treated；　else　it　will　fester；　and　all　thy　days　thou　shalt　dream　of
  lions；　ay；　and　snakes；　and；　also；　it　will　break　out　in　sores。　But　I
  know　of　itI　know。　I　am　not　crazed　for　nothing。　For　mark！　everything
  has　its　balancein　madness　is　much　wisdom；　and　in　wisdom　much
  madness。　/La！　la！　la！/　Pharaoh　himself　can't　say　where　the　one　begins
  and　the　other　ends。　Now；　don't　stand　gazing　there；　looking　as　silly　as
  a　cat　in　a　crocus…coloured　robe；　as　they　say　in　Alexandria；　but　just
  let　me　stick　these　green　things　on　the　place；　and　in　six　days　you'll
  heal　up　as　white　as　a　three…year…child。　Never　mind　the　smart　of　it；
  lad。　By　Him　who　sleeps　at　Phil？；　or　at　Abouthis；　or　at　Abydusas　our
  divine　masters　have　it　nowor　wherever　He　does　sleep；　which　is　a
  thing　we　shall　all　find　out　before　we　want　toby　Osiris；　I　say；
  you'll　live　to　be　as　clean　from　scars　as　a　sacrifice　to　Isis　at　the
  new　moon；　if　you'll　but　let　me　put　it　on。
  〃Is　it　not　so；　good　folk？〃and　she　turned　to　address　some　people　who；
  while　she　prophesied；　had　assembled　unseen　by　me〃I've　been　speaking
  a　spell　over　him；　just　to　make　a　way　for　the　virtue　of　my　medicine
  /la！　la！/　there's　nothing　like　a　spell。　If　you　don't　believe　it；　just
  you　come　to　me　next　time　your　wives　are　barren；　it's　better　than
  scraping　every　pillar　in　the　Temple　of　Osiris；　I'll　warrant。　I'll　make
  'em　bear　like　a　twenty…year…old　palm。　But　then；　you　see；　you　must　know
  what　to　saythat's　the　pointeverything　comes　to　a　point　at　last。
  /La！　la！/〃
  Now；　when　I　heard　all　this；　I；　Harmachis；　put　my　hand　to　my　head；　not
  knowing　if　I　dreamed。　But　presently　looking　up；　I　saw　a　grey…haired
  man　among　those　who　were　gathered　together；　who　watched　us　sharply；
  and　afterwards　I　learned　that　this　man　was　the　spy　of　Ptolemy；　the
  very　man；　indeed；　who　had　wellnigh　caused　me　to　be　slain　of　Pharaoh
  when　I　was　in　my　cradle。　Then　I　understood　why　Atoua　spoke　so
  foolishly。
  〃Thine　are　strange　spells；　old　wife；〃　the　spy　said。　〃Thou　didst　speak
  of　Pharaoh　and　the　double　crown　and　of　the　form　fashioned　by　Ptah　to
  bear　it；　is　it　not　so？〃
  〃Yea；　yeapart　of　the　spell；　thou　fool；　and　what　can　one　swear　by
  better　nowadays　than　by　the　Divine　Pharaoh　the　Piper；　whom；　and　whose
  music；　may　the　Gods　preserve　to　charm　this　happy　land？what　better
  than　by　the　double　crown　he　wearsgrace　to　great　Alexander　of
  Macedonia？　By　the　way；　you　know　about　everything：　have　they　got　back
  his　chlamys　yet；　which　Mithridates　took　to　Cos？　Pompey　wore　it　last；
  didn't　he？in　his　triumph；　toojust　fancy　Pompey　in　the　cloak　of
  Alexander！a　puppy…dog　in　a　lion's　skin！　And　talking　of　lionslook
  what　this　lad　hath　doneslain　a　lion　with　his　own　spear；　and　right
  glad　you　village　folks　should　be　to　see　it；　for　it　was　a　very　fierce
  lionjust　see　his　teeth　and　his　clawshis　claws！they　are　enough　to
  make　a　poor　silly　old　woman　like　me　shriek　to　look　at　them！　And　the
  body　there；　the　dead　bodythe　lion　slew　it。　Alack！　he's　an　Osiris＇*＇
