The king paused at the sight of this frightful figure; for whether it was a living being or a statue of magic artifice2 he could not tell. On its breast was a scroll, whereon was inscribed in large letters, "I do my duty."After a little while Roderick plucked up heart and addressed it with great solemnity: "Whatever thou be," said he, "know that I come not to violate this sanctuary, but to inquire into the mystery it contains; I conjure thee, therefore, to let me pass in safety."Upon this the figure paused, with uplifted mace, and the king and his train passed unharmed through the door.
They now entered a vast chamber of a rare and sumptuous architecture, difficult to be described. The walls were incrusted with the most precious gems, so joined together as to form one smooth and perfect surface. The lofty dome appeared to be self-supported, and was studded with gems lustrous as the stars of the firmament3. There was neither wood nor any other common or base material to be seen throughout the edifice. There were no windows or other openings to admit the day, yet a radiant light was spread throughout the place which seemed to shine from the walls and to render every object distinctly visible.
1 Incessantly: unceasingly; continually. 2 Artifice: workmanship.
3 Firmament: sky.
In the center of this hall stood a table of alabaster1 of the rarest workmanship, on which was inscribed in Greek characters2 that Hercules3, the Theban Greek, had founded this tower in the year of the world three thousand and six. Upon the table stood a golden casket richly set round with precious stones and closed with a lock of mother-of-pearl, and on the lid were inscribed the following words: " In this coffer4 is contained the mystery of the tower. The hand of none but a king can open it; but let him beware! for marvelous events will be revealed to him which are to take place before his death."ⅡKing Roderick boldly seized upon the casket. The venerable archbishop laid his hand upon his arm and made a last remonstrance. "Forbear, my son," said he, "stop while there is yet time. Look not into the mysterious decrees of Providence. God has hidden them in mercy from our sight; and it is impious to rend the veil by which they are concealed.""What have I to dread from a knowledge of the future?" replied Roderick, with an air of haughty presumption. "If good be destined me, I shall enjoy it by anticipation; if evil, I shall arm myself to meet it." So saying he rashly broke the lock.
Within the casket he found nothing but a linen cloth folded between two tablets of copper. On unfolding it he beheld1 Alabaster: a very hard stone. 2 Characters: letters.
3 Hercules: in Greek mythology a hero celebrated for great strength. 4 Coffer: chest, especially one used for keeping valuables.
painted on it figures of men on horseback, of fierce demeanor, clad in turbans and robes of various colors, after the fashion of the Arabs, with scimeters1 hanging from their necks and cross-bows at their saddle-backs, and they carried banners and pennons with divers devices. Above them was inscribed in Greek characters: "Rash monarch, behold the men who are to hurl thee from thy throne and subdue thy kingdom!"At the sight of these things the king was troubled in spirit, and dismay fell upon his attendants. While they were yet regarding the paintings it seemed as if the figures began to move, and a faint sound of warlike tumult arose from the cloth, with the clash of cymbal2 and bray of trumpet, the neigh of steed and shout of army; but all was heard indistinctly, as if afar off or in a reverie or dream.
The more they gazed the plainer became the motion and the louder the noise, and the linen cloth rolled forth and spread out, as it were a mighty banner, and filled the hall and mingled with the air, until its texture was no longer visible, or appeared as a transparent cloud; and the shadowy figures became all in motion, and the din and uproar became fiercer and fiercer, and whether the whole were an animated picture or a vision or an array of embodied spirits conjured up by supernatural power, no one present could tell.
