Page:Avesta, the Bible of Zoroaster.djvu/7

suggested resemblance is therefore merely an external one, based on form and ceremony. In the Yasna ceremony, the priest begins at chapter 9, to chant the direct praise of Haoma. The latter is personified as having appeared to Zoroaster in a vision, and as telling him what blessings the haoma-worship brings. The lines are metrical and somewhat resemble the Kalevala verse of Longfellow's Hiawatha.

havanīm a ratūm a

Haomō upāit Zarathushtrəm

ātrəm pairi-yaozhdathəntəm

Gāthāosca srāvayantəm.

ā dim pərəsat Zarathushtrəm:

"Kō narū ahi

yim āsəm vīsbakē anhəush

astvatā sraēshtə dādarəsa

hvahe gayehe hvanvatō [aməshahe]?"

Which may be rendered thus:

At the time of morning worship

'Haoma came to Zoroaster,

Who was serving at the Fire

And the holy Psalms intoning.

"What man art thou?" asked the Prophet,

"Who of all the world material,

Fairest art that ever I saw

In my blessed life immortal."

Haoma gives answer and explains his presence.

Zoroaster again enquires, asking questions about the pious persons who in the past have worshipped Haoma, and prepared the sacred draught. The divinity names several holy men; among them is Yima, in whose reign was the Golden Age. His blessed rule is thus described:

In the reign of gallant Yima,

Heat there was not, cold there was not,

Neither age nor death existed,

Nor disease the work of Demons;