  now；　the　bodyand　to　think　of　it；　but　an　hour　ago　he　was　an　everyday
  mortal　like　you　or　me！　Well；　away　with　him　to　the　embalmers。　He'll
  soon　swell　in　the　sun　and　burst；　and　that　will　save　them　the　trouble
  of　cutting　him　open。　Not　that　they　will　spend　a　talent　of　silver　over
  him　anyway。　Seventy　days　in　natronthat's　all　he's　likely　to　get。
  /La！　la！/　how　my　tongue　does　run；　and　it's　getting　dark。　Come；　aren't
  you　going　to　take　away　the　body　of　that　poor　lad；　and　the　lion；　too？
  There；　my　boy；　you　keep　those　herbs　on；　and　you'll　never　feel　your
  scratches。　I　know　a　thing　or　two　for　all　I'm　crazy；　and　you；　my　own
  grandson！　Dear；　dear；　I'm　glad　his　Holiness　the　High　Priest　adopted
  you　when　PharaohOsiris　bless　his　holy　namemade　an　end　of　his　son；
  you　look　so　bonny。　I　warrant　the　real　Harmachis　could　not　have　killed
  a　lion　like　that。　Give　me　the　common　blood；　I　sayit's　so　lusty。〃
  ＇*＇　The　soul　when　it　has　been　absorbed　in　the　Godhead。Editor。
  〃You　know　too　much　and　talk　too　fast；〃　grumbled　the　spy；　now　quite
  deceived。　〃Well；　he　is　a　brave　youth。　Here；　you　men；　bear　this　body
  back　to　Abouthis；　and　some　of　you　stop　and　help　me　skin　the　lion。
  We'll　send　the　skin　to　you；　young　man；〃　he　went　on；　〃not　that　you
  deserve　it：　to　attack　a　lion　like　that　was　the　act　of　a　fool；　and　a
  fool　deserves　what　he　getsdestruction。　Never　attack　the　strong　until
  you　are　stronger。〃
  But　for　my　part　I　went　home　wondering。
  CHAPTER　III
  OF　THE　REBUKE　OF　AMENEMHAT；　OF　THE　PRAYER　OF　HARMACHIS；
  AND　OF　THE　SIGN　GIVEN　BY　THE　HOLY　GODS
  For　a　while　as　I；　Harmachis；　went；　the　juice　of　the　green　herbs　which
  the　old　wife；　Atoua；　had　placed　upon　my　wounds　caused　me　much　smart；
  but　presently　the　pain　ceased。　And；　of　a　truth；　I　believe　that　there
  was　virtue　in　them；　for　within　two　days　my　flesh　healed　up；　so　that
  after　a　time　no　marks　remained。　But　I　bethought　me　that　I　had
  disobeyed　the　word　of　the　old　High　Priest；　Amenemhat；　who　was　called
  my　father。　For　till　this　day　I　knew　not　that　he　was　in　truth　my　father
  according　to　the　flesh；　having　been　taught　that　his　own　son　was　slain
  as　I　have　written；　and　that　he　had　been　pleased；　with　the　sanction　of
  the　Divine　ones；　to　take　me　as　an　adopted　son　and　rear　me　up；　that　I
  might　in　due　season　fulfil　an　office　about　the　Temple。　Therefore　I　was
  much　troubled；　for　I　feared　the　old　man；　who　was　very　terrible　in　his
  anger；　and　ever　spoke　with　the　cold　voice　of　Wisdom。　Nevertheless；　I
  determined　to　go　in　to　him　and　confess　my　fault　and　bear　such
  punishment　as　he　should　be　pleased　to　put　upon　me。　So　with　the　red
  spear　in　my　hand；　and　the　red　wounds　on　my　breast；　I　passed　through
  the　outer　court　of　the　great　temple　and　came　to　the　door　of　the　place
  where　the　High　Priest　dwelt。　It　is　a　great　chamber；　sculptured　round
  about　with　the　images　of　the　solemn　Gods；　and　the　sunlight　comes　to　it
  in　the　daytime　by　an　opening　cut　through　the　stones　of　the　massy　roof。
  But　at　night　it　was　lit　by　a　swinging　lamp　of　bronze。　I　passed　in
