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astrologySnowballStemmed.txt
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astrologySnowballStemmed.txt
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vii
her mother love told by the physician by general although unspoken assent the eye of all the compani were now direct to the vener hakeem as if to invit from him the next contribut to the night entertain
medit for a moment the man of medicin stroke the broad white beard that descend almost to his girdl and then began familiar to us all is the thought that death is but a birth into anoth state of exist whether that state be the etern paradis which is the final goal of everi man hope or mere anoth stage thitherward
death is a birth the truth of which will more forcibl appeal to our mind when we reflect also that birth is a death
how can that be except for the stillborn
queri the astrolog
the hakeem rais a hand deprec the interrupt
nay follow me in my argument he continu quiet
if death is a birth then is a birth truli death
for the babe has been live through a prior stage of exist
to it the nine month pass in it mother womb may have meant a long span of life
for time is but a relat term and measur against etern the whole period of man sojourn onpg 147 earth be it three score or four score year is but as the puff of a singl breath
so the child in the womb live there a full span of exist it is nurtur and it grow it sleep and it wake it lie passiv and it disport itself it is sensit to cold and to heat to thirst and to hunger and god alon know what it think and what mental impress it form of the exist through which it is pass
and the hour of it birth is truli the hour of it death for in pain and travail it is pluck from it warm and comfort surround and with the shock of physic chang and unse dread it cri aloud in sharp anguish
thus precis do we ourselv die when we pass from this world to anoth exist physic and mental resent the harsh chang terrifi becaus of our veri ignor of what is realli happen
the physician paus amid a deep hush that bore eloqu testimoni to the impress of the thought to which he had given utter
but the parallel doe not end here he resum
when the infant is born then for the first time doe it see face to face the divin who through all the preced stage of it exist has protect it warm it and nourish it
in the presenc of it mother it is in the presenc of the god who has hitherto envelop it wholli and complet in his own divin be
so when we die will we be face to face with the now unseen god who everywher encompass us behold him at first onli with the dazzl vision and dim halfconsci of the newpg 148born babe but grow to know him and to love him as we have all known and love the devot mother who bore us
for mother love is man first foretast of god love the full glori of which we shall comprehend onli when by death we are born into a higher and more spacious sphere of exist
there was anoth brief interv of silenc again unbroken by ani comment from the auditor
then the hakeem continu in lighter tone now let me point my moral by tell you a stori of a mother suprem devot for her son
at one time i practis my profess in the capit citi of a state rule over by a maharajah who although he had been a brave and honour man in his prime had degener into a mere voluptuari spend his day in the companionship of nautch girl and disreput men indulg constant in immoder potat of strong wine and given at time to the use of bhang which doe more than anyth els to dull the faculti and deaden the conscienc of the unfortun who surrend himself to it seduct spell
the inevit result were for him the prematur loss of health and strength and for his peopl misrul extort and widespread unhappi
it happen that after sever hindu physician had fail to restor their royal master from a faint spell i a moslem was summon in hast to the palac
i carri with me a small jar contain a certain pungent liquid which i appli to the nospg 149tril of my patient with the result that he was straightway brought back from seem death to conscious of his surround
i take no special credit for effect this recoveri but the maharajah himself deem me to be a verit worker of miracl and dismiss all his other doctor kept me thenceforth constant by his side
from the first i knew by his trembl limb and enfeebl condit that death had mark him for it own but i could at least prepar aromat drink to mitig his pain and saffron meat to drive out the evil spirit that possess him
thus did it come about that i gain the confid of the maharajah and when it happen that one of his favourit wive had fallen into a declin and had beg for the servic of a physician the honour trust of minist to her need was confid to me
my examin of the invalid was in accord with the usual restrict
accompani by the feebl old maharajah himself i was conduct to an apart across which a heavi curtain was suspend
after an interv of wait the rustl of silken garment behind the purdah follow by the gentl sigh of a woman told me that my patient had arriv
it was the husband himself who bade her thrust her tongu through an orific in the curtain
my inspect of this member reveal no intern disord and i request from my master permiss to touch the ladi hand so that i might feel the puls of the blood in her vein
not too will he order her to push her arm through the open
pg 150 it was a dainti white hand with mani jewel ring upon the taper finger and the nail as with all ladi of qualiti dy the deep orang red of henna
although i knew well that the jealous watch eye of her lord were upon me i made no hesit in encompass the wrist with my own finger
but the littl hand within mine was clench tight and the better to conduct my examin i freed my finger from her wrist so as to straighten out her as i requir them
when i attempt to do this howev i was conscious of some resist and then of the presenc of a small packet conceal in the palm of her hand
with a flash of comprehens i knew that the packag must be intend to be convey to me surreptiti and with no thought at that critic moment of what the ulterior object might be i aid the act by a deft movement of my shoulder which for a moment intercept the maharajah gaze
in anoth second he could see my fingertip light press on her wrist and her empti hand extend but the packag was safe in my other hand and not the quiver of a muscl on my face betray that anyth unusu had happen
both to mask my feel and to give the ladi behind the curtain confid that she could repos trust in my discret i count the puls beat aloud
these inde told me that the heart of my patient was beat at a mad gallop but this i divin was simpli caus by the dare deed she had essay and success accomplish
i deem it wise andpg 151 prudent howev to announc that the ladi was suffer from a fever and that i would send her a powder that would speedili restor her to good health
at this the maharajah was suffici overjoy to permit of my withdraw without obvious embarrass
i had a smile upon my lip and the secret packag secur in the fold of my girdl
a chuprassi accompani me to my home to bring back the medicin
i knew of cours that it was onli a dri powder that this highborn hindu ladi could take from my dispensari for to have swallow a liquid drug would have been a violat of her cast
i took pain to let the chuprassi see that my hand did not touch the powder which after due weigh i bestow in a paper care seal instruct him to deliv it to no one but his high the maharajah
it was onli fine ground sugar that the man carri away
but perhap this is a harmless littl trick of my profess which even now i should not disclos
but a general smile among the compani show the hakeem that his call was held in no undu rever at least by those without present need of his ministr
when i was alon with my mortar and my drug resum the narrat i lost no time in examin the mysteri packet
i unwound the silk thread that tight tie it both to restrict it bulk and to render it secur
soon to my amaz i uncov a string of ten pearl of a size and lustrouspg 152 puriti that bespok a high valu even to my untutor eye
also there was a littl seal of red chalcedoni with the antler head of a deer and some scroll of letter engrav upon it but there was not one scrap of write to explain to me the reason of these gift
had the ladi as often happen imagin herself to be serious sick and devis this plan of invok my interest and most skil servic on her behalf
but whi then the seal the valu of which was quit insignific
even as i was ponder these question there came a clap of hand at the gateway of my home that announc the arriv of a visitor
hastili conceal the pearl and the seal in my girdl i step forth into the outer court and took my seat upon the divan
straightway there was usher into my presenc a big man cloth in rich garment
his sabl complexion and thick lip declar him to be a moorman from across the sea and his beardless chin further told at a glanc that he was an attend at the seraglio of some rich nobl
he salaam me with the cool confid of his kind and without wait for an invit seat himself on the carpet at my feet
my name o learn hakeem is malik kafur he began in the shrill trebl voic i had anticip and you know whi i come here
as my knowledg had been taken for grant i bow in acquiesc
but her high said that you would first of all show me her signetpg 153 so as to prove that you are act with her author
with all due graviti i produc the chalcedoni seal from my belt and without quit hold extend it for my visitor inspect
there was a swift gleam of recognit in his eye
that is right he murmur
then proceed i said quiet
you can speak in the fullest confid
i have promis the maharane that tomorrow when the fourth of the day is over i shall conduct her into the bazaar
she bade me explain her plan precis so that you in turn should know how to act
well her high will be as usual in her palankeen slung between two mule
when we turn from the coppersmith bazaar into the seclud bazaar where the money changer dwell the two groom in charg of the mule will be assail by budmash and beaten with stick
i too will be knock down and my cloth torn but do not worri on my account
i gave a cheer nod to signifi that his anxieti on this score might be set at rest
it will devolv on you to have two men readi to take advantag of the confus of the scuffl and lead away the mule with the palankeen conduct the maharane to a place which she herself will indic
this you understand
i understand
at night when i shall come to you again underpg 154 cover of the dark you will pay over to me the agreedupon priceâth ten pearl which her high has place in your custodi
they are here i assent hold aloft the littl string of pearl the purpos they were intend to serv at last made clear to my understand
the eye of the negro flash with cupid and he reach forth a big fat black hand
i can be trust to do my share of the task he said eager
to save troubl let me be paid now
not so thou slave i repli curt and with author as i return the pearl to their place of safekeep
the price will be paid when the servic is perform
tomorrow night you will be admit malik kafur if you knock three time at my gate
the fellow rose to his feet with a servil and submiss smile and by a wave of my hand i dismiss him from my presenc
here inde was an adventur thrust upon me a man of peac and of studious habit who had ever shrunk from deed of violenc but the hand of fate was clear beckon me along the path of duti and not for a moment did i shrink from the danger into which perchanc i was be hurri
for the maharajah worthless besot and on the verg of dishonour death i could have no respect
for the ladi of his household who was confid to me her veri life whose soft hand i had touch with due rever there was an instinct feel of sympathi
in her hour of dire needpg 155 most like of extrem danger she had turn to me a man of staid reput and old enough no doubt to be her father
so this was no affair of conjug wrong from which my religi scrupl and my abid principl alik would have repel me
clear was i the instrument in god direct hand for some great happen and it was not for me through thought of self or cowardic to interpos obstacl to the carri out of the divin will
and as i thus rumin there came from a minaret close by the call to even prayer
the world is but an hour i murmur to myself as i spread my carpet spend it in devot the rest is unseen
on the morrow i was astir even befor the morn call to prayer
prayer is better than sleepâi listen to the familiar cri of the muezzin
but while again i pray i felt that a good deed done may count more for a man at the gate of paradis than the record of mani prayer
full an hour befor the appoint time i was at the corner of the coppersmith and the moneychang bazaar
here i post two of my retain in whom i could place complet confid
they had alreadi been instruct how to act when the proper moment arriv
for myself i saunter through the crowd and noisi bazaar of the maker and mender of copper vessel so as not to attract undu attent
in my heart was not one flutter of excit or of uncertainti i felt the quiet confid which in the crisespg 156 of life come to a man whose trust in god the most high is implicit
after a period of wait there came into sight the huge black moorman in his hand a white wand of offic and follow close behind him a brilliant decor palankeen suspend between a pair of mule and attend by two groom lead the anim
the throng had part befor this littl process avert their eye from the cover palankeen as was beseem
but sudden at the intersect of the two bazaar a group of loiter sprang forward and with cri assail the moorman and the groom turn the mule into the quieter thoroughfar
there i had now post myself and while the shopkeep ran up the street to see what had befallen the cavalcad under my direct and with my attend at the anim head hurri along and as we thread our way through the maze of street the tumult of voic soon die away behind us
after a littl time i ventur to approach the curtain palankin
i spoke just loud enough to be heard by it occup may your day o queen be peac
your servant most humbl and devot await your order
peac be to thee o thou trust and brave hakeem
take me to the protect of thi wife and home
it was a soft melodi woman voic that hadpg 157 spoken trembl implor and yet withal in a tone of author
as thou hast command so shall it be done was my brief repli
after a littl time the cavalcad without ani undu attent be attract had pass through the gateway of my home and the door had been bar behind us
to my surpris a gallant youth some twelv year of age sprang through the momentarili part curtain of the palankeen
i salut thee o hakeem our deliver he exclaim kiss the hem of my robe
my royal mother is in the palankeen and crave for sanctuari in your zenana
let her pass i repli and i urg the docil mule toward the second archway that led to the women courtyard
at my bid the inner gate open and they close again when the palankeen had enter
within is sanctuari for your royal mother and here is sanctuari for yourself o princ i continu with a profound obeis for despit the modest garment he wore i had recogn the eldest royal son of the maharajah whom i had seen sever time in his father presenc and on one occas at an affair of state clad in a robe of honour of silk and gold brocad festoon of jewel around his neck and a tini sword with scabbard of gold girt at his side
have onc more impress secreci on my attend and bid them give admiss to no onepg 158 i led my young guest into an inner recept room
there in a few concis sentenc he told me his stori
a plot had been hatch in the royal zenana that just so soon as the maharajah die this youth and seven or eight younger brother son of other wive should be slain so that the undisput success might descend on one particular son elder by sever year but not in the regular line of success becaus born of a slave mother
it was this slave woman brother who command the maharajah bodyguard and in collus with his sister had conceiv the damnabl conspiraci
onli by the whisper of a woman who was close to the offic but whose heart was tender had the mother of the young heir to the throne been warn
with my aid and that of the eunuch who had visit me the day befor they had made their escap the youth have been hidden in the palankeen of his mother befor the latter left the seraglio on one of her occasion visit to the bazaar
such was the stori
now the futur had to be plan for up to this point the maharane had act blind and impulsivelyâjust swiftlyâth moment she had realiz the suprem danger for her son
in the boy i found high courag and a clear brain and togeth we devis the measur to be follow that would best allay suspicion as to the whereabout of the fugit
as a first step i salli forth as usual to pay my profession visit on the maharajah a littl beforepg 159 the noontid hour
perhap i felt that if by ani chanc suspicion had alreadi alight upon me i was take my life in my hand by enter the palac but trust to the protect of allah i gave no second thought to ani fear of this kind
i had not yet reach the palac gate when i encount a messeng run in hot hast to summon me
his high the maharajah had been seiz with a fit and the whole palac was in a turmoil
when i gain the royal apart i saw at a glanc that the suffer was beyond human aid
i could but watch the deep labour breath grow ever fainter and fainter until the deathrattl in the throat proclaim the end
dure that hour of watch my soul had been grave perturb not becaus of the die debauche but in dread of sinist happen in the royal zenana when the news of the maharajah demis should come to be announc
but how was i to give warn without betray to certain death the youth and his mother who had sought sanctuari in my defenceless home
