chariot might be at the moment. And he mentioned +his opinion that Neandros would be glad of a meal, not because he +was dying of hunger as another youth would have died, famished (for +his life was bound to my life, so that he lived while I lived), but +just because it was the custom of mortals to eat at intervals. And +inextinguishable laughter arose among the immortal gods when they heard +the apt speech of my foot-boy. + +Then, the Great Twins, impatient of delay, moved to the other side +of their golden sister, as though to protect her from the mobs of +gibbering shades: but I, on my part, uttered the _Spell_ called +_The Call Which Must Be Answered_; and, instantly, Neandros drove +my silver-shining chariot toward us out of the imperscrutable mist. +But the gods, when they saw that I was furnished with so suitable a +vehicle with its equipage of four mad stallions of the divine breed of +Laomedon, departed, flying up earthward through the riven roof of the +netherworld, and thence onward to the height of Olympos. Thus the gods +themselves were my heralds. + +But I placed Golden Helen (divine one of the goddesses) beside Neandros +in the chariot; and, when Thalos had mounted in the rear placing his +beautiful bundle on the silver floor, I, also, was about to ascend to +my place: but a very fearful occurrence delayed me. For the shade of +woman-mad Paris, partly embodied again, darted toward us out of the +mist; and his sufficiently-solid hand had been armed by shady Hades +with the sword of dead Hektor his brother. Now had I been blameless +Hades in these circumstances, I would have embodied the shade of +Hektor and employed him as my assassin rather than the feeble and +fatuous Paris: but Hades was not at all wily. And the woman-mad one +ran, gibbering frightfully, leering like a lunatic who after long +seeking has found; and he, squealing (for his throat was not quite +firmly finished), slashed as he passed with his blade at my harness, so +that the snow-white leathern thongs were divided, and the reins fell +severed from the hands of my charioteer. But the horses went madder, +bounding upward; and careered (trace-free) to their native pastures in +the rolling heavens, leaving us half-blinded by their hoof-sparks and +(so to speak) fixed immoveably below. And, every moment, the mobs of +malignant ghosts surrounding us became more impertinently menacing. + +But I, having won the Crown of All Wisdom (which is Love), and the +Treasure of Hades (which is Golden Helen), and being unwilling to +forego the enjoyment of my beautiful spoils, and remembering the word +which Hermes had said by my altar on black Tanairon, lifted up my voice +very loudly indeed, uttering the most mighty but two of all spells. +And thus I said: “Hear, O oldest and youngest of all the blessed gods, +sweet one, sly one, dire one, winged one, blind one, arch-archer, lord +of unquenchable flame, thou who art somewhere in the rich state of +heaven or on the grain-giving earth, for thou everywhere canst see and +hear a man in affliction, hear now, and aid me in my need. Come, Love, +come.” + +And, instantly, through the gigantic fissure yawning overhead, came +the sound of merry childish laughter. And Divine Eros dived out of the +darkness like a flash of ruddy lightning, folding his white wings to +stand before us, lifting the bandage from his sparkling eyes to warm +us with their radiance. And we, who had been shivering with ghostly +cold and bound to the soil of hell a moment before, felt all our +limbs a-thrill with life and joy and in our hearts a splendour at the +coming of the bird of the gods. For he, indeed, was a very large and +lovely boy, slim, and rounded, and so ruddy that his form had scarce +been known within a fiery furnace of clear flame: but, when we saw +the freedom with which he flung abroad his sprightly limbs, and his +quick incessant movements, it was clear that he could have no rival +in energy or strength. And, while we gazed, he was darting here and +there, peering into my silver chariot’s secret parts, having pulled +out the pole and cast it away for inquisitive ghosts to sniff at and +mumble. And even I stood amazed: for, notwithstanding my magic, I had +not suspected that such marvels could be as those which Love laid +bare. For, here, he pressed certain beautiful knops carven on the +panels; and, forthwith, lids opened in the silver floor, whereunto +he wept copious torrents of wet tears, because of foolish men; and, +having closed the lids, he shewed us his ruddy young face wreathed +with laughter. And, there, he ran his fingers over the bosses of other +silver panels inlaid with crabs and moons in mother-of-pearl; and other +lids opened; and a fragrance as of smooth oil was wafted in the air. +But all this, and very much more, was done in a moment of time. + +And Love urgently charged us to mount to our places: but he was +sprawling on his supple back, underneath, between the well-carved +wheels, and belching streams of heavenly fire from his rose-red lips. +But we four mounted, and clung to the rail: for the mighty chariot +was beginning to hum and pulsate like a creature having life, so that +(though I was not afraid, but rather exultant with joy unspeakable), I +made the _Sign of Safety_ from height to depth and from here to there, +which is the test and the touchstone and the palladium of all white +magic. + +But the immortal god arose, sweeping the air once with his great white +wings; and he swooped upward, diving into the very image of himself, +larger than life, blindfolded, naked, most alluringly proportioned, +which stood poised on the front of the rail, winged, and ready to fly. +And the whiteness and ruddiness of Eros totally disappeared in the +silver image of him, nor was the silver any longer hard and still, like +silver, but smooth and firm and supple as young flesh, being alive in +very fact and altogether godlike in potency. + +And the silver Love hooted aloud in mockery of the gibbering shades; +and he swept back the air with his winged arms, as a strong swimmer +slipping through the wavelets of the innumerable laughter of the +ocean,[51] setting all mortal means at naught, needing neither oar +nor sail saving his wings, winnowing the winds with those eternal +plumes.[52] And the wheels of the chariot whirred astonishingly with +the swiftness of our flight toward the fissure in the firmament of +hell. But I, looking downward at the fearful ghosts, saw Kastor and +Polydeykes catching treacherous Paris by hair and heels and slinging +him into fiery Pyriphthlegethon. Awfully scorched was what there was +of him when he scrambled out; and the Great Twins left him licking his +burns on the bank: but they went back to the house of Hades, to serve +the rest of that day in the netherworld for a religious reason, such +being their immutable doom. + +But the living silver Love bore us upward out of darkness. But I looked +upon the walls of the vast chasm as we passed them by; and I saw the +depths of rich earth’s bosom all laid bare. Here, were pockets full +of white gold or korinthic bronze which is platinum[53] and of gold +and of silver and of copper, and of iron, and of gleaming tin. There, +were mounds of marble and porphyry and granite. Here, were rivers of +chalcedonyx and jasper, and streams of rose-quartz and violet amethyst +and rock-crystal and blue moonstone and mysterious green-and-purple +alexandrolith. There, were caverns full of buried and forgotten +treasures. And, scattered everywhere, like the stars upon the floor of +heaven, were very precious stones, in clots, or alone in glittering +glory. But, above all these, we passed the pregnant soil of earth the +cupboard of mortals, pierced in every direction by the juicy roots of +herbs and trees. + +I turned my gaze to my dear companions. The stalwart Neandros clung to +the rail at the back; and his bold eyes stirred not from the god who +had deposed him from his place as charioteer, for he was meditating an +unmentioned and unthought-of work, which I will narrate at a suitable +time. Thalos crouched on his hams on the floor, clinging with one arm +to the straight legs of Neandros, but his other arm steadied the bundle +of my gear. And, by my side, stood long-robed Helen, the divine one of +goddesses. She was as purely white as the kernel of a nut; and her hair +floated behind like a web of woven sunbeams. One gleaming arm round me, +and the other on the rail near the feet of the silver Love, held her +still. Her head was quiet and happy on my breast. Silent were her lips +of coral. Eloquent beyond mortal words were her amber eyes: wherein +gazing at my ease, I read of her pride, her meekness, her power, her +weakness, her fidelity, her faith, her wisdom, her generosity, her +pure unsullied soul, her worship, and her love. What she read in mine, +I also know; and, that we two know it, is enough. + +We were ascending from twilight to daylight. Not for nothing had those +other divine ones gone before, announcing our coming: for the whole +world was set agog to behold us. Heavenly breezes rustled down the +shaft to refresh us with their clean breath. Little rills of sparkling +water trickled over the cleft earth’s lips in haste to greet us. And +the forests bowed their green heads, like a canopy, above us flashing +through the reft rock, as we reached the kindly-smiling earth once more. + +In this pomp, I came triumphantly a third time out of the netherworld, +with the Treasure of Hades and the Crown of All Wisdom. And Love +himself was my charioteer. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[50] This is, or might very well be taken to be, an excessively nasty +one in the eye for the obsolete delusion once called “Modernism.” A. H. + +[51] This ΑΝΡΗΙΘΜΟΝ ΓΕΛΑϹΜΑ is certainly a tag. A. H. + +[52] It is hardly conceivable that Dante Alighieri can have lifted +these delicious phrases from Mr. C. The whole question is extremely +perplexing. A. H. + +[53] Oh, really! But this is a little more definite in its dogmatism. +A. H. + + + + + THE TWENTY-SECOND PAPYRUS + + +But, when we had come to the beautiful plains of earth, there were +spread before our feet (for us to walk upon) pleasaunces of emerald +grass studded with jewels of daisies and bluebells and daffodils and +buttercups and cyclamen, with swathes of poppies, and with splashes +of pure gold crocus dropped straight down from the radiant sun. +Then, indeed, I (as a mortal man) found a fit time when I might give +way to human weakness: for a man who does godlike deeds must pay a +price. And, because my head swam with weariness, and because every +part of me ached from my sunned skin to my white bones, and because +every sense of me was sickened by the slime and corrupt blood of +hellish menials wherewith I was crusted from crest to sandals, then, +I longed to be visited by barbers and clean slaves, and, also, I had +a keen remembrance of the willing and alluring look which the young +god with the horn of eye-closing dust had shot at me by shady Hades’ +hall, seeming to ask for an invitation. But I thought on these things +particularly, as (with Golden Helen) I paced a soft meadow bloomed of +violets and parsley, breathing the sweet air. + +And Golden Helen perceived how it was with me: for two (who love) +are one. Beside, being a woman, she needed but a single service from +me, to wit, that I should never leave untold the never-to-be-outworn +story of my love for her; and that (to me) was no toil, but a pleasure +perennial. And, for the rest, she (the one woman of women and the +divine one of goddesses) had no other joy than that of caring for +her lover. Wherefore, she sat down on a thymy bank in the shade of +a may-bush: but I reclined by her side. Thus, we rested, during a +little while, watching the slaves beginning to clear my chariot and +my gear: for a cheerful brook ran by the place, sparing enough water +for their work, but not enough for the cleansing of a man as well. +But I intended, after resting, to seek a site apart, for my own +embellishment. And, while these things were being done, a remarkable +portent and a signal favour of a god were manifested, which I will at +once narrate. + +For, when we emerged from the fissure in the earth whereby we evacuated +the abysm, it clapped-to behind us, just as did that other gulph which +formerly yawned for showy Curtius in the forum of Rome.[54] And the +living silver Love, my charioteer, folded his wings, while we paused +to breathe the upper air. But when we sat down to rest upon the thymy +bank, his clear young voice, with a shout of laughter, called us by +name. But we, starting, looked toward the sound; and the silver Love, +poised all alive on the front of the chariot, bade us to come near and +observe him closely. Thus we did; and the large volatile boy turned +on his hips, spreading his quivering wings to balance himself; and he +shewed us (and we perceived it) that he was girded about the reins +with a fine silver chain, the two taslets whereof dangled down behind +him as far as the rail of the chariot. And thus he chirruped: “Lady of +Love, and Lord of the Lady of Love, give me leave to make other lovers +happy in the intervals. But call me to serve you when you will, pulling +the chain this way or that, having enslaved me and bound me to you by +unbreakable fetters at present unseen.” + +And, with the word, the god returned to his position, poising himself +as before with wide-spread wings. But he came (a large boy’s form of +flesh, ruddy and white as roses, slender and splendidly rounded), out +of the silver leaving his image behind him. And, leaping free with +far-flung limbs and strongly-waving arms, he stretched himself out at +length, swimming in the higher air out of our sight. + +But my head began to whirl faster and faster. I saw Neandros and Thalos +arising after they had adored the blooming god, and I felt that Golden +Helen was conducting me again to the thymy bank. And, coming nearer, I +heard the sweet sound of a syrinx of pipes, and the bushes rustled as +though some divine one were approaching. But, instantly, the divine of +goddesses cried out, saying: “Oh Pan! O obliging Pan!” + +But the country-god pushed aside the branches, peering at us from the +screen of green leaves, being shy in the quivering sunshine of noon. +And, when he saw who we were, he came forth and greeted us; and he led +us through the may-bushes to a little grove, on the bank of a deep +stream, with a waterfall and a pool, and mossy-soft couches of moly in +the shade, all of which (I believe) he invented at the moment. And, +having gathered handfuls of the herb All-heal, knowing Pan eased me of +my dinted armour: but fair Helen bathed me, and she bound the magic +herb on my bruised and weary limbs. Then, indeed, I summoned benign +Sleep, while Pan piped me a simple rustic ballad very soothing to the +mind. + +And there, in the grove, we rested during several days. For I contrived +a new wile, which was that I would not hurry on my journey to lofty +Olympos, but rather delay a little: for an unwilling guest has the +greater honour. Moreover, I did not wish to appear before the blessed +gods in a squalid or a sordid guise, but rather as a personage more +accustomed to giving than to receiving, since I was actually a +suppliant to great Zeys for the hand of his daughter; and it is the +custom of gods and men to give the best gifts to well-seeming mortals. +For which causes, I took my fill of rest, so that my strength returned, +while my slaves (in the neighbouring glade) polished my arms and my +chariot as best they might, to make a respectable appearance. For magic +is waived before Pan, and men must depend entirely on their natural +powers in his presence unless the god himself suggests otherwise. + +But, by chance, Hermes (my grandsire), passing by on a message, espied +us one day; and he stayed his flight while he spoke with us. He said +that there was much talk on the height of Olympos, because of our +absence, and because the divine ones (witnesses of my acts in the house +of shady Hades) had entered into a compact one with another to keep +silence on those matters, so that the whole areiopagos of heaven might +hear them (if I so willed) from my own mouth. Which was a very pleasant +hearing for me; and, indeed, I thought it extremely nice and delicate +on the part of the gods. But I answered Hermes meekly enough, saying +that it was not for me, a mortal, to enter heavenly dominions in a +manner unworthy of my grandsire. And my wile proved to be an excellent +one. For Hermes, having had a word with kindly Pan, fled (swift-footed) +away, presently returning with slow-footed Hephaistos and a portable +smithy. For Hephaistos, being proud of the armour which he made for the +son of silver-footed Thetis, was unwilling that the hands of slaves +should renew its splendour. But when his forge was set up, in the +neighbouring glade, the divine artificer (out of admiration for me) +deigned to employ Neandros and Thalos as his assistants instead of a +parcel of kyklops of immoderate unsightliness: more, also, he let them +learn several very important tricks of his trade, when he observed +that they were intelligent workmen of ingenious and reverend mind. +Such mortals, as a matter of fact, do the gods usually select, when +imparting knowledge of the arts. + +Thus, then, we passed the time, living on cheeses and nuts and +blackberries and dandelions with the luscious milk of incontinent goats +of amiable demeanour, while I continued to repose myself, cared-for +by the divine one of goddesses and cheered by old Pan. He, indeed, +entertained me vastly with stories of the youth of the world, when +Great Zeys lay hid in Krete and the older gods were yet unborn; and, +at other times, he attuned his reedy pipes intonating quaint songs of +the woodlands. And once, while long-robed Helen slept in the heat of +the day, the knowing old god persuaded some dryads to come out of the +oak-trees in the grove to fan away the flies when I was dozing: but he +himself sat among the reeds not far away, chatting with the cheerful +little brown and silver river. They were very slim young girls (these +dryads), with flesh as white as an acorn-kernel, with long smooth +hair of the colour of oak-bark, and shy green eyes of the colour of +oak-leaves, and excessively modest and timid of disposition. But, when +fair Helen awakened from sleep, and spied the industrious little +creatures, her sweet face flushed like rosy dawn, and she frightened +the shy nymphs quite away by her bleak mode of thanking them for +their care of me. Nor was I puffed with vanity: for I am not the only +complacent mortal who has been an occasion of jealousy to a goddess. + +But, at another time, while sweet Helen was washing her robes in the +pool, rustic Pan took leave to inform me (as a friend) of her history +during the previous ten centuries. And I will say that Pan was the +only one of all the blessed gods who did not ascribe my own stories +about myself, and about my future life in the kingdom of Victory queen +of the stalwart stately Anglicans, to some one or other of my usual +altogether-unexpected wiles. But Pan knows all. And he told me how that +(when I fell dead in my former chariot, from the arrow of unknowing +Telegonos), my son and that awful goddess Kirke’s, in Egypt, more than +a thousand years before, then, the divine one of goddesses, Helen, had +behaved very queerly indeed: for she shewed as much grief as though +she herself had caused my demise. Pan said that many persons called +her grief remorse: which is absurd. But, having vowed herself anyhow +to my memory, she prepared to wander through time, mourning, until my +coming again. And heroes and kings’ sons without number sought her in +marriage: whom having scorned fearfully (as far as so gentle a creature +could scorn), she retired to find commodious seclusion on lofty +Olympos. But, there, a certain Kyknos, a son (they say) of far-darting +Phoibos Apollon, persuaded that god to demand her for him from Great +Zeys. But the father and king of gods and men only confirmed (with a +nod) the maiden’s right of choice. Thereat, blameless Kyknos would +have taken her by force, following the custom of Olympians: but her +brothers, Kastor the tamer of horses and Polydeykes the pugilist, beat +on his nose so very bitterly, that beef-eating Herakles wakened from +slumber adding his shouts to the tumult. Which having been explained to +him, he promptly tossed Kyknos to earth from lofty Olympos, breaking +him. And Phoibos Apollon felt it incumbent upon him to take up the +cause of Kyknos and to be extremely prepotent about it. But Great Zeys, +upset by cow-eyed Hera (most righteous of goddesses), shrouded himself +in black clouds, having decreed that the fragments of broken Kyknos +must stay below to satisfy Golden Helen, and that she (the divine one +of goddesses) must not stay above, being a cause of disorderly conduct +among the young gods. But Phoibos Apollon collected the pieces of +Kyknos, as many as he could find, wherewith he made a new swan (that +lickerish fowl) entirely black.[55] But Golden Helen, debarred from the +height of Olympos, and her honour in peril from hairy men down below, +betook herself further, even to the profundity of the netherworld, +where the gods were austere, and men but senseless shades, phantoms +of men worn out. And there she lived in exile, all for the sake of me, +divested of godlihood, enduring ten centuries of sorrow, the inevitable +penance for the glowing glory of her immortal inmarcesible youth. + +But, having heard all these things babbled-of by rustic Pan one day +when we dawdled together (and I could not learn them from fair Helen, +for reasons of modesty), then, indeed, I held a sort of council with +the mind in my noble breast. And I determined that, as far as I was +concerned, she certainly should be rewarded for her grievous pains. +For the best of women wants no more than a little true love; and well +indeed did I know that that man is a blind besotted imbecile who, in +pride or what-not, denies himself the pleasure of making a woman happy +with what she wants, excepting (of course) for a religious reason. +And, furthermore, I was aware that I myself was by way of owing a +clearly-defined duty to the golden one of goddesses, in that I owed a +debt of love to her, not only for her fidelity, or as amends for her +wrongs, but chiefly because she had procured for me several pleasing +and exciting and singular adventures, teaching me how to win the Crown +of All Wisdom. The which debt I determined to pay forthwith. + +Thereafter, I spoke not a word of these pious matters: but fair Helen +was not unaware that I knew all that Pan could tell me, not as her +accredited embassador but as the trusty friend of us both. And, when +I suddenly became very eager and insistent for nuptials, she would not +deny me: but she mentioned that a bride ought to be brought from her +paternal home to the house of her husband. Which doctrine I accepted. +And I said that I would contain myself till her case and my case had +been suitably pleaded before very mighty many-named Zeys. That, then, +was to be the object of our visit to the height of Olympos. For it +pleased me better to go thus, on a matter of business, than merely to +arrive, sleek, grinning, and complacent, to receive prizes and praises +for athletic achievements and feats of endurance and wiliness, which, +though most meritorious and praiseworthy, and valuable also, inasmuch +as they gained for me the friendship of several very important gods +(whose friendship is much preferable to their enmity), were, I affirm, +rather to be classed with my ordinary habits than with my virtues. + +Anon, cunning Hephaistos restored to me my shining armour of silver +with adornments of rock-crystals and blue moonstones in all its +pristine splendour: but he returned forthwith to Olympian palaces. +Neandros and Thalos also brought my silver chariot, polished in all +its parts with a sheen like the full moon, and its secret recesses +were well-filled with water and oil. But, when we had placed my +gear therein, we said farewell to kindly Pan. And, in the cool of +the evening, I led the divine one of goddesses to her place at the +front: but I mounted by her side; and the slaves climbed up behind. +But fair Helen pulled the fine chain by its taslet; and the whole +chariot vibrated for sheer joy, panting and pulsating like a creature +enjoying sweet life: for, at the same moment, young Eros dived out of +open space, and the silver image of him started into perfervid life, +boiling with force and merrily hooting.[56] But we, leaping forward +with his beating wings, skimmed into distance more swiftly than an owl +in flight. All through the cool night we went at tireless speed: but, +whether over sea or land, I cannot say. For, in good sooth, I was not +aware of anything, save that the moon serene and the flagrant Crab +smiled upon me from the dark-blue sky, that I was no longer dawdling +but active and very strong, that Golden Helen was with me for good and +all, and that Love was my charioteer. + +In this manner, I set forth from the silvan grove where goat-footed Pan +had been entertaining me. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[54] This is valuable. I suppose “formerly” helps to date these papyrè, +at least within a century or so. But Mr. C.’s epithet for Marcus +Curtius strikes me as being a little what I might almost term original. +“Showy” hardly seems the just word for a hero. But, of course, Mr. C. +wrote only a few centuries after the young Roman’s celebrated header, +which perhaps did not seem extraordinarily impressive to contemporary +professionals. Distance does sometimes lend inchantment to the view, I +believe. A. H. + +[55] I cannot help citing Juvenal, _Sat._ VI., 165, in this connection: +“_Rara avis in terris nigroque simillima cycno._” A. H. + +[56] I cannot help remarking that this sounds rather awfully like +what I might almost venture to term an ante-Christian automobile or +motorcar, with its secret recesses filled with oil and water, its +vibrations, its pantings, its pulsations, _and_ its hooter on the +front. If this conjecture of mine could be clearly substantiated, it +would furnish a fresh exemplification of the adage “Nothing new under +the sun,” I fancy. A. H. + + + + + THE TWENTY-THIRD PAPYRUS + + +But, when rosy-fingered Dawn had donned her saffron robes, arising +from her couch in the ocean to bring light to mortals and immortals, +then, indeed, we were nearing Tainaron, where lay the hollow ship with +the shipmen expecting my coming. And, when they saw us whizzing out +of a dusty cloud like a flash of white thunder (for, on the one side, +the hair of Golden Helen streamed behind us as streams a long ray of +sunbeams in no breeze, and, on the other side, my mantle of silver +tissue lined with white fur and clasped with the Moon and the Crab +in rock-crystals and blue moonstones floated at large and at length +beneath my towering crest of the prides of nine white peacocks), and, +when they saw Neandros and Thalos, mysteriously lost, returning, +and, when they saw the large silver Love very much alive, and, when +they heard the gleeful whoopings of untameable Love and the terrible +whirring of the chariot-wheels, then, indeed, their knees tottered, and +their breath popped out, and their hearts stood quite still for fear, +so that their life left them, and pale Death veiled their eyes. + +But we lighted in the middle of the lofty prow, even as a bird lights +on the branch of a blooming tree;[57] and, when fair Helen pulled the +silver chain, instantly ruddy-white Love soared out of his silver image +into the boundless empyrean; and thus we came to the end of our journey +by land. + +And now I was in a sort of quandary. For, knowing that I should need +all my strength of mind and body on lofty Olympos, knowing (also) that +rule of magic which says that a man of fluid temper (such as I am) can +best collect a reserve of such strength from the sea, I had determined +to go, by favour of azure-haired Poseidon, in my galley, from Tainaron +in the south, by the Eyboik Gulph, to the small port of Myrai at the +foot of mighty Mount Ossa in the north. But the rest of the journey +would be made more splendidly, in my silver-shining chariot, by land. + +But (such is the lot of miserable mortals, who forget to inquire the +length of the life-threads, which the blameless Fates have spun for +their fellows), I found myself, at the very outset of my voyage by +sea, possessed of a huge well-benched ship with all its appurtenances +in perfect order, but encumbered with the corpses of one-and-sixty +mariners suddenly deceased, and a mere toy for the sea-gods. For which +causes, I sat me down on the lofty poop, taking my dear head in my +hands: and I began to contrive most astonishing wiles. But Golden Helen +sat by my side, like a true lover who knows when to speak to her man +and when to hold her peace. But my two slaves waited silently in their +places. + +And, at length, it appeared to the mind in my lordly breast that the +gods, divine ones inhabiting olympian palaces, are wont to deal with +mortal men in this manner, shewing them singular favours so that they +may be encouraged to expect (and, even, to insist on) a continuance +of the same. For, as it is with a man, when he can do a certain deed +very well, straightway he desires also to do it very often, for the +benefit of the race of men and for all sorts of other pious and +religious reasons, so, also, indeed, precisely, is it with the blessed +gods, givers of good things. Wherefore, then, seeing that tameless +Love had willingly bound himself (with a silver chain) to serve me +and long-robed Helen, I contrived an altogether unmentioned and +unthought-of magic: so that that ruddy bird of heaven might not have +cause to complain that I let his blooming wings grow rusty with disuse. + +Wherefore, I said unwinged words to Neandros and Thalos, explaining +to them what they were to do. But, first, having pitched the dead +mariners overboard to lighten the ship, together we drew in the long +oars, bestowing them tidily as a rampart inside the bulwarks and +fixing them there with well-twisted knots. These things having been +accomplished, and the whole ship having been set in a new order, we +took a spare sail, white and vermilion, silken, with certain cordage, +out of the store. And, when we had ascended the lofty prow, we fastened +the wheels of the silver-shining chariot, fixing it where it stood, +immoveably, in the middle of the prow, so that a man might walk round +and about it if he pleased, then, indeed, we hanged the beautiful sail +over it, and fastened the same to the bulwarks, in the manner of an +awning with vermilion fringes. Thus, the splendour of the chariot was +concealed from the eyes of casual inquisitives: but the silver image of +Love emerged above the awning as a figure-head for my galley: and the +taslets of the silver chain about his reins dangled down inside. + +And, all being ready, I (with my slaves) weighed anchor: but Golden +Helen pulled the chain of the silver image. And, instantly, young Love +descended into his image; and the silver Love lived, flying with his +tireless wings; so that the great ship moved most rapidly across the +frightened sea, having neither oars nor other sail. But I governed the +course with the steering-oar; and the divine one of goddesses was near +me.[58] + +Now when I came again to hold council with my noble mind, I was aware +that (in winning the Treasure of Hades) I procured for myself such +a companion as I never had had before. In sooth I have had comrades +a many in my various lives; and, among them I will name the most +desirable Red Heart of the southern sea, and the glorious son of +Sycorax, and the unchangeable George of the Roses, and timidly-false +Aubrey, and Hugh the priest devoured by hidden hatred and envy and +prepotence, and blind Karterikos of Bosporos, and loving Vergilio, +and naïve elegant Khekkhi, and also Diomedes of the loud war-cry, and +great-hearted yellow-headed Akhilleys. Now, with a man, a man may +fight, and (at any rate) must quarrel: or there can be no true love, +for love is not proved true until it has been tested by reconciliation +after strife, preferably very bloody. And herein is the difference +between a comrade and a companion.[59] For, with a woman, no man may +dispute: but, if she has an evil mind, he may avoid her or annul her: +but, when the gods, givers of good gifts, send to a man such a woman +as he may fitly take for a companion, then, indeed, he becomes one +with her, in that her ill is his hurt and her good his benefit. For +it is very pleasing to the pride of a man to have a treasure to guard +and to care for. And, until this time, all my wiles and all my wisdom +had not won for me such a treasure. Not but what Queen Penelope had +been a true wife to me while she had life on the earth: but, of those +years there were twenty, when wars and the displeasure of certain +blameless gods kept me away from her, so that (speaking with perfect +respect to her face) I may say that she was a faithful wife and a +most prudent housewife, but not by any means a companion. And, as for +the quite-irrelevant matter of those divine ones of goddesses with +whom I had intimate relations, to wit, deathless Kirke and Kalypso +of the greasy braided tresses, who (I ask) can presume to talk about +companionship when a man is imprisoned, with an awful woman, on a +little islet surrounded by the boundless ruthlessly-smiling sea. +But Golden Helen was altogether different from these three. Thus I +meditated in my Love-sped galley. + +But, coming to Khalkis, we stayed there, to procure sweet water and +nutriments, before proceeding northward by the Eyboik Gulph. And +hard-hearted envious Hera, that arch-mischiefmaker among goddesses, +sent me a horrid adventure, in the hope of impeding my progress. + +For, while my slave Neandros was negociating with merchants on the +quay, loading the hollow ship with cheeses, and wheat (the marrow of +men), and the flesh of bulls and swine, with herbs and dainty birds, +and jars of oil and wine and beer, and casks of sweet water, I, with +long-robed Helen, landed privately to view the city. For I had heard +that Romans were occupying holy Eyboia at that time, the island of rich +vines, whence Elephenor son of Khalkodon led the proud long-haired +Abantes in forty black ships to the siege of windy Ilion. And, neither +in the future from which (for a religious reason) I had come, nor in +the past from which also I had come, had I ever seen the conquering +Romans in their togas as they lived, excepting once by chance in Khem. +For which cause I determined to use this opportunity of informing my +inquisitive mind. + +And we too, therefore, happy as children who have found out a new game, +disguised ourselves before we went to play truant in Khalkis. For fair +Helen covered herself with a dark robe, veiling also her hair like +a web of woven sunbeams: but I did on a tunic of grey wolves’ skins +having on my head a berreta of ferret-skins, taking also a very sharp +sword and a pouch full of silver and gold. And, when we came to the +landward end of the quay, a beak-nosed soldier armed in cheap bronze +stopped us; and he demanded of us diplomas permitting us to draw sweet +breath in Roman territory. For it seemed that the Romans, like locusts, +were infesting the whole earth. I, indeed, began to try to edge in a +wily word about a beverage: but the soldier led me to the guard-house +to settle the matter with his decurion, who, also, was a dull boor +amenable neither to words nor bribes. For I told him that my name +was Ithakides son of Ithakos son of Ptenopedilos son of Kelainephes +Polyonomos, and that I came from Egypt where I had been collecting +antiquities: all of which was perfectly true and entirely misleading, +simply because the lout was ignorant of the various uses of words. +Also I said that the lady was my wife, sister of certain friends of +mine by cognomen Asterostephanoi, who was taking a voyage for the +benefit of her health and to visit her aged father in Thessaly. And +that also was true. But it seemed that the decurion’s duty was only to +ask questions, but not to pay the slightest regard to the answers. And +he would not take a bribe, because (I am sure) no one had ever offered +him such a thing before, and he was dreadfully afraid. But he said +merely that I must go to prison pending an inquiry. + +And I, indeed, made no objection, being always greedy for new +experiences, and, moreover, both I and Golden Helen did not restrain +our laughter when we remembered who we were to whom such indignities +were offered. Wherefore, having tucked away my natural ferocity, I was +as meek as a clod: but I watched events with steady eyes. But I told +fair Helen to go to a convent of the priestesses of Pallas Athene near +the market-place, there to wait till I should be dismissed without +a stain upon my character. And, presently, the centurion himself +appeared; and he would escort her thither: for he, indeed, perceived +that we were persons of quality; and he said that, if nothing against +me could be collected by the following day, he would give me a diploma +valuable for all Akhaia. Also, he regretted my detention, assuring +me that he himself was under authority. And, when he came back from +attending the divine one of goddesses, we conversed, until I had +emptied his mind into mine: but that was a pastime, and not a new +labour for Herakles. + +And, when Dawn (the mother of morning) was come again, and, when Helios +Hyperion had driven the chariot of the sun to the height of heaven +and was on the downward way toward his bed in the ocean, then, the +Roman centurion (having found out no ill of me) gave me the promised +diploma, setting me at liberty. But I hastened to the convent of the +priestesses of Pallas Athene. But the portress said that the divine +one of goddesses had been summoned to meet me at the palace of the +governour of the province, whither she had gone at noon, with a plump +of spearmen for a guard. To which place I followed her as quickly as +possible; and the mind in my dear breast was full of dire foreboding. +For I remembered certain words which the centurion had let fall in his +cups of the previous night, concerning the sins of Roman governours in +general, who bought their governourships by bribes, expecting to recoup +themselves (for the outlay of a lifetime) by the crimes which a year +of governourship made possible. Also, he had spoken of the governour +of Akhaia in particular, by name Anthemius Cotta, saying that he was a +Nouus Homo of coarse manners and huge wealth accumulated (no one knew +how) in Asia, that he had bought his governourship, being possessed of +a gluttonous appetite for the eels of Lake Kopais, greedily engorging +the same without ceasing excepting to pant occasionally, and, that he +was despised and detested, inasmuch as he cultivated Asiatic vices, +filling his palace with females, slaves, guarded by black eunuchs. + +But I found no sentry at the palace-gate, so lax is the rule of a +luxurious governour. An elegant slave in a Persian mitre, however, +mentioned that Anthemius Cotta had finished the business of the day. +And then, indeed, divine Rage inflamed me with the desire of horribly +pinching and mangling; and, staring very starkly, I invaded the place +without more ado. Crowds of feeble persons fell away from me, as I +passed in frightful silence. And, suddenly, I heard the voice of Golden +Helen moaning for me by name. + +But I rushed toward the sound, tearing down a curtain, and running +along a painted hall where a meal was spread. At the other end, a +single negro, armed with a monstrous curving scymetar, kept watch +before another curtained door. His grinning head sprang to the right, +and his blood-spouting carcase thudded to the left: but I passed +between, passing to the divine one of goddesses. + +She was at the far end of the chamber, back to wall. Two loathsome +rolling-eyed eunuchs lay at her feet, blasted by her amber fires. +But there were others, about to attempt an onslaught. And, before +her, stood the Roman governour, a ceruminous personality, fatty and +pustulous, and of proboscidian flaccidity. Upon whom I wreaked many +most mind-grieving evils, saying nothing. For, first, I impaled him, +thrusting my sword through his right shoulder, and spinning him +(yelling) round by the hilt to face me. Next, having clutched a +handful of his glabrous forehead and a large handful of his cataract of +chins, I tore off his countenance; and threw it away. But he dropped on +his belly, scrabbling the floor with tettered toes and fingers. + +But the eunuchs were petrified with terror; and Golden Helen, seeing me +near, was ready to swoon. Her, indeed, I bore (senseless) to a couch; +and bestowed her safely while I finished the business. + +The eunuchs had to turn the Roman governour face upward and to spit +by turns into his rolling lidless eyes, while he winced, mewling with +unlipped mouth. I drew my sword from its fat sheath, and flashed it +through the eunuchs’ necks, so that they fell asunder in a heap, +but their heads rolled about the floor. I was minded also to carve +Anthemius Cotta slowly into slices: but my gorge rose somewhat +squeamishly. For which cause, I only cut the sinews of his knees +and elbows, and heaped the carcases of his slaves upon him, having +collected their black heads: but I stuffed his own face into his +mouth. And, being satiated with slaughter, I covered the mound with a +door-curtain, lest the eyes of the goddess should be offended. + +But her, I carried into the painted hall; and, having cleansed myself +in several bowls of rosewater, I used the wine (which was there) to +restore her. And anon we left the palace, being of an aspect so godly +and terrific, that the slaves scuffled (cat-like) to hide themselves +as we passed by. But, hastening to the quay, we ascended the hollow +ship, flying away as quickly as possible. + +Thus I did, visiting Khalkis, a city on the island of Eyboia. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[57] I would point out that the “vol plané” here described almost seems +to resemble the showy but somewhat clumsy mode of alterrament affected +by the velivolors and aereoplanes and dirigibles of the Fifth Georgian +Era. + +[58] I am given to understand that our own earlier hydroplanes and +hydrovolors had their motors situated amidships and aft respectively. +A. H. + +[59] I call attention to the extreme beauty and distinction of this +original and (I sadly fear) little-realized doctrine. A. H. + + + + + THE TWENTY-FOURTH PAPYRUS + + +But, when my galley was in the open water of the Eyboik Gulph, we sat +together upon the lofty poop; and the divine one of goddesses told +me all her adventures. For, Anthemius Cotta, having seen her going +to the convent of priestesses of Pallas Athene, sent her a message +as from me, saying that I was an honoured guest at the palace. And, +when she (suspecting no evil) went thither, the governour offered her +fair words, bribes, and violence, by turn, persuading her to submit +to indignities. But she repulsed him, summoning to her aid the godly +forces (inherited, but long unused), which she possessed as daughter of +Great Zeys Pantokrator. But, sooth to say, the sweet maid was no longer +able to hold her own against fierce-passioned gods or men. Not that she +would ever yield: but ten weary lonely centuries in the netherworld +had weakened her high hereditary forces, so that she needed an ally. +And, now that her peril was averted, she let fall a round tear, like +a frightened child very anxious for a companion and protector. Whom I +reverently consoled, swearing a great oath that I would ever be her +faithful warden. + +Now, if I had been alone, nothing would have pleased me more than +going through Akhaia and Makedonia by land, seeking adventures, taking +revenges, stultifying the Roman conquerors by the spells of magic +art. Such, indeed, would have been a very convenient course for a +Mage practising the uses of his arts and crafts, and pleasing enough +for a Master at liberty. But, since so great a god as Love had taught +me, binding himself (with a blooming chain) to serve me, I was aware +that service is as far above liberty as lofty Olympos is above deep +Tartaros: nineteen times nineteen days, indeed, will a brazen anvil +pass in dropping sheer from the one to the other. Wherefore, knowing +how godly a thing it is to be a servant, I also bound myself with the +chain of love. + +For, it had been in my mind, even in voyaging by sea, to visit +Opoyntian Lokri, for the sake of Aias the Less, who wore a +linen corslet, and (though a mite of a man) was by far the best +spear-thruster of all the Argives when we besieged windy Ilion. Also, I +would have visited the steep fortress of Dios, north of the Gulph, and +Antron by the seashore, and Pteleon couched in grass in its rock-bound +bay, and rugged Olizon with the sea on both sides of it. But, for the +sake of my timid maid, whom I bade to be comforted, I said that we +would not risk any more insults among the Romans. + +For which cause, sped by Love’s wings, we sailed northward, passing +leafy Pelion on the left: but, anon, having come to the small port of +Myrai at the foot of mighty Ossa, there we cast anchor in a secluded +roadstead in the middle of the night. And, uncovering my silver-shining +chariot, we untwisted the knots which bound it to the ship, and +prepared it for a journey on land. + +But I left my well-benched galley in charge to Neandros and Thalos, +bidding them to hold it ready for me anywhen, but perhaps after a +long absence. And when we had mounted to our places, the divine one +of goddesses pulled the silver chain; and Love, our charioteer, lived +in his silver image, and flew with wide-swept wings, hooting for joy +because we were beginning the last stage of our journey to lofty +Olympos. + +Aurora, mother of morning, rose from her couch in the sea when we +traversed the lovely vale of Tempe, fresh with glittering dew, where +the night-mists rose from Peneys’ diminished flood. Helios Hyperion +lord of light, looked from the zenith at noon when we began to mount +the long slopes which lead to the peak of Olympos. Hesperos, star of +evening, gleamed in the violet sky when we came to the little shrine by +the Holy Well, beyond which no mortal foot has trod. + +The priest came out, marvelling that travellers should arrive at that +hour: for most men fear the mountain after nightfall, believing it to +be improper for them to go very near the paths which the gods tread +in their nocturnal journeys. But he marvelled still more, when he saw +what manner of travellers we were, and the silver-shining chariot +pulsating like a creature having sweet life during the first few +moments after long-robed Helen had released our charioteer pulling the +silver chain. But I and the priest led the daughter of Zeys the Swan +to the guest-chamber of the shrine, there to pass the night: for we +were unwilling to approach the abode of the blessed gods, dishevelled +and weary and stained with travel. But, after we had dismissed hunger, +having supped, I indeed went out to pass the night in the open, keeping +a vigil by my silver-shining armour with adornments of rock-crystals +and blue moonstones, and communing with my lordly mind. + +And, when the night was waning, and near was the dawn, and the stars +had gone upward, and the night had advanced more than two watches, +but the third watch was still left, then, indeed, I cleansed the +dust from my monstrous chariot, burnishing the silver of it and the +crabs and moons inlaid in lustrous mother-of-pearl, till it shone +like a white flame. But the silver image of Love, larger than life, +blindfolded, naked, most alluringly proportioned, poised on the front +of the rail with his well-winged arms spread abroad in the very act +of taking flight, this, indeed, I treated as a man would treat his +own large ruddy son in a bath if he were a god. For I washed it all +over with a sponge, going firmly into every crevice where dirt might +obscenely lodge; and I dried it delicately with soft linen, polishing +the smooth-gleaming skin and rubbing in soft oil with my hands. And, +opening the secret recesses of the chariot, I poured in fresh water +and oil, so that the well-carved wheels might freely revolve in +courses. But I did also in like manner with my armour, giving it a +radiance as of the serene and vivid moon in springtime. And, having +stripped myself to bathe in the ice-cold limpid water gushing from the +Holy Well (for with pure body and pure mind the wise man approaches +the blessed gods), then, indeed, I put on my glorious armour: first, +the well-shaped greaves for my legs, covered with rock-crystals and +blue moonstones and fitted with clasps: then, the white leathern +kirtle with taslets of silver lapping about my reins, clothing my body +above with my coat of silver mail, and the corslet on my breast and +back and shoulders also of hammered silver plates with adornments of +rock-crystals and blue moonstones. But I suspended from my shoulders +the sword in its silver sheath and the silver quiver of arrows gleaming +with moony gems. But, on my head, I placed the glittering helmet with a +towering crest of the prides of nine white peacocks; and dreadfully the +plume nodded from above. And I shod my feet with the well-made sandals +of white leather, taking the great black singing bow well-fitted to my +hand, and the great and sturdy shield bright as the moon. But I covered +myself with the vast trailing mantle of silver tissue lined with white +fur, clasped with the scintillating signs of the Moon and the Crab. And +the sheen of my splendour reached heaven, when I stood stamping and +gnashing my teeth: nor was I fearful of meeting my peer anywhere, even +in the precincts of the immortals. + +But, when golden-throned Dawn arose from her ocean-bed, I led the +divine one of goddesses, fresh and pure as a pearl in a setting of red +gold, to her place in the chariot; and I mounted beside her. But she +pulled the silver chain; and young Love dived headlong out of heaven +into his image; and the silver image lived, sweeping his wide wings, +swimming in the higher air, with triumphant trumpetings and merry +whirring of wheels, toward the wall of cloud which shrouds the city of +the gods, the habitation of Great Zeys. + +Thus, brilliantly blazing and swift as a flash of white thunder I +entered lofty Olympos. + + + + + THE TWENTY-FIFTH PAPYRUS + + +The Hora Eirene, warden of the gate, challenged us: whom Golden Helen +answered, giving the password, demanding free passage as a daughter +of Great Zeys. But Hermes, my grandsire, and the Great Twins, and +boldly-steadfast Herakles, stood within the gate ready to greet us. +Moreover, the golden streets were thronged with the beautiful children +of gods and heroes, scattering amaranthine diadems. Thus, we went to +the palace and the areiopagos of the immortals. + +But King Zeys, the father of gods and men, sat on his clouded throne, +with Queen Hera of the white arms (the most righteous of goddesses) who +had hundred-eyed peacocks about her. But, on the right and left, were +other thrones inhabited by all the gods and goddesses, whose courtiers +were immortal youths innumerable having limbs of flaming whiteness and +rayed hair. There, was Pan the lord of woodlands, and loose-haired +Iakhos Dionysos the son of fire washed by water-nymphs, and Phoibos +Apollon lord of the silver bow, and Artemis beautiful queen of arrows, +and tameless Pallas Athene of the dark Aigis, and blameless Aphrodite +of the violet crown, and silver-footed Thetis unhappy mother of the +noblest son, and even King Poseidon of loud-roaring white horses: but +shady King Hades (the most righteous of gods) was absent for reasons of +health, and his black throne gaped void. But my heart was leaping for +joy in my dear breast: for I was aware that the fifth prediction, which +innocent Thalos made when he looked into the palm-mirror, was in fact +being realized. For indeed the silver god and the golden goddess were +standing before many gods and goddesses. + +But astute Hermes, the yellow-wanded luck-bringer and soul-guide, +signed me with silence. He rose in his place among the glorious +immortals; and began to expound my cause. Thus, then, he spoke: “O +Father and King of gods and men, before this conclave of divine ones +stands the steadfast goodly Odysseys, the much-enduring contriver of +innumerable wiles, who claims as a sweet guest-gift the hand of Golden +Helen, the exiled daughter of Thee the Swan, in honourable nuptials.” + +To whom Great Zeys responded, saying: “Odysseys, we know; and Helen, +we know. But never before has one of the sons of men aspired to lead +in open marriage a goddess, daughter of the race of the Kronides. +Hitherto, indeed, passing (but none the less vehement) passions, or +transient (but none the less perfervid) affections, have been the +utmost relations between immortals and mortals. For we gods are severe, +envious above others; and we grudge that immortals shall mate with +mortals, when anyone shall take a dear wife or a husband: as when +rosy-fingered Eos took Orion (that stalwart hunter), so long the gods +who lived easily envied her, until chaste Artemis of the golden throne +slew him, attacking him with her mild weapons. Moreover, the thing also +is new: for, whereas, heretofore, gods and goddesses have loved mortal +women and men in secret, now, this Odysseys, boundless in audacity, +openly demands a goddess-bride before all the court of heaven. +Wherefore, lest we be captured in some snare of this notoriously-wily +one, we require that eloquent Hermes (his sponsor) shall give good and +sufficient reason for such artless candour, such ingenuous presumption.” + +Hermes came down from his own throne among the divine immortals, +passing the throne of radiant Phoibos Apollon, the bright one, the pure +one, crowned with the sun in his splendour; and he took thence the +lyre which he himself had made for the master of the music, fashioned +out of the hollow shell of a crab like polished translucent amber +and obsidian, from which sprang the silvery horns of unicorns to the +olive-wood cross-bar, pegged, and fitted with nineteen strings. + +He came down, to the clear blue ætherial floor studded with golden +stars, in the sight of all, like a princely youth in youth’s full bloom +whose youth is very graceful, the largest and lithest and loveliest and +wisest and most innocent ever seen, smooth and lissome and gleaming as +living ivory, and his bare head crowned with clusters of honey-hued +curls and a nimbus of sunbeams. + +He came down; and cast (to the floor, by his feet) his purple +mantle,--by his agile feet, shod with golden-winged sandals,--and laid +his golden wand upon it, he lightly standing poised on one fair foot; +and he rested the other on a stool, bending his sprightly knee. + +He held the heavenly lyre on his thigh with his hollowed arm, leaning +toward till it could not help kissing his beautiful youthful breast; +and with a quill, he tried it note by note: but it sounded, deeply +thrumming beneath his hands. And the young god sang under the notes +of the lyre, a doubly-thrilling intonation, making an extemporaneous +attempt, as full-grown boys at feasts sing with different voices, +rivalling one another in turn. + +He sang; and, at his song, my spirit reeled, so strong and passing +sweet the strain. One universal smile it seemed, of joy beyond compare, +unutterable gladness, imperishable life of peace and love, exhaustless +wealth, illimitable power, the cup of health brimful, and bliss +immeasurable. Such was his tone. + +He sang; and, at his voice, my spirit lived again, that youthful +heavenly sunny voice, which welled from his open well-sunned throat, +not shrill like a boy’s nor clogged like a man’s, but full and vibrant, +true as a bell, loud as gigantic trumpets, deep and clear as a limpid +river, now high now low from middle notes ranging, strong and resonant +as the voice of an ever-young god who is both boy and man, warbling +unearthly melody around and above and between and below the golden +warbling of the lyre. + +He sang; and the faces of all the immortals became diaphanous with +unimaginable radiance; and the steady godly eyes gleamed like fixed +stars at the rapturous magic of his singing. For he sang of arms and +the man, the deathless song of the man so ready at need, never so +strong nor so fierce nor so terrible as when he (naked) fought fearful +odds and a losing battle back to the wall, who wandered far and wide +after he had sacked the sacred citadel of Ilion--the deathless song of +much-contriving much-enduring Odysseys, and of all the deeds which ever +I had done since the distant day when I, a great boy, met Helen, the +divine one of goddesses, a tender girl, who watched me faring girded +high through the ford of Eyrotas by rugged Lakedaimon; and of the +doughty deeds which thenafter I did at the siege of Dardanian Ilion. +He sang of my wily contrivance, the Wooden Horse, whereby at length we +Argives took the city: of the wanderings of Golden Helen, and of mine: +of our meeting again in torrid Egypt and our wooing there, and of how +there I died, slain by unknowing Telegonos my own son and Kirke’s of +the awful braided tresses. And, in a solemn slow low descant, he sang +of how that was the first time, and the last, when ever I lay in the +pure arms of Helen, being dead. + +He paused; and the immortal gods wept softly, at the sadness of his +song and the cruel fate which drove us ever here and there apart. And +it was dusky eve. + +He bowed his beautiful godly young breast for the lucky horns of the +lyre to kiss again; and his wonderful fingers skilfully wielded the +quill which awakened the delicate voice of the strings. And he sang of +my far-future birth in the sea-girt island, kingdom of Victory queen of +the stalwart stately Anglicans: of my sordid squalid lot there; and of +the wily audacious ferocity of the deeds, which I did in contempt of +all men, to deliver myself and to soar. + +He sang of how I, grieving in mind because not one single honourable +friend or companion came near me, but only rogues and tosspots and +false traitors, set out to wander in strange lands, studying all divine +mysteries and magic lore, seeking for wisdom everywhere. He sang of my +marvellous deeds, summoning ghostly souls from the dead and bending +them to my will: of how, in Egypt, I half-failed in the ordeal of the +scorching staff; and of the consequence which befel. And, there, his +sacred strain leaped, leaped like one who meets a sudden slimy toad +sitting very still upon his way, leaped, and was still. + +And the immortal gods kept silence. Night flung her violet mantle +round the dome of heaven; and she pinned it with a star. But those +resplendent faces scintillated like many moons in the violet luminous +sheen, intense, immovable. + +He took the lyre close to the warmth of his well-spread breast in the +hollow of his shoulder, uplifting his stainless throat, singing with +the well-struck strings. And he sang jewels five words long, which, on +the stretched forefinger of all time, shall sparkle for ever, singing +of my long fall backward through the rolling wheels of time: of my +vision in the secret subterranean shrine at Thebes: of my voyage adown +the sacred river of Egypt: of my coming to Tanis: of my doings with the +hierarch Amenemhat; and of my flight to the open sea. + +He sang of my magic invocation of the azure-haired earth-shaking lord +of ocean: of the apparition of King Poseidon amiably-minded: of my +going to the shrine of far-darting Phoibos Apollon at Delphi, and the +oracle chaunted by the levated Pythia: of my meeting unafraid with Pan, +and his goodly gift of clear-seeing. + +He sang (and his cadences rippled) of my furious drive down hill, over +the rivers of cold and of flame, for the third time into the world of +the dead. + +He stretched out all the slim lithe strength of his ivory limbs, +lambent and supple and warm with refulgent youth, to the heavenly lyre. +His fair throat poured forth a stronger canorous strain, thrilled with +unspeakable splendour. And he sang of the singing of Golden Helen in +exile: to whose sweet anthem, all the blissful court, from all parts +answering, rang. + +He sang of how I escaped from fetters and dungeon: of how my wiles +and my audacity and my endurance, sneered-at or scorned by men, made +great gods glad to serve me: of the fight of the six champions, sons of +kings and mighty heroes all. And Herakles, glory of Hera, burst into +boisterous blubberings, inasmuch as he had had no part in so finely +finished an affray. + +He sang of my treatment of titans: of the wounding of shady Hades of +recording mind, inexorable king of the land of the shades. And all the +gods and goddesses cried aloud, beating on their blessed knees, because +of the sheer stupendous magnificence of my audacity. + +He sang so divine a song, that even fancy’s ear records it not, and the +pen must pass on, leaving a blank: for, nor mortal speech, nor even the +inward shaping of the mind has colour fine enough to paint the sweet +great strain of his nectar, flower-like, fertile of song. He sang of +my wonderful journey out of the netherworld: of the swift death of my +shipmen, fearful, when they saw my mysterious coming: of my lonely +voyage in my unoared sail-less galley over the windless sea. + +He sang the cause of my coming, which was Love, the Crown of all Wisdom. + +He sang of the sturdy unswerving indomitable force, reward of my wiles +and my audacity and my endurance, which had brought me bearing spoils, +even the Treasure of Hades, from out of the deep and the shade, to the +height of the peak of lofty Olympos. It was Love, all-conquering Love. + +Such was the close of his marvellous melody. And, as the last tone +thrilled, strong as a proclamation, Echo caught the strain, repeating +ever lowly, and more low, from sphere to sphere, LOVE ... Love ... Love +... Love. + +Rosy-fingered Dawn, crowned with auroral coronal, flung wide the gates +of day: Helios Hyperion began to drive in scintillating splendour +across the sky: the rays of the rising sun splashed beams of golden +light over the clouded throne of the Father and King of gods and men, +when Hermes finished singing thus for me before the areiopagos of the +blessed gods.[60] + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[60] It would be most improper to attempt to pick out the multifarious +quotations which adorn this extremely lovely poem. Those of us who had +the privilege of Mr. C.’s acquaintance in his recent life, cannot but +admire the stupendous erudition which enabled him to blend the Bible +with Homer, Dante Alighieri with Meleagros of Gadara, etc., etc., etc., +with such perfectly chiselled facility. A. H. + + + + + THE TWENTY-SIXTH PAPYRUS + + +But King Zeys Pampator sat up, and said: “What, O divine ones +inhabiting olympian palaces, think ye now of this Odysseys?” + +And they answered: “He is a hero.” + +But boldly-steadfast Herakles rose from his throne, saying, in a voice +even louder than Stentor’s: “He is worthy of a chair in our college of +immortals.” + +And the gods and goddesses sang together, making the _Sign_, “So mote +it be.” + +But the Lord of the Lightning and the Dark Cloud spoke again, saying: +“What, O divine ones inhabiting olympian palaces, think ye now of +Golden Helen?” + +And they answered: “She is a spoil well-won.” + +But chaste Artemis, beautiful queen of arrows, rose from her throne, +saying: “Let the hero wear his spoil.” + +And the gods and goddesses sang again together, making the _Sign_, “So +mote it be.” + +But I saw that there were some who did not join in the voting; and +one of those was Queen Hera of the white arms, the most righteous of +goddesses; and another was blameless Queen Aphrodite of the violet +crown: the first, because it is bitter for a woman to be supplanted +in her husband: the second, because of jealousy on account of Queen +Helen’s transcendent beauty. + +But the Father and King of gods and men said: “It pleaseth us; and so, +we, of our own free will, command that it shall be.” + +And, saying this, he nodded with his immortal head, so that I might +be encouraged. For the nod of Zeys is the greatest pledge among the +immortals: for his pledge, even whatsoever he shall sanction with his +nod, is irrevocable, not false, nor unfulfilled. And, in the sight of +all, he drew me from Golden Helen’s side, out of my silver chariot, +where we had been standing together during a day and a night enraptured +with the singing of Hermes. And he breathed upon me, so that my mortal +nature was blown away from me: but I bathed in the breath of the god, +being soaked in the source of the fire of eternal youth, the prime and +flower of strength; and such red blood as was in my veins was sublimed, +giving place to crystalline ichor, very pure and limpid, such, to wit, +as flows in the veins of the blessed gods: for we eat no bread, nor +drink gleaming wine, wherefore we are bloodless and are named immortals. + +And, while I was yet encompassed with the thick clouds of the god, +beautiful dark Sleep was permitted to light upon my eyelids; and I +slept, as a sweet boy sleeps, dreamlessly. + +But, when, at length, I awakened, I was in another place. And Phoibos +Apollon, lord of the silver bow, and strenuous Herakles whom not Hera +but Eros could conquer, were come to conduct me to the marriage-feast. +And they spoke of many things: saying that the immortals were rejoicing +in the happiness of so wily a warrior and so fair a maid, save only +the lord Hermes who (after his long singing during a day and a night) +was curing a relaxed larynx, and also shady King Hades who was raging +horribly on account of painful perforations, and swearing that neither +I nor Golden Helen need ever think to expect hospitality from him +again. So, with mirthful minds and smiling lips, we set out all +light-heartedly. + +The divine one of goddesses was brought by her Great Twin Brothers, +star-crowned Kastor the tamer of horses and Polydeykes the pugilist. +But, before she came to stand with me at the throne of King Zeys, then, +indeed, divine Memory illumined my noble mind, shewing me a remembrance +of a most graceful _Spell_. And, instantly, I stooped to the limpid +river which flows through the clear blue ætherial realm, taking a +handful of crystal water, a sacred lavation, wherewith to sprinkle the +maid whose hair was like a web of woven sunbeams, saying the _Spell +of The Three Who are One_. And all the immortals bowed their radiant +heads, greatly admiring the magic. + +But, after the nuptials, we feasted, eating purple ambrosial jellies, +dainties, such as Zeys-nourished kings eat, with savours of +unblemished hecatombs, and quaffing foaming flagons of nectar distilled +from the apples of heaven and flavoured with roses and rosemary: till, +at last, rustic Pan threw nuts on the floor, for Love and Desire and +Sleep and Death and Hyakinthos and the cupbearers and other children +to scramble for. But, when we had drunk a last cup to Hermes the +Luck-bringer, I led Queen Helen to the palace which mighty Herakles +had lent to us. For that hero was shewing himself very friend-like +to me, on account of my wily deeds and my long endurance of evils, +since he also had done deeds and suffered intolerable evils in his +turn. Moreover, the said hero was very well-mannered and able to rule +himself, wherein he differed from many of the immortals. And, beside +all these things, he was the most married man on the peak of Olympos: +for which cause, no doubt, he was excited about my welfare. + +In this manner was the Crown of All Wisdom confirmed to me, when, +having been chaired in the college of immortals, I led Queen Helen, the +Treasure of Hades, into sacred matrimony, in the presence of the gods +of Olympos. + + + + + THE TWENTY-SEVENTH PAPYRUS + + +When, at length, we were alone with Love, then, indeed, Golden Helen +kissed me. + +I, in sooth, had kissed her in the house of blameless Hades, before the +combat of the heroes: but she had not returned the sweet embrace. And +now she told me the reason: saying that it is an immutable law that an +immortal goddess, who kisses a mortal man in honourable love, thereby +fulminates him. Wherefore, when (in Egypt) I was warring against the +five nations, more than a thousand years before, and when Telegonos +wounded me near the blooming groin with his dark arrow, then, sweet +Helen (mad with fear and love) kissed me, staying me in her arms in the +battle at the mouth of sacred Sihor. Of which arrow-wound, I should not +have died: but, of the kiss, her first, I died. So, lest I should again +be lost to her, she had not kissed me in the house of shady Hades. But, +now that I was immortal, as was she the divine one of goddesses, Golden +Helen kissed me. + +And, anon, she said: “Lord king and husband of me, seeing that we +rejoice in happiness, being immortal and mingled in love, so that +we have no desire unsatisfied, let us be merciful to one who hateth +us and kind to him who has wronged us: for, indeed, it is not right +continually to be enraged in one’s mind.” + +But this was a most strange saying, whereat I wondered gravely: for +such ways had not been taught to Golden Helen, nor were they known +at that time. And then I remembered the grace conveyed by that most +mighty magic, the sacred lavation and the _Spell of The Three Who are +One_, which, in a mystery, I had been moved to work upon her before our +nuptials. And then I was not affrighted by any more amazement. + +But she was embracing my knees, continuing to speak, saying: “Go, now, +dear lord and husband, faring immortally to Khalkis in holy Eyboia; and +take also sweet white Death with thee. And, having entered to Anthemius +Cotta the Roman governour, let the pale god draw from his breast gently +the torch of his life, quenching its flickering flame, so that his body +may rest from its torments. For he is unfit to continue alive and in +health. But, though he would have despitefully used me, I am unwilling +that he should writhe much longer in anguish, being irremediably +mutilated.” + +Thus she spoke: but I kissed the pitiful maid again, rejoicing at the +grace which was replenishing her. And, having summoned kindly Death, +together we went, faring invisibly from lofty Olympos with the speed +of a thought: for we immortals in nowise appear visibly to everybody. +But, when we came to Khalkis after the middle of the night, when night +is darkest, then I took the divine white child, silent, garlanded with +asphodel, by his frosty hand leading him; and, so, we entered the +chamber of the Roman governour, plain for all to see. + +He lay upon a bed, mangled and shapeless, moaning in the throes of his +torments. But, when the slaves, physicians, watching beside him, saw +me radiant in silver armour with adornments of rock-crystals and blue +moonstones, and the pale young god purer and colder than glittering +frost, standing in presence manifest in an aureola of moonbeams, then +they fell on their faces and were much afraid. + +But I addressed the moribund, saying: “Uneasy Anthemius, know that +Queen Helen, daughter of Great Zeys, whom thou didst use despitefully, +wills to release thee from these earthly pangs which are but a just +penance for thy crimes. Nevertheless, the divine one of goddesses +bids thee to enjoy the blessed rest of death, gaining remittance of +sufferings.” + +Thus I spoke; and I uttered the _spell_ which unchains the soul from +the body. And white Thanatos stooped, with his tender young frigid +fingers drawing the torch of life from the Roman’s bloody breast; and, +blowing upon it, he extinguished its flickering flame. And Anthemius +sighed, and was comforted, retiring to the world of shades. + +But we returned to the peak of Olympos, before he had reached the +netherworld. + + * * * * * + +Now, when we had dwelled in the palace of Herakles during the full +course of the moon, then, indeed, Great Zeys ordained to employ me in +a certain duty. For it is the custom on the threshold of the immortals +that, whoever shall be raised to the rank of a godly hero and endowed +with immortality, must visit in person the courts of strange gods, +announcing his own apotheosis and receiving recognition. Wherefore, the +cloud-compelling son of Khronos bade me to prepare for my progress: but +to astute Hermes was assigned the task of inscribing letters-patent for +exhibition to all barbarian theocracies. + +For, as do earth-dwelling kings, each having power and dominion over +his own people, so also do the gods, each having power and dominion +over his own worshippers. And, upon occasions, disputes arise among the +various dynasties inhabiting the wide-rolling heavens, and wars and +fearful conflicts follow, when the high gods fight among themselves +for lordship over the hearts of men. In which quarrels, the divine +ones of the Argive race are ever to the fore and very ready at need: +seeing that the nations of the Argives are wont to stablish colonies, +daughter-cities, in barbarian lands, crossing the unvintaged sea, +whereto they carry a sacred fire from their mother-city; and they +pray not to the strange gods of the barbarians among whom they dwell, +but to the familiar gods of their dear motherland. Furthermore, +the strange gods of the barbarians sometimes send solemn embassages +of heroes to the king of gods and men, bearing complaints, because +their rites go unrecognized by the Argives inhabiting their domains. +Then, indeed, Great Zeys, having taken counsel with the olympian +immortals, returns a just decision in like manner. At other times, dire +complications unexpectedly arise, when the strange gods send plagues +(perchance of rats or dragons), or pestilences (perchance of bad blind +boils), or even famines, to punish the prepotence or the impiety of +their blameless barbarians; and, by chance, one of the Argive colonists +perishes by reason of the scourge. Then, indeed, loud-thundering Zeys +inflames himself with mighty wrath, when his dear Argive folk fall +victims to the clumsiness of the indiscriminating gods of the so-sinful +barbarians; and he exacts a compensation. But the immortal gods love +not to war overmuch among themselves, their battles being terrific and +the issues not unusually thankless. + +And it chanced that, at the time when I reached my chair in the college +of the immortals and of my blissful nuptials, that there was a matter +of feud between us and the theocracy of Juppiter Stator. For the Latin +gods, very stolid, very bucolic, were claiming the worship of the whole +Argive race throughout the earth. And they, rash and overweening, +alleged that, as the fair Argive land had submitted to their bloody +Romans, so, also, Olympian Zeys ought to acknowledge as his blooming +suzerain their Capitoline Juppiter. + +For which cause, long-enduring and tiresome and tedious conversations +of high diplomacy were striving to adjust the dispute without appeal to +the arbitrament of war. But a regrettable incident was likely to occur +at any moment: for Ares, bane of mortals, weary of the arts of peace, +paraded himself daily wearing shield and sword; and boldly-steadfast +Herakles, weary of the arts of husbandry, was carving a collection of +most mind-delighting clubs; and my own sweet cousin, Perseys of the +sea, the most renowned of heroes, weary of the arts of love, was all +agog to meet monsters more worthy than pterodactyls in deadly strife. +Wherefore, the Father and King of gods and men bade me to visit, first, +those strange gods who were known not to be unfriendly; and, then, to +proceed to Rome: so that, returning to Olympos directly from the court +of Juppiter Stator, I might bring back the very latest account of the +negociations. + +And, having embraced me and Queen Helen, very mighty Zeys gave us our +charters fairly written out by cunning Hermes, my grandsire, who first +brought letters and the art of writing into the Argive land. + +Thus, as an immortal, I began to go about the work of the immortals. + + + + + THE TWENTY-EIGHTH PAPYRUS + + +But we ascended the silver-shining chariot inlaid with crabs and moons +in mother-of-pearl, a wonder to be seen, Love being our charioteer; and +we flew afar to the remote regions of the skies, gazing (from time to +time, and with certain thoughts) on the grain-giving earth below. + +Now there were certain dynasties of gods, such as those of Anahoyak and +Nippon and Serica,[61] with whom the Olympians dealt but rarely: for +they were of a secretive nature, nor did they exactly welcome guests +from afar, but rather did they slam the door of divine hospitality, +excepting when rare embassages brought news of very grave matters. And, +indeed, no such embassage had been sent from lofty Olympos across the +streams of ocean since Pantokrator Zeys sent pious Deykalion announcing +his accession to the throne of Khronos. For which cause, it was not +deemed necessary that I and Queen Helen should fare so far to visit +divine ones whose very names cannot be written in the Argive tongue. + +And, first, we came to the court of the gods of Assyria. There, indeed, +we were mingled in friendship with the Seven Magnificencies, Anna who +rules the Assyrian sky, Ea who rules their earth, Mulge who rules their +abyss, the three rulers of their sun and their moon and their air, +and Belmarduk the god. Beside those, we were mingled in courtesy with +their fifty great gods, and their three hundred heavenly sprites, and +their six hundred earthly sprites. Also, I held converse with their +heroes, Gilgamish and Eabani, the same who came to me in Khem; and, +while I admired their most artificial beards, the mind in my lordly +breast grieved, because (though brave enough and strong) they seemed to +me to be but curly and oily bullocks or gladiators in comparison with +Herakles or Perseys or Kastor and Polydeykes, and the other well-bred +heroes of Olympos. But I held very wily conversation with Belmarduk the +god, gaining certain wisdom which need not be written down here. + +But we journeyed on to the court of the gods of Iran, immortals who +bear the strangest of names, such as Ormuzd whom we Argives call ΦΩϹ +or Light, and Ashem or ΑΛΗΘΕΙΑ meaning Truth, and Vohu Mano or ΕΥΝΟΙΑ +meaning Good Sense, and Khshathrem or ΕΥΝΟΜΙΑ meaning Power, and +Armaiti or ϹΟΦΙΑ meaning Obedience and Haurvatat or ΠΛΟΥΤΟϹ meaning +Perfection. But chiefly was the mind in my dear breast exalted with +pure joy when I came, radiant in my moonlike sheen, into the presence +of Great Mithra. For the unconquered god of the Iranian sun looked upon +me so earnestly, with wise young eyes of such transcendent candour, +that I was moved to know as much as possible from him. Wherefore, I +gave him the _Sign of the Father of Warriors_. Instantly he replied, +signing me with the _Sign of the Father of Bulls_. I gave him the _Sign +of the Father of Lions_; and he signed me with the _Sign of the Father +of Vultures_. I gave him the _Sign of the Father of Ostriches_; and +he signed me with the _Sign of the Father of Ravens_. I gave him the +_Sign of the Father of Gryphons_; and he signed me with the _Sign of +the Father of Perses_. I gave him the _Sign of the Father of Suns_; +and he signed me with the _Sign of Father of Eagles_. I gave him the +_Sign of Father of Falcons_; and he signed me with the _Sign of Father +of Fathers_ which is the summit of the twelve. But, because I was ware +that I had come upon my master, I made myself obedient, gaining such +wisdom as is not lawful to be written, nor even to be uttered, on +account of a religious reason. + +But we journeyed on to the court of Benares; and, having shewn my +charters, we departed as speedily as possible. For it would have been a +shameful deed, to have exposed Queen Helen to the evil communications +of a horde of riotous brutes, apes, reptiles, abortions, frightful +malformations, greasy with rancid butter, dripping with fresh blood +and mildewed with stale, interminably-headed illimitably-armed +innumerably-nippled smirking bestialities, at whose amorous activities +even Olympians were wont to say Phy. For which cause, we just went to +Benares, and we just came from Benares. + +But we journeyed on to the mountain of Sinai. There, at its foot, we +stood silently, during the space of a night and a day and a night, +revering unmentioned and unthought-of mystery. + +But we journeyed on to the court of the gods of Khem. And Mother Isis +being amazed to greet one of her priests and a master of masters of +magic in one who had risen to the rank of a hero and immortal of +Olympos, of her own free will released me from the oath which I swore +to her before Amenemhat the priest of Tanis: for (as she said) it +seemed that the Supreme had dispositions regarding me otherwhere. And +Ptah the Pain-lessener explained why he neglected my torments in the +ordeal of the scorching staff: saying that there was a law in Khem, +made by Ra himself, which ordained that no alleviation of pain should +be due to a mage who, willingly, should accept the ordeals of wisdom’s +way. To whom I answered wilily (reserving a private opinion of my own); +and I said that the laws of the master were good in the eyes of the +servant, and that this law was particularly to be praised: for, had +I been rendered able to hold the scorching staff, I should not have +fallen backward through the rolling wheels of time, regaining Golden +Helen, the Treasure of Hades, nor Love, the Crown of all Wisdom. Which +answer was greatly admired. And so, for a little space, we dwelled with +the well-mannered gods of Khem, amid the groves and fountains of Duät, +hunting with holy cats and kittens by night on the banks of the Nile, +and by day among the dark hills of Amentet. Moreover, having withdrawn +our shapes from the gaze of mortals we visited the temple at Tanis, +where, formerly, I had done many wily deeds. But my friend Amenemhat +had submitted himself to white Death; and I saw his form at Philai, +conveniently mummied in the manner which I myself had invented. For the +eyes of immortals, peers of Pan, obey their particular desires, seeing +(at will) through stone or wood or any other substance, excepting the +substances whose names and virtues and properties are known only to +masters who have the proper spells for using them. But I obtained as +a sweet guest-gift from the gods of Khem, that they would deal kindly +with dead Amenemhat (till I myself could provide for him), lightening +his dreary lot in tedious Amentet as with frequent cups of cream. And, +I must not omit to mention that, while we were still over Egypt, Queen +Helen would have me go with her one day to Nilemouth: for, having once +innocently slain me there, with the kiss of an immortal goddess given +in honourable love to a mortal man, the gentle mind in her fragrant +breast persuaded me that she owed me an amend. And there, indeed, +having openly kissed me on the lips, she hid her rose-red face on mine +while she whispered a secret joy. For I lived again in another. + +But we journeyed on to find the court of the gods of the sea-girt +island, the kingdom of Victory queen of the stalwart stately Anglicans. +And, at length, we found, indeed, the sea-girt island: but there were +no Anglicans, nor venerable Victory the queen, nor any gods at all. +Instead, we saw the place to be infested with a rabble of pygmies, +some black-hairy, others sandy-hairy, all cannibals, obscenely naked, +painted blue, inarticulately howling, whose hag-toothed breastless +females mutilated their innumerable slain abominably. Moreover, they +were worshipping very bad devils, dwarves, giants, furies, hobgoblins, +and other dubious monsters, with hekatombs of idiot boys and girls, +bandy-legged, hairy, knock-kneed, stunted, scraggy, whose throats +they tore with sharp stones, stretching them out stark on cyclopean +boulders, or else with twisted-ozier baskets of human shape, fifty +cubits high, which they stuffed full of babies and enemies, burning +them alive with fire, to the music of screeching. From which horrors +we flew away with Love, having laid hideous inchantments on those +barbarians in relief of the earth which sustained them.