Passages similar to: The Epic of Gilgamesh — Tablet V
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Mesopotamian
The Epic of Gilgamesh
Tablet V (4)
O scion of the heart of Uruk, King Gilgamesh!... Gilgamesh... Gilgamesh, let me go (?), I will dwell with you as your servant (?) As many trees as you command me I will cut down for you, I will guard for you myrtle wood..., wood fine enough for your palace! Enkidu addressed Gilgamesh, saying: "My friend, do not listen to Humbaba, [io lines are misring Apparently Humbaba sees thar Gilgamrsh is influenced by Enkidu, and moves to dissuade Enkidu.] "You understand the rules of my forest, the rules..., further, you are aware of all the things so ordered (by Enlil). I should have carried you up, and killed you at the very entrance to the branches of my forest. I should have fed your flesh to the screeching vulture, the eagle, and the vulture. So now, Enkidu, clemency is up to you.
A Series Of Old Heliopolitan Texts Partly Osirianized, Utterances 213-222 (222)
199 To say: Stand thou upon it, this earth, which comes forth from Atum, the saliva which comes forth from prr; 199 be thou above it; he thou high...
(222) 199 To say: Stand thou upon it, this earth, which comes forth from Atum, the saliva which comes forth from prr; 199 be thou above it; he thou high above it, 199 that thou mayest see thy father; that thou mayest see R`. 200 He has come to thee, his father; he has come to thee, R`. 200 He has come to thee, his father; he has come to thee, Ndi. 200 He has come to thee, his father; he has come to thee, Pndn. 200 He has come to thee, his father; he has come to thee, Dndn. 201 He has come to thee, his father; he has come to thee, m-wr. 201 He has, come to thee, his father; he has come to thee, Sn-wr. 201 He has come to thee, his father; he has come to thee, Sopdu. 201 He has come to thee, his father; he has come to thee, Sharp of Teeth. 202 Cause thou that N. seize b.w, that he take the horizon; 202 cause thou that N. govern the Nine Bows, that he equip the Ennead; 202 cause thou that the shepherd's crook be in the hand of N., so that Lower Egypt and Upper Egypt may bow (before him). 203 He accepts ("takes on") his opponent and stands up, the great chief, in his great kingdom; 203 Nephthys praised him when he seized his opponent: 204 "Thou hast equipped thyself as the Great-in-magic, Set, who is in Ombos, lord of the land of the South; 204 nothing is lacking in thee; nothing ceases with thee, 204 for behold thou art more glorious, more powerful than the gods of Upper Egypt and their spirits. 205 Thou whom the pregnant brought forth, as thou didst cleave the night, 205 thou art equipped like Set, who mightily broke forth". Fortunate is he whom Isis has praised: 206 "Thou hast equipped thyself like Horus, the youthful, 206 nor is there anything lacking in thee, nor anything ceases with thee, 206 for behold thou art more glorious, more powerful than the northern gods and their spirits. 207 Thou puttest away thine uncleanness for Atum in Heliopolis, thou ascendest with him; 207 thou judgest distress in the underworld,. thou standest above the places of the abyss; 207 thou art (king) with thy father Atum, thou art high with thy father Atum; 207 thou appearest with thy father Atum, distress disappears. 207 The midwife of Heliopolis (holds) thy head. 208 Thou ascendest, thou openest thy way through the bones of Shu; 208 thou envelopest thyself in the embrace of thy mother Nut; 208 thou purifiest thyself in the horizon, thou puttest away thine impurity in the lakes of Shu. 209 Thou risest, thou settest, thou settest with R`, in obscurity with Ndi; 209 thou risest, thou settest, thou risest with R`, 209 thou appearest with Sn-wr; 210 thou risest, thou settest, thou settest with Nephthys, in obscurity with the mkt.t-boat; 210 thou risest, thou settest, thou risest with Isis; 210 thou appearest with the m`nd.t-boat. 211 Thou art master of thyself; there is no one in thy way. 211 Thou art born because of (like) Horus; thou art conceived because of (like) Set; 211 Thou didst purify thyself in the Falcon-nome; thou didst receive thy purification in the Nome of the Integral Ruler, from thy father, from Atum. 212 Thou hast come into being, thou hast become high, thou hast become content; 212 thou hast become well in the embrace of thy father, in the embrace of Atum. 213 Atum, let N. ascend to thee, enfold him in thine embrace, 213 for he is thy bodily son for ever". 5. THE DECEASED KING RECEIVES OFFERINGS AND IS RE-ESTABLISHED IN HIS FUNCTIONS AND POSSESSIONS,
Next came the Hawk, with head erect, and the bearing of a soldier. He said: 'I who delight in the company of kings pay no regard to other creatures....
