Graham's Magazine, Vol. XX, No. 4, April 1842Various
General
Graham's Magazine, Vol. XX, No. 4, April 1842
Various
Literature -- Periodicals; Literature, Modern -- 19th century -- Periodicals
The Artist sauntered idly onward until he reached the mines; here
finding that the reflection of the noon-tide brilliancy from the
crystals was painful to the eyesight, he descended into one of the
deepest excavations, where he found his acquaintance of the morning, and
a fellow labourer at work. The day’s work was a heavy one, for they were
opening a communication between the mines, and in heaving up the massive
rocks there was great danger of being buried alive beneath their
crumbling weight. Such things had often happened.
“Here is a mass which requires more strength than we can furnish,” said
Philip, and he shouted for help. The desired assistance arrived, and
after an hour’s severe labor, the huge rock was heaved upwards. This
removal disclosed a solid stratum of the salt for which they were
toiling; but the attainment of the object of their labor called forth no
expression of pleasure from the beholders, for the attention of every
one was riveted upon a strange and unlooked for apparition. Extended
upon this singular couch, lay the form of a young man, apparently not
more than twenty years of age; his limbs were exquisitely moulded, and
he looked as if but yesterday he had been hushed in the deep sleep of
death. It was evident to the minds of all, that many years must have
elapsed since the being they had thus disinterred, had been overwhelmed
with destruction in attempting to move that massive weight; for many
years had passed since that portion of the mine had been worked upon.
But was his destruction instantaneous? or did he linger on, day after
day, in vain hope for the help which came not? how long had that
crystalized rock been his mausoleum? who was he? where were his kindred?
Here was a wide field for conjecture. Could no one remember that form
which might have passed for a sculptured image of Antinous? But stranger
than all this, the body seemed utterly untouched by the hand of time.
The very pliability of the flesh remained! Destruction had passed
harmlessly by that glorious form, and decomposition had not come near
it. There he lay—he, whose existence none could remember—life-like,
and beautiful—embalmed as it were in the solid rock. The sinewy, and
rounded limbs told of the strength and beauty which had once been
theirs, and the long black hair curled wildly over the clay cold face,
and nerveless shoulders. He was in his ordinary mining dress, and by his
spade and pickaxe beside him, gave evidence of his final and fatal
occupation. The body was removed, and laid upon the thick green sward
for further inspection, and perhaps recognition. The news spread
rapidly, and the inhabitants quickly crowded around. None recollected
him, although some of the oldest among them told stories of such an
accident which had happened when they were little children; but none
could remember the circumstances. After awhile a universal murmur broke
from the crowd, for they beheld their oldest villager, Dame Ursula,
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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