[62] + +But we journeyed on to the court of the gods of Scandinavia. For I was +very desirous of seeing Baldur the Beautiful, and of lifting the hammer +of their Thor; and my desire was not ungratified. Baldur, indeed, was +a comely youth in a crude gaunt-boned pink-fleshy way, such as I have +seen a many of among the Argives: but he could not be named with Hermes +of the golden wand, or with any of the olympian immortals, lacking +the effulgent limpidity and transcendent agility of mind without +which a fair body and sprightly limbs are merely dull and devoid of +spiritual quality. And, as for the so-called ponderous hammer of Thor, +it was as a feather in the wily knack-knowing hands of the man who +had burst the fetters of Hades. But the other gods and goddesses of +Scandinavia offered us a disgusting banquet of fishes and bones of +beeves half-charred, half-raw, whereon they themselves browsed, gnawing +interminably, and washing down the gobbets with bucketfuls of fiery +potions, wherewith (anon) they drowned themselves in drunkenness, +stertorously dropping on sleep in the slime where they fell. For which +cause we left them while the night was dark. + +But we journeyed on to the court of the gods of Rome, where Great Zeys +maintained Nestor of Gerenia, lord of chariots, that very wise and +ancient hero, as his embassador. And, in the vast palace of Capitoline +Juppiter was the abode of the Olympian embassage, where, for a time, +I dwelled with Queen Helen, being Nestor’s guests. But it seemed +that nothing could stay the division of counsels among the immortals +any longer. For the Latin gods, implacable, boundless in audacity, +persisted in claiming the sacrifices of all pious persons who dwell +on the wide-bosomed earth: nor would they listen to most interesting +conversations, being tribeless lawless homeless fanulloni, disguised +in the shape of their betters, having not the most rudimentary notion +of the difference between meum and tuum, and loving nothing better +than strife. And day by day they inflated themselves to bursting with +overweening fury, desiring to obtain a monopoly, spurning the just and +moderate claim for supremacy by prescriptive right made by Olympian +Zeys. Yet knightly Nestor, pleasant of speech, the clear-voiced orator +of the Pylians, from whose tongue flowed discourses sweeter than honey, +bravely strove to find some ground of agreement. For he still hoped +that his conversations would avert war. + +And, being over Rome, it seemed to me fitting that I should pass +certain words with that blameless senator whom I once had seen at +Tanis. Him, indeed, I found (by certain simple magic) to be called +Gajus Gargilius Gnipho;[63] and to him I addressed myself without +delay, entering his palace on a moonbeam, at midnight, radiant in my +silver splendour, in stature and in aspect very much more than mortal. +For the fellow had comported himself rather too superciliously, when +he saw me as a stranger in the land of Khem and not very flourishing +of appearance. But, when he saw me in Rome, he fell flat before me, +quaking with terror, babbling obsequious deprecations with a rust-hot +tongue. But I, having twitted him with his former blindness to my +divinity, so severely that he wished himself unborn, gave him sundry +comfortable words: whereat, of his own free will, he vowed a blooming +shrine to me at his villa near Caere, with a flamen and two casmilli +of free birth, and a weekly sacrifice of two white sea-gulls and a +crab, as long as the world should endure men. For thus anxious are rich +mortals to purchase the inattention of the immortals. + +And, by chance, one day, it happened that, when I returned from going +to and fro, alone and unseen, among mortals in the city, hearing the +speech of men, on entering the palace I found old Nestor lying stunned +in my antechamber. And, instantly, terrible Fear invaded the mind in my +breast on account of Golden Helen. + +But, rushing forward, inflaming myself by the way, I found her in her +chamber, gagged with a silken cincture, and struggling in the arms of +truculent Mars. Him, indeed, I dragged about the room, as one drags +an impatient bullock from the altar before his bloody turn, twisting +him; and I dashed the blameless god to the floor with not-innocuous +concussion. But, having released my faithful wife, I bade her to go to +Nestor in his need, and to heal his ill: for she herself was unharmed, +excepting for certain bruises of her lily-like skin which she took from +the grip of the ruffian. And, for these, I made him pay a just price. +First, indeed, he rose from the floor, black in the face with rage. +But I cursed him thereto in good and concise Latin, while he stood +all amazed, being too stupid to think of me as aught but an Olympian +speaking the limpid language of gods and Argives. And I rejoiced in +my lordly mind, at my faculty of venomously-scathing invective, when +I saw how I could exasperate him with my tongue. For the language +of immortals is voluble, and the discourses in it are numerous +and varied; and vast is the distribution of words here and there. +Moreover, whatsoever word one shall speak, such also shall one hear; +and, whatsoever deed one shall do to another shall be repeated with +interest upon oneself. But, when my lickerish swashbuckler had winced +sufficiently, we took to our swords. Now Mars was a war-god whose +habit was to supervise slaughter from his cloudy citadel, descending +to massacre fugitives, and to glut himself with human gore: but he +personally was no more than a slow and clumsy warrior, able (certainly) +to overcome mortals by sheer weight, but no match whatever for an +immortal hero skilled in wiles and expert in all the arts of war. +Wherefore, having dug him well in head and foot, I began to beat him, +abominably bruising his paps. But he bellowed with pain; and fought +wildly, exposing his tender places so that I carved him at my pleasure. +And, when, hacked to shreds, he was ready to fall apart, he took a +great toss from me, hideous in immensity, being pitched from the window +of the palace into the city beneath. But his atoms fell sprawling in +the forecourt of his own temple, crushing the Flamen Martialis as flat +as a corn-cake. But the Romans took it for a portent; and were filled +with forebodings of evil. + +Then, Queen Helen begged me to bear her away from the sullen court +of the blameless Latin divinities, returning to the peak of Olympos, +where the star-crowned Twins would guard her honour during my absence, +if absent I was obliged to be. Even wise old Nestor agreed that +conversations must end here, and war begin. + +But, first, I demanded audience of Juppiter Stator (the most righteous +of gods): whom I told of the crime of his son, and the penalty paid, +demanding also the usual compensations. Whereat the blooming pretender +was very angry, and made a menacing pass at me with his thunder. But, +him, indeed, I mocked most shockingly, flinging at his feet a bunch of +fat fingers hewed off blameless Mars, and giving him warning, on the +part of all the immortals of Olympos, to prepare for war. But he, too +late, cowered, and was for offering satisfaction, saying that he would +make an agreement concerning the heavenly dispute, desiring not the +enmity but the friendship of us Olympians. + +Whom I superbly answered, saying: “Talk now no more of agreements, O +thrice-and-four-times accused pretender and new god. For, as there +are not faithful leagues between lions and men, neither have lambs +and wolves an according mind, but ever meditate evils each against +other, so it is impossible for us and you to contract a friendship. +Long, indeed, have we striven to treat your pretensions leniently, +in accordance with reason: but ye have presumed on our forbearance, +mistaking our gentleness for weakness, and crowning your bloody folly +with a crime, an outrage wrought by a dastard on a daughter and on an +embassador of the king of gods and men. But now it is time to make an +end of you. And I go forthwith to lofty Olympos, to rally against you +the hosts of the splendour of Zeys.” + +Thus I spoke; and having by magic called my silver-shining chariot, I +led to it Queen Helen, and Nestor the Argive, who was not to be left +to the mercy of Juppiter Stator; and, when they had mounted to their +places, I placed on the floor the sword of atrocious Mars, intending to +take it as a trophy and a perpetual memorial. But I, also, was about to +ascend beside them, when there came heavily prancing certain blameless +divine ones, squalid of demeanour and agitated of aspect, offering +gifts on the part of the Capitoline god, and begging for a little +respite. And I, having relieved my blooming mind by speaking fierce +opinions to them, and being not at all times implacable but rather +inclined to urbanity, actually did delay for an instant, revolving the +whole matter in my mind, and waiting to hear what might be proposed. +But, even while I tarried thus, my godly eyes clearly saw revengeful +Bellona, sister and pander of Mars, beginning to harness the hounds of +war to her chariot round the corner. + +Then, indeed, I turned upon thievish Mercury the messenger, an ape-like +imitator of my wing-footed grandsire, saying: “Return, O messenger, to +Capitoline Juppiter, to whom do thou tell all things openly as I charge +thee: so that all the gods of all the wide-rolling heavens also may +be indignant, even if he (clad in impudence) still dares to deceive +any of the immortals. Let him not (doglike as he is and not godlike) +ever hope to look in my face again as an equal. I neither will join in +counsel nor in action with him: for having already offended me, now he +will try to deceive me. He shall not again over-reach me with lying +words. Enough for him once to do so. But let him perish in quiet: for +Great Zeys, no doubt, has deprived him of reason. Hateful to me are his +gifts, and himself I value not a hair.” + +Thus I spoke: but my heart and noble mind were delighted in my breast. +And, having ascended my silver-shining chariot, Queen Helen pulled the +chain; and faithful Love flew away with us as swiftly as a bird or a +thought. But my great black bow began to sing very gloriously of war, +as we left the Super-Capitol, making bright the eyes, hardening the +body, and kindling flames within the mind: for fierce-hearted Bellona +pursued us, over the breadth of Apulia to the unvintaged sea. But +being loathe to fight with a bloody female and (moreover) a blameless +Latin one armed with a bow which to mine was but as a toy, I loosed +my death-bringing shafts backward against the hackles of her blooming +war-hounds, throwing them into confusion. And she, cursing obscenely, +turned, retracing her difficult way. + +In this manner I did deeds, wily, and also audacious, visiting the +courts of strange gods who bear rule over barbarians. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[61] Mexico, Japan, and China, I presume. A. H. + +[62] The writer would seem to have hit upon some remote parts of Wales, +or perhaps Scotland, to which Roman civilization had not penetrated. +This is rather unfortunate. For the general condition of the +“sea-girt island” _cf._ Codrington, _Roman Roads in Britain_, and Mr. +Haverfield’s amazingly luminous monographs on _Roman Britain_. At the +same time, we must not forget that the Scotch did really worship demons +originally, which is why their descendants have jumped at Puritan +theology, as Mr. Chesterton expressly demonstrates. A. H. + +[63] This is valuable for testing the authenticity of these documents. +_Cf._ Hor. _Ep._ I. vi. 59-63: “Gargilius ... Ithacensis Ulixi.” The +importance of this can hardly be minimized. A. H. + + + + + THE TWENTY-NINTH PAPYRUS + + +But the way in which we Olympians went forth to war was on this wise. + +King Zeys, armed with black clouds and white thunder, sat throned in +the areiopagos of the immortals, collecting his forces, assigning +commands and stations. For, as when some hairy barbarian (devoid +of reason) was wont to prance minaciously in the vicinity of the +flowing-haired ingenuous Akhaians, or as when some city (jealous, +or what-not) warred against its neighbour or some bumptious young +colony against its staid and respectable mother-city, all the other +Argives were wont to mingle themselves hilariously together against +the foe, so, also, when the Olympian gods are menaced, each one (from +the highest to the lowest) and including the heroes takes up arms in +defence of his dear motherland. + +But King Zeys, whose joy is in the thunder, bade golden-wanded Hermes +to summon from the house of shady Hades the shades of innumerable +heroes who had not attained immortality; and these were as unnumbered +as are leaves and flowers in their season: nor could I number them, +did not the Muses, daughters of Zeys of the dark and holy Aigis, put +into my mind the names of some who came at call to lofty Olympos. +For, when the Olympians go forth to war, then the shades of heroes +are called from the netherworld, and are endowed with bodies. But, if +they stolidly permit themselves to be slaughtered in battle, they lose +an opportunity of attaining immortality and return as shades to the +house of Hades for at least another hundred years. Such, indeed, is +the law. But I remember that these were called from the netherworld, +to wit, yellow-haired fleet-footed Akhilleys, and daring Patroklos +his dear comrade, and red-haired Neoptolemos his son as brave as his +father, and horse-taming Diomedes, and Phoinix dear to Zeys, and +blameless Telamonian Aias the Great, and Lokrian Aias the Little, +and great-hearted Iphitos, and Abantian Elephenor breathing fury +(whose hair flowed behind), and high-hearted Erekhtheys, and godly +Eyryalos, and Agamemnon shepherd of the people, and warlike Agapenor, +and stalwart Diores, and pious Polyxeinos, and Meges peer of Ares, +and large-souled Oineys, and gold-haired Meleagros, and Idomeneys the +famous spearman fierce as flame, and Meriones peer of the man-slaying +war-god, and goodly tall Tlepolemos the Rhodian son of Herakles, and +Philoktetes the cunning archer, and glorious Eyrypylos, and unflinching +Polypoites, and fleet Prothoos, and sage Antenor, and high-stepping +Pandaros, and fluent Talthybios the herald, and comely Sthenelos, and +the lusty cheerful stripling Simoeisios, and well-greaved Tydeys, and +noble Hypsenor, and glancing-eyed Diokles, and innocent Pylaimenes, +and Mydon the squire, and that nymph-born shepherd Boykolion, and +haughty Bellerophon. And these, being summoned, gathered with speed. + +And, as the many tribes of well-plumed birds, wild geese, or swans or +long-necked cranes, or even blooming bustards, on the Asian meadow +by River Kaystros, fly hither and thither enjoying their plumage, +and (with loud cries) settle ever onward, and the meadow resounds, +so poured forth the many tribes of warriors, with Theseys the most +righteous of men, from the house of Hades; and they joined with the +immortal heroes, lion-hearted Herakles, and my own cousin Perseys +of the sea (the most renowned of heroes), and Kastor the tamer of +horses, and Polydeykes the pugilist, and magnanimous Iason with his +nine-and-forty generous marine Argonayts, and with others quite +innumerable whose names I have not written for a religious reason: all +mingled together manning the walls of lofty Olympos. + +Then came forth from their well-built golden palaces, Ares the lordly +stormer of battlements, and Phoibos Apollon lord of the silver bow, and +his chaste sister Artemis the Archer wearing the moon. And bright-eyed +Pallas Athene cast off her rainbow-hued garments which she herself had +woven; and did on her armour for battle. And, about her shoulders, she +put the terrible Aigis, which knows neither age nor death, whereon +wave a hundred taslets of pure gold, all deftly twisted, and each +worth a hundred oxen: whereon, also, is Panic as a crown round about, +and Strife, and Valour, and horrible Onslaught withal; and thereon, +also, is the grisly snake-haired head of Medoysa the Gorgon, a portent +dreadful and grim. And upon her virginal head, she set the two-crested +golden casque of fourfold plates bedecked with the men-at-arms of a +hundred cities. And she brandished the great stout spear, wherewith she +vanquishes and demolishes all with whom her immortal sire is wrath. +But Hephaistos, the glorious lame god, sweated in toil, busy about the +bellows and the anvil in his house of bronze, imperishable, star-like, +far-seen among the abodes of the immortals: for he was forging +thunderbolts, with arms, and armour. + +And, anon, came running the Hora Dike, warden of the cloudy gate, +bringing news that the Latins were approaching in battle-array. + +But, instantly, we were pouring out, like wasps who dwell by the +roadside: whom silly boys are wont to irritate, incessantly harassing +creatures possessing cells by the wayside, and causing a common +evil to many. And, as when thick snow-flakes flutter down, born in +the æther and chilled by the blasts of Boreas, so, thickly streamed +forth brightly-glittering helms and bossy shields, with strong-plated +corslets and nastily-pointed spears. And the sheen thereof filled the +heavens near; and the world underneath winked at the flashing of gold +and silver and at the noise of the trampling; and our teeth gnashed +together; and our eyes blazed like so many flaming fires. + +But wing-footed Hermes and wind-borne Iris flew, like unseen +arrows, the one to azure-haired Poseidon lord of the ocean, the +other to blameless Hades lord of the netherworld, always collecting +reinforcements. And gallant young Love, ruddy, naked and invulnerable, +rushed with me into the mellay. For no shafts are more deadly than +Love’s. + +And the war-chariot of King Zeys the Scarer thundered, awfully rolling +along by the polished colonnades of palaces, bearing the father and +king of gods and men to the forefront of the fray. + +But King Quirinus was leading the heroes of the Latins, all blameless +of course, with Aulus master of knights on the left and Furius on the +right, with Herminius in the rear. Turnus served under King Quirinus, +with Mamilius prince of the Latian name. Under Aulus, served Metius +of Anxur and Astur lord of Luna. Under Furius, served showy Curtius, +the forlorn hope. These were all the most righteous of heroes. But the +Latin gods preferred to look on, sullen, from the rear, in what they +fondly deemed to be security. + +Thus, immortals were matched against pseud-immortals. + + + + + THE THIRTIETH PAPYRUS + + +Then the Father and King of gods and men thundered appallingly from +above, and, from beneath, the sea-king Poseidon set the vast earth +shaking, even to the tops of her blooming mountains. And the brazen +voice of impetuous Ares resounded through the press of battle; and +bravely-steadfast Herakles strewed the Latin heroes in swathes, +sweeping his club here and there, shattering shins, causing the marrow +to spurt from spines, so that knees became loosened; and sweet Death +in a white cloud enveloped them while life left their bones. But the +lord and lady of the silver bows rained down their hot arrows, which +hissed into wet eye-sockets, forcing-in the pupils, and going forward +into the backs of the heads: so that many heroes sat down without +warning or thrones, stretching out both their hands for nothing. And +blissful Pallas Athene smote many, with her spear, where a puncture is +particularly painful: so that they panted, spinning round and round +upon the point like cockchafers, writhing, holding their interiors in +their hands, until white Death veiled their two eyes wanting life. + +But I, on the battlements, saw naught but brave Horatius, heard naught +save his personal challenge to me, felt naught save the blows which he +delivered to my address, touched naught save him, smelt naught save +his delicious blood and sweat mingling with ichor of the immortals. +For I drove my bloody spear into his shield; and pinned it to his arm. +But his spear tore away my silver helmet crested with the prides of +nine white peacocks. Then, indeed, I leaped upon him with my sword, +protecting my head with my fluttering targe. Nor did he abide my +onslaught: but he retired pace by pace; and a shower of sparks burst +out of his armour as I shattered it bit by bit. But, perceiving that +he was on the very verge of the wall, I hustled him so horribly with +my great glittering shield, that, stepping back, he fell for nineteen +days, reaching the bountiful earth at length in the form of a thin red +rain. But I recovered my silver helmet, running sidewise at Furius, +who was pressing the red-haired boy Neoptolemos son of implacable +Akhilleys; and him, too, we hustled from the summit of the wall. But +the stripling laughed; and he fought beside me, fighting as I did, +shoving with very weighty shields, till we had cleared a little space: +for the assault was keen. + +But Pallas Athene of the terrible Aigis came whirling along the open +way in her war-chariot, shouting aloud and frightfully in the Orthian +strain. And scores of the blameless Latins she squashed to pulp, or +hurled from the height. But then, indeed, when one might have begun to +think about victory, suddenly I heard the voice of Queen Helen calling +me by name. To whom I revolved like a flash of white thunder. + +But the divine one of goddesses was flying toward me in the +pleasure-chariot of white-armed Hera the queen, woven of golden thongs +plaited tightly, with pole and wheels and yoke and harness of gold. +And peacocks drew it, flying on large wings coloured of cinnamon and +ebony, with quivering crests and necks of shining blue, and waving +golden prides which gleamed each with a hundred purple eyes. She cried +to me as she came: for a faithful wife (being troubled) thinks that no +one but her dear husband can relieve her. And she said that constant +Regulus, and Scipio the African, and Gajus Martius of Corioli, were +attacking on the north, having scaled the wall: whom Queen Hera and the +goddesses were withstanding, as best they might, with golden tiles and +paving-stones and jars and bowls and stairs, hurled from the blooming +towers. + +And I heard the saying of Queen Helen, with those who fought near me; +and, instantly, we ran roaring to repel the invaders. And yellow-haired +Akhilleys the bravest of heroes ran with me, and red-haired Neoptolemos +his son, and Idomeneys strong as flame, and Diomedes of the loud +war-cry, and magnanimous Iason, and glancing-eyed Diokles, and +golden-haired Meleagros, and my own cousin Perseys of the sea (the +most renowned of heroes), nine in all. But we, ravening with fury, +fell upon the Latins; and I myself engaged Titus son of Tarquinius, +a gallant enough hero, who (after some striving) took a toss from me +into the sea, the abode of fishes, where eels might eat him, nibbling +the white fat round his kidneys. But only implacable Akhilleys remained +alive beside me, having his breath upon the height of Olympos, with +glancing-eyed Diokles who became my sweet friend, and also Perseys the +immortal hero. And all the might of the Latins was surging round to the +north wall; and Titus Manlius of the golden collar was leading them. +But we three fought grimly on. + +Then leaped-up in her might Strife the rouser of hosts. Then Pallas +Athene sent forth a cry. And Ares shouted, terrible as the blackness of +storms. Then came Artemis of the silver arrows and the echoing chase, +and Phoibos Apollon darting afar. Then the Father and King of gods and +men came lamping and toning terrifically from above. Then came Hermes +the Helper. + +And shady Hades, lord of the netherworld, leaped from his black throne, +bursting his bandages, in terror lest the earth should again be riven +by King Poseidon irascibly rolling great billows about: so loud was the +din made by us immortals. And, at King Zeys’ behest, King Hades gave up +a new host of heroes to Hermes the Helper, Lysander and Leonidas those +dirty-knuckled Lakonians, and Alkibiades and Nikias the Athenians, +and Makedonian Alexandros, and lacerated Prometheys, and thirsty +Tantalos, and wise Telemakhos my son and prudent Penelope’s, and +unknowing Telegonos my son and Kirke’s of the awful braided tresses, +and Teykros the bowman, and belted Orion, and gigantic Tityros, and +even the blameless Dardanian heroes of Ilion to fight for the gods of +lofty Olympos, to wit, Hektor of the glancing helm, and pious runaway +Aineias, and Amphios of the linen corslet, and Asios prince of men, and +Hippothoos skilled with the spear, and well-legged Phorkys, and uncouth +Nastes, and Sarpedon counseller of the Lykians, and noble Glaykos, and +naked Lykaon, and equal-handed Asteropaios, and Polydoros the runner, +all the most righteous of heroes, thirsty for bloodshed and buzzing +like shameless mosquitoes. + +And now the heavens were filled with gods and heroes, and ablaze with +arms; and the earth below rang with the noise of the feet of them, as +they rushed together for the fray. For we, the Olympians, like ravening +lions, were leaping out, fulfilling the will of loud-thundering Zeys +ordaining a backward chase of the Latins. They, indeed, of necessity +were compelled to give way; and many fair brands, dark-scabbarded and +dark-hilted, fell to the earth, some from the hands and some with the +severed hands of warriors, so that the black earth was splashed with a +hail of the juices of heroes. + +But, scattering, the Latins broke, and fled in confusion, driven in +utter rout; and hero called after hero to engage in single combat, +slaying each his own. And, wherever the king of gods and men saw them +thickest in flight, thither did he guide his blooming chariot with +resounding cries; and, under his axle-trees, the Latins fell prone and +were ground up, till not one remained in life: but they were pushed +into the land of the shades. + +And, even as tempests oppress the black earth in autumn, when Zeys +pours forth rain most vehemently, being wrath against men who judge +crooked judgments forcibly and drive justice out: so, mightily, then, +we followed the blameless gods of the Romans; and they fled as men flee +before lions and bloody unicorns. For Panic and Terror and terrible +Fear bounded behind them yelling hideously: so that they fled, over the +mountains of Makedonia, and woody Epiros, and the Ionian Sea, and also +over Apulia, never staying, till (at length) they cowered above the +Capitol of Rome, expecting the doom of the vanquished. + +In this manner, was there war in the wide-rolling heavens. + + + + + THE THIRTY-FIRST PAPYRUS + + +But King Zeys called together the areiopagos of the immortals. + +And, when the twelve great gods were standing round, in their +well-carved lofty war-chariots, the Latin gods crouched, miserable, +whimpering, chained, in the midst before them. And it was openly +manifest that they, presumptuous ones, overweening in arrogance, had +the audacity to shape themselves (as far as they were able) after +the manner of the divine ones who inhabit olympian palaces: as the +barbarians, Egyptians, or Sikels, or Thrakians, or Bithynians, whom the +Argives take for slaves, mimic the manners of their masters, clumsily +counterfeiting their aspect. Yet, as the Argives are mortal and so are +the barbarians, being alike in that respect but not in anything else, +in the same way both the Olympian and the Latin gods were immortal, +agreeing in no other similitude. But all the company of heaven +marvelled exceedingly, and none knew the counsels of King Zeys. + +But the Father and King of gods and men, whose joy is in the thunder, +spoke, saying: “Hearken to me, O all gods and all ye blooming +goddesses, hearing that which my mind within my breast commandeth me. +And one thing let none assay, be it goddess or be it god, to thwart my +opinion: but approve it, ye, unanimously, that I may quickly accomplish +it. For ye know how far I am made the mightiest of all gods. Go to, +now, ye gods, make trial that ye may know. Fasten ye a golden rope from +heaven; and all ye gods lay hold thereof and all goddesses: yet could +ye not drag me from heaven to earth, even Zeys, the counsellor of The +Supreme, not though ye toiled sorely. But, an I were minded to drag it, +then I should draw you up, with the blooming earth and the sea withal: +by so much more am I beyond gods, and beyond men, and all the rest of +it.” + +Thus he spoke: but we all kept silence and were still, marvelling +at his saying, for he spoke very masterfully. But, at last, the +bright-eyed goddess Pallas Athene said: “O our father Zeys, well we +know (even we) that thy might is unyielding. Yet we have piety for +these thy prisoners, fools, who now shall perish and fulfil an evil +fate.” + +Then Zeys the Cloud-gatherer smiled at her, saying: “Be of good +comfort, dear child: for I am not minded to be unkindly. But, hearken, +O all gods and all ye goddesses; and see the justice of Zeys. For these +cringing immortals (from what part of the heavens they come, I know +not), having taken shapes similar to ours on some false pretences, +audacious ones, have not been content with the worship of their Romans, +but, bursting with arrogance, they have presumed to claim also the +worship of the rolling-eyed Argives. Long, indeed, have I been patient +with them, with fair words and deeds: but they have ventured to bring +war to lofty Olympos. Witless that they are, to be wrath in their folly +against Zeys, who (sitting all by himself) careth not, nor taketh +any thought about them: for I deem that I, among immortal gods, am +manifestly preeminent in power and might etcetera. Wherefore, let them +content themselves with whatsoever sorrows I shall send on each one of +them.” + +But fierce impetuous Ares stood high in his war-chariot; whereto were +yoked his horses Fear and Dread; and he slapped his strong thighs with +his hands flatwise, saying: “O lord of the lightning and the dark +cloud, smite them with the thunderbolts; and let them lie among the +dead in dust and blood.” + +But, when they heard this awful word, the Latin gods leaped up to touch +the beard and the knees of Zeys, crying aloud in a panic-terror as they +bobbed up and down, saying: “We supplicate thee by thy beard, and by +thy knees, and by thy parents, to take good store of gold and korinthic +bronze (which is platinum and better than gold) as a ransom, and to let +us go in peace.” + +But, unto them, the Father and King of gods and men, with grimmer gaze, +responded, saying: “Dogs, dogs, supplicate me not by beard or knees or +parents: for neither a tenfold nor a twentyfold ransom can make amends +for rebellion. Nevertheless, seeing that ye be immortal, even as are +also we others, white Death may not come anigh you. But let us hear +much-contriving Odysseys, the Peer of Zeys in counsel: for perchance he +hath some apt unwinged sentence of judgment in his wily mind.” + +Then, indeed, I stood up before all the blooming company of +heaven, in my silver-shining chariot inlaid with crabs and moons +in mother-of-pearl, but Love was my charioteer; and thus I said: +“Immortality to immortals, and nothings to nothingness.” + +And all the gods and goddesses (bestowers of good things) stood in +their own war-chariots; and inextinguishable laughter arose among the +blessed gods, when they heard my wily words. + +But great Zeys said: “It pleaseth us; and, so, of our own free will, we +command that it shall be done.” + +And, immediately, all the gods and goddesses of Olympos leaped upon +all the blameless gods and goddesses of Rome, Zeys upon Juppiter, +and Hera upon Juno, Helios Hyperion upon Sol, and Selene upon Luna, +Phoibos Apollon upon Apollo, and Artemis upon Diana, Ares upon Mars, +and Iakkhos Dionysos upon Bacchus, Eros upon Cupid, and Aphrodite +upon Venus, Hermes upon Mercury, and Pallas Athene upon Minerva, +Demeter upon Ceres, and Hephaistos upon Vulcan, Hades upon Pluto, +and Persephone upon Proserpina, Kastor and Polydeykes upon Castor +and Pollux, Herakles upon Hercules, and Poseidon upon Neptune, and +innumerable others upon others innumerable, pouncing upon them, like +falcons biting the bloody brains of baser birds, buzzards, and such, +sucking out their immortality. + +And the forms of the Latin gods, like flies in the webs of assiduous +spiders, lifeless, and very void, fell back, dropping from heaven to +earth; and the speed of their falling ground them to powder, so that +they became as red dust, and a most awful portent for their Romans on +whom they fell. For, by chance, at this same time, the Romans were +perturbed by a political crisis, connected with that Gajus Julius +Cæsar, a king of men and a shepherd of the people. For, when they saw +fierce fiery warriors fighting on the clouds, in ranks and squadrons +and right forms of war, which drizzled blood of heroes on the Capitol, +and, when they heard the neighing of horses and the groans of ghosts +of heroes, slain, shrieking, squealing, going to the land of shades, +then, indeed, blind madness entered into them; and they slew their +precious Cæsar. Thus, the heavens themselves blaze forth the death of +princes.[64] + +But the immortal gods, more amply immortal than ever (if that were +possible), returned to their dear motherland bearing the spoils of +victory; and the divine ones inhabiting olympian palaces began to +receive the worship of the Romans, as was due. + +In this manner, was there peace in the wide-rolling heavens. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[64] This, I take for a somewhat Shakespearian reminiscence (or +prevision) on the part of Mr. C. Cf. _Julius Cæsar_, Act II., Scene ii. +A. H. + + + + + THE THIRTY-SECOND PAPYRUS + + +But King Zeys lavished rich rewards, dividing the Roman territories +among gods and heroes, giving temples to some and altars to others, to +say nothing of blank walls eligible for immortal effigies. But, because +I was by no means anxious to have assigned to me the worship of mortal +men (for, having been myself a man more than once, I know something +about the value of men’s worship; and I care as little for suitors who +adulate as for enemies who feel bound to propitiate), then, the Father +and King of gods and men deigned to give me a wish, confirming the same +with his nod, which is the surest pledge among the immortals. And I +said that I would treasure this wish in my heart, so that I might use +it on occasion: for I desired, at that moment, nothing more than to +live in peace and love with Golden Helen. And that, I did. + +Living in peace and love, thus, we entertained ourselves with hunting +bears, dragons, and urchins,[65] on the long slopes of lofty Olympos, +or with delicate banquets in the halls of various gods. I, also, +went frequently to and fro among mortal men, generally invisibly, +amusing myself with their affairs. Also, I was wont to disport myself +in my well-benched galley, a wonder to be seen, being drawn by Love +over the grey-green sea at my will. For Hermes my grandsire, and +bravely-steadfast Herakles, and my own cousin Perseys of the sea (the +most renowned of heroes), used to accompany me in my jaunts; and, when +these immortals saw my faithful slaves Neandros and Thalos, being +cognizant of their fidelity and their fearlessness, and, also, having +observed the ingenious mind and the stalwart form of Neandros and the +luminous innocence of Thalos, then, indeed, they shewed them signal +favours, putting into their minds a knowledge of many secrets which the +gods and heroes find useful at times. Nor were the slaves afraid to +have to do with these divine ones, having already braved the terrors +of the netherworld with me, than which there is nothing more terrible, +excepting a really horrid woman. But, because I (by magic art) had +bound their lives to mine, and, because Great Zeys, in reward of my +endurance and my wiles, had indued me with immortality, so Neandros +and Thalos, being immortal as well (though they were neither gods nor +heroes, but only the most comely and most faithful and most clever of +slaves), became habituated to mingle themselves as conveniently with +immortals as with mortals. Which is a wonderful and blessed thing. + + +But, after a few moons, when I from time to time returned to lofty +Olympos, it seemed to me that Queen Helen was less cheerful than +heretofore. And, when, one day, I found her sitting alone in her close +chamber, weaving a white and silver shirt for me to wear at banquets, +and the lids of her amber eyes were reddened as though with weeping, +then, indeed, I required her to declare to her dear husband the cause +of her grief. But she laid her head on my breast, letting fall a round +tear: nor did she hide aught from me. + +For, the long-smouldering jealousy of blameless Queen Aphrodite (the +lady of the dog-star) had been breaking forth; and she was quite +unable to remember good manners in the presence of Queen Helen. But +it was plain to us all, that, as Queen Helen was far lovelier than +she, Queen Aphrodite was no longer the goddess of beauty, though she +still was the goddess of certain kinds of love. Yet, even on the last +count, she complained, being shockingly jealous and upset. For she was +aggrieved because ruddy young Love gave her little of his blooming +company, having bound himself (with a silver chain) in service to me +and to Queen Helen, flying here and there through air and shy for our +exclusive diversion, neglecting her (his mamma) and other divine ones +inhabiting olympian palaces. Which, indeed, was not altogether untrue: +though hitherto we had not given the matter a thought. + +Furthermore, white-armed Queen Hera (the most righteous of goddesses), +had been speaking unpleasant words. For that prim matron, being +jealous also, because King Zeys the Swan had procreated Golden Helen +and her Great Twin Brothers out of matrimony, was wont to sneeze more +or less covertly, giggling, flinging the names of victorious Theseys +and sandy-haired impotent old Menelaos and woman-mad Paris at my +stainless wife, designing to shame her and to deprive her mind of ease. + +And all this was a very dreadful thing for a chaste and loving wife to +bear. For, though bright-eyed Pallas Athene, and silvan Artemis (that +wise athletic maiden), and fruitful Demeter and powerful Persephone +(those noble matrons), and fair-ankled Hebe, and Iris of the rainbow, +and all the other lady goddesses, being well-bred as well as well-born, +behaved themselves to Queen Helen as to an equal, peerless in beauty +and admirable for her faithful love, nevertheless, the unconcealed +jealousy of the two flawed the fair apricock of her perfect joy. And, +moreover, it must not be denied that the pique of Queen Aphrodite and +the spleen of Queen Hera (both quite blameless) was, or would be, a +cause of wrath, and secret stirring up of strife, and wordy bickering, +and malice, and hinted lies, and curious reservations, and careful +slightings, which would set all heaven by its blooming ears. And that +is what no honest goddess can endure with a calm and holy mind. + +Now, because of my unalloyed happiness, and because of my light-hearted +absences, I had been ignorant of all these matters. But, when I +understood them, having reproached myself sufficiently on account +of my selfishness, then, indeed, divine Fury inflamed the mind in my +noble breast with desire of bloody head-cuttings and eye-diggings and +revenges and slaughters and maimings and stonings and spine-impalings. +But, first, I consoled Queen Helen properly. + +Then I began to bethink me of most shocking things, to wit, of +certain cunning wiles whereby those two blameless goddesses might +be made laughing-stocks, ridiculous among the divine ones who have +never lost their faces. For I remembered that this would not be very +difficult, for, once upon a time, Great Zeys himself had occasion to +dangle white-armed Hera (the most righteous of goddesses) between +heaven and earth for several months, having fastened anvils to her fat +ankles, because she was excessively offensive. And even Hephaistos of +the strong arm once caught blameless Aphrodite, his wife, diverting +herself gaily with Ares; and he cast a magic web about them so that +all the gods and goddesses might go and gibe at them at pleasure. +And, indeed, it would not be difficult for anyone to make Queen +Aphrodite look absurd: as most of the gods and heroes, and very many +articulately-speaking men well know. + +But Queen Helen was averse from all unkindness, and, as aforetime, when +persecuted, she begged me to take her away from the netherworld, and +from Khalkis, and likewise from Rome, so, now, indeed, she implored +me to take her away from the height of Olympos, going (she said) +peacefully, to seek some distant little kingdom on the wide-bosomed +earth, where we (divine ones and immortal), having ourselves endured +unmentioned and unthought-of pains, and possessing the secret wisdom of +the gods, might live in peace and love with ourselves, doing good and +kindly deeds among mortal men. + +Now it happened, by chance, that (in my wanderings to and fro) I had +never been altogether unmindful of the prediction of Belmarduk the god +of Assyria, which he made to me when I dreamed in my barge in Egypt. +And, once, when I was flying in my Love-drawn chariot, over the Aigaian +Sea, and over Asia and Galatia and Kappadokia and Armenia, I espied the +fair little realm of Moxoene, where mountains and pine and oak-forests +were set round and about the salt Thospitian Sea; and the folk of the +place were singularly comely, and intelligent and brave, having also +ingenious and reverend minds: but they seemed to be as sheep without a +shepherd. + +Wherefore, I determined that the time had come for obeying the decrees +of The Supreme, fulfilling the prediction of Belmarduk the god, and +the sixth prediction which Thalos my innocent slave read in the +palm-mirror. Moreover, I remembered the wish which Great Zeys had +confirmed to me. + +For which causes, then, I gave a great and splendid banquet to the +immortals; and, when we had taken away the desire of eating and +drinking (for I provided very exquisite odours of unmentioned and +unthought-of fragrance), then, I stood up on my throne before them all; +and my lordly spirit thus addressed Great Zeys, saying: “O Father and +King of gods and men, let it not be imputed to me for an evil word when +I ask that the drink-offering may be poured, and that I may go upon +my way. For I am a little tired. For it seems that there is jealousy +among the immortal goddesses because of the superior beauty of Golden +Helen, to whom white-armed Hera and Aphrodite (lady of the dog-star) +have spoken unwinged words. And they also complain because tameless +Eros, the oldest and youngest of all gods, hath willingly tamed himself +so far and for this occasion only to go before me and before Queen +Helen in the way. For which cause, then, this is my wish, which thou +already hast confirmed to me by thine irrevocable nod. I wish to go +away at once, and in peace, from this blooming peak of Olympos, with +Queen Helen my unsullied wife, and with my gear, that we may live once +more among earth-trampling men, among whom we shall not be the least, +seeing that we are immortal and have the secret wisdom of the gods. And +I have found the kingdom of Moxoene by the Thospitian Sea, where I wish +to dwell. Now, then, send me on my way, giving me good fortune, that +I may take my noble wife to the beautiful home which I shall make for +her. But ye, blessed gods, be pleased to abide here, all of you, making +glad your own blooming wives and children, and enjoying all sorts of +delicious delights.” + +Thus I spoke. And my heart and lordly mind were exultant in my breast. +For immense confusion and hubbub arose among the immortal gods; and +the two jealous queens (the most righteous of goddesses), thoroughly +exasperated by the wily and audacious mildness of my contemptuous +words, bridled and sniffed, tossing their heads and beating their fat +knees, glancing this way and that, madly, and saying that so many rash +things had never been said before for them to sit there and hear. + +But wing-footed Hermes, my grandsire, said: “Let him go where he will, +this much-enduring much-contriving Odysseys who is surely Peer of Zeys +in counsel, and Queen Helen who is indubitably the loveliest of mortals +or immortals: for my rede is that my child deserves to be satisfied. +But I myself will never be very far away from him in Moxoene; and, when +ye gods by chance shall want a messenger, take blooming Iris of the +rainbow.” + +But bravely-steadfast Herakles said: “Let him go where he will, this +hero Odysseys, and Queen Helen the most faithful of wives: for they +ought to have some happiness after so much ill. But I myself will be at +their call, whenever they ask for a champion.” + +But in like manner also spoke my own cousin Perseys of the sea, the +most renowned of heroes. And all the important gods and goddesses +signified approval in the customary manner. + +But Eros leaped up, blindfolded, naked, like a young and ruddy flame; +and he said: “Oh, let them go where they will. But thou, O Great Zeys, +whom I not seldom have wounded, be ware that I will not desert such +true lovers as these. And, if thou keepest me here, thou wilt keep no +more of me than my body. But I will make me a nest in their hearts for +ever and ever. For I know where I am a welcome guest, and where I am +unwelcome, and where I am treated simply as a blooming pastime with +childish play, and where with due worship and honour.” + +Then, the Father and King of gods and men drew down his immortal +eyebrows: for the matter was an extremely grave one; and he gave +judgment, saying: “Let us by any means secure a quiet life. And, +forasmuch as King Odysseys desireth to leave us peaceably, retiring to +an earthly kingdom with his dear wife and his proper paraphernalia, let +him go to Moxoene thus. And let them have all health and comfort in +their going. It pleaseth us; and, so, of our own free will, we command +that it shall be done.” + +Therefore, when Morning donned her saffron robes, and ascended from +bathing in the streams of ocean, to give light to immortals and +mortals, then, all the divine ones (save the two blameless queens), +having loaded my chariot with sweet gifts, came gateward to speed us on +our way. But Aphrodite the lady of the dog-star (the most righteous of +goddesses) pettishly called for her son, holding him between her knees +for once, and caressing his ruddy young neck, with malicious intent to +prevent him from going with us. + +But then, indeed, a marvellous portent was manifested. + +For my gigantic silver-shining chariot, inlaid with crabs and moons +in mother-of-pearl, stood in the gateway of lofty Olympos loaded +with my gear. And, poised on the front of its rail, was the silver +image of Love, larger than life, blindfolded, naked, most alluringly +proportioned, with his well-winged arms spread abroad in the very act +of taking flight; and his reins were girded with the silver chain, of +which the taslets dangled behind down to the rail of the chariot. But, +when Queen Helen saw that invidious hag detaining our charioteer out +of jealousy, then, she looked at me sadly, letting fall a round tear, +not knowing how we should go. To whom I spoke unwinged words, saying +very firmly: “Mount, my child, nor be affrighted with any amazement +whatever: for dreadful among mortals and immortals is the wrath of a +suppliant. And we, indeed, are the suppliants of Love.” + +Thus I spoke: but we two mounted in turn; and Queen Helen pulled the +chain, having confidence in the promise of the god. And, as she worked +the magic inchantment, both our hearts glowed with undying fire. And +we saw young and ruddy Eros, clasped between his wretched mother’s +knees, become suddenly white and rigid: but he himself came; and the +silver image of Love lived, and was Love, bursting into ardent life, +and flying away with us, leaving no more than the wraith of Love with +Aphrodite (most righteous of goddesses) howling on lofty Olympos. + +Thus, then, I left the abodes of the immortals, coming to rule my +kingdom of Moxoene on the grain-giving earth. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[65] I do hope and trust, and (in fact) I believe that he means +“hedgehogs”: though I confess that I myself never derived much real +sport from the chase of those beasts. Perhaps “porpentines” would be a +more exact rendering. A. H. + + + + + THE THIRTY-THIRD PAPYRUS + + +Now the deeds which I have done and the wiles which I have wrought, in +my kingdom of Moxoene, are on this wise. And, seeing that they are both +great and numerous, I will have them fairly written out by the hand of +Empedokles son of Polypemon, my scribe, on one-and-twenty new rolls of +fine papyrus, and sealed with my kingly sigil. + +On the first roll, it shall be written of my coming with Queen Helen to +Moxoene, flying out of the open heaven in my silver-shining chariot, +having a glorious sheen like the moon. And, when the people saw us, +they received us with gladness and piety and exquisite sacrifices: for, +though we scintillated with truly godly splendour, and appeared to be +of very much more than mortal stature, yet we were benign of aspect and +not terrible; and the tribes (also) of the country are not slavish or +timid by nature, but brave and strong, and of an upright ingenious mind. + +On the second roll, it shall be written of the stablishing of my +kingdom. For, when the news of my coming went abroad, then, the chiefs +of the fifteen tribes between the Great River[66] and River Araxes +and Media Atropatene with Assyria and Mesopotamia came, of their own +free will, to pay homage to me, swearing faithful allegiance. And these +were the fifteen princes of the fifteen tribes of Akilisene and Derxene +and Phasianene and Bagravandene and Dasranalene and Khorzianene and +Balabitene and Astianene and Anzitene and Sophene and Arzanene and +Gordavanene and Arapakitene and Thositene and Moxoene. + +On the third roll, it shall be written of the constitution of my +kingdom as a limited theocracy: for I, the king, and Helen, the queen, +accept the obedience and the worship of the nation, as god and goddess +of Moxoene, for the present and in the absence of anything better. +Here, also, it shall be written of the manner of the said obedience and +worship: of the language of Moxoene: of my kingly name Balthazar, and +the signification of the same. + +On the fourth roll, it shall be written of the _Sacred Lavation_ and of +_The Spell of The Three Who are One_, a most efficacious mighty magic +inchantment, which, in the very beginning, I wrought upon the persons +of all and singular my subjects, in my Thospitian Sea, will-he nill-he: +with the names and histories of the two of evil mind who repudiated it, +whom a flying dragon ate that same afternoon.[67] + +On the fifth roll, it shall be written of the mysteries, which I study +and cause to be studied by the few who are worthy; and of the altar, of +sunstone and moonstone, to Mithra, Unconquered Father of Fathers, which +I set up in my palace for myself and my own, whereat I myself minister +as mysteriarch among my sons. + +On the sixth roll, it shall be written of the fair children borne to me +by Queen Helen, my beloved wife and true: to wit, my darling Diyllos +(superb and glancing-eyed like my friend Diokles) born under the Moon +and the Crab, and my very dear son Nikolaos born under Hermes and The +Virgin, and my twin-son Haliastos and my twin-daughter Halianthe born +under Oyranos and The Waterman; and of the _Sacred Lavation_ and _The +Spell of The Three Who are One_, which I wrought upon them all at birth. + +On the seventh roll, it shall be written of Queen Helen, my meet help +and my heart’s constant joy: of all the deeds which she (the divine +one of goddesses) has done for the women and children of my kingdom, +teaching them the arts of love, obedience, service, housewifery, +comforting them in sorrow. Here, also, shall be written of my sweet +daughter Silver Halianthe, my sea-flower, who (having been born in my +galley on my Thospitian Sea, and having been bred by Queen Helen) has +become her golden mother’s second self. + +On the eighth roll, it shall be written of my friend glancing-eyed +Diokles, and of my own cousin Perseys of the sea (the most renowned of +heroes), who came to my kingdom while my sons were young, to teach them +all those things which the sons of heroes and of kings must know, and +to show them what the sons of heroes and of kings must be. + +On the ninth roll, it shall be written of Hermes the Helper and of +Eros the Great Inchanter, and of my two faithful slaves Neandros and +Thalos. Here, shall be written of the mighty magic which Eros taught to +ingenious Neandros my slave, and to my dear son Haliastos desiring it, +so that they found out wells of fragrant oil wherein pitch beautifully +floats, and also wells of limpid water, for the magic instruments which +they make, wherewith they cut the air into compact blocks, storing +the same in the secret parts of chariots (which, also, they make), so +that the said chariots, fish-shaped, run on the earth, or fly in the +air, or swim in and on the sea, more swiftly than a bird or a thought, +having no sails nor oars nor even horses to draw them. And with these +I win great victories over hairy barbarians, even over the Parthians +with their blooming elephants. And here, also, shall be written of the +wisdom unspeakable which Hermes taught to ingenious Thalos my slave, +and to my strange and very dear son Nikolaos desiring it: so that I +placed them over my royal college of mages seeking wisdom, which I +stablished on the peak above my Thospitian Sea. + +On the tenth roll, it shall be written of the death of my darling son +Diyllos, in my war with the Kilikian pirates, in the moment of victory +with his circle of dead about him as high as the well-folded tablets +of his breast. Herakles lighted his funeral-pyre, heaped with his +chariots, his arms, his trophies, and a few of his toys. I could not +burn my own work, the most beautiful body of my son. I preserve it, +using the best of all my magic art, so that it will be sweet and fresh +for me for ever and ever. Here, also, shall be written of the fair and +kingly crypt, where I have hidden that vesture of my darling son, with +my private treasures; and of my daily visit to look upon him. + +On the eleventh roll, it shall be written of the embassador who came +from Cæsar Augustus, demanding my submission, requiring me to send +my sons, with the sons of neighbouring kings, as hostages, to Rome. +Here, also, shall be written of the manner of my dealing with the said +embassador, at high noon, on a terrace of my palace builded of white +jade and alabaster and eye-chalcedonyx and silver, on the shore of +my Thospitian Sea: to whom I casually appeared, of immortal stature, +blazing like the serene and vivid moon, arrayed in ermine and silver +tissue sown all over with rose-crystals and blue moonstones, flying +through the air across the sea in my silver-shining chariot inlaid with +crabs and moons in mother-of-pearl, having with me (in the chariot) +Queen Helen, daughter of Zeys the Swan, robed in gold and amethyst +tissue, with her gold hair floating like a web of woven sunbeams, and +with immortal Hermes the Luck-bringer, wing-footed, golden-wanded, +flying (as usual) above my head, and with immortal Love, my charioteer. +Here, also, shall be written of the splendid ceremonies which I caused +to be observed at the interment of the Roman embassador, after his +intempestive demise. + +On the twelfth roll, it shall be written of the names of all the mages +of all kingdoms on the wide-bosomed earth, whom I have brought into +my kingdom, where they teach their wisdom to me and to my mages, and +learn ours, serving me in both ways. Here also shall be written of the +histories of those mages, and of the magics which they have used as +masters. + +On the thirteenth roll, it shall be written (in the hand of Empedokles +son of Polypemon, and in his own words) of who he was and whence he +came: but he shall write also (in my words) of the reason why I brought +him into my kingdom, and of what he has done there. + +On the fourteenth roll, it shall be written of the book of magic +inchantments which I (of my wisdom) compiled for my royal college of +mages seeking wisdom: of the parts of the said book, and also the +secret[68].... + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[66] Euphrates, of course. A. H. + +[67] The word here is “pterodactyl.” The largest known specimen of +this abominable winged lizard measures about six metres from wing-tip +to wing-tip. Its frightful crocodilish jaws seem to indicate a very +voracious appetite. But I was unaware that the species persisted till +so late a date. Perhaps I ought to add that the “pteranodon” was about +the same size: but the wing-dimension of the “rhamphorhynkhos” was only +a little over two metres. Both, however, seem to have been extremely +nasty creatures. A. H. + +[68] Most unfortunately this Thirty-third Papyrus ends abruptly here. +A. H. + + + + + THE THIRTY-FOURTH PAPYRUS + + +Now I, Queen Helen, daughter of Zeys, an immortal, say these words to +be written fairly by Empedokles son of Polypemon, scribe of my beloved +lord and true husband King Balthazar of Moxoene, whom the immortals and +the Argives call King Odysseys, but he calls himself Nikolaos the Crab, +viceroy of Victory queen of the stalwart stately Anglicans. + +And these are the words which I shall say for the scribe to write. + + * * * * * + +Yesterday, at dawn, our strange and very dear son Nikolaos Diadokhos +came with the faithful Thalos from our royal college of mages. + +They said to the king that they had seen a great new Star, suddenly +shining in the south-western heaven, far brighter than any other star +ever seen, and moving south-westward. + +My lord and husband the king, having straitly examined them, became +filled with fear and gladness strangely commingled. I never have seen +him thus. + +My lord and husband the king enacted an act of regency, naming me, +Queen Helen, as Regent of his kingdom of Moxoene. + +My lord and husband the king arrayed himself in his silver-shining +panoply, and he caused our strange and very dear son Nikolaos Diadokhos +and the faithful Thalos to put on their garments of glory. + +My lord and husband the king summoned his silver-shining chariot; and +he caused our strange and very dear son Nikolaos Diadokhos and the +faithful Thalos to mount to their places. + +My lord and husband the king, with his own hands, took out of our +treasury that casket of rock-crystal, three spans long and two spans +deep and one span broad, which, during his leisure of these many years, +he has carved with crabs and moons and inlaid with blue moonstones, +binding it with hasps and hinges and bands of silver, all with his +own hands; and he filled it full with our royal quintessence of +gum-olibanon, which he has sublimed, also with his own hands during his +leisure of these many years. + +My lord and husband the king kissed me in a manner which he never +has used before, bidding me to be of good heart and ready to receive +tidings of great joy. + +Having done all these strange things, my lord and husband the king +ascended his silver-shining chariot, with the two mages aforesaid, +taking with him the rock-crystal casket of frankincense aforesaid; and, +so, he very swiftly departed south-westward, at sunset, following the +Star. + +Now I, Queen Helen, daughter of Zeys, an immortal, having already +endured many evils, and being now perturbed in my mind, have caused +these words to be written, that I may place them in a most secret holy +crypt. And I will place them with that which is most dear, which is +there, and with the secret silver urns which contain toys, and with +the secret silver chest which contains writings, because these are the +chief treasures of my lord the king. + +And, when I have done this, I will see the secret holy crypt closed by +Empedokles son of Polypemon and by the faithful Neandros. And I will +seal the door with the royal sigil. And I will see the very door itself +hidden by the faithful Neandros. + +And I will do all these things, that my lord and husband the king may +find his secrets safe, when he shall return to me. For I know not when +he shall return to me. + + + EXPLICITUR + + Printed by BALLANTYNE, HANSON & CO. + Edinburgh & London + + + + + =PUBLICATIONS OF + + William Rider & Son, Ltd.= + + + =THE NEW THOUGHT LIBRARY.= + + _Crown 8vo. Crimson cloth extra, gilt tops 3s. 6d. net._ + +The “New Thought Library” has been designed to include only the best +works in this class of literature. 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WHEELER & CO., CALCUTTA. + { THE “THEOSOPHIST” OFFICE, ADYAR, MADRAS. + + + Cathedral House, Paternoster Row, London, E.C. + + + + +Transcriber’s note: + + +Obvious errors in spelling, hyphenation, accents and punctuation have +been silently corrected in this version, but minor inconsistencies and +archaic forms have been retained as printed. + +The footnotes have been relocated to the end of each chapter and +renumbered to better fit the ebook format. + + In addition, the following changes have been made: + + Page xiii: ΕΦΥΕϹΝ to ΕΦΥΕΝ + Page 23: nineteen to nineteenth + Page 142: Bul to But + Page 177: borbyrygm to borborygm + Page 194: thay to they + Page 203: breath to breathe + Page 216: gloriolous to glorious + Page 232: opsidian to obsidian + Page 252: [deleted extra] a + Page 256: sweet to sweeter + Page 276: preminent to preeminent + Page 4 in the ads: Catalsepy to Catalepsy + [Several instances in main text] Caesar to Cæsar + [Several instances in the ads] Edouard to Édouard + Footnote 28: traliteration to transliteration + Footnote 33: acatholic to catholic +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 78126 *** diff --git a/78126-h/78126-h.htm b/78126-h/78126-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..5c7606e --- /dev/null +++ b/78126-h/78126-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,12338 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html> +<html lang="en"> +<head> + <meta charset="UTF-8"> + <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"> + <title> + The Weird of the Wanderer | Project Gutenberg + </title> + <link rel="icon" href="images/cover.jpg" type="image/x-cover"> + <style> + +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + +h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; +} + +p { + margin-top: .51em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .49em; +} + +.p2 {margin-top: 2em;} +.p4 {margin-top: 4em;} +.p6 {margin-top: 6em;} + +hr { + width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: 33.5%; + margin-right: 33.5%; + clear: both; +} + +hr.tb {width: 45%; margin-left: 27.5%; margin-right: 27.5%;} +hr.chap {width: 65%; margin-left: 17.5%; margin-right: 17.5%;} +@media print { hr.chap {display: none; visibility: hidden;} } + + +hr.r50 {width: 50%; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 25.0%; margin-right: 25.0%;} +hr.r65 {width: 65%; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 17.5%; margin-right: 17.5%;} + +div.chapter {page-break-before: always;} +h2.nobreak {page-break-before: avoid;} + +table { + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; +} + + +.pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: small; + text-align: right; + font-style: normal; + font-weight: normal; + font-variant: normal; + text-indent: 0; +} /* page numbers */ + + +blockquote { + margin-top: 0; + margin-bottom: 0; + margin-left: 5%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + +.center {text-align: center;} + +.right {text-align: right;} + +.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + +.allsmcap {font-variant: small-caps; text-transform: lowercase;} + + + +figcaption {font-weight: bold;} +figcaption p {margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: .2em; text-align: inherit;} + +/* Images */ + +img { + max-width: 100%; + height: auto; +} + +/* Footnotes */ +.footnotes {border: 1px dashed;} + +.footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} + +.footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;} + +.fnanchor { + vertical-align: super; + font-size: .8em; + text-decoration: + none; +} + +/* Poetry */ +/* uncomment the next line for centered poetry */ +.poetry-container {display: flex; justify-content: center;} +.poetry-container {text-align: center;} +.poetry {text-align: left; margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 5%;} +.poetry .stanza {margin: 1em auto;} +.poetry .verse {text-indent: -3em; padding-left: 3em;} + +/* Transcriber's notes */ +.transnote {background-color: #E6E6FA; + color: black; + font-size:small; + padding:0.5em; + margin-bottom:5em; + font-family:sans-serif, serif; +} + + +/* Poetry indents */ +.poetry .indent0 {text-indent: -3.0em;} +.poetry .indent2 {text-indent: -2.0em;} +.poetry .indent6 {text-indent: 0.0em;} +.poetry .indent18 {text-indent: 6.0em;} + +.f06 {font-size: 0.6em;} +.f08 {font-size: 0.8em;} +.f12 {font-size: 1.2em;} +.f13 {font-size: 1.3em;} +.f15 {font-size: 1.5em;} +.f20 {font-size: 2.0em;} + +.scaled-lower { + /* Adjust this value until the heights align for your specific font */ + font-size: 1.45em; + + /* Ensures the bottom of the letter stays on the same line as others */ + vertical-align: baseline; + + /* Optional: lowercase letters can look thinner when scaled up; + adjust weight if needed */ + font-weight: 500; + } + +p { + text-indent: 1.25em; + margin-top: 0.51em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: 0.49em + } +.unindent { + text-indent: 0; + margin-top: 0.51em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: 0.49em + } + + + </style> +</head> +<body> +<div style='text-align:center'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 78126 ***</div> + +<h1> +THE WEIRD OF THE WANDERER +</h1> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p class="center f20"><strong> +THE WEIRD OF<br> +THE WANDERER</strong> +</p> +</div> + +<p class="center f12"> +BEING THE PAPYRUS RECORDS</p> +<p class="center f12"> +OF SOME INCIDENTS IN ONE</p> +<p class="center f12"> +OF THE PREVIOUS LIVES OF</p> +<p class="center f13"> +MR. NICHOLAS CRABBE</p> +<div style="text-align: center;"> +<p class="center f12" style="display:inline-block;"> +HERE PRODUCED BY <img src="images/leaves.jpg" alt=""> +</p></div> +<p class="center f15"><strong> +PROSPERO & CALIBAN</strong> +</p> + +<p class="center p6 f12"> +LONDON<br> +WILLIAM RIDER & SON, <span class="smcap">Limited</span></p> + +<p class="center"> +CATHEDRAL HOUSE, PATERNOSTER ROW, E.C.<br> +1912 +</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> <div class="chapter"></div> +<p class="center f08"> +<i>First Published in 1912</i> +</p> + + +<p class="center f08"> +Printed by <span class="smcap">Ballantyne, Hanson & Co.</span><br> +At the Ballantyne Press, Edinburgh +</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"><div class="chapter"></div> +<p class="center f12"> +TO THE MAGNIFICENT MAN</p> +<p class="center p2 f15"> +DOMENICO COMPARETTI +</p> + + +<p class="f08 center"> + <span class="smcap">Roman of Rome</span>,<br> + <span class="smcap">Senator of the Kingdom</span>,<br> + <span class="smcap">Knight of the Order of Civil Merit of Savoy</span>,<br> + <span class="smcap">Officer of the Order of St. Maurice and St. Lazarus</span>,<br> + <span class="smcap">Commander of the Order of the Crown of Italy</span>,<br> + D.C.L. (<i>honoris causâ</i>) in the Universities of Oxford, Athens, Cracow; Professor<br> + Emeritus in the University of Pisa and the Royal Higher Institute of Florence;<br> + National-Member of the Royal Academy of the Lincei, and of the Royal<br> + Academies of Sciences of Naples and Turin; Academic-Correspondent of the<br> + Royal Academy della Crusca; Correspondent-Member of the Royal Institute of<br> + Lombardy and the Veneto, of the Royal Academy of Sciences of Bologna, of the<br> + Royal Academies of Munich and Copenhagen, of the Imperial Academies of Vienna<br> + and Petersburgh; Foreign Member of the Institute of France; Ordinary Member<br> + of the German Archæological Institute of Rome, of the Archæological Society of<br> + Athens, of the Syllogos Filol. of Constantinople, of the Ugro-Finn Society of<br> + Helsingfors, of the Estone Society of Dorpat, etc. etc. etc. +</p> + +<p class="center"> +THIS LITTLE BOOK,<br> +<br> +WITH OBSERVANCE AND WITH REVERENCE,<br> +<br> +IS DEDICATED,<br> +<br> +TO DIVERT HIS LEISURE. +</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> + <div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">[<i>Misce stultitiam conciliis brevem</i></div> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>Dulce est desipere in loco.</i></div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class="right"> + <span class="smcap">Horace to Vergil</span>, <i>Od.</i> 13, <i>Lib.</i> iv.] +</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> <div class="chapter"></div> +<div class="poetry-container"> + <div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0"><span class="smcap">Prospero</span> <i>loq.</i> . . . . . I pitied thee,</div> + <div class="verse indent6">Took pains to make thee speak, taught thee each hour</div> + <div class="verse indent6">One thing or other: when thou didst not (savage)</div> + <div class="verse indent6">Know thine own meaning, but wouldst gabble like</div> + <div class="verse indent6">A thing most brutish, I informed thy purposes</div> + <div class="verse indent6">With words.</div> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0"><span class="smcap">Caliban</span> <i>loq.</i> . . . . . Remember,</div> + <div class="verse indent6">First, to possess his books: for, without them,</div> + <div class="verse indent6">He’s but a sot, as I am.</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + + +<p class="right"> + <i>Shakespeare’s</i> <span class="smcap">Tempest</span>. +</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"></div> + +<p> +<a href="#PROLOGUE">PROLOGUE</a><br> +<a href="#THE_FIRST_PAPYRUS">THE FIRST PAPYRUS</a><br> +<a href="#THE_SECOND_PAPYRUS">THE SECOND PAPYRUS</a><br> +<a href="#THE_THIRD_PAPYRUS">THE THIRD PAPYRUS</a><br> +<a href="#THE_FOURTH_PAPYRUS">THE FOURTH PAPYRUS</a><br> +<a href="#THE_FIFTH_PAPYRUS">THE FIFTH PAPYRUS</a><br> +<a href="#THE_SIXTH_PAPYRUS">THE SIXTH PAPYRUS</a><br> +<a href="#THE_SEVENTH_PAPYRUS">THE SEVENTH PAPYRUS</a><br> +<a href="#THE_EIGHTH_PAPYRUS">THE EIGHTH PAPYRUS</a><br> +<a href="#THE_NINTH_PAPYRUS">THE NINTH PAPYRUS</a><br> +<a href="#THE_TENTH_PAPYRUS">THE TENTH PAPYRUS</a><br> +<a href="#THE_ELEVENTH_PAPYRUS">THE ELEVENTH PAPYRUS</a><br> +<a href="#THE_TWELFTH_PAPYRUS">THE TWELFTH PAPYRUS</a><br> +<a href="#THE_THIRTEENTH_PAPYRUS">THE THIRTEENTH PAPYRUS</a><br> +<a href="#THE_FOURTEENTH_PAPYRUS">THE FOURTEENTH PAPYRUS</a><br> +<a href="#THE_FIFTEENTH_PAPYRUS">THE FIFTEENTH PAPYRUS</a><br> +<a href="#THE_SIXTEENTH_PAPYRUS">THE SIXTEENTH PAPYRUS</a><br> +<a href="#THE_SEVENTEENTH_PAPYRUS">THE SEVENTEENTH PAPYRUS</a><br> +<a href="#THE_EIGHTEENTH_PAPYRUS">THE EIGHTEENTH PAPYRUS</a><br> +<a href="#THE_NINETEENTH_PAPYRUS">THE NINETEENTH PAPYRUS</a><br> +<a href="#THE_TWENTIETH_PAPYRUS">THE TWENTIETH PAPYRUS</a><br> +<a href="#THE_TWENTY-FIRST_PAPYRUS">THE TWENTY-FIRST PAPYRUS</a><br> +<a href="#THE_TWENTY-SECOND_PAPYRUS">THE TWENTY-SECOND PAPYRUS</a><br> +<a href="#THE_TWENTY-THIRD_PAPYRUS">THE TWENTY-THIRD PAPYRUS</a><br> +<a href="#THE_TWENTY-FOURTH_PAPYRUS">THE TWENTY-FOURTH PAPYRUS</a><br> +<a href="#THE_TWENTY-FIFTH_PAPYRUS">THE TWENTY-FIFTH PAPYRUS</a><br> +<a href="#THE_TWENTY-SIXTH_PAPYRUS">THE TWENTY-SIXTH PAPYRUS</a><br> +<a href="#THE_TWENTY-SEVENTH">THE TWENTY-SEVENTH PAPYRUS</a><br> +<a href="#THE_TWENTY-EIGHTH_PAPYRUS">THE TWENTY-EIGHTH PAPYRUS</a><br> +<a href="#THE_TWENTY-NINTH_PAPYRUS">THE TWENTY-NINTH PAPYRUS</a><br> +<a href="#THE_THIRTIETH_PAPYRUS">THE THIRTIETH PAPYRUS</a><br> +<a href="#THE_THIRTY-FIRST_PAPYRUS">THE THIRTY-FIRST PAPYRUS</a><br> +<a href="#THE_THIRTY-SECOND_PAPYRUS">THE THIRTY-SECOND PAPYRUS</a><br> +<a href="#THE_THIRTY-THIRD_PAPYRUS">THE THIRTY-THIRD PAPYRUS</a><br> +<a href="#THE_THIRTY-FOURTH_PAPYRUS">THE THIRTY-FOURTH PAPYRUS</a><br> +<a href="#PUBLICATIONS_OF">Publications of William Rider & Son, Ltd.</a><br> +<a href="#Transcribers_note">Transcriber’s note:</a> +</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_ix">[Pg ix]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="PROLOGUE"> + PROLOGUE + </h2> +</div> + + +<blockquote> +<p><i>A Letter from the Splendour of Arry, Grandmaster of +the Order of Sanctissima Sophia, Plas Hoel, Hoel, +South Wales, to the Reverend Adam Howley, +Professor of Hivite Literature in Saint George’s +College, Oxford, and Honorary Consultor to +Cardinal Bensington’s Institute of Archives and +Inscriptions.</i></p> +</blockquote> + +<p> + “My dear M.W.S. +</p> + +<p>“Congratulations on achieving the Chair. You +thoroughly deserve it.</p> + +<p>“I am sending with this the key of a largish +deed-box, which my man Anderledy (P.M. of +the ‘Isaak Newton,’ by all the gods!) will bring +you in the course of the day. The box contains +the papyri about which I wired to you from +Smyrna last New Year’s Day; and you are to +consider yourself at liberty to deal with them in +any way which you may deem suitable. If you +should think them worthy of being submitted to +His Eminency, I should not feel able to resist +your judgment.</p> + +<p>“The box also contains other matters, which +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_x">[Pg x]</span>(in my humble opinion) ought to be considered +along with the papyri: but you will know best +about that. Meanwhile, it will perhaps be as +well if I set down here (for your guidance) more +detailed particulars of the circumstances of the +find.</p> + +<p>“You know that Luke and Lombard and I +went out to Armenia, in the spring of last year, +on a little private expedition of our own, to hunt +Assyrian and Persian antiquities; and I need not +go into that now, as R.H.B. says. Nor need I +trouble you with a description of our early successes +and failures in digging. But it will be +better for me to come straight to the point at +issue, namely, our chance-discovery of a rock-tomb +concealed behind a ruined chapel, which +rewarded our exertions at precisely 15 o’clock on +the third of last December.</p> + +<p>“As soon as I had had cleared away some of +the rubbish and broken stonework of the chapel, +I became aware (from the apparition of brilliant +mural paintings on what seemed to be a doorway +in the natural rock) that a really important discovery +was in my hand. Lombard was trying to +take a siesta in his tent, and Luke was with him +singing something about filling a cup with golden +wine: but I at once summoned them; and together +we proceeded to investigate.</p> + +<p>“Of course we were soon surrounded by a mob +of Scottish-looking <i>fanulloni</i>, who annoyed us with +screams and gestures as we uncovered the painted +doorway; and it was not long before one of them +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_xi">[Pg xi]</span>proclaimed himself to be the owner of the site +and demanded compensation. Lombard promptly +tried him for the ‘Apprentice,’ and got the ‘Fellow-Craft,’ +but not the ‘Master’: whereupon I at +once staggered him by offering to purchase the +place outright; and, after half-an-hour’s fierce +haggling, I obtained it for about a couple of +sovereigns’ worth of the silver money current in +the district. Then, I arranged for half-a-dozen +of the less anointed-looking ruffians to work for +me; and soon cleared the rest off my new property. +It was getting too dark to do more that +afternoon: so, for safety’s sake, we had our tents +moved on to the scene of our find, and camped +there for the night.</p> + +<p>“The next morning, Luke took several photographs +illustrating the rock-tomb from the outside +and every single step of our subsequent investigations. +You will find platinotypes of all these +(duly numbered) in the deed-box with the papyri; +and here you must let me say that it is entirely +due to you that we were able to make so complete +and so permanent and so irrefutable a record of +our work. Both Luke and I agree that, had it +not been for the peculiar cameras which you had +made for us and the singular instructions which +you gave us, such a record could not have +existed. I know you say that you received these +secrets of photography from a dying man, who +himself had them from our late Lord Hadrian +and only to be used for great and singular +enterprizes: but, my dear Howley, do let me +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_xii">[Pg xii]</span>affectionately ask you whether you have ever +considered the loss to humanity which is involved +in the keeping of such amazing powers in the +hands of the few. However, all this rambles +away from my mark. I merely mention the +point, and leave it to your discretion, which I +do not doubt for one moment.</p> + +<p>“I regret to say that, in cutting-out the outer +door of the rock-tomb—it was a marble monolith, +painted all over on the hither side with a +design of palm-branches and the emblems of +<i>Cancer</i> and <i>Luna</i>—we slightly damaged an inner +door of cedar-wood, magnificently carved and +inlaid with silver arabesques containing the same +zodiacal symbols in mother-of-pearl. I ought +to add that after we had examined and photographed +the whole tomb <i>in situ</i>, I had it all carefully +removed in numbered lots, which (at the +moment of writing) are being put together again +on the south side of the narthex of my chapel +here at Plas Hoel.</p> + +<p>“To describe the interior of the tomb. It was +twelve feet long by six feet wide by seven feet +high inside measurement, and completely lined +with silver and mother-of-pearl worked in designs +similar to those of the above-named door: excepting +the far end, which has a singular Tau-shaped +cross-potent, four feet long by one-and-a-half feet +wide, in a vesica-shaped oval of Egyptian ankhs. +The centre of the floor-space was occupied by a +huge chest of black basalt, eight inches in thickness, +on which was no carving of any kind: +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_xiii">[Pg xiii]</span>excepting an uncial inscription on the lid (which +had never been sealed up), as follows:</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> + <div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">ΗΝ ΕΝ ΕΠΙΧΘΟΝΙΟΙϹ ΧΑΡΙΕϹΤΑΤΕ ΞΕΙΝΕ ΔΙΥΛΛΟϹ</div> + <div class="verse indent0">ΟΝ ΠΟΤ<span class="scaled-lower"> </span>ΑΡΜΕΝΙΗΙ ΠΟΛΥΜΗΤΙϹ <ins id='cor_xiii' title='Original: ΕΦΥΕϹΝ'>ΕΦΥΕΝ</ins> ΟΔΥϹϹΕΥϹ</div> + <div class="verse indent0">ΤΟΝ ΔΑΡΑ <span class="scaled-lower">ω</span>Ϲ ΗΚΟΥϹ ΕΚΑΛΟΥΝ ΝΙΚΟΛΑΟΝ ΕΤΑΙΡΟΙ</div> + <div class="verse indent0">ΑΛΛΟΤΕ ΔΑΥΘ <span class="scaled-lower">ω</span>Ϲ ΜΑΝΤΙϹ Ε<span class="scaled-lower">ω</span>Ν ΒΑΛΘΑΖΑΡ ΕΚΛΗΘΗ</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class="unindent">I suppose we may as well translate: ‘<i>I was +Diyllos among men on earth, O most kindly stranger, +whom, once, ever-ready Odysseys begat in Armenia. +Surely, as I hear, his comrades called him Nicholas: +but, at other times again, he (as being a Mage) was +styled Balthazar.</i>’ I shall be curious to know +what you make of that.</p> + +<p>“The basalt chest contained two small silver +urns hermetically sealed, one on each side of the +head of a mummy done in a positively amazing +manner, which I will describe presently. At the +feet was a largish oblong silver box: this held +the papyri which I am sending to you.</p> + +<p>“You will be able to follow our proceedings +from the photographs. Luke and Lombard and +I are all agreed that such splendid photographs +as these, of a dark interior, would never have +been done but for the six oxygen lamps for burning +powdered aluminium which you provided. +If you decide to lay our discoveries before His +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_xiv">[Pg xiv]</span>Eminency I must insist that you shew him this +letter in order that he may know to whom any +credit (which may be awarded) is actually due.</p> + +<p>“The following were the contents of the two +small urns. Both contained a limpid viscid +substance, which (of course) at one time had +been preserving oil. In the first urn, we found +a Smith & Wesson’s Hammerless Safety revolver +and a denarius of Augustus, wrapped first in linen +and then in canvas. In the second, was a gold +watch with a badly cracked dial and no glass, +number 7634291, made by Dent of Trafalgar +Square—and, also, a coin of Ptolemy the Piper +(the value of which I do not know), both similarly +wrapped in linen and canvas.</p> + +<p>“From the masons’ marks on the ruined chapel +which had concealed our rock-tomb, Lombard +declares it to be a work of the ninth century after +Christ. (Lombard, I may remind you, is P.G.D. +of England and in the thirty-third degree.) And, +from the fact that, between the hill-end of the +chapel and the outer slab which closed the tomb, +there were quite six feet of soil beside the wall +which masked the said marble slab, it is evident +that the builders of the chapel (whoever they +may have been) were quite ignorant of the existence +of the tomb behind it. The Vali of Van +also, whom I questioned, asseverated that he had +never even heard of any kind of tradition, connected +either with the chapel or with the tomb, +during all his twenty-four years in the valiwick.</p> + +<p>“Now I come to something even queerer. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_xv">[Pg xv]</span> +Luke solemnly swears that the revolver which +we found was not made before the year 1898; +and Dent (to whom I submitted the watch) tells +me that (according to his books) it was made in +1899 and sold to a Mr. Nicholas Crabbe of Crabs +Herborough in Kent. And yet, please note that +both these things have been discovered in an +Armenian rock-tomb dating from something +<span class="allsmcap">B.C.</span> and only just now brought to light.</p> + +<p>“But I must get on.</p> + +<p>“We did not examine the mummy, or even +unswathe it, until we got it safe home to Plas +Hoel; and, in fact, we only finished with it +yesterday. Here are the particulars.</p> + +<p>“The body is that of a very handsome lad +indeed, of about nineteen years of age, and most +magnificently made: indeed I only know of one +specimen of physique at all comparable with it in +splendour of symmetry; and that is the statue of +the Athlete with the Strigil, by Lysippos, in the +Vatican collection. There is absolutely no trace +of decay about it; and it looks as fresh and feels +as soft (though of course it’s cold) as the body +of a young sleeper. Another curious thing about +it is that it does not appear to have been eviscerated, +or treated internally in any way. Luke +and Lombard and I have been over every inch of +the skin with magnifiers; and have quite failed to +find anything like a likely incision. Nor are there +any indications of the actual cause of death. The +lad evidently had been in the wars, for his body +has twenty-one frightful scars: but, though four +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_xvi">[Pg xvi]</span>of them at least ought to have been mortal wounds, +they are perfectly cicatrized and healthily healed. +The four scars, to which I specially allude, are as +follows: a thrust through the inside of the right +thigh from front to back which might very well +have tapped the femoral artery: another through +the left armpit upward, with emergence inside the +collar-bone: two clean round punctures through +the neck from front to back, one on each side of +the throat. There are also seventeen cuts, none +less than four inches long and all deepish, on the +face and the muscles of the arms and the front of +the thighs. But they are not at all disfiguring: +for, as I have said, the skin is supple, very fine +and smooth and young in texture, and also exquisitely +sunburnt throughout. Whoever he was, +any man might be proud of being his father. As +for the skull, it is small and of a very perfect +facial angle of the best Greek type. The eyes +are closed; and I frankly say that we’ve none of +us had the heart to open them. As for that dear +soft-hearted Luke, he declared that he’d never +speak to me again if I attempted it. The mouth +is a bold firm one—a little large perhaps: but +splendidly shaped. I don’t as a rule care for a +Cupid’s bow in one of my own sex: but this one +is that, and as noble as one could wish, as well. +The lips are as red as beef; and the teeth are +perfect, quite white and rather large. The hair +is short, and of a pale flaxen colour, almost white: +though the man was obviously under twenty years +of age. Now for measurements. The height is +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_xvii">[Pg xvii]</span>sixty-eight inches: leg inside fork, thirty-five +inches (singularly long, according to modern +proportions): chest, thirty-six-and-a-quarter +inches: weight, hundred-and-thirty-seven pounds +ten ounces. All the above are taken naked. On +the third finger of the right hand is a silver signet, +very massive indeed, the device being a crucified +Love (the cross is the peculiar tau-shaped cross-potent +noted above) with the legend ΨΥΧΗϹ +ΑΚΟΝΗ which Luke poetically renders <i>The +Whetstone of the Soul</i>. On the shoulders of this +ring are two eye-chalcedonyxes set in the sign of +the Crab; and on front and back there is the +sign of the Moon in blue moonstone and rock-crystal +respectively. Under the linen shroud, +which (mark you) was a large sheet and nothing +at all like the ordinary mummy-bandage, the +body was clothed in a short linen tunic under a +shirt of silver mail reaching to the middle.