The Bronze Statue, or, The Virgin's Kiss — page 104: what you’re looking at

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

) tl ae id -<s=ear—~ -o—"~ - =. - 7 ox = ry 7 ; aa — _— 2 ~ Ps aoe — | — ox =e? -- — a nd te i — St ee OP 6 me Mow mee -o ee ee ep CO ag ie Or © * errr. ~—- ei ™ — — - ~ eo * _ ~ ne @ a +. * ia, ¢ ~~ &* —_ . ~ - ~ + to oe >. Oe thea Sb i oxt - =e eo wero ad —_ _ ~ —_ e+ * . ~ = ~ -* 102 THE BRONZE STATUE. aged by the Ministersthemselves. for these unprineipled and selfish men, studying only their peculiar aggrandize ment, were well pleased tO serve a monarch who placed such illimitable confidence in their integrity, and who became too deeply immersed in plea sure to trouble himself with their pro- ceedings. Lulled into perfect security ‘by their specious representations, the inexperienced and credulous Idirmm banished from his mind all the cares of his regal position, and plunged head- long into the vortex of sensual enjoy- ments. ‘A more god-like youth, in personal | appearance, never breathed the air of this world. ‘l'all in stature and nobly formed, like a dark cloud passing before the sunlight was the stately figure of Ildirim. His hair was coal-black, long, and glossy; his eyes were large, dark, and brilliant. His countenance was handsome and lofty ; and a smile of su- | perb haughtiness was stamped upon his lip. Possessed of a beauty so closely allied to sublimity, deplorable was it that Ildirim the King should have at once and all in a moment degenerated into the sensualist and the voluptuary ‘‘T'wo years passed away; and the people began to murmur against the government. ‘They said, ‘Why is not Ildirim like his father, who was wont to watch over our interests and protect us against the oppression of the power- ful?—-why does not our King appear amongst us, to bless us with the light of his countenance !—wherefore does he place a blind and unlimited confi- dence in men who are deceiving him and tyrannising over us? But the voice of popular remonstrance penetrated not through the walls of the palace; and the Ministers were constantly assuring the King that his subjects were as con- tented, as prosperous, and as tranquil as ever. ‘ Now it happened that Mansour, the Sovereign of an adjacent country, hear- ing of the disaffection which was gain- ing ground in Iidirim’s territory, the possession of which he had long covet- ed, fancied it to be a favorable opportu- nity to carry his cherished aim into execution. Collecting, therefore, a mighty army, the ambitious Mansour invaded the realms of King Ildirim, proclaiming to the people that he came to release them from the tyranny of despotic Ministers and the sway of a contemptibledebauchee. But Ildirim’s subjects, though displeased with their monarch, were not prepared to receive s foreign yoke; and great numbers fly- ing to arms atthe call of the Prime | Minister, “Kara Ali, they marched against the invaders. A terrible battle was fought on the confines of the king- dom, and victory decided in favor of |Mansour. Kara Ali’s army was annihi- ‘lated ; and that Minister with difficulty saved himself and a few faithful adhe- .vents by a precipitate flight from the ‘field of his disgrace and defeat. ‘When the news of this misfortune ‘reached the capital, the inhabitants were filled with dismay ; and their ap- prehensions rose to despair en the ar- rival of intelligence to the effect that Mansour was marching at the head of | his victorious troops to beseige the sove- reign city. ‘hese tidings were con- firmed by Kara Ali and his fugitive fol- sect and now wes it for the first ‘time that Ildirim became aware of the tremendous danger which threatened himself and his people. For hitherto the subordinate Ministers had kept him in entire ignorance of the invasion ; and they had devised some excuse to ac- count for the temporary absence of their chief, Kara Ali. But at length, when the popular terror and indigna- tion were rising to a menacing height, |the Ministers broke the fatal news to their Sovereign; and Ildirim was thus aroused as it were by the voice of the rood from the lethargy of vo- luptuousness in which he had been ——— Ee dreaming away the first two years of his reign. He awoke from the trance of dissipation and luxury, to find his armies annihilated—his subjects ready to rise in rebellion against him—and a victorious enemy within two days’ march of his capital !, ‘Springing from the couch of plea- sure,—scattering to the winds the chap- let of roses with which Beauty’s ‘hand had crowned his brow,—and dashing aside the golden goblet of sparkling wine which a heuri presented him on ‘bended knee, Idirim suddenly displayed an energy equal to the pressing emer- gency that had thus aroused him. Dis- missing his band of musicians, ‘his troops of dancing girls, his harem of, a beauties, his boon compani- | ons, his sycophants and courtiers, he assumed the war-turban, ort on his | Scimitar, mounted his horse, and rode forth into the midst of the city. His pre- —> ——————-—- — - gathered around him, creeted him with enthusiastic acclaims, and yowed ‘to die sence electrified the inhabitants : the % comicbooks.com