for there at the door of the sick room stood the captain of the king bodyguard todar rao the veri man who i knew held his corrupt soldieri in leash for ani villaini
anoth high offic of the court the diwan had share my vigil in the death chamber and just befor the end came had inform me that it was news of an attack by budmash on one of the royal palankeen that morn in the bazaar that hadpg 160 inflict the fatal stroke upon his master
but this treasur was an age man who would have quail under the eye of the stern and relentless soldier keep watch and ward at the doorway and for all i knew he too might be in the conspiracyâinde his furtiv glanc and the nervous twitch of his hand forewarn me of this danger
surround by uncertainti and utter helpless in my isol i could but drift whither the stream of destini carri me
the king is dead i announc when the last flutter of the heart had ceas
may god in his compass give him peac
the diwan summon the captain of the bodyguard and the latter to make certainti doubli sure brutal shook the dead man by the shoulder
i could see the savag gleam of satisfact on his face when he threw from him the alreadi stiffen arm
the two men in close conclav hasten from the chamber and when the attend set up the accustom cri of wail i profit by the clamour and confus to slip discreet from the palac and gain my own home
the terribl event of the next few day were ala
just the same as have befallen a hundr time on the pass of a king
the outsid world knew few detail but the news from the palac current in the bazaar was that all the son of the late maharajah had perish except onli the eldest
and this youth although the whisper pass freelypg 161 that he was mere the son of a slave woman duli ascend the throne
revolt by some of the nobl over such an indign might come later on
but meanwhil at all event the show of militari power quell all opposit while a judici remiss of tax pleas the general populac and inde caus them joy to acclaim the new maharajah as he made a triumphal process through the citi mount on an eleph caparison with cloth of gold and bedeck with silver chain and bell preced by priest and the danc girl of the templ and surround by troop both horsemen and foot soldier
onli i and the member of my household knew that the right heir to the throne was aliv and in safe hide
for the moorman had never come to claim his string of pearl and it was not until some day later that i had learn of his have been summarili dispatch by order of the dead maharajah in the latter first paroxysm of anger over the abduct of his favourit wife when visit the bazaar
in this opportun remov of a greedi hirel and possibl traitor i onc more recogn the hand of provid work for the nobl woman whose quick wit had aid mother love to save her son
a nobl woman i have call her and such inde she was
for me the maharane had discard the purdah and in the sanctiti of my harem with my wife as her devot attend i was privileg to convers with her hour after hour gaze freelypg 162 upon the most beauti counten i had ever beheldâbeauti not onli by reason of soft and round featur and the peach bloom of the skin but also becaus of the soullit eye that illumin it with joyous radianc
for this queen live in her son forgot everi other sorrow in his safeti and now experienc all the glow pride of a leader on the field of battl in plan the campaign for the vindic of his right claim to the royal inherit
her first step had been to send secret word to her fatherâsh was the daughter of a mountain chieftainâbid him to dispatch one of her brother to me as a trust messeng
the distanc was far and three month elaps befor the hillman arriv a sturdi young fellow seren of eye slow of speech and muscl like a panther
he depart back home again carri our tale by simpl word of mouth for greater secur and have conceal on his person some of the gem which the maharane had save and which would be readili convert into money
then after a second interv of time other tribesmen came sift into the citi by twos and three until we had full fifti of the finest materi for a bodyguard a young princ could desir
these men were quarter at differ place in the vicin of my home arm and readi for a general muster when the moment should be ripe for action
meanwhil a widespread spirit of dissatisfact with the new raj was daili grow and on everi hand in the bazaar mutter of troubl began topg 163 be heard
the young ruler had prove to be a mere puppet in the hand of his mother and uncl who had not hesit to advanc their baseborn relat and associ to place of highest honour and emolu therebi give grievous offenc among the famili of proud and ancient lineag both hindu and moslem which had hitherto suppli the princip offic of state and had been the real buttress of the throne
then to fill full the measur of discont came omin rumour that the princ although still a mere youth had like his father becom addict to the use of bhang and strong wine and encourag by a worthless follow was abandon himself to all manner of expens debaucheri
and when at last the screw of heavili increas taxat gave proof to these stori the first timid whisper of displeasur among the populac swell to sullen and continu murmur
for the true queen mother and her son the hour of destini was approach
but although the ember of revolt were readi to burst into flame at the first fan of a breez todar rao now sirdar in command of the whole armi still domin the situat
at his slightest word the mercenari soldieri under his control would have rush into the bazaar with sword and torch like raven wolv among sheep helpless to defend themselv
as for the nobl each surround by his own bodyguard they were torn into rival faction the one jealous watch the other lest open revolt should be made the excus forpg 164 usurp of the throne by the strongest and best prepar among them
in these circumst it would have been fatal to let word go forth prematur that the right heir was aliv for disappoint ambit among the feudal lord might have becom an ad danger to the furi of the sirdar
but ani prolong delay would also be disastr for it was onli now that the boy princ would be recogn and receiv as the undoubt heir to his father throne a few year later he would to a certainti be look at askanc as a mere pretenderâa pawn in the game of some unscrupul kingmak play for his own aggrandiz
it was the maharane who devis the bold stroke which involv undoubt danger yet promis the best chanc of success
her idea was to take the whole court unawar at one and the same moment so that the nobl might have present to them not onli a common rallyingpoint for loyalti but the chanc by unit action to break for all time the hate militari power of the slaveborn sirdar
it was the appoint day when the recent instal maharajah accord to custom immemori was to be public weigh and the gold he counterbalanc distribut in chariti
in the great courtyard of the palac all the peopl were assembl nobl and offic of state soldier and trader rich and poor among the latter the halt the blind and the maim the deform and the leprous in piti evid as fit object for a share of the propg 165mise bounti
on a rais dai seat upon a throne cover with cloth of gold and shelter by a canopi and awn of crimson brocad sat the reign maharajah a puni and sicklylook stripl
befor the main ceremoni of the day herald had announc that the sovereign was prepar to listen to ani grievanc or complaint from his peopl
for a few minut no one came forward but at last a pair of sleek mule handsom caparison with a rich adorn palankeen slung between them the ident equipag of the maharane which had been harbour in my home emerg from the crowd and advanc at a grave pace toward the royal dai
that some highborn ladi was within the silken cover of the palankeen everi one surmis and at this extraordinari spectacl a hush of tens expect fell upon the assemblag
but the silenc chang to murmur of amaz and admir when a queen woman step upon the edg of the dai and face not the maharajah on his throne but the nobl and courtier and offic cluster around
with a proud gestur she flung even the sari from her face which the play of the sunbeam among the jewel in her hair and around her neck invest with a shimmer halo of radianc
on such a woman face the multitud had never look befor
but state and unabash seren in the puriti of her womanhood the digniti of her motherhood and the majesti of her rank she rais aloft a hand andpg 166 spake aloud in tone clear as the note of a silver trumpet
o nobl and o peopl the royal son and heir of my husband the late maharajah is aliv spare by divin provid from the massacr of his brother and playmat in the seraglio of the palac
mani of you know him well and behold now he come to claim his heritag
as these word were spoken the crowd again part and there step forth the young princ my prot�g�
at the edg of the throng he discard a loos mantl of cotton that had conceal the rich garment befit his rank
then he advanc look proud and gaili about him while close behind and press eager around his person came full fifti stalwart tribesmen tread with the bold swing gait of the mountain their drawn tulwar flash in the sun their voic shout jai jaiâhail hail
in deafen chorus
the effect was instantan and tremend and from all the assembl multitud went up the loud acclaimâjai jai jai
there seem to be not a dissenti in the throng
and a moment later the young princ was stand on the dai by his mother side one hand rest proud on her shoulder
among the nobl there had hitherto been the silenc of stupefact
but at last one of their number an elder man advanc and prostrat himself on the rich carpet spread in front of the dai thus render public homag to his right king
jai jai jai
shout the mob and soon apg 167 dozen other among the nobl had given the pledg of fealti
meanwhil the kinglet on the throne of gold had been forgotten
he had made no move but had content himself with stare around in confus and helpless surpris
but now todar rao the sirdar had sprung to his side and drag the youth to his feet
o princ and peopl this is your right king cri the soldier in stentorian tone crown and proclaim and accept by your pledg of loyalti
my order to the troop are death to those who now betray him
but the word had hard pass his lip when two score of the mountain shout deen deenâkil kill had swarm over the silver rail surround the throne
there was the momentari clash of steel on steel the impot curs of an angri man a shrill piti cri of anguish from the youth who in his terror had crouch behind the awn descend from the canopi
and when the tribesmen again face the multitud the soldier figur of todar rao had disappear and the throne was vacant for the recept of it right occup
amidst a wild tumult of joy the young princ ascend from the dai and took the royal seat show in his everi movement the natur grace and digniti that might almost in themselv have prove his right of heritag and that certain won to his caus the last waver among the onlookingpg 168 multitud
even the bodyguard of the slain sirdar were now join in the univers acclaim
the first to bend a knee to the right king enthron was the royal queen his mother
and then the ladi step back a littl to the rear and to the side of the throne draw her silken sari over the love counten that would never again be beholden by the peopl
never again
the thought had scarc pass through my mind as i watch the scene from the fring of the crowd when a more grim and terribl realiti was given to the unspoken word than i had ever intend
close to the spot where the maharane had halt were some hang of brocad arrang as we understood later so that the seat and veil figur of a woman might observ the brilliant pageantri of the day from the privaci of this purdah
and from out these hang there now stretch stealthili but swift a bejewel hand which plung a long dagger between the shoulder of the queen mother
without a cri she fell
i was quick by her side and the young maharajah and myself as we bent over her caught her die word
all is well my belov son she murmur
i have accomplish that which i was sent into the world to perform
in peac i yield my soul to god
with the last word she breath her last breath
and such is mother love
there was a suppress sob in more than one breast at the close of thepg 169 vener hakeem tale
down his own furrow face the tear were stream
and the woman who struck the foul blow
inquir the afghan in an eager whisper
the slave mother of the dead pretend
well she too had given her all for mother love
the tribesmen tore her limb from limb
and the hakeem press a hand to his eye to shut out the memori of a dread scene
pg 170the project gutenberg ebook of tale of destini by edmund mitchel this ebook is for the use of anyon anywher at no cost and with almost no restrict whatsoev
you may copi it give it away or reus it under the term of the project gutenberg licens includ with this ebook or onlin at wwwgutenbergorg titl tale of destini author edmund mitchel releas date august 10 2006 ebook 19017 languag english charact set encod iso88591 start of this project gutenberg ebook tale of destini produc by r cedron joseph r hauser and the onlin distribut proofread team at httpwwwpgdpnet tale of destini by edmund mitchel london constabl and compani ltd 1913 copyright 1912 unit state of america by edmund mitchel content introduct 1 chap
i
the maid of jhalnagor
told by the rajput chief 5 ii
the hollow column
told by the taxcollector 19 iii
what the star ordain
told by the astrolog 35 iv
the spirit wail
told by the merchant 60 v the blue diamond
told by the fakir 101 vi
the tiger of the pathan
told by the afghan general 128 vii
her mother love
told by the physician 146 viii
the sacr pickax
told by the magistr
170 tale of destini pg 1 introduct just without one of the massiv bastion gate of the citi of fathpursikri there stood in the year 1580 a caravanserai that afford accommod for man and beast
here would alight travel drawn by the call of homag by busi or by curios to the famous town of victori built as the inscript over the gateway told by his majesti king of king heaven of the court shadow of god jalaladdin moham akbar padishah
at the time of our stori akbar was at the zenith of his glori
he had move his court from agra the capit of his predecessor on the throne of the mogul after have rais for himself on the spot where the birth of a son had been promis him by a hermit saint this superb new citi of fathpursikri seven mile in circumfer wall and guard by strong fort at it seven gateway
emperor and nobl had vie with each other in erect palac of state design and exquisit finish of adorn
a beauti mosqu commemor the good deed of the saint and provid a place of prayer for those of the moslem faith
in the palac of the emperor was a magnific audienc hall with marbl column and stonecarv galleri in the centr of which stood the throne of gold sprinkl with rubi emerald and diamond surround by a silver railpg 2ing and cover by a canopi of rich crimson brocad
in this audienc hall the great and good akbar was wont to receiv not onli his subject rich and poor the former assembl to pay their court the latter to lay their grievanc befor the imperi judg but he also extend welcom to stranger from afar
on the question of religion his mind was at this period in a state of chang for he had broken from the strict faith of the moslem had public announc that there was good in all belief had overthrown ceremoni rule whether of islam or of hinduism and had proclaim all thing law except excess
his thought thus drift toward a new religion a divin faith that would bring into one fold the votari of all religion he was glad at his court to give audienc to learn doctor from distant land as well as from everi part of india
all were welcomeâbrahmin and buddhist moslem schoolmen hindu fanat pantheist the worshipp of fire the jew whose prophet are abraham and mose even christian padr from faroff europ
it was akbar delight to listen to their exposit and discuss and to the defenc of their vari dogma
thus did the fame of the king for toler benevol and wisdom becom nois abroad far and wide so that visitor flock in everincreas number to the beauti citi
at our caravanserai without the gate there would often in the cool of an even be gather togeth on the shade veranda a group of travel repres divers racespg 3 and class
some of the towndwel too would be there rest and refresh themselv after their walk to the citi wall while from the nearbi camp of the rajput who form a portion of the royal bodyguard there would oftentim stroll over a few menatarm
on such occas it would general happen that the debat recent listen to in the imperi hall of assembl would be subject to comment
and from discuss of this kind the convers would quit frequent chang to storytel dear to the heart of all nativ of hindustan and by no mean to be despis for in a good stori there may be implant the kernel of a sound philosophi
on a summer night in the year name eight men were assembl on the veranda of the caravanserai
the full moon had just risen abov a tope of tamarind tree and it silvern radianc reveal everi detail of the scene
a rajput chief occupi the place of central promin cushion arrang for his conveni on one of which rest his scimitar the emblem of his soldier profess
not far from him in a halfreclin postur was a general of the afghan also of the bodyguard of the emperor
a hakeem or physician and an astrolog both in the moslem style of dress were seat close togeth leg cross beneath them while a littl apart were two hindus as the cast mark on their forehead show a taxcollector from the countri and a kotwal or citi magistr
just abov the step lead on to the veranda surround by hispg 4 bale of merchandis sat a merchant from bombay a big and stalwart man attir in spotless white raiment on his head a volumin muslin turban
