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Article THE BUILDER'S OATH. ← Page 5 of 5
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Builder's Oath.
A strong guard of the Tyrrheni surrounded the person of Tyrrius , and with difficulty protected him from the fury of the populace ; such was the state of things when the monarch and his senators arrived . The accusation was soon heard , and the defence of the prisoner listened to with that incredulity which marks a mind already decided ; indeed , it was scarcely possible for the most prejudiced to believe his tale —that walking in the woodhe had been horrified at finding the dead
, body of the Etruscan , and that in attempting to succour him , his robe had been defiled with blood ; his flight he accounted for , saying that conscious ofthe evil construction that might be put upon his being found there after the rancour he had so recently displayed , he thought it most prudent to retire . He was heard with impatience by the multitude , who clamoured for his immediate execution . A people in arms , demanding justice , are not to be trifled with , and Clitus reluctantly pronounced
sentence of death accompanied by the infamy of the torture . Vain were the protestations of innocence on the part of the condemned—vain his entreaties to be spared the infamy of the scourge . The guards were on the point of leading him to execution , when Lenos was seen hurriedly to approach the tribunal . The Etrusci , remembering the generous manner in ivhich he had congratulated Orbanes upon his triumph , made way for him with respectful cheerswhich hehoweverregarded notbut
pro-, , , , ceeded direct to the throne of Clitus ; casting himself before him , he presented the ring given him by that monarch , and demanded the life of his friend Tyrrius . "Impossible ! " answered Clitus , "the evidence is too clear ; my oath to my people , my sense of justice , forbid it . " "Is then thy oath to me forgot ? " replied Lenos reproachfully . ' ' Tyrrius is my friendmy brother . When left an orphan by the death
, of my parents in the war ivhich placed thee , O Clitus ! on the throne , his parents became mine , the same breasts gave suck to both ; he must not , shall not die !" " Shall not ! " exclaimed the king , in a tone between surprise and anger . " Pardon my distraction , " said Lenos , " I know not what I say ; but by thy oath , by thy life preserved , I demand the reward of Tyrrius ' pardon . "
" Impossible , " again calmly answered the sovereign ; " my oath was second to my duty ; ere I had taken it , I had already sworn to maintain the laws , to render justice . Speak , elders , am I bound to such a pledge to release this murderer ?"
" No ! burst from the lips of all around . " Thou hear ' st , " said the king ; " ' tis sealed , the murderer dies . Ask aught the law permits , and again I swear to grant it . " " 'Tis well , " mournfully sighed Lenos , a severe struggle agitating his frame . " Swear then to remit the infamy of the scourge , and I am content to let the guilty suffer . " " Would ' st thou had ' st chosen otherwise , " said the king , " even to the half of my treasure ; but the law permits it , and I record it .
Guards , " he continued , " I remit the infamy of the lash ; conduct Tyrrius to the block , and unshamed by the scourge , let him die . " " Hold ! " exclaimed Lenos ; " release him , he is innocent !" " How , " said the astonished monarch ; "innocent ! where then is the culprit ?" " At your feet ! " replied Lenos , keeling before the throne ; " I alone am the murderer of Orbanes ! " —And thus the " Oath of the Builderking" to his people was faithfully kept .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Builder's Oath.
A strong guard of the Tyrrheni surrounded the person of Tyrrius , and with difficulty protected him from the fury of the populace ; such was the state of things when the monarch and his senators arrived . The accusation was soon heard , and the defence of the prisoner listened to with that incredulity which marks a mind already decided ; indeed , it was scarcely possible for the most prejudiced to believe his tale —that walking in the woodhe had been horrified at finding the dead
, body of the Etruscan , and that in attempting to succour him , his robe had been defiled with blood ; his flight he accounted for , saying that conscious ofthe evil construction that might be put upon his being found there after the rancour he had so recently displayed , he thought it most prudent to retire . He was heard with impatience by the multitude , who clamoured for his immediate execution . A people in arms , demanding justice , are not to be trifled with , and Clitus reluctantly pronounced
sentence of death accompanied by the infamy of the torture . Vain were the protestations of innocence on the part of the condemned—vain his entreaties to be spared the infamy of the scourge . The guards were on the point of leading him to execution , when Lenos was seen hurriedly to approach the tribunal . The Etrusci , remembering the generous manner in ivhich he had congratulated Orbanes upon his triumph , made way for him with respectful cheerswhich hehoweverregarded notbut
pro-, , , , ceeded direct to the throne of Clitus ; casting himself before him , he presented the ring given him by that monarch , and demanded the life of his friend Tyrrius . "Impossible ! " answered Clitus , "the evidence is too clear ; my oath to my people , my sense of justice , forbid it . " "Is then thy oath to me forgot ? " replied Lenos reproachfully . ' ' Tyrrius is my friendmy brother . When left an orphan by the death
, of my parents in the war ivhich placed thee , O Clitus ! on the throne , his parents became mine , the same breasts gave suck to both ; he must not , shall not die !" " Shall not ! " exclaimed the king , in a tone between surprise and anger . " Pardon my distraction , " said Lenos , " I know not what I say ; but by thy oath , by thy life preserved , I demand the reward of Tyrrius ' pardon . "
" Impossible , " again calmly answered the sovereign ; " my oath was second to my duty ; ere I had taken it , I had already sworn to maintain the laws , to render justice . Speak , elders , am I bound to such a pledge to release this murderer ?"
" No ! burst from the lips of all around . " Thou hear ' st , " said the king ; " ' tis sealed , the murderer dies . Ask aught the law permits , and again I swear to grant it . " " 'Tis well , " mournfully sighed Lenos , a severe struggle agitating his frame . " Swear then to remit the infamy of the scourge , and I am content to let the guilty suffer . " " Would ' st thou had ' st chosen otherwise , " said the king , " even to the half of my treasure ; but the law permits it , and I record it .
Guards , " he continued , " I remit the infamy of the lash ; conduct Tyrrius to the block , and unshamed by the scourge , let him die . " " Hold ! " exclaimed Lenos ; " release him , he is innocent !" " How , " said the astonished monarch ; "innocent ! where then is the culprit ?" " At your feet ! " replied Lenos , keeling before the throne ; " I alone am the murderer of Orbanes ! " —And thus the " Oath of the Builderking" to his people was faithfully kept .