’ButSapphowithoutlove！Iencouragedherinthisboldnessofcareer——inthisindulgenceofvanityandofpleasure。Ilovedtosteepheramidstthedissipationsandluxuryofthisabandonedcity。Markme，Calenus！I
desiredtoenervatehermind！——ithasbeentoopuretoreceiveyetthebreathwhichIwishnottopass，butburninglytoeatinto，themirror。I
wishedhertobesurroundedbylovers，hollow，vain，andfrivolous（loversthathernaturemustdespise），inordertofeelthewantoflove。Then，inthosesoftintervalsoflassitudethatsucceedtoexcitement——Icanweavemyspells——exciteherinterest——attractherpassions——possessmyselfofherheart。Foritisnottheyoung，northebeautiful，northegay，thatshouldfascinateIone；herimaginationmustbewon，andthelifeofArbaceshasbeenonesceneoftriumphovertheimaginationsofhiskind。’
’Andhastthounofear，then，ofthyrivals？ThegallantsofItalyareskilledinthearttoplease。’
’None！HerGreeksouldespisesthebarbarianRomans，andwouldscornitselfifitadmittedathoughtofloveforoneofthatupstartrace。’
’ButthouartanEgyptian，notaGreek！’
’Egypt，’repliedArbaces，’isthemotherofAthens。HertutelaryMinervaisourdeity；andherfounder，Cecrops，wasthefugitiveofEgyptianSais。
ThishaveIalreadytaughttoher；andinmybloodsheveneratestheeldestdynastiesofearth。ButyetIwillownthatoflatesomeuneasysuspicionshavecrossedmymind。Sheismoresilentthansheusedtobe；shelovesmelancholyandsubduingmusic；shesighswithoutanoutwardcause。Thismaybethebeginningoflove——itmaybethewantoflove。Ineithercaseitistimeformetobeginmyoperationsonherfanciesandherheart：intheonecase，todivertthesourceoflovetome；intheother，inmetoawakenit。
ItisforthisthatIhavesoughtyou。’
’AndhowcanIassistyou？’
’Iamabouttoinvitehertoafeastinmyhouse：Iwishtodazzle——tobewilder——toinflamehersenses。Ourarts——theartsbywhichEgypttrainedheryoungnovitiates——mustbeemployed；and，underveilofthemysteriesofreligion，Iwillopentoherthesecretsoflove。’
’Ah！nowIunderstand：——oneofthosevoluptuousbanquetsthat，despiteourdullvowsofmortifiedcoldness，we，thepriestsofIsis，havesharedatthyhouse。’
’No，no！Thinkestthouherchasteeyesareripeforsuchscenes？No；butfirstwemustensnarethebrother——aneasiertask。Listentome，whileI
giveyoumyinstructions。’
ChapterV
MOREOFTHEFLOWER—GIRL。THEPROGRESSOFLOVE。
THEsunshonegailyintothatbeautifulchamberinthehouseofGlaucus，whichIhavebeforesaidisnowcalledthe’RoomofLeda’。Themorningraysenteredthroughrowsofsmallcasementsatthehigherpartoftheroom，andthroughthedoorwhichopenedonthegarden，thatansweredtotheinhabitantsofthesoutherncitiesthesamepurposethatagreenhouseorconservatorydoestous。Thesizeofthegardendidnotadaptitforexercise，butthevariousandfragrantplantswithwhichitwasfilledgavealuxurytothatindolencesodeartothedwellersinasunnyclime。Andnowtheodorous，fannedbyagentlewindcreepingfromtheadjacentsea，scatteredthemselvesoverthatchamber，whosewallsviedwiththerichestcolorsofthemostglowingflowers。Besidesthegemoftheroom——thepaintingofLedaandTyndarus——inthecentreofeachcompartmentofthewallsweresetotherpicturesofexquisitebeauty。InoneyousawCupidleaningonthekneesofVenus；inanotherAriadnesleepingonthebeach，unconsciousoftheperfidyofTheseus。Merrilythesunbeamsplayedtoandfroonthetessellatedfloorandthebrilliantwalls——farmorehappilycametheraysofjoytotheheartoftheyoungGlaucus。