(3) Next came the Hawk, with head erect, and the bearing of a soldier. He said: 'I who delight in the company of kings pay no regard to other creatures. I cover my eyes with a hood so that I may put my feet on the king's hand. I am perfectly trained in polite behaviour and practise abstinence like any penitent so that when I am taken before a king I can perform my duties exactly as is expected of me. Why should I see the
Simurgh, even in a dream? Why should I rush heedlessly to him? I do not feel called upon to take part in this journey. I am content with a morsel from the king's hand; his court is good enough for me. He who plays for royal favours obtains his desire; and to be agreeable to the king I have only to take flight through the boundless valleys. I have no other wish than to pass my life joyfully in this fashion - either waiting for the king or hunting at his pleasure.'
Now the Humay stood before the assembly, the Giver of Shade, whose shadow bestows pomp on kings. For this he has received the name of 'Humayun', the...
(1) Now the Humay stood before the assembly, the Giver of Shade, whose shadow bestows pomp on kings. For this he has received the name of 'Humayun', the fortunate, since of all creatures he has the most ambition. He said: 'Birds of land and sea, I am not a bird as you are. A high ambition moves me and to satisfy it I am separated from other creatures. I have subdued the dog of desire, therefore are Feridoon and Jamshid dignified. Kings are lifted up by the influence of my shadow, but beggarly-natured men do not please me. I give a bone to my dog of desire and put my spirit in surety against it. How can men turn their head away from him whose shadow creates kings? Beneath my wings everyone seeks shelter. Do I need the friendship of the lordly Simurgh when I have royalty at my disposition?'
The Hoopoe replied: 'O slave of pride! Spread no more your shadow and boast no more of yourself. At this moment, far from conferring power upon kings you are like a dog busy with a bone. God forbid that you put a Chosroes on the throne. But supposing that your shadow sets rulers on their thrones, tomorrow they will meet misfortune and be forever deprived of their royalty, while, if they had never seen your shadow, they would not have to face so terrible a reckoning on the last day.'
Search round thy neck, and thou wilt find the belt Which keeps it fastened, O bewildered soul, And see it, where it bars thy mighty breast." Then...
(4) Search round thy neck, and thou wilt find the belt Which keeps it fastened, O bewildered soul, And see it, where it bars thy mighty breast." Then said to me: "He doth himself accuse; This one is Nimrod, by whose evil thought One language in the world is not still used. Here let us leave him and not speak in vain; For even such to him is every language As his to others, which to none is known." Therefore a longer journey did we make, Turned to the left, and a crossbow-shot oft We found another far more fierce and large. In binding him, who might the master be I cannot say; but he had pinioned close Behind the right arm, and in front the other, With chains, that held him so begirt about From the neck down, that on the part uncovered It wound itself as far as the fifth gyre. "This proud one wished to make experiment Of his own power against the Supreme Jove," My Leader said, "whence he has such a guerdon. Ephialtes is his name; he showed great prowess. What time the giants terrified the gods; The arms he wielded never more he moves."
A Series Of Reed-floats And Ferryman Texts, Utterances 503-522 (514)
1175 To say: Ni ------ Ni, serpent ----- 1175 ------------ who is before Letopolis; his living ones are at his neck. 1175 Thy place is for thy son;...
(514) 1175 To say: Ni ------ Ni, serpent ----- 1175 ------------ who is before Letopolis; his living ones are at his neck. 1175 Thy place is for thy son; thy (?) place is for thy (?) son. 1175 Geb has called -----------
Texts Of Miscellaneous Contents, Utterances 540-552 (548)
1343 To say: The mouth of the earth opens for Osiris N.; Geb said to him: 1343 "N. is great like a king, mighty like R`." 1343 "Come in peace," say...
