unces a gracious verdict regarding him. And
since, moreover, the royal mummy, thanks to the exceptional care of the
priests, is provided with every amulet, prayer, direction, and spell,
there is no doubt that the late pharaoh is now in the dwelling of the
gods, sitting at the side of Osiris, and is himself Osiris.

"During his earthly life the divine nature of Ramses XII was made
manifest. He reigned more than thirty years. He gave the people
profound peace and erected or finished many temples. Besides, he was
himself a high priest and surpassed in piety the most pious. During his
reign honor to the gods and elevation of the sacred priestly order held
the chief position. Therefore he was beloved of the heavenly powers,
and one of the Theban gods, Khonsu, at the prayer of the pharaoh, was
pleased to go to the country of Buchten, and expel an evil spirit from
the king's daughter."

Mefres drew breath and continued,

"When I have shown your worthinesses that Ramses XII was a god, will ye
inquire with what object that higher being came down to the Egyptian
land and spent some tens of years here?

"He did so to reform the world, which, through decay of faith, is much
corrupted. For who is occupied in devotion today, who thinks of obeying
the will of the gods in our time?

"In the distant north we see the great Assyrian people who believe only
in the power of the sword, and who, instead of giving themselves to
devotion and wisdom, are subjecting other nations. Nearer to us are
Phoenicians, whose god is gold, and whose worship is mere fraud and
usury. There are others also: the Hittites on the East, the Libyans on
the west, the Ethiopians on the south, and the Greeks of the
Mediterranean, those are barbarians and robbers. Instead of toiling
they rob, instead of working wisdom they drink, play dice, or sleep
like tired animals.

"In the world there is only one really wise and pious people, the
Egyptians; but see what is happening among us. Because of the influx of
infidel foreigners, religion has fallen here also. Nobles and officials
at their wine cups revile eternal life and the gods, while the people
throw mud at sacred statues and make no offerings to temples.

"Excess has taken the place of devotion, riot the place of wisdom. Each
man wants to wear immense wigs, and anoint himself with rare perfumes;
he would have tunics and aprons woven with gold, wear chains and
bracelets set with jewels. A barley cake suffices h