</p> + +<p>“Among the usual spices which formed a bed +at the bottom of the basalt chest, we found four +English sovereigns, dated 1884, 1889, 1890, 1897. +The two first are much worn: the 1890 piece is +in fair condition: while the 1897 one has been +pierced and has a small ring through it of very +red gold.</p> + +<p>“Professor Monteagle of Cambridge, who +has been staying here, gives it as his opinion that +the mummy is not more than two thousand and +certainly not less than nineteen hundred years +old. He was, however, frightfully disturbed +about the sovereigns: while the revolver and the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_xviii">[Pg xviii]</span>watch, which we discovered without his help, +appear to have disconcerted him most seriously. +I am, indeed, convinced that he will go back to +Cambridge and tell everybody that we have been +trying to pull his leg: which in fact is not the case.</p> + +<p>“However, the whole affair bristles with incomprehensibilities, +to my mind; and I only hope +that you, my dear Howley, may be able to find +some solution of them when you decypher the +papyri. Of course I will gladly furnish any +further information which you may require and +I may be able to offer. And I hope you won’t +mind my saying that it will perhaps be better for +both of us if you will kindly have your translation +of the papyri type-written at my charges. There +is a most satisfactory little person at 7 Broad.</p> + +<p> + <span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">“Believe me,</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 4.0em;">“Very sincerely yours,</span><br> + </p> + + +<p style="display:inline-block;"><span style="margin-left: 4.0em;"> +<img src="images/i_xviii.jpg" alt="saltire cross"> “ARRICUS: <i>Magnus Magister</i>.”</span> +</p> + +<blockquote> +<p class="p4"><i>A Letter from the Reverend Adam Howley, Professor +of Hivite Literature in Saint George’s College, +Oxford, and Honorary Consultor to Cardinal +Bensington’s Institute of Archives and Inscriptions, +to The Splendour of Arry, Grandmaster of +the Order of Sanctissima Sophia, Plas Hoel, +Hoel, South Wales.</i></p> +</blockquote> + +<p>Dear Arry:</p> + +<p>“These papyri are written on in Greek of the +first century Ante Christum, by several different +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_xix">[Pg xix]</span>hands (three at least). A few words in late-Victorian +English are by another hand. I am +sending type-written translations herewith. Don’t +you remember what a fuss there was about +Nicholas Crabbe’s mysterious disappearance from +Cyprus just after the Dilimile’s hysterical howls +for ten thousand flying machines? The Eminency +of Cardinal Bensington desires me to thank you +for your offer; and proposes, if agreeable, to pay +you a visit at Plas Hoel, after Pentecost, for the +purpose of restoring the papyri to their proper +place, and of closing up the rock-tomb with all +its contents in your chapel with Christian Rites. +Now then! His Eminency, however, intends to +name you to our Most Holy Lord the Pontiff +for the gold research-medal called the “Lesser +Wisdom” for this year. I hope that this will +suit your plans.</p> + +<p>“Personally I must beg you not to take me as +expressing any opinion on this, or on any other, +matter.</p> + +<p>“They say that dear old Parke wants to give +up his living and come back here as archivist.</p> + +<p>“Billy Buffell’s got a baby.</p> + +<p>“The weather is fine, but cold.</p> + +<p> + “Yours truly, +</p> + +<p class="right"> + “A. H. +</p> + +<p>“<i>P.S.</i>—The following chronology is the best +I can compile:</p> + +<blockquote> +<p>“1. Mr. Crabbe seems to have disappeared from civilization +<i>circa</i> <span class="allsmcap">A.D.</span> 1899.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_xx">[Pg xx]</span></p> + +<p>“2. He then, apparently, engaged in experiments in Egypt. The result +was that he took an unintentional toss backward through Time to the +reign of Ptolemaios Ayletes, <i>i.e.</i> <i>circa</i> <span class="allsmcap">B.C.</span> +80-51. (<i>Cf.</i> Papyri IIII.-XII.)</p> + +<p>“3. We now learn for a fact (what must have struck a good many +earnest thinkers who had the privilege of knowing him here and +elsewhere), that he actually is Odysseys reincarnate; and of course +Odysseys originally flourished <i>circa</i> <span class="allsmcap">B.C.</span> 1180. +(<i>Cf.</i> Papyrus XII.)</p> + +<p>“4. However, Mr. Crabbe (as Odysseys reincarnate) enjoys infernal +and olympian experiences (<i>cf.</i> Papyri XIII.-XXIII.), obviously +<i>circa</i> <span class="allsmcap">B.C.</span> 51-44. This date can be fixed, with +comparative conclusiveness, from the allusion to Caesar’s murder +(<i>cf.</i> Papyrus XXXI.), which, we know, took place in the latter +year.</p> + +<p>“5. I fancy that a fair case might be made out for the theory that +the Papyri themselves could very well have been written between +<i>circa</i> <span class="allsmcap">B.C.</span> 44 and the Christian Era. There can be +little mistake about the “Star” (<i>cf.</i> its prediction, Papyrus +VII.; and its occurrence, Papyrus XXXIIII.).</p> + +<p>“6. I am almost inclined to permit myself <span class="pagenum" id="Page_xxi">[Pg xxi]</span>the use of the epithet +“annoying” in reference to the twenty-one additional papyri +(giving an account of the very imperfectly known state of Moxoene +<i>circa</i> <span class="allsmcap">B.C.</span> 44 and <span class="allsmcap">A.D.</span> projected in Papyrus +XXXIII.), which are, I might almost say, as it were inaccessible, at +least for the present.</p> + +<p class="right"> + “A. H. +</p> +</blockquote> + +<p>“<i>P.P.S.</i>—I fear that my translation is perhaps +a little loose: but then the style of the original +by no means errs in the direction of concise +regularity—as one, considering all the circumstances, +might reasonably expect.</p> + +<p class="right"> + “A. H. +</p> + +<p>“<i>P.P.P.S.</i>—His Eminency says that you may +publish these naïve and almost Dantesque and +sometimes quite Homeresque fragments, if you +care to and have nothing more serious to occupy +yourself with. If you do, it will be positively +fascinating to observe which, of the apparent +inconsistencies, will be selected for execration by +smart sciolists of our own hysterical age.</p> + +<p class="right"> + “A. H. +</p> + +<p><i>P.P.P.P.S.</i>—Before you do publish, if you +determine on that course, I think you ought to +peruse Mr. Rider Haggard’s brilliant treatise on +Helen of Troy. I believe it is called <i>The World’s +Desire</i>: and of course you can get it from the +T.B.C.</p> + +<p class="right"> + “A. H. +</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_xxii">[Pg xxii]</span></p> + +<p>“<i>P.P.P.P.P.S.</i>—On the whole, I really think I +would, you know, if I were you. Upon more +mature consideration, I am inclined to fancy that +it might turn out to be (what we used to call) +rather a ‘Lark.’</p> + +<p class="right"> + “A. H. +</p> + +<p>“<i>P.P.P.P.P.P.S.</i>—Publish, I mean.</p> + +<p class="right"> + “A. H.” +</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_1">[Pg 1]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="THE_FIRST_PAPYRUS"> + THE FIRST PAPYRUS + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>I, who have been, or will be, Nicholas Crabbe of +Crabs Herborough in the duchy of Kent—and +who am Odysseys son of Laertes, an immortal +and sometime inhabitant of olympian palaces—but +now known as King Balthazar of Moxoene +which will be called (or which was once called) +in the time whence I came (or in the time to +which I yet shall come) Van in Armenia—I +swear, by my honour and by my faith as a king +who never has built altars to Roma and Julius +(like the Ephesians and Nikaians) or to Rome +and Augustus (like Bithynia and Asia), that the +things which I here cause to be written, and +write, are true.</p> + +<p>May Osiris, and Zeys, and Mithra, and all +great gods of the past and the present and the +future, masters of wisdom, blast me—and may +The One Signified scorn me, if these written +words do not agree with the facts which befell me, +who am fallen backward through the rolling +wheels of time. Thus, I, an immortal and a +king, swear. And may he who belies me rot and +wither and evanesce in the uttermost depths of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_2">[Pg 2]</span>Tartaros whither I have been thrice, or of Amentet, +whither I have been once, or of that Hell to which +I will not go. I have sworn.⁠<a id="FNanchor_1_1" href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a></p> + +<p>Now I, King Balthazar of Moxoene in Naïri or +Armenia, the Viceroy of Victory queen of the +stalwart stately Anglicans, say thus to Empedokles +my scribe, in my royal palace on the shore of my +Thospitian Sea, within my kingdom, which I do +not hold from Rome, having taken it myself by +favour of Great Zeys.</p> + +<p>Let it be known that I, King Balthazar, was +called, in an age which is to come, Nicholas Crabbe +the Impossible. I lived peacefully as might be. +I have nothing to say of my origin in that life, or +of my early years: for, in good sooth, most of +the things which then happened to me were so +incredibly cruel and so unspeakably hideous that +I wish to forget most of them, and the rest have +been smudged (mercifully) on the tablets of my +memory. It shall be enough to tell that, as a +scope for my energy, I forced myself (in default +of all other interests) to become a seeker after +wisdom, a client of the Muses and of far-darting +Phoibos Apollon, an ardent student of all branches +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</span>of music and gymnastic,⁠<a id="FNanchor_2_2" href="#Footnote_2_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a> and chiefly of those +branches which taught my subtile adept mind to +do what all other men never even dreamed of +doing, and my strong nimble body to do what all +other men dare not do. For I penetrated into +the occult arcana.</p> + +<p>Under pretext of studying the surgery of +ancient Egypt, I learned to read hieroglyphics; +and, in time, my exertions and my energies culminated +in a single desire to get to the root of +white magic as contained on papyri in tombs of +archpriests of temples of Isis. For a whole year +I pondered the difficulties and the dangers, delaying +to gratify my desire, expecting a sign or a +companion from the blessed gods. None came.</p> + +<p>Arrived at the end of my patience, I acted very +suddenly. For, having provided myself with gold +money and circular notes,⁠<a id="FNanchor_3_3" href="#Footnote_3_3" class="fnanchor">[3]</a> I went my own way to +Alexandria, departing from my native land which +now is the barbarian Britannia. And, at Alexandria, +I hired a boat with boatmen and servants: +for it was in my noble mind to sail up River +Nile, staying when and where I listed, exploring +ruins above Assiut, specially small ruins, in the +hope of finding mummy-chests ripe for rifling or +hieroglyphics crying to be read on pillars or walls +of unknown temples. During eight months, thus +I did: but I found no more than three unopened +mummy-chests, and (beside them) little of worth.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</span> +Nevertheless, one of the said chests contained +certain superior matters: to wit, a magic staff of +silver and ebony, and a silver divination-cup +chased with sacred creatures, which things I did +not examine closely till I came to Philai. But, +there, my labours were rewarded: for a small +temple at Philai yielded no less than three-and-forty +mummy-chests, carven and painted, containing +the remains of persons who (in their time) +had been most mighty. And, of these, I will +name one, having many matters to narrate concerning +him. But he was the priest Amenemhat, +sometime hierarch of the temple of Isis at Tanis +by the mouth of Nile. Moreover, I found a +manual intitled <i>For the Use of Priests</i>; and it +contained the rules by which mortal men may +communicate with the immortals, whom the +Egyptians call Osirians. And this was by far +the most noble thing which I discovered. But +I must not omit to mention also a divination-ball, +of rock-crystal of the bigness of a baby’s head, +which I found in a mummy-chest: it was banded +with silver set with large blue moonstones, and +a silver chain was attached to it. Now I took +this for a favourable omen, very apt indeed to +me: for, having been born under the moon and +the sign of the crab, and being therefore crab by +nature as well as Crabbe by name, the heart in +my dear breast rejoiced greatly to possess so +beautiful a jewel, formed (indeed) of the very +stones and of the very metal which (as is well +known) are proper to a native of that sign and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</span>of that planet. But I hanged it by its chain to +the magic staff already named.</p> + +<p>When, at length, I had leisure to study the +papyrus manual, I became aware of the vast +power which it put into my hands. It contained +a very long and useless introduction, including +oft-reiterated laments because Okhos (the Persian +successor of the deposed Nebk-Neft) had degraded +the hierarchy of Khem, striking a blow at +the prestige of all hierarchs. But, this being +ended, the gist of the work was clearly set down: +nor could anything more be added necessary to +enable one (possessed of the magic implements, +as I was), to commune with long-dead sages, +mages who had relinquished the use of their +bodies and dwelt no more in the sweet sunlight, +obtaining from them the wisdom of the past, and +the power which such wisdom gives, both unpossessed +by men alive.</p> + +<p>But it appeared that I still lacked certain spices +and sacred combustibles, both essential in magic +operations. Wherefore, being always young and +headstrong and (therefore) of a spasmodic habit, +I turned about instantly to those places where I +could purchase myrrh and cassia and gum-olibanon +and gum-tragacanth and spikenard and red-sanders +and saffron and cinnamon and sulphur +and powdered ivory and pepper and pepperwort +and mastic and certain other substances the names +of which may not be written on account of a +religious reason. And four months passed before +I had finished this quest in Cairo and Alexandria +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</span>and Arabia and Byzantion and Massilia, filling +a cabinet with potent essences and very virtuose +quintessences.</p> + +<p>In this manner I reascended the sacred river, +until I came to Korte.</p> + + +<div class="footnotes"> +<h3 id="FOOTNOTES"> + FOOTNOTES: +</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_1_1" href="#FNanchor_1_1" class="label">[1]</a> So far the papyrus is written in late-Victorian English, in what I +take to be Mr. Crabbe’s own hand. I may say that I am not inclined +to discredit any of the statements, abnormal or otherwise, made by the +King of Moxoene (that is to say, by Mr. Nicholas Crabbe). The <i>Oath +Compelling Truth</i>, which he here uses, is a recognized and quite respectable +formula; and I am not aware of any instance on record of +its ever having been belied in any particular, however minute. Indeed, +in so far as Truth is the Agreement of Words with Facts, all history +seems to shew that the solemn swearing of this <i>Oath Compelling Truth</i> +is perhaps the most irrefragable warranty of Truth, as such, which our +present state of information can supply. A. H.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_2_2" href="#FNanchor_2_2" class="label">[2]</a> I take it that Mr. C. uses these words in a Platonic sense, as +signifying mental and physical activities respectively. A. H.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_3_3" href="#FNanchor_3_3" class="label">[3]</a> These two words are written in English in what I take to be Mr. +C.’s own hand. A. H.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="THE_SECOND_PAPYRUS"> + THE SECOND PAPYRUS + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>But I had determined to do my magic in an +inner court of the temple at Korte, unknown to +persons liable to disturb my peace. And, with +incredible toil, I cleared the said court of sand, +having left my servants in charge of my boat a +mile away. Furthermore, in the hard red-granite +pavement of the court, I cut a circular channel +of sufficient depth to contain a certain very holy +liquid; and this I did with nineteen days’ incessant +labour, using a hammer and a well-tempered +chisel. But the trench was three paces and nine +in circumference, and half-a-span in width, and a +quarter of a span in depth.</p> + +<p>In the midst of the circle and on the base of +a fallen column, I set my silver divination-cup; +and, by it, I placed my cabinet of essences and +quintessences: but I hanged my divination-orb to +my left arm by its silver chain, holding the magic +staff in my hand. The fulness of the moon +agreed with what was described in my papyrus +manual; and, when all was ready, I filled the +circular furrow with a bright-green essence, pungent, +mysteriously potent, continuing to pour till +the trench was lip-deep with the emerald fluid. +Next, I filled the divination-cup with water from +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</span>the sacred river, lowering the orb of divination +therein with my left hand, and sprinkling the +circle with gum-tragacanth while I intoned the +incantation called <i>Of the Buckle of Red Jasper +Dipped in Water of Ankham Flowers and Inlaid in +Sycamore Wood and Placed on the Neck of the Shining +One</i>, which is the Power of Isis.</p> + +<p>The moon grew brighter and more fierce, till +she wellnigh rivalled the sun in brightness; and +her hot rays made me sweat profusely. Wherefore, +at the proper time, I was glad to strip me +naked; but I began to stir the water in the cup +with the magic staff, saying: “<i>The Blood of Isis, +the Charms of Isis, the Power of Isis, be a protection +unto Me, the Master, crushing that which I abhor, +making all Ways passable or flyable or swimable unto +Me: and I stretch out one Hand to Heaven and the +Other to Earth.</i>”</p> + +<p>In the glare of almost unbearable moonlight, I +saw that my crystal orb was becoming red-hot +notwithstanding that it was immersed in Nile-water. +But I poured the proper unguent of +aloes into my cup, with nine tears of gum-olibanon; +and the green liquid in the trench blushed +with ruddily gleaming access of fury. But I, +looking again on my papyrus manual, read these +words: “<i>See that thou grasp thy staff firmly, not +letting it fall from thee through any pang, be thy +pangs never so keen; likewise, when the clear sphere +gleameth redly, hold thy staff as though it were thy life, +for so it is, and if thou lose it thou shalt die.</i>” And, +hardly had I read this rule (which I had never +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</span>seen before: although I had collated the whole +manual with some care during my four-months’ +quest for spices), hardly, I say, had I read these +awful words, when I felt the magic staff growing +hot in my hands.</p> + +<p>I gripped it more closely: but its heat increased. +I felt it searing my flesh. I saw the smoke rise. +I heard the flesh frizzle like the hissing collops +of an acceptable sacrifice farced with select fats. +And, all the while, lurid lightnings leaped from +the liquid in the trench.</p> + +<p>At last, so poignant was my anguish, that I +determined rather to risk death than to see and +hear and smell my living hand burned off while +I stood. But, at the very moment, piercing +through the sputtering of the white-hot lambent +rod in my defenceless hand, there came a divine +voice from I know not where, saying in the +Argive tongue: “<i>Be of good heart, my child, and +endure for all my pain: for many of us who inhabit +olympian palaces have suffered.</i>”⁠<a id="FNanchor_4_4" href="#Footnote_4_4" class="fnanchor">[4]</a></p> + +<p>Whereon I nerved myself, dismissing base +thoughts of surrender. And all grew black +before my eyes; and my soul was shrouded in +obscurity. So I stood, enduring unmentioned +and unthought-of anguish with all my might; +and I indeed was on the very verge of swooning: +when suddenly the admirable voice came again, +ringing triumphantly, saying: “<i>Hail, Conquistator +of Self! Hail, Nicholas, the Victor over many +Peoples!</i>”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</span></p> + +<p>And immediately the staff became cool; and +my reeking wounds vanished, and only the memory +of my ordeal remained.</p> + +<p>I turned to inspect the divination-cup. Pale +flames leaped silently therein from the crystal +orb, of such intense heat as comes from an open +furnace to the well-reddened watcher at its door: +but the Nile-water lay limpid and cold above and +about the raging globe of the seven-times heated +fire. But I, mindful of the rules in the papyrus +manual, cast in myrrh and powdered ivory; and +I intoned the incantation called <i>Demands on the +gods</i>, which old Menes had composed many centuries +before.</p> + +<p>The verdant flame in the trench gave forth +volumes of suffocating green vapour, filling the +whole court, and beating me brow to pavement. +But I ceased not from my chanting; and, when +I came to the famous verse, “<i>Nor shall ye slay us +by choking: thus we adjure you</i>,” the green steam +suddenly arose, till it seemed that I was enclosed +in a dome-shaped cell of malachite, so solid +did the vapour appear. Whereupon, with the +mightiest voice of me I uttered the summons, +“<i>O souls, be seen!</i>”</p> + +<p>Instantly there was a crash of thunder and the +inmarcesible glow of uranian fires. The earth +beneath me quivered like a woman; and the +temple rocked as ships are rocked (in his spasms) +by the azure-haired earth-shaker, lord of the +stormy sea. But, above me, the green dome +expanded, stretching to unfathomable abysses of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</span>space; and I perceived that its place was becoming +filled with fiery faces of base grotesque and +adipose dignitaries, archbishops of malevolent allure +having pleats about their eyes disdainful of obscure +persons. Nor were any of them alike for +any moment of time: but they waved and flickered +like the myriad leaves of a forest blazing with +autumnal glory. But out of this maze of bodiless +faces came a tired moaning, demanding why they +had been summoned.</p> + +<p>Now I indeed was serene; and my heart and +lordly mind exulted greatly: for I knew that I +had the Power. And, holding out the magic +staff with my right hand, and placing my left on +the cool crystal orb, I cried: “I summon none +but Amenemhat, the priest of Tanis.”</p> + +<p>Eight flame-like shapes flickered downward, +individuals glabrous and mouthing, the torsions +of whose pulpy lips avowed their invirility; and +they stood before me, but on the further edge of +the redly-glaring moat; and each one wailed: “I +am Amenemhat, the priest of Tanis.”</p> + +<p>Then for the moment I was nonplussed: +but I remembered that eight men, all named +Amenemhat, had been (in their turns) priests of +Tanis. Wherefore I cried again: “I summon +none but him who was Amenemhat, the priest +of Tanis, at the time when Ptolemais Ayletes +reigned as Pharoah in Khem.”</p> + +<p>And now but one flame-like shape flickered +outside the circle; and it simply sighed, saying: +“I am that Amenemhat; and I am here.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</span></p> + +<p>So I commanded him to lie quietly down and +lap the emerald liquid in the trench as a test of +his good faith. But I conjured the others to return +to their own places in Amentet, using the +<i>Name Ineffable</i> to compel them, the <i>Spell</i> which +may not be spoken save in direst need, nor written +save on virgin papyrus by a priest who knows +himself to be without blemish. And they bowed +thrice when I named the <i>Name</i>, wailing wearily. +And there was thunder and lightning and a heaving +of all things at their going; and they seemed +to melt together into one vast fiery arrow, which +sped (like a bolt shot by the lord of the silver +bow) upward and away into the arcana of the +outer immensity.</p> + +<p>But Amenemhat, the priest of Tanis, lay prostrate +before me, meekly lapping. And he no +longer had the shape of a flame: for, now, the +chariot of Helios Hyperion had emerged from +the crocus-hued gate of dawn. Ashen-grey was +Amenemhat, and hard indeed to see: for, being +but an Osirian, he cast no shadow, nor did he +obstruct my view of the columns of the court +behind him. And I was in the mind to laugh at +the thought that, after all, so high a priest as he +was should have no more solid shape than a jellyfish, +tinted like a rainbow where the rising sun’s +radiance touched him. But I remembered that +Death comes to all, and that rain-born Iris (a +divine one of goddesses) is also thus primarily +tinctured; and I hastened to intone the <i>Spell of +Embodiment</i>, touching what there was of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</span>Amenemhat with the magic staff, and saying: “<i>Advance, +thou Dweller in the Outer Space, and be a thing of +earth again till I release thee.</i>”</p> + +<p>Thus I spoke: but he rose like a brilliant mist, +ever thickening into opacity and taking the form +which my lordly mind hurriedly made for him. +Mother-naked, even as I was, he crossed into the +mystic circle which my staff opened to him. I +touched his brow with the crystal orb, and placed +his hands in the sacred water of Sihor in the +divination-cup. And vital fluids came back into +his veins, so that he became a thing of earth and +fit for reasonable conversation. But I also gave +him the <i>Heart-touch</i>, saying: “Receive thy mortal +life in lease from me for a season.”</p> + +<p>But he stood at his full height, looking into +my eyes; and he said: “O thou, unknown, who +has called me from Amentet, and hast given me +again a mortal body with blood and life-like +juices, be ware lest I shall overcome thee. Thus +I warn thee, in accordance with the immutable +law of Osiris where it is written, <i>He who is summoned +shall warn his summoner</i>.”</p> + +<p>But I was not afraid. And I laid the <i>Spell of +Obedience</i> on Amenemhat. But, when I had thus +secured my own safety and also a trusty friend +and familiar who was to instruct me in unmentioned +and unthought-of magic, then, indeed, I +took liberty to give way to a human weakness, +having already tolerated enough to slay nineteen +ordinary men—to wit, the agony of the scorching +staff, and the long labours under the fiery +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</span>moon, and the stifling green vapour, and the +horrid vision of the flickering faces; and I took +liberty, I say without shame, to swoon away into +oblivion.</p> + +<p>When, at length, the mind in my dear breast +awakened, I found my new familiar faithfully +ministering to me, gently holding the thread of +life which bid fair to fray out in my enfeebled +grasp. But we two, having clothed ourselves, +returned to my boat, there to live in tranquillity +while I recollected myself.</p> + +<p>But there remained much to be done yet by me. +I felt that I would have been quite content to +spend the rest of that life as Amenemhat’s pupil, +learning from him the occult and affascinating +arts of the hierarchs of ancient Khem. For we +read together in the many rolls of papyrus which +I had collected; and it was easy to know that, +whereas I was like a clever child who early has +learned to read, he was a perfect adept who (by +long experience) was able to understand what was +read. But, by chance, the precise method of +working a certain inchantment, which opens the +Hall of Double Truth and Right, baffled us +both. And it was of the very gravest import +that I should know how to practise this inchantment: +for thereby I could learn the whole secret +of a man using himself Bai and Ka and Khou +as might seem good to him: which, for a miserable +mortal is much to be desired, as being +uncommon.</p> + +<p>But the rede of Amenemhat was that I should +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</span>repeat the <i>Spell of Summons</i>, summoning a Great +One of the Greater Ones, from whom I should +require an instruction. But, for some time, I +withstood the priest: I know not why, unless it +be that habit and temper make me prompt to +resist direction that I may steer my course in +accordance only with the mind in my lordly +breast.</p> + +<p>But there came a night, when we by chance +were sitting together on the deck of my Nile-boat +in the clear of a full moon; and great peace came +upon me, so that my soul swelled sweetly within +me, letting me know that I was full of wiles and +furnished with inexhaustible reserves of power. +And I said: “At dawn we will go southward; +and, at the temple of Korte, at a moon-birth, I +will use my power for summoning a Great One +of The Greater Ones.”</p> + +<p>Thus I spoke. But Amenemhat answered me, +saying: “Nay, O Summoner, why toil so far, seeing +that there are places nearer where this inchantment +may be worked with equal ease?”</p> + +<p>“I know,” quoth I, “of no place as free from +the risk of disturbance as the temple of Korte.”</p> + +<p>“Thou hast but to command,” he responded, +“and I, O Summoner, must reveal to thee the +secret fanes of Khem.”</p> + +<p>“Reveal them, thou,” I promptly said.</p> + +<p>“There is one at Heliopolis——”</p> + +<p>“Too near to noisy Cairo.”</p> + +<p>“There is another at Ptolemais, now called +Thomis——”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</span></p> + +<p>“I saw there a galosh-factory, when last I +descended Sihor’s sacred flood.”</p> + +<p>“There are those vast secret halls of +Thebes——”</p> + +<p>“Ruined.”</p> + +<p>“Thebes above ground indeed is ruined, O +wise Summoner, but not the Thebes which lies +below.”</p> + +<p>“How know’st thou this?” I said.</p> + +<p>“From the gods who revealed the fact to me +in my former life: for when I was a priest in +Khem, I learned many things which in time would +be. And it was given to me to know how that +the temples of Khem should be desolated and the +peoples of Khem destroyed. And it was shewn +to me for how many centuries the secret halls of +the three priestly colleges at Thebes would remain +forgotten. But I, also, am ware of an +entrance, well-concealed, very hard to find, which +I can shew to thee if thou desirest to make +use of those dim halls as they were wont to be +used.”</p> + +<p>Thus he spoke. And the mind in my breast +exulted. But I said: “Surely the adits will be +blocked with shrubs and fallen masonry?”</p> + +<p>“That may not be, O Summoner,” he answered, +“for the adit of which I speak is in the open +plain.”</p> + +<p>“Then we will go to Thebes; and the +thing which has to be done shall be well-done, +there.”</p> + +<p>But when, at length, we were come to the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</span>ruined capital of the Upper Land and the Lower, +having left some of our baggage at the paltry +village of Luxor, concealing the rest, anon we +pursued our way across the sandy plain thereby, +until we reached a certain pebbly strip of land +which was unencumbered, excepting by a low +pillar of granite. And the pillar, being no more +than a span in height, would have been quite +unnoticeable had any ruins approximated: as it +was, I almost trod upon it before I perceived its +weather-worn surface, deeply graven with the +dead tongues of tombs, and undecypherable for +all who have not (but I have) a knowledge of +those tongues from the tongue of one who himself +had used them. Time-worn was that little +pillar, as well it might be: for Amenemhat said +that, in his own day, it had been more venerable +than the oldest fanes. Also, he narrated a tradition, +which said that a remote ancestor of Menes +found it there, marking the site where Divine +Osiris first placed his foot on the hallowed soil +of Khem: but Amenemhat said (as well) that +this tradition rested on no sure warranty, for +that Menes himself had taken the pillar from +a temple builded many ages before Khem was +a country, and had it set there to mark the +entrance of the secret halls which he himself +was building.</p> + +<p>But I instantly put this saying to the proof. +For we strove to move the pillar in its socket, +where during nineteen centuries at least it had +been undisturbed. And, when we turned it round, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</span>the slab supporting it sank slowly on a hinge: but +sand with many pebbles slid downward on to the +stair which was revealed.</p> + +<p>Thus then was manifest the entrance to the +Secret Halls of Thebes.</p> + + +<div class="footnotes"> +<h3 id="FOOTNOTES_1"> + FOOTNOTES: +</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_4_4" href="#FNanchor_4_4" class="label">[4]</a> <i>Cf.</i> a similar divine voice, <i>Iliad</i>, v. 380-410. A. H.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="THE_THIRD_PAPYRUS"> + THE THIRD PAPYRUS + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>Having lighted lanthorns, I began to descend +the stair with my familiar: but a very noxious +vapour drove us back. And, while I chafed +at this delay, Amenemhat reproved me, saying: +“Why wait hours for nature to effect that +which thou (with magic art) couldst do in a +moment?”</p> + +<p>And this having been the second time when +I myself had forgotten the power which I +possessed, till reminded of the same by my +familiar, I, indeed, held a sort of council with +myself; and I determined that, in the future, +I no longer would live as men of my own race +are wont to live, in helpless abject obedience to +so-called natural laws, seeing that (for me) such +laws did not exist, but that I would be limited +solely by the mind in my lordly breast, willing +what I pleased, and causing its performance by +forces amenable to my magic art. And, having +thus determined, I instantly invoked certain airy +sprites, yellow as sunflowers, who, with millions +of legs alternately coming and going, purified the +staircase and the edifices to which it led.</p> + +<p>The passage having thus been rendered favourable +to earth-walking men, we again descended: +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</span>but, when we came to certain gates beyond the +forty-ninth antechamber, some mysterious energy +barred our progress. That is to say, when we +reached the said gates, my head would have gone +through, but my feet refused to budge—though +Amenemhat went forward without difficulty, +whom I, seeing that he was my familiar and his +place behind his lord, recalled. For, if I could +not proceed (on account of some inexplicable +impotence on the part of my blameless feet), +neither might he, for a servant may not go +before his master in a case of this kind.</p> + +<p>Wherefore, I used my magic art again; and +I uttered several spells one by one, excepting the +<i>Spell of the Name Ineffable</i> which I do not deem +fit to say in any need but that which seems +extreme. And none of my spells availed me +anything.</p> + +<p>But my mind mentioned that Amenemhat’s +ability to go forward, and my inability, might +perchance indicate some difference of character +between us two; and I used my wiles for pondering +possible differences. In this manner I perceived +that whereas he was a priest according +to the highly respectable rite of Khem, I was +no more than a Tonsured Clerk of the Latin +Obedience. For it may as well be known by all +men living that, in my early (or later) life in +the kingdom of Victory queen of the stalwart +stately Anglicans, one of the many incredibly +cruel and unspeakably hideous happenings which +marred me and soured me was as follows. The +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</span>Divine Ones of the Latin Obedience called me to +serve them as flamen sacrificing for the Blessed +Dead; and I willingly responded to the call. In +token whereof I was admitted to the first grade +of the flaminian estate, being marked apart from +other men by the five-pointed tonsure.⁠<a id="FNanchor_5_5" href="#Footnote_5_5" class="fnanchor">[5]</a> And immediately, +by the blundering of blind guides +(the most righteous of men), confirmed by +hierarchical timidity or stupidity or malignity, +I was denied my heart’s desire, and bile was +mingled with my blood. I, then, endured my +torments disdainfully, as my habit is, saying all +those invectives which my mind gave me to say +as rudely and as loudly as possible. And there +appeared unto me processions of heresiarchs and +schismatarchs (all blameless), wearing altogether +prestigious habiliments, and using gestures (almost +salacious) which ran along their bodies and suggested +things not said, who proffered to me +priesthoods (and in one case) a pontificate. But +none of their pretty things pleased me, not being +of valid or desirable origin. And I remained +where I was, ready to go forward, ruthlessly +refusing to go back.</p> + +<p>But now the blessed gods inhabiting olympian +palaces were permitting me to find in Thebes +the representative of a religion prior in time +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</span>to, and by no means a dissent from, my own—a +religion, furthermore, which was to mine +what the flower is to the fruit. Wherefore, +being denied the fruit, I made no more ado: +but I clutched the flower.</p> + +<p>For this cause, I retraced my steps, returning +to Luxor, where I commanded my faithful +Amenemhat, the priest of Tanis, to give me +the order of priesthood according to the rite +of Khem. And this he did when I had sworn +the great oath of an Egyptian priest, which oath +bound me, till Mother Isis herself released me, +as I shall narrate hereafter. But Amenemhat +gave me the unction of sacred nard, with the +white linen robe and the silver ankh, breathing +on my head, and laying hands on me, saying: +“<i>May all the gods bless thee: may Heru-p-Khart +love thee: may Isis nurture thee: may Osiris guide +and prosper thee, so that thou never look back but +alway forward on the illimitable field of wisdom +hereby opened to thee. And, by the power committed +to me, I Amenemhat, make thee, Nicholas, a +priest of Khem, in the name of Apis Osiris the great +god who sitteth in Amentet, ever-living lord, everlasting +ruler, deliverer, sustainer, who is Osiris, who +is Nu, who is Ra, who is Tum, all whose feathers +are upon him, and who giveth life for ever and +for ever.</i>”</p> + +<p>These matters, then, being accomplished, we +returned to Thebes; and nothing impeded my +entrance to the subterranean palaces.</p> + +<p>But we transported my magic apparatus, on +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</span>a truck, into the forty-ninth antechamber of +those secret halls, to be convenient for our operations +at a fitting time. But, because the fidelity +of the servants whom we left with the rest of +our baggage by the river-side (excepting that +which I myself had concealed) was not above +suspicion, I, indeed, took with me all my money, +to wit, five-and-fifty gold quarter-ounces of +Victory queen of the stalwart stately Anglicans,⁠<a id="FNanchor_6_6" href="#Footnote_6_6" class="fnanchor">[6]</a> +and some Egyptian silver. Also I armed myself +with my death-spitter,⁠<a id="FNanchor_7_7" href="#Footnote_7_7" class="fnanchor">[7]</a> and with a belt containing +four-and-sixty death-parcels,⁠<a id="FNanchor_8_8" href="#Footnote_8_8" class="fnanchor">[8]</a> for there +was always a chance of an encounter with barbarian +tomb-riflers in Egypt of the <ins id='cor_23' title='Original: nineteen'>nineteenth</ins> +century to come. Also, I took my gold time-teller:⁠<a id="FNanchor_9_9" href="#Footnote_9_9" class="fnanchor">[9]</a> +for that was the last thing which I +bought before I left the land of my future +birth.</p> + +<p>But we stood before the hitherto-resisting +portal. A touch from my magic staff caused +the massive gates to creak and to yawn with +much groaning before us. Having crossed +certain vast secret halls, walking at a slow but +even pace for an hour or more, we came to the +verge of a subterranean lake. I flashed my +lanthorn over the watery expanse: but we saw +no distant shore. A narrow causeway, only a +few spans higher than the dark flood, was all +that met our eyes; and that lost itself, twenty +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</span>cubits away, in impenetrable gloom. I stooped +and dipped my hand into the water: by which +act I perceived that what I had taken for a +lake was actually a strong stream; and I opined +that it was some subterranean collateral of sacred +Sihor.</p> + +<p>But I boldly stepped out on to the causeway, +bidding Amenemhat to follow me and to push +before him the small wheeled truck, light to +lift, easily propelled, which contained my cabinet +of essences and quintessences, with my divination-cup +and my crystal orb of divination banded +with silver with adornments of rose-crystals and +blue moonstones, together with a skinful of Nile-water +and certain alimentaries. And, as my eyes +became accustomed to the murky blackness, I +perceived the outlines of colossal columns on +both sides of the stream: these supported a +carven roof strangely painted with cats and +weasels.</p> + +<p>But, after a journey which seemed to be interminable +owing to the darkness and the silence, +though it was not actually more than a thousand +paces, the causeway widened suddenly; and, on +peering for the edge, I was ware that I had +crossed the dark river as by a bridge. That +dark river of running water divided my life as +a liegeman of Victory queen of the stalwart +stately Anglicans from a life which lay before.</p> + +<p>New wonders arrested the melancholy dejection +of my mind. In front of me, there appeared +a wall painted with figures representing the initiation +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</span>of priests in the divine Isidian mysteries; +and this wall was pierced by three doors. Not +for me was it to hesitate. Not for me was it +even to ask guidance of my familiar. But these +opinions did not prevent me from contriving a +wile, observing with the corner of my eye that +Amenemhat’s glance instinctively went to the +door on the right hand. Which door I instantly +laid open with a touch of my magic staff; and, +having passed along a corridor, richly adorned, +very fair to see, we emerged in a vast circular +hall, columned, and surrounded by a cloister +having a series of apsidal chapels in its outer +boundary. And the place was indeed marvellous. +For, in the middle of the hall, four-and-twenty +circular stairs soared to a circular +platform, whereon sat a lonely altar; and the +whole place was made of some clear white stone +like polished marble, dazzling snow-white marble +without veins or mottling, and without any of +the joints which are formed when slabs of stone +are laid in order one upon another: so that I +could not determine whether the wall had been +builded with hands, or cut with incalculable toil +from the virgin quarry, or merely called into +being by art magic. But, though the hall was +of most candid whiteness, the altar on the summit +of the circular foot-pace was of blood-red +porphyry. And, being (as it was) deep in the +bosom of the grain-giving earth, the place was +lighted by a radiance, perennial, most agreeable +to the eyes, the source of which I am not at +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</span>liberty to tell. Such was the secret hall beneath +Thebes.⁠<a id="FNanchor_10_10" href="#Footnote_10_10" class="fnanchor">[10]</a></p> + +<p>But I placed my magic apparatus on the altar, +and on the foot-pace pertinent thereto, all in proper +order; and I sat down, with Amenemhat, on the +lowest step, to refresh our bodies with a meal +in preparation for the work before us. And, +when we had dismissed the desire of eating and +drinking, so sitting we conversed as follows.</p> + +<p>“I do not remember this white hall as it now +is,” said Amenemhat.</p> + +<p>“Hast thou then seen it before?” I inquired.</p> + +<p>“When I was priest of Tanis, I oft-times celebrated +the mysteries here.”</p> + +<p>“And to what was it like then?”</p> + +<p>“It was draped with white carpets of silk +embroidered in silver with images of the assessors +of Amentet. And a carpet was hanged between +every pair of pillars, veiling the cloister from the +hall.”</p> + +<p>“Yet the hall will serve our purpose as well +without its hangings?”</p> + +<p>“Doubtless. But still it seems that some +malignant sprite might lurk in the shadow of +those columns, watching, with intent to interrupt +our sacred rites.”</p> + +<p>And hardly had the Tanitic priest uttered the +last word, when a blameless shape (very loathesome +and ferocious, shewing nothing but the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</span>accentuation of a tattered pendulous head and +the thick rictus of parts of a face), emerged from +those very shadows, and rushed upon us with +mouth-foamings and hiccoughs and eye-rollings, +hideously screeching.</p> + +<p>Amenemhat withered away with terror; and +his mind wilted as he fell swooning on the +steps. But I, strongly bounding, leaped to the +altar; and, having seized my magic staff, and +having made the terrible <i>Sign of the Godlike +Rulers</i>, then indeed I proclaimed the <i>Spell Which +Binds</i>.</p> + +<p>The Shape stood, held by the mighty inchantment, +a ridiculous and cruel personage, gross and +ceruminous, with an incomplete head dandling +on a tendinous neck. But I descended to recover +my familiar. And, having further bound the +Shape with the <i>Word of Fear</i>, I drew back the +mind of Amenemhat to his body, fattening it +with comfortable words. And anon I required the +Shape to decline to me his generalities, telling +who and what he was.</p> + +<p>But he responded very obediently, saying: “I +am Sanes, priest of Osiris, warden of yonder +purple altar, and long it is since I have formed +mortal speech with these remnants of my tongue.”</p> + +<p>I then demanded, “Why, O hideous and excessive +prelate, didst thou rush out so menacingly +upon us?”</p> + +<p>“Because,” he said, “having seen no man since +I know not when, I was fearful that ye had evil +designs. But, seeing that thou hast the <i>Sign</i> and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</span>the <i>Spell</i> and the <i>Word</i>, I must believe thee to be +present with the sanction of the gods. Yet, seeing +that I (in my lifetime) was the warden of this +place, seeing that no man hath deposed me, seeing +also that (after my accidental but lamentable +death) I was not properly embalmed but did myself +fulfil the cavities of the holy crocodiles who +ate me, I still must deem myself its warden.”</p> + +<p>Thus having spoken, he wept fragmentarily. +And I will say that I rarely have seen anything +more frightful than the tears of a shape which +(some centuries before) had been an eaten clergyman. +Wherefore, having required him to make +his Mark with his finger (as it were) on the stainless +floor, and having counted the angles of the +same, I said: “Poor faithful Senior, thou shalt +be relieved of thy wardenship and speeded whither +thou shouldst have gone ages ago.”</p> + +<p>And I removed <i>Spell</i> and <i>Word</i>. But, intoning +the <i>Speeding Hymn</i>, I bade the Shape to begone in +peace to the dull region of Amentet, giving him +the <i>Word of Entrance</i>, and praying the Assessors +to deal leniently with him. For surely so dreary +and so patient a watch and ward as his should +suffice to smooth many wrinkles from his sphere +of gold.</p> + +<p>And, with a joyful cry, the Shape collected his +parts; and, leaping, he evanesced. But we turned +to the matter which engrossed us, having dismissed +the long-delayed ghost to his rest.</p> + +<p>In this manner, I began to use my magic art in +the secret hall of Thebes.</p> + + +<div class="footnotes"> +<h3 id="FOOTNOTES_2"> + FOOTNOTES: +</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_5_5" href="#FNanchor_5_5" class="label">[5]</a> The tonsure is, of course, not pentagonal but circular. The +bishop who confers it does, however, ceremonially dip the clerk’s hair +in five places, <i>e.g.</i> front, back, right, left, and crown, while teaching +the tonsured to twitter: “<i>Dominus pars—haereditatis meae—et calicis +meis—Tu es Qui restitues—haereditatem meam mihi.</i>” Hence, perhaps, +the epithet “five-pointed.” A.H.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_6_6" href="#FNanchor_6_6" class="label">[6]</a> I surmise that these “gold quarter-ounces” were sovereigns. A. H.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_7_7" href="#FNanchor_7_7" class="label">[7]</a> These words are written in late-Victorian English by what I take to be Mr. Crabbe’s own hand. A. H.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_8_8" href="#FNanchor_8_8" class="label">[8]</a> These words are written in late-Victorian English by what I take to be Mr. Crabbe’s own hand. A. H.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_9_9" href="#FNanchor_9_9" class="label">[9]</a> These words are written in late-Victorian English by what I take to be Mr. Crabbe’s own hand. A. H.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_10_10" href="#FNanchor_10_10" class="label">[10]</a> Mr. C.’s statement would almost seem to indicate that Messrs. +Currelly, Dennis, Dalison, and Naville, the learned and assiduous +excavators of the subterranean sanctuary at Thebes (cf. <i>The Times</i>, +Tuesday, viiij Apr.) are only at the beginning of their labours. A. H.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="THE_FOURTH_PAPYRUS"> + THE FOURTH PAPYRUS + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>Touching the ordeal of the scorching staff, I +consulted Amenemhat. He had grave doubts as +to whether it was lawful to protect the hand with +a magic unguent, or to hold the staff with tongs; +and he stood by the injunctions of the well-written +papyrus which ordained that the staff +must be held in the hand. But, as for me, my +dear mind foamed with blood, and my stomach +shifted inch by inch, and the gorge of me swang +to and fro, at the anticipation of the grievous +anguish which I was to undergo: although I +knew that, by enduring the ordeal the first time, +I had summoned from the dead a master of +magic, from whom I was learning ineffable wisdom, +and, that, by enduring the same a second +time, I should call from the dead a master of +masters of magic, from whom I might learn +wisdom absolutely illimitable. But, notwithstanding +this, the heart in my bosom would take +no cheer, but remained dull and spiritless and +weighted with premonitions of disaster.</p> + +<p>Furthermore, while my mind was thus obliquing +brusquely in the manner of a crab, I +needs must add to my perturbations by certain +thoughts about the gods of my own motherland. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</span>And I pondered the question again, asking +myself whether what I was meditating actually +amounted to apostacy. And I went over much +old ground: for the point was a very nice and +subtile one. I told myself how that bad hierarchs +and far-from-immaculate anointed ones, all the +most righteous of men, of my race and age and +tongue, had refused to let me serve my gods and +theirs in the manner which those divine ones +inhabiting heavenly palaces had themselves designed. +And I enumerated, one by one, all the +occasions when the same blameless persons, out +of spite or out of pique or out of merely natural +and ungracious cruelty, had chased me from +temple after temple with secret anathemas, denied +me my rites, and withdrawn from me the very +hem of the skirt of fellowship. And I postulated +that a well-minded man must have a religion. +Therefore, without disloyalty to the gods of my +own land, from whose worship my fellow-worshippers +cut me off, I pronounced that it was +permissible for me, in default of fulness, to use +a moiety. Thus, then, I argued with myself, +until I was satisfied, that is to say satisfied as +nearly as might be.</p> + +<p>And anon I addressed myself to my task, +placing the crystal orb in the silver cup, and +filling the last with Nile-water, while my familiar +poured into the thirsty trench below the steps +that magic emerald-coloured liquid, whose exact +ingredients may not be told at large. Which +having been well-done, we prepared to summon +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</span>a Great One of the Greater Ones out of the +Outer Immensity. And, for this cause, that the +one whom I was about to summon was coming +from so vast a distance of time, I knew that the +heat of my magic staff would be immeasurably +greater at this second summons than at the first. +For movement is heat and heat is movement; +and, the faster and longer the movement, the +fiercer the heat of the burning.</p> + +<p>But, while the priest Amenemhat sprinkled +beautiful-smelling gum-tragacanth, I intoned the +hymn <i>I am the One among the Forms which the +Eye the Only One hath created</i>, and the incantation +called <i>Of the Buckle of Red Jasper</i>; and +then we both prayed to Ptah the Pain-lessener to +make my ordeal as endurable as might be. It is +true that I was not to have an additional burning +from the fierce clear of the moon, since I was +(this time) far beneath the earth: but I ceased +not from my pure-minded prayers to Ptah, even +when the crystal orb began to glow. For I was +convinced that some catastrophe was at hand.</p> + +<p>Wherefore, fearing lest the sudden death of +his summoner (and I expected no less) should +leave Amenemhat to drag out a weary existence +for ever on man-breeding earth—for a spirit reincarnated +by means of Nile-water must remain +incarnate until his own incarnator shall permit +him to depart his body—then, indeed, I hastily +gave to my familiar the <i>Word of Freedom</i>, saying: +“O Amenemhat, it seems that the time of our +separation is at hand. But I am loth to part, for +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</span>thou hast taught and served me well: but I will +not help myself at another man’s serious cost. +Therefore I free thee from my bond of rule, +that thou mayst return to thy place when it shall +seem good to thee. And, for thine own sake +setting thee free, O Amenemhat, I bid thee +farewell.”</p> + +<p>But his response came to me very thinly, very +reed-like: for his body instantly began to fade +away from him; and he was fast becoming an +Osirian and a spider’s-web-coloured mist in my +sight. And he said: “O Nicholas, Conquistator +of Peoples, I indeed thank thee for the respite +from the gnawing weariness of Amentet which +thou hast granted to me, by summoning me to +tread the kindly earth for a space; and, in return, +I will unfold to thee some pages of the book of +thy destiny. For, having been and being now +about to be an Osirian, I can read plainly in that +book: yet I may not tell thee all, for the gods +have forbidden it. And, ere thou hast lived another +moon’s age, thou shalt see me as I used to +be: for I and thou are linked together in an +unbreakable cycle of nigh two thousand years. +And I and thou will meet again in this land of +Khem, I the priest of Tanis, and thou: for that +awful round of years is——”</p> + +<p>Thus he departed, leaving the unfinished phrase +lapping against my mind. But I was very grievously +perturbed: for, unless I read his prediction +awry, I was doomed to die within the month. +And I was not ready, having an infinity (an +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</span>inconceivable infinity) of things to do, of souls to +save, of sufferers to soothe, of oppression to +remove, of wrongs to put right, of liars and +thieves and slanderers to confute and to despoil +and to shame, of cruelties to avenge with head-diggings +and eye-gougings and revenges and +slaughters and maimings and stonings and spine-impalings +with much moaning, and many other +mind-grieving evils. For which causes I was not +ready to die then.</p> + +<p>Wherefore, arising with shoutings from my +lethargy, I adjured the mind in my dear breast +to be very strong, very valiant indeed, very alert +to withstand Death’s insidious onsets. For, though +I had seen many things, I never yet had met +personally beautiful Death the soother of men. +And first, I set myself to endure the ordeal in +which I was engaged. For lurid gleams were +leaping from the emerald liquid in the trench, +wafting hot breaths in my direction.</p> + +<p>Instantly, stripping off my linen robe and casting +it outside the circle, I again ascended to +the porphyry altar; and grasped the magic staff +with my bare hand. Now that my mind was +blazing with firm courage, the staff at first seemed +cold. Anon, a gentle wave of warmth flushed +through it; and a dart of anguish shot into my +flesh. Pang followed pang: stab pierced stab. +More swiftly came fiercer thrusts of pain as the +heat increased. But I kept my mind fixed and +my lips addressed to Ptah the Pain-lessener. +Great scorching flames flowed from the staff +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</span>over my hand and arm. I seemed to be holding a +nineteen-times-heated fire; and, yet, amid all the +intolerable agony, I was ware that this was but +the beginning of my torment.</p> + +<p>The heat of the flame was so intense, that I +looked for my arm to vanish away in impalpable +ashes. Irresistible desire of dropping the staff +assailed me; and my fingers loosened a little +against my will. Like as the helmsman of a ship, +whose rudder is shattered by wintry storms, and +who (knowing the right course) is unable to steer +his vessel, even so was I then. The staff fell out +of my grasp: but the silver chain, which looped +it round my wrist, prevented it from rolling +away.</p> + +<p>Instantly, the flames expired; and the lambent +streamers in the divination-cup died down. But +I stood, alone, in darkness.</p> + +<p>After a space of gloom and silence, I saw tiny +golden sparks floating in the vast circumferent +void. But I watched them: for there seemed +naught else for me to do, nor was my will any +longer inclined to force leadlike unwilling limbs +to act. And the sparks became spots. And the +spots became swiftly-rolling globes of light. I +tried to utter a <i>Spell</i>: but voice and hearing had +deserted me.</p> + +<p>I lay, crouched against the blood-red altar of +porphyry. The globes of light changed, taking +wonderful forms. All my members were enfeebled; +and, indeed, only the mind in my +breast was me. For my body had renounced its +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</span>allegiance to my sway, and had gone apart from +me in shocking rebellion, leaving me to die having +nothing but my mind and my mind’s eye, which +saw and thought the very queerest things, the +most terrible, the most unheard-of.</p> + +<p>All round me, I saw the spirits of my senses +standing. On the left, was my hearing: on his +right, was my smell: on his right again, was my +sight: on the right of that one was my taste: on +his right was my touch. Above these, hovered +my life, in the form of a small white bird like a +beautifully-crowned hoopoe. Behind them, were +my powers of speech and movement, very large, +and sudden, and frightful. And the mind in my +breast told me that these things were so.</p> + +<p>But all these shapes mopped and mowed and +sighed at me; and my voice made as though he +would have derided me, his fallen master: but +the bird of life forbade him. And the shapes +wagged and wavered horribly, gesticulating among +themselves; and some seemed friendly: but others +were undoubtedly hostile. And, suddenly, with +a pitiful gesture, my hearing put up his hands +and dived cleanly into me; and I heard faint +voices, as one hears the whimpering of miners +coming up a pit-shaft. For my powers and my +senses were arguing against me: but the bird of +life argued for me.</p> + +<p>“Ye shall not leave him thus:” cried the +bird.</p> + +<p>“And who can prevent us?” shrieked the +rebels.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</span></p> + +<p>“I,” said my life, “for I will not leave him; +and how can ye wander lifeless through the +wide-bosomed earth when I am here refusing +to die?”</p> + +<p>Then, indeed, the mind in my noble breast +spoke unwinged words, saying the <i>Spell of Not +Letting the Powers and Senses of a Man be Taken +from Him in the Netherworld</i>; and, afterward, I +intoned aloud: “How now, rebellious creatures, +why dally in idleness when work remains to be +done? Know ye your master; and obey.”</p> + +<p>And, with shambling gait and visages rueful +and ashamed, my senses and my powers obliqued +each to his separate task.</p> + +<p>But I staggered to my feet; and, seizing the +divination-cup, I drained its cool contents, looping +my arm through the chain of the crystal orb. +And, at the moment, flames began to rise from +the summit of the purple altar. Whitish-green +they were, ever-increasing in volume, as though +some mountain (a forge of the Kyklops) were +vomiting from a new vent. And the flames rose +higher and higher, till they licked the very apex +of the hall ninety men’s heights above me; and +there was neither smoke nor vapour: but only +fervent flames, humming and buzzing and bounding +upward with irresistible leapings. But, changing +to violet, they vanished, leaving the place in +a violet glare wherein was the whirring of wheels.</p> + +<p>But I dismissed inertia; and, having my faculties +under order, I began to look upon these +happenings with a wholesome curiosity.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</span></p> + +<p>In the midst of the wheels were faces and +figures and events, faint indeed at first, but +growing clearer and firmer and more violent in +movement till they displaced the wheels. But I +watched very intently; and I saw the histories of +mortal men of many different races being enacted +before my eyes. For, things (which then were +past, and since have been) were done in my sight +in that secret subterranean hall of Thebes. Kings +and queens and emperors and princes and republicans +and patricians and plebeians swept in reverse +order across my view, all doing their deeds. Time +rushed enormously backward in tremendous panoramas. +Great men died before they won their +fame. Kings were deposed before they had been +crowned. Nero and the Borgias and Cromwell +and Asquith and the Jesuits⁠<a id="FNanchor_11_11" href="#Footnote_11_11" class="fnanchor">[11]</a> enjoyed eternal +infamy and then began to earn it. My motherland, +the kingdom of Victory queen of the stalwart +stately Anglicans, melted into barbaric +Britain: Byzantion melted into Rome; Venice +into Henetian Altino; Hellas into innumerable +migrations. Blows fell; and then were struck. +Bearded men became smooth-skinned boys. Death +came first; and birth came last. All things +changed save one: silver Sihor’s living waters +rolled down through the green streak of Egypt +and the sacred Delta to the innumerably smiling +sea.</p> + +<p>Thus, was I whirled back through the rolling +wheels of Time.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</span></p> + +<p>At length events were still. The medley of +scenes vanished. And I was ware that I was alone +with Another, Unknown, in a void of blackness, +impenetrable, save where the blood-red altar +glimmered obscurely; and, on it, was inthroned +a Presence, shapeless, indistinguishable from the +murky gloom.</p> + +<p>But I was not afraid. And anon a voice spake +to me, saying: “O man of many wiles and inquisitive +mind, it is permitted to thee to have +thy will, seeing that thy will is good and not evil. +And, forasmuch as wicked and fatuous anointed +ones are minded to neglect thee, wasting thee, +throwing thee away as worthless, forasmuch also +as the Maker of thy stars will not have His good +work spoiled and His keen tool rusted or blunted +by disuse or misuse, therefore, employment is +granted to thee such as thine energy deserveth +and as thy mind desireth. For which cause, thou +art put back in time; and several lives are given +thee to live, and several deeds to do, and several +fountains of wisdom are laid bare to thee, so that +(being perfected by much striving) at a favourable +occasion thou mayst fulfil thy free and perdurable +destiny.”</p> + +<p>Thus having spoken, the Voice ceased. But I +was alone, in the dark, very alert, inexpressibly +elated, hugging huge joys in my superior mind; +and my heart was throbbing like the tail of a +lambkin in springtime drinking life from the ewe.</p> + +<p>But the hall rocked slowly and more rapidly, +with lamps and tones and the roaring of hurricanes +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</span>and waterspouts and the vibrance of unmentioned +and unthought-of music. And long +tongues of white fire went before; and all the +gods of Khem followed after in intolerable procession, +Osiris and Isis and Heru the Child, and +hawk-headed Ra in his splendour, and well-plumed +watery Nu and Nut, and intelligent Ptah excessive +in magnitude, and ram-headed Khnemu, and +birdlike Khepera, and self-originated Tum, and +feathered Shu, and lion-headed Tefnut, and Zeb +the cackler, and Heru of the two horizons, and +dark Set, and jackal-headed Anpu the way-opener, +and ibis-headed Thoth the measurer, and +Maat the straight, and Net the lady of heaven, +and Sekhet the eye, and cat-headed Bast, and +plumed Ansu with his flail, and mistress Ta Urt, +and Hapi of the South with the papyrus, and +Hapi of the North with the lotus, and Amen the +Only One who has no second, and Mother Nut +the sky his wife. And, all the while, I heard the +shattering shaking of the sacred sistrum, denoting +the presence of Divine Mother Isis, the Greatest +of the Three.</p> + +<p>But the Voice spake yet again to me, saying: +“O man of many wiles and inquisitive mind, these +are the forms of The Supreme, at this time to +which thou art come.”</p> + +<p>But I gazed on the assemblage of the gods, +until my eyes were blinded; and, for a time, I +saw no more.</p> + +<p>Such, then, was the manifestation which I gained +by magic art at Thebes.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</span></p> + +<p><i>I, Empedokles son of Polypemon, a Rhodian, have +written this. My lord the king ceased from dictating +these histories, in order that he might lead a squadron +of his flying chariots, waging against King Artavasdes, +who</i> (<i>audacious</i>) <i>has demanded tribute. And the +Divine Herakles has gone with my lord the king. +May unconquered Mithra, M.Z.L., P.S.U., D.O.M., +S.H.C., M.E.L.F.,⁠<a id="FNanchor_12_12" href="#Footnote_12_12" class="fnanchor">[12]</a> prosper this undertaking. And +I seal up the scrolls, impressing the wax with my lord +the king’s own sigil of the crab and the moon. And +these scrolls are written fairly by me, and sealed by +me, Empedokles, the scribe, by command of my lord +the king.</i>⁠<a id="FNanchor_13_13" href="#Footnote_13_13" class="fnanchor">[13]</a></p> + + +<div class="footnotes"> +<h3 id="FOOTNOTES_3"> + FOOTNOTES: +</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_11_11" href="#FNanchor_11_11" class="label">[11]</a> This synthesis strikes me as being really most remarkable. A. H.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_12_12" href="#FNanchor_12_12" class="label">[12]</a> I can only elucidate these majuscules by reference to the Henetian +inscription containing the Mithraic Morning Litanies (<i>Corona Matutina +Mithraica</i>) lately discovered by Mr. Rolfe at Tauricellium (<i>Torcello</i>): +“<i>Manceps Zodiacorum Luminum—Pater, Sospitator, Unificator—Deus +Optimus Maximus—Sol, Heros, Creator,—Mundi Expiator, Lustrator, +Fautor.</i>” A. H.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_13_13" href="#FNanchor_13_13" class="label">[13]</a> Several words in these documents are not to be found in my lexicons. +On pronouncing them aloud, however, at a time when they worried +me dreadfully, I discovered that they were mere phonetic traliterations, +<i>e.g.</i> ΡΕΒΟΛΒΕΡ is evidently “revolver,” and I take ΟΥΑΔΤϹ for +“watch.” Though, why Mr. Crabbe could not have continued to call +these conveniences a “death-spitter” or a “fire-ball-spitter” and a +“time-teller,” respectively, is something of a mystery to me. Perhaps +we shall be safe in assuming that his attention, to the form of matter +which he dictated, varied in intensity from time to time. It does so +with the best of us. Nec semper tendet arcum Apollo. I surmise +that Mr. C.’s “death-parcels” were cartridges, and (from another +indication in the papyri) it may be asserted that they were tipped with +an article or convenience called a “dumdum.” A. H.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="THE_FIFTH_PAPYRUS"> + THE FIFTH PAPYRUS + </h2> +</div> + + +<p><i>I, King Balthazar of Moxoene, having been victorious +once again over a barbarian people, and being +wounded in battle, but not excessively, dictate these +words to Empedokles, my scribe, to pass the time.</i></p> + +<p>Having seen, therefore, the vast white hall in +the secret subterranean temple at Thebes teeming +full of the whole hierarchy of the gods of +Khem with all their relative appanages; and, +having watched these holy ones departing with +the indicible pomp and splendour of their coming; +and, having heard the mystic voice which told +me the meaning of these manifestations, warning +me of my connection with the same: anon, I was +left to ponder all these admirable happenings.</p> + +<p>Now the hall was flooded with soft white +light, as it had been when I first entered it with +Amenemhat. And, as I meditated, standing +strongly at my ease by the altar of blood-red +porphyry, I was ware that white carpets of silk +(covered with silver embroideries) were looped +from column to column all round the immense +circle, between each pair of pillars a carpet +hanging from capitals to bases. But the embroideries +represented the Assessors of Amentet: +throned in state they were; and they judged +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</span>the dead, allotting some to the blissful abodes, +and others to the flaming house of Set who +gnawed them with his teeth ever champing in +expectation of fresh meals. And, while I gazed +on these things, I remembered how that Amenemhat +had spoken of similar carpets. But, when +I thought of that priest of Tanis, I was moved +to hold a council with the mind in my dear +breast concerning many things. For it seemed +good to me to recall events in order, so that +(knowing the past precisely) I might understand +the present and proceed securely to the future. +Wherefore, I reminded myself of my godlike +dismissal of Amenemhat at a time when I awfully +needed a friend, of the ordeal of the scorching +staff, of the overwhelming and wily inquisitiveness +which impelled me to persist in spite of +failure, of the mind-delighting reward promised +to my perseverance, of the flying whirling wheels +which swept me back through panoramas of +Time, of the apparition of the godlike company +of Khem. And I considered all these +things, fully and turn by turn, before I laid +them away in the cells of my memory, as sedulous +squirrels store nuts in hollow trees, making +provision for winter. But, when, at length, I was +satisfied, I came down the steps from the purple +altar; and, gathering my priestly robe from the +floor where I had cast it at the beginning of +the ordeal, I clothed myself, and proceeded to +the cloistral antechambers in search of the truck +of baggage which Amenemhat had trundled, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</span>from the outer future world, into that arena of +untimed immortality. For I was convinced that +I no longer stood in time where I had been, but +rather more than nineteen hundred years prior +to the life which I had left. But, of this, I had +no particular or human certainty, but only a +general or divine one, for my watch told me +that barely eleven hours had elapsed since my +entrance into the place; and I firmly prepared +myself to find that those eleven hours included +nineteen centuries, and that the land of Egypt +(which I had left flourishing under the rule of +Victory queen of the stalwart stately Anglicans) +was now cowering beneath the talons of Roman +Eagles. But, having wound-up my watch, and +feeling very hungry, I refreshed my body with +the provisions in my baggage, leaving nothing +for mice. Thus I did, in the cloister behind the +embroidered carpets.</p> + +<p>Afterward, it seemed good to me to take such +matters as would be useful to me in my new +life, and to dispose of the rest, before emerging +into activity in the sweet sunlight. Accordingly, +under my linen robe, I buckled on my belt of +beautiful death-parcels with my death-spitter in +its proper sling. And, above that belt, I buckled +on my broad belt with the well-placed pockets, +so that the two belts (one above another) became +like a thorax protecting my vitals. But, in the +well-sewn pockets of the broad belt, I bestowed +my watch, and a box of wax-matches,⁠<a id="FNanchor_14_14" href="#Footnote_14_14" class="fnanchor">[14]</a> and my +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</span>gold and silver money, and my pocket-book with +its beautiful pencil,⁠<a id="FNanchor_15_15" href="#Footnote_15_15" class="fnanchor">[15]</a> and my Waterman’s Ideal +Fountain Pen,⁠<a id="FNanchor_16_16" href="#Footnote_16_16" class="fnanchor">[16]</a> + and my Foreign Office Passport,⁠<a id="FNanchor_17_17" href="#Footnote_17_17" class="fnanchor">[17]</a> +with the circular notes from my bankers, and +eight notes⁠<a id="FNanchor_18_18" href="#Footnote_18_18" class="fnanchor">[18]</a> each worth twenty-five ounces of +gold. Thus having prepared myself, I laced the +strong sandals on my feet, arranging the pleats +of my robe conveniently to conceal what was +underneath, yet leaving all things ready to be +snatched-at in case of necessity. But there was +nothing left, excepting my magic apparatus, and +the truck and lanthorn which had come with me +to the place.</p> + +<p>But, on pondering the thing again, I was ware +(from the carpets between the columns, and from +a certain aspect of the porphyry altar), that the +temple in which I stood was no longer a deserted +temple, forgotten because buried by the lapse of +ages, but actually a temple in daily use. From +which portent, I also was ware that it behoved +me to be ready to inflict my presence upon anyone +(or at least to explain it plausibly to anyone) +who by chance might totter in my direction, and, +indeed, not to wait for such discovery, but to +go at once in search of the society of articulately-speaking +men, and to take my share in life as +I should find it on the grain-giving earth.</p> + +<p>For these reasons, then, I set my cabinet of +essences and quintessences in a darkish recess, +hiding it, in case I should need it again: but +it remains there to this day. But I retraced my +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</span>steps toward the causeway, recrossing the dark +river; and, coming there, I broke my truck and +lanthorn into pieces, and committed them to the +swiftly-flowing stream. But I went on toward +the light of the outer world, having the crystal +orb (silver-banded with adornments of rose-crystals +and blue moonstones) hanging by its +chain from my neck, and the silver divination-cup +in my left hand, and in my right the magic +staff with its silver chain twisted round my wrist. +Thus, I passed majestically through the antechambers; +and a fold of my robe inshrouded +my head, lest my silver hair and beard should +bewray me to the shaveling priests guarding +every portal. But they, seeing me emerging +from the holy place with a holy and even mind +and wearing priestly habiliments, were unperturbed; +and, beside, the sight of the very +beautiful instruments in my hands, and the <i>Word +of Silence</i> in the ancient tongue of Khem which +I gave them in my passage, prevented any doubts +of me from afflicting their ingenious minds. But +also, of course, I was receiving favour from the +gods.</p> + +<p>So, at last, I stepped up through the secret +trap-door on to the sandy plain under the full +blaze of radiant Ra. And I at once perceived +a difference. For the plain, with its low pillar +on the spit of pebbles, was the same, but infinitely +smaller; and, below me, where I had +left desolate ruins, was a city heaped with +mighty fanes and splendid palaces. I, Nicholas +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</span>Crabbe, liegeman of Victory queen of the stalwart +stately Anglicans, gazed with my live well-seeing +eyes, not a puny Luxor, but on Thebes of the +Hundred Gates, Menes’ Thebes, Thotmes’ +Thebes, the capital of the Upper Land, the +great metropolis of the south, in glory inconceivable, +and yet not yet in its greatest glory.</p> + +<p>For a time, I stood, musing at the wonder +to which my wiles had brought me, and contriving +many plans. For, it appeared to me, +that (though I had done very well as a priest +of Isis in extricating myself from the temple) +the mind in my lordly breast was yearning for +a wider more-strenuous life, in which my wisdom +and my power (but now considerable) might be +used and (if possible) augmented. And, for this +reason, it seemed well to seek yet another guise +before entering the city.</p> + +<p>But a certain remembrance set me searching +the rock-strewn plain; and, by chance, about an +hour before sunset, by favour of some god, I +came to the cavity under certain boulders, where +I had seen fit to hide a small teak-wood chest +lined with aluminium, when I came to that place +with my familiar Amenemhat. Now I am ignorant +of the reason why I found it there, for the +time when I hid it there is even now very far +in the future. But, as I had found my baggage +in the secret hall, with the food (which I brought +from the era of Victory queen of the stalwart +stately Anglicans) still sweet and fresh more than +nineteen centuries before its actual confection, I +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</span>was not then, and I am not now, disposed to +vibrate the air with explanations of what no one +can understand. It is enough that I found my +teak-wood chest in the place where some day I +shall no doubt hide it, and that its contents +provided me with easy and beautiful garments +wherewith I promptly indued myself, namely, a +pair of brown leather boots, with a flannel jacket +and trousers, and a silk shirt and socks, all of +a very pale grey colour, and a soft felt hat of +the same hue but of the shape affected by +Hermes.⁠<a id="FNanchor_19_19" href="#Footnote_19_19" class="fnanchor">[19]</a> But when I had clothed myself in +these well-cut garments, I buckled my revolver-belt +outside them, and hanged a leathern satchel, +containing my crystal orb and my divination-cup, +over my wide shoulders. But I kept the magic +staff in my right hand to twirl and flourish by +the way; and, so, I set out for the city.</p> + +<p>A well-carved open chariot passed by; and the +slave, driving, gazed curiously on my strange +form. Around me, on both sides of the wide +white road, brick-red tillers of the soil toiled +with bent backs amid the emerald crops. Another +chariot passed me; and halted a little further +on for the naked charioteer to gaze upon me +with jaw-dropped amazement. At the gate of +the city, I saw fierce Makedonians on guard, +clothed (as was the fashion of their race) with +copper armour blazing like red gold, and kirtles of +the well-cured skins of ponies, and great crested +helmets on their heads, and long spears of tough +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</span>ashwood in their hands, very brave to look upon. +And, as I came near, one (the most righteous +of men) said to his fellows: “I say, here is well-hatted +Hermes!”</p> + +<p>“Aye:” responded another: “and the godly +youth goeth attired for this hot land in grey +cloud-garments, shielding his tender skin from +Helios his rays.”</p> + +<p>“Ho, stranger!” cried a third. “Stand thou, +and say whether thou art god or man, and what +contraband thou bearest in thy bag, and whether +thou art friendly to the Pharoah.”</p> + +<p>Now while the usual dirty little boys and +loafers and inquisitive women were assembling, +I realized that I had to do with Argyraspides, +seeing that the shields of the soldiers were laminated +with silver; and, moreover, I perceived +that they were offering me the <i>Sign of the Shield-rim</i>.⁠<a id="FNanchor_20_20" href="#Footnote_20_20" class="fnanchor">[20]</a> +But I used wiles, answering: “First tell +ye me who the Pharoah is, and why ye Argives +serve the lord of Khem.”</p> + +<p>Thus I spoke: but deep-seated indignation +swept from their hearts across their faces, even +as Sihor’s stream inundates the thirsty land in +flood-time. And anon one chirruped: “O thou +silly fellow! The divine Ayletes is the Pharoah +whom we serve.”</p> + +<p>“Ayletes?” I cried. “Is, then, Ptolemaios +Dionysos the Piper lord of sacred Khem? And +are ye Makedonians minions of the Lagidai?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</span></p> + +<p>“Aye, stranger:” the blameless guard +responded: “Makedonians we are, but no slaves of +that Flute-player. Of our own will we serve +Ptolemaios, for pay and for promotion. But, who +art thou?” he continued. “Who art thou, who +seemest first to know nothing and then to know +everything? And why art thou thus garbed? +And what bearest thou there?”</p> + +<p>Then, indeed, I was wily: for I made them +the <i>Countersign of the Shieldnavel</i>;⁠<a id="FNanchor_21_21" href="#Footnote_21_21" class="fnanchor">[21]</a> and I said, in +a parable which he who has a grain of sense +may read: “I am Karkinos Gampsonyx called +Oypogonos, son of Kallikhronos, born of Nomadikos, +begotten by Eypator son of Eygenes who +sprang from the great race of the Selenidai. And +I go thus garbed because I have a lordly mind to +go thus garbed. And, in my hand, I bear that +which is Life. And, on my thigh, I bear that +which is death.”</p> + +<p>Thus I spoke. But the sentinels cowered before +me, muttering among themselves: “He +knoweth the great <i>Countersign</i>: Yet he is not of +us, neither of present-born men, victims not +masters of life and of death: but he is some god +or hero out of the Netherworld.” But to me +they said: “Pass freely, O Karkinos Oypogonos +of the multitudinous paternity, who art lord of +life and death. And the Piper may stop thee if +he will: but we will have nothing to do with it.”</p> + + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</span></p> +<p>But I went smoothly into the city. And men +cast wondering looks at me, because of my strange +aspect; but, because I had been able to cause the +insolent soldiers of the corrupt Lagidai to shrink +from me, I was sufficiently admired. Now the +sun was near his setting; and the mind in my +breast earnestly desired to seek a small place of +my own, near water, where I might rest awhile, +watching for an opportunity of mingling advantageously +with mortal men. For, indeed, I have +ever had a natural longing to be near water, and +useful to men. Wherefore, having found my +way to the river, I addressed myself to an Argive +colonist, and he was a master of barges, who (by +chance) was seeing his barks laid up for the night. +And from him I demanded the hire of a convenient +barge, intending to sail downstream to the +Delta, that (during the voyage) I might tranquilly +estimate the wisdom which I had, and perhaps +acquire more, and also take part in such adventures +as the gods might assign to my treatment.</p> + +<p>But the bargeman answered me, saying: “No +barges, O lord, can pass down Sihor to the Delta, +now. For the wild mercenaries of the Pharoah +have mutinied at Anteiopolis for an increase +of wages.”