442 THE ANCIENT EGYPTIANS. CHAP. XVI. 



since it will not recover the use of its wings until 

 that period, except it be the soul of one who has phi- 

 losophised sincerely, or, together with philosophy, 

 has loved beautiful forms. These, indeed, in the 

 third period of 1000 years, if they have thrice 

 chosen this mode of life in succession .... shall, 

 in the SOOOdth year, fly away * to their pristine 

 abode ; but other souls being arrived at the end of 

 their first life shall be judged. And of those who are 

 judged, some, proceeding to a subterraneous place 

 of judgment, shall there sustain the punishments 

 they have deserved ; but others, in consequence 

 of a favourable judgment, being elevated into a 

 certain celestial place, shall pass their time in 

 a manner becoming the life they have lived in a 

 human shape. And, in the lOOOdth year, both the 

 kinds of those who have been judged, returning to 

 tlie lot and election of a second life, shall each of 

 them receive a life agreeable to his desire. Here 

 also the human soul shall pass into the life of a 

 beast ; and from that of a beast again into a man, 

 if it has first been the soul of a man. For the soul 

 which has never perceived the truth cannot pass 

 into the human form." 



It is possible that the Egyptians also supposed 

 the period of 3000 years to have been confined to 

 those who had led a philosophically virtuous life ; 

 but it is difficult' to determine if the full number of 

 10,000 years was required for other souls. From 

 the flict of the number 10 signifying completion 



* This agrees with the E<^yptiiin notion o( a winged soul. Vide stij>rd, 

 Vol. I. (Second Scries) p. 442. 



