Επι τὰς άφανεῖς καθίστανται, μαντικήν τε καὶ χρησμούς καὶ τοιαῦτα.Thucydides, v. 103.They have recourse to the invisible realm—to necromancy, and fortune-telling, and such things.1. The greatest show on earth.2. Simon Magus at his best.3. Also at his worst.4. Avaunt, Sathanas!
Επι τὰς άφανεῖς καθίστανται, μαντικήν τε καὶ χρησμούς καὶ τοιαῦτα.
Thucydides, v. 103.
They have recourse to the invisible realm—to necromancy, and fortune-telling, and such things.
On his return to the khan, as Aleph entered the Egyptian quarter, he began to notice the papyrus placards of which Shaphan had spoken; and, as he advanced, they became numerous—pasted on walls, booths, boxes, whatever conspicuous object presented itself. Had the art of printing been known to Simon, he plainly would have been a famous advertiser. As it was, he had made a very liberal use of the scribes of the city. Aleph stopped to read one immense sheet, beautifully written on, which a boy was carrying aloft on a pole. This sheet informed the public that Simon, the greatest magician and master of occult wisdom in modern times, would exhibit his wonderful powers this eve at the khan near the Serapeum at the rate of two drachmas a head. The price for admission had been put so low in order that the entertainment might be within reach of all. Let all come. They would see the greatest show on earth. Whatever the wizards of Thessaly, the astrologers of Chaldea, the sybils of Magna Grecia, the soothsayers and diviners of Etruria, and the sorcerers and necromancers of ancient Egypt and India could do, he was able to do—and more. Let all the people come and see. For an extra didrachmathere would be seats reserved. Seats or no seats, the people were sure to get more than their money’s worth. If any wanted their fortunes told by the stars; if they wanted to know the critical times in their lives so that they might be on their guard; if they wanted to know what would be the best times for any undertakings they have in mind, or to have such helps in them as the elemental spirits can give, or to compound love potions, or to communicate with distant and even dead friends, or to defend themselves from enemies—in short, whoever wanted help of any kind that he could not get by the common and natural means, now was the opportunity of a life-time; let him come to Simon, the great magician of the age. He will not be disappointed. Admission to the court of the khan one didrachma—seats under the piazza two didrachmas.
Cimon was found waiting just outside the khan; from the inside of which came the sound of busy axes and hammers. He proposed that they should go for their evening meal to some quiet stall in the neighboring Egyptian market and there talk over their concerns. Accordingly, they were soon established in a nook by themselves, and Aleph proceeded to relate his experiences during the day thus far.
In return, Cimon said that the object of Seti in calling him aside was to ask whether he had as yet seen any sign of a hostile movement on the part of the son of the Governor; also whether he knew of any reason why Malus would favor such a movement. The first question he answered in the negative: as to the second, he was obliged to say that there were circumstances that made it likely that Malus would favor any scheme to their disadvantageof which he might happen to learn. On this, Seti said that, knowing well as he did the violent and revengeful character of the young Roman, he had thought it best to have his movements watched; and had discovered that, since the disturbance at the Diapleuston, and especially within the last twenty-four hours, there had been considerable stealthy intercourse between him and Malus. It looked very much as if they were concerting mischief. After what Cimon had told him he had no doubt as to the objects of the mischief. Might he ask whether the circumstances referred to were such as to enlist Malus thoroughly in any enterprise, however bad, against himself and his young friend? To this Cimon had answered that the circumstances were indeed such that their entire disappearance from the scene would free Malus from a great peril.
“Then,” said Seti emphatically, “he will join the Roman in trying to do you all the mischief he can. He will have no scruple as to way or means.”
After Aleph and Rachel had left, Seti had still detained him for a while with various examples of the unscrupulous craft and daring of the man—so plainly for the purpose of putting them on their guard against him that he was almost on the point of explaining their relations to Malus in full; especially after Seti had concluded with asking that for the sake of greater security they would exchange their present quarters for rooms in the Serapeum. “It was an unusual thing to do, not to say unprecedented; but the circumstances were unusual.” So he begged that they would transfer themselves without delay. But Cimon thought that he ought to confer with Aleph about the matter before acceptingthe offer. So, thanking the priest for it, and promising to report the next day, he took leave.
“Would it not have been well,” said Aleph, “to leave in the hands of the high-priest that parcel which I saw you making up last evening of the results of your inquiries as to Malus—I mean for safe keeping?”