in strike contrast squat on the ground below the step at his feet a wooden beg bowl was a fakir or religi ascet a loin cloth his sole cover his face bedaub with ash his lean chin rest on his uprais knee while he listen to the dialogu and watch each speaker face with eye of keen alert
there had been some desultori convers which final result in the rajput chief be beg to relat in detail an experi at which he had previous hint
the first stori led to anoth stori and the third to yet anoth and so on until each member of the compani had contribut to the general entertain
and these are the tale that were told by the travel on the veranda of the caravanserai outsid the wall of fathpursikri that moonlight night in the day of the mighti akbar pg 5 i
the maid of jhalnagor told by the rajput chief well sinc you would have it so listen to the stori of rukpur singh hereditari chief of jhalnagor mansabdar of five hundr men captain of the bodyguard of akbar the great king of king lord of the earth
this day in the hall of assembl in the presenc of the great padishah himself we have listen to the argument of men of divers faith
it is well
as akbar the most high himself has said all religion are good each man has the god or god of his father let there be no obstacl place against worship the divin power in ani manner that seemeth fit
that is both wisdom and justic
that is whi i a hindu a rajput one of the twice born can serv my lord the moslem emperor akbar with loyalti of heart and of sword that no man may question
at these word the captain of the bodyguard touch the jewel hilt of his scimitar lie on the cushion by his side
he glanc around as if to see whether anyon present dare to question the fidel he had profess
but there was neither movement nor remark among his listen and with a disdain littl smile of selfcomplac he resum
dure today discuss in the spirit of toler that akbarpg 6 teach to all of us we rajput have had to harken to sever upbraid
we are accus of inhuman becaus in our home a femal child may be done away with at birth law and without dishonour
be it so the fact itself i shall not disput
nor shall i defend the practic except to point out that a woman more or less in the world doe not matter that the babe suffer no pain and know no ill that had she live it might have been to a life of widowhoodâif courag were want to choos the sutteeâand therefor to long day of shame and sorrow
furthermor has it to be rememb that the marriag of one of our daughter cost much money
accord to the rule of our cast and the custom of our race the ceremoni must be worthi of the parent and of the posit they occupi all of the district must be feast and let the expens be grievous as it may it must be born
to some who are rich the money thus spent is of no account
but to other who are poor yet proudâand all rajput are proudâa wed that is seem for a daughter of the hous may mean poverti and ruin for the father and brother dure twenti year to follow
in certain circumst this misfortun cannot be thought of
the honour of the race the veri safeti of a whole clan may depend on rigid economi as a provis against danger
so it may be both right and wise for an infant daughter to be put painless to her death
such was the doctrin my father taught me and his name is bless
the speaker drop his eye fold his hand across his breast andpg 7 for a full minut remain in silent medit
when at last he look up again there had come over the usual stern and haughti face a wonder glow of kindli and his voic took a softer modul
howev know this my friend that in my zenana at jhalnagor there are littl girlsâthre and more will be welcom should the divin krishna send them
three littl daughter have i all born of my wife lakmibai the jewel of jhalnagor
with son also am i blessedâtwo brave littl boy of whom i may well be proud
but i love them not more than my daughter nor would i chang ani one daughter for a son
this do i say out of the truth of my heart and in no wise becaus fortun has been kind to me and mine and has given us such prosper that there is a fit dower for each daughter without my treasuri know the loss
so when the learn mullah from stamboul denounc infanticid i was one with him in sympathi for my inclin is to cherish with love and care everi femal child the god send
now would you hear how a rajput came to this manner of think
my stori is that of a littl maid
listen
it happen just five year gone by
under the firm and just rule of our master akbar there has been peac for mani year in our part of the world
except when as now i come to fathpursikri for my year month of servic in providingpg 8 part of the emperor bodyguard i live quiet among my own peopl
the soil around our villag is till our shopkeep buy and sell we worship in our templ and we are happi for no enemi come to disturb the peac of our beauti littl valley of jhalnagor embosom among the hill
one day it befel that i had gone on a hunt trip with a parti of my friend
in the earli dawn we had descend from the fort on the hill top which is my home and the rallyingplac for my clanâa small clan number but a few thousand but nobli born as ani tribe in rajputana brave and of honour unsulli men who have never yet given a daughter to the harem of a moslem
the featur of the rajput flash with pride
his brotheratarm the afghan met the defiant look and said with a quiet smile there are mani rajput women wed to moslem lord
yes but not rajput women of jhalnagor
they would have die firstâmani of them did so prefer to die when the moslem host first swept over our land
in the hour of defeat against overwhelm number within the citadel of jhalnagor the women of my race refus to accept dishonour bare their bosom to the spear of those they love husband brother and father and so they die
with hand outstretch and eye uprais in rapt pride and rever for the deed of his ancestor again the rajput fell into momentari silenc
the stori of the littl maid
it was the voic ofpg 9 the physician recal the narrat to his task
yes the stori of the littl maid resum the rajput
as i have said we had gone to the hunt one morningâa parti of twelv ride on three eleph
for we were in pursuit of a tiger a destroy of men which the villag had mark down in a patch of jungl by the river side
of the hunt i need say noth we kill the tiger and with the huge stripe bodi slung across the neck of my eleph we were return home
it was toward even for we had rest in the forest dure the heat of the day
we were just enter the narrow gorg that lead to the fort on the hill when right on the pathway befor me i saw the prone figur of a child
almost my eleph feet were upon it befor the sage brute himself stop and trumpet a warn to us in the howdah for the tiger bodi occupi the place where the mahout was wont to ride the latter was walk and he too had not notic the tini bundl of bright yellow cloth lie on the road
glanc down i beheld a littl girl with her forehead touch the dust
at my call she aros and spread her hand across her breast
listen o chief to my warn listen o my lord she call out in a shrill tone of supplic
alreadi had i observ that her face was one of great beauti although that of just a littl child but six or seven year old
the other two eleph had halt behind minepg 10 and some of the parti had descend
but at the approach of these men the maid shrank away and keep her eye fix in my direct she continu to address me listen to my word o chief and be save from death
in anoth moment i had sprung to the ground
as i advanc the child ran toward me absolut fearless
take her in my arm i sat me down by the roadsid
close to my breast she nestl and with sob and tear now told me her stori
a robber band was in the nullahâless than a mile further alongâful a hundr strong fierc men and murder
for they had alreadi slain the father and the mother of the littl maid humbl woodcutt
i had known them well they were poor but of mine own peopl and instant in my heart i vow that i would be aveng
the littl girl brenda her name as she told me in her childish way of confid had hidden in the brushwood all day trembl and afraid
but at last she divin that the men had come to slay me for as the afternoon advanc they dispos themselv among bush and behind tree also in the hut of her dead parent
and even now were the assassin in wait for me for the girl had seen our parti ride forth in the earli morn and she knew that i had not yet return
when with wonder intuit for a child so tender in year the thought came to her mind that i was to be assail she stole down the gorg movingpg 11 cautious through the undergrowth and await at the spot we found her to give me warn
the child had describ to me the leader of the gang and i had immedi recogn gunesh tanti accurs son of a pig a robber from across the desert of sindh who had more than onc ravag peac villag of rajputana
he would know that i had treasur in the fort and of an instant i could read his wili plan
move through the countri he had doubtless heard a day or two befor of this project expedit of mine for the kill of the maneat tiger
so he had design to slay me on my homeward way and the deed accomplish would reli on gain access to the citadel by load his ruffian into the howdah of my eleph
onc over the drawbridg and within the portcullis gateway his murder scheme might have been easi for my score of menatarm on duti would have been taken by surpris and so at a disadvantag
but know now the danger i laugh in my beard for gunesh tanti this human tiger and slayer of innoc men just as had been the tiger now slung across the back of my eleph was fair deliv into my hand
he who had come to trap me was himself entrap
and thank all to this littl maid of the glen
at the thought i pat her soft cheek with my hand and in respons she smile up into my eye with wondrous trust and winsom
our parti as i have said number twelv thispg 12 without count the three mahout lith and activ men and brave as ani one of us
the neck of the gorg was narrow and for a hundr yard on either side there were steep precipic down which rock could be tumbl on flee men
by a goat path over the hillsid the fort could be reach by one sure of foot and know the way
such a lad was of our parti a cousin of my own who could race with the deer
in a few minut he had gird his loin and was on his mission disappear over the crest of the almost perpendicular crag up which he had clamber
he was to warn the garrison turn out everi man and boy fulli arm and bid them to sweep down on the ambush robber
the mother and the maiden would hold the fort
no other garrison when onc on the alert was need for such an enemi
again the rajput smile proud but the silenc of intent listen was unbroken and he continu the fire of a matchlock was to be our signal that my men held the upper end of the pass and were descend on our enemi
meanwhil my immedi follow prepar the rock abov the narrow neck of the defil and got them readi for instant roll down
to this last task four of our number were deput
the other abid with me
our plan was to block the narrow passag by rang the eleph abreast of each other and so that the anim themselv might not be stamped by the unexpect din of battl we chain their forelegspg 13 first each anim separ and then the middl one to his comrad on either side
at last all our prepar were complet the huge beast in line my companion mount into the howdah
i alon remain on foot i and the littl woodcutt daughter stand by my side hold trust to my hand and no longer weep
you must come with me my almondsweet i said as i rais the child in my arm and pass her up into the howdah of my own eleph the central one
then i myself clamber aloft
the tiger corps had been flung to the ground and our three mahout sat in their proper place iron goad in hand readi to perform their task of keep the eleph under control
at last after a tens period of wait the welcom report of the matchlock reverber from among the hill
the fight doe not realli concern my stori said the rajput grim
it is suffici to say that gunesh tanti and all his band perish to a manâsom slain by the sword of my horsemen charg down the pass some crush by the fall rock some of the last survivor who flung themselv desper against our live barrier die on our handpik or be trampl under foot by the eleph
not one of more than five score men live to carri back the tale of death to the robber haunt whenc they had come
on our side some live were lost seven in all but this is the penalti that brave men have to pay in thepg 14 do of righteous deed
their memori is honour
as for the littl maid i had nest her in the bestprotect corner of the howdah and in the thick of the fray when a shower of arrow had fallen upon us i had cover her tini form with my shield
but dure the final handtohand fight when all was din and turmoil with the shout of the men and the angri trumpet of the eleph i had not paid her ani special heed
from her lip came no sound to attract my attentionâno cri of fear nor wail murmur
but at the end i look for the littl child lift the shield that had part guard her
she met my gaze with a smile
but straightway i notic that an arrow descend almost perpendicular had pierc her soft littl arm and transfix it to her side
yet had she not cri out nor even now when i was tend her did she whimper
i drew forth the arrow break it in twain so as to let the shaft pass through the arm
although blood flow freeli i saw at a glanc that the wound in the bodi was a mere punctur and also that on the limb onli a pierc of the flesh
therefor was her hurt not serious although of a certainti pain and terrifi too for a child so young
but even now not one word of complain did she utter
she kept her sweet smile on me
brave littl maid
tear a length of cambric from my turban i had bound both arm and tender breast and readjust the sari of yellowdi cotton that form herpg 15 simpl garment
and now she repos happi and content in my arm
i remain in the howdah while my companion cut off the head of the robber and load these trophi of victori on one of the other eleph so that a triumphal pile might be made in the courtyard of the citadel
then with the tiger replac on the neck of my own eleph we move for home a group of fifti horsemen now form our escort
the headless bodi of our enemi were left as fit spoil for the jackal and the vultur the latter of whom scent the carrion were alreadi begin to drop down it might seem from the blue vault of heaven
by the time we gain the fortress the dusk was gather
across the drawbridg prompt lower at the sound of our joy shout i saw my wife stand besid the big carronad that command the roadway up the hill
the smoke match was in her hand but at sight of me she stoop and smother in the dust the spark that would have dealt out death to the robber had they ever gain a near approach
descend from my eleph i greet her and thank her for the courag of herself and all the other women our love one
then my friend abov hand down gentl into my arm the form of the littl maid
at sight of my wife sweet and kind counten the eye of the child were light with joyous
but with a quick motion wife drew her veil complet over her featur
ere this was done howev i had caught a strang look in her faceâa look of mingl surpg 16prise and terror
at the same moment her old attend and confid rakaya flung herself at my feet and began to babbl for my forgiv
what mean this
i ask glanc in profound amaz from the woman prostrat form up into my wife eye
there again i read the strang troubl express
puzzl yet restrain my curios befor the other gather around i place the wound child in my wife arm and with a gestur to signifi that she and rakaya were to follow i led the way to the women quarter
onc within the zenana i told my stori briefli how the littl damsel of the glen had save me from certain death and then through danger and through pain had been brave as the noblestborn rajput maid could be
after this recit i commend the child to my wife affect bid her love the orphan as she would a daughter
then was the love counten of my wife the jewel of jhalnagor suffus with great joy
hug the child to her mother bosom she exclaim ii
the hollow column told by the taxcollector everi man fate is foreordain said the taxcollector reflect stroke his beard
although we may not understand it at the moment each particular event that happen is simpli a mean prepar for some destin end that may be mani year remot in time
vishnu the preserv save the life of the littl maid of jhalnagor so that her father life might later on be save
but none can read the futur so that we are all blind do the thing of today without know their real bear on the thing of a faraway tomorrow
and one man can make or mar the happi of anoth man even though their live be separ by hundr of leagu in space or hundr of year in time
in your mind doubtless is some tale to illustr the truth of what you teach remark the astrolog with a shrewd uplift of his eyebrow
the star can help us to read the futur as i can prove to you by a stori of actual experi
but befor i proceed to my narrat pray friend let us hear from you
glad assent the taxcollector
the stori of this nobl rajput has brought to memori an incid in my own life mani year ago likewis servingpg 20 to show that the god prepar long year ahead for the work out of each particular man destini
listen as a youth i was a keeper of account in the servic of a rich zemindar whose estat lay in the countri of the five river
he was a usur as well as a landown as had been his father befor him for mani generat
so in his castl was an accumul of great store of wealthâgold and silver and precious stone cloth of gold silk brocad and muslin ivori and amber camphor spice dye stuff and other merchandis of diver kind
the afghan general stir and the scabbard of his sword rattl on the floor as rais himself from his elbow that rest on a cushion he sat up and assum an attitud of keen attent
where is this place
he ask a wolfish gleam in his eye and his lip curv to a smile that reveal under the black curl moustach the white gleam of sharppoint teeth
