And as time went on, and man grew a little older in his childhood, those who ruled over the State gave away out of their hands the teaching of the religion.
Rightly and well; for it was necessary that humanity should learn to guide itself.

It was on the downward arc still, not yet beginning its upward climbing, and it had to plunge deeper and deeper into matter.
The eyes of the Spirit had to be blinded in order that the eyes of the intellect might open, and so gradually prepare humanity for a loftier manifestation of the spiritual life.
And then we find that with the dividing of the two offices, the Kings grew less and less fathers of their peoples, and became more and more tyrants over the nations.

In the elder days the principle that was taught was clear and simple: the greater the power, the greater the sacrifice; the greater the power, the greater the duty.

And on that principle of the Law of Sacrifice the old civilisations were built up; to that they owed their splendor; to that the long ages through which they lived and flourished; to sacrifice, as the very basis of the national and religious polity, they owed the vigor, the young vigor, of humanity.

Their literature was grandiose; their architecture magnificent; their art sublime.