e scientific
truth. So that the man who lived in the dark discoursed to the boy on
light. He spoke of the all-holy sun-god Osiris who created everything
and destroyed everything--the great, the adorable Osiris by whose eye
every creature was absorbed. Then he would again solemnly and
mysteriously murmur incomprehensible formulae, and the eager boy grew
weary. Here, too, something evidently had to be reversed. So
thinking, he went quietly forth and left the little gate open. When
the old man looked up at him, there he was in the open air pasturing
the goat, who, delighted at her liberty, was capering round on the
grass.

"Why do you not show your reverence for truth?" he said, reprovingly.

And Jesus: "Don't you see that I am proving my reverence for your
teaching. You say: We must love animals. Therefore I led the goat out
into the open air, that she may feed on the fragrant grass. You say
that we should kindle our eye at that of the sun-god, therefore I went
out with the goat from the dark vault into the bright sunlight."

"You must learn to understand the writings."

"I want to know living creatures."

The old man looked at the boy with an air of vexation. "Tell me, you
bold son of man, under what sign of the zodiac were you born?"

"Under that of the ox and the ass," answered the boy Jesus.

The man of learning immediately hurried into his cave, lighted his
lamp, and consulted his hieroglyphics. Under the ox and the ass--he
grew afraid. Away with Libra, away with Libra! He investigated yet
again. It stood written on the stone and in the roll. He went out
again, and looked at the boy, but differently from before, uneasily, in
great excitement.

"Listen, boy, I've cast your horoscope."

"What is it?"

"By the ancient and sacred signs I've read your fate. Knowing under
what sign of the zodiac and under which stars you were born, I can
enlighten you as to the fate you go to meet so callously. Do you
desire to know it?"

"If I desire to know it, I will ask my Father."

"Is your father an astrologer?"

"He guides the stars in their courses,"

"He guides the stars in their courses? What do you mean? You are a
fool, a godless fool. You will learn what terrors await you. This
arrogance is the beginning. His Father guides the stars in their
courses indeed!"

CHAPTER VIII

News came from Judaea that King Herod was dead. It was also reported
that his successor, called Herod the