old fritz and the new era-第62部分
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hands; might have been praying; for his thumbs were not turning
around; but rested; quietly crossed。
〃You; my son and brother;〃 continued Cagliostro; with his lofty;
haughty reserve; 〃your thoughts are diverted from earth; and the
joys of this world have no charm for you!〃 〃I have laid the oath of
virtue and chastity upon the altar of the Invisibles;〃 replied
Wollner; with a severe tone of voice。 〃I have given myself to a
pious life of abstinence; and sworn to employ every means to lead
those that I can attain to upon the narrow path which leads to the
paradise of science; of knowledge; and heavenly joys。 How could I
forget my oath; which is to win the prince; who is to become a light
and shield in the holy order; from tbe broad course of vice; to the
pathway of the blest? How can I bear to see him lost in sin who is
elected to virtue; and who longs for the light of knowledge?〃
〃But; in order to bear the light in its brightness; he must have
passed through the darkness and gloom of sin;〃 said Cagliostro。
〃After the days of error follow those of knowledge。 This is what
causes the mildness of our brother Theophilus; whom the earthly
world calls Bischofswerder; whilst you; brother Chrysophorus; demand
from the prince the severest virtue; which is the first great vow of
the brothers advancing in the holy order of the Rosicrucians。 You
are both wrong and both right。 It is well to be lenient as brother
Theophilus; but that must have its limit; and the night wanderer who
stands upon the brink of a precipice must be awakened; but not with
violent words; or calling loudly his name; because a sudden
awakening would only hasten his fall。 Slowly and carefully must he
be roused; as one would by degrees accustom the invalid eyes to the
mid…day; so must the light of virtue and knowledge dawn upon the
eyes; ill from vice; with prudent foresight。 Hear my proposal。
Summon the three circles of the brothers of the highest degree to a
sitting to…night。 You have told me that the prince desires to belong
to the seeing ones; and be in communion with the spiritual world。
This night his wish shall be fulfilled; to see the spirits; and a
new future shall rise before him。 My time is limited; let us arrange
every thing; for the voices of the Invisibles already call me home。〃
At this instant a modest knocking was heard at the door; which was
repeated at different intervals。
〃It is my servant;〃 said Bischofswerder; 〃and he has undoubtedly an
important communication for me。〃
He opened the door; speaking with the person outside in a low tone;
and returned with a sealed note。
Cagliostro; apparently; was lest in deep thought and indifferent to
the conversation without; directing quietly and calmly; in the mean
time; a few questions to Wollner; and; as it seemed; listening only
to his answers。 Yet as Bischofswerder approached him; saying; 〃it
is; indeed; important news; I have proof in hand that〃 he
interrupted him with a commanding motion; and finished the broken
sentence: 〃that Wilhelmine Enke is a powerful adversary; having
connection with the court; as this letter from her is directed to
Minister Herzberg。 Is it not this that you would say; Theophilus?〃
Astonished; he replied in the affirmative; begging his master to
read it。
〃It is unnecessary;〃 replied Cagliostro; waving back the letter; 〃to
the seeing eyes every thing is revealed。 This person announces to
Minister von Herzberg that the deceiver and necromancer; Cagliostro;
in his flight from Mittau; has visited her to menace her。 She begs
protection for herself and an arrest for me; that I am known as
Count Julien; at the hotel King of Portugal; at Berlin; and that
haste is necessary。〃
Both gentlemen glanced astonished and enraptured; first at the
sealed epistle and then at the great Magus。
〃Open the letter and convince yourselves of the contents!〃 commanded
Cagliostro。
〃It is unnecessary;〃 cried Bischofswerder; with enthusiasm。 〃We
recognize in you truth and knowledge; you have revealed to us the
contents。〃
〃Nay; there is a lingering doubt in the mind of brother
Chrysophorus!〃 said Cagliostro; regarding Woellner fixedly; who
stood with downcast eyes before him。
〃My ruler and master;〃 stammered Woellner; in confusion; 〃I dare not
doubt; only〃
〃You would only be convinced; open then the letter;〃 interrupted
Cagliostro; sarcastically。
With a sharp knife; Bischofswerder cut the end of the envelope; and
handed the letter to him。
〃Give it to Chrysophorus;〃 commanded the count。 〃He shall read it;
and may the incredulous become a believer!〃
Woellner perused the epistle with a slightly tremulous voice;
stopping now and then; at an illegible word; which his master
quickly supplied to him; finishing the sentence as correctly as if
he held the writing in his hand。
The contents were exactly as Cagliostro had given them; and the
farther Wollner read; the more his voice quivered and
Bischofswerder's enthusiasm increased。
As the reading was finished; the former sank; with uplifted hands;
