As rulers of Light and Darkness, we will henceforth govern the nation
in the light as well as in the dark. We will sacrifice ourselves so
far to the public good as to live in the light, and in open palaces.
We will consent to undergo the pains of light and splendor, to endure
all the evils of luxury, magnificence, and boundless wealth, for the
good of the Kosekin nation. We will consent to forego the right of
separation, and agree to live together, even though we love one
another. Above all, we will refuse death and consent to live. Can any
rulers do more than this for the good of their people?"

Another outburst of applause followed.

"In three joms," continued Almah, "all you hags and paupers shall be
sent to exile and death on Magones. As for the rest of the Kosekin,
hear our words. Tell them from us that the laborers shall all be
elevated to the rank of paupers, the artisans shall be made laborers,
the tradesmen artisans, the soldiers tradesmen, the Athons soldiers,
the Kohens Athons, and the Meleks Kohens. There shall be no Meleks in
all the land. We, in our love for the Kosekin, will henceforth be the
only Meleks. Then all the misery of that low station will rest on us;
and in our low estate as Meleks we shall govern this nation in love
and self-denial. Tell them that we will forego the sacrifice and
consent to live; that we will give up darkness and cavern gloom and
live in light. Tell them to prepare for us the splendid palaces of the
Meleks, for we will take the most sumptuous and magnificent of them
all. Tell all the people to present their offerings. Tell them that we
consent to have endless retinues of servants, soldiers, followers, and
attendants. Tell them that with the advent of Almah and Atam-or a new
era begins for the Kosekin, in which every man may be as poor as he
likes, and riches shall be unknown in the land."

These extraordinary words seemed to fill the paupers with rapture.
Exclamations of joy burst from them; they prostrated themselves in an
irrepressible impulse of grateful admiration, as though such promises
could only come from superior beings. Then most of them hurried down
to communicate to the people below the glorious intelligence. Soon it
spread from mouth to mouth, and all the people were filled with the
wildest excitement.

For never before had such a thing been known, and never had such
self-sacrifice been imagined or thought possible, as that the rulers
of the Kosekin could cons