old fritz and the new era-第26部分

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may　flee；　and　only　the　good　remain！〃

With　a　wave　of　the　hand　the　great　folding…doors　now　opened；　and　a
flood　of　light　from　the　adjoining　apartment　revealed　the　drawingroom
to　be　filled　with　the　dark　forms　of　men　enveloped　in　black　cloaks；
hoods　drawn　over　the　heads；　and　black　masks　covering　the　facesall
kneeling　close　together　and　exactly　resembling　one　another。　No　one
moved；　the　doors　closed　again；　darkness　reigning。　The　priest　was　no
longer　visible；　though　continuing　to　speak：　〃Only　the　good　and
obedient　are　now　assembled　here；　and　to　them　I　announce　that　life　is
to　us；　and　death　awaits　beyond　the　door　to　seize　the　traitor　who
would　disclose　the　holy　secrets　of　the　order。　Be　faithful；　my
brothers；　and　never　forget　that　there　is　no　place　on　the　earth　where
the　traitor　is　secure　from　the　avenging　sword　of　the　Invisible
Fathers。　None　but　the　good　and　obedient　being　here　assembled；　I　now
announce　to　you　that　the　time　of　revelation　approaches；　and　that　it
will　come　when　you　are　all　zealously　endeavoring　to　extend　the　holy
order；　and　augment　the　number　of　brothers。　For　the　extension　of　the
order　is　nothing　less　than　universal　happiness。　It　emanates　alone
from　the　Invisible　Fathers；　who　link　heaven　to　earth　and　who　will
open　again　the　lost　way　to　Paradise。　The　supreme　chiefs　of　our　holy
order　are　the　rulers　of　all　Nature；　reposing　in　God　the　Father。
＇Footnote：　The　wording　of　the　laws　of　the　Order　of　the
Rosicrucians。See　〃New　General　German　Library；〃　vol。　M。；　p。　10。　＇
They　are　the　favorites　of　God；　whom　the　Trinity　thinks　worthy　of　his
highest　confidence　and　revelation。　If　you　will　take　part　in　the
revelations　of　God；　and　witness　the　disclosing　of　the　hidden
treasures　of　Nature；　swear　that　you　will　be　obedient　to　the　holy
order；　and　that　you　will　strive　to　gain　new　members。

〃We　swear　it；〃　resounded　in　an　inspired　chorus　through　the　room。　〃We
swear　unconditional　obedience　to　the　Invisible　Fathers。　We　swear　to
strive　with　all　our　means　for　the　extension　of　the　holy　order。

〃Unbelief；　free…thinking；　and　self…knowledge　are　of　the　devil；　who
steals　abroad；　to　turn　men　from　God。　The　pride　of　reason　seeks　to
misguide　men；　and　lead　them　away　from　God　and　the　secrets　of　Nature。
The　devil　has　chosen　his　disciples；　who　teach　sinful　knowledge　and
arrogant　free…thinking；　and　who　are　united　in　Berlin　in　the　Order　of
the　Illuminati。　The　Invisible　Fathers　command　you　to　fight　this
shameful　order　in　word；　deed；　and　writing。　If　any　of　you　are
acquainted　with　one　of　the　members；　you　shall　regard　him　as　your
most　deadly　enemy；　and　shall　hate　and　pursue　him　as　you　hate　sin　and
as　you　pursue　crime。　You　shall　flee　his　intercourse　as　you　would
that　of　the　devil；　otherwise　you　will　be　damned；　and　the　Invisible
Fathers　never　will　forgive　you；　and　the　secrets　of　Nature　will　be
withheld　from　you。　Swear　therefore　hate；　persecution；　and　eternal
enmity；　to　the　Order　of　the　Illuminati。　This　I　command　you　in　the
name　of　the　Invisible　Fathers。〃

〃We　swear　it！　We　swear　hate；　persecution；　and　eternal　enmity；　to　the
Order　of　the　Illuminati！〃

〃Every　one　who　belongs　to　the　order　is　damned　and　cursed；　and　if　it
were　your　brother　or　your　father；　so　shall　you　curse　and　damn　him！〃