“That is what I did,” replied the Greek; “going back for that purpose after I had made another visit and added to the parcel some account of that.”
He then proceeded to say that, finding it still so early that he might hope to find the custom house superintendent at his post, he determined to call upon him and ascertain the result of the inquiry he had promised to make. This he did. The official reported that the eminent merchant Malus had entered the office shortly after Cimon had left it, and, on hearing of the request to examine the registers, had kindly offered to solicit a permit from the Governor. It would be very little trouble, as he was about going to Bruchium on business of his own. But he proved unsuccessful. Despite his efforts, the most he could obtain was a permit forhimselfto make the examination in behalf of the stranger; and then only in case the person should approve himself to him as a person of standing and consideration. Of course this ended the matter. Cimon bowed and retired.
He was not disappointed. From the moment when he met Malus in the passage he had not counted on any other issue; though without any idea of the ingenious way in which it would be brought about.
“How much will this failure be likely to embarrass our cause?” inquired Aleph.
“It makes it impossible for us to charge Malus with acrime against the State; that is, the crime of smuggling, or of collusion with some custom house officials to defraud the government.”
“I understand. You have certified copies of the receipts at Myos Hermos; also certified copies of the receipts given for the same goods by Malus as harbor-master here; so that you know that Malus has received all the goods sent. If any of these do not appear on the registers here, it must be because he has brought them into the city without passing them through the custom house, or, if through the custom house, is in conspiracy with some of its officials to defraud the State—a crime more likely to get prompt attention than one that is merely against an individual—and a foreigner.”
“Exactly. Still our case, as it now stands, would naturally compel a formal examination of the registers: for we can prove that Malus has received everything up to the gates of the custom house. Beyond the gates he declares himself to have received much less—that is, much has been lost in passing through the custom house. This is really charging its officials with crime. Such a charge, it would seem, must compel an examination of the registers. Still I would have been glad to set the offense against the State in the foreground of the battle.”
“Then,” said Aleph, “supposing the registry accounts to agree with ours, Malus would be liable to refund the value of the missing goods according to the prices ruling at the times they were received, and to add to this a considerable sum on nearly every one of the many other lots consigned to him for thirty years on account of false statements as to the duties imposed and the prices current—in regard to both of which you havegained sufficient information. Have you estimated what the whole indebtedness amounts to?”
“Not closely; but it must amount to an immense sum. And then, if Malus should incidentally be convicted of smuggling, half of the large sum forfeited by the Roman law would fall to the party establishing the fact. If the courts are equitable our success means the ruin of Malus (or what he would consider such)—especially as it would bring upon him the claims of many other persons whom he has wronged, but who hitherto have been afraid to contend with him. Of course a man with so much at stake must be expected to make great efforts to secure himself; and such a man as Malus will stop at nothing, however criminal, that promises to help him. By this time, no doubt, he is wide awake.”
“Do you suppose,” inquired Aleph after a moment’s silence, “that the exhibition this evening is inspired by him and covers some designs against us?”
“I fear so,” said Cimon, moving uneasily, “though I do not see clearly how it can be made to serve his purpose. I would that we and our belongings were well in the Serapeum. But it is now too late in the day to make a change: all that we can do is to be wary while remaining for the night at the khan.”
“I should have some scruples about being present at a professedly magical exhibition if it were not practically involuntary. But, since we have no choice in the matter, we may at least get the advantage of noticing the contrast between the miracles of Jesus as they have been reported to us and the marvels of the most famous magician of our time—for such I understand he is considered.”
“Try to imagine some advantage to his cousin Malus in this movement,” suggested Cimon.
“Is it not supposable that Malus is very superstitious (as I believe such men are apt to be) and has great confidence in the magic art, and hopes to weave about us some hindering if not destructive spell, enlisting against us demoniacal forces? Perhaps, too, he proposes to frighten us from our purpose by astrological and other predictions of impending evil: also will seek to enlarge his knowledge of us by asking for the facts needed for constructing a horoscope.”
“That will do very well for a guess,” said Cimon. “And since we are guessing I will make a small contribution. Perhaps the darkness which is sure to accompany the exhibition at some stage will be used for an attack on us bodily. This can be imputed to spirits. If I should see among the spectators any persons with villainous and cut-throat faces, I should feel called on to be on the watch.”
During this conversation their simple meal had been brought and dispatched (not without an audible thanksgiving); and Cimon now proposed that they should at once return to the khan and acquaint themselves with their new surroundings somewhat in advance of the evening’s performance.
