Louisville messenger. (Louisville, Miss.) 1842-1843, 1843-05-13
40 &c OLAt
III hOMAN BLAFE

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Tho aisles Of the chapel. laley
thfongsd with many worshippcrs, wee
silent. The sounds Of prayer whih
bad cdhood through The groined rod
we're bIshcd. The assembly whicl
had knslt IN solemn devotion, had dis
appeared; and the stone image--tht
senselcss object Of their adoration---
smiled grimlyn the gloomy Loneliness
as his chiselIed features displayed
themselves In the temple, erected by
superstitious wealth, to his service.
But one individual remained, u long
robe OF sombre hue concealiug hi.
person, who leaned, as lin deep
thought, againstthe pedestal, on which
stool the deity. lie was the deity.
Along shadow was cast on the floor
and Instantly afterward, a tall, guant
fguf appeared at the door; a man.
lie d spotless white overhung his
shou4 ers, scarcely concealing his
broad and ample chest. The erect
ness Of bis carriage, the dignity ofhis
attitude, the fire of his eye, the bold
ness OF his step, and the proud curl
upon his lip, proclaimed him to be a
man of rank and ambition.
A contemptuous sheer played upon
his countenance-As he cast his eyes
about the sanctuary, he glanced to-
wards the stern deity itself, as its de-
formed features seemed to assume an
expression Of indignation at the au-
dacity ofthe intruder. The stranger
then turned toward the altar on which
in a golden vase, richly studded with
jewels, burned an offering of franklin
Icense, emitting pale blue smoke,
which rose and festooned from pillar
to pillar, disseminating its perfume
through the adjacent space. None
Of these, however, seemed to produce
either awe or respect in the mind Of
the Roman; for, striding past the
shrine, he cried:
"priest! dost sleep?"
The individual whom he addressed
slowly turned his head, and muttered,
"ds hem then drawing his robe more
lslssoi, vtodtfnni, answered:
"No, | sleep not The priest ofhis
deity is not as other men, he needs no
Sleep"
"Cease this folly" cried the seha-
tor impatiently; "well | know i'll
tricks and jug9lers ofthy craft; save
thy precious trash to dose the vulgar
reserve thy lectures for the fools who
kneel to this thing of stone!'
"Beware! rash man." returned the
Priest, show, in the sanctuary Of this
house, you brave hisvengeance; what
thou thinkest stone, may possess pow
er to strike terror to even thy stub
born heart"
'<Forbear this idle TALK said the
other
"Idle talkp repeated the Priest,
with deep solemnity of manner, sob
durate as thou art, this deity through
me, can disclose that, which would
make thee tremblew
81 would fain witness the skill of
which thou vauntest," said the sena-
tor, in a more serious manner; for, he
was unconsciously imbibing portion
of the awe whiehpervaded the place.
"Thou shalt be gratiGed," returned
the Priest. "What | now tell, thou
thinkest buried in thine own bosom,
unknown by others; if disclose to
thee, doubt not that he who presides
here, can read the hearts of all who
approach him, whether to worship or
to scott"
proceed, proceed" cried the 9th
err.
"Twenty years since, Armenius,
thou vert a general, the comman der
ola LEGION"
"Well done, for the omniscience of
thy god" cried the Roman, jeering-
ly, "my many triumphs have chroni-
cled the truth of thy remark in the ar
chives ofthe republic. Is this thy won
dcrW
"Interrupt me not" answered the
Priest, calmly; 'swhen ! finish, speak
what words thou'st mindful then
listen. Twenty years since, when
thou vert a general, thou had'st a
friend--ha! start'st thou now! Twen-
ty years since, too had a friend, but
| do not tremble. Thy friend loved
thee, served thee, and shared his all
with thee. Through his high influ-