The
rising temple soon would fall again with such constructors. Why, sir,
what think you, this same Abidan preached in the camp against my entry
into what the quaint fanatic chooses to call "Babylon," because he had
seen what he calls a vision.'
'There was a time your Majesty thought not so ill of visions.'
'Am I Abidan, sir? Are other men to mould their conduct or their
thoughts by me? In this world I stand alone, a being of a different
order from yourselves, incomprehensible even to you. Let this matter
cease. I'll hear no more and have heard too much. To-morrow at council.'
The high priest withdrew in silence.
'He is gone; at length I am alone. I cannot bear the presence of these
men, except in action. Their words, even their looks, disturb the still
creation of my brooding thought. I am once more alone, and loneliness
hath been the cradle of my empire. Now I do feel inspired. There needs
no mummery now to work a marvel.
'The sceptre of Solomon! It may be so. What then? Here's now the sceptre
of Alroy. What's that without his mind? The legend said that none should
free our people but he who bore the sceptre of great Solomon. The legend
knew that none could gain that sceptre, but with a mind to whose supreme
volition the fortunes of the world would bow like fate.
Pages:
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206