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Article COVETOUSNESS; A VISION. ← Page 5 of 5
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Covetousness; A Vision.
cascades ? Let its run ! I am afraid it will dry up . What crowds vie with each other ! but at the same time let us take care of ourselves , we are not at it yet ; the last steps are the most dangerous—how many , for want of prudence , have fallen from the summit into the abyss !—In throwing others down , let us guard against a fall so terrible . We must skilfull y improve by the misfortunes of others . Come on ; I have discovered a road that will lead us in more safet y to the wishedibr spot . "
So speaking , he led me through a by-path , where few people would dare to follow ; it was a sort of narrow , crooked gallery , cut out of the rock , and vaulted . We went forward some time ; but outpassage was obstructed by three figures of the finest white marble . Nothing but their astonishing whiteness could efface the idea of their being alive , so strongly were truth and gracefulness expressed in them . These figures , whose arms were interwoven and united , seemed to
stop the passage to imprudent mortals ' . The } ' represented Religion , Humanity , and Probity . Beneath was written , , ; These things arc " the muster-piece of human understanding ; the originals are in Heaven . O mortals ! reverence those images ; lei ibevti be sacred to you ; "for they are made to stop you in the perfidious road which leads to " the abyss . Woe be to him who will not be affected , and cursed for " ever be the sacrilegious hand who dares to spoil them !"
At this signt I was filled with a respectful emotion , blended with love . I looked at my conductor ; he seemed for a moment much disturbed and irresolute : but having heard some shouts on a fresh irruption of the fountain , his countenance was flushed with a gloomy redness—he seized a stone , which he loosened from the rock—I endeavoured in vain to stop him—he broke this sacred monument with furious impiet y , and passed over its ruins . I now redoubled my
, efforts , in opposition to his , and at length broke the odious chain that linked me to this monster . " Go , " said I , full of indignation , " go , unbridled man—fly—satisfy thy inordinate passion ; the thunder of Divine Justice is ready . He no longer heard me . I followed him with my eyes . The wretch , blinded by his crime , endeavouring too eagerh" to draw from this fatal fountain , was hurried into it . — Being carried away by the torrent which he had made his god , he was dashed to atoms on the points of the rocks , and his blood for some moments stained its former splendor .
Struck with fear , I , trembling , contemplated those adorable ruins scattered on the ground , not daring to move , lest I should tread upon them . Afflicting tears trickled down my cheeks . I looked to Heaven with uplifted hands , my heart oppressed with sorrow , when a Divine Power suddenly collected the relics , as beautiful , as majetic as before . I prostrated myself before those sacred images . Glorious ! eternal ! they never can be destroyed b } ' the sacrilegious hands of impious mortals . LE M— .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Covetousness; A Vision.
cascades ? Let its run ! I am afraid it will dry up . What crowds vie with each other ! but at the same time let us take care of ourselves , we are not at it yet ; the last steps are the most dangerous—how many , for want of prudence , have fallen from the summit into the abyss !—In throwing others down , let us guard against a fall so terrible . We must skilfull y improve by the misfortunes of others . Come on ; I have discovered a road that will lead us in more safet y to the wishedibr spot . "
So speaking , he led me through a by-path , where few people would dare to follow ; it was a sort of narrow , crooked gallery , cut out of the rock , and vaulted . We went forward some time ; but outpassage was obstructed by three figures of the finest white marble . Nothing but their astonishing whiteness could efface the idea of their being alive , so strongly were truth and gracefulness expressed in them . These figures , whose arms were interwoven and united , seemed to
stop the passage to imprudent mortals ' . The } ' represented Religion , Humanity , and Probity . Beneath was written , , ; These things arc " the muster-piece of human understanding ; the originals are in Heaven . O mortals ! reverence those images ; lei ibevti be sacred to you ; "for they are made to stop you in the perfidious road which leads to " the abyss . Woe be to him who will not be affected , and cursed for " ever be the sacrilegious hand who dares to spoil them !"
At this signt I was filled with a respectful emotion , blended with love . I looked at my conductor ; he seemed for a moment much disturbed and irresolute : but having heard some shouts on a fresh irruption of the fountain , his countenance was flushed with a gloomy redness—he seized a stone , which he loosened from the rock—I endeavoured in vain to stop him—he broke this sacred monument with furious impiet y , and passed over its ruins . I now redoubled my
, efforts , in opposition to his , and at length broke the odious chain that linked me to this monster . " Go , " said I , full of indignation , " go , unbridled man—fly—satisfy thy inordinate passion ; the thunder of Divine Justice is ready . He no longer heard me . I followed him with my eyes . The wretch , blinded by his crime , endeavouring too eagerh" to draw from this fatal fountain , was hurried into it . — Being carried away by the torrent which he had made his god , he was dashed to atoms on the points of the rocks , and his blood for some moments stained its former splendor .
Struck with fear , I , trembling , contemplated those adorable ruins scattered on the ground , not daring to move , lest I should tread upon them . Afflicting tears trickled down my cheeks . I looked to Heaven with uplifted hands , my heart oppressed with sorrow , when a Divine Power suddenly collected the relics , as beautiful , as majetic as before . I prostrated myself before those sacred images . Glorious ! eternal ! they never can be destroyed b } ' the sacrilegious hands of impious mortals . LE M— .