</p> + +<p>“I know,” I said, “that there are masterless +hounds everywhere.”</p> + +<p>“But these, lord, are not masterless: for they +serve Pyrrhos, one of themselves, a ruddy-locked +barbarian, who has made Thebes (the sacred city +of the ram-headed god) a byword through the +Upper Land and the Lower, requiring of us (as +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</span>tribute) whole meals of the milk of mice as well +as a ransom of much gold.”</p> + +<p>“But the guards of the Lagidai—” I began.</p> + +<p>He interrupted me: “Lord, they league with +Pyrrhos; and a share of his spoils keeps them in +their quarters while he bites our necks.”</p> + +<p>“But, why do not ye, Thebans, resist this +freebooter?”</p> + +<p>“There is no strength left to us, lord, since +the dread Pharoah Ptolemaios Lathyros sacked +Thebes: whom may Set snatch, and his heart be +eaten alive by slow-worms, hornets, and interminably-tongued +chameleons——”</p> + +<p>“Peace, fellow!” I snarled. “Nor soil thine +Argive mouth with barbaric imprecations. And +know that I will sail for the Delta, though a +myriad of outlaws be between here and there.”</p> + +<p>“Then, lord, thou wilt go alone: for no boatman +will risk his life.”</p> + +<p>“Not for gold?” I inquired, shewing a handful +of coins.</p> + +<p>Then, indeed, the man wavered, curiously examining +the money. But he said: “Oh, where +were these well-minted pieces struck? For they +are over-round and too well-stamped to come +from a barbaric mint. And, O lord, who art +thou?”</p> + +<p>But, being aware that he was as much in my +power as though the knuckles of my first and +second blooming fingers clutched the tender nose +of him, and being desirous at length to make an end +of bargaining, I answered him, saying: “Whom +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</span>I am, thou shalt know on a fitting occasion: but, +that I am to be obeyed, thou shalt know now. +Let therefore thine eyes gaze in this direction.”</p> + +<p>With which words, I stretched out my magic +staff to the life-giving river, whispering a certain +<i>Spell of Summons</i>. And the sons of slime surged +up with great swirlings, the many-fanged far-sweeping +crocodiles, while I slowly swayed my +staff in rhythm with the inchantment which sang +within me. But they came in cohorts from far +and near, with huge eddyings of the dark-brown +water; and they lay winking in close lines by the +jetty, expecting orders from me their summoner.</p> + +<p>But the heart of the bargeman became like +dripping in a hot pan; and he said: “Lord, I +perceive that thou art the Divine Hermes at least, +with that wonderful wand: for none but thou, and +only thou on a very important message from All-father +Zeys, could do this thing.”</p> + +<p>To whom I gave a stern word, saying: “Be +ware of opposing the counsels of Zeys, or of +hindering Hermes. For the minions of Pyrrhos +have no more power over me than had the Makedonians +of the Lagidai. But, even as I command +these sons of slime, so am I superior to all earth-stamping +men.”</p> + +<p>“Dreadful lord,” he answered at once, “take +the best of my barges: for Nesamun my brother-in-law, +who has more skill in boatmanship than I, +shall indeed go with thee this minute in his +own barge.”</p> + +<p>Having succeeded in my wile, I dismissed the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</span>Argive to see to the business. But I waited, +watching the crocodiles having their teeth cleaned +and blinking luxuriously, till I was tired of their +musky exhalations. And, having given them +leave, they returned to their stations in the slime. +And anon, seeing that the barge was being prepared +very speedily, I bade the bargeman that his +brother-in-law should visit me; and to him I gave +order that he should take a stock of provisions, +buying also a slave-boy of lusty form and a mind +incapable of fear, with other things which were +necessary. Furthermore, I said that all was to +be ready for sailing at dawn. And, having offered +two quarter-ounces of gold of Victory queen of +the stalwart stately Anglicans to the bargeman +for his charges, he foolishly refused the same, +abasing himself to the earth as before a god. +But I, having ascended the gangway, entered my +cabin, where I ate a melon and some cheeses and +pigeons; and betook myself to slumber.</p> + +<p>These things I did in Thebes of the Hundred +Gates.</p> + + +<div class="footnotes"> +<h3 id="FOOTNOTES_4"> + FOOTNOTES: +</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_14_14" href="#FNanchor_14_14" class="label">[14]</a> All these words are written in English. A. H.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_15_15" href="#FNanchor_15_15" class="label">[15]</a> All these words are written in English. A. H.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_16_16" href="#FNanchor_16_16" class="label">[16]</a> All these words are written in English. A. H.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_17_17" href="#FNanchor_17_17" class="label">[17]</a> All these words are written in English. A. H.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_18_18" href="#FNanchor_18_18" class="label">[18]</a> All these words are written in English. A. H.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_19_19" href="#FNanchor_19_19" class="label">[19]</a> All written in English. A. H.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_20_20" href="#FNanchor_20_20" class="label">[20]</a> The original has “ΑΝΤΥΞ.” A. H.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_21_21" href="#FNanchor_21_21" class="label">[21]</a> The original has “ΟΜΦΑΛΟϹ.” It is extremely humiliating to confess +that I have not been able, so far, to trace this <i>Sign</i> and <i>Countersign</i> +to any existing Rite. I am deeply pained and mortified. A. H.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="THE_SIXTH_PAPYRUS"> + THE SIXTH PAPYRUS + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>When Day with her white steeds was come (most +beautiful to behold), and the dawn was yet cool, +then indeed I examined my barge with its contents +and its mariners. And I saw that Nesamun was +a nimble and mightily powerful youth, and that +Yokkho the slave was slim and very eager, both +stripped for work, and of a brick-red colour, with +long black and white eyes, and closely shaven +polls which they covered with a napkin as is the +custom among the Egyptians. But they carried +girdles in their bundles. And I saw that the +barge was long and flattish, having two bulwarks. +But there was a chief cabin in the waist; and the +roof of it was like a deck: but the low waist was +open. And, at the prow, there was a smaller +cabin, with a deck above it, whereon a slave might +stand to shove the barge off shoals and sandbanks +with the well-handled pole. And there was a +third cabin at the stern; and the steersman stood +on the roof of it wielding the cunning steering-oar. +But, in the waist, was a lofty mast, with a +triangular sail of woven reeds and the cordage +relative thereto. And, having seen all these +things, I inspected the baskets of provisions; and +these were very grateful to the mind. For there +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</span>was fresh bread, and much wheat (the marrow of +men), and many cheeses, and fruits both fresh +and dried, with jars of wine from Kos and +Korinth, and vinegar, and condiments, and nuts. +But, when I had given an order, all these things +were stored in the fore-cabin. And I bade the +boatman and his boy to take the aft-cabin for +themselves, so that their smells might not come +to me, as I slept in the chief cabin, or took the +air in the waist, or on the main deck during the +voyage. Not that they were in any wise disagreeable, +being both healthy and naked and constantly +washed: but so I willed it, for (at that time) my +stomach heaved at the odour of all mortals. And, +these matters having been settled, Yokkho pulled +the gangway into the barge, while Nesamun +pushed out on to the placid bosom of Hapi-hallowed +Sihor. But, when they had hoisted +the sail, a favourable breeze assisted the slow +stream to waft us toward the distant Delta.</p> + +<p>In this manner, I departed from hundred-gated +Thebes.</p> + +<p>But I began to ponder the past: for this always +has been, and always is, and always will be, my +singular habit, recounting in my dear mind every +particular of the things which I had done, or +which had been done to me, weighing their worth +and import and possibilities, rejecting some to fall +into oblivion, but storing others in my memory +until such time when they might be used for my +advantage. And, of all the things which I had +done during the last two days, there were two +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</span>things which I regretted. The first was that I +had left my magic cabinet with the papyrus-enkheiridion +at Thebes; and the second was that +I had left my priestly robe and sandals in the +cavity under the boulders on the plain. But, +nevertheless, the mind in my noble breast bade +me be of good cheer, relinquishing all matters, +even greater than these, without a backward +thought; and going forward boldheartedly in +search of fresh adventures, and the more boldly as +the more barehandedly, seeing that greater wisdom +is to be gained by the simple, and more blooming +laurels are to be won by the absolutely naked, +than by the trained philosopher, or by the heavyarmed. +Furthermore, the divine ones inhabiting +olympian palaces put into my mind an unmentioned +and unthought-of action. For I remembered +the prediction of Amenemhat, how he said +that within the month I should meet him again. +For, since those words, Time had rolled back for +me, so that it seemed that I was now actually +living in the former lifetime of Amenemhat. +And, also, it seemed that (if these things were +so) the friendly priest would be performing his +functions at Tanis in the Delta: to which place I, +undoubtedly by the direction of the gods, was at +that moment proceeding. Wherefore, taking +courage from the thought that, though I had +not all which I might have had, still, I had a +great deal, to wit, the prospect of meeting a +friend, the divination-cup, the crystal orb, and +the magic staff, beside my arms and my money +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</span>all safely stored in my cabin, to say nothing of +the inestimable wisdom which I had so far attained, +then, indeed, I became cheerful of heart; and set +myself to take my pleasure from what was round +about me.</p> + +<p>For, as I walked about my deck, I saw the +stalwart Nesamun poised like some grand archaic +carving in carnelian jasper, at one moment lithe, and +at another moment rigid, intent upon his business +at the steering-oar. And, at his feet, across the +narrow aft-deck, Yokkho was stretched at length, +busy with fishing-lines which trailed behind in +golden Sihor. All around, were the rolling +waters, bordered with leaves like living emeralds; +and, above, the great splendour of Ra flamed in +the turquoise-coloured dome of the heavens. +Nothing broke the stillness, excepting ripples +lapping about the well-carved prow, or when the +slave laughed contentedly, drawing a silver fish +from the stream from time to time and tossing it +to flap in a heap below Nesamun’s feet.</p> + +<p>But when fishes enough for a meal for my crew +had been caught, for fish is a food which my +gorge rejects without even trying it, then I called +Yokkho to me, demanding that he should soothe +me with singing. And, having fetched a certain +well-sounding harp from his baggage, he began to +tighten the strings. But I saw that the harp was +an old one, very dilapidated, and the gilding and +the paint were both worn off, leaving bare wood +to be seen. And also I knew it for the harp of a +priest of Khem, though one of the glass eyes of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</span>the face on the base had fallen out, and the face +itself was so broken and discoloured that it was +not to be decyphered either as of a god or of a +man. And the slave-boy said that, having been +rescued from a sunken temple-barge at Philai +where he dived for it, the harp had been damaged +by water. For which cause, he fitted it with new +strings, the frame being still whole. And when +at length he had tuned it, crouching on his hams +and pressing it to his tender shoulder, then he +opened his throat and began to sing. But his +song was in a rude metre, with a pæan of praise +at the end of every tenth strophe; and he would +have continued singing even unto this day: for +his song was as interminable as that endless song +of future Galatia which will be called <i>Jean +François de Nantes</i>.⁠<a id="FNanchor_22_22" href="#Footnote_22_22" class="fnanchor">[22]</a> But long before weariness +prevented his hand from twanging the strings, I +myself called for silence, demanding the name of +his ditty. And he said that it was one of the +folk-songs of the watermen of the Thebaid. This, +then, was the song which Yokkho sang:</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> + <div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>Slowly return we</i></div> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>deeply deploring</i></div> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>great Hapi’s anger:</i></div> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>we have enanger’d</i></div> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>Sihor’s protector:</i></div> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>we must propitiate,</i></div> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>or we shall starve:</i></div> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</span> <div class="verse indent0"><i>He is offended:</i></div> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>our nets go empty:</i></div> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>Let us lament it.</i></div> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent18"><i>Great is Hapi:</i></div> + <div class="verse indent18"><i>worship Hapi:</i></div> + <div class="verse indent18"><i>mighty Hapi,</i></div> + <div class="verse indent18"><i>grant us favour.</i></div> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>Now let the Ueb</i></div> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>pour out the red wine:</i></div> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>now let the Kherkeb</i></div> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>offer our prayer,</i></div> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>that our petitions,</i></div> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>eager and earnest,</i></div> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>with a sweet savour</i></div> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>upward may fly,</i></div> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>mounting to Hapi</i></div> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>dwelling in Duät.</i></div> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent18"><i>Great is Hapi:</i></div> + <div class="verse indent18"><i>worship Hapi:</i></div> + <div class="verse indent18"><i>mighty Hapi,</i></div> + <div class="verse indent18"><i>grant us favour.</i></div> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>Then will the dread lord,</i></div> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>dread lord of Sihor,</i></div> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>smell the sweet odour</i></div> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>and hear our prayer:</i></div> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>leaping from Eäru</i></div> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>amid the grain-fields,</i></div> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>and earthward flying,</i></div> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>the sacred Sahus</i></div> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>will speed his flight</i></div> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>to our rejoicing.</i></div> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent18"><i>Great is Hapi:</i></div> + <div class="verse indent18"><i>worship Hapi:</i></div> + <div class="verse indent18"><i>mighty Hapi,</i></div> + <div class="verse indent18"><i>grant us favour.</i></div> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</span> </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>Then he will fill</i></div> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>full, even fuller,</i></div> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>each fisher’s net,</i></div> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>till inward trawling</i></div> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>we seize the prey;</i></div> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>and load our boats</i></div> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>with Sobk his food.</i></div> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>All will be purchased.</i></div> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>But we remember,</i></div> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>in our good fortune,</i></div> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>Hapi the Giver.</i></div> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent18"><i>Great is Hapi:</i></div> + <div class="verse indent18"><i>worship Hapi:</i></div> + <div class="verse indent18"><i>mighty Hapi,</i></div> + <div class="verse indent18"><i>grant us favour.</i></div> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>We have offended;</i></div> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>and, on a sandbank,</i></div> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>we are held prisoners;</i></div> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>and the storm rages</i></div> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>tearing our sail:</i></div> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>winds blind us with spray,</i></div> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>while the sons of the slime</i></div> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>creep o’er our quarter,</i></div> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>each seizing victims</i></div> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>shrieking in vain.</i></div> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent18"><i>Great is Hapi:</i></div> + <div class="verse indent18"><i>worship Hapi:</i></div> + <div class="verse indent18"><i>mighty Hapi,</i></div> + <div class="verse indent18"><i>grant us favour....</i></div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p>But when I had made an end of his singing, I +gave him a small coin of no value to me, which +seemed to him wealth incalculable, he being such +a simple little fellow. And, having praised his +pretty voice, a most innocent one and not by any +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</span>means shrill, I turned to Nesamun demanding a +meal. For, the sun being on his zenith, it was +my pleasure to eat before sleeping. And, having +brought me cheeses and gherkins and cakes of +bread and fresh fruit and a jar of wine where I +sat in the shade of my cabin, the mariners went +ashore and filled their own bellies with the fish +which they broiled in papyrus on a fire. But, +when they had bathed and returned to the barge, +we again set sail, Nesamun guiding the steering-oar, +and Yokkho fanning me with a palm-leaf +where I slept in the cool cabin.</p> + +<p>But, while I slept, it seemed to me that I was +wandering near the Treasury of Dreams which +overlooks the meadows of Eäru in Duät of the +gods. And the monotonous song of the slave +still hummed in my ears. And anon, as my +manner is in dreams, I found that I was all stark, +without a single stitch of clothing on me, having +naught but my wings and tail fixed to my arms +and shoulders and legs at the back, wherewith I +swam in the air⁠<a id="FNanchor_23_23" href="#Footnote_23_23" class="fnanchor">[23]</a> like a beautiful expert seagull, +easily and enormously swooping. And I was +flying finely balanced over my former (or future) +home in the kingdom of Victory queen of the +stalwart stately Anglicans. Which place I have +well in memory, having known it, in the life from +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</span>which I had come, and to which I infallibly shall +return terribly and invincibly armed with the +wisdom of ages. But I remembered the limpid +river, and the little island with its precipitous +cliffs save at one end which sloped gently to the +water’s edge and the wide-stepped quay. And I +recognized the distant river-banks, clothed with +oak-forests and steep pine-woods, purifying the +air. And I looked southward to see the rivermouth +far away, kissing the lips of the innumerably +smiling sea. But I knew, also, the small old +perfect fortress of grey stone, which stood on the +summit of that isle, where were velvet lawns +bestarred with daisies, and gardens of quaint herbs +and sweet old flowers, and the cedar-tree, and the +ghent-azaleas, and the pergola furred with honeysuckle +and white roses and passion-flowers and +dripping with amethystine wistaria and asterial +jasmine. And I saw the library of ancient books +for solacing my mind in wintertime when pinecones +burn upon the hearth. And I saw my three +well-tailed kittens, the white and the yellow and +the grey, frisking round my tame white peacocks +trailing pearl-like prides indignantly across the +pleasaunces and neatly cobbled paths which lead +down to the boat-house. There also, I saw my +electric gondogla, and my flat-bottomed huge-ruddered +sailing bragozzetto. And, too, I saw +my sailors, John Marcus and Ermenegildo Falier +by name, the last telling horrible Venetian tales +to my three servants, Bob and Bill and Roddy, +having finished their day’s work in my house and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</span>gardens. But I swam in the air round and about +the place, so near to the flag of Saint George and +the ensign of the Cinque Ports which flew from +my battlements that I could have touched the +bunting with my hand; and yet I was unseen by +any mortal eye. Wherefore I flew back to the +Treasury of Dreams.⁠<a id="FNanchor_24_24" href="#Footnote_24_24" class="fnanchor">[24]</a></p> + +<p>And I saw the Master of Dreams summoning +a certain blameless Dream, to whom he said: +“Go thou to such and such a priest of Isis, who +sleeps in a barge, near Koptos, on River Nile; +and try whether he will receive thee.” And the +Dream, having wrapped a cloak of pink and +tinsel falsehood about him, leaped out through +an ivory gate; and dived down toward me, +asleep, in the cabin of my barge. But, because +he could not find a foothold there (though he +fought like a dog for it), he slank back to the +Dream-Master, to whom he sulkily snarled: +“Lord, there is that on that barge which prevents +me.” Whereat, the Dream-Master (having +smiled and having dismissed him to his place) +summoned another Dream, to whom he gave a +similar charge. And the second Dream donned +a cloak which seemed to be woven of dewdrops +and the eyes of kittens or babies; and he leaped +out of another gate, and pounced like a robin on +my brow. And, with him, there entered to me +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</span>Belmarduk the god of Assyria, very brave with +fringed vestments and well-curled love-locks, +attended by winged bulls and sphynxes and +cherubs; and the heroes Gilgamish and Eabani +came flatly smirking sideways in his train. But +Belmarduk addressed me, saying: “By favour of +the gods of Khem, I come to thee in a land which +is not mine; and my message is that thou shalt +be a king in Armenia, that is to say in Moxoene +which is called Magurturgadash in Naïri.” And, +when he had said this, the traveller-god departed +as he came. But, in my dream, I wondered very +greatly, being overwhelmed with wave after wave +of astonishment: even as a stranded ship is washed +by waves pushed by azure-haired earth-shaking +Nun, the lord of the ocean. For I was ignorant +of the cause why any gods should visit me, +specially a strange god, or why Assyrian gods +should visit an Egyptian priest. And other +doubts also assailed me. Wherefore, in my +dream, I mentioned my perplexity to our holy +Mother Isis, the wise goddess, whose priest I +was, asking for news of these matters; and +she instantly answered me by the mouth of +Tefeu her messenger, saying: “<i>The god of Assyria +came to thee: because the word hath gone forth in +the hall of fate from the abode of The Supreme, +the Dweller in the Innermost, Whose decrees nor +god nor hero nor mortal can evade.</i>” And the +scorpion-headed god shewed the <i>Sign of Life</i> in +token that the Lady of the Marsh indeed had +sent him. But, having done this, he fled on +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</span>uplifting wings to Duät of the gods which is +above Amentet. Whereat I awakened from my +sleep.</p> + +<p>Such was the dream which I dreamed in my +barge on sacred Sihor.</p> + + +<div class="footnotes"> +<h3 id="FOOTNOTES_5"> + FOOTNOTES: +</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_22_22" href="#FNanchor_22_22" class="label">[22]</a> The title of this ballad is written in the French tongue in what I +take to be Mr. Crabbe’s own hand. “Galatia” is rather interesting, +perhaps. A. H.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_23_23" href="#FNanchor_23_23" class="label">[23]</a> Of course I suppose that it is fairly well known, now, that Mr. C. +was the first living man of our era actually to fly of himself like a bird +or an angel, and not like a libellulan insect in an Antoinette. The +story of his (shall we say—are we quite justified in saying) accidental +discovery of the slight physical development which enables this, need +not be iterated here, I fancy. A. H.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_24_24" href="#FNanchor_24_24" class="label">[24]</a> There is quite a considerable number of words in this really singularly +and exquisitely lovely pen-picture of the home of a hungry heart, +of a lonely soul, which are written in English in what I unhesitatingly +pronounce to be Mr. Crabbe’s own hand. It is quite unnecessary for +me to indicate them. A. H.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="THE_SEVENTH_PAPYRUS"> + THE SEVENTH PAPYRUS + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>But now the sun was near his setting, swathing +the vast dome of heaven with arras of green and +lilac and rose and burning gold. And, on the +floor by my couch, the slave had fallen asleep, +with the fan still in his hand, and his gleaming +limbs stretched out, smooth, brick-red, decently +folded. But, the air being cooler, I did not +disturb him, but remained lying on the couch, +pondering my dream. And, the more I pondered, +the less I knew of the manner in which I might +assist the fulfilment of the Supreme Decree. But, +above all things, I was anxious to avoid the vulgar +error of confusing particulars with universals, so +as not to lose the fruit of any revelations which +the gods had intended.</p> + +<p>And, while I was thus meditating, suddenly I +remembered a certain magic, by which one may +learn a very great deal of the future; and it +seemed to me that, in this way, I might test the +prediction of my dream. But, indeed, it was the +well-made body of my slave, straight, quickening, +and apparently spotless, meeting my eyes while I +thought on these matters, which recalled this +magic from my memory: for it may only be done +with just such an innocent one. Wherefore, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</span>being awakened, Yokkho opened his fearless black +eyes and listened: whom I commanded to slip +into the river, and to return to me fresh and +clean. This he did. But I inspected him with +the most careful minuteness from head to foot; +and, having found neither speck nor blemish +anywhere upon him, and his teeth sound and +perfect, then I knew that he was worthy of my +purpose.</p> + +<p>But, having seated him on the edge of the cabin +roof, with his legs hanging down, for there the +light was strongest, I placed his right hand on +his knee, the palm being upward: whereon, with +my Waterman’s Ideal Fountain Pen,⁠<a id="FNanchor_25_25" href="#Footnote_25_25" class="fnanchor">[25]</a> I drew two +squares, a lesser inside a greater; and, in each +corner of the outer square, I wrote the arabic +numbers, Four Two Eight Six, with a Three +between the Four and the Eight, and a One +between the Eight and the Six, and a Seven between +the Six and the Two, and a Nine between +the Two and the Four; and, in the top of the +inner square, I wrote the arabic number Five: +but, under it, I put a fair large drop of pure +dichroic ink, purple-black, having unscrewed the +top of my pen. And, when all this had been +well-done, I bade Yokkho to bend the ridge of +his supple back, looking attentively into the drop +of ink, and telling me what he should see therein. +But, standing below him in the waist of the barge, +I looked up into his downcast eyes, very long and +lucid and fixed upon the drop of ink. And the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</span>black-fringed eyelids gently winked from time to +time in the ordinary manner: but, being a very +obedient slave, his gaze did not waver from the +palm of his hand.</p> + +<p>Then, there came a moment when the winking +ceased, and the eyes became fixed wide open but +still looking downward. And, when I, with a +low voice, bade him again to speak, telling the +things which he saw in the drop of ink, then, +indeed, he spoke as one who at a long distance +speaks to himself, very gravely, very slowly, very +solemnly, saying: “<i>The silver god, pointing at the +galley, slays.</i>” Then his eyes wavered, and again +became fixed. And his voice continued, speaking +single sets of words divided by intervals as +before; and he thus said: <i>The silver god, in the +temple, taking the bow which sings.... The silver +god, in the ship, speaking with the azure-haired god, +on the white horses.... The silver god leading the +golden goddess, from the dark.... The silver god, +and the golden goddess, before many gods and goddesses.... +The silver god, and the golden goddess on a +throne.... The silver god, following the star.</i> +Having said these words, which seemed to be +nonsensical, he tired me. Whereat I smacked +him, shaking his hand till the dark ink trickled +over his thighs; and so I dismissed him to relieve +Nesamun at the steering-oar.</p> + +<p>Thus I did with Yokkho, without gaining the +wisdom which I expected.</p> + +<p>But, during the rest of the evening, while the +boatman was sleeping, I made no more attempts +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</span>at explaining the past or foreseeing the future: +for it seemed that this was not permitted. But +I myself took the steering-oar, dismissing the slave +to seek more sleep in the waist, by the boatman. +And, as we sailed along, I watched the sky turning +violet with an after-glow of rose-colour fretted +with green, which deepened into the clear dark +heliotrope of night sown with innumerable constellations, +surrounding the white-blazing serene +moon. But, when the slaves had finished sleeping, +they prepared a meal, and I refreshed my +body with food and wine, while Yokkho returned +to the steering-oar.</p> + +<p>But I inquired of Nesamun the name of the +city which we were passing on the right hythe, +having seen a cluster of temples with their pylons +and flagstaves and very many houses there.</p> + +<p>“Lord,” he answered, “it is the city of Khenoboskis; +and, on the left, should be the lesser +Diospolis of the Lagidai which we used to call +Mutio. But, in the morning we shall water at +Ptolemais Hermii, another city of the Lagidai.”</p> + +<p>“Our stay,” I said, “must be a short one: for +I wish to come to Tanis without delay.”</p> + +<p>“Lord, hast thou not heard of the mutineers +at Antaiopolis, who bar the way?”</p> + +<p>“Not my way, nor the way of the barge which +bears me.”</p> + +<p>“Nor the way of thy slaves, then, who attend +thee:” added Nesamun very quietly.</p> + +<p>“Thou art not afraid?” I responded, inquiring.</p> + +<p>“Nay, lord, for who can see with his eyes a +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</span>god, unwilling, going either here or there. But +I also can fight, if fighting be toward.”</p> + +<p>Now, when he spoke thus, I laughed without +letting my memory be seen. For I remembered +that his brother-in-law and partner had taken me +for wing-footed Hermes, because of my strange +aspect and the magic inchantment which I did with +obsequious crocodiles; and I considered that the +reputation of godship would do me no harm. +But, looking also upon Nesamun, as he crouched +before me in the open waist of the barge, more +closely than I had looked hitherto, I was ware that +he would fight well, as one born for fighting, being +of a species different from that of other Egyptians. +For he was a very mighty youth, in his +prime, and his four bones were large and very +long; and, although he had no muscles as youths +of other races have, nevertheless his flesh was +extremely firm and sinewy, and his skin healthily +tanned and as smooth and polished as fine linen. +Furthermore, I marked the immense force of his +supple shoulders and thighs, and the strength of +his loins and arms and deep-breathing breast. But, +above all, I could read an indomitable character +in the poise of his head and the carriage of his +body, and specially in his fierce young eyes, which +flashed so blackly and so whitely when his mind +looked out on me. For which causes, I was not +unwilling to have such an one on my side. And +I opined that my own not-inconsiderable strength, +and my wiliness, together with my magic and +my arms, all assisted by the fearless obedience +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</span>of little Yokkho and the intelligent force of +Nesamun, needed not to worry about the resistance +to be encountered.</p> + +<p>But, nevertheless, I made my preparations. +And, seeing another vessel coming up the river +toward us, I bade my boatman to hail her and +to ask for news of the rebels. Whereby I learned +that, having been driven from Antaiopolis by +Psalkos Memmaïdes (the Pharoah’s general and +governour of the lower Thebaid), they had sacked +Hisoris, and were now holding the very place +which I was intending to pass in the morning, +that is to say Ptolemais Hermii. And, having +mentioned that the rebel-leader Pyrrhos was the +mightiest warrior ever seen in Egypt, the strangers +scurried fearfully toward Thebes, adjuring us to +turn and follow them: for, said they, to go +downstream was to court an evil and somewhat +protracted death.</p> + +<p>Having heard this, and having ordered my +slaves to sleep by turns and not to come within +sight of Ptolemais Hermii before dawn, I rested +tranquilly in dreamless sleep. And, waking while +it was yet dark, we three bathed one by one, not +disturbing the sons of slime, and also refreshed +our bodies with food and wine. Which having +been done, I instructed Nesamun and Yokkho +for the fray, saying that they were not to concern +themselves with anything, excepting the swift +manœuvring of the barge, instantly and implicitly +obeying my commands. And my first stratagem +was to lower the sail, lest it should be injured in +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</span>the battle which I expected. But Yokkho was +to stand by with the cordage, ready to hoist the +yard immediately when we should have pierced +our foes. And Nesamun was to govern our +course with the steering-oar under my directions. +But I buckled on my cartridge-belt and loaded +my revolver. And, when Helios Hyperion had +driven the chariot of the sun about an hour above +the horizon, we drifted on the current in sight of +Ptolemais Hermii.</p> + +<p>But, between us and that city, I espied a long +and lofty galley, propelled by forty oars, hissing +toward us.</p> + +<p>A glance at the alert eager faces of my slaves +shewed me that all was as I would have it; and, +stepping into the waist, I inspected the advancing +enemy. The galley was crowded with mercenaries +from stem to stern. Red horse-hair +streamed from their helmets. The shields of +some, who were Rhodians, bore the rose of +Rhodes. The others, as I learned later, were +Karians. All wore white and blue kirtles girt +with well-made sword-belts: but owing to the +heat of the land and the feebleness of those who +hitherto had encountered them, they neglected +their greaves and body-armour. The rebel Pyrrhos +(most righteous of men) stood on the prow, wearing +a scarlet kirtle and a short purple military +cloak. His helmet gleamed with well-forged +brass; and a plume of red horse-hair sprouted +therefrom. But the oars of the galley were +pulled by enormous portly Nubians, rolling-eyed, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</span>blubber-lipped; and fiercely they snorted +coming on.</p> + +<p>“Stop, stranger!” shouted the blameless +Pyrrhos.</p> + +<p>“In whose name?” I inquired, dallying with +my victim.</p> + +<p>“In my name:” he answered.</p> + +<p>“On what penalty?”</p> + +<p>“Death.”</p> + +<p>“For whom?”</p> + +<p>“For thee. Spear me this confounded babbler, +O Orkhos:” he cried.</p> + +<p>A spear hurtled toward me: but, at my quick +command, Nesamun zigzagged the barge to let +it pass, and held on a straight course as before. +The galley swung athwart the stream twenty +long paces distant. But I, raising my revolver +and taking aim at the rebel-leader, bellowed: +“Pyrrhos, I give thy carcase to the sons of +slime.”</p> + +<p>And dark doom leaped from my finger and +pressing palm, and sank into the socket of his eye. +And his life withered in the seat of wisdom, so +that his soul fled gibbering to the netherworld. +But the carcase, heavily lurching, fell, purple and +bejewelled, dully splashing into sacred Sihor; and +crocodiles dragged down the shreds and tatters of +its fatness with bubbling swirlings.</p> + +<p>But the blameless mercenaries sucked in their +breath during a full minute, being appalled at +the sight of their leader turned topsy-turvy by a +noise like the yap of a small dog. But Nesamun +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</span>held my barge still, stem on to the galley’s side +and twenty long paces from it, ready to leap +forward or backward at my word. But I said, +very sternly: “Thus, O ye rebels, do I treat +prepotence and audacity. And thus, also, will I +deal with all, arrogant, who bar my passage.”</p> + +<p>And, so saying, I paused, while I reloaded my +revolver, that they might evacuate their sites if +they were wise. But, recovering from their +amazement, they took to hurling javelins; and +the rowers bent to their sweeps, turning the galley +upstream and driving the dreadful ram against +me. Then, indeed, did Nesamun give proof of +his quality, nimbly leaping to and fro on his +narrow station to avoid the hissing darts and +(at the same time) wielding the steering-oar so +dexterously that we circled round the cumbrous +galley, always maintaining our relative position. +But I, partly sheltered by the bulwarks, fired into +selected eyes or ear-holes of the rebels, as their +destinies presented the same to me. For the pure +lust of fighting, which never before had really +inflamed me, had come upon me; and I laughed +hideously in bloodthirsty glee as my enemies fell +to my hand. And those, in whose wet eyes my +bullets quenched their blunt-nosed heat in fizzling, +tossed their useless limbs when Death entered to +drive out Life; and their knees slackened as they +flopped into the river, where crocodiles anxiously +scrambled for morsels of them. But my last shot +slew two Karians, passing through their ear-holes, +and also a Nubian in whose it remained. And +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</span>the current threw the sweep, slipping from his +dead hands on to the oars of his fellows, causing +a shocking confusion, in the midst of which I +recharged my revolver a third time.</p> + +<p>But the rebel-helmsman was already a refection +for the sons of slime. And, the galley having +swung right round so that it now lay between me +and Thebes, I saw that the mercenaries desired +to escape upstream, being no longer inclined to +have dealings with me. Wherefore, having sent +fourteen in all of them to Osiris, I gave a word +to Nesamun and Yokkho. And, instantly, the +sail ascended to the top of the mast, while the +boatman brought us about into a favouring +breeze; and, as an eagle spreads his pinions +having satiated his hunger with a prey, so we +sped on toward Ptolemais Hermii.</p> + +<p>In this manner I disposed of an impediment on +sacred Sihor.</p> + + +<div class="footnotes"> +<h3 id="FOOTNOTES_6"> + FOOTNOTES: +</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_25_25" href="#FNanchor_25_25" class="label">[25]</a> English. A. H.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="THE_EIGHTH_PAPYRUS"> + THE EIGHTH PAPYRUS + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>But, as soon as the barge was going swiftly with +wind and stream, Nesamun fixed the steering-oar, +and came forward with Yokkho to adore me. +And, having laid their two bodies (gleaming with +wholesome sweat) at length at my feet, then they +praised me in the Egyptian mode. But, when +they rose up, we refreshed ourselves with cups +of wine; and the boatman collected spears and +javelins which were sticking in various parts of +the barge, and stacked them in tidy bundles near +the prow. But the slave brought sweet water +for bathing a wound in my left forearm, which +had appeared to be a deep one: but, when the +drying blood was washed away, it was seen to +be merely a scratch. And he bound it up, using +the nimble tender fingers which had waited so +patiently, during the fight, to hoist the sail at +the very moment when I commanded afterward. +But, when I had rewarded them each with a +handful of Egyptian silver, I retired to my cabin, +the radiant sun being near its height; and, anon, +dark sleep embraced me.</p> + +<p>And, once again I was disturbed by conceptions +not of a restful nature. For, while my +body slept, the mind in my dear breast concerned +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</span>itself about innumerable ideas, asking unanswerable +questions. It was quite clear to me that I +indeed was living a new life: but I was not +certain as to whether I was still a man, or really +(as people opined) a god. And I laughed at the +latter notion: because I never before had heard +of a Yacht Club member (as I am, having compounded +my subscription and never having been +expelled), who also was a god of sorts. But, +god or man, I supposed that I still had the right +to put the address of the club on my visiting-card. +And once more I laughed at the notion +of leaving visiting-cards on Gajus Julius Cæsar, +and Marcus Tullius Cicero, and the whole blameless +gang of venal (but Roman) old-fogeydom, +whom I actually might see in the flesh within +a month, simply by crossing the unvintaged sea. +But the scratch on my arm smarted, in what I +took to be an ungodly manner: for I knew +not then that the blessed gods are ever so much +more sensible to pain than your mere man, having +made men in a godlike image, but having given +them only the sorriest fraction of a godlike +nature. And the Whole is naturally greater +than a Part of a Whole. But I persuaded myself +that I was a man, at least so far. And, yet +again, I laughed at the notions that I, a subject +of Victory, queen of the stalwart stately Anglicans, +was also an Egyptian master of magic, and, that +I, a catholic of the Apostolic Latin Obedience, +on whose agonies of cold and hunger and thirst +and mind-maddening loneliness the foundations +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</span>of Westminster Cathedral were laid, was also a +priest of Isis. And a doubt came to me from +I know not where, as to whether there were in +fact any gods at all, beside those which men +are wont to make in their own idiotic image,⁠<a id="FNanchor_26_26" href="#Footnote_26_26" class="fnanchor">[26]</a> +and (if, perchance, there ever had been gods), +whether they had not all retired from business, +to die at their ease, having grown so feeble that +mortals could handle them rudely even before +windy Ilion far back in the morning of time. +Or, perhaps, the gods of the Argives had gone +into partnership with the gods of the barbarians. +For there certainly were gods in barbaric places, +and my eyes had seen them; and I began to +contrive new wiles for seeing them again one +after the other, asking them to send me back +to my own time, if I had a time. But I became +displeased with the frivolous manner of the +thought of visiting immortal gods who inhabit +olympian palaces. And yet, I asked myself, +why should I not visit gods, who had been +visited by a strange god, even Belmarduk the +god of Assyria with his attendant heroes. And +that notion, that a god should have taken the +trouble to come from distant Assyria to visit +me in the land of Khem, convinced me that +(if indeed I was not in truth a god) I was +extremely important as a man, being certainly +the sole representative of The Great Queen +Victory, queen of the stalwart stately Anglicans, +in the Egypt over which the Pharoah Ptolemaios +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</span>Ayletes ruled. And that idea reminded me of my +Foreign Office Passport, and of the risk (which I +was running) of being arrested as the possessor +of an undecypherable document. But I scorned +that; and began to contrive yet newer plans for +going to see the Kolossos of Rhodes when I +should have finished my business with Amenemhat +at Tanis. And the last notion made me +think of South Africa,⁠<a id="FNanchor_27_27" href="#Footnote_27_27" class="fnanchor">[27]</a> and the colossal man +Umgugondlhovu (as the Zulus name the rumble +of an elephant) whom I had left overshadowing +that country, with the hybrid horde of I.D.Bs. +and polemic georgics,⁠<a id="FNanchor_28_28" href="#Footnote_28_28" class="fnanchor">[28]</a> all the most righteous +of men, who infested his vicinity. And the +notion of an elephant reminded of a circus. +And the notion of a circus gave me a foresight +of the green and blue factions of Purity +and Holy Wisdom striving in the circus at +Constantinople. And, from Constantinople onward, +notions came to me in crowds, notions +of Turks, Bulgarian and Albanian atrocities, the +traitors Gladstone and Asquith, the treaties of +The Hague and Berlin, the German Empire, the +Holy Roman Empire, Karl the Great, Rome, +Pontifex Maximus, Saint Peter, strange gods, +with whom I had no time to deal separately +owing to a pressing engagement, but merely +checked off their names as the procession hurried +by. And, then, having come back to the notion +of strange gods with which I had started, I +bounded out of my dream.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</span></p> + +<p>And, instantly, to me there came the last +words of my dream, namely “strange gods,” +said in a fat phlegmatic voice near by.</p> + +<p>To which the strong tones of Nesamun firmly +answered, saying: “I have said that my lord is +indeed a god. I myself am loyal to the Pharoah; +but I dare not stop until my lord the god bids +me. And he is asleep.”</p> + +<p>“Let us see this strange god who journeys in +a hired barge. Awaken thy god, O slave, and +let us see him:” the fat voice wheezed.</p> + +<p>But I, slinging on my revolver again, stepped +out of the cabin. And, at sight of me, the +boatman shut his full red lips; and leaned easily +upon the steering-oar, as one whose part is well-done. +But I perceived that a royal galley lay +alongside, which bore a very inquisitive negro, +richly garbed and of hideously inconvenient +obesity. Whom I austerely addressed, demanding +his generalities.</p> + +<p>“I,” he said, in a quieter tone, “am the +Pharoah’s private detective; and I stop all boats +which come downstream to satisfy myself that +they are not sent by the rebel-mercenaries.”</p> + +<p>“These spears and javelins,” I answered him, +shewing the stacks, “are branded with the Rose +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</span>of Rhodes and the Crane of the Karians; and +they were drawn out of the holes which thou +mayst see among my bulwarks: into which holes +they first were hurled by the rebels. Judge, +therefore, whether the rebels would thus have +assailed their friends, or their foes.”</p> + +<p>“But, if ye be foes of the rebels, ye must +have passed them by.”</p> + +<p>“That is true,” I said: “for I encountered +them above Ptolemais Hermii, where I slew +Pyrrhos and thirteen of his gang; and so I +passed them by.”</p> + +<p>“Dost thou say that thou hast slain Pyrrhos +and thirteen of the mercenaries? Either thou +art indeed a god, or a hero, or a very great +liar. And, as I take thee for the last, I shall +detain thee while I inquire into the truth of +thy story. If it be true, thou shalt be compensated. +If it be false, prepare to suffer certain +torments.”</p> + +<p>Thus rashly he spoke, beating his ceruminous +belly: but I, glowing with anger, said: “And +dost thou, O mountain of impudence, think that +I, who have outfaced a whole galley full of +armed Greeks, will be stayed by any emasculate +slaves of the Lagidai?”</p> + +<p>“Hear the voice of the god, and give ear to +long-armed Psammy lord of apes:” the fat +phlegmatic negro exclaimed in a tone of derision.</p> + +<p>But my blood boiled because my rather-long +arms were mocked by a blameless black man; +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</span>and the lust of battle inflamed me again, making +my great strength as the strength of nineteen; +and the ferocity of the long-curving fiercely-clutching +claws of a crab inflamed the hands of +me. For which causes, and knowing that it would +take a better man than a bloated nigger to stand +up to me, I bounded from my bulwark to the +galley, terribly bellowing. And, alighting near +my scoffer, I rent the well-toothed jaw from +the head of him, and smashed the rest of his +face to a purple pudding therewith. Also, +tearing his fingers asunder like a rag, I split his +right hand up to the wrist; and, so, I tossed +him, devoutly hiccoughing his physical agony, as +an offering to the sons of slime.</p> + +<p>But I turned swiftly to seek another victim. +And, on the prow, an archer stood balanced +on long slim straddling legs, drawing a brass-tipped +arrow to his ear: but its point was toward +me. And him, complaining bitterly, I also +sacrificed to the inchanted crocodiles.</p> + +<p>But, being now well in the way of fighting, +I snatched at my revolver; and, by chance, +my hand touched the magic staff hanging from +my belt. And the potency of it caused certain +admirable events. For, first, my wrath cooled, +and instantly died away: but I myself began to +utter wily words in my usual manner, pointing +the staff at the crew of the Pharoah’s galley, +and saying: “Ye have seen the dire fate which +overtakes those who temerariously oppose me. +Be wise, therefore. Stand not in my way: nor +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</span>follow me too far.⁠<a id="FNanchor_29_29" href="#Footnote_29_29" class="fnanchor">[29]</a> But draw off speedily, lest +a like doom should afflict you also.”</p> + +<p>But, when I had spoken thus with my mouth, +I added the <i>Spell Which Binds</i> with my mind. +And, being bound, they remained whimpering, +but as still as stones: but I, returning to my +barge, washed my hands and resumed my +journey.</p> + +<p>After this manner I did with the Pharoah’s +objectionable private detective.</p> + + +<div class="footnotes"> +<h3 id="FOOTNOTES_7"> + FOOTNOTES: +</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_26_26" href="#FNanchor_26_26" class="label">[26]</a> I really cannot resist preserving this most pleasing pleonasm. A. H.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_27_27" href="#FNanchor_27_27" class="label">[27]</a> It is perhaps unnecessary for me to mention that this papyrus +simply bristles with words neatly written in English of course by +Mr. C. himself. A. H.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_28_28" href="#FNanchor_28_28" class="label">[28]</a> This is the most cryptic allusion in the present fragment; and I +must confess that it puzzles me sadly. I am given to understand that +“Iota Delta Beta” sometimes signifies “Illicit Diamond Buyer,” an +obsolete species of South African criminal. But what kind of thing a +“Military Agriculturist” is (for that is what Mr. Crabbe’s Greek +means), passes my comprehension. I have therefore rendered the +expression by a simple <ins id='cor_79' title='Original: traliteration'>transliteration</ins> of the original. A. H.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_29_29" href="#FNanchor_29_29" class="label">[29]</a> I simply can’t help lifting this sentence clean out of Meredith’s +<i>Harry Richmond</i>; and I defy anyone to give a neater version of +Mr. Crabbe’s original, “ὉΠΩΣ ΜΗΤΕ ΑΝΤΙϹΤΗϹΕΙ ΜΟΙ; ΜΗΤΕ ΕΨΕΙ ΠΟΡΡΩΤΕΡΩ.” A. H.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="THE_NINTH_PAPYRUS"> + THE NINTH PAPYRUS + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>Now it seemed to me, when I pondered the +thing, that it was a misfortune. For, when a +wily stranger desires to pass through a foreign +country for a certain secret purpose, it is but +prudent for him to refrain from marking his road +with homicides. Even my victory over Pyrrhos, +though the Pharoah would pension me for slaying +his enemies, gave me notoriety instead of the +oblivion which I preferred. But the matter of +the face-marred negro was indeed grave: for he +was an officer of the Pharoah. For which cause, +I perceived that the blessed gods would have me +in Tanis without delay, that I might find my +friend there and perform my business in seclusion. +For a man may seclude himself far more easily in +a city (excepting in a certain city) than in the +open country. So, for three days, I sailed in +peace, resting my body, but contriving many new +wiles.</p> + +<p>But the possession of the barge and of the two +slaves weighed upon me. For, having considered +that I was going to a strange place, in search of +one of whose existence in the flesh I had no +actual knowledge, I determined that it is well (in +all warfare) to provide a base for operations, and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</span>one which can be moved upon occasion. And it +seemed to me that the barge and the slaves were +precisely what I wanted. Yet I did not know +whether they would serve me willingly at the end +of the voyage for which they had been engaged; +and, in a delicate matter, I will have none but +willing and (indeed) devoted assistants. With +these notions in my mind, therefore, I used +winged words, questioning Nesamun and Yokkho +while they piously shaved each other’s heads. And +I elicited that, when Nesamun’s sister married the +Argive bargeman at Thebes, the two mariners +joined together in partnership, Nesamun being +owner of the barge which I had on hire, and the +three barges which we had left at Thebes being +the property of his brother-in-law. Also, I +learned that Yokkho was the son of another +sister of Nesamun, both his parents being some +time guests of the Divine Osiris in Amentet. +Moreover, I learned that both were perfectly free +to dispose of themselves as they pleased, and that +on reaching Tanis nothing remained expected +but that I should dismiss the youth and the boy +with a gift, for they refused to take hire from a +god: they, then, in the ordinary way, would +convey another passenger upstream, returning to +Thebes while I went back to heaven to attend to +my godly affairs.</p> + +<p>But, after I had heard all these things, and +while I was weighing them in my mind, Nesamun +and Yokkho crept nearer, laying themselves out +at length on their faces very straight at my feet, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</span>and begging me not to send them away. And I, +having considered their intelligence and fidelity +not less than their agility and strength and quite +singular comeliness, did not peremptorily deny +them. For, in fact, the Nesamunity of Nesamun +and the Yokkhoism of Yokkho were far from +displeasing me.⁠<a id="FNanchor_30_30" href="#Footnote_30_30" class="fnanchor">[30]</a> Moreover, the words which +Yokkho had intoned, when he looked into the +palm-mirror, suddenly climbed out of my memory +and buzzed at me. He, indeed, had chaunted: +“<i>The silver god, pointing at the galley, slays</i>:” and +undoubtedly I (not old but silver-haired, and a +god as they called me) had slain Pyrrhos and +certain few on a galley, pointing my death-spitter +at his eye. But that was only one of the things +which the clear-seeing slave had predicted, being +the first of his utterances; and, perchance, the +others also would be fulfilled in their order. And +I became sorrowful because I had smacked the +clear-seer nor paid due heed to his sayings. But, +calling on Memory for a really violent effort, I +recollected the seven predictions, each in its turn, +writing them in my hand-book; and I perceived +that, next, the silver god would take a singing +bow in a temple. Now, supposing myself to be +the silver god, it was quite certain that I was +about to visit a temple, seeking Amenemhat; and +I opined that, there, I should engage in some +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</span>adventure of a singing bow at the pleasure of the +gods. Which adventure I began very eagerly +to anticipate. But, meanwhile, Nesamun and +Yokkho lay stretched at length before me in +supplication.</p> + +<p>And I determined that it would be greatly to +my advantage to have the commodious barge at +hand, as a base of operations, as a retreat, or as a +means of retirement, should such be desirable. +And I also determined that good slaves, who are +willing slaves, are very hard to find, and (when +found) ought to be cherished and used rather +than rejected and wasted. And, lastly, I determined +that these two, being well-made in mind +and body, were very proper subjects for my magic +arts, and likely to be of inestimable value. For +which causes, I granted their petition. And, +having bought their persons from themselves, +paying two gold quarter-ounces to Nesamun for +himself and one to Yokkho for himself, I bought +also the barge and its apparatus from Nesamun +for another gold quarter-ounce, all in the coinage +of Victory queen of the stalwart stately Anglicans. +And so we came nearer to Tanis.</p> + +<p>But, during the last hour of my journey, I cut +(from one of the Rhodian javelins) the little +wooden emblem which none know save only the +priests of Isis, without which none may penetrate +the sanctuaries of temples. And I added it to the +implements which I was to take with me on my +quest of Amenemhat. And, having concealed all +my other gear beneath the floor of my cabin in +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</span>the presence of my slaves, in their view also +(using my magic staff) I summoned the sons of +slime, committing the charge of my goods to +Nesamun and Yokkho, with a crowd of inchanted +crocodiles for witnesses, whom anon I dismissed +with the <i>Word</i>.</p> + +<p>Thus we came to the last reach leading to +Tanis which sits on both hythes of the river. +But, skimming onward, we passed the little fane +of Pasht, marking the site of the old city-wall +which the hordes of Okhos had destroyed in the +days when Nekt-Nebf was the Pharoah. And +we found a small quay below the city, secluded +and abandoned, very suitable for a voyager desirous +of privacy. But here my journey ended.</p> + +<p>And, as soon as the barge was anchored, I +sent Nesamun girded into the city to buy a length +of fine linen, and to replenish my store of victuals +and drink. Furthermore, I bade him to buy for +me a necklace of heliotrope stones and a posy of +fresh marigolds, for a new wile which I had +invented. And, when the slave returned, I made +a priest’s surplice of fine linen, wherewith I vested +my body, placing beneath it various convenient +matters. But, when I appeared as a priest to +them, I bade the slaves to clean the barge, and to +pitch it within and without with pitch of Zakynthos +(which pitch is the best), and also to keep it +ready to start on a new voyage at a moment’s +notice either by day or by night.</p> + +<p>Thus I spoke; and instantly I stepped ashore. +But, when the two slaves popped their heads +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</span>above the bulwark to observe my going, then, +indeed, I rubbed the marigolds in my hand against +the necklace of bloodstones which I wore, moistening +the beads with the flower-juice; and, having +made the proper <i>Act of Will</i>, I forthwith vanished +away, simply becoming invisible at two paces’ distance, +and all in broad daylight. And this I did +as very becoming to a god, and also to confirm +them in fidelity, for a slave will not play his lord +falsely when he has no certainty whether his said +lord is here, or there.</p> + +<p>In this manner, I came to Tanis.</p> + + +<div class="footnotes"> +<h3 id="FOOTNOTES_8"> + FOOTNOTES: +</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_30_30" href="#FNanchor_30_30" class="label">[30]</a> This sentence is exquisite in its justice. If we moderns only had +the gumption to let ourselves be guided by the great natural law of +Sympathy and Antipathy as naïvely as Mr. Crabbe appears to have +done, how many failures, and (one can even say) tragedies, would be +avoided. A. H.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="THE_TENTH_PAPYRUS"> + THE TENTH PAPYRUS + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>But I wended my way through the city, having +taken my visible shape again in a dark entry. +And I passed the walls and the gates, and the +temples with their pylons, and quays thronged +with merchants of all nations and slaves of all +human colour. And I saw the galleys of the +Sidonians, and the light barks of the Sikels, with +heavy merchant-ships from Rome, and Argive +biremes and trading sloops. But a great quinquereme +lay in the fairway of the mighty river; +and it flew the royal purple standard of the +Lagidai, denoting that a prince of Egypt was on +board. And, everywhere about me were the insolent +mercenaries of the flute-playing Pharoah, +standing in crowds: nor did any soldier stand alone, +save the sentry on the great ship which swang at +anchor in the current of the Tanitic branch of +life-giving Sihor. Yet, great and busy as it appeared, +Tanis had but a small part of the shadow +of its former greatness when it was the chief city +of the Lower Land. Slowly and surely had that +greatness faded, as a well-painted wall fades unsheltered +from the stress of storms in some +northern land, when wind and rain wipe away the +fresh pigment, leaving a tasteless thing behind.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</span></p> + +<p>But heavenly Ra poured down very hot radiance +from the turquoise-coloured vault of heaven; +and the streets were crowded with evil-stenched +mongrel folk, half-Argive, half-sons of Khem, +mingled with the Hebrew hawkers who trot +everywhere. And, because the mind in my +lordly breast desired to pass a word with articulately-speaking +men, I looked about for one with +whom I might suitably address myself. And I +selected a haughty Roman, wrapped in pride and +a purple-bordered paludament, who surveyed the +quays and the market-place, while a slave sheltered +his bare head with a sunshade of ostrich feathers. +Whom I approached, intending to converse with +him. And, coming nearer, while a squadron of +Makedonians passed by, I heard the blameless +creature muttering to himself in his own tongue, +saying: “Gods! That men calling themselves +soldiers should slouch in that manner! Perpol! +But a cohort of ours would outmatch a legion of +theirs!”</p> + +<p>But I let the pride of race inflate me also, most +superbly; and thus, in the Argive tongue, I +saluted him, saying: “Hail, O senator. And +how likest thou these mercenaries of the Lagidai?”</p> + +<p>But he began to grow black fastidiously, because +one unknown should have addressed him +without introduction: but, when he saw how +large I was and how assured my gait, he answered +me in Latin, saying: “O man of the vast shoulders, +whoever thou art, speak to me (I pray) in the +language of Rome.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</span></p> + +<p>To whom I repeated my question as he wished. +And he responded: “Indifferent well. But tell me, +why dost thou (a stranger) dare to address me?”</p> + +<p>“Thou,” I said, “art not a god, that I should +worship thee.”</p> + +<p>“But,” he answered, “I am a Roman citizen.”</p> + +<p>Him I immediately coughed at, saying: “Never +yet have I been told that Roman citizens are the +gods whom men ought to worship.”</p> + +<p>Whereat, having blown off a little indignation, +he laughed hugely; and would have known more +of me; but I indifferently turned away to hire a +litter in which I caused myself to be borne to the +great temple of Isis.</p> + +<p>But, when I reached that place, I began to +walk very warily, making inquiry of the priest on +duty in the portico. And, because the most wily +way of dealing with earth-walking men, enmeshed +with stupid petty deceits, is to be quite truthful +and quite straight and never anything but bold, +therefore, I instantly asked for my friend +Amenemhat, priest of Tanis, who, being bound +to me by sacred spells, would (with me) enjoy +a mutual pleasure from a meeting. And, +Amenemhat not being an uncommon name among +Tanitic priests, if (perchance) my inquiry should +bring to me one who was not the Amenemhat +whom I desired to see, then I still possessed sufficient +wisdom and magic apparatus for disposing +of him in a suitable manner. On this account, I +openly inquired for Amenemhat in the portico of +the temple at Tanis.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</span></p> + +<p>And the watcher-priest answered, saying that +Amenemhat was engaged in celebrating mysteries, +and could not be seen at the moment. To whom +I shewed the <i>Sign of the Peeping Thumb</i>, saying +that I (also being a priest) would enter and pontificate +with my friend. But the other still delayed +me with gentle words, saying: “Sir, I do +perceive that thou art a very notable mage and +also an initiate priest possessing singular and admirable +secrets: for, up thy sleeve, I see the +silver chain which binds a master’s staff to thy +wrist. Nevertheless, our rites are so sacrosanct +and so solemn that not even the high priest of +Ra at Thebes may intervene in them. Wherefore, +O master-mage, be propitious; and be pleased +to repose thyself awhile in a cool room, refreshing +thy body with fruit and wine: for the day is hot, +and thou seemest to have come from very far.”</p> + +<p>But I agreed with alacrity, for my throat was +twisted with thirst. Moreover, I saw something; +and, beside, I well-knew the ways of priests, who +always may be led by the nose by anyone wily +enough to agree with them. And together we +strolled into a cool antechamber, having an apsidal +recess wherein we seated ourselves on cushions. +And, over the recess, was carven a winged image +of the Divine Ma, as above the Pharoah’s throne, +deep graven in the black rock of Syene and +filled with fine red gold. But the watcher-priest, +having named himself to me as Mensau, tapped +the floor with his white ivory walking-staff; and +acolyths of the temple, very straightly formed +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</span>but plump, robed in fine linen, with their shaven +heads roundly-shining and increasing the long +blackness of their eyes,—these, indeed, brought +trays of fruits and wines and a excellent beer +of their own brewing. And, having laid these +before us, they flitted away, leaving me alone +with the priest. He seemed to be about my own +age, whatever that may be: but he was straight +in figure as the fragile Egyptians are, and his +face was like smooth ivory, well-carved, wise and +gentle of mien. And, having filled a cup of +Korinthic bronze (which is platinum)⁠<a id="FNanchor_31_31" href="#Footnote_31_31" class="fnanchor">[31]</a> to the +brim with good red wine from a well-chased +Alexandrian flagon, he offered it to me. But I +chose beer: so he took it for himself; and, leaning +toward me watching him very warily, he +began to speak, saying: “Health to thee, O +expected Wanderer.”</p> + +<p>But my wile was to lead him on, secretly +compelling him to shew me the way to the very +root of the mystery, which I had suspected, and +now was assured of. Wherefore I, all unmoved, +responded, saying: “Health also to thee, O +Mensau, priest of Isis, who wearest the garb of +a priest of Ptah perchance for coolness’ sake. +And, as I perceive that thou knowest me, tell me +now how long will that other deny himself to me.”</p> + +<p>“Dost thou then know me, O Nicholas?” he +asked, surprized, but smiling.</p> + +<p>“Yea: I know well the Amenemhat who +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</span>looketh out of thine eye-holes. But thy form is +strange to me:” I responded magniloquently.</p> + +<p>Thus I spoke. But the mind in my noble +breast began all of a sudden to tell me all sorts +of things: so that I knew that the form, in which +I had known Amenemhat at Thebes, was a form +which I myself had given him by the merest haphazard +and in something like a violent hurry, +having summoned him from tiresome Amentet, +to be my familiar, and being unable to use him +in the form of hot eyes and a jelly. And, also, +I knew that I never had seen him in his own +form, which his father and mother had made for +him by the help of the gods of his stars. And, +having understood all these things, I fell into a +muse, because of the infinite number of causes +and effects which a seeker after wisdom must +acquire, and arrange in his mind ready for use +at any moment.</p> + +<p>But, even now, weighted and bedazzled as I +was with unthought-of wisdom, all was not quite +clear to me. I, therefore, continued to speak, +saying: “Nevertheless, O Amenemhat, though +I know thee, and though I am beginning to know +thy real form which is other than that which I +gave to thee at Thebes, still, my mind is doubtful, +not of the What, nor of the Where. The +dimension of Space is known to me: but what +of Time? I understand the Categories, of Substance, +of Quantity, of Quality, of Relation, of +Action, of Passion, of Place, of Position, of +Possession: but I do not understand the When. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</span>Have I already lived and summoned thee from +Amentet nineteen hundred years hence? Am I +living now another life nineteen centuries before +I was born? Or is this all some dream and some +weird vision in those secret halls of Thebes? Or +what?”</p> + +<p>“Nay,” Amenemhat answered: “this is neither +dream nor vision, but a special disposition of The +Supreme, whereby thou, O Seeker after Wisdom, +art granted experiences granted to no other man, +as a reward for thy well-endured pains, and as a +means of perfecting thee for some enormous +purpose. And, to this end, I, whom thou hast +known as a Sahu and an Osirian, have a message +for thee, O Wanderer through the Ages. Doubt, +then, no more: but take all things as the immortal +gods are pleased to send them, always +going onward cheerfully from one step to the +next. For, know, that in Amentet, and in the +Outer Immensities of Immeasurable Space, where +The Supreme is, there is no such limitation as +Time, nor any Impossibility to Him, or to Them +His uncountable forms.”</p> + +<p>Thus he spoke; and again was silent. But I +sat still, drinking the beer of Osiris, letting the +wisdom of his words take root in my lordly mind. +And anon I said: “This, then, indeed is the +meeting of thy Theban prediction. But tell me, +O Amenemhat, though thou didst expect me, by +what means did these eyes of thine recognize me +whom, formerly, thou didst see at Thebes with +other eyes?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</span></p> + +<p>“I recognized thee, O Nicholas,” he said, +“even at a distance, by thy stride and by the +self-assurance of thy gait of the straightened +knees: for no other man walketh as dost thou, +as the owner and scorner of all worlds old and +new. But, also, I saw the shape of the orb of +divination in the folds of thy robe; and thou +didst make the <i>Sign</i> and shew the staff of power.”</p> + +<p>And so we fell into more intimate conversation; +and I told him all which had befallen me +during my voyage down the river, of the slaying +of that Pyrrhos (the most righteous of men), of +the blameless⁠<a id="FNanchor_32_32" href="#Footnote_32_32" class="fnanchor">[32]</a> Ethiopian whose face I had spoiled, +tearing also his hand (like a dirty rag) in twain; +and I spoke of my two trusty slaves, and of all +other matters which it was necessary for him to +know. But, when I saw that he was not minded +to make revelations to me on the instant, then, +indeed, I determined to stay awhile with him, as +a guest of the temple, pursuing my studies in +the magic arts among holy mages whose business +was none other, and waiting the pleasure of the +blessed gods inhabiting olympian palaces.</p> + +<p>Thus, then, I found Amenemhat in his body as +he lived.</p> + +<p>But, during this month of waiting on the will +of the gods (for it was no more than that), a +certain thing was done by me, at the suggestion +and with the aid of Amenemhat, which I will set +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</span>down here in its place. For, it being evident to +both of us that my lot was to move through +time, getting wisdom by living many lives in +various circumstances, Amenemhat used to speak +of the comfort which I should derive from +constant companions throughout my wanderings. +But I, knowing the sort of man which I am, and +not by any means loving, used to respond to him +saying, that it was not the perpetual companionship +of an equal which would delight me, so +much as the perpetual readiness of comely and +trustworthy and affectionate slaves, whose services +I could command at pleasure or neglect if I +thought well so to do. But Amenemhat, having +perceived the alert intelligent faithful minds and +the pleasing and powerful bodies of Nesamun and +Yokkho, inquired whether such as these would +suit me. To whom I answered, saying, that I had +them in my mind when thus speaking. Wherefore, +Amenemhat suggested that I should perform +the two magics called <i>The Soul-Loosening</i> +and <i>The Life-Binding</i>, whereby the silver cords +which tied the said Nesamun and Yokkho to +their present forms might be loosed, so that (at +a moment’s notice) they might migrate to other +forms of my invention, and, also, that by binding +their lives to my life, the said slaves might accompany +me into whatsoever other lives The Supreme +might have in store for me and them.</p> + +<p>But I, when I had pondered the matter, found +it very desirable indeed. For which cause, having +obtained the consent of the two, very gleefully +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</span>given when (without any concealment) I described +the whole project to them, for (beside being fearless +and very eager for adventures) they deemed +me godlike, and desired nothing less than to +be left behind when I should go forward, then, +having brought them to a sacred part of the vast +temple, where their screams would be inaudible, +I and Amenemhat did what was necessary on +the bodies, first of little Yokkho, and then of +Nesamun, in such a dexterous manner that they +suffered not more pain than they could bear +without swooning: but I shall not describe the +process on account of a religious reason. Nor +could any earth-walking man, mage or simple, +find out any difference in them afterward, unless +(by chance) he should hap upon the tiny and +almost invisible silver-coloured puncture in the +rosy breast-flower (but which one it was of their +breast-flowers I decline to indicate, for both breast-flowers +are punctured on both of them, yet only +one puncture on each of them is an exit), through +which Nesamun and Yokkho became able to leave +their Egyptian bodies, and to follow me through +time, as easily as they could leave my barge by +the deserted quay and follow me through the +streets of Tanis.</p> + +<p>In this manner, I prepared myself and them +for a new migration.</p> + + +<div class="footnotes"> +<h3 id="FOOTNOTES_9"> + FOOTNOTES: +</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_31_31" href="#FNanchor_31_31" class="label">[31]</a> Oh! Is it indeed? The statement (as it stands) is a little startling +though. A. H.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_32_32" href="#FNanchor_32_32" class="label">[32]</a> This repeated use of these epithets “the most righteous of +men,” and “blameless” is, of course, obviously, an example of Greek +irony. A. H.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="THE_ELEVENTH_PAPYRUS"> + THE ELEVENTH PAPYRUS + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>But it was well that the thing was done when +it was well-done. For, a few months later, the +occasion for departure occurred.</p> + +<p>Now I had been very diligently studying such +magic of the Tanitic priests as I did not know, +to fill up the interval until Amenemhat should be +moved by the blessed gods to deliver his message. +And, among other matters where improvement +seemed desirable, it was put into my mind to try +a new method of imbalming the dear remains of +the dead, which method (I believed and believe) +not only prevents the mummy from shrivelling +and going black or dry or discoloured in any +way, but also preserves the exact freshness of +appearance and condition which it had enjoyed +while used as the temporary vesture of the soul, +excepting the condition of life. But, because I +found it unwise to make my experiments on the +corpses of persons who had spoiled the pristine +beauty of their bodies by over-long or over-arduous +usage, I and Amenemhat preferred those +of such acolyths of the temples whose souls +well-plumed Thoth had been directed to escort +elsewhere without first afflicting their forms with +loathsome diseases. But, because all the temples +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</span>of Tanis supplied no more than two such corpses +within the month, Amenemhat sent both wind-messages +and ibis-messages to other temples of +other cities stating our needs. And, when we +had treated without emptying eight well-made +blooming bodies, with imperishable quintessences +of unmentionable virtue and inconceivable fragrance, +then we anointed them nine times in every +part, under the nine proper stars, using a liquid +unguent, preservative, which perseveres through +all time and disgusts worms. But the fame +of our handicraft went abroad, so that all the +hierarchies of Khem desired to have their dead +acolyths mummied in the new manner for the +benefit of the temples. For which cause, it happened +that I went to Alexandria in my barge to +inspect a corpse so perfect that I brought it away +with me, intending to treat it; and, on my return, +I became imbroiled in the streets of Tanis +after this wise.</p> + +<p>The priests attending Amenemhat had taken +the beautiful body from my barge and were +gone on their way to the temple of Isis. But +I remained behind during a little while, inspecting +the diligence of my slaves, well-shaven, performing +prescribed purifications. And anon, later +in the evening, I proceeded by quiet by-ways +toward the temple where Amenemhat awaited +me. But, on my way, I encountered a troop +of land mercenaries, blameless Sithonians and +Mygdonians, escorting the litter of one of the +Lagidai, a brother of the Pharoah’s favourite +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</span>wife. And they were rudely brushing everyone +from their path, not being at all affable. But +by chance, a certain aged philosopher, Melkas +by name, who taught daily in the porch of the +Serapion, was about to cross the road. His eyes +were dim, his step infirm, his pace tardy and +grave. Wherefore, I tried to help him into the +shadow of a portico; and did so, but not before +a Sithonian, seeing the length of my arms, had +yelled at me, clipping the Argive tongue, +“Ho, there, Ape-man, stand aside before thy +betters!”</p> + +<p>But instantly divine anger inflamed my lordly +mind. And boldly affronting the mocker, I +broke the crust of his blameless face to pulpy +fragments with fist-blows, as a bear in springtime +breaks a delicate egg. But the puny prince +in the litter ordered his guards to seize me; and +half-a-dozen rash Mygdonians hastened with an +obedient start to obey. Then, indeed, the fierce +and frolicsome joy of Saint Aldate’s or the +Cowley Empire on a Saturday night⁠<a id="FNanchor_33_33" href="#Footnote_33_33" class="fnanchor">[33]</a> came upon +me, so that I delayed not, but I simply smashed +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</span>the first four faces using my left fist and my +right like flails or sledge-hammers; and, snatching +a falling shield and mightily sweeping with it, +I shattered the shins of the others as they came +on. Now, when they saw these things, the shrieking +slaves fled, having dropped the litter. But I, +by this time, had got into my stride, becoming +very methodical in my fury: for which cause I +determined to leave nothing important undone. +Wherefore, I butted the prince out of his tangled +curtains, and rolled him about with my feet in a +pool of foul slime which happened to be near by. +And, all things necessary having been accomplished, +I went upon my way with a calm and +holy mind. Nor did I bestow another thought to +the matter. And indeed no one gave me news +of it: for the city, in those last days of the +Lagidaian dynasty, was a scene of incessant disorder; +and a few messes more or less, found in +the streets at dawn, were by no means uncommon. +But, after four days, Amenemhat suddenly interrupted +my studies, crying: “Fly, O Nicholas, +to the secret chamber in the shrine: for the +Pharoah’s mercenaries are upon thee.”</p> + +<p>Thus he spoke. But I proceeded, without +more ado, to the secret door; and, when I +stamped on the right, it slid ajar, so that I +could squeeze by, and sidle sideways along the +narrow passage which led to the secret chamber. +Now this secret chamber was a very wily one; +and it was constructed after this manner: by the +hollowing-out of one of the pillars which +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</span>surrounded the shrine, but the pillar itself was (like +all the others) carved into the similitude of an +important god. And, inside the hollow of it +(from the secret crypt beneath the temple floor +in which I was), there ascended a very narrow +ladder of twisted linen threads leading up into +the secret chamber in the skull of the god. But, +at the top of the ladder, there was contrived a +small seat like a saddle, so ordained that anyone +sitting thereon in the skull, having pulled up the +ladder, was very much separated from earth-walking +men; and might (at will) speak through +the orifice of the god’s mouth quite safely, and +also might see plainly all which happened in the +temple, looking downward. And the place was +used in the following manner. For the priests +of the temple, being seated on the saddle and +speaking awfully through the mouth of the god, +delivered themselves of oracles imparted to them +by the Divine Ones, or of revelations which they +obtained in their trances or by sacred magic on +account of a religious reason. Such, then, was +the secret chamber.