that is in knowledge, and I know that of all the powerful impulses which
stir our hearts, one only comes solely from Seth, one only belongs wholly
to the Evil one and that is hatred between man and man. Covetousness may
lead to industry, sensual appetites may beget noble fruit, but hatred is
a devastator, and in the soul that it occupies all that is noble grows
not upwards and towards the light, but downwards to the earth and to
darkness. Everything may be forgiven by the Gods, save only hatred
between man and man. But there is another sort of hatred that is
pleasing to the Gods, and which you must cherish if you would not miss
their presence in your souls; that is, hatred for all that hinders the
growth of light and goodness and purity--the hatred of Horus for Seth.
The Gods would punish me if I hated Paaker whose father was dear to me;
but the spirits of darkness would possess the old heart in my breast if
it were devoid of horror for the covetous and sordid devotee, who would
fain buy earthly joys of the Gods with gifts of beasts and wine, as men
exchange an ass for a robe, in whose soul seethe dark promptings.
Paaker's gifts can no more be pleasing to the Celestials than a cask of
attar of roses would please thee, haruspex, in which scorpions,
centipedes, and venomous snakes were swimming. I have long led this
man's prayers, and never have I heard him crave for noble gifts, but a
thousand times for the injury of the men he hates."

"In the holiest prayers that come down to us from the past," said the
haruspex, "the Gods are entreated to throw our enemies under our feet;
and, besides, I have often heard Paaker pray fervently for the bliss of
his parents."

"You are a priest and one of the initiated," cried Gagabu, "and you know
not--or will not seem to know--that by the enemies for whose overthrow we
pray, are meant only the demons of darkness and the outlandish peoples by