-
Articles/Ads
Article TO THE EDITOR OF THE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE. ← Page 3 of 4 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
To The Editor Of The Freemasons' Magazine.
rowful at the spectacle , or showing the least signs of pity towards the corpse . The body was no sooner exposed and hung upon thf wall , than the mother , who was in possession of the head , positively enjoined her surviving son to take down his brother ' s body , and bring it to her . In vain he endeavoured to persuade her from such a thought ; in vain
he represented to her the danger of the attempt . The more he seemed to refuse , the more she persisted in her demand . Her passion even carried her so far , as to threaten , in case of his disobedience , to throw herself at the feet of Rhamsinitus , and to discover to him the remaining : thief that had robbed his treasurv .
The son , finding every expostulation and every reasonable argument fruitless , resolved to undertake the hazardous enterprize . To this purpose he loaded several asses with skins filled with wine , and driving them towards the place where the guards were posted , he privately broke some of the skins , and let the wine flow about as it might . The guardswho were near enough to perceive the disaster
, , immediately run with pots to catch the wine and drink it . The owner , with the utmost vehemence , implored them to desist . They vyere as deaf as he wished them to all his intreaties . Instead of assisting him they only helped to consume his store . By this means they presently became intoxicated ; which he perceiving resolved to pursue his conquest ; and pretending in a sudden fit of good-humour
to be contented with his loss , and to be pleased with their company , sat down amongst them , and generously opened a fresh skin of wine for their drinking . This had the desired effect ; they all fell into the depth of drunkenness , and lay dead asleep upon the pavement . Finding each of them sufficiently dosed , he took down his brother ' s dead "bod y , and by way of triumphal derision shaved every soldier upon the right cheek ; then carrying away the corpse upon one of his asses , he brought it to his mother , in filial obedience to her unreasonable request .
So far Herodotus seems to believe the story true ^ nor , indeed , is it quite beyond the bounds of probability . Herodotus doubts the sequel , but continues the narration to this purpose . Rhamsinitus , more and more disappointed and enraged at this nevf and insolent artifice , resolved at any rate , even at the dearest , to purchase the discovery of so dextrous , so bold , and so successful an
offender . He ordered his daughter to prostitute herself in the regal palace to all comers indifferently , on those conditions , that every person should first swear to discover to her the most iniquitous actions of his life . The thief , who well knew to what purpose such a strange prostitution , accompanied by such extraordinary injunctions , had been maderesolved once more to elude the deep desi of the
, gns Egyptian monarch . He cut off the arm from the body of a man newly expired , and put it under his cloak , carrying it with him in that concealment to the daughter of Rhamsinitus ! At his arrival he was sworn and questioned in the manner he expected , that the most iniquitous action he had ever done -was cutting off his brother ' s head in
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
To The Editor Of The Freemasons' Magazine.
rowful at the spectacle , or showing the least signs of pity towards the corpse . The body was no sooner exposed and hung upon thf wall , than the mother , who was in possession of the head , positively enjoined her surviving son to take down his brother ' s body , and bring it to her . In vain he endeavoured to persuade her from such a thought ; in vain
he represented to her the danger of the attempt . The more he seemed to refuse , the more she persisted in her demand . Her passion even carried her so far , as to threaten , in case of his disobedience , to throw herself at the feet of Rhamsinitus , and to discover to him the remaining : thief that had robbed his treasurv .
The son , finding every expostulation and every reasonable argument fruitless , resolved to undertake the hazardous enterprize . To this purpose he loaded several asses with skins filled with wine , and driving them towards the place where the guards were posted , he privately broke some of the skins , and let the wine flow about as it might . The guardswho were near enough to perceive the disaster
, , immediately run with pots to catch the wine and drink it . The owner , with the utmost vehemence , implored them to desist . They vyere as deaf as he wished them to all his intreaties . Instead of assisting him they only helped to consume his store . By this means they presently became intoxicated ; which he perceiving resolved to pursue his conquest ; and pretending in a sudden fit of good-humour
to be contented with his loss , and to be pleased with their company , sat down amongst them , and generously opened a fresh skin of wine for their drinking . This had the desired effect ; they all fell into the depth of drunkenness , and lay dead asleep upon the pavement . Finding each of them sufficiently dosed , he took down his brother ' s dead "bod y , and by way of triumphal derision shaved every soldier upon the right cheek ; then carrying away the corpse upon one of his asses , he brought it to his mother , in filial obedience to her unreasonable request .
So far Herodotus seems to believe the story true ^ nor , indeed , is it quite beyond the bounds of probability . Herodotus doubts the sequel , but continues the narration to this purpose . Rhamsinitus , more and more disappointed and enraged at this nevf and insolent artifice , resolved at any rate , even at the dearest , to purchase the discovery of so dextrous , so bold , and so successful an
offender . He ordered his daughter to prostitute herself in the regal palace to all comers indifferently , on those conditions , that every person should first swear to discover to her the most iniquitous actions of his life . The thief , who well knew to what purpose such a strange prostitution , accompanied by such extraordinary injunctions , had been maderesolved once more to elude the deep desi of the
, gns Egyptian monarch . He cut off the arm from the body of a man newly expired , and put it under his cloak , carrying it with him in that concealment to the daughter of Rhamsinitus ! At his arrival he was sworn and questioned in the manner he expected , that the most iniquitous action he had ever done -was cutting off his brother ' s head in