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of vantage。 Does thy blood beat fast in youth？ She will outrun it； nor
will her kisses tire。 Art thou set toward ambition？ She will unlock
thy inner heart； and show thee roads that lead to glory。 Art thou worn
and weary？ She has comfort in her breast。 Art thou fallen？ She can
lift thee up； and to the illusion of thy sense gild defeat with
triumph。 Ay； Harmachis； she can do these things； for Nature ever
fights upon her side； and while she does them she can deceive and
shape a secret end in which thou hast no part。 And thus Woman rules
the world。 For her are wars； for her men spend their strength in
gathering gains； for her they do well and ill； and seek for greatness；
to find oblivion。 But still she sits like yonder Sphinx； and smiles；
and no man has ever read all the riddle of her smile； or known all the
mystery of her heart。 Mock not！ mock not！ Harmachis； for he must be
great indeed who can defy the power of Woman； which； pressing round
him like the invisible air； is often strongest when the senses least
discover it。〃
I laughed aloud。 〃Thou speakest earnestly； my uncle Sepa；〃 I said；
〃one might almost think that thou hadst not come unscathed through
this fierce fire of temptation。 Well； for myself； I fear not woman and
her wiles； I know naught of them； and naught do I wish to know； and I
still hold that this C？sar was a fool。 Had I stood where C？sar stood；
to cool its wantonness that bale of rugs should have been rolled down
the palace steps； into the harbour mud。〃
〃Nay； cease！ cease！〃 he cried aloud。 〃It is evil to speak thus； may
the Gods avert the omen and preserve to thee this cold strength of
which thou boastest。 Oh！ man； thou knowest not！thou in thy strength
and beauty that is without compare； in the power of thy learning and
the sweetness of thy tonguethou knowest not！ The world where thou
must mix is not a sanctuary as that of the Divine Isis。 But thereit
may be so！ Pray that thy heart's ice may never melt； so thou shalt be
great and happy and Egypt shall be delivered。 And now let me take up
my talethou seest； Harmachis； even in so grave a story woman claims
her place。 The young Ptolemy； Cleopatra's brother； being loosed of
C？sar； treacherously turned on him。 Then C？sar and Mithridates stormed
the camp of Ptolemy； who took to flight across the river。 But his boat
was sunk by the fugitives who pressed upon it； and such was the
miserable end of Ptolemy。
〃Thereon； the war being ended； though she had but then borne him a
son； C？sarion； C？sar appointed the younger Ptolemy to rule with
Cleopatra； and be her husband in name； and he himself departed for
Rome； bearing with him the beautiful Princess Arsino？ to follow his
triumph in her chains。 But the great C？sar is no more。 He died as he
had lived； in blood； and right royally。 And but now Cleopatra； the
Queen； if my tidings may be trusted； has slain Ptolemy； her brother
and husband； by poison； and taken the child C？sarion to be her fellow
on the throne； which she holds by the help of the Roman legions； and；
as they say； of young Sextus Pompeius； who has succeeded C？sar in her
love。 But； Harmachis； the whole land boils and seethes against her。 In
every city the children of Khem talk of the deliverer who is to come
and thou art he； Harmachis。 The time is almost ripe。 The hour is nigh
at hand。 Go thou back to Abouthis and learn the last secrets of the
Gods； and meet those who shall direct the bursting of the storm。 Then
act； Harmachisact； I say； and strike home for Khem； rid the land of
the Roman and the Greek； and take thy place upon the throne of thy
divine fathers and be a King of men。 For to this end thou wast born； O
Prince！〃
CHAPTER V
OF THE RETURN OF HARMACHIS TO ABOUTHIS； OF THE CELEBRATION
OF THE MYSTERIES； OF THE CHANT OF ISIS； AND OF THE WARNING
OF AMENEMHAT
On the next day I embraced my uncle Sepa； and with an eager heart
departed from Annu back to Abouthis。 To be short； I came thither in
safety； having been absent five years and a month； being now no more a
boy but a man full grown and having my mind well stocked with the
knowledge of men and the ancient wisdom of Egypt。 So once again I saw
the old lands； and the known faces； though of these some few were
wanting； having been gathered to Osiris。 Now； as； riding across the
fields； I came nigh to the enclosure of the Temple； the priests and
people issued forth to bid me welcome； and with them the old wife；
Atoua； who； but for a few added wrinkles that Time had cut upon her
forehead； was just as she had been when she threw the sandal after me
five long years before。
〃/La！ la！ la！/〃 she cried； 〃and there thou art； my bonny lad； more
bonny even than thou wert！ /La！/ what a man！ what shoulders！ and what
a face and form！ Ah； it does an old woman credit to have dandled thee！
But thou art over…pale； those priests down there at Annu have starved
thee； surely？ Starve not thyself： the Gods love not a skeleton。 'Empty
stomach makes empty head' as they say at Alexandria。 But this is a
glad hour； ay； a joyous hour。 Come income in！〃 and as I lighted down
she embraced me。
But I thrust her aside。 〃My father！ where is my father？〃 I cried； 〃I
see him not！〃
〃Nay； nay； have no fear；〃 she answered； 'his Holiness is well； he
waits thee in his chamber。 There； pass on。 O happy day！ O happy
Abouthis！〃
So I went； or rather ran； and reached the chamber of which I have
written； and there at the table sat my father； Amenemhat； the same as
he had been； but very old。 I came to him and； kneeling before him；
kissed his hand； and he blessed me。
〃Look up； my son；〃 he said； 〃let my old eyes gaze upon thy face； that
I may read thy heart。〃
So I lifted up my head； and he looked upon me long and earnestly。
〃I read thee；〃 he said at length； 〃thou art pure and strong in wisdom；
I have not been deceived in thee。 Oh； the years have been lonely； but
I did well to send thee hence。 Now； tell me of thy life； for thy
letters have told me little； and thou canst not know； my son； how
hungry is a father's heart。〃
And so I told him； we sat far into the night and talked together。 And
in the end he bade me know that I must now prepare to be initiated
into those last mysteries that are learned of the chosen of the Gods。
And so it came about that for a space of three months I prepared
myself according to the holy customs。 I ate no meat。 I was constant in
the sanctuaries； in the study of the secrets of the Great Sacrifice
and of the woe of the Holy Mother。 I watched and prayed before the
altars。 I lifted up my soul to God； ay； in dreams I communed with the
Invisible； till at length earth and earth's desires seemed to pass
from me。 I longed no more for the glory of this world； my heart hung
above it as an eagle on his outstretched wings； and the voice of the
world's blame could not stir it； and the vision of its beauty brought
no delight。 For above me was the vast vault of heaven； where in