Emmanuel's land

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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

Part First. Emmanuel's Land

Arabella — You promised to read to us the allegory you was writing, formed from dreams, next time we came to visit you; will you please entertain us by reading it this evening?

8. — I will; in my dream, I saw a place called the Celestial country, and in it a palace; and in an outer court a seat, covered with the richest fabric, wrought in gold; upon this seat sat the Emperor upon great public occasions, as the court would admit thousands at a time. At other times he sat upon a throne of massive gold, adorned with all manner of precious stones, which was situated in a spacious room in his magnificent palace, which the artisans of the east had combined to beautify, that it might be a fitting place for its regal lord; for he was not only a king of kings, but the bravest of brave generals, and the most generous of friends. He was very large, but elegantly formed; he wore a robe of purple, embroidered with the finest needle-work; it was fastened to the neck by a pin of jasper; in his bracelet glittered the sapphire and the chalcedony; and his feet were encased in slippers wrought in mother-of-pearl; and his girdle was fastened with an emerald; and in his crown glittered the sardonyx, the chrysolite and jacinth and the amethyst; upon his right sat his son, the express image of his person; and on his left his prime minister, who resembled him in face, and form and mind. And around the throne were seats for his favorite ones, covered with beaten gold; first and foremost sat Justice, a terrible, stern, unbending man; next sat Judge Eight, whose countenance showed firmness and decision of character; next sat twenty-four great lawyers, whose uprightness never had been doubted; and on the other seats sat ladies and gentlemen, three of whom I will describe: first was Grace, whose regal bearing and elegant form attracted every eye; then there was Mercy and Charity, two maidens of uncommon loveliness, clad in pure white garments with their hair flowing in natural ringlets over their shoulders of alabaster whiteness; and upon other seats sat others high in authority, and dearly loved by their king; and all around stood soldiers ready to obey the slightest nod of their sovereign, for he was dearly loved by them and all of his subjects, for this brave king was kind and courteous to all of his subjects.

At stated periods he would summon the kings that ruled under him, also his lords, governors, earls and dukes throughout his vast dominions to appear before his imperial throne, there to render a true and just account of their loyalty, peacefulness, justice and uprightness, and also the loyalty of the people in their jurisdiction, and also of their prosperity, peace and happiness and goodness toward each other. He then caused the rulers to be instructed in the art of government, and the officers in the manual of war-arms, and the best mode of making all within their jurisdiction prosperous and happy. He then received the petition of the people, and righted their grievances, and after all the business had been minutely transacted, and every wrong righted, and the suffering of the poor alleviated, then he would make a feast of several days' duration for the kings, princes and nobles and rulers in his dominion, and all others he wished to honor; he would cause them to be entertained with music of the most exquisite order, and confectioneries and excellent meat, and fowls, and delicious fruit from every clime; and in decanters and silver goblets and golden bowls were delicious nectars, and unf ermented wine, and joy and gladness shone on every countenance. And it was the custom for each guest to present to the monarch as a token of respect as rich a present as they wished, so that these delightful entertainments, they thought, might enrich their sovereign instead of impoverishing him; and during these elegant entertainments, he caused presents to be sent to the needy, that all might rejoice with him.

Thus for years every thing passed pleasantly, until Apollo, prince of the north, and his compeers, attended one of these sumptuous entertainments, and beheld the great city, the splendid palace, the gorgeous court and, above all, the king's son. He became fired with envy. He had expected to see the king loved and honored by the nations, because he was good, wise, rich and powerful, but to see them render voluntary honor to the son made him hate the father and the son, and in his envious soul he resolved to alienate the affections of the people from their king, and thus draw them from their fealty to their rightful sovereign; but he failed to accomplish it, except in his own dominion, where he succeeded with the aid of Tridinah, his beautiful daughter, of drawing a third part of the king's subjects from their allegiance. He told them that he contemplated setting up a kingdom that should equal the emperor's in splendor, and that if they would rebel he would make them all great, or rich, or raise them to high positions of honor; so after many thousands had secretly enlisted under his banner, he openly rebelled, and took up arms against his rightful sovereign to wrest some of his dominion from him; but in this he was foiled, for the king sent a powerful army, who fought with him and subdued him, and brought him and his followers before the king for trial for their treason. He told them that they were to be tried by the twenty-four just lawyers, and to be justified or condemned by the two supreme judges and jurors (and their sentence ratified by the king).