’Ihaveseenher，then，’saidhe，ashepacedthatnarrowchamber——’Ihaveheardher——nay，Ihavespokentoheragain——Ihavelistenedtothemusicofhersong，andshesungofgloryandofGreece。Ihavediscoveredthelong—soughtidolofmydreams；andliketheCypriansculptor，Ihavebreathedlifeintomyownimaginings。’
Longer，perhaps，hadbeentheenamouredsoliloquyofGlaucus，butatthatmomentashadowdarkenedthethresholdofthechamber，andayoungfemale，stillhalfachildinyears，brokeuponhissolitude。Shewasdressedsimplyinawhitetunic，whichreachedfromthenecktotheankles；underherarmsheboreabasketofflowers，andintheotherhandsheheldabronzewater—vase；herfeaturesweremoreformedthanexactlybecameheryears，yettheyweresoftandfeminineintheiroutline，andwithoutbeingbeautifulinthemselves，theywerealmostmadesobytheirbeautyofexpression；therewassomethingineffablygentle，andyouwouldsaypatient，inheraspect。Alookofresignedsorrow，oftranquilendurance，hadbanishedthesmile，butnotthesweetness，fromherlips；somethingtimidandcautiousinherstep——somethingwanderinginhereyes，ledyoutosuspecttheafflictionwhichshehadsufferedfromherbirth——shewasblind；
butintheorbsthemselvestherewasnovisibledefect——theirmelancholyandsubduedlightwasclear，cloudless，andserene。’TheytellmethatGlaucusishere，’saidshe；’mayIcomein？’
’Ah，myNydia，’saidtheGreek，’isthatyouIknewyouwouldnotneglectmyinvitation。’
’Glaucusdidbutjusticetohimself，’answeredNydia，withablush；’forhehasalwaysbeenkindtothepoorblindgirl。’
’Whocouldbeotherwise？’saidGlaucus，tenderly，andinthevoiceofacompassionatebrother。
Nydiasighedandpausedbeforesheresumed，withoutreplyingtohisremark。
’Youhavebutlatelyreturned？’
’ThisisthesixthsunthathathshoneuponmeatPompeii。’
’Andyouarewell？Ah，Ineednotask——forwhothatseestheearth，whichtheytellmeissobeautiful，canbeill？’
’Iamwell。Andyou，Nydia——howyouhavegrown！Nextyearyouwillbethinkingwhatanswertomakeyourlovers。’
AsecondblushpassedoverthecheekofNydia，butthistimeshefrownedassheblushed。’Ihavebroughtyousomeflowers，’saidshe，withoutreplyingtoaremarkthatsheseemedtoresent；andfeelingabouttheroomtillshefoundthetablethatstoodbyGlaucus，shelaidthebasketuponit：’theyarepoor，buttheyarefresh—gathered。’
’TheymightcomefromFloraherself，’saidhe，kindly；’andIrenewagainmyvowtotheGraces，thatIwillwearnoothergarlandswhilethyhandscanweavemesuchasthese。’
’Andhowfindyoutheflowersinyourviridarium？——aretheythriving？’
’Wonderfullyso——theLaresthemselvesmusthavetendedthem。’
’Ah，nowyougivemepleasure；forIcame，asoftenasIcouldstealtheleisure，towaterandtendtheminyourabsence。’
’HowshallIthankthee，fairNydia？’saidtheGreek。’GlaucuslittledreamedthatheleftonememorysowatchfuloverhisfavoritesatPompeii。’
Thehandofthechildtrembled，andherbreastheavedbeneathhertunic。
Sheturnedroundinembarrassment。’Thesunishotforthepoorflowers，’
saidshe，’to—dayandtheywillmissme；forIhavebeenilllately，anditisninedayssinceIvisitedthem。’
’Ill，Nydia！——yetyourcheekhasmorecolorthanithadlastyear。’
