The Hieratic Religion - 69

in another hymn, is called Dakshina. Now the word (Minimize means “sacrificial fee,” or, in plainer words, it is the halcsheesh of the priests at the sacrifice. But it did not seem tolerable to Miillcr’s poetic mind that a poet might degrade so charming a theme by such a comparison :

“ Up the shining strands of Dawn have risen, Like unto glittering waves of water! All paths prepareth she that they be easily traversed ; Liberal goddess, kind, she hath become haksheesh.” (Rig—Veda 64. 6. 1.)

The word which I have just rendered by “ liberal goddess ” ( meg/toes" ) is the very one that is used con- stantly and technically for the patron of the sacrifice (mag/mean), the immediate source from which flow all the fees of the sacrifice. In its feminine form (magkont‘) it is used almost solely as an epithet of Dawn. Here it is, cheek by jowl with dd/ii‘S/iide. Ushas is the patroness of the sacrifice; she is herself the sacrifice fee, ésmzasa s/ze fieralds or miter: 2'72 Me sacrificial day‘ after the darkness of the night, when both liberal and stingy are asleep. If I could get myself to suspect one of these ancient Rishis of hu- mor, I should say that there was a touch‘ of humormanyhow it is unconscious humor-min the

I See Rig-Veda 7. 78. 3, where the Dawns are said to beget the Sun, Me sacrifice, and Agni: ejyhnan :firyarz} yejfiam agm'm.