(548) 1343 To say: The mouth of the earth opens for Osiris N.; Geb said to him: 1343 "N. is great like a king, mighty like R`." 1343 "Come in peace," say the Two Enneads to N. 1343 The eastern door of heaven is open for him, to the abode of kas. 1344 The great Nut gives her arms to him, she of the long horn, she of the protruding breast. 1344 She will nurse N.; she will not wean him. 1345 She takes him to herself to heaven, she does not cast him down to the earth. 1345 She makes this N. remain as chief of the two 'itr.t-palaces. 1345 He descends into the boat like R`, on the shores of the Winding Watercourse. 1346 N. rows in the nbw-boat, 1346 where he takes the helm, towards the field of the two lower heavens, 1346 to the beginning of this land of the Marsh of Reeds. 1347 His arm is taken by R`; his head is raised up by Atum; 1347 his forward cable is taken by Isis; his stern cable is seized by Nephthys. 1348 b.w.t places him at her side, and puts him among the nti.w-s, 1348 as the herdsmen of (his) calves.
The Deceased King Arrives In Heaven Where He Is Established, Utterances 244-259 (256)
301 To say: N. has inherited Geb; N. has inherited Geb. 301 He has inherited Atum; he is upon the throne of Horus, the eldest. 301 His eye is his...
(256) 301 To say: N. has inherited Geb; N. has inherited Geb. 301 He has inherited Atum; he is upon the throne of Horus, the eldest. 301 His eye is his might; his protection consists in that which was done to him. 302 The heat of the flaming breath of his uraeus-serpent 302 is like that of the Rnn-wt.t-serpent on his forehead. 302 N. has put his fear in their heart, 302 in making a massacre among them. 303 The gods saw (it) disrobed, 303 and they bowed themselves before N. in homage (saying): 303 "His mother conducts him; his home-town tows him; 303 Hai, let go thy rope."
The first bird said to the Hoopoe: 'O you who have been made our leader, tell us what makes you stand out from us. Since you seem to be as us, and we...
(1) The first bird said to the Hoopoe: 'O you who have been made our leader, tell us what makes you stand out from us. Since you seem to be as us, and we as you, in what lies the difference? What sins of the body or of the soul have we committed that we are ignorant while you have understanding?'
The Hoopoe replied: 'Know, O bird, that Solomon once saw me by chance; and that my good fortune was not the result of gold or silver, but of this lucky meeting. How can
a creature profit from obedience alone? Iblis himself obeys. Nevertheless, if anyone counsels the rejection of obedience then malediction shall be on him for ever. Practise obedience and you will win a glance from the true Solomon.'
I saw that one who was created noble More than all other creatures, down from heaven Flaming with lightnings fall upon one side. I saw Briareus...
(2) I saw that one who was created noble More than all other creatures, down from heaven Flaming with lightnings fall upon one side. I saw Briareus smitten by the dart Celestial, lying on the other side, Heavy upon the earth by mortal frost. I saw Thymbraeus, Pallas saw, and Mars, Still clad in armour round about their father, Gaze at the scattered members of the giants. I saw, at foot of his great labour, Nimrod, As if bewildered, looking at the people Who had been proud with him in Sennaar. O Niobe! with what afflicted eyes Thee I beheld upon the pathway traced, Between thy seven and seven children slain! O Saul! how fallen upon thy proper sword Didst thou appear there lifeless in Gilboa, That felt thereafter neither rain nor dew! O mad Arachne! so I thee beheld E'en then half spider, sad upon the shreds Of fabric wrought in evil hour for thee! O Rehoboam! no more seems to threaten Thine image there; but full of consternation A chariot bears it off, when none pursues!
Means Whereby The Deceased King Reaches Heaven, Utterances 263-271 (268)
370 To say: N. washes himself, R` appears, the Great Ennead sparkles; 370 the Ombite is high as chief of the 'itr.t-palace; 371 N. puts humanity off...
(268) 370 To say: N. washes himself, R` appears, the Great Ennead sparkles; 370 the Ombite is high as chief of the 'itr.t-palace; 371 N. puts humanity off from him as a limb; 371 N. seizes the wrr.t-crown from the hand of the Ennead. 371 Isis nurses him, Nephthys suckles him, 372 Horus takes him by his fingers (to his side), 372 he purifies N. in the lake of the jackal, 372 he makes, the ka of N. clean in the lake of the D.t. 372 He rubs down the flesh of the ka of N. and his own 372 with that which is near R` in the horizon, that which he (R`) took, 373 when the two lands beamed and when he bared the face of the gods. 373 He brings the ka of N. and himself to the great palace, 373 after offices (?) were made for him and the mtt was knotted for him. 374 N. leads the imperishable stars, 374 he ferries over to the Marshes of Reeds, 374 the inhabitants of the horizon row him, the inhabitants of b.w navigate him. 375 N. is very capable (mighty), his arms will not desert him; 375 N. is very excellent (foremost), his ka comes to him (to his aid).
