cleopatra-第11章

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Guardian　of　the　Worlds　and　the　Races　that　dwell　thereon；　Universal

Mother　born　of　Nothingness；　Creatix　uncreated；　Living　Splendour

without　Form；　Living　Form　without　Substance；　Servant　of　the　Invisible；

Child　of　Law；　Holder　of　the　Scales　and　Sword　of　Fate；　Vessel　of　Life；

through　whom　all　Life　flows；　to　whom　it　again　is　gathered；　Recorder　of

Things　Done；　Executrix　of　Decrees/Hear！/



〃Harmachis　the　Egyptian；　who　by　Thy　will　hath　been　summoned　from　the

earth；　waits　before　Thine　Altar；　with　ears　unstopped；　with　eyes

unsealed；　and　with　an　open　heart。　Hear　and　descend！　Descend；　O　Many…

shaped！　Descend　in　Flame！　Descend　in　Sound！　Descend　in　Spirit！　Hear

and　descend！〃







The　Voice　ceased　and　there　was　silence。　Then　through　the　silence　came

a　sound　like　the　booming　of　the　sea。　It　passed　and　presently；　moved

thereto　by　I　know　not　what；　I　raised　my　eyes　from　my　hands　with　which

I　had　covered　them；　and　saw　a　small　dark　cloud　hanging　over　the　Altar

in　and　out　of　which　a　fiery　Serpent　climbed。



Then　all　the　Spirits　clad　in　light　fell　upon　the　marble　floor；　and

with　a　loud　voice　adored；　but　what　they　said　I　could　not　understand。

Behold！　the　dark　cloud　came　down　and　rested　on　the　Altar；　the　Serpent

of　fire　stretched　itself　towards　me；　touched　me　on　the　forehead　with

its　forky　tongue　and　was　gone。　From　within　the　cloud　a　Voice　sweet　and

low　and　clear　spoke　in　heavenly　accents：



〃Depart；　ye　Ministers；　leave　Me　with　my　son　whom　I　have　summoned。〃



Then　like　arrows　rushing　from　a　bow　the　flame…clad　Spirits　leapt　from

the　ground　and　sped　away。



〃O　Harmachis；〃　said　the　Voice；　〃be　not　afraid；　I　am　She　whom　thou　dost

know　as　Isis　of　the　Egyptians；　but　what　else　I　am　strive　not　thou　to

learn；　it　is　beyond　thy　strength。　For　I　am　all　things；　Life　is　my

spirit；　and　Nature　is　my　raiment。　I　am　the　laughter　of　the　babe；　I　am

the　maiden's　love；　I　am　the　mother's　kiss。　I　am　the　Child　and　Servant

of　the　Invisible　that　is　God；　that　is　Law；　that　is　Fatethough　myself

I　be　not　God　and　Fate　and　Law。　When　winds　blow　and　oceans　roar　upon

the　face　of　the　Earth　thou　hearest　my　voice；　when　thou　gazest　on　the

starry　firmament　thou　seest　my　countenance；　when　the　spring　blooms　out

in　flowers；　that　is　my　smile；　Harmachis。　For　I　am　Nature's　self；　and

all　her　shapes　are　shapes　of　Me。　I　breathe　in　all　that　breathes。　I　wax

and　wane　in　the　changeful　moon：　I　grow　and　gather　in　the　tides：　I　rise

with　the　suns：　I　flash　with　the　lightning　and　thunder　in　the　storms。

Nothing　is　too　great　for　the　measure　of　my　majesty；　nothing　is　so

small　that　I　cannot　find　a　home　therein。　I　am　in　thee　and　thou　art　in

Me；　O　Harmachis。　That　which　bade　thee　be　bade　Me　also　be。　Therefore；

though　I　am　great　and　thou　art　little；　have　no　fear。　For　we　are　bound

together　by　the　common　bond　of　lifethat　life　which　flows　through

suns　and　stars　and　spaces；　through　Spirits　and　the　souls　of　men；

welding　all　Nature　to　a　whole　that；　changing　ever；　is　yet　eternally

the　same。〃



I　bowed　my　headI　could　not　speak；　for　I　was　afraid。



〃Faithfully　hast　thou　served　Me；　O　my　son；〃　went　on　the　low　sweet

Voice；　〃greatly　thou　hast　longed　to　be　brought　face　to　face　with　Me

here　in　Amenti；　and　greatly　hast　thou　dared　to　accomplish　thy　desire。

For　it　is　no　small　thing　to　cast　off　the　tabernacle　of　the　Flesh　and

before　the　appointed　time；　if　only　for　an　hour；　put　on　the　raiment　of

the　Spirit。　And　greatly；　O　my　servant　and　my　son；　have　I；　too；　desired

to　look　on　thee　there　where　I　am。　For　the　Gods　love　those　who　love

them；　but　with　a　wider　and　deeper　love；　and　under　One　who　is　as　far