  without　noise；　for　the　door　was　not　altogether　shut；　and；　pushing　my
  way　through　the　heavy　curtains　that　were　beyond；　I　stood　with　a
  beating　heart　within　the　chamber。
  The　lamp　was　lit；　for　the　darkness　had　fallen；　and　by　its　light　I　saw
  the　old　man　seated　in　a　chair　of　ivory　and　ebony　at　a　table　of　stone
  on　which　were　spread　mystic　writings　of　the　words　of　Life　and　Death。
  But　he　read　no　more；　for　he　slept；　and　his　long　white　beard　rested
  upon　the　table　like　the　beard　of　a　dead　man。　The　soft　light　from　the
  lamp　fell　on　him；　on　the　papyri　and　the　gold　ring　upon　his　hand；　where
  were　graven　the　symbols　of　the　Invisible　One；　but　all　around　was
  shadow。　It　fell　on　the　shaven　head；　on　the　white　robe；　on　the　cedar
  staff　of　priesthood　at　his　side；　and　on　the　ivory　of　the　lion…footed
  chair；　it　showed　the　mighty　brow　of　power；　the　features　cut　in　kingly
  mould；　the　white　eyebrows；　and　the　dark　hollows　of　the　deep…set　eyes。
  I　looked　and　trembled；　for　there　was　about　him　that　which　was　more
  than　the　dignity　of　man。　He　had　lived　so　long　with　the　Gods；　and　so
  long　kept　company　with　them　and　with　thoughts　divine；　he　was　so　deeply
  versed　in　all　those　mysteries　which　we　do　but　faintly　discern；　here　in
  this　upper　air；　that　even　now；　before　his　time；　he　partook　of　the
  nature　of　the　Osiris；　and　was　a　thing　to　shake　humanity　with　fear。
  I　stood　and　gazed；　and　as　I　stood　he　opened　his　dark　eyes；　but　looked
  not　on　me；　nor　turned　his　head；　and　yet　he　saw　me　and　spoke。
  〃Why　hast　thou　been　disobedient　to　me；　my　son？〃　he　said。　〃How　came　it
  that　thou　wentest　forth　against　the　lion　when　I　bade　thee　not？〃
  〃How　knowest　thou；　my　father；　that　I　went　forth？〃　I　asked　in　fear。
  〃How　know　I？　Are　there；　then；　no　other　ways　of　knowledge　than　by　the
  senses？　Ah；　ignorant　child！　was　not　my　Spirit　with　thee　when　the　lion
  sprang　upon　thy　companion？　Did　I　not　pray　Those　set　about　thee　to
  protect　thee；　to　make　sure　thy　thrust　when　thou　didst　drive　the　spear
  into　the　lion's　throat！　How　came　it　that　thou　wentest　forth；　my　son？〃
  〃The　boaster　taunted　me；〃　I　answered；　〃and　I　went。〃
  〃Yes；　I　know　it；　and；　because　of　the　hot　blood　of　youth；　I　forgive
  thee；　Harmachis。　But　now　listen　to　me；　and　let　my　words　sink　into　thy
  heart　like　the　waters　of　Sihor　into　the　thirsty　sand　at　the　rising　of
  Sirius。＇*＇　Listen　to　me。　The　boaster　was　sent　to　thee　as　a　temptation；
  he　was　sent　as　a　trial　of　thy　strength；　and　see！　it　has　not　been　equal
  to　the　burden。　Therefore　thy　hour　is　put　back。　Hadst　thou　been　strong
  in　this　matter；　the　path　had　been　made　plain　to　thee　even　now。　But
  thou　hast　failed；　and　therefore　thy　hour　is　put　back。〃
  ＇*＇　The　dog…star；　whose　appearance　marked　the　commencement　of　the
  overflow　of　the　Nile。Editor。
  〃I　understand　thee　not；　my　father；〃　I　answered。
  〃What　was　it；　then；　my　son；　that　the　old　wife；　Atoua；　said　to　thee
  down　by　the　bank　of　the　canal？〃
  Then　I　told　him　all　that　the　old　wife　had　said。
  〃And　thou　believest；　Harmachis；　my　son？〃