O blind cupidity, O wrath insane, That spurs us onward so in our short life, And in the eternal then so badly steeps us! I saw an ample moat bent...
(3) O blind cupidity, O wrath insane, That spurs us onward so in our short life, And in the eternal then so badly steeps us! I saw an ample moat bent like a bow, As one which all the plain encompasses, Conformable to what my Guide had said. And between this and the embankment's foot Centaurs in file were running, armed with arrows, As in the world they used the chase to follow. Beholding us descend, each one stood still, And from the squadron three detached themselves, With bows and arrows in advance selected; And from afar one cried: "Unto what torment Come ye, who down the hillside are descending? Tell us from there; if not, I draw the bow." My Master said: "Our answer will we make To Chiron, near you there; in evil hour, That will of thine was evermore so hasty." Then touched he me, and said: "This one is Nessus, Who perished for the lovely Dejanira, And for himself, himself did vengeance take. And he in the midst, who at his breast is gazing, Is the great Chiron, who brought up Achilles; That other Pholus is, who was so wrathful.
LXVII. Parable: the King's Guests for His Son's Wedding—futile Wiles: Cesar's Tribute, the Seven Brothers' Widow (3)
Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and...
(3) Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage. But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: and the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them. But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.
Not yet had Nessus reached the other side, When we had put ourselves within a wood, That was not marked by any path whatever. Not foliage green, but...
(1) Not yet had Nessus reached the other side, When we had put ourselves within a wood, That was not marked by any path whatever. Not foliage green, but of a dusky colour, Not branches smooth, but gnarled and intertangled, Not apple-trees were there, but thorns with poison. Such tangled thickets have not, nor so dense, Those savage wild beasts, that in hatred hold 'Twixt Cecina and Corneto the tilled places. There do the hideous Harpies make their nests, Who chased the Trojans from the Strophades, With sad announcement of impending doom; Broad wings have they, and necks and faces human, And feet with claws, and their great bellies fledged; They make laments upon the wondrous trees. And the good Master: "Ere thou enter farther, Know that thou art within the second round," Thus he began to say, "and shalt be, till Thou comest out upon the horrible sand; Therefore look well around, and thou shalt see Things that will credence give unto my speech." I heard on all sides lamentations uttered, And person none beheld I who might make them, Whence, utterly bewildered, I stood still.
The Deceased King Arrives In Heaven Where He Is Established, Utterances 244-259 (254)
276 The Great (Uraeus) burns incense to the bull of Nn. 276 The heat of a flaming breath is against ye, who surround the chapel. 276 O Great God,...
(254) 276 The Great (Uraeus) burns incense to the bull of Nn. 276 The heat of a flaming breath is against ye, who surround the chapel. 276 O Great God, whose name is unknown, an offering is on the place (i.e. in place) for the One-lord. 277 O lord of the horizon, make place for N. 277 If thou makest not place for N., N. will put a curse on his father Geb: 277 The earth will no more speak; Geb will no more be able to defend himself. 278 Whom N. finds on his way, him he eats for himself bit by bit. 278 The n.t-pelican announces, the pd.ti-pelican comes forth; the Great One arises, 278 the (Three) Enneads speak: A dam shall dam up the earth, 279 both boundaries-of-the-cultivation shall be united, both riverbanks shall be joined, 279 roads shall be closed against passengers, 279 stairs for those who would ascend shall be destroyed. 279 Adjust the cable, traverse the m.t, hit the ball on the meadow of pi. 280 O, thy fields tremble, O, 'id-star, at the column of the stars, 280 when they see the column of Kns.t, the ox (or, bull) of heaven, 280 and how the ox-herd is terrified (overwhelmed) at him. 281 O, be afraid, tremble, ye criminals, before the tempest of heaven; 281 he opened the earth with that which he knew, on the day he loved to come; 282 so said, he--he who is rich in arable-land, he who inhabits the Dt. 282 Behold, she comes to meet thee, the "Beautiful West," to meet thee, 232 with her beautiful tresses, she says: "He comes whom I have borne, 283 whose horn shines, the varnished column, the ox (or, bull) of heaven. 