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Divine Rameses sleeps； and saw the mystic paintings on the walls： the
symbol of the Snake unending； the symbol of Ra resting upon the
Scarab？us； the symbol of Ra resting upon Nout； the symbol of the
Headless men； and many others； whereof； being initiated； well I read
the mysteries。 And opening from the long descending passage I found
chambers in which were paintings beautiful to behold； and of all
manner of things。 For beneath each chamber is entombed the master of
the craft of which the paintings tell； he who was the chief of the
servants of that craft in the house of this Divine Rameses。 And on the
walls of the last chamberon the left…hand side； looking toward the
Hall of the Sarcophagusare paintings exceedingly beautiful； and two
blind harpers playing upon their bent harps before the God Mou； and
beneath the flooring these harpers； who harp no more； are soft at
sleep。 Here； then； in this gloomy place； even in the tomb of the
Harpers and the company of the dead； I took up my abode； and here for
eight long years I worked out my penance and made atonement for my
sin。 But Atoua； because she loved to be near the light； abode in the
chamber of the Boatsthat is； the first chamber on the right…hand
side of the gallery looking toward the Hall of the Sarcophagus。
And this was the manner of my life。 On every second day the old wife；
Atoua； went forth and brought water from the city and such food as is
necessary to keep the life from failing； and also tapers made from
fat。 And one hour at the time of sunrise and one hour at the time of
sunset I did go forth also to wander in the valley for my health's
sake and to save my sight from failing in the great darkness of the
tomb。 But the other hours of the day and night； except when I climbed
the mountain to watch the course of the stars； I spent in prayer and
meditation and sleep； till the cloud of sin lifted from my heart and
once more I drew near to the Gods； though with Isis； my heavenly
Mother； I might speak no more。 And I grew exceedingly wise also；
pondering on all those mysteries to which I held the key。 For
abstinence and prayer and sorrowful solitude wore away the grossness
of my flesh； and with the eyes of the Spirit I learned to look deep
into the heart of things till the joy of Wisdom fell like dew upon my
soul。
Soon the rumour was wafted about the city that a certain holy man
named Olympus abode in solitude in the tombs of the awful Valley of
the Dead； and hither came people bearing sick that I might cure them。
And I gave my mind to the study of simples； in which Atoua instructed
me； and by lore and the weight of my thought I gained great skill in
medicine； and healed many sick。 And thus ever； as time went on； my
fame was noised abroad； for it was said that I was also a magician and
that in the tombs I had commune with the Spirits of the Dead。 And
this； indeed； I didthough it is not lawful for me to speak of these
matters。 Thus； then； it came to pass that no more need Atoua go forth
to seek food and water； for the people brought itmore than was
needful； for I would receive no fee。 Now at first； fearing lest some
in the hermit Olympus might know the lost Harmachis； I would only meet
those who came in the darkness of the tomb。 But afterwards； when I
learned how it was held through all the land that Harmachis was
certainly no more； I came forth and sat in the mouth of the tomb； and
ministered to the sick； and at times calculated nativities for the
great。 And thus my fame grew continually； till at length folk
journeyed even from Memphis and Alexandria to visit me； and from them
I learned how Antony had left Cleopatra for a while； and； Fulvia being
dead； had married Octavia； the sister of C？sar。 Many other things I
learned also。
And in the second year I did this： I despatched the old wife； Atoua；
disguised as a seller of simples； to Alexandria； bidding her seek out
Charmion； and； if yet she found her faithful； reveal to her the secret
of my way of life。 So she went； and in the fifth month from her
sailing returned； bearing Charmion's greetings and a token。 And she
told me that she had found means to see Charmion； and； in talk； had
let fall the name of Harmachis； speaking of me as one dead； at which
Charmion； unable to control her grief； wept aloud。 Then； reading her
heartfor the old wife was very clever； and held the key of knowledge
she told her that Harmachis yet lived； and sent her greetings。
Thereon Charmion wept yet more with joy； and kissed the old wife； and
made her gifts； bidding her tell me that she had kept her vow； and
waited for my coming and the hour of vengeance。 So； having learned
many secrets； Atoua returned again to Tápé。
And in the following year messengers came to me from Cleopatra；
bearing a sealed roll and great gifts。 I opened the roll； and read
this in it：
〃Cleopatra to Olympus； the learned Egyptian who dwells in the
Valley of Death by Tápé
〃The fame of thy renown； O learned Olympus； hath reached our ears。
Tell thou； then； this to us； and if thou tellest aright greater
honour and wealth shalt thou have than any in Egypt： How shall we
win back the love of noble Antony； who is bewitched of cunning
Octavia； and tarries long from us？〃
Now； in this I saw the hand of Charmion； who had made my renown known
to Cleopatra。
All that night I took counsel with my wisdom； and on the morrow wrote
my answer as it was put into my heart to the destruction of Cleopatra
and Antony。 And thus I wrote：
〃Olympus the Egyptian to Cleopatra the Queen
〃Go forth into Syria with one who shall be sent to lead thee； thus
shalt thou win Antony to thy arms again； and with him gifts more
great than thou canst dream。〃
And with this letter I dismissed the messengers； bidding them share
the presents sent by Cleopatra among their company。
So they went wondering。
But Cleopatra； seizing on the advice to which her passion prompted
her； departed straightway with Fonteius Capito into Syria； and there
the thing came about as I had foretold； for Antony was subdued of her
and gave her the greater part of Cilicia； the ocean shore of Arabia
Nabath？a； the balm…bearing provinces of Jud？a； the province of
Ph？nicia； the province of C？le…Syria； the rich isle of Cyprus； and all
the library of Pergamus。 And to the twin children that； with the son
Ptolemy； Cleopatra had borne to Antony； he impiously gave the names of
〃Kings； the Children of Kings〃of Alexander Helios； as the Greeks
name the sun； and of Cleopatra Selene； the moon； the long…winged。
These things then came to pass。
Now on her return to Alexandria Cleopatra sent me great gifts； of
which I would have none； and prayed me； the learned Olympus； to come
to her at Alexandria； but it was not yet time； and I would not。 But
thereafter she and Antony sent many times to me for counsel； and I
ever counselled them to their ruin； nor did my prophecies fail。