Mexico weekly ledger., 1889-11-07

tH4HAHA me stood the old Priest Of
IRsGAb the Mysteries, and in his
H@I hand was a lamp. He bent
F@7@ over me u gazed~ earnestly
A@O upon my face.
P1 ut is ~day-the day of thy
q new birth-and thou hast lived
|EEED to see it, o Harmachisp he
|ESSlA said at length. Il give thanks.
|E~@ Arise, Royal Harmachis nay,
tai me uaught of that which has fall
en- thee. Arise, beloved of the Holy
Come forth, thou who hast passed
the fire and learned what lies behind the
darkness. Come forth, y newly born!"
I rose, and walking family, went with
him, and passing out of the darkness Of the
Shrines, came once more into the pure light
Of the morning, filled with thought and
wonder. And then l went to my own
chamber and slept; nor did any dreams
come to trouble me. But no man., not even
my father, asked me aught Of what l saw
upon that dread night, or after what fashion
I had commuued with the Goddess.
After all these things which have been
written, for a space I applied myself to the
worship Of the Mother Isis, and to the fur
the study of the outward forms Of the mys-
:eries wbereto l now hold the key. More
over, I was instructed in matters polite,
for many great men of our following came
secretly to see me from all quarters OF
Egypt, and told me much of the hatred Of
the people toward Cleopatra, the Queen, and
Of other things. At last the hour drew
nigh; 1t was three months and ten days
from the night when, for awhile, I left the
flesh, and yet, living with our life, was
gathered to the breast Of Isis, On which il
was agreed that with due and customary
eormality, although in utter secrecy, ]
should be called to the throne of the Upper
and Lower Land. So 1t came to pass that,
as the solemn time drew nigh, great men OF
the party of Egypt gathered to the number
Of thirty-seven from every nome, and each
great city of their nome, coming together at
Abouthis. In every guise they came-some
- priests, some as pilgrims to the Shrine,
and SOM as beggars. Among them was
my uncle, Seoa, who, though he clad him.
self as q travelling doctor, had much ado to
keep his loud voice from betraying him.
Indeed, I myself knew him thereby, meet
ing him as I walked in thought upon the
banks Of the canal, Notwithstanding that it
was dusk and hat the great cape, which,
after the fashion Of such doctors, he had
thrown about his head, half hid his face.
"a pest en- thee ~ he cried, when I greeted
AlAA " Ills AtAhOs SbA " - AAsA NSs4o ~
be himself even for an hourl Didst thou
but know ths pains that it has cost me to
learn TO play this part-and now thou read
est who I am even in the darkl'
And then, still talking in his loud voice,
he told me how he had Travelled hither on
foot, the better to escape the spies who ply
to and fro upon the river. But he said he
should return by the water, or take An
pther guise; for since he had come as o
doctor he had been forced to play a DOCTORS
part, knowing but little Of the arts of med
icine; and, as he greatly feared, many
there were between On and Abouthis who
had suffered therefrom. lin Ancient Egypt
an unskillful or negligent physician was liza
BILE to very heavy penalties.-Ed.l And he
laughed loudly and embraced me. forget
ting his part. For he was too whole at
heart to be an actor and other than him
self, and would have entered Abouthis with
me holding my hand, had I not child him for
his folly.
At length all were gathered.
It was night when the gates Of the TEN.
pie were shut. None were left within them,
save only the thirty-seven, my father, the
High Priest A~menemhat; that aged Priest
who had led me to the Shrine of Isis; the
old wife, Atuua, who, according to ancient
Icustom, was to prepare me for the anolnt-
ing; and some five other priests, sworn to
secrecy by that oath which none may break.
They gathered 10 the second hall of the
great Temple, but I remained alone. clad in
my white robe, in the passage where are
the names OF six-and-seventy ancient Kings,
who were before the day Of the divine SETH.
There l rested in darkness, till at length
my father, A~menemhat, came, bearing q
lamp, and, bowing low before me, led me by
the hand forth into the great hail. Here
and there between its mighty pillars lights
were set that dimly showed the sculptured
images upon the walls, and dimiy fell upon
the long line Of the seven-and-thirty Lords,
Priests and Princes, who, seated upon cary
en- chairs, awaited my coming in silence.
Before them, facing away from the seven
Sanctuaries, was set a throne, around which
stood the Priests holding the sacred i'm
AGES and banners. As / came into the dim
and holy place the Dignitaries rose and
bowed before me, speaking no word, while
my father led me to the steps Of the throne,
md in q low voice babe me stand before it
And then he spake:
Lords, Priests and Princes of the ancient
srders Of the land of Khem-nobles from
he Upper and the Lower Country, here
gathered in answe to my summons, hear
me. ! present unto you, with such scant
tormality as the occasion can afford, the
Prince Harlnochis, by right and true de-
scent OF blood the descendant and heir OF
the ancient Pharaohs Of our most unhappy
land. Priest Is he of the inmost circle oil
the Mysteries Of the Divine Isis, Master OF
the Mysteries, Hereditary Priest of the PyY.
ismids which are by Memf, Instructed in
the Solemn Rites Of the Holy Osiris. Il
Pierre any among o who hath aught tc
1rge against: the true line OF his btoodln
He paused, n my Uncle Sepa, rising
from his chair, spoke; 1--WE have made ex.
lsminstion Of the records and there is none,
OAmenemhst- He Is Of the Royal blood,
his descent ID true"
us there any among you," went on my
fatber, "wh, al deny that this Royal Har
machis, by sanctions of the very Gods, hath
been gathered to Isis, been shown the way
q tho Osiris, been admitted TO be the
Hereditary High Priest OF the Pyramids
which are By Mcmf, and OF the Temples 9.
Ms Pyramidsin
Then ross that old Priest who a b /.
nyguide IN the sanc.rarv =. the Mo'h md