A Strange Manuscript Found in a Copper Cylinder James De Mille

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they were all regarded with great contempt by the multitude, and had
to suffer the utmost rigor of the law; for they were all endowed with
vast wealth, compelled to live in the utmost splendor and luxury, to
have enormous retinues, and to wield the chief power in politics and
in religion. Even this, however, had not changed the sentiments of
the condemned, and I learned that they were laboring incessantly,
notwithstanding their severe punishment, to disseminate their peculiar
doctrines. These were formulated as follows:
1. A man should not love others better than himself.
2. Life is not an evil to be got rid of.
3. Other things are to be preferred to death.
4. Poverty is not the best state for man.
5. Unrequited love is not the greatest happiness.
6. Lovers may sometimes marry.
7. To serve is not more honorable than to command.
8. Defeat is not more glorious than victory.
9. To save a life should not be regarded as a criminal offence.
10. The paupers should be forced to take a certain amount of
wealth, to relieve the necessities of the rich.
These articles were considered both by the Kohen Gadol and by Layelah
to be remarkable for their audacity, and were altogether too advanced
for mention by any except the chosen few. With the multitude he had to
deal differently, and had to work his way by concealing his opinions.
He had made a great conspiracy, in which he was still engaged, and had
gained immense numbers of adherents by allowing them to give him their
whole wealth. Through his assistance many Athons and Kohens and Meleks
had become artisans laborers, and even paupers; but all were bound by
him to the strictest secrecy. If anyone should divulge the secret, it
would be ruin to him and to many others; for they would at once be
punished by the bestowal of the extremest wealth, by degradation to
the rank of rulers and commanders, and by the severest rigors of
luxury, power, splendor, and magnificence known among the Kosekin.
Overwhelmed thus with the cares of government, crushed under the
weight of authority and autocratic rule, surrounded by countless
slaves all ready to die for them, their lives would be embittered
and their punishment would be more than they could bear. But the
philosophic Kohen Gadol dared all these punishments, and pursued his
way calmly and pertinaciously.