Athothis : a satire on modern medicine / by Thomas C. Minor.

198/210

(debug: view other mode)

The image contains the following text:

you are one of those Telchines who figure so largely in the fables of the Platonists; or you may be one of those wicked spirits mentioned by Herodotus as haunting the sacred temple at Babylon, at the invitation of the Chal- dean magi." " Silence, mortal!" cried Athothis, haughtily. " Know that I am a prince of royal blood, and my love is pure and not of the modern kind." " Yet, I can not understand how one in your highly organized spiritual state should be enamored with a mortal woman," replied Paulus Androcydes. "As for me, I might transmigrate from sphere to sphere for millions on billions of centuries, and never experience a real feeling of love for one of the opposite sex. So far, I have lived single and unmated; so let me remain a bachelor in other planets." " She will come to you when least expected," whis- pered Athothis, gently. " She will enter your heart as Amneris has mine. So love shall lead you captive." Thus they discoursed of the tender passion and of music, and the opera moved on; while at each moment Athothis felt the soul of Amneris filling him with divine joy. They listened entranced to the "Gloria allEgitto /" beholding the triumphal procession of gorgeously robed kings and princesses, priests, warriors, and slaves. They watched the airy movements of the graceful dancing girls, and Paulus Androcydes even sighed softly when one of the ballet seemed to be looking directly at him. Pres- ently a hymn of praise burst forth. " 'T is the voice of my people from far-off Egypt," muttered Athothis, rev- erently bowing his head; and even as he inclined to the Orient the chorus sang :