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Article THE WELL OF TRUTH; Page 1 of 3 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Well Of Truth;
THE WELL OF TRUTH ;
A TALE . l'ROM THE RABBINICAL WRITINGS OF BEN ELI . ' * When man arose erect in youthful grace . Heaven's hallow'd image stamp'd upon his face , To guard his steps , the high behest was given , That I alone of all the host of Heaven
Should reign protectress of the godlike youth . Thus the Almighty spaUe . He spake , and called me TRUTH " JWASO . N 1 .
HAVING lately had occasion to consult one of the rare and valuable manuscripts in the library of our Grand Master His Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex , at Kensington Palace , which , to use the express words of its royal founder , "is open to all who have either intelligence to appreciate , or industry to avail themselves of its countless treasures . " I waited upon its learned librarian , Mr . Pettigrew , by whom I was received with that gentlemanly courtesy for which he is as distinguished
as for profound research and critical acumen . It were to trespass too much upon the limits of these pages to enter into a description of this vast collection—volumes could scarcely do it justice ; sufficient to observe , that all which is most precious in learning , most rare in antiquity , or useful in science , may be found upon its shelves . I passed through the long oaken gallery , devoted principally to the unique series of bibles , inscribed my name in the visitors' bookrich in the autographs of the
, learned of Europe , and passed on to the crimson drawing-room . The tone of the apartment pleased me . The sombre grandeur of the exquisitely carved ebony furniture , made originally for the magnificent Wolsey , harmonized with the massive draperies , whose rich folds admitted that dim , religious light , which painters copy , and which students love .
Drawing a reading-desk to the luxurious couch upon which I had seated myself , I opened the manuscript which I came to consult , " The Coll Bui , or Daily Prayers of the Hebrews , " and applied myself to my task . The character in which the MS . was written was the modern Hebrew ; but during the progress of my study , an occasional glimpse of the more ancient Syriac would appear like a shadow upon the parchment . Closer examination disclosed to me that the labours of some old writer had been obliterated to make room for the comparatively modern work ; nor
did the discovery much surprise me ; for it was under similar circumstances that my friend Cardinal Mai discovered the lost books of the Republica of Cicero , and other precious fragments of antiquity . Interested in the discovery , I removed to a stronger light , and found , after a little practice , my task become more easy . It proved to be a collection of historical tales , by a rabbi named Ben Eli , the first of which , ¦ '' The Well of Truth , " I have translated , for the instruction of some , and the amusement of others .
ETjC WXtU Of m-Uti ,. While Babylon yet stood in all her regal pride , the glory of tbe earth , and the wonder of art , the sons of Lux flourished under the sceptre of her mi ghty kings ; their home was a palace proportioned according to
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Well Of Truth;
THE WELL OF TRUTH ;
A TALE . l'ROM THE RABBINICAL WRITINGS OF BEN ELI . ' * When man arose erect in youthful grace . Heaven's hallow'd image stamp'd upon his face , To guard his steps , the high behest was given , That I alone of all the host of Heaven
Should reign protectress of the godlike youth . Thus the Almighty spaUe . He spake , and called me TRUTH " JWASO . N 1 .
HAVING lately had occasion to consult one of the rare and valuable manuscripts in the library of our Grand Master His Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex , at Kensington Palace , which , to use the express words of its royal founder , "is open to all who have either intelligence to appreciate , or industry to avail themselves of its countless treasures . " I waited upon its learned librarian , Mr . Pettigrew , by whom I was received with that gentlemanly courtesy for which he is as distinguished
as for profound research and critical acumen . It were to trespass too much upon the limits of these pages to enter into a description of this vast collection—volumes could scarcely do it justice ; sufficient to observe , that all which is most precious in learning , most rare in antiquity , or useful in science , may be found upon its shelves . I passed through the long oaken gallery , devoted principally to the unique series of bibles , inscribed my name in the visitors' bookrich in the autographs of the
, learned of Europe , and passed on to the crimson drawing-room . The tone of the apartment pleased me . The sombre grandeur of the exquisitely carved ebony furniture , made originally for the magnificent Wolsey , harmonized with the massive draperies , whose rich folds admitted that dim , religious light , which painters copy , and which students love .
Drawing a reading-desk to the luxurious couch upon which I had seated myself , I opened the manuscript which I came to consult , " The Coll Bui , or Daily Prayers of the Hebrews , " and applied myself to my task . The character in which the MS . was written was the modern Hebrew ; but during the progress of my study , an occasional glimpse of the more ancient Syriac would appear like a shadow upon the parchment . Closer examination disclosed to me that the labours of some old writer had been obliterated to make room for the comparatively modern work ; nor
did the discovery much surprise me ; for it was under similar circumstances that my friend Cardinal Mai discovered the lost books of the Republica of Cicero , and other precious fragments of antiquity . Interested in the discovery , I removed to a stronger light , and found , after a little practice , my task become more easy . It proved to be a collection of historical tales , by a rabbi named Ben Eli , the first of which , ¦ '' The Well of Truth , " I have translated , for the instruction of some , and the amusement of others .
ETjC WXtU Of m-Uti ,. While Babylon yet stood in all her regal pride , the glory of tbe earth , and the wonder of art , the sons of Lux flourished under the sceptre of her mi ghty kings ; their home was a palace proportioned according to