283 Thy figure is, exalted, pass in peace. 284 I have protected thee, says she, the "Beautiful West," to N. 284 Go, voyage to the Marsh of Offerings; 284 bring the oar to ri-.t.f. 285 So said he who is chief of his department (or, thigh offering). Thou decayest in the earth 285 as to thy thickness, as to thy girt, as to thy length 285 (but as spirit) thou seest R` in his bonds, thou adorest R` in-his freedom (from) his bonds, 285 through the great protection which is in his red robes. 286 The lord of peace gives to thee his (with W.) arm. 286 O ye, his she-monkeys, who cut off heads, 286 may N. pass by you in peace, (for) he has attached (again) his, head to his neck, 286 (for) the neck of N. is on his trunk, in his name of "Headattacher," 286 (as) he attached the head of the Apis in it (that is, in his name), the day the bull was caught with a lasso. 287 Those whom N. has made to eat (they eat of their food); (and) in their drinking, 287 they drink of their abundance. 287 O that N. be respected there by those who see him. 288 The kn-wt.t-serpent is on her d`m-sceptre, the sister (?) of N. who holds Shu aloft. 288 She makes his place wide in Busiris, in Mendes, in the necropolis of Heliopolis; 288 she erects two standards before the Great Ones; 289 she digs a pool (?) for N. in the Marsh of Reeds; 289 she establishes his field in the two Marshes of Offerings. 289 N. judges in the M.t-wr.t-cow between the two wrestlers, 290 for his strength is the strength of the eye of Tbi (R`), 290 his might is the might of the eye of Tbi. 290 N. has freed himself from those who did this against him, 290 who took from him his dinner, 291 when it was there, who took his supper from him, 291 when it was there, who took the breath from his nose, 291 who brought to an end the days of his life. 291 N. is mightier than they, appearing upon his shore. 292 Their hearts fall into his fingers, 292 their entrails to the inhabitants of heaven (birds), their blood to the inhabitants of earth (beasts), 292 their inheritance to the poor, 292 their houses to fire, their farms to high Nile (inundation). 293 Let the heart of N. be glad; let the heart of N. be glad! 293 N. is Unique, the ox (or, bull) of heaven. 293 He has exterminated those who have done this against him, he has destroyed those who are on the earth. 294a-c. Belonging to his throne, what he will take, what he will lift up, is that which his father Shu has given him in the presence of Set.
939 To say: "How beautiful indeed it is to see," says she, said Isis; 939 "how fortunate indeed it is to see," says she, said Nephthys 939 to the...
(474) 939 To say: "How beautiful indeed it is to see," says she, said Isis; 939 "how fortunate indeed it is to see," says she, said Nephthys 939 to the king, to this Osiris N., 940 as he ascends to heaven among the stars, among the imperishable stars, 940 the lion-helmet (renown) of N. on his head, 940 his terror on both sides of him, his magic preceding him! 941 N. goes therewith to his mother Nut; 941 N. climbs upon her, in this her name of "Ladder." 941 The gods who inhabit heaven are brought to thee; they unite for thee with the gods who inhabit the earth, 941 that thou mayest be with them, that thou mayest go on their arms. 942 The Souls of Buto are brought to thee; the Souls of Hierakonpolis are united for thee. 942 "All belongs to N.," 942 so said Geb, who has spoken thereof with Atum. So it was done for him. 943 "The Marshes of Reeds, 943 the Horite regions, the regions of Set 943 all belongs to N.," 943 so said Geb, who has spoken thereof with Atum. So it was done for him. 944 He came against thee; he said he would kill thee. 944 He has not killed thee; it is thou who wilt kill him. 944 Thou holdest thine own against him, as the surviving bull of the wild-bulls. 945 Further, to say four times: N., thou remainest in life and joy; 945 N., thou shalt certainly remain in life and joy.
The Resurrection, Ascension, And Reception Of The Deceased King In Heaven, Utterance 606 (606)
1683 To say: Arise for me, father; stand up for me, Osiris N. 1683 It is I; I am thy son; I am Horus. 1684 I have come to thee, that I may purify...