the storytel also smile know and rais a deprecatori hand
nay friend this zemindar my first master was not fate to be reliev of his treasur as my stori will tell even though a skil plot had been laid for his spoliat
which is the veri point of my tale although i may seem to come to it by a roundabout way of tell
the afghan sank back on his cushion but his gaze remain rivet on his narrat face
one day i was seat in my home cast up my book of account for ipg 21 had onli that morn complet the take of tax from the crop of the rayat the tenant of my lord
all of a sudden a whiterob figur enter the doorway and threw himself prostrat befor me
when at last the face was rais i recogn the dhobi of the villag that nestl under the hill on which was perch the castl of the zemindar
o thou washer of cloth i ask what is thi plaint
protector of the poor repli my visitor behold my bandag feet beaten with rod until they are swollen and torn
i look as request and saw the bloodstain soak through the wrap of linen
thou art an honest and a peac man bhagwan
whi this cruel punish
i know not inde
but i have come to thee becaus i have endur the wrong at the hand of thi master
tell me thi stori
as you have said o my protector began the dhobi assum a sit postur and spread the fold of his looseflow cotton garment over his bandag feet i am an honest man
and it is for that veri reason i have suffer
yesterday among the apparel i receiv from the home of the zemindar to be made clean and white was the bodic of a woman and tie in one corner of this piec of raiment was a ring set with bright red stone thatpg 22 gleam as if they were aflam
straightway i return to the palac of the zemindar and enter the audienc chamber where as is his wont at that particular hour each day he was seat receiv the complaint of the oppress did my humbl obeis and then place in his hand the jewel i had discov
he ask me where i had found it and when i repli truth his eye flash with anger and his voic thunder at me in rebuk
although i had done no wrong but rather a virtuous deed i implor for pardon
but in vain
my mind grew confus and the next thing i rememb was the sharp cut of bamboo rod upon the sole of my feet
i was in a small vault chamber bound to a wooden bench surround by the zemindar soldier and powerless except to scream out in the agoni of each blow
thirti stroke were count and then i was flung out of the gate of the castl to limp my way home
tear of selfpiti were in the dhobi eye as he recount his tale of woe
even then i was reflect on the real caus of the zemindar wrath
the jewel had been discov in the fold of a garment worn by one of the women in his zenana and his quick access of anger show that the gift had come from some other hand than his
savag jealousi therefor had prompt the act of injustic inflict upon the unfortun washerman
i knew my master so well his sullen mood his outburst of passion that alreadi i could arriv at this conclus with certainti
proceed i said indiffer for it is well that apg 23 man should keep his own counsel in such delic affair
what is my concern with your misfortun
harken o dispens of bounti
last night when i lay nurs my wound i rememb that the ring which had prove the caus of my miseri had been wrap in a fragment of paper whereon were some strang mark and line as in the book of learn men
this i had flung away at that time deem onli the ring to be of ani consequ
but the thought came to me in the night that perhap the paper might tell someth about the ring
so all this day have i search among the bush by the stream where i beat the cloth on stone and wash them
and behold i have found that for which i have been seek
hereupon the dhobi loosen the loin cloth beneath his upper garment and extract from it fold a tini roll of paper
this he present to me with a bow of defer to my superior understand of such thing
this time i have come to you he said a man of learn and of justic not like unto the cruel zemindar
doe the paper tell whi i should have suffer such shame and pain at his hand
i had unrol the scroll the fold of which show that it had serv as a wrap for the ring
the write was in neat persian charact and i had no difficulti in deciph it for the four line that met my eye had been recit to me onli a few day befor by the veri man who claim to be their author
now did my veri heart trembl with agit
pg 24 but to the dhobi i appear cold as the water of the snow that melt on the mountain
this write would onli add to your troubl i said
here let me destroy it
and turn to the red ash burn in a brazier near at hand i dexter substitut a fragment of paper on which i had been figur my account for the paper receiv from the dhobi place the former on the glow charcoal ember and bestow the latter in the secur of my girdl
a curl of white smoke a puff of flame and the work of destruct was to all appear complet
in view of your misfortun my friend i resum i bestow upon you in the name of my master ten maund of dal which will be sent to your home on the morrow
the recipi of this unexpect bounti prostrat himself befor me
o princ of justic no longer do my wound pain me
the belli of my children will be fill for mani long day to come
then go thi way rejoic in thi heart even though limp on thi feet
and rememb that silenc is golden
say not one word more to anyon about the ring or the paper your punish or the reward that has now redress the wrong
go in peac
and the dhobi after profus express of gratitud hobbl from my presenc
alon with my thought i felt sore troubl
the writer of the vers of ardent poetri written onpg 25 the paper brought to me by the washerman was my cherish friend a youth from faraway bokhara abdul by name
this young man had come to our countri onli a year or so befor bring sever beauti arab hors for sale
these the zemindar had purchas and had retain abdul in his servic for the youth was skill in the manag of hors and in the rear of young stock
abdul and myself were much of an age and my regul of expenditur in the stabl had brought us constant togeth
so a close friendship had result valu great on my side for i had soon come to know that abdul was a man of refin and learn such as i had never befor encount in ani man of so humbl a call
and despit the fact that he was a moslem and i a hindu he had chosen me as his intim friend his onli confid
thus had it come about that at time he had read to me of an even song of his own compos and even on occas had sung them to the accompani of a small harp the string of which he touch with wondrous skill and sensibl
now did i know that this dear friend of mine had endang not onli iii
what the star ordain told by the astrolog and now master stargaz your proffer stori said the taxcollector bestir the compani from it medit mood
as i have promis respond the astrolog i shall recount an experi that show how the star if read aright can tell us the influenc for good or for evil that weigh upon a man and inevit determin his destini at the critic moment of his life
what is written is written and it is imposs to strive against fate
nay object the rajput that is a teach of helpless to which i cannot subscribeâth piti excus of the coward who fold his hand in the hour of danger or of the selfindulg weakl who yield to seduct temptat becaus his heart inclin to seiz the pleasur of the moment even when his conscienc counsel otherwis
i hold that man is the master of his own fate
most assur have i been the master of mine he ad with a proud smile his finger close signific on the handl of a dagger at his belt
be it so answer the astrolog
but as allah know everyth that is to happen so must it happen
which doe not forbid the exercis of my own free will argu thepg 36 rajput
the suprem be the presid power of creation call him allah if you will understand my heart as he understand all thing know beforehand what choic of action i shall make at the moment of an emerg
but that still leav me respons for the deed which i elect to do
such is my understand of destini
it give foreknowledg to god but leav free will to man
from all of which i do not dissent rejoin the astrolog
it is onli the ignor or the base that make kismet the excus for helpless or for wrongdo
but as the star under which a man is born influenc that man act then doe the read of the star guid us as to what the futur has in store
i know littl about your star repli the rajput
but let us have the stori he ad cross his hand on his knee in an attitud of expect
the astrolog salut his audienc general with a bow of acquiesc thus began by your courtesi let me first explain as necessari to the understand of the tale which is to follow that i am from persia from the citi of teheran where for mani generat my ancestor were profound student of astrolog some of them famous men becaus of their skil divin with reput that reach even to stamboul
for thither in my earli boyhood to the court of the sultan of the osman was my father summon and him i neverpg 37 beheld again
it was from my age grandfath that i learn my first lesson in astrologyâabout the twelv hous the rule star of each day the come and the go of the planet their conjunct and opposit and the influenc they exercis on men live
i learn with avid and was an apt pupil for at fifteen i had begun the practic of my profess cast horoscop and read the nocturn heaven with constant care understand also the flight of bird and the cri of wild beast of the jungl
yet at that time was my mind assail with grievous doubt
i often caught myself wonder whether the star did realli rule the fate of men
and with this inward question a restless spirit grew upon me
i long to see more of the worldâto enlarg the sphere of my observ
just then i chanc to hear some gossip in the bazaar about a great expedit that was get readi at kabul to descend upon hindustan
the hunger of adventur seiz me and was not to be deni
despit the tear and implor of my famili i set forth on foot for afghanistan a stripl in my hand the staff i use in my divin in the bag slung at my side a singl chang of raiment
money i had none but my abil to read the star i knew well would earn me a livelihood wherev i might wander
with my adventur dure the next two year this stori has no concern
it is enough to say that after mani vicissitud of fortun i found myself instal as astrolog in the court of a moslempg 38 princ sovereign over an extens region in kashmir
my lord was a man of nobl heart and of high mental gift
he rule over his peopl not by fear of the sword but by absolut justic which he himself person administ everi day hold audienc so that grievanc even those of the most poor might be heard and wrong redress
and his royal duti were share by his wife who although she might sit behind the screen of the women quarter none the less share in the counsel of state and contribut word of wisdom in the direct of affair
never in my experi have i encount such mutual love trust and devot as subsist between this pair
for no other woman in the world had mirza shah thought or regard or desireâi call him mirza shah but that was not his real name
for reason that will present appear i refrain from disclos the ident of place and person connect with my stori
well it was my privileg from the outset to be on relat of close intimaci with my master
he use to come through the palac garden to the shrubembow tower which i occupi and from the roof of which i night contempl the heaven
for long hour he would abid with me learn someth of the star while enjoy the cool of the night air after the heat and fatigu of the day
and mani time of an afternoon the sultana veil would come with her lord and togeth they wouldpg 39 seek to gain from me knowledg of the heaven bodi and of divin
some thing i told to them but other i withheld which is just and right for skill in astrolog is hereditari descend from father to son and new mind are unprepar for such teach so that too much knowledg convey to outsid may becom a sourc of disturb to themselv and perchanc of danger and hurt to their fellow men
thus follow the rule laid down for me by my grandfath alway even when close press with question did i exercis a discreet reserv
gradual the friendship accord to me by my lord and his ladi wax stronger and i found myself be admit to some of their innermost thought
thus did i come to learn the passion long of the wife to becom a mother for six year had she wait but no child had bless her love for her husband
as for mirza shah just so soon as the subject was mention i could see the cloud of melancholi rest on his brow
and when as time went on sad seem to settl upon him continu i knew full well that this disappoint in his wed life had at last taken complet possess of his mind to the exclus of all other matter
and from the sultana manner i could see the trepid that fill her heartâth dread that her childless might in the end rob her of her husband love
it was not given to me to look upon her faceâto get more than a glimps of her eye as they shot an occasion glanc at me through the part foldspg 40 of her veil
but in these glanc i had read the prayer of entreati that i should use all the spell of my art in her favour so as to obtain for her from god the gift of a son
well after a time an unexpect thing happen
mirza shah was absent from his homeâgon on a full week journey engag in the settl of some disput on the confin of his territori
to me there came one afternoon the sultana attend by one of her womenâth most trust one i knew for both were from the same countri near to amritsar where the famous rug are woven
so much i had learn and this further i also knew that by birth the sultana was a hindu although on be wed to her lord as a littl girl she had of cours embrac the true faith of islam in so far as it matter for a woman to have ani religion at all
it was the femal attend who spoke to me her mistress listen in silenc
but the question came so readili that it was clear the lesson had been well rehears by the twain
astrolog she began can you swear on the koran that the star speak truth
that i can swear i repli with due digniti and respect for myself and my profess
can the star bring about the wish of man or of woman
nay that i do not declar
they rule the live of men and women onli in so far as their movement forecast the futur
if we can read the star aright we may gain foreknowledg of event destin topg 41 happen
for what is written in the scroll of fate cannot be chang
from kismet there is no escap
then tell me this o astrolog from your star is my nobl ladi here ever go to have a child a son
that question i cannot answer
unless i have the horoscop of her high cast by skill hand at the time of her birth i cannot tell which planet rule her destini
ala we knew not these thing among my peopl down in amritsar i heard my ladi murmur
bah
exclaim the serv woman contemptu
she had flung open her veil unasham as are women of her station that i not her brother or her husband should gaze upon her face
it was a pleasant enough face of a woman of fiveandtwenti year of age yet methought as i look into it now that there was unseem bold in her eye and even someth of wanton abandon in her manner
bah
if your star cannot get us what we wish what good are they
better pray at a hindu shrine to krishna god of love revel than wast time in consult a moslem astrolog
that is what i have said all along dear ladi and with undoubt great affect the woman fold to her breast her now sob mistress
i turn away as was proper and busi myself with a chart of the heaven over which i had been pore when my visitor had arriv
on again rais my eye i found that i was alon
this incid i had well nigh forgotten and near a year had elaps
for some month i had not seenpg 42 the sultana she remain in the strict seclus of the harem
her high was unwel most peopl said
but i knew the truth mirza shah himself had told it to me his face beam with pride and pleasur
at last his dearest hope were to be realiz the sultana was about to becom a mother
iv
the spirit wail told by the merchant allah alon can search the heart of men said the hakeem slowli and reflect repeat the word with which the astrolog had close his tale
he was a man of vener appear with flow white beard that descend to his waist
and yet although his face was furrow with the line of old age his eye were wonder youth in their contempl calm
no truer word have been spoken tonight he continu
yet must we further reflect that while a man cannot sit in judgment upon his fellow he can assur judg himself which goe to show that within the breast of everi man there dwell the veri spirit of god the power to search his own heart whether in condemn or for approv
life is a problem and it requir a full lifetim to solv it
onli as we grow older do we come to know our own soulsâour strength and our weak the measur of our true nobil of charact and likewis the measur of our inher mean the temptat not mere from without but from within that assail us our power to conquer these or our miser yield at time with no one perhap even guess at our degrad except the divin spark ofpg 61 conscienc that inexor turn a search ray on everi thought and on everi motiv for action
so you would argu that man is god
queri the rajput
not so but that the soul of man is of the essenc of god the proof of which is this veri power of search out our own heart and sit in judgment on our own fail for the judgment seat belong to allah alon
a subtl philosophi which i do not presum fulli to understand interpos the merchant from bombay
dure the night entertain he had shown himself to be a man of few word yet an attent listen
he was of middl age of a mild digniti of mien and of robust physiqu as befit one accustom to long journey through region infest with robber or with beast of prey
but in my practic experi of life he proceed i have come to realiz that while i may know myself no other man can i know
