CHAPTER II
The Tragedy of Osiris
Osiris the Wise King—Introduction of Agriculture—Isis the Strong Queen—Conspiracy of Set—The Tragic Feast—Osiris is slain—The Quest of Isis—Set the Oppressor—“The Opener of the Ways”—Birth of Horus—Thoth the Healer—Tree encloses Osiris’s Body—Isis as a Foster-mother—Her Swallow Guise—Flames of Immortality—Osiris brought back to Egypt—Torn in Pieces by Set, the Boar Hunter—Isis recovers Fragments—Ghost of Murdered King—Horus as Hamlet—Succession of Uncle and Son—Agricultural Rites—The Inundation—Lamentations at Sowing Time and Harvest—Osiris and Isis as Corn Spirits—Hapi, the Nile Deity—Isis as a Male.
When Osiris was born, a voice from out of the heavens proclaimed: “Now hath come the lord of all things.” The wise man Pamyles had knowledge of the tidings in a holy place at Thebes, and he uttered a cry of gladness, and told the people that a good and wise king had appeared among men.
When Ra grew old and ascended unto heaven, Osiris sat in his throne and ruled over the land of Egypt. Men were but savages when he first came amongst them. They hunted wild animals, they wandered in broken tribes hither and thither, up and down the valley and among the mountains, and the tribes contended fiercely in battle. Evil were their ways and their desires were sinful.
Osiris ushered In a new age. He made good and binding laws, he uttered just decrees, and he judged with wisdom between men. He caused peace to prevail at length over all the land of Egypt.
Isis was the queen consort of Osiris, and she was a
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