</p> + +<p>But the lower part of the hollow pillar being +dark, a studio of spiders, a thoroughfare of mice, +and an abode of most holy beetles, I made haste +to ascend to the saddle, pulling the ladder after +me. And, being there conveniently insconced, +I perceived Amenemhat hurriedly entering the +temple by the priest’s door; and, having seated +himself in his proper pulpit, he instantly began +to intone the litanies, beginning in the middle +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</span>so that an interrupter (I suppose) might imagine +that he had been thus occupied for some +time. He, therefore shook the sacred sistrum, +saying:</p> + +<p>“<i>Homage to thee, O lord of the star-gods in An +and of heavenly beings in Khez-aba, O thou god +Unti more glorious than those gods hidden in Annu:</i></p> + +<p>“<i>Homage to thee, O Heru, thou dweller in both +horizons, who, enormously striding, stridest over +heaven, thou dweller in both horizons:</i></p> + +<p>“<i>Homage to thee, O soul of everlastingness, O soul +who dwellest in Tattu, O Un-nefer son of Nut, thou +lord of Akert:</i></p> + +<p>“<i>Homage to thee, in thy dominion over Tattu, +the feathery crown is stablished on thy head, thou +art the one whose strength is in himself:</i></p> + +<p>“<i>Homage to thee, O lord of the acacia-tree, who +settest the boat upon its sledge, who turnest back the +ill-working friend, who causest the eye to rest:</i></p> + +<p>“<i>Homage to thee, mighty in thy moment, great god +dwelling in An-rut-f, lord of eternity, creator of everlastingness, +lord of Sutenhenen:</i></p> + +<p>“<i>Homage to thee, who restest upon right and truth, +O lord of Abtu whose limbs are joined to Ta-sertet, +to whom fraud and guile are hateful:</i></p> + +<p>“<i>Homage to thee in thy boat, who bringest Hapi +from his source, on whose body light shineth, O +dweller in Nek-hen:</i></p> + +<p>“<i>Homage to thee, O creator of the gods, O king +of the north and of the south, O Osiris, O victor, +O lord and ruler of the world in thy gracious +seasons.</i>”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</span></p> + +<p>And, having met with no interruption at the +time when he finished these beautiful imprecations, +Amenemhat shook the sacred sistrum more +loudly, and went on with the <i>Address to the +Rudders</i>, saying:</p> + +<p>“<i>Hail, thou lovely power, thou lovely rudder of +the northern heavens:</i></p> + +<p>“<i>Hail, thou pilot of the world, thou lovely rudder +of the western heavens:</i></p> + +<p>“<i>Hail, thou shining one who livest with the gods +in visible forms, thou lovely rudder of the eastern +heavens:</i></p> + +<p>“<i>Hail, thou dweller in the temple of those with +shiny faces, thou lovely rudder of the southern +heavens.</i>”</p> + +<p>And, because the expected intrusion of profane +persons was still delayed, when he had chaunted +these strophes, Amenemhat shook the sacred +sistrum very slowly and very solemnly, and +continued with the <i>Invocation of the Triads</i>, +thus:</p> + +<p>“<i>Hail, ye gods who are above the earth, ye pilots +of the netherworld:</i></p> + +<p>“<i>Hail, ye mother-gods, who are above the earth, +and in the netherworld, and in the house of Osiris:</i></p> + +<p>“<i>Hail, ye pilot-gods of Tasert, who are above the +earth, and in the netherworld, and with the followers +of Ra in the train of Osiris</i>——”</p> + +<p>But, when he had intoned these words, the +quiet rattling of the sistrum and the monotonous +drone of his voice were drowned by the clanking +of arms, and by the blameless cries of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</span>mercenaries, appearing at the cedar portal of the temple. +Whom Amenemhat, reverend of mien and very +hierarchic, sternly confronted from his pulpit, +saying: “Who dareth thus to intrude upon the +sacrosanct shrine of Mother Isis?”</p> + +<p>But the answer came from one, whom I (from +my secret station) perceived to be an Argive of +noble aspect, large of limb, and handsome, and +very gorgeously apparelled in golden mail with +adornments of chrysoliths and the plumage of +yellow cock-parrots. He responded to Amenemhat, +saying: “I am called Agesilopodes, son of +Golygosthenes, and I am a captain of the +Pharoah’s guard.”</p> + +<p>“And what doth Agesilopodes, servant of the +Pharoah, seek in these holy precints?” Amenemhat +continued.</p> + +<p>“I seek the person of one Ape-man, whose +trail we have pursued hither:” the Khrysaspid +affirmed.</p> + +<p>“Thou seest,” said the priest indifferently, +“how many persons are present occupying our +pews.”</p> + +<p>“I see but thee:” quoth the captain: “but +nevertheless I must search in the shadows of all +the most secret recesses.”</p> + +<p>“The rule,” said Amenemhat, “is that the +sons of Khem may have free access to this +oratory of our Lady of the Marshes, but not +aliens, undesirable or otherwise.”</p> + +<p>“But the Ape-man whom I seek is guilty of +sacrilege.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</span></p> + +<p>“Even in that case, he would have secure +sanctuary here, unless he be pursued by the +Pharoah’s own sigil.”</p> + +<p>“Revere it:” said the captain, exhibiting his +warrant.</p> + +<p>Amenemhat had a prostration at the sight +of the royal but tipsy flute-player’s cartouche. +But, having (by his wiles) caused the mercenaries +to persuade themselves that they were on a bootless +quest, he permitted the search to be made. +Makedonians and Thrakians marched slowly round +the temple, casting fierce glances into every dark +place: but Amenemhat seated himself again in +his pulpit, his knees closed and his palms upon +them, his head up and his eyes fixed, as a hierarch +who engages in holy meditation while expecting +the imposition of his mitre.</p> + +<p>But I devised a new and perfectly frightful +wile. For, having taken three wax-matches from +my box, and having frayed out the half of each +match, wrapping the frayed part round the head +loosely, as the men of my future race were wont +to do when they desired to kindle tobacco in a +gale of wind, then, indeed, I kindled them; and +I dropped them, one by one and horribly flaming, +from the god’s mouth on to the plumed casques +of mercenaries who (by chance) were walking +just below. And their horse-hair crests instantly +shrivelled with appalling stenches, in flashes of +fire which singed the soldiers’ hairy faces, terribly, +inexplicably: so that they fled, fearfully yelling, +having a most hideous tale, about gods who +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</span>vomit fire, to narrate to their awful comrades in +their barracks.</p> + +<p>In this manner, I dismissed well-greaved mercenaries +(the most righteous of men) from the +temple of Isis at Tanis.</p> + + +<div class="footnotes"> +<h3 id="FOOTNOTES_10"> + FOOTNOTES: +</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_33_33" href="#FNanchor_33_33" class="label">[33]</a> Written in English, in what I take to be Mr. Crabbe’s own hand. +“Saint Aldate’s” was, of course, a low <ins id='cor_102' title='Original: acatholic'>catholic</ins> parish of Oxford, near +Pembroke and The House, and much frequented by monsignori and +other catholic converts, and I believe that no particular rashness can +be attributed to me for saying that there was also a slightly excessive +music hall, called (quaintly enough) the “Empire” in the “Cowley” +Road, Oxford. But I really feel quite unable to elucidate the allusion +in this connection. Saturday night is, of course, the eve of the day of +the sun; and perhaps we have here some cryptic allusion to sun-worship, +which (we know) was certainly of an hilarious and somewhat +energetic character. <i>Cf.</i> Frazer’s chapter on Osiris and the Sun: +<i>Studies in Oriental Religion</i>, vii. 287-294. A. H.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="THE_TWELFTH_PAPYRUS"> + THE TWELFTH PAPYRUS + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>But, when the place was clear, then, indeed, I +waited where I was, till Amenemhat should leave +his pulpit, giving me a signal to descend and join +him. For he directed my actions at this juncture; +and it seemed to me that he, being at liberty, +understood what to do for my security better than +I in my cell. But, after I had waited an hour, +stiffness invaded my members and tedium my +noble mind. Wherefore, seeing that the temple +was deserted, and that Amenemhat still remained +motionless in meditation, I came down from the +secret chamber, retracing my steps, and entering +the shrine by the priests’ door. But, having approached +my friend, addressing him softly by +name, I perceived that he was indeed rapt in an +ecstasy, and (no doubt) receiving a peculiar revelation +from some god. At whose pulpit I stood, +watching intensely, having no more fear.</p> + +<p>And anon he came out of his trance, with the +usual eye-rollings and shiverings and deep sighings +for the long-unused breath. But, when his returning +gaze lit on me, he began to sob very +quietly in the manner of a man, shedding no +tears; and that is the most horrible of all things +to see. But I was aware, from these tokens, that +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</span>he had had a revelation concerning me and portending +a parting. For which cause I treated him +tenderly, saying nothing.</p> + +<p>And, at length, he descended from his pulpit; +and, having led me a long way into the innermost +recesses of the temple, into a large hall which I +never yet had seen, wherein were numerous unheard-of +matters, then, he began to speak. But +his words were unwinged; and thus he said: “O +Nicholas, the hour of thy departure is at hand. +For, since the Pharoah’s mercenaries have invaded +this sacred place, it will be insecure for thee as +also for us. For there will be a blameless guard +continually about our walls; and, though thou +mayst leave once by the secret postern, thou +couldst not do so more than once; and it is not +in thy nature to brook confinement. Also, as +long as the guards remain, the shrine of the goddess +will be deserted and her gifts wasted for lack +of receivers. Wherefore thou needs must go. +But, before thou goest, know that the well-feathered +shiny gods have deigned to give me an +order concerning thee and to send thee a message +by my mouth, whereby thy mind may be enlightened +about mysteries of the past and a foresight +of thy future revealed to thee.”</p> + +<p>But I, hearing this, perceived that very fine +solemnities were on hand. Wherefore I listened +attentively.</p> + +<p>And Amenemhat continued his discourse, saying: +“Thou knowest, O Wanderer, who thou art +and whence thou camest: but thou knowest not +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</span>who thou hast been, nor who thou shalt be. But +these are the matters on which I am to give thee +information. For thou, Nicholas the Third, +called the Crab, who art come from the kingdom +of Victory queen of the stalwart stately Anglicans, +knowest no more of thine ancestors than the +names of Nicholas the First who was father of +Robert who was father of William who was father +of Nicholas the Second who was father of thy +gentle father James. Nevertheless, thou (having +been brought backward through the rolling wheels +of time) shalt know that it is the inscrutable will +of the blessed gods to make thee aware of him +who was thy primal sire. And he is none other +than Laertes, lord of rocky Ithaka, whose wife +Antikleja was the daughter of Aytolikos, whom +wing-footed Hermes the Luck-bringer begat.”</p> + +<p>But I began to understand all sorts of riddles, +and many mysteries indeed were being solved. But +the priest was uttering his rede with the tones of +one inspired; and I eagerly lent him both my ears. +And Amenemhat pursued his revelation, saying: +“Furthermore, O Wily One, thou art to know +this. For, seeing that the much-enduring much-contriving +son of King Laertes, having wandered +far by sea and land during the ten years following +after the siege of windy Ilion, set out once again +on another wandering (but wherefore I do not +know); and was slain here, at the mouth of +sacred Sihor, by young Telegonos, his own son +and Kirke’s (that awful goddess), ignorant of +whom he slew, now, therefore, it is the will of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</span>those divine ones who have never lost their faces +that thou, Nicholas called the Crab, shouldst pursue +thy quest for wisdom reincarnate in thine +original person as King Odysseys, undertaking a +third wandering, the course of which is not yet +known to me: but it will be known by me, and +revealed by me to thee, in the moment when thou +farest forth. For the thing is yet on the knees of +the gods.”</p> + +<p>But, when Amenemhat had said all this, the +Anglican portion of me suggested the placing of +some term to such seemingly nonsensical ravings. +For which cause, I said, as stolidly as possible: +“When shall I, Nicholas called the Crab, find +myself reincarnate as King Odysseys for the +purpose named?”</p> + +<p>And the priest solemnly answered, saying: +“Thou art Odysseys, even now.”</p> + +<p>To whom I said: “I require proof of the +truth of thy word.”</p> + +<p>But Amenemhat drew back a veil which was +concealing a picture painted on the wall. And +he said: “See here, now, O Wily One, for this is +a copy of that portrait of Odysseys Laertiades +which is in the temple of Herakles at Naykratis, +a precious possession. Art thou like it, or does +it resemble thee, O thou from whom it was +painted?”</p> + +<p>And certainly the piece did exactly resemble +me, with my long arms and legs and my silver +hair and my well-sunned skin and the shy fierce +ruthlessness of my visage. But I was not +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</span>overanxious to begin another life at that moment; +and, for this cause, I would not be convinced: +but I believed that the priest was deceiving me +with a portrait painted from myself secretly, for +I had never seen the portrait at Naykratis. But +seeing myself likely to be brought to a full stop +in the matter, I determined to use my magic art +as a means of arriving at the truth.</p> + +<p>And, casting a severe glance at Amenemhat, I +withdrew my attention from him as one unworthy. +But he waited, calmly, placidly, saying nothing.</p> + +<p>But I took from my robe my orb of divination, +of rock-crystal banded with silver with +adornments of blue moonstones; and, having +placed it properly, I peered into its illimitable +profundity. And all within was blank and void. +But I made an act of will, willing to see the +Naykratian portrait as it was. And instantly it +filled the crystal void. And, having compared +it with the picture on the wall, I was aware that +they were alike in every particular. But I gazed +again into the crystal, making another act of will, +willing to see Odysseys Laertiades in his habit as +he lived. And instantly I saw him there. And, +having compared him with the picture on the +wall, I was aware that it was as like to him in +every particular as it was like to me.</p> + +<p>But I returned the crystal to its place, and +drew forth my magic staff, signing the priest with +it, and reciting the <i>Spell</i> called <i>Compelling Truth</i>. +And I inquired of him, saying: “Who am I?”</p> + +<p>And he answered me: “Odysseys Laertiades.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</span></p> + +<p>But I inquired of him again, saying: “Who +have I been?”</p> + +<p>And he answered me: “Nicholas, called the +Crab.”</p> + +<p>But I inquired of him yet again, saying: “Who +shall I be?”</p> + +<p>And he answered me: “After many lives thou +shalt be once more Nicholas, called the Crab.”</p> + +<p>Wherefore I knew that these things were somehow +so. And I gave him leave to continue. He, +then, said: “O Very Wily One, proofs thou +desirest; and proofs thou shalt have, of a sort. +Dost thou remember thy bow, the black bow of +Eyrytos, which none can bend save thyself or a +god? And dost thou remember thy sword, the +sword of Eyryalos? I ask, for reasons. For, +after thy death near Sihormouth, thy weapons +were placed on the breast of thy corpse to go +with thee to the netherworld; and, when thy +funeral-pyre was lighted, the flames leaped up, +and blazed, and died to embers: but thy deathless +soul was departed (where, I know not, nor +dost thou definitely); and there were no ashes +of thy body: which things are a mystery all. +But thine arms and thy bow and thine armour, +having been forged by a god, could not perish. +And, now, thou art here; and they too rest here +in the secret treasury, waiting for thee to assume +them again, O much-contriving King Odysseys, +Sacker of Cities.”</p> + +<p>But, indeed, if any mind-perplexing doubt +had remained to me, this would have sufficed to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</span>dismiss it. For I was aware that the prediction of +my slave, Yokkho, when he said: <i>The silver god, +in the temple, taking the bow which sings</i>, was about +to be fulfilled. And I arose, following Amenemhat +with a joyful mind.</p> + +<p>But he led me into a yet larger hall, having +row upon row of ungraven columns. And everywhere +there were vast heaps of gold and silver +ingots well-builded, with vases and cups and +tripods of gold and silver and Korinthic bronze, +which is platinum,⁠<a id="FNanchor_34_34" href="#Footnote_34_34" class="fnanchor">[34]</a> and sheaves of ivory-handed +spears with adornments gold and chrysoprase, +armour and shields of gold, elephants’ tusks of +monstrous dimensions, fillets of gems, and ropes +of pearls. But we passed through, into a smaller +hall of a circular shape, having an altar in the +centre, whereon lay an enormous shield of silver, +carved with various devices and set with crabs +and moons in very pure nonagonal prismatic +rock-crystals with balls of rock-crystal and blue +moonstone. There, also, was a mighty helmet of +the same, plumed with the lofty-waving prides of +nine white peacocks. There, also, was a short +sword, in a silver scabbard inlaid with similar +rock-crystals and blue moonstones. There, also, +was a vast black bow of a totally unheard-of +material, with a quiver decorated like the scabbard +and full of fear-inspiring arrows. There, also, +on the altar-steps, were greaves of silver gloriously +carven, with adornments of rock-crystals +and blue moonstones, and a breast-plate with the +back-plate and shoulder-pieces of the same so +bespattered with moony gems that they resembled +gigantic dewdrops on a frosty field seen in the +clear of the full moon. And, also, a large +bundle wrapped in white buckskin was lying at +the foot of the altar.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</span></p> + +<p>And, when I had looked upon these things, +Amenemhat thus addressed me, saying: “These +are thy god-forged silver armour and thy god-carven +bow and sword, O Odysseys. Take then +thy bow and make a trial.”</p> + +<p>But, when I took the great bow in my hand, +it quivered and thrilled, singing a marvellous +mystic melody; and thus it sang:</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</span></p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> + <div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">“<i>Hail King Odysseys,</i></div> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>long hast thou left me,</i></div> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>long have I lain here</i></div> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>waiting in silence:</i></div> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>wars loom before us:</i></div> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>blood will pour over us:</i></div> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>death flieth with us:</i></div> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>take me, O Master,</i></div> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>and slay as of yore.</i>”</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p>But, having drawn a well-winged arrow from +the quiver, I passed again into the great hall of +the secret treasury; and Amenemhat followed +me, holding aloft his lanthorn; and rays of light +from it flamed upon a shield of burnished gold +at the far end of the hall. But, though never (to +my remembrance) had I handled a bow since I, a +little eager scolded and mocked-at child, played +my own solitary fantastic games in the kingdom +of Victory queen of the stalwart stately Anglicans, +nevertheless I bended and strang the huge black +bow of Eyrytos with the skilful ease of an expert. +And the back-bent bow throbbed in my hand as +though it were alive, itself taking aim at the +shield-navel. And the shaft sped forth, shrieking +and humming in the air, till it buried its length +in the boss of the burnished shield. And, having +done what no man but one man can do, I doubted +no long but that I actually was King Odysseys, +the Wily One, Sacker of Cities, the Wanderer, +the grandson of Divine Wing-footed Hermes.</p> + +<p>Amenemhat said: “Verily, thou art the lord +of rocky Ithaka.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</span></p> + +<p>And to him I answered, saying: “Yea: that +I am.”</p> + +<p>But, returning to the inner treasury, I stripped +myself all stark, and put on the god-forged +armour of yellow-haired great-hearted Akhilleys, +which, formerly, my agile feet had won from +Aias son of Telamon, arming myself with the +glittering silver.⁠<a id="FNanchor_35_35" href="#Footnote_35_35" class="fnanchor">[35]</a> First, indeed, I put on the +beautiful greaves round my legs, well-fitting to +the clasps. Next, I covered my body with the +white leathern kirtle having taslets of carven silver +about my loins, which Ares himself had worn. +But I clothed myself over it with a kirtle of silver +mail. Next, I placed on my breast and back and +shoulders the corslet of swift-footed Akhilleys, +wrought by Hephaistos himself at the behest of +Thetis of the sea; and the silver-shining of it +went to a great distance, as of the moon. And I +hanged from my shoulders the silver-sheathed +sword, gleaming with moony gems, and also the +well-carven quiver of arrows. And, on my head, +I set the well-made helmet, crested with the +lofty-waving prides of nine white peacocks; and +dreadfully the plumage nodded from above. And +I took, beside, the bow which sings, well-fitted +to my hand, and then the huge and sturdy shield, +whereon Hephaistos had wrought, in silver and +rock-crystals and blue moonstones, earth, and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</span>heaven, and sea, and the unwearied sun, and the +full moon, and all the constellations crowning +heaven, the Pleiades, the Hyades, and the strength +of Orion, and the Bear or the Wain which there +revolves watching Orion, but it alone descends not +into the baths of the ocean. But Amenemhat +shod my feet with sandals of white leather, buckled +with silver studded with moony gems. And he +covered me with a great trailing mantle, of silver +tissue lined with white fur, having a huge silver +clasp of the crab and the moon. And the sheen +of me reached to heaven; and all the earth +around smiled in the splendour of the silver; and +a sound like the trampling of men’s feet arose. +But I stood in the midst, gnashing my teeth; +and my eyes shone like a blaze of white +fire.</p> + +<p>These things having been duly accomplished, +Amenemhat left me while he went about my +business: for, indeed, the occasion was one for +operating very mighty and singular magic, +whereby I, King Odysseys, might be sent on my +new quest suitably attended and in kingly fashion, +and not without my gear. But, when it was +night, the priest returned to me contriving wiles; +and he said that all things were ready. For he +had prepared for me one of the temple-galleys, +a stout ship builded in the yards of Alexandria, +pierced for forty oars, twenty a side in a single +old-fashioned bank. And he had manned the +galley with rowers and slaves, whom he gave +to me as a sweet guest-gift: but one Deythes +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</span>was the master-mariner. And the galley rode at +anchor in mid-stream, ready to sail.</p> + +<p>But, at midnight, having gathered all my +goods which were in the temple, and having +rubbed my necklace of bloodstones with marigold-juice +so that I became invisible, I went +down with Amenemhat to my barge by the +desolate quay; and I shewed myself without +warning in my brilliant panoply to Nesamun +and Yokkho. And, when they had finished +their adorations (for they naturally adored the +silver god), then, indeed, I and Amenemhat did +the magic which we had prepared, giving to +my two slaves new forms with new names, +whereby Nesamun came out of his Egyptian +body, becoming Neandros, an Argive, and squire +to me, and Yokkho came in turn out of his +Egyptian body, becoming Thalos, an Argive +also, and foot-boy to me. And the magic was +done perfectly, nor was there any unusual +noise.</p> + +<p>But, when we had bestowed the evacuated +Egyptian bodies upon the inchanted sons of +slime, the mind in my dear breast was perplexing +me concerning two further matters. For, I +knew not what worthy gift I could give to +Amenemhat as a parting blessing; and, also, +I was aware that I desired to have something +more in my slaves than that which they already +possessed, to wit, their ingenious minds, faithful +and fearless, which the gods of their stars had +bestowed upon them, and the comely Argive +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</span>forms wherewith I myself by my magic art had +endowed them. But then, indeed, suddenly, a +very singular and unheard-of thought illumined +my noble mind, which bade me to use a most +potent magic inchantment of another age (and +I never had used it before, though I was fully +competent in the circumstances), performing a +sacred lavation, pouring a handful of Nile-water +upon Amenemhat, and upon Neandros, and upon +Thalos, saying over each in turn the <i>Spell of the +Three Who are One</i>. Thus, then, I did. And +the faces of the priest and of the slaves whitened, +becoming strangely purified and thankful, unknowing. +But I know all.</p> + +<p>And, now that the time was come when I +must part from Amenemhat, we two drew away +to a darker corner of the desolate quay. But +the haughty wise eyes of the priest were full +of unshed tears; and he spoke in the secret +tongue of the priests of Khem, saying: “Never, +O Odysseys, shall we meet again, neither in this +life nor in another, till the cycles of our opportunities +shall be fulfilled. But to thee I give the +galley and her crew, slaves; and I have placed a +certain treasure in the hold for thy use and comfort. +Take them, O friend, as a sweet guest-gift. +And, so, fare thee well, O King Odysseys, +whom may all gods of sea and land and air and +sky have in prime and perpetual favour. And +this is the message which I have in charge to +give thee at parting: <i>From the Depths of the Dead +thou shalt win back the Treasure of Hades</i>.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</span></p> + +<p>Thus he spoke; and, having embraced me, he +went his own way.</p> + +<p>But I ascended my barge; and, when Neandros +and Thalos had rowed me to my galley, I mounted +the lofty poop, to see my goods brought aboard, +and the empty barge sent adrift, for it was no +longer useful to me. But I gave commands to +Deythes, my shipman, that he should shape a +course for Sihormouth and, so, out to the open +sea.</p> + +<p>Thus I did, leaving the land of Khem, and +beginning a new quest.</p> + + +<div class="footnotes"> +<h3 id="FOOTNOTES_11"> + FOOTNOTES: +</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_34_34" href="#FNanchor_34_34" class="label">[34]</a> This is rather worrying. Everyone knows that, before the reign +of David, there was in Asia a plenty of a third precious and perfect +metal: that Tyrians and Phoinikians founded and worked it till the +reign of Salomon: that there were rich deposits of it in the Atlantis, +where it was excavated, founded, and worked: that it was heavier and +more valuable than either gold or silver: that it had most of the qualities +of gold, but was something of the colour of silver: that it was +capable of high polish, the Romans using it for lamp-reflectors: that +the Hebrews called it <i>Khasmal</i> = White Metal, and the Greeks called +it <i>Elektron</i> or <i>Khalkolibanon</i>, or <i>Orikhalkon</i>: that it became rare +through barbarian incursion and the submergence of the Atlantis: that +it was imitated by a mixture of gold and silver by the Korinthians, the +native metal (which they originally manipulated) being practically lost. +Strabo (III.) and Pliny (Proem. xxxiii.) say that there was enough of +this metal found in the sands of the Po in Trajan’s time to form a +statue of Augustus. Many other writers preserve its memory, <i>e.g.</i> +Saint Ezekhiel Prophet, i. 4, 7: Homer, <i>Od.</i> IIII. 71, XV. 458: +Vergil, <i>Georg.</i> III. 521: <i>Æn.</i> VIII. 402, V. 624: Martial, VIII. 50: +Sil. It., I. 229: Stat. <i>Thebaid</i>: Juv. <i>Sat.</i> xiiii. Serenus Samm. <i>De +Uenenis</i>: Serv. <i>Georg.</i>: Lamprid. <i>Heliog.</i> <i>Cf.</i> also Aristophanes’ +<i>Knights</i>, and Sophokles’ praise of the White Metal (ἐλέκτρον) of Sardis +with gold of India. But, even now I see no particular connection (excepting +in Mr. Crabbe’s mind) between modern platinum (which only +exists, I am told, in the other hemisphere), and the undeniable White +Metal (which the ancients called Elektron or Korinthic Bronze) which +disappeared, I conceive, in the earthquake ingulphing the lost Atlantis. +The problem is a sadly distracting one. A. H.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_35_35" href="#FNanchor_35_35" class="label">[35]</a> Hitherto we have been led to believe that Akhilleys’ armour was +golden, not silvern as here emphatically stated. Perhaps our error is +due to the lamentable fact that all our classical texts have been edited +by tasteless and not highly scrupulous Dutchmen, so far. I just throw +out the suggestion. A. H.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="THE_THIRTEENTH_PAPYRUS"> + THE THIRTEENTH PAPYRUS + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>When white Dawn was come, I left the small +Pharos behind. Sihor had become brackish; +and a favourable breeze drove us out on to the +unvintaged sea. My galley was indeed meet for +a king: for all her fitments were of cedar inlaid +with silver and mother-of-pearl. Her food-service +also was of well-chased ephesian silver; +and her sail and her awnings were of thick +white silk with vermilion bordures and fringes. +Furthermore, my master-mariner, Deythes son +of Kimon of Naxos, was an honest man, an +islander, as well as a mariner of much favour +with the Divine Ones who inhabit olympian +palaces; and he had never lost a ship. Wherefore, +being aware that my equipage was quite +worthy of me and of my destiny, I was glad.</p> + +<p>But, when I came to ponder Amenemhat’s last +prediction, I could not understand it; and it +behoved me to understand it very speedily, in +order that I might contrive new wiles and suitable: +for, at the moment, I was sailing the open +sea without a notion as to my destination.</p> + +<p>For which cause, I tried my crystal orb of +divination: but I saw nothing therein. But, +having next refreshed my memory concerning +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</span>the things which Thalos (who had been Yokkho) +saw in the palm-mirror, I read in my note-book +these words: <i>The silver god, in the ship, speaking +with the azure-haired god on the white horses.</i> +And that I might know more about this azure-haired +god on the white horses, of whom the +innocent eager slave had spoken, I performed +the rite of the palm-mirror a second time, having +summoned clear-eyed Thalos to me. But he +saw nothing in the ink, though he gazed into +it and sweated till he swooned from sheer exhaustion. +But I was aware, having restored him +and having given him to be treated tenderly, +that a far greater magic was necessary to explain +his utterance and the utterance of Amenemhat, +to wit: <i>The silver god, in the ship, speaking to the +azure-haired god, on the white horses, and From +the Depths of the Dead thou shalt win back the +Treasure of Hades.</i> And, when the mother of +Dawn, rosy-fingered Morning, was about to +come again, bringing light to mortals and immortals, +then my galley was alone upon the +bluish-grey-green sea.</p> + +<p>But I was resolved to try the <i>Rite of Thalattomancy</i>, +which is most efficacious; and it may +only be performed by a master and prince of +the highest degree and most secret initiation and +by a sacred ruler of the innermost light. To +which end, I caused Nile-water and other proper +apparatus to be placed on the lofty poop; and +I made a proclamation to my crew, lest curiosity +should overcome fear and obedience, that death +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</span>in shreds (lasting some hours) would be the lot +of an interruptor of my solitude in the sight of +all. And, having bathed and arrayed myself in +my silver panoply, I opened the rite.</p> + +<p>Within the square of four pentagons, I drew +the four concentric circles with white chalk on +the lofty poop-deck, filling them with the proper +names. Within these, I drew also the double +circle for ebb and flow. And, within the last, +I placed a dish of offerings to the seven sea-gods +and the silver divination-cup brimming with +Nile-water. But I stood between them, wearing +the symbols of the Crab and the Moon: for the +Crab is a watery sign, and the Moon is the +Governess of the Sea. And, having called on +the gods of the sea and the moon to be propitious, +I burned aloes in a brazier, and I chanted +the <i>Spell</i> which releases the souls of the drowned +from their torments in the netherworld, providing +the forms of birds for clothing them, and +treating them to a taste of fresh air, so that (with +their wings) they might veil the apparition of +a favouring sea-god, an aboundingly holy awful +sight not to be viewed excepting by initiates, as +it is written: <i>It is not necessary for the novice to +believe anything, but only to sacrifice his little pig.</i></p> + +<p>But the cries of my birds, rejoicing in freedom +for an hour, came nearer and nearer; and +they circled round me closely and more closely, +till I seemed to be enclosed in a pillar like a +cylinder of whirling wings. And, at the moment +of sunrise, the spirits of the moon came knocking +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</span>at the gates of the waves to summon the divine +ones of the sea. But those spirits were of a +great and full body, soft and phlegmatic, of +colour like a cloud, black, morbid, obscure, +having swelling countenances and aspects ready +to melt away like an exceeding great rain about +the circles. And their particular shapes were +a king like an archer riding on a doe, and a +little boy, and a woman-hunter with a bow and +arrows, and a cow, and a little doe, and a +vermilion and silver garment, and many white +horses having finny feet.</p> + +<p>Then, I seized the cup of divination by both +handles, crying aloud the magic <i>Spell</i>, and +saying:</p> + +<p>“<i>Let him come in the boat. And the name of the +boat is Assembler of Souls.</i></p> + +<p>“<i>Let him come with the oars. And the name of +the oars is Making The Hair To Stand On End.</i></p> + +<p>“<i>Let him come from the hold. And the name of +the hold is Good.</i></p> + +<p>“<i>Let him come by the rudder. And the name of +the rudder is Making Straight For The Middle.</i></p> + +<p>“<i>Let him come with the mariners. And the name +of the mariners is The Divine Ones Who Have +Found Their Faces.</i></p> + +<p>“<i>Let the master-mariner come. And the name of +the master-mariner is The Divine One Who Has +Never Lost His Face.</i>”</p> + +<p>And I held out the cup of divination over +the sea, flinging the water of sacred Sihor in a +hemicycle of crystal drops as far as I could reach. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</span>But the cloud of birds moved away with it; +and hovered above a billow with an agitated +crest, which they surrounded with innumerably-feathered +pinions. Whereby I was aware that +a godlike form was manifesting himself in that +direction. And, the dawn being fully come, I +recited the <i>Invitation to the gods of the sea</i>, using +the tongue of the gods.</p> + +<p>Then, the answer arrived, very thin and clear, +like a cock-crow far away in the stillness of a +desert-night, saying: <i>Receive the azure-haired +Earth-shaker from the sea</i>.</p> + +<p>And the breeze instantly moaned and died; +and the waves ceased from lapping against my +galley. And my sea-birds made a great confusion +in the awful calm, filling it with flashing +pinions and plaintive whimperings, and settling +into the shape of a dome all formed of beating +wings, in which I on my ship and the tridentiferous +god of the sea were enclosed, face to face.</p> + +<p>The floor of the temple of this blessed vision +was the marbled water of the rushing sea, frozen +mute and motionless with awe. Throned upon +white horses ramping along a curling-crested +billow, was the form of wide-ruling sea-stilling +earth-shaking Poseidon, king of the ocean, with +his court of white-bodied nymphs of the sea +attended by scaly tritons. And King Poseidon +said: “Much is permitted to thee, O god-beloved +Odysseys. For even I, forgetful of our +ancient feud, am here to warn thee that severe +ordeals of thine endurance are ordained. And +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</span>my rede to thee is that thou speed to Delphi, +there to have sure news of thy quest from the +priestess of the Radiant Pure One: for we of +the sea are ignorant of what may be intended.”</p> + +<p>Thus he spoke; and forthwith the vision dived +in deep waters, splashing awfully in disappearing. +But I was left alone upon the lofty poop. +Wherefore, having summoned Deythes, my shipman, +I gave him his course; and, afterward, I +rested, for magic is much more wearisome than war. +In this manner, I learned that the sea-gods at +least were propitious to me, and (also) that I was +to go to the shrine of Phoibos Apollon at Delphi, +there to receive an oracle and a Pythian revelation.</p> + +<p>But, when we had passed Patrai and were +making Kirrha (which was the port of Delphi +on the Korinthic Gulph), it seemed good to +me to prepare a gift, meet to be given by me, +a priest and a king, to the domestic prelate of +Pythian Phoibos Apollon. For which cause, I +took stock of the treasure wherewith Amenemhat +had loaded my galley. And indeed it was a +generous and a godlike treasure. For there were +wedges of virgin gold, weighty, plastic, red as +the hair of a lovely girl of Altino of the +Heneti, with great cut gems in leathern sacks, +and vases and lamps of Korinthic bronze (which +is platinum)⁠<a id="FNanchor_36_36" href="#Footnote_36_36" class="fnanchor">[36]</a> wrought about with foliage, and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</span>tripods of burnished gold fit to stand with those +which limping Hephaistos made for himself, and +chryselephantine images of gods the work of +Pheidias and Praxiteles and Lysippos, and bales +of tissues of silver and gold and vermilion, with +other treasures innumerable. Moreover, there +was a gigantic chariot all of silver, inlaid with +crabs and moons in mother-of-pearl; and the +spokes of its wheels were images of the heroes, +mighty men of old, wine-companions and sword-friends +of me when we beleaguered woman-mad +Paris and his Phrygians before the walls of windy +Ilion. And, poised upon the front of the rail +of the silver-shining chariot, there was a silver +image of Love, larger than life, blindfolded, +naked, most alluringly proportioned, and his +well-winged arms were spread abroad in the very +act of taking flight. And there were four white +horses, a well-matched team, to go before the +chariot for the sake of custom: but their harness +and caparisons were of white leather with adornments +of silver.</p> + +<p>Thus, then, I prepared myself for pursuing +my quest on land.</p> + + +<div class="footnotes"> +<h3 id="FOOTNOTES_12"> + FOOTNOTES: +</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_36_36" href="#FNanchor_36_36" class="label">[36]</a> I sadly fear that we must be content to take Mr. C.’s word for +it. All the same, one can’t help feeling a little exasperated at his +reiterated emphasis of his statement, and at one’s own utter ignorance +of his real reason for being so insistent on a point which one is +perfectly unable to dispute or even to discuss. A. H.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="THE_FOURTEENTH_PAPYRUS"> + THE FOURTEENTH PAPYRUS + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>But, when we reached Kirrha, having harboured +my galley suitably, I went on to Delphi with +Neandros and Thalos and nine trusty-looking +slaves, who carried a part of my treasure. But +we were all disguised in sordid garments; and +the treasure was concealed in filthy wallets: for +I was prepared with a wile. For, indeed, I was +willing enough, and even glad to offer gifts propitiatory +to the Far-Darter, lest he still should +cherish his ancient rancour against me: for time +is of small account to the gods, but hatred may +be an open fester for ever. But, nevertheless, I +(being myself a priest) did not intend to be +skinned by priests of the Lord (of the Silver +Bow), nor was I ready to let them suck me dry, +as a fly is sucked by assiduous spiders. For the +good shepherd only shears his sheep, leaving the +skinning of them to the butcher.</p> + +<p>Thus, then, I came to the fane in the laurel-grove; +and I counted the glittering shields there +while waiting for my turn: for there were many +suppliants that day, seeking an oracle, and giving +gifts of red gold.</p> + +<p>And, anon, the warden of the treasury, the +most righteous of men with the pleated regard +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</span>of a not-very-gracious pig, bade me to advance +and make my offering. But I grieved that men, +of evil mind and turpilucricupidous, should have +twisted the good mind of the gods to suit their +own improper ends: for, whereas, of old, a suppliant’s +gift was made as a willing thank-offering +after the Pythian nun had repeated the words of +the god, now, indeed, the treasurer would have +appraised my gift, before admitting me even to +the narthex of the shrine where men may await +the divine oracle. Wherefore, avoiding undue +display of my actual condition, and (in fact) +wilily simulating poverty, I began by making +reluctant offering of a tiny golden ingot. But +the blameless treasurer had a motion which made +his mitre slip down to one ear of his, discovering +a corner of old skull red as a rotten bite of meat +and giving his aspect something of dancing and +elastic: also, he snorted very contemptuously, +like a camel of sneering nostrils; and (seeing me +to be clad in an old cloak and wearing no well-crested +helmet but a shabby floppy hat such as +my wing-footed grandsire Hermes loves to wear), +he had a flapping of his fattish fingers, and cried +out upon me, and would have sent me away. +But I doled out gold in morsels; and, as a +Kretan, selling embroideries or incised stones +to some blubber-lipped carroty-headed chin-less +alien who screams with spasms of fury, lies in +wait to see what the fool will offer, so did I +with the warden of the treasury, offering a +little at a time, moaning prodigiously, till I +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</span>wearied him of bargaining and gained permission +to pass in.</p> + +<p>And, at length, I stood before the hollow +shrine, and I prayed to the son of Queen Titania +that he would be propitious and easy of memory +concerning certain former regrettable occurrences. +And all was still.</p> + +<p>The bards sat hard on their stools, anointed +ones, ignoble, stinking, and perfectly contented, +in an odious fraternity of dalmatics, listless, till +such time when the shrieks of the Pythia should +spinge them into vibration with verses.</p> + +<p>Above the bards, the hierarch of Phoibos +Apollon, occupied a throne as archbishop, laurel-crowned, +venerably filletted.</p> + +<p>And, anon, the holy Pythian nun, standing on +the fumy grating with her python coiled about +her feet, ecstatic amid clouds of frankincense, +shrieked, and moaned, and shrieked again; and +her eyes glared, being fixed wide open.</p> + +<p>The blameless bards sprang forth from their +drowsing; and put on the allure of very intelligent +men. The archbishop advanced an attentive +ear of the rose of rotten flesh. And the inspired +virgin chanted, in the Delian mode, with bell-like +notes and simple cadences, delivering the oracle +which the fair-haired god was whispering to her +mind. But she sang in the language of the gods, +intelligible only to masters alone among articulately-speaking +men.</p> + +<p>Thus, then, she sang; and the bards were +dazed; and the filletted archbishop marvelled +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</span>vastly: for very rarely does the Pythia use the +secret tongue in her phrenzies.</p> + +<p>Thus, then, she sang, as her ecstasy intensified, +floating her up from the grating all rigid, as she +stood on the willing air tenderly lifting her up +on high. For far-darting Phoibos Apollon himself +was uttering unwinged words through the +mouth of his nun.</p> + +<p>And thus she sang:</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> + <div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>Time-straying Wanderer, sea-borne Sea-lover,</i></div> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>signed with the Crab and starred with the Moon,</i></div> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>priest of all crafts of god-lore and man-lore,</i></div> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>head corner-stone by base builders rejected,</i></div> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>castaway paladin, master of mysteries,</i></div> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>known in the future, renowned in the past,</i></div> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>now, in the present, thy quest thou pursuest,</i></div> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>god-confirmed, seeking the crown of thy wisdom.</i></div> + <div class="verse indent2"><i>I smell, in the south, the odour of aloes</i></div> + <div class="verse indent2"><i>and basil and thyme and verbena and rosemary:</i></div> + <div class="verse indent2"><i>I see the black portal of Tainaron yawning:</i></div> + <div class="verse indent2"><i>I hear the fierce howls of the three-headed hound of hell.</i></div> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>Where thou hast been, go again, very warily:</i></div> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>heroes shall compass thee, ghosts of the great</i></div> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>shall acclaim, and the high gods environ, thee.</i></div> + <div class="verse indent2"><i>There is the golden crown of all wisdom:</i></div> + <div class="verse indent2"><i>there, in dark Hades, accomplish thy questing,</i></div> + <div class="verse indent2"><i>spoiling the god of the world of the dead.</i></div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p>Such was the Oracle of Delphic Phoibos +Apollon.</p> + +<p>But, when the Pythian nun swooned, having +made an end of her singing, the blameless archbishop +gushed hurriedly down from his throne, +very ardent, very violent, the crupper under his +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</span>dalmatic waggling with furies no longer to be +concealed: for he knew the secret tongue; and +he perceived that I must be a personage of +superior quality, though assuredly he did not +understand the full import of the message, which +(indeed) could be known solely to the divine +Bow-bearer and to me, the bearer of the singing +bow. But, because (being a priest, and one of +the most righteous of men) he hankered after the +society of a person so openly favoured by the +god, he approached me, bent upon inquiries. +And he made me the <i>Sign of the Master-Architect</i>: +but I responded with the <i>Grip of the Ruler of +Nine</i>. And he signed me with the Word of the +Knight of the Crab: but I countersigned him with +the <i>Word of the Prince of the Moon</i>. We embraced +in the <i>Ways of the East and of the West</i>. Together +we formed the <i>Symbols of the Peacock</i> and of +<i>the Ravens both Black and White</i>. But, when he +shewed himself to be a <i>Master of the White Stars</i>, +I, in my turn gave him my token as <i>Lord of +the Ultra-Violet Radiance</i>, further than which +no mortal man can go in this direction. And I +beckoned him to slink back to his throne: which +he did, very sorrowful in his heart, and champing +his ancient gums while borborygms of his belly +went and came.</p> + +<p>In this manner, I triumphed at the temple of +Delphi, obtaining the favour of the god.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="THE_FIFTEENTH_PAPYRUS"> + THE FIFTEENTH PAPYRUS + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>But, having returned to Kirrha, I went up into +the curved ship, and I sailed propitiously southward +for Tainaron, dark, forbidding to strangers. +And, while I was voyaging, I pondered the words +of the oracle.</p> + +<p>But, as I thought of these things, many remembrances +crept out of my mind, crowding upon +me: for, when I was a liegeman of Victory queen +of the stalwart stately Anglicans, and also when +I was a priest of Queen Isis in the land of Khem, +I had been oblivious of many great and wily +deeds which I had done in the morning of the +world. But, now, I began to remember many +things concerning lofty Ilion, and wars, and windy +Fate, and my sometime comrades there; and the +black bow of Eyrytos vibrated in my hand, and +my glance fixed itself on the dazzling sheen of +my huge silver shield; and the bow sang to me +of implacable young yellow-haired Akhilleys, and +faithful temerarious Patrokles his friend, and +fearless ruddy-headed Neoptolemos his son, and +magnanimous Agamemnon shepherd of the people +and leader of the Argive hosts, and aged Phoinix +who (when a boy) obeyed his mother, and proud +insane Aias, and Aitolian Diomedes of the loud +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</span>war-cry with whom I spied on the Dardanians +and stole the horses of Rhesos king of the +Thrakians, and Idomeneys the Kretan fierce as +flame, and my own dear son wise Telemakhos, +and, also, the blameless foes of the rolling-eyed +Argives, to wit, pious runaway Aineias and accursed +crest-tossing Hektor, and old Priam with his sons +Lykaon and Kebriones and godlike Polydoros the +runner, all blameless, and woman-mad Paris of +the splendid body, and also equal-handed Asteropaios: +nor was I unmindful of bandy-legged +woolly-haired Thersites, the very ugliest man +of all who came to Ilion. And, furthermore, +my singing bow began to sing to me, and it sang +of the white-armed slave Lyrnessian Briseis, and +of the inquisitive Deidamia, and of perfidious +Klytaimnestra wife of Agamemnon, and of unhappy +Andromakhe, and of prudent Penelope, +and of beautiful golden Helen daughter of Zeys +the Swan.</p> + +<p>But the mind in my lordly breast busied itself +with causes and effects: for I began to understand +many more things, and one thing specially above +all things, this, to wit, that these heroes (my friends +and enemies) strove as I strove, and endured as I +endured, and contrived their plans as I contrived +my very wily plans, all for a prize and a crown. +And, further, it seemed to me that, in all my +striving after wisdom, there was one branch of +knowledge which I had not considered even rudimentarily: +for, as far as I remembered, I had +never permitted myself (as all other heroes +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</span>permit themselves) to go stark mad for love of a +woman. But that was chiefly due to my nature, +which caused me to hide my soft and hungry +heart beneath a hard and cruel armour of proof. +Yet other men, not less brave (though far less +wily) than I, loved women, not coolly, as I had +loved prudent Penelope (whom I always used +most respectfully and kindly), but perfervidly +and even hairily and with utter self-renunciation. +And I began to wonder why my wisdom had +omitted to take count of rather more than half +the human race. And I began to wonder whether +my comrades had gained certain rewards of wisdom +by their madness which I, by my wily +self-control had not attained. For I suddenly +remembered the old adage, <i>What I gained, I lost: +What I lost, I won: What I gave, I have.</i></p> + +<p>Now I blamed divine Memory: for she was +treating me in a scurvy and niggardly manner, +doling out mere handfuls of all the wealth of +notions and ideas which, from time to time, I had +been used to store in her cells. For the wise +man ought not to utter a judgment until he +knows all the matter to be judged. And I did +not know all. Wherefore I put myself to ponder +the little which I knew.</p> + +<p>And, one by one, slowly, and painfully, certain +other matters were brought out and laid before +my mind.</p> + +<p>For I remembered that the oldest and the +youngest and the most venerated and by far the +most exceedingly powerful of all the gods is Love. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</span>And, also, I remembered that each one of us, +who stamp on the wide-bosomed earth, is no +more than a moiety and counterpart of a perfect +human creature. For, very early in the morning +of the world, Zeys Pampator cut all mortals in +two, halving them, for a religious reason, and on +account of their ineffable prepotence. Wherefore, +having once been a whole being, and being +now but the half of a whole being, all articulately-speaking +men most fervently desire and pursue +any other creature whom they take to be their +lost counterpart, that the two halves may again +be mingled and fused in one: for, as Plato definitely +teaches, <i>Love is the Desire and Pursuit of +the Whole</i>. For which cause, I was aware that +all men and all women needed nothing more than +this, and nothing so much as this, that Love +should work out perfectly, each finding other, +returning to the aboriginal nature. These things, +then, occupied the mind in my breast.</p> + +<p>And, moreover, I considered how that I was +going (obeying the Delphic oracle) where I twice +had been before, once alive and once dead, to wit, +to the House of Hades, tremendous king of +infernal shades, whom I was to despoil of his +treasure and the crown of all wisdom. Yet, still, +I knew not what that treasure and crown might +be. And, having remembered thus much of the +past, I held a sort of council with my noble mind, +which determined me to despoil that king of +whatever might seem to be of greatest worth in +his kingdom.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</span></p> + +<p>Wherefore, having summoned Thalos my slave, +bathed and purified, I set the magic mirror on his +palm, bidding him to gaze therein, and laying a +very strong spell on him so that he should have +clear sight of that one thing of which I had no +knowledge.</p> + +<p>And his little body became rigid; and his long +black eyes stared; and the sweet sweat oozed +like dewdrops from his flesh, and he shook with +fear, insomuch that I chained his arms and legs +with my own hands as in brazen manacles, forcing +him to do my will. And, when I refused him +permission to swoon, then his rigours took him +stupendously; and, being as rigid as a strung bow, +he began to declare his vision, saying: <i>The golden +goddess, sitting with her star-crowned brothers, in the +dark, disdaining a victorious hero, and an unmanlike +king, and a shepherd beloved of goddesses, and innumerable +warriors contending among themselves.</i> +And then I could no longer hold him: for +limb-relaxing Sleep, the all-subduer, drew him +from me.</p> + +<p>But I knew what I wanted to know.</p> + +<p>For this utterance was all of a piece with the +divination which my same slave had made, when +he wore a young Egyptian body on the sacred +river of Khem, saying: <i>The silver god, leading the +golden goddess, from the dark.</i> For who was the +golden goddess in the dark, but fair long-robed +golden Helen daughter of Zeys the Swan, dwelling +in the unlighted House of Hades?</p> + +<p>And who were her star-crowned brothers, but +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</span>the Great Twins, godlike youths, Kastor the +tamer of horses and Polydeykes the pugilist, star-crowned +sharers of immortality?</p> + +<p>And whose blameless homage was refused by +Golden Helen, but that of the victorious hero +Theseys, and that of sandy-haired old impotent +Menelaos, and that of the woman-mad shepherd +Paris beloved of Hera and Aphrodite and Pallas +Athene most righteous of goddesses?</p> + +<p>And for whom, but for Golden Helen, had innumerable +warriors, my comrades and my enemies, +contended during ten long years of war, and +after?</p> + +<p>And I asked of the mind in my lordly breast, +saying: Who, then, is the Treasure of Hades?</p> + +<p>And my mind answered me, saying: Who but +Golden Helen, sought of all men.</p> + +<p>Then, indeed, the mind in my dear breast +bounded with an unmentioned and unthought-of +joy in thinking of these things, and in remembering +also the things which were to come, to wit, +the leading of the golden goddess from the dark, +the moving with her among gods and goddesses, +and the sitting with her on a throne.</p> + +<p>In this manner did I find out the meaning of +the Delphic oracle and the spoil which I was to +win from the king of the netherworld with the +crown of all wisdom.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="THE_SIXTEENTH_PAPYRUS"> + THE SIXTEENTH PAPYRUS + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>But I went to Tainaron, where the hollow ship +lay at anchor in a little cove to the west of the +headland, being too great to draw up on the +black beach; and, indeed, at Tainaron there is no +sand fit for such a purpose. <ins id='cor_142' title='Original: Bul'>But</ins> I came ashore on +a raft made of spars and planks, which the slaves +of my galley pushed before them swimming, +thrusting the sea back with their strong legs. And +the raft carried also my gear, and my silver-shining +chariot adorned with crabs and moons in mother-of-pearl +with its mystic charioteer poised on the +front of the rail: but my four white horses swam +lustily apart, having no fear of deep water.</p> + +<p>Not every day does mortal man drive down in +awful pomp to the dark House of Hades. And, +indeed, I did not know the way: nor was there a +sacrifice proper for so great an occasion ready to +my hand. Wherefore, I mentioned the point in +a prayer addressed to my grandsire, wing-footed +Hermes, inhabiting olympian palaces; and he sent +me a Dream, to tell me how to prepare for his +coming. But the Dream said that I was to build +up an altar of stones on a mound of earth, and +to make a fire, and to sacrifice my four white +horses to the areiopagos of the immortals; and, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</span>after the sacrifice, I was to feast with my crew; +and, at moonset, I was to cast fresh fennel on a +clear fire, having dismissed all the lusty slaves to +my galley with a commandment there to await +my return.</p> + +<p>But, when I awakened, the sun was close above +the distant mountains, all ruddy with his hard +day’s course and ready for the evening. And I +bade my slaves to build up an altar, and to do all +other things which the Dream had commanded +me: but they were unwilling to slay the beautiful +horses; and they coughed horribly when I did +it myself; and they made no difficulty about +thoroughly enjoying themselves at the feast when +the sacrifice was duly done. And, in the midst +of the sacrifice, a portent was vouchsafed to me: +for the smoke of my burnt-offering was not blown +abroad by the evening breeze: but it ascended +straightly as a column to the sky above. And +this I knew to be a very favourable omen, auguring +that my sacrifice was accepted as pleasing to +the areiopagos of divine ones who inhabit olympian +palaces.</p> + +<p>And, with a glad heart, I did on my shining +panoply, the silver-shining armour of Akhilleys, +and his god-made shield, with the singing bow of +Eyrytos: so that I shone like the star which +rises in autumn, whose resplendent rays shine +among many stars in the depths of the night. +But I slung my revolver on my body, in a secret +hollow of my armour, having fed it full and made +it ready to spit dire death.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</span></p> + +<p>But, when my mariners had cut me many +faggots of fresh fennel, heaping the same in a +stack apt to my hand, then, indeed, I dismissed +them to the hollow ship, with a commandment to +await my return, all as the Dream had ordained.</p> + +<p>And, as soon as I was alone, I very eagerly +began to cast choice twigs of fennel on the redly-glowing +embers of my sacrifice. And the sweet +face of the moon became pale and paler, as the +face of a dear woman about to swoon; and she +snatched up a few soft mists wherewith to cloak +herself in her going. For black night was creeping +up the vault of heaven to overwhelm her; +and she fled before him, as a maid flies before a +blameless Ethiopian slave, whose bestial nostrils +snuffle as he capers meditating very evil deeds. +And anon she escaped with her purity. But I sat +down to wait: nor did sweet Sleep light on my +eyelids, when I contemplated the Pleiades, and +setting Arktoyros, and the Bear (which they also +call the Waggon) turning itself and watching +Orion, but it alone does not share in the washing +of the ocean.</p> + +<p>But soon there was nothing between me and +the darkness, excepting the glow of my fire. +And I, being very eager for an apparition, grasped +the stalks of fennel by handfuls, flinging them on +to the roaring blaze, till all the world was awhirl +with the fragrant greyish-blue smoke beloved of +my grandsire Hermes, beneficial son of Zeys.</p> + +<p>And, very far away, I heard a noise as of the +noise of a single thunderclap. But I was aware +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</span>that it was the clang of the great gate on lofty +Olympos closing behind the wing-footed messenger +who was coming in answer to my prayer.</p> + +<p>But, while I was awaiting his swift arrival, I +ceased not to feed the flame with the magic herb. +And, suddenly, I became aware that I was not +alone. For a Presence was very near me, but +hidden by the clouds of scented smoke; and two +glowing eyes were fixed upon me: also, from +time to time, I caught a glimpse of horns and +pointed ears very terrible of aspect.</p> + +<p>Then, indeed, sharp Fear tried to lay her +clammy hand upon my heart: as a boy of evil +mind, desiring to annoy his bedfellow, slips a +wet toad into the white armpit of him sleeping. +And I said to myself, in the words of one dying: +<i>I am about to see Pan</i>.⁠<a id="FNanchor_37_37" href="#Footnote_37_37" class="fnanchor">[37]</a> For I remembered the +adage concerning a man who is given over unto +sweet white Death, of whom it is said <i>Let him +see Pan</i>.⁠<a id="FNanchor_38_38" href="#Footnote_38_38" class="fnanchor">[38]</a> For, indeed, it is known that the faces +of the dead shew one thing very clearly, and that +is that they have found out everything which +there is to be known by mortal man, and are +satisfied, as we all have seen in the dear beautiful +face of Diyllos: so that, in saying of such an +one <i>He has seen Pan</i>,⁠<a id="FNanchor_39_39" href="#Footnote_39_39" class="fnanchor">[39]</a> it is signified that he is +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</span>satisfied with perfect knowledge, having seen All. +Wherefore, for the moment, I wondered whether +the crown of my wisdom was to come to me (by +the will of the gods) in this manner.</p> + +<p>But the mind in my lordly breast instantly +bade me to face fate with a brave and dauntless +countenance: for which cause, I summoned all +my boldness, fearlessly gazing upon the glowing +eyes amid the smoke, being determined to know +all which there was to be known, without counting +the cost, and meeting sweet Death unflinchingly +and as a lover. Thus, for some moments, +I eyed rustic Pan: for the silvan god indeed was +looking upon me. But, as white Death gave no +sign of approaching me, I remembered that I had +no cause for fear, seeing that my veins were filled +with the ichor of the immortal gods as well as +with the blood of a man.</p> + +<p>But, at length, Pan came out of the smoky +cloud and stood before me, goat-footed, hairy. +His voice, when he spoke, was like the sound of +leaves lying in the forest which sigh when some +wanton breeze disturbs their slumbers. And he +said: “Now do I greet thee, O Stranger. And +whence comest thou? And what manner of man +art thou? Art thou violent and wild and not +just? Or art thou hospitable, and hast thou a +holy mind? For I rejoice to see that thou art +not like other earth-trampling men, who incontinently +die (a most foolish and reprehensible +custom) whensoever as they set eyes on me, rendering +themselves unfit for serious conversation, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</span>while I am a-weary of the prattle of the children +of hills and streams and trees.”</p> + +<p>But I made audacious answer to the simple +country-god, saying: “O Pan, folk say that I +am both thy half-brother and thy step-father: +for I am King Odysseys, the sacker of cities, and +prudent Penelope (who was my wife) bore thee +to Hermes, my immortal grandsire. Wherefore +we should be kin of some kind, I and thou.”</p> + +<p>Whereat he laughed merrily; and he answered: +“Thou thyself dost not believe that tale, O wily +Odysseys: for thou well knowest that I am as +old as Time, being own brother to great Khronos. +Nevertheless, any god might indeed be proud to +call cousins with King Odysseys. Wherefore, +tell me, O cousin, whence thou art now come: +for it seemeth that nephew Hades hath relaxed +his grim ward of thee.”</p> + +<p>But, ere I could open my lips in reply, the +rustic god cried: “Aha! Who cometh here? +’Tis young Hermes, as I live with goats!”</p> + +<p>Thus he spoke. But I saw the grey-blue +smoke-cloud broken by golden radiances flashing +here and there. And, looking, we beheld now +the golden wand, now the beautiful swiftly-flying +limbs shod with golden-winged sandals, now the +cloak of gold and purple tissue blown back from +the body in flight; and, anon, the youthful bird +of heaven burst upon us out of the fume in all the +inmarcesible splendour of nude immortality.</p> + +<p>In this manner, I first saw Hermes, the Luck-bringer, +my grandsire, a god.</p> + + +<div class="footnotes"> +<h3 id="FOOTNOTES_13"> + FOOTNOTES: +</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_37_37" href="#FNanchor_37_37" class="label">[37]</a> ΟΨΕϹΘΑΙ ΜΕΛΛΩ ΤΟ ΠΑΝ.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_38_38" href="#FNanchor_38_38" class="label">[38]</a> ΒΛΕΠΕΤΩ ΤΟ ΠΑΝ.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_39_39" href="#FNanchor_39_39" class="label">[39]</a> ΕΩΡΑΚΕ ΤΟ ΠΑΝ: I am reluctantly compelled to confess that +I have quite failed to trace these illuminating adages to any source +prior to the year <span class="allsmcap">B.C.</span> 45; and can only recommend application to the +erudite author of a treatise called <i>Dodo</i>, whose writings clearly demonstrate +that he has at least a very fair working knowledge of their ideal +content. A. H.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="THE_SEVENTEENTH_PAPYRUS"> + THE SEVENTEENTH PAPYRUS + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>Now that divine young one of gods came to me +holding in his hand the halters of four white +horses, all mad, incomparable in splendour, tossing +their heads, and stamping with their feet. And +Pan looked curiously upon us, while sprightly +Hermes took me to his beautiful large breast, +calling me Son and Child: for the heart of the +youthful god was glad when he saw the goat-footed +divine one with whom I stood as an +equal; and the sheen of my silver-shining armour +glittered with moony gems. And, first, he +began to speak very eloquently (as his manner +is), having a tale to tell of the cause of his lateness +in coming.</p> + +<p>For he said that the blessed gods, having sniffed +the savour of my sacrifice with pleasure, graciously +deigned to acknowledge the same by a gift. And, +seeing that I had not hesitated to offer my only +horses, those divine ones were pleased to send +me another team. Wherefore, four heavenly +steeds were selected from that godly stock which +the indomitable hero Herakles won from King +Laomedon. But, when quick-eyed though blindfolded +Love had seen my grandsire about to +descend bearing away beautiful horses, he had +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</span>howled (that dire intractable boy), only for the +sake of annoying, saying that steeds ought not +to be sent to me, seeing that he himself (even +Love) with his burning breath and wide-sailing +wings was ready to come at my call to be my +beast, my bird, my bearer of burdens and deep +delight for ever and ever. But, when Hermes +persisted (for the thing was an order from the +All-father which must be obeyed), then Divine +Eros had betaken himself to his bow and arrows, +shooting through the bars of heaven’s gate, so +that more than nine times the halters had been +severed, and the horses had gone free, galloping +here and there, till, at last, being caught and +herded safely out of range, they were led down +to me, apparently docile and ready for the traces. +Such was the apology of Hermes.</p> + +<p>But Pan, standing by and listening attentively, +saw how highly I was in favour with the gods +of lofty Olympos; and he stooped, picking up a +sprig of fragrant fennel, wherewith he touched my +two eyes, saying: “Receive the power of seeing +as the gods see.”</p> + +<p>And instantly he was gone, I know not where. +But Hermes laughed, triumphantly merry, saying: +“Thou, O my brave child, hast indeed won old +Pan’s favour: for few there be to whom he would +communicate this virtue, a very signal one, as +thou shalt know anon.”</p> + +<p>Thus having spoken, he bade me to prepare +for my fearsome journey. But, while I obeyed +him, he illuminated my mind with knowledge of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</span>the ordeals through which I was to pass: yet he +could not tell me everything, for the time was +short; and, as much of the rest as he might, he +said that he would tell me by the way. For he +was going with me as far as was permitted. But +I went even gleefully, having so affable and so +splendid a young god for my comrade.</p> + +<p>But I yoked the white steeds to the well-wrought +chariot, carven of silver inlaid with +adornments of crabs and moons in mother-of-pearl, +whereon was poised the silver Love, blindfolded, +naked, larger than life, and just in the +act of flight. But my grandsire examined my +glittering armour; and, having approved it, he +wrapped me in my great trailing mantle of tissue +of silver lined with white furs and clasped with +the signs of the crab and the moon. Furthermore, +he gave me a heavenly amulet for my use +and comfort, formed of two chalcedonyxes having +the similitude of eyes set in the Sign of the Crab +in a silver finger-ring, saying that I would need +it on occasion. And he let me twist long stalks +of fennel into a monstrous torch, three stalks +with seven stalks and nine stalks, nineteen in all. +And, having lighted it, we mounted my chariot, +both I and the god.</p> + +<p>Now the silver Love on the chariot was motionless +and dumb, as the manner of gods is when +they are made of metal: yet it evidently was a +very potent and unheard-of magic, though neither +Hermes nor I, Odysseys, wily and knowing as +we both were, fully understood it, for the divine +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</span>ones inhabiting olympian palaces had not manifested +their will in this particular. For which +cause, I stood in my proper place on the left:⁠<a id="FNanchor_40_40" href="#Footnote_40_40" class="fnanchor">[40]</a> +but Hermes went to the other side of the flying +Love, seizing the reins, and urging the huge white +horses onward with the shouts of a charioteer. +But they plunged madly forth into the cloud of +fennel-smoke.</p> + +<p>I closed my eyes, smarting with the murky +reek. But the flaming firebrand which I bore +flared like a banner far behind me: so that, +though I love sunlight as well as any man alive, +I gladly and joyously went (god-driven) from +the grain-giving earth to the netherworld, dashing +into the secret adit whereby the souls of +dwellers in daylight go down to the dark house +of Hades. Thus, then, I went, to despoil the king +of shades.</p> + +<p>But we galloped on, at more than mortal +speed, down the broad path, never slipping nor +stumbling: for Hephaistos had shodden the heavenly +steeds, and Hermes drove them, mightily +encouraging them with shoutings. And my firebrand, +fanned by the wind of the speed of my +going, flamed on the pallor of dead men, terror-stricken, +who were passing down the same road, +like sheep unshepherded, toward old Kharon and +his insatiable barge.</p> + +<p>We came to the shelving river-bank; and the +Old Man of Styx drove many souls from our +path as the silver-shining chariot dashed +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</span>irresistibly into the stink of the putrid stream. But +my lusty horses swam swiftly to the farther +hythe; and Hermes buoyed up the ponderous +chariot with magic so that it did not sink. But +we speeded on, over sandy desolate wastes, veiled +in impenetrable gloom. Fast and faster tore those +untiring stallions of matchless breed; and the +whirling wheels span round; and chill winds blew +in our faces, so that I wrapped myself shivering +in my furry cloak. League after league we flew, +through unpeopled wildernesses; and the earth +became no more sandy, but thick with salt, which +flashed back the gleam of my fast-burning torch, +lying wide-spread on both sides of the narrowing +way.</p> + +<p>But when I (being inquisitive) addressed a word +to my grandsire concerning the phrenetic speed +of our going, and what should come thereafter, +and the salt which lay by the way, then, indeed, +he answered me, saying: “The tides of hell are +flowing fast; and, as we crossed Styx at the slack, +so we must cross Pyriphthlegethon at the full, or +we shall not win through: for none may traverse +those dread streams excepting at such times. Nor +can a man tarry upon the banks, by reason of the +singularly putrid fumes arising. Neither may a +man dally in this wilderness of salt, which is +sacrosanct: for every grain thereof contains selections +from the body of a dead man, and thus they +are preserved against the day when they shall be +required for use once more.”</p> + +<p>To whom I, without delay, spoke boldly, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</span>saying: “And what of those men who (by the +sanction of the gods) have not died until after +they have occupied several different bodies?” For +I was thinking of Amenemhat and of Neandros +and Thalos, and of the other persons whom I +myself (from time to time) have metamorphosed.</p> + +<p>But young Hermes responded to me, saying: +“Know, O inquisitive wily and well-beloved child, +that, in every body of a mortal, there is that which +is beautiful and that which is hideous, just as, in +every soul of a mortal, there is that which is good +and that which is evil. Wherefore, it is the will +of Zeys, the Father of all, that the evil and the +hideous shall perish everlastingly, but the good +and the beautiful blended together shall live in +immortal palaces.”</p> + +<p>And it seemed to me very strange to hear such +words of wisdom coming from a youth, whose +cheeks of summer hue shewed not the tender +mother of the vine-down. But he, Hermes, +the powerful Argicide, fell again to urging the +heavenly steeds, crying: “On, on, to the house +of shady Hades!”</p> + +<p>And the gloom before us was illumined with a +dull-red glow, which shot up into the dark vault +like a roof above our heads: for, indeed, we were +rushing into the very abysses of the netherworld; +and the light grew clearer and more fierce to us +advancing. But, behind us, we left a trail of +smoke from my flaming firebrand, and a trail of +steam from the straining stallions. And the cold +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</span>wind died; and immensurable flames streamed +upward from the river of fire, licking invisible +heights, flashing and flickering. And I heard +my divine charioteer praising great Zeys with +bated breath, for that we were come at a propitious +time. For, as we flew down to the +blackened shore, our wheels drove heavily among +the crackling cinders; and the flames died, and +evanesced: for, as the tides of the accursed mystic +river were flowing full, the flames (which blazed +and roared through ebb and flow) were hushed +in phosphorescent silence.</p> + +<p>But my mighty steeds, mad by nature, plunged +bravely in the stream which bubbled and boiled +with recent heat: yet, because of their heavenly +breed, they (already mad) succumbed not to the +scalding flood, though they screamed with terror +and piety, as did Ares (potent in battle) when +(wounded by Diomedes son of Tydeys) he fell, +covering seven acres, and fled (bellowing) to +Paieon (the surgeon of the gods) to be healed +of his hurt. But, when we were on the other +side of that flaming moat which surrounds the +city of the dead, Hermes assuaged the pangs of +my mad horses with a holy <i>Spell</i> which he contrived +to remember just then, so that they became +much madder than they ever had been before and +went most valiantly onward.</p> + +<p>Then, also, that same divine one of gods cried +aloud to me, saying: “If thou thyself canst +remember any inchantments, work them well +now, O master of crafts: for this locality is very +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</span>fatal to miserable mortals as a rule; and twice +already thou hast escaped herefrom alive: but, +for a third attempt something extremely exquisite +of magic will be found desirable.”</p> + +<p>Thus he admonished me. But I instantly +recited aloud most potent <i>Spells</i>, to wit, <i>The +Spell of Sniffing the Air and Getting Power over the +Water in the Netherworld</i>, and <i>The Spell of Not +Dying Again in the Netherworld</i>,⁠<a id="FNanchor_41_41" href="#Footnote_41_41" class="fnanchor">[41]</a> making the +proper <i>Signs</i>, and saying:</p> + +<p>“<i>I take hold of air and water: I watch and +guard the egg of the great cackler.</i></p> + +<p>“<i>It groweth, and I will grow: it sniffeth the air, +and I will sniff the air.</i></p> + +<p>“<i>It liveth, and I will live: I will triumph in the +air and the water of the netherworld.</i></p> + +<p>“<i>Let the place of hiding things be opened: for I +will not be treated with scorn.</i></p> + +<p>“<i>I will not submit to any violence: nor will I die +again in the netherworld.</i>”</p> + +<p>And, having thus composed and fortified my +will, we continued to rage furiously onward.</p> + +<p>Now the gloom of the place was very grey and +terrible, insomuch that the mad heads of my +horses were invisible to us standing behind them +in the chariot, for a dense fog was enveloping the +netherworld. And, anon, we found our way +blocked by a great and monstrous wall which +frowned blackly in the shade, wherein loomed a +mountainous barbacan fortified with turrets and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</span>pierced by a tremendous gate. But the gate was +guarded by unsleeping Kerberos, the hound of +hell spoken of by Pythian Phoibos Apollon, +barking at me with three ugly heads and gnashing +the relative mouthfuls of teeth. Whom my +grandsire appeased, silencing him with the <i>Word +of Power</i>.⁠<a id="FNanchor_42_42" href="#Footnote_42_42" class="fnanchor">[42]</a></p> + +<p>But divine Hermes began to warn me, saying +that his business ended in the realms of shady +Hades, his uncle; and he gave me to know that, +in what more remained to be done, I must trust +only in myself: but he bade me to be very wary +regarding the mood in which I should find surly +King Hades, biding my time and not precipitantly +asking inopportune or excessive favours. And +these were the mandates which he had brought +to me from Zeys Pantokrator and Pampator. +But, when he had said these things and embraced +me, and when he had whispered a most pious and +secret monition, then, indeed, he kicked off and +vanished away; and his swift winged-sandals bore +him again to the summit of lofty Olympos.</p> + +<p>But I lifted up my voice, terrifically shouting +to the warden of the gate. And a blameless titan +peered over the battlements, and brayed with the +formidable degorgement of a trumpet, demanding +of me the password. Whom I answered in the +language of the gods, speaking one of the <i>Words</i> +which Hermes had left with me, but I may +not write it on account of a religious reason. +And instantly the gate unfolded its enormous +hinges.</p> + +<p>In these circumstances, then, I came thundering +in my silver-shining chariot invading the city of +infernal shades.</p> + + +<div class="footnotes"> +<h3 id="FOOTNOTES_14"> + FOOTNOTES: +</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_40_40" href="#FNanchor_40_40" class="label">[40]</a> But was “the left” really his proper place? A. H.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_41_41" href="#FNanchor_41_41" class="label">[41]</a> These are well-known Egyptian inchantments, and Mr. C. perhaps +had them from the Rt. Rev. Amenemhat of Tanis. A. H.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_42_42" href="#FNanchor_42_42" class="label">[42]</a> “Down, dog, down!” is the exact (though perhaps somewhat +colloquial) rendering of this particular <i>Spell</i>. <i>Cf.</i> Lucian. A. H.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_157"></a><a id="Page_158"></a>[Pg 158]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="THE_EIGHTEENTH_PAPYRUS"> + THE EIGHTEENTH PAPYRUS + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>Now I was all alone. And, before me on both +sides, there stretched a sad-coloured meadow, +apparently interminable, thickly sown with flowers +of pinkish pear-like asphodel. And no sky smiled +above my head: but only an impenetrable dark-grey +mist, which hung down also, like the curtains +of a tent, at a very little distance on all sides of +me. But the mind in my noble breast warned +me to pause, and to ponder, and to contrive a +few new wiles before going further. Wherefore, +having abated the madness of my horses, I betook +myself to deep thought.</p> + +<p>And it appeared to me very desirable that I +should not manifest myself to the denizens of +that neighbourhood, wheresoever they might be +concealing themselves, without the full equipage +and paraphernalia proper to a personage of my +quality. And I very greatly wished that I had +brought at least my two slaves, Neandros and +Thalos, the one on account of his stalwart virtue, +the other on account of his luminous innocence, +and both full of grace, that they might serve me +if need should arise. And I began to consider +whether there was any magic whereby I might +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</span>summon them to my side: for I already had +done so many wonderful things by myself, and +the heavenly gods had shewn themselves so entirely +favourable to me, that I was not at any +time daunted when confronted by what the purely +stupid man is wont to cringe to as a sheer impossibility. +For the minds of the prudent, indeed, +are flexible. And a master of magic (who is +thoroughly in earnest) may achieve unmentioned +and unthought-of deeds, of course with the aid +of the immortal gods.</p> + +<p>But, while I was pondering these high matters, +I saw two young boys, like twin-brothers, coming +toward me across the meadow of asphodel and +emerging from the obscurity of the mist. They +were well-grown and in the prime of their age; +and their gait betokened a very divine origin. +Both were most sweet and gentle of aspect: but +this one was of dusky hue, crowned with a garland +of white poppies, and (in his tender hand) +he bore a dark horn, from which (from time to +time) he scattered a fine dust in the air, and an +obsequious zephyr carried it away to fall on the +eyes of mortals: but that one was of a candid +whiteness colder than hoar-frost, such as I never +have seen on the grain-giving earth either in +marble or milk or the delicate flesh of the young +in the clear of the moon, or the snow which falls +in winter; and his pure candour was crowned +with a garland of pinkish pearl-like asphodel, +and in his soft hand he bore a torch extinguished. +Wherefore, I recognized them for dusky Sleep +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</span>the All-tamer, and pale kind Death his brother, +the twin sons of Khronos.