〃We　swear　it！〃

〃Then　I　bring　you　the　blessing　of　the　Invisible　rulers　and　fathers；
who　announce　to　you；　through　me；　that　every　lost　one　which　you　gain
for　the　Order　of　the　Rosicrucians；　and　consequently　lead　back　to　God
and　Nature；　is　a　step　toward　entering　the　holy　sanctuary　of
revelation；　where　the　elixir　of　life　and　the　tincture　of　gold　awaits
you。　Every　cursed　member　of　the　Illuminati　becomes　one　of　the
blessed　when　you　lead　him　from　the　path　of　vice　in　penitence　and
contrition；　and　gain　him　to　the　Order　of　the　Rosicrucians；　and　he
who　can　prove　that　he　has　gained　twelve　new　members　for　our　holy
order　mounts　a　round　higher　in　the　ladder　of　knowledge；　and　rises　to
a　new　degree。　At　the　sixth　grade　he　passes　from　the　Inner　to　the
Middle　Temple；　where　all　the　secrets　of　the　universe　and　of　Nature
are　disclosed。　Be　mindful　of　this；　and　recruit。　Until　we　meet　again；
let　the　watchword　be；　'Curses　and　persecution　for　the　devil's
offspring；　the　Illuminati！'〃

〃Curses　and　persecution　for　the　devil's　offspring；　the　Illuminati；
we　swear！〃

〃Now　depart！　Pay　your　tribute　at　the　door；　which　you　owe；　and
receive　in　return　the　new　sign　of　the　order；　which　will　serve　to
make　the　brothers　known　to　each　other。　Only　the　directors　and　the
members　of　the　sixth　grade　shall　knock　again　at　this　door　after
paying　tribute；　and；　receiving　the　new　word　of　life；　the　guard　will
let　them　enter。　Depart！　I　dismiss　you　in　the　name　of　the　Holy　Father
and　the　Trinity！〃

〃Take　this　cloak；　and　cover　yourself；　that　no　one　can　recognize
you；〃　whispered　a　person　near　Wilhelmine；　and　threw　a　soft　covering
over　her。　〃Will　you　now　depart；　or　seek　further　in　the　way　of
knowledge？〃

〃I　will　seek　further；〃　answered　Wilhelmine；　firmly。

〃You　wish　to　enter　the　sixth　grade；　and　learn　the　secrets　of
Nature？〃

〃I　do！〃

〃Then　I　will　give　you　the　watchword　of　the　order。　But　woe　unto　you
if　you　reveal　it！　Swear　that　you　will　never　betray　it！〃

〃I　swear　it！〃

〃Then；　listen！〃

Wilhelmine　felt　a　hot　breath　upon　her　cheek；　and　a　voice　whispered
in　her　ear　the　significant　words：　〃Now　depart；　pay　your　tribute；　you
cannot　tarry　here。　Go；　and　return　with　the　chosen！〃

A　hand　seized　her　arm　and　conducted　her　to　the　door。　Almost　blinded
by　the　bright　light；　she　entered　the　adjoining　apartment；　where　it
seemed　as　if　she　saw　through　a　veil　muffled　figures　go　forward　to
the　centre；　and　deposit　money　in　a　marble　basin　which　stood　upon　a
kind　of　altar；　naphtha　burned　in　silver　basins　upon　each　end　of　it；
and　a　muffled　figure　stood　near。

Wilhelmine　advanced　to　the　altar；　and　with　quick　decision　drew　a
diamond　ring　from　her　finger；　and　begged　permission　to　deposit　it
instead　of　money。

The　muffled　figure　bowed；　and　handed　to　her　the　new　watchworda
picture　of　a　Madonna；　with　the　sign　of　the　Rosicrucians　underneath。
Then　she　returned；　and　awaited　at　the　door；　with　a　little　gathering；
which　must　consequently　belong　to　the　sixth　grade。　Gradually　the
others　had　withdrawn；　the　naphtha…flames　upon　the　altar　were
extinguished；　and　the　wax…lights　of　the　centre　lustres　had　grown
dim；　and　gradually　extinguished　themselves。　Soon　the　doors　were
opened；　and　a　bright　light；　as　of　the　sun's　rays；　filled　the　hall。
Three　blasts　of　trumpets　sounded；　and　a　choir　of　immortal　voices
sang；　〃Enter；　ye　blessed　ones！　Enter；　ye　elect！〃