before his master; as if imploring mercy from a mighty; crushing
power。
〃I have been unbelieving as Tobias; doubting as Paul; have mercy on
me; O master! for in this hour the divine light of belief and
knowledge banishes doubt from my sinful heart。 I acknowledge thy
supernatural power and heavenly wisdom! My whole being bows in
humility before you and your sublimity; and henceforth I will only
be your humble scholar and servant; the tool of your will。 Forgive
me; all…knowing one; if my heart doubted。 Breathe upon me the breath
of knowledge; and lay thy august right hand upon my head; and
penetrate me with thy heavenly power。〃
〃Have mercy upon me also;〃 cried Bischofswerder; as he kneeled
beside Woellner; and; like him; raised his hands imploringly to
Cagliostro。 〃Breathe upon me the breath of thy grace; and regard me;
the repentant and unworthy; with thy heavenly glance!〃
Cagliostro looked to heaven; and from his lips there fell
disconnected words of exhortation; suddenly he drew forth his hands;
which he had pushed into his gown and crossed upon his breast;
stretching them out with wide…spread fingers。
〃Come to me; ye spirits!〃 he cried; in a loud; thundering voice。 〃Ye
spirits of fire and air; come to me! Ye shall flame and burn upon
the heads of these two persons and announce to them that the
Invisibles are with us。 Come to me; ye spirits of fire!〃
He clinched his fingers; extending them again; and upon the points
there danced and flickered a blue light。 A heavenly smile shone upon
the beautiful face of the Magus; his hands slowly sank upon the
heads of the kneeling ones; the flames gliding upon their heads;
resting there a moment; and then dying away。
〃The Invisibles have proclaimed themselves to you through the sign
of fire;〃 cried Cagliostro。 〃The sacred flame has glowed upon your
heads; and I now press upon your brow the solemn kiss of
consecration and knowledge!〃
He bowed down to the kneeling ones。 It seemed as if a cloud of
perfume had passed over their glowing faces; or as if an odorous
lily had been pressed upon their foreheads; and their hearts
quivered with delight。 He passed his hand lightly over their faces;
and a feeling of rapture spread through their whole being。 Then as
he commanded them to rise; they obeyed; without realizing that they
had limbs or body; but regarded the miracle…worker; entranced with
his smile。
Cagliostro; with hasty decision and earnest; commanding air; made a
few opposite strokes in the air; and immediately the faces of the
magnetized looked as if they had awakened from a dream of splendor
and delight to insipid; flat reality。
〃I have permitted you to behold; for an instant; the mysteries and
miracles which are serviceable to the knowing ones;〃 said
Cagliostro; with calm earnestness。 〃Your souls were in communion
with the Invisibles; and from the source of knowledge a spark of
illumination fell upon your heads。 Guard it as a heavenly secret
that no one should know of; and now let us continue our
conversation。〃
〃Permit me once more to lay my head at your feet; and receive power
from the touch thereof;〃 implored Bischofswerder。
〃Let me embrace your knees; and entreat pardon and grace;〃 begged
Woellner; as he sank down to clasp them; and the former threw
himself at the feet of his master; passionately kissing them。
Smilingly he received their homage; and assisted them to rise。
〃Now let us speak in a human; reasonable manner; my friends。 Brother
Theophilus; you; first of all; return the letter to the envelope and
seal it。〃
Bischofswerder obeyed; taking from the table a little bottle and a
small brush; he carefully applied an adhesive substance to the
edges; pressing them firmly together。
〃Master; no one could discover that it had been opened。 Command what
shall be done with it。〃
〃Give it to your servant; that he may return it to him who brought
it; and the latter can now deliver it at its address。〃
〃To the Minister Herzberg!〃 they both cried; amazed。 〃It is
impossible; he is a sworn enemy of the holy order and your own
heavenly person。 He could take the most violent measures; and cause
your excellency to be arrested。〃
〃I believe it;〃 smiled Cagliostro。 〃The great Frederick would
announce triumphantly that he had had the great Semiramis of the
North taken; which the Russian police had failed to accomplish。 It
would be a welcome triumph for unbelievers and fools; and they would
trumpet it joyfully through the world! It must not be; although my
spirit in its power and might would soon release my body; yet I will
not grant this momentary triumph to my enemies。 My time is limited;
I must forth to Egypt; where the Brothers of the Millennium will
assemble in the course of a week in the pyramids; to announce to me
their will for the coming century。 I am the Spirit of God; which the
Invisibles have willed to enter a human form; therefore it must be
regarded as sacred and protected。〃
〃Allow me to guard; with my life; your sublime person!〃 cried
Bischofswerder。
〃And I also implore you to grant me the happiness to watch over the
security of your heavenly self; and defend it to the las