’Iamoftenailing，’saidtheblindgirl，touchingly；’andasIgrowupI
grievemorethatIamblind。Butnowtotheflowers！’Sosaying，shemadeaslightreverencewithherhead，andpassingintotheviridarium，busiedherselfwithwateringtheflowers。
’PoorNydia，’thoughtGlaucus，gazingonher；’thineisaharddoom！Thouseestnottheearth——northesun——northeocean——northestars——aboveall，thoucanstnotbeholdIone。’
Atthatlastthoughthismindflewbacktothepastevening，andwasasecondtimedisturbedinitsreveriesbytheentranceofClodius。ItwasaproofhowmuchasingleeveninghadsufficedtoincreaseandtorefinetheloveoftheAthenianforIone，thatwhereashehadconfidedtoClodiusthesecretofhisfirstinterviewwithher，andtheeffectithadproducedonhim，henowfeltaninvincibleaversioneventomentiontohimhername。HehadseenIone，bright，pure，unsullied，inthemidstofthegayestandmostprofligategallantsofPompeii，charmingratherthanawingtheboldestintorespect，andchangingtheverynatureofthemostsensualandtheleastideal——asbyherintellectualandrefiningspellsshereversedthefableofCirce，andconvertedtheanimalsintomen。Theywhocouldnotunderstandhersoulweremadespiritual，asitwere，bythemagicofherbeauty——theywhohadnoheartforpoetryhadears，atleast，forthemelodyofhervoice。
Seeingherthussurrounded，purifyingandbrighteningallthingswithherpresence，Glaucusalmostforthefirsttimefeltthenoblenessofhisownnature——hefelthowunworthyofthegoddessofhisdreamshadbeenhiscompanionsandhispursuits。Aveilseemedliftedfromhiseyes；hesawthatimmeasurabledistancebetweenhimselfandhisassociateswhichthedeceivingmistsofpleasurehadhithertoconcealed；hewasrefinedbyasenseofhiscourageinaspiringtoIone。Hefeltthathenceforthitwashisdestinytolookupwardandtosoar。Hecouldnolongerbreathethatname，whichsoundedtothesenseofhisardentfancyassomethingsacredanddivine，tolewdandvulgarears。Shewasnolongerthebeautifulgirlonceseenandpassionatelyremembered——shewasalreadythemistress，thedivinityofhissoul。Thisfeelingwhohasnotexperienced？——Ifthouhastnot，thenthouhastneverloved。
WhenClodiusthereforespoketohiminaffectedtransportofthebeautyofIone，Glaucusfeltonlyresentmentanddisgustthatsuchlipsshoulddaretopraiseher；heansweredcoldly，andtheRomanimaginedthathispassionwascuredinsteadofheightened。Clodiusscarcelyregrettedit，forhewasanxiousthatGlaucusshouldmarryanheiressyetmorerichlyendowed——Julia，thedaughterofthewealthyDiomed，whosegoldthegamesterimaginedhecouldreadilydivertintohisowncoffers。Theirconversationdidnotflowwithitsusualease；andnosoonerhadClodiuslefthimthanGlaucusbenthiswaytothehouseofIone。InpassingbythethresholdheagainencounteredNydia，whohadfinishedhergracefultask。Sheknewhisstepontheinstant。
’Youareearlyabroad？’saidshe。
’Yes；fortheskiesofCampaniarebukethesluggardwhoneglectsthem。’
’Ah，wouldIcouldseethem！’murmuredtheblindgirl，butsolowthatGlaucusdidnotoverhearthecomplaint。
