Osiris

Selestor’s Men of Atlantis

As centuries passed there reigned one monarch—him ye call Osiris—for such I swear was ancestor to that god-king of my land whom ye are taught to doubt as myth or mock, but who did live indeed and reign.

That cruel king died ere Osiris reigned; his father, stern and subtle of that line so cruel to his kind and kindred.

He was of that band who did betake to boats in young Osiris’ reign, for reign did he in all the state his sire had kept when Egypt's shore was reached.

The king who reigned in Egypt when the flood destroyed Atlantis was Osiris, son of him who reigned in that ripe age when law perfected brought to that doomed land all things of Earth.

For he—Osiris, son—in that past day did offer to his gods a gift of life for preservation from that water-death which smote the land—that, cruel, thrust him forth!

The queen Osiris’ father wed, in age was not of his own land, but stranger to his people.

Of the three sons born to Osiris—king—but twain survived their infancy, and these were strong and beautiful as gods, ye speak.

Osiris, old and doting, sent his ships afar to bring to him a daughter of that land which since that day Assyria claimed; the race which first inhabited had passed ere I had seen the light—a fairer race than mine whose origin none knew—a subtle race who sold as slaves their kindred, drank of blood and tilled no soil.

Osiris reigned in Egypt first.

Osiris, prince, the future king, fared in the galley eighty manned—Aamhotep to the left, Usertsen at the right with men to battle seasoned.

Dark was the night and still, Osiris sailed.

"A star of destiny we follow; guarding eye of god," spake she, the virgin wife of him, Osiris.

For old Osiris claimed, as soul to soul, a sister, born in wedlock, passing fair and born in that same hour as he.

And when Osiris—king the first—did wed, the sister also laid her snowy hand in that of consort—brother of the queen who lived a life of sweet content and died with blessings on her lips, and swore the king, her lord, that he would never wed, but keep her line unsullied, centered in the son first born to them—Osiris—named as then the custom was for father—that old king who did break his oath and wed, alas!

daughters blessed the home of king Osiris.

And loved was Aamhotep of that young prince and kinsman, Osiris.

Osiris, father, in his island palace spake all lightly as the eyes of her, the temptress, sought his face—the subtle woman with ten thousand wiles: "He hath departed!

Egypt already had become a power in war, for certain mighty tribes adhered to young Osiris’ rule ere sunk Atlantis.

And thus the court of young Osiris bore a dignity, a power and Fame already marked it.

In carven casket midst the mouldering specks of husk shall be revealed thy history ere this hand that pens is stilled, and Earth may read what once the sun hath witnessed; message old, dug from the earth, and written by the hand of him who held the scepter first to Egypt known, Osiris—king!

Aye, was Egypt peopled when prince Osiris sought her shore.

Osiris sought that farther border from the fear of swift and stern pursuit.

For storms of sand have filled the arches broad and hid the dome, the wall of brittle spar, the pride of King Osiris.

No history gives her name, yet shall it live on page of alien people side by side with his—Osiris, King of Egypt first.

The spot where she had died Osiris sought to shield from vulgar purpose.

And down the graceful river moved the fleet and builded grandly where the cataract marked the sacred spot—the tomb of one who passed—nor wife nor maid of him—Osiris.

Statue made to show the features beautiful of him—Osiris—never found as mummy.

Osiris lieth in his rock-bound tomb below Abydos; thus ye speak the name; his hands outspread to bless his followers, his loved wife beside him, wrought in stone.

Osiris’ tomb is hid from prying eye.

Three sculptured forms shall meet the eye of man—Osiris, Aamhotep, Usertsen, wrought so well that later art seems crude.

A quaintly fashioned volume bound with gems and made from jasper, block on block, so thin the words of other page show through, doth lie within Osiris’ tomb.

Aye, where Thebes stood the camel still may browse, but parchment hid in golden case is still intact, and wall that carven image shows of him—Osiris—still doth stand enwrapped in sands which clog the well-wrought lines depicting flight and subsequent events.