The sun was about setting, and many people were already collected about the gate, reading the large poster that hung upon it and comparing views and expectations, when our friends came up. They were at once admitted as being guests of the establishment.
They found a platform erected in the middle of the court, and closely drawn about by curtains on whichwere various cabalistic characters. From within issued a smoke, an odor as of strange drugs, a hissing sound as of boiling, faint flashes of light, and various sounds as of people moving about and arranging. Around the stage, at a small distance, hurdles had been set up—also about the piazza. The only break in these two lines of hurdles was opposite the room which Cimon and Aleph occupied. Here were two gates giving access from the stage to the piazza by means of a flight of steps from the former.
“What does this mean?” thought our two friends. “Did ithappenso?”
In passing to their room along the piazza they found benches, each of which could seat four persons, standing before each room, but set forward so as to allow free passage behind them. Before their own door, however, stood only a single short bench seating only two persons. Right before this seat, under the eaves of the piazza, hung a single lighted lamp—the only lamp visible anywhere.
“And what does all this mean?” thought our friends. “Does it mean honor to us as the guests of the house or to make us easier marks for the archer?”
Without stopping to answer such questions they unlocked their door; and, entering, held their usual evening devotions with no appearance of distraction or hurry. When they came out, staff in hand, and took seats on the bench before the door, they found that the shadows had considerably deepened, and the signs of activity within the curtained stage had considerably increased. As yet no spectators had been admitted.
Soon, however, people began to enter the court:then, after a while, the piazza began to be occupied. Our friends watched narrowly every successive arrival as long as the deepening shadows allowed; but it soon became impossible to form any idea of faces and figures. But they were very many—so many at last that there seemed to be no more standing room in the court, nor sitting room under the piazza. The seats nearest them, on the right and left, somehow came to be occupied last, and though Aleph bent specially on them his young searching eyes, the light had become too dim to be of service. He then noticed for the first time that the lamp before him had protruding sides that fended off the rays to the right and left. Himself and companion would have the sole benefit of the illumination. Would it be a benefit?
A bell tinkled. Up went the stage curtains. In the midst of a blaze of light stood a man of unusual stature. His beard was long and black, and long black locks hung below the close-fitting black cap. A long black mantle covered with geometrical and other figures hung gracefully from his shoulders. Supreme confidence in his own powers and position breathed in his whole attitude and expression. His air was that of an acknowledged sage. He stood motionless for a few moments as if to allow the people a full opportunity to see what a dignified and promising person was before them. He then turned quietly and took a cool survey of the packed court and of the piazza beyond as if to acquaint himself with the situation—to see how many persons and what sort of persons made up his audience. His survey ended with his confronting Cimon and Aleph for a moment.
A little back of this remarkable figure stood anotherscarcely less noticeable—a beautiful woman richly, though scantily, dressed, in the Greek fashion. Behind her, at the two corners of the platform, stood two Nubians, black as midnight, who could scarcely be said to be dressed at all. Between these latter stood a table on which was a seething cauldron over a brazier of live coals—also a large shallow dish. Two stools and a number of tools were under the table.
Simon turned and bowed low to Helena—for that was the Aspasia-like woman near him. Then, turning to the people:
“I always make it a point,” said he, “to begin with acknowledging my obligations to my sister, to whom I am indebted for much of my success.”
He then added, “I wish it to be distinctly understood at the outset that a part of what I shall do this evening is only skillful illusion; another part will be done simply by means of my acquaintance with the more mysterious laws and forces of Nature; a third part will be done by the help of powerful spirits whom I have subjected, to a certain extent, by my art, but who do not belong to that class of spirits with whom intercourse is forbidden.”
He at once began to draw a ribbon from his mouth. He drew and drew—apparently there was no end to the stock of ribbons within him. At last, with a gesture of impatience, he broke off the endless thing at his lips, and gulped down the remainder. He then went to the brazier of glowing coals and proceeded to eat them as so much fruit—to eat with excellent appetite.
Suddenly turning from this feast, he took up the large dish on the table and poured out from it a quantity of sand on the platform. He completely reversed thedish and shook it. He then replaced the sand, inserted in it a small seed, spread his two hands over the dish, and waited for what might happen. What happened was a little olive tree—as everybody could see as soon as Simon had removed his hands and held up the dish for general view. He then set down the dish on the floor, covered it for a moment with a corner of his mantle, and then held it up to view again. Lo, the little olive of a few inches had doubled its size. Once more he covered it from view. On removing his robe, he showed to the people a plant so large that its roots had crowded out all the sand from the vessel and protruded from it on all sides. Using another corner of the mantle, he reversed the process. The great plant dwindled by successive stages into the original seed which was held up for the people to see.