therefor if it be right to be spare of condemn for anoth it is also wise to be chari of undu commend
the world too often acclaim a deed as nobl when the real motiv prompt it is utter ignobl
a true philosoph despit your bale of merchandis murmur the hakeem with a smile nod of approv for the sentiment express
well i suppos that everi one who travel becom a philosoph more or less assent thepg 62 trader
chang of scene and of companionship stimul new idea
now will i relat an actual experi which apt illustr that in our deal with those around us we never realli penetr their mind
man know himself he know no one elseâfriend or intim the child of his heart or the veri wife of his bosom
it is more easi to discov a white crow mutter the fakir than know what a woman has in her heart
the merchant paid no heed to the interrupt
he went on each of us is an inscrut mysteri to the other
each soul is veil to everi other soul and is nake to itself alon
o princ of philosoph in pedlar disguis
murmur the hakeem
if our soul sat nake for the common gaze comment the rajput if we could all read each other heart then inde would life be an abominationâan utter miseri with the twin devil of shame and disgust seat at our elbow all the time
most true concur the trader
for too much knowledg of anoth inmost thought bring onli disillusion and regret as my tale will show
the stori take us among humbl peopl but human natur is the same everywhereâth same in the hut of the rayat as in the palac of the rajah
onc in everi two year it is my custom to travel from bombay to benar and invari i breakpg 63 the journey at a certain villag some six or seven day from my final destin
here dwell an old friend and cast brother former like myself a merchant in the bombay bazaar where silken stuff are sold but retir now to his own countri with modest save suffici for the rest of his day
baji lal as he is name is all the closer to me becaus his wife devaka is a sister of my own wife and the two are alway eager to have news of each other welfar
at the hous of this friend i rest for a day or two enjoy his companionship the reminisc of old time and the gossip of the hour
so on my long and fatigu journey i have alway look forward to these meet with pleasur anticip and rememb them with tranquil satisfact
but on the occas of one of my period visit judg of my surpris when i was receiv in silenc and with apathi that made no pretenc at disguis
devaka did not rise from her cushion on the floor to bid me welcom and her husband similar irrespons return my customari cordial greet with noth better than a look of weari deject
disturb i made inquiri baji lal my friend what is the matter
are you ail
but he onli shook his head and turn away
to devaka i then appeal
what is the mean of this
i ask
sad and silenc where everyth use to be joy
she drew asid the sari that had conceal her face and i was shockedpg 64 at it griefstricken aspect
her trembl lip part to answer me but her husband check her with a sharp word such as i had never heard him use to her befor
her eye fill with tear and i could see the big drop roll down her cheek as she silent replac the sari over her head and bend low rock herself to and fro
for the moment i imagin that i had intrud on some scene of domest unhappi which would be dissip in an hour
so hide my embarrass i turn to the door intim that i would seek some other lodg for the night and return on the morrow when i hope my friend would be in fitter mood to receiv me
at last baji lal spoke rais his face but still remain seat on the divan we were wont in former time to share
go thi way chunda das he said
the sword of fate has descend upon this hous
come not again to a place accurs
then did i realiz that the troubl was serious
but my friend and brother i protest i cannot depart and leav you thus
let me at least understand what calam has befallen you so that i may help toward it repair
noth can be done so noth need be said he answer in a tone and with a look of dignifi resign to the will of god
if you must have the stori of our misfortun you have onli to ask the first of our neighbour you encount
and he too cover his face with his garment leav me no choicepg 65 but to withdraw without further attempt at this manifest inopportun time to probe the mysteri
if i was to be of servic to my friend howev knowledg of what had befallen was the first essenti
so i took the road that would lead me to the great pipul tree in the villag squar close to the tank and to the templ where all day long there was come and go and where therefor i would be most like to glean the inform i desir
by a happi chanc i found reclin under the pipul tree the villag barber a loquaci fellow who count it as part of his busi to know the last detail about other peopl affair
after greet and a few remark about the weather and the crop and the season epidem i care broach the real purpos of my interview for a prudent man will never divulg his thought to anoth until he know that other thought
i have just come from the hous of baji lal i said in a seem casual way
the barber face instant lost the smile it had worn
how did you find him
he ask
strang alter i repli
and so doe everi one he concur
whi so
i ventur
the barber look at me squar and then said you and he were veri good friend chunda das
yes and are still so far as i am concern i answer
pg 66 i thought so
well i am his friend likewis
mani year i have known him and his wife devaka
both are good kind peopl alway will to help their neighbour and readi to give their last bowl of rice to a vagrant beggar
perhap you can assist me to clear away the shadow that have fallen around them and obscur the sunshin of their home
let me tell you the stori
a few month ago a stranger came to this villag
he was on his way to fathpursikri to wit the glori of the court of the mighti akbar
but on the road he had fallen ill and arriv here was too sick to proceed
i am asham to say that none of us were will to take him in for sick goe from one person to anoth
so we have to be care especi in my call where i come into such close contact with so mani
there was quit a littl crowd just here by the tank discuss the situat the sick man in their midst rest upon the ground when baji lal and his wife who happen to be pass came forward to see what the commot was all about
they listen to the stori and then told the stranger he might come with them
he grate accept and after whisper some instruct to a servant by whom he was accompani he motion to baji lal to lead the way
the littl group move off the servant in the rear lead the hors which includ a pack anim laden with the travel bed cook pot and other belong
v the blue diamond told by the fakir you have certain improv on the moral of my stori said the astrolog address the merchant silent now after the tell of his tale
if it is for god alon to pronounc the censur on mankind then assur it is for god also to award the prais
as the stori of sheikh ahm and his jewel harp well show deed may be done open by the hand but the motiv for their do lie secret in the heart
and the heart is the innermost templ where none but the high priest the individu soul hold communion with his god the suprem deiti of the univers
so that a man life is an unsolv riddl to all but himself concur the hakeem
and not to be solv even by himself remark the afghan with a laugh half of bitter half of bravado
we may know in our secret heart the motiv that prompt to a deed but we cannot tell the consequ of that deed as affect even ourselv who wrought it
take this veri stori of the sheikh when recov his precious harp he was but dig his own grave
so with all of us we imagin we are march brave to accomplish some preconceiv plan when all the time we are merelypg 102 grope with blind eye along the path of destini avoid the mud hole it may be but fail to see the tiger crouch for his spring a few pace further along
shabash
cri the fakir in a shrill tone of approv that drew all eye to the lean and nake and ashbesprinkl figur seat at the foot of the veranda step
shabash
shabash
he cri again and yet again
and your stori
ask the rajput with a nod of inquiri and encourag
is one that show how a man may keep on run all his life yet never reach the goal he has in sight repli the ascet
and with the sturdi independ of his call he beat a peremptori tattoo with fingertip on wooden beggingbowl to command attent to his tale
behold in me a man who possess noth in this world except a beggingbowl and a loin cloth
yet was i at one time the owner of land and of cattl of a home bounti store for comfort and for susten of wive who wore rich jewel necklet of pearl armlet of gold and bangl of silver with maidserv to minist to their need and children to play around them
all gone
by my own do or undo call it which you will
and know too that in those day i also was a soldierâthi with a defiant glanc first at the rajput chief and then at the afghan general
at my side rattl the steel scabbard and in my beltpg 103 was the sharp poinard swift messeng of death when it came to handtohand fight and the hors i rode had it rich trap of gold and silver
it may all seem strang to hear me tell those thing of the long ago and to look upon me nowâand the speaker stretch forth his skinni twist finger and attenu arm and for a moment ruefulli contempl them
but i speak the truth he went on for tonight prompt by the stori to which i have listen and the thought they have engend will i unseal my lip after fifti long year of wander alon give no man my confid seek no man confid intent onli on the attain of the one desir deepli seat in my heart and which in my eager strive to achiev seem to be ever more remot from accomplish
tonight will i reveal the stori of my life so that perchanc the lesson it teach will show still more clear the impot of man to constitut himself the aveng of wrong
for if judgment belong to allah so doe vengeanc
and the choic of instrument of time and place of the veri manner of the deedâal this belong to god alon as this night listen to the stori that have gone befor have i for the first time come fulli to comprehend
the fakir paus to gaze around his audienc
the look of interest and expect on each face show the impress his impuls flow of languag had made
no interrupt word was spoken but everi eye remain fasten on the lean keen face peeringpg 104 over long slender shank and handclasp knee
the narrat continu in those day i had twenti retain at my call and these men i command when i rode forth to servic with a certain nawab from whom i held my land for the feudal servic i thus perform
it was my fate to take part in mani a fight and in mani a foray and to send mani a man to his doom
but god had ordain it so the fault was not mine
well it befel that a certain citi was given over to sack and carnag for the word had gone forth that the onli way to break the power of it hindu occup was to demolish their templ destroy their idol and therebi show the impot of their fals god to protect them
the rajput drew himself up proud and a flush of resent stole over his face
but the moslem fanat unconsci now of anyth but his reminisc of the past went on unheed and unabash it was toward the hour of sunset when a bodi of our soldieri broke into a templ devot to the worship of siva the destroy
we had batter in the heavi wooden door that protect the inner court and within the threshold a score or more of priest fell to our sword and a dozen danc girl as well attend on the idolsâselfslain these women for when they saw that there was no quarter for the men they rush on us like femal panther and flung themselv on our drip blade
the hindu listen were visibl disturb and afpg 105fect by this cold recit of bloodi deed
the hand of the rajput clench and unclench themselv nervous and the merchant gave a deep guttur groan of horror as he flung the end of his robe over his face as if to shut out a vision of sacrileg and shame
it was written in the begin nay befor creation it was written murmur the moslem astrolog quot in courteous sympathi the familiar formula of his faith
and as your priest themselv say he ad address himself more particular to the rajput the destini of each man is irrevoc inscrib on his forehead by the hand of brahma himself
the rajput bow his head in acquiesc silenc and as the fakir proceed with his stori the trader also regain his composur and withdrew the cover from his face
when the shadow of night fell the templ made a bonfir that illumin the scene of pillag go on all around
the big idol of loath aspect had been thrown down broken to piec and despoil of their jewel and the heavi plate of gold that encumb them
our soldier had swarm out of the build past a tank to the hous of some priest beyond
not one singl custodian of the templ surviv and i stood alon in the outer courtyard watch in idl fashion the tongu of flame lick the beam and rafter and paintbedaub wall of the wreck edific
then did my eye chanc to light on a small idolpg 106 in the passageway between the two courtyard of the templ set in a deep nich on which account it had escap the notic of the despoil
it was the familiar elephanthead idol of the hindus ganapati as i knew they call him their god of wisdom and the remov of obstacl accord to their creed
even as i look methought that the eye of the idol twinkl know and entreat at me
after a moment i saw that this fanci was but due to the play of the flame on jewel comprehend which i said to myself that the littl fat man might perchanc be of some consider valu
so i pluck him from his restingplac not without difficulti for the base of the idol was fasten by iron clamp to the altar and onli just in time befor a surg of fire and smoke swept through the vestibul
then without more ado i carri forth this ganapati wrap in a cotton cloth i had gather from one of the slain priest and tie it to the saddlebow of my hors which had been stand tether under a tree close at hand
thus did it come about that a full month later i was seat in my home in a secret inner chamber that serv me as a treasuri and to which the onli access was through the women quarter
and befor me on a stool rest the crossleg figur of the fourarm and elephanthead god fat complac smile to all appear recov from the fatigu of a journey of near a hundr leagu and thorough content amidst his new surroundpg 107ing
the idol was of bronz and the eye which at time gave it such lifelik semblanc were cluster of rubi set around with white sapphir
and it follow that day after day after the siesta hour i found myself in the compani of this accurs idolâfor accurs it came to be bring me misfortun and ruin as my stori will unfold
no doubt it was by my own do that the wrath of allah was brought down upon my head
for had not i a follow of the prophet and therefor a despis of graven imag in everi shape or form come to treat this monstrous and misshapen creatur half man half beast as a sort of familiar even greet him on my entri with the word with which i might have salut a live unbeliev may your day be peac spoken in goodnatur jest of cours and without one thought at the time of the sacrileg of which i was guilti
yea i would pat the fat littl fellow on the head and when the humour seiz me would show him my hoard of gold mohur even jingl befor him a bag of silver rupe or ask his opinion on the colour and qualiti of some gem speak word of foolish the while like a child play with a toy
and when i lay back on my cushion sometim i fanci that the littl jewel eye in the eleph head of bronz twinkl at me in merri and friend understand
all which thing i have sinc rememb with bitter shame
vi
the tiger of the pathan told by the afghan general in my case the philosophi of life is of the simplest remark the afghan general
i neither crave the wealth of the princ nor do i inflict upon myself the mortif of the ascet
for the one rich robe and the sceptr for the other a loin cloth and a beggingbowl but for me the good sword that command respect from my enemi confid from my friend and my due share of the good thing of exist
in this frame of mind i find the full measur of joy in each day that pass
he smile the smile of the man content with the world and with himself but there was the light of proud determin in his eye that beli the mere sybarit
then for you the greatest good consist in the happi you can snatch from the pass hour suggest the magistr
that is so concur the soldier if to the word happi you give the right interpret
to me the perform of one present duti is the onli real thing that bring content
and duti need not alway be stern and forbid to laugh and play and be merri may at the proper time and in the proper circumst be a duti both to ourselvespg 129 and to other
when one live philosoph for the present he take men in all their mood and life in all it phase
the past is count as dead and to be forgotten except for the experi gain to guid the do of the thing that lie now to one hand
the futur is unseen but is none the less determin by our deed word and thought of the pass moment each one of which be it rememb whether deed or rash word or unspoken thought has consequ that are etern
so for the man whose mind is thus attun again interpos the magistr the present becom all suprem shape by the past shape the futur
which mean that destini never degener into mere blind and helpless fatal respond the afghan
to do the right now suffic to give absolut trust in god for the hereaft
that is the key of destini and each man hold it in his own keep
a simpl religion smile the rajput
and therefor the best
it is the religion of islam freed from all the controversi of rival sect and overlearn mullah
it is the religion of my father and the religion of my youth and in it i abid
let me tell you a stori of the rough school in which i receiv my earli train and where such thought as these first began to sink deep into my mind
have you ever heard of shir jumla khan
no