They　entered；　whispering　the　sign　to　the　guards；　who　stood　with
drawn　swords；　and　passed　on　to　the　throne　upon　which　stood　a　couch；
surrounded　with　blooming　flowers　and　covered　with　a　cloud　of　silvery
gauze。　They　soon　discovered　a　secret　something　was　hidden　under　the
cloud；　though　they　knew　not　whether　it　were　child；　woman；　or　man。
They　knelt　upon　the　lower　step　of　the　throne；　with　folded　hands　and
bowed　heads；　praying　in　a　low　voice。　A　solemn　stillness　reigned；　the
prayers　died　away　on　the　lips；　and　the　hearts　scarcely　beat　for
anxiety　and　expectation。　Suddenly　a　voice；　which　seemed　to　come　from
the　silver　cloud；　so　distant　and　lofty；　and　rolling　like　majestic
thunder；　cried；　〃He　comes；　the　chosen　one！　The　Great　Kophta　comes！〃

The　folding…doors　flew　open；　and　the　Great　Kophta　entered。
Wilhelmine　recognized　in　the　majestic　figure；　enveloped　in　a
flowing；　silver…embroidered　satin　robe；　with　a　band　of　brilliants
around　his　brow；　the　handsome　face　of　Cagliostro；　beaming　as　if　in
an　ecstasy。　He　saluted　the　brothers　with　a　gentle　voice；　and　bade
them　approach　and　touch　his　hand。　As　Wilhelmine　did　so；　a　thrill　ran
through　her　whole　being；　and　she　sank　overpowered　at　his　feet。　He
bowed　and　breathed　upon　her。　〃You　are　chosen；　ye　heavenly　brothers；〃
he　said；　in　a　sweet；　melodious　voice；　〃the　secrets　of　heaven　and
earth　are　disclosed　to　you。　I　receive　you　in　the　Holy　Order　of　the
Favorites　of　God；　which　I　founded　with　Enoch　and　Elias　when　we　dwelt
in　the　promised　land。　From　them　I　received　the　Word　of　Life；　and
they　sent　me　to　the　ancient　sages　of　Egypt；　who　revealed　to　me　in
the　pyramids　the　secret　sciences　which　subject　the　earth　and　all　her
treasures　to　our　command。　He　who　devotes　himself　to　me　with　fidelity
will　receive　eternal　life　and　the　secret　of　immortality。〃

〃We　believe　in　thee；　blessed　one　of　God；〃　murmured　the　kneeling
ones；　〃we　know　that　we　receive　life　and　salvation　from　thee。　Bend　to
us；　and　give　us　of　the　breath　of　immortality！〃

He　bowed　and　breathed　upon　them；　and　they　broke　forth　in　words　of
thankfulness　and　delight。

Only　Wilhelmine　kept　silent；　she　only　failed　to　feel　the　magical
influence；　and　he　bowed　again　to　her；　fixing　his　great　fiery　eyes
upon　her。　〃Thou　art　called；　thou　art　chosen；〃　he　said。　〃Mount　to　the
tabernacle；　and　lift　the　veil。〃

She　did　as　commanded；　and　beheld　the　figure　of　a　wonderful　woman
stretched　upon　the　couch　as　in　deep　sleep；　clothed　in　transparent
robes。　〃Lay　your　hand　upon　her　brow；　and　direct　in　your　thoughts　a
question　to　the　prophetess　of　the　order；　and　she　will　answer　you！〃
Upon　the　lofty；　white　brow　of　the　sleeping　one；　she　laid　her　hand；
immediately　a　smile　flitted　over　her　beautiful　face；　and　she　nodded。
〃Yes；〃　said　she；　〃you　must　believe。　You　dare　not　doubt。　He　is　the
elect；　the　holy　Magus！〃　Wilhelmine　trembled；　for　the　answer　was
suited　to　the　question。　〃Demand　a　second　question　of　the
prophetess；〃　commanded　Cagliostro。　Again　she　laid　her　hand　upon　the
brow　of　the　sleeping　one；　and　again　she　smiled　and　nodded　with　her
beautiful　head。　〃Fear　not；〃　she　replied；　〃he　will　always　love　you；
and　will　never　reject　you；　only　you　must　not　lead　him　astray　from
the　right　coursebut　guide　him　to　the　temple　of　faith　and
knowledge。　When　you　cease　to　do　it；　you　are　lost。　Shame　upon　earth
and　damnation　will　be　your　portion。〃　The　answer　was　exactfor
Wilhelmine　had　prayed　to　know　if　the　prince　would　always　love　and
never　reject　her。　〃Still　a　third　question；〃　cried　Cagliostro。　In
silence　Wilhelmine　asked；　and　the　prophetess　answered　aloud：　〃You
will　be　countess；　you　will　become　a　princess；　you　will　possess
millions；　you　will　have　the　whole　world　at　your　fe