The true Democrat., 1854-12-06

acterS O1 thelr epoch Whilst then we see the intellect advancing aniuoculated, (we use the word advisedly, for virtue is not the natural and necessary fruit of knowledge without moral truth,) we look upon such an advance as an horrld portent, to be feared and shuddered at.- Knowledge Is power, without an accession of power, without an accession of moral control: that is, If power be conferred in an immensely increased ratlo whilst the only regulator which can make 1t benefcent remains inactive, and is thus completely overmastered by that which it should regulate, we consider such dispropor- toned progress to be of all dreadful things the most dreadful that can be contemplated.
 We know not whether the story we are about to present to our readers may seem to have called for these observations But it has never been thought out of character that grave par son should say grave grace before his guests sit down to merry repast, and of such we now having said our grace-invite our readers to partake.
 The first tale which we shall relate, is from work of Messenius, German Jesuit, pub, lished at Cologne in 1857. This work is enti tied Palestra Dranaatlca. There is piece called Sa1coth@a, on which Lauder founded his accusation of plagiarism against Milton. It is history of Adam and Eve driven out of Para disc; has so far some resemblance to Milton's Paradise Lost--but no further. That Masseni- us, however, was a man of some imagination. may be seen, we think, from the following story. It may appear, perhaps, somewhat childish, but in this. think, consists its great charm. Though no one would now think of fa- brcating stories of the same kind, vet almost all will cast a retrospective glance on such with the zest almost of childhood, in the same way as a grown person may contemplate with delight the play of children, though he feels, with a sigh, that he can only join with them pleasura- bly, for moment There is mixture of cre dulity and unbelief in many of these stories which seems to say-in the dark we believe. but in the daylight we laugh; mingled strain of earnestness and fun, a kind of compromise be- tween terror and a joking mockery over it, which characterized the superstitions-even of the church-during the middle ages. Without some credulity, such tales (except bv a remote sympathy such as we at present feel) could have no attractions; and without a spice of skepti- cism they could not have been rendered so piquante They have, besides to us the merit of being antiques, and we contemplate them with pleasure as specimens of the art of fiction in its infancy Perhaps this is the most dis eliminating merit of the story we shall re- late, Every imperfect versions of 1t have lately been published) ) though we recollect the time in our schoolboy days-when sSch tale, sim pie as it is, would have moved-sauken us with far deeper feelings, and would have given rise to much brooding cogitation. and boiling indig- nation and astonishment. We beg of our req ders to summon this schoolboy spirit whilst they read what follows:-
 THE QUEEN sEMIRAMIS
 "Of all my wives," said King Minus to Se- miramis, it is you love the best None have charms and graces like you, and for you would willingly resign them all.'
 "Let the king consider well what he savs.o replied Semiramis. "What if I were to take him at his word?"
 "Do so," returned the monarch; "whilst be- loved by you, am indifferent to all others"
 "So then, if 1 asked it," said Samiramis, "you would banish all your other wives and love me alone? should be alone your consort, the partaker of your power, and Queen of Assvria?'
 "Queen of Assyria. Are you not so already,' said Minus, "since you reign by your beauty over its king?'
 "No-no,'' answered his lovely mistress, "I am at present only a slave whom you love- reign not; merely charm. When l give an order, you are consulted before am obeyed"
 "And to reign then you think so great plea sure?''
 Yes, to one who has never experienced it."
 And do you wish then to experience it?- Would you like to reign a few days in my place?"
 "Take care, Q, King. do not offer too much"
 "No, repeat it," said the captvated mon- arch. "Would you like, for one whole day, to he soverei gn mistress of Assyria? If you would I consent to it.''
 "And all which I command then, shall be executed?'
 "Ycs, will resign to you, for one entire day, my power and my golden sceptre."
 "And when shall this be?'
 Tomorrow, if you like"
 "I do,' said Semiramis; and let her head fall upon the shoulder of the king, like beautiful woman asking pardon for some caprice which has been yielded to.
 The next morning, Semiramis called her wo- men, and commanded them to dress her mag nifcently On her head she wore crown of precious stones and appeared thus before Minus. Minus, enchanted with her beauty, ordered all the officers of the palace to assemble in the state chamber, and his golden sceptre to be brought from the treasury He then entered the chamber, leading Semiramis by the hand. All prostrated themselves before the aspect of the king, who conducted Semramis to the throne, and seated her upon it. Then ordering the whole assembly to rise, he announced to the court that they were to obey, during the whole day, Semirams as himself. So saying, he took up the golden sceptre, and, placing it in the hands of Semiramis- said he, "I commit to you the emblem of sovereign power; take it, and command with sovereign authority. All here are your slaves, and my self am nothing more than your servant for the whole of this day. Whoever shall be remiss in executing your orders let him be punished as if he had disobeyed the commands of the king"
 Having thus spoken, the king knelt down before Semiramis, who gave him, with a smile her hand to kiss. The courtiers then passed in succession, each making oath to execute blindly the orders of Semiramis. When the ceremony was finished, the king made her his compli- ments, and asked her how she had managed to go throughi it with so grave and majestica an air.
 "Whilst they were promising to obey me-" said Semiramis, "I was thinking what should command each of them to do. 1 have but one