Sue_The_Wandering_Jew.txt topic ['13', '324', '378', '393']
. doubt, my friend, this kind of
life, bounded by the family circle, and not extending beyond, for the
happiness or improvement of our brethren, may be set down as selfish;
but, alas! we have not the means--and though the poor man always finds a
place at our frugal table, and shelter beneath our roof, we must renounce
all great projects of fraternal action. little revenue of our farm
just suffices to supply our wants. ! when think over it,
notwithstanding a momentary regret, cannot blame my resolution to keep
faithfully my sacred oath, and to renounce that great inheritance, which,
alas! had become immense by the death of my kindred. , believe
performed a duty, when begged the guardian of that treasure to reduce
it to ashes, rather than let it fall into the hands of people, who would
have made an execrable use of it, or to perjure myself by disputing a
donation which had granted freely, voluntarily, sincerely. yet,
when picture to myself the realization of the magnificent views of--my
ancestor--an admirable , only possible with immense resources--and
which . de hoped to carry into execution, with the aid of
. , of , of and his daughters,
and of myself--when think of the dazzling focus of living forces, which
such an association would have been, and of the immense influence it
might have had on the happiness of the whole human race--my indignation
and horror, as an honest man and a , are excited against that
abominable , whose black plots nipped in their bud all those great
hopes, which promised so much for futurity. remains now of all
these splendid projects? tombs. my grave also is dug in that
mausoleum, which has erected on the site of the house in the
--, and of which he remains the keeper--faithful to the
end!
" had written thus far, my friend, when received your letter. ,
after having forbidden you to see me, your bishop now orders that you
shall cease to correspond with me. touching, painful regrets have
deeply moved me, my friend. have we talked together of
ecclesiastical discipline, and of the absolute power of the bishops over,
us, the poor working clergy, left to their mercy without remedy. is
painful, but it is the law of the church, my friend, and you have sworn
to observe it. as have submitted. engagement is binding
upon the man of honor! poor, dear ! would that you had the
compensations which remained to me, after the rupture of ties that so
much value. know too well what you must feel-- cannot go on
find it impossible to continue this letter, might be bitter against
those whose orders we are bound to respect. it must be so, this
letter shall be my last. , my friend! farewell forever.
heart is almost broken.
" ."
11.
.
was about to dawn. rosy light, almost imperceptible, began to
glimmer in the east; but the stars still shone, sparkling with radiance,
upon the azure of the zenith. birds awoke beneath the fresh foliage
of the great woods; and, with isolated warblings, sang the prelude of
their morning-concert. light mist rose from the high grass, bathed in
nocturnal dew, while the calm and limpid waters of a vast lake reflected
the whitening dawn in their deep, blue mirror. promised one
of those warm and joyous days, that belong to the opening of summer.
-way up the slope of a hill, facing the east, a tuft of old, moss-
grown willows, whose rugged bark disappeared beneath the climbing
branches of wild honeysuckle and harebells, formed a natural harbor; and
on their gnarled and enormous roots, covered with thick moss, were seated
a man and a woman, whose white hair, deep wrinkles, and bending figures,
announced extreme old age. yet this woman had only lately been young
and beautiful, with long black hair overshadowing her pale forehead.
yet this man had, a short time ago, been still in the vigor of his age.
the spot where this man and woman were reposing, could be seen the
valley, the lake, the woods, and, soaring above the woods, the blue
summit of a high mountain, from behind which the sun was about to rise.
picture, half veiled by the pale transparency of the morning
twilight, was pleasing, melancholy, and solemn.
", my sister!" said the old man to the woman, who was reposing with him
beneath the rustic arbor formed by the tuft of willow-trees; "oh, my
sister! how many times during the centuries in which the hand of the
carried us onward, and, separated from each other, we traversed the world
from pole to pole--how many times we have witnessed this awakening of
nature with a sentiment of incurable grief!--! it was but another day
of wandering--another useless day added to our life, since it brought
death no nearer!"
" now what happiness, oh, my brother! since the has had mercy on
us, and, with us, as with all other creatures, every returning day is a
step nearer to the grave. to ! yes, glory!"
" to , my sister! for since yesterday, when we again met, feel
that indescribable languor which announces the approach of death."
" you, my brother, feel my strength, already shaken, passing away
in a sweet exhaustion. , the term of our life approaches.
wrath of the is satisfied."
", my sister! doubtless also, the last of my doomed race, will, at
the same time, complete our redemption by his death; for the will of
heaven is manifest, that can only be pardoned, when the last of my
family shall have disappeared from the face of the earth. him,
holiest amongst the holiest--was reserved the favor of accomplishing this
end he who has done so much for the salvation of his brethren!"