Taking the same dish, shaking the sand out of it, even taking the pains to wipe it vigorously with one corner of his robe, he reversed it on the floor. Muttering a few words over it, he lifted it and a cat appeared. He replaced the dish over the cat; after a moment lifted again, and behold, a dog instead of a cat. Replacing the dish over the dog, and after a moment lifting it again, he astonished the people with the sight of a litter of puppies. Reversing the process, he produced in succession the dog, the cat, and the empty dish.
He concluded this part of the entertainment by drawing a sword from under his mantle and swallowing it.
Next, Simon seated himself at the table, and laid the tips of his fingers upon it. Helena set a seat by his side and did the same. The two Nubians came forward, and, having removed the brazier, seated themselves on thetable itself. In a few moments it began to tip, and finally fell to swaying and leaping so violently that the blacks were unable to keep their seats, though they struggled hard to do so. Having dislodged the two bulky fellows, the table rose several feet into the air and remained suspended; and the brazier with its cauldron rose gently after it and resumed its old place without any disturbance of their contents—and all the while raps and musical sounds both over and under the table were heard. The Nubians caught hold of the legs of the table and tried with all their might to pull it down; whereupon it rose still higher, dragging the men after it. Simon made a downward pass with his hand, and at once it descended gently and noiselessly to the floor.
Again Helena seated herself. Simon approached, took hold of both her hands, and looked steadily into her eyes. Shortly, relinquishing her hands, he made passes downward along her arms. Gradually her eyelids drew together and she slept.
“Now tell us what you see,” said Simon.
“I see,” said she, slowly, and as if looking afar, “a beautiful country of mountains and green valleys and crystal streams, sprinkled with flocks and herds and white-faced keepers.”
“Look again. What do you see now?” continued the magician.
“I see,” replied Helena, “a magnificent palace perched on an eminence. It is of stone; and it has around it walls and towers; and into its court-yard is now coming a caravan dusty and wayworn—loaded horses and mules and camels; and, escorting them, many armed horsemen before and behind.”
“Enter the palace. What see you now?” continued the soothsayer.
“I see steps of marble, doors of brass, a lofty hall with sculptures and suits of armor, sumptuous apartments after apartments—a library in which are four persons; two sitting on a couch, and two standing before them. The first two are a man and woman venerable with white locks, but with no other signs of great age: the other two, also a man and woman, are much younger and still in the fullness of mature life. All are of princely features and bearing.”
“What are they doing?” demanded Simon.
“The younger couple are untying tablets bound about with a black ribbon. They are now reading—plainly with surprise and grief.”
“Approach and read with them,” said Simon.
“I cannot read. The characters are strange. Besides, tears have fallen copiously on them,” said the woman.
Simon reversed his passes, and the woman, giving a great sigh, opened her eyes.
He then came forward to the edge of the stage next to our friends.
“We come now,” said he, “to something very important. It has been known from remotest times that it is possible to determine from the stars the general character of a man’s fortunes, the critical times in his life, the sort of dangers to which he will be most exposed. Becoming acquainted with these, he can take precautions accordingly. For example, if one finds that to-morrow will be a time of special peril to him, and that the peril will come from a city, he can leave the city at once andso secure himself. So it is very important that each one of you inform himself in advance all about these critical and dangerous times that are sure to come to him. Do not neglect this opportunity of consulting the stars. It is the opportunity of a life-time. For the very small consideration of only one gold stater he can have the benefit of my profound studies among the stars, studies which I can assure you have been profounder and more successful than those of any other man, not excepting Hermes Trismegistus himself. All you have to do is to hand me the piece of gold, together with the exact time and place of your birth, and I will construct the twelve Heavenly Houses, and find the places of the planets therein, and take account of their mutual bearings and modifications, and so make out for you a horoscope that will tell you just what is to be done in every trying situation as long as you live. And you will live twice as long for it. Now, who will, at the trifling expense I have mentioned, protect himself from great harm and secure to himself wonderful advantages?”