TheThessalianlingeredonthethresholdafewmoments，andthenguidingherstepsbyalongstaff，whichsheusedwithgreatdexterity，shetookherwayhomeward。Shesoonturnedfromthemoregaudystreets，andenteredaquarterofthetownbutlittlelovedbythedecorousandthesober。Butfromthelowandrudeevidencesofvicearoundhershewassavedbyhermisfortune。Andatthathourthestreetswerequietandsilent，norwasheryouthfulearshockedbythesoundswhichtoooftenbrokealongtheobsceneandobscurehauntsshepatientlyandsadlytraversed。
Sheknockedattheback—doorofasortoftavern；itopened，andarudevoicebadehergiveanaccountofthesesterces。Ereshecouldreply，anothervoice，lessvulgarlyaccented，said：
’Nevermindthosepettyprofits，myBurbo。Thegirl’svoicewillbewantedagainsoonatourrichfriend’srevels；andhepays，asthouknowest，prettyhighforhisnightingales’tongues。
’Oh，Ihopenot——Itrustnot，’criedNydia，trembling。’Iwillbegfromsunrisetosunset，butsendmenotthere。’
’Andwhy？’askedthesamevoice。
’Because——becauseIamyoung，anddelicatelyborn，andthefemalecompanionsImeettherearenotfitassociatesforonewho——who……’
’IsaslaveinthehouseofBurbo，’returnedthevoiceironically，andwithacoarselaugh。
TheThessalianputdowntheflowers，and，leaningherfaceonherhands，weptsilently。
Meanwhile，GlaucussoughtthehouseofthebeautifulNeapolitan。HefoundIonesittingamidstherattendants，whowereatworkaroundher。Herharpstoodatherside，forIoneherselfwasunusuallyidle，perhapsunusuallythoughtful，thatday。Hethoughtherevenmorebeautifulbythemorninglightandinhersimplerobe，thanamidsttheblazinglamps，anddecoratedwiththecostlyjewelsofthepreviousnight：notthelesssofromacertainpalenessthatoverspreadhertransparenthues——notthelesssofromtheblushthatmountedoverthemwhenheapproached。Accustomedtoflatter，flatterydieduponhislipswhenheaddressedIone。Hefeltitbeneathhertoutterthehomagewhicheverylookconveyed。TheyspokeofGreece；thiswasathemeonwhichIonelovedrathertolistenthantoconverse：itwasathemeonwhichtheGreekcouldhavebeeneloquentforever。HedescribedtoherthesilverolivegrovesthatyetcladthebanksofIlyssus，andthetemples，alreadydespoiledofhalftheirglories——buthowbeautifulindecay！HelookedbackonthemelancholycityofHarmodiusthefree，andPericlesthemagnificent，fromtheheightofthatdistantmemory，whichmellowedintoonehazylightalltheruderanddarkershades。Hehadseenthelandofpoetrychieflyinthepoeticalageofearlyyouth；andtheassociationsofpatriotismwereblendedwiththoseoftheflushandspringoflife。AndIonelistenedtohim，absorbedandmute；dearerwerethoseaccents，andthosedescriptions，thanalltheprodigaladulationofhernumberlessadorers。Wasitasintolovehercountryman？shelovedAthensinhim——thegodsofherrace，thelandofherdreams，spoketoherinhisvoice！Fromthattimetheydailysaweachother。Atthecooloftheeveningtheymadeexcursionsontheplacidsea。BynighttheymetagaininIone’sporticoesandhalls。Theirlovewassudden，butitwasstrong；itfilledallthesourcesoftheirlife。Heart——brain——sense——imagination，allwereitsministersandpriests。Asyoutakesomeobstaclefromtwoobjectsthathaveamutualattraction，theymet，andunitedatonce；theirwonderwas，thattheyhadlivedseparatesolong。Anditwasnaturalthattheyshouldsolove。Young，beautiful，andgifted——ofthesamebirth，andthesamesoul——therewaspoetryintheirveryunion。Theyimaginedtheheavenssmiledupontheiraffection。Asthepersecutedseekrefugeattheshrine，sotheyrecognizedinthealtaroftheirloveanasylumfromthesorrowsofearth；theycovereditwithflowers——theyknewnotoftheserpentsthatlaycoiledbehind。
