A Strange Manuscript Found in a Copper Cylinder

Name: A Strange Manuscript Found in a Copper Cylinder
Author: De Mille, James

De Mille, James

Science fiction

With these words the Kohen Gadol retired, followed by Layelah, leaving
me more hopeful than I had been for a long time.

For many joms following I received visits from the Kohen Gadol and
from Layelah. Almah was with me until sleeping-time, and then these
other visitors would come. In this, at least, they resembled the other
Kosekin, that they never dreamed of interfering with Almah when she
might wish to be with me. Their visits were always long, and we
had much to say; but what I lost of sleep I always made up on the
following jom. The Kohen Gadol, with his keen, shrewd face,
interested me greatly; but Layelah, with her proud face and air of
command, was a positive wonder.

I soon learned that the Kohen Gadol was what we term "a man of
advanced views," or perhaps a "Reformer," or a "Philosophic Radical,"
it matters not which; suffice it to say that his ideas and feelings
differed from those of his nation, and if carried out would be equal
to a revolution in politics and morals.

The Kohen Gadol advocated selfishness as the true law of life, without
which no state can prosper. There were a few of similar views, but
they were all regarded with great contempt by the multitude, and had
to suffer the utmost rigor of the law; for they were all endowed with
vast wealth, compelled to live in the utmost splendor and luxury, to
have enormous retinues, and to wield the chief power in politics and
in religion. Even this, however, had not changed the sentiments of
the condemned, and I learned that they were laboring incessantly,
notwithstanding their severe punishment, to disseminate their peculiar
doctrines. These were formulated as follows:

  1. A man should not love others better than himself.
  2. Life is not an evil to be got rid of.
  3. Other things are to be preferred to death.
  4. Poverty is not the best state for man.
  5. Unrequited love is not the greatest happiness.
  6. Lovers may sometimes marry.
  7. To serve is not more honorable than to command.
  8. Defeat is not more glorious than victory.
  9. To save a life should not be regarded as a criminal offence.
 10. The paupers should be forced to take a certain amount of
       wealth, to relieve the necessities of the rich.

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

Opening the text

A Strange Manuscript Found in a Copper CylinderDe Mille, James

Philosophy

A Strange Manuscript Found in a Copper Cylinder

De Mille, James

Science fiction

With these words the Kohen Gadol retired, followed by Layelah, leaving
me more hopeful than I had been for a long time.

For many joms following I received visits from the Kohen Gadol and
from Layelah. Almah was with me until sleeping-time, and then these
other visitors would come. In this, at least, they resembled the other
Kosekin, that they never dreamed of interfering with Almah when she
might wish to be with me. Their visits were always long, and we
had much to say; but what I lost of sleep I always made up on the
following jom. The Kohen Gadol, with his keen, shrewd face,
interested me greatly; but Layelah, with her proud face and air of
command, was a positive wonder.

I soon learned that the Kohen Gadol was what we term "a man of
advanced views," or perhaps a "Reformer," or a "Philosophic Radical,"
it matters not which; suffice it to say that his ideas and feelings
differed from those of his nation, and if carried out would be equal
to a revolution in politics and morals.

The Kohen Gadol advocated selfishness as the true law of life, without
which no state can prosper. There were a few of similar views, but
they were all regarded with great contempt by the multitude, and had
to suffer the utmost rigor of the law; for they were all endowed with
vast wealth, compelled to live in the utmost splendor and luxury, to
have enormous retinues, and to wield the chief power in politics and
in religion. Even this, however, had not changed the sentiments of
the condemned, and I learned that they were laboring incessantly,
notwithstanding their severe punishment, to disseminate their peculiar
doctrines. These were formulated as follows:

  1. A man should not love others better than himself.
  2. Life is not an evil to be got rid of.
  3. Other things are to be preferred to death.
  4. Poverty is not the best state for man.
  5. Unrequited love is not the greatest happiness.
  6. Lovers may sometimes marry.
  7. To serve is not more honorable than to command.
  8. Defeat is not more glorious than victory.
  9. To save a life should not be regarded as a criminal offence.
 10. The paupers should be forced to take a certain amount of
       wealth, to relieve the necessities of the rich.

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

A Strange Manuscript Found in a Copper Cylinder

A Strange Manuscript Found in a Copper Cylinder

No reviews yet