cleopatra-第10节
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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
unalterable procession the stars pass on； drawing after them the
destinies of men； where the Holy Ones sit upon their burning thrones；
and watch the chariot…wheels of Fate as they roll from sphere to
sphere。 O hours of holy contemplation！ who； having once tasted of your
joy could wish again to grovel on the earth？ O vile flesh to drag us
down！ I would that thou hadst then altogether fallen from me； and left
my spirit free to seek Osiris！
The months of probation passed but too swiftly； and now the holy day
drew near when I was in truth to be united to the universal Mother。
Never hath Night so longed for the promise of the Dawn； never hath the
heart of a lover so passionately desired the sweet coming of his
bride； as I longed to see Thy glorious face； O Isis！ Even now that I
have been faithless to Thee； and Thou art far from me； O Divine！ my
soul goes out to Thee； and once more I know But as it is bidden
that I should draw the veil； and speak of things which have not been
told since the beginning of this world； let me pass on and reverently
set down the history of that holy morn。
For seven days the great festival had been celebrated； the suffering
of the Lord Osiris had been commemorated； the grief of the Mother Isis
had been sung and glory had been done to the memory of the coming of
the Divine Child Horus； the Son； the Avenger； the God…begot。 All these
things had been carried out according to the ancient rites。 The boats
had floated on the sacred lake； the priests had scourged themselves
before the sanctuaries； and the images had been borne through the
streets at night。
And now； as the sun sank on the seventh day； once more the great
procession gathered to chant the woes of Isis and tell how the evil
was avenged。 We went in silence from the temple； and passed through
the city ways。 First came those who clear the path； then my father
Amenemhat in all his priestly robes； and the wand of cedar in his
hand。 Then； clad in pure linen； I； the neophyte； followed alone； and
after me the white…robed priests； holding aloft banners and emblems of
the Gods。 Next came those who bear the sacred boat； and after them the
singers and the mourners； while； stretching as far as the eye could
reach； all the people marched； clad in melancholy black because Osiris
was no more。 We went in silence through the city streets till at
length we came to the wall of the temple and passed in。 And as my
father； the High Priest； entered beneath the gateway of the outer
pylon； a sweet…voiced woman singer began to sing the Holy Chant； and
thus she sang：
〃Sing we Osiris dead；
Lament the fallen head：
The light has left the world； the world is grey。
Athwart the starry skies
The web of Darkness flies；
And Isis weeps Osiris passed away。
Your tears； ye stars； ye fires； ye rivers； shed；
Weep； children of the Nile； weep for your Lord is dead！〃
She paused in her most sweet song； and the whole multitude took up the
melancholy dirge：
〃Softly we tread； our measured footsteps falling
Within the Sanctuary Sevenfold；
Soft on the Dead that liveth are we calling：
'Return； Osiris； from thy Kingdom cold！
Return to them that worship thee of old！'〃
The chorus ceased； and once again she sang：
〃Within the court divine
The Sevenfold sacred shrine
We pass； while echoes of the Temple walls
Repeat the long lament
The sound of sorrow sent
Far up within the imperishable halls；
Where； each in the other's arms； the Sisters weep；
Isis and Nephthys； o'er His unawaking sleep。〃
And then again rolled forth the solemn chorus of a thousand voices：
〃Softly we tread； our measured footsteps falling
Within the Sanctuary Sevenfold；
Soft on the Dead that liveth are we calling：
'Return； Osiris； from thy Kingdom cold！
Return to them that worship thee of old！'〃
It ceased； and sweetly she took up the song：
〃O dweller in the West；
Lover and Lordliest；
Thy love； thy Sister Isis； calls thee home！
Come from thy chamber dun
Thou Master of the Sun；
Thy shadowy chamber far below the foam！
With weary wings and spent
Through all the firmament；
Through all the horror…haunted ways of Hell；
I seek thee near and far；
From star to wandering star；
Free with the dead that in Amenti dwell。
I search the height； the deep； the lands； the skies；
Rise from the dead and live； our Lord Osiris； rise！〃
〃Softly we tread； our measured footsteps falling
Within the Sanctuary Sevenfold；
Soft on the Dead that liveth are we calling：
'Return； Osiris； from thy Kingdom cold！
Return to them that worship thee of old！'〃
Now in a strain more high and glad the singer sang：
〃He wakesfrom forth the prison
We sing Osiris risen；
We sing the child that Nout conceived and bare。
Thine own love； Isis； waits
The Warden of the Gates；
She breathes the breath of Life on breast and hair；
And in her breast and breath
Behold！ he waketh；
Behold！ at length he riseth out of rest；
Touched with her holy hands；
The Lord of all the Lands；
He stirs； he rises from her breath； her breast！
But thou； fell Typhon； fly；
The judgment day drawn nigh；
Fleet on thy track as flame speeds Horus from the sky。〃
〃Softly we tread； our measured footsteps falling
Within the Sanctuary Sevenfold；
Soft on the Dead that liveth are we calling：
'Return； Osiris； from thy Kingdom cold！
Return to them that worship thee of old！'〃
Once more； as we bowed before the Holy； she sang； and sent the full
breath of her glad music ringing up the everlasting walls till the
silence quivered with h