Oneevening，thefifthaftertheirfirstmeetingatPompeii，GlaucusandIone，withasmallpartyofchosenfriends，werereturningfromanexcursionroundthebay；theirvesselskimmedlightlyoverthetwilightwaters，whoselucidmirrorwasonlybrokenbythedrippingoars。Astherestofthepartyconversedgailywitheachother，GlaucuslayatthefeetofIone，andhewouldhavelookedupinherface，buthedidnotdare。Ionebrokethepausebetweenthem。
’Mypoorbrother，’saidshe，sighing，’howoncehewouldhaveenjoyedthishour！’
’Yourbrother！’saidGlaucus；’Ihavenotseenhim。Occupiedwithyou，I
havethoughtofnothingelse，orIshouldhaveaskedifthatwasnotyourbrotherforwhosecompanionshipyouleftmeattheTempleofMinerva，inNeapolis？’
’Itwas。’
’Andishehere？’
’Heis。
’AtPompeii！andnotconstantlywithyou？Impossible！’
’Hehasotherduties，’answeredIone，sadly；’heisapriestofIsis。’
’Soyoung，too；andthatpriesthood，initslawsatleast，sosevere！’saidthewarmandbright—heartedGreek，insurpriseandpity。’Whatcouldhavebeenhisinducement？’
’Hewasalwaysenthusiasticandferventinreligiousdevotion：andtheeloquenceofanEgyptian——ourfriendandguardian——kindledinhimthepiousdesiretoconsecratehislifetothemostmysticofourdeities。Perhapsintheintensenessofhiszeal，hefoundintheseverityofthatpeculiarpriesthooditspeculiarattraction。’
’Andhedoesnotrepenthischoice？——Itrustheishappy。’
Ionesigheddeeply，andloweredherveiloverhereyes。
’Iwish，’saidshe，afterapause，’thathehadnotbeensohasty。Perhaps，likeallwhoexpecttoomuch，heisrevoltedtooeasily！’
’Thenheisnothappyinhisnewcondition。AndthisEgyptian，washeapriesthimself？washeinterestedinrecruitstothesacredband？
’No。Hismaininterestwasinourhappiness。Hethoughthepromotedthatofmybrother。Wewereleftorphans。’
’Likemyself，’saidGlaucus，withadeepmeaninginhisvoice。
Ionecastdownhereyesassheresumed：
’AndArbacessoughttosupplytheplaceofourparent。Youmustknowhim。
Helovesgenius。’
’Arbaces！Iknowhimalready；atleast，wespeakwhenwemeet。ButforyourpraiseIwouldnotseektoknowmoreofhim。Myheartinclinesreadilytomostofmykind。ButthatdarkEgyptian，withhisgloomybrowandicysmiles，seemstometosaddentheverysun。Onewouldthinkthat，likeEpimenides，theCretan，hehadspentfortyyearsinacave，andhadfoundsomethingunnaturalinthedaylighteverafterwards。’
’Yet，likeEpimenides，heiskind，andwise，andgentle，’answeredIone。
’Oh，happythathehasthypraise！Heneedsnoothervirtuestomakehimdeartome。’
’Hiscalm，hiscoldness，’saidIone，evasivelypursuingthesubject，’areperhapsbuttheexhaustionofpastsufferings；asyondermountain（andshepointedtoVesuvius），whichweseedarkandtranquilinthedistance，oncenursedthefiresforeverquenched。’
TheybothgazedonthemountainasIonesaidthesewords；therestoftheskywasbathedinrosyandtenderhues，butoverthatgreysummit，risingamidstthewoodsandvineyardsthatthenclombhalf—wayuptheascent，therehungablackandominouscloud，thesinglefrownofthelandscape。Asuddenandunaccountablegloomcameovereachastheythusgazed；andinthatsympathywhichlovehadalreadytaughtthem，andwhichbadethem，intheslightestshadowsofemotion，thefaintestpresentimentofevil，turnforrefugetoeachother，theirgazeatthesamemomentleftthemountain，andfullofunimaginabletenderness，met。Whatneedhadtheyofwordstosaytheyloved？