They were accordingly fairly tried and condemned to be banished to Hecla with all their followers, and all their goods and estates to be confiscated to the crown. They were terribly dismayed, and begged for a mitigation of their punishment. Then Grace, Mercy and Charity arose, and knelt and pleaded for them, but stern justice would not relent and the king would not break the law; so their only hope was that given to a condemned traitor in the law, and that was, if a traitor could find any good and loyal citizen who would stand surety for him that, if he ever rebelled again, that citizen should suffer with him all the penalty of a broken law; but there was none who had faith enough in their repentance to jeopardize their life for them. So these vile traitors were all banished to Hecla, and assured if they ever returned to their native country they should all be put to death. Horror and despair seized them when they entered the hot, sulphurous country and beheld the terrific volcanoes vomiting out fire, smoke and lava. Their lips soon became parched by the intense heat of the climate and their tongues dry, so they went in search of springs of cooling water where they might lave their aching brow and quench their raging thirst, but when they found that there was not a drop of cold water upon the island, that every spring was warm and sulphurous, their rage and despair was horrible to behold. At length Apollo concluded to make the best of it and cause cities to be built, but when they came to explore the country they saw still more of their terrible situation.

It was a low island or continent surrounded by awful gulfs and terrible whirlpools. There was but one harbor, and that needed an experienced pilot to enter it, whilst to the north, to the south, to the east, and to the west were gigantic volcanoes constantly emitting sulphurous smoke which darkened the air. There was one lofty mountain, in the side of which you could behold a great fiery furnace, out of which issued horrible sounds, and in the center of the island was a lake formed of burning lava, and it smelt so much of brimstone that it almost took your breath away to come near it. The hot sun soon spoilt their complexion and broke their constitutions and caused them to be still more fierce and vindictive, so that they soon came to hate each other with a perfect hatred. Pride, malice, envy, revenge, inconstancy, fornication, deceit, covetousness and robbery strove for the mastery, until every grade of society despaired of ever being happy again. At last Apollo laid out the cities, and for a time they vied with each other to see which should erect the most splendid edifice. At length they finished four magnificent cities. Then Apollo began to boast that he would soon make the cities in Hecla equal to those in Emmanuers land in respect to size and grandeur and that he would be a great king yet. But soon one of the mountains began to show great signs of internal commotion, the earth for miles around trembled and opened her mouth and swallowed up one of the cities nearest, but the people had fled to another when they heard such loud rumbling sounds in the mountain and saw the fire and smoke ascend to such a great height.

Thus multitudes were left homeless and poor, for their terror was so great that they had brought nothing with them. But that was not an end to their calamities. A terrible plague stalked through the land and gaunt famine followed in its train, and at no time did the sweet angel of peace preside over the land. At .last they said to Apollo: prince, is this the peace, the wealth, the luxury, the honor you promised all of us if we would take up arms against our lawful sovereign; the meanest, the lowest, the most degraded, and the very poorest fares better in our former sovereign's dominions than the greatest of us here. Apollo answered and said: As you very well know he is kind and just to all his obedient subjects and amply supplies all their needs, yet in my heart I hate him for his justice, but how should I have known that I should have been overcome. If I had succeeded you would have 2 shared my honors and now you should be willing to share my disgrace. Is it not enough that the common people curse me as the author of all their misery? You were to blame as well as I. You had sense enough given you to resist my will, but your proud, avaricious hearts overcame your better judgment and now you must suffer the consequence. But I have something to say to you. Our conqueror has placed in Earthland a man and his wife who are near of kin to him, and he has placed the government of the country in their hands and has also determined to take of their posterity, to dwell in our former beautiful homes.

Can you bear to think that any one should dwell in our elegant mansions and enjoy the splendor, ease and luxury which we have forfeited? Nobles — We cannot. Apollo — Then aid me and they shall not, for to test their obedience he has given them a something called the tree of knowledge, and forbidden them to taste of, touch or eat the contents of, and told them if they did, he would treat them and all within their dominions as rebels, except they could find a surety, and he will do it if they disobey; for although I hate him, he is truth itself; now these sovereigns are pure minded and innocent enough, but if we can enter Earthland and persuade them to disobey, then they will never enjoy the celestial country from which we were driven. NoUes — Go and try to deceive them, and we will lend you all the aid in our power, for although he has prohibited us from entering the celestial country he has not prohibited us from entering Earthland if we choose. So Apollo sought diligently for it, and found it, but he was surprised to find his conqueror there, who said to him, hast thou seen how pure and upright these people are, and I still intend that they shall inhabit the celestial country from which you were driven. Apollo answered and said, served thee for nought; hast thou not bestowed wealth and honor upon them, and power and dominion? King — I have; but was not you Tested with greater honor, dominion, wealth and power, and your followers surrounded with greater luxuries? Apollo — Yes.

