Frederick II, King of Prussia, 1712-1786 -- Fiction; Prussia (Germany) -- History -- Frederick II, 1740-1786 -- Fiction
She did as commanded, and beheld the figure of a wonderful woman
stretched upon the couch as in deep sleep, clothed in transparent robes.
“Lay your hand upon her brow, and direct in your thoughts a question to
the prophetess of the order, and she will answer you!” Upon the lofty,
white brow of the sleeping one, she laid her hand; immediately a smile
flitted over her beautiful face, and she nodded. “Yes,” said she, “you
must believe. You dare not doubt. He is the elect, the holy Magus!”
Wilhelmine trembled, for the answer was suited to the question. “Demand
a second question of the prophetess,” commanded Cagliostro. Again she
laid her hand upon the brow of the sleeping one, and again she smiled
and nodded with her beautiful head. “Fear not,” she replied; “he will
always love you, and will never reject you, only you must not lead him
astray from the right course--but guide him to the temple of faith and
knowledge. When you cease to do it, you are lost. Shame upon earth and
damnation will be your portion.” The answer was exact--for Wilhelmine
had prayed to know if the prince would always love and never reject her.
“Still a third question,” cried Cagliostro. In silence Wilhelmine asked,
and the prophetess answered aloud: “You will be countess, you will
become a princess, you will possess millions, you will have the whole
world at your feet, if you call to your aid the Invisible Fathers,
and implore the power and miraculous blessing of the Great Kophta.”
Wilhelmine, deeply moved, sank overpowered upon her knees, and cried
aloud: “I call upon the Invisible Fathers for aid and assistance;
I implore the power and miraculous blessing of the Great Kophta.”
Suddenly, amid the rolling of thunder and intense darkness, Wilhelmine
felt herself lifted up--borne away, as loud prayers were uttered around
her. Then she felt herself lowered again and with the freedom of motion.
“Fly! fly from the revenge of the immortals, if you still doubt, still
mistrust!” cried a fearful voice above her. “Behold how the immortals
revenge themselves.” Immediately a light began to dawn before her, a
form rose from the darkness like her own. She beheld herself kneeling,
imploring, her face deluged with tears, and before her a tall, erect,
muffled figure, with a glittering sword in his uplifted arm, which
sank gradually lower and lower until it pierced her bosom and the blood
gushed forth. Wilhelmine shrieked and fainted. She witnessed no more
miracles, beard no more prophecies and revelations which the magi made
to the elect. She beheld not the appearance of the blessed spirits,
which at the importunity of the brothers flitted through the apartment.
She heard not Cagliostro take leave of Baron von Bischofswerder, when
all had withdrawn, saying, “I have now exalted you to be chief director
of the holy order. You will at once receive orders from the Invisible
Fathers, announced to you in writing, and you will follow them
faithfully.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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