ChapterVI
THEFOWLERSNARESAGAINTHEBIRDTHATHADJUSTESCAPED，ANDSETSHISNETS
FORANEWVICTIM。
INthehistoryIrelate，theeventsarecrowdedandrapidasthoseofthedrama。Iwriteofanepochinwhichdayssufficedtoripentheordinaryfruitsofyears。
Meanwhile，ArbaceshadnotoflatemuchfrequentedthehouseofIone；andwhenhehadvisitedherhehadnotencounteredGlaucus，norknewhe，asyet，ofthatlovewhichhadsosuddenlysprungupbetweenhimselfandhisdesigns。InhisinterestforthebrotherofIone，hehadbeenforced，too，alittlewhile，tosuspendhisinterestinIoneherself。Hisprideandhisselfishnesswerearousedandalarmedatthesuddenchangewhichhadcomeoverthespiritoftheyouth。Hetrembledlesthehimselfshouldloseadocilepupil，andIsisanenthusiasticservant。Apaecideshadceasedtoseekortoconsulthim。Hewasrarelytobefound；heturnedsullenlyfromtheEgyptian——nay，hefledwhenheperceivedhiminthedistance。Arbaceswasoneofthosehaughtyandpowerfulspiritsaccustomedtomasterothers；
hechafedatthenotionthatoneoncehisownshouldevereludehisgrasp。
HesworeinlythatApaecidesshouldnotescapehim。
Itwaswiththisresolutionthathepassedthroughathickgroveinthecity，whichlaybetweenhishouseandthatofIone，inhiswaytothelatter；andthere，leaningagainstatree，andgazingontheground，hecameunawaresontheyoungpriestofIsis。
’Apaecides！’saidhe——andhelaidhishandaffectionatelyontheyoungman’sshoulder。
Theprieststarted；andhisfirstinstinctseemedtobethatofflight。’Myson，’saidtheEgyptian，’whathaschancedthatyoudesiretoshunme？’
Apaecidesremainedsilentandsullen，lookingdownontheearth，ashislipsquivered，andhisbreastheavedwithemotion。
’Speaktome，myfriend，’continuedtheEgyptian。’Speak。Somethingburdensthyspirit。Whathastthoutoreveal？’
’Tothee——nothing。’
’Andwhyisittomethouartthusunconfidential？’
’Becausethouhastbeenmyenemy。’
’Letusconfer，’saidArbaces，inalowvoice；anddrawingthereluctantarmofthepriestinhisown，heledhimtooneoftheseatswhichwerescatteredwithinthegrove。Theysatdown——andinthosegloomyformstherewassomethingcongenialtotheshadeandsolitudeoftheplace。
Apaecideswasinthespringofhisyears，yetheseemedtohaveexhaustedevenmoreoflifethantheEgyptian；hisdelicateandregularfeatureswerewornandcolorless；hiseyeswerehollow，andshonewithabrilliantandfeverishglare：hisframebowedprematurely，andinhishands，whichweresmalltoeffeminacy，theblueandswollenveinsindicatedthelassitudeandweaknessoftherelaxedfibres。YousawinhisfaceastrongresemblancetoIone，buttheexpressionwasaltogetherdifferentfromthatmajesticandspiritualcalmwhichbreathedsodivineandclassicalareposeoverhissister’sbeauty。Inher，enthusiasmwasvisible，butitseemedalwayssuppressedandrestrained；thismadethecharmandsentimentofhercountenance；youlongedtoawakenaspiritwhichreposed，butevidentlydidnotsleep。InApaecidesthewholeaspectbetokenedthefervorandpassionofhistemperament，andtheintellectualportionofhisnatureseemed，bythewildfireoftheeyes，thegreatbreadthofthetempleswhencomparedwiththeheightofthebrow，thetremblingrestlessnessofthelips，tobeswayedandtyrannizedoverbytheimaginativeandideal。Fancy，withthesister，hadstoppedshortatthegoldengoalofpoetry；withthebrother，lesshappyandlessrestrained，ithadwanderedintovisionsmoreintangibleandunembodied；andthefacultieswhichgavegeniustotheonethreatenedmadnesstotheother。