from　Me　as　I　am　from　thee；　mortal；　I　am　a　God　of　Gods。　Therefore　I

have　caused　thee　to　be　brought　hither；　Harmachis；　and　therefore　I

speak　to　thee；　my　son；　and　bid　thee　commune　with　Me　now　face　to　face；

as　thou　didst　commune　that　night　upon　the　temple　towers　of　Abouthis。

For　I　was　there　with　thee；　Harmachis；　as　I　was　in　ten　thousand　other

worlds。　It　was　I；　O　Harmachis；　who　laid　the　lotus　in　thy　hand；　giving

thee　the　sign　which　thou　didst　seek。　For　thou　art　of　the　kingly　blood

of　my　children　who　served　Me　from　age　to　age。　And　if　thou　dost　not

fail　thou　shalt　sit　upon　that　kingly　throne　and　restore　my　ancient

worship　in　its　purity；　and　sweep　my　temples　from　their　defilements。

But　if　thou　dost　fail；　then　shall　the　eternal　Spirit　Isis　become　but　a

memory　in　Egypt。〃



The　Voice　paused；　and；　gathering　up　my　strength；　at　length　I　spoke

aloud：



〃Tell　me；　O　Holy；〃　I　said；　〃shall　I　then　fail？〃



〃Ask　Me　not；〃　answered　the　Voice；　〃that　which　it　is　not　lawful　that　I

should　answer　thee。　Perchance　I　can　read　that　which　shall　befall　thee；

perchance　it　doth　not　please　Me　so　to　read。　What　can　it　profit　the

Divine；　that　hath　all　time　wherein　to　await　the　issues；　to　be　eager　to

look　upon　the　blossom　that　is　not　blown；　but　which；　lying　a　seed　in

the　bosom　of　the　earth；　shall　blow　in　its　season？　Know；　Harmachis；

that　I　do　not　shape　the　Future；　the　Future　is　to　thee　and　not　to　Me；

for　it　is　born　of　Law　and　of　the　rule　ordained　of　the　Invisible。　Yet

thou　art　free　to　act　therein；　and　thou　shalt　win　or　thou　shalt　fail

according　to　thy　strength　and　the　measure　of　thy　heart's　purity。　Thine

be　the　burden；　Harmachis；　as　thine　in　the　event　shall　be　the　glory　or

the　shame。　Little　do　I　reck　of　the　issue；　I　who　am　but　the　Minister　of

what　is　written。　Now　hear　me：　I　will　always　be　with　thee；　my　son；　for

my　love　once　given　can　never　be　taken　away；　though　by　sin　it　may　seem

lost　to　thee。　Remember　then　this：　if　thou　dost　triumph；　thy　guerdon

shall　be　great；　if　thou　dost　fail；　heavy　indeed　shall　be　thy

punishment　both　in　the　flesh　and　in　the　land　that　thou　callest　Amenti。

Yet　this　for　thy　comfort：　shame　and　agony　shall　not　be　eternal。　For

however　deep　the　fall　from　righteousness；　if　but　repentance　holds　the

heart；　there　is　a　patha　stony　and　a　cruel　pathwhereby　the　height

may　be　climbed　again。　Let　it　not　be　thy　lot　to　follow　it；　Harmachis！



〃And　now；　because　thou　hast　loved　Me；　my　son；　and；　wandering　through

the　maze　of　fable；　wherein　men　lose　themselves　upon　the　earth；

mistaking　the　substance　for　the　Spirit；　and　the　Altar　for　the　God；

hast　yet　grasped　a　clue　of　Truth　the　Many…faced；　and　because　I　love

thee　and　look　on　to　the　day　that；　perchance；　shall　come　when　thou

shalt　dwell　blessed　in　my　light　and　in　the　doing　of　my　tasks：　because

of　this；　I　say；　it　shall　be　given　to　thee；　O　Harmachis；　to　hear　the

Word　whereby　I　may　be　summoned　from　the　Uttermost；　by　one　who　hath

communed　with　Me；　and　to　look　upon　the　face　of　Isiseven　into　the

eyes　of　the　Messenger；　and　not　die　the　death。



〃/Behold！/〃



The　sweet　Voice　ceased；　the　dark　cloud　upon　the　altar　changed　and

changedit　grew　white；　it　shone；　and　seemed　at　length　to　take　the

shrouded　shape　of　a　woman。　Then　the　golden　Snake　crept　from　its　heart

once　more；　and；　like　a　living　diadem；　twined　itself　about　the　cloudy

brows。



Now　suddenly　a　Voice　called　aloud　the　awful　Word；　then　the　vapours

burst　and　melted；　and　with　my　eyes　I　saw　that　Glory；　at　the　very

thought　of　which　my　spirit　faints。　But　what　I　saw　it　is　not　lawful　to

utter。　For；　though　I　have　been　bidden　to　write　what　I　have　written　of

this　matter；　perchance　that　a　record　may　remain；　thereon　I　have　been

