and the manner of the man.

'While, then,' resumed Arbaces, 'our fathers of the Nile thus achieved
the first elements by whose life chaos is destroyed, namely, the
obedience and reverence of the multitude for the few, they drew from
their majestic and starred meditations that wisdom which was no
delusion: they invented the codes and regularities of law--the arts and
glories of existence. They asked belief; they returned the gift by
civilization. Were not their very cheats a virtue! Trust me, whosoever
in yon far heavens of a diviner and more beneficent nature look down
upon our world, smile approvingly on the wisdom which has worked such
ends. But you wish me to apply these generalities to yourself; I hasten
to obey the wish. The altars of the goddess of our ancient faith must
be served, and served too by others than the stolid and soulless things
that are but as pegs and hooks whereon to hang the fillet and the robe.
Remember two sayings of Sextus the Pythagorean, sayings borrowed from
the lore of Egypt. The first is, "Speak not of God to the multitude";
the second is, "The man worthy of God is a god among men." As Genius
gave to the ministers of Egypt worship, that empire in late ages so
fearfully decayed, thus by Genius only can the dominion be restored. I
saw in you, Apaecides, a pupil worthy of my lessons--a minister worthy
of the great ends which may yet be wrought; your energy, your talents,
your purity of faith, your earnestness of enthusiasm, all fitted you for
that calling which demands so imperiously high and ardent qualities: I
fanned, therefore, your sacred desires; I stimulated you to the step you
have taken. But you blame me that I did not reveal to you the little
souls and the juggling tricks of your companions. Had I done so,
Apaecides, I had defeated my own object; your noble nature would have at
once revolted, and Isis would have lost her priest.'

Apaecides groaned aloud. The Egyptian continued, without heeding the
interruption.

'I placed you, therefore, without preparation, in the temple; I left you
suddenly to discover and to be sickened by all those mummeries which
dazzle the herd. I desired that you should perceive how those engines
are moved by which the fountain that refreshes the world casts its
waters in the air. It was the trial ordained of old to all our priests.
They who accustom themselves to the impostures of the vulgar, are left
to practise them--for those like you, whose