Weekly Trinity journal., 1875-05-08
THE MAGICIAN'S VISITOR.

1t was at the close of fine autumnal
day, and the shades of evening were be-
ginning to gather over the city of Flor
ence, when n low quick rap was heard at
the door of Cornelius Ag,ippa, and short
" afterward stranger wns introduced
into the apartment in which the philo>o-
pher was sitting ut his studies.
The stranger, although finely formed,
and of courteous demeanor, had n certain
in6efnable air of mystery about him,
which excited awe, il, indeed, IL had not
a repellant effect Hi~ wears II was dltti
cult to guess, for the marks ot youth and
age were blended in his eature- ina most
extraordinary manner. There was not
furrow on his cheek, nor wrinkle on
his brow, and his large black eve beam
ed with all the brilliancv and vivacity of
youth bat his stately figure was bent,
apparently beneath the weight of years
his hair, although thick and clustering
was gray and thourh his voice was fec
bic and tremulous, vet his tones were of
the most mvi,hng and soul stirring mel
ndv. His costume wa that of Floren-
tine gentleman, but he held staff like
thnt of palmer in his hand, and silk
EN- sash inscribed with oriental characters
was bound around his waist, His tacc
was deadly pale, but every feature of it
was singularlv beautiful, mud it, express
sion was that ot protound wisdom, ming
led with poignant .orrow.
Pardon me, learned il - aid he, ad-
dressing the philosopher, " out your
fame has Travelled into a) bud. aud has
reached all rnrs, and could not leave
the iair city of Florence Without seeking
an interview with one who i, its greatest
boast and ornament.'
You are right welcome, sir" return
ed Agrippa, but tear that your trou-
BILE and curiosity will be but i'll repaid
| am simply one who, instead Of devot-
ing my days, as do the wise, to the nc
quirement of wealth and honor, have
passed long years in painful and unproi-
table study, in endenvouring to unravel
the secrets of nature, nad initiating my
self into the my -tc'jc- ot the occult sci
cuccs."
Tulkc,t thou o.. long y,ai- p echoed
the stronger, and mcnucholy smile
played over hl- DnDu,c~, Thou who
hast scarcely ..c' ou' co,c ,.rs, sine,
thod lctc.t Thy d Ynd whom tn,
quiet grave t. urv yvu'tog ,a4. 10 cln-I
thee ia hr -he,rio- a.u- was
among th, mmp- wduv, hc -ill and
SD otnu omb. ! nV tlcm milling III
Tine m.t beam d. thy ytlug sun. Whom
was II boy u.ed To- wish 10 be ike
that setting sun; his career was SO long
SO bright, SO glorious! But tonight
thought it is better to slumber among
those tombs thnn to be like him. To.
night he sank behind the hills, appar-
emily to repose, but to morrow he must
renew his course, and run the same dull
aud nnvnried but toii~ome anf unquiet
,acr There is no gave Tor him, and
the morning dGws are the tears he sheds
over his tyrannous destiny"
AgrIppa was deep admirer Of extor-
nal nature, and OF all her phenomena
and had often gazed upon the scene thai
the stranger described, but the feelings
and IDEAS which it awakened Ia the minC
of the latter were so different from any
thing which he had himself experienced
that he could not he p, ior a season, gaz
ing upon HIM with -prrchless wonder
His guest, however, speedily resumed th,
discourse.
But trouble you, | trouble you
then to my purpose N making this visit
have heard strange tule- Of wonder
fuI mirror, which your potent art has Gu
abled you to construct, 300 when whose
ever looks may see the d unt or th
liielike dend, on whom he is desir
Gus to again fix his gule. My eyes se
nothing in this oltwatd visible worl'
which can be pleasing To their sight th
grave has closed over all | loved an'
Time has carried down its stream every
thing that once contributed 10 my enjoy
ment. The world is II vale OF tears btI
among all the tears which water that sa'
valley, not one is shed for me /; the fOuEt
ain in my heart Is dried up. | woulC
once again look upon the face which
loved. | would see that eye more brigh
and that step more stately than an ante
ope's that brow, the broad smooth pug,
on which God had inscribed his fares
characters. ! would gaze on all | hav,
loved and lost. Such II gaze would b'
dearer To my heart than all that Thu
world has to offer me, except the grave
exc ept the grave"
The passionate pleading of the strange
had such an effect upon Agrippa, VIII,
was not used to exhibit his miracle of ar
to the eyes OF all who desired 10 look il
il, although he was often tempted by OK
horbitant presents and he readily con
sented To grant the request OF his extra
ordinary visitor.
" Whom wouIdst thou see ?'' he in.
quired. "Thy daughter, my Miriam,
/ he replied.
Cornelius Immediately caused every
ray of the light OF heaven to be excluded
from the chamber, placed the stranger OF
his right hand, and commenced chanting
in n low soft tone, AID in II strange Ian
guage, some lyrical verses, 10 which thu
stranger occasionally thought that b,
heard response; but it was sounC
50 faint and ludi-tlnct that he hardly
knew whethe II exi ted any where bu
ia hi. own aacy A. Conohus contin