King — Yet they rebelled. Apollo — Yes; because you placed your son higher in authority than myself and I would not endure it. King — Yet you had to and was banished for your rebellion. Apollo — I know it, but it was simply the fortunes of war, and I would show you so and every other living being if you would allow me and my followers equal privileges with your son and his followers, of swaying the minds of the people, and enlisting them under my banner, and I would show you I would make a better leader than your son; and if you would let me govern them, that I would make a better ruler, and that the people would be happier than under his dominion. King — Why? Apollo — Because they should seek pleasure and riches in any manner they chose, whilst your son would have them pure, chaste and upright. King — I will leave the people of Earthland to the freedom of their own will for a certain time, and they may ■ enlist under your banner or that of my son, as shall please them best, and I will permit you to enlist them as a powerful prince, whilst I will send my son in humble guise for a season; but I warn you, it will result in my son's honor and your shame and misery; when your dominion is extended the farthest, and your subjects the most numerous, your disgrace will be the deepest, for it will show to all intelligent beings what a monstrous, wicked, deceitful, ungenerous, avaricious tyrant you are. Apollo — On the contrary, I think I will make a good ruler. King — If you do, I will permit you to remain; if not, I will imprison you and your followers in Hecla, and oblige you to stay there always; and I will give the kingdom to my son, and he shall reign over them as well as the country you formerly ruled, and shall also retain his own principality; but he will make but short visits to Earthland, and send but few heralds for some years to come. Apollo — That is all I ask, I know I shall succeed.

Apollo went in search of Adonis and his wife E valine; he found the beautiful princess walking in the garden, and was surprised at her radiant beauty, and the luxury that surrounded her. He envied them their happiness, and determined to make them disobey the king's command; but he did not wish his conqueror to know it, so he disguised himself and approached the princess, and by deceit and promises of great knowledge, wealth and power, he caused her to eat the fruit, which she did very reluctantly, and to persuade her husband to do the same; but presently they heard their king approaching, and tried to conceal themselves, but did not succeed; he charged them with their disobedience, the prince laid it upon the princess, the princess upon Apollo. Then the king turned them all from this lovely place, and put them in one not half so inviting, and told them that Apollo would be allowed to injure them, but in the end one of their posterity should prevail against him, and they found it true, for Apollo and his peers set themselves to work to make them as obnoxius to their king as themselves; for instance: they persuaded Adonis' elder son that his younger brother was an especial favorite with the sovereign, and that it would be for his benefit if he would slay him, which he accordingly did, and thought no eye detected him; but the same eye that saw the disobedience of the parents also detected the crime of the son, and punished it by banishing him to savage regions. Apollo also then instigated war, robbery and fornication. Sethanes, Adonis' younger son, found great favor in the sight of the emperor, by his great humility and unswerving loyalty; this good young prince besought his sovereign to send him and his posterity instructors to teach him and them to avoid the snares of Apollo, which the emperor granted, and Sethanes became the father of a noble race.

At length Apollo succeeded in demoralizing the most of the Earthlanders, and instead of the happiness which he boasted to the monarch ' he would produce, he fermented war, robbery, theft and inconstancy. At length the king sent word to the Earthlanders, that if they did not leave the ranks of Apollo, as he had proved himself a wicked ruler, he would punish every one of them for their disobedience. But Apollo told them that the messengers uttered an untruth; that the Emperor was too merciful to punish them in such a severe manner, but the faithful messengers told them that the king never lied, and if they did not obey he would do as he threatened them. So, as they did not heed the messenger, he sent some of them on the dark and stormy billows to Hecla; but as many as had enlisted under Emmanuel's banner he sent in a great ship to another part of the country, where he conferred great honors upon them. Then for a long time the people honored the king, and despised Apollo; so when Apollo saw he was detested by the people, and his nobles were an abhorrence to them, he changed his tactics and disguised his peers as messengers of the king, and so drew many thousand after him.