</p> + +<p>And now, indeed, the mind in my lordly breast +spoke loudly, telling me what I ought to do. +For which cause, I addressed a simple word to +these divine ones; shewing the <i>Sign of Life</i>, +engaging their aid by spells unutterable. But, +when I had mentioned my desire of having with +me Neandros my squire and Thalos my foot-boy, +whose lives were bound unto mine, which itself +was terminable only at the supernal will of the +god, then, white Death (coldly smiling) turned +away, saying that the matter concerned his +brother. Wherefore, I made my petition to +care-dispersing Sleep, saying the <i>Spell</i>: “<i>O Sleep, +king of all blessed gods and of all men, if ever indeed +thou didst lend an ear to mine intreaty, now, too, be +persuaded; and I will own gratitude to thee all my +days.</i>”⁠<a id="FNanchor_43_43" href="#Footnote_43_43" class="fnanchor">[43]</a></p> + +<p>And the dusky god also was favourable to me: +for, having cast a pinch of dust from his horn +into the air, it fell on the eyelids of Neandros +and Thalos waiting for me in my hollow ship at +Tainaron, so that their limbs were relaxed, and +they submitted themselves to divine Sleep, who +brought them straight to me in the meadow of +asphodel.</p> + +<p>But, when we three had ascended the silver-shining +chariot, I gave the reins to my squire +standing on my right hand: but my foot-boy +attended me, eagerly clutching the rail behind. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</span>Thus, I, with Neandros and Thalos, swiftly galloped +onward through the grey gloom, approaching +the palace of shady King Hades.</p> + +<p>And, having whizzed through its brazen +portal, we drave horrifically into an immeasurable +hall. And the awfully whirring wheels of my +chariot, with the silver Love perched upon it, +amazed the uncountable multitudes collected +therein, insomuch that whimpering Fear took +possession of all, and Rumour went squealing +everywhere, whispering that some hero from out +of the sunlight alive was invading the house of +Hades. But I cared naught for the ineffectual +gibberings of mere shades.</p> + +<p>And I pursued my way to where I saw the +great black throne set, with the very shady god +enthroned thereon, and Queen Persephone by his +side, and a court below him of the arbiters of the +dead, Aiakos, Minos, Rhadamanthos, just, inexorable, +most venerable, uttering immutable +dooms for mortal men. And, near by, I saw +also great-hearted yellow-haired Akhilleys, the +greatest hero and faithfullest friend which the +world has ever seen; and my heart in my dear +breast leaped when he hailed me passing by, +recognizing on me his glittering armour which +I had won as a spoil: for, to have a trusty +comrade in such a shady place is very good.</p> + +<p>But, when I checked my chariot before the +throne, then, King Hades (the most righteous of +gods) sternly addressed me, saying: “Tell me +thy name, O Stranger greatly-daring, and thy +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</span>father’s name; and say also how thou comest +hither.”</p> + +<p>And thus I answered him: “O King of Tartarean +realms and dreadful brother of Zeys, my +father’s name was James—may the gods grant +rest to his gentle soul,—and I am Nicholas the +Crab, client of the Muses and of far-darting +Phoibos Apollon. But divine Hermes brought me +hither, acknowledging me to be his own grandson, +called Odysseys son of Laertes by all articulately-speaking +men who walk in the sweet sunlight.”</p> + +<p>But the brow of blameless Hades became +blacker than starless night; and he frowned so +ferociously that even his shady eyes were +shrouded. And he cried: “So thou art that +much-contriving Odysseys, who aforetime camest +hither and twice escaped alive. And now thou +wouldst perplex me with a wily tale, mixing +Was with Will-be and Is in a medley, and +bearing a double name full of deceit. But +doubtless that is part of thy evil purpose: for +thy purpose cannot but be evil. Perchance +thou hast it in mind to depose me, or even +to steal away with my queen, divine Persephone. +But, since thine overweening audacity has driven +thee, foolish, to place thyself in my power a third +time, thou shalt not now escape me.” And he +howled for titans to trammel me, as a trickster.</p> + +<p>Thus he spoke. But, when I saw giants +towering like mountains near me, in the gloom, +then, instantly, I broke my necklace of heliotrope +stones moistened with the juice of marigolds; +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</span>and I thrust the two halves of it into the hands +of my two trusty slaves, making the <i>Act of Will</i> +for them, whereby they became unseen, even by +Stygian gods, unknowing it. But I gave them +a short command. And the stalwart Neandros +started my horses, goading them again to madness +in the twinkling of an eye, turning them, +so that my slaves and my chariot went ramping +out of the palace of blameless Hades like a flash +of white thunder. By which means, both my +slaves evaded the Tyrant of Tartaros. But, +being visible and willing, I remained: for, as +yet I had not done any of the wily deeds which +I had come to do, and, moreover, there was no +retreat for me till I had ravished a spoil from +the king of the shades. Furthermore, I was not +unmindful of the very pious and secret monitions +which Hermes had whispered to me at parting, +when he said: <i>Under-go to Over-come</i>.⁠<a id="FNanchor_44_44" href="#Footnote_44_44" class="fnanchor">[44]</a></p> + +<p>And, so, I waited; and gigantic hands were +thrust down out of obscurity, which seized me, +and shook me violently to and fro over enormous +areas: so that giddiness nauseated me, and +the eyes in my face refused to continue seeing, +and my strength also rebelled and left me, and +the utter darkness of oblivion settled upon me, +shrouding the senses of my soul.</p> + +<p>Thus, then, I began my ordeals in the Quest +of the Treasure of Hades.</p> + + +<div class="footnotes"> +<h3 id="FOOTNOTES_15"> + FOOTNOTES: +</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_43_43" href="#FNanchor_43_43" class="label">[43]</a> This is perfectly Homeresque. A. H.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_44_44" href="#FNanchor_44_44" class="label">[44]</a> I am almost inclined to say that this delicious epigram contains +the whole body of Christian doctrine. But of course I speak under +correction. A. H.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="THE_NINETEENTH_PAPYRUS"> + THE NINETEENTH PAPYRUS + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>But when, anon, I had recollected my forces, I +was in a pit, dismal, slimy, creeping with long +cold worms. And great chains, also, were +hanged to my wrists and waist and ankles. But, +far above my head, there was a little window, +very heavily barred; and, through it, there came +a dull-red glow from the distant River Pyriphthlegethon. +And the shrieks and moans of damned +souls in mind-grieving torment elsewhere was the +music provided for my entertainment.</p> + +<p>As for myself, it seemed that I had been +stripped of my armour, and (indeed) of all +which I had brought with me from the sunlight; +and, now, I was mother-naked, gyved also, and +with no gear which would deliver me from my +plight, excepting the knowledge of sacred spells +which was stored in my mind, and a large +quantity of natural strength which was stored +in my body. But I rejoiced, seeing that I was +unhurt, and as able as ever: because I was aware +that I should have the greater fame when I +should have passed through this ordeal. For +there is not any greater renown for a man, +while he exists, than what he shall have earned +naked with his feet and his hands.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</span></p> + +<p>But, first, I gathered up the weight of my +fetters, to try to break them; and, when I felt +them to be as massive as the cable of my galley, +then I let them drop again, not to waste time: +for my noble mind began to devise insidious +wiles. But, when the chains clashed against the +slimy floor, I heard a sound of a drawing of +bolts, and a brazen door was opened in my pit +near by. And, to me, there entered a very +gravely objectionable individual.</p> + +<p>For she was a barren virgin of inconceivable +antiquity, whose skinny arms were joined to her +withered body by membraneous wings such as +are the wings of bats and vampires and pterodactyls +and all other flying dragons; and her +slit mouth grinned disgustingly, having loose +yellow fangs dangling from the dripping corners: +vipers, also, writhed in the dankness of her sparse +hair; and her hands were filled with torches and +scourges. Moreover, what I took to be blood +was oozing out of her pustulous eyeballs. And +thus she said: “How now, O wily Odysseys! +And art thou yet alive? For we deemed that +the titans had shaken the life from thy white +bones. And that, indeed, would have made our +task an easy one: for we are not accustomed to +torment live men here among the shades.”</p> + +<p>Thus she spoke: but the mind in my lordly +breast bade me to treat this blameless Erinnys +with affability while keeping her at arm’s length, +that I might gain a benefit from her conversation +without coming to close quarters with her. For, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</span>when a female of this kind prevails, her audacity +is more than one can bear without blasphemy; +and, when she is affrighted or affronted, she is +a still greater mischief to her house and city. +Wherefore I said: “Hail, O divine one of goddesses, +serpent-crowned, for I am ignorant of +thy blessed name, or I would ask thee where we +are.”</p> + +<p>But to me the most righteous of furies responded, +saying: “I am night-born Tisiphone, +a scratcher of earth-walking men after they are +dead. But this is the dungeon where Pirithoos +lay to be scratched by me during a hundred +years.”</p> + +<p>Now there is nothing more terrible than such +an impudent female as this. Wherefore, having +prepared a wile, not to enrage her, but to delude +her, by seeming to be overcome by piety and +terror, then, I let my mouth gape like a fool’s +while I repeated after her: “A hundred years!”</p> + +<p>But she began to be garrulous. But I watched +for an opportunity of entangling her in her talk. +And thus she chattered: “Yea, here indeed lay +Pirithoos, son of Ixion, during a hundred years. +For King Hades would not give him to sweet +Death, so black was his crime. But, every night, +we sisters three tormented his body as though +he were dead, using fiery tortures and nail-tearings, +until the decree came that his shade should +repose in peace, being purged. But thou, also, +O much-enduring Odysseys, will lie here, chained, +purging thy presumptuous prepotence: but, not +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</span>till after thy death, may we deal with thee according +to thy doom, whatever that may be.”</p> + +<p>And, having thus enlightened me, the very +excessive Fury suddenly left me, with extempore +shrieks and a flapping of her skinny wings.</p> + +<p>Thereafter, I forget how some days passed: +for a prisoner may not reckon the flight of Time +in the region of Tartaros, excepting by marking +the ebb and flow of the fiery tides of Pyriphthlegethon. +Moreover, I was occupied in my +mind, reviewing all my store of magic wisdom +and contriving many wiles.</p> + +<p>And, by chance, one day, I became aware that +I was hearing a song; and the sound of it seemed +to come from very far away, sweetly, like the +voice of a cicada drunk on dewdrops,⁠<a id="FNanchor_45_45" href="#Footnote_45_45" class="fnanchor">[45]</a> which, in +the woods, sitting on a tree, sends forth a delicate +lily-like voice.</p> + +<p>Now, in the house of shady Hades (most +righteous of gods), this is the condition of +mortals when they are dead. For their nerves +have no longer flesh and bones: but the strong +force of burning fire subdues them, when first +the mind leaves the white bones; and the soul, +gibbering like a dream, flits and flutters away. +Wherefore, the souls of the dead cannot sing, +nor do they attempt it, being occupied in +shrieking with agony and fear. For which +cause, I was vastly amazed to hear so very +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</span>sweet a song, so grave, so quiet in tone; and, +having summoned all my strength, despite the +weighty manacles which trammelled me, I leaped +up to the high barred window which looked +out into the gloom. But I saw little more than +that my dungeon was a pit in a rocky height: +for it happened to be the hour of slack tide, +when the flames of Pyriphthlegethon die down +for a while.</p> + +<p>And the wonderful song came more clearly +from below, thrilling the darkness of black +night.</p> + +<p>But, when, anon, the voice was silent, I +wedged myself (as best I could) into the narrow +alcove of the window, waiting for the ebb of +the tide, when I might see more plainly in the +light of the increscent flames.</p> + +<p>And, when the flickering gleam of the fires +leaped up, I saw that my pit was a cell in a +watch-tower perched high above the walls of the +house of blameless Hades. But there was a +great gulph fixed below, and bleak meadows +beyond, swept by mists and winds of hell.</p> + +<p>And, while I gazed, the lily-like voice began +again to sing, maidenlike, very solemn, and of entrancing +sweetness. But I, listening, heard it; and +the heart in my dear breast thrilled strangely: +for it seemed as though Memory (that divine +one of goddesses) was opening yet once more +certain chambers in my mind, unknown, or unremembered; +and I was aware of treasures stored +therein, whose very existence I had forgotten. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</span>But the simple song went sadly on, as though +the singer sat in patience waiting, singing only +just to pass the time, but always with hope, very +faint indeed but never-failing, ever-enduring, in the +depth of her maiden breast. And thus she sang:</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> + <div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>Once, a flower, in a garden where gold sunlight</i></div> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>flamed on all with its fervent splendour, flourish’d</i></div> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>stainless aye, from the tender seed’s upspringing</i></div> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>to the snow of its yet-unfolded blossom.</i></div> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>When, at length, on its stem so straight and slender,</i></div> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>fragrant, delicate, fresh, this blossom budded,</i></div> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>men from near and a host from far came, each one</i></div> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>longing only to pluck and wear the full flower.</i></div> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>Came a stripling of noble mien and stately,</i></div> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>strong and clean as a sword. His bright eyes saw her,</i></div> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>shyly paused to admire, and pass’d in silence:</i></div> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>but she, pure as a priestess, ne’er forgot him.</i></div> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>Came a hero in triumph, wearing garlands</i></div> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>woven close with the glory of full-blown roses;</i></div> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>and he stole from her place the snow-white blossom—</i></div> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>rescued soon by the two who were her wardens,</i></div> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>Came a noisily-shouting dotard, jealous</i></div> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>for the bud, which he knew not how to cherish:</i></div> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>him, the lord of the garden fair permitted;</i></div> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>and he carried away the prize unfolded.</i></div> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>Came one mad with the scents of gaudy posies,</i></div> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>One who revell’d in robbing other gardens:</i></div> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>he, the delicate blossom, ravish’d: but she</i></div> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>never open’d for him her snow-white petals.</i></div> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>Last of all, then, the gods in grace restored her</i></div> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>to the peace of the sunlit garden’s splendour;</i></div> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>and the youth who, afore, had seen and loved her,</i></div> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>would have taken her: but dire Fate o’ertook him.</i></div> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>Still she blooms in a garden, where the winter</i></div> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>frost and cold cannot quench the golden sunlight</i></div> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</span> <div class="verse indent0"><i>in her heart, nor the storms defile her whiteness;</i></div> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>waiting, till, on his breast, she bursts in full flower.</i>⁠<a id="FNanchor_46_46" href="#Footnote_46_46" class="fnanchor">[46]</a></div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p>And the strange sweet dancing rhythm made +my pulses bound; and my breath came quickly +in accord. For it was like a sudden-blazing +thunderbolt illuminating the recesses of my mind; +and I remembered the object of my quest, to wit, +Golden Helen, who, when I was not much more +than a boy, had watched me faring girded high +through the ford of Eyrotas near windy Lakedaimon—Golden +Helen, whom her star-crowned +brothers (Kastor the tamer of horses and Polydeykes +the pugilist) had rescued from the blameless +hero Theseys carrying her away when she was +a tender girl,—Golden Helen, whom King Tyndareys +had given in so-called marriage to loud-shouting +impotent old sandy-haired Menelaos, +blameless, and blubber-lipped,—Golden Helen, +whom woman-mad Paris had reft from her farcical +husband,—Golden Helen, who had come again to +me in the land of Khem, long ages since, pure as +snow or fire, and always mine alone,—Golden +Helen, whom black Fate had reft from me, when +I died that time by the sacred river of Egypt, +being wounded to death by blameless Kirke’s son +and mine, unknowing Telegonos.⁠<a id="FNanchor_47_47" href="#Footnote_47_47" class="fnanchor">[47]</a></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</span></p> + +<p>But now, indeed, I knew of a truth that Golden +Helen was that very Treasure of Hades which I +had come to win: for, by favour of Queen Persephone, +she was safe in the netherworld, and only +there, for in the netherworld there are no men +capable of worrying a lady, but merely shades of +men, who are quite negligible; and, there, she +(being immortal) could live faithful to me and +not altogether without certain amenities. Wherefore, +with a great shout, I called her by name.</p> + +<p>And she made answer, half-amazed and half-afraid, +saying: “Who calleth me with the voice +of one long dead?”</p> + +<p>To whom I replied: “I am Odysseys, grandson +of Hermes, victor over all sorts of people; +and I am come here for thee, O high-born long-robed +Helen whom I love.”</p> + +<p>Thus I spoke. But the golden goddess, filled +with joy, said: “O Odysseys, I have waited long. +But now where art thou?”</p> + +<p>To whom I answered, saying: “I am imprisoned +by shady Hades in a pit in one of his +towers. But canst thou see me at any window, +O Golden Helen, for I can not see thee.”</p> + +<p>She said: “I see thee not, O much-enduring +Odysseys. But thou shalt soon escape and come +to me: for, though it is not safe for me to go +alone among the gods (married and unmarried) +of lofty Olympos to plead for thee, and, though +shady Hades doth regard me with disfavour, yet +my twin-brothers (who are dead to-day in the +netherworld where I can speak firmly to them) +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</span>will be all alive to-morrow in the neighbourhood +of the immortals, such being their destiny. And +they shall demand graces from my lordly sire +Zeys Pantokrator.”</p> + +<p>Thus she spoke; and, incontinent, sped away +about my business. But I, being refilled with +hopeful ideas, felt my great strength increasing +every moment. Wherefore, with loud laughter, +I came down from the hollow window, beginning +to break my bonds. Now, had I been on earth +or sea, I should have used certain magic recipes +known to me, whereby the bitter iron would have +crumpled up in sheer bewilderment: but I wished +it to be said of me that I had won the Treasure of +Hades with my naked strength as far as possible, +if (indeed) it should be permitted to me by the +gods inhabiting olympian palaces. Wherefore, I +set my sinews to work: for youth was hotter than +ever in my veins and my life was raging within +me. And, having tasted the name of the golden +goddess desired of all men, I made that my only +spell; and then indeed I burst great fetters with +my little fingers. And, with the same spell (and +lusty loin-heavings), I tore at the staple inset in a +flag-stone, dragging it from its socket. And, +with the same spell (and a mighty swelling of my +hardened body), I wrenched asunder the last hoop +of iron; and stood free among my splendidly-shattered +shackles.</p> + +<p>Thus having delivered myself from bonds, I +waited as patiently as might be. But none came +near me; and, indeed, the mind in my noble +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</span>breast would have bidden me to attempt the +slaughter of anyone, even a blameless titan, who +should have approached me, not openly coming +as a friend. And my patience was tried during +all that day, and the day after: nor did any voice +of song cheer me.</p> + +<p>But, on the third day, I heard someone buffetting +the bars of my window; and a friendly voice +uttered my great name. And, when I answered, +a young and very godly face, crowned on the brow +with a star, looked in upon me through the grating. +And the half-immortal hero said: “Our +sister, fair Helen, hath sent us to thee, O Odysseys, +sacker of cities; and here am I, Polydeykes: but +brother Kastor keeps watch below, for Father +Zeys wishes to see what we can do unaided. +Wherefore, we two are come to rescue thee: but +Queen Persephone hath promised help hereafter, +for Helen’s sake whom she considers injured.”</p> + +<p>Thus he spoke: and indeed it was Polydeykes +the pugilist, son of Zeys the Swan, who was +taking my part. But, first, he tore at the +bars of the window: but when, indeed, he found +them firmly fixed, then he laughed, warning +me away; and, with a boxer’s blow straight +from the shoulder, he drove the massive irons +inward, so that they stretched out, becoming thin +as threads with sheer amazement, until they +snapped in twain in every direction and ceased +from being bars. But I instantly leaped to the +window, crouching on the sill, till star-crowned +Kastor ascended. And, having squeezed myself +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</span>through the narrow aperture, the Great Twins +bore me up, supporting me on both sides, till we +touched the solid earth once more.</p> + +<p>In this manner, I escaped from my dungeon in +the house of Shady Hades.</p> + + +<div class="footnotes"> +<h3 id="FOOTNOTES_16"> + FOOTNOTES: +</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_45_45" href="#FNanchor_45_45" class="label">[45]</a> One cannot help pointing out that the same poetic imagery as +that used here by Mr. C. seems to have been adopted subsequently by +Meleagros of Gadara. A. H.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_46_46" href="#FNanchor_46_46" class="label">[46]</a> I have managed (not without complacency) to render this exquisite +(and perfectly pagan) ditty both literally and in its original hendecasyllabic +or ithyphallic measure—a somewhat difficult task, and (perhaps) +an audacious, in the light of Lord Tennyson’s deplorable attempt +“all composed in a metre of Catullus.” A. H.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_47_47" href="#FNanchor_47_47" class="label">[47]</a> I fancy that I do not err in affirming that this particular incident +in the lives of Mr. C. (<i>i.e.</i> King Odysseys) may be best studied in +Haggard’s erudite treatise entitled <i>The World’s Desire</i>. A. H.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="THE_TWENTIETH_PAPYRUS"> + THE TWENTIETH PAPYRUS + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>But, upon the instant when we stood in open +country at the base of the rock, there came a +fearful whirring of the wings of blameless harpies, +beating down upon us, raucously screeching, +calling titans and furies to their aid. But the +Dioskoyroi laughed these bestial birds to scorn; +and Polydeykes dashed his iron-studded boxing-glove +into their ugly faces, whereat the ill-breathing +wardens of the damned became melancholy, +and fled back to their station on the wall, feeling +much hurt.</p> + +<p>But we went on through the murk, entering a +secret chamber in the house of Hades, where were +food and drink, corn-cakes the strength of men, +with cheeses and the fat haunches of pigs, and +honey-hearted wine. Here, also, by the arts of +Queen Persephone, I found all my gear, and my +silver-shining armour piled upon a bed, and baths +of boiling water for washing. And having cleaned +away my abounding sweat and slime, I anointed +myself, coming out of the bath like to the immortals +in person, and was visited by the shades +of most accomplished barbers. But, when I sat +down to a repast (not because of hunger, for, in +that life I was not afflicted with the craving belly, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</span>pernicious, which brings so many evils to mortal +men, but merely for the pleasure of eating and +drinking with friends), then, indeed, godlike +Kastor and Polydeykes served me as squires for a +religious reason,⁠<a id="FNanchor_48_48" href="#Footnote_48_48" class="fnanchor">[48]</a> girding me again with my silver-shining +armour glittering with rock-crystals and +blue moonstones, which I won from Aias son of +Telamon, in a foot-race, after lordly Akhilleys +had left the earth.</p> + +<p>Which matters having been concluded, the +Great Twins conducted me to the presence of +well-disposed Queen Persephone, who addressed +to me unwinged words, saying: “O much-enduring +grandson of Hermes, always wily and ready +at need, my cousin Golden Helen hath persuaded +me on thy behalf; and I will protect thee as far +as may be from my shady husband’s wrath. For +King Hades hath a bitter spirit, and is fain to do +thee wrong, by reason that thou already hast +evaded him twice, and, also, that thou (by thy +wiles and a woolly sheep) didst cause to suffer +much in mind and to perish most miserably his +sweet friend the Kyklops Polyphemos. Nevertheless +I will beseech the king to let thee go in +peace, for the sake of avoiding fresh wiles of +thine.”</p> + +<p>Then came long-robed Helen, the divine one +of goddesses; and I read in her amber eyes that +which told me (even more than her song had told +me) that she was mine now, even as she had been +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</span>willing to be mine in Egypt long before. Glowed +then the heart in my dear breast with love and +joy; and my very form swelled hugely with pride +of conquest: for, not to everyone of earth-trampling +men is it given to win the love of a goddess +so true that she will wait for him during a +thousand years.</p> + +<p>And so we passed into the judgment-hall of +Hades, most righteous of gods brooding on his +shady throne: that that which had to be done +might be well-done with the least possible delay. +And, before the king, the judges were giving +dooms to the unnumbered dead, as usual. But +Queen Persephone stood before him; and she +held my hand, and said: “O king and lord of +shades, it pleaseth me that King Odysseys should +retire forthwith from these dismal realms, with +his life, and with all else which belongeth to +him.”</p> + +<p>But, at sight of me, surly Hades bounced and +had a <ins id='cor_177' title='Original: borbyrygm'>borborygm</ins>; and he quickly answered her, +saying: “Such, O daughter of Demeter, is by +no means my intent: but now I will toss him +into Tartaros, there to lie for ever, on account of +his presumption in coming hither after having +twice escaped me, and also on account of the woes +which his prepotence wrought wilily upon my +sweet friend, the giver of cherished gifts, even +the Kyklops Polyphemos who gave me this +blooming helmet of viewless night.”</p> + +<p>But the holy queen persisted, saying: “Odysseys +shall not lie for ever in Tartaros: for my cousin, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</span>Golden Helen, hath persuaded me for his sake. +Yet, seeing that he cannot go hence without thy +leave, I say let him fight a select champion for +his liberty.”</p> + +<p>But the shady king of terrors instantly assented, +saying: “So mote it be. And irrevocable doom +shall come upon him when he has been properly +slain.”</p> + +<p>But the Stygian queen smiled in scorn, mocking +a king so foolish as to think that a woman, a +daughter of Great Zeys, could not find some +crafty wile for evading an adverse chance if +necessary.</p> + +<p>And the king cried again, saying: “Who, of +all the heroes here, will fight against Odysseys, +grandson of Hermes, for the honour of the house +of Hades?”</p> + +<p>And straightway answered him Attik Theseys +the conqueror of the Kretan Minotayr, and loud-shouting +impotent old sandy-haired King Menelaos, +and woman-mad Paris son of Dardanian +Priam, saying: “That will we do, O dread lord: +for, of old, we sought the love of long-robed +Helen, to have her after the manner of men +and women. But she rejected us, favouring +Odysseys with her amber eyes, from her girlhood +to this day. Wherefore, we are ready to fight +against him on thy behalf, O Dominator of the +netherworld.”</p> + +<p>And these three made their way to the front of +the throne. Now Theseys was a stalwart hero +and a very worthy champion: moreover, his very +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</span>nose had gone black with jealous hatred. But +sandy-haired Menelaos was merely an aged +screecher and whimperer, blear-eyed, rheumy-nosed, +scraggy, knotty as to the joints, and unfit +to be put to tussle even with a foot-boy’s slut out +of the kitchens. And Phrygian Paris, once the +comely shepherd of Ida, was a flaccid obese weakling, +exhausted by excess, against whom I should +have been ashamed to lift a finger. So I said. +But, from afar, there came a great bellowing from +Salaminian Aias son of King Telamon, very mad +with rage, saying that he would fight on the part +of King Menelaos, having also a private grievance +to avenge, in that I had won from him (on the +plain of windy Ilion) the armour of glorious +Akhilleys. And great-hearted Hektor, son of +King Priam, took up the cause of his wasted +brother Paris, claiming the right of fighting against +me because of the ruin which I worked on his +house and city by my wile of the Wooden Horse.</p> + +<p>But shady Hades sniggered, saying: “Not one +of these three champions, who hold my honour so +dear, shall be disappointed. Wherefore, fight +each of you in turn; and let King Theseys fight +first. And, if so be that no Odysseys is left in +life to fight loud-bellowing Aias and great Hektor +in turn, then, indeed, the blame will not be +mine.”</p> + +<p>But Queen Persephone cried: “Now would it +be foul shame to pit a single man, even though +he be King Odysseys whom they call Peer of +Zeys in Counsel, against three heroes so justly +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</span>famous in battle, princes renowned throughout all +time. Wherefore I, the queen, call for two heroes to +fight side by side with King Odysseys, upholding +the honour of Queen Persephone protecting him.”</p> + +<p>And, almost before the goddess had ceased +from speaking, and, while King Hades was yet +frowning in perplexity, Argive Diomedes the +well-thewed son of King Tydeys cried: “I will +fight cheerfully for the honour of Queen Persephone, +and for my ancient friendship with King +Odysseys, with whom, by night, I attacked the +hardy Thrakians who wear their red hair bunched +on the crown of their heads.”</p> + +<p>Then, indeed, the mind in my breast rejoiced: +for I knew that, with my old comrade Diomedes +(a mighty man of war) by my side, many very +virtuous and proper deeds would be done against +the hostile champions. But, while I wondered +who would be my other sword-fellow and shield-friend, +the voice of great-hearted implacable +Akhilleys declared that his god-forged armour +might in no wise go into battle, he being present, +unless he himself fought by its wearer’s side. +But I knew then that I should not tarry long +among the ghosts.</p> + +<p>King Hades preened himself at the prospect +of bloody war; and, seeing three sons of kings +ready to contend with three sons of kings, he +made no more ado, but began to embody the +shades of these five heroes, furnishing them with +bodies and limbs and arms and armour such as +they had used in their very prime, when +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</span>(living) they stamped on the earth the giver of +grain.</p> + +<p>Now it is not to be thought that I, when I saw +such notable magic being done before my eyes, +could (or would) refrain from offering also a +specimen of my own proficiency. But I determined +at once to let King Hades see how great +a mage he had been minded to treat thus bitterly, +and (at the same time) to comfort my friends +and to secure respectful opinions from the inhabitants +of the netherworld there present in +innumerable multitudes.</p> + +<p>Wherefore, seeing the ghosts of those five +heroes becoming clothed with live flesh and about +to be armed by their proper squires, I nobly refused +the service of the Great Twins, star-crowned, +when they would have prepared me for the fray. +And the eyes of all, from highest to lowest instantly +became fixed upon me. But I stood still, +summoning certain forces within me, and silently +saying the <i>Spell</i> called <i>The Summons which must be +Answered</i>.</p> + +<p>And, forthwith, Thalos my foot-boy (whose life +was bound to mine) came from the misty meadows +of asphodel, where he and Neandros and my silver +chariot were waiting for me. Fearlessly he came, +entering the judgment-hall of Hades, thinking of +naught but his duty to his lord. And it was +very strange to see a mere boy, mortal, but alive +and very healthy, wearing his usual sandals and +short mantle, running toward me through so vast +a throng of naked shades. But the dead all made +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</span>way for him, being beaten back and most dreadfully +worried: for he was (as I was) immune +against death by reason of my magic and also by +reason of the grace of his own luminous innocence. +And, having come to me, he went over the clasps +of my armour in the usual manner, saying nothing. +But, when he had done his service, he went (at +my command) and crouched by the feet of long-robed +Helen.</p> + +<p>Then, again, I called, calling (this time) as +Master.</p> + +<p>And forthwith there came in Delphic Phoibos +Apollon as Knight of the Sun, and Arkadian +Hermes as Knight of East and West and North +and South, and lordly Ares as Knight of Kadosh, +and Lemnian Hephaistos as Knight of the Brazen +Serpent, and Theban Herakles (who, they say, +changed wives with Zeys) as Knight of the Sword +of the East, all gloriously triumphant, and, also, +beardless Dionysos as Noahite Patriarch, and pale +Death and dusky Sleep as Princes of Mercy, and +immortal Eros as Prince of the Royal Secret, each +one giving me the greeting of his own degree. +But to them I responded as Master. They +seated themselves on the bench with the judges +Aiakos, Minos, and Rhadamanthos. And I remember +how that the shade of accursed Thersites, +humpty-backed, blameless, took a mind-grieving +toss from lordly Ares, having presumed (as his +wont was) to thrust himself unbidden into the +pews of his betters. And inextinguishable +laughter arose among the shades, when they +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</span>saw the staggering unhappiness of that chatterbox +Thersites.</p> + +<p>But, when all was ready, I took my place, +having kissed the still brow of Golden Helen. +But the touch of the goddess, though her mien +was strange and unresponsive, put strength into +my shoulders and knees, and placed in my breast +the boldness of a fly, which persists in biting, +although often driven away by a mortal man +whose blood is its most delicate sweetmeat. For +I burned with an insatiable desire for slaying, nor +to surcease therefrom till all were gone who stood +between me and Golden Helen. For I was in +face of her, for pious reasons.</p> + +<p>Thus, indeed, were the champions placed: at +my side, I had great-hearted Akhilleys on my +left, and well-thewed Diomedes on the right: +but at the other side, renowned Theseys faced +me, and keen Hektor faced Akhilleys, and sacrilegious +Aias faced Diomedes. And we were to +fight with spears and swords. But my wily +revolver was ready to my hand; and long-robed +Helen held my black bow, which sang of war and +the slaughter of heroes till King Hades gave +signal for the onset.</p> + +<p>Theseys thrust his spear straight at my best +eyelid, terribly shouting: but I raised my shining +shield like a flash of white thunder, taking his +point full on the god-made boss of it. And the +heavenly silver rang true as a bell. But I, stooping, +drove up with my own spear, which he (also) +took on his shield. But, so mightily had I thrust +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</span>it, that the head stuck fast in the metal: nor +could I tear it again from the grip of his shield. +He, then, noisily swang his targe aside, snatching +away my weapon. But I dashed in, battering him +with my own shield, till he was beaten to his +knee. And, while he recollected himself, I drew +my sword and lopped off his spear-head, pressing +hard with my shield against his, and hewing at +his head. But he, cunning, took my strokes on +his well-crested helmet, while he fumbled for his +sword. Nevertheless, his head must have hummed, +for sparks fell thickly on all sides from every +blow, as they fall from a red-hot horse-shoe +smitten upon an anvil in a winter’s night. And, +when once more we were equally armed, we fell +to fighting very seriously; and, for a time, neither +of us gained an advantage.</p> + +<p>But, suddenly, I heard a great sob on my right +hand. For well-thewed Diomedes crashed to the +ground; and all the netherworld shook at his +fall, as a citadel shakes when thumped by a +battering-ram. And, at the same time, Aias son +of Telamon leaped upon me, masked in blood, +and bellowing like a hamstrung bull.</p> + +<p>Now, hitherto, notwithstanding the gravity of +our combat, neither I nor Theseys had let blood. +But, when I saw scarlet Aias coming ravening +upon me, and, when I sniffed the delicious odour +of a hero’s blood, then, indeed, I accomplished a +certain wile. For I feinted downward, to draw +the sword of Aias; and, lightening my guard +before his eye (half-dimmed with streaming gore) +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</span>could follow, I lunged upward, plunging my +blade like an onion into the bellowing mouth of +him, where a wound is particularly painful to a +miserable mortal; and awfully my hilt thudded +on the bones behind his face, passing right through +his head under the brain and bruising the white +bones at the back. And his teeth were shivered +to splinters; and his two eyes gushed with gore, +which he (gaping) made violently to spout also +with a bubbling noise from his mouth and from +both his ears and nostrils, drenching me with five +purple fountains. But his knees relaxed; and he +sat down suddenly backward, stretching out his +two hands; and Death enveloped him in a pale +cloud. In this manner, I lost my sword as well +as my spear, being too much occupied to retrieve +it from the badly-wrecked face of Aias.</p> + +<p>And now one would have said that I was at +the mercy of my own enemy: for Theseys all +the time did not omit to hack at my head. But +I caught his strokes on my shield till it was split +in twain, and then upon my crested helmet +studded with adamantine crystals and blue moonstones; +and his blows were like the blows of a +poleaxe wielded by a blooming butcher, or of a +sledge-hammer wielded by a lusty smith. But, +because I was unarmed and liable to reel giddily +under the hero’s onslaught, my noble mind contrived +a new wile. And, diving upward under his +shield (lest he should wound me in the back), I +caught him round the ribs with my long arms, +and began to crumple him up. He, indeed, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</span>having dropped his shield, smote once on my +back: but it was only a half-cut, for my shoulder +filled the sweet pit of his sword-arm, preventing +him from giving either force or weight unto his +effort. Meanwhile, I splintered his crackling ribs +one by one, pinching him as ferociously as possible, +and wrenching him hither and thither, with +a heart full of pure joy, when I felt so renowned +a hero as Theseys becoming like a broken basket +of entrails in my arms. He, indeed, tried to stab +me with his bitter steel, in the intervals when he +was neither screeching nor gasping for breath +with much hiccoughing. And, anon, having +heaved him high above my head, (for he tired +me), then I dashed him to the ground, snapping +his big backbone with a noise like the quick tearing +of linen. But he lapsed limply into a shapeless +bundle of broken man; and his last breath +shot out with a wet squeak, moistly whistling; and +renowned Theseys was once more a shade.</p> + +<p>But I sidled away from the carcase, looking +toward my left hand, where the two great heroes +and masters of perfect swordsmanship were fighting +valiantly. And crest-tossing Hektor feigned +to slip, half exposing his head: but implacable +Akhilleys, for the nonce unwary, brandished his +blade for a last terrific blow which should end the +battle. But him Hektor overcame, eluding the +shield which swang away to the left, and thrusting +his own sword through the taslets of the +breast-plate deep into the beautiful groin. Nevertheless, +the end was not yet. For fierce Akhilleys, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</span>though wounded to death, finished the stroke +which he had begun. And his sword came down +irresistibly on Hektor’s crested helm; and the +horse-hair floated away on this side and on that; +and the whole casque fell in two halves here and +there, like the split shells of a walnut; and the +head within, being divided in twain right down to +the roots of the throat, flapped upon the shoulders +like a halved pomegranate on a sliced stem. In +this manner, fell together the two greatest warriors +and the two most glorious heroes who ever stamped +on the wide-bosomed earth.</p> + +<p>But all voices were hushed at the splendour of +the sight, grieving that the five famous sons of +kings should so soon have ceased from sweet life, +again becoming shades. And I, also, stood in +silence: for I was still rather dizzy. But, all at +once, shady Hades shouted from his throne: +“This much-contriving Odysseys again hath +tricked us by some magic wile. Ha, Titans, +hold him!”</p> + +<p>And, on the word, the enormous monsters +lumbered in my direction. But all the shades +began to gibber like bats, moaning with fear; +and the shade of great-hearted Akhilleys became +paler with horror, because of King Hades’ +treachery. But Thalos, my foot-boy, lithely +leaped from crouching at the feet of Golden +Helen; and, having snatched my black bow from +her (but she gave it willingly), he thrust it into +my hand, standing alertly close behind me with +my quiver, ready to feed me with arrows. And, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</span>in an instant, I bent the great bow to the string, +while it sang shrilly with joy, loosing the well-feathered +shafts which swiftly hissed down the +long hall; and they bit the eyeballs of the titans +so that they yelped like whipped whelps in their +displeasure, falling as great oaks crash earthward +in storms, littering considerable areas.</p> + +<p>But, as I sped the winged deaths on their way, +I heard a terrible cry from the queen. But I, +without turning round to her, was suddenly aware +that I was seeing on all sides, both before and +behind: for the eyes in my face, fearfully rolling, +gazed in front; and, when I drew the string of +the bent-back bow to my ear with my right hand, +the two eye-chalcedonyxes in the magic ring +which Hermes, my grandsire, had placed on my +third finger looked out over my shoulder in the +rear, warning me of danger from that quarter. +And I saw shady King Hades, the most righteous +of gods, about to dash out my brain with the +gigantic key which fits the locks of hell.</p> + +<p>But, leaping aside, I evaded the blameless +coward’s blow: but, in escaping from the god, +I became far away from Thalos who bore my +arrows; and my bow shrieked because I could +not use it. Once more, King Hades struck at +me; and, once more mightily leaping, I eluded +the danger. Moreover, I saw, from the bewildered +gestures of the shades, that they understood +neither what was going on nor the reason +of my marvellous agility. And, then, I perceived +that the shady one had donned his cyclopean +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</span>helmet of invisibility, whereby none but a god’s +eyes could see him. But I, being hard pressed, +determined to use magic of another kind, such as +I had found very efficacious against shady hustlers +and bullies when I was a subject of Victory queen +of the stalwart stately Anglicans. And, first, I +praised rustic Pan and wing-footed Hermes, with +wildly joyful acclamations: the one for his gift in +the touch of fennel on the seashore by Tainaron, +whereby I was able to see with the eyes of a god +as well as with the eyes of a man, and the other +(my grandsire) for his gift of two eyes more than +the number allotted to olympians, to say nothing +of miserable mortals: for, without these extraordinary +faculties, shady Hades would certainly +have gotten me again, and for good, and I should +have lost Golden Helen for the third and last +time.</p> + +<p>Wherefore, I plucked out my revolver, as +blameless Hades came upon me. He, indeed, +had the air of being dreadfully worried, believing +himself to be invisible, and yet finding that I +was able to dodge him quite successfully. And, +having pressed the well-made spring of my weapon +with my palm, I pulled the beautiful trigger six +times, afflicting the Shady One with a dumdum⁠<a id="FNanchor_49_49" href="#Footnote_49_49" class="fnanchor">[49]</a> +in each nostril and two in the belly and one in +each knee. But he, being a god, was unable to +die, even though he had lost his ugly face: but +all the same, he was extremely capable of feeling +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</span>pain; and dreadful pain he felt. Now, as everyone +knows, when lordly Ares was wounded by +well-thewed Diomedes at the siege of windy Ilion, +he hullabalooed (as it is chanted in the canticle) +like an army of ten thousand men all mad-drunk +with beer. But, King Hades being of the elder +generation of the gods, and (therefore) of far +vaster bulk than his lusty nephew, the bellowing +of nineteen such armies would have been (to the +outpouring of his godly griefs and pains) but as +the wheezy puling of an infant to the thunder of +immeasurable Ocean on a rock-bound coast. For, +indeed, the very firmament of the netherworld +was riven and cleft asunder by the thuds of his +high-stepped capers and contortions, and the +bombilation of his vibrant vociferatings to my +address.</p> + +<p>But I, looking upward through the grateful +fissure, saw clear heaven again, and the serenely-sailing +Moon, and the glittering constellation of +the Crab, and all the holy stars which kindly gaze +upon earth-trampling men.</p> + +<p>After this manner, did I work notable wiles in +the house of blameless Hades.</p> + + +<div class="footnotes"> +<h3 id="FOOTNOTES_17"> + FOOTNOTES: +</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_48_48" href="#FNanchor_48_48" class="label">[48]</a> This might, perhaps, almost strike some persons as being just a +little “thin.” A. H.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_49_49" href="#FNanchor_49_49" class="label">[49]</a> I find several English words in this papyrus, written in what we +will agree to call Mr. C.’s own hand. A. H.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="THE_TWENTY-FIRST_PAPYRUS"> + THE TWENTY-FIRST PAPYRUS + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>Then, the gods, divine ones inhabiting olympian +palaces, whom I had summoned to see how a +master-mage under-goes that he may overcome, +intervened to protect me from further annoyance. +For unspeakable confusion buzzed and boomed +throughout all the house of Hades.</p> + +<p>For the shades of well-born Theseys and of +sandy-haired old Menelaos and of woman-mad +Paris were gibbering with rage, seeing that I was +free to depart with Golden Helen, the Treasure +of Hades, as my spoil. And they shook their +angry fingers at me, like fringes in a wind, being +quite impotent: but Paris, unable to contain what +there was of himself (so abounding was his ire), +burst, over and over again, like a bad bubble in +my vicinity. And he suddenly frittered away.</p> + +<p>But, as I walked with the blessed gods, having +Helen the Treasure of Hades beside me, we went +to and fro, walking delicately over the monstrous +wrigglings of titans, victims of my bow, as men +pick their way among earthquakes, lightly leaping +hither and thither. But the mind in my +breast was contriving new wiles.</p> + +<p>Then said Delphic Phoibos Apollon, the Knight +of the Sun: “We have tarried long enough in +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</span>the kingdom of twilight; and I yearn to go back +to blazing noon. Return with us, O Master of +Wisdom; and be sure of olympian welcomes.”</p> + +<p>Then said Arkadian Hermes Psykhopompos, +the Knight of East and West and North and +South: “Never yet have I led articulately-speaking +men out of this place: but rather my +business is to bring them hither when they are +dead. But very gladly will I bear thee and thine +away with swift-winged feet, O Master my child. +Return, therefore, with us; and be sure of +olympian welcomes.”</p> + +<p>Then said Lemnian Hephaistos, the Knight of +the Brazen Serpent: “There be many dints and +notches in thy silver-shining armour, and many +of thy lovely rock-crystals and blue moonstones +have been shattered in battle, and what shall we +say of thy nodding crest of the prides of nine +white peacocks. But, indeed, my fingers itch to +have thee in my smithy where I may restore thee. +Return, therefore, with us, O Master of Arms; +and be sure of olympian welcomes.”</p> + +<p>And, in like manner, all the divine ones spoke, +very affably.</p> + +<p>But white Death and black Sleep, being young, +stood modestly aside: for the general rule is that +the last may not come to man without an invitation, +and that the first may come only at a particular +time. And that time for me had not +even been discussed by the authorities. For which +cause, the pale god moved away, going about more +pressing business: but the dark one lingered, lifting +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</span>his horn of dust to tempt me. But, though +I was not unwilling to receive the kindly gift of +Sleep, the mind in my noble breast reminded me +that many things still remained for me to do. +Wherefore I addressed unwinged words to the +blessed gods, saying: “Gladly, O divine ones, +will I escape from this nasty neighbourhood, and +gladly will I visit the height of Olympos, bringing +with me Helen the Treasure of Hades, and +Love, the Crown of All Wisdom.”</p> + +<p>Thus I spoke, as we came forth from the +hall into the misty meadows of Asphodel. But, +behind us in the House of Hades, we left incalculable +pudder and turmoil. For, beside the roars +of the wounded, the innumerable shades of all the +dead since Cain slew Abel,⁠<a id="FNanchor_50_50" href="#Footnote_50_50" class="fnanchor">[50]</a> being worried with +pique and jealousy, were pouring themselves out +helter-skelter, snuffling in clusters, whimpering +and maudling and mumbling, waving themselves +all over the place like streamers of seaweed, all +in a most embarrassing manner. And it seemed +as though my passage would be impeded by them, +as by inextricable mazes of cobwebs.</p> + +<p>Wherefore, I (to make an end) summoned +Thalos, nimbly loaded with my gear by him collected +and skipping after me; and of him I inquired +whereabouts might be my silver chariot. +Who answered me, saying that my squire Neandros +was not ceasing from driving about the asphodeline +meadows, being unseen, and keeping alert for +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</span>my call: yet he knew not precisely where the +chariot might be at the moment. And he mentioned +his opinion that Neandros would be glad +of a meal, not because he was dying of hunger as +another youth would have died, famished (for +his life was bound to my life, so that he lived +while I lived), but just because it was the custom +of mortals to eat at intervals. And inextinguishable +laughter arose among the immortal gods when +they heard the apt speech of my foot-boy.</p> + +<p>Then, the Great Twins, impatient of delay, +moved to the other side of their golden sister, +as though to protect her from the mobs of gibbering +shades: but I, on my part, uttered the +<i>Spell</i> called <i>The Call Which Must Be Answered</i>; +and, instantly, Neandros drove my silver-shining +chariot toward us out of the imperscrutable mist. +But the gods, when <ins id='cor_194' title='Original: thay'>they</ins> saw that I was furnished +with so suitable a vehicle with its equipage of four +mad stallions of the divine breed of Laomedon, +departed, flying up earthward through the riven +roof of the netherworld, and thence onward to +the height of Olympos. Thus the gods themselves +were my heralds.</p> + +<p>But I placed Golden Helen (divine one of the +goddesses) beside Neandros in the chariot; and, +when Thalos had mounted in the rear placing his +beautiful bundle on the silver floor, I, also, was +about to ascend to my place: but a very fearful +occurrence delayed me. For the shade of woman-mad +Paris, partly embodied again, darted toward +us out of the mist; and his sufficiently-solid hand +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</span>had been armed by shady Hades with the sword +of dead Hektor his brother. Now had I been +blameless Hades in these circumstances, I would +have embodied the shade of Hektor and employed +him as my assassin rather than the feeble and +fatuous Paris: but Hades was not at all wily. +And the woman-mad one ran, gibbering frightfully, +leering like a lunatic who after long seeking +has found; and he, squealing (for his throat was +not quite firmly finished), slashed as he passed +with his blade at my harness, so that the snow-white +leathern thongs were divided, and the reins +fell severed from the hands of my charioteer. +But the horses went madder, bounding upward; +and careered (trace-free) to their native pastures +in the rolling heavens, leaving us half-blinded by +their hoof-sparks and (so to speak) fixed immoveably +below. And, every moment, the mobs of +malignant ghosts surrounding us became more +impertinently menacing.</p> + +<p>But I, having won the Crown of All Wisdom +(which is Love), and the Treasure of Hades +(which is Golden Helen), and being unwilling +to forego the enjoyment of my beautiful spoils, +and remembering the word which Hermes had +said by my altar on black Tanairon, lifted up +my voice very loudly indeed, uttering the most +mighty but two of all spells. And thus I said: +“Hear, O oldest and youngest of all the blessed +gods, sweet one, sly one, dire one, winged one, +blind one, arch-archer, lord of unquenchable flame, +thou who art somewhere in the rich state of heaven +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</span>or on the grain-giving earth, for thou everywhere +canst see and hear a man in affliction, hear now, +and aid me in my need. Come, Love, come.”</p> + +<p>And, instantly, through the gigantic fissure +yawning overhead, came the sound of merry +childish laughter. And Divine Eros dived out +of the darkness like a flash of ruddy lightning, +folding his white wings to stand before us, lifting +the bandage from his sparkling eyes to warm us +with their radiance. And we, who had been +shivering with ghostly cold and bound to the +soil of hell a moment before, felt all our limbs +a-thrill with life and joy and in our hearts a +splendour at the coming of the bird of the gods. +For he, indeed, was a very large and lovely boy, +slim, and rounded, and so ruddy that his form +had scarce been known within a fiery furnace of +clear flame: but, when we saw the freedom with +which he flung abroad his sprightly limbs, and his +quick incessant movements, it was clear that he +could have no rival in energy or strength. And, +while we gazed, he was darting here and there, +peering into my silver chariot’s secret parts, +having pulled out the pole and cast it away for +inquisitive ghosts to sniff at and mumble. And +even I stood amazed: for, notwithstanding my +magic, I had not suspected that such marvels +could be as those which Love laid bare. For, +here, he pressed certain beautiful knops carven +on the panels; and, forthwith, lids opened in the +silver floor, whereunto he wept copious torrents +of wet tears, because of foolish men; and, having +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</span>closed the lids, he shewed us his ruddy young +face wreathed with laughter. And, there, he ran +his fingers over the bosses of other silver panels +inlaid with crabs and moons in mother-of-pearl; +and other lids opened; and a fragrance as of +smooth oil was wafted in the air. But all this, +and very much more, was done in a moment of +time.</p> + +<p>And Love urgently charged us to mount to +our places: but he was sprawling on his supple +back, underneath, between the well-carved wheels, +and belching streams of heavenly fire from his +rose-red lips. But we four mounted, and clung +to the rail: for the mighty chariot was beginning +to hum and pulsate like a creature having life, +so that (though I was not afraid, but rather +exultant with joy unspeakable), I made the <i>Sign +of Safety</i> from height to depth and from here to +there, which is the test and the touchstone and +the palladium of all white magic.</p> + +<p>But the immortal god arose, sweeping the air +once with his great white wings; and he swooped +upward, diving into the very image of himself, +larger than life, blindfolded, naked, most alluringly +proportioned, which stood poised on the +front of the rail, winged, and ready to fly. And +the whiteness and ruddiness of Eros totally disappeared +in the silver image of him, nor was +the silver any longer hard and still, like silver, +but smooth and firm and supple as young flesh, +being alive in very fact and altogether godlike in +potency.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</span></p> + +<p>And the silver Love hooted aloud in mockery +of the gibbering shades; and he swept back the +air with his winged arms, as a strong swimmer +slipping through the wavelets of the innumerable +laughter of the ocean,⁠<a id="FNanchor_51_51" href="#Footnote_51_51" class="fnanchor">[51]</a> setting all mortal means +at naught, needing neither oar nor sail saving his +wings, winnowing the winds with those eternal +plumes.⁠<a id="FNanchor_52_52" href="#Footnote_52_52" class="fnanchor">[52]</a> And the wheels of the chariot whirred +astonishingly with the swiftness of our flight +toward the fissure in the firmament of hell. +But I, looking downward at the fearful ghosts, +saw Kastor and Polydeykes catching treacherous +Paris by hair and heels and slinging him into +fiery Pyriphthlegethon. Awfully scorched was +what there was of him when he scrambled out; +and the Great Twins left him licking his burns +on the bank: but they went back to the house of +Hades, to serve the rest of that day in the netherworld +for a religious reason, such being their +immutable doom.</p> + +<p>But the living silver Love bore us upward out +of darkness. But I looked upon the walls of the +vast chasm as we passed them by; and I saw the +depths of rich earth’s bosom all laid bare. Here, +were pockets full of white gold or korinthic bronze +which is platinum⁠<a id="FNanchor_53_53" href="#Footnote_53_53" class="fnanchor">[53]</a> and of gold and of silver and +of copper, and of iron, and of gleaming tin. +There, were mounds of marble and porphyry and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</span>granite. Here, were rivers of chalcedonyx and +jasper, and streams of rose-quartz and violet +amethyst and rock-crystal and blue moonstone +and mysterious green-and-purple alexandrolith. +There, were caverns full of buried and forgotten +treasures. And, scattered everywhere, like the +stars upon the floor of heaven, were very precious +stones, in clots, or alone in glittering glory. But, +above all these, we passed the pregnant soil of +earth the cupboard of mortals, pierced in every +direction by the juicy roots of herbs and trees.</p> + +<p>I turned my gaze to my dear companions. +The stalwart Neandros clung to the rail at the +back; and his bold eyes stirred not from the god +who had deposed him from his place as charioteer, +for he was meditating an unmentioned and unthought-of +work, which I will narrate at a suitable +time. Thalos crouched on his hams on the floor, +clinging with one arm to the straight legs of +Neandros, but his other arm steadied the bundle +of my gear. And, by my side, stood long-robed +Helen, the divine one of goddesses. She was as +purely white as the kernel of a nut; and her hair +floated behind like a web of woven sunbeams. +One gleaming arm round me, and the other on +the rail near the feet of the silver Love, held her +still. Her head was quiet and happy on my +breast. Silent were her lips of coral. Eloquent +beyond mortal words were her amber eyes: +wherein gazing at my ease, I read of her pride, +her meekness, her power, her weakness, her +fidelity, her faith, her wisdom, her generosity, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</span>her pure unsullied soul, her worship, and her +love. What she read in mine, I also know; and, +that we two know it, is enough.</p> + +<p>We were ascending from twilight to daylight. +Not for nothing had those other divine ones gone +before, announcing our coming: for the whole +world was set agog to behold us. Heavenly +breezes rustled down the shaft to refresh us with +their clean breath. Little rills of sparkling water +trickled over the cleft earth’s lips in haste to greet +us. And the forests bowed their green heads, +like a canopy, above us flashing through the reft +rock, as we reached the kindly-smiling earth once +more.</p> + +<p>In this pomp, I came triumphantly a third +time out of the netherworld, with the Treasure +of Hades and the Crown of All Wisdom. And +Love himself was my charioteer.</p> + + +<div class="footnotes"> +<h3 id="FOOTNOTES_18"> + FOOTNOTES: +</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_50_50" href="#FNanchor_50_50" class="label">[50]</a> This is, or might very well be taken to be, an excessively nasty one +in the eye for the obsolete delusion once called “Modernism.” A. H.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_51_51" href="#FNanchor_51_51" class="label">[51]</a> This ΑΝΡΗΙΘΜΟΝ ΓΕΛΑϹΜΑ is certainly a tag. A. H.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_52_52" href="#FNanchor_52_52" class="label">[52]</a> It is hardly conceivable that Dante Alighieri can have lifted these +delicious phrases from Mr. C. The whole question is extremely +perplexing. A. H.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_53_53" href="#FNanchor_53_53" class="label">[53]</a> Oh, really! But this is a little more definite in its dogmatism. A. H.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="THE_TWENTY-SECOND_PAPYRUS"> + THE TWENTY-SECOND PAPYRUS + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>But, when we had come to the beautiful plains +of earth, there were spread before our feet (for us +to walk upon) pleasaunces of emerald grass studded +with jewels of daisies and bluebells and daffodils +and buttercups and cyclamen, with swathes of +poppies, and with splashes of pure gold crocus +dropped straight down from the radiant sun. +Then, indeed, I (as a mortal man) found a fit +time when I might give way to human weakness: +for a man who does godlike deeds must pay a +price. And, because my head swam with weariness, +and because every part of me ached from +my sunned skin to my white bones, and because +every sense of me was sickened by the slime and +corrupt blood of hellish menials wherewith I was +crusted from crest to sandals, then, I longed to +be visited by barbers and clean slaves, and, also, +I had a keen remembrance of the willing and +alluring look which the young god with the +horn of eye-closing dust had shot at me by shady +Hades’ hall, seeming to ask for an invitation. +But I thought on these things particularly, as +(with Golden Helen) I paced a soft meadow +bloomed of violets and parsley, breathing the +sweet air.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</span></p> + +<p>And Golden Helen perceived how it was with +me: for two (who love) are one. Beside, being +a woman, she needed but a single service from +me, to wit, that I should never leave untold the +never-to-be-outworn story of my love for her; +and that (to me) was no toil, but a pleasure +perennial. And, for the rest, she (the one woman +of women and the divine one of goddesses) had +no other joy than that of caring for her lover. +Wherefore, she sat down on a thymy bank in the +shade of a may-bush: but I reclined by her side. +Thus, we rested, during a little while, watching +the slaves beginning to clear my chariot and my +gear: for a cheerful brook ran by the place, +sparing enough water for their work, but not +enough for the cleansing of a man as well. But +I intended, after resting, to seek a site apart, for +my own embellishment. And, while these things +were being done, a remarkable portent and a +signal favour of a god were manifested, which I +will at once narrate.</p> + +<p>For, when we emerged from the fissure in the +earth whereby we evacuated the abysm, it clapped-to +behind us, just as did that other gulph which +formerly yawned for showy Curtius in the forum +of Rome.⁠<a id="FNanchor_54_54" href="#Footnote_54_54" class="fnanchor">[54]</a> And the living silver Love, my +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</span>charioteer, folded his wings, while we paused to +<ins id='cor_203' title='Original: breath'>breathe</ins> the upper air. But when we sat down to +rest upon the thymy bank, his clear young voice, +with a shout of laughter, called us by name. But +we, starting, looked toward the sound; and the +silver Love, poised all alive on the front of the +chariot, bade us to come near and observe him +closely. Thus we did; and the large volatile +boy turned on his hips, spreading his quivering +wings to balance himself; and he shewed us (and +we perceived it) that he was girded about the +reins with a fine silver chain, the two taslets +whereof dangled down behind him as far as the +rail of the chariot. And thus he chirruped: +“Lady of Love, and Lord of the Lady of Love, +give me leave to make other lovers happy in the +intervals. But call me to serve you when you +will, pulling the chain this way or that, having +enslaved me and bound me to you by unbreakable +fetters at present unseen.”</p> + +<p>And, with the word, the god returned to his +position, poising himself as before with wide-spread +wings. But he came (a large boy’s form +of flesh, ruddy and white as roses, slender and +splendidly rounded), out of the silver leaving his +image behind him. And, leaping free with far-flung +limbs and strongly-waving arms, he stretched +himself out at length, swimming in the higher air +out of our sight.</p> + +<p>But my head began to whirl faster and faster. +I saw Neandros and Thalos arising after they had +adored the blooming god, and I felt that Golden +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</span>Helen was conducting me again to the thymy +bank. And, coming nearer, I heard the sweet +sound of a syrinx of pipes, and the bushes rustled +as though some divine one were approaching. +But, instantly, the divine of goddesses cried out, +saying: “Oh Pan! O obliging Pan!”</p> + +<p>But the country-god pushed aside the branches, +peering at us from the screen of green leaves, +being shy in the quivering sunshine of noon. +And, when he saw who we were, he came forth +and greeted us; and he led us through the may-bushes +to a little grove, on the bank of a deep +stream, with a waterfall and a pool, and mossy-soft +couches of moly in the shade, all of which (I +believe) he invented at the moment. And, having +gathered handfuls of the herb All-heal, knowing +Pan eased me of my dinted armour: but fair +Helen bathed me, and she bound the magic herb +on my bruised and weary limbs. Then, indeed, +I summoned benign Sleep, while Pan piped me a +simple rustic ballad very soothing to the mind.</p> + +<p>And there, in the grove, we rested during +several days. For I contrived a new wile, which +was that I would not hurry on my journey to +lofty Olympos, but rather delay a little: for an +unwilling guest has the greater honour. Moreover, +I did not wish to appear before the blessed +gods in a squalid or a sordid guise, but rather as +a personage more accustomed to giving than to receiving, +since I was actually a suppliant to great +Zeys for the hand of his daughter; and it is the +custom of gods and men to give the best gifts to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</span>well-seeming mortals. For which causes, I took +my fill of rest, so that my strength returned, while +my slaves (in the neighbouring glade) polished +my arms and my chariot as best they might, +to make a respectable appearance. For magic is +waived before Pan, and men must depend entirely +on their natural powers in his presence unless the +god himself suggests otherwise.</p> + +<p>But, by chance, Hermes (my grandsire), passing +by on a message, espied us one day; and he +stayed his flight while he spoke with us. He +said that there was much talk on the height of +Olympos, because of our absence, and because +the divine ones (witnesses of my acts in the house +of shady Hades) had entered into a compact one +with another to keep silence on those matters, so +that the whole areiopagos of heaven might hear +them (if I so willed) from my own mouth. Which +was a very pleasant hearing for me; and, indeed, +I thought it extremely nice and delicate on the +part of the gods. But I answered Hermes meekly +enough, saying that it was not for me, a mortal, +to enter heavenly dominions in a manner unworthy +of my grandsire. And my wile proved +to be an excellent one. For Hermes, having had +a word with kindly Pan, fled (swift-footed) away, +presently returning with slow-footed Hephaistos +and a portable smithy. For Hephaistos, being +proud of the armour which he made for the son +of silver-footed Thetis, was unwilling that the +hands of slaves should renew its splendour. But +when his forge was set up, in the neighbouring +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</span>glade, the divine artificer (out of admiration for +me) deigned to employ Neandros and Thalos as +his assistants instead of a parcel of kyklops of +immoderate unsightliness: more, also, he let them +learn several very important tricks of his trade, +when he observed that they were intelligent +workmen of ingenious and reverend mind. Such +mortals, as a matter of fact, do the gods usually +select, when imparting knowledge of the arts.</p> + +<p>Thus, then, we passed the time, living on cheeses +and nuts and blackberries and dandelions with +the luscious milk of incontinent goats of amiable +demeanour, while I continued to repose myself, +cared-for by the divine one of goddesses and +cheered by old Pan. He, indeed, entertained me +vastly with stories of the youth of the world, +when Great Zeys lay hid in Krete and the older +gods were yet unborn; and, at other times, he +attuned his reedy pipes intonating quaint songs +of the woodlands. And once, while long-robed +Helen slept in the heat of the day, the knowing +old god persuaded some dryads to come out of +the oak-trees in the grove to fan away the flies +when I was dozing: but he himself sat among +the reeds not far away, chatting with the cheerful +little brown and silver river. They were very +slim young girls (these dryads), with flesh as +white as an acorn-kernel, with long smooth hair +of the colour of oak-bark, and shy green eyes of +the colour of oak-leaves, and excessively modest +and timid of disposition. But, when fair Helen +awakened from sleep, and spied the industrious +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</span>little creatures, her sweet face flushed like rosy +dawn, and she frightened the shy nymphs quite +away by her bleak mode of thanking them for +their care of me. Nor was I puffed with vanity: +for I am not the only complacent mortal who +has been an occasion of jealousy to a goddess.</p> + +<p>But, at another time, while sweet Helen was +washing her robes in the pool, rustic Pan took +leave to inform me (as a friend) of her history +during the previous ten centuries. And I will +say that Pan was the only one of all the blessed +gods who did not ascribe my own stories about +myself, and about my future life in the kingdom +of Victory queen of the stalwart stately +Anglicans, to some one or other of my usual +altogether-unexpected wiles. But Pan knows all. +And he told me how that (when I fell dead +in my former chariot, from the arrow of unknowing +Telegonos), my son and that awful goddess +Kirke’s, in Egypt, more than a thousand years +before, then, the divine one of goddesses, Helen, +had behaved very queerly indeed: for she shewed +as much grief as though she herself had caused +my demise. Pan said that many persons called +her grief remorse: which is absurd. But, having +vowed herself anyhow to my memory, she prepared +to wander through time, mourning, until +my coming again. And heroes and kings’ sons +without number sought her in marriage: whom +having scorned fearfully (as far as so gentle a +creature could scorn), she retired to find commodious +seclusion on lofty Olympos. But, there, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_208">[Pg 208]</span>a certain Kyknos, a son (they say) of far-darting +Phoibos Apollon, persuaded that god to demand +her for him from Great Zeys. But the father +and king of gods and men only confirmed (with +a nod) the maiden’s right of choice. Thereat, +blameless Kyknos would have taken her by force, +following the custom of Olympians: but her +brothers, Kastor the tamer of horses and Polydeykes +the pugilist, beat on his nose so very +bitterly, that beef-eating Herakles wakened from +slumber adding his shouts to the tumult. Which +having been explained to him, he promptly tossed +Kyknos to earth from lofty Olympos, breaking +him. And Phoibos Apollon felt it incumbent +upon him to take up the cause of Kyknos and +to be extremely prepotent about it. But Great +Zeys, upset by cow-eyed Hera (most righteous +of goddesses), shrouded himself in black clouds, +having decreed that the fragments of broken +Kyknos must stay below to satisfy Golden Helen, +and that she (the divine one of goddesses) must +not stay above, being a cause of disorderly conduct +among the young gods. But Phoibos Apollon +collected the pieces of Kyknos, as many as he +could find, wherewith he made a new swan (that +lickerish fowl) entirely black.⁠<a id="FNanchor_55_55" href="#Footnote_55_55" class="fnanchor">[55]</a> But Golden +Helen, debarred from the height of Olympos, +and her honour in peril from hairy men down +below, betook herself further, even to the profundity +of the netherworld, where the gods were +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_209">[Pg 209]</span>austere, and men but senseless shades, phantoms +of men worn out. And there she lived in exile, +all for the sake of me, divested of godlihood, +enduring ten centuries of sorrow, the inevitable +penance for the glowing glory of her immortal +inmarcesible youth.</p> + +<p>But, having heard all these things babbled-of +by rustic Pan one day when we dawdled together +(and I could not learn them from fair Helen, +for reasons of modesty), then, indeed, I held a +sort of council with the mind in my noble breast. +And I determined that, as far as I was concerned, +she certainly should be rewarded for her grievous +pains. For the best of women wants no more +than a little true love; and well indeed did I +know that that man is a blind besotted imbecile +who, in pride or what-not, denies himself the +pleasure of making a woman happy with what +she wants, excepting (of course) for a religious +reason. And, furthermore, I was aware that I +myself was by way of owing a clearly-defined +duty to the golden one of goddesses, in that I +owed a debt of love to her, not only for her +fidelity, or as amends for her wrongs, but chiefly +because she had procured for me several pleasing +and exciting and singular adventures, teaching +me how to win the Crown of All Wisdom. The +which debt I determined to pay forthwith.</p> + +<p>Thereafter, I spoke not a word of these pious +matters: but fair Helen was not unaware that +I knew all that Pan could tell me, not as her +accredited embassador but as the trusty friend +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_210">[Pg 210]</span>of us both. And, when I suddenly became very +eager and insistent for nuptials, she would not +deny me: but she mentioned that a bride ought +to be brought from her paternal home to the +house of her husband. Which doctrine I accepted. +And I said that I would contain myself till her +case and my case had been suitably pleaded +before very mighty many-named Zeys. That, +then, was to be the object of our visit to the +height of Olympos. For it pleased me better +to go thus, on a matter of business, than merely +to arrive, sleek, grinning, and complacent, to +receive prizes and praises for athletic achievements +and feats of endurance and wiliness, which, +though most meritorious and praiseworthy, and +valuable also, inasmuch as they gained for me +the friendship of several very important gods +(whose friendship is much preferable to their +enmity), were, I affirm, rather to be classed with +my ordinary habits than with my virtues.</p> + +<p>Anon, cunning Hephaistos restored to me my +shining armour of silver with adornments of +rock-crystals and blue moonstones in all its +pristine splendour: but he returned forthwith +to Olympian palaces. Neandros and Thalos also +brought my silver chariot, polished in all its +parts with a sheen like the full moon, and its +secret recesses were well-filled with water and +oil. But, when we had placed my gear therein, +we said farewell to kindly Pan. And, in the +cool of the evening, I led the divine one of +goddesses to her place at the front: but I +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_211">[Pg 211]</span>mounted by her side; and the slaves climbed +up behind. But fair Helen pulled the fine +chain by its taslet; and the whole chariot +vibrated for sheer joy, panting and pulsating like +a creature enjoying sweet life: for, at the same +moment, young Eros dived out of open space, +and the silver image of him started into perfervid +life, boiling with force and merrily hooting.⁠<a id="FNanchor_56_56" href="#Footnote_56_56" class="fnanchor">[56]</a> +But we, leaping forward with his beating wings, +skimmed into distance more swiftly than an owl +in flight. All through the cool night we went +at tireless speed: but, whether over sea or land, +I cannot say. For, in good sooth, I was not +aware of anything, save that the moon serene +and the flagrant Crab smiled upon me from the +dark-blue sky, that I was no longer dawdling +but active and very strong, that Golden Helen +was with me for good and all, and that Love +was my charioteer.</p> + +<p>In this manner, I set forth from the silvan +grove where goat-footed Pan had been entertaining +me.</p> + + +<div class="footnotes"> +<h3 id="FOOTNOTES_19"> + FOOTNOTES: +</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_54_54" href="#FNanchor_54_54" class="label">[54]</a> This is valuable. I suppose “formerly” helps to date these +papyrè, at least within a century or so. But Mr. C.’s epithet for +Marcus Curtius strikes me as being a little what I might almost term +original. “Showy” hardly seems the just word for a hero. But, of +course, Mr. C. wrote only a few centuries after the young Roman’s +celebrated header, which perhaps did not seem extraordinarily impressive +to contemporary professionals. Distance does sometimes +lend inchantment to the view, I believe. A. H.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_55_55" href="#FNanchor_55_55" class="label">[55]</a> I cannot help citing Juvenal, <i>Sat.</i> VI., 165, in this connection: +“<i>Rara avis in terris nigroque simillima cycno.</i>” A. H.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_56_56" href="#FNanchor_56_56" class="label">[56]</a> I cannot help remarking that this sounds rather awfully like what +I might almost venture to term an ante-Christian automobile or motorcar, +with its secret recesses filled with oil and water, its vibrations, its +pantings, its pulsations, <i>and</i> its hooter on the front. If this conjecture +of mine could be clearly substantiated, it would furnish a fresh exemplification +of the adage “Nothing new under the sun,” I fancy. A. H.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_212">[Pg 212]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="THE_TWENTY-THIRD_PAPYRUS"> + THE TWENTY-THIRD PAPYRUS + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>But, when rosy-fingered Dawn had donned her +saffron robes, arising from her couch in the +ocean to bring light to mortals and immortals, +then, indeed, we were nearing Tainaron, where +lay the hollow ship with the shipmen expecting +my coming. And, when they saw us whizzing +out of a dusty cloud like a flash of white thunder +(for, on the one side, the hair of Golden Helen +streamed behind us as streams a long ray of sunbeams +in no breeze, and, on the other side, my +mantle of silver tissue lined with white fur and +clasped with the Moon and the Crab in rock-crystals +and blue moonstones floated at large +and at length beneath my towering crest of the +prides of nine white peacocks), and, when they +saw Neandros and Thalos, mysteriously lost, +returning, and, when they saw the large silver +Love very much alive, and, when they heard +the gleeful whoopings of untameable Love and +the terrible whirring of the chariot-wheels, then, +indeed, their knees tottered, and their breath +popped out, and their hearts stood quite still +for fear, so that their life left them, and pale +Death veiled their eyes.