Joseph Balsamo Read Online Free PDF

to beard the lion in his den to risk my life for the freedom of mankind now, what will you do
     
    24 JOSEPH BALSAMO.
    for that to which you say you are ready to give up life, liberty, and fortune ? This is what I am here to de-mand.”
    A deeper silence fell on the assembly than when he last ceased to speak ; it seemed as if the motionless phantoms around him were absorbed in a fateful thought, which, when expressed, should take twenty thrones.
    The six chiefs conversed for a moment apart, and then returned to the president. The president spoke:
    ” In the name of Sweden, I offer for the overthrow of the throne of Vasa the miners who established it, and one hundred thousand crowns.”
    The great Copt made an entry in his tablets.
    Another on the left spoke.
    ” I, sent by Scotland and Ireland, can promise nothing from England our firm opponent but from poor Scotland, from poor Ireland, I shall bring three thousand men and three thousand crowns yearly.”
    He wrote again.
    ” And you ? ” said he, turning to one whose vigorous frame and restless spirit seemed wearied by his phantom robe, and who replied :
    ” I represent America, whose stones, whose trees, whose waters, whose every drop of blood are vowed to rebellion. Whilst we have gold we will give it, while we have blood we will shed it let us but be free first. Though now divided, marked, and disunited, we are the links of a gigantic chain, and could some mighty hand join two of them, the rest will unite themselves. Begin, then, oh, great master, with us ! If thou wouldst rid France of royalty, free us from a foreign yoke first.”
    ” It shall be so,” replied the master ; “yon shall first be free, and France shall help you. Wait, brother, but I promise thou shalt not wait long ‘
    Then he turned to the Swiss deputy, who replied to his look:
    ” I can promise nothing. Our republic has been long the ally of the French monarchy, to which it sold its blood at Marignan and Pavia ; its sons are faithful they
     
    JOSEPH BALSAMO. 25
    will give that for which they have been paid ; for the first time, I am ashamed of their fidelity.”
    ” So ; but we shall conquer without them, and in spite of them. And you, representative of Spain ?”
    ” I am poor ; I can only offer three thousand of my brothers, with a contribution of a thousand reals yearly. Our Spaniards are indolent ; they sleep on a bed of pain provided they sleep, they care not.”
    ” Good ! And you ? ” said he to another.
    ” I represent Eussia and Poland. My people are either discontented nobles or wretched serfs. The serf, who owns not even his life, can offer nothing ; but three thousand nobles have promised twenty louis d’ors each annually.”
    Then all the representatives in turn declared what those from whom they came would give for the great cause. Some were deputies from small kingdoms, some from large principalities, some from impoverished states, but all declared that they would add something to what had been offered. Their promises were written on the tablets of the great Copt, and they were bound by an oath to keep them.
    “Now,” said he, “you have seen and recognized the initials of our watchword let it be placed on your hearts, and in them ; for we, the sovereign lord of the east and west, have decreed the downfall of the lily. Hear it, then, brethren LILIA PEDIBUS DESTRUE.”
    Loud was their shout at this explanation of the mysterious letters so loud that the gorges of the mountains re-echoed to it.
    “And now, retire,” said the master, when silence had succeeded, ” retire by those subterranean passages which lead to the quarries of Mont Tonnerre. Disperse before the rising of the sun. You shall see me once more, and it will be on the day of our triumph ! Go “
    His words were followed by a masonic sign, understood only by the six heads of the assembly, so that they remained around him when the rest had disappeared.
    ” Swedenborg,” said he, ” thou art truly inspired.