The Bronze Statue, or, The Virgin's Kiss — page 107: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE BRONZE STATUE. 105 greater amount of prosperity than it|of pictures; and one of the subordinate had ever known even in the best days | officials, who had previously received of the preceding reign. ‘Thus two|the necessary hint, immediately said, years passed away; and during that in- | ** Your highness may assuredly boast of terval not a single act or deed on IIdi- | possessing the finest gallery of portraits rim’s part impaired the golden opinions | in the whole country.” which he had so deservedly and so uni-| = «& TIdirim’s curiosity was piqued; and versally won. he desired to inspect the much-vaunted ‘At length the people began to mar- | collection. His Highness the Prime vel wherefore their much-loved mon- | Minister, inwardly rejoicing at the cir- arch remained unmarried; and they | cymstance and anticipating the best re- said, ‘* Let our worshipped Idirim | sults, accordingly led the way to the choose himself a wife from amongst] sallery, where the king was perfectly the princesses of the neighboring | ravished by the variety of charms which States, in order that such an union may | the portraits presented to his view. It not only strengthen his alliance with} was a gallery of beauty that amazed some powerful country, but likewise | and dazzled him. But having carefully give an heir to the throne of these| examined them all, his éyes settled realms.’’—T'he munisters from time to ‘ time reported these sayings to the king ; but he invariably turned the conversa- tion to some other topic. Foralthough he had succeeded in persuading him- self that his agreement with Satan was nothing more than a delusion, yet the idea of marriage nevertheless filled him with a secret terror; and he accordingly silenced hiscouncillors as well as he was able, whenever they addressed him upon the subject... But his people, who were notorious throughout the nations of the East for the pertinacity with which they were wont to pursue par- ticular ideas, soon began to dwell more fixedly upon the proposal for the king’s marriage; and, at length, the ministers were forced to address Ildirim with solemn seriousness upon the subject.— Finding the king deaf to their repre- sentations, they adopted a new line of policy ‘They despatched the most ce- iebrated artists to the Courts of the ad- jacent countries, with instructions to paint the portraits of the most beautiful princesses ; and when this project had been fully carried out, the pictures —_———— — - - with renewed pleasure on one portrait that had already, during the first in- spection, excited the softest and ten- derest emotions in his heart. This picture represented a charming young creature with sunny hair, a complexion of milk and roses, glowing lips, and a throatof snow. Her eyes, soft as those of the gazelle, were of velvet black- ness; thus contrasting singularly but beautifully with that flood of golden hair which appeared to reflect the beams of the orb of day. An undefin- able charm and grace characterised the features of this princess; and, unable to conceal, much less subdue his rap- ture, Ildirim exclaimed, ‘ Ah! my dear friend, if the world contained a beauty like that which is fepresented in this picture, you would not be compelled to urge and persuade me in respect to marriage !”’ ‘* Your Majesty will therefore be gratified,” said the Prime Minister, * to learn that the original of the portrait which pleases you is not only in exis- tence at this present moment, but with- were all despatched to the house of the in twenty days’ journey of your Majes- >”? oe 9 Prime Minister, who had a magnificent i — gallery built for their reception. This| |‘ ‘‘ God be thanked !” ejaculated Idi- high dignitary then presented himself | "im, already deep in love with the fair to Ildirim, and besought his Majesty to | being whose portrait had thus ravished accept of an entertainment at his abode. | 41s soul. The king assented; and on the day| ‘*‘+ Yes,” continued the Prime Minis- named he proceeded in great state to|ter; ‘“it.is as I have informed your his Prime Minister’s palace. The ban | Majesty, for that picture represents the quet was attended by allthe nobles of | Princess Almeria, the youngest and the Court; and the choicest delicacies | loveliest daughter of the King of Geor- which the three continents of the world | gia.” could produce appeared upon the board.| +¢*+ Alas!’’ exclaimed Ildirim, heaving When the repast was terminated andja profound sigh; ‘‘ then all my hopes the company were engaged in canver-|are destroyed the instant that they have sation, the Prime Minister dexterously |budded into existence! For am not I turped tne discourse upon the subject)the sovereign of a nation worshipping ee eee comicbooks.com