</p> + +<p>But we lighted in the middle of the lofty +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_213">[Pg 213]</span>prow, even as a bird lights on the branch of a +blooming tree;⁠<a id="FNanchor_57_57" href="#Footnote_57_57" class="fnanchor">[57]</a> and, when fair Helen pulled +the silver chain, instantly ruddy-white Love +soared out of his silver image into the boundless +empyrean; and thus we came to the end of our +journey by land.</p> + +<p>And now I was in a sort of quandary. For, +knowing that I should need all my strength of +mind and body on lofty Olympos, knowing (also) +that rule of magic which says that a man of +fluid temper (such as I am) can best collect a +reserve of such strength from the sea, I had +determined to go, by favour of azure-haired +Poseidon, in my galley, from Tainaron in the +south, by the Eyboik Gulph, to the small port +of Myrai at the foot of mighty Mount Ossa +in the north. But the rest of the journey would +be made more splendidly, in my silver-shining +chariot, by land.</p> + +<p>But (such is the lot of miserable mortals, who +forget to inquire the length of the life-threads, +which the blameless Fates have spun for their +fellows), I found myself, at the very outset of +my voyage by sea, possessed of a huge well-benched +ship with all its appurtenances in perfect +order, but encumbered with the corpses of one-and-sixty +mariners suddenly deceased, and a mere +toy for the sea-gods. For which causes, I sat +me down on the lofty poop, taking my dear +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_214">[Pg 214]</span>head in my hands: and I began to contrive +most astonishing wiles. But Golden Helen sat +by my side, like a true lover who knows when +to speak to her man and when to hold her +peace. But my two slaves waited silently in +their places.</p> + +<p>And, at length, it appeared to the mind in +my lordly breast that the gods, divine ones +inhabiting olympian palaces, are wont to deal +with mortal men in this manner, shewing them +singular favours so that they may be encouraged +to expect (and, even, to insist on) a continuance +of the same. For, as it is with a man, when +he can do a certain deed very well, straightway +he desires also to do it very often, for the +benefit of the race of men and for all sorts of +other pious and religious reasons, so, also, indeed, +precisely, is it with the blessed gods, givers of +good things. Wherefore, then, seeing that tameless +Love had willingly bound himself (with a +silver chain) to serve me and long-robed Helen, +I contrived an altogether unmentioned and unthought-of +magic: so that that ruddy bird of +heaven might not have cause to complain that +I let his blooming wings grow rusty with disuse.</p> + +<p>Wherefore, I said unwinged words to Neandros +and Thalos, explaining to them what they were +to do. But, first, having pitched the dead +mariners overboard to lighten the ship, together +we drew in the long oars, bestowing them tidily +as a rampart inside the bulwarks and fixing them +there with well-twisted knots. These things +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_215">[Pg 215]</span>having been accomplished, and the whole ship +having been set in a new order, we took a spare +sail, white and vermilion, silken, with certain +cordage, out of the store. And, when we had +ascended the lofty prow, we fastened the wheels +of the silver-shining chariot, fixing it where it +stood, immoveably, in the middle of the prow, +so that a man might walk round and about it +if he pleased, then, indeed, we hanged the +beautiful sail over it, and fastened the same to +the bulwarks, in the manner of an awning with +vermilion fringes. Thus, the splendour of the +chariot was concealed from the eyes of casual +inquisitives: but the silver image of Love +emerged above the awning as a figure-head for +my galley: and the taslets of the silver chain +about his reins dangled down inside.</p> + +<p>And, all being ready, I (with my slaves) weighed +anchor: but Golden Helen pulled the chain of +the silver image. And, instantly, young Love +descended into his image; and the silver Love +lived, flying with his tireless wings; so that the +great ship moved most rapidly across the +frightened sea, having neither oars nor other +sail. But I governed the course with the steering-oar; +and the divine one of goddesses was +near me.⁠<a id="FNanchor_58_58" href="#Footnote_58_58" class="fnanchor">[58]</a></p> + +<p>Now when I came again to hold council with +my noble mind, I was aware that (in winning +the Treasure of Hades) I procured for myself +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_216">[Pg 216]</span>such a companion as I never had had before. +In sooth I have had comrades a many in my +various lives; and, among them I will name the +most desirable Red Heart of the southern sea, +and the <ins id='cor_216' title='Original: gloriolous'>glorious</ins> son of Sycorax, and the +unchangeable George of the Roses, and timidly-false +Aubrey, and Hugh the priest devoured +by hidden hatred and envy and prepotence, and +blind Karterikos of Bosporos, and loving Vergilio, +and naïve elegant Khekkhi, and also +Diomedes of the loud war-cry, and great-hearted +yellow-headed Akhilleys. Now, with a +man, a man may fight, and (at any rate) must +quarrel: or there can be no true love, for love +is not proved true until it has been tested by +reconciliation after strife, preferably very bloody. +And herein is the difference between a comrade +and a companion.⁠<a id="FNanchor_59_59" href="#Footnote_59_59" class="fnanchor">[59]</a> For, with a woman, no man +may dispute: but, if she has an evil mind, he +may avoid her or annul her: but, when the +gods, givers of good gifts, send to a man such +a woman as he may fitly take for a companion, +then, indeed, he becomes one with her, in that +her ill is his hurt and her good his benefit. For +it is very pleasing to the pride of a man to +have a treasure to guard and to care for. And, +until this time, all my wiles and all my wisdom +had not won for me such a treasure. Not but +what Queen Penelope had been a true wife to +me while she had life on the earth: but, of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_217">[Pg 217]</span>those years there were twenty, when wars and +the displeasure of certain blameless gods kept +me away from her, so that (speaking with perfect +respect to her face) I may say that she was a +faithful wife and a most prudent housewife, but +not by any means a companion. And, as for +the quite-irrelevant matter of those divine ones +of goddesses with whom I had intimate relations, +to wit, deathless Kirke and Kalypso of +the greasy braided tresses, who (I ask) can presume +to talk about companionship when a man +is imprisoned, with an awful woman, on a little +islet surrounded by the boundless ruthlessly-smiling +sea. But Golden Helen was altogether +different from these three. Thus I meditated +in my Love-sped galley.</p> + +<p>But, coming to Khalkis, we stayed there, to +procure sweet water and nutriments, before proceeding +northward by the Eyboik Gulph. And +hard-hearted envious Hera, that arch-mischiefmaker +among goddesses, sent me a horrid adventure, +in the hope of impeding my progress.</p> + +<p>For, while my slave Neandros was negociating +with merchants on the quay, loading the hollow +ship with cheeses, and wheat (the marrow of men), +and the flesh of bulls and swine, with herbs and +dainty birds, and jars of oil and wine and beer, +and casks of sweet water, I, with long-robed Helen, +landed privately to view the city. For I had +heard that Romans were occupying holy Eyboia +at that time, the island of rich vines, whence +Elephenor son of Khalkodon led the proud +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_218">[Pg 218]</span>long-haired Abantes in forty black ships to the siege +of windy Ilion. And, neither in the future from +which (for a religious reason) I had come, nor in +the past from which also I had come, had I ever +seen the conquering Romans in their togas as they +lived, excepting once by chance in Khem. For +which cause I determined to use this opportunity +of informing my inquisitive mind.</p> + +<p>And we too, therefore, happy as children who +have found out a new game, disguised ourselves +before we went to play truant in Khalkis. For +fair Helen covered herself with a dark robe, +veiling also her hair like a web of woven sunbeams: +but I did on a tunic of grey wolves’ skins +having on my head a berreta of ferret-skins, taking +also a very sharp sword and a pouch full of +silver and gold. And, when we came to the landward +end of the quay, a beak-nosed soldier armed +in cheap bronze stopped us; and he demanded of +us diplomas permitting us to draw sweet breath in +Roman territory. For it seemed that the Romans, +like locusts, were infesting the whole earth. +I, indeed, began to try to edge in a wily word +about a beverage: but the soldier led me to the +guard-house to settle the matter with his decurion, +who, also, was a dull boor amenable neither to +words nor bribes. For I told him that my name +was Ithakides son of Ithakos son of Ptenopedilos +son of Kelainephes Polyonomos, and that I came +from Egypt where I had been collecting antiquities: +all of which was perfectly true and entirely +misleading, simply because the lout was ignorant +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_219">[Pg 219]</span>of the various uses of words. Also I said that +the lady was my wife, sister of certain friends of +mine by cognomen Asterostephanoi, who was +taking a voyage for the benefit of her health and +to visit her aged father in Thessaly. And that +also was true. But it seemed that the decurion’s +duty was only to ask questions, but not to pay +the slightest regard to the answers. And he +would not take a bribe, because (I am sure) no +one had ever offered him such a thing before, and +he was dreadfully afraid. But he said merely that +I must go to prison pending an inquiry.</p> + +<p>And I, indeed, made no objection, being always +greedy for new experiences, and, moreover, both +I and Golden Helen did not restrain our laughter +when we remembered who we were to whom such +indignities were offered. Wherefore, having tucked +away my natural ferocity, I was as meek as a clod: +but I watched events with steady eyes. But I +told fair Helen to go to a convent of the priestesses +of Pallas Athene near the market-place, +there to wait till I should be dismissed without a +stain upon my character. And, presently, the +centurion himself appeared; and he would escort +her thither: for he, indeed, perceived that we were +persons of quality; and he said that, if nothing +against me could be collected by the following +day, he would give me a diploma valuable for all +Akhaia. Also, he regretted my detention, assuring +me that he himself was under authority. +And, when he came back from attending the +divine one of goddesses, we conversed, until I had +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_220">[Pg 220]</span>emptied his mind into mine: but that was a +pastime, and not a new labour for Herakles.</p> + +<p>And, when Dawn (the mother of morning) +was come again, and, when Helios Hyperion had +driven the chariot of the sun to the height of +heaven and was on the downward way toward his +bed in the ocean, then, the Roman centurion (having +found out no ill of me) gave me the promised +diploma, setting me at liberty. But I hastened +to the convent of the priestesses of Pallas Athene. +But the portress said that the divine one of +goddesses had been summoned to meet me at the +palace of the governour of the province, whither +she had gone at noon, with a plump of spearmen +for a guard. To which place I followed her as +quickly as possible; and the mind in my dear +breast was full of dire foreboding. For I remembered +certain words which the centurion had +let fall in his cups of the previous night, concerning +the sins of Roman governours in general, +who bought their governourships by bribes, expecting +to recoup themselves (for the outlay +of a lifetime) by the crimes which a year of +governourship made possible. Also, he had +spoken of the governour of Akhaia in particular, +by name Anthemius Cotta, saying that he was a +Nouus Homo of coarse manners and huge +wealth accumulated (no one knew how) in Asia, +that he had bought his governourship, being +possessed of a gluttonous appetite for the eels +of Lake Kopais, greedily engorging the same +without ceasing excepting to pant occasionally, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_221">[Pg 221]</span>and, that he was despised and detested, inasmuch +as he cultivated Asiatic vices, filling his palace with +females, slaves, guarded by black eunuchs.</p> + +<p>But I found no sentry at the palace-gate, so +lax is the rule of a luxurious governour. An +elegant slave in a Persian mitre, however, mentioned +that Anthemius Cotta had finished the +business of the day. And then, indeed, divine +Rage inflamed me with the desire of horribly +pinching and mangling; and, staring very starkly, +I invaded the place without more ado. Crowds +of feeble persons fell away from me, as I passed +in frightful silence. And, suddenly, I heard the +voice of Golden Helen moaning for me by name.</p> + +<p>But I rushed toward the sound, tearing down +a curtain, and running along a painted hall where +a meal was spread. At the other end, a single +negro, armed with a monstrous curving scymetar, +kept watch before another curtained door. His +grinning head sprang to the right, and his blood-spouting +carcase thudded to the left: but I passed +between, passing to the divine one of goddesses.</p> + +<p>She was at the far end of the chamber, back to +wall. Two loathsome rolling-eyed eunuchs lay +at her feet, blasted by her amber fires. But there +were others, about to attempt an onslaught. +And, before her, stood the Roman governour, a +ceruminous personality, fatty and pustulous, and +of proboscidian flaccidity. Upon whom I wreaked +many most mind-grieving evils, saying nothing. +For, first, I impaled him, thrusting my sword +through his right shoulder, and spinning him +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_222">[Pg 222]</span>(yelling) round by the hilt to face me. Next, +having clutched a handful of his glabrous forehead +and a large handful of his cataract of chins, +I tore off his countenance; and threw it away. +But he dropped on his belly, scrabbling the floor +with tettered toes and fingers.</p> + +<p>But the eunuchs were petrified with terror; +and Golden Helen, seeing me near, was ready to +swoon. Her, indeed, I bore (senseless) to a +couch; and bestowed her safely while I finished +the business.</p> + +<p>The eunuchs had to turn the Roman governour +face upward and to spit by turns into his rolling +lidless eyes, while he winced, mewling with unlipped +mouth. I drew my sword from its fat +sheath, and flashed it through the eunuchs’ necks, +so that they fell asunder in a heap, but their +heads rolled about the floor. I was minded also +to carve Anthemius Cotta slowly into slices: but +my gorge rose somewhat squeamishly. For which +cause, I only cut the sinews of his knees and +elbows, and heaped the carcases of his slaves upon +him, having collected their black heads: but I +stuffed his own face into his mouth. And, being +satiated with slaughter, I covered the mound with +a door-curtain, lest the eyes of the goddess should +be offended.</p> + +<p>But her, I carried into the painted hall; and, +having cleansed myself in several bowls of rosewater, +I used the wine (which was there) to +restore her. And anon we left the palace, being +of an aspect so godly and terrific, that the slaves +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_223">[Pg 223]</span>scuffled (cat-like) to hide themselves as we passed +by. But, hastening to the quay, we ascended the +hollow ship, flying away as quickly as possible.</p> + +<p>Thus I did, visiting Khalkis, a city on the +island of Eyboia.</p> + + +<div class="footnotes"> +<h3 id="FOOTNOTES_20"> + FOOTNOTES: +</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_57_57" href="#FNanchor_57_57" class="label">[57]</a> I would point out that the “vol plané” here described almost +seems to resemble the showy but somewhat clumsy mode of alterrament +affected by the velivolors and aereoplanes and dirigibles of the +Fifth Georgian Era.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_58_58" href="#FNanchor_58_58" class="label">[58]</a> I am given to understand that our own earlier hydroplanes and hydrovolors +had their motors situated amidships and aft respectively. A. H.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_59_59" href="#FNanchor_59_59" class="label">[59]</a> I call attention to the extreme beauty and distinction of this +original and (I sadly fear) little-realized doctrine. A. H.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_224">[Pg 224]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="THE_TWENTY-FOURTH_PAPYRUS"> + THE TWENTY-FOURTH PAPYRUS + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>But, when my galley was in the open water of +the Eyboik Gulph, we sat together upon the +lofty poop; and the divine one of goddesses told +me all her adventures. For, Anthemius Cotta, +having seen her going to the convent of priestesses +of Pallas Athene, sent her a message as from +me, saying that I was an honoured guest at +the palace. And, when she (suspecting no evil) +went thither, the governour offered her fair words, +bribes, and violence, by turn, persuading her to +submit to indignities. But she repulsed him, +summoning to her aid the godly forces (inherited, +but long unused), which she possessed as daughter +of Great Zeys Pantokrator. But, sooth to say, +the sweet maid was no longer able to hold her +own against fierce-passioned gods or men. Not +that she would ever yield: but ten weary lonely +centuries in the netherworld had weakened her +high hereditary forces, so that she needed an ally. +And, now that her peril was averted, she let fall +a round tear, like a frightened child very anxious +for a companion and protector. Whom I reverently +consoled, swearing a great oath that I would +ever be her faithful warden.</p> + +<p>Now, if I had been alone, nothing would have +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_225">[Pg 225]</span>pleased me more than going through Akhaia and +Makedonia by land, seeking adventures, taking +revenges, stultifying the Roman conquerors by +the spells of magic art. Such, indeed, would +have been a very convenient course for a Mage +practising the uses of his arts and crafts, and +pleasing enough for a Master at liberty. But, +since so great a god as Love had taught me, +binding himself (with a blooming chain) to serve +me, I was aware that service is as far above liberty +as lofty Olympos is above deep Tartaros: nineteen +times nineteen days, indeed, will a brazen anvil +pass in dropping sheer from the one to the other. +Wherefore, knowing how godly a thing it is to be +a servant, I also bound myself with the chain +of love.</p> + +<p>For, it had been in my mind, even in voyaging +by sea, to visit Opoyntian Lokri, for the sake of +Aias the Less, who wore a linen corslet, and +(though a mite of a man) was by far the best +spear-thruster of all the Argives when we besieged +windy Ilion. Also, I would have visited +the steep fortress of Dios, north of the Gulph, +and Antron by the seashore, and Pteleon couched +in grass in its rock-bound bay, and rugged Olizon +with the sea on both sides of it. But, for the +sake of my timid maid, whom I bade to be comforted, +I said that we would not risk any more +insults among the Romans.</p> + +<p>For which cause, sped by Love’s wings, we +sailed northward, passing leafy Pelion on the left: +but, anon, having come to the small port of Myrai +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_226">[Pg 226]</span>at the foot of mighty Ossa, there we cast anchor in +a secluded roadstead in the middle of the night. +And, uncovering my silver-shining chariot, we untwisted +the knots which bound it to the ship, and +prepared it for a journey on land.</p> + +<p>But I left my well-benched galley in charge to +Neandros and Thalos, bidding them to hold it +ready for me anywhen, but perhaps after a long +absence. And when we had mounted to our +places, the divine one of goddesses pulled the +silver chain; and Love, our charioteer, lived in +his silver image, and flew with wide-swept wings, +hooting for joy because we were beginning the +last stage of our journey to lofty Olympos.</p> + +<p>Aurora, mother of morning, rose from her +couch in the sea when we traversed the lovely +vale of Tempe, fresh with glittering dew, where +the night-mists rose from Peneys’ diminished +flood. Helios Hyperion lord of light, looked +from the zenith at noon when we began to mount +the long slopes which lead to the peak of Olympos. +Hesperos, star of evening, gleamed in the violet +sky when we came to the little shrine by the +Holy Well, beyond which no mortal foot has +trod.</p> + +<p>The priest came out, marvelling that travellers +should arrive at that hour: for most men fear the +mountain after nightfall, believing it to be improper +for them to go very near the paths which +the gods tread in their nocturnal journeys. But +he marvelled still more, when he saw what manner +of travellers we were, and the silver-shining chariot +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_227">[Pg 227]</span>pulsating like a creature having sweet life during +the first few moments after long-robed Helen had +released our charioteer pulling the silver chain. +But I and the priest led the daughter of Zeys the +Swan to the guest-chamber of the shrine, there to +pass the night: for we were unwilling to approach +the abode of the blessed gods, dishevelled and +weary and stained with travel. But, after we had +dismissed hunger, having supped, I indeed went +out to pass the night in the open, keeping a vigil +by my silver-shining armour with adornments of +rock-crystals and blue moonstones, and communing +with my lordly mind.</p> + +<p>And, when the night was waning, and near +was the dawn, and the stars had gone upward, +and the night had advanced more than two +watches, but the third watch was still left, then, +indeed, I cleansed the dust from my monstrous +chariot, burnishing the silver of it and the crabs +and moons inlaid in lustrous mother-of-pearl, till +it shone like a white flame. But the silver image +of Love, larger than life, blindfolded, naked, most +alluringly proportioned, poised on the front of +the rail with his well-winged arms spread abroad +in the very act of taking flight, this, indeed, I +treated as a man would treat his own large ruddy +son in a bath if he were a god. For I washed it +all over with a sponge, going firmly into every +crevice where dirt might obscenely lodge; and I +dried it delicately with soft linen, polishing the +smooth-gleaming skin and rubbing in soft oil +with my hands. And, opening the secret +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_228">[Pg 228]</span>recesses of the chariot, I poured in fresh water and +oil, so that the well-carved wheels might freely +revolve in courses. But I did also in like manner +with my armour, giving it a radiance as of the +serene and vivid moon in springtime. And, +having stripped myself to bathe in the ice-cold +limpid water gushing from the Holy Well (for +with pure body and pure mind the wise man +approaches the blessed gods), then, indeed, I put +on my glorious armour: first, the well-shaped +greaves for my legs, covered with rock-crystals +and blue moonstones and fitted with clasps: then, +the white leathern kirtle with taslets of silver lapping +about my reins, clothing my body above +with my coat of silver mail, and the corslet on my +breast and back and shoulders also of hammered +silver plates with adornments of rock-crystals and +blue moonstones. But I suspended from my +shoulders the sword in its silver sheath and the +silver quiver of arrows gleaming with moony +gems. But, on my head, I placed the glittering +helmet with a towering crest of the prides of nine +white peacocks; and dreadfully the plume nodded +from above. And I shod my feet with the well-made +sandals of white leather, taking the great +black singing bow well-fitted to my hand, and the +great and sturdy shield bright as the moon. But +I covered myself with the vast trailing mantle of +silver tissue lined with white fur, clasped with the +scintillating signs of the Moon and the Crab. +And the sheen of my splendour reached heaven, +when I stood stamping and gnashing my teeth: +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_229">[Pg 229]</span>nor was I fearful of meeting my peer anywhere, +even in the precincts of the immortals.</p> + +<p>But, when golden-throned Dawn arose from her +ocean-bed, I led the divine one of goddesses, fresh +and pure as a pearl in a setting of red gold, to +her place in the chariot; and I mounted beside +her. But she pulled the silver chain; and young +Love dived headlong out of heaven into his +image; and the silver image lived, sweeping his +wide wings, swimming in the higher air, with +triumphant trumpetings and merry whirring of +wheels, toward the wall of cloud which shrouds +the city of the gods, the habitation of Great +Zeys.</p> + +<p>Thus, brilliantly blazing and swift as a flash of +white thunder I entered lofty Olympos.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_230">[Pg 230]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="THE_TWENTY-FIFTH_PAPYRUS"> + THE TWENTY-FIFTH PAPYRUS + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>The Hora Eirene, warden of the gate, challenged +us: whom Golden Helen answered, giving the +password, demanding free passage as a daughter +of Great Zeys. But Hermes, my grandsire, and +the Great Twins, and boldly-steadfast Herakles, +stood within the gate ready to greet us. Moreover, +the golden streets were thronged with the +beautiful children of gods and heroes, scattering +amaranthine diadems. Thus, we went to the +palace and the areiopagos of the immortals.</p> + +<p>But King Zeys, the father of gods and men, +sat on his clouded throne, with Queen Hera of the +white arms (the most righteous of goddesses) who +had hundred-eyed peacocks about her. But, on the +right and left, were other thrones inhabited by all +the gods and goddesses, whose courtiers were +immortal youths innumerable having limbs of +flaming whiteness and rayed hair. There, was +Pan the lord of woodlands, and loose-haired +Iakhos Dionysos the son of fire washed by water-nymphs, +and Phoibos Apollon lord of the silver +bow, and Artemis beautiful queen of arrows, and +tameless Pallas Athene of the dark Aigis, and +blameless Aphrodite of the violet crown, and +silver-footed Thetis unhappy mother of the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_231">[Pg 231]</span>noblest son, and even King Poseidon of loud-roaring +white horses: but shady King Hades (the +most righteous of gods) was absent for reasons of +health, and his black throne gaped void. But +my heart was leaping for joy in my dear breast: +for I was aware that the fifth prediction, which +innocent Thalos made when he looked into the +palm-mirror, was in fact being realized. For +indeed the silver god and the golden goddess +were standing before many gods and goddesses.</p> + +<p>But astute Hermes, the yellow-wanded luck-bringer +and soul-guide, signed me with silence. +He rose in his place among the glorious immortals; +and began to expound my cause. Thus, +then, he spoke: “O Father and King of gods +and men, before this conclave of divine ones +stands the steadfast goodly Odysseys, the much-enduring +contriver of innumerable wiles, who +claims as a sweet guest-gift the hand of Golden +Helen, the exiled daughter of Thee the Swan, in +honourable nuptials.”</p> + +<p>To whom Great Zeys responded, saying: +“Odysseys, we know; and Helen, we know. +But never before has one of the sons of men +aspired to lead in open marriage a goddess, +daughter of the race of the Kronides. Hitherto, +indeed, passing (but none the less vehement) +passions, or transient (but none the less perfervid) +affections, have been the utmost relations between +immortals and mortals. For we gods are severe, +envious above others; and we grudge that immortals +shall mate with mortals, when anyone +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_232">[Pg 232]</span>shall take a dear wife or a husband: as when +rosy-fingered Eos took Orion (that stalwart +hunter), so long the gods who lived easily envied +her, until chaste Artemis of the golden throne +slew him, attacking him with her mild weapons. +Moreover, the thing also is new: for, whereas, +heretofore, gods and goddesses have loved mortal +women and men in secret, now, this Odysseys, +boundless in audacity, openly demands a goddess-bride +before all the court of heaven. Wherefore, +lest we be captured in some snare of this notoriously-wily +one, we require that eloquent Hermes +(his sponsor) shall give good and sufficient reason +for such artless candour, such ingenuous presumption.”</p> + +<p>Hermes came down from his own throne +among the divine immortals, passing the throne +of radiant Phoibos Apollon, the bright one, the +pure one, crowned with the sun in his splendour; +and he took thence the lyre which he himself had +made for the master of the music, fashioned out +of the hollow shell of a crab like polished translucent +amber and <ins id='cor_232' title='Original: opsidian'>obsidian</ins>, from which sprang +the silvery horns of unicorns to the olive-wood +cross-bar, pegged, and fitted with nineteen +strings.</p> + +<p>He came down, to the clear blue ætherial floor +studded with golden stars, in the sight of all, like +a princely youth in youth’s full bloom whose +youth is very graceful, the largest and lithest and +loveliest and wisest and most innocent ever seen, +smooth and lissome and gleaming as living ivory, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_233">[Pg 233]</span>and his bare head crowned with clusters of honey-hued +curls and a nimbus of sunbeams.</p> + +<p>He came down; and cast (to the floor, by his +feet) his purple mantle,—by his agile feet, shod +with golden-winged sandals,—and laid his golden +wand upon it, he lightly standing poised on one +fair foot; and he rested the other on a stool, +bending his sprightly knee.</p> + +<p>He held the heavenly lyre on his thigh with +his hollowed arm, leaning toward till it could not +help kissing his beautiful youthful breast; and +with a quill, he tried it note by note: but it +sounded, deeply thrumming beneath his hands. +And the young god sang under the notes of the +lyre, a doubly-thrilling intonation, making an extemporaneous +attempt, as full-grown boys at feasts +sing with different voices, rivalling one another in +turn.</p> + +<p>He sang; and, at his song, my spirit reeled, so +strong and passing sweet the strain. One universal +smile it seemed, of joy beyond compare, +unutterable gladness, imperishable life of peace +and love, exhaustless wealth, illimitable power, +the cup of health brimful, and bliss immeasurable. +Such was his tone.</p> + +<p>He sang; and, at his voice, my spirit lived +again, that youthful heavenly sunny voice, which +welled from his open well-sunned throat, not +shrill like a boy’s nor clogged like a man’s, but +full and vibrant, true as a bell, loud as gigantic +trumpets, deep and clear as a limpid river, now +high now low from middle notes ranging, strong +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_234">[Pg 234]</span>and resonant as the voice of an ever-young god +who is both boy and man, warbling unearthly +melody around and above and between and +below the golden warbling of the lyre.</p> + +<p>He sang; and the faces of all the immortals +became diaphanous with unimaginable radiance; +and the steady godly eyes gleamed like fixed stars +at the rapturous magic of his singing. For he +sang of arms and the man, the deathless song of +the man so ready at need, never so strong nor so +fierce nor so terrible as when he (naked) fought +fearful odds and a losing battle back to the wall, +who wandered far and wide after he had sacked +the sacred citadel of Ilion—the deathless song of +much-contriving much-enduring Odysseys, and of +all the deeds which ever I had done since the +distant day when I, a great boy, met Helen, the +divine one of goddesses, a tender girl, who watched +me faring girded high through the ford of Eyrotas +by rugged Lakedaimon; and of the doughty deeds +which thenafter I did at the siege of Dardanian +Ilion. He sang of my wily contrivance, the +Wooden Horse, whereby at length we Argives +took the city: of the wanderings of Golden +Helen, and of mine: of our meeting again in +torrid Egypt and our wooing there, and of how +there I died, slain by unknowing Telegonos my +own son and Kirke’s of the awful braided tresses. +And, in a solemn slow low descant, he sang of +how that was the first time, and the last, when +ever I lay in the pure arms of Helen, being dead.</p> + +<p>He paused; and the immortal gods wept +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_235">[Pg 235]</span>softly, at the sadness of his song and the cruel +fate which drove us ever here and there apart. +And it was dusky eve.</p> + +<p>He bowed his beautiful godly young breast for +the lucky horns of the lyre to kiss again; and his +wonderful fingers skilfully wielded the quill which +awakened the delicate voice of the strings. And +he sang of my far-future birth in the sea-girt +island, kingdom of Victory queen of the stalwart +stately Anglicans: of my sordid squalid lot there; +and of the wily audacious ferocity of the deeds, +which I did in contempt of all men, to deliver +myself and to soar.</p> + +<p>He sang of how I, grieving in mind because +not one single honourable friend or companion +came near me, but only rogues and tosspots and +false traitors, set out to wander in strange lands, +studying all divine mysteries and magic lore, +seeking for wisdom everywhere. He sang of my +marvellous deeds, summoning ghostly souls from +the dead and bending them to my will: of how, +in Egypt, I half-failed in the ordeal of the scorching +staff; and of the consequence which befel. +And, there, his sacred strain leaped, leaped like +one who meets a sudden slimy toad sitting very +still upon his way, leaped, and was still.</p> + +<p>And the immortal gods kept silence. Night +flung her violet mantle round the dome of heaven; +and she pinned it with a star. But those resplendent +faces scintillated like many moons in +the violet luminous sheen, intense, immovable.</p> + +<p>He took the lyre close to the warmth of his +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_236">[Pg 236]</span>well-spread breast in the hollow of his shoulder, +uplifting his stainless throat, singing with the +well-struck strings. And he sang jewels five +words long, which, on the stretched forefinger of +all time, shall sparkle for ever, singing of my +long fall backward through the rolling wheels of +time: of my vision in the secret subterranean +shrine at Thebes: of my voyage adown the sacred +river of Egypt: of my coming to Tanis: of my +doings with the hierarch Amenemhat; and of my +flight to the open sea.</p> + +<p>He sang of my magic invocation of the azure-haired +earth-shaking lord of ocean: of the apparition +of King Poseidon amiably-minded: of +my going to the shrine of far-darting Phoibos +Apollon at Delphi, and the oracle chaunted by +the levated Pythia: of my meeting unafraid with +Pan, and his goodly gift of clear-seeing.</p> + +<p>He sang (and his cadences rippled) of my +furious drive down hill, over the rivers of cold +and of flame, for the third time into the world of +the dead.</p> + +<p>He stretched out all the slim lithe strength of +his ivory limbs, lambent and supple and warm +with refulgent youth, to the heavenly lyre. His +fair throat poured forth a stronger canorous +strain, thrilled with unspeakable splendour. And +he sang of the singing of Golden Helen in exile: +to whose sweet anthem, all the blissful court, +from all parts answering, rang.</p> + +<p>He sang of how I escaped from fetters and +dungeon: of how my wiles and my audacity and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_237">[Pg 237]</span>my endurance, sneered-at or scorned by men, +made great gods glad to serve me: of the fight +of the six champions, sons of kings and mighty +heroes all. And Herakles, glory of Hera, burst +into boisterous blubberings, inasmuch as he had +had no part in so finely finished an affray.</p> + +<p>He sang of my treatment of titans: of the +wounding of shady Hades of recording mind, +inexorable king of the land of the shades. And +all the gods and goddesses cried aloud, beating +on their blessed knees, because of the sheer +stupendous magnificence of my audacity.</p> + +<p>He sang so divine a song, that even fancy’s +ear records it not, and the pen must pass on, +leaving a blank: for, nor mortal speech, nor even +the inward shaping of the mind has colour fine +enough to paint the sweet great strain of his +nectar, flower-like, fertile of song. He sang of +my wonderful journey out of the netherworld: of +the swift death of my shipmen, fearful, when +they saw my mysterious coming: of my lonely +voyage in my unoared sail-less galley over the +windless sea.</p> + +<p>He sang the cause of my coming, which was +Love, the Crown of all Wisdom.</p> + +<p>He sang of the sturdy unswerving indomitable +force, reward of my wiles and my audacity and +my endurance, which had brought me bearing +spoils, even the Treasure of Hades, from out of +the deep and the shade, to the height of the peak +of lofty Olympos. It was Love, all-conquering +Love.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_238">[Pg 238]</span></p> + +<p>Such was the close of his marvellous melody. +And, as the last tone thrilled, strong as a proclamation, +Echo caught the strain, repeating ever +lowly, and more low, from sphere to sphere, +<span class="smcap f12">Love</span> ... Love ... <span class="f08">Love</span> ... <span class="f06">Love.</span></p> + +<p>Rosy-fingered Dawn, crowned with auroral +coronal, flung wide the gates of day: Helios +Hyperion began to drive in scintillating splendour +across the sky: the rays of the rising sun +splashed beams of golden light over the clouded +throne of the Father and King of gods and men, +when Hermes finished singing thus for me before +the areiopagos of the blessed gods.⁠<a id="FNanchor_60_60" href="#Footnote_60_60" class="fnanchor">[60]</a></p> + + +<div class="footnotes"> +<h3 id="FOOTNOTES_21"> + FOOTNOTES: +</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_60_60" href="#FNanchor_60_60" class="label">[60]</a> It would be most improper to attempt to pick out the multifarious +quotations which adorn this extremely lovely poem. Those of us who +had the privilege of Mr. C.’s acquaintance in his recent life, cannot +but admire the stupendous erudition which enabled him to blend the +Bible with Homer, Dante Alighieri with Meleagros of Gadara, etc., +etc., etc., with such perfectly chiselled facility. A. H.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_239">[Pg 239]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="THE_TWENTY-SIXTH_PAPYRUS"> + THE TWENTY-SIXTH PAPYRUS + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>But King Zeys Pampator sat up, and said: +“What, O divine ones inhabiting olympian +palaces, think ye now of this Odysseys?”</p> + +<p>And they answered: “He is a hero.”</p> + +<p>But boldly-steadfast Herakles rose from his +throne, saying, in a voice even louder than +Stentor’s: “He is worthy of a chair in our +college of immortals.”</p> + +<p>And the gods and goddesses sang together, +making the <i>Sign</i>, “So mote it be.”</p> + +<p>But the Lord of the Lightning and the Dark +Cloud spoke again, saying: “What, O divine +ones inhabiting olympian palaces, think ye now +of Golden Helen?”</p> + +<p>And they answered: “She is a spoil well-won.”</p> + +<p>But chaste Artemis, beautiful queen of arrows, +rose from her throne, saying: “Let the hero +wear his spoil.”</p> + +<p>And the gods and goddesses sang again together, +making the <i>Sign</i>, “So mote it be.”</p> + +<p>But I saw that there were some who did not +join in the voting; and one of those was Queen +Hera of the white arms, the most righteous of +goddesses; and another was blameless Queen +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_240">[Pg 240]</span>Aphrodite of the violet crown: the first, because +it is bitter for a woman to be supplanted in +her husband: the second, because of jealousy +on account of Queen Helen’s transcendent +beauty.</p> + +<p>But the Father and King of gods and men +said: “It pleaseth us; and so, we, of our own +free will, command that it shall be.”</p> + +<p>And, saying this, he nodded with his immortal +head, so that I might be encouraged. For the +nod of Zeys is the greatest pledge among the +immortals: for his pledge, even whatsoever he +shall sanction with his nod, is irrevocable, not +false, nor unfulfilled. And, in the sight of all, +he drew me from Golden Helen’s side, out of +my silver chariot, where we had been standing +together during a day and a night enraptured +with the singing of Hermes. And he breathed +upon me, so that my mortal nature was blown +away from me: but I bathed in the breath of the +god, being soaked in the source of the fire of +eternal youth, the prime and flower of strength; +and such red blood as was in my veins was sublimed, +giving place to crystalline ichor, very pure +and limpid, such, to wit, as flows in the veins of +the blessed gods: for we eat no bread, nor drink +gleaming wine, wherefore we are bloodless and +are named immortals.</p> + +<p>And, while I was yet encompassed with the +thick clouds of the god, beautiful dark Sleep was +permitted to light upon my eyelids; and I slept, +as a sweet boy sleeps, dreamlessly.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_241">[Pg 241]</span></p> + +<p>But, when, at length, I awakened, I was in +another place. And Phoibos Apollon, lord of +the silver bow, and strenuous Herakles whom not +Hera but Eros could conquer, were come to conduct +me to the marriage-feast. And they spoke +of many things: saying that the immortals were +rejoicing in the happiness of so wily a warrior and +so fair a maid, save only the lord Hermes who +(after his long singing during a day and a night) +was curing a relaxed larynx, and also shady King +Hades who was raging horribly on account of +painful perforations, and swearing that neither +I nor Golden Helen need ever think to expect +hospitality from him again. So, with mirthful +minds and smiling lips, we set out all light-heartedly.</p> + +<p>The divine one of goddesses was brought by +her Great Twin Brothers, star-crowned Kastor +the tamer of horses and Polydeykes the pugilist. +But, before she came to stand with me at the +throne of King Zeys, then, indeed, divine Memory +illumined my noble mind, shewing me a remembrance +of a most graceful <i>Spell</i>. And, instantly, +I stooped to the limpid river which flows through +the clear blue ætherial realm, taking a handful +of crystal water, a sacred lavation, wherewith to +sprinkle the maid whose hair was like a web of +woven sunbeams, saying the <i>Spell of The Three +Who are One</i>. And all the immortals bowed their +radiant heads, greatly admiring the magic.</p> + +<p>But, after the nuptials, we feasted, eating purple +ambrosial jellies, dainties, such as Zeys-nourished +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_242">[Pg 242]</span>kings eat, with savours of unblemished hecatombs, +and quaffing foaming flagons of nectar distilled +from the apples of heaven and flavoured with +roses and rosemary: till, at last, rustic Pan threw +nuts on the floor, for Love and Desire and Sleep +and Death and Hyakinthos and the cupbearers +and other children to scramble for. But, when +we had drunk a last cup to Hermes the Luck-bringer, +I led Queen Helen to the palace which +mighty Herakles had lent to us. For that hero +was shewing himself very friend-like to me, on +account of my wily deeds and my long endurance +of evils, since he also had done deeds and suffered +intolerable evils in his turn. Moreover, the said +hero was very well-mannered and able to rule +himself, wherein he differed from many of the +immortals. And, beside all these things, he was +the most married man on the peak of Olympos: +for which cause, no doubt, he was excited about +my welfare.</p> + +<p>In this manner was the Crown of All Wisdom +confirmed to me, when, having been chaired in +the college of immortals, I led Queen Helen, the +Treasure of Hades, into sacred matrimony, in the +presence of the gods of Olympos.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_243">[Pg 243]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="THE_TWENTY-SEVENTH"> + THE TWENTY-SEVENTH + PAPYRUS + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>When, at length, we were alone with Love, then, +indeed, Golden Helen kissed me.</p> + +<p>I, in sooth, had kissed her in the house of +blameless Hades, before the combat of the heroes: +but she had not returned the sweet embrace. +And now she told me the reason: saying that +it is an immutable law that an immortal goddess, +who kisses a mortal man in honourable love, +thereby fulminates him. Wherefore, when (in +Egypt) I was warring against the five nations, +more than a thousand years before, and when +Telegonos wounded me near the blooming groin +with his dark arrow, then, sweet Helen (mad +with fear and love) kissed me, staying me in her +arms in the battle at the mouth of sacred Sihor. +Of which arrow-wound, I should not have died: +but, of the kiss, her first, I died. So, lest I should +again be lost to her, she had not kissed me in the +house of shady Hades. But, now that I was +immortal, as was she the divine one of goddesses, +Golden Helen kissed me.</p> + +<p>And, anon, she said: “Lord king and husband +of me, seeing that we rejoice in happiness, being +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_244">[Pg 244]</span>immortal and mingled in love, so that we have no +desire unsatisfied, let us be merciful to one who +hateth us and kind to him who has wronged +us: for, indeed, it is not right continually to be +enraged in one’s mind.”</p> + +<p>But this was a most strange saying, whereat I +wondered gravely: for such ways had not been +taught to Golden Helen, nor were they known +at that time. And then I remembered the grace +conveyed by that most mighty magic, the sacred +lavation and the <i>Spell of The Three Who are One</i>, +which, in a mystery, I had been moved to work +upon her before our nuptials. And then I was +not affrighted by any more amazement.</p> + +<p>But she was embracing my knees, continuing +to speak, saying: “Go, now, dear lord and +husband, faring immortally to Khalkis in holy +Eyboia; and take also sweet white Death with +thee. And, having entered to Anthemius Cotta +the Roman governour, let the pale god draw from +his breast gently the torch of his life, quenching +its flickering flame, so that his body may rest +from its torments. For he is unfit to continue +alive and in health. But, though he would have +despitefully used me, I am unwilling that he +should writhe much longer in anguish, being +irremediably mutilated.”</p> + +<p>Thus she spoke: but I kissed the pitiful maid +again, rejoicing at the grace which was replenishing +her. And, having summoned kindly Death, +together we went, faring invisibly from lofty +Olympos with the speed of a thought: for we +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_245">[Pg 245]</span>immortals in nowise appear visibly to everybody. +But, when we came to Khalkis after the middle +of the night, when night is darkest, then I +took the divine white child, silent, garlanded with +asphodel, by his frosty hand leading him; and, so, +we entered the chamber of the Roman governour, +plain for all to see.</p> + +<p>He lay upon a bed, mangled and shapeless, +moaning in the throes of his torments. But, when +the slaves, physicians, watching beside him, saw +me radiant in silver armour with adornments of +rock-crystals and blue moonstones, and the pale +young god purer and colder than glittering frost, +standing in presence manifest in an aureola of +moonbeams, then they fell on their faces and +were much afraid.</p> + +<p>But I addressed the moribund, saying: “Uneasy +Anthemius, know that Queen Helen, daughter +of Great Zeys, whom thou didst use despitefully, +wills to release thee from these earthly pangs +which are but a just penance for thy crimes. +Nevertheless, the divine one of goddesses bids +thee to enjoy the blessed rest of death, gaining +remittance of sufferings.”</p> + +<p>Thus I spoke; and I uttered the <i>spell</i> which +unchains the soul from the body. And white +Thanatos stooped, with his tender young frigid +fingers drawing the torch of life from the Roman’s +bloody breast; and, blowing upon it, he extinguished +its flickering flame. And Anthemius +sighed, and was comforted, retiring to the world +of shades.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_246">[Pg 246]</span></p> + +<p>But we returned to the peak of Olympos, +before he had reached the netherworld.</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>Now, when we had dwelled in the palace of +Herakles during the full course of the moon, +then, indeed, Great Zeys ordained to employ me +in a certain duty. For it is the custom on the +threshold of the immortals that, whoever shall be +raised to the rank of a godly hero and endowed +with immortality, must visit in person the courts +of strange gods, announcing his own apotheosis +and receiving recognition. Wherefore, the cloud-compelling +son of Khronos bade me to prepare +for my progress: but to astute Hermes was +assigned the task of inscribing letters-patent for +exhibition to all barbarian theocracies.</p> + +<p>For, as do earth-dwelling kings, each having +power and dominion over his own people, so also +do the gods, each having power and dominion +over his own worshippers. And, upon occasions, +disputes arise among the various dynasties inhabiting +the wide-rolling heavens, and wars and +fearful conflicts follow, when the high gods fight +among themselves for lordship over the hearts of +men. In which quarrels, the divine ones of the +Argive race are ever to the fore and very ready +at need: seeing that the nations of the Argives +are wont to stablish colonies, daughter-cities, +in barbarian lands, crossing the unvintaged sea, +whereto they carry a sacred fire from their mother-city; +and they pray not to the strange gods of +the barbarians among whom they dwell, but +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_247">[Pg 247]</span>to the familiar gods of their dear motherland. +Furthermore, the strange gods of the barbarians +sometimes send solemn embassages of heroes to +the king of gods and men, bearing complaints, +because their rites go unrecognized by the Argives +inhabiting their domains. Then, indeed, Great +Zeys, having taken counsel with the olympian +immortals, returns a just decision in like manner. +At other times, dire complications unexpectedly +arise, when the strange gods send plagues (perchance +of rats or dragons), or pestilences (perchance +of bad blind boils), or even famines, to +punish the prepotence or the impiety of their +blameless barbarians; and, by chance, one of the +Argive colonists perishes by reason of the scourge. +Then, indeed, loud-thundering Zeys inflames +himself with mighty wrath, when his dear Argive +folk fall victims to the clumsiness of the indiscriminating +gods of the so-sinful barbarians; and +he exacts a compensation. But the immortal +gods love not to war overmuch among themselves, +their battles being terrific and the issues not unusually +thankless.</p> + +<p>And it chanced that, at the time when I reached +my chair in the college of the immortals and of +my blissful nuptials, that there was a matter of +feud between us and the theocracy of Juppiter +Stator. For the Latin gods, very stolid, very +bucolic, were claiming the worship of the whole +Argive race throughout the earth. And they, +rash and overweening, alleged that, as the fair +Argive land had submitted to their bloody +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_248">[Pg 248]</span>Romans, so, also, Olympian Zeys ought to +acknowledge as his blooming suzerain their +Capitoline Juppiter.</p> + +<p>For which cause, long-enduring and tiresome +and tedious conversations of high diplomacy were +striving to adjust the dispute without appeal to +the arbitrament of war. But a regrettable incident +was likely to occur at any moment: for +Ares, bane of mortals, weary of the arts of peace, +paraded himself daily wearing shield and sword; +and boldly-steadfast Herakles, weary of the arts +of husbandry, was carving a collection of most +mind-delighting clubs; and my own sweet cousin, +Perseys of the sea, the most renowned of heroes, +weary of the arts of love, was all agog to meet +monsters more worthy than pterodactyls in deadly +strife. Wherefore, the Father and King of gods +and men bade me to visit, first, those strange +gods who were known not to be unfriendly; and, +then, to proceed to Rome: so that, returning to +Olympos directly from the court of Juppiter +Stator, I might bring back the very latest account +of the negociations.</p> + +<p>And, having embraced me and Queen Helen, +very mighty Zeys gave us our charters fairly +written out by cunning Hermes, my grandsire, +who first brought letters and the art of writing +into the Argive land.</p> + +<p>Thus, as an immortal, I began to go about the +work of the immortals.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_249">[Pg 249]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="THE_TWENTY-EIGHTH_PAPYRUS"> + THE TWENTY-EIGHTH PAPYRUS + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>But we ascended the silver-shining chariot inlaid +with crabs and moons in mother-of-pearl, a +wonder to be seen, Love being our charioteer; +and we flew afar to the remote regions of the +skies, gazing (from time to time, and with certain +thoughts) on the grain-giving earth below.</p> + +<p>Now there were certain dynasties of gods, such +as those of Anahoyak and Nippon and Serica,⁠<a id="FNanchor_61_61" href="#Footnote_61_61" class="fnanchor">[61]</a> +with whom the Olympians dealt but rarely: for +they were of a secretive nature, nor did they +exactly welcome guests from afar, but rather did +they slam the door of divine hospitality, excepting +when rare embassages brought news of very grave +matters. And, indeed, no such embassage had +been sent from lofty Olympos across the streams +of ocean since Pantokrator Zeys sent pious Deykalion +announcing his accession to the throne of +Khronos. For which cause, it was not deemed +necessary that I and Queen Helen should fare so +far to visit divine ones whose very names cannot +be written in the Argive tongue.</p> + +<p>And, first, we came to the court of the gods +of Assyria. There, indeed, we were mingled in +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_250">[Pg 250]</span>friendship with the Seven Magnificencies, Anna +who rules the Assyrian sky, Ea who rules their +earth, Mulge who rules their abyss, the three +rulers of their sun and their moon and their air, +and Belmarduk the god. Beside those, we were +mingled in courtesy with their fifty great gods, +and their three hundred heavenly sprites, and +their six hundred earthly sprites. Also, I held +converse with their heroes, Gilgamish and Eabani, +the same who came to me in Khem; and, while +I admired their most artificial beards, the mind in +my lordly breast grieved, because (though brave +enough and strong) they seemed to me to be but +curly and oily bullocks or gladiators in comparison +with Herakles or Perseys or Kastor and Polydeykes, +and the other well-bred heroes of Olympos. But +I held very wily conversation with Belmarduk +the god, gaining certain wisdom which need not +be written down here.</p> + +<p>But we journeyed on to the court of the gods +of Iran, immortals who bear the strangest of +names, such as Ormuzd whom we Argives call +ΦΩϹ or Light, and Ashem or ΑΛΗΘΕΙΑ meaning +Truth, and Vohu Mano or ΕΥΝΟΙΑ meaning +Good Sense, and Khshathrem or ΕΥΝΟΜΙΑ +meaning Power, and Armaiti or ϹΟΦΙΑ meaning +Obedience and Haurvatat or ΠΛΟΥΤΟϹ meaning +Perfection. But chiefly was the mind in my +dear breast exalted with pure joy when I came, +radiant in my moonlike sheen, into the presence +of Great Mithra. For the unconquered god of +the Iranian sun looked upon me so earnestly, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_251">[Pg 251]</span>with wise young eyes of such transcendent candour, +that I was moved to know as much as +possible from him. Wherefore, I gave him the +<i>Sign of the Father of Warriors</i>. Instantly he replied, +signing me with the <i>Sign of the Father of +Bulls</i>. I gave him the <i>Sign of the Father of Lions</i>; +and he signed me with the <i>Sign of the Father of +Vultures</i>. I gave him the <i>Sign of the Father of +Ostriches</i>; and he signed me with the <i>Sign of the +Father of Ravens</i>. I gave him the <i>Sign of the +Father of Gryphons</i>; and he signed me with the +<i>Sign of the Father of Perses</i>. I gave him the +<i>Sign of the Father of Suns</i>; and he signed me with +the <i>Sign of Father of Eagles</i>. I gave him the +<i>Sign of Father of Falcons</i>; and he signed me with +the <i>Sign of Father of Fathers</i> which is the summit +of the twelve. But, because I was ware that I +had come upon my master, I made myself +obedient, gaining such wisdom as is not lawful +to be written, nor even to be uttered, on account +of a religious reason.</p> + +<p>But we journeyed on to the court of Benares; +and, having shewn my charters, we departed as +speedily as possible. For it would have been a +shameful deed, to have exposed Queen Helen to +the evil communications of a horde of riotous +brutes, apes, reptiles, abortions, frightful malformations, +greasy with rancid butter, dripping with +fresh blood and mildewed with stale, interminably-headed +illimitably-armed innumerably-nippled +smirking bestialities, at whose amorous activities +even Olympians were wont to say Phy. For +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_252">[Pg 252]</span>which cause, we just went to Benares, and we +just came from Benares.</p> + +<p>But we journeyed on to the mountain of Sinai. +There, at its foot, we stood silently, during the +space of a night and a day and a night, revering +unmentioned and unthought-of mystery.</p> + +<p>But we journeyed on to the court of the gods +of Khem. And Mother Isis being amazed to +greet one of her priests and a master of masters +of magic in one who had risen to the rank of a +hero and immortal of Olympos, of her own free +will released me from the oath which I swore to +her before Amenemhat the priest of Tanis: for +(as she said) it seemed that the Supreme had +dispositions regarding me otherwhere. And Ptah +the Pain-lessener explained why he neglected my +torments in the ordeal of the scorching staff: +saying that there was a law in Khem, made by +Ra himself, which ordained that no alleviation of +pain should be due to a mage who, willingly, +should accept the ordeals of wisdom’s way. To +whom I answered wilily (reserving a private +opinion of my own); and I said that the laws +of the master were good in the eyes of the servant, +and that this law was particularly to be +praised: for, had I been rendered able to hold +the scorching staff, I should not have fallen +backward through the rolling wheels of time, +regaining Golden Helen, the Treasure of Hades, +nor Love, the Crown of all Wisdom. Which +answer was greatly admired. And so, for a little +space, we dwelled with the well-mannered gods +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_253">[Pg 253]</span>of Khem, amid the groves and fountains of Duät, +hunting with holy cats and kittens by night on +the banks of the Nile, and by day among the dark +hills of Amentet. Moreover, having withdrawn +our shapes from the gaze of mortals we visited +the temple at Tanis, where, formerly, I had done +many wily deeds. But my friend Amenemhat +had submitted himself to white Death; and I +saw his form at Philai, conveniently mummied in +the manner which I myself had invented. For +the eyes of immortals, peers of Pan, obey their +particular desires, seeing (at will) through stone +or wood or any other substance, excepting the +substances whose names and virtues and properties +are known only to masters who have the +proper spells for using them. But I obtained as +a sweet guest-gift from the gods of Khem, that +they would deal kindly with dead Amenemhat +(till I myself could provide for him), lightening +his dreary lot in tedious Amentet as with frequent +cups of cream. And, I must not omit to mention +that, while we were still over Egypt, Queen +Helen would have me go with her one day to +Nilemouth: for, having once innocently slain me +there, with the kiss of an immortal goddess given +in honourable love to a mortal man, the gentle +mind in her fragrant breast persuaded me that +she owed me an amend. And there, indeed, +having openly kissed me on the lips, she hid her +rose-red face on mine while she whispered a secret +joy. For I lived again in another.</p> + +<p>But we journeyed on to find the court of the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_254">[Pg 254]</span>gods of the sea-girt island, the kingdom of Victory +queen of the stalwart stately Anglicans. And, +at length, we found, indeed, the sea-girt island: +but there were no Anglicans, nor venerable Victory +the queen, nor any gods at all. Instead, we saw +the place to be infested with a rabble of pygmies, +some black-hairy, others sandy-hairy, all cannibals, +obscenely naked, painted blue, inarticulately +howling, whose hag-toothed breastless females +mutilated their innumerable slain abominably. +Moreover, they were worshipping very bad devils, +dwarves, giants, furies, hobgoblins, and other +dubious monsters, with hekatombs of idiot boys +and girls, bandy-legged, hairy, knock-kneed, +stunted, scraggy, whose throats they tore with +sharp stones, stretching them out stark on +cyclopean boulders, or else with twisted-ozier +baskets of human shape, fifty cubits high, which +they stuffed full of babies and enemies, burning +them alive with fire, to the music of screeching. +From which horrors we flew away with Love, +having laid hideous inchantments on those barbarians +in relief of the earth which sustained +them.⁠<a id="FNanchor_62_62" href="#Footnote_62_62" class="fnanchor">[62]</a></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_255">[Pg 255]</span></p> + +<p>But we journeyed on to the court of the gods +of Scandinavia. For I was very desirous of seeing +Baldur the Beautiful, and of lifting the hammer +of their Thor; and my desire was not ungratified. +Baldur, indeed, was a comely youth in a crude +gaunt-boned pink-fleshy way, such as I have seen +a many of among the Argives: but he could not +be named with Hermes of the golden wand, or +with any of the olympian immortals, lacking the +effulgent limpidity and transcendent agility of +mind without which a fair body and sprightly +limbs are merely dull and devoid of spiritual +quality. And, as for the so-called ponderous +hammer of Thor, it was as a feather in the wily +knack-knowing hands of the man who had burst +the fetters of Hades. But the other gods and +goddesses of Scandinavia offered us a disgusting +banquet of fishes and bones of beeves half-charred, +half-raw, whereon they themselves browsed, gnawing +interminably, and washing down the gobbets +with bucketfuls of fiery potions, wherewith (anon) +they drowned themselves in drunkenness, stertorously +dropping on sleep in the slime where +they fell. For which cause we left them while +the night was dark.</p> + +<p>But we journeyed on to the court of the gods +of Rome, where Great Zeys maintained Nestor of +Gerenia, lord of chariots, that very wise and +ancient hero, as his embassador. And, in the +vast palace of Capitoline Juppiter was the abode +of the Olympian embassage, where, for a time, I +dwelled with Queen Helen, being Nestor’s guests. +But it seemed that nothing could stay the division +of counsels among the immortals any longer. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_256">[Pg 256]</span>For the Latin gods, implacable, boundless in +audacity, persisted in claiming the sacrifices of all +pious persons who dwell on the wide-bosomed +earth: nor would they listen to most interesting +conversations, being tribeless lawless homeless +fanulloni, disguised in the shape of their betters, +having not the most rudimentary notion of the +difference between meum and tuum, and loving +nothing better than strife. And day by day +they inflated themselves to bursting with overweening +fury, desiring to obtain a monopoly, +spurning the just and moderate claim for supremacy +by prescriptive right made by Olympian +Zeys. Yet knightly Nestor, pleasant of speech, +the clear-voiced orator of the Pylians, from whose +tongue flowed discourses <ins id='cor_256' title='Original: sweet'>sweeter</ins> than honey, +bravely strove to find some ground of agreement. +For he still hoped that his conversations would +avert war.</p> + +<p>And, being over Rome, it seemed to me fitting +that I should pass certain words with that blameless +senator whom I once had seen at Tanis. +Him, indeed, I found (by certain simple magic) +to be called Gajus Gargilius Gnipho;⁠<a id="FNanchor_63_63" href="#Footnote_63_63" class="fnanchor">[63]</a> and to +him I addressed myself without delay, entering +his palace on a moonbeam, at midnight, radiant +in my silver splendour, in stature and in aspect +very much more than mortal. For the fellow +had comported himself rather too superciliously, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_257">[Pg 257]</span>when he saw me as a stranger in the land of +Khem and not very flourishing of appearance. +But, when he saw me in Rome, he fell flat before +me, quaking with terror, babbling obsequious +deprecations with a rust-hot tongue. But I, +having twitted him with his former blindness to +my divinity, so severely that he wished himself +unborn, gave him sundry comfortable words: +whereat, of his own free will, he vowed a blooming +shrine to me at his villa near Caere, with a +flamen and two casmilli of free birth, and a weekly +sacrifice of two white sea-gulls and a crab, as long +as the world should endure men. For thus +anxious are rich mortals to purchase the inattention +of the immortals.</p> + +<p>And, by chance, one day, it happened that, +when I returned from going to and fro, alone +and unseen, among mortals in the city, hearing +the speech of men, on entering the palace I found +old Nestor lying stunned in my antechamber. +And, instantly, terrible Fear invaded the mind in +my breast on account of Golden Helen.</p> + +<p>But, rushing forward, inflaming myself by the +way, I found her in her chamber, gagged with a +silken cincture, and struggling in the arms of +truculent Mars. Him, indeed, I dragged about +the room, as one drags an impatient bullock from +the altar before his bloody turn, twisting him; +and I dashed the blameless god to the floor with +not-innocuous concussion. But, having released +my faithful wife, I bade her to go to Nestor in his +need, and to heal his ill: for she herself was +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_258">[Pg 258]</span>unharmed, excepting for certain bruises of her lily-like +skin which she took from the grip of the +ruffian. And, for these, I made him pay a just +price. First, indeed, he rose from the floor, black +in the face with rage. But I cursed him thereto +in good and concise Latin, while he stood all +amazed, being too stupid to think of me as aught +but an Olympian speaking the limpid language of +gods and Argives. And I rejoiced in my lordly +mind, at my faculty of venomously-scathing +invective, when I saw how I could exasperate him +with my tongue. For the language of immortals +is voluble, and the discourses in it are numerous +and varied; and vast is the distribution of words +here and there. Moreover, whatsoever word one +shall speak, such also shall one hear; and, whatsoever +deed one shall do to another shall be +repeated with interest upon oneself. But, when +my lickerish swashbuckler had winced sufficiently, +we took to our swords. Now Mars was a war-god +whose habit was to supervise slaughter +from his cloudy citadel, descending to massacre +fugitives, and to glut himself with human gore: +but he personally was no more than a slow and +clumsy warrior, able (certainly) to overcome +mortals by sheer weight, but no match whatever +for an immortal hero skilled in wiles and expert +in all the arts of war. Wherefore, having dug +him well in head and foot, I began to beat him, +abominably bruising his paps. But he bellowed +with pain; and fought wildly, exposing his tender +places so that I carved him at my pleasure. And, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_259">[Pg 259]</span>when, hacked to shreds, he was ready to fall +apart, he took a great toss from me, hideous +in immensity, being pitched from the window of +the palace into the city beneath. But his atoms +fell sprawling in the forecourt of his own temple, +crushing the Flamen Martialis as flat as a corn-cake. +But the Romans took it for a portent; +and were filled with forebodings of evil.</p> + +<p>Then, Queen Helen begged me to bear her +away from the sullen court of the blameless Latin +divinities, returning to the peak of Olympos, +where the star-crowned Twins would guard her +honour during my absence, if absent I was obliged +to be. Even wise old Nestor agreed that conversations +must end here, and war begin.</p> + +<p>But, first, I demanded audience of Juppiter +Stator (the most righteous of gods): whom I told +of the crime of his son, and the penalty paid, +demanding also the usual compensations. Whereat +the blooming pretender was very angry, and +made a menacing pass at me with his thunder. +But, him, indeed, I mocked most shockingly, +flinging at his feet a bunch of fat fingers hewed +off blameless Mars, and giving him warning, on +the part of all the immortals of Olympos, to +prepare for war. But he, too late, cowered, and +was for offering satisfaction, saying that he would +make an agreement concerning the heavenly dispute, +desiring not the enmity but the friendship +of us Olympians.</p> + +<p>Whom I superbly answered, saying: “Talk +now no more of agreements, O thrice-and-four-times +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_260">[Pg 260]</span>accused pretender and new god. For, as +there are not faithful leagues between lions and +men, neither have lambs and wolves an according +mind, but ever meditate evils each against other, +so it is impossible for us and you to contract a +friendship. Long, indeed, have we striven to +treat your pretensions leniently, in accordance +with reason: but ye have presumed on our forbearance, +mistaking our gentleness for weakness, +and crowning your bloody folly with a crime, an +outrage wrought by a dastard on a daughter and +on an embassador of the king of gods and men. +But now it is time to make an end of you. And +I go forthwith to lofty Olympos, to rally against +you the hosts of the splendour of Zeys.”</p> + +<p>Thus I spoke; and having by magic called my +silver-shining chariot, I led to it Queen Helen, +and Nestor the Argive, who was not to be left to +the mercy of Juppiter Stator; and, when they +had mounted to their places, I placed on the floor +the sword of atrocious Mars, intending to take it +as a trophy and a perpetual memorial. But I, +also, was about to ascend beside them, when there +came heavily prancing certain blameless divine +ones, squalid of demeanour and agitated of aspect, +offering gifts on the part of the Capitoline god, +and begging for a little respite. And I, having +relieved my blooming mind by speaking fierce +opinions to them, and being not at all times implacable +but rather inclined to urbanity, actually +did delay for an instant, revolving the whole +matter in my mind, and waiting to hear what +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_261">[Pg 261]</span>might be proposed. But, even while I tarried +thus, my godly eyes clearly saw revengeful +Bellona, sister and pander of Mars, beginning to +harness the hounds of war to her chariot round +the corner.</p> + +<p>Then, indeed, I turned upon thievish Mercury +the messenger, an ape-like imitator of my wing-footed +grandsire, saying: “Return, O messenger, +to Capitoline Juppiter, to whom do thou tell all +things openly as I charge thee: so that all the +gods of all the wide-rolling heavens also may be +indignant, even if he (clad in impudence) still +dares to deceive any of the immortals. Let him +not (doglike as he is and not godlike) ever hope +to look in my face again as an equal. I neither +will join in counsel nor in action with him: for +having already offended me, now he will try to +deceive me. He shall not again over-reach me +with lying words. Enough for him once to do +so. But let him perish in quiet: for Great Zeys, +no doubt, has deprived him of reason. Hateful +to me are his gifts, and himself I value not +a hair.”</p> + +<p>Thus I spoke: but my heart and noble mind were +delighted in my breast. And, having ascended +my silver-shining chariot, Queen Helen pulled the +chain; and faithful Love flew away with us as +swiftly as a bird or a thought. But my great +black bow began to sing very gloriously of war, +as we left the Super-Capitol, making bright the +eyes, hardening the body, and kindling flames +within the mind: for fierce-hearted Bellona +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_262">[Pg 262]</span>pursued us, over the breadth of Apulia to the +unvintaged sea. But being loathe to fight with a +bloody female and (moreover) a blameless Latin +one armed with a bow which to mine was but as +a toy, I loosed my death-bringing shafts backward +against the hackles of her blooming war-hounds, +throwing them into confusion. And +she, cursing obscenely, turned, retracing her +difficult way.</p> + +<p>In this manner I did deeds, wily, and also +audacious, visiting the courts of strange gods +who bear rule over barbarians.</p> + + +<div class="footnotes"> +<h3 id="FOOTNOTES_22"> + FOOTNOTES: +</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_61_61" href="#FNanchor_61_61" class="label">[61]</a> Mexico, Japan, and China, I presume. A. H.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_62_62" href="#FNanchor_62_62" class="label">[62]</a> The writer would seem to have hit upon some remote parts of +Wales, or perhaps Scotland, to which Roman civilization had not +penetrated. This is rather unfortunate. For the general condition of +the “sea-girt island” <i>cf.</i> Codrington, <i>Roman Roads in Britain</i>, and +Mr. Haverfield’s amazingly luminous monographs on <i>Roman Britain</i>. +At the same time, we must not forget that the Scotch did really worship +demons originally, which is why their descendants have jumped at +Puritan theology, as Mr. Chesterton expressly demonstrates. A. H.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_63_63" href="#FNanchor_63_63" class="label">[63]</a> This is valuable for testing the authenticity of these documents. +<i>Cf.</i> Hor. <i>Ep.</i> I. vi. 59-63: “Gargilius ... Ithacensis Ulixi.” +The importance of this can hardly be minimized. A. H.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_263">[Pg 263]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="THE_TWENTY-NINTH_PAPYRUS"> + THE TWENTY-NINTH PAPYRUS + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>But the way in which we Olympians went forth +to war was on this wise.</p> + +<p>King Zeys, armed with black clouds and white +thunder, sat throned in the areiopagos of the immortals, +collecting his forces, assigning commands +and stations. For, as when some hairy barbarian +(devoid of reason) was wont to prance minaciously +in the vicinity of the flowing-haired ingenuous +Akhaians, or as when some city (jealous, or +what-not) warred against its neighbour or some +bumptious young colony against its staid and +respectable mother-city, all the other Argives were +wont to mingle themselves hilariously together +against the foe, so, also, when the Olympian gods +are menaced, each one (from the highest to the +lowest) and including the heroes takes up arms +in defence of his dear motherland.</p> + +<p>But King Zeys, whose joy is in the thunder, +bade golden-wanded Hermes to summon from +the house of shady Hades the shades of innumerable +heroes who had not attained immortality; +and these were as unnumbered as are leaves and +flowers in their season: nor could I number them, +did not the Muses, daughters of Zeys of the dark +and holy Aigis, put into my mind the names of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_264">[Pg 264]</span>some who came at call to lofty Olympos. For, +when the Olympians go forth to war, then the +shades of heroes are called from the netherworld, +and are endowed with bodies. But, if they stolidly +permit themselves to be slaughtered in battle, +they lose an opportunity of attaining immortality +and return as shades to the house of Hades for +at least another hundred years. Such, indeed, is +the law. But I remember that these were called +from the netherworld, to wit, yellow-haired fleet-footed +Akhilleys, and daring Patroklos his dear +comrade, and red-haired Neoptolemos his son as +brave as his father, and horse-taming Diomedes, +and Phoinix dear to Zeys, and blameless Telamonian +Aias the Great, and Lokrian Aias the +Little, and great-hearted Iphitos, and Abantian +Elephenor breathing fury (whose hair flowed behind), +and high-hearted Erekhtheys, and godly +Eyryalos, and Agamemnon shepherd of the +people, and warlike Agapenor, and stalwart +Diores, and pious Polyxeinos, and Meges peer +of Ares, and large-souled Oineys, and gold-haired +Meleagros, and Idomeneys the famous spearman +fierce as flame, and Meriones peer of the man-slaying +war-god, and goodly tall Tlepolemos the +Rhodian son of Herakles, and Philoktetes the +cunning archer, and glorious Eyrypylos, and unflinching +Polypoites, and fleet Prothoos, and sage +Antenor, and high-stepping Pandaros, and fluent +Talthybios the herald, and comely Sthenelos, +and the lusty cheerful stripling Simoeisios, and +well-greaved Tydeys, and noble Hypsenor, and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_265">[Pg 265]</span>glancing-eyed Diokles, and innocent Pylaimenes, +and Mydon the squire, and that nymph-born shepherd +Boykolion, and haughty Bellerophon. And +these, being summoned, gathered with speed.</p> + +<p>And, as the many tribes of well-plumed birds, +wild geese, or swans or long-necked cranes, or +even blooming bustards, on the Asian meadow +by River Kaystros, fly hither and thither enjoying +their plumage, and (with loud cries) settle ever +onward, and the meadow resounds, so poured +forth the many tribes of warriors, with Theseys +the most righteous of men, from the house of +Hades; and they joined with the immortal heroes, +lion-hearted Herakles, and my own cousin Perseys +of the sea (the most renowned of heroes), and +Kastor the tamer of horses, and Polydeykes the +pugilist, and magnanimous Iason with his nine-and-forty +generous marine Argonayts, and with +others quite innumerable whose names I have not +written for a religious reason: all mingled together +manning the walls of lofty Olympos.</p> + +<p>Then came forth from their well-built golden +palaces, Ares the lordly stormer of battlements, +and Phoibos Apollon lord of the silver bow, and +his chaste sister Artemis the Archer wearing the +moon. And bright-eyed Pallas Athene cast off +her rainbow-hued garments which she herself had +woven; and did on her armour for battle. And, +about her shoulders, she put the terrible Aigis, +which knows neither age nor death, whereon wave +a hundred taslets of pure gold, all deftly twisted, +and each worth a hundred oxen: whereon, also, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_266">[Pg 266]</span>is Panic as a crown round about, and Strife, and +Valour, and horrible Onslaught withal; and +thereon, also, is the grisly snake-haired head of +Medoysa the Gorgon, a portent dreadful and +grim. And upon her virginal head, she set the +two-crested golden casque of fourfold plates bedecked +with the men-at-arms of a hundred cities. +And she brandished the great stout spear, wherewith +she vanquishes and demolishes all with whom +her immortal sire is wrath. But Hephaistos, the +glorious lame god, sweated in toil, busy about the +bellows and the anvil in his house of bronze, +imperishable, star-like, far-seen among the abodes +of the immortals: for he was forging thunderbolts, +with arms, and armour.</p> + +<p>And, anon, came running the Hora Dike, +warden of the cloudy gate, bringing news that +the Latins were approaching in battle-array.</p> + +<p>But, instantly, we were pouring out, like wasps +who dwell by the roadside: whom silly boys are +wont to irritate, incessantly harassing creatures +possessing cells by the wayside, and causing a +common evil to many. And, as when thick snow-flakes +flutter down, born in the æther and chilled +by the blasts of Boreas, so, thickly streamed forth +brightly-glittering helms and bossy shields, with +strong-plated corslets and nastily-pointed spears. +And the sheen thereof filled the heavens near; and +the world underneath winked at the flashing of +gold and silver and at the noise of the trampling; +and our teeth gnashed together; and our eyes +blazed like so many flaming fires.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_267">[Pg 267]</span></p> + +<p>But wing-footed Hermes and wind-borne Iris +flew, like unseen arrows, the one to azure-haired +Poseidon lord of the ocean, the other to blameless +Hades lord of the netherworld, always collecting +reinforcements. And gallant young Love, +ruddy, naked and invulnerable, rushed with me +into the mellay. For no shafts are more deadly +than Love’s.</p> + +<p>And the war-chariot of King Zeys the Scarer +thundered, awfully rolling along by the polished +colonnades of palaces, bearing the father and king +of gods and men to the forefront of the fray.</p> + +<p>But King Quirinus was leading the heroes of +the Latins, all blameless of course, with Aulus +master of knights on the left and Furius on +the right, with Herminius in the rear. Turnus +served under King Quirinus, with Mamilius prince +of the Latian name. Under Aulus, served Metius +of Anxur and Astur lord of Luna. Under Furius, +served showy Curtius, the forlorn hope. These +were all the most righteous of heroes. But the +Latin gods preferred to look on, sullen, from the +rear, in what they fondly deemed to be security.</p> + +<p>Thus, immortals were matched against pseud-immortals.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_268">[Pg 268]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="THE_THIRTIETH_PAPYRUS"> + THE THIRTIETH PAPYRUS + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>Then the Father and King of gods and men +thundered appallingly from above, and, from +beneath, the sea-king Poseidon set the vast earth +shaking, even to the tops of her blooming +mountains. And the brazen voice of impetuous +Ares resounded through the press of battle; +and bravely-steadfast Herakles strewed the Latin +heroes in swathes, sweeping his club here and +there, shattering shins, causing the marrow to +spurt from spines, so that knees became loosened; +and sweet Death in a white cloud enveloped them +while life left their bones. But the lord and lady +of the silver bows rained down their hot arrows, +which hissed into wet eye-sockets, forcing-in the +pupils, and going forward into the backs of the +heads: so that many heroes sat down without +warning or thrones, stretching out both their +hands for nothing. And blissful Pallas Athene +smote many, with her spear, where a puncture is +particularly painful: so that they panted, spinning +round and round upon the point like cockchafers, +writhing, holding their interiors in their hands, +until white Death veiled their two eyes wanting +life.