Now we will return to the celestial country. A swift herald announced that Prince Adonis and those under him had been persuaded by Apollo to disobey one of the king's express commands, the penalty of which was banishment. Then arose Grace, Mercy and Charity and knelt and begged a mitigation of their punishment. But stern Justice would not relent, nor would the king break his own laws, so they sorrowfully arose. Then there advanced a youth of beauty rare and kneeling at the foot of the throne said: Father, you promised me a portion of Earthland for my dominion; may I become surety for its misguided inhabitants; that is, those that shall become truly sorry for their disobedience ? King — My son, in order to save them from ever being banished to Hecla, you would have to suffer torture that would make the stoutest heart to quail. Emmanuel — I know it. King — You would also have to bear the insults and temptation of Apollo and his minions for a season. Emmanuel — I think I could for the sake of wresting from his power those people whom he wishes to destroy, for it is envy and hate that has led him to seek to compass their destruction. King — Your request is a high and noble one and I do not wish to thwart you in such a generous undertaking. I know that your lofty, sympathetic nature would lead you to save your subjects at any cost, and I also perceive that the sacrifice will be for your honor, and the extension of your kingdom, and the eternal shame and disgrace of Apollo and his followers, but if their subjugation and the extension of your dominion is all you desire, you need not make so great a sacrifice, for I have power to completely subdue him and extend your dominions as far as you desire.

Emmanuel — It is not all. I wish to save the Earthlanders and to show to every one that there is such a thing as uninterested love and generosity. I cannot bear that Apollo should be gratified in his infernal desire to make so many of Earthland's people wretched, and as there is no other way to save them from his revengeful ire and keep the law I would make a sacrifice of myself. King — My son, such magnanimity has never been heard of as a ruler offering himself as surety to the emperor for his subjects that rebelled against him, but if you wish, you may become their surety and I will sustain you, for I love you as I do my life. The rebels are still at Earthland, although I have sent them to a less fruitful part of the country. It will be a great many years yet before I shall summon the people as a body to appear before the Supreme Court to be judged, but from time to time I shall send Death on to take some of them to the places which I ordered to be prepared for them to dwell in until I should summon them to appear before my throne for trial and judgment. From time to time you may send some messengers to warn the people of Earthland of the machinations of Apollo, and teachers to instruct them in the law, and after the expiration of four thousand days you may go to Earthland in the disguise of an artisan and remain a few days, then yon may assume that of a teacher and physician and do them all the good they wish. Then I will allow Apollo and his minions to persecute and afflict you and bring you to the doors of death, and then whilst Apollo and his minions are boasting of their victory over you, I will send Ghoststaphus and revive you, for in your hour of deep anguish, unknown to your enemies, there will be powerful aid at hand, and then I will send and bring you home and you shall make war upon them until you have subdued the last enemy.

Then the son approached the chief justice and said: Sir, will you also accept me as surety for all those people of Earthland that shall feel truly sorry for their disobedience and sincerely desire to return to their allegiance? Justice — Why, my noble prince, your life is of more intrinsic value than a billion of such nations of Earthlanders, and is it possible that you intend to jeopardize it for those ungrateful, disobedient people that have of their own free will enlisted under the banner of Apollo, your most inveterate enemy? Emmanuel — But Apollo deceived them. He was so cunningly disguised that even Prince Adonis and his wife did not recognize him. Justice — If they did not, they knew the king's commands and should not have disobeyed them. Emmanuel — That is true, but it was envy to them and hatred for me that caused Apollo to deceive them, therefore I pity them and am determined to thwart him. Justice — Apollo needs a severe punishment, which he will get at the appointed time. Though you may pity the Earthlanders, it is not your duty to risk your life to save your rebellious subjects. Emmanuel — I know it, but I love them too well to allow Apollo to delude and utterly ruin them all. Justice — Does your father approve of your hazardous undertaking ? Emmanuel — He has consented, because I so ardently desire it. Justice — Then I will accept you, but all creation never heard of such a magnanimous act, as a sovereign prince hazarding his life to save his rebellious subjects.

Emmanuel — Adieu! I am going to send sires and teachers among them, to warn them of the snares of Apollo, and expound the law, which he accordingly did. And a great while after he entered Earthland disguised, first as an humble mechanic, then as a teacher and physician, and drew great multitudes after him; when Apollo heard of his great powers of elocution, and of his wonderful art of healing, and of his thorough knowledge of the law, and his unlimited benevolence, he determined to see him; and when he beheld him, he recognized him as the king's son, and feared him greatly, but determined to lead him astray also; but found the noble prince proof against his wiles. And after a herald had announced the prince, the king's son in disguise, Apollo set himself and his compeers at work to make the people believe he was an impostor; said they, do you suppose that so rich and powerful a monarch as the emperor is would allow his only son to visit a distant part of his dominion, attended with only a few poor men, and without weapons of defense, money or jewels, and especially in a part of his dominion where there are so many traitors? So he taught them to despise the king's son, and treat him as an impostor, and at last instigated them to put him to a cruel death. The prince did not resist their schemes, for that was the way that Justice had decreed he should suffer, if he would save his subjects; he had to fulfill the law, so the malice of his enemies was made to satisfy the demands of Justice.

