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Article THE BUILDER'S OATH. ← Page 3 of 5 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Builder's Oath.
" Thou forgettest , father , " said the soldier , " that Lenos is favoured by the king , whose life he once saved , and whose gratitude is as lively as though the service had been never repaid ; it is even said , that he placed upon his hand a gem , and , with an oath , promised to grant him any favour he should ask . Nay , " continued the speaker , "thou need ' st not smile incredulously ; 1 have seen the ring upon his finger—a head of the Thessalian Jove—his father brought it from our native
Greece;but of the prince ' s oath I cannot speak ivith certainty . " " How the Etrusci muster , " said the old man , mortified at the superior information of the soldier , and willing to change the conversation ; " they assume the airs of freemen . I doubt the policy which placed them on a level ivith our race ; it is even said , they are to be eligible to the magistracy . " "And why not ? " demanded a listenerwhose habit proclaimed him
, to be one of the vanquished race . " Can none hut a Tyrrhenian give justice , or decide upon a point of right between man and man ? Perhaps , " he added , meeting the surprised glance of the speakers with a glance equally haughty as their own , " you would have us exist merely to cultivate the earth , and carry burthens for our conquerors ?" " What would you ? " demanded the speakers . " EQUALITY OF RIGHTS—the boon promised to our race . Why should
the Etrusci be held in scorn ?—are we less brave ! less honest than the Tyrrheni ?" " Cease this useless clamour ! " exclaimed another aged citizen , who had been an observant spectator of thedispute ; "the king and elders are returning from the temple , and the successful architect will soon be knoivn . "
Clitus and the elders were seen to quit the porch of the temple as the speaker concluded , and , preceded by the guards , made their way to the seats prepared for them in the forum . As soon as silence had been proclaimed by the heralds , the monarch arose , and thus addressed the assembly : — " Citizens and subjects , —Our deliberations have been short . Among the plans submitted to our view is one of excellence so superior , that no choice was left us ; then let the architectwhose seal is a head of the
, horned Isis , approach , and receive the honors that he merits . " As Clitus finished his address , all eyes were turned toivards Lenos and Tyrrius , the two most celebrated artists of the Tyrrheni ; but , to the surprise of the multitude , they moved not . " Why hesitates the successful candidate to approach ? " demanded the king . Scarcelhad he spokewhen the speakerwho had so warmlespoused
y , , y the equality of his countrymen with the race of the conquerors , modestly advanced towards the throne . All ivere astonished , for his habit proclaimed him an Etruscan ; and tbe majority of the people , who were of that nation , rent the air at the unusual sight , with long and continued shouts of joy , Whatever were the opinions of Clitus , policy , and , perhaps , a sense of justice , kept him silent . The Etrusci were more united now than at any former period of their
existence . Of a quick and lively disposition , they had imbibed a considerable portion of the skill in arms , for which their conquerors were distinguished , and might , if excited by injustice to rebellion , disturb the Tyrrheni in their possession of the country , if not expel them altogether . Kneeling before the throne , the Etruscan , whose name was Orbanes ,
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Builder's Oath.
" Thou forgettest , father , " said the soldier , " that Lenos is favoured by the king , whose life he once saved , and whose gratitude is as lively as though the service had been never repaid ; it is even said , that he placed upon his hand a gem , and , with an oath , promised to grant him any favour he should ask . Nay , " continued the speaker , "thou need ' st not smile incredulously ; 1 have seen the ring upon his finger—a head of the Thessalian Jove—his father brought it from our native
Greece;but of the prince ' s oath I cannot speak ivith certainty . " " How the Etrusci muster , " said the old man , mortified at the superior information of the soldier , and willing to change the conversation ; " they assume the airs of freemen . I doubt the policy which placed them on a level ivith our race ; it is even said , they are to be eligible to the magistracy . " "And why not ? " demanded a listenerwhose habit proclaimed him
, to be one of the vanquished race . " Can none hut a Tyrrhenian give justice , or decide upon a point of right between man and man ? Perhaps , " he added , meeting the surprised glance of the speakers with a glance equally haughty as their own , " you would have us exist merely to cultivate the earth , and carry burthens for our conquerors ?" " What would you ? " demanded the speakers . " EQUALITY OF RIGHTS—the boon promised to our race . Why should
the Etrusci be held in scorn ?—are we less brave ! less honest than the Tyrrheni ?" " Cease this useless clamour ! " exclaimed another aged citizen , who had been an observant spectator of thedispute ; "the king and elders are returning from the temple , and the successful architect will soon be knoivn . "
Clitus and the elders were seen to quit the porch of the temple as the speaker concluded , and , preceded by the guards , made their way to the seats prepared for them in the forum . As soon as silence had been proclaimed by the heralds , the monarch arose , and thus addressed the assembly : — " Citizens and subjects , —Our deliberations have been short . Among the plans submitted to our view is one of excellence so superior , that no choice was left us ; then let the architectwhose seal is a head of the
, horned Isis , approach , and receive the honors that he merits . " As Clitus finished his address , all eyes were turned toivards Lenos and Tyrrius , the two most celebrated artists of the Tyrrheni ; but , to the surprise of the multitude , they moved not . " Why hesitates the successful candidate to approach ? " demanded the king . Scarcelhad he spokewhen the speakerwho had so warmlespoused
y , , y the equality of his countrymen with the race of the conquerors , modestly advanced towards the throne . All ivere astonished , for his habit proclaimed him an Etruscan ; and tbe majority of the people , who were of that nation , rent the air at the unusual sight , with long and continued shouts of joy , Whatever were the opinions of Clitus , policy , and , perhaps , a sense of justice , kept him silent . The Etrusci were more united now than at any former period of their
existence . Of a quick and lively disposition , they had imbibed a considerable portion of the skill in arms , for which their conquerors were distinguished , and might , if excited by injustice to rebellion , disturb the Tyrrheni in their possession of the country , if not expel them altogether . Kneeling before the throne , the Etruscan , whose name was Orbanes ,