a　crown。
  Around　the　dwelling　of　Artaban　spread　a　fair　garden；　a
  tangle　of　flowers　and　fruit…trees；　watered　by　a　score　of
  streams　descending　from　the　slopes　of　Mount　Orontes；　and　made
  musical　by　innumerable　birds。　　But　all　colour　was　lost　in　the
  soft　and　odorous　darkness　of　the　late　September　night；　and　all
  sounds　were　hushed　in　the　deep　charm　of　its　silence；　save　the
  plashing　of　the　water；　like　a　voice　half…sobbing　and
  half…laughing　under　the　shadows。　　High　above　the　trees　a　dim
  glow　of　light　shone　through　the　curtained　arches　of　the　upper
  chamber；　where　the　master　of　the　house　was　holding　council
  with　his　friends。
  He　stood　by　the　doorway　to　greet　his　guestsa　tall；　dark
  man　of　about　forty　years；　with　brilliant　eyes　set　near　together
  under　his　broad　brow；　and　firm　lines　graven　around　his　fine；　thin
  lips；　the　brow　of　a　dreamer　and　the　mouth　of　a　soldier；　a　man　of
  sensitive　feeling　but　inflexible　willone　of　those　who；　in
  whatever　age　they　may　live；　are　born　for　inward　conflict　and　a
  life　of　quest。
  His　robe　was　of　pure　white　wool；　thrown　over　a　tunic　of
  silk；　and　a　white；　pointed　cap；　with　long　lapels　at　the　sides；
  rested　on　his　flowing　black　hair。　　It　was　the　dress　of　the
  ancient　priesthood　of　the　Magi；　called　the　fire…worshippers。
  〃Welcome！〃　he　said；　in　his　low；　pleasant　voice；　as　one
  after　another　entered　the　room〃welcome；　Abdus；　peace　be　with
  you；　Rhodaspes　and　Tigranes；　and　with　you　my　father；　Abgarus。
  You　are　all　welcome。　　This　house　grows　bright　with　the　joy　of
  your　presence。〃
  There　were　nine　of　the　men；　differing　widely　in　age；　but
  alike　in　the　richness　of　their　dress　of　many…coloured　silks；
  and　in　the　massive　golden　collars　around　their　necks；　marking
  them　as　Parthian　nobles；　and　in　the　winged　circles　of　gold
  resting　upon　their　breasts；　the　sign　of　the　followers　of
  Zoroaster。
  They　took　their　places　around　a　small　black　altar　at　the
  end　of　the　room；　where　a　tiny　flame　was　burning。　　Artaban；
  standing　beside　it；　and　waving　a　barsom　of　thin　tamarisk
  branches　above　the　fire；　fed　it　with　dry　sticks　of　pine　and
  fragrant　oils。　　Then　he　began　the　ancient　chant　of　the　Yasna；
  and　the　voices　of　his　companions　joined　in　the　hymn　to
  Ahura…Mazda：
  We　worship　the　Spirit　Divine；
  all　wisdom　and　goodness　possessing；
  Surrounded　by　Holy　Immortals；
  the　givers　of　bounty　and　blessing；
  We　joy　in　the　work　of　His　hands；
  His　truth　and　His　power　confessing。
  We　praise　all　the　things　that　are　pure；
  for　these　are　His　only　Creation
  The　thoughts　that　are　true；　and　the　words
  and　the　deeds　that　have　won　approbation；
  These　are　supported　by　Him；
  and　for　these　we　make　adoration。
  Hear　us；　O　Mazda！　　Thou　livest
  in　truth　and　in　heavenly　gladness；
  Cleanse　us　from　falsehood；　and　keep　us
  from　evil　and　bondage　to　badness；
  Pour　out　the　light　and　the　joy　of　Thy　life
  on　our　darkness　and　sadness。
  Shine　on　our　gardens　and　fields；
  shine　on　our　working　and　waving；
  Shine　on　the　whole　race　of　man；
  believing　and　　unbelieving；
  Shine　on　us　now　through　the　night；
