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'Return； Osiris； from thy Kingdom cold！
Return to them that worship thee of old！'〃
The chanting ceased； and as the sun sank the High Priest raised the
statue of the living God and held it before the multitude that was now
gathered in the court of the temple。 Then； with a mighty and joyful
shout of：
〃/Osiris our hope！ Osiris！ Osiris！/〃
the people tore their black wrappings from their dress； revealing the
white robes they wore beneath； and； as one man； they bowed before the
God； and the feast was ended。
But for me the ceremony was only begun； for to…night was the night of
my initiation。 Leaving the inner court I bathed myself； and； clad in
pure linen； passed； as it is ordained； into an inner； but not the
inmost； sanctuary； and laid the accustomed offerings on the altar。
Then； lifting my hands to heaven； I remained for many hours in
contemplation； striving； by holy thoughts and prayer； to gather up my
strength against the mighty moment of my trial。
The hours sped slowly in the silence of the temple； till at length the
door opened and my father Amenemhat； the High Priest； came in； clad in
white； and leading by the hand the Priest of Isis。 For； having been
married； he did not himself enter into the mysteries of the Holy
Mother。
I rose to my feet and stood humbly before them。
〃Art thou ready？〃 said the priest； lifting the lamp he held so that
its light fell upon my face。 〃O thou chosen one； art thou ready to see
the glory of the Goddess face to face？〃
〃I am ready；〃 I answered。
〃Behold thee；〃 he said again； in solemn tones； 〃it is no small thing。
If thou wilt carry out this thy last desire； understand； royal
Harmachis； that now this very night thou must die for a while in the
flesh； what time thy soul shall look on spiritual things。 And if thou
diest and any evil shall be found within thy heart； when thou comest
at last into that awful presence； woe unto thee； Harmachis； for the
breath of life shall no more enter in at the gateway of thy mouth； thy
body shall utterly perish； and what shall befall thy other parts； if I
know； I may not say。＇*＇ Art thou prepared to be taken to the breast of
Her who Was and Is and Shall Be； and in all things to do Her holy
will； for Her； while she shall so command； to put away the thought of
earthly woman； and to labour always for Her glory till at the end thy
life is gathered to Her eternal life？〃
＇*＇ According to the Egyptian religion the being Man is composed of
four parts： the body； the double or astral shape （/ka/）； the soul
（/bi/）； and the spark of life sprung from the Godhead （/khou/）。
Editor。
〃I am；〃 I answered； 〃lead on。〃
〃It is well；〃 said the priest。 〃Noble Amenemhat； we go hence alone。〃
〃Farewell； my son；〃 said my father； 〃be firm and triumph over things
spiritual as thou shalt triumph over things earthly。 He who would
truly rule the world must first be lifted up above the world。 He must
be at one with God； for thus only shall he learn the secrets of the
Divine。 But beware！ The Gods demand much of those who dare to enter
the circle of their Divinity。 If they go back therefrom； they shall be
judged of a sharper law； and scourged with a heavier rod； for as their
glory is； so shall their shame be。 Therefore； make thy heart strong；
royal Harmachis！ And when thou speedest down the ways of Night and
enterest the Holies； remember that from him to whom great gifts have
been given shall gifts be required again。 And nowif； indeed； thy
mind be fixedgo whither it is not as yet given me to follow thee。
Farewell！〃
For a moment as my heart weighed these heavy words； I wavered； as well
as I might。 But I was filled with longing to be gathered to the
company of the Divine ones； and I knew that I had no evil in me； and
desired to do only the thing that is just。 Therefore； having with so
much labour drawn the bowstring to my ear； I was fain to let fly the
shaft。 〃Lead on；〃 I cried with a loud voice； 〃lead on； thou holy
Priest！ I follow thee！〃
And we went forth。
CHAPTER VI
OF THE INITIATION OF HARMACHIS； OF HIS VISIONS； OF HIS PASSING
TO THE CITY THAT IS IN THE PLACE OF DEATH； AND OF THE DECLARATIONS
OF ISIS； THE MESSENGER
In silence we passed into the Shrine of Isis。 It was dark and bare
only the feeble light from the lamp gleamed faintly upon the
sculptured walls； where； in a hundred effigies； the Holy Mother
suckled the Holy Child。
The priest closed the doors and bolted them。 〃Once again；〃 he said；
〃art thou ready； Harmachis？〃
〃Once again；〃 I answered； 〃I am ready。〃
He spoke no more； but； having lifted up his hands in prayer； led me to
the centre of the Holy； and with a swift motion put out the lamp。
〃Look before thee； Harmachis！〃 he cried； and his voice sounded hollow
in the solemn place。
I gazed and saw nothing。 But from the niche that is high in the wall；
where is hid that sacred symbol of the Goddess on which few may look；
there came a sound as of the rattling rods of the sistrum。＇*＇ And as I
listened； awestruck； behold！ I saw the outline of the symbol drawn as
with fire upon the blackness of the air。 It hung above my head； and
rattled while it hung。 And； as it turned； I clearly saw the face of
the Mother Isis that is graven on the one side； and signifies unending
Birth； and the face of her holy sister； Nephthys； that is graven on
the other； and signifies the ending of all birth in Death。
＇*＇ A musical instrument peculiarly sacred to Isis of which the shape
and rods had a mystic significance。Editor。
Slowly it turned and swung as though some mystic dancer trod the air
above me； and shook it in her hand。 But at length the light went out；
and the rattling ceased。
Then of a sudden the end of the chamber became luminous； and in that
white light I beheld picture after picture。 I saw the ancient Nile
rolling through deserts to the sea。 There were no men upon its banks；
nor any signs of man； nor any temples to the Gods。 Only wild birds
moved on Sihor's lonely face； and monstrous brutes plunged and
wallowed in his waters。 The sun sank in majesty behind the Libyan
Desert and stained the waters red； the mountains towered up towards
the silent sky； but in mountain； desert； and river there was no sign
of human life。 Then I knew that I saw the world as it had been before
man was； and a terror of its loneliness entered my soul。
The picture passed and another rose up in its place。 Once again I saw
the banks of Sihor； and on them crowded wild…faced creatures；
partaking of the nature of the ape more than of the nature of mankind。
They fought and slew each other。 The wild birds sprang up in affright
as the fire leapt from reed huts given by foemen's hands to flame and
pillage。 They stole and rent and murdered； dashing out the brains of
children with axes of stone。 And； though no voice told me； I knew that
I saw man as he was tens of thousands o