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feathery foliage； and stems like those of the palm…tree。 Others were more
like the cane…plant； but taller； bearing large clusters of flowers。 Others；
again； had the form of enormous fungi； with short thick stems supporting a
wide dome…like roof； from which either rose or drooped long slender
branches。 The whole scene behind； before； and beside me far as the eye
could reach； was brilliant with innumerable lamps。 The world without a
sun was bright and warm as an Italian landscape at noon； but the air less
oppressive； the heat softer。 Nor was the scene before me void of signs of
habitation。 I could distinguish at a distance； whether on the banks of the
lake or rivulet； or half…way upon eminences； embedded amidst the
vegetation； buildings that must surely be the homes of men。 I could even
discover； though far off； forms that appeared to me human moving amidst
the landscape。 As I paused to gaze； I saw to the right； gliding quickly
through the air； what appeared a small boat； impelled by sails shaped like
wings。 It soon passed out of sight； descending amidst the shades of a
forest。 Right above me there was no sky； but only a cavernous roof。
This roof grew higher and higher at the distance of the landscapes beyond；
till it became imperceptible； as an atmosphere of haze formed itself
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beneath。
Continuing my walk； I started；… from a bush that resembled a great
tangle of sea…weeds； interspersed with fern…like shrubs and plants of large
leafage shaped like that of the aloe or prickly…pear；… a curious animal about
the size and shape of a deer。 But as； after bounding away a few paces； it
turned round and gazed at me inquisitively； I perceived that it was not like
any species of deer now extant above the earth； but it brought instantly to
my recollection a plaster cast I had seen in some museum of a variety of
the elk stag； said to have existed before the Deluge。 The creature seemed
tame enough； and； after inspecting me a moment or two； began to graze on
the singular herbiage around undismayed and careless。
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CHAPTER IV。
I now came in full sight of the building。 Yes； it had been made by
hands； and hollowed partly out of a great rock。 I should have supposed it
at the first glance to have been of the earliest form of Egyptian
architecture。 It was fronted by huge columns； tapering upward from
massive plinths； and with capitals that； as I came nearer； I perceived to be
more ornamental and more fantastically graceful that Egyptian
architecture allows。 As the Corinthian capital mimics the leaf of the
acanthus； so the capitals of these columns imitated the foliage of the
vegetation neighbouring them； some aloe…like； some fern…like。 And now
there came out of this building a form… human；… was it human？ It stood on
the broad way and looked around； beheld me and approached。 It came
within a few yards of me； and at the sight and presence of it an
indescribable awe and tremor seized me； rooting my feet to the ground。
It reminded me of symbolical images of Genius or Demon that are seen on
Etruscan vases or limned on the walls of Eastern sepulchres… images that
borrow the outlines of man； and are yet of another race。 It was tall； not
gigantic； but tall as the tallest man below the height of giants。
Its chief covering seemed to me to be composed of large wings folded
over its breast and reaching to its knees； the rest of its attire was composed
of an under tunic and leggings of some thin fibrous material。 It wore on
its head a kind of tiara that shone with jewels； and carried in its right hand
a slender staff of bright metal like polished steel。 But the face！ it was
that which inspired my awe and my terror。 It was the face of man； but
yet of a type of man distinct from our known extant races。 The nearest
approach to it in outline and expression is the face of the sculptured
sphinx… so regular in its calm； intellectual； mysterious beauty。 Its colour
was peculiar； more 13like that of the red man than any other variety of our
species； and yet different from it… a richer and a softer hue； with large
black eyes； deep and brilliant； and brows arched as a semicircle。 The
face was beardless； but a nameless something in the aspect； tranquil
though the expression； and beauteous though the features； roused that
instinct of danger which the sight of a tiger or serpent arouses。 I felt that
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The Coming Race
this manlike image was endowed with forces inimical to man。 As it drew
near； a cold shudder came over me。 I fell on my knees and covered my
face with my hands。
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CHAPTER V。
A voice accosted me… a very quiet and very musical key of voice… in a
language of which I could not understand a word； but it served to dispel
my fear。 I uncovered my face and looked up。 The stranger （I could
scarcely bring myself to call him man） surveyed me with an eye that
seemed to read to the very depths of my heart。 He then placed his left
hand on my forehead； and with the staff in his right； gently touched my
shoulder。 The effect of this double contact was magical。 In place of my
former terror there passed into me a sense of contentment； of joy； of
confidence in myself and in the being before me。 I rose and spoke in my
own language。 He listened to me with apparent attention； but with a
slight surprise in his looks； and shook his head； as if to signify that I was
not understood。 He then took me by the hand and led me in silence to the
building。 The ent