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Article CLAUDIUS, THE BUILDER. ← Page 4 of 4
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Claudius, The Builder.
demand of me ? An admission into an Order of which it is true I am a member , but have no power to control . Will Cicsar condescend to labour—to study like a slave ? for study and labour alone can ensure proficiency in our Mystic Art . If my endeavours have pleased thee ; if the gorgeous pile my skill hath reared be acceptable in thy sight , let thy slave depart . He asks no other recompense than permission to the remainder of his days in strict obscurity "
pass . "Insolent , " exclaimed the tyrant , his anger bursting all bounds ; "'is Nero a child , to be diverted from his purpose by such sweet words ? Tell me thy secret , or I will search it in thy very heart . If , " he continued , " thy rites are of a nature forbidden by the laws of Rome , let not that fear restrain thee ; in the recesses of my palace I have a temple dedicated to auguries . If a hetacomb of human lives be necessary , I have captives and slaves sufficient for thy purpose . "
"Know , Ca ; sar , " answered the builder , indignant at the cruel offer , " all the mysteries of our art thou e ' er must hope to know;—our rites are free alike from blood or superstition . " " Thou dost refuse me then ? " thundered Nero , enraged and half surprised at the novelty of sofirm an opposition to his will ; " hast thou a charm to steel thy nerves against the torturer ' s skill ? or is thy life so valueless thou flingest it like a worthless weed away ? Hast calculated
well thy weakness and my strength ? Be wise ere it he too late . " The old man fixed his eyes firmly upon the countenance of his oppressor , and replied , — " Thou hast my answer—be my fate accomplished . "
Nero spoke not—his rage was too great for utterance ; but gave with a motion of his hand , the signal for the executioners . With an unchanged countenance , Claudius beheld the minions of cruelty enter the chamber ; and xvhile the preliminary preparations were proceeding , remained occupied in mental prayer , his old enemy Uran gazing upon him the while , with mingled hate and admiration of his constancy . The various furnaces for heating the pincers and the
molten lead were at length prepared , and the Ethiopians seized their victim . They first bound his hands , and then deprived him of his outward garment . " What spell is that ? " demanded the emperor , pointing to a narrow belt of gold which encircled the waist of the builder , and was fastened together in front by a curious clasp , containing an onyx in the centre . " Uran , knowest thou these characters ? " The Egyptian approached , and with eager curiosity examined the signs engraved upon
the mystic girdle . They baffled all his science , and he was forced to confess his knowledge vain . Nero , his curiosity inflamed to the highest pitch , proffered the extended victim his life , if he would explain to him the meaning of the belt . " The secrets of my order , prince , may not be by me revealed ; but if thou wouldst learn the mystery of the girdle , press with thy finger upon the gem within the clasp . " The did as he was directed
emperor , when the spring was loosened which held back a concealed blade;—the weapon entered the heart of Claudius , who exclaimed , — "Tyrant , I have escaped thy tortures ; one lesson thou at least hast learnt , that the Mason ' s first secret is fidelity . " Thus by an ingenious device did the virtuous builder escape the tyranny of Nero , and preserve his fidelity to his distinguished Order .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Claudius, The Builder.
demand of me ? An admission into an Order of which it is true I am a member , but have no power to control . Will Cicsar condescend to labour—to study like a slave ? for study and labour alone can ensure proficiency in our Mystic Art . If my endeavours have pleased thee ; if the gorgeous pile my skill hath reared be acceptable in thy sight , let thy slave depart . He asks no other recompense than permission to the remainder of his days in strict obscurity "
pass . "Insolent , " exclaimed the tyrant , his anger bursting all bounds ; "'is Nero a child , to be diverted from his purpose by such sweet words ? Tell me thy secret , or I will search it in thy very heart . If , " he continued , " thy rites are of a nature forbidden by the laws of Rome , let not that fear restrain thee ; in the recesses of my palace I have a temple dedicated to auguries . If a hetacomb of human lives be necessary , I have captives and slaves sufficient for thy purpose . "
"Know , Ca ; sar , " answered the builder , indignant at the cruel offer , " all the mysteries of our art thou e ' er must hope to know;—our rites are free alike from blood or superstition . " " Thou dost refuse me then ? " thundered Nero , enraged and half surprised at the novelty of sofirm an opposition to his will ; " hast thou a charm to steel thy nerves against the torturer ' s skill ? or is thy life so valueless thou flingest it like a worthless weed away ? Hast calculated
well thy weakness and my strength ? Be wise ere it he too late . " The old man fixed his eyes firmly upon the countenance of his oppressor , and replied , — " Thou hast my answer—be my fate accomplished . "
Nero spoke not—his rage was too great for utterance ; but gave with a motion of his hand , the signal for the executioners . With an unchanged countenance , Claudius beheld the minions of cruelty enter the chamber ; and xvhile the preliminary preparations were proceeding , remained occupied in mental prayer , his old enemy Uran gazing upon him the while , with mingled hate and admiration of his constancy . The various furnaces for heating the pincers and the
molten lead were at length prepared , and the Ethiopians seized their victim . They first bound his hands , and then deprived him of his outward garment . " What spell is that ? " demanded the emperor , pointing to a narrow belt of gold which encircled the waist of the builder , and was fastened together in front by a curious clasp , containing an onyx in the centre . " Uran , knowest thou these characters ? " The Egyptian approached , and with eager curiosity examined the signs engraved upon
the mystic girdle . They baffled all his science , and he was forced to confess his knowledge vain . Nero , his curiosity inflamed to the highest pitch , proffered the extended victim his life , if he would explain to him the meaning of the belt . " The secrets of my order , prince , may not be by me revealed ; but if thou wouldst learn the mystery of the girdle , press with thy finger upon the gem within the clasp . " The did as he was directed
emperor , when the spring was loosened which held back a concealed blade;—the weapon entered the heart of Claudius , who exclaimed , — "Tyrant , I have escaped thy tortures ; one lesson thou at least hast learnt , that the Mason ' s first secret is fidelity . " Thus by an ingenious device did the virtuous builder escape the tyranny of Nero , and preserve his fidelity to his distinguished Order .