-
Articles/Ads
Article THE ROSICRUCIAN. ← Page 3 of 5 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Rosicrucian.
not made me happier ; on the contrary , I would end my fear of death , by death— 'tis but to anticipate by a brief space the universal doom . " " Such is the coward ' s courage , " said his companion . "Is annihilation preferable to life ?—were it not wiser to evade the stroke ?" " Evade!—I do not understand you—death is our inheritance . " " True , but not of all—certain , all men do not die ! " —the peculiar expression of the stranger ' s countenance , and the deep tone of his voice , revited the attention of the young man , and he continued to gaze upon him in doubt and astonishment ; a wild hope sprang to existence in his heart .
Andrea was in the state of one , who , having foolishly rejected the pure stream of truth , sought to assuage his thirst at the stagnant waters of falsehood . Rumours of the fraternity of Rosicrucians had reached him , and in common with mankind , he attributed to them mysterious powers , and arts which exist but in the vain imaginations of the credulous . At an early age , his belief in a future state had been gradually destroyed hy the sophistry of his companions ; the pride of being called a
philosopher made him an atheist , and the workings of his wayward fancy were mistaken for the convictions of reason . _ But although his false philosophy had been powerful enough to destroy his belief in a futurity , by one of those anomalies common to our imperfect nature , it had failed to root out superstitions : he entertained some ill-defined ideas , that by investigating the powers of nature , it would be possible so to applher princiles of lifethat man ' s present state miht
y p , g be prolonged through countless ages , if not to eternity , in health and intellectual vigour . This knowledge , among other secrets , he attributed to the brethren of the Rose Croix . " I have heard of the secret brothers , '' resumed Andrea , after a pause , " and of their blessed knowledge . Art thou—speak , art thou of their number ?"
"lam a Rosicrucian , " slowly pronounced the stranger . " And immortal ? " gasped the painter . "Andimmortal , " added the old man . The tone of conscious power with which the words were spoken carried conviction to the heart of Andrea . Transported with hope , he threw himself upon his knees , and grasped his companion ' s robe . " Teach me thy secret ! " he exclaimed , " and I will be thy slave ; pluck but from
my being the principle of death , and I will bless thee ; let me toil from morn till ni ght beneath a burning sun , or watch for ages ; cheerfully will I obey thee—save me but from the grave !" The old man gazed upon the youth who knelt before him with compassion : his quivering lip , the mingled expression of despair and hope in his countenance , the convulsive grasp with which he clasped his robe , told the intensity of his feellings .
"You ask of me much , " said the stranger , " yet not more than I am willing to grant , provided you are obedient , but this is neither the place or hour for our purpose ; come to me in the morning , and we will speak further . You will find me at the house of the Count Phyoman , on the Piazza St . Maria Novella . After the hour of matins I will expect thee . ' ' Andrea that ni ght returned to his couch a happier man ;—hope , the glorious hope of immortality was his ; alread y in imagination , he beheld death defeated , and the principle of life within him made eternal . At the appointed hour he was with the stranger .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Rosicrucian.
not made me happier ; on the contrary , I would end my fear of death , by death— 'tis but to anticipate by a brief space the universal doom . " " Such is the coward ' s courage , " said his companion . "Is annihilation preferable to life ?—were it not wiser to evade the stroke ?" " Evade!—I do not understand you—death is our inheritance . " " True , but not of all—certain , all men do not die ! " —the peculiar expression of the stranger ' s countenance , and the deep tone of his voice , revited the attention of the young man , and he continued to gaze upon him in doubt and astonishment ; a wild hope sprang to existence in his heart .
Andrea was in the state of one , who , having foolishly rejected the pure stream of truth , sought to assuage his thirst at the stagnant waters of falsehood . Rumours of the fraternity of Rosicrucians had reached him , and in common with mankind , he attributed to them mysterious powers , and arts which exist but in the vain imaginations of the credulous . At an early age , his belief in a future state had been gradually destroyed hy the sophistry of his companions ; the pride of being called a
philosopher made him an atheist , and the workings of his wayward fancy were mistaken for the convictions of reason . _ But although his false philosophy had been powerful enough to destroy his belief in a futurity , by one of those anomalies common to our imperfect nature , it had failed to root out superstitions : he entertained some ill-defined ideas , that by investigating the powers of nature , it would be possible so to applher princiles of lifethat man ' s present state miht
y p , g be prolonged through countless ages , if not to eternity , in health and intellectual vigour . This knowledge , among other secrets , he attributed to the brethren of the Rose Croix . " I have heard of the secret brothers , '' resumed Andrea , after a pause , " and of their blessed knowledge . Art thou—speak , art thou of their number ?"
"lam a Rosicrucian , " slowly pronounced the stranger . " And immortal ? " gasped the painter . "Andimmortal , " added the old man . The tone of conscious power with which the words were spoken carried conviction to the heart of Andrea . Transported with hope , he threw himself upon his knees , and grasped his companion ' s robe . " Teach me thy secret ! " he exclaimed , " and I will be thy slave ; pluck but from
my being the principle of death , and I will bless thee ; let me toil from morn till ni ght beneath a burning sun , or watch for ages ; cheerfully will I obey thee—save me but from the grave !" The old man gazed upon the youth who knelt before him with compassion : his quivering lip , the mingled expression of despair and hope in his countenance , the convulsive grasp with which he clasped his robe , told the intensity of his feellings .
"You ask of me much , " said the stranger , " yet not more than I am willing to grant , provided you are obedient , but this is neither the place or hour for our purpose ; come to me in the morning , and we will speak further . You will find me at the house of the Count Phyoman , on the Piazza St . Maria Novella . After the hour of matins I will expect thee . ' ' Andrea that ni ght returned to his couch a happier man ;—hope , the glorious hope of immortality was his ; alread y in imagination , he beheld death defeated , and the principle of life within him made eternal . At the appointed hour he was with the stranger .