nly tasted its bitterness, and
served it like a wasp, which, though it knows that in stinging it must
die, yet uses its sting. But now I am old in years, 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
whom Egypt is endangered! Paaker prayed for his parents? Ay, and so will
he for his children, for they will be his future as his fore fathers are
his past. If he had a wife, his offerings would be for her too, for she
would be the half of his own present."

"In spite of all this," said the haruspex Septah, "you are too hard in
your judgment of Paaker, for although he was born under a lucky sign,