BABYLON AND PERSIA

THE GATHAS. 103"5. Then of these two Spirits the lying one elected to do evil,while the holiest Spirit {Spenta-Mainyu), he who is clothed with thesolid heavens as with a robe, elected the Right (asha), and with himall those wlio wish lo do right in the eyes of Ahura-Mazda." 6. And to his side came willi Khshathra, Vohu-mano and Aslia,.and Aram.aiti tlie eternal, who made the earth her body.In thesemayest thou have a share, that tliou mayest outdo all others inwealth."" 7. The daevas also made not the right choice (between good andevil), for, as they were debating, folly overcame them, so that theychose the Worst Mind {ako-mano, opposed to vohu-man6 ).And theyassembled in the house of violence (aeshma) to destroy the life ofman ;' (i. e., lliey joined with the enemies of the Zarathustrians, theplunderers and destroyers of their settlements, farms, and cattle.)" 8. But when the vengeance comes for their deeds of violence,then, O Ahur.a-Mazda, surely the sovereignty will be given by thyGood Mind to those who will have helped Truth (asha) to o.vercomeLie (druj).' ' g.Therefore will we belong to those who are in time to lead thislife on to perfection.Grant us then, O Mazda, and ye gods, youras.sistance, and tliou also, O Asha, tliat every man may be enlight¬ened whoso understanding, as yet, judges falsely," 10, For tlien the blow of destruction shall fall on the liar, whilethose who keep the good teaching will assemble unliindered in thebeauteous aliodo of Voliu-mano, Mazda, and Asha," 11. If, O men, you lay to your hearts tlicse ordinances whichMazda instituted, and llio good and the evil, and tlie long tormentswhich await the followers of falsehood, (dnijvan), and tlie bliss thatmust come lo llie holders of tlie true faith, (ashavaii), it will go wellwith you."8. We have here the essence of Mazdeism in itssublime simplicity, its absolute i^urity, as it shapeditself in the mind of the founder.All further devel-* This last sentence would seem to be .iddressed to the king. Thebenediction, in plain words, amounts to this: "Mayest thou beendowed with the sovereign power, the peace of mind, and the pietythat go hand in hand with the true religion, and thus deserve a sharein the dominion of the earth, and outdo all other kings in wealth,"