He folded his arms and waited. But no one responded. Either there was not sufficient faith in the people, or they had already invested in horoscopes, or the gold piece required was wanting. The astrologer expressed surprise at this backwardness to seize the splendid opportunity they were having for having their fortunes told by the truth-telling stars through their most illustrious interpreter. It was a great mistake. They would surely regret it. He was only passing through the city on his way to Rome at the invitation of the Emperor Tiberius, and when he should return, if ever, it was impossible to say. What was the difficulty? Was it theready money demanded? Well, he would make it easy for poor people. They might pay him on delivery of the horoscope and its interpretation. Let them hand in their names and the facts called for, and he would trust them.
This brought out the people in the court. Not a few signified their readiness to accept the new offer; and the Nubians, passing along the inner hurdles with papyrus and stylus, soon collected quite a catalogue of names and appropriate particulars. This seemed very satisfactory to Simon.
He then looked off toward the piazza from whose seats no response to his appeal had yet come. He was now ready to attend to them. It was kind in them to wait till the less favored class had been cared for. Now let the piazza speak. Though they did not belong to the impecunious class, he would make no distinction between the rich and poor, but would serve all on the same terms. And he walked about the edge of the platform on all sides with one hand behind his ear.
“Your voices are too feeble,” he at length exclaimed; “I must get nearer,” and he descended from the stage by the flight of steps in front of Cimon and Aleph, opened the wicket and stepped on the piazza.
“Perhaps these friends, one of whom seems to me to have come from the native land of astrology and may therefore be presumed to know how potent in human affairs the stars are, will allow me to construct figures for them. Somehow I feel a presentiment as I stand near this young man (and I have never known such presentiments deceive me), that he is entering a critical period in his fortunes, and will need all the light my art can throw on the character of the perils surrounding him and theway of escape. If he will tell me the exact date and place of his birth, I can in a few moments, by means of a great improvement on old methods, make for him a planetary construction that will cover the next few days and be of immense service to him. I trust he believes in the Chaldean science?”
“At present I express neither assent nor dissent,” said Aleph; “I only say that I have no occasion for your art. If perils come I propose to seek help, not from the stars, but from beyond them.”
This was said in so decisive a tone as to forbid further solicitation.
Simon merely added in a voice which plainly betrayed resentment, “Perhaps the young man is aware that the stars are apt to be hostile to those who distinctly refuse them. I foresee that they will be hostile to him.” And, swaying his long loose mantle against the knees of Aleph as he turned, he stalked back to his place on the platform.
There, folding his arms and looking upward intently as if carefully perusing the sky at different points, he remained silent for a while. He then suddenly exclaimed in a voice of thunder, “Oh, the angry aspects! Oh, the threatening configurations! Oh, the malignant Saturn in Aries shooting his rays aslant yonder!”—and he pointed his finger toward the part of the piazza which he had just left. He then turned to the people and said with a voice that seemed oppressed by some mighty burden, “You have just heard me say that sometimes when I am very near a person, and especially if my robe touches him, there comes upon me a presentiment in regard to him which is, in a measure, a substitute for a horoscope—especiallyif at once followed by such a consultation of the heavens as I have just now given.”
“Tell us what you have discovered,” cried a voice from the court.
“I see,” he cried, “his enterprise miscarrying, his friends forsaking him, his enemies surrounding him. Flight alone will save him. And let him not linger. The black cloud has settled till it touches him—let him rush from under it. The walls of the house have crept together till they press him on every side—let him leap forth before it is too late. The walls of the city have crowded in upon him till the four gates almost meet one another—let him struggle through this or that as best he can, and flee,flee. Flee on the swift Bactrian dromedary, flee on the swift galley with sails and oars, flee as does the ostrich before the Arabian with both feet and wings, flee as do the sands of the desert before the hot Simoom. Else the Chaldean home will wail for the son that never returns.”
This he said with the air of a prophet—his tall form strained to the utmost, his hands lifted, and his voice urgent and full of horror. He retained his tragic attitude and aspect for a little after he had ceased speaking. Meanwhile Helena had stolen up to him, and stood looking skyward as if trying to see what he saw. Suddenly he grasped her arm with one hand and with the other pointed with anxious look toward various parts of the sky: all the while speaking to her in a low voice, as if explaining what they saw. He had an apt scholar. She gave frequent nods of assent, and finally clasped and wrung her hands with as dismayed an air as his own.
All this seemed to profoundly impress the people inthe court, on whose upturned faces the many lights of the stage were strongly shining. They gazed at the astrologer with open mouths: they seemed awe-struck at his fiery words and majestic bearing. He glanced from there to Aleph—was it to see whether the same effect had been produced on him? At all events he saw none. A perfect composure reigned in the face and attitude of the young man. Simon was both disconcerted and angry—as was plain enough to the sharp young eyes that never left him.