</p> + +<p>But I, on the battlements, saw naught but +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_269">[Pg 269]</span>brave Horatius, heard naught save his personal +challenge to me, felt naught save the blows which +he delivered to my address, touched naught save +him, smelt naught save his delicious blood and +sweat mingling with ichor of the immortals. For +I drove my bloody spear into his shield; and +pinned it to his arm. But his spear tore away +my silver helmet crested with the prides of nine +white peacocks. Then, indeed, I leaped upon +him with my sword, protecting my head with my +fluttering targe. Nor did he abide my onslaught: +but he retired pace by pace; and a shower of +sparks burst out of his armour as I shattered it +bit by bit. But, perceiving that he was on the +very verge of the wall, I hustled him so horribly +with my great glittering shield, that, stepping back, +he fell for nineteen days, reaching the bountiful +earth at length in the form of a thin red rain. +But I recovered my silver helmet, running sidewise +at Furius, who was pressing the red-haired +boy Neoptolemos son of implacable Akhilleys; +and him, too, we hustled from the summit of the +wall. But the stripling laughed; and he fought +beside me, fighting as I did, shoving with very +weighty shields, till we had cleared a little space: +for the assault was keen.</p> + +<p>But Pallas Athene of the terrible Aigis came +whirling along the open way in her war-chariot, +shouting aloud and frightfully in the Orthian +strain. And scores of the blameless Latins she +squashed to pulp, or hurled from the height. +But then, indeed, when one might have begun to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_270">[Pg 270]</span>think about victory, suddenly I heard the voice +of Queen Helen calling me by name. To whom +I revolved like a flash of white thunder.</p> + +<p>But the divine one of goddesses was flying toward +me in the pleasure-chariot of white-armed +Hera the queen, woven of golden thongs plaited +tightly, with pole and wheels and yoke and harness +of gold. And peacocks drew it, flying on +large wings coloured of cinnamon and ebony, with +quivering crests and necks of shining blue, and +waving golden prides which gleamed each with a +hundred purple eyes. She cried to me as she +came: for a faithful wife (being troubled) thinks +that no one but her dear husband can relieve her. +And she said that constant Regulus, and Scipio +the African, and Gajus Martius of Corioli, were +attacking on the north, having scaled the wall: +whom Queen Hera and the goddesses were withstanding, +as best they might, with golden tiles +and paving-stones and jars and bowls and stairs, +hurled from the blooming towers.</p> + +<p>And I heard the saying of Queen Helen, with +those who fought near me; and, instantly, we ran +roaring to repel the invaders. And yellow-haired +Akhilleys the bravest of heroes ran with me, and +red-haired Neoptolemos his son, and Idomeneys +strong as flame, and Diomedes of the loud war-cry, +and magnanimous Iason, and glancing-eyed +Diokles, and golden-haired Meleagros, and my +own cousin Perseys of the sea (the most renowned +of heroes), nine in all. But we, ravening with +fury, fell upon the Latins; and I myself engaged +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_271">[Pg 271]</span>Titus son of Tarquinius, a gallant enough hero, +who (after some striving) took a toss from me +into the sea, the abode of fishes, where eels might +eat him, nibbling the white fat round his kidneys. +But only implacable Akhilleys remained alive beside +me, having his breath upon the height of +Olympos, with glancing-eyed Diokles who became +my sweet friend, and also Perseys the immortal +hero. And all the might of the Latins was surging +round to the north wall; and Titus Manlius +of the golden collar was leading them. But we +three fought grimly on.</p> + +<p>Then leaped-up in her might Strife the rouser +of hosts. Then Pallas Athene sent forth a cry. +And Ares shouted, terrible as the blackness of +storms. Then came Artemis of the silver arrows +and the echoing chase, and Phoibos Apollon darting +afar. Then the Father and King of gods and +men came lamping and toning terrifically from +above. Then came Hermes the Helper.</p> + +<p>And shady Hades, lord of the netherworld, +leaped from his black throne, bursting his bandages, +in terror lest the earth should again be +riven by King Poseidon irascibly rolling great +billows about: so loud was the din made by us +immortals. And, at King Zeys’ behest, King +Hades gave up a new host of heroes to Hermes +the Helper, Lysander and Leonidas those dirty-knuckled +Lakonians, and Alkibiades and Nikias +the Athenians, and Makedonian Alexandros, and +lacerated Prometheys, and thirsty Tantalos, and +wise Telemakhos my son and prudent Penelope’s, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_272">[Pg 272]</span>and unknowing Telegonos my son and Kirke’s +of the awful braided tresses, and Teykros the +bowman, and belted Orion, and gigantic Tityros, +and even the blameless Dardanian heroes of Ilion +to fight for the gods of lofty Olympos, to wit, +Hektor of the glancing helm, and pious runaway +Aineias, and Amphios of the linen corslet, and +Asios prince of men, and Hippothoos skilled with +the spear, and well-legged Phorkys, and uncouth +Nastes, and Sarpedon counseller of the Lykians, +and noble Glaykos, and naked Lykaon, and equal-handed +Asteropaios, and Polydoros the runner, all +the most righteous of heroes, thirsty for bloodshed +and buzzing like shameless mosquitoes.</p> + +<p>And now the heavens were filled with gods +and heroes, and ablaze with arms; and the +earth below rang with the noise of the feet of +them, as they rushed together for the fray. +For we, the Olympians, like ravening lions, were +leaping out, fulfilling the will of loud-thundering +Zeys ordaining a backward chase of the +Latins. They, indeed, of necessity were compelled +to give way; and many fair brands, dark-scabbarded +and dark-hilted, fell to the earth, +some from the hands and some with the severed +hands of warriors, so that the black earth was +splashed with a hail of the juices of heroes.</p> + +<p>But, scattering, the Latins broke, and fled in +confusion, driven in utter rout; and hero called +after hero to engage in single combat, slaying +each his own. And, wherever the king of gods +and men saw them thickest in flight, thither did +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_273">[Pg 273]</span>he guide his blooming chariot with resounding +cries; and, under his axle-trees, the Latins fell +prone and were ground up, till not one remained +in life: but they were pushed into the land of +the shades.</p> + +<p>And, even as tempests oppress the black earth +in autumn, when Zeys pours forth rain most +vehemently, being wrath against men who judge +crooked judgments forcibly and drive justice +out: so, mightily, then, we followed the blameless +gods of the Romans; and they fled as men +flee before lions and bloody unicorns. For Panic +and Terror and terrible Fear bounded behind +them yelling hideously: so that they fled, over +the mountains of Makedonia, and woody Epiros, +and the Ionian Sea, and also over Apulia, never +staying, till (at length) they cowered above the +Capitol of Rome, expecting the doom of the +vanquished.</p> + +<p>In this manner, was there war in the wide-rolling +heavens.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_274">[Pg 274]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="THE_THIRTY-FIRST_PAPYRUS"> + THE THIRTY-FIRST PAPYRUS + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>But King Zeys called together the areiopagos +of the immortals.</p> + +<p>And, when the twelve great gods were standing +round, in their well-carved lofty war-chariots, +the Latin gods crouched, miserable, whimpering, +chained, in the midst before them. And it was +openly manifest that they, presumptuous ones, +overweening in arrogance, had the audacity to +shape themselves (as far as they were able) after +the manner of the divine ones who inhabit +olympian palaces: as the barbarians, Egyptians, +or Sikels, or Thrakians, or Bithynians, whom +the Argives take for slaves, mimic the manners +of their masters, clumsily counterfeiting their +aspect. Yet, as the Argives are mortal and so +are the barbarians, being alike in that respect +but not in anything else, in the same way both +the Olympian and the Latin gods were immortal, +agreeing in no other similitude. But all the +company of heaven marvelled exceedingly, and +none knew the counsels of King Zeys.</p> + +<p>But the Father and King of gods and men, +whose joy is in the thunder, spoke, saying: +“Hearken to me, O all gods and all ye blooming +goddesses, hearing that which my mind +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_275">[Pg 275]</span>within my breast commandeth me. And one +thing let none assay, be it goddess or be it god, +to thwart my opinion: but approve it, ye, +unanimously, that I may quickly accomplish it. +For ye know how far I am made the mightiest +of all gods. Go to, now, ye gods, make trial +that ye may know. Fasten ye a golden rope +from heaven; and all ye gods lay hold thereof +and all goddesses: yet could ye not drag me +from heaven to earth, even Zeys, the counsellor +of The Supreme, not though ye toiled sorely. +But, an I were minded to drag it, then I should +draw you up, with the blooming earth and the +sea withal: by so much more am I beyond gods, +and beyond men, and all the rest of it.”</p> + +<p>Thus he spoke: but we all kept silence and +were still, marvelling at his saying, for he spoke +very masterfully. But, at last, the bright-eyed +goddess Pallas Athene said: “O our father Zeys, +well we know (even we) that thy might is unyielding. +Yet we have piety for these thy +prisoners, fools, who now shall perish and fulfil +an evil fate.”</p> + +<p>Then Zeys the Cloud-gatherer smiled at her, +saying: “Be of good comfort, dear child: for +I am not minded to be unkindly. But, hearken, +O all gods and all ye goddesses; and see the +justice of Zeys. For these cringing immortals +(from what part of the heavens they come, I know +not), having taken shapes similar to ours on +some false pretences, audacious ones, have not +been content with the worship of their Romans, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_276">[Pg 276]</span>but, bursting with arrogance, they have presumed +to claim also the worship of the rolling-eyed +Argives. Long, indeed, have I been patient with +them, with fair words and deeds: but they have +ventured to bring war to lofty Olympos. Witless +that they are, to be wrath in their folly +against Zeys, who (sitting all by himself) careth +not, nor taketh any thought about them: for +I deem that I, among immortal gods, am manifestly +<ins id='cor_276' title='Original: preminent'>preeminent</ins> in power and might etcetera. +Wherefore, let them content themselves with +whatsoever sorrows I shall send on each one +of them.”</p> + +<p>But fierce impetuous Ares stood high in his +war-chariot; whereto were yoked his horses Fear +and Dread; and he slapped his strong thighs +with his hands flatwise, saying: “O lord of the +lightning and the dark cloud, smite them with +the thunderbolts; and let them lie among the +dead in dust and blood.”</p> + +<p>But, when they heard this awful word, the +Latin gods leaped up to touch the beard and +the knees of Zeys, crying aloud in a panic-terror +as they bobbed up and down, saying: +“We supplicate thee by thy beard, and by thy +knees, and by thy parents, to take good store +of gold and korinthic bronze (which is platinum +and better than gold) as a ransom, and to let +us go in peace.”</p> + +<p>But, unto them, the Father and King of gods +and men, with grimmer gaze, responded, saying: +“Dogs, dogs, supplicate me not by beard or +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_277">[Pg 277]</span>knees or parents: for neither a tenfold nor a +twentyfold ransom can make amends for rebellion. +Nevertheless, seeing that ye be immortal, +even as are also we others, white Death +may not come anigh you. But let us hear +much-contriving Odysseys, the Peer of Zeys in +counsel: for perchance he hath some apt unwinged +sentence of judgment in his wily mind.”</p> + +<p>Then, indeed, I stood up before all the blooming +company of heaven, in my silver-shining +chariot inlaid with crabs and moons in mother-of-pearl, +but Love was my charioteer; and thus +I said: “Immortality to immortals, and nothings +to nothingness.”</p> + +<p>And all the gods and goddesses (bestowers of +good things) stood in their own war-chariots; +and inextinguishable laughter arose among the +blessed gods, when they heard my wily words.</p> + +<p>But great Zeys said: “It pleaseth us; and, +so, of our own free will, we command that it +shall be done.”</p> + +<p>And, immediately, all the gods and goddesses +of Olympos leaped upon all the blameless gods +and goddesses of Rome, Zeys upon Juppiter, and +Hera upon Juno, Helios Hyperion upon Sol, +and Selene upon Luna, Phoibos Apollon upon +Apollo, and Artemis upon Diana, Ares upon +Mars, and Iakkhos Dionysos upon Bacchus, Eros +upon Cupid, and Aphrodite upon Venus, Hermes +upon Mercury, and Pallas Athene upon Minerva, +Demeter upon Ceres, and Hephaistos upon Vulcan, +Hades upon Pluto, and Persephone upon Proserpina, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_278">[Pg 278]</span>Kastor and Polydeykes upon Castor and +Pollux, Herakles upon Hercules, and Poseidon +upon Neptune, and innumerable others upon +others innumerable, pouncing upon them, like +falcons biting the bloody brains of baser birds, +buzzards, and such, sucking out their immortality.</p> + +<p>And the forms of the Latin gods, like flies +in the webs of assiduous spiders, lifeless, and +very void, fell back, dropping from heaven to +earth; and the speed of their falling ground +them to powder, so that they became as red +dust, and a most awful portent for their Romans +on whom they fell. For, by chance, at this +same time, the Romans were perturbed by a +political crisis, connected with that Gajus Julius +Cæsar, a king of men and a shepherd of the +people. For, when they saw fierce fiery warriors +fighting on the clouds, in ranks and squadrons +and right forms of war, which drizzled blood +of heroes on the Capitol, and, when they heard +the neighing of horses and the groans of ghosts +of heroes, slain, shrieking, squealing, going to +the land of shades, then, indeed, blind madness +entered into them; and they slew their precious +Cæsar. Thus, the heavens themselves blaze forth +the death of princes.⁠<a id="FNanchor_64_64" href="#Footnote_64_64" class="fnanchor">[64]</a></p> + +<p>But the immortal gods, more amply immortal +than ever (if that were possible), returned to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_279">[Pg 279]</span>their dear motherland bearing the spoils of victory; +and the divine ones inhabiting olympian palaces +began to receive the worship of the Romans, as +was due.</p> + +<p>In this manner, was there peace in the wide-rolling +heavens.</p> + + +<div class="footnotes"> +<h3 id="FOOTNOTES_23"> + FOOTNOTES: +</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_64_64" href="#FNanchor_64_64" class="label">[64]</a> This, I take for a somewhat Shakespearian reminiscence (or +prevision) on the part of Mr. C. Cf. <i>Julius Cæsar</i>, Act II., +Scene ii. A. H.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_280">[Pg 280]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="THE_THIRTY-SECOND_PAPYRUS"> + THE THIRTY-SECOND PAPYRUS + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>But King Zeys lavished rich rewards, dividing +the Roman territories among gods and heroes, +giving temples to some and altars to others, to +say nothing of blank walls eligible for immortal +effigies. But, because I was by no means anxious +to have assigned to me the worship of mortal +men (for, having been myself a man more than +once, I know something about the value of men’s +worship; and I care as little for suitors who +adulate as for enemies who feel bound to propitiate), +then, the Father and King of gods and +men deigned to give me a wish, confirming the +same with his nod, which is the surest pledge +among the immortals. And I said that I would +treasure this wish in my heart, so that I might +use it on occasion: for I desired, at that moment, +nothing more than to live in peace and love with +Golden Helen. And that, I did.</p> + +<p>Living in peace and love, thus, we entertained +ourselves with hunting bears, dragons, and urchins,⁠<a id="FNanchor_65_65" href="#Footnote_65_65" class="fnanchor">[65]</a> +on the long slopes of lofty Olympos, or with +delicate banquets in the halls of various gods. I, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_281">[Pg 281]</span>also, went frequently to and fro among mortal +men, generally invisibly, amusing myself with +their affairs. Also, I was wont to disport myself +in my well-benched galley, a wonder to be seen, +being drawn by Love over the grey-green sea at +my will. For Hermes my grandsire, and bravely-steadfast +Herakles, and my own cousin Perseys +of the sea (the most renowned of heroes), used to +accompany me in my jaunts; and, when these +immortals saw my faithful slaves Neandros and +Thalos, being cognizant of their fidelity and their +fearlessness, and, also, having observed the ingenious +mind and the stalwart form of Neandros +and the luminous innocence of Thalos, then, +indeed, they shewed them signal favours, putting +into their minds a knowledge of many secrets +which the gods and heroes find useful at times. +Nor were the slaves afraid to have to do with +these divine ones, having already braved the +terrors of the netherworld with me, than which +there is nothing more terrible, excepting a really +horrid woman. But, because I (by magic art) +had bound their lives to mine, and, because Great +Zeys, in reward of my endurance and my wiles, +had indued me with immortality, so Neandros and +Thalos, being immortal as well (though they were +neither gods nor heroes, but only the most comely +and most faithful and most clever of slaves), became +habituated to mingle themselves as conveniently +with immortals as with mortals. Which +is a wonderful and blessed thing.</p> + + +<p>But, after a few moons, when I from time to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_282">[Pg 282]</span>time returned to lofty Olympos, it seemed to me +that Queen Helen was less cheerful than heretofore. +And, when, one day, I found her sitting +alone in her close chamber, weaving a white and +silver shirt for me to wear at banquets, and the +lids of her amber eyes were reddened as though +with weeping, then, indeed, I required her to +declare to her dear husband the cause of her grief. +But she laid her head on my breast, letting fall a +round tear: nor did she hide aught from me.</p> + +<p>For, the long-smouldering jealousy of blameless +Queen Aphrodite (the lady of the dog-star) had +been breaking forth; and she was quite unable to +remember good manners in the presence of Queen +Helen. But it was plain to us all, that, as Queen +Helen was far lovelier than she, Queen Aphrodite +was no longer the goddess of beauty, though she +still was the goddess of certain kinds of love. +Yet, even on the last count, she complained, +being shockingly jealous and upset. For she was +aggrieved because ruddy young Love gave her +little of his blooming company, having bound +himself (with a silver chain) in service to me and +to Queen Helen, flying here and there through +air and shy for our exclusive diversion, neglecting +her (his mamma) and other divine ones inhabiting +olympian palaces. Which, indeed, was not altogether +untrue: though hitherto we had not given +the matter a thought.</p> + +<p>Furthermore, white-armed Queen Hera (the +most righteous of goddesses), had been speaking +unpleasant words. For that prim matron, being +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_283">[Pg 283]</span>jealous also, because King Zeys the Swan had +procreated Golden Helen and her Great Twin +Brothers out of matrimony, was wont to sneeze +more or less covertly, giggling, flinging the names +of victorious Theseys and sandy-haired impotent +old Menelaos and woman-mad Paris at my stainless +wife, designing to shame her and to deprive +her mind of ease.</p> + +<p>And all this was a very dreadful thing for a +chaste and loving wife to bear. For, though +bright-eyed Pallas Athene, and silvan Artemis +(that wise athletic maiden), and fruitful Demeter +and powerful Persephone (those noble matrons), +and fair-ankled Hebe, and Iris of the rainbow, +and all the other lady goddesses, being well-bred +as well as well-born, behaved themselves to Queen +Helen as to an equal, peerless in beauty and +admirable for her faithful love, nevertheless, the +unconcealed jealousy of the two flawed the fair +apricock of her perfect joy. And, moreover, it +must not be denied that the pique of Queen +Aphrodite and the spleen of Queen Hera (both +quite blameless) was, or would be, a cause of wrath, +and secret stirring up of strife, and wordy bickering, +and malice, and hinted lies, and curious +reservations, and careful slightings, which would +set all heaven by its blooming ears. And that is +what no honest goddess can endure with a calm +and holy mind.</p> + +<p>Now, because of my unalloyed happiness, and +because of my light-hearted absences, I had been +ignorant of all these matters. But, when I understood +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_284">[Pg 284]</span>them, having reproached myself sufficiently +on account of my selfishness, then, indeed, divine +Fury inflamed the mind in my noble breast with +desire of bloody head-cuttings and eye-diggings +and revenges and slaughters and maimings and +stonings and spine-impalings. But, first, I consoled +Queen Helen properly.</p> + +<p>Then I began to bethink me of most shocking +things, to wit, of certain cunning wiles whereby +those two blameless goddesses might be made +laughing-stocks, ridiculous among the divine ones +who have never lost their faces. For I remembered +that this would not be very difficult, for, +once upon a time, Great Zeys himself had occasion +to dangle white-armed Hera (the most +righteous of goddesses) between heaven and earth +for several months, having fastened anvils to her +fat ankles, because she was excessively offensive. +And even Hephaistos of the strong arm once +caught blameless Aphrodite, his wife, diverting +herself gaily with Ares; and he cast a magic web +about them so that all the gods and goddesses +might go and gibe at them at pleasure. And, +indeed, it would not be difficult for anyone to +make Queen Aphrodite look absurd: as most of +the gods and heroes, and very many articulately-speaking +men well know.</p> + +<p>But Queen Helen was averse from all unkindness, +and, as aforetime, when persecuted, she +begged me to take her away from the netherworld, +and from Khalkis, and likewise from Rome, so, +now, indeed, she implored me to take her away +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_285">[Pg 285]</span>from the height of Olympos, going (she said) +peacefully, to seek some distant little kingdom +on the wide-bosomed earth, where we (divine +ones and immortal), having ourselves endured +unmentioned and unthought-of pains, and possessing +the secret wisdom of the gods, might live in +peace and love with ourselves, doing good and +kindly deeds among mortal men.</p> + +<p>Now it happened, by chance, that (in my +wanderings to and fro) I had never been altogether +unmindful of the prediction of Belmarduk +the god of Assyria, which he made to me when I +dreamed in my barge in Egypt. And, once, +when I was flying in my Love-drawn chariot, +over the Aigaian Sea, and over Asia and Galatia +and Kappadokia and Armenia, I espied the fair +little realm of Moxoene, where mountains and +pine and oak-forests were set round and about +the salt Thospitian Sea; and the folk of the place +were singularly comely, and intelligent and brave, +having also ingenious and reverend minds: but +they seemed to be as sheep without a shepherd.</p> + +<p>Wherefore, I determined that the time had +come for obeying the decrees of The Supreme, +fulfilling the prediction of Belmarduk the god, +and the sixth prediction which Thalos my innocent +slave read in the palm-mirror. Moreover, I +remembered the wish which Great Zeys had +confirmed to me.</p> + +<p>For which causes, then, I gave a great and +splendid banquet to the immortals; and, when +we had taken away the desire of eating and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_286">[Pg 286]</span>drinking (for I provided very exquisite odours of +unmentioned and unthought-of fragrance), then, +I stood up on my throne before them all; and +my lordly spirit thus addressed Great Zeys, saying: +“O Father and King of gods and men, let +it not be imputed to me for an evil word when I +ask that the drink-offering may be poured, and +that I may go upon my way. For I am a little +tired. For it seems that there is jealousy among +the immortal goddesses because of the superior +beauty of Golden Helen, to whom white-armed +Hera and Aphrodite (lady of the dog-star) have +spoken unwinged words. And they also complain +because tameless Eros, the oldest and youngest of +all gods, hath willingly tamed himself so far and +for this occasion only to go before me and before +Queen Helen in the way. For which cause, then, +this is my wish, which thou already hast confirmed +to me by thine irrevocable nod. I wish to go +away at once, and in peace, from this blooming +peak of Olympos, with Queen Helen my unsullied +wife, and with my gear, that we may live once +more among earth-trampling men, among whom +we shall not be the least, seeing that we are immortal +and have the secret wisdom of the gods. +And I have found the kingdom of Moxoene by +the Thospitian Sea, where I wish to dwell. Now, +then, send me on my way, giving me good fortune, +that I may take my noble wife to the beautiful +home which I shall make for her. But ye, +blessed gods, be pleased to abide here, all of +you, making glad your own blooming wives and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_287">[Pg 287]</span>children, and enjoying all sorts of delicious +delights.”</p> + +<p>Thus I spoke. And my heart and lordly mind +were exultant in my breast. For immense confusion +and hubbub arose among the immortal +gods; and the two jealous queens (the most +righteous of goddesses), thoroughly exasperated by +the wily and audacious mildness of my contemptuous +words, bridled and sniffed, tossing their heads +and beating their fat knees, glancing this way and +that, madly, and saying that so many rash things had +never been said before for them to sit there and hear.</p> + +<p>But wing-footed Hermes, my grandsire, said: +“Let him go where he will, this much-enduring +much-contriving Odysseys who is surely Peer of +Zeys in counsel, and Queen Helen who is indubitably +the loveliest of mortals or immortals: +for my rede is that my child deserves to be satisfied. +But I myself will never be very far away +from him in Moxoene; and, when ye gods by +chance shall want a messenger, take blooming Iris +of the rainbow.”</p> + +<p>But bravely-steadfast Herakles said: “Let him +go where he will, this hero Odysseys, and Queen +Helen the most faithful of wives: for they ought +to have some happiness after so much ill. But I +myself will be at their call, whenever they ask for +a champion.”</p> + +<p>But in like manner also spoke my own cousin +Perseys of the sea, the most renowned of heroes. +And all the important gods and goddesses signified +approval in the customary manner.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_288">[Pg 288]</span></p> + +<p>But Eros leaped up, blindfolded, naked, like a +young and ruddy flame; and he said: “Oh, let +them go where they will. But thou, O Great Zeys, +whom I not seldom have wounded, be ware that +I will not desert such true lovers as these. And, +if thou keepest me here, thou wilt keep no more +of me than my body. But I will make me a nest +in their hearts for ever and ever. For I know +where I am a welcome guest, and where I am +unwelcome, and where I am treated simply as a +blooming pastime with childish play, and where +with due worship and honour.”</p> + +<p>Then, the Father and King of gods and men +drew down his immortal eyebrows: for the matter +was an extremely grave one; and he gave judgment, +saying: “Let us by any means secure a +quiet life. And, forasmuch as King Odysseys +desireth to leave us peaceably, retiring to an +earthly kingdom with his dear wife and his proper +paraphernalia, let him go to Moxoene thus. And +let them have all health and comfort in their +going. It pleaseth us; and, so, of our own free +will, we command that it shall be done.”</p> + +<p>Therefore, when Morning donned her saffron +robes, and ascended from bathing in the streams +of ocean, to give light to immortals and mortals, +then, all the divine ones (save the two blameless +queens), having loaded my chariot with sweet +gifts, came gateward to speed us on our way. +But Aphrodite the lady of the dog-star (the most +righteous of goddesses) pettishly called for her +son, holding him between her knees for once, and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_289">[Pg 289]</span>caressing his ruddy young neck, with malicious +intent to prevent him from going with us.</p> + +<p>But then, indeed, a marvellous portent was +manifested.</p> + +<p>For my gigantic silver-shining chariot, inlaid +with crabs and moons in mother-of-pearl, stood +in the gateway of lofty Olympos loaded with my +gear. And, poised on the front of its rail, was +the silver image of Love, larger than life, blindfolded, +naked, most alluringly proportioned, with +his well-winged arms spread abroad in the very +act of taking flight; and his reins were girded +with the silver chain, of which the taslets dangled +behind down to the rail of the chariot. But, +when Queen Helen saw that invidious hag detaining +our charioteer out of jealousy, then, she looked +at me sadly, letting fall a round tear, not knowing +how we should go. To whom I spoke unwinged +words, saying very firmly: “Mount, my child, +nor be affrighted with any amazement whatever: +for dreadful among mortals and immortals is the +wrath of a suppliant. And we, indeed, are the +suppliants of Love.”</p> + +<p>Thus I spoke: but we two mounted in turn; +and Queen Helen pulled the chain, having confidence +in the promise of the god. And, as she +worked the magic inchantment, both our hearts +glowed with undying fire. And we saw young +and ruddy Eros, clasped between his wretched +mother’s knees, become suddenly white and rigid: +but he himself came; and the silver image of +Love lived, and was Love, bursting into ardent +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_290">[Pg 290]</span>life, and flying away with us, leaving no more +than the wraith of Love with Aphrodite (most +righteous of goddesses) howling on lofty Olympos.</p> + +<p>Thus, then, I left the abodes of the immortals, +coming to rule my kingdom of Moxoene on the +grain-giving earth.</p> + + +<div class="footnotes"> +<h3 id="FOOTNOTES_24"> + FOOTNOTES: +</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_65_65" href="#FNanchor_65_65" class="label">[65]</a> I do hope and trust, and (in fact) I believe that he means “hedgehogs”: +though I confess that I myself never derived much real sport +from the chase of those beasts. Perhaps “porpentines” would be a +more exact rendering. A. H.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_291">[Pg 291]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="THE_THIRTY-THIRD_PAPYRUS"> + THE THIRTY-THIRD PAPYRUS + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>Now the deeds which I have done and the wiles +which I have wrought, in my kingdom of +Moxoene, are on this wise. And, seeing that +they are both great and numerous, I will have +them fairly written out by the hand of Empedokles +son of Polypemon, my scribe, on one-and-twenty +new rolls of fine papyrus, and sealed with +my kingly sigil.</p> + +<p>On the first roll, it shall be written of my +coming with Queen Helen to Moxoene, flying +out of the open heaven in my silver-shining +chariot, having a glorious sheen like the moon. +And, when the people saw us, they received us +with gladness and piety and exquisite sacrifices: +for, though we scintillated with truly godly +splendour, and appeared to be of very much more +than mortal stature, yet we were benign of aspect +and not terrible; and the tribes (also) of the +country are not slavish or timid by nature, but +brave and strong, and of an upright ingenious mind.</p> + +<p>On the second roll, it shall be written of the +stablishing of my kingdom. For, when the news +of my coming went abroad, then, the chiefs of the +fifteen tribes between the Great River⁠<a id="FNanchor_66_66" href="#Footnote_66_66" class="fnanchor">[66]</a> and River +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_292">[Pg 292]</span>Araxes and Media Atropatene with Assyria and +Mesopotamia came, of their own free will, to pay +homage to me, swearing faithful allegiance. And +these were the fifteen princes of the fifteen tribes +of Akilisene and Derxene and Phasianene and +Bagravandene and Dasranalene and Khorzianene +and Balabitene and Astianene and Anzitene and +Sophene and Arzanene and Gordavanene and +Arapakitene and Thositene and Moxoene.</p> + +<p>On the third roll, it shall be written of the +constitution of my kingdom as a limited theocracy: +for I, the king, and Helen, the queen, +accept the obedience and the worship of the +nation, as god and goddess of Moxoene, for the +present and in the absence of anything better. +Here, also, it shall be written of the manner of +the said obedience and worship: of the language +of Moxoene: of my kingly name Balthazar, and +the signification of the same.</p> + +<p>On the fourth roll, it shall be written of the +<i>Sacred Lavation</i> and of <i>The Spell of The Three Who +are One</i>, a most efficacious mighty magic inchantment, +which, in the very beginning, I wrought +upon the persons of all and singular my subjects, +in my Thospitian Sea, will-he nill-he: with the +names and histories of the two of evil mind who +repudiated it, whom a flying dragon ate that same +afternoon.⁠<a id="FNanchor_67_67" href="#Footnote_67_67" class="fnanchor">[67]</a></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_293">[Pg 293]</span></p> + +<p>On the fifth roll, it shall be written of the +mysteries, which I study and cause to be studied +by the few who are worthy; and of the altar, of +sunstone and moonstone, to Mithra, Unconquered +Father of Fathers, which I set up in my palace +for myself and my own, whereat I myself minister +as mysteriarch among my sons.</p> + +<p>On the sixth roll, it shall be written of the fair +children borne to me by Queen Helen, my beloved +wife and true: to wit, my darling Diyllos +(superb and glancing-eyed like my friend Diokles) +born under the Moon and the Crab, and my very +dear son Nikolaos born under Hermes and The +Virgin, and my twin-son Haliastos and my twin-daughter +Halianthe born under Oyranos and The +Waterman; and of the <i>Sacred Lavation</i> and <i>The +Spell of The Three Who are One</i>, which I wrought +upon them all at birth.</p> + +<p>On the seventh roll, it shall be written of +Queen Helen, my meet help and my heart’s +constant joy: of all the deeds which she (the +divine one of goddesses) has done for the women +and children of my kingdom, teaching them the +arts of love, obedience, service, housewifery, +comforting them in sorrow. Here, also, shall be +written of my sweet daughter Silver Halianthe, +my sea-flower, who (having been born in my +galley on my Thospitian Sea, and having been +bred by Queen Helen) has become her golden +mother’s second self.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_294">[Pg 294]</span></p> + +<p>On the eighth roll, it shall be written of my +friend glancing-eyed Diokles, and of my own +cousin Perseys of the sea (the most renowned of +heroes), who came to my kingdom while my sons +were young, to teach them all those things which +the sons of heroes and of kings must know, and +to show them what the sons of heroes and of +kings must be.</p> + +<p>On the ninth roll, it shall be written of +Hermes the Helper and of Eros the Great Inchanter, +and of my two faithful slaves Neandros +and Thalos. Here, shall be written of the +mighty magic which Eros taught to ingenious +Neandros my slave, and to my dear son Haliastos +desiring it, so that they found out wells of fragrant +oil wherein pitch beautifully floats, and also wells +of limpid water, for the magic instruments which +they make, wherewith they cut the air into compact +blocks, storing the same in the secret parts +of chariots (which, also, they make), so that the +said chariots, fish-shaped, run on the earth, or fly +in the air, or swim in and on the sea, more swiftly +than a bird or a thought, having no sails nor oars +nor even horses to draw them. And with these +I win great victories over hairy barbarians, even +over the Parthians with their blooming elephants. +And here, also, shall be written of the wisdom +unspeakable which Hermes taught to ingenious +Thalos my slave, and to my strange and very dear +son Nikolaos desiring it: so that I placed them over +my royal college of mages seeking wisdom, which +I stablished on the peak above my Thospitian Sea.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_295">[Pg 295]</span></p> + +<p>On the tenth roll, it shall be written of the +death of my darling son Diyllos, in my war with +the Kilikian pirates, in the moment of victory +with his circle of dead about him as high as the +well-folded tablets of his breast. Herakles lighted +his funeral-pyre, heaped with his chariots, his +arms, his trophies, and a few of his toys. I could +not burn my own work, the most beautiful body +of my son. I preserve it, using the best of all +my magic art, so that it will be sweet and fresh +for me for ever and ever. Here, also, shall be +written of the fair and kingly crypt, where I have +hidden that vesture of my darling son, with my +private treasures; and of my daily visit to look +upon him.</p> + +<p>On the eleventh roll, it shall be written of the +embassador who came from Cæsar Augustus, +demanding my submission, requiring me to send +my sons, with the sons of neighbouring kings, as +hostages, to Rome. Here, also, shall be written +of the manner of my dealing with the said embassador, +at high noon, on a terrace of my palace +builded of white jade and alabaster and eye-chalcedonyx +and silver, on the shore of my Thospitian +Sea: to whom I casually appeared, of +immortal stature, blazing like the serene and +vivid moon, arrayed in ermine and silver tissue +sown all over with rose-crystals and blue moonstones, +flying through the air across the sea in +my silver-shining chariot inlaid with crabs and +moons in mother-of-pearl, having with me (in the +chariot) Queen Helen, daughter of Zeys the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_296">[Pg 296]</span>Swan, robed in gold and amethyst tissue, with +her gold hair floating like a web of woven sunbeams, +and with immortal Hermes the Luck-bringer, +wing-footed, golden-wanded, flying (as +usual) above my head, and with immortal Love, +my charioteer. Here, also, shall be written of +the splendid ceremonies which I caused to be +observed at the interment of the Roman embassador, +after his intempestive demise.</p> + +<p>On the twelfth roll, it shall be written of the +names of all the mages of all kingdoms on the +wide-bosomed earth, whom I have brought into +my kingdom, where they teach their wisdom to +me and to my mages, and learn ours, serving me +in both ways. Here also shall be written of the +histories of those mages, and of the magics which +they have used as masters.</p> + +<p>On the thirteenth roll, it shall be written (in +the hand of Empedokles son of Polypemon, and +in his own words) of who he was and whence he +came: but he shall write also (in my words) of +the reason why I brought him into my kingdom, +and of what he has done there.</p> + +<p>On the fourteenth roll, it shall be written of +the book of magic inchantments which I (of my +wisdom) compiled for my royal college of mages +seeking wisdom: of the parts of the said book, +and also the secret⁠<a id="FNanchor_68_68" href="#Footnote_68_68" class="fnanchor">[68]</a>....</p> + + +<div class="footnotes"> +<h3 id="FOOTNOTES_25"> + FOOTNOTES: +</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_66_66" href="#FNanchor_66_66" class="label">[66]</a> Euphrates, of course. A. H.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_67_67" href="#FNanchor_67_67" class="label">[67]</a> The word here is “pterodactyl.” The largest known specimen of +this abominable winged lizard measures about six metres from wing-tip +to wing-tip. Its frightful crocodilish jaws seem to indicate a very +voracious appetite. But I was unaware that the species persisted till +so late a date. Perhaps I ought to add that the “pteranodon” was +about the same size: but the wing-dimension of the “rhamphorhynkhos” +was only a little over two metres. Both, however, seem to have been +extremely nasty creatures. A. H.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_68_68" href="#FNanchor_68_68" class="label">[68]</a> Most unfortunately this Thirty-third Papyrus ends abruptly +here. A. H.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_297">[Pg 297]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="THE_THIRTY-FOURTH_PAPYRUS"> + THE THIRTY-FOURTH PAPYRUS + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>Now I, Queen Helen, daughter of Zeys, an +immortal, say these words to be written fairly +by Empedokles son of Polypemon, scribe of my +beloved lord and true husband King Balthazar of +Moxoene, whom the immortals and the Argives +call King Odysseys, but he calls himself Nikolaos +the Crab, viceroy of Victory queen of the stalwart +stately Anglicans.</p> + +<p>And these are the words which I shall say for +the scribe to write.</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>Yesterday, at dawn, our strange and very dear +son Nikolaos Diadokhos came with the faithful +Thalos from our royal college of mages.</p> + +<p>They said to the king that they had seen a +great new Star, suddenly shining in the south-western +heaven, far brighter than any other star +ever seen, and moving south-westward.</p> + +<p>My lord and husband the king, having straitly +examined them, became filled with fear and gladness +strangely commingled. I never have seen +him thus.</p> + +<p>My lord and husband the king enacted an act +of regency, naming me, Queen Helen, as Regent +of his kingdom of Moxoene.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_298">[Pg 298]</span></p> + +<p>My lord and husband the king arrayed himself +in his silver-shining panoply, and he caused our +strange and very dear son Nikolaos Diadokhos +and the faithful Thalos to put on their garments +of glory.</p> + +<p>My lord and husband the king summoned his +silver-shining chariot; and he caused our strange +and very dear son Nikolaos Diadokhos and the +faithful Thalos to mount to their places.</p> + +<p>My lord and husband the king, with his own +hands, took out of our treasury that casket of +rock-crystal, three spans long and two spans deep +and one span broad, which, during his leisure of +these many years, he has carved with crabs and +moons and inlaid with blue moonstones, binding +it with hasps and hinges and bands of silver, all +with his own hands; and he filled it full with +our royal quintessence of gum-olibanon, which he +has sublimed, also with his own hands during his +leisure of these many years.</p> + +<p>My lord and husband the king kissed me in a +manner which he never has used before, bidding +me to be of good heart and ready to receive +tidings of great joy.</p> + +<p>Having done all these strange things, my lord +and husband the king ascended his silver-shining +chariot, with the two mages aforesaid, taking +with him the rock-crystal casket of frankincense +aforesaid; and, so, he very swiftly departed south-westward, +at sunset, following the Star.</p> + +<p>Now I, Queen Helen, daughter of Zeys, an +immortal, having already endured many evils, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_299">[Pg 299]</span>and being now perturbed in my mind, have +caused these words to be written, that I may +place them in a most secret holy crypt. And I +will place them with that which is most dear, +which is there, and with the secret silver urns +which contain toys, and with the secret silver +chest which contains writings, because these are +the chief treasures of my lord the king.</p> + +<p>And, when I have done this, I will see the +secret holy crypt closed by Empedokles son of +Polypemon and by the faithful Neandros. And +I will seal the door with the royal sigil. And I +will see the very door itself hidden by the faithful +Neandros.</p> + +<p>And I will do all these things, that my lord +and husband the king may find his secrets safe, +when he shall return to me. For I know not +when he shall return to me.</p> + + +<h3 id="Explicitur"> + <span class="smcap">Explicitur</span> +</h3> + +<p class="center f08 p4"> + Printed by <span class="smcap">Ballantyne, Hanson & Co.</span><br> + Edinburgh & London +</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_300"></a><a id="Page_f1"></a>[Pg 1]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="PUBLICATIONS_OF"> + <b>PUBLICATIONS OF</b> + </h2> +</div> + +<p class="center f15"><b>William Rider & Son, Ltd.</b></p> + +<hr class="r50"> + +<h3 id="THE_NEW_THOUGHT_LIBRARY"> + <b>THE NEW THOUGHT LIBRARY.</b> +</h3> + +<p class="center"><i>Crown 8vo. Crimson cloth extra, gilt tops 3s. 6d. net.</i></p> +<hr class="r50"> +<p>The “New Thought Library” has been designed to include only +the best works in this class of literature. 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Price +<b>3</b>s. <b>6</b>d. net.</p> + +<p><b>Essays of Prentice Mulford.</b> Fourth Series. Completing +the entire set of the Essays published in America under the title +of “Your Forces and How to Use Them.” Price <b>3</b>s. <b>6</b>d. net.</p> + +<blockquote> +<p>These four volumes constitute by far the best Edition of the Essays of Prentice +Mulford published in the English language. Special care has been taken to eliminate +the errors and mistakes with which the American edition abounds.</p> +</blockquote> + +<p><b>The Science of the Larger Life.</b> A Selection from +the Essays of Ursula N. Gestefeld. Price <b>3</b>s. <b>6</b>d. net.</p> + +<p><b>Every Man a King</b>, or Might in Mind Mastery. By Orison +Swett Marden. Price <b>3</b>s. <b>6</b>d. net.</p> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_f2">[Pg 2]</span> +<p><b>Mental Medicine.</b> Some Practical Suggestions from a +Spiritual Standpoint. By Oliver Huckel, S.T.D. With an Introduction +by Lewellys F. Barker, M.D. Price <b>3</b>s. <b>6</b>d. net.</p> + +<p><b>Self-Control, and How to Secure it</b> (L’Education de +Soi-même). By Dr. Paul Dubois, Professor of Neuropathology in +the University of Berne, Author of “The Psychic Treatment of +Nervous Disorders,” “The Influence of the Mind on the Body,” +etc. Authorized Translation. By Harry Hutcheson Boyd. +Price <b>3</b>s. <b>6</b>d. net.</p> + +<p><b>He Can Who Thinks He Can, and other Essays +on Success in Life.</b> By Orison Swett Marden, author of +“Every Man a King.” Price <b>3</b>s. <b>6</b>d. net.</p> + +<p><b>Creative Thought.</b> Being Essays in the Art of Self-Unfoldment. +By W. J. Colville. Author of “Ancient Mysteries +and Modern Revelations,” “Life and Power from Within,” etc. +Price <b>3</b>s. <b>6</b>d. net.</p> + +<p><b>The Rational Education of the Will.</b> Its Therapeutical +value. By Dr. Paul Emil Levy, with Preface by Prof. +Bernheim, Ph. D. Author of “Neurasthenie et Névroses.” +Translated from the ninth edition by Florence K. Bright. +Price <b>3</b>s. <b>6</b>d. net.</p> + +<p><b>The Gift of the Spirit.</b> Pocket Edition (5in × 3in). +Leather Gilt, <b>2</b>s. <b>6</b>d. net.</p> + + +<h3 id="MYSTICISM"> + <b>MYSTICISM.</b> +</h3> + +<p><b>The Open Secret</b>: Intuitions of Life and Reality. By +Charles J. Whitby, M.D., Author of “Triumphant Vulgarity,” +“Makers of Man,” “The Wisdom of Plotinus,” etc. Crown 8vo, +cloth gilt, <b>2</b>s. <b>6</b>d. net.</p> + +<p><b>On a Gold Basis.</b> A Treatise on Mysticism. By Isabelle +de Steiger. Crown 8vo, cloth, gilt, <b>3</b>s. <b>6</b>d. net.</p> + +<p><b>The Cloud upon the Sanctuary.</b> A Text Book of +Christian Mysticism. Third Edition. Revised and Enlarged. +Crown 8vo, xxxix+144 pp., <b>3</b>s. <b>6</b>d. net. By Councillor Karl von +Eckartshausen. Translated and Annotated by Isabelle de Steiger, +with an Introduction by Arthur Edward Waite.</p> + +<blockquote> +<p>The fullest and clearest exhibition of the Doctrine of a Secret Holy Assembly +within the Christian Church.</p> +</blockquote> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_f3">[Pg 3]</span></p> + +<p><b>The Hidden Way Across the Threshold</b>; or, The +Mystery which hath been Hidden for Ages and from Generations. +An explanation of the concealed forces in every man to open <span class="allsmcap">THE +TEMPLE OF THE SOUL</span>, and to learn <span class="allsmcap">THE GUIDANCE OF THE +UNSEEN HAND</span>. Illustrated and made plain, with as few occult +terms as possible, by J. C. Street. Large 8vo, with Plates, +<b>12</b>s. net.</p> + +<blockquote> +<p>The writer of this book, it is admitted, has enjoyed access to sources of information +not commonly open to mankind in its present state of development.</p> +</blockquote> + +<p><b>Steps to the Crown.</b> By Arthur Edward Waite. Foolscap +8vo, buckram, <b>2</b>s. <b>6</b>d. net.</p> + +<blockquote> +<p>“Mr. Waite has presented his philosophy of life in a series of aphorisms. The +author of this volume is well known as one of the best living authorities on the history +of mysticism, and the point of view here maintained is that of an initiate.”—<i>Tribune.</i></p> +</blockquote> + +<p><b>The Way of the Soul</b>, a Legend in Line and Verse, depicting +the Soul’s Pilgrimage through Matter. By William T. Horton, +Author of “The Book of Images.” With Foreword by Ralph +Shirley. 48 full-page Symbolical Illustrations. In artistically designed +blue cloth binding, black and gold lettering, with symbolical +design. Crown 4to, gilt tops, 224 pp., <b>6</b>s. net.</p> + +<p><b>Ancient Mysteries and Modern Revelations.</b> By +W. J. Colville, Author of “Fate Mastered,” “Life and Power +from Within,” etc., etc. With Portrait of the Author. Crown +8vo, 366 pp., cloth gilt, <b>3</b>s. <b>6</b>d. net.</p> + +<p><b>The Altar in the Wilderness.</b> An attempt to interpret +Man’s Seven Spiritual Ages. By Ethelbert Johnson. 5½in. × 4in. +cloth gilt, cheaper edition <b>1</b>s. net.</p> + +<blockquote> +<p><span class="smcap">Contents.</span>—I. The Golden Age. II. The Exile. III. Life in Death. IV. The +Conflict. V. The Wilderness. VI. Illumination. VII. The Temple.</p> +</blockquote> + +<p><b>The Mysticism of Colour.</b> By the Honourable Mrs. +Charles Bruce. With Folded Colour-Scheme Frontispiece. Crown +8vo. 230 + xxpp. <b>3</b>s. <b>6</b>d. net.</p> + + +<h3 id="PSYCHIC_PHENOMENA_AND_SPIRITUALISM"> + <b>PSYCHIC PHENOMENA AND SPIRITUALISM.</b> +</h3> + +<p><b>Byways of Ghostland.</b> By Elliott O’Donnell, Author +of “Some Haunted Houses in England and Wales,” “Ghostly +Phenomena,” etc., etc. Demy 8vo, cloth gilt, 248 pp., <b>3</b>s. <b>6</b>d. net.</p> + +<p class="center"> +CONTENTS. +</p> + +<blockquote> +<p>The Unknown Brain; The Occult in Shadows; Obsession, Possession: Complex +Hauntings and Occult Bestialities; Vampires, Were-Wolves, Fox-Women, etc.; +Death Warnings and Family Ghosts; Superstitions and Fortunes; Birth-Marks; +Pre-Existence; The Future; Projection.</p> +</blockquote> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_f4">[Pg 4]</span></p> + +<p><b>New Evidences in Psychical Research.</b> By J. +Arthur Hill. With Introductory Note by Sir Oliver Lodge, F.R.S. +Crown 8vo. cloth gilt, 224 pp., <b>3</b>s. <b>6</b>d. net.</p> + +<p><b>Christianity and Spiritualism.</b> (<i>Christianisme et +Spiritualisme.</i>) By Léon Denis. Translated by Helen Draper +Speakman. Crown 8vo, <b>3</b>s. <b>6</b>d. net.</p> + +<blockquote> +<p>The writer contends that Spiritualism offers tangible proofs of immortality, and +thus carries us back to the pure Christian doctrines.</p> +</blockquote> + +<p><b>Here and Hereafter.</b> (<i>Après la Mort.</i>) Being a Scientific +and Rational Solution of the Problems of Life and Death, +and of the Nature and Destiny of the Human Ego in its Successive +Lives. Translated by George G. Fleurot from the French of +Léon Denis. Second edition, revised, cloth gilt, crown 8vo, 352 +pp., <b>3</b>s. <b>6</b>d. net.</p> + +<p><b>Mors Janua Vitae?</b> A Discussion of Certain Communications +purporting to come from Frederic W. H. Myers. By +H. A. Dallas. With Introduction by Sir W. F. Barrett, F.R.S. +Crown 8vo, cloth gilt, <b>2</b>s. <b>6</b>d. net.</p> + +<p><b>Colloquies with an Unseen Friend.</b> Edited by +Walburga, Lady Paget. Crown 8vo, white linen, <b>3</b>s. <b>6</b>d. net.</p> + +<blockquote> +<p><span class="smcap">Contents.</span>—Reincarnation. Atlantis. Conditions of Communication with the +Invisible. Historical Sketches. Humanitarianism and the Advance of the World. +The French Revolution and Secret Societies. War and Politics. St. Francis.</p> +</blockquote> + +<p><b>Death: Its Causes and Phenomena.</b> By Hereward +Carrington and John R. Meader. Ornamental black cloth, gilt, +8¾in. × 5½in., 552 pp., <b>8</b>s. <b>6</b>d. net.</p> + +<blockquote> +<p><span class="smcap">Preface. Part 1.</span>—Physiological. The Scientific Aspect of Life and Death. +Trance, <ins id='cor_f4' title='Original: Catalsepy'>Catalepsy</ins>, Suspended Animation, Premature Burial. Old Age: Its Scientific +Study. My own Theory of the Nature of Death (Hereward Carrington). My own +Theory of the Nature of Death (John R. Meader). General Conclusions.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Part 2.</span>—Historical: The Philosophical Aspect of Death and Immortality. The +Theological Aspect of Death. The Common Arguments for Immortality.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Part 3.</span>—Psychological: The Moment of Death. Death Described from Beyond +the Veil. Death Coincidences. The Testimony of Science—Psychical Research. +On the Intra-Cosmic Difficulties of Communication. Conclusions. Index.</p> +</blockquote> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_f5">[Pg 5]</span></p> + +<p><b>Reincarnation and Christianity.</b> A Discussion of +the relation of Orthodoxy to the Reincarnation Hypothesis. By +a Clergyman of the Church of England. Crown 8vo, stiff boards, +96 pp., <b>1</b>s. net.</p> + +<p><b>Stranger than Fiction.</b> Being Tales from the Byways +of Ghost and Folk-lore. By Mary L. Lewes. Crown 8vo, cloth +gilt, 234 pp., <b>3</b>s. <b>6</b>d. net.</p> + +<blockquote> +<p>Will appeal to lovers of the Uncanny and to those interested in Ghost-lore +generally. There are chapters devoted to Ghostly Phenomena; Corpse Candles and +the <i>Toili</i> (or Phantom Funeral Processions); Welsh Fairies; Wise Men; Witches; +Family Curses; Spectral Animals; etc., etc.</p> +</blockquote> + +<p><b>A Psychic Autobiography.</b> By Amanda T. Jones, +Author of “Ulah,” “Atlantis,” “Rubáiyát of Solomon,” “Poems,” +“A Prairie Idyl,” etc. With five Portraits and an Introduction by +Prof. James H. Hyslop, Secretary of the American Society for +Psychical Research. Crown 8vo, 456 pp. Price <b>4</b>s. <b>6</b>d. net.</p> + +<p><b>Shadows Cast Before.</b> Being Records of Fulfilled +Predictions, collected and edited by Claud Field. Crown 8vo, +223 pp., cloth gilt, <b>2</b>s. <b>6</b>d. net.</p> + + +<h3 id="READY_FEBRUARY_1st"> + READY FEBRUARY 1st. +</h3> + +<p><b>Psychic Science.</b> (La Psychologie Inconnue). A Contribution +to the Experimental Study of Supernormal Phenomena. +Translated from the French of Emile Boirac, Correspondent of +the Institute, Rector of the Academy of Dijon. Demy 8vo, cloth +gilt, <b>6</b>s. net.</p> + + +<h3 id="PHILOSOPHY"> + PHILOSOPHY. +</h3> + +<p><b>The Great Initiates.</b> Complete Edition of Édouard +Schuré’s “Les Grands Initiés,” with an Introduction to Esoteric +Teaching, and a Frontispiece Portrait of the Author. Translated +by F. Rothwell, B.A. Two Volumes. Crown 8vo, cloth gilt, +<b>7</b>s. <b>6</b>d. net.—N.B. Volumes not sold singly.</p> + +<p><b>Jesus: The Last Great Initiate.</b> Translated from +“Les Grands Initiés” of Édouard Schuré, by F. Rothwell, B.A. +Crown 8vo, cloth, <b>2</b>s. net.</p> + +<p><b>Krishna and Orpheus</b>, the Great Initiates of the East +and West. By Édouard Schuré. Translated by F. Rothwell, B.A. +Crown 8vo, cloth, <b>2</b>s. net.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_f6">[Pg 6]</span></p> + +<p><b>Pythagoras</b>, and His System of Philosophy, (The Delphic +Mysteries.) By Édouard Schuré. Translated by F. Rothwell, +B.A. Crown 8vo, cloth, <b>2</b>s. net.</p> + +<p><b>Hermes and Plato.</b> The Mysteries of Egypt and the +Mysteries of Eleusis, by Édouard Schuré. Translated by F. +Rothwell, B.A. Crown 8vo, cloth, <b>1</b>s. <b>6</b>d. net.</p> + +<p><b>Rama and Moses.</b> The Aryan Cycle and the Mission of +Israel. Translated from “Les Grands Initiés” of Édouard Schuré +by F. Rothwell, B.A. Crown 8vo, cloth, <b>2</b>s. net.</p> + +<blockquote> +<p>N.B.—This volume completes the series.</p> +</blockquote> + +<p><b>With the Adepts</b>: An Adventure among the Rosicrucians. +By Dr. Franz Hartmann. New and Revised Edition. Crown 8vo, +cloth gilt, <b>2</b>s. <b>6</b>d. net.</p> + +<p><b>The Book of the Simple Way.</b> By Laotze (“The Old +Boy”). A New Translation of “The Tao-Teh King.” With +Introduction and Commentary by Walter Gorn Old, M.R.A.S. +Crown 8vo, cloth, <b>2</b>s. net.</p> + +<p><b>Obermann.</b> By Étienne Pivet de Senancour. Translated +from the French, with Biographical and Critical Introduction by +Arthur Edward Waite. Crown 8vo, 423 pp., <b>6</b>s. net, ornamental +cloth, gilt tops.</p> + +<p><b>The Life of Louis Claude de Saint-Martin</b>, the +Unknown Philosopher, and the Substance of his Transcendental +Doctrine. By Arthur Edward Waite, Demy 8vo, 464 pp., <b>5</b>s. net.</p> + +<p><b>Psychic Philosophy</b>, <span class="smcap">as the Foundation of a Religion +of Natural Causes</span>. By V. C. Desertis. With Introduction +by Prof. A. R. Wallace, O.M., D.C.L., LL.D., F.R.S. New and +cheaper edition, cloth gilt, crown 8vo, 421 pp., <b>3</b>s. <b>6</b>d. net.</p> + +<p><b>The Inferno.</b> By August Strindberg. Translated by the +Rev. Claude Field. An autobiographical work by the celebrated +Swedish author, similar in character to Oscar Wilde’s “De +Profundis.” Crown 8vo, cloth gilt, <b>2</b>s. <b>6</b>d. net.</p> + +<p><b>Select Works of Plotinus</b>, Translated from the Greek. +A new edition with Preface and Bibliography by G. R. S. Mead, +B.A., M.R.A.S. Crown 8vo, 334 + xxxviii pp., cloth, <b>3</b>s. <b>6</b>d. net.</p> + +<p><b>The Wisdom of Plotinus.</b> A Metaphysical Study, by +C. J. Whitby, M.D. 120 pp., crown 8vo, cloth gilt, <b>2</b>s. net.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_f7">[Pg 7]</span></p> + +<p><b>The World We Live In.</b> By E. A. Brackett, with +Portrait of the Author. Crown 8vo, 121 pp., cloth gilt, gilt tops, +<b>2</b>s. net.</p> + +<p> + This book gives a singularly clear exposition of the meaning of Life, +as seen through the spectacles of a believer in Spiritualism. +</p> + +<p><b>The Alternate Sex</b>, or the Female Intellect in Man and +the Masculine in Woman. By Charles Godfrey Leland, F.R.L.S., +A.M., Harvard. New and Cheaper Edition. Crown 8vo, cloth, +<b>2</b>s. <b>6</b>d. net.</p> + +<p><b>Yoga, or Transformation.</b> A Comparative Statement +of the various Religions and Dogmas concerning the Soul and its +Destiny, and of Akkadian, Hindu, Taoist, Egyptian, Hebrew, +Greek, Christian, Mohammedan, Japanese and other Magic. By +William J. Flagg. Royal 8vo, 376 pp., cloth gilt, cheaper edition, +<b>6</b>s. net.</p> + +<p><b>Occult Science in India and among the Ancients.</b> +With an account of their Mystic Initiations and the History of +Spiritism. By Louis Jacolliot. Translated from the French by +Willard L. Felt. Royal 8vo, 276 pp., cloth gilt, gilt tops, cheaper +edition, <b>6</b>s. net.</p> + +<p><b>The Transparent Jewel.</b> By Mabel Collins, Author of +“Light on The Path,” etc. Small crown 8vo, cloth, gilt tops, <b>2</b>s. +net. An exposition of Patanjali’s philosophy containing the Kernel +of the true Practical Occultism of the Hindu Yogi.</p> + +<p><b>Science and the Infinite</b>, or Through a Window in the +Blank Wall. By Sydney T. Klein. Crown 8vo, 183 pp., cloth gilt, +<b>2</b>s. <b>6</b>d. net.</p> + +<p><b>Matter, Spirit and the Cosmos.</b> Some Suggestions +towards a Better Understanding of the Whence and Why of their +Existence. By H. Stanley Redgrove, B.Sc. (Lond.), F.C.S., +Author of “On the Calculation of Thermo-Chemical Constants.” +Crown 8vo, cloth gilt, <b>2</b>s. <b>6</b>d. net.</p> + +<p><b>A Mathematical Theory of Spirit.</b> By H. Stanley +Redgrove, B.Sc. Author of “Matter, Spirit and the Cosmos,” +“Alchemy: Ancient and Modern,” etc. Large crown 8vo, cloth +gilt. <b>2</b>s. <b>6</b>d. net.</p> + + +<h3 id="HIGHER_LIFE_HANDBOOKS"> + HIGHER LIFE HANDBOOKS. +</h3> + +<p>Crown 8vo. Uniformly Bound in Handsome Dark Green Cloth. +Gilt Ornamental Design and Lettering.</p> + +<p><b>Life and Power from Within.</b> By W. J. Colville, +Author of “The Law of Correspondences,” “Elementary Text +Book of Mental Therapeutics,” etc., etc. 189 pp., <b>2</b>s. <b>6</b>d. net.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_f8">[Pg 8]</span></p> + +<p><b>The Law of the Rhythmic Breath.</b> Teaching the +Generation, Conservation and Control of Vital Force. By Ella +Adelia Fletcher. 372 pp., <b>4</b>s. <b>6</b>d. net.</p> + +<p><b>Paths to Power.</b> By Floyd B. Wilson, Author of “Man +Limitless,” “Through Silence to Realization,” “The Discovery +of the Soul.” 229 pp., <b>4</b>s. <b>6</b>d. net.</p> + +<p><b>Through Silence to Realization; or, The Human +Awakening.</b> By Floyd B. Wilson, Author of “Paths to +Power,” “Man Limitless,” etc. 190 pp., <b>3</b>s. <b>6</b>d. net.</p> + +<p><b>The Discovery of the Soul out of Mysticism, +Light and Progress.</b> By Floyd B. Wilson, Author of +“Paths to Power,” “Man Limitless,” etc. 247 pp., <b>4</b>s. <b>6</b>d. net.</p> + + +<h3 id="MAGIC_ALCHEMY_AND_OCCULT_SCIENCE"> + MAGIC, ALCHEMY AND OCCULT SCIENCE. +</h3> + +<p><b>Cosmic Symbolism.</b> By Sepharial. Crown 8vo, 296 pp., +cloth gilt, <b>3</b>s. <b>6</b>d. net.</p> + +<blockquote> +<p>This work embodies a constructive system of universal symbology applied to +problems of science, philosophy and religion. It will be found to be a book of +absorbing interest and of eminently practical value.</p> +</blockquote> + +<p><b>The Tarot of the Bohemians.</b> The Most Ancient +Book in the World, for the Exclusive Use of Initiates. By Papus. +Translated from the French by A. P. Morton. New Edition. +Revised throughout, with Introduction by A. E. Waite. Cr. 8vo, +cloth gilt, gilt tops, 384 pp., profusely illstd., <b>6</b>s. net.</p> + +<p><b>A Pack of 78 Tarot Cards.</b> Exquisitely Drawn and +Coloured from New and Original Designs, by Pamela Coleman +Smith. Each Card has a separate allegorical meaning. This is +without question the finest and most artistic pack that has ever +been produced. Price <b>6</b>s. net, in neat blue box, post free.</p> + +<p><b>The Key to the Tarot.</b> Giving the History of the Tarot +Cards, their allegorical meaning and the methods of divination for +which they are adapted. By Arthur Edward Waite. Royal 32mo, +cloth gilt, <b>2</b>s. net. Essential to the interpretation of the Tarot +Cards. The Cards and Key in neat red box 8s. post free.</p> + +<p><b>The Pictorial Key to the Tarot.</b> Being an Enlarged +and Revised Edition of the Key to the Tarot, with seventy-eight +full-page Reproductions of the Tarot Cards facing their descriptive +matter, and considerable additional matter dealing specially with +the subject of Fortune-telling by means of the Tarot. By A. E. +Waite. Crown 8vo, cloth gilt, gilt tops, 340 pp. <b>5</b>s. net.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_f9">[Pg 9]</span></p> + +<p><b>The Book of Ceremonial Magic.</b> Including the Rites +and Mysteries of Goëtic Theurgy, Sorcery, and Infernal Necromancy. +By A. E. Waite. Crown 4to, gilt tops, 376 pp., illustrated +with about 180 engravings, beautifully bound in art canvas, with +design in gold, price <b>15</b>s. net.</p> + +<blockquote> +<p>In Two Parts. I. Analytical and Critical Account of the Chief Magical Rituals +extant. II. A Complete Grimoire of Black Magic. The two chief sections are subdivided +as follows:—(<i>a</i>) Studies on the Antiquity of Magical Rituals; (<i>b</i>) The Rituals +of Transcendental Magic, so-called; (<i>c</i>) Composite Rituals; (<i>d</i>) The Rituals of Black +Magic; (<i>e</i>) The Descending Hierarchy of Saints; (<i>f</i>) The Lesser Key of Solomon the +King; (<i>g</i>) The Mystery of the <i>Sanctum Regnum</i>; (<i>h</i>) The Rite of <i>Lucifuge</i>; (<i>i</i>) The +Method of Honorius; etc., etc.</p> +</blockquote> + +<p><b>A Manual of Occultism.</b> A Complete Exposition of the +Occult Arts and Sciences, by “Sepharial,” Author of “A Manual of +Astrology,” etc., etc. With numerous Diagrams, 368 pp., handsomely +bound in cloth gilt, gilt tops, crown 8vo, <b>6</b>s. net.</p> + +<blockquote> +<p><span class="smcap">Part I.</span>—The Occult Sciences, comprising Astrology, Palmistry, Thaumaturgy, +Kabalism, Numerology, Talismans, Hypnotism.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Part II.</span>—The Occult Arts, comprising Divination, The Tarot, Cartomancy, +Crystal Gazing, Clairvoyance, Geomancy, Dreams, Sortileges, Alchemy.</p> +</blockquote> + +<p><b>Hypnotism and Suggestion.</b> A Practical Handbook. +By Edwin Ash, M.D., B.Sc. London, M.D.C.S. New and cheaper +Edition. Crown 8vo, 137 pp., and Index, cloth, <b>1</b>s. net.</p> + +<p><b>Hand Reading.</b> By an Adept. New Edition uniform with +“Hypnotism and Suggestion” with Plates. Crown 8vo, cloth, <b>1</b>s. net.</p> + +<p><b>A Manual of Cartomancy</b>, Fortune-telling and +Occult Divination, including the Oracle of Human Destiny, +Cagliostro’s Mystic Alphabet of the Magi, etc., etc. Fifth +Edition, with new sections. The French Method of Telling Fortunes +by Cards and a new Oracle called “The Heart’s Desire.” +Crown 8vo, cloth 278 pp., <b>2</b>s. <b>6</b>d. net.</p> + +<p><b>The Book of Destiny.</b> By Grand Orient, Author of +“A Manual of Cartomancy.” Containing The Great Oracle of +the Gods. The Occult Science of Jewels. The Worship of +Destiny in Business and Pleasure. The Wheel of Wisdom. The +Mystery and Interpretation of Dreams, etc., etc. Crown 8vo., +cloth gilt, uniform with above, about 280 pp., <b>2</b>s. <b>6</b>d. net.</p> + +<p><b>Numbers: Their Meaning and Magic.</b> By Isidore +Kosminsky. With frontispiece portrait of Author. New and +Enlarged Edition. Re-written throughout. Crown 8vo., paper +wrappers. <b>1</b>s. net.</p> + +<p><b>Second Sight.</b> A Study of Natural and Induced Clairvoyance. +By “Sepharial.” Crown 8vo, 96 pp., cloth boards, +<b>1</b>s. net.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_f10">[Pg 10]</span></p> + +<p><b>Cheiro’s Language of the Hand.</b> A Complete Practical +Work on the Sciences of Cheirognomy and Cheiromancy, containing +the System, Rules and Experience of Cheiro. Fifty-five +Full-page Illustrations and over 200 Engravings of Lines, Mounts +and Marks. Drawings of the Seven Types by Theo Doré. Fifteenth +edition, 1O¼in. × 8¼in., artistically designed black and white cover, +gilt tops, price <b>1O</b>s. <b>6</b>d. net.</p> + +<p><b>Alchemy: Ancient and Modern.</b> Being a brief account +of the Alchemistic Doctrines, and their relations to Mysticism on +the one hand, and to recent discoveries in Physical Science on the +other; together with some particulars regarding the most noted +Alchemists. By H. Stanley Redgrove, B.Sc. (Lond.), F.C.S. With +16 full-page illustrations. Demy 8vo, cloth gilt, <b>4</b>s. <b>6</b>d. net.</p> + +<p><b>Your Fortune in your Name, or Kabalistic Astrology.</b> +New and cheaper Edition. Demy 8vo, cloth gilt, +<b>2</b>s. net. By “Sepharial.”</p> + +<p><b>The Kabala of Numbers.</b> A Handbook dealing with +the Traditional Interpretation of Numbers and their Predictive +Value. By “Sepharial,” Author of “A Manual of Occultism,” +“Kabalistic Astrology,” “Prognostic Astronomy,” etc., etc. +168 pp., crown 8vo, cloth gilt, <b>2</b>s. net.</p> + + +<h3 id="READY_IMMEDIATELY"> + READY IMMEDIATELY. +</h3> + +<p><b>Geomancy.</b> By Franz Hartmann, M.D. Large crown 8vo, +about 200 pp., cloth gilt, with numerous diagrams, <b>3</b>s. <b>6</b>d. net.</p> + +<blockquote> +<p>This book is a Revised Version of the Treatise on Geomancy, or Sand-divining, +by the well-known Austrian Physician and Occultist, following the lines of the teaching +of Cornelius Agrippa.</p> +</blockquote> + + +<h3 id="READY_IN_FEBRUARY"> + READY IN FEBRUARY. +</h3> + +<p><b>The History of Magic.</b> By Eliphas Lévi, Author of +“Trancendental Magic,” etc., etc. Translated by Arthur Edward +Waite. 556 pp., medium 8vo, cloth gilt, <b>10</b>s. <b>6</b>d. net.</p> + + +<h3 id="MENTAL_PATHOLOGY_AND_THERAPEUTICS"> + MENTAL PATHOLOGY AND THERAPEUTICS. +</h3> + +<p><b>Health for Young and Old, its Principles and +Practice.</b> An Unconventional Manual. By A. T. Schofield, +M.D., M.R.C.S., author of “Elementary Hygiene,” “Hygiene +for Schools,” “Fit for Work,” “Nervousness,” “How to Keep +Fit,” etc. Crown 8vo, 272 pp., cloth gilt, price <b>3</b>s. <b>6</b>d. net.</p> + + + +<blockquote> +<p class="center f08"> +CONTENTS. +</p> +<p class="f08"> +<span class="smcap">Part I.</span>—The Principles of Hygiene. Body, Soul and Spirit. Varieties of Health.<br> +How to Preserve Health. How to Keep Young. What to Do.</p> + +<p class="f08"><span class="smcap">Part II.</span>—The Practice of Hygiene. On Children’s Health. A Man’s Health. A<br> +Woman’s Health. Health in Advanced Life. How to Restore Health. Index. +</p> +</blockquote> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_f11">[Pg 11]</span></p> + +<p><b>The Mastery of Death.</b> By A. Osborne Eaves. Author +of “The Colour Cure.” Crown 8vo, cloth, <b>2</b>s. net.</p> + +<blockquote> +<p>The object of this work is to show how disease may be eliminated and human life +almost indefinitely prolonged, and the writer gives clear directions as to how these +aims can be accomplished.</p> +</blockquote> + +<p><b>The Art of Luck.</b> By A. Osborne Eaves. Author of +“The Colour Cure,” “The Mastery of Death,” etc. 5 in. × 4¾ in. +paper covers, <b>1</b>s. net.</p> + +<p><b>Psycho-Pathological Researches.</b> Studies in Mental +Dissociation. With Text Figures and 10 Plates. By Boris Sidis, +M.A., Ph.D., Director of the Psycho-Pathological Laboratory of +New York. Royal 8vo, 329 pp., <b>8</b>s. <b>6</b>d. net.</p> + +<p><b>Abnormal Psychology.</b> By Isador H. Coriat, M.D., +Senior Assistant Physician for Diseases of the Nervous System, +Boston City Hospital; Neurologist to the Mt. Sinai Hospital. +Crown 8vo, cloth gilt, 340 pp., <b>5</b>s. net.</p> + +<blockquote> +<p class="center f08"> +CONTENTS. +</p> + +<p class="f08"> +I. <span class="smcap">The Exploration of the Subconscious.</span>—What is the Subconscious?<br> +Automatic Writing. Testing the Emotions. Analysing the Emotions. Sleep. Dreams.</p> +<p class="f08"> +II. <span class="smcap">Diseases of the Subconscious.</span>—Losses of Memory. Restoration of Lost<br> +Memories. The Splitting of a Personality. Psycho-Epileptic Attacks. +</p> +</blockquote> + + +<h3 id="RIDERS_MIND_AND_BODY_HANDBOOKS"> + RIDER’S MIND AND BODY HANDBOOKS. +</h3> + +<p>These Hand-books deal with the subject of mental and bodily +health in the new light of psycho-therapeutics, mental healing and +auto-suggestion. The following volumes are now ready:—</p> + +<p><b>Nature’s Help to Happiness.</b> By John Warren Achorn, +M.D. Small crown 8vo, 55 pp., cloth gilt, <b>1</b>s. net, paper <b>6</b>d. net.</p> + +<p><b>How to Rest and be Rested.</b> By Grace Dawson. 46 pp., +red paper cover, <b>6</b>d. net, cloth <b>1</b>s. net.</p> + +<blockquote> +<p>It is the purpose of this little book to point out practically the restful way of +living.... Wrong to the body is wrong to the mind and to the spirit. The whole +man—body, soul and spirit—must live in unity and harmony in order to realise a full +and healthy life.</p> +</blockquote> + +<p><b>What is Health?</b> By Grace Dawson, Author of “How to +Rest.” Small crown 8vo, 72 pp., <b>1</b>s. net.</p> + +<p><b>Nervousness.</b> A Brief and Popular Review of the Moral +Treatment of Disordered Nerves. By Alfred T. Schofield, M.D., +M.R.C.S. Small crown 8vo, cloth gilt, 88 pp., <b>1</b>s. net.</p> + +<p><b>The Power of Self-Suggestion.</b> By Rev. Samuel +McComb, D.D. Small crown 8vo, 72 pp., cloth gilt, <b>1</b>s. net.</p> + +<p><b>How to Keep Fit.</b> An Unconventional Manual. By +Alfred T. Schofield, M.D., M.R.C.S., Author of “Nervousness,” +etc., etc. Small crown 8vo, cloth gilt, 80 pp., <b>1</b>s. net.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_f12">[Pg 12]</span></p> + +<p><b>From Passion to Peace</b>; or, The Pathway of the Pure. +By James Allen, Author of “The Mastery of Destiny,” “From +Poverty to Power,” “As a Man Thinketh,” etc., etc. Small crown +8vo, cloth gilt, 72 pp., <b>1</b>s. net.</p> + +<p><b>Studies in Self-Healing</b>; or, Cure by Meditation. A +practical application of the principles of the true mystic healing of +the ages. By Ernest E. Munday. Small crown 8vo, 79 pp., cloth +gilt, <b>1</b>s. net.</p> + +<p><b>The Influence of the Mind on the Body.</b> By Dr. +Paul Dubois, Professor of Neuro-Pathology in the University of +Berne, Author of “The Psychic Treatment of Nervous Disorders,” +“Self-Control, and How to Secure It,” etc. Translated from the +Fifth French Edition by L. B. Gallatin. Small crown 8vo, 64 pp., +cloth gilt, <b>1</b>s. net.</p> + +<p><b>Man, King of Mind, Body and Circumstance.</b> By +James Allen, Author of “As a Man Thinketh,” etc., etc. Small +crown 8vo, 70 pp., cloth gilt, <b>1</b>s. net.</p> + +<blockquote> +<p><span class="smcap">Contents.</span>—Forward. The Inner World of Thoughts. The Outer World of +Things. Habit: Its Slavery and its Freedom. Bodily Conditions. Poverty. Man’s +Spiritual Dominion. Conquest: not Resignation.</p> +</blockquote> + + +<h3 id="THEOLOGY"> + <b>THEOLOGY.</b> +</h3> + +<p><b>The Unescapable Christ, and Other Sermons.</b> +An Expression of the New Theology. By Rev. Edward W. 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Berg, Author of “God the Beautiful,” etc. 161 pp., +f’cap 8vo, art canvas, gilt tops, <b>2</b>s. net.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_f13">[Pg 13]</span></p> + +<p><b>The Chief Scripture of India</b> (<i>The Bhagavad Gita</i>) +and Its Relation to Present Events. By W. L. Wilmshurst, +Author of “Christianity and Science: The Latest Phase,” etc. +Crown 8vo, cloth, <b>2</b>s. net.</p> + +<p><b>The Message of the Sun, and the Cult of the +Cross and the Serpent.</b> By Rev. Holden E. Sampson. +Crown 8vo, <b>1</b>s. <b>6</b>d. net.</p> + +<p><b>Christianity and Science—The Latest Phase.</b> By +W. L. Wilmshurst. Crown 8vo, 92 pp., in neat brown paper cover +<b>6</b>d. net, cloth <b>1</b>s. net.</p> + +<p><b>Living the Life</b>; or, Christianity in Being. By Grace +Dawson, Author of “How to Rest and be Rested.” Crown 8vo, +78 pp., cloth gilt, gilt tops, <b>1</b>s. <b>6</b>d. net; paper, <b>1</b>s. net.</p> + +<blockquote> +<p>A Short Study of Christianity as Christ taught it.</p> +</blockquote> + +<p><b>The First Christian Generation.</b> Its Records and +Traditions. Second and Cheaper Edition. By James Thomas, +Author of “Our Records of the Nativity,” “The Pantheon at +Rome: Who Built It?” 414 pp., red cloth, gilt, crown 8vo, +<b>3</b>s. <b>6</b>d. net.</p> + +<blockquote> +<p><span class="smcap">Selection from Contents.</span>—The Interment, Resurrection and Ascension. +Narrative of Acts. Paul’s Earlier Life. Paul’s Later Journeys. Authorship and +Reliability of the Acts. Peter and Paul at Rome. The Remaining Gospel Characters. +The Church in Jerusalem. Exterior Churches.</p> + +<p>The author of this book aims at presenting a truthful account of the earliest +Christian times, in so far as this can be reconstructed from such records and +documents as survive.</p> +</blockquote> + +<p><b>The New God and other Essays.</b> By Ralph Shirley, +Editor of “The Occult Review.” Crown 8vo, cloth gilt, 248 pp., +New and Cheaper Edition, <b>2</b>/- net.</p> + +<blockquote> +<p><span class="smcap">Contents.</span>—The New God. Prophets and Prophecies. Prophecies and Anticipations. +Julian the Apostate. Mystical Christianity. The Perfect Way. Relationship +of Christianity to Gnostic Faiths. Early Christian Evidences. Founders of +Orthodox Christianity. Friedrich Nietzsche. The Strange Case of Lurancy Vennum. +Cagliostro.</p> +</blockquote> + + +<h3 id="POETRY"> + <b>POETRY.</b> +</h3> + +<p><b>Strange Houses of Sleep.</b> By Arthur Edward Waite. +With Frontispiece Portrait of the Author. F’cap 4to, parchment +gilt, <b>12</b>s. net. Limited Edition of 250 copies, signed and +numbered.</p> + +<blockquote> +<p>Part I. Shadows of Sacraments. Part II. The Hidden Sacrament of the Holy +Graal. Part III. The Poor Brother’s Mass Book, containing a Method of Assisting +at the Holy Sacrifice for Children who are not of this World. Part IV. The Book +of the King’s Dole.</p> +</blockquote> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_f14">[Pg 14]</span></p> + +<p><b>A Book of Mystery and Vision.</b> By Arthur Edward +Waite. Foolscap 4to, with Special Cover designed by Mary +Tourtel, and Frontispiece by Isabelle de Steiger. <b>7</b>s. <b>6</b>d. net.</p> + +<p><b>The Brahman’s Wisdom.</b> Verses translated from the +German of Friedrich Rückert. By Eva M. Martin. Small crown +8vo. Bound with artistically designed cover in violet and lemon +cloth, gilt. <b>1</b>s. <b>6</b>d. net.</p> + +<blockquote> +<p>No occultist who loves beautiful verse should miss buying this unique volume.</p> +</blockquote> + + +<h3 id="FICTION"> + <b>FICTION.</b> +</h3> + +<p><b>The Sorcery Club.</b> By Elliott O’Donnell, Author of +“Byways of Ghostland,” etc. Crown 8vo, cloth gilt, four full-page +illustrations, <b>6</b>s.</p> + +<p><b>The Gods of the Dead.</b> By Winifred Graham, Author +of “Mary,” “The Star Child,” “Ezra the Mormon,” etc. +Crown 8vo, cloth gilt, <b>6</b>s.</p> + +<p><b>The Weird of the Wanderer.</b> By Prospero and +Caliban, (Fr. Rolfe). 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Crown 8vo, cloth, 128 pp. <b>1</b>s. net.</p> + +<blockquote> +<p><span class="smcap">Contents.</span>—The Door Ajar—The Knife—Between the Leaves—The Mills of God—The +Little Silver Box—“Das Kind”—A Minor Third.</p> +</blockquote> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_f15">[Pg 15]</span></p> + +<p><b>The Soul of the Moor.</b> A Romance. By Stratford D. +Jolly. 226 pp., crown 8vo, illustrated, cloth, <b>2</b>s. net.</p> + +<blockquote> +<p>A novel dealing with hypnotic influence and occult metamorphosis.</p> +</blockquote> + +<p><b>The Living Wheel.</b> By T. L. Uniacke. A Drama in 5 +Acts. Crown 8vo, <b>3</b>s. <b>6</b>d. net.</p> + +<blockquote> +<p>This story of a Spiritual Marriage presents strange possibilities of union between +those who are of necessity separated in the physical body.</p> +</blockquote> + +<p><b>The Twice-Born.</b> By an Ex-Associate of the Society for +Psychical Research. Crown 8vo, cloth, <b>2</b>s. net.</p> + +<p><b>Flaxius</b>: <span class="smcap">Leaves from the Life of an Immortal</span>. By +Charles Godfrey Leland, Author of “The Breitmann Ballads,” etc. +Crown 8vo, <b>3</b>s. <b>6</b>d. net.</p> + +<p><b>The Life and Confession of Asenath</b>, narrating how +the All-Beautiful Joseph took her to wife. Crown 8vo, paper +covers, <b>1</b>s. net. Exquisitely printed on hand-made paper.</p> + + +<h3 id="THE_LIBRARY_OF_OCCULT_RECORDS"> + <b>THE LIBRARY OF OCCULT RECORDS.</b> +</h3> + +<p class="center"> +Crown 8vo, in Artistically Designed Blue Cloth, Gilt Lettering.<br> +<br> +<b>3</b>s. <b>6</b>d. net per volume. +</p> + +<blockquote> +<p>This Library is designed to include a Selection from the Best Occult and Psychic +Stories which lay claim to an inspirational origin. No fiction of the ordinary stamp +will be given a place among these books. The following volumes are now ready:—</p> +</blockquote> + +<p><b>Through the Mists.</b> Leaves from the Autobiography of +a Soul in Paradise. Recorded for the Author by Robert James +Lees. <b>3</b>s. <b>6</b>d. net.</p> + +<p><b>The Life Elysian.</b> Being more Leaves from the Autobiography +of a Soul in Paradise. Recorded for the Author by +R. J. Lees. 349 pp., <b>3</b>s. <b>6</b>d. net.</p> + +<p><b>The Car of Phœbus.</b> By R. J. Lees. 388 pp., <b>3</b>s. <b>6</b>d. net.</p> + +<p><b>The Heretic.</b> By Robert James Lees. 566 pp., <b>3</b>s. <b>6</b>d. net.</p> + +<p><b>An Astral Bridegroom.</b> A Reincarnation Study. By +Robert James Lees. 404 pp., <b>3</b>s. <b>6</b>d. net.</p> + +<p><b>Ida Llymond and Her Hour of Vision.</b> By Hope +Cranford. <b>3</b>s. <b>6</b>d. net.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_f16">[Pg 16]</span></p> + +<h3 id="SHILLING_LIBRARY"> +<b>THE SHILLING LIBRARY OF PSYCHICAL LITERATURE AND INQUIRY.</b></h3> + +<p class="center"> +Demy 8vo, Vols. I, II, III, IV, <b>1</b>s. net each, paper covers;<br> +<b>1</b>s. <b>6</b>d. net, neatly bound in green cloth.<br> +<br> +By <span class="smcap">Edward T. Bennett</span>,<br> +<br> +<i>Assistant Secretary to the Society for Psychical Research,</i><br> +<i>1882-1902.</i> +</p> + +<p><b>I. The Society for Psychical Research</b>: Its Rise +and Progress, and a Sketch of its Work.</p> + +<p><b>II. Twenty Years of Psychical Research</b>: 1882-1901.</p> + +<p><b>III. Automatic Speaking and Writing: a Study.</b> +With many hitherto Unpublished Cases and Examples.</p> + +<p><b>IV. The Direct Phenomena of Spiritualism</b>:—“Direct” +Writing, Drawing, Painting, and Music.</p> + + +<h3 id="GLOBES_AND_MIRRORS_FOR_CRYSTAL_GAZING"> + <b>GLOBES AND MIRRORS FOR CRYSTAL GAZING.</b> +</h3> + +<p>Medium Size Globe (2½ in. diameter), <b>4</b>s. <b>6</b>d. post free in +United Kingdom; abroad, <b>5</b>s. 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Wheeler & Co., Calcutta.</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 3.5em;">{ <span class="smcap">The “Theosophist” Office, Adyar, Madras.</span></span> +</p> + +<p class="center"> +<b>Cathedral House, Paternoster Row, London, E.C.</b> +</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="transnote"> + <h2 class="nobreak" id="Transcribers_note"> + Transcriber’s note: + </h2> + + + +<p>Obvious errors in spelling, hyphenation, accents and punctuation have +been silently corrected in this version, but minor inconsistencies and +archaic forms have been retained as printed.</p> + +<p>The footnotes have been relocated to the end of each chapter and +renumbered to better fit the ebook format.</p> + +<p>A table of contents has been added to this version.</p> + +<p> + In addition, the following changes have been made:<br> + <br> + <a href='#cor_xiii'>Page xiii</a>: ΕΦΥΕϹΝ to ΕΦΥΕΝ<br> + <a href='#cor_23'>Page 23</a>: nineteen to nineteenth<br> + <a href='#cor_142'>Page 142</a>: Bul to But<br> + <a href='#cor_177'>Page 177</a>: borbyrygm to borborygm<br> + <a href='#cor_194'>Page 194</a>: thay to they<br> + <a href='#cor_203'>Page 203</a>: breath to breathe<br> + <a href='#cor_216'>Page 216</a>: gloriolous to glorious<br> + <a href='#cor_232'>Page 232</a>: opsidian to obsidian<br> + <a href='#Page_252'>Page 252</a>: [deleted extra] a<br> + <a href='#cor_256'>Page 256</a>: sweet to sweeter<br> + <a href='#cor_276'>Page 276</a>: preminent to preeminent<br> + <a href='#cor_f4'>Page 4 in the ads</a>: Catalsepy to Catalepsy<br> + [Several instances in main text] Caesar to Cæsar<br> + [Several instances in the ads] Edouard to Édouard<br> + <a href='#cor_79'>Footnote 28</a>: traliteration to transliteration<br> + <a href='#cor_102'>Footnote 33</a>: acatholic to catholic<br> +</p> +</div> +<div style='text-align:center'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 78126 ***</div> +</body> +</html> diff --git a/78126-h/images/cover.jpg b/78126-h/images/cover.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..89f972f --- /dev/null +++ b/78126-h/images/cover.jpg diff --git a/78126-h/images/i_xviii.jpg b/78126-h/images/i_xviii.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..9bdaf1f --- /dev/null +++ b/78126-h/images/i_xviii.jpg diff --git a/78126-h/images/leaves.jpg b/78126-h/images/leaves.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..b9411b7 --- /dev/null +++ b/78126-h/images/leaves.jpg diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6c72794 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This book, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. 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