well that is doubtless becaus he has been dead for a full score of year and becaus he held his sway in a land remot from these plain of hindustan uppg 130 in the rug mountain where brave tribesmen guard the valley which their ancestor till and yield allegi to no one but their own hereditari chieftain
such was my countri and my peopl for i am proud that in my vein run the blood of the man who for a hundr mile around my boyhood home was known as the tiger of the pathan
behold in me a grandson of shir jumla khan
the narrat fold his arm across his breast in an attitud of quiet digniti
after just a moment paus he continu we were all born fighter the member of my clan for dure hundr of year mani a swarm host had swept past the gateway of our territori persian arab afghan mogul turkman hord of fight men of everi race and tongu sometim march south bent on conquest at other time return to their home laden with rich spoil and yet at other time defeat and broken with enemi press at their heel
and it was the patrimoni right of our tribe to take toll from all alik from victor and vanquish from pursuer and pursu
sometim an armi would pass through our mountain under safe conduct from all the tribe and the price paid in money hors camel and cattl cloth and other good would be divid among the sever clan
but in this practic there had grown to be more danger for ourselv than from foray or assault on pass enemi becaus over the divis of the spoil there would bepg 131 quarrel follow by fight among the tribe
thus had origin mani a blood feud endur through mani generat
in the earli day of shir jumla khan it had come about that sever rich caravan had fallen exclus into his hand
with the money thus provid by the bounti of allah he had been enabl to build for himself a citadel that for vast and secur surpass those of all his rival among the tribal chief
within it wide wall were well and water tank garden for the grow of fruit and veget warehous for good granari store with barley wheat and dal stabl for a hundr hors shed for the hous of cattl sheep and camel and dwell place for a good multitud of arm men their wive and their children
and all of these thing endur until this day for the fortress town amid the mountain built by my grandsir the tiger of the pathan has ever remain unconqu and unconquer
but as shir jumla khan grew rich in possess and in powerâfor score of fight men from afar were attract to his serviceâat the same time did his posit among the tribesmen becom one of increas isol
all fear him and envi him and fear and envi have ever been breeder of hate
yet was he a just and a benevol man honour and belov by everi one within his domain where his slightest word was glad accept law not becaus of the might he wield but becaus of his fair to all men
i was yet a young man when a wide spread plot among the rivalpg 132 tribesmen to destroy shir jumla khan power had come to a head and had result in a determin and prolong attack upon his citadel
number had told our out field had been devast our flock and herd driven away and crowd within the wall of the fortress were refuge from all the surround countrysid
we had been coop up through the summer we had lost our annual crop and without the usual replenish granari and warehous were begin to wear an empti look with but sorri promis for the winter
but calm and undismay his proud look and seren smile ever the same shir jumla khan continu to feed the hungri host within his gate and now absolut depend upon his protect
the come of winter would mean for us some relief for the first snow would scatter the beleagu host send them back to their own valley and give us the chanc in the interv of the season storm to make a few foray on our own account on neighbour communiti which taken one at a time would be pretti well at our merci
but if we reason in this wise so did our enemi for it was now toward the close of the month of august and redoubl effort were be put forth to accomplish the breach of our wall so that the tiger of the pathan might be slain befor there was the chanc of his fang and claw again becom danger
the tribesmen no doubt by captur and enforc servic had securedpg 133 the help of some engin vers in the method of sieg and assault on fortifi place as practis in hindustan
at that time i had never befor seen a sabat but now from our fortif i beheld the gradual extens day by day of a broad cover way with bullhid roof stretch across the trench be dug and effectu protect the labour below from our gun and musket and catapult
we had made sever salli with a view to tri and stop this work but these had onli result in loss on our side out of all proport to the harass and delay inflict on the besieg
so we could but impot watch the subtl and inexor approach of the skill men who would eventu reach our wall drive mine beneath them and blow us to perdit
our one chanc lay in the question of time
if the winter began earli we should be save but if the snow held off till late in the year it look as if our doom must be seal
but quit unexpect a ray of hope came from anoth quarter
dissens had broken out in the rank of our foe
the first word was brought to us by a desert from the besieg camp who one night had crept up to the gateway of the fort and whine for admitt declar that he had import news to tell and hope for a reward
i was with my grandfath when awaken from his sleep he listen to the man stori
it told of apg 134 fierc quarrel the preced even between two of the lead chieftain
they had been convers alon in one of their tent when sudden those without had heard angri word
then it would seem that the owner of the tent had sent for one of the slipper which his visitor had left at the doorway and with this had administ five or six stroke over the head drive his guest forth insult and disgrac
everi one in the camp was on the alert for fight in the morn
with a grim smile shir jumla khan listen to this narrat
but he made no comment he mere issu instruct for the inform to be fed and for the present close guard
but if there had been ani linger doubt as to the truth of the stori confirm came ere the break of the dawn
for we were onc again disturb from our rest this time by the nois of a great tumult in the camp of the besieg loud shout follow by the discharg of musket the sound gradual die away in the distanc as if a fight and a pursuit had taken place
when day broke such inde prove to be the case we could descri in the camp a row of tent thrown down and dismantl also dead or wound men be brought in from the countri beyond while away on a distant ridg was a consider bodi of tribesmen retreat toward their home
at this sight joy huzza resound through the fortress and we did inde all feel that allah by disrupt the forc of the enemi was fight onpg 135 our side
and as i spread my prayer carpet and prostrat myself toward mecca the pious thought in my heart was one that had mani time been inculc by my nobl grandsir himself let the wise man reflect that he can in no way succeed without the help of god most high
dure the day we took counsel as to the advis of an attack on the somewhat attenu host without the wall
but from our post of observ we could see that everi one in the camp was under arm and on the alert no doubt forese that such an attempt was like on our part
so we conclud to let event develop and content ourselv with watch the progress of the sabat
here there was no relax of endeavour for the protect trench made a consider advanc ere the sun onc again sank over the western hill
dark had not long fallen when anoth bleat voic of a suppliant for admitt was heard by the sentri at the gateway
introduc to our presenc the newcom a goatherd by his appear and with the sign of travel on his garment remov his head dress untwist the long lock of hair bound accord to custom around his head and produc a small packet from the midst of his tress flung it on the floor
i pick up the missiv and hand it to our chieftain
shir jumla khan unti the packet and produc therefrom a heavi gold signet ring
while he was examin this the seem goatherd rais his voic the project gutenberg ebook of astral worship by j h hill this ebook is for the use of anyon anywher at no cost and with almost no restrict whatsoev
you may copi it give it away or reus it under the term of the project gutenberg licens includ with this ebook or onlin at wwwgutenbergorg titl astral worship author j h hill post date april 6 2014 ebook 8855 releas date septemb 2005 first post august 14 2003 languag english charact set encod utf8 start of this project gutenberg ebook astral worship produc by david deley astral worship by j h hill m d ânow what i want isâfacts�âboz
content
introduct 5 the geocentr system of natur 13 the earth 13 the firmament 13 the planet 14 the constel 15 the zodiac 15 the sacr number 7 and 12 17 the twelv thousand year cycl 18 the ancient triad 19 god sol 22 the ancient cosmogoni 30 fall and redempt of man 31 incarn of god sol 33 fabl of the twelv labor 36 anniversari of solar worship 40 the nativ 40 epiphani or twelfth day 41 lent or lenten season 42 passion week 44 passion play 45 resurrect and easter festiv 46 annunci 48 ascens 49 assumpt 49 the lord supper 50 transubstanti 50 autumn crucifixion 51 michaelma 56 personif of the divis of time 57 the hour 57 the day 57 the month 58 the season 60 half year of increas day 63 half year of decreas day 63 last quarter of the year 64 zodiac symbol of solar worship 64 the sphinx 65 the dragon 66 the bull 67 the ram 68 the lamb 68 the fish 71 sign of the cross 72 futur reward and punish 74 the orient system 75 the occident system 75 the second or general judgment 77 jewish or ancient christian 79 the propheci 83 roman or modern christian 88 freemasonri and druidism 109 the sabbath 117 pious fraud 121 conclus 125 introduct
in an articl entitl then and now publish in the decemb number 1890 of the arena it author a distinguish unitarian dd
of boston mass say
astronomi has shatter the fallaci of astrolog and peopl have found out that the star are mind their own busi instead of meddl with their
now while it is true that modern astronomi has supersed the ancient system and peopl have ceas to believ that the star are interven in mundan affair noth could be further from the truth than the assert that astronomi has shatter the fallaci of astrolog and those of our reader who will accord to this work an unprejud perus can hard fail to be convinc that a larg major of the peopl of christendom are domin as much by these fallaci as were our pagan ancestryâth onli differ be a chang of name
the dogmat element of religion which was ancient design as astrolog is now known as theolog
all the evid bear upon the subject indic that the founder of the primari form of religion were a sect of philosoph known as magi or wise men of the aryan race of central asia who have live age befor ani concept of the supernatur had obtain in the world and specul relat to the begin of thing were necessarili confin to the contempl and studi of natur the element of which they believ to be selfexist and endless in durat but be wholli without knowledg of her inher forc they explain her manifold process by conceiv the idea that she was anim by a great and inher soul or spirit eman from which impress all her part with life and motion
thus endow man and other anim with soul eman alik from the imaginari great soul of natur they believ and taught that immedi after death all soul were absorb into their sourc where as the dewdrop slip into the shine sea all person ident was forev lost
henc we see that although recogn the soul as immort consid it not as an entiti exist independ of matter but as the spirit of matter itself the primari religion was the expon of the purest form of materi
be the astronom of their day and mistak the appar for the real the ancient magi construct that erron system of natur known as the geocentr and in conform thereto compos a collect of astronom allegori in which the eman from the imaginari great soul of natur by which they believ all materi were impress with life and motion were personifi and made to play their respect part
base the religion they institut upon their system of allegor astronomi and make it personif the object of worship they thus origin the anthropomorph or manlik god and claim to have compos them under the inspir of these self same divin they design them as sacr record or scriptur and taught the ignor mass that they were liter histori and their personif real personag who have onc live upon earth and for the good of mankind perform the wondrous work imput to them were then in heaven whenc they came
thus we see that the primari religion which is popular known as pagan was found in the worship of personifi natur that accord special homag to the imaginari genii of the star and inculc suprem ador to the divin suppos to resid in the sun it was ancient known by the general name of astrolatri and by the more specif one of solar worship and that it founder arrog to themselv the titl of astrolog gave to it dogmat element the name of astrolog
in studi the primit form of religion it will be found that none of them taught anyth relat to a futur life for the simpl reason that their founder had no concept of such a state
henc it follow that the law they enact were intend sole for the regul of their social relat and to secur their observ they were embodi into their sacr record and made part of their religion
one form of that most ancient worship was known as sabaism or sabism
anoth form of the same religion was the ancient judaism as portray in the old testament and more especi in the pentateuch or first five book in the decalogu of which the onli promis made for the observ of one of the command is length of day on earth and in a general sum up of the bless and curs to be enjoy or suffer for the observ or violat of the law as record in the 28th chapter of deuteronomi it will be seen they are all of a tempor charact onli
at the begin of the christian era there were still in exist a sect of jew known as sadduce who were strict adher to the primit form of worship and their belief relat to the state of the dead we find record in ecclesiast xii 7 which read then shall the dust return to earth as it was and the spirit shall return to god who gave it
for age the doctrin of soul absorpt immedi after death constitut the belief of mankind but ultim recogn the fact that the tempor punish of the exist law were wholli inadequ to the prevent of crime and conceiv the idea that the ignor and vicious mass could be govern with a surer hand by appeal to the sentiment of hope and fear in relat to the reward and punish of an imaginari futur life the ancient astrolog resolv to remodel the dogmat element of religion so as to includ that doctrin
but realiz the necess of suppress the belief in the absorpt of all soul immedi after death they ceas to teach it and ultim it was embodi in that secret and unwritten system known as the esoter philosophi in which the astrolog formul their own privat belief and which for mani centuri was kept from the knowledg of the uniniti by their successor in the priest offic
as they were the sole custodian of the scriptur they made do chang in their verbiag but ad the doctrin of futur reward and punish to that written and open taught system of faith known as the exoter creed they made it the more impress by institut a system of impos rite and ceremoni which they design as mysteri into which they initi the neophyt and in which were portray in the most vivid manner the reward and punish of the imaginari futur life which they taught were the award of the god for the observ or violat of the law
these teach were inculc in the lesser degre onli but those who were found worthi of so great a distinct were also induct into the higher degre in which was impart the knowledg of the esoter philosophi
in both the lesser and higher degre the initi receiv instruct in an oral manner onli and all were bound by the most fear oath not to reveal the secret impart to them
thus were the votari of the ancient astral worship divid into two distinct class the esoter or gnostic and the exoter or agnost the former compris those who knew that the god were mythic and the scriptur allegor and the latter those who were taught that the god were real and the scriptur histor or in other word it was philosophi for the cultur few and religion for the ignor multitud
the initi into the secret of these two system recogn them as the two gospel and paul must have had refer to them in his epistl to the galatian ii 2 where he distinguish the gospel which he preach on ordinari occas from that gospel which he preach privat to them which were of reput
such was the system of astrolatri which origin in the orient and becom after be remodel in egypt the prototyp of all occident form of worship was recogn success as the state religion of the grecian and roman empir and we propos to describ the erron system of natur upon which it was base and to develop the origin of it cycl dogma ordin anniversari personif and symbol with the view to prove that it was the veri same system which was ultim perpetu under the name of christian
we also propos to present the origin and abridg histori of it two form the jewish or ancient and the roman or modern and to give an account of the conflict between the votari of the latter and the adher to the establish form of worship which culmin in the fourth centuri in the substitut of christian as the state religion of the roman empir
we furthermor propos to show the chang to which the creed and scriptur were subject dure the middl age and at the reform in the sixteenth centuri through which they assum the phase as now taught in the theolog respect of catholic and orthodox protestant
we also present an articl relat to freemasonri and druidism for the purpos of show that primarili they were but differ form of the ancient astrolatri
