THE TRAGEDY OF OSIRIS
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fused. As a result we find that the inundation is symbolized now as the male principle and now as the female principle; the Nile god, Hapi, is depicted as a man with female breasts. In an Abydos temple chant Isis makes reference to herself as “the woman who was made a male by her father, Osiris”.[1]
The Scottish Osiris
(John Barleycorn)
There were three kings into the east,
Three kings both great and high,
And they hae sworn a solemn oath
John Barleycorn should die.
Three kings both great and high,
And they hae sworn a solemn oath
John Barleycorn should die.
They took a plough and plough’d him down
Put clods upon his head,
And they hae sworn a solemn oath
John Barleycorn was dead.
Put clods upon his head,
And they hae sworn a solemn oath
John Barleycorn was dead.
But the cheerful spring came kindly on,
And show’rs began to fall;
John Barleycorn got up again,
And sore surpris’d them all.
And show’rs began to fall;
John Barleycorn got up again,
And sore surpris’d them all.
The sultry suns of summer came,
And he grew thick and strong,
His head weel arm’d wi’ pointed spears,
That no one should him wrong.
And he grew thick and strong,
His head weel arm’d wi’ pointed spears,
That no one should him wrong.
The sober autumn enter’d mild,
When he grew wan and pale;
His bending joints and drooping head
Show’d he began to fail.
When he grew wan and pale;
His bending joints and drooping head
Show’d he began to fail.
- ↑ The Burden of Isis, Dennis, p. 49.