But it was horrible, revolting and heartrending to see the inhuman manner in which the rebels under Apollo tortured the king's only son; and when they thought life extinct they left him, and Apollo boasted that he had overcome Emmanuel at last; but he was greatly mistaken, for Ghoststaphus came soon after and revived him; but great was Apollo's surprise and mortification when he found that Emmanuel still lived, and had been invested with far greater power, and so honored by all in his own and in his father's dominions for his magnanimity. Emmanuel laid out a straight and narrow road, and proclaimed that it led toward the celestial city, and that all that would enter there must tread it; and Apollo had also laid out a broader one, that led to utter ruin and despair. Emmanuel soon after returned to his father's dominions, leaving several bold, courageous teachers to expound the law, telling those teachers that he would send G-hoststaphus to help them understand the most intricate parts of the law, and also to heal any wound that Apollo or his peers should inflict upon them, in trying to force them in his ranks; and that if they fought like bold soldiers, Apollo should never completely overcome them, for Ghoststaphus would always be near with sufficient force to overcome their enemies, and tear them from their grasp, and heal them; that after some thousand days he would return to Earthland in regal splendor, attended with a large army of the celestial soldiers, and that he would remain a thousand days, and that they should cause Apollo to be closely confined during that time, and after that they would set him at liberty for a short season; and that then Apollo and his minions would gather all their forces for one decisive battle, and then the king of kings would overcome them, and imprison them for life. So, soon after Emmanuel's return home, Ghoststaphus appeared, and caused daily hundreds to enlist under Emmanuel's banner; but Apollo strove hard to detain them in his ranks, and resorted to all sorts of cruelty to force them to march beneath his colors; but when they would cry to Ghoststaphus for help, he invariably succored them. ' So after Apollo had caused ten different rulers to persecute Emmanuel's followers, Ghoststaphus caused Prince Oonstantine to enlist under the banner of Emmanuel, and thousands of people to follow his example.

Now let us follow the fortunes of a few that started to go

for the celestial city. Prince Oonstantine called the most

influential of his subjects together, and desired them all to

enlist under Emmanuel's banner, and to start as soon as possible for the celestial country; he said, I am ready to go with you, although I am ashamed to meet the emperor and his noble, self-sacrificing son; the road is long and through a dangerous country, but Ghoststaphus says, if we- would enter the celestial city, we must certainly tread the path pointed out, whether we be prince or peasant; so with Ghoststaphus for an unerring guide and physician, I hope to tread the appointed path, and lay my imperial crown at the emperor's feet, and kiss the hem of Emmanuel's garment, and now who will start with me? I, said Duke Otho, and so have the faithful long desired to start, but my wife and children were not willing to accompany me in the narrow road. No, replied the duchess, for there is a broader and more beautiful way laid out, that leads to the same harbor; I am willing to go with him, if he will take that, but he will not; he says Apollo laid it out and not Emmanuel, but I do not believe it, for I do not believe that Apollo would help people to enter the celestial country. Prince — Nor do I; but as he finds he cannot hinder them from starting for the celestial country, I think he has caused his servants to erect one as near like Emmanuers as possible on the road, and to erect places of amusement to amuse the traveler, in such a manner as to delay his journey. Prince Henry — I saw a herald that said it was built by Emmanuers orders, and that it is delightful to travel, and that the straight and narrow road was only fit for brave officers and veteran soldiers to tread, as it is beset on every side with danger. Prince — Ghoststaphus has promised to aid the weakest as well as the strongest that treads the road to reach the harbor, and he is the most powerful prince in the emperor's dominion and the greatest physician. Prince Henry — I do not doubt Ghoststaphus' power to conduct all safely to the distant city, but it is a road that is narrow and dangerous, and each one has to go as prilgrims, on foot, whilst the other road is broad and beautiful, and at convenient distances there are elegant houses of entertainment, and as I am sure that it leads to the same harbor I shall start in my coach with my family, attended by my servants and guarded with a regiment of soldiers; Duke Otho, you had better go with us, as your wife and children are desirous to go in the broad road. Duke Otho — I shall tread the narrow path, but they may go with you if they choose, for if they stay, Deathcon will come and take them. I intend to enter the narrow path, said Earl Warwic, but not yet, I am young and have time enough. Duke Otho — Deathcon takes the young as well as the old.