“I have no doubt,” cried he, after an evident effort to recover himself, “that nearly all my friends under the piazza are more respectful to the Celestial Science than the one whose danger and misfortunes have just been revealed to me. But, as time presses, I will not ask them to apply for horoscopes to-night. Let them come to me as privately as they choose at my rooms here for the next few days; and it will be strange as well as pitiful if the book of the stars does not read more pleasantly for them than it has done for one this evening.”
He made a sign to the Nubians. They hastened to fan the coals in the brazier; and, when the cauldron had begun to seethe again, he approached and dropped in something that made the contents hiss and leap as if they would burst away from the vessel. He then drew from under his mantle a sheet of papyrus covered with writing, dipped the manuscript into the cauldron, lighted it at the coals, waved it toward the four points till it was wholly consumed.
He made another sign to Helena. She went to one of the looped-up curtains and drew from a fold in it with an air of profound reverence—a wand. This, with avertedeyes, she brought to Simon: then sank on her knees and covered her eyes with her hand. Whereupon the blacks came up hastily and crouched behind her with all the signs of abject fear. Dipping the end of the wand in the cauldron, the magician proceeded to describe with it a large circle about them all. Dipping again, he traced just within the circle and all around it a variety of characters—allowing no break, however small, in the continuity of the tracing. The lines became gradually luminous—first the circumference of the circle, then the endless chain of mystic characters within.
“The Ephesian Letters,” whispered Cimon to Aleph.
There was an intense hush of fearful expectation.
“I am now about,” the magician cried in his gravest tones, “to summon here mighty genii and elemental spirits, both to show you the resources of my art, and to convince as many of you as need convincing (and the number of such persons is not small in these days) of the reality of a world of invisible beings possessing great powers. Many of these spirits are exceedingly mischievous as well as mighty, and would be glad to destroy us all. But they dare not cross this circle, and especially the characters traced just within it—though they would do so if they could find the least break in the lines. I am also able to protect those of you without this circle—provided certain conditions are complied with. All seats under the piazza must be set forward from the wall so as to allow free passage behind them for the spirits: and in addition every one must remain quietly in his place, whatever may happen or seem to be happening, till I dismiss you. To all complying with these conditions and keeping a reverent attitude of mind toward the spirits, Ican promise entire safety. To others I can promise nothing. Solomon himself could promise nothing. I wish all of you to distinctly understand that I will not be responsible for even the lives of any who violate these conditions. I warn you that we are about to deal with very dangerous beings, and that I can only control them under certain provisos. If any man is disposed to defy these let him look to himself.”
Both Cimon and Aleph had for some time noticed that the single lighted lamp that hung just before them was getting dimmer; and so were not surprised when it flickered and expired while the magician was speaking.
The man was now looking at his best. He seemed to have reserved himself for this time. His commanding stature, his powerful and oracular face, and his stately bearing enriched by the mysterious and becoming robes of his art, shone out very impressively under the brilliant lights of the stage. He stood in the centre of his magical circle, with his wand in his hand. He cast the wand on the floor. Lo, a serpent, gliding along with erect and hissing head till it came to the luminous belt of Ephesian Letters! There it stopped; and then moved along the belt slowly, without touching it, as if looking for some break in it, till it reached the point whence it started. Then with depressed head it moved back silently to Simon, who took it by the tail, and lo, he had again a wand in his hand.
He extended it toward the East and called out with a great voice in that direction certain uncouth names, saying:
“Genii, spirits elemental of air, of fire, of earth, and of water! By the bond between us, by this wand whichye know, by the spells I have woven, by this magic circle in which I stand, I summon you,I summon you!”
He then turned toward the other cardinal points, repeating to each the same formula, though appealing to different personal names. At once there fell on the ear the faint beat of distant wings. Shadows began to flit through the air, and monstrous shapes vaguely showed themselves on the walls and roofs of the khan. Then the lights on the stage burned blue, grew feeble, flickered, went out. Everything was now in profound darkness—save that on the stage the circumference of the circle with its inlying border of mystic characters was become a glowing belt that cast a wierd light on the magician and his cowering companions, but seemed to have no power of illuminating beyond the stage. Now the beat of wings was heard more distinctly. It grew apace. Soon it was like the rush of winds—high in the air above the stage, and at various points in the passage left behind the seats under the piazza. There it swept along with terrific force—whistling and howling. Into these noises others immediately insinuated themselves. Strange whisperings and mutterings became audible. These gradually passed into raps, detonations, groans, shrieks; and occasionally a yell so fierce and demoniacal as to be appalling, rent the air and the ear.
