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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 out of Jacob； and a sceptre shall arise out of Israel。'〃
The lips of Tigranes drew downward with contempt； as he
said：
〃Judah was a captive by the waters of Babylon； and the
sons of Jacob were in bondage to our kings。 The tribes of
Israel are scattered through the mountains like lost sheep；
and from the remnant that dwells in Judea under the yoke of
Rome neither star nor sceptre shall arise。〃
〃And yet；〃 answered Artaban； 〃it was the Hebrew Daniel；
the mighty searcher of dreams； the counsellor of kings； the
wise Belteshazzar； who was most honoured and beloved of our
great King Cyrus。 A prophet of sure things and a reader of
the thoughts of the Eternal； Daniel proved himself to our
people。 And these are the words that he wrote。〃 （Artaban
read from the second roll：） 〃 'Know； therefore； and understand
that from the going forth of the commandment to restore
Jerusalem； unto the Anointed One； the Prince； the time shall be
seven and threescore and two weeks。〃'
〃But； my son；〃 sai