The Bronze Statue, or, The Virgin's Kiss — page 108: what you’re looking at

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

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Am Armenian priest, named Heraclius, had accompanied the suite of the Princess Almeria; and, in order to satisfy her religious scruples, the matrimonial rites were celebrated not only in accordance bassadors were sent to the court of} with the Mussulman creed, but likewise Georgia to demand the hand of the Princess Almeria for the king. ‘The news spread like wildfire throughout) ter occasion. the capital, and thence in a short space to the remotest corners of Ildirim’s do- minions; and the people were every- where rejoiced. ‘hey considered the intention of their monarch to take a wife as a concession trade wishes ; and they therefore treated with indifference the fact that the object of his choice belonged to the sect of Gi- aours. or Christians. Meanwhile Ildi- : : ; : ———a to their | rim counted with impatience the days. that elapsed until the return of his am-. bassadors ; and so completely absorbed was he in the new dreams of happiness which were thus opened to his contem- plation, that he forgot every thing rela- tive to the compact with Satan. ‘In due time the envoys returned from their mission, bearing the welcome in conformity with the Christian tenets, Father Heraclius officiating on the lat- In the evening the city was illuminated, the fountains ran with wine, and, indeed, the public rejoicings were maintained for several days. ‘+ Weeks passed on, four months had elapsed since the marriage of the royal pair; and Queen Almeria communi- cated to her husband the intelhgence that she was 1n a way to become a mo- ther. Ildirim’s first sentiment was one of ineffable joy ; but at the next moment a cold shudder passed over his entire frame; a thought struck him with the searing, blasting effect of lightning, and his brain appeared to be suddenly scorch- ed and withered. By a tremendous ef- ‘fort he concealed his‘emotions from the -eyes of his beloved Almeria; and, has- tily quitting her upon some pretext, he intelligence that the King of Georgia | had acceded to their request, and that the Princess Almeria, who was as beau- | tiful as the portrait represented her, which so great and powerful a monarch as Ildirim had shown her. ‘These tid- ings diffused the utmost joy throughout the capital ; and [ldirim lost no time in ed with a splendid retinue, to the Geor- gian court, in order to fetch away his intended bride, and eseort her with due honors to the capital of his own domi- nions. Again did he count the weeks and days with impatience, until at length express-couriers arrived to announce sought the solitude of a shady bower in the garden, in order to compose his agi- tated rind. But scarcely had he seated himself in that fragrant arbor of roses -and acacias, when he became aware was highly flattered by the preference | that a tall dark form was standing by his side ; anda crowd of horrors fastened like ravenous vultures upon his brain. For those features, so awful in their ; Of beauty, so terrible in their sublimity, despatching his Prime Minister, attend- | ———————— were as indelibly impressed on his memory as if he had been in the hsbit of seeing them daily and hourly for years; and now he could no longer ‘cheat himself into the belief that his eT that the procession was within a few | leagues of the city. ‘Then Ildirim, at- compact was adelusion. No, he awoke, as it were, to the consciousness of a truth so tremendous that it froze his blood with dread horror: for some mi- nutes he sate, wildly glaring up at the tended by his whole court, went forth! Prince of Darkness, whose countenance to receive the Princess Almeria: and if| was bent fixedly upon him; and then, a = — ane - . ° tte ; . . . - ; . + . the ports ait had already filled his soul | mortal shivering seizing upon him, he : with rapture, the living original seemed | fell half dead, his trembling frame lying — - o — cof » = + ——-~r — —~- > < ei ——- a oe - endowed with a loveliness transcending aught that his imagination had ever de- picted in the hour of its sunniest enthu- siasm. On her side the princess was | at the Demon's feet, bowed and power- less beneath the appalling gaze that seemed to blast him with flashes of vivid lightning. evidently well pleased with the appear- ‘‘¢+Tn a few months hence,” gaid ‘Sa- ance, Manners, ana conversation of her! tan, in that deep sonorous voice whick - — - _- - - > . — * os o - ee RR tm —— — — — a “ —_— a < « A oo a?* ome re ow - - ee een - r - ty “ - , . a 2 r) > o > - - _ dy te > -, gr Ps +. .-* = a « 4 - bs - --” » 7 - ? <a. -- ee ee - — ——— > . Pa - ~ <= ° = = - ~ ° - - > -— = . : . : =< = ‘ = = ew - - <-> a ~ nd - % - * — a ‘- —— -—~ & te ; —— ° => ry © a ™~ 7 2 o= \ ai TK a 7 ood . ll “ * + comicbooks.com