", yes, my brother! he who has suffered so much, and without
complaining, drunk to the dregs the bitter cup of woe--he, the minister
of the , who has been his 's image upon earth--he was fitted
for the last instrument of this redemption!"
", for feel, my sister, that, at this hour, the last of my race,
touching victim of slow persecution, is on the point of resigning his
angelic soul to . , even to the end, have been fatal to my
doomed family. , if mercy is great, anger is great
likewise!"
" and hope, my brother! how after the expiration cometh
pardon, and pardon is followed by a blessing. punished, in you
and your posterity, the artisan rendered wicked by misfortune and
injustice. said to you: ' on! without truce or rest--and your labor
shall be vain--and every evening, throwing yourself on the hard ground,
you shall be no nearer to the end of your eternal course!'-- so, for
centuries, men without pity have said to the artisan: '! work! work!
without truce or rest--and your labor shall be fruitful for all others,
but fruitless for yourself--and every evening, throwing yourself on the
hard ground, you shall be no nearer to happiness and repose; and your
wages shall only suffice to keep you alive in pain, privation, and
poverty!'"
"! alas! will it be always thus?"
", no, my brother! and instead of weeping over your lost race, rejoice
for them--since their death was needed for your redemption, and in
redeeming you, heaven will redeem the artisan, cursed and feared by
those--who have laid on him the iron yoke. , my brother! the time
draweth nigh--heaven's mercy will not stop with us alone. , tell
you; in us will be rescued both the and the of these modern
ages. trial has been hard, brother; it has lasted throughout
eighteen centuries; but it will last no longer. , my brother! see
that rosy light, there in the east, gradually spreading over the
firmament! will rise the sun of the new emancipation--peaceful,
holy, great, salutary, fruitful, filling the world with light and
vivifying heat, like the day-star that will soon appear in heaven!"
", yes, my sister! feel it. words are prophetic. shall
close our heavy eyes just as we see the aurora of the day of deliverance
--a fair, a splendid day, like that which is about to dawn.
will only shed tears of pride and glory for those of my race, who have
died the martyrs of humanity, sacrificed by humanity's eternal enemies--
for the true ancestors of the sacrilegious wretches, who blaspheme the
name of by giving it to their , were the false and
, whom the cursed!--! glory to the descendants of my
family, who have been the last martyrs offered up by the accomplices of
all slavery and all despotism, the pitiless enemies of those who wish to
think, and not to suffer in silence--of those that would feign enjoy, as
children of heaven, the gifts which the has bestowed upon all the
human family. , the day approaches--the end of the reign of our
modern --the false priests, who lend their sacrilegious aid to
the merciless selfishness of the strong against the weak, by daring to
maintain in the face of the exhaustless treasures of the creation, that
has made man for tears, and sorrow, and suffering--the false priests,
who are the agents of all oppression, and would bow to the earth, in
brutish and hopeless humiliation, the brow of every creature. , no!
let man lift his head proudly! made him to be noble and intelligent
free and happy."
", my brother! your words also are prophetic. , yes! the dawn of
that bright day approaches, even as the dawn of the natural day which, by
the mercy of , will be our last on earth."
" last, my sister; for a strange weakness creeps over me, all matter
seems dissolving in me, and my soul aspires to mount to heaven."
" eyes are growing dim, brother; can scarcely see that light in the
east, which lately appeared so red."
"! it is through a confused vapor that now see the valley--the
lake--the woods. strength fails me."
" be , brother! the moment of eternal rest is at hand."
", it comes, my sister! the sweetness of the everlasting sleep takes
possession of my senses."
", happiness! am dying--"
" eyes are closing, sister!"
" are then forgiven!"
"!"
", my brother! may this redemption extend to all those who
suffer upon the earth!"
" in peace, my sister! great day has dawned--the sun is rising--
behold!"
" be !"
" be !"
at the moment when those two voices ceased forever, the sun rose
radiant and dazzling, and deluged the valley with its beams.
. ----.
you, my friend, dedicated this book. inscribe it with your name,
was to assume an engagement that, in the absence of talent, it should be
at least conscientious, sincere, and of a salutary influence, however
limited. object is attained. select hearts, like yours, my
friend, have put into practice the legitimate association of labor,
capital, and intelligence, and have already granted to their workmen a
proportionate share in the profits of their industry. have laid
the foundations of -houses, and one of the chief
capitalists of has favored me with his views respecting an
establishment of this kind, on the most gigantic scale.
for the dispersion of the members of the of , have
taken less part in it than other enemies of the detestable doctrines of
, whose influence and authority were far greater than mine.
, my friend. could have wished this work more worthy of you; but
you are indulgent, and will at least give me credit for the intentions
which dictated it.
me,
truly,
.
, 25th , 1845.