But the chief place of commotion was the edge of the platform, just outside of the fiery zone. Here, all the noises that were scattered elsewhere were condensed and intensified into the roar of a tempest. To fiendish laughs and screeches and yells that made the ear tingle were added the bayings of many sorts of wild beasts when hot after their prey. It seemed as if the spirits werecrowding to get at the magician, and tear him limb from limb, and were chafed to madness on being prevented by the magic circle. It was the many-voiced sea, lashed into fury, leaping in spray and thunder on a rock-bound coast. What a carnival! Was hell emptied? And through the blackness and the uproar and the fury, pierced voices like swords—voices that cried:
“We are here, great Master, to do thy bidding. Lo, we are here!”
At no time during the evening had Cimon, or even Aleph with his younger eyes, been able to see who occupied the adjoining seats on their right and left. These seats had not been taken till it had become too dark to distinguish faces or even figures: and the single lamp before themselves was so ensconced among the ornaments of the eaves of the piazza that it threw no light to either side. But from both sides they occasionally caught low sounds of movements and voices; and knew very well that they had neighbors. And they felt quite sure that if an attack should be made upon them it would come from those nearest to them. So, as soon as the lights had all gone out, after a moment’s whispered conference together, they noiselessly set their seat back against the door of their room, and as noiselessly took stand in front of it and facing it, but at a distance from it of several feet—and waited for what might happen.
At the height of the uproar and darkness, their ears caught a stealthy movement at both right and left; and then the careful footfall of unsandalled feet. A moment more, and there was a stumbling against the seat they had left, as of men who had been expecting a clear passage; while they felt the presence of others just before them.At once came a hasty succession of heavy blows, as of bludgeons, on the seat and door behind it. Two heavy thuds promptly followed, and as many groans and falls: for both Cimon and Aleph had struck with clenched hands into the dark, and had encountered something more substantial than spirits. This done, they stepped back to their former places and waited for what might yet follow. Nothing followed—save the sound of footsteps hastily retreating to the right and left. And, all at once, the hubbub of wierd noises began to lull; the whispers and howls and other diabolic sounds dwindled rapidly; in a few moments the rush of departing wings had died away in the distance.
“Now go in peace,” cried the magician. “If any have been injured by the Powers I have summoned, it is because they did not obey my directions. Their blood be on their own heads. I take you to witness that I am not responsible.”
The court and piazza were soon emptied. The people had been too soundly frightened to stand on the order of their going; and rushed out pell-mell through the darkness—overturning benches and hurdles and one another.
During this final uproar, which was almost as great as the spirits had made, Aleph felt a hand on his shoulder, heard a whisper at his ear—“Shaphan and Nathan.”
“Welcome,” he whispered back. “Come into our room.”
They removed the seat, unlocked the door, and with the aid of the two Jews dragged inside the bodies which their feet had encountered on the floor. Closing the door, they struck a light and proceeded to examine their still insensible assailants. In one of them Aleph had nodifficulty in recognizing Antis: in the other Shaphan and his brother knew Draco, a noted bully of the city, at present teacher of fence at the Museum, formerly a trainer of gladiators at Rome, and well known as a dissipated companion of the son of the Governor. Having satisfied themselves that the men were not seriously injured, and needed only the open air to fully recover, they drew them out again on the piazza and there left them to themselves—or their friends.
The brothers then explained that the lady Rachel had sent a servant to them after their return home to recall them; and had begged that they would be present at the khan in the evening with some of the family servants and give aid to her friends if they should have need. But various circumstances had delayed them so that they did not arrive till after the performance had begun; when they found no admission to the piazza, and the court so densely packed that it was almost impossible to wedge their way to the neighborhood of Aleph and Cimon. This, however, in the course of the evening they had, by dint of constant effort, succeeded in doing, and were quite near when the assault was made and the assembly broke up. They then dashed violently through the crowd, and over the hurdles—fearing the worst, for they had heard the blows, the groans, and the heavy falls. Thank Heaven, it was the enemy that fell!
