An augur of ninety years old put his hand on the shoulder of the Emperor.
"Speak lower, my son, speak lower. If thou hast understood the mystery, rejoice in silence! Tempt not the crowd. Those who hear thee cannot understand."
The general murmurs of indignation became louder.
"He's raving," said Hormizdas to Dagalaïf. "Take him to his tent, or all will go ill!"
Oribazius, like the devoted physician that he was, took Julian's hand and began to persuade him soothingly.
"Well-beloved Augustus, you must take rest. There are dangerous fevers in this country. Come into the tent. The sun is hurtful.... Your illness may get worse!"
The Emperor looked at him with a pre-occupied air.
"Stay, Oribazius, I have forgotten something.... Ah, yes, yes!... It is the chiefest thing of all! Listen. Say not, 'The gods are no more,' but rather 'The gods as yet are not.' They are not, but they shall exist; not in fables, but on earth. We shall all be gods, all; only to become so we must create in ourselves such daring as no man has yet felt, not even Alexander!"
The agitation of the army became more pronounced. Murmurs and exclamations joined into a general hum of indignation. No one clearly understood; but everyone had a suspicion that something abnormal was going on.
Some cried: