mysteries of diviner wisdom, for the companionship of gods--for the
revelations of Heaven--and now--now...'

Convulsive sobs checked the priest's voice; he covered his face with his
hands, and large tears forced themselves through the wasted fingers, and
ran profusely down his vest.

'What I promised to thee, that will I give, my friend, my pupil: these
have been but trials to thy virtue--it comes forth the brighter for thy
novitiate--think no more of those dull cheats--assort no more with those
menials of the goddess, the atrienses of her hall--you are worthy to
enter into the penetralia. I henceforth will be your priest, your
guide, and you who now curse my friendship shall live to bless it.'

The young man lifted up his head, and gazed with a vacant and wondering
stare upon the Egyptian.

'Listen to me,' continued Arbaces, in an earnest and solemn voice,
casting first his searching eyes around to see that they were still
alone. 'From Egypt came all the knowledge of the world; from Egypt came
the lore of Athens, and the profound policy of Crete; from Egypt came
those early and mysterious tribes which (long before the hordes of
Romulus swept over the plains of Italy, and in the eternal cycle of
events drove back civilization into barbarism and darkness) possessed
all the arts of wisdom and the graces of intellectual life. From Egypt
came the rites and the grandeur of that solemn Caere, whose inhabitants
taught their iron vanquishers of Rome all that they yet know of elevated
in religion and sublime in worship. And how deemest thou, young man,
that that Egypt, the mother of countless nations, achieved her
greatness, and soared to her cloud-capt eminence of wisdom?--It was the