warneday；　even　now；　after　these　many　years。　I　saw；　and　what　I　saw

cannot　be　imagined；　for　there　are　Glories　and　there　are　Shapes　which

are　beyond　the　reach　of　man's　imagination。　I　sawthen；　with　the　echo

of　that　Word；　and　the　memory　of　that　sight　stamped　for　ever　on　my

heart；　my　spirit　failed　me；　and　I　sank　down　before　the　Glory。



And；　as　I　fell；　it　seemed　that　the　great　hall　burst　open　and　crumbled

into　flakes　of　fire　round　me。　Then　a　great　wind　blew：　there　was　a

sound　as　the　sound　of　Worlds　rushing　down　the　flood　of　Timeand　I

knew　no　more！







CHAPTER　VII



OF　THE　AWAKING　OF　HARMACHIS；　OF　THE　CEREMONY　OF　HIS　CROWNING

AS　PHARAOH　OF　THE　UPPER　AND　THE　LOWER　LAND；　AND　OF　THE

OFFERINGS　MADE　TO　PHARAOH



Once　again　I　woketo　find　myself　stretched　at　length　upon　the　stone

flooring　of　the　Holy　Place　of　Isis　that　is　at　Abouthis。　By　me　stood

the　old　Priest　of　the　Mysteries；　and　in　his　hand　was　a　lamp。　He　bent

over　me；　and　gazed　earnestly　upon　my　face。



〃It　is　daythe　day　of　thy　new　birth；　and　thou　hast　lived　to　see　it；

Harmachis！〃　he　said　at　length。　〃I　give　thanks。　Arise；　royal　Harmachis

nay；　tell　me　naught　of　that　which　has　befallen　thee。　Arise；　beloved

of　the　Holy　Mother。　Come　forth；　thou　who　hast　passed　the　fire　and

learned　what　lies　behind　the　darknesscome　forth；　O　newly…born！〃



I　rose　and；　walking　faintly；　went　with　him；　and；　passing　out　of　the

darkness　of　the　Shrines　filled　with　thought　and　wonder；　came　once　more

into　the　pure　light　of　the　morning。　And　then　I　went　to　my　own　chamber

and　slept；　nor　did　any　dreams　come　to　trouble　me。　But　no　mannot　even

my　fatherasked　me　aught　of　what　I　saw　upon　that　dread　night；　or

after　what　fashion　I　had　communed　with　the　Goddess。



After　these　things　which　have　been　written；　I　applied　myself　for　a

space　to　the　worship　of　the　Mother　Isis；　and　to　the　further　study　of

the　outward　forms　of　those　mysteries　to　which　I　now　held　the　key。

Moreover；　I　was　instructed　in　matters　politic；　for　many　great　men　of

our　following　came　secretly　to　see　me　from　all　quarters　of　Egypt；　and

told　me　much　of　the　hatred　of　the　people　towards　Cleopatra；　the　Queen；

and　of　other　things。　At　last　the　hour　drew　nigh；　it　was　three　months

and　ten　days　from　the　night　when；　for　a　while；　I　left　the　flesh；　and

yet　living　with　our　life；　was　gathered　to　the　breast　of　Isis；　on　which

it　was　agreed　that　with　due　and　customary　rites；　although　in　utter

secrecy；　I　should　be　called　to　the　throne　of　the　Upper　and　the　Lower

Land。　So　it　came　about　that；　as　the　solemn　time　drew　nigh；　great　men

of　the　party　of　Egypt　gathered　to　the　number　of　thirty…seven　from

every　nome；　and　each　great　city　of　their　nome；　meeting　together　at

Abouthis。　They　came　in　every　guisesome　as　priests；　some　as　pilgrims

to　the　Shrine；　and　some　as　beggars。　Among　them　was　my　uncle；　Sepa；

who；　though　he　clad　himself　as　a　travelling　doctor；　had　much　ado　to

keep　his　loud　voice　from　betraying　him。　Indeed；　I　myself　knew　him　by

it；　meeting　him　as　I　walked　in　thought　upon　the　banks　of　the　canal；

although　it　was　then　dusk　and　the　great　cape；　which；　after　the　fashion

of　such　doctors；　he　had　thrown　about　his　head；　half　hid　his　face。



〃A　pest　on　thee！〃　he　cried；　when　I　greeted　him　by　his　name。　〃Cannot　a

man　cease　to　be　himself　for　a　single　hour？　Didst　thou　but　know　the

pains　that　it　has　cost　me　to　learn　to　play　this　partand　now　thou

readest　who　I　am　even　in　the　dark！〃



And　then；　still　talking　in　his　loud　voice；　he　told　me　how　he　had

travelled　hither　on　foot；　the　better　to　escape　the　spies　who　ply　to

and　fro　upon　the　river。　But　he　said　he　should　return　by　the　water；　or

take　another　guise；　for　since　he　had　come　as　a