Thrice-Greatest Hermes, Vol. III — G. R. S. Mead (1906)

"I," Hermes says, " was seeking for the stuff which had to be employed, and calling on the Monarch for His aid. And He gave order to the Souls to give the mixture's residue ; and taking it I found it utterly dried up.

" Thereon, in mixing it, I used more water far than was required to bring the matter back unto

1 Sc. " signs of the zodiac," so-called.

its former state, so that the plasm was in every way relaxable, and weak and powerless, in order that it might not, in addition to its natural sagacity, be full of power as well.

" I moulded it, and it was fair ; and I rejoiced at seeing mine own work, and from below I called upon the Monarch to behold. And He did look on it, and was rejoiced, and ordered that the Souls should be enfleshed.

" Then were they first plunged in deep gloom, and, learning that they were condemned, began to wail.1 I was myself amazed at the Souls' utterances."

19. Now give good heed, son Horus, for thou art being told the Mystic Spectacle which Kamephis, our forefather, was privileged to hear from Hermes, record-writer of all deeds, and I from Kamephis, most ancient of [us] all, when he did honour me with the Black [Rite] that gives perfection ; hear thou it now from me !

For when, 0 wondrous son of mighty fame, if they were about to be shut in their prisons, some simply uttered wails and groans — in just the self-same way as beasts that once have been at liberty, when torn from their accustomed haunts they love so well, will be bad slaves, will fight 2and make revolt, and be in no agreement with their masters ; nay more, if circumstance should serve, will even do to death those that oppress them.1

Others with louder outcry hissed like snakes ; another one shrieked shrilly, and ere he spake shed many tears, and, turning up and down what things served him as eyes, he said :

20. " 0 Heaven, thou source of our begetting, 0 Either, Air, 0 Hands and holy Breath of God our Monarch, 0 ye most brilliant Stars, eyes of the Gods, 0 tireless light of Sun and Moon, conurslings of our origin, — reft from [you] all we suffer piteously.

" And this the more, in that from spacious realms of light, from out [thy] holy envelope and wealthy dome, and from the blessed government we shared with Gods, we shall be thus shut down into these honourless and lowly quarters.

" What is the so unseemly thing we miserables have done? What [crime] deserves these punishments ? How many sins await us wretched ones ? How many are the things we have to do in this our hopeless plight, necessities to furnish for this watery frame that is so soon dissolved ?

21. " For that no longer shall our eyes behold 3the souls of God ; when through such watery spheres as these we see our own forefather Heaven grown small and tiny, we shall dissolve in sighs, — nay, there'll be times we shall not see at all,1 for sentence hath been passed on us poor things ; the gift of real sight hath not been given to us, in that it hath not been permitted us to see without the light. Windows they are, not eyes ! 2

" How wretchedly shall we endure to hear our kindred breaths breathe in the air, when we no longer shall be breathing with them ! For home, instead of this great world high in the air, a heart's small mass awaits us. Set Thou us free from bonds so base as these to which we have sunk down, and end our grief !

" 0 Lord, and Father, and our Maker, if so it be Thou hast thus quickly grown indifferent unto the works of Thine own Hands, appoint for us some limits ! Still deem us worthy of some words, though they be few, while yet we can see through the whole world-order bright on every side ! "

22. Thus speaking, Horus, son, the Souls gained their request ; for that the Monarch came, and sitting on the Throne of Truth made answer to their prayers.