Victor Serenus
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Оглавление
Henry Wood. Victor Serenus
PREFACE
PART FIRST
CHAPTER I. A RELIGIOUS PROCESSION IN TARSUS
CHAPTER II. AN EVENING EXCURSION ON THE CYDNUS
CHAPTER III. IN THE TOILS
CHAPTER IV. THE NET IS RENT
CHAPTER V. TWO UNIVERSITY STUDENTS
CHAPTER VI. TO THE TOWER OF ANTONIA
CHAPTER VII. A TARSIAN FESTIVAL TO APOLLO
CHAPTER VIII. THE MYSTERIES OF THE ADYTUM
CHAPTER IX. SOLILOQUY OF GAMALIEL’S DAUGHTER
CHAPTER X. MAGIC AND MYSTERY: STRANGE VISIONS
CHAPTER XI. IMPORTANT MESSAGES
CHAPTER XII. SERENUS MAKES AN AVOWAL
CHAPTER XIII. THE WALLS HAVE EARS
CHAPTER XIV. LOVE VERSUS DUTY
CHAPTER XV. THE RESCUE OF REBECCA
CHAPTER XVI. AFTER THE STORM
CHAPTER XVII. A ROMAN PARADE
CHAPTER XVIII. AMABEL’S REMARKABLE EXPERIENCE
CHAPTER XIX. SURROUNDED BY PRISON WALLS
CHAPTER XX. SOWING AND REAPING
CHAPTER XXI. THE GREAT HARVEST
PART SECOND. THE LIGHT SPREADS TO THE WESTWARD
CHAPTER XXII. SUNSHINE AND SHADOW
CHAPTER XXIII. A BATTERED EAGLE
CHAPTER XXIV. ON THE VERGE OF THE UNSEEN
CHAPTER XXV. A PSYCHICAL JOURNEY
CHAPTER XXVI. A POWERFUL PULSE STIRRED
CHAPTER XXVII. A MESSAGE FROM STEPHANOS
CHAPTER XXVIII. LEANDER VISITS A MYSTIC SHRINE
CHAPTER XXIX. CHANGES OF SOUL-COLOR
CHAPTER XXX. A PARADISE DISCOVERED
CHAPTER XXXI. IN DEEP WATERS
CHAPTER XXXII. SCOURGING AND FLIGHT
CHAPTER XXXIII. A PRIESTESS OF THE TARSIAN TEMPLE
CHAPTER XXXIV. ONCE MORE UPON THE CYDNUS
PART THIRD. AFTER THE FLIGHT OF TWENTY YEARS
CHAPTER XXXV. THE BAY OF PUTEOLI
CHAPTER XXXVI. NOCTURNAL INTERVIEW WITH A SEER
CHAPTER XXXVII. TWO WOEFUL SOULS RELEASED
PART FOURTH. SAULUS IN ROME
CHAPTER XXXVIII. AWAITING TRIAL BEFORE NERO
CHAPTER XXXIX. ANTIPODES BROUGHT FACE TO FACE
CHAPTER XL. THE VISIBLE FORM LAID ASIDE
Отрывок из книги
It seems unnecessary to suggest that this book is entirely independent of the conventional lines of the modern realistic novel. To any who hold that idealism in fiction is not artistic, that a didactic element is inadmissible, and that philosophizing has no place, the work will hardly commend itself. To others, who believe that fiction may be a useful vehicle for the conveyance of helpful ideals, and even abstract truth, it is offered with the hope that it may furnish some measure both of entertainment and profit.
On many historical and chronological points that are involved, authorities differ; but so far as the author has been able to sift them, the prevailing and apparently most probable hypotheses have been followed. As may be inferred, it has been necessary to glean in many fields for the facts, opinions, and conclusions that make up the historic portion of the raw material from which this story has been fabricated.1
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Marcius and Leander waited for a full hour at the sacred fire for the numbers to be called which would give them their turn for an introduction to the inner Mysteria Sacra. A feeling of awe gradually crept through their souls—a sense of having left the world behind. Unseen influences were bearing down upon them. The hieroglyphs seemed alive and engaged in an ominous dance, frowning upon them and calling them to judgment. They grasped each other’s hands, and looked into each other’s eyes to reassure themselves.
At length the number of Marcius was called, and he was ushered into the adytum. The valve closed behind him; and as he passed forward, there hung, directly overhead, a great flaming symbol of the Mysteria Eleusinia. Its brightness slowly faded until, in a little time, it only cast a dim blue ghastly light in flashes, so that he could see but indistinctly. He was impelled still farther on, and soon a cool breeze swept gently up from cavernous depths below. The walls melted and retreated; and the courageous Roman, nearly overcome, pinched himself to find if he were still in the body. He involuntarily turned to retreat, but the valve had disappeared.
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