A Strange Manuscript Found in a Copper Cylinder James De Mille
A Strange Manuscript Found in a Copper Cylinder James De Mille
A Strange Manuscript Found in a Copper Cylinder James De Mille
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129<br />
"Then I see by this that Almah has awakened with<strong>in</strong> you your true human<br />
nature. Thus far it has la<strong>in</strong> dormant; it has been concealed under a<br />
thousand false and unnatural habits, aris<strong>in</strong>g from your strange native<br />
customs. You have been brought up under some frightful system, where<br />
nature is violated. Here among us your true humanity is unfolded, and<br />
with Almah you are like the Kosek<strong>in</strong>. Soon you will learn new lessons,<br />
and will f<strong>in</strong>d out that there is a new and a f<strong>in</strong>al self-abnegation <strong>in</strong><br />
perfect love; and your love will never rest till you have separated<br />
yourself from Almah, so that love can have its perfect work."<br />
The sea now opened wide before us, ris<strong>in</strong>g up high as if half-way to<br />
the zenith, giv<strong>in</strong>g the impression of a vast ascent to endless<br />
distances. Around the shores spread themselves, with the shadowy<br />
outl<strong>in</strong>es of the mounta<strong>in</strong>s; above was the sky, all clear, with fa<strong>in</strong>t<br />
aurora-flashes and gleam<strong>in</strong>g stars. Hand-<strong>in</strong>-hand with Almah I stood and<br />
po<strong>in</strong>ted out the constellations as we marked them while she told me of<br />
the different divisions known among the Kosek<strong>in</strong> as well as her own<br />
people. There, high <strong>in</strong> the zenith, was the southern polar-star, not<br />
exactly at the pole, nor yet of very great brightness, but still<br />
sufficiently noticeable.<br />
Look<strong>in</strong>g back, we saw, low down, parts of the Phoenix and the Crane;<br />
higher up, the Toucan, Hydrus, and Pavo. On our right, low down, was<br />
the beautiful Altar; higher up, the Triangle; while on the left were<br />
the Sword-fish and the Fly<strong>in</strong>g-fish. Turn<strong>in</strong>g to look forward, we beheld<br />
a more splendid display. Then, over the bow of the vessel, between<br />
the Centaur, which lay low, and Musca Indica, which rose high, there<br />
blazed the bright stars of the Southern Cross--a constellation, if not<br />
the brightest, at least the most conspicuous and attractive <strong>in</strong> all the<br />
heavens. All around there burned other stars, separated widely. Then,<br />
over the stern, gleamed the splendid lustre of Achernar, on the left<br />
the brilliant glow of Alpha Robur and Canopus, and low down before<br />
us the bright light of Argo. It was a scene full of splendor<br />
and fasc<strong>in</strong>ation. After a time a change came over the sky: the<br />
aurora-flashes, at first fa<strong>in</strong>t, gradually <strong>in</strong>creased <strong>in</strong> brilliancy till<br />
the stars grew dim, and all the sky, wherever the eye might turn from<br />
the horizon to the zenith, seemed filled with lustrous flames of every<br />
conceivable hue. Colossal beams radiated from the pole toward the<br />
horizon till the central light was dissipated, and there rema<strong>in</strong>ed<br />
encircl<strong>in</strong>g us an <strong>in</strong>f<strong>in</strong>ite colonnade of flam<strong>in</strong>g pillars that towered<br />
to the stars. These were all <strong>in</strong> motion, runn<strong>in</strong>g upon one another,