cleopatra-第12章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Soft on the Dead that liveth are we calling：
'Return； Osiris； from thy Kingdom cold！
Return to them that worship thee of old！'〃
It ceased； and sweetly she took up the song：
〃O dweller in the West；
Lover and Lordliest；
Thy love； thy Sister Isis； calls thee home！
Come from thy chamber dun
Thou Master of the Sun；
Thy shadowy chamber far below the foam！
With weary wings and spent
Through all the firmament；
Through all the horror…haunted ways of Hell；
I seek thee near and far；
From star to wandering star；
Free with the dead that in Amenti dwell。
I search the height； the deep； the lands； the skies；
Rise from the dead and live； our Lord Osiris； rise！〃
〃Softly we tread； our measured footsteps falling
Within the Sanctuary Sevenfold；
Soft on the Dead that liveth are we calling：
'Return； Osiris； from thy Kingdom cold！
Return to them that worship thee of old！'〃
Now in a strain more high and glad the singer sang：
〃He wakesfrom forth the prison
We sing Osiris risen；
We sing the child that Nout conceived and bare。
Thine own love； Isis； waits
The Warden of the Gates；
She breathes the breath of Life on breast and hair；
And in her breast and breath
Behold！ he waketh；
Behold！ at length he riseth out of rest；
Touched with her holy hands；
The Lord of all the Lands；
He stirs； he rises from her breath； her breast！
But thou； fell Typhon； fly；
The judgment day drawn nigh；
Fleet on thy track as flame speeds Horus from the sky。〃
〃Softly we tread； our measured footsteps falling
Within the Sanctuary Sevenfold；
Soft on the Dead that liveth are we calling：
'Return； Osiris； from thy Kingdom cold！
Return to them that worship thee of old！'〃
Once more； as we bowed before the Holy； she sang； and sent the full
breath of her glad music ringing up the everlasting walls till the
silence quivered with her round notes of melody； and the hearts of
those who hearkened stirred strangely in the breast。 And thus； as we
walked； she sang the song of Osiris risen； the song of Hope； the song
of Victory：
〃Sing we the Trinity；
Sing we the Holy Three；
Sing we； and praise we and worship the Throne；
Throne that our Lord hath set
There peace and truth are met
There in the Halls of the Holy alone！
There in the shadowings
Faint of the folded wings；
There shall we dwell and rejoice in our rest；
We that thy servants are！
Horus drive ill afar！
Far in the folds of the dark of the West！〃
Again； as her notes died away； thundered forth the chorus of all the
voices：
〃Softly we tread； our measured footsteps falling
Within the Sanctuary Sevenfold；
Soft on the Dead that liveth are we calling：
'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 c