(606) 1683 To say: Arise for me, father; stand up for me, Osiris N. 1683 It is I; I am thy son; I am Horus. 1684 I have come to thee, that I may purify thee, that I may cleanse thee, 1684 that I may revivify thee, that I may assemble for thee thy bones, 1684 that I may collect for thee thy flesh, that I may assemble for thee thy dismembered limbs, 1685 for I am as Horus his avenger, I have smitten for thee him who smote thee; 1685 I have avenged thee, father Osiris N., on him who did thee evil. 1686 I have come to thee by order of rw; 1686 (for) he has appointed thee, father Osiris N., (to be) upon the throne of R`-Atum, 1686 that thou mayest lead the blessed dead(?). 1687 Thou shalt embark into the boat of R`, in which the gods love to ascend, 1687 in which the gods love to descend, in which R` is rowed to the horizon; 1687 N. shall embark into it, like R`. 1688 Thou shalt seat thyself upon this throne of R`, that thou mayest command the gods, 1688 for thou art indeed R`, who comes forth from Nut, who gives birth to R` every day. 1688 N. is born every day like R`. 1689 Take to thyself the heritage of thy father Geb before the corporation of the Ennead in Heliopolis. 1689 "Who is equal to him?", 1689 say the Two great and mighty Enneads who are at the head of the Souls of Heliopolis. 1690 These two great and mighty gods have appointed thee 1690 --those who are chiefs of the Marsh of Reeds--upon the throne of rw, 1690 as their eldest son; 1691 they placed Shu at thy left (east side), Tefnut at thy right (west side), 1691 Nun before thee (at thy south side), Nnt behind thee (at thy north side); 1692 they lead thee to these their places, beautiful and pure, 1692 which they made for R` when they placed him upon their thrones (his throne). 1693 N., they make thee live, 1693 so that thou mayest surpass the years of Horus of the horizon, 1693 when they make thy (for "his") name, "Withdraw not thyself from the gods." 1694 They recite for thee this chapter, which they recited for R`Atum who shines every day; 1694 they have appointed N. to their thrones (his throne) 1694 at the head of every Ennead, as R` and as his deputy. 1695 They cause N. to come into being as R`, in this, his name of "Khepri." 1695 Thou mountest to them as R`, in this his name of "R`"; 1695 thou turnest back again from their face as R`, in this his name of "Atum." 1696 The Two Enneads shall rejoice, O father; 1696 when thou approachest, O father, Osiris N., they say: 1696 "Our; brother is come to us." 1696 The Two Enneads say to Osiris N.: "King, Osiris N., 1697 one of us is come to us." 1697 The Two Enneads say to thee: "King, Osiris N., 1698 the eldest son of his father is come to us." 1698 The Two Enneads say to thee: "King, Osiris N., 1698 he is the eldest son of his mother." 1698 The Two Enneads say to thee: "King, Osiris N., 1699 he to whom evil was done by his brother Set comes to us." 1699 The Two Enneads say: 1699 "And we shall not permit that Set be delivered from carrying thee for ever, king, Osiris N." 1699 The Two Enneads say to thee: "King, Osiris N., 1700. raise thyself up, king, Osiris N.; thou livest." 44. TEXTS OF MISCELLANEOUS CONTENTS,
Euryphamus therefore desiring Lysis to wait for him, till he also had adored the Goddess, Lysis sat down on a stone seat which was placed there. Euryp...
(8) Moreover, with respect to compacts and the veracity pertaining to them, Pythagoras so prepared his disciples for the observance of them, that, as it is said, Lysis having once performed his adorations in the temple of Juno, met, as he was departing from it, about the vestibules with Euryphamus the Syracusan, who was one of his fellow disciples, and was then entering into the temple. Euryphamus therefore desiring Lysis to wait for him, till he also had adored the Goddess, Lysis sat down on a stone seat which was placed there. Euryphamus however having finished his adoration, and becoming absorbed in certain profound conceptions, forgot his appointment, and went out of the temple through another gate. But Lysis waited for him without quitting his seat, the remainder of that day and the following night, and also the greater part of the next day.
And perhaps he would have staid there for a still longer time, unless Euryphamus on the following day, had heard in the auditory, that Lysis was wanted by his associates. Recollecting therefore his compact, he came to Lysis, and liberated him from his engagement, at the same time telling him the cause of his forgetfulness, and added, “Some God produced in me this oblivion, as a trial of your firmness in preserving your compacts.” Pythagoras likewise ordained abstinence from animal food, for many other reasons, and likewise because it is productive of peace. For those who are accustomed to abominate the slaughter of animals as iniquitous and preternatural, will think it to be much more unlawful to kill a man, or engage in war.
