The Irish standard., 1889-12-14

N ~ ! I tl)1A' ID ia 1EllI
symbol of Ra resting Upon Nout, the sym
Dol of the Headless Men, and many others
whereof. being initiated, well read the
mysteries. And opening from the long-de-
scending passage found chambers where
on were paintings beautiful to behold, and
Of all manner Of things. For beneath each
chamber is entombed the master OF the
craft whereof the paintings tell, he who
was the chief Of the servants OF the craft
In tho house of the divine Rameses. And
on the walls OF the last chamber-on the
left-hand side, looking toward the hall OF
the sarcophagus-are paintings exceeding
beautiful, and two blind Harpers playing
upon their bent harps even before the God
Mou; and beneath the floor 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, took up my abode; and here for
eight long years did work out my pen
ance and make atonement for my sin. But
Atoua, because she loved to be near the
light, abode in the chamber of the Boats
that is, the first chamber on the right-hand
side of the gallery looking toward the hail
of the Sarcophagus.
And this was the manner of my life. On
every second day the old wife, Atoua, went
forth and brought from the city water 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 did 20
forth also to wander in the valley for my
healths sake and to save my sight from
failing in the great darkness Of the tomb.
But the other hours of the day and night,
save when climbed the mountain to watch
the course of the stars, / spent in prayer
and meditation and sleep, till the cloud OF
sin lifted from my heart and once more
drew near to the Gods, though with Isis, my
heavenly Mother, might speak no more
And exceeding wise grew also, bordering
on all the mysteries whereto held the key.
For abstinence and prayer and sorrowful
solitude wore away the grossness OF my
flesh, and with the eyes Of the Spirit
learned to look deep into the heart of things
till the JOY of Wisdom fell like dew upon
my soul.
Soon was the rumor waited about the city
that 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 might cure them And
I gave my mind to the study Of simples,
wherein Atoua instructed me; and by lore
and the weight of thought I gained great
skill in medicine and healed many sick. And
thus ever, as time went on, my fame was
noised abroad; and it was said that was
also magician, and that in the tombs i
had commune with the spirits OF the dead.
And this, indeed, did--though 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 it--more than was
needful, for no fee would receive Now,
at first, fearing lest some might in the
hermit Olympus know the lost Harmachls,
I would only meet those who came IN the
darkness of the tomb But afterward, when
LEARNED how through all the land twas
held that harmachis was certainly nc
more, 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, TIL
atlength folk journeyed even from Memb
and Alexandria to visit me; and from them
I learned how Antony had left Cleopatra
for awnlle, and, Fulvia being deao, had
married Octavia, the sister of Caesar. Many
other things learned also.
And in the second year this did: dis,
patched tlS old wife, Atoua, disguised as
seller of simples, to Alexandria, bidding
her seek out Charmion, and, It yet she
found her faithful, reveal to her the secre1
of nv way Of life. SO she went, and in the
fifth month from her sailing returned, bear
+ ing Charmion's greetings and a token. Anc
she told me that she had found means to see
Charmion, and, i'll talk, had let fall the
name of Harmachis, speaking of me as one
dead: whereat Charmion, unable to contro.
her grief, wept aloud. Then, reading he'
heart--for the old wife was very clever
ana held the key of knowle1 ge-she tol6
ner that Harmachis yet lived, and sent he1
greetings. Thereupon Charmion wept YET
more with Joy, and kissed the old wife, anc
made her gifts, bidding her tell me that
ever she kept her vow, and waited for ms
coming and the hour of vengeance. So
having learned many secrets, Atoua re
turned again to Tape.
And in the following year came messen
gers to me from Cleopatra, bearing sealeo
roll and great gifts. opened the roll anc
read therein:
ssCleopatra to Olympus, the learned EgyptiGz
,vho deoelzeth in the Valley Of Death By Tape!
s'rhe fame of thy renown, O Learned
Olympus, hath reached our ears. Tel
thou, then, this to US, and if thou telles'
Alright greater honor ana Wealtn Snalt Iuot
have than any in Egypt: How shall ~
win back the love Of noble Antony, who /:
bewitched of cunning Octavia and tarries
long from us?"
And herein saw the hand Of Charmion
who had made known my renown to Cleo
patra
All that night I took counsel with m!
wisdom, and on the morrow wrote my
+ into NV
destruction of Cleopatra and of Antony
And thus I wrote:
"Olympus the Egyptian to Cleopatra tn
Queen!
SEQ forth into Syria with one who shall
be sent to lead thee; thus shalt thou wiz
Antony to thy arms again, and with hin
gifts more great than thou canst dream.
And with this letter / dismissed the
messengers, bidding them share the