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Article THE ANOIENT MTaT ← Page 4 of 7 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Anoient Mtat
ministry , and had long since received a premonition , it behoved him in the mean tirney in common with the other devotees ; to abstain from all manner of profane a ^^ fo might be the better prepared for the knowledge of her secret mysteries . . ' .. " ¦ _ .
In ot long after this was Lucius kept either in delay or suspense . One night he was admonished in a dream that the day on which he was to be admitted to her mysteries by her chief priest Mithras was at hand , whom he had no sooner saluted on the following morning , than the priest addressed him in these words : — " Truly happy a > hd "blessed art thou , my Lucius , to be thus voluntarily honoured bv the
propitious goddess . Why dost thou stand motionless , or delay ? The day-which thou hast longed for , and prayed for , has arrived , aiid by these hands of mine shalt thou be admitted to the most holy mysteries , the most sacred service of the : many-titled goddess . "
And the old man , taking him by the right hand , led him to the doors of the vast temple which were opened in the usually solemn manner , and then , having celebrated the mornings sacrificial offering , he drew forth from a concealed and sacred recess of the shrine , certain books which were deposited there , written in unkhowh characters , to preserve them from the perusal of the inquisitive and profane , should any such ever by any means gain access to them ,
consisting partly of the figures of animals of every kind that expressed words compendiously , and partly of other forms , either twisted like a knot , or circular like a wheel , or with extremities intertwining with one another like the tendrils of a vine . From these books the priest informed Lucius what articles it would be necessary to provide for his initiation , all of which he hastened
to procure . At the appointed hour the priest , accompanied by a great concourse of people , led him to a bath , where he first bathed in the usual manner , and then , after the priest had entreated the gods in his favour , was sprinkled by him with the purest and clearest water , and then , two thirds of the day having elapsed , was
conducted back to the leet ot the image ot the goddess . Then the priest , after giving" him some instruction , which mortal tongue might not reveal to the uninitiated , bade him , in the presence of the people , for ten days to abstain from animal food , and to take no wine . Lucius having observed his ten days of religious abstinence , the day arrived on which he was to pledge himself to the sacred ministry .
I owards the evening , the officiating hierophant took Lucius by the hand , who , during the day , had been presented to the people and loaded with their gifts , clothed in a new robe of white linen , and led him into the farther recesses of the sanctuary . And here , he continues , Lucius approached the confines of death , and touched with his foot the threshold of the abode of Proserpine . At midnight he beheld the sun shining in brilliant glory , he stood near and worshipped the gods of heaven and the gods beneath the earth . The morning came , and Lucius was then clothed in a linen
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Anoient Mtat
ministry , and had long since received a premonition , it behoved him in the mean tirney in common with the other devotees ; to abstain from all manner of profane a ^^ fo might be the better prepared for the knowledge of her secret mysteries . . ' .. " ¦ _ .
In ot long after this was Lucius kept either in delay or suspense . One night he was admonished in a dream that the day on which he was to be admitted to her mysteries by her chief priest Mithras was at hand , whom he had no sooner saluted on the following morning , than the priest addressed him in these words : — " Truly happy a > hd "blessed art thou , my Lucius , to be thus voluntarily honoured bv the
propitious goddess . Why dost thou stand motionless , or delay ? The day-which thou hast longed for , and prayed for , has arrived , aiid by these hands of mine shalt thou be admitted to the most holy mysteries , the most sacred service of the : many-titled goddess . "
And the old man , taking him by the right hand , led him to the doors of the vast temple which were opened in the usually solemn manner , and then , having celebrated the mornings sacrificial offering , he drew forth from a concealed and sacred recess of the shrine , certain books which were deposited there , written in unkhowh characters , to preserve them from the perusal of the inquisitive and profane , should any such ever by any means gain access to them ,
consisting partly of the figures of animals of every kind that expressed words compendiously , and partly of other forms , either twisted like a knot , or circular like a wheel , or with extremities intertwining with one another like the tendrils of a vine . From these books the priest informed Lucius what articles it would be necessary to provide for his initiation , all of which he hastened
to procure . At the appointed hour the priest , accompanied by a great concourse of people , led him to a bath , where he first bathed in the usual manner , and then , after the priest had entreated the gods in his favour , was sprinkled by him with the purest and clearest water , and then , two thirds of the day having elapsed , was
conducted back to the leet ot the image ot the goddess . Then the priest , after giving" him some instruction , which mortal tongue might not reveal to the uninitiated , bade him , in the presence of the people , for ten days to abstain from animal food , and to take no wine . Lucius having observed his ten days of religious abstinence , the day arrived on which he was to pledge himself to the sacred ministry .
I owards the evening , the officiating hierophant took Lucius by the hand , who , during the day , had been presented to the people and loaded with their gifts , clothed in a new robe of white linen , and led him into the farther recesses of the sanctuary . And here , he continues , Lucius approached the confines of death , and touched with his foot the threshold of the abode of Proserpine . At midnight he beheld the sun shining in brilliant glory , he stood near and worshipped the gods of heaven and the gods beneath the earth . The morning came , and Lucius was then clothed in a linen