“Behold!”

The sweet Voice ceased; the dark cloud upon the altar changed and changed—­it 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 warned—­ay, 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 saw—­then, 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 Time—­and 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 woke—­to 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 day—­the 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 darkness—­come 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 man—­not even my father—­asked 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,