Mexico weekly ledger., 1885-01-08
For the Mexico LEDGER.
THE MAGICIAN'S STRANGE VISITOR

The MAGlClAN'S STRANGE VISITOR.
It was at the close of fine autumn
nal day, and the shades of evening
were beginning to gather over the city
Of Florence, when a low quick rap
was heard at the door of Cornelius
Agrippa, and shortly afterwards a
stranger was introduced into the
apartment in which the philosopher
was sitting at his studies. The
stranger, although finely formed land
of courteous demeanor, had certain
indefnable air OF mystery about him,
which excited awe, if, indeed, it had
not repellant effect. His years it
was difficult to guess, for the marks
of youth and age were blended in his
features in a most extraordinary
manner. There was not furrow in
his cheek, or a wrinkle on his brow;
and his large black eye beamed with
all the brilliancy and vivacity of youth,
but his stately figure was bent, ap-
parently beneath the weight of years;
us hair, although thick and cluster
&, was gray; and his voice was fee
e and tremulous, yet its tones were
of the most ravishing and soul
searching melody. His costume was
that of a Florentine gentleman; but
he held a staff like that of a palmer in
his hand, and silken sash, inscribed
with Oriental characters, was bound
around his waist. His face was dead
ly pale; but every feature of it was
singularly beautiful, and its express
sion was that of profound wisdom,
mingled with poignant sorrow.
Pardon me, learned SIR" said he,
addressing the philosopher, "but
your fame has travelled into all
lands, and has reached all ears; and I
could not leave the fair city of
Florence without seeking an inter-
view with one who is its greatest
boast and ornament"
''You are right welcome, sir" re-
turned Agrippa; "but I fear that your
trouble and curiosity will be but i'll
repaid. l am simply one, who, in
stead of devoting my days, as do the
wise, to the requirement of wealth
and honor, have passed long years in
painful and Improbable study, in en-.
deavoring to unravel the secrets o1
nature, and initiating myself in the
mysteries of the occult sciences"
"Talkest thou of long years!" echo
ed the stranger, and a melancholy
smile played over his features
''thou, who has scarcely seen four
score since thou left'st thy cradle
and for whom the quiet grave is nov
waiting, eager to clasp thee in hel
sheltering arms! I was among th'
tombs to-day-the still and solemn
tombs. I saw them smiling in th'
last beams OF the setting sun. Whel
J. was a boy, I used to wish to b.
like that sun; his career was so long
SO bright, SO glorious. But to-nigh
/ thought, Tt is better to slumbe
among those tombs than to be lik
him. Tonight he sank behind tn
hills, apparently to repose; but to
morrow he must renew his course
and run the same dull and unvariet
but toilsome and unquiet race. Their
is no grave for him, and the nigh
and morning dews are the tears tina
the sheds over his tyrannous destiny.
Agrippa was deep observer AM
ladmirer of external nature and of al
her phenomena, and had often gaze'
upon the scene which the strange
/ described; but the feelings and idea
which 1t awakened in the mind of th
ilatter were so different from anythinI
which he had himself experienced
that he could not help, for a season
gazing upon him in speechless wor
der. His guest, however, speedil
resumed the discourse.
"But I trouble you-I trouble 70,
to my purposes in making you thi
visit. I have heard strange tales {
a wondrous mirror, which your p'
tent art has enabled you to COZ
struct, in which whosoever looks ma
) | see the distant or the dead on who
! he is desirous again to fix his gaz
My eyes see nothing in this outwal
visible world which can be pleasir
Ito their sight. The grave has Gloss
7 ever all / loved. Time has carrie
down IN It's stream everything tn
{ itmce contributed to my enioymen
!. 1.-THE world is . vale Of tears; b