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264 THE TREE OF LIFE
ates some of the qualities and powers of the God, the recitation of
which assists in the union and commingling of substances. The
specimen of ritual given by E. A. Wallis Budge in The Gods of the
Egyptians used as an invocation of Osiris, is a far better instance.
It has been necessary to edit it somewhat, inasmuch as it was too
long and scattered.
" Hail, lord Osiris. Hail, lord Osiris. Hail, lord Osiris.
" Hail, hail, beautiful boy, come to thy temple straightway, for
we see thee not.
Hail, beautiful boy, come to thy temple, and
draw nigh after thy departure from us.
" Hail, who leadest along the hour, who increasest except at his
season. Thou art the exalted image of thy father Tenen, thou art
the hidden essence which comest forth from Atmu. 0 thou Lord,
0 thou Lord, how much greater art thou than thy father, 0 thou
eldest son of thy mother's womb. Come thou back again to us with
that which belongest unto thee, and we will embrace thee ; depart
not thou from us, 0 thou beautiful and greatly loved face, thou
image of Tenen, thou virile one, thou lord of love. Come thou in
peace, and let us see, 0 our Lord. . . .
" Hail, Prince, who comest forth from the womb . . . of primeval
matter. Hail, Lord of multitudes of aspects and created forms,
circle of gold in the temples ; lord of time, and bestower of years.
Hail, lord of life for all eternity ; lord of millions and myriads, who
shinest both in rising and setting. Hail, thou lord of terror, thou
mighty one of trembling.
" Hail, lord of multitudes of aspects, both male and female;
thou art crowned with the White Crown, thou Lord of the Urerer
Crown. Thou holy Babe of Her-hekennu, thou son of Ra, who
sittest in the Boat of Millions of years, thou Guide of Rest ! Come
thou to thy hidden places.
" Hail, thou lord who art self-produced. Hail, thou whose heart
is still, come to thy city. Thou beloved one of the gods and goddesses
who dippest thyself in Nu, come to thy temple ; thou art in the
Tuat, come to thy offerings. . . .
" Hail, thou holy flower of the Great House. Hail, thou who
bringest the holy cordage of the Sekti boat; thou Lord of the
Hennu Boat who renewesl thy youth in the secret place, thou
perfect Soul. . . . Hail, thou hidden one, who art known to mankind.
" Hail ! Hail ! Thou dost shine upon him that is in the Tuat