we also devot a few page to the subject of the sabbath and to that of pious fraud
noteâfor the matter publish in this work we are princip indebt to the write of robert taylor an erudit but recus minist of the church of england who flourish about seventi year ago and who be too honest to continu to preach what after thorough investig he did not believ began to give express to his doubt by write and lectur
not be abl to cope with his argument the clergi under the charg of the imposs crime of blasphemi had him imprison for more than two year dure which time he wrote his great work entitl the diegesi which should be read by all person who are investig the claim of the christian religion to divin authent
roman or modern christian
have present the evid that the jewish or ancient christian origin at the univers of alexandria under greek rule we now propos to show that it modern form eman from the same sourc under roman rule but befor enter upon this investig it is import to becom convers with the sentiment manifest toward religion by the cultur element of roman societi in that enlighten era which design as the golden age of literatur was adorn by such distinguish orat philosoph historian poet and naturalist as cicero tacitus plini horac and virgil
the geocentr system of natur
in construct their system of natur the ancient astronom constitut it of the earth the firmament the planet the constel and the zodiac and we will refer to them in the order name
the earth
believ that the earth was the onli world that it was a vast circular plane and that it was the fix and immov center around which revolv the celesti luminari the ancient astronom in conform to the requir of the doctrin of futur reward and punish as inculc in the egyptian version of the exoter creed divid it into an upper and an under or nether world which they connect by a sinuous and tenebri passag
the firmament
the azur dome call the firmament in the book of genesi was believ to be a solid transpar which we find describ in the fourth chapter and sixth vers of that collect of astronom allegori call the apocalyps or book of revel as a sea of glass like unto crystal
it was repres as be support by four pillar rest upon the earth one at each of the cardin point which were design as the pillar of heaven
conceiv the idea that there were window in the firmament the ancient astronom call them the window of heaven and taught that they were open when it rain and close when it ceas to rain
henc it is evid that the ancient astronom did not refer to these pillar and window in a figur sens but as real appurten to a solid firmament as will be seen by refer to gen vii
11 and viii
2 job xxvi
11 and malachi iii
10
the planet
believ that the star were but mere flambeaux suspend beneath the firmament and revolv round the earth for the sole purpos of give it light and heat and observ that seven of these answer to the sun moon mercuri venus mar jupit and saturn had percept movement in relat to the other luminari the ancient astronom design them as planet or wander star
the constel
perceiv that the other celesti luminari maintain the same relat to each other and design them as fix star the ancient astronom group those visibl to them into fortyeight constel and give name to these they also attach name to the star of larger magnitud which was done for the purpos of locat and distinguish them with greater eas
the zodiac
through twelv of these constel most contain within a belt of 16 degre in width and within which the planet appear to revolv the ancient astronom inscrib a central line repres the eclipt or appar orbit of the sun which they divid into 360 degre and quarter these to denot the season they name the cardin point the summer and winter solstic and the vernal and autumn equinox the former refer to the longest and shortest day of the year and the latter to the two period when the day and night are equal
an abbreviatori sign have been attach to each of these constel the great celesti belt contain them was call the wheel of the sign or a wheel in the middl of a wheel as design by that old astrolog ezekiel the prophet in chap
i and 16th vers
but for the reason that with onli one except the form of live thing either real or mythic were given to them this belt ultim wad design as the zodiac or circl of live creatur see ezekiel chap
i
constitut the essenti featur of the ancient astronomi we present in our frontispiec a diagram of the zodiac as ancient repres to which as well as to burritt celesti atlas our reader will be necessit to make frequent refer
recent research among the ruin of ancient citi have develop the fact that sever centuri befor the begin of our era the astronom had invent the telescop and discov the true or heliocentr system of natur but for the reason that religion had been base upon the fals or geocentr system it was deem prudent not to teach it to the mass
henc hide it away among the other secret of the esoter philosophi the knowledg of it was lost dure the middl age and when rediscov the hierarchi of the church of rome upon the plea that it was contrari to the teach of scriptur resort to inquisitori tortur to suppress it promulg but in spite of all their effort it has been univers accept and in this otherwis enlighten age we have present to us the anomali of a religion base upon a fals system of astronomi while it votari believ in the true system
sign op the cross
among the numer symbol of solar worship besid those we have alreadi refer to there are three to which we will direct attent
two of these were of astronom signif the one adopt when the spring equinox was in the sign of taurus and shape like the letter t was the model after which the ancient templ were built and the other shape like the letter x in refer to the angl of 23� degre made by the cross of the eclipt and the celesti equat is known as st andrew cross
the third and most import of all the symbol of solar worship in it relat to the christian religion which have no astronom signif origin in egypt in refer to the annual inund of the river nile
to mark the height to which the water should rise to secur an abund harvest post were plant upon it bank to which cross beam were attach thus â¼
if the water should rise to the design height it was call the water of life or river of life and ultim this form of the cross was adopt as the symbol of the life to come or etern life and the ancient astrolog had it engrav upon stone encircl with a hieroglyph inscript to that effect one of which was discov in the ruin of the templ erect at alexandria and dedic to our lord and saviour serapi
but if the water fail to rise to the requir height and the horror of starvat becom the inevit result it was the custom of the peopl to nail to these cross symbol personif of the demon of famin
to indic the steril of the domain over which he reign he was repres by the figur of a lean and haggard man with a crown of thorn upon his head a reed cut from the river bank was place in his hand as his unreal sceptr and consid the inhabit of judea as the most slavish and meanspirit race in their knowledg they placard this figur with the inscript this is the king of the jew
thus to the ancient egyptian this sign of the cross was bless or accurs as it was repres with or without this figur suspend upon it
when the roman or modern form of christian was institut the hieroglyph inscript signifi the life to come or etern life was substitut by a placard nail to the cross with the letter i n r i inscrib upon it which are the initi of the latin word convey the same mean
but if we would learn how the figur of a man came to be suspend upon this form of the cross we must refer to mediaev histori which teach that in the year 680 under the pontif of agathon and dure the reign of constantin pogonat at the sixth council of the church and third at constantinopl it was order in canon 82 that instead of a lamb the figur of a man nail to a cross should be the distinguish symbol of the christian religion
now as this figur is repres by that of a lean and haggard man with a crown of thorn upon his head doe it not look as if the old egyptian demon of famin was the model after which it was construct
futur reward and punish
in the ancient astrolatri two differ system of futur reward and punish were inculc the orient or east indian and the occident or egyptian the former ignor the resurrect of the bodi taught but one judgment immedi after death and the latter inculc an individu judgment immedi after death the resurrect of the bodi and a general judgment at the end of the world or conclus of the 12000 year cycl
the orient system
consid perfect happi to consist in absolut rest the orient astrolog conceiv a state of etern and unconsci repos equival to soul absorpt to which they gave the name of nirvana into which they taught that by the award of the god the soul of the righteous or those who had live what they call the contempl life would be permit to enter immedi after death
but for the soul of sinner they invent a system of expiatori punish which known as the metempsychosi or transmigr of soul taught that they would be compel to success anim the bodi of beast bird fish etc for a thousand year befor be permit to enter the nirvana
the occident system
in concoct the doctrin of the first judgment the egyptian astrolog ignor the nirvana inculc the futur sentient exist of the soul and while retain the metempsychoti expiat of the orient system taught that it reward and princip punish would be enjoy or suffer in the under or nether world the exist of which they had conceiv in construct their system of natur
this imaginari region known to the egyptian as the amenti to the greek as hade and to the hebrew as sheol was divid by an impass gulf into the two state of happi and miseri which were design in the grecian mytholog as the elysium or elysian field and the tartarus
in the lower part of the latter was locat the phlegethon or lake of fire and brimston the smoke from which ascend into an upper apart
in this system it was taught that the soul of the two extrem of societi constitut of the righteous and the great sinner would be consign immedi after the first judgment the one to the elysium and the other to the phlegethon where they were to remain until the second or general judgment while the soul of less venial sinner constitut the greater mass of mankind befor be permit to enter the elysium would be compel to suffer the expiatori punish of the metempsychosi or in the upper region or smoki row of the tartarus
such was the egyptian purgatori and it denizen constitut the spirit in prison refer to in i peter iii
19 from which the astrolog claim to have the power to releas provid their surviv friend paid liber for their propitiatori offic and from this assumpt the clergi of the cathol church deriv the idea of say mass for the repos of the soul
these doctrin were carri by pythagora from egypt to greec about 550 year befor the begin of our era and pass from thenc to rome the greek and latin poet vie with each other in portray hade and the joy and terror of it two state
the second or general judgment
the egyptian astrolog recogn the soul as a materi entiti and conceiv the idea that in the futur life it would requir a materi organ for it perfect action taught that at the general judgment it would be reunit to it resurrect bodi
in conform to this belief job is made to say in chapter xix
25 26 i know that my redeem liveth and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth and though worm destroy this bodi yet in my flesh shall i see god
the higher class egyptian howev fear that their exist would continu to be of the same shadowi and intang charact after the second judgment as they believ it would be in the amenti if worm were allow to destroy their bodi hope to preserv them until that time by the process of embalm
the imaginari event to occur in connect with the second judgment which constitut the final of the plan of redempt and inculc in what are known as the doctrin of second advent were to be inaugur by an archangel sound a trumpet summon the quick and the dead to appear befor the bar of the god to receiv their final award
at the second judgment design in the allegori as the last day day of judgment great and terribl day of the lord etc it was taught that the tenth and last saviour would make his second advent by descend upon the cloud and after the final award the elect be caught up to meet the lord in the air i thes
iv
17 the heaven and the earth would be reduc to chao through the agenc of fire
in refer to that grand catastroph we find it record in ii
peter iii
10 that the heaven shall pass away with a great nois and the element shall melt with fervent heat the earth also and the work that are therein shall be burn up
after the organ of a new heaven and a new earth it was taught that upon the latter would descend a beauti citi with pear gate and golden street call the citi of god the kingdom of god the kingdom of heaven or new jerusalem in which the host of the redeem would with their lord and saviour enjoy the millennium or thousand year of happi unalloy with evil and such was the kingdom for the speedi come of which the votari of astral worship were taught to pray in what is known as the lord prayer
accord to the teach of the allegori there were to be no sun moon or star dure the millennium their author have arrang it so that the light of those luminari would not be need as we find record in rev
xxi
23 and xxii
5 the citi had no need of the sun neither of the moon to shine in it for the glori of god did lighten it and there shall be no night there and they need no candl neither the light of the sun for the lord god giveth them light
it must be rememb when read the fanci idea relat to the citi of god that they were compos by men who live in a veri ignor age gave free rein to fervid imagin
jewish or ancient christian
it is our purpos to present the evid show that a system of astral worship which we design as jewish christian was in exist more than two centuri and a half befor the institut of it modern form
in verif of this assert we must find the initi point of our inquiri in ancient histori which teach that in the divis of the grecian empir among his general after the death of alexand the great who die 332 year befor the begin of our era the governorship of egypt and adjac provinc was secur by ptolemi lagus or soter who have subsequ suppress a revolt in judea remov from that countri a larg bodi of it inhabit to peopl the new citi of alexandria which had been laid out by order of and name after the great conqueror
the egyptian version of the gospel stori be more appropri to the nile valley than to the region from whenc they came the greek colonist of alexandria adopt it but prefer to pay homag to serapi one of the ninth incarn of god sol which they import from pontus a greek provinc of asia minor they erect to his worship that celebr templ known as the grand serapium and transfer the cultur and refin of greec to the new citi it becam under the ptolemian dynasti a great seat of learn the art and scienc flourish an immens librari was collect the various form of astral worship were repres and school for the dissemin of the sever phase of grecian philosophi and orient gnostic were found
such be the environ of the jewish resid of alexandria they soon acquir the vernacular and adopt the religion of the greek who have ever attach to their incarn saviour the titl signifi the christ or the anoint were known as christian
encourag by the liber polici of philadelphus the second ptolemi a bodi of their learn men who had been educ in the greek school found a colleg for the educ of their own peopl which institut was ultim known as the univers of alexandria
under the auspic of philadelphus the professor of that institut render their hebrew sacr record into the greek languag which translat is known as the septuagint or alexandrian version of the old testament
have acquir from the egyptian astrolog the art of heal thaumaturgi and necrom and teach them in their school the professor of the jewish colleg of alexandria assum the titl of essen or therapeuta the egyptian and greek word signifi doctor healer or wonder worker
possess of the sad and gloomi characterist of their race they adopt the contempl life or ascetic of the orient gnostic from which they deriv the name of ascet
found a church for the propag of their peculiar tenet those who were set apart for the ministri assum the titl of ecclesiast
inculc rigid temper and selfdeni among their peopl they were known as enchratit nazarit or abstain and the more devout among them retir to monasteri or to the solitud of cave and other seclud place were also design as monk cenobit friar eremit hermit or solitari
the time have arriv accord to the cyclic teach of astral worship for the manifest of the tenth and last incarn of god sol or in other word to give a new name to the mythic genius of the sun the professor of the jewish school of alexandria is resolv to inaugur their own form of worship
while retain the same titl under which they had paid homag to serapi and known as christian essen or therapeuta they substitut for their christ the name of the grecian bacchus which compos of the letter ��� signifi yes ie or jes
in compos their version of the gospel stori have like their race no invent genius they appropri that of serapi as it basi and laid it scene in the land of their ancestri but inconsist retain the sign of the cross and the phraseolog connect there with which have special refer to the nile river and it annual inund had no applic whatev to the steril land of judea
select what they conceiv to be the best from other version of the gospel stori and assum the titl of eclect they design their system as the eclect philosophi
