Frederick II, King of Prussia, 1712-1786 -- Fiction; Prussia (Germany) -- History -- Frederick II, 1740-1786 -- Fiction
disciples and believers in the year 1774, to whom Bischofswerder
belonged, to meet him at Rosenthal, near Leipsic. He assembled them
around him, beneath some old oaks, to take leave of them, as now he
would render himself in the invisible realm, whence, as a spirit, he
would distribute to some of his disciples gold, to others wisdom. He
then commanded them to conceal their faces and pray. The praying ones
suddenly heard a loud report, and, as they looked up Schrepfer fell
dead. He had shot himself with a pistol.]
“And as thou spakest, oh master, I recognized thee, and I called--’ Thou
art here, who hast been announced to me. Thou art the master, and my
master Schrepfer was the prophet, who preceded thee and prophesied thee.
Thou art the great Kophta--thou art Count Alexander Cagliostro!’ As
I uttered the name, the lights were extinguished, deep darkness and
profound stillness reigned. The two countesses Dorothea von Medem and
her sister, Eliza von der Necke, clung trembling to me, neither of them
daring to break the silence even with a sigh. Suddenly the darkness
disappeared, and, with trembling flashes of light, there stood written
on the wall: ‘Memento Domini Oagliostro et omnis mansuetudinis ejus.’
We sank upon our knees, and implored thee to aid us. By degrees the
strange, secret characters disappeared, and darkness and silence
reigned. The stillness disquieted me at last, and I called for lights.
As the servant entered, the two countesses lay fainting upon the floor,
and thou hadst disappeared.”
“Only to appear to thee at another time,” said Cagliostro, “to receive
thee with solemn ceremonies into the magic circle--to initiate thee in
the secret wisdom of spirits, and prepare thee for the invisible lodge.
Recall what I said to thee, three days since, in Dresden. Do you still
remember it?”
“I recall it. Thou saidst: ‘The secret service calls me to Mittau, with
the Countess Medem, to raise hidden treasure, of which the spirit has
given me knowledge, and decipher important magical characters on the
walls of a cloister. Before I leave, I will lead thee upon the way which
thou hast to follow in order to find the light, and let it illuminate
the soul which is worthy. Follow me, and I will lead thee to the path of
glory, power, and immortality.’ These were thy words, master.”
“I have now led thee hither,” Cagliostro said to him, gently; “thy
soul doubts and trembles, for thou art blind seeing eyes, and deaf with
hearing ears.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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