’YousayIhavebeenyourenemy，’saidArbaces，’Iknowthecauseofthatunjustaccusation：IhaveplacedyouamidstthepriestsofIsis——youarerevoltedattheirtrickeriesandimposture——youthinkthatItoohavedeceivedyou——thepurityofyourmindisoffended——youimaginethatIamoneofthedeceitful……’
’Youknewthejugglingsofthatimpiouscraft，’answeredApaecides；’whydidyoudisguisethemfromme？——WhenyouexcitedmydesiretodevotemyselftotheofficewhosegarbIbear，youspoketomeoftheholylifeofmenresigningthemselvestoknowledge——youhavegivenmeforcompanionsanignorantandsensualherd，whohavenoknowledgebutthatofthegrossestfrauds；youspoketomeofmensacrificingtheearthlierpleasurestothesublimecultivationofvirtue——youplacemeamongstmenreekingwithallthefilthinessofvice；youspoketomeofthefriends，theenlightenersofourcommonkind——Iseebuttheircheatsanddeluders！Oh！itwasbaselydone！——youhaverobbedmeofthegloryofyouth，oftheconvictionsofvirtue，ofthesanctifyingthirstafterwisdom。YoungasIwas，rich，fervent，thesunnypleasuresofearthbeforeme，Iresignedallwithoutasign，nay，withhappinessandexultation，inthethoughtthatIresignedthemfortheabstrusemysteriesofdivinerwisdom，forthecompanionshipofgods——fortherevelationsofHeaven——andnow——now……’
Convulsivesobscheckedthepriest’svoice；hecoveredhisfacewithhishands，andlargetearsforcedthemselvesthroughthewastedfingers，andranprofuselydownhisvest。
’WhatIpromisedtothee，thatwillIgive，myfriend，mypupil：thesehavebeenbuttrialstothyvirtue——itcomesforththebrighterforthynovitiate——thinknomoreofthosedullcheats——assortnomorewiththosemenialsofthegoddess，theatriensesofherhall——youareworthytoenterintothepenetralia。Ihenceforthwillbeyourpriest，yourguide，andyouwhonowcursemyfriendshipshalllivetoblessit。’
Theyoungmanlifteduphishead，andgazedwithavacantandwonderingstareupontheEgyptian。
’Listentome，’continuedArbaces，inanearnestandsolemnvoice，castingfirsthissearchingeyesaroundtoseethattheywerestillalone。’FromEgyptcamealltheknowledgeoftheworld；fromEgyptcametheloreofAthens，andtheprofoundpolicyofCrete；fromEgyptcamethoseearlyandmysterioustribeswhich（longbeforethehordesofRomulussweptovertheplainsofItaly，andintheeternalcycleofeventsdrovebackcivilizationintobarbarismanddarkness）possessedalltheartsofwisdomandthegracesofintellectuallife。FromEgyptcametheritesandthegrandeurofthatsolemnCaere，whoseinhabitantstaughttheirironvanquishersofRomeallthattheyyetknowofelevatedinreligionandsublimeinworship。Andhowdeemestthou，youngman，thatthatEgypt，themotherofcountlessnations，achievedhergreatness，andsoaredtohercloud—capteminenceofwisdom？——Itwastheresultofaprofoundandholypolicy。YourmodernnationsowetheirgreatnesstoEgypt——Egypthergreatnesstoherpriests。