Uarda : a Romance of Ancient Egypt — Volume 04 by Georg Ebers
page 5 of 66 (07%)
page 5 of 66 (07%)
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"An antelope, and four geese," answered Paaker promptly. "But if I were altogether disinclined to put myself at your service?" asked Pentaur. "If I thought it unworthy of a priest to let the Gods be paid in proportion to their favors towards a particular person, like corrupt officials; if I now showed you--you--and I have known you from a school-boy, that there are things that cannot be bought with inherited wealth?" The pioneer drew back astonished and angry, but Pentaur continued calmly-- "I stand here as the minister of the Divinity; and nevertheless, I see by your countenance, that you were on the point of lowering yourself by showing to me your violent and extortionate spirit. "The Immortals send us dreams, not to give us a foretaste of joy or caution us against danger, but to remind us so to prepare our souls that we may submit quietly to suffer evil, and with heartfelt gratitude accept the good; and so gain from each profit for the inner life. I will not interpret your dream! Come without gifts, but with a humble heart, and with longing for inward purification, and I will pray to the Gods that they may enlighten me, and give you such interpretation of even evil dreams that they may be fruitful in blessing. "Leave me, and quit the temple!" Paaker ground his teeth with rage; but he controlled himself, and only said as he slowly withdrew: |
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