..."
"No, I do not sacrifice, and I have kept my faith in the promise,
Amram. I have entered this temple in order to learn the secrets of
the wise, and to open from within the fortress which holds Israel
captive."
"Secrets? Why should the Highest be secret?"
"Because the common people only understand what is low."
"You do not yourself believe in these animals which you call
sacred?"
"No, they are only symbols--visible signs to body forth the
invisible. We priests and scribes revere the Only One, the Hidden,
under His visible shape, the Sun, giver and sustainer of life. You
remember, when we were young, how Pharaoh Amenophis the Fourth
forcibly did away with the ancient gods and the worship of the
sacred animals. He passed down the river from Thebes proclaiming the
doctrine of the Unity of God. Do you know whence he derived that
doctrine? From the Israelites, who, after Joseph's marriage to
Asenath, daughter of the High Priest of On, increased in numbers,
and even married daughters of the house of Pharaoh. But after the
death of Amenophis the old order was restored, the King again
resided at Thebes, and the ancient gods were brought out again, all
to please the people,"
"And you continue to honour the Only One, the Hidden, the Eternal.
"Yes, we do.
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