in proof of the eclect charact of the gospel and epistl of ancient christian we refer to the ascetic inculc therein which deriv from the orient gnostic we find perpetu in the scriptur of modern christian we also refer to the miracl of convert water into wine taken from the gospel stori of bacchus and to the statement that the saviour was the son of a carpent and was hung between two thiev copi from the stori of christna the eighth avatar of the east indian astrolatri
thus we see that although the scene of the gospel stori of ancient christian was laid in the land of judea it author have adopt a greek version of that stori as it basi given a greek titl and name to their messiah perpetu a greek name for their sect and quot exclus from the septuagint or greek version of the old testament the fact show conclus that it was not jew of judea but hellen jew of alexandria who were the real author of the ancient christian
the propheci
the clergi have ever claim that the propheci are divin revel of event yet to occur and have incess agit societi by preach their speedi fulfil we propos to expos the fallaci of their teach by show that these scriptur are not the record of futur event divin reaveal but that they origin with the founder of astral worship who predic them upon predetermin event of their own concoct relat to the general judgment and set up of the kingdom of heaven which were to occur as the final of the plan of redempt and from which were deriv the doctrin of second advent and in determin the exact time when then were to occur we have but to prove that it was coincid with the conclus of the last half of the grand cycl of 12000 year which as we have shown was dedic to man as the durat of his race on earth
as evid that the founder of the jewish or ancient christian believ like the votari of other form of astral worship that the propheci were soon to be fulfil we find that the new testament of the origin version of which they were the author is replet with such text as repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand matt
iv
17 there be some stand here which shall not tast death till they see the son of man come in his kingdom matt
xxi
28 the time is fulfil and the kingdom of god is at hand mark i
15
that the origin version of the new testament was compos when the vernal equinox was in the sign of ari we are assur by reason of the fact that it inculc homag to the lord under the symbol of the lamb and that it was dure the last or 30th degre of that sign can readili be proven by appeal to histori and to astronomi the former of which teach that the jew were remov from judea to alexandria twentyf year befor the access to the throne of philadelphus the second ptolemi to whom we have refer in our preced articl and who after reign thirtynin year die 246 year befor the begin of our era
by refer to the celesti atlas we will find that the vernal equinox will pass out of the sign of pisc into that of aquarius or in the year 1900 and we have but to deduct that period of time from 2150 the number of year requir for the cardin point to pass through one whole sign to determin that the spring equinox pass out of the sign of ari into that of pisc 250 year befor the begin of our era or about 2100 year ago
now from the project of the astrolog scienc we are assur that the last half of the grand cycl of 12000 year which was allot to man as the durat of his race on earth was made to begin at a time correspond to the autumn equinox when that cardin point was pass out of the sign of virgo and that of necess it had to come to an end at a time correspond to the vernal equinox when that cardin point was pass out of the sign of ari from which we know whi at the last judgment the offic of trumpet was assign to the archangel gabriel the genius of spring and whi it was a ram horn with which he was to toot the crack o doom
when the time arriv for the fulfil of the propheci we can well imagin that fear the wrath of the lamb there were weep wail and gnash of teeth among the terrorstricken sinner while those who believ they had made their call and elect sure were look with feverish expect for the second advent of their lord and saviour and doubtless cloth with their ascens robe they watch and wait with ear alert to hear the sound of gabriel trumpet summon the quick and the dead to the general judgment
but not a blast from the archangel ram horn was heard reverber along the sky no lord appear descend upon the cloud to meet the elect in the air and in the last act of the fear drama of judgment day the curtain refus to be rung down upon a burn world
with the nonfulfil of the propheci the more enlighten element of societi began to scoff at the priest who were temporarili demor but true to their decept instinct soon ralli with the plea of a mistak have been made in the calcul base upon the propheci they undoubt concoct scriptur to meet that veri emerg for to the taunt of the scoffer who in refer to the second advent of the lord enquir where is the sign of his come
for sinc the father fell asleep all thing continu as they were from the begin of creation they answer that the lord is not slack concern his promis but as a thief in the night he would soon come and all thing be fulfil
see ii
peter chapter iii
follow up the histori of this interest subject we find that the founder of modern christian to which we will refer in our next articl in compos their version of the new testament from that of the jewish or ancient christian made no chang in it verbiag relat to the propheci but when constantin i emperor of rome becam the patron of the church her hierarchi tire of figur upon them secur a long respit from that troublesom subject by claim to have made other calcul which put off the time of fulfil to the year 1000 and from histori we learn when the time arriv the whole of christendom was fear agit upon the subject sinc then everi generat has been vex with the fallaci of second advent and the fact of the case justifi the charg that the clergi by teach that the propheci refer to event yet to occur are perpetu a most stupend fraud upon christendom and an earnest and effici protest should be inaugur against the further agit of the monstrous delus of second advent which is frighten thousand of weakmind peopl into insan and caus a vast amount of social distressgod sol
in determin the characterist of the suprem divin of astral worship it must be born in mind that it founder taught that he was evolv or engend by the father or first person in the sacr triad from his pure substanc which as we have shown was constitut of chao or the primev fire into which they suppos all thing were reduc through the agenc of that element at the conclus of 12000 year cycl
henc design that mythic be as the onli begotten of the father they personifi him as god the son or second person in the sacr triad and recogn the sun as the rule star veri appropri made him the presid genius of that luminari under the titl of god sol
accord homag to light as his chief attribut he is refer to in the allegori as the true light which lighteth everi man that cometh into the world john i 9 and although design as the onli begotten of the father his coexist with him under the titl of the logo or word is shown in the text which read in the begin was the word and the word was with god and the word was god john i 1
personifi the principl of good and evil in god sol the ancient astrolog consecr the six divis of the 12000 year cycl correspond to the reproduct month of spring and summer to him as lord of good and symbol him by the constel of the zodiac in which the vernal equinox success occur as explain hereaft they dedic the six divis of that cycl correspond to the destruct month of autumn and winter to him as lord of evil and as such symbol him by the serpent mark the begin of his reign by the constel serpen place in conjunct with the autumn equinox
personifi in him the oppos principl of good and evil he was to the ancient both god and devil or the vari god who in relat to the season was describ as beauti in spring power in summer benefic in autumn and terribl in winter
thus under various name intend to repres god sol in relat to the diversifi season we find record in the scriptur or solar fabl numer portray of imaginari conflict in which the evil principl triumph dure autumn and winter is conquer at the vernal equinox by the good principl who bring back equal day and night restor the harmoni of natur
the etern enmiti between the principl of good and evil as manifest in the divers of the season we find portray in the constel hercul and draco place in the northern heaven in which the heel of the former repres one of the most ancient of the imaginari incarn of god sol to which we will refer hereaft is rest upon the head of the latter as refer to in genesi iii 15 which make god sol or the lord god say to the serpent i will put enmiti between thee and the woman and between thi seed and her seed it shall bruis thi head and thou shalt bruis his heel
the woman allud to in this text is the virgo of the zodiac as will be made appar hereaft
of all the divin of the ancient mytholog god sol was the onli one distinguish by the exalt titl of lord or lord god for the reason that he was made the organ of chao and governor of heaven and earth
henc have constitut him the lord of light and dark as well as good and evil the ancient astrolog in compos the solar fabl made him say of himself i form the light and creat dark i make peac and creat evil i the lord do all these thing isaiah xlv 7
shall there be evil in a citi and the lord hath not done it
amo iii 6
besid the titl of lord or lord god the solar divin is also design in the allegori as the lord of lord and the king of king the invinc the mighti god etc
subject the mythic genius of the sun in his appar annual revolut round the earth to the four stage of human life from infanc to old age the ancient magi fix the natal day of the young god sol at the winter solstic the virgo of the zodiac was made his mother and the constel in conjunct with her which is now known as boot but ancient call arcturus his foster father
he is repres as hold in leash two hunt dog and drive ursa major or the great bear around the north pole thus show that the origin occup of the celesti foster father of the young god sol was that of a bear driver and that his son refer to in job xxxviii 32 are the dog asterion and chara
it will be observ that virgo is repres in our illustr with a child in her arm for the reason that she is so repres in the ancient zodiac and the fact will be readili conced that she is the onli virgin who could give birth to a child and be a virgin still
the ancient cosmogoni
specul relat to the order in which chao had been organ the ancient astrolog construct a cosmogoni which divid the labor of god the son or second person in the triniti into six period of a thousand year each and which answer to the six divis of the 12000 year cycl correspond to the reproduct month of spring and summer taught that in the first period he made the earth in the second the firmament in the third veget in the fourth the sun and moon and the star also in the fifth the anim fish bird etc and in the sixth man
that veget was made befor the sun was not an inconsist idea to the origin of the ancient cosmogoni
they imagin that the heat and light eman from the elementari fire were suffici to stimul it growth after which god the son gather it togeth and made the celesti luminari
in the solar fabl this imaginari element is call the fireeth or sacr fire of the star
fall and redempt of man
religion have been base upon the worship of personifi natur it is evid that it founder fabric it dogmat element from their concept of her destruct and reproduct process as manifest in the rotat and divers of the season
the appar retreat of the sun from the earth in winter and his return in the spring suggest the idea of a figur death and resurrect of the genius of that luminari they appli these phenomena of the year to man and compos the allegori relat to his fall and redempt as inculc in the exoter creed
in the allegori relat to the fall it was taught that after make the first human pair the lord of good or the lord god place them in a beauti gardenâcorrespond to the season of fruit and flower or month of spring and summer with the injunct under a penalti not to eat of the fruit of a certain tree
when the lord of evil or devil symbol by the serpent and repres by the constel serpen place in conjunct with the autumn equinox meet them on the confin of his dominion and tempt the woman and she the man they ate of the forbidden fruit thus fall from their first estat and commit the origin sin they involv the whole human race in the consequ of their disobedi
then the lord god pronounc a curs against the serpent cloth the man and woman with skin to protect them against the inclem of his dominion as lord of evil and drove them from the garden after which they were necessit to earn their bread by till the ground
in refer to the plan of redempt the ancient astrolog divid the 6000 year appropri to man as the durat of his race on earth into ten equal cycl and taught that at the conclus of each god sol as lord of good would manifest himself in the flesh to destroy his work as lord of evil and through suffer and death make an aton for sin
thus have origin the doctrin of origin sin incarn and vicari aton as part of the plan of redempt and make it final correspond in point of time to the conclus of the 12000 year cycl their successor in the priest offic ultim inculc the addit dogma of the general judgment and futur reward and punish as we have shown in our introduct
have base the fabl of the fall and redempt of man upon the idea that he was impel without his volit to pass from the dominion of god to that of the devil or in other word upon his subject to the inexor necess which make the inclement season of autumn and winter succeed the benefic one of spring and summer it author compos the origin of the text which found in roman viii 20 read that the creatur was made subject to vaniti evil not will but by reason of him who hath subject the same in hope
but for the popular teach in favor of it be liter histori no one could read the account of the fall of man as record in the third chapter of genesi without recogn it as simpli an allegori or fail to realiz the forc of the argument of no fall no redempt and if no redempt no god to reward or devil to punish no hell to suffer or heaven to enjoy
the fact is that these are but antithet idea which came in togeth and must surviv or perish togeth
they cannot be separ without destroy the whole theolog fabric
incarn of god sol
believ that god sol was necessit to remain at his post to direct the cours of the sun the ancient astrolog conceiv the idea of teach that attend by a retinu of subordin genii he descend to earth through the medium of incarn at the end of 600 year cycl to perform the work of man redempt and have made virgo of the zodiac the mother of the solar divin they taught in their allegor astronomi or scriptur that his incarn were born of a virgin
henc we find that god sol usual design by the titl of the word was made flesh and dwelt among us
john i 14
in a discours upon this text deliv by tillotson archbishop of canterburi in the year 1680 publish in the fourth volum of woodhous edit of his grace sermon in the year 1744 concern the incarn of our bless saviour he explain the necess of incarn by say that there was likewis a great inclin in mankind to the worship of a visibl deiti so god was pleas to appear in our natur that they who were so fond of a visibl deiti might have one even a true and natur imag of god the father the express imag of his person
it onli requir a littl reflect to appreci the prelat covert ironi and want of faith
have ascrib to the imaginari incarn of god sol the characterist of heavendescend virginborn earthwalk wonderwork die resuscit and ascend son of god the ancient astrolog attach to them the sever titl of saviour redeem avatar divinehelp shiloh messiah christ and in refer to their fosterfath that of son of man
teach that they continu to make intercess for sin after their ascens to the right hand of the father they were also call intercessor mediat or advoc with the father
from teach their appear everi 600 year origin the egyptian legend of the phoenix a bird said to descend from the sun at these interv and after be consum upon the altar in the templ of on or citi of the sunâcal heliopoli by the greeksâwould rise from it ash and ascend to it sourc
accord to the civil law of egypt manhood was not attain until the age of thirti year
henc the earth mission of incarn saviour was made to begin at that age and for the reason that relat to the appar transit of the sun through the twelv sign of the zodiac it was complet dure the period of one year
to impress the ignor mass with the belief that the scriptur were liter histori and the incarn saviour real personag the ancient astrolog caus tomb to be erect in which it was claim they were buri
such sepulchr were erect to hercul at cadiz to apollo at delphi and to other saviour at mani other place to which their respect votari were induc to perform pilgrimag
in egypt the pyramid were built part for astronom purpos and part as tomb for saviour claim to have been king who had onc rule over the countri and whi should we not recogn that magnific structur known as the church of the holi sepulchr at jerusalem as but anoth of those tomb of saviour in which no saviour was ever entomb
thus we have shown that it was god sol the onli begotten of the father or second person in the sacr triad to whom suprem ador was inculc in all form of the ancient astrolatri and that it cultur votari understand that the doctrin pertain to the fall and redempt of man were evolv from the figur death and resurrect of the solar divin recogn the doctrin of incarn as a priest invent intend onli for the ignor mass