But war is the leader and legislator of slaughter. For by this it is increased, and becomes strong and powerful. Not to step also above the beam of the balance , is an exhortation to justice, announcing, that whatever is just should be cultivated, as will be shown when we discuss the Pythagoric symbols. It appears therefore, through all these particulars, that Pythagoras paid great attention to the exercise of justice, and to the delivery of it to mankind, both in deeds and in words.
It must be so. And there are times when the democratical principle gives way to the oligarchical, and some of his desires die, and others are banished...
(560) advising or rebuking him, then there arises in his soul a faction and an opposite faction, and he goes to war with himself. It must be so. And there are times when the democratical principle gives way to the oligarchical, and some of his desires die, and others are banished; a spirit of reverence enters into the young man’s soul and order is restored. Yes, he said, that sometimes happens. And then, again, after the old desires have been driven out, fresh ones spring up, which are akin to them, and because he their father does not know how to educate them, wax fierce and numerous. Yes, he said, that is apt to be the way. They draw him to his old associates, and holding secret intercourse with them, breed and multiply in him. Very true. At length they seize upon the citadel of the young man’s soul, which they perceive to be void of all accomplishments and fair pursuits and true words, which make their abode in the minds of men who are dear to the gods, and are their best guardians and sentinels. None better. False and boastful conceits and phrases mount upwards and take their place. They are certain to do so. And so the young man returns into the country of the lotus-eaters, and takes up his dwelling there in the face of all men; and if any help be sent by his friends to the oligarchical part of him, the aforesaid vain conceits shut the gate of the king’s fastness; and they will neither allow the embassy itself to enter, nor if private advisers offer the fatherly counsel of the aged will they listen to them or receive them.
Eurymenes therefore, and his soldiers, were beyond measure disturbed on finding that they should not be able to bring one of the Pythagoreans alive...
(3) Eurymenes therefore, and his soldiers, were beyond measure disturbed on finding that they should not be able to bring one of the Pythagoreans alive to Dionysius, though they were sent by him for this purpose alone. Hence, having piled earth on the slain, and buried them in that place in a common sepulchre, they turned their steps homeward. As they were returning, however, they happened to meet with Myllias the Crotonian, and his wife Timycha the Lacedæmonian, whom the other Pythagoreans had left behind, because Timycha being pregnant, was now in her sixth month, and on this account walked leisurely. These therefore, the soldiers gladly made captive, and led them to the tyrant, paying every attention to them, in order that they might be brought to him safe.
But the tyrant having learnt what had happened, was greatly dejected, and said to the two Pythagoreans, You shall obtain from me honors transcending all others in dignity, if you will consent to reign in conjunction with me. All his offers however being rejected by Myllias and Timycha; If then, said he, you will only teach me one thing, I will dismiss you with a sufficiently safe guard. Myllias therefore asking him what it was he wished to learn; Dionysius replied, It is this, why your companions chose rather to die, than to tread on beans? But Myllias immediately answered, My companions indeed submitted to death, in order that they might not tread upon beans, but I would rather tread on them, than tell you the cause of this.
Dionysius therefore, being astonished at this answer, ordered him to be forcibly taken away, but commanded Timycha to be tortured: for he thought, that as she was a woman, pregnant, and deprived of her husband, she would easily tell him what he wanted to know, through fear of the torments. The heroic woman, however, grinding her tongue with her teeth, bit it off, and spit it at the tyrant; evincing by this, that though her sex being vanquished by the torments might be compelled to disclose something which ought to be concealed in silence, yet the member subservient to the developement of it, should be entirely cut off. So much difficulty did they make in admitting foreign friendships, even though they should happen to be royal.
Through the mystic passageways and chambers of the Great Pyramid passed the illumined of antiquity. They entered its portals as men; they came forth...
(42) Through the mystic passageways and chambers of the Great Pyramid passed the illumined of antiquity. They entered its portals as men; they came forth as gods. It was the place of the "second birth," the "womb of the Mysteries," and wisdom dwelt in it as God dwells in the hearts of men. Somewhere in the depths of its recesses there resided an unknown being who was called "The Initiator," or "The Illustrious One," robed in blue and gold and bearing in his hand the sevenfold key of Eternity. This was the lion-faced hierophant, the Holy One, the Master of Masters, who never left the House of Wisdom and whom no man ever saw save he who had passed through the gates of preparation and purification. It was in these chambers that Plato--he of the broad brow---came face to face with the wisdom of the ages personified in the Master of the Hidden House.