Page:The genius - Carl Grosse tr Joseph Trapp 1796.djvu/66

 first struck my astonished eyes. They were sitting on low chairs forming a demi-circle, in whose centre a high seat was raised, for the Chief of the society. The chief was on his post, with a table before him, on which there were lying a cross, a dagger, a cup, several books and other instruments unknown to me. An empty stool was placed for me immediately below the chandeliers. My conductors took their seats, and after a long and solemn silence of several minutes, the president rose, advanced to the table, and unveiled his face, whose aspect was incredibly prepossessing, with features full of bounty mingled with the traces of bitter experience. He seemed to be a perfect pattern of pure humanity; his looks appeared to range beyond an earthly sphere, and I could almost have knelt down and worshipped him.

"Thou art come hither, Carlos," began he with ineffable mildness, "to learn to know us."

I affirmed his question with a respectful silence.

"Then unveil yourselves, my brethren."

The whole assembly now dropt their veils.