Yet another picture.  Again I beheld the banks of Sihor; but on them fair cities bloomed like flowers.  In and out their gates went men and women, passing to and fro from wide, well-tilled lands.  But I saw no guards or armies, and no weapons of war.  All was wisdom, prosperity, and peace.  And while I wondered, a glorious Figure, clad in raiment that shone as flame, came from the gates of a shrine, and the sound of music went before and followed after him.  He mounted an ivory throne which was set in a market-place facing the water:  and as the sun sank called in all the multitudes to prayer.  With one voice they prayed, bending in adoration.  And I understood that herein was shown the reign of the Gods on earth, which was long before the days of Menes.

A change came over the dream.  Still the same fair city, but other men—­men with greed and evil on their faces—­who hated the bonds of righteous doing, and set their hearts on sin.  The evening came; the glorious Figure mounted the throne and called to prayer, but none bowed themselves in adoration.

“We are aweary of thee!” they cried.  “Make Evil King!  Slay him! slay him! and loose the bonds of Evil!  Make Evil King!”

The glorious Shape rose up, gazing with mild eyes upon those wicked men.

“Ye know not what ye ask,” he cried; “but as ye will, so be it!  For if I die, by me, after much travail, shall ye once again find a path to the Kingdom of Good!”

Even as he spoke, a Form, foul and hideous to behold, leapt upon him, cursing, slew him, tore him limb from limb, and amidst the clamour of the people sat himself upon the throne and ruled.  But a Shape whose face was veiled passed down from heaven on shadowy wings, and with lamentations gathered up the rent fragments of the Being.  A moment she bent herself upon them, then lifted up her hands and wept.  And as she wept, behold! from her side there sprang a warrior armed and with a face like the face of Ra at noon.  He, the Avenger, hurled himself with a shout upon the Monster who had usurped the throne, and they closed in battle, and, struggling ever in a strait embrace, passed upward to the skies.

Then came picture after picture.  I saw Powers and Peoples clad in various robes and speaking many tongues.  I saw them pass and pass in millions—­loving, hating, struggling, dying.  Some few were happy and some had woe stamped upon their faces; but most bore not the seal of happiness nor of woe, but rather that of patience.  And ever as they passed from age to age, high above in the heavens the Avenger fought on with the Evil Thing, while the scale of victory swung now here now there.  But neither conquered, nor was it given to me to know how the battle ended.

And I understood that what I had beheld was the holy vision of the struggle between the Good and the Evil Powers.  I saw that man was created vile, but Those who are above took pity on him, and came down to him to make him good and happy, for the two things are one thing.  But man returned to his wicked way, and then the bright Spirit of Good, who is of us called Osiris, but who has many names, offered himself up for the evil-doing of the race that had dethroned him.  And from him and the Divine Mother, of whom all nature is, sprang another spirit who is the Protector of us on earth, as Osiris is our justifier in Amenti.