But like the gods they grew jealous.

They and their councillors became a race apart who alone had the secret of long life.
The rest of the world and the commonplace people about them suffered and died.

They of the Household of Wisdom lived on in pomp for generations till the earth was mad with envy of them.
"Fewer and fewer grew the divine race of the Sons of Wisdom since children are not given to the aged and to those of an ancient, outworn blood.

Then the World said: "'They are great but they are not many; let us make an end of them by numbers and take their place and power and drink of their Life-water, that they will not give to us.

If myriads of us perish by their arts, what does it matter, since we are countless ?' So the World made war upon the Sons of Wisdom.