  Shine　on　us　now　in　Thy　might；
  The　flame　of　our　holy　love
  and　the　song　of　our　worship　receiving。
  The　fire　rose　with　the　chant；　throbbing　as　if　the　flame
  responded　to　the　music；　until　it　cast　a　bright　illumination
  through　the　whole　apartment；　revealing　its　simplicity　and
  splendour。
  The　floor　was　laid　with　tiles　of　dark　blue　veined　with
  white；　pilasters　of　twisted　silver　stood　out　against　the　blue
  walls；　the　clear…story　of　round…arched　windows　above　them　was
  hung　with　azure　silk；　the　vaulted　ceiling　was　a　pavement　of
  blue　stones；　like　the　body　of　heaven　in　its　clearness；　sown　with
  silver　stars。　　From　the　four　corners　of　the　roof　hung　four
  golden　magic…wheels；　called　the　tongues　of　the　gods。　　At　the
  eastern　end；　behind　the　altar；　there　were　two　dark…red　pillars
  of　porphyry；　above　them　a　lintel　of　the　same　stone；　on　which
  was　carved　the　figure　of　a　winged　archer；　with　his　arrow　set
  to　the　string　and　his　bow　drawn。
  The　doorway　between　the　pillars；　which　opened　upon　the
  terrace　of　the　roof；　was　covered　with　a　heavy　curtain　of　the
  colour　of　a　ripe　pomegranate；　embroidered　with　innumerable
  golden　rays　shooting　upward　from　the　floor。　　In　effect　the
  room　was　like　a　quiet；　starry　night；　all　azure　and　silver；
  flushed　in　the　cast　with　rosy　promise　of　the　dawn。　　It　was；　as
  the　house　of　a　man　should　be；　an　expression　of　the　character
  and　spirit　of　the　master。
  He　turned　to　his　friends　when　the　song　was　ended；　and
  invited　them　to　be　seated　on　the　divan　at　the　western　end　of
  the　room。
  〃You　have　come　to…night；〃　said　he；　looking　around　the
  circle；　〃at　my　call；　as　the　faithful　scholars　of　Zoroaster；　to
  renew　your　worship　and　rekindle　your　faith　in　the　God　of　Purity；
  even　as　this　fire　has　been　rekindled　on　the　altar。　　We　worship
  not　the　fire；　but　Him　of　whom　it　is　the　chosen　symbol；　because　it
  is　the　purest　of　all　created　things。　　It　speaks　to　us　of　one　who
  is　Light　and　Truth。　　Is　it　not　so；　my　father？〃
  〃It　is　well　said；　my　son；〃　answered　the　venerable　Abgarus。
  〃The　enlightened　are　never　idolaters。　　They　lift　the　veil　of
  form　and　go　in　to　the　shrine　of　reality；　and　new　light　and
  truth　are　coming　to　them　continually　through　the　old　symbols。〃
  〃Hear　me；　then；　my　father　and　my　friends；〃　said　Artaban；
  〃while　I　tell　you　of　the　new　light　and　truth　that　have　come　to
  me　through　the　most　ancient　of　all　signs。　　We　have　searched
  the　secrets　of　Nature　together；　and　studied　the　healing　virtues
  of　water　and　fire　and　the　plants。　　We　have　read　also　the
  books　of　prophecy　in　which　the　future　is　dimly　foretold　in
  words　that　are　hard　to　understand。　　But　the　highest　of　all
  learning　is　the　knowledge　of　the　stars。　　To　trace　their　course
  is　to　untangle　the　threads　of　the　mystery　of　life　from　the
  beginning　to　the　end。　　If　we　could　follow　them　perfectly；　nothing
  would　be　hidden　from　us。　　But　is　not　our　knowledge　of　them　still
  incomplete？　　Are　there　not　many　stars　still　beyond　our
  horizonlights　that　are　known　only　to　the　dwellers　in　the　far
  south…land；　among　the　spice…trees　of　Punt　and　the　gold　mines　of
  Ophir？〃
  There　was　a　murmur　of　assent　among　the　listeners。
  〃The　stars；〃　said　Tigranes；　〃are　the　thoughts　of　the
  Eternal。　　They　are　numberless。　　But　the　thoughts　of　man　can　be
  counted；　like　the　years　of　his　life。　　The　wisdom　of　the　Magi
  is　the　greatest　of　all　wisdoms　on　earth；　because　it　knows　its
  own　ignorance。　　And　that　is　the　secret　of　power。　　We　keep　men
  always　looking　and　waiting　for　a　new　sunrise。　　But　we
  ourselves　understand　that　the　darkness　is　equal　to　the　light；
  and　that　the　conflict　between　them　will　never　be　ended。〃
  〃That　does　not　satisfy　me；〃　answered　Artaban；　〃for；　if　the
  waiting　must　be　endless；　if　there　could　be　no　fulfilment　of
  it；　then　it　would　not　be　wisdom　to　look　and　wait。　　We　should
  become　like　those　new　teachers　of　the　Greeks；　who　say　that
  there　is　no　truth；　and　that　the　only　wise　men　are　those　who
  spend　their　lives　in　discovering　and　exposing　the　lies　that
  have　been　believed　in　the　world。　　But　the　new　sunrise　will
  certainly　appear　in　the　appointed　time。　　Do　not　our　own　books
  tell　us　that　this　will　come　to　pass；　and　that　men　will　see　the
  brightness　of　a　great　light？〃
  〃That　is　true；〃　said　the　voice　of　Abgarus；　〃every　faithful
  disciple　of　Zoroaster　knows　the　prophecy　of　the　Avesta；　and
  carries　the　word　in　his　heart。　　‘In　that　day　Sosiosh　the
  Victorious　shall　arise　out　of　the　number　of　the　prophets　in
  the　east　country。　　Around　him　shall　shine　a　mighty　brightness；
  and　he　shall　make　life　everlasting；　incorruptible；　and
  immortal；　and　the　dead　shall　rise　again。'〃
  〃This　is　a　dark　saying；〃　said　Tigranes；　〃and　it　may　be
  that　we　shall　never　understand　it。　　It　is　better　to　consider
  the　things　that　are　near　at　hand；　and　to　increase　the
  influence　of　the　Magi　in　their　own　country；　rather　than　to
  look　for　one　who　may　be　a　stranger；　and　to　whom　we　must　resign
  our　power。〃
  The　others　seemed　to　approve　these　words。　　There　was　a
  silent　feeling　of　agreement　manifest　among　them；　their　looks
  responded　with　that　indefinable　expression　which　always
  follows　when　a　speaker　has　uttered　the　thought　that　has　been
  slumbering　in　the　hearts　of　his　listeners。　　But　Artaban　turned
  to　Abgarus　with　a　glow　on　his　face；　and　said：
  〃My　father；　I　have　kept　this　prophecy　in　the　secret　place
  of　my　soul。　　Religion　without　a　great　hope　would　be　like　an
  altar　without　a　living　fire。　　And　now　the　flame　has　burned
  more　brightly；　and　by　the　light　of　it　I　have　read　other　words
  which　also　have　come　from　the　fountain　of　Truth；　and　speak　yet
  more　clearly　of　the　rising　of　the　Victorious　One　in　his
  brightness。〃
  He　drew　from　the　breast　of　his　tunic　two　small　rolls　of
  fine　parchment；　with　writing　upon　them；　and　unfolded　them
  carefully　upon　his　knee。
  〃In　the　years　that　are　lost　in　the　past；　long　before　our
  fathers　came　into　the　land　of　Babylon；　there　were　wise　men　in
  Chaldea；　from　whom　the　first　of　the　Magi　learned　the　secret　of
  the　heavens。　And　of　these　Balaam　the　son　of　Beor　was　one　of　the
  mightiest。　　Hear　the　words　of　his　prophecy：　　'There　shall　come　a
  star　ou