Very cordial acknowledgments were made to the friendly Jews. In addition, Aleph sat down and wrote on a piece of papyrus the following:
“Aleph the Chaldean, to the daughter of Alexander, sends greeting:
“This is to express my sense of the kindness you haveshown to the eastern strangers in sending help to them this night in their supposed danger. And truly the danger was considerable; but through the favor of the Most High we have escaped the assault made upon us, and have come to understand better than before the difference between the marvels of Jesus and the marvels of the magician. The latter are due partly to illusion and ventriloquism, partly to occult natural law, and partly to diabolism. They are favored by darkness and distance, depend on preparations and compacts and machinery, proceed from an unworthy person, seek unworthy objects, are aided by unworthy Powers, are connected with phenomena that betray a diabolic origin, and are wholly depraving and mischievous in their tendency.
“When the bearers of this give you an account of what they have seen and heard, you will, I doubt not, see new reason to believe in Him who casts out devils instead of invoking them.
“May the God of Abraham and Daniel, the Chaldeans, keep you!
“Farewell!”
When the Jews stepped out on the piazza they found that the bodies were no longer there. Doubtless they had recovered consciousness and taken themselves off.
Magic and miracle! Two very different things, thought Aleph again, as he recalled, in the solitude to which he was now left, the account which Nathan had given of the storm on the Sea of Galilee.
Did ever night with blacker wingSwoop down upon the sea?Did ever storm with fiercer flailSmite Sea of Galilee?God help yon bubble bark that leapsAgainst a rayless sky—God help yon bubble bark flung backIn rayless gulfs to die!The gates of hell are open wide,Its fiends outscream the blast;“Up with the bubble boat on high!This plunge shall be the last.”Alas, alas! ye helpless menWho to the skies are tost—Just hanging to the lion’s mane,What can ye be but lost?Yet cry for help—Where is theKing?—Ye have not far to seek;Within your very bark is OneWho storms to calms can speak.He speaks—at once the stars look downUpon a waveless sea;The peace of God is in thy winds,O breathless Galilee!And ever when we cry through storms,To Christ our cry should be;Low bow all waves and winds and fiendsTo Him of Galilee.
Did ever night with blacker wingSwoop down upon the sea?Did ever storm with fiercer flailSmite Sea of Galilee?God help yon bubble bark that leapsAgainst a rayless sky—God help yon bubble bark flung backIn rayless gulfs to die!The gates of hell are open wide,Its fiends outscream the blast;“Up with the bubble boat on high!This plunge shall be the last.”Alas, alas! ye helpless menWho to the skies are tost—Just hanging to the lion’s mane,What can ye be but lost?Yet cry for help—Where is theKing?—Ye have not far to seek;Within your very bark is OneWho storms to calms can speak.He speaks—at once the stars look downUpon a waveless sea;The peace of God is in thy winds,O breathless Galilee!And ever when we cry through storms,To Christ our cry should be;Low bow all waves and winds and fiendsTo Him of Galilee.
Did ever night with blacker wingSwoop down upon the sea?Did ever storm with fiercer flailSmite Sea of Galilee?
Did ever night with blacker wing
Swoop down upon the sea?
Did ever storm with fiercer flail
Smite Sea of Galilee?
God help yon bubble bark that leapsAgainst a rayless sky—God help yon bubble bark flung backIn rayless gulfs to die!
God help yon bubble bark that leaps
Against a rayless sky—
God help yon bubble bark flung back
In rayless gulfs to die!
The gates of hell are open wide,Its fiends outscream the blast;“Up with the bubble boat on high!This plunge shall be the last.”
The gates of hell are open wide,
Its fiends outscream the blast;
“Up with the bubble boat on high!
This plunge shall be the last.”
Alas, alas! ye helpless menWho to the skies are tost—Just hanging to the lion’s mane,What can ye be but lost?
Alas, alas! ye helpless men
Who to the skies are tost—
Just hanging to the lion’s mane,
What can ye be but lost?
Yet cry for help—Where is theKing?—Ye have not far to seek;Within your very bark is OneWho storms to calms can speak.
Yet cry for help—Where is theKing?—
Ye have not far to seek;
Within your very bark is One
Who storms to calms can speak.
He speaks—at once the stars look downUpon a waveless sea;The peace of God is in thy winds,O breathless Galilee!
He speaks—at once the stars look down
Upon a waveless sea;
The peace of God is in thy winds,
O breathless Galilee!
And ever when we cry through storms,To Christ our cry should be;Low bow all waves and winds and fiendsTo Him of Galilee.
And ever when we cry through storms,
To Christ our cry should be;
Low bow all waves and winds and fiends
To Him of Galilee.