Raptinthemselves，covetingaswayoverthenoblerpartofman，hissoulandhisbelief，thoseancientministersofGodwereinspiredwiththegrandestthoughtthateverexaltedmortals。Fromtherevolutionsofthestars，fromtheseasonsoftheearth，fromtheroundandunvaryingcircleofhumandestinies，theydevisedanaugustallegory；theymadeitgrossandpalpabletothevulgarbythesignsofgodsandgoddesses，andthatwhichinrealitywasGovernmenttheynamedReligion。Isisisafable——startnot！——thatforwhichIsisisatypeisareality，animmortalbeing；Isisisnothing。Nature，whichsherepresents，isthemotherofallthings——dark，ancient，inscrutable，savetothegiftedfew。\"Noneamongmortalshatheverliftedupmyveil，\"sosaiththeIsisthatyouadore；buttothewisethatveilhathbeenremoved，andwehavestoodfacetofacewiththesolemnlovelinessofNature。Theprieststhenwerethebenefactors，thecivilizersofmankind；true，theywerealsocheats，impostorsifyouwill。Butthinkyou，youngman，thatiftheyhadnotdeceivedtheirkindtheycouldhaveservedthem？Theignorantandservilevulgarmustbeblindedtoattaintotheirpropergood；theywouldnotbelieveamaxim——theyrevereanoracle。TheEmperorofRomeswaysthevastandvarioustribesofearth，andharmonizestheconflictinganddisunitedelements；thencecomepeace，order，law，theblessingsoflife。
Thinkyouitistheman，theemperor，thatthussways？——no，itisthepomp，theawe，themajestythatsurroundhim——thesearehisimpostures，hisdelusions；ouroraclesandourdivinations，ourritesandourceremonies，arethemeansofoursovereigntyandtheenginesofourpower。Theyarethesamemeanstothesameend，thewelfareandharmonyofmankind。Youlistentomeraptandintent——thelightbeginstodawnuponyou。’
Apaecidesremainedsilent，butthechangesrapidlypassingoverhisspeakingcountenancebetrayedtheeffectproduceduponhimbythewordsoftheEgyptian——wordsmadetenfoldmoreeloquentbythevoice，theaspect，andthemanneroftheman。
’While，then，’resumedArbaces，’ourfathersoftheNilethusachievedthefirstelementsbywhoselifechaosisdestroyed，namely，theobedienceandreverenceofthemultitudeforthefew，theydrewfromtheirmajesticandstarredmeditationsthatwisdomwhichwasnodelusion：theyinventedthecodesandregularitiesoflaw——theartsandgloriesofexistence。Theyaskedbelief；theyreturnedthegiftbycivilization。Werenottheirverycheatsavirtue！Trustme，whosoeverinyonfarheavensofadivinerandmorebeneficentnaturelookdownuponourworld，smileapprovinglyonthewisdomwhichhasworkedsuchends。Butyouwishmetoapplythesegeneralitiestoyourself；Ihastentoobeythewish。Thealtarsofthegoddessofourancientfaithmustbeserved，andservedtoobyothersthanthestolidandsoullessthingsthatarebutaspegsandhookswhereontohangthefilletandtherobe。RemembertwosayingsofSextusthePythagorean，sayingsborrowedfromtheloreofEgypt。Thefirstis，\"SpeaknotofGodtothemultitude\"；thesecondis，\"ThemanworthyofGodisagodamongmen。\"AsGeniusgavetotheministersofEgyptworship，thatempireinlateagessofearfullydecayed，thusbyGeniusonlycanthedominionberestored。Isawinyou，Apaecides，apupilworthyofmylessons——aministerworthyofthegreatendswhichmayyetbewrought；yourenergy，yourtalents，yourpurityoffaith，yourearnestnessofenthusiasm，allfittedyouforthatcallingwhichdemandssoimperiouslyhighandardentqualities：