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Article CLAUDIUS, THE BUILDER. ← Page 2 of 4 →
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Claudius, The Builder.
earth is Nero ' s . And under pretence of honour , mark how I am accompanied . " lie glanced significantly to the soldier who attended him . " No , the tyrant hath secured his victim . As I passed the Forum , senators and patricians bowed to me , all envied the favoured architect of the emperor . Could they foresee his doom , the meanest slave had pitied him . Let my fate , Brother , teach thee this useful lesson—Judge not from mere appearances . "
" Is it then so certain ? " demanded his companion . " Is there no recourse ? Might not the tyrant be admitted to our mysteries , to preserve a life so valuable , so revered as thine ? The Order would yield much . " " Ay , " replied Claudius , " but not its honour . Shall a " monster—a parricide stained with blood , with every cruelty that can disgrace his nature , be admitted to our pure and perfect rites ? Shall we unchain the bloodhoundand point out the victim ? Nobetter that one should
, , perish , than thousands be exposed to the jealous rage , caprice , and tyranny of Nero . Farewell ! convey my salutation to the Brethren ; tell them no promises shall rend the secret from my lips . " " But tortures , " interrupted the young man , shuddering . " Against them I am prepared firmly , " added the builder . " Farewell . " With a firm step the old man turned from the Capitol , and directed his way towards the palace of the Ciesarswhere the luxurious tyrant
, held his court . On reaching the gate of the second square he encountered an officer of the household , who informed him that the emperor had twice impatiently commanded his attendance . " 1 follow , " answered Claudius , with a look of proud resignation , and passed beneath the imperial portal .
In a magnificent apartment , composed of the most costly marbles and mosaics , stretched upon a couch of down , lay the effeminate Nero , his silken tunic girdled with gems , and a wreath of flowers upon his brow . Upon a pedestal stood the golden image of victory , which invariably decorated the imperial chamber ; incense burnt before it , and the coronal which the emperor had lately received for his disgraceful exhibition in the arena , was upon an altar before it . Twelve young slaves ,
remarkable for their beauty of person , stood with folded arms beside him , eagerly watching the slightest sign which called them to administer to his pleasure . On a cushion at his feet was seated a very different character , Uran , an'Egyptian priest and sorcerer , the companion of his debaucheries , the instigator of his cruelties , and the inventor of the fearful tortures which the monster loved to inflict upon his victims . " Gods , " said the tyrant , petulantly , casting from him the plectrum
with which he had been torturing the strings of a lute , " will this Claudius never arrive ? Art thou aware , Uran , " he demanded , " that these sons of Lux , as they presumptuously call themselves , possess such mighty secrets ?" " Shall thy slave lie unto thee , and live ? " obsequiously replied the Egyptian . " Nono" carelessly answered Nero ; " in spite of thy useful
quali-, , ties I would send thee to feed my lampreys , or give thy carcase to gorge my favourite crocodile . Never lie to me ; but tell me what proof have you that my first architect is of this secret Order . I would not uselessly destroy him , —at least , " he added , " not until my palace be completed . " " Is it not well known , " tremblingly answered Uran , " that the temple of the Jews , the pride of the mighty Solomon , by them was built ?
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Claudius, The Builder.
earth is Nero ' s . And under pretence of honour , mark how I am accompanied . " lie glanced significantly to the soldier who attended him . " No , the tyrant hath secured his victim . As I passed the Forum , senators and patricians bowed to me , all envied the favoured architect of the emperor . Could they foresee his doom , the meanest slave had pitied him . Let my fate , Brother , teach thee this useful lesson—Judge not from mere appearances . "
" Is it then so certain ? " demanded his companion . " Is there no recourse ? Might not the tyrant be admitted to our mysteries , to preserve a life so valuable , so revered as thine ? The Order would yield much . " " Ay , " replied Claudius , " but not its honour . Shall a " monster—a parricide stained with blood , with every cruelty that can disgrace his nature , be admitted to our pure and perfect rites ? Shall we unchain the bloodhoundand point out the victim ? Nobetter that one should
, , perish , than thousands be exposed to the jealous rage , caprice , and tyranny of Nero . Farewell ! convey my salutation to the Brethren ; tell them no promises shall rend the secret from my lips . " " But tortures , " interrupted the young man , shuddering . " Against them I am prepared firmly , " added the builder . " Farewell . " With a firm step the old man turned from the Capitol , and directed his way towards the palace of the Ciesarswhere the luxurious tyrant
, held his court . On reaching the gate of the second square he encountered an officer of the household , who informed him that the emperor had twice impatiently commanded his attendance . " 1 follow , " answered Claudius , with a look of proud resignation , and passed beneath the imperial portal .
In a magnificent apartment , composed of the most costly marbles and mosaics , stretched upon a couch of down , lay the effeminate Nero , his silken tunic girdled with gems , and a wreath of flowers upon his brow . Upon a pedestal stood the golden image of victory , which invariably decorated the imperial chamber ; incense burnt before it , and the coronal which the emperor had lately received for his disgraceful exhibition in the arena , was upon an altar before it . Twelve young slaves ,
remarkable for their beauty of person , stood with folded arms beside him , eagerly watching the slightest sign which called them to administer to his pleasure . On a cushion at his feet was seated a very different character , Uran , an'Egyptian priest and sorcerer , the companion of his debaucheries , the instigator of his cruelties , and the inventor of the fearful tortures which the monster loved to inflict upon his victims . " Gods , " said the tyrant , petulantly , casting from him the plectrum
with which he had been torturing the strings of a lute , " will this Claudius never arrive ? Art thou aware , Uran , " he demanded , " that these sons of Lux , as they presumptuously call themselves , possess such mighty secrets ?" " Shall thy slave lie unto thee , and live ? " obsequiously replied the Egyptian . " Nono" carelessly answered Nero ; " in spite of thy useful
quali-, , ties I would send thee to feed my lampreys , or give thy carcase to gorge my favourite crocodile . Never lie to me ; but tell me what proof have you that my first architect is of this secret Order . I would not uselessly destroy him , —at least , " he added , " not until my palace be completed . " " Is it not well known , " tremblingly answered Uran , " that the temple of the Jews , the pride of the mighty Solomon , by them was built ?