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Article OPTIMISM: A DREAM. ← Page 2 of 2
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Optimism: A Dream.
I cast my eyes upon the height of this temple . The whole of the majestic edifice rested upon columns of white marble : in the middle was erected an altar ; in the place of the image , of the Divinity rose an odoriferous incense , the sweet vapour of which filled the temple . On the right side of the altar was suspended a tablet of black marble , and on the left a mirror of , the purest crystal . ' Here it is , ' said the angel , ' you will learn that if Providence sometimes oppresses a good man with misfortune , it is inflicted on purpose to conduit him with greater safety to happiness . ' Having said this , he disappeared . Chilling fear no longer froze my senses ; a pure ,
6 weet ineffable joy took possession of my soul . Tears of affection streamed from my eyes ; my knees bent under me , and I could not refrain from adoring in silence the bounty of the Supreme . A majestic voice , far from conveying any thing that was terrific , said to me , ' riss behold , and read . ' I looked at the mirror , and beheld my friend Sadak ; Sadak , whose constant virtue , nobly supported bv courage , had often excited my
astonishment ; Sadak , who knew how to brave indigence , and ensure poverty respeft . I saw him seated In a room , of which the walls were robbed of their ornaments : he was reclining his languishing head upon the last piece of furniture that was left him , his heart was consumed by hunger , and still more cruel despair . A single tear escaped from his eye-lid was a drop of blood I Wretched mortal ! he dared not weep . Four infants cried to their father , and supplicated
him for bread ; the youngest , weak and languishing , stretched upon a straw bed , had lost the strength of" utterance ; he exhaled the last sighs of an innocent life . The wife of this unfortunate wretch , soured by misfortune , unmindful of the tender sweetness of her natural disposition , reproached him with the excess of their misery . These cruel complaints lacerated his heart , and added to his punishment . Sadak rises , turns fiom the expressive looks of his children , and , sick as he is , drags himself along , in order to procure them succour . He meets a man , to whom he had formerly rendered the
most essential services ; this man was indebted to him for the honourable situation which he enjoyed . Sadak makes known to him his deplorable condition ; he describes the state of his children , read } ' to expire in his arms for want of food .... Covered with blushes that he is forced upon his recollection , the great man looks round him with a watchful eye lest any one should observe him speaking to a man who bore the livery of indigence ; he shakes off the poor
suppliant with vague promises , with cool politeness , and with hasty steps suddenly disappears . This was at least the tenth time that he had treated with inhumanity the very person who had been the cause of his affluence . Sadak , in a state of despair , suffers chance to diieft his steps , when one of his creditors stops and loads him with contumely , collects the people abont the wretch , publicly threatens him , and is
upon the point of striking the unhappy mortal , more from a princip le of contempt than anger . [ TO IIK comix UED . l
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Optimism: A Dream.
I cast my eyes upon the height of this temple . The whole of the majestic edifice rested upon columns of white marble : in the middle was erected an altar ; in the place of the image , of the Divinity rose an odoriferous incense , the sweet vapour of which filled the temple . On the right side of the altar was suspended a tablet of black marble , and on the left a mirror of , the purest crystal . ' Here it is , ' said the angel , ' you will learn that if Providence sometimes oppresses a good man with misfortune , it is inflicted on purpose to conduit him with greater safety to happiness . ' Having said this , he disappeared . Chilling fear no longer froze my senses ; a pure ,
6 weet ineffable joy took possession of my soul . Tears of affection streamed from my eyes ; my knees bent under me , and I could not refrain from adoring in silence the bounty of the Supreme . A majestic voice , far from conveying any thing that was terrific , said to me , ' riss behold , and read . ' I looked at the mirror , and beheld my friend Sadak ; Sadak , whose constant virtue , nobly supported bv courage , had often excited my
astonishment ; Sadak , who knew how to brave indigence , and ensure poverty respeft . I saw him seated In a room , of which the walls were robbed of their ornaments : he was reclining his languishing head upon the last piece of furniture that was left him , his heart was consumed by hunger , and still more cruel despair . A single tear escaped from his eye-lid was a drop of blood I Wretched mortal ! he dared not weep . Four infants cried to their father , and supplicated
him for bread ; the youngest , weak and languishing , stretched upon a straw bed , had lost the strength of" utterance ; he exhaled the last sighs of an innocent life . The wife of this unfortunate wretch , soured by misfortune , unmindful of the tender sweetness of her natural disposition , reproached him with the excess of their misery . These cruel complaints lacerated his heart , and added to his punishment . Sadak rises , turns fiom the expressive looks of his children , and , sick as he is , drags himself along , in order to procure them succour . He meets a man , to whom he had formerly rendered the
most essential services ; this man was indebted to him for the honourable situation which he enjoyed . Sadak makes known to him his deplorable condition ; he describes the state of his children , read } ' to expire in his arms for want of food .... Covered with blushes that he is forced upon his recollection , the great man looks round him with a watchful eye lest any one should observe him speaking to a man who bore the livery of indigence ; he shakes off the poor
suppliant with vague promises , with cool politeness , and with hasty steps suddenly disappears . This was at least the tenth time that he had treated with inhumanity the very person who had been the cause of his affluence . Sadak , in a state of despair , suffers chance to diieft his steps , when one of his creditors stops and loads him with contumely , collects the people abont the wretch , publicly threatens him , and is
upon the point of striking the unhappy mortal , more from a princip le of contempt than anger . [ TO IIK comix UED . l