on horizontal wings.
This species of ring surrounds, like a girdle that is too loose, the
figure of a small man with a mitre on his head and a crown in his hand,
the lower part of whose body is shut out from view by the huge feathers
exhibited in his kilt.

This is Ormuz, the God of the Persians. He flutters while he exclaims:

"I am terrified! I catch a glimpse of his mouth. I have vanquished thee,
Ahriman! But thou art beginning again!

"At first, revolting against me, thou didst destroy the eldest of
creatures, Kaiomortz, the man-bull. Then, thou didst seduce the first
human pair, Meschia and Meschiana, and didst fill their hearts with
darkness, and press forward thy battalions towards Heaven.

"I had my own, the inhabitants of the stars, and I gazed down from my
throne on all the planets in their different spheres.

"Mithra, my son, dwelt in an inaccessible spot. There he received souls,
and sent them forth, and, each morning he arose to pour out his riches.

"The splendour of the firmament was reflected by the earth. The fire
shone on the mountains--image of the other fire with which I have
created all beings. To secure it from defilement, they did not burn the
dead, who were transported to Heaven on the beaks of birds.

"I have regulated pasturages, labours, the wood of sacrifice, the forms
of cups, the words that must be uttered in insomnia; and my priests
prayed continually in order that their worship should correspond to the
eternity of God. They purified themselves with water; they offered up
loaves on the altars; they confessed their sins in loud tones.

"Homa gave himself to men to drink in order to communicate his strength
to them.

"While the genii of Heaven were fighting the demons, the children of
Iran chased the serpents. The King, whom a countless train of courtiers
served on bended knees, was attired so as to resemble me in person, and
wore my head-dress. His gardens had the magnificence of a celestial
earth; and his tomb represented him slaying a monster--emblem of the
good which exterminates evil. For, one day, it came to pass--thanks to
the endless course of time--that I triumphed over Ahriman. But the
interval that separates us is disappearing; the night is rising! Help,
Amschaspands, Irzeds, Ferouers! Come to my assistance, Mithra! take thy
sword! Caosyac, who must come back to save the world, defend me! How is
this? ... No one